Chris Hero Returns

A few weeks ago, it was reported that NXT star, Kassius Ohno, was released from the company and he already returned to the independent circuit. Ohno, who was known as Chris Hero prior to being signed, was under contract for almost two years and many people thought he would debut on the main roster at various points during his NXT stint, which included some good matches with William Regal.

Before signing with the WWE, Hero was a journey man on the independent scene and he worked for every well known independent promotion in the United States. He also wrestled in Europe and Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. Obviously, Hero has the skills to wrestle on a major stage and he evolved his style from a traditional Europe style to a Japanese style, thus led to the initials in NXT to incorporate his style into a gimmick.

The reports of Hero's release sparked outrage from smart mark fans, claiming that the WWE "doesn't know talent" but the company makes millions of dollars a year so obviously they are doing something right. That being said, Hero has the skills to be a star in wrestling and he can still be relevant despite being released from the WWE. As far as the reason behind Hero's release, he and the WWE management are the only people that know the answer, but there has been much speculation online. Reportedly, the WWE wanted Hero to improve weight training and it could have been one of the reasons he was released. Some fans might claim that Hero's skill is enough for him to get a spot on the main roster and they might have a point, but the WWE isn't a pro wrestling company, it's a sport entertainment company. Anyone that has watched Hero's work, knows that he's a tremendous pro wrestler, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being a sports entertainer. Some fans can complain about sports entertainment, but it draws millions a year and that's not to say that the WWE product couldn't be improved because there could definitely be improvement. However, there's a different standard for the WWE and it's a global product, which includes ratings, merchandise, etc. The bottom line is, the style that made Hero a star on the independent scene and the WWE style are apples to oranges so being a star on the independent scene doesn't automatically get a competitor a spot on the main roster.

As for Hero's career, the NXT run has generated buzz for his return to the independent circuit and he will an asset to any promotion. It will be interesting to see if Hero debuts for New Japan Pro Wrestling, as the company has generated some buzz with the expansion of iPPV shows and they have also booked more foreign talent. The question is, did the WWE miss the boat with Hero? Probably not because he's 33 years old, he didn't really evolve his style for the WWE, and there's an entire NXT roster that could potentially be stars for the WWE, but as mentioned earlier, Hero will continue to be successful.

Will TNA sign Hogan?

A few weeks ago, Hulk Hogan's TNA contract expired and an angle was filmed to explain his absence from TNA TV. Reportedly, Hogan is negotiating to resign with TNA and recent comments in an interview have fueled speculation of a WWE return. So, will Hogan resign with TNA? Could there be a return to WWE TV? There are certainly some interesting scenarios, but is Hogan worth it?

Hogan debuted on Impact in 2010 during TNA's feeble and disastrous attempt to recreate the Monday night wars. The NWO, Eric Bischoff, and Ric Flair were suddenly on TNA TV. Instead of an alternative product, the show resembled a weekly WCW reunion, which led to Impact going to Thursday night after an unsuccessful attempt to compete with Raw. Based on those results, it seems as though Hogan probably wasn't worth the ridiculous salary, but  there's more evidence that Hogan wasn't worth the investment. Prior to Hogan's debut in TNA, the ratings for Impact were around 1.0 and during his entire run with the company, the ratings didn't improve. I've said it before an I will say it again, Hulk Hogan isn't a draw in the current market. At this point, he's known more for a tabloid circus than wrestling and the TMZ headlines seemed to sour many fans on him. Even when TNA took Impact on the road, Hogan appearing didn't draw the fans to make it profitable for the company and the show is scheduled to return to the Impact Zone. Basically, Hogan did nothing for TNA, he didn't improve the ratings and he didn't improve attendance so, what did he do to benefit the company? This was said before and it's nothing new to anyone reading this column, but Dixie Carter is clueless about the wrestling business and Hogan worked her for major money. Dixie thought that since Hulk was a major star a decade ago, it would boost TNA. Hogan did an interview on the Howard Stern show prior to signing with TNA and he mentioned he was in major debt, which is probably why he signed with the company. Hogan needed money and TNA was his opportunity to cash in on the declining name value he had. You can't blame Hogan for taking the money, but you have to wonder how clueless Dixie is to sign him. The bottom line is Hogan is damaged goods and if TNA is trying to cut costs, there's really no reason to resign him.

Despite Hogan's comments about a potential WWE return, I doubt the WWE would resign him anytime soon because as was mentioned earlier, Hogan is damaged goods. Supposedly, they offered him a lower amount of money than TNA, but why would they pay him more money? Quite simply, Hogan needs the WWE more than the WWE needs Hogan and if Hogan's image is going to be restored, it would be as a result of the WWE presenting him as a legend to the current audience. Hogan claims he could have another match and the only major match in a WWE ring would be a Wrestlemania match against John Cena, but who knows if Hogan could actually wrestle again?

So where will Hogan actually sign? Hogan mentioning a possible WWE return was probably just an attempt to get leverage in the negotiations with TNA and if Hogan can't get a deal with WWE, then I would guess he would resign with TNA to get the money that is on the table. Don't get me wrong, this isn't an attempt to bury Hogan because as I said, you can't blame him for taking the money, but rather an observation of the investment TNA made to sign Hogan and the results of it. TNA has a great roster and a lot of bright spots, but the Hogan experiment wasn't one of them. As for the rumors of TNA possibly shutting down, I doubt it and hopefully it can continue to provide a stage for some of the great talent on the roster.

Oh noooooo DUCKZILLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mayweather vs. Canelo

In less than 12 hours, Floyd Mayweather will put his undefeated record on the line against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in a bout that has created more buzz for boxing than any other fight in recent memory, which will undoubtedly translate to major dollars. So, what generated this amount of press coverage? Quite simply, it's a rare occasion where two contrasting superstars are featured in a pay-per-view event. Floyd's most recent fights with Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero, respectively, were bouts against good fighters, but certainly not scenarios that put his undefeated streak in jeopardy. During the various media promotion in the week leading to the fight, Mayweather mentioned that some of his opponents were handpicked in an attempt to ensure victory, which really isn't news, considering he has been avoiding a fight with Manny Pacquio for years. Basically, Floyd would only agree to fight contenders he knew he could defeat and they didn't pose a serious threat to him, but as Floyd also mentioned in the interview, people were still paying to see the fights. Despite his arrogant attitude, Floyd is a smart business man and he knows that a blemish on his record could translate into less revenue for his next fight, so why would he risk a fight against a younger and stronger Canelo Alvarez?

The answer is simple, fighting the next potential superstar in boxing brings Floyd the most money, as he's guaranteed a record $41 million dollars for the Alvarez fight. At 36 years old, Floyd is probably near retirement and when will he get the opportunity to fight an opponent that will pay that amount again? Even if Floyd is defeated, he cashes the biggest pay check of his career while he had the chance to get the record setting purse. However, Floyd isn't just about the payday and judging from the negotiations prior to the fight, winning is still a top priority for Mayweather.

The odds say that Mayweather will remain undefeated, which is seemingly based on his skill, rather than just the name value he brings to the table. The fight will take place at 152 pounds, which is probably a disadvantage for Canelo, mostly because it seems as though he could fight at a different weight class, so he will have to attempt to bulk up more than usual before the fight. The 23 year-old Alvarez doesn't have the experience and how he reacts to the bright lights could affect him.

Floyd Mayweather also has incredible speed and defense, which he showed during the Guerrero fight when he avoided many punches and countered in a tremendous technical display. However, if Canelo can close the distance and land some of the powerful punches he's known for, he could rattle Mayweather. The bottom line is Canelo is going to have to use his strength and being the bigger fighter if he's going to defeat Mayweather. If Canelo can actually defeat Floyd, he could become the next superstar for boxing, but Floyd could maintain his place at the top of the sport so it will be interesting to see what happens during the fight. This is more of a guess than anything and I could be wrong, but I will guess than Canelo wins a decision.

AJ Styles TNA Contract

Recent reports claim that TNA star, AJ Styles' contract will expire next month and it's possible he won't resign with the company. The "This is Awesome" TNA fans can relax because AJ will remain on the  TNA roster. Styles is obviously a tremendous talent and he was one of the competitors that helped the company gain notoriety during its earlier years. More specifically, Styles put the company on his back and had some of the best matches in the promotion history. Without a doubt, Styles is one of the most amazing athletes in the history of the business and even today, with a somewhat reduced role compared to earlier in his career, remains a major asset to the company. So, why wouldn't the company resign him?

Obviously, Styles and the TNA office are the only people that know the details of the negotiations, but I would guess that with TNA cutting the budget recently, they probably haven't offered Styles the right amount of money. The production cost of Impact on the road caused some talents to be released, which makes sense, but as far as Styles goes, it's time for TNA to pay up. Styles has earned his money and deserves to be compensated for his efforts. If TNA is actually trying to pay Styles less than he's worth, it would be ironic considering they can afford Hulk Hogan on the pay roll. Speaking of Hogan, what exactly has he done for TNA? The ratings haven't increased so what's the benefit for the company? They are not  more people watching Impact to see a Hogan promo so is it really necessary to pay him to talk? This might have sounded impossible a decade ago, but Hogan isn't really a draw in pro wrestling in the current market. If anything, he's known more for being a tabloid circus than a draw for wrestling fans. The tape scandals and TMZ reports of recent years seemed to sour people on Hogan so again, why is TNA paying him? Basically, if TNA can afford to pay Hogan then they can afford to pay Styles, which is why he will be signed.

Even though I think AJ will resign, I could be wrong and rumors of his departure from TNA fuel speculation that he could sign with the WWE. Styles has probably been offered a WWE contract before and if he was going to sign with them, it would have been five years ago. Styles has mentioned in interviews that he wants to spend time with his family, which is understandable and the TNA schedule allows him to do that. The flip side could be the reason Styles would consider a WWE contract, he has wrestled for over a decade and a WWE contract would give him the opportunity to make the most money in his career. While I'm sure AJ won't be in the bread line, a WWE deal would be major money he could earn for his family and he could retire at a younger age without a lot of the injuries that many of the aerial wrestlers have later in their career. If Styles were to sign with the WWE, I don't think he would be the automatic main event performer that some might guess, not for lack of talent, but rather that while TNA is a wrestling company, WWE is a sports entertainment company and it would be two completely different elements. That's not to say AJ wouldn't be successful in the WWE because he would definitely have some level of success, but his lack of promo skills might keep him from the main event scene. That being said, AJ has the talent so it would be interesting to see what he would do in the WWE and if he would be given the chance to be a major performer.

There have been similar contract situations in TNA before, including when Samoa Joe resigned with the company so it's possible AJ could resign a few weeks before his contract expires and he becomes a free agent. That being said, TNA has made a lot of dumb decisions, but even TNA isn't dumb enough to not AJ Styles for the company.

Angle, Tito, and Sabin

It's the competition of the wrestling business that provides a better product, but after the past few weeks of Impact, it's obvious that the wrestling business will go as far as the WWE takes it because TNA will not be a competitive product in the wrestling industry. That being said, the WWE product has been really solid the past few months and Summer Slam seems like a really good card. Sadly, there's a reason the Total Divas reality show gets a better rating than Impact.

Earlier this year, TNA made the announcement that it would feature less PPV events, which is a good move because the amount of PPVs really make each indivdual pay-per-view less important so basically scaling back the number of shows would allow TNA to build to major PPVs with a special event atmosphere. However, the episodes of Impact that are advertised with names of PPVs, such as this past week, Hardcore Justice doesn't really make sense because with the exception of a title match, it's basically just another episode of Impact. That being said, it was last month at the Destination X episode that Chris Sabin, who recently returned to the company after two knee injuries, cashed in the X Division title to defeat Bully Ray and win the TNA World Heavyweight title. Sabin is a solid performer, but I don't know if many would put him on the same level as other X Division stars that were main event wrestlers such as AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, or Samoa Joe. Regardless, Sabin's return to the ring was something TNA could use to push him and it's great that Sabin was able to return after some serious injuries. If nothing else, Sabin added something new to the main event scene, which is better than Sting challenging for the title again. That's not a jab at Sting because he's a legend, but rather if TNA is going to attempt to continue to establish itself as a company, the future is going to be build around the younger stars so it makes sense for them to invest TV to push Sabin. The title win also gave Sabin the opportunity to make it to the next level and become a credible main event star for the promotion. However, during a steel cage match on Impact this past week, Sabin dropped the belt to Bully Ray after former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz helped Bully get the win. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Bully Ray deserves a lot of credit for completely reinventing himself and he's arguably, the best heel in the business, but if TNA was going to give Sabin the chance to be a main event performer for the company, why have him drop the title after a month? Wouldn't a decent run as champion help establish Sabin as a legitimate main event competitor?

A few weeks ago, TNA hyped an August warning as a debut for the company, which led to some speculation as to who was going to appear on Impact and when Tito Ortiz showed up, there was almost zero reaction from the crowd. Tito announced he was retired from MMA about a year and he wasn't relevant for year prior, but signed with Bellator to fight Rampage Jackson in November. If Tito isn't relevant  for the MMA audience, why would he be relevant for a wrestling audience? I understand it's an attempt to promote the Bellator PPV, but is a wrestling program the right platform to promote MMA? How does it benefit TNA? If anything, it makes Bellator look bush league that a scripted storyline is being used to attempt to promote a legitimate fight. Don't get me wrong, Tito accomplished a lot during his MMA career but it's ridiculous to use a scripted wrestling program to try to promote an MMA fight. Another point is that 99% of the Impact TV audience doesn't order TNA PPVs so why would they order an MMA PPV? It doesn't make sense and it won't help either company, but the the Bellator PPV will probably get the same buy rate as a TNA PPV so I guess it make sense for Tito to appear on Impact.

Kurt Angle was arrested for a fourth DUI and he has subsequently entered rehab for it. Obviously, it was a dumb decision and there's no excuse to drive intoxicated, but at least Angle is getting help for it. Hopefully, Angle can resolve his problems because they have somewhat overshadowed his career in the past few years. There haven't been any reports about Angle's status to return to the ring, but he should put his health before wrestling and if that decision is retirement from the sport then it's the right decision for him. Regardless of if Angle wrestles again, he is one of the greatest of all time, which he accomplished in just a few years during his WWE career.

TNA Releases

Last week, TNA released five wrestlers and another contract expired, which totals six departures from the company, reportedly for budget cuts. While it's understandable that TNA would have to cut the budget because of the expense of running Impact on the road, did they actually waste more of an investment when they released the talent? Four of the wrestlers that were released were participants in the TNA Gut Check Challenge and while releasing most of the winners of the contest, TNA has basically killed the credibility of it. Why should the audience think that the future winners of the contest are potential stars when there's a track record of Gut Check winners that get released? Furthermore, the TV time that was used to push Christian York, Taeler Hendrix, Crimson, and Joey Ryan was basically wasted because with the except of Crimson, did any of the other Gut Check talent that were released actually get a legitimate opportunity to become a star for the promotion?

Christian York is a ring veteran that despite being signed to a few major organizations during his career, didn't really make it to the next level in the business and TNA used it as the basis of the storyline for his debut, but York did nothing major after it. There wasn't a storyline for him after he was signed to the company and while his released isn't a major mishap, as he's decent in the ring, but nothing great, it's another example of TNA wasting TV time, as there could have at least given York the opportunity to become a more established star.

Taeler Hendrix had a decent match with Tara and was signed to a contract to wrestle in the OVW developmental territory, but only made a few appearances on Impact so it seems to be another situation where she didn't really get an opportunity to become a star for TNA. Hendrix has potential and it would seem to make sense for the promotion to add to the knockouts division, which is some of the better ratings for the company, but she was released. Another Knockout, Madison Rayne, wasn't resigned after her contract expired, which doesn't make sense because she was one of the better knockouts, at least in terms of character on the TNA roster. Gail Kim, Tara, and Mickie James are great for the knockouts division, but Rayne could have added a lot to it.

Joey Ryan was also released and I think he could have become a star for the company, if he was given the opportunity, instead of the sporadic TV appearances during the past few months. Joey Ryan was good in the ring, has great mic skills, and he's entertaining so he should definitely have a spot on the TNA roster. I would guess that Joey Ryan returns to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he has wrestled most of his career and he will continue to have good matches. Obviously, Joey Ryan was under utilized in TNA, but at least it gives him the opportunity to return to PWG, which is probably the best independent promotion in the United States so if you haven't seen it yet, I definitely recommend watching some PWG.

Crimson is one of the original Gut Check winners and was signed after he wrestled at a TNA seminar. Crimson has all the skills to be a major star in pro wrestling and it's possible WWE could sign him. After his debut, TNA gave Crimson a major push and he was undefeated for over a year before he basically disappeared from TNA TV. What did the undefeated streak really do for Crimson? When TNA didn't book him on Impact, they basically killed the push and the TV time they invested in him is worthless. Crimson should still be on the TNA roster and it will be interesting to see if the WWE signs him.

Matt Morgan was also released and it was after some sporadic appearances for the company. There were rumors that Morgan would return to the WWE last year, but he eventually resigned with TNA, but did nothing memorable after it. On the surface, Morgan seems like he would be a star in pro wrestling, but for some reason, he just hasn't really become anything other than a mid card talent in TNA or the WWE. That's not to say that Morgan doesn't have the potential to be a star, but rather that the way he was booked in both companies didn't really help push him. It will be interesting to see if he returns to the WWE and if he gets push at the company.

RVD returns to the WWE

During the Payback pay-per-view, a video package aired to announce the return of former ECW, WWE, and TNA champion, Rob Van Dam at the Money in the bank PPV. The reaction was immediate, as the fans in attendance at the PPV started an "RVD" chant and many fans also posted on Twitter about the return, but will the WWE audience get the Rob Van Dam that was featured in the video package? It was reported that Van Dam will be working a limited schedule for a short term deal so it's possible Van Dam might make a few PPV appearances, rather than an actual run in the company.

On the surface, RVD's return could provide some interesting scenarios, but after his TNA run, you can't expect much in terms of match quality, at least until RVD proves otherwise with some good performances in a WWE ring. When Van Dam debuted in TNA, there were many possibilities for some great matches, but after three years wrestling in TNA, how many classic RVD matches were there? It seemed like Van Dam mailed it in during his TNA run, as one of the most innovative competitors of the past decade was reduced to a few signature spots each match with nothing memorable at the Impact Zone. Basically, RVD did the same thing a lot of former stars did when they signed with TNA, work an easy schedule and get a paycheck. You can't really blame him for not risking too much in TNA, considering that the way the company booked him was inconsistent and they actually minimized his value to the promotion when the major "dream match" with AJ Styles where Van Dam won the title was booked on free TV instead of a PPV.  Don't get me wrong, quality TV matches can get more viewers, but it just didn't make sense to book a "dream match" on an episode of Impact. Speaking of Van Dam's value to the company, the ratings didn't increase and he didn't really establish any of the younger talent, so was it worth the investment? Obviously, the ratings can't be placed directly on Van Dam, but the younger talent, specifically in the X Division could have become more established during matches with him and as was mentioned previously, there weren't too many great matches for RVD in TNA. On the other side, there's a performer such as Chris Jericho, who can take time off, return to the WWE, and make the younger talent look good in the ring. That's one of the reasons Jericho is such a great competitor and he remains relevant when he returns to the company because he can adapt to the current WWE product.

As far as Rob Van Dam returning to the WWE, it was announced on Raw that he would be a participant in the WWE Money in The Bank match, but I doubt RVD wins it at the PPV. I've said it before and I will say it again, Van Dam had a chance to be a main event wrestler in the WWE and he  made irresponsible choices after he won the WWE title so he can only blame himself for the abrupt conclusion to his main event run. That being said, it seems doubtful that the WWE would book him to win the title, especially with Wellness policy and the emphasis on the wrestlers safety, which is great because there will be less injuries. However there are some matches that have potential including, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, and even Ryback. It will be interesting to see what happens at the Money in The Bank PPV and also the feuds for RVD after he returns. Regardless of his lack luster run in TNA, RVD is one of the greatest athletes in the history of pro wrestling and hopefully he will have a good run in the WWE.

TNA signs Rampage Jackson

A few weeks ago, TNA president, Dixie Carter, tweeted that the company signed a free agent, which caused a lot of discussion among fans as to just who was the latest signing for the promotion. Former World Heavyweight champion, Dave Batista responded to the rumor on twitter, saying he was a "WWE guy" and he also mentioned he was filming a movie. There was also speculation that former WCW world champion, Bill Goldberg might have signed with TNA, but he said that he would not sign with the company, while taking a cheap shot at the promotion. Most fans thought the announcement would take place at the most recent pay-per-view, but it was actually last week that it was announced that mixed martial arts fighter and former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson signed by the company.

Along with the TNA deal, Jackson also signed a deal to fight for the Bellator promotion, which is similar to the deal Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal signed last year. Rampage made his TNA debut last week and according to online reports, made another appearance that was taped to air this week, but there's a few things to consider about the Rampage deal. Most importantly, is Rampage still relevant? Don't get me wrong, Rampage has notoriety from his time in the UFC, but his profile has declined in recent years, including some bizarre incidents outside of the octagon and a rather disappointing conclusion to his UFC career so will people still pay to see Rampage? In 2008, Rampage was involved in a hit and run incident and was arrested, but later the charges were dropped after he completed community service. The following year, Jackson posted on his website that he would "retire" after the conclusion of his UFC contract and he was scheduled to fight Rashad Evans in his hometown of Memphis, TN at UFC 107, but Rampage declined the fight to film a role in "The A-Team" movie. It was announced in 2010 that Jackson resigned a contact with the UFC, but he went 2-4 during his most recent run in the organization and he had some public disagreements with UFC president, Dana White in the media the past few years. The bottom line is, with any major signing by TNA, is will it generate revenue for the company?

The other major piece of the puzzle here, is will the 35 year old Jackson be able to successfully transition to pro wrestling? One of the major criticisms of Rampage during his MMA career is his lack of training for major fights so it seems doubtful that he will be motivated to train for both MMA and pro wrestling. Also, King Mo has reportedly only wrestled a match in Ohio Valley Wrestling and despite signing a TNA deal last year, hasn't actually wrestled in TNA so if Rampage trains to wrestle, will he actually have a match? Again, I will say that Rampage Jackson has a name and it's quite possible that he could draw for TNA, but considering his lack of training for MMA fights and his lackluster fight record recently, I don't think people will pay to see Rampage on TNA PPV and he probably won't have a major pro wrestling career. It will be interesting to see if Rampage actually wrestling a match and this will probably be another case of TNA paying a lot of money for a former star that won't draw for the company.

The Shield

This past week on Smackdown, the Daniel Bryan vs. Dean Ambrose match has received the endorsement from both WWE Hall of Famer, Jim Ross and veteran, William Regal, as an excellent match that showcases many of the great aspects of professional wrestling. If you watched the match, you know they are correct and if you didn't, I recommend you find the match on Youtube because it's definitely worth watching.

It's no surprise that Bryan and Ambrose had such a great match, considering they are some of the most talented young stars on the roster, but more specifically, each member of The Shield seems to have a bright future. Seth Rollins, who was known on the independent scene as Tyler Black, is a former Ring Of Honor champion and excelled in the WWE developmental system before his debut along with Ambrose and Reigns last year. During his time in ROH, some of the fans criticized his run as champion there, but it took place when there was a shift in the direction of the company so that didn't exactly help his run in ROH. Plus, the die hard internet fan base that ROH has, while some very loyal fans, can also be some of the most jaded fans as well so regardless of any criticism at the time, Rollins has showed that he will be a major player on a global stage. Obviously, Rollins brings a ton of athleticism and skill to the table, but also the booking of The Shield has also helped him become an established star to the WWE audience. He isn't known for his promo work, which is probably why Ambrose has done most of the talking, but Rollins has done well on the mic.

Dean Ambrose was John Moxley on the indy circuit prior to being signed by the WWE and he trained at Les Thatcher's HWA wrestling school in Cincinnati, OH that has produced other wrestling stars, including Nigel McGunniess. Ambrose seems to have all the intangibles and wrestling skills to be a WWE champion at some point in his career. He brings a blend of a European style and brawling to compliment his erratic character, which provides something unique on WWE TV. Ambrose has excellent mic skills, which are a slight combination of Brian Pillman and Jake Roberts, which he makes his own, rather than directly copying either of them. Basically, when Ambrose talks, the audience listens, which allows both the faction and the angles to get more over with the crowd. There's a reason the WWE booked Ambrose in main event matches on Smackdown and in my view, it's because he could have the brightest future of The Shield. That's not a jab to Rollins or Reigns, but rather that at least at this point, Ambrose seems like he's going to be a major heel champion in the future.

Roman Reigns debuted with perhaps the least hype of The Shield members, mostly because of the extensive independent careers of Ambrose and Rollins, but don't over look Reigns because he has a lot of potential as well. The booking of The Shield has been done really well and it's allowed their opponents to get enough offense to still be established, but The Shield gets the win using the numbers advantage, which is how they've been booked since their debut. Basically, The Shield has been able to get a push without the sacrifice of the credibility of other stars of angles. The Extreme Rules pay-per-view looks to be the next step in the development of The Shield, as Ambrose challenges for the U.S. title, while Rollins and Reigns challenge for the tag team titles. I think The Shield wins at the PPV and they take a more prominent role on Raw, which will help the show, considering that CM Punk is taking time off and the World Heavyweight champion, Dolph Ziggler has a concussion. It will be interesting interesting to see if The Shield wins at the PPV and the push on WWE TV the next few weeks.

The Road to Wrestlemania

 The biggest event of the year, Wrestlemania is less than two weeks away and while the road to the pay-per-view is usually a major build up, it's been a rather short journey compared to previous events. More specifically, some of the match ups seem to be thrown together just to get competitors on the card, rather than a storyline leading to the match. The Chris Jericho/Fandango match is a prime example of a contest that was seemingly just thrown on the card for no particular reason and while Fandango might have the potential to be a star, does he really need a Wrestlemania match for his debut? I understand the storyline or lack there of is that he finally has to wrestle, but why not book the match for a different PPV? It's also somewhat disappointing that Jericho, one of the most solid performers in the company, is booked in a match with three weeks build up on the biggest event on the WWE calendar. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bury Fandango, but it seems as though Jericho could be in a more important role at the PPV. Jericho will make Fandango look good in the ring, which will obviously help him get over as a heel with the WWE audience, but after the Jericho/Ziggler matches on Raw the past few weeks, it seems like the WWE might have overlooked a potentially great Jericho/Ziggler match at Wrestlemania.

Speaking of Ziggler, he's almost in the same category as Jericho, in terms of Wrestlemania booking because while it's good to see the WWE place an emphasis on tag team wrestling again, the money in the bank winner could be booked in something more important than a tag team match that only has a few weeks of a feud for it. Yes, I know there's the AJ factor, but that's not really the focal point of the storyline. With that being said, Big E. Langston and Ziggler aren't really a team and Ziggler as a tag team champion wouldn't really do anything to further his push as money in the bank winner. That being said, I think Daniel Bryan and Kane vs. the Rhodes Scholars would be a better choice for Wrestlemania, but than again, there could be more to the storyline to unfold at the PPV, considering Ziggler could still cash in the title shot at the event.

The Ryback/Mark Henry match is another one that doesn't have much build up, but it doesn't necessarily need a storyline because it's being promoted as  the "irresistible force vs. the immoveable object" type of match. That being said, if it's kept short, it could be an entertaining bout and hopefully Ryback can get the win to help reestablish himself because despite being lost in the shuffle somewhat on Raw the past few months, he remains really over with the WWE audience. Obviously, Ryback is somewhat limited in the ring, but the intensity he brings to the table helps get a crowd reaction and an augment could be made that the WWE could have put the title on him during the CM Punk feud. Mark Henry also deserves a lot of credit for what he's accomplished in the past few years, considering that he floundered in the WWE for most of his career, he had a solid run as World Heavyweight champion and after taking some time off to heal some injuries, he has had a decent return to the WWE. I don't expect Ryback/Mark Henry to be Savage vs. Steamboat, but I wouldn't disregard it either because as I mentioned, it could be an entertaining match.

Ryback was originally booked in a six man tag match as part of a Sheamus/Randy Orton team vs. The Shield, but the Big Show replaced him in the match. Usually, it wouldn't really effect the match because The Shield had various run ins with Orton and Sheamus, but the Big Show was a heel and is now technically a face without any explanation for it. Also, one of the reasons The Shield is over with the WWE audience is because there was some type of reason for their interference and the "fight injustice" angle was intriguing, but there's really no direct reason why they have targeted Sheamus, Orton, and The Big Show. However, it should be a good match and I think The Shield will be major stars in the WWE.

The World Heavyweight title match is one of the few on the card that actually has a few months of a build up for it and I think the promo work during the feud has added to the importance of the match. Specifically, Zeb Colter, who some fans might know as wrestling veteran Dutch Mantel, has been great on the mic and he has really generated some heat for the feud. Also, the Colter character proves that managers can still be effective for the current product and he deserves major credit for how Swagger's push has progressed because after his initial main event push flopped, I don't think Jack Swagger would get over without a manager to do the mic work. That's not necessarily a jab at Swagger's lack of mic skills, but rather an observation that if the WWE used more managers, it seems possible that some of the roster that can't get over because of a lack of promo ability would have a chance to become more established stars if they had a manager to do the mic work. Since the topic is managers, I have to mention that I think the WWE could have used managers on a more regular basis in recent years and it would have benefited the product, but because mangers are used to sell angles, not t shirts, the entire concept of a manager was almost disregarded during the past decade. That being said, Zeb has provided some great TV and hopefully his run as Swagger's manager will continue after Wrestlemania. As for the actual match, it should be solid and it will be interesting to see if the WWE has Swagger win the title because while he has definitely improved during the push, if he can have main event quality matches on a consist basis remains to be seen. That's not to say he won't be on the main event level, but rather that Wrestlemania will be his opportunity to show he can have a good match on the major stage. If Alberto Del Rio retains the title, it will be interesting to see who is the next challenger for it and despite some online reports suggesting that Ricardo would be written off TV after Wrestlemania, I think Ricardo will continue to be in Del Rio's corner. As much credit as Zeb deserves, Ricardo should get some credit as well because as I mentioned in a previous column, Del Rio saving Ricardo is what got him over as a face champion with the WWE audience.

The Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar match has a background, but the WWE has really generated some steam for it using the promos the past few weeks, which should build to a good match at the PPV. I think Triple H gets the win because Lesnar won at Summer Slam last year, which allows for a trilogy, potentially at Summer Slam this year. I was really surprised that Lesnar signed another two year contract with the company and in some ways, it gives the WWE an insurance policy if they need to add star power to a particular PPV, they could book Lesnar for it.

The Undertaker vs. CM Punk could potentially steal the show, which has been the case for the past few years, mostly because there's such an emphasis on what the steak represents and in some respects, the two decades behind the streak make it tough to follow on the card. The Undertaker/Punk feud was put into overdrive the past few weeks to generate some steam for the match and while conterversal, the Paul Bearer stuff has generated a lot of heat for CM Punk to build to the match. I can understand why some people would think the Paul Bearer segments, specifically the conclusion of Raw this past week went a little too far, but it was reported that Bearer's family approved of the storyline. I think The Undertaker will win and the streak will continue, but even if the match is predicable, it should be a great match.

The WWE title match has created a lot of buzz and while some people criticize another The Rock/John Cena match, it will draw money and that's basically the point of the wrestling business. Cena/Rock at the top of the card sold out a stadium and people will pay $60 to order the pay per view so it's mission accomplished in terms of the business aspect of Wrestlemania. Yes, the WWE champion should be on Raw on a weekly basis and the WWE had to cover a lot of ground to build up the rematch because of The Rock's sporadic appearances after he defeated CM Punk to win the title, but the promo work the past few weeks added a level of intensity to the feud so it provides a solid build up for the main event of the show. That being said, it doesn't exactly establish younger stars when The Rock can show up in the main event spot to promote a movie, but The Rock wrestling on the card will get more fans to watch the show, which gives the younger talent more exposure and the opportunity to showcase their skills. I think John Cena will win the match and it will be interesting to see the next challenger for the title.

Strangle Mania 1

Throwback Theater
March 25, 2013
“Strangle Mania 1” 1996

Right off the bat I have to tell you I am not a fan of the Insane Clown Posse I guess they have talent if you like that kind of music. With that being said I will say that I do like ICP when it comes to to movies and wrestling this brings me to my next review 1996”s “Strangle Mania 1”. If you are a fan of old school death match wrestling then this is the video for you. Picture for a moment an alternate Universe where Good Ol' JR and the King have no censors for they're commentary. Monday Night Raw would feature the Mushroom Boys in a broken glass death match instead of John Cena vs Randy Orton. The greatest champion would not be Stone Cold Steve Austin but instead Cactus Jack. If you think that sounds fun well rejoice my fellow wrestling fans and welcome to the wild world of Japanese death match wrestling as brought to you by the Insane Clown Posse.

Released in 1996 during the last big boom in pro wrestling “Strangle Mania” comes from the twisted minds of Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J and the world of IWA Japan. Most of the video is ICP providing commentary to the 1994 Kawasaki Dream King of the Death Match tournament. After the opening credits and a quick intro we jump right into the action as we witness an hour and a half of huge hulking wrestlers hitting each other with everything from barbed wire to broken glass. Seeing the likes of the Headhunters and Leatherface to the almost unknown Lama Nama Numi and Deadly Fred all beating the hell out of each other for the entertainment of the fans. There are many highlight to “Strangle Mania 1” to tell you about.

The Mushroom Boys explode in a Broken Glass Death Match AKA “The Clones of Abdullah the Butcher”. Only in the Sumo and Giant Monster cultures of Japan could this match take place, we really get to see the fat fly. This match is brutal with a capital B seeing two 400 pound behemoths stab one another with glass and do flying dives off the top of the turnbuckle is something to see. This is the closest thing I have ever seen to a real live Kajiu battle. Then of course is the main event Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk in a no rope barbed wire exploding bomb death match. The clips shown on WWE TV do no justice to the sheer brutality of this match. Seeing Terry and Cactus both get ripped up by barbed wire and blown up by “C4” is a sight to see. The violence is offset by the genius and hilarious commentary by ICP.

Try this next time you are watching a Pay per View after the show is over pop this in the old DVD player and try not to be entertained or laugh at the commentary. Try not to wince in pain watching one of these warriors getting slammed into barbed wire. If you want to have one heck of a movie and beer night watch this and the even more awesome “Strangle Mania 2” back to back. For more fun go to YouTube and lookup Botchamania the greatest Pro Wrestling blunders of all time. Go out and seek good Wrestling!!!!

Sal

Snapshot of the Week

March 19, 2013

She is quite the lady huh????

“Laughing Sal”

With spring just around the corner!!! Soon there will be longer days and the option to go to Kennywood to ride and eat. Hopefully this old girl can help a little with those winter blues. Sal is waiting for you where she has been for as long as I can remember at the Kennywood Train Station. There she stands laughing at the world as she has done for years.

Bas Rutten

Video Review of the Week
“Bas Rutten’s Ultimate Lethal Street Fighting System”
March 18, 2013

After a long break your old friend A T Folino is back to doing what he loves the most writing about movies for you readers of the Steel City Underground blog. This week’s video is from all the way back in 2004 when MMA was still in its infancy here in the USA in Eastern Europe and Japan business was booming. With many small MMA Federations operating in Japan and Europe at the time this was the birthplace of some of the all time greatest fighters. From Crocop to Anderson Silva many of the sports greatest names have come out of the rings and cages of the Far East. With all those names to me one stands above all else and his name is not Fedor or Couture his name is “El Guappo” Bas Rutten.

Bas is known to many modern UFC fans as the host of “MMA Weekly” and the voice of “The Best of Pride FC” TV series. Before he became famous for shouting praises for the Liver Kick he was one of the most brutal kick boxers and fighters in Japan. This brings us to our video of the week “Bas Rutten’s Ultimate Lethal Street Fighting System” the video is as awesome as the name. Believe me when I say this is a must see for any fan of MMA or comedy. Find it at all costs via EBay or YouTube just see it!!! The video itself has a mid 1980’s feel to it.

The beginning of the video we are treated to a montage of carnage edited together with the best music and special effects that the 1985 porn industry has to offer complete with synth-drum soundtrack and endless double takes. After a couple of minutes of an 80’s music video we get our first glimpse of the man himself Bas. During this intro Bas warns us to always pay attention as he shows us a knife he has been palming the whole time he has been talking to us as we the audience say a collective “Mr. Rutten you are quite the Sneaky One!!!!” With the ending of his introduction now the real fun begins as we are treated to an hour and a half of wholesome family entertainment starting with Bas’s explanation of using everyday bar objects as “Lethal Weapons” you are a better man than I if you can keep a straight face. After the little primer on weapons we witness sad sack after sad sack getting punched, kicked, choked and thrown by Mr. Rutten as he treats us to his own folly arsenal of mouth made sound effects. In fact I believe this can make one hell of a drinking game.

The “Bas Rutten” drinking game is simple a simple one to play. Rule one every time Bas says the phrases “Slit your throat.” Or “LIVER KICK!!!!” you must do a shot. Rule two every time you hear a silly home made sound effect like “GONG!” Or “DINK!” you must drink your beer. Do this with your buddies and see who is left standing after an hour and a half. With all silliness aside I can’t help but feel that Bas came along just a few years to early.

With his natural charisma and brutal fighting ability Bas would have been one of the most beloved fighters in MMA today. After watching the video you can’t help but think Bas would be the type of guy that you could have a beer with and listen to his stories about fighting around the World for hours and hours. In closing all I can say is Bas is the Man!!!

Bruno Sammartino Agreed to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

 Professional wrestling made headlines on multiple main stream media platforms and thankfully, it wasn't a negative story, but rather news that many fans, including old school fans wanted to hear for years. One of the greatest legends of all time and the longest reigning WWE champion in history, Bruno Sammartino, agreed to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year at Madison Square Garden. I have to say, I was shocked and I didn't think Bruno would be inducted because he refused the induction for the past few years, but finally fans will get to see him inducted into the hall of fame.

Bruno was very critical of the WWE product, including the steroid scandal of the early 90s and the edgy direction of the company during the attitude era. In some ways, Bruno was right, steroids led to some tragic deaths in wrestling and even some within the WWE have said that some of the content during the attitude era was too vulgar. That being said, wrestling evolved and while Bruno had a point, the success of Stone Cold, The Rock, Mick Foley, and others during the attitude era shouldn't be discounted either because the WWE was only too vulgar with some of the segments, but not the entire product. Recently, the WWE has seemed to find a decent middle ground for the product, it's not so PG based that it waters down the product like it did during Linda McMahon's senate run, but it's also not a vulgar show either. Quite frankly, the WWE doesn't need the vulgarity in the product because again, wrestling has evolved from the "shock TV" era and they have enough talent on the roster that they don't need to shock the audience to get them to tune in on a weekly basis. One of the things that some fans complained about when the WWE shifted the product to PG was the lack of blood on WWE TV, but let's be honest here, blading isn't something that a publicly traded company wants to publicize and if a wrestler can't get over with the WWE audience without cutting their head then they probably won't be on WWE TV anyway considering the WWE markets toward a main stream audience. However, if a wrestler bleeds hard way in a match, it's ridiculous for the match to be stopped while the medical staff treats the cut, which is where things were too PG for a few years.

Bruno posted an interview on his website and was also interviewed for various media outlets following the hall of fame announcement, where he explained why he agreed to the hall of fame. Triple H worked on the deal with Bruno and he deserves a lot of credit for it because he knew how important it was for the company to get Bruno into the hall of fame. Bruno explained he watched the product and he saw some of the changes, which were more presentable for a younger audience. Bruno also said he approved of the wellness policy and that the WWE hired Dr. Maroon, who was one of his doctors a few years ago. Obviously, it's great that the WWE has a wellness policy and that there isn't as much steroid use in the WWE because nobody wants to see another tragic death in the wrestling industry.

Reportedly, Bruno received major money for the deal, which is a smart business decision because he knows he should be paid top money for the WWE hall of fame and he knows it adds credibility to it. It's a win-win situation because Bruno gets paid and the WWE gets a legend inducted into the hall of fame. It also gives the WWE wellness policy more credibility because Bruno is giving it his stamp of approval. The bottom line is it's good to see the Bruno/WWE situation get resolved and that Bruno will get the spot he deserves in the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Royal Rumble Review

 The road to Wrestlemania has begun and following Raw this past week, a few of the major matches seem to be set for the biggest event of the year.

The World Heavyweight title match opened the show and it was a decent match. That being said, it's good to see Del Rio get a fresh run in the main event picture as a face because while he was previously the champion as a heel, he didn't really get a major run. Even when Del Rio won the rumble a few years ago, he was defeated at Wrestlemania so that Edge could retire as champion and his subsequent reign as champion was somewhat lost in the shuffle, as he was basically a transitional champion during CM Punk's initial run as champion on Raw. Some people doubted if Del Rio could get over as a face, but it's worked and his ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, is a major reason the crowd has cheered him. Rodriguez is extremely entertaining and he does really well in his role so when Del Rio saved him from The Big Show, it prompted the crowd to cheer him. There's also Del Rio's Mexican heritage and the latino audience is a major demographic for the WWE so that could also help Del Rio get over with the crowd.

The tag team title match was solid and Daniel Bryan/Kane retained the titles. The Rhodes Scholars are a great team and Bryan/Kane are extremely entertaining so hopefully feud continues because it keeps the tag division relevant on WWE TV. Specifically, The Daniel Bryan/Kane segments are great and they both deserve credit for being versatile performers. As for the Rhodes Scholars, they have potential to be main event competitors and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the next few months.

I was surprised that the Rumble match wasn't the main event of the show, but it was one of the better battle royal matches in the past few years. The match was well paced, including when the surprise entrants showed up and it was booked well, as many of the competitors were given the chance to show their skills in the Rumble. Chris Jericho was a great surprise and when he lasted nearly 48 minutes, it set up for another run. That being said, Jericho deserves a lot of credit, not just for being able to go 48 minutes during one of WWE's major events, but also for adapting to the WWE scene when he returns to the company. He's still a solid performer in the ring, which is why he remains relevant and hopefully there's a Jericho/Ziggler match at Wrestlemania because it would be a good way to continue to push Ziggler to an eventual title run. Goldust, who has been resigned and released more than anyone else in the history of the WWE, made another return to the company for the Royal Rumble and it seems like there could be a Goldust/Cody Rhodes match at some point, which Goldust talked about prior to his most recent release from the company a few months ago. Aside from that, it's good to see Goldust back on the roster because he's always entertaining and a Goldust/Cody Rhodes feud could provide some good TV in the next few months. Bo Dallas, an NXT star, won a tournament to enter the rumble and was given a decent push for his WWE debut, as he went over 20 minutes in the match. He also eliminated Intercontinental champion,Wade Barrett and it seems like there could be a feud for the title on Raw. Weather or not, Bo Dallas can become a star on Raw remains to be seen, but it's good that the WWE gave him a solid push for his debut, which can help him get over with the audience.  John Cena won the rumble and it was obvious that The Rock would win the WWE title to set up a rematch against Cena at Wrestlemania.

The WWE title match was a good match with a lot of back and fourth action that provided a good story for the main event, including The Shield spot that led to the restart of the match and The Rock winning the title. Immediately, there was some back lash about the Cena/Rock rematch at Wrestlemania and while I agree that it doesn't exactly help establish the future stars, it's a smart business move because The Rock/Cena match will draw major money for the WWE. Does it speak well of the current stars when The Rock, who sporadically appears to promote a move, seemingly gets a more important spot? Probably not, but will it draw buy rates? Without a doubt. In some ways, The Rock automatically getting the top spot in the main event of the biggest event of the year almost indicates a lack of star power in the WWE, but again it will draw money for the WWE so from a marketing prospective, it's mission accomplished. That being said, I think the WWE has the most solid roster they've had in a decade and there's enough talent for a Wrestlemania main event, but The Rock offers the WWE a guaranteed draw. The only downside of the whole scenario is the past few years, the WWE has used The Rock as the main draw for Wrestlemania, but what stars will the WWE push when The Rock isn't signed to appear at Wrestlemania? Regardless, the WWE audience will pay $55 to watch the Rock/Cena match and the bottom line is it will generate buy rates for the WWE.

CM Punk on Raw

This past week on Raw, the WWE had one of its most intriguing segments in recent memory when WWE Champion, CM Punk went on an elaborate tirade where he compared his current, record-setting title run to those of the golden era of wrestling as a way to put over his "best in the world" heel persona. The Rock made his return and an intense verbal confrontation followed, which is exactly what the WWE needed to sell the upcoming Royal Rumble match. In my opinion, some of the real criticism that CM Punk talked about in interviews last year when The Rock headlined Wrestlemania can be used to fuel the Royal Rumble angle, but that's a discussion for another time.

This discussion is about the reaction to the promo from WWE Hall of Famer, "Superstar" Billy Graham, who blasted the WWE writers and CM Punk for the mention of the golden era. Graham claims that Punk "disrespected" Bruno Sammartino and other champions from his era when he compared himself to the Madison Square Garden era. Graham continued that he wanted to disassociate himself from the WWE Hall of Fame. Graham has seemed delusional over the years and the trend continues because despite his time as one of the most influential villains in wrestling history, it appears that he doesn't know  that a heel promo is supposed to get heat. In reality, Punk's title run compared to Bruno as champion is apples to oranges because it's two completely different eras in wrestling, but to further his character, Punk made a comparison in the promo. In my opinion, it was just a promo and it wasn't actually intended to disrespect any of the legends.

The whole Bruno/WWE situation is something that's already been discussed so there's no need to review it. Simply, Bruno doesn't agree with the direction of the industry so it's his decision to refuse the hall of fame, just as it's the WWE's decision for the direction of the product. I've met Bruno a few different times and he's always been really polite so regardless of the WWE Hall of Fame decision, the fans know he's a true legend. However, Superstar has really made himself look delusional for criticizing a heel promo and he's really a hypocrite, considering his stance on WWE changes based on if he's getting a paycheck from them. It was two decades ago during the infamous steroid trial that Billy Graham appeared on the Phil Donahue show and criticized the WWE about steroids. It was over a decade later that Graham went on the record to retract his statements and he said the steroid accusations were false. He made the statements after there was a hall of fame induction, a book/DVD deal, and a paycheck for being a "consultant" for the WWE. After he was released a few years ago, Graham started to post anti WWE statements online, including some bizarre Youtube videos.

Without a doubt, "Superstar" Billy Graham had a great career, but the recent comments make him seem like a hypocrite and it was probably just an attempt to criticize the WWE because again, it was obvious that the promo was just a heel promo to get heat and it wasn't to disrespect any of the legends.

From The Vault:Dusty Rhodes vs. Harley Race