Global Force Wrestling

Earlier this year, Jeff Jarrett announced the launch of Global Force Wrestling and while there was a buzz around it, there weren't many details about the new promotion. Despite the announcement nearly six months ago, there's still not a lot of information about the actual company. As of now, there's no official roster, no television deal, and no live events scheduled with the exception of a GFW branded broadcast of the New Japan Pro Wrestling Tokyo Dome show in a few months. So, what exactly is GFW?

Last year, there were several rumors that Jarrett and Toby Keith made an offer to buy TNA, but a deal wasn't reached because Bob Cater wanted Dixie to remain on TV if the company was sold. After Jarrett resigned from TNA a few months later, reports surfaced online that he was going to start another promotion and it was officially announced in April. As mentioned, no roster or TV deal has been announced, but there are working agreements with several international promotions, including AAA and NJPW. That's one of the elements that could give Global Force something unique to promote, the international talent from different promotions, which is similar to how WCW used talent from Mexico and Japan in the late 90s. More specifically, if GFW would provide an American stage for some of the top international performers, the company could generate a fan base to showcase talent that doesn't usually appear in the United States. As I've mentioned in a previous column, the Bullet Club is one of the top stables in New Japan and one of the reasons that the promotion had a resurgence the past few years so if Global Force can book the Bullet Club for events in the United States, it would certainly help the promotion become established as something other than just a PPV broadcast. The other international talent that would be beneficial for GFW is "El Patron" Alberto Del Rio because he's still fresh off of WWE TV and he returned to Mexico as a top star, but he was recently announced to debut for Ring Of Honor so it seems doubtful he would sign to Global Force.

While the possibilities of different talent provide some unique scenarios for the Global Force brand, there's still not an actual company established and in some respects, it seems like Jarrett is looking to use the broadcast of a New Japan show as a "launch" for a company that doesn't exist yet. New Japan sent some of their stars to work Ring Of Honor shows earlier this year and considering that NJPW seems to be expanding into the United States, you have to wonder why didn't they set up their own PPV deal? Was Jarrett necessary to get the Tokyo Dome show on American PPV? The New Japan office and Jarrett are the only ones that know the answer, but it certainly seems like Jarrett is getting the better part of the deal if he can associate his company name with NJPW when the promotion has already gained notoriety in the United States the past few years. If Global Force is going to become an established promotion, you have to wonder if there's really enough of the market for it to be profitable.

The wrestling business has been down in recent years and you have to wonder,  is there a market for another wrestling promotion? WWE has a majority of the wrestling fans watching the product, TNA has about a million viewers watch Impact, ROH has an audience, and Lucha Underground is trying to get a portion of the market, so what audience will Global Force try to market towards? Basically, what can Global Force bring to the table that isn't already used in a different promotion? That's not to say GFW can't be successful, but at this point, they haven't promoted anything different from what fans can already watch for a different promotion.

It will be extremely interesting to see the direction that Global Force goes and if they sign a TV deal because that's what would give them the opportunity to become a national promotion. Considering that TNA struggled to sign a new deal and even Destination America is a smaller channel, cable networks don't seem to eager to sign a wrestling company so it might be a challenge for GFW to get a TV deal. Don't get me wrong, Global Force has a chance to become a national product and there could be a great roster, but there are a lot things that Global Force would have to add to become a legitimate promotion.

CM Punk signed for UFC

For the second week in a row, Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast froze its website because of the amount of people attempting to listening to CM Punk discuss his departure from the WWE. Last week, social media was a buzz as Punk finally spoke about his decision to leave the WWE almost a year ago and during the podcast, there were many revelations about what exactly led to Punk quitting the company. I'm going to discuss a few of the main highlights from the original podcast, but if you haven't listened to it yet, I would recommend it, as it's worth listening to hear it directly from Punk.

One of the main topics for Punk was that he wasn't booked in the main event of Wrestlemania, even when he was the champion and defended the title against Chris Jericho at the event because The Rock returned to the company to wrestle John Cena for the main event. I've mentioned it before and I will say it again, while The Rock is a draw for casual fans and it certainly makes sense for him to appear at Wrestlemania, it doesn't boost the current roster if a returning star automatically gets a top spot at the biggest show of the year. How are the performers that are on the roster supposed to be perceived as major stars if they are booked for a secondary spot on the card? However, The Rock vs. Cena set a pay-per-view record and the argument could be made that more causal fans would pay to see The Rock in the main event than CM Punk, but it should also be considered that the Wrestlemania brand is a selling point, so it depends on the perspective of the situation.

Punk also detailed that he had a staph infection for two months prior to his WWE departure that the WWE medical team didn't provide useful medication for it and it was only after he left that Punk received the necessary medication for it. The WWE has since went into damage control and released a statement that their medical staff has a top priority to ensure the safety of the performers. In all fairness, medicine isn't an easy occupation and unless someone is a doctor, they probably shouldn't criticize the WWE medical staff, at least until they would have an opportunity to explain their side of the situation. Don't get me wrong, Punk could have a valid point, but it's important to consider that there are two sides to it.

Another interesting note that was revealed during Punk's appearances on Cabana's podcast was that Batista vs. Randy Orton was the original main event booked for Wrestlemania, which proves that the WWE didn't have some elaborate plan to push Daniel Bryan as an under dog, but it was the fan reaction that put Bryan in the main event. As I've said before, you can't blame Batista for his return being a flop, but rather the booking where the WWE tried to tell the fans what they should want to see in the main event. Regardless, it's great that Daniel Bryan got the push he deserved and hopefully, he can return soon.

However, Punk wasn't done making headlines, as he appeared during the UFC 181 broadcast and it was announced that he signed with the organization to fight next year. I've watched MMA for years and I was completely shocked to see Punk at the PPV. There were rumors that Punk had discussions with the UFC, but with no MMA experience, I didn't think he would actually sign with the promotion. The announcement of Punk's signing has garnered a mixed reaction, as some fans are thrilled he will enter the octagon, while others disapprove of it because of his lack of MMA experience. It really depends on how you look at it, the UFC is the major league of MMA and for a fighter to be signed, it usually indications they have proven themselves to be one of the better fighters in the sport so Punk getting a contract seems to go against that theory. On the flip side, CM Punk is one of the most popular sports figures of the past decade and it will draw major money if he fights in the UFC. Despite being a sport, the UFC is primarily a business and their profits were down this year after a series of injuries derailed some prime PPV matches so signing CM Punk is a smart business move for the company. There were also a few of the UFC's top draws that have left the promotion, including Brock Lesnar and George St. Pierre so Punk would boost the numbers that have declined after a few of the company's top stars retired. As for Punk's MMA career, he deserves credit for trying to transition to a new career, but it's doubtful that he will achieve the success of Brock Lesnar when he transitioned to MMA after his initial run in the WWE. Despite being a former NCAA national champion, Lesnar struggled with some of the basic striking of MMA and while his UFC run generated a lot of money, he retired after a 5-3 record in the sport. That's not to discredit Lesnar, but rather just an example of a lack of MMA experience effecting a career.

Punk has been training with the Gracie Ju Jitsu gym, but he has no MMA experience and it would be extremely difficult for anyone to start fighting in the UFC without major experience in some aspect of the sport. I don't think CM Punk will be majorly successful in the UFC, but it will be entertaining to see him fight in the promotion.

Will the WWE network be successful?

The WWE announced a few different things about the WWE network during a conference call a few weeks ago and it provided some interesting information about the streaming network. Most notably, there are only 31,000 more subscribers than previously announced and there are a total of 731,000 subscribers, which is still under the million subscriptions that would reportedly cover the cost of the network. Despite the relentless advertising on WWE programming, the numbers still aren't where the WWE projected them and it seems like the extra price options that were added to try to boost the numbers because adding more content didn't really have a major effect. Essentially, the WWE hasn't made a profit from the network and if they don't find a way to get more subscriptions, you have to wonder if they would shut down the network. It was announced that new subscribers get a month free and that fans can cancel a subscription so they don't have to subscribe to a six month package. Basically, the WWE has done everything they can to get people to at least preview the network so if there's going to be a boost in numbers, it would probably be in the next few months, but why hasn't the network received the subscribers the WWE  projected?

There's not really one answer for it, but looking at the current state of the business and how the perception of the industry has evolved could provide some insight into the situation. On the surface, a 24/7 wrestling network sounds like an ideal product for every wrestling fan, but society isn't exactly demanding all access to sports entertainment. I've said it before and I'll say it again, wrestling has become over exposed and that exposure has led to a shift in the perception of the sport. Before it was common knowledge that pro wrestling was predetermined, the fans had an emotional investment in the product and the emotional investment is what draws money. Without the emotional investment, pro wrestling becomes interchangeable with any form of entertainment and people have nearly unlimited options for entertainment today because of more channels, internet, and other options.

If the fans believe in a product, they will pay to see it and if you look at the top draws, there's a pattern. The fans believed in Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and others. That's not to say that the audience didn't have a clue that wrestling was entertainment because they did, but there was enough kay fabe used that people actually thought Vince McMahon was a tyrant owner. The audience doesn't have to believe everything they watch during a show, but the key is to keep them guessing as to where the line between reality and entertainment. There's a reason the main stream media took notice when CM Punk dropped a pipe bomb because they didn't know if it was a work. Another example is how Daniel Bryan got over with the audience because there was an authenticity to his character and they knew he earned a top spot in the WWE.

The WWE network features a lot of great old school footage, but a major portion of the current WWE audience are younger fans that didn't watch the product during the Attitude Era so it seems as though the company is trying to market the network to an audience that doesn't directly associate with an older product, which could be a reason for the lack luster numbers. Another reason is that most of the fans that watch Raw are casual fans and the network is something more suitable for the die hard fans. It should also be considered that with five hours of original WWE programming on TV every week, some fans might not want to pay for more wrestling. Will the network be a success? Probably, but the number of subscribers certainly make a statement about pro wrestling for the market.

Bound for Glory

The biggest TNA pay-per-view of the year, Bound for Glory aired via tape delay from the legendary Korakuen Hall and the show itself could speak volumes about the direction of the promotion. The event took place in Tokyo, Japan so it gave TNA something unique to promote and the Japanese audience provided a different atmosphere for an American pay-per-view broadcast. The company has cut cost in recent months, specifically taping several episodes of TV during a few shows in New York and the Japanese working agreement was cost effective for them as well. If TNA booked the show in the United States, there would be the production costs of transporting the TV crew and the equipment for the broadcast. However, the Wrestle-1 agreement allowed TNA to save on the expenses because the show used a Wrestle-1 ring and production crew so basically the only major expense for TNA was flying the TNA competitors to Japan.

While it was a cheap way to produce a PPV, it didn't really represent the company for the biggest show of the year and it seemed more like an episode of Impact or one of the "One Night Only" PPVs because there weren't really any storylines involved for the show. With the exception of the main event, the rest of the Wrestle-1 talent on the card weren't featured on Impact so without the TV exposure, why would American fans pay for a show if they don't know anything about some of the wrestlers on the card? Another aspect to consider is that the results of the taped show were online before the PPV aired and most of the TNA fan base are internet fans so if they ordered the show, it was probably for the match quality rather than to see who was going to win specific bouts. Speaking of the match quality, the in ring action of the event was solid. However, the major flaw at TNA's biggest show was that the TNA champion, Bobby Lashley didn't defend the title or even make an appearance at the show. How important is the show if the champion isn't there? Granted, the decision to book Lashley as champion seemed like it was based more on MVP being injured at the time than anything else, but the point being, the champion didn't appear at Bound For Glory.

Perhaps, the most interesting news about the event was a segment that actually didn't make the broadcast. After winning a tag team match, Bully Ray displayed a Bullet Club t shirt and cut a promo to challenge them. As I mentioned in a previous column, the Bullet Club is one of the reasons for the resurgence of New Japan Pro Wrestling in the past few years and the stable has an international fan base. Bully Ray is a smart business man and he didn't resign with TNA so it's possible that he could start working for NJPW. If so, it's a wise decision to push an angle with the Bullet Club because it's one of the top groups in wrestling and it could be major money for a Bullet Club/Team 3D feud.

Who will be the next top star?

Last week, the WWE announced that Roman Reigns was rushed to a hospital and he underwent emergency surgery. The time frame for his return is said to be 4-6 weeks, but with the nature of the injury and the physicality of the WWE schedule, it's possible that it will be a few months before Reigns returns to in ring action. There's much speculation that Reigns is the next top star for the WWE and that he will be the competitor to eventually dethrone Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31 to win the title. While Reigns has the potential, I don't think the next top performer is set in stone yet and a lot of it depends on the development of some of the younger stars on the WWE roster. In some respects, it's unfair to tout Reigns as being the next main event superstar while he's still relatively new to the WWE landscape and it might be more useful to lower the expectations that Reigns will be the one to get the torch from John Cena until he grows into the role. However, with Reigns on the sidelines, what does the WWE book for the next few months?

The answer is exactly what the WWE did, Dean Ambrose steps into the Authority storyline and it actually might be the right decision, even for a long term basis. It's not anything against Reigns because as mentioned he has the potential to develop into a main event star, but at this point, he seems to lack somewhat on the mic. However, Ambrose has some of the best mic skills on the roster and he's solid in the ring so it's possible that he might be the competitor to get to the next level before Reigns. That being said, the WWE finds itself in somewhat of a transition phase because it seems like Lesnar will be the one to transition the title to the next top name in the company, but there's more to it than just an on screen performance. Many fans don't realize how many different things go along with being the top star in the WWE, which is why John Cena deserves credit for the work he's done for the company. Essentially, the top star has to work every house show, Raw, and pay-per-view. Plus, there's the travel to those events and many media appearances so obviously, the WWE has to make a wise decision when investing the TV time for the next star. As I've said before, John Cena is a work horse and nobody can question his work ethic. The other aspect is that regardless of the cheers or the boos from the crowd, Cena gets a reaction from the crowd. Regardless of if the audience pays to see him win or pays to him lose, the point is they pay to see him. However, who is going to be the next face of the company?

Daniel Bryan is currently on the sidelines and his future is still doubtful, but considering the reaction on Raw when his name is mentioned, Bryan is still over with the audience. In fact, his return could set up for another run at the title, but if he can return, the effects of the injury could shorten his career so the WWE will still probably invest in a younger star. Ultimately, Cena will be the face of the WWE until he retires, but as I said earlier, it's a pivotal time frame for the WWE because Cena isn't going to wrestle another ten years and more specifically, the WWE has used nostalgia acts to draw for Wrestlemania the past few years so it will be interesting to see how they push the next superstar that will main event the biggest show of the year. Don't get me wrong, the WWE has a lot of great talent that have potential to become a draw for the promotion, but with the state of the business as a whole down, it's not an easy task for the next superstar to emerge. NXT has a lot of potential as well, but the talents their aren't featured on the main shows yet so it's doubtful they would be pushed directly into the title picture. As for now, Ambrose seems like a safe bet to book into the main storyline on Raw, but it's still a question mark as to who will challenge Lesnar for the title at the next PPV? While it makes sense for a marketing stand point to keep Lesnar as much of a WWE network exclusive as possible and Paul Heyman does great work to keep him relevant on TV, it can be difficult to launch another feud for the title if there isn't direct interaction between Lesnar and the potential challenger. Despite his solid work on Raw, I don't think Ambrose will be booked for a title match with Lesnar and the DQ finish at Night Of Champions leaves the door open for another Cena rematch so it's possible there could be another Lesnar vs. Cena match in a cell. Since Lesnar will make sporadic TV appearances, hopefully the Ambrose/Rollins feud will continue to get a decent amount of TV time because it can elevate both of their profiles in the process with additional TV exposure. It will be interesting to see the direction of the storylines in the next few weeks and more specifically the direction of the title picture for the next PPV.

International Imports

Amongst the numerous WWE releases and budget cuts, there were some major signings as well, including some international stars that could provide another set of new stars for the WWE landscape in the next few years.

During WWE's tour of Japan a few months ago, it was announced in Osaka that the company signed Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA. The signing was considered a major event as Hulk Hogan was there for the announcement and in some ways, the role for Hogan works well, as his appearance could be considered somewhat of an endorsement for Kenta, even if just from a PR perspective. Originally trained in the All Japan dojo, Kenta is well known for the Japanese strong style, which is very similar to the style of his mentor, the legendary Kenta Kobashi. Shortly after Kenta's AJPW debut, Misawa (and a majority of the All Japan roster) left the promotion and formed Pro Wrestling NOAH, which is where Kenta became a main star in Japan. He also wrestled numerous matches for Ring of Honor, including some great matches with Daniel Bryan that are worth watching if you haven't seen them. After Misawa passed away in 2009, Kenta was one of the staples of the NOAH promotion, which kept it afloat during the infamous Yakuza scandal a few years ago that led to the dismissal of some of the office staff. Now, with the company more stable, it made sense for Kenta to make the jump to WWE, mostly because he accomplished almost everything he could do in Japan and at 33, it's a wise decision for him to shift towards a less risky style. While Kenta is an incredible talent, it's doubtful that he will be booked in a main event spot during his WWE run, specifically because he doesn't speak a lot of English, which could limit options for storylines. That being said, the lack of English could be solved if Kenta was given a manager, similar to the work Gary Hart did when The Great Muta debuted for the NWA, but considering it's usually rare for the WWE to book mangers, it's possible that Kenta might remain a mid carder. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Kenta/Bryan in a main event spot, but with the emphasis on promos for the WWE product, they probably wouldn't invest the TV time for a main event if the performer doesn't speak English. However, Kenta is still an important asset for the company and he will probably be a major part of WWE's international product, specifically for the WWE network as it continues to expand into different markets. Some fans reading this might not be too familiar with the Japanese wrestling scene, but while it had almost a decade of a decline, there has been a resurgence during the past few years with the expansion of New Japan Pro Wrestling iPPVs. A spin off of the New World Order, which was actually a storyline originally done in NJPW, The Bullet Club is one of the main factions that helped fuel the boost of New Japan. While the Bullet Club mostly consist of foreign wrestlers, the Japanese audience doesn't necessarily buy tickets just to watch American wrestling, which can be seen from the attendance numbers, considering that New Japan shows usually draw a better crowd than the recent series of WWE shows in Japan. However, if Kenta is showcased on the WWE network, the Japanese audience can see one of the main stars from their country and it's a reason for them to get a subscription. During the NXT event last week, Kenta was given the name Hideo Itami and it should be extremely interesting to see his NXT run.

The Canadian veteran, Kevin Steen was recently signed to a developmental deal and while it was a somewhat of a surprising move, considering that he doesn't fit the typical WWE mold, Steen has all the skills to be successful in WWE. The former ROH world champion is charismatic brawler, who was one of the most popular champions in the promotion's history and he always tries to give the fans their money's worth, which is another reason he got over in almost every major independent promotion. The major criticism for Steen that he acknowledged himself was that he had to get in shape if he wanted a chance to sign with the WWE and he did get in shape prior to a WWE tryout in March, which led to the NXT deal. There are some similarities to Mick Foley for Steen because as mentioned, he's not the typical WWE star, but the fans recognize his hard work and he can always get a crowd reaction. Steen has an impressive move list, some of which I doubt he will use in the WWE because they have safety precautions, but the moves are secondary to the reason he was one of the most popular stars on the independent scene. He can generate a response during his matches and he's accessible to fans, using Twitter to take questions for "The Kevin Steen Show" video series that was produced the past few years. During his time wrestling for ROH and PWG, Steen received praise from some of the WWE's biggest stars, including The Rock and Stone Cold for his matches. Obviously, it's a tremendous endorsement and I would guess that Steen has a bright future in the WWE. For those that might doubt his chances at making an impact, he has good mic work and he's somewhat comparable to Bray Wyatt, as they are both mobile big competitors so while anything can happen, Steen will probably be successful.

Prince Devitt is an Irish performer, who was trained with the British style, but made a name for himself in NJPW so he definitely brings a diverse skill set to NXT. In some respects, Devitt was under the radar, as he wrestled extensively in Japan for nearly eight years and he made sporadic appearances in the United States. However, he has all the skills to be a major star and he has a good character, using face paint based on different comic book designs. Devitt has a style similar to Seth Rollins and it should work well with some of the younger stars on the NXT roster.

Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars Review

The producers of "Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars:Emergency Room" asked if I would review the upcoming pay-per-view that is set to debut on various cable systems this week and I took the opportunity to watch the show. This edition of the series features the stars of Combat Zone Wrestling and the action is insane. You won't see action like this on Monday or Wednesday, as the blood flows freely while the combatants are involved with some unbelievable stipulations.

Lucky 13 vs. Scotty Vortex
The show opens with a ladder death match and it proves from the start of the show that these competitors will take some crazy risk during these ultra violent contests. Lucky 13, who is an aerial wrestler, deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in this match, as he was power bombed on a light tube ladder and as a result, he had a very serious gash on his back. Most performers would consider concluding the match earlier, but Lucky 13 actually had the event staff wrap tap around him to stop the bleeding and he continued the match. His opponent, Scotty Vortex is one of the original Nap Town Dragons and he was more than willing to risk injury with a series of light tube spots. After his Sabu style repair, Lucky 13 bridged a ladder between the ring and the guard rail to set up for the next ultra violent scenario. As Vortex was standing on the apron, Lucky 13 attempted what seemed like a reverse hurricanrana, but landed awkwardly on the ladder and it was a rough bump. Again, Lucky 13 continued the match, but Vortex eventually won it.

"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont vs. "Chainsaw" Joe Gacy
This match featured a variety of weapons including, a bed of nails, barbed wire, and other insanity. This contest will make you concerned for Termont's safety, as he takes some nasty bumps, including a barbed wire board, a guard rail, and other dangerous spots. During the bout, Tremont's arm gets sliced with two gashes that resemble some of the trademark scars of hardcore legend, Mick Foley. As Joe Gacy, who is a good prospect from the CZW dojo, continued the offense, blood poured from Tremont head. A side note about Tremont, he has become one of the top death match wrestlers in the United States in just a few years and he can be credited for keeping the ultra violent style relevant after the genre started to fade a few years ago. After going through a barbed wire table, Tremont used a barbed wire submission to get the win.

Danny Havoc vs. Rory Mondo
Both of these competitors use the hybrid style of wrestling, as there can blend the technical aspect into an ultra violent atmosphere and it's displayed during this match. After a technical exchange, a staple gun, carpet strips, and thumb tacks all became involved in the match. At one point during the bout, Mondo's boot is removed and he was dropped onto the tacks with many of them sticking into his foot. Each wrestler has toured Japan with the Big Japan promotion and the international influence was displayed at the conclude of the contest. Mondo was bleeding profusely, but he set up an open chair upside down and he put Havoc on his shoulders for the next sequence. Mondo hit the Burning Hammer on Havoc onto the open chair, which nearly impaled Havoc on the legs of the chair. After the insane spot, the referee actually stopped the match, but Mondo wasn't done, as he landed a double stop from the top rope onto Havoc while he was on a stretcher.

Devon Moore, Danny Havoc, and Lucky 13 vs. Rory Mondo, Ron Mathis, and Drew Blood
This six man war was complete insanity and it one of the highlights in a feud between these two teams. Ron Mathis, who is one of the younger talents to make a name for himself in recent years took a nasty suplex into the guard rail during the start of the match and he also took a bump with Danny Havoc into a barbed wire board to the floor. Devon Moore, who is a veteran of the independent scene and he did some crazy spots. Moore and Mondo climbed a scaffold that was at ringside and Moore put Mondo on his shoulders for a Finlay roll off the scaffold through a barbed wire board hanging from the ceiling for an insane spot. Moore climbed the scaffold again and he did a shooting star press onto Mathis to win the match.

Hogan to wrestle again?

I was set to continue writing a column about some of the new WWE signings (that should be posted next week) and I planned to publish it tomorrow, but as I was scrolling through the recent wrestling news, I read a story that should be addressed. WWE ambassador, Hulk Hogan is once again trying to work his way into a big money match, this time with Stone Cold Steve Austin, as Hogan called out Austin during a recent interview. Hogan concluded his statement when he said that if the match with Austin couldn't happen, he wants to wrestle John Cena. Isn't it ironic that Hogan is trying to get a match with the biggest star of all time and the current top star?

Hogan is a smart business man, but his recent attempts to spark potential matches through outside media outlets are laughable. He went as far as hinting that he could wrestle another match previously, even though it was reported that he didn't pass the WWE physical for his return to the company, which is why he hasn't done anything other than promos. At this point, Hogan should only appear for promos and a PR role when it makes sense. Hogan trying to cash in on another match is ridiculous and the results would probably be embarrassing, for both Hogan and the WWE. Before Hogan's attempt to draw Austin into a match, he actually named Lesnar as a potential opponent during a TMZ interview because the WWE champion informed him, "Party's over grandpa." As ridiculous as Hogan's attempt to work another match is, it's not really that surprising, considering his career.

Hogan has always looked for a way to maximize his pay check, which is somewhat understandable, but he damaged companies in the process with no regard to what it did to the business. The argument could be made that Hogan drained TNA and that it was one of the contributing factors for the current TNA situation. You can't blame Hogan for taking the money, but the reality is, Hogan needed the money and he wasn't there to help TNA. There was also a similar pattern during Hogan's WCW run and while he used his creative control stipulation if he didn't want to do the job, he will probably take a different approach when trying to pitch a WWE match.

Hulk knows that he doesn't have the political power to insist that he gets a win during a match with the WWE champion or the top star in the company, which is why he would volunteer to do the job because the pay check is the only reason he is trying to promote a potential match. As embarrassing as a current Hogan match would be, the money is more important to Hulk than tarnishing his legacy. Let's be honest here, Hulk is 61 years old and Brock Lesnar just destroyed John Cena so how would it be logical for Lesnar to do anything other than squash Hogan? The same could be said for a Cena match, why would he sell anything for Hogan? That being said, Hogan's lame attempt to get a match probably won't generate a demand for it and it seems doubtful the WWE would book it.

Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena

A few weeks ago on Raw, "Plan C" was revealed as Paul Heyman announced Brock Lesnar as the next challenger for the WWE championship. It was known to some fans that there were plans for Lesnar to return to the company because a video package to hype Summer Slam surfaced online, which advertised a Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena main event. Regardless of the marketing material that announced the match early, there's still a ton of buzz around it, mostly because of the tremendous promo skills of Paul Heyman and he's currently delivering the best promo work in WWE.

John Cena and Lesnar clashed for Lesnar's first PPV after he returned to the company two years ago in a very physical, entertaining match, which is also what can be expected at Summer Slam. As I've said previously, Lesnar delivers in major matches and considering the WWE network is at a pivotal point of international distribution, the main event of Summer Slam must live up to the hype. It's a wise decision to book Lesnar in the main event spot for the title, as it capitalizes on the heat generated from breaking the streak. A side note about the Lesnar/Undertaker match, I don't think the streak should have ended and while it garnered a crowd reaction at the time, it could have soured many fans on the event. The outrage among fans seemed to be more that it was Lesnar, a part timer, who is there strictly for the the money ended it than it was that the streak actually ended. I would guess that if CM Punk, someone that fans know sacrificed for the wrestling business or even Kane ended the streak, there would be a different reaction.

That being said, Lesnar ended the streak and he has a lot of heat because of it so Summer Slam is the WWE's opportunity to cash in on the end of the streak. That cash in opportunity is the reason why Lesnar must win the title at the PPV because if he doesn't, the end of the streak was just to set up another challenger for John Cena. As I've said previously, Lesnar is a draw and despite the prospective of some fans, Cena is probably more of a draw than Lesnar. I mentioned in a column a few weeks that Cena is the most marketable star in the WWE and some of the feedback claimed that Cena was to blame for the lack luster network number, which isn't a fair assessment of the situation. Cena is a work horse and he sells more merchandise than anyone on the roster so there's no doubt that he's the most marketable star. The bottom line is, fans pay to see John Cena and it doesn't matter if they pay to cheer him or pay to see him lose, as long as they are watching the product.

As I said, the network is at a pivotal point, as it gets international distribution, which could be a major success for the WWE and the winner of the title match at Summer Slam could determine if fans will continue to invest in the network in the next few months. That's another reason Lesnar winning the title is a key for the WWE because while John Cena wrestles on a regular basis on Raw, Lesnar just works PPV matches, which is a wise decision. As a result of Lesnar's limited schedule, it's more of a "special event" when he actually wrestles a match and if he wins at Summer Slam, the Lesnar title matches would be a network exclusive during the next few months.

Spike TV cancels TNA

This week it was reported on TMZ that Spike TV has decided not to renew TNA Impact when the TV contract expires in October and there are several rumors that it could lead to the company shutting down. However, the story has more to it, as there are reports that Vince Russo confirming that he works for the company as a consultant, led to Spike's decision not to renew the contract. Supposedly, Spike TV isn't a fan of Russo because of some of the angles he booked during his run as a writer for the program that aired on the network and TNA hid that he was still involved with the company. There was a rather bizarre incident that led to the information being revealed, as Vince Russo accidentally E mailed production notes to PWinsider's Mike Johnson that were supposed to be sent to the TNA announce team. Initially, Russo denied it and he claimed he "swerved" Johnson to prove the dirt sheets would report any rumor. Mike Johnson, who is a reporter that confirms the content he publishes as much as possible in wrestling, said he would post the e mail online if Russo didn't confirm the truth. After that Russo confirmed on his website that he's a consultant for TNA and then it was reported that Spike TV wasn't going to renew the TV deal. The report generated a lot of discussion online and Russo was dismissed from the company.

Did Russo get TNA cancelled? While, TNA hiding Russo's involvement with the company probably didn't help, it's doubtful that Russo is the reason that Spike announced they won't renew the deal. The Spike executives are the only ones that know the answer, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably a variety of reasons. TNA has a steady 1.0 ratings, which is decent, depending on the network, but after nine years on Spike, the numbers are basically the same so as a TV program, Impact hasn't increased viewers. The stagnate numbers are only one aspect of the show and the goofy booking probably didn't do them any favors either. Spike TV owns Bellator MMA so it's possible they are going to try to put their own entity into the prime time spot, but at this point, who knows? It's always possible that Spike is using the announcement to negotiate a lower deal to resign TNA because at this point, Spike can say, "here's the deal, sign it or get cancelled." Dixie Carter claims on Twitter that negotiations with Spike are continuing, but what else is going to say? Spike not willing to renew the program doesn't exactly help the perception of the TNA brand and it could effect the prospects of another network signing a deal.

I doubt that another network will sign TNA, mostly because the perception of pro wrestling in the United States is at somewhat of a low point and more specifically, TNA itself is known more for it's blunders as a company than the talent on the roster. In some respects, TNA today is very similar to WCW in 2001, as there's not much that can be done to improve the product. The company has been too bush league for too long for it to be considered a competitive or profitable product. The laundry list of mistakes that TNA has made to get to this point are numerous and they were discussed previously so there's no reason to discuss them again. As much as some people might want to blame Vince Russo, he's not the only reason TNA might shut down and there's certainly many different things that led TNA to getting canceled. Dixie, Hogan, and others can get the blame for the decline of the company.  So, will TNA shut down?

Without TV, there's no doubt that TNA will shut down because without the TV contract and ad revenue, there's really no way for the company to generate money. If the company shuts down, it sets wrestling back ten years because competition fuels business. It would be extremely disappointing if competitors such as, Samoa Joe, Rhino, etc. didn't have a stage and there aren't many options in the United States. The WWE has a main roster and an entire roster at NXT so how many spots would there be for TNA talents? Realistically, there's only a few wrestlers on the TNA roster that might be offered a WWE deal, not because they don't have the skills, but the WWE seems to want to make its own stars. If nothing else, TNA shutting down might be an opportunity for Global Force Wrestling to get a spot, but again it would set wrestling back because it would take years for a new promotion to become competitive for the wrestling business.

Angle, Goldberg, and Flair

The WWE seems to be in somewhat of a transition phase, as Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, and others have begun to make their mark on sports entertainment, but recent interviews fuel speculation that some stars could return to the company.

Kurt Angle is currently sidelined with an MCL injury that required surgery and there are rumors that he might not be resigned to TNA, considering the length of time he will need to recover and that TNA seems to be cutting costs anywhere possible. Angle's health and if he should still compete  has been a topic of debate since his departure from the WWE, but after a stint in rehab last year, it seemed as though Angle was doing better with his heath. Despite Angle's lengthy list of injuries, including a broken neck during his competition at the Olympics, he hasn't really had any extended time on the shelf until the most recent injury. You have to wonder, should Angle return to the ring at this point in his career? Obviously, Angle's health is more important than wrestling and hopefully, he makes the decision about his career based on what does the right thing for his health. There was some discussion about a possible return to the WWE, but considering his rocky departure from the promotion in 2006 and his subsequent problems, I doubt the company would resign him because of the potential health risks. That being said, it would be great to see Angle conclude his career in the WWE and despite his problems in recent years somewhat over shadowing his career, it should be noted that he accomplished more in just a few years than most competitors during an entire career. Angle recently returned to TNA in a mic role, which gives him a spot on TV while he's injured so it appears as though he will resign with the company when his current deal expires.

Former WCW and WWE World Heavyweight champion, Bill Goldberg become the subject of discussion after his recent appearance on the Jim Ross podcast when he said he had some preliminarily negotiations about a potential return to the company.  Some have linked the rather sudden talk of a WWE deal to the rumors of Sting and that might be the case, but I don't think Goldberg is trying to steal Sting's thunder. However, I think Goldberg would be more willing to discuss a WWE deal, simply because if Sting is willing to sign, after years of hesitation towards WWE, it could assure Goldberg that he will get a better deal after his rocky run in the company over a decade ago. Speaking of Goldberg's initial run in the company, it was rather lack luster for a variety of reasons, but he isn't really to blame for most of them. During Goldberg's major run in WCW that made him a star, he was booked to disguise his limited in ring ability and for key matches, he was booked with competitors that could make him look good in the ring or the matches were usually only about 5-8 minutes, which makes sense because it showcased Goldberg without exposing his lack of in ring ability. That's not a jab at Goldberg either because the presentation of the character in WCW was was what made him successful and considering that he only wrestled for a few years, it's a credit to his intensity that it made him the top star for WCW during the company's peak. However, when Goldberg was World Heavyweight champion in the WWE, he was booked as if he was going to carry competitors to good matches, which is something he never did in his career. Ultimately, the WWE didn't really highlight what made Goldberg a star while he wrestled for the company, but it could have been just a different philosophy for the WWE. Either way, it's somewhat understandable that Goldberg was soured on his WWE run and it would be interesting to see what angles he would be booked for if he resigned for the promotion. Will Goldberg actually return to the WWE? I doubt it, mostly because aside from a Ryback feud, what is there for Goldberg to do? A John Cena match could be an option, but with the shift toward a younger audience, how many of those fans actually watched Goldberg during the peak of his career? As I mentioned, Goldberg has name value, but does that really translate to star power for the current wrestling market?

Ric Flair made an appearance on Raw and hyped the WWE title match at Battle Ground, but there are rumors he could return to TV on a regular basis as a manager for his daughter, Charlotte. It certainly makes sense and it would be good to see Flair on the show, considering how obvious it is that he wants to be involved in the sports, despite his WWE retirement in 2008. It's tough for me to say this, but I actually think it would be better for Flair to be signed to a WWE deal again to protect him from the pitfalls after the spotlight fades, which seem to be a recurring situation for him since his retirement. Specifically, his financial problems that caused him to be the subject of a lawsuit on two different occasions from the merchandise company Highspots.com and ROH, both for Flair breaching his contract. That along with the infamous story that he was unable to pay his bar table while in TNA and it's disappointing that arguably the greatest pro wrestler of all time had such problems after his WWE departure. However, Flair's financial decisions are his own so ultimately, he's responsible for them. Some of the incidents surrounding Flair the past few years have somewhat tarnished his legacy, but a return to the WWE will maintain his status as a legend.

WWE Returns

It has certainly been an interesting few days for the WWE, as we saw a new WWE champion crowned, a few surprise returns, and an indication of the direction of the company, which could provide some intriguing TV in the next week months. John Cena won the title at MITB, which caused some of the usual criticism of Cena and the WWE booking style, but those that criticize doesn't seem to look at the grand scheme of things. Daniel Bryan, who was the most over performer going into the WWE's biggest show of the year, is injured indefinitely and the WWE stock price has tumbled the past few months so it makes sense that John Cena is the champion, Why? John Cena draws money and that's the bottom line for a publicly traded company, especially after the lack luster numbers reported for network subscriptions. Cena is far and away the top merchandise seller for the WWE and on top of that, he's a work horse for the promotion. Opinions on the Cena character can vary, but nobody can doubt his work ethic. Did Cena really need the title? I don't think so and the WWE might be better served if they put some fresh talent in the main event scene, but it's understandable that the WWE put the title on their most marketable star.

The Miz returned to the company after he filmed another movie and it seems as though it will influence his character, as he was somewhat repackaged with a Hollywood gimmick. The Miz, depending on perspective, could be considered a success story, as he was in the main event of Wrestlemania 27, but it's considered one of the lesser Wrestlemania events of the past few years. The Miz is a average at best in ring performer, but he generates a lot of heat from the crowd. However, there's a difference between heel heat and "change the channel heat" so to speak. Despite the criticism of Triple H, he gets the heel heat to help get an angle over with the crowd and it can help draw money for the storyline. The Miz, even as Wrestlemania main event heel, didn't really get the feud with Cena over and he was more of just an addition to help start the Cena/Rock feud. Considering that nobody thought The Miz would be a main event level performer, he did well for being an average talent, but he went from the main event of Wrestlemania 27 to less a prominent spot at the event the following year. Will the new gimmick rejuvenate his career? I doubt it because the initial presentation seems somewhat lame, but depending on what The Miz does storyline wise, it can be a decent gimmick.

Speaking of which, it appeared as though The Miz was set to start a Chris Jericho feud when Jericho made his surprise return to the company, but Bray Wyatt attacked Jericho during the segment. It was great TV because it was an unpredictable swerve, which is something the WWE needs more of, as it gives the show more of an "anything can happen" atmosphere. There's a lot of buzz around a potential Jericho/Wyatt feud and hopefully Jericho is back for a significant amount of time, as there could be some great mic work as well as matches, which could elevate Wyatt. I've said it before and I will say it again, Jericho is such a solid performer because when he returns, he can adapt to the current WWE product and he always makes his opponents look good in the ring. Don't get me wrong, I think Bray Wyatt has elevated his career during the past few months so it's not as though he needs Jericho to cover for him in the ring, but it certainly helps to work with such a great performer, especially if the WWE plans to showcase Wyatt further up the card in the future. Will Jericho put Wyatt over? Probably, but it doesn't do anything to damage his status, as Jericho doesn't have anything left to prove and he can still go in the ring so Wyatt will probably be a bigger star after the feud.

AJ Lee also made a surprise return and defeated Paige to win the Divas title again. In retrospect, Paige's sudden victory the night after Wrestlemania might have been just to let AJ drop the title before she took time off, but the scenario on Raw might actually benefit Paige. The British diva initially received a reaction with the surprising title win, but her character is somewhat bland and the crowd reaction has dwindled recently so a heel turn could freshen up her character. It will be interesting to see a possible AJ/Paige feud because AJ has good mic work and it could help Paige evolve as a competitor, instead of being a flash in the pan so to speak and being sent to NXT. That's the major risk when a competitor wins a title on their debut, if they start at a major spot, there's not really anywhere else for them to go so Paige's character development will be important during the next few weeks if she's going to remain on Raw. It should also be mentioned that the time off actually freshens things up for AJ as well and judging from the crowd reaction, she might not be a heel after the return to the company.

WWE Releases

Last week, there were eleven talents released from the WWE and I wasn't going to discuss them, simply because it's a lot to cover within one column, but to make it possible, I'm going to group a few of the talents in each paragraph. First, it should be noted that this round of releases seems to be a direct result of the WWE stock price dropping and the company losing an estimated $350 million last month. The WWE is a publicly traded company and the releases are as much of a PR move as it's a budget cut, as it shows the stock holders that the WWE is saving money after the stock dropped. Although, you have to wonder would cutting lesser featured talent that probably have a lower downside guarantee really make a dent in the $350 million lost in the stock?

Perhaps the most surprising release and the one with the most potential was Drew McIntyre, who Vince McMahon endorsed as a future champion, but he didn't get further up than the mid card. That being said, I think the WWE missed the boat with McIntyre and he had the potential to become a main event talent, if he was given the chance. He has the skills, mic work, and he has improved in the ring in recent years as well. As much as some people frowned upon his role in 3MB, it actually gave him the opportunity to show he's a versatile performer and it was an entertaining stable the members made work, despite some of the goofy booking. The release could actually be an opportunity for McIntyre to reinvent himself somewhat as he could wrestle on the independent scene and then eventually return to the WWE with a fresh start and get the push he probably should of had a few years ago.

Aksana, Camacho, and Jinder Mahal are somewhat in the same category, as they weren't really doing too much and there are other performers that have similar roles in the company. Aksana was one of the rather nameless Divas, who could be interchangeable with some of the other divas on the roster so there wasn't really anything storyline wise for her. It could have more to do with the booking, but Aksana really didn't do anything to establish herself so it's not really a major release. However, it should be mentioned that Alica Fox has done well with the unstable type gimmick in recent weeks and seems to maximize her time on camera, which helps to get talent over, similar to what AJ Lee did during her initial push. Camacho was decent in the ring, but with several Hispanic stars on the roster, he didn't really bring anything different to the table so again, it's not really a major release. Jinder was entertaining in his role of 3MB, but was the lesser of the three members and after his initial over used gimmick flopped, a comedy role was probably as far up the card that he was going to go. He was average at best in the ring, but as mentioned earlier, the release could give him an opportunity to show different skills.

Curt Hawkins was always solid in the ring and seemed to be a good "utility" worker so to speak, as he seemed to adapt to the role he asked to do at any particular time. Hawkins, who was originally trained in the New York area, recently opened a wrestling school there and he's already booked to appear on the independent scene. He will use his real name, Brian Meyers for his upcoming appearances and his return to the independent circuit seems similar to another NY talent, Trent Baretta, who since his release has been impressive at a variety of shows and in Japan. I think Meyers will have a similar opportunity to reintroduce himself to the wrestling world and show fans what he can do that he didn't get the chance to showcase in the WWE.

Teddy Long was a somewhat surprising release, considering how many years he worked for the company, be he hadn't done too much recently and those type of contracts tend to be included when there are major cuts for the company.

Evan Boure, who wrestled for years for Ring of Honor as Matt Sydal was on the sidelines for two years before being cleared to wrestle, but didn't return to the main roster before his release. It was somewhat surprising when Sydal was signed to the company almost 6 years ago because of his style, but he did well during his initial run for the company. However, he had a few wellness policy violations and he can blame himself for his mistakes. Sydal is already booked for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in a few months and it will be interesting to see if he can still go in the ring because he had some major injuries during his WWE run. Hopefully, Sydal can return at 100% because before some of his own mistakes and various injuries, he was one of the best aerial wrestlers on the roster. In some ways, Sydal might have been the next competitor to get the "Mysterio spot" so to speak, but he obviously didn't reach that level. Don't get me wrong, there will only be one Rey Mysterio, but if there's anyone that could work well in the spot, I think it would be Kalisto, who is wrestling for NXT. Kalisto is a tremendous aerial wrestler and was initially trained in the United States before wrestling in Mexico so he can adapt the lucha style to the WWE product easier than the original Sin Cara, who didn't really make the transition.

Brodus Clay being released wasn't too surprising, as the dancing gimmick was stale and despite his size, he didn't really improve in the ring during his WWE career. Some have said that Brodus has main event potential as a heel, but I doubt it. He was rather limited and his in ring work was sloppy so he probably wouldn't have been a legitimate main event heel. Brodus is an example of a one deminsional gimmick that was stale and then there's not too many options for a competitor storyline wise, which could be a similar path for Adam Rose if the WWE doesn't add to his character.

Yoshi Tatsu was originally a New Japan competitor and despite being under contract for six years, he wasn't really given a push during his WWE career. If nothing else, he probably made decent money while under WWE contract and the WWE exposure will allow him to make good money in Japan if he continues to wrestle there. JTG can also be included in the same category because while he was entertaining  during a tag team run, but rarely made an appearance after that so most people were probably surprised he was still under WWE contract.

The Evolution of the WWE

Nearly three years ago, CM Punk cut a historic "pipe bomb" promo and main stream media outlets took notice of the angle, which is something that hadn't happened in years. It provided something unpredictable that made fans tune in if they wanted to see what would happen next, which is also something that hadn't happened in years. As I've mentioned previously, I think the WWE missed the boat and they could've done a lot more with the angle to potentially start another wrestling boom with CM Punk as the center piece, but he jobbed to Triple H shortly after he returned to the company. Don't get me wrong, the level of popularity the industry reached during the Attitude Era will probably not be replicated and Punk wasn't the next Stone Cold, but he had the main stream talking about wrestling again, which is something the WWE could have used to boost the business. Punk had a good run in WWE with a record setting title run and if he had a legitimate reason to quit the company after the Royal Rumble is another discussion for another time, but the point is, the WWE had an opportunity to put wrestling somewhat into pop culture again, but during the critical few weeks after Punk returned, they didn't really take advantage of it.

Three years later, Punk quit the company and a new group of stars are in the spotlight. Despite the woes of the WWE stock price and the promotion projecting a record loss because of the cost to launch the WWE Network, the company actually has the best roster they've had in a decade so the WWE isn't going anywhere. However, the numbers aren't where the WWE probably wants to see them and if there's going to be a boost, there needs to be an angle that makes fans want to tune in on a weekly basis. The Seth Rollins heel turn shocked fans and the angle generated a lot of buzz among WWE fans on Twitter. Even UFC Women's Bantam Weight champion, "Rowdy" Rhonda Rousey was shocked as Rollins attacked Reigns and Ambrose so it's a credit to the WWE to keep the heel turn from leaking online prior to Raw. While, I don't think Rollins will be the center piece of Raw to boost the numbers, at least not yet, the angle could draw more viewers. The Shield/Evolution angle along with some of the other good segments on Raw, such as Wyatt, Cesaro, etc. could bring better ratings.

Ironically, it seems time for the WWE as a whole to "evolve" so to speak, which is the direction things seem to be going after the booking of the Payback pay-per-view, but as mentioned earlier, there's a time frame for an angle to be taken to a new level to showcase a star or the angle will fall somewhat flat. In my view, the WWE should use the buzz the Rollins heel turn generated to really make the members of The Shield legitimate main stars of the program, not just addition pieces of a storyline. Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns all have the skills to be top stars and they should be a primary focus of Raw to establish themselves as top competitors. If Batista's botched push proves anything, it's that the audience doesn't want to see part time performers monopolize the top spots of the company and while the booking of Batista's return didn't exactly help, the audience didn't want to see him in the title picture. That being said, I think Batista could still be an effective heel and a Bryan/Batista feud for the title could have produced an intriguing storyline.

Speaking of Daniel Bryan, it's extremely disappointing that he's on the sidelines after finally winning the title at Wrestlemania. The argument could be made that the WWE should have put the title on him sooner, but hind sight is always 20/20 so it's a moot point. Regardless, it's an example that the WWE shouldn't waste an opportunity to push a performer when they are over with the audience because injuries can happen at anytime. Hopefully, Bryan can return and get the title run he deserves because he has certainly earned it.

It should also be mentioned that the WWE has a great roster, but in my opinion, they could use some performers more effectively. Adam Rose is currently getting a reaction, but the gimmick is one dimensional and it will probably become stale in a few months. Damien Sandow was once considered to be a possible future champion, but he's reduced to parodies each week on Raw. When you consider the talent on the Raw roster and the potential of NXT competitiors, the WWE has a lot of talent, but if the numbers aren't where the WWE wants to see them, it might help if there was a better presentation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming to know the answers, but with a roster of great talent, the booking is the key to a successful product. The argument could be made that the wrestling business as a whole is down because of how over exposed the industry has become during the past few years, but again, the talent is there so it might be help to evovle the presentation of the product.

Will Rusev be a star?

Last week on Raw, Rusev attacked WWE Hall of Famer, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan to further the storyline that Rusev is a representative of Russia, which uses the Ukraine conflict to generate heat. More specifically, The storyline is using the  tension between United States and Russia to get heat, which uses Russian President, Putin during promos. Foreign heat is a classic wrestling angle and usually, when wrestling is current, it translates to an angle that gets over with the audience, but could the use of a current conflict actually limit the progress of Rusev?

As mentioned, pro wrestling has represented society in some ways, which usually translates to a better product. For example, the "Rock and Wrestling" era of the 80s was current to MTV at that point and then the "Attitude Era" capitalized on the popularity of entertainment and sports figures of the time such as Howard Stern and Mike Tyson. Basically, throughout the history of the sport, the business has boomed when it represented the pop culture of the era. If there could be another wrestling boom with the current state of the business, especially with WWE as the only major company, is a different matter for another time, but the point is, wrestling being current with society usually translates to a better draw. In this case, the Rusev-Russian angle is actually something that was used many decades ago when WWE Hall of Famer, Bruno Sammartino battled foreign villains in the 1960s as the main event and it draw major crowds. Obviously, the reason it was a draw was the tension of the cold war at the time and when Bruno defeated the foreign villains, the crowd viewed it as a victory for America.

As society evolved and the cold war became less common to main stream news, the foreign heel shift from the main event to more of a mid card role. The transition is one of the most memorable moments in wrestling history as Hulk Hogan defeated the legendary, Iron Sheik to win the WWF title and it would be the start of the "Rock and Wrestling" era. The society evolved to understand that just because someone is Russian, that doesn't mean that they are against America and it was the way the character is presented that made them either a heel or good guy. For example, Nikolai Volkoff was a heel in the 80s and would eventually become a good guy.

As far as Rusev, it seems like he has potential and the presentation of Lana as his manager works well. A side note, Lana and more specifically Paul Heyman as Cesaro's manager have proved that managers can be as effective today as they have been throughout history. In my view, the main reasons that managers aren't used as much today as previously is that they are used to sell angles, not t shirts. As mentioned, Rusev has potential, but I think the Putin storyline might actually limit his progress to establish himself as a star. Hopefully, the Russian conflict gets solved and everyone is safe in Ukraine. Both news reporting and the wrestling business move faster than in years previously so when Putin fades from the headlines, will it decline Rusev's push? It seems like they will have to add something to the character and it should be interesting to see how the character is booked in a few months.

Extreme Rising

Originally, I wasn't going to discuss the Extreme Rising promotion shut down because the unprofessional that surrounded the company made the management seem like a bunch of ECW marks that were trying to revive a nostalgia act that was completely over done. However, the details that have emerged in the past week show the "promoter" of the company is a scum bag so this is to let people know about the situation so that Extreme Rising doesn't rip off any other fans.

First, it's obvious that the "era of extreme" ended over a decade ago and hardcore wrestling is a cliche for the current pro wrestling market. ECW was great and had a lot of great stuff, but it wasn't perfect, despite the divine view that some fans might have of the promotion. The revolution of Extreme Championship Wrestling is a discussion for another time so let's discuss the most recent exploitation of extreme. It was two years ago that Extreme Reunion ran a show at the ECW arena and the show was a disaster. Sabu, who was booked as main event performer on the show, was taken to the hospital just hours before he was scheduled to wrestle and the story made TMZ headlines. Justin Credible arrived at the building in a condition unable to performer and was subsequently unbooked from the card. Thankfully, it's been reported that both competitors have addressed their problems since Extreme Reunion and they are healthy. The talent cancellations were only a few of the mishaps of the initial show, as nonsensical booking and lack luster matches had the crowd chanting "refund" during the main event.

Since the debut show, Extreme Reunion was renamed Extreme Rising and ran a few shows, but they cancelled more shows than they actually ran as planned. They also announced a TV deal, which was delayed and then didn't make the air. There were five shows announced this year and they were all canceled. The most recent cancellations were last week and it seems as though the promotion has shut down. The promoter, Steve O'Neil announced that all events were canceled and that the fans that purchased tickets in advance should contract credit companies directly for refunds. However, they fans that have purchased tickets have said that they can't get refunds so basically, O'Neil ripped them off.

The concept of Extreme Rising could have worked eight years ago when there was a buzz about the relaunch of the promotion with a mixture of ECW originals and top independent talent, but after the WWE version of ECW soured many fans on the brand, who wants to see another cheap rip off of ECW? The lack of a market for another extreme promotion for a current audience was obvious when shows were canceled for low ticket sales, but that's no excuse to rip off the fans. The Extreme Rising social media accounts have been deleted and the promoter hasn't addressed that the fans didn't get a refund for the canceled shows. The bottom line is Steve O'Neil is a scum bag and the fans deserve to get a refund. On a better note, The House of Hardcore promotion has offered a discount for fans that purchased Extreme Rising tickets for an HOH show next month so it's great that Tommy Dreamer is trying to help the fans.

The Ultimate Warrior report

Earlier this week, the wrestling world was shocked when it was reported that The Ultimate Warrior had died just a few days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame and he made an appearance on Raw. Warrior was a controversial performer and while some of his public speaking appearances during the past few years were as ridiculous as his promos, it seemed as though he was mostly on good terms with many of the people that he had disagreements with years previously. Regardless of the prior hostility, it's good to see problems resolved and performers get the credit they deserve for their career. For example, Bret Hart was inducted into the Hall of Fame and he's recognized as a legend on WWE programming. Sadly, Randy Savage didn't get the opportunity to receive the recognition he deserved for his career, which is why it was good to see Warrior return to the WWE.

Warrior's controversial nature inside and outside of the wrestling business is a different matter, but the recent Nancy Grace report about the Warrior's death was one of the most ridiculous "news reports" in the past few years. Diamond Dallas Page was a guest on the show, but didn't get to say much, as Grace cut him off several times to mention the word "steroids" as much as possible during the eight minute report. There was also a list of names that appeared on screen and Grace implied that the deaths were caused from steroids. Some of the names Mike Von Erich, Owen Hart, Mark Curtis, Joey Marella, and Chris Candido appeared on the list, but none of them died from steroids. Obviously, it's inaccurate reporting, but why such erroneous information from a major news network? The answer is simple, it's ratings and despite how incorrect the information might be, the main stream media has and will probably continue to shed a negative light on pro wrestling because it mentions the stereotypical view of pro wrestling.

Don't get me wrong, pro wrestling has had problems with some performers using substances, but the same could be said for almost any sport or form of entertainment. It should also be noted that Warrior was from the 80s era when steroid use was a lot more common than it is today and obviously, the choices Warrior made during the prime of his career effected him years later, but that doesn't represent the current WWE Superstars that work with the WWE Wellness Policy.

It's ironic that Nancy Grace would spin the report as something negative about pro wrestling, but she didn't mention the WWE Wellness policy. She also didn't mention superstars such as CM Punk or Daniel Bryan, which would counter her "argument" or lack there of. There was also no mention of the major amount of charity work that the WWE does and the charity work that John Cena does, which is something Warrior mentioned during his Hall of Fame induction.  Finally, Nancy Grace's condescending tone implied that she looks down upon the wrestling industry and wrestling fans, but she might want to reevaluate the situation. Pro wrestling isn't perfect and obviously, Nancy Grace isn't either because the show can't report simple facts correctly.

Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker

One of the main selling points and one of the highlights of Wrestlemania the past few years has been The Undertaker's undefeated streak at the event. The matches have become tough to follow because there are over two decades of history behind the streak and it's something that won't be done again. The performances have delivered and there's anticipation for who will be the next opponent to challenge the streak. This year Brock Lesnar will challenge The Undertaker, but will the match live up to the hype?

The pivotal point of any match included in the streak is to put the streak in some type of jeopardy and there has to be some point when the audience believes that there's a legitimate chance that the streak might end. If there's not some believability that The Undertaker could lose, there's not really anything to build the match around and there has actually been a lack of built up to the match on Raw. The segment on Raw this past week was critical because it finally put The Undertaker in jeopardy and made Lesnar look strong for the feud. There has only been a few weeks of build up and Lesnar was attacked during most of the segments on Raw so The Undertaker being attacked was needed to sell the possibility that the streak could end.

In reality, Brock Lesnar is getting paid major money to be an enhancement talent and as I've said before, that's what Lesnar should be used for, considering he's there for the money and putting talents over help the WWE get the most for their investment. Don't get me wrong, Lesnar isn't a jobber and delivers great matches, but considering his run the past few years, how many fans actually believe it's possible that he will defeat The Undertaker? It depends on the match and if they can create some doubt about the streak, but it seems like it will be more difficult to get believability for it because Lesnar has done the job for almost every major PPV match during his most recent run in WWE. That being said, the streak probably won't and shouldn't end. As great as the matches that put the streak in jeopardy are, the majority of the fans don't want to see the streak end and there would probably be a major backlash if the streak was actually ended.

The other aspect of the streak is if the matches can still deliver and it seems as though The Undertaker has showed his age during his appearances on Raw. There are some fans that think The Undertaker should retire, but I think he should retire when he decides to hang up the boots. He has earned the right to retire on his terms and he has earned the praise in the wrestling business as a leader that always contributes to the business. As far as the criticism that The Undertaker only appears a few times a year, he doesn't have anything left to prove and it actually makes it more of a special appearance that he rarely wrestles for major events. Basically, until the matches don't live up to the hype, there's no reason for The Undertaker to retire. I doubt The Undertaker vs. Lesnar will get the fans to believe the streak might end at Wrestlemania, but it should be a good match because as mentioned, the streak has been one of the highlights of the show. It should be extremely interesting to see if String debuts on the Raw and if there will be The Undertaker vs. Sting at Wrestlemania.

My own Frankenstein's monster?? Part 1 Hacking Higher Education

This post title is a bit misleading but true none the less.  Over the years I have always been quick to give advice but never take my own so in a sense I am Doctor Frankenstein and the monster.  Hopefully my results will be a bit better and I will not turn into a misunderstood creature.  With this new feature of SCU I will use myself as the so called crash test dummy and see if my own advice is good or just blowing smoke. 

Experiment 1  Hacking Higher Education

Hacking higher education sounds like I am going to tell you how to lie and cheat your way to a degree right?  Not at all but I will tell you of a way to take classes for little or no money.  I was a dumbass when I dropped out of college when I got my first full time job I had taken seven classes in accounting working at getting an associates degree.  Now with that being said I have been working in banking and finance one way or another for the past sixteen years but I have always regretted not finishing my degree and taking the easy way out.  Now I plan on making up for that my way.

Last month I was up late doing some research like a good Dr Frankenstein when I came across a website called edX.  EdX offers open coursework from some of the best Institutions of Higher learning in the world with many of the classes offerd for free or a small nominal fee.  With many of the courses you have the option to audit the course or try for a certificate using the honor system.  I opted to enroll in Introduction to Computer Science as offered by Harvard Extension for someone like me just getting back into classes for the first time in almost twenty years it being self paced.  The only requirement is that you have to complete all twelve lessons by December 31,2014.  I can not wait to get into the first lesson where I will  get to design a simple game or a piece of interactive digital art.

Taking this class is the start of what I hope will be a successful experiment in taking control of my own life.  I also hope to prove the point that higher education can be achieved by anyone no matter how long you have been out of school.  I also want to prove the merit of classes like this added to ones resume do mean something just like any degree or cetificate but only time will tell that.  I will be back over the weekend to rate the first lesson of the class and just maybe I will have another experiment to talk about. Always remember to embrace the "Monster".

A Quick Shout Out!!!!!!

Many thanks to Jim my brotha from another mother!!!  Without your help this Blog would have gone the wayside ages ago.
Here is to "Livin the Dream!!!!"

The Belfast Bruiser
Thanks you as well

Welcome Back to the Underground

Over the years here at SCU we have tried to bring you the some of the best pop culture coverage wether it be movies or wrestling but now I feel it is time for a bit of a change of focus.  As of March 28th of this year I will no longer be working in a career that I have enjoyed doing for the past decade.  With that being said I am not afraid of what the future may hold for me but now it is time to use this blog for what my original intention was.  Steel City Underground is as the name says a showcase for the underground, the independent thinkers,  fringe artists,  and the "outlaws".  When I say outlaw I do not mean criminal I mean the modern day pirate and the hacker.  With that being said we will still bring you the best of pop culture  but now also with a little bit of life hacks and social commentary.  Welcome to the Underground!!!

TNA Booking

The recent "Lock down" pay-per-view was promoted as a new era for TNA, which is something the company has tried before and very similar to previous attempts, it yielded mixed results at the PPV. One of the criticisms of TNA the past few years is that the promotion is presented as "WWE Lite" and they didn't establish their own brand. As part of a deal Jeff Jarrett made before his departure from TNA, the company has a working agreement with the Wrestle-1 promotion. There was a talent exchange, including TNA taping a PPV event at a Wrestle-1 show and some Japanese talent is booked for TNA. Sanada won the X Division title during the TNA tour of Japan and it seems like he will be appearing for the company on a regular basis, as he defended the title at a recent TV taping. There was a six man tag at Lock down with The Great Muta, Sanada, and Yasu vs. Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, and Chris Sabin. The booking of international talent is a very wise decision for the promotion because it's something different than the WWE product. The other international talent on the card was Tigre Uno, who is known as Extreme Tiger in AAA in Mexico. The problem with booking the international stars for the PPV was that TNA barely promoted their appearances prior to the show. There was almost zero mention of the Wrestle-1 team on TNA TV before Lock down and considering they had access to footage of them from the Japanese taping, there could have been a video package to promote The Great Muta appearing in the United States.

For some prespective of the situation, The Great Muta is a legend and in some ways, he's The Undertaker of Japan with the gimmick and accomplishments at many of the major companies in Japan. Obviously, Muta had several injuries over the past few years and he isn't the going to be the same performer he was a decade ago, but the six man tag format allowed him to do a few key spots while Sanada and Yasu worked the majority of the match. The point is, The Great Muta appearance could have been a major selling point for TNA, but similar previous angles, they fumbled the opportunity to promote something unique to TNA. Granted, the company has a track record of extremely low buy rates, but if they would have hyped Muta's appearance, it would have given them another selling point for the show. As mentioned earlier, Tigre Uno was also booked for the show and again, there was almost zero promotion for another international star. Since TNA has a working agreement with AAA, it seems possible that they could have used a video package to promote Extreme Tiger, especially considering it was mentioned during the broadcast that he wrestled in AAA so it's not as though he was presented as a brand new character that started in TNA. As I said, the international stars could help TNA establish themselves as their own brand, but lack of promotion and other events from Lock down seem to prove that TNA is content to be seen as a mid card version of WWE.

Bobby Lashley returned to the company and he defeated Ethan Carter III during an open challenge. Lashley debuted for the company in 2009 and he didn't do anything too stellar during his relatively short run before his departure to train for mixed martial arts. Lashley fought in some smaller MMA organizations and wrestled in Japan the past few years, but hasn't exactly done anything too major to boost his name value. This isn't a jab against Lashley, but he's basically known as another WWE mid carder and is it really necessary for TNA to sign him? How many fans are really going to tune into TNA to see Bobby Lashley? It seems as though this is another case of a competitor getting a spot on the TNA roster because they are a former WWE star. Another case of this is MVP, who improved drastically after his run in New Japan Pro Wrestling but he hasn't been on main stream TV in the United States for years and he was a mid carder in the WWE. He went from being a mid carder in the WWE and he's automatically booked for the main angle for TNA. That's not to say that MVP can't contribute to the company because his promo work thus far has been the best of his career and as mentioned, he has improved in the ring since his run in WWE, but it seems like TNA's top talent are secondary to former WWE stars, which is one of the reasons TNA hasn't established their own brand.

There were some really ridiculous matches and angles booked in TNA history, but after seeing the conclusion to the Magnus vs. Samoa Joe match, you have to wonder if Vince Russo is actually booking again? For those that didn't watch the clip, Abyss reaches through the canvas and drags Joe under the ring. Joe emerges from underneath the ring and attacks Magnus while waiting to be attacked again. Abyss hits Joe with a weapon and Magnus retains the title. The only problem with the angle is...LOGIC. If Joe was just dragged under the ring, why would he turn his back toward Abyss? Why would he just stand there choking Magnus if he knew Abyss was under the ring? It looked ridiculous and angles that look that goofy are probably one of the reasons why the arena was less than half full during the show. Quite frankly, Samoa Joe deserves better and at 35, WWE might not be an option for him, but TNA isn't exactly letting his career flourish, considering he could be the top star for the promotion, but he's booked for ridiculous angles.

The Jeff Hardy "Willow" character debuted at the PPV and he has wrestled a few matches on Impact, but there really isn't an explanation for the character. It was a wise decision for Hardy to remain some what recognizable with the gimmick because it can utilize his name value, while freshening up his character. Despite the lack of a storyline for the character, Hardy's run in TNA was getting stable so a new character could rejuvenate his career.

The Lock down pay-per-view was basically a summary of TNA's booking fumbles for the past few years and there's a trend of one step forward and two steps back for the company. They booked international talent for a PPV and they barely promote it. They have former WWE stars automatically booked in  main event angles and it continues to make TNA stars seem secondary. They also had a another ridiculous angle over shadow a decent PPV. These are all basically the same criticisms about TNA for the past few years and there's a great roster, but terrible booking. Don't get me wrong, I'm not say I know the answer to improve TNA, but another "new era" will probably be a similar situation to the past few years.

Does the WWE listen to their audience?

The WWE network launched this week and it's estimated that a few hundred thousand subscribers have already signed up for it in just a few days. There have been some technical glitches, but it's a common problem with new technology that will probably be fixed during the free trial that the WWE is offering fans for the launch of the network. After the result of the Elimination Chamber and the subsequent announcement on Raw this past week, Randy Orton vs. Batista was confirmed for the main event of Wrestlemania. Speaking of the biggest event of the year on the WWE calender, it's included for the initial six month package of the WWE network at $9.99 a month so it seems like the fans will get their money's worth. However, if the WWE is going to give the fans their money's worth, I have to ask, why isn't Daniel Bryan wrestling for the title at Wrestlemania?

The crowd nearly booed Batista out of the building at the Royal Rumble, not because he won the match, but mostly because Daniel Bryan didn't win it and he wasn't even in the actual Rumble. Follow that with the crowd chanting "Bootista" at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and the reaction after the Chamber match, you have to wonder, does the WWE actually listen to the audience? Obviously, the crowd wanted to see Bryan in the main event of Wrestlemania, but the WWE has other plans. Despite the "Yes!" and "Daniel Bryan" chants on a weekly basis, the WWE seems like they will book Bryan vs. Triple H at Wrestlemania. Considering the outrage after the conclusion of the Rumble match and the reaction Bryan gets from the audience, you have to wonder why would the WWE continue to bury the wrestler getting the most reaction from the crowd?

Well, I don't know the answer and the crowd response to a Batista vs. Randy Orton feud will probably remain hostile. If I had to guess, I would say that pushing Bryan isn't in the WWE's plans and any amount of crowd response probably isn't going to change it. Again, this is just a guess, but a Wrestlemania main event might be apart of Batista's deal to return to the company so that could be another reason Bryan is being buried. This might be a case of  the WWE wants the stereotypical type of champion and Bryan doesn't fit the mold, which is very similar to the CM Punk situation from a few years ago. Punk left the company after the Royal Rumble , but at this point what can Daniel Bryan do to get the credit he deserves? He's the most over performer in the company and is one of the best in ring talents on the roster so what else can he possibly do to get the spot he deserves?

When there was the Triple H heel turn at Summer Slam, I mentioned that it was an angle that could make Bryan a bigger star and he could be a PG version of Austin vs. the corporation with Bryan chasing the title. However, instead of Daniel Byran getting the win to validate his status as a main event performer, the WWE booked a series of non finishes on PPV and then booked the Big Show in a title match at Survivor Series that had the crowd chanting "boring" during the show. As ridiculous as it sounds, it seems like the WWE is doing  everything they can to actually minimize Bryan's spot in the company because if he was going to be booked to finally get a title win, it would have happened during the Orton feud. There wasn't a come back or a major pay off for the heat and if anything, the conclusion of the Orton feud, demoted Bryan from the main event scene back to the mid card. At this point, you have to wonder if the Triple H feud is a way for the WWE to keep Bryan busy while Batista and Orton feud for the title.

There's a difference between heat for a heel and fans that are disappointed with the product. The heel heat was the swerve at Summer Slam where Triple H selected Orton as champion, but there was no come back or pay off for it. The reaction after the Rumble match was the fans that were disappointed that Bryan wasn't even in the match and it could sour a lot of fans on the product. At this point, even if the WWE would book Bryan into the title picture it won't have the same reaction as a Rumble win. The WWE had an opportunity to give Bryan a push and give the under dog get the credit he deserved, but it didn't happen.

Let's be clear here, Daniel Bryan is over with the WWE audience and it's not just a bunch of jaded smart marks complaining about the WWE on the internet. The WWE audience wants to see Bryan in the main event picture and he should be, but he probably won't get further up the card than the mid card. Again, you have to ask, why? This type of booking, where the WWE basically ignores the audience is the result of lack of competition in the wrestling business. The bottom line is, if people want to watch wrestling on national TV, they will watch Raw and the WWE can basically book anything they want because there's not another option. Do you think if WCW still had a show head to head with WWE, the most over performer in the company would be minimized? The Attitude era was a boom period for wrestling because each company had to present what the fans wanted to see or they would change the channel to the competition.

Another aspect of this is another star returns to the company and goes directly to the main event of Wrestlemania. Don't get me wrong, Batista has name value, but should he automatically main event the biggest show of the year? Regardless, if it draws money, why not? If the WWE is going to draw major money for the Batista vs. Orton main event at Wrestlemania, why wouldn't they book it? The bottom line is, until there's competition for the WWE or people don't match Raw, there will probably be similar storylines. I'm not saying that people shouldn't watch the product because it's ridiculous to think that if a few people don't tune into Raw that it will change the direction of the product and the smart marks that claim that won't watch the product until Bryan wins the title are probably the same people that paid for the WWE network. As long as Raw gets ratings and fans pay for a network subscription, why wouldn't the WWE book the product they want for the audience? If it draws money, there's no reason for the WWE not to book it so the crowd can chant "Yes!" but it doesn't make a difference what they chant, as long as they are buying tickets. The WWE has a lot of talent and mostly a good product, but it's somewhat disappointing that the WWE's monopoly of the wrestling industry keeps Daniel Bryan on the mid card when the audience wants to see him in the main event. Bryan vs. Triple H is the consolation prize for the audience and despite it being disappointing that he isn't in the main event scene, it should be extremely interesting to see the crowd reaction for the Batista vs. Randy Orton match at Wrestlemania.

Sting to WWE?

Recently, Sting was written off TNA TV and subsequently made two rare house show appearances to work the amount of required shows for his contract. A few years ago, the WWE aired vignettes that many fans thought were the arrival of Sting and there was a major buzz around the wrestling world about a potential Sting vs. The Undertaker match at Wrestlemania. The promos were actually the return of The Undertaker, but the fan response indicated that there's a buzz around Sting possibly debuting in the WWE. After years of speculation, will Sting finally sign with the WWE?

Sting mentioned during interviews a few years ago that one of the reasons that he didn't sign with WWE after WCW closed was that he thought the WWE minimized WCW performers, which seems to be an accurate view of the situation, considering the botched invasion angle and many former WCW wrestlers floundered in WWE. Even Booker T, who was probably at the peak of his career when WCW was sold, didn't get a major title run in the WWE until he was repackaged as "King Booker," which was a character started in the WWE. Obviously, Sting didn't want to risk tarnishing his legacy and signed a TNA deal nearly five years after WCW shut down. Sting had a decent run in TNA, which doesn't exactly say too much considering it's TNA and they've fumbled a majority of angles for the company, but Sting was paid major money during his TNA run so he doesn't need to sign with WWE for a pay check. If not for the major money of a WWE deal and merchandise, why would Sting decide to sign with WWE?

Ironically, it's for the same thing that Sting has protected for years, his legacy. During his career, Sting has been known as the performer that didn't go to WWE and he doesn't need a run in WWE because he's already considered a legend. The launch of the WWE network will also give fans more access to Sting's matches and he will continue to be recognized as one of WCW's biggest stars. However, it would be great if Sting was inducted into the Hall of Fame and he had a Wrestlemania match as a conclusion to his career. Sting also deserves a better conclusion to his career than a few appearances at TNA house shows in front of a few hundred fans.

I think Sting will eventually sign a WWE deal, but I don't think he will wrestle at Wrestlemania 30 and considering the Raw after Wrestlemania has become known for surprises the past few years, it's possible he could debut on Raw. That being said, Sting doesn't need an entire run in the WWE, but if he's on WWE TV for a few months, it would make sense to only have a few key matches, similar to the way Brock Lesnar is booked. If Sting only had a match with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania, it would probably still be a successful WWE run for him because what does he really have left to prove? Regardless, I hope Sting signs with the WWE and he gets a good run in the company because as I mentioned earlier, Sting deserves a better conclusion to his career than a TNA house show in front of a few hundred fans.

CM Punk quits WWE

There has been alot of discussion as reports suggests that former WWE champion, CM Punk quit the company prior to Raw and he told Vince McMahon he was going home. Punk didn't appear on Raw and was subsequently removed from live events that he was previously advertised. As with almost anything in pro wrestling, you have to consider, is it a work? It's possible that the "walk out" could be an angle to set up the rumored CM Punk vs. Triple H match at Wrestlemania, but considering that Punk almost left the promotion three years ago, I doubt they would try to use the same situation again for a storyline because it wouldn't generate the same type of buzz after he returned. So, if it's not a storyline, why would Punk quit just six months before his contract is set to expire?

Last week, there was an MMA Fighting interview where Punk mentioned that he didn't know if he would resign when his current deal expires and he also said that one of his remaining goals is to main event Wrestlemania. One of the possible scenarios is that Punk decided to quit after the Royal Rumble because Batista won it and as a result, Punk wouldn't be in the main event of Wrestlemania. If Punk wasn't going to resign, Wrestlemania 30 would have been his opportunity to headline the show before he retired and if he wasn't booked for his remaining goal then maybe he didn't think another six months on the road was worth it. Punk might have a reason to quit, as he has been a work horse during his time in WWE and he has worked injured in recent months, but a returning former star that will promote a movie is booked in a title match at the biggest show of the year. This is really similar situation to when The Rock sporadically returned to the WWE and it was one of the reasons for the infamous "pipe bomb" promo from a few years ago. After the promo, Punk said he wanted to change the WWE and it seems like he tried, but three years later, it's basically the same situation, as a former star was automatically given a top spot. Punk's attempt to better the sport is notable, but if recent events prove anything, it's that the WWE will book their product based on seemingly trying to tell the fans what they should want to see and unless there's competition for them or the fans don't watch Raw, the WWE will probably continue to book similar storylines.

The other aspect of this situation is if Punk wasn't going to resign later this year, why would the WWE book him in the top spot of the biggest show of the year? If Punk wasn't going to resign then from a business prospective, why would the WWE want to promote him in a top spot when they could invest the TV time for another star that will still be under contract after Punk left the company? Also, if Punk wasn't going to resign, it wouldn't be too surprising if he was booked to job to Triple H at Wrestlemania, considering that he was jobbing at almost every PPV prior to him almost leaving the company a few years ago.

If Punk actually quit, you can't really blame him, as he has been injured and if a Wrestlemania main event was his only goal before retiring, there's no reason to risk further injury. At the same time, the WWE has the right to book their product how they want and if it continues to draw money, why not? However, it's certainly a statement about the company when one of the top performers would rather quit and decline a major pay check for Wrestlemania than work for the company for another six months. There were some fans on Twitter that mentioned TNA or ROH as options for Punk after his WWE contract expires, but I think Punk will retire. Punk made major money in the WWE and there's really no reason for him to wrestle for a different promotion. TNA is bush league and ROH probably couldn't afford to sign Punk so it's possible he will retire after the WWE contract expires. Regardless, Punk had a good run in the WWE and he provided the audience with some good TV during the past few years. It should be extremely interesting to see if the WWE acknowledges Punk's decision on TV and if it will be used for a storyline.