UFC 207

In a year when the Ultimate Fighting Championship was sold for over $4 billion dollars, UFC 207 will provide the conclusion this Friday at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. A solid under card is scheduled to take place that will feature former champion TJ Dillashaw, but the main event will have a direct impact on the championship picture and possibly the direction of the organization next year.

Ronda Rousey was the biggest star in mixed martial arts and transitioned to the main stream when she released an autobiography, appeared in movies, was a frequent guest on TV shows, and did a segment with The Rock at Wrestlemania. She took the concept of women's MMA, something that Gina Carano represented just long enough to use to get film roles, from a sparsely used feature on Strike Force under cards and brought it to the main event of the major league of the sport. "Rowdy" Ronda is beautiful enough, gritty enough, and authentic enough to endear herself to every demographic.

Female fans began to follow this fighting phenom as she used a combination of Olympic-level judo and wild punches to arm bar and KO her competition, often within two minutes of the opening bell. Ronda also shows her softer side outside of the cage and regularly uses her fame to contribute to charities, including when she donated $30,000 to a jiu-jit su school in Brazil after she defeated Bethe Correia. All of these traits have contributed to the mega popularity that she has today.

Still, the bright lights of the main stream media can be a distraction, especially for a combat sport athlete. The argument can certainly be made that a top level fighter shouldn't try to balance a full-time acting career while in their prime as a fighter because it will simply distract from their preparation. When Rousey walked into the octagon in front of a record-setting crowd of more than 56,000 fans in Melbourne, Australia, she overlooked her opponent or wasn't completely prepared. The former Women's Bantamweight champion had run through the competition relatively easily in her previous bouts and played right into the game of Holly Holm, a multiple-time boxing champion in three different weight classes. Rousey tried to rush forward with a flurry of punches, assuming she would connect with one of the wild hooks that had conquered her prior opposition. Holm, showing her experience, countered and landed combinations on the Judo bronze medalist. After the first round, Ronda's lip was bleeding and she looked puzzled as to what to do next. Less than a minute into the second round, Holly landed a punch that staggered Ronda and followed it up with a highlight reel head kick as Rousey collapsed to the canvas.

Post-fight, the shocking victory put some of the spotlight on then-champion Holm, but she dropped the title to veteran Miesha Tate in dramatic fashion via fifth round submission at UFC 196. Holly lost her next bout, and Tate wouldn't be champion long either, as she lost via choke to Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 200 in July. Following her title defeat, Tate lost via decision at Madison Square Garden at UFC 205 and subsequently announced her retirement after a notable career.

So, the Bantamweight title picture became somewhat of a revolving door, but where's Ronda Rousey?

It has been over a year since Rousey fought, much of that time she spent working on already scheduled film projects, but questions have remained about her future in the sport since her first professional loss. The extent that the toll of the defeat took on her wasn't made public until she appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show earlier this year. An emotional Ronda explained that the KO was so devastating to her that she contemplated suicide after the fight. It's well known that her dad committed suicide during her youth, and those with a family history are more at risk for taking their own life so it's obviously a very serious subject. It should be noted that if fighting again poses ANY risk to her mental health then Ronda should retire because it would be tragic if she was harmed outside of the cage because of the pressures of fighting in the octagon. I would guess that UFC 207 bout wouldn't be scheduled if Rousey was in any type of mental danger.

Regardless, questions about if Ronda's head will be in the game this Friday will remain the main topic ahead of the contest. I have to say, if Rousey is mentally ready to return to combat sports is probably the key factor to this bout because as cliche as it sounds, the fight game is very much based on mental preparation. If Rousey hesitates inside the octagon, it will cost her the opportunity to reclaim the championship.

Further adding to the speculation, Ronda refused to do any media appearances during the week of the fight so is she completely focused or does she just want to avoid questions about the KO loss before she enters the octagon again? It's somewhat ironic that Ronda was allowed to refuse media, but when Conor McGregor didn't want to appear for a press conference, his fight at UFC 200 was cancelled. It's also interesting that WME, the group that bought the company earlier this year, represents Rousey so it's a wise business move for them to grant her some exceptions because they have a more direct vested interest in her career. It's not a coincidence that the entire promotional effort for the pay-per-view is based around Ronda's return, which isn't exactly fair to the champion, but it's a smart business move because Rousey is the bigger star. As far as marketing to the general public, the return itself is the draw, not necessarily the opponent.

For Amanda Nunes, she doesn't have much to lose, despite being the champion. If she loses the belt, most fans are expecting a Rousey victory so it doesn't do much to damage the Brazilian's status. If Nunes defeats Rousey, it will propel her to another level in the sport so being under the radar could work to her advantage. At 13-4, Nunes isn't the perfect fighter, but she's well rounded and formidable competition so she shouldn't be overlooked, even if she actually is overshadowed by Rousey's return before the fight.

As for a winner, it's tough to say because as mentioned, the result of the bout will depend on if Ronda is mentally ready to fight again and without any fight week interviews to gauge her preparation, to pick a winner is more of a guess than anything. If Ronda is mentally ready, she can win within two rounds, but if she's not, Nunes could get the victory during the championship rounds. As a guess, I will pick Ronda Rousey to get the win because she probably would've retired if she didn't want to fight again.

Magnum TA documentary

The events of October 14, 1986 alternated the course of pro wrestling history and most importantly, the life of Terry Allen, the charismatic 80s star known as Magnum TA. On his way home from a series of shows, he lost control of his Porsche, veering across two lanes of the highway before he struck a pole at nearly 50 MPH. Allen barely survived, his in-ring career was over, and medical experts said he would never walk again.

But, he never quit.

Highspots.com recently released a new documentary profiling the life and career of Terry Allen, a production that features the comments of many luminaries of the industry that really demonstrates the impact that he had on the business in a relatively short time. "I Never Quit" gives a unique look into the story of an underrated superstar that probably doesn't get the amount of recognition that he deserves because of his brief run on the national stage.

As a youth in Norfolk, VA, Allen watched the Mid-Atlantic show with his family and was a fan of the giant athletes he saw projected onto his television screen. His mother, Mrs. Allen tells the story of his first venture into athletics on the amateur mat, which resulted in only one win the entire season.

But, he never quit.

Eventually, he read the legendary Dan Gable's autobiography, and this documentary details how he progressed through the amateur ranks, winning awards in high school and college. During his time working as a bouncer at local clubs in his hometown, Magnum met some of the stars that were in the territory at the time, including Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, and Buzz Sawyer. A very eccentric individual, the late Sawyer told Allen that he had potential as a wrestler. Allen paid Sawyer to teach him the ropes, but Buzz soon departed to work the pacific northwest territory for Don Owens while Magnum waited for him to return. After a few months, Allen refused to be conned by the savvy veteran and drove across the country to Portland, showing up at Buzz's door to start the lessons. Sawyer, not expecting the confrontation, agreed to show Magnum the basics, and with just two hours of training, Terry Allen debuted in his first professional match during the Portland TV program.

Soon, he began a journeyman path, learning his craft from some of the best minds in the industry as he traveled to the small southwest territory before he landed in Florida, a place where the pieces of the puzzle began to be assembled for him as a performer. Sitting under the learning tree of the legendary promoter Eddie Graham proved to be a valuable experience for the young grappler as he learned the intricacies of almost every facet of the business. Interestingly, this production will provide insight into how Terry Allen was initially called "Magnum." While he worked Florida, he forged a strong friendship with "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and it would later play a pivotal role in his career.

In 1983, Allen began working for the hard-nosed Bill Watts and helped provide the territory with a boost, influenced by the Memphis booking style of Bill Dundee. It was during his time of logging 2,000 mile road trips during the week that Allen began to showcase the image that made him famous. Clad in a leather jacket and seen riding a motorcycle, Magnum TA was youthful enough, but still rugged enough to draw every demographic of the audience. He became one of Watts' big draws and worked main event matches just a few years into his wrestling tenure, a prime example of the natural talent of Terry Allen. In other interviews, the legendary manager Jim Cornette recalled that some of the most heated moments of the Midnight Express' heel run in the territory involved Magnum, including when the heel trio poured tar on him before dowsing him with feathers.

Just as Magnum TA was peaking in Mid South Wrestling, his close friend Dusty called him when Jim Crockett Promotions was in a precarious situation. In 1984, Dusty was the booker for JCP and was set to build Barry Windham as the next top baby face to chase the championship. Crockett Promotions hadn't yet started on TBS and the 80s wrestling boom hadn't taken place yet so Windham left abruptly to work for the WWF for more money. Dusty needed to boost the territory and Allen, always loyal to his friends, decided to work the Carolina territory. When JCP started on the air after the WWF infamously took Georgia Championship Wrestling's spot on TBS, Magnum TA became a national name, surging his popularity among fans.

One of the most intriguing features of this documentary is the profile of the Magnum/Tully Blanchard feud and specifically, the legendary "I Quit" match that probably defined Allen's in-ring career. Hearing the details of how the rugged baby face took the shards of a wooden chair and jammed them into the head of  the arrogant heel gives a unique view into the amount of work that went into presenting a sense of realism to the match. Following that, the best of seven series with Nikita Koloff for the US title is profiled and it gives a look into a different dynamic as to when Magnum TA was the veteran of the matches.

It's heartbreaking to hear the specifics of the car accident that changed the course of Magnum TA's life. After the pole that he hit fell onto the car he was driving, it broke several vertebrate in his neck, which left the athlete in the prime of his career paralyzed. Interesting details about his decision to have surgery immediately will be recounted as well as the grueling therapy sessions that he did in an attempt to walk again. The production will confirm the details about what fans speculated for years, Magnum TA was slated to win the NWA World Heavyweight championship from Ric Flair and work as the top star of the promotion. Who knows what ripple effect this could've had on the industry if Magnum could've avoided the wreck?

After enduring 2-3 therapy sessions a day, Terry Allen walked out of the hospital with the assistance of a cane five months after the near-fatal accident. As fans know, Magnum made an emotional return to the wrestling scene in 1987, often accompanying his former rival Nikita to the ring. He worked for WCW for a few years as a broadcaster and other roles before he retired from the business. Perhaps the most uplifting aspect of the documentary is that 30 years after the car crash, Terry Allen is a successful family man today. He works in the financial industry and also runs a company that builds different industrial structures.

At 27-years old, Magnum TA was paralyzed in a car accident at a time when he was achieving national fame. He was slated to become a major star before his career was cut short. It's rather remarkable that Allen legitimately earned legendary status from just six years in the sport, and it's proof of the natural talent that he had. He survived the injuries to become a successful family man. Who knows what Magnum TA could've accomplished in the square circle if he continued wrestling? The events of October 14, 1986 changed the career of Terry Allen.

But, he never quit.

The Kevin Owens situation

Kevin Owens is a heel.

There was a time when heels being...well, heels was part of what made pro wrestling great. This aspect of the industry, especially in 2016 shouldn't have to be explained, but after reading about a recent "incident" at a WWE house show, I wanted to write this column in an attempt to put the situation into prospective.

Kevin Owens, the WWE Universal champion and top heel on Raw, was scheduled to wrestle Roman Reigns at a live event in Lowell, MA last weekend. As Owens walked toward the ring, he spotted a young fan in a Roman Reigns t-shirt and told him that he should buy a KO t-shirt instead. The Canadian star then changed his mind and told the youngster not to buy his shirt and not to touch him. The fan's mom recorded the interaction and posted on Facebook that her heart "sank" because Owens was rude.

So, a heel wasn't all smiles and that ruined the entire experience for the young kid? Seriously?

This will sound very basic, but it must be pointed out here. One of the reasons that fans support the heroes in the pro wrestling genre is because the heels generate heat and the audience wants to see the "bad guy" lose. Without that heat, what is the reasoning to support the hero? In theory, the fans rallying behind the baby face gives them the encouragement to overcome the odds to defeat the heel. For example, part of the draw to pro wrestling is that the concept presented is that if the fans bought tickets to support their star, they could actually influence the result of a contest. Obviously, there's a different dynamic in 2016 with the business exposed as predetermined, but the point remains that crowd participation is one of the selling point to draw a live crowd.

For example, when Bruno Sammartino battled the evil villains of his era, crowds flocked to see him because they knew they had to be their to support their hero. In the mist of the cold war, the audience couldn't let the Italian strongman battle the Russian, Ivan Koloff without them.

Granted, there's a line of decency and personal conduct that shouldn't be crossed. And, Kevin Owens did NOT cross any type of line. He wasn't vulgar or reckless toward the young fan so there's really no logical reason to complain as if Owens simply playing his part of the performance is somehow a traumatic event. In the social media era, it seems as though some people are just looking for their "Youtube moment" to go viral so that other people will notice them and the mom that wrote the message to complain about a "bad guy" wrestler was probably attempting to get other fans to take notice. If KO yelled obscenities toward the kid, that's a different story entirely, but that's NOT what happened.

Keep in mind, this interaction took place within the context of a wrestling show when heels portray themselves as "bad guys" to project the hero/heel dynamic that was mentioned earlier. Considering it's 2016, if a wrestler is at an autograph signing and they are rude to fans, that's also a completely different story because their role isn't as a villain when they meet fans.

Again, this should go without saying, but there's a different between the characters on TV and the athletes portraying them. Kevin Steen is the person behind the Owens persona and it would be unfair to judge him as a person strictly based on when he was clearly playing the role of the villain at a wrestling event. Another aspect of this whole situation that should be realized is that Steen has a son around the same age as the fan he confronted so realistically, do you think he would actually try to ruin the experience for him? Plus, if you've followed his career for any amount of time, it's obvious that Steen's family is very important to him so he doesn't seem like the type of person that would try to ruin a family experience.

Just my two cents, I actually met Kevin Steen at an ROH show a few years ago and he was one of the politest wrestlers that I've ever met so I truly don't think he had any malicious intentions last weekend.

Let's not forget, Kevin Owens has quickly become one of the top acts on WWE TV and his passion for the business is displayed when he's in the ring, which is one of the reasons that he generated a crowd reaction. You won't find an Owens match when he doesn't give it 100% and he has done well as WWE champion.

The bottom line is, Kevin Owens is a heel and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Cruiserweight division

The Cruiserweight division is doomed.

Don't think so? A look into the history of the lightweights inside a WWE ring and the events that took place so far will give an indication of a rather lackluster direction in the future.

First, it's well-known that the WWE will always be considered a "big man territory" and as long as Vince McMahon chooses the philosophy for the promotion, that's just a matter of fact. Granted, there were exceptions, mostly notably Daniel Bryan a few years ago, but we all know how long it took before the machine got behind him.

After the Cruiserweight division gained popularity on Nitro in WCW, the WWF's answer was a light heavyweight tournament in 1997. Through a working agreement with Michinoku Pro, Taka and a few others participated in the tournament, as well as various luchadors from Mexico. Taka, one of the young stars in Japan at the time, won the title, but the emphasis on smaller competitors was relatively brief during the Attitude era. Following that, the belt didn't get much of the spotlight with the exception of when it was used as an introduction for Rey Mysterio when he debuted in 2002.

After the CWC on the WWE Network garnered rave reviews earlier this year, the full-fledged return of the division was announced for September. In the two months that CWs have performed on WWE TV, it became clear that the division isn't a priority for WWE brass. When TJ Perkins won the CWC, he was awarded the championship, but dropped it shortly after that to Brian Kendrick. When Kendrick won the title at the HIAC pay-per-view, the bout was sandwiched in an odd spot on the card and thus received a lukewarm crowd reaction at best, which made it sound as if the audience couldn't care less during the broadcast.

In my opinion, this was the first pivotal mistake that was made and switching the title so quickly essentially didn't give Perkins the amount of time necessary to establish himself as a star. Keep in mind, the network has 1.5 million subscribers while Raw draws roughly three million viewers so at least half of Raw viewers aren't familiar with the CWC. When TJ dropped the belt, he basically became just another crusierweight. At the same time, Kendrick kept the title for a short time and then dropped it so while the fans know him, it's not as though Brian Kendrick had an opportunity to reestablish himself either. That predicament summarizes the CW division as a whole, it's a collection of tremendous athletes that is virtually unknown to the majority of the WWE audience.

This is where it's important to present a specific character for each competitor in the division because when everyone wrestles a similar style, competitors will often become interchangeable without anyone standing out as unique and thus being viewed as generic. Cedric Alexander is a great athlete, but what sets him apart from the other CWs? Drew Gulak is a tremendously skilled technician, but what does the fan base know about him besides that he's a technical wrestler? TJ Perkins' video game based entrance could be used to enhance his popularity, especially within the PG product, but he didn't get the spotlight long enough to become a star to a new audience.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a jab at anyone in the division, but a TV product is viewed differently by a different demographic than an independent show or even a WWE network show geared toward the diehard fans. Alexander and Gulak as great in-ring workers in their respective styles are enough to win over the crowd at an Evolve show because that demographic is there specifically for the in-ring product, but when they are on the same show as Roman Reigns or Kevin Owens, what makes them stand out?

Truthfully, aside from a few video packages, WWE brass haven't done much on Raw to truly establish the characters of the CW division and believe it or not, adding 205 Live to the network schedule will only complicate the problem. As mentioned, roughly half of the WWE TV audience subscribes to the network so if a storyline starts on the 205 show and continues on Raw, most of the viewing audience won't be familiar with what took place. In theory giving the CWs their own show would help them, but unless the division is exclusive to that show, it will create confusion when storylines progress to Raw.

Another aspect to take into consideration is that the WWE will obviously have some restrictions on what their performers can do in the ring as a safety precaution so the CW division isn't exactly a translation of an indy match on Raw. That being said, the crusierweight style that was unique twenty years ago is much more common place now and isn't just used by lightweights so it doesn't stand out as much as it did previously. For example, Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper both do dives through the ropes so some maneuvers that were once performed almost exclusively by lightweights won't get the same reaction in the CW division now. Plus, you have to take into account that there are generally more risks on WWE programming now than in years prior so the CW aerial moves won't get the same reaction either. That might not be a wise direction for the business considering the amount of injuries that occur, but the point is, the audience watches high risk spots in a variety of matches on the card so establishing CW characters will give the division a chance for longevity instead of a short term project.

There's no doubt that the CW division has the talent to get over with the causal WWE fans, but it's a matter of how it's booked and presented to the audience. So far, nobody has been the champion long enough to make themselves a star, and the matches on Raw usually seem like throw together matches of random wrestlers without any continuity. As mentioned, there's also the 205 Live situation where angles could get lost in translate to the Raw audience. The current champion Rich Swann is a tremendously talented and an extremely charismatic athlete with a unique background so he could get over as a major baby face. The problem is, what heels are in the division that generate heat? Again, it goes back to establishing different personas among the CWs.

It's booking 101 that a heel that gets heat can help a baby face get over with the crowd, and right now the lightweights don't have that dynamic to progress angles.

For all of WCW's mistakes, the Cruiserweight division was given an the amount of time to establish itself, mostly because it provided the bell-to-bell action that some of the older talent on the roster couldn't deliver. While WCW had a different and arguably ineffective long-term business model as a promotion, at least the time necessary to get the CW division over was invested on Nitro. Assuming Rich Swann or any other cruiserweight for that matter, gets over as a major star, where would they go from there? Are they pigeonholed in the CW division or is the potential of a main event run a possibility? If there's a glass ceiling for anyone competing at 205 then the chances of the project being successful are already limited.

Obviously, it remains to be seen how the prospect of the 205 division develops, but if the past few months are any indication, I would say it will flounder because of the lack of proper time to establish it. The talent of the CWs is undeniable so it has nothing to do with a particular wrestler, but more to do with the decision making for the division. The WWE is a global entity, and the company has to use its resources to promote and maintain various revenue streams so it's possible that an entirely new division with a possibly limited demographic isn't the top priority for them. That's not to say Vince McMahon is sitting behind his desk plotting ways to bury the CWs either, just more the fact that historically, lightweights aren't usually booked in a prominent role on WWE TV.

So, the CWs will probably get lost in the shuffle of the WWE landscape on Raw, but they might have a better chance of success if their matches were showcased exclusively on the WWE network, both because of the demographic of the subscribers to the streaming service and for the continuity of the angles. Regardless, I hope the Cruiserweights get a chance because there are several talented competitors in the division.

The career of Brandon K

In every genre of entertainment there are the journeymen that might not receive all the limelight, but are pivotal to the success of those within the main stream. The iconic Ray Charles had his traveling band, a group that he credited with making each live performance unique, for years. Longtime actor Bud Jamison enjoyed a 30 year career on film and a recurring character on television. The underrated John Cazale worked alongside De Niro, Pacino, and Brando, appearing in a series of films that are considered among the greatest of all time.

Professional wrestling also has its share of workhorses that had all the skills necessary to be successful and contributed much to the sport, even if they aren't known on a global level. Weather it be timing, injuries, or simply the climate of the business, they are several talented athletes that are a credit to the industry. Some of the names that comes to mind immediately are Dave Taylor and Dr. Tom Prichard, two skilled veterans that helped train several names in the business.

There are skilled wrestlers such as that at every level of the sport and as a commentator locally in Pittsburgh, I've had the chance to call the action during matches of upstarts with potential, as well as veterans that help teach the next generation. The top example of that in the steel city is Brandon Kaplack, an 19-year veteran of the squared circle that is known to fans as Brandon K. After nearly two decades in the ring and several years as the head trainer of the Pro Wrestling Express academy, he is now launching his own project. This month Brandon is set to open The Stronghold, a venue where he will continue his training duties and feature live events.

However, his journey to this new venture was a unique path, including when he shared a ring with an Olympic gold medalist.

As a youth, like most iron city fans, Brandon grew up on the WWF and was fascinated with the larger than life personas that were projected onto his TV screen. Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, and Bret Hart all held a prominent spot during his formative years. After graduating high school, he heard about live shows in his area and ironically, a friend that attended the same school was already wrestling. Quinn Magnum, an accomplished semi-retired grappler that now runs the Pro Wrestling Express promotion, invited Brandon to a show as an introduction to the local scene.

"I immediately went to a show to watch him and fell in love with indy wrestling. Afterwards, I asked Quinn how he got into this and he informed me that the promotion had a school, and he could get me in if I wanted. I didn't plan on it lasting so long," he said.

With a 22-year history, PWX is one of the longest running independent groups in the country, but when Brandon walked into his first training session in 1997, the business was at a completely different place, Cruiser weights weren't nearly as common as they are now. At the time, Paul Atlas and Brian Anthony, two proteges of Dominic DeNucci, were the trainers at the school. After his debut in 1998, fans of the blue collar league identified with Brandon's risk-taking style and the effort he displayed during bouts. Later, Sterling James Keenan, who eventually debuted on national TV as Corey Graves, trained at the same school and had several matches with Brandon prior to signing a WWE deal.

"My early career was great and brutal at the same time.  I was a small guy in the land of giants.  Everyone at that time was much bigger then me. So, my style had to be completely different, A lot of flying and technical work. But, it won over the fans.Thankfully, the guys took a liking to me and helped guide me in the right direction.  Paul and Brian trained me and did an awesome job in preparing me for everything.  I hit the road all the time back then.  I'd wrestle anywhere that would have me.  I traveled a lot with Dirk Ciglar and we got to work some awesome talent in a lot of different areas," Brandon recalls.

He began to turn heads with his technical ability early on and had the chance to do some WWF extra work within six months of his start. He stayed on the WWF radar in the years that followed and did a series of dark matches, including a competitive contest with Essa Rios in 2001. Having made a name for himself as one of the most solid performers in Pittsburgh, a variety of groups in the area and surrounding states wanted to add him to their cards.

One of the highlights of Brandon's early years in the sport was the chance to train with another Pittsburgh native Kurt Angle, who began training with the WWF in 1998 and was looking to stay sharp until he started on television so he attended local practice sessions. The late "Shocker" Sean Evans, who had been on WCW's radar in the late 90s after auditioning at the Power Plant, often offered advice to them. Being in the ring was Angle, Brandon knew that it was a matter of time before the Olympic gold medalist achieved fame in the pro ranks.

"He lived in the area of the PWX promotion and stopped up one day to check out if he could get some ring time.  I was always up there so on his first day there we talked a lot and after chaining around a bit we decided to plan to train together as much as we could before he would be on TV full time.  It worked out real well for both of us.   He was super new to pro wrestling at the time so we started out with the basics and worked up from there.  Sean Evans was in the sessions with us and did a lot of coaching.  Kurt was intense as you get when it came to training.  He was always on full throttle.  He was eager to learn, that was his best quality," he said.

As the years went on, Brandon continued to build a body of work and in the process became one of the most respected wrestlers in the Pittsburgh area, primarily competing for the organization where he started.

"I've really enjoyed my time at PWX.  It's been running a consistent show for 22 years and there has been so much talent to come in and out of its doors.  So much history there.   I'm just proud to have been a part of it all. But, honestly the things I remember, or maybe a better word is value, more is when someone compliments me on my work.  All I ever wanted to do was put on great matches," he commented.

Still, the grind of professional wrestling has taken its toll on the veteran and during the course of his career, he sustained his fair share of injuries, including when he broke his ankle in a match in 2013. After his ankle bent in an awkward angle, he finished the match and then went to the hospital to get an x-ray to confirm the injury.

"My style has changed over the years.  I've definitely slowed down on the big bumps and fast paced matches and concentrated more on being a technician. I try to avoid getting into the same rhythm with my matches, always trying to think of ways to change it up so not to become to stale."

Aside from always having solid matches and always being willing to help the younger generation of wrestlers, Brandon is extremely generous outside of the ring as well, doing humanitarian work in underdeveloped countries.

"My wife and I put teams together and visit areas where we find that there is a desperate need and do what we can to help the people in that area cope with the bad hands they've been dealt.  In Peru we helped build a facility that took in local children who previously lived in the city dumps.  At that facility they are taught a trade so they when the time came they would be able to find work.  They are given food and a warm bed.  Recently however we've been going to the Dominican Republic and working on the water problem they have in that area.  The water there is so contaminated that the people spend a majority of their time fighting off water born illness.  We've partnered with Wine to Water and Mission 2535 to get filters out to those people.  We go every year and always are looking for people who want to go and get to work," Brandon explained.

After nearly twenty years, but still regarded as one of the top talents in the region, Brandon knows that eventually his career will come to a conclusion, but that's what prompted him to launch the Stronghold project.

"I'm understanding that my wrestling career is in its twilight but I'm not ready to walk away from something that I've done passionately for 19 years now.  Promoting would be the next natural step.  I want to create a place that's fun for the fans and the wrestlers alike.  Hopefully a place that stays out of the mud that has engulfed indy wrestling around here and keeps its focus on moving forward creating a wonderful product."

Without a doubt, Brandon K has worked extremely hard to create a notable career among Pittsburgh fans. Perhaps if he started wrestling at a time when lightweights were given more opportunities or if injuries didn't occur, he could've made it nationally? That question is pure speculation, but there's no doubt that his contributions as a wrestler and trainer are a credit to the wrestling business. He didn't need a major contract to continue performing inside the ring ropes, he did it simply because of his passion for the sport. His contributions to the industry might not have landed him on pay-per-view, but they certainly made the sport better for the next generation.

Did Goldberg squash Brock Lesnar?

At Survivor Series, Goldberg returned to action for first time in 12 years, a move that prompted much speculation among fans, how would the 49-year-old preform after such an extended absence? Furthermore, as I penned in a column prior to the event, the Brock Lesnar bout from Wrestlemania 20 is memorable for all the wrong reasons, so how would the rematch be presented? This match was under very different circumstances and it was a much better bout, depending on your prospective.

After Goldberg was moved to the corner, he shoved Brock to the canvas and a confused former NCAA national champion looked to his adviser Paul Heyman for answers. As he stood up, he was hit with a spear out of nowhere and that was followed up with a second spear before the former WCW champion hoisted Lesnar up for the jack hammer for the win.

Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar in less than two minutes.

It was a complete shock and a result that nobody expected. It generated outrage from some fans that consider the events of WM 30, when Lesnar defeated The Undertaker and snapped the streak, to be useless because he was "squashed" by the former WCW champion. Again, it's really all a matter of prospective. Was it actually a squash match? It's a colorful term and often brings to mind memorable jobbers such as "Iron" Mike Sharpe and Frankie Williams. If the definition of a squash match is strictly that only one competitor gets offense then yes, Brock was squashed. But, I disagree with that observation, it wasn't as though Goldberg dominated the former UFC Heavyweight champion for five minutes and then won. It was presented in such a way that it actually maintained Lesnar's credibility and didn't exposure any potential ring rust for Goldberg. It was done similar to a flash KO in boxing or MMA, Brock was caught off guard and didn't recover before the three count. It also gives Paul Heyman, who cuts the best promos on WWE TV, a perfect way to promote an eventual rematch. Heyman will explain to the audience that Survivor Series was a fluke and such an event couldn't happen again. At the same time, someone like Big Show, who was used to reignite Lesnar's momentum before, could be used to give him another dominate win.

Despite the "controversy" about how Survivor Series was booked, if you look at the situation objectively, it was probably the best option to maximize the money that Goldberg can draw during his current WWE run. In fact, the set up to draw more money was already put in place on Raw last week when Heyman explained that Lesnar suffered cracked ribs after the initial spear and that he would enter the Royal Rumble to confront Goldberg.

Keep in mind, the Rumble will take place at the 65,000-seat Alamodome and WWE brass will need something unique to pack the Wrestlemania type venue. Bill Goldberg received a tremendous reaction when he returned to the WWE and the logic behind his entry into the battle royal is potentially another title run. While that's probably not the plan, it gives the Alamodome another selling point aside from the Rumble itself, will Goldberg win it to main event Wrestlemania? The Lesnar storyline provides the reasoning for his entry and since Brock is a part-timer, his rare appearance adds to the potential draw. Finally, the actual confrontation is another angle to build toward to sell tickets, which is possible because of the type of finish at Survivor Series.

Chances are, Brock and Goldberg eliminate each other from the Rumble to set up another bout at Wrestlemania 33, another major venue where the company has to sell a lot of tickets. Essentially, management is getting more longevity from Goldberg's run. If Survivor Series featured a 15-minute match that exposed his ring rust from 12 years outside of the sport, the buzz around his return would've diminished. If the path that appears to be set is followed, the WWE gets three draws for major events over the course of about six months instead of a one-off appearance.

Plus, it should be noted that much of this rivalry is being used as a way to push WWE 2K17 video game sales and the continuation of the feud through the shopping season further promotes the game. As I said previously, it cost several million dollars to produce the video game and there's the potential of several million dollars for profit so there's more to Goldberg's return to the company than just his appearances on WWE TV.

When you consider the upside of the potential drawing power of Goldberg through Wrestlemania, it makes the most business sense to protect him from ring rust until the conclusion of the feud. Essentially, the Survivor Series finish allows the angle to draw more money and a longer match can be presented at the biggest stage possible. If the Wrestlemania 33 match isn't quite up to par, it's a moot point because at least the feud will have already drawn the money it was designed to draw during the course of a few pay-per-views.

The Roman Reigns situation

Roman Reigns was, at one time, anointed to be the next top star for the WWE, taking the "John Cena spot" as the center piece of the company. As history shows, Reigns didn't get over, and still isn't over in most situations.

The reason Roman Reigns isn't over after two years of being pushed as the main event guy was summed up in one segment this past week on Raw. As Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho were complimenting each other in the ring, Reigns interrupted and mocked them before setting up a match with Owens later that night. The problem is, Roman attempted to be witty and comical, which came across as lame and counterproductive to what could be a successful formula for him.

I've said it before and I will say it again, the WWE seems to be looking for the next John Cena instead of just the next top star. While Cena is one of the most polarizing athletes in WWE history, he's a rare breed and nobody can deny his work ethic. Plus, regardless of if fans pay to cheer him or pay to boo him, John Cena draws money, which is the key to truly being considered the top guy. Again, some might boo him, but Cena has the mic skills to make the comedy promos work, at least for the demographic of the audience that he's trying to reach.

Roman's attempt to sound witty comes across as forced and unnatural, which is why the fans aren't buying it. Keep in mind, you can't blame Reigns for this either, he's literally just doing what he's told. Clearly, Roman works hard and he's doing the best he can with what he's given, and it's disappointing that he gets so much flak for it, but the audience has sent a message to management with the continuously hostile reaction. The perils of over scripted promos and an over sanitized product are another discussion for another time, but there's no question that the ridged script hasn't benefited the career of Roman Reigns.

It's a little puzzling why the over scripting ideology is still being used as the direction of the product, especially when it's generally acknowledged that the most successful characters in sports entertainment are simply extensions of those that are portraying them. The bottom line is, Roman Reigns isn't John Cena and he's not going to get over the same way that Cena did. If Roman is going to eventually be the top guy, he will get over in his own way.

But, can Roman Reigns get over at this point?

When The Shield was one of the most popular stables on WWE TV, Roman Reigns was presented as a destroyer. It was simple and somewhat one dimensional, but it was effective. The Samoan monster that is willing to fight all challengers was and can be effective. WWE brass has really flip-flopped on the presentation of Reigns, during the Sheamus feud, he was portrayed as the no non-sense powerhouse, but subsequently he attempted to deliver tacky jokes during a rather lackluster feud with Rusev. Speaking of the US title series, after the HIAC match with Rusev, Roman took a second after the pin to pose with the "surfs up" sign to the camera and it was so lame that it took the intensity away from the match that just happened. This past Monday, the promo with Owens was another example of how attempted comedy will limit the success of Reigns, as he again had lines that were similar to something Cena would be known to say, and delivered them in such a way that it actually took away from the effectiveness of his character. If the path to truly getting over on a long term basis for Roman is as the Samoan destroyer, why dilute that with counterproductive promos?

However, will the audience buy Reigns as a monster after these attempted witty promos?

In some ways, Reigns was exposed when he sounded unnatural attempting to deliver over scripted lines, and considering how often the presentation of his character was switched, does he still have the credibility to be perceived as the Samoan monster that will fight anyone?

Another point to consider, is when will Roman Reigns getting yet another run in the main event become stale? He has won the WWE title a few different times and still isn't over as a main event star so it's somewhat of a "been there done that" type of scenario. He won the match against Owens on Raw to get a title shot at the Road Block pay-per-view, but is there really a demand for him to be in the title picture?

 Basically, if Roman is going to get over to the extent that the WWE is pushing for, it seems like there's going to have be some type of reset for him, as the audience continues to make it clear they've had enough of the Reigns experiment. It was discussed previously that a heel turn would be a way to add a completely new dynamic to his character, and there was a time in sports entertainment when a performer that prompted booing from the crowd would actually be a heel. The lack of competition in the business allows WWE more flexibility when it comes to presenting the product that they want and as effective of a decision as it might be, it doesn't seem like Reigns is going to turn heel. Another option would be to have him take some time off and start fresh in a few months as a way to reset his character for the audience, but considering the brand extension divided the rosters, management will probably keep him on TV for the estimated star power he brings to Raw.

If Roman was booked for the title match at Road Block just to give Owens and opponent, it doesn't say much about their hopes for him to be the top star. At the same time, if Reigns wins, it doesn't appear that one match is going to win over the crowd for him. While the US title is more of a consolation prize than anything, will there be a point when the WWE acknowledges that the Reigns experiment flopped?

Granted, the WWE is a global company for a reason and they bet right more than wrong, but it's obvious that Roman Reigns isn't over and it was summed up in one segment on this past week.