Last week, it was announced that Anthem Sports' Impact Wresting television show will be moving to a new network at the start of 2019, leaving Pop TV after a two year run on that station. The fledgling brand will find itself on the Pursuit Channel, a subsidiary of the Anthem umbrella that focuses on hunting and other outdoor sports. As is the case anytime a show switches networks, there's a risk that a portion of the audience could be lost in the transition, specifically if that particular channel simply isn't available to the same amount of viewers.
What will this move actually translate to for the Impact brand?
First of all, as much as I'd like to see Don Callis and Scott D'Amore be successful in this venture to resurrect a brand that was undoubtedly going under until Anthem paid to purchase the rights, it must be said that this move to a relatively unknown network in a terrible time slot on Friday at 10 PM does nothing for the future of the organization. Perhaps, as I speculated when the Callis/D'Amore duo took over nearly a year ago, it's possible that nothing could turn the Impact brand around after how tarnished it was under the Dixie Carter regime. Regardless of what happens from here, it was certainly a noble effort from the pair of executive vice presidents, and it makes you wonder what they could've done if given the chance before the TNA brand collapsed?
As simplistic as it might seem, distribution is more or less the key to a successful television program. Basically, you can have the best wrestling show on TV, but if fans don't have access to it or don't know where to find it, what difference does that make for revenue or profitability? For example, if fans don't have access to the Impact show, how exactly does the promotion market or sell their next pay-per-view? A look at the numbers might put into perspective how much of a negative move this could be for the company. Obviously, Pop didn't want to renew their deal with Impact so Anthem had to shop the show around, and essentially the show was put on an Anthem-owned network because there wasn't an outside network with better distribution that offered a TV deal. It appears that Anthem chose to distribute their own product, which limits the potential advertising revenue as a way to keep the show on the air. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, Anthem's Fight Network will no longer have the rights to UFC programming after that company begins its new TV deal with ESPN so basically Anthem has a vested interest to continue to produce Impact programming as a way to provide content for their flagship Fight Network, which might be more of a priority for Anthem than the US television distribution.
As far as the numbers go, TNA's best chance to truly get off the ground was during their run on Spike TV, a network that has an 80% TV clearance, which translates to roughly 93.4 million homes. When the show was canceled from Spike at the end of 2014, the following year, the show ran on Destination America with availability for 57 million homes or a 49% clearance. Their two-year run on Pop was had access to 74 million homes. The Pursuit Channel can be seen in 45 million homes, making it the lowest in terms of TV clearance in the history of the company's run on a cable network. Considering that this move to Pursuit will be a 40% drop in availability to Impact, there's really no upside to this entire situation. Again, it's possible that Anthem wants to keep the show on the air as a way to draw a crowd for TV tapings in the United States with the greater goal of the focus of the Fight Network. With the lack of traction that Impact has in America, it would actually make sense if Anthem made the Fight Network the priority in terms of how Impact is utilized as a television product.
Unfortunately, the bottom line is, Impact will move to a channel that will yield the least amount of possible viewers in its history. That is not a scenario that will allow for the continued rebuilding process of the organization. The totality of Impact Wrestling might be a commodity for Anthem to use on the Fight Network more than any type of major entity within the sports entertainment industry. Granted, Anthem had to do a lot to clean up Dixie's mess before they could try to progress the product, but even with a slight buzz at the beginning of the year, Impact just wasn't able to keep pace with some of the other promotions. New Japan, PWG, Progress, and a few other groups had fans talking about fresh and innovate products. Impact didn't really garner that type of hype, and there might've been a few key points that soured some of the audience.
Early within the Callis/D'Amore regime, Alberto Patron was used as the heavyweight champion, but was stripped after he no-showed an event. It was a questionable decision to put Patron in that spot because he was suspended previously for a domestic incident with Paige, and his star power diminished a lot after he left WWE so what he brought to the table wasn't worth the risks. The whole situation didn't help with the direction of the company and there was doubt about its progress just months into the new management. Austin Aries eventually had a run with the world title, and as is the case throughout his career, he left on less than great terms just a few months later. Aries was a decent choice in theory, but again, he didn't have much star power after his time on WWE TV and his abrupt exit didn't allow for any type of follow up after he dropped the title. It almost seems like Aries didn't want to work for Impact unless he was the champion, but who knows? Ultimately, it led to a rather flat finish to the Bound For Glory pay-per-view. Speaking of the BFG event, Johnny Impact beat Aries for the belt and is the current champion, but again he's another former WWE star that was more popular previously than he is now. That's not to take anything away from the former John Morrison, but rather to explain that he was away from main stream television for several years so he's not exactly a draw in 2018.
That being said, Impact had several highlights within the past year as well. The addition of Su Yung to the roster was a great decision and she continues to be one of the most compelling characters in the business. Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards generated more press for the company with the "baseball bat incident" than the promotion had in years. Pentagon in money and he had the ability to be a major star for any promotion. I truly believe that Impact missed the boat with his title reign and he should've been used in a more important role throughout the year. Fenix is a tremendous talent and could be used to rejuvenate the X-Division.
Basically, instead of building the main event around former WWE guys that are arguably past their prime, Impact might've been better suited to focus on newer talent like the previously mentioned Callihan, Edwards, and Pentagon as the main event on the card. All of that could be debatable, though, but the numbers are the numbers. Impact will start 2019 with relatively low visibility as only Direct TV, Dish Network, and Verizon carry the Pursuit Channel. Comcast, the largest cable company in the United States, as well as Charter, and Cox Cable, the second and third largest cable distributors respectively, don't include the Pursuit channel. Maybe Impact management should consider posting full episodes on Youtube or Twitch to allow more fans access to the show? In fact, there's not necessarily a reason for management to keep the show as an exclusive to Pursuit. Since Anthem already owns the network, they have the rights to put Impact on other platforms, and it's not as though pro wrestling fits within the Pursuit channel. Is the "Big Bass Fishing Championship" going to be used as a lead for Impact? If nothing else, it will be interesting to see what path Impact takes in 2019, but it's almost unavoidable to have some gloom around the brand because as mentioned, they could produce a great show, but it simply doesn't have the distribution to generate hype within the market of the industry.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
What's next for Raw?
After a few weeks of near record-low ratings, this past Monday's Raw was promoted as Vince McMahon's return to television to "shake things up," which will undoubtedly boost the ratings. Reportedly, the 73-year-old chairman prefers not to appear on camera too often because of his age, but make no mistake, Vince could shuffle his way down the ramp with a walker and would still get a major reaction. The fans know that McMahon has dedicated his life to building his sports entertainment empire and that he's willing to take just as many risks as the performers of his company. Just a few years ago, the billionaire took a shoot head butt that cut him open for the Kevin Owens/Shane McMahon angle. Vince will unquestionably boost the ratings, but as mentioned, he isn't on TV nearly as often so his involvement in the show doesn't solve the sluggish ratings.
Despite what jaded "fans" on social media might claim, the WWE's ratings dilemma is a complex situation.
As I wrote last week, it might be unrealistic to write a weekly three-hour show and produce a continuously solid show. I also mentioned that much criticism toward the time slot or the product is moot, as the company will start their new five-year, $2.4 billion TV contracts in 2019. Still, the optics for the promotion, and more specifically the stock price don't look good when the organization had a steady decline in ratings toward the latter part of the year.
The WWE's solution to the stale product was to include the McMahons as the new authority figures within the storylines, replacing Baron Corbin and Paige as general managers. While it makes sense to have some type of figure that can announce matches, there's literally nothing new about the McMahons as the decision-makers on television. Keep in mind, Shane and Stephanie were commissioners of each brand and were regularly involved in angles prior to this. How exactly is this a "fresh start" when it's the repeat of a narrative from the past several years? Perhaps, the redundant heel figure head will be phased out, which would be a wise decision, but again, Shane, Stephanie, and Triple H have all played a major role on screen the past several years so how does that start something new? Will there be more 20-minute promos at the start of the show? Maybe the key to a more dynamic product is some type of change to the format or presentation of the show?
That said, the lower ratings could simply be from the lack of perceived star power on the shows. Brock Lesnar is ice fishing instead of showing up on Raw, and Roman Reigns, the WWE's top priority the past several years, is on the sidelines with illness. Braun Strowman, who was substituted for Roman after his momentum was halted, is also injured at the moment so the options for him are limited. As I mentioned in the article last week, when the rest of the roster was kept at a level below Roman so that he would be presented as the top star, it essentially halted their status at the mid-card. With Reigns out indefinitely, management has scrambled to try to sell those same contenders that were kept at the mid-card as possible main event level stars.
However, the point is that WWE brass must find a way to generate some buzz about the product until Roman returns, which will get him over for the rest of his career. Aside from the McMahons' involvement, which isn't new, there are a series of NXT talent that will make their debuts on the main roster. This decision seems to indicate that this "shake up" was a reaction to the low ratings and not something that was planned in advance. Too often, NXT talent are brought to the main rosters just for the "debut pop" without any direction of plan for them after that. Within a matter of weeks, most of them either get lost in the shuffle or become just another competitor on the show.
These new performers appear to be introduced to the main roster simply just for the shake of something "new" to be advertised. What happens with the novelty of a new face wears off? What substance will there be for any of the NXT athletes? Unless the writing team specifically has a meaningful angle for them, these moves to the main roster are a short-term solution that will yield a diminishing return within just a few months. For example, if EC3 makes his debut on Raw this month, what's the plan for him at the Royal Rumble? Will there be an angle that builds to a match at Wrestlemania?
When new talents debut, you must consider the landscape of the current roster, and the argument could be made that the writing team hasn't done enough with the roster they have now so that's not exactly a good indication for the NXT talents that are scheduled to debut. One of the more disappointing aspects of the WWE product has been that the talent is there, but it seems that most of them are underutilized or presented in a way that minimizes the ability they bring to the table. A prime example is initially Dean Ambrose was presented as "sitcom crazy" instead of being perceived as legitimately dangerous. Even after the heel turn, Ambrose was booked for segments that didn't give him the chance to get as much heat as possible. Plus, the entire Ambrose/Rollins angle is a retread of the feud from a few years ago when they Shield dissolved except with the roles reversed with Ambrose as the heel. The argument could be made that both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were underutilized before their injuries. Along with that, Finn Balor is another example of a main event level talent that doesn't get the chance to showcase his skills.
Ironically, this "fresh start" includes Smackdown, but if anything, the blue brand is actually doing things right. Daniel Bryan is an over heel, and AJ Styles is an over baby face and they have solid main event matches so it's a successful formula. Furthermore, last week's Mustafa Ali/Bryan match was a way to make Ali look like a star because he was made competitive against the WWE champion. Ali has the talent and was given the platform to showcase his skills in a scenario that evaluated his status.
There's a difference between introducing new faces and making new stars. Especially with Roman on the shelf, management should focus on the process to make new legitimate money-drawing stars. The question is simple, how many currently on the roster could be credible Wrestlemania main event stars? Would Dean Ambrose or Seth Rollins sell out a stadium in 2019? That's not a jab at either competitor, but rather to explain that talent alone isn't enough to sell those tickets, they must be presented in a way that's worthy of that stage. Who would be a credible winner for the Royal Rumble? Maybe John Cena because he's one of the few legitimate draws the company has right now. Keep in mind, the talent is there, but it's a matter of presentation.
In fact, there's much speculation that Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch could be the main event of Wrestlemania next year, and that scenario should be a lesson to the writing team. Ronda had a name and lived up to the hype in the squared circle. Sure, sometimes her inexperience shows and her matches are rather simplistic, but it works. Becky organically and spontaneously became one of the most popular stars on Smackdown, which proves, the writing team can't force someone to get over. It's possible that the direction of Raw will become more organic, but as of now, there's not much new about the fresh start for the Raw brand.
Despite what jaded "fans" on social media might claim, the WWE's ratings dilemma is a complex situation.
As I wrote last week, it might be unrealistic to write a weekly three-hour show and produce a continuously solid show. I also mentioned that much criticism toward the time slot or the product is moot, as the company will start their new five-year, $2.4 billion TV contracts in 2019. Still, the optics for the promotion, and more specifically the stock price don't look good when the organization had a steady decline in ratings toward the latter part of the year.
The WWE's solution to the stale product was to include the McMahons as the new authority figures within the storylines, replacing Baron Corbin and Paige as general managers. While it makes sense to have some type of figure that can announce matches, there's literally nothing new about the McMahons as the decision-makers on television. Keep in mind, Shane and Stephanie were commissioners of each brand and were regularly involved in angles prior to this. How exactly is this a "fresh start" when it's the repeat of a narrative from the past several years? Perhaps, the redundant heel figure head will be phased out, which would be a wise decision, but again, Shane, Stephanie, and Triple H have all played a major role on screen the past several years so how does that start something new? Will there be more 20-minute promos at the start of the show? Maybe the key to a more dynamic product is some type of change to the format or presentation of the show?
That said, the lower ratings could simply be from the lack of perceived star power on the shows. Brock Lesnar is ice fishing instead of showing up on Raw, and Roman Reigns, the WWE's top priority the past several years, is on the sidelines with illness. Braun Strowman, who was substituted for Roman after his momentum was halted, is also injured at the moment so the options for him are limited. As I mentioned in the article last week, when the rest of the roster was kept at a level below Roman so that he would be presented as the top star, it essentially halted their status at the mid-card. With Reigns out indefinitely, management has scrambled to try to sell those same contenders that were kept at the mid-card as possible main event level stars.
However, the point is that WWE brass must find a way to generate some buzz about the product until Roman returns, which will get him over for the rest of his career. Aside from the McMahons' involvement, which isn't new, there are a series of NXT talent that will make their debuts on the main roster. This decision seems to indicate that this "shake up" was a reaction to the low ratings and not something that was planned in advance. Too often, NXT talent are brought to the main rosters just for the "debut pop" without any direction of plan for them after that. Within a matter of weeks, most of them either get lost in the shuffle or become just another competitor on the show.
These new performers appear to be introduced to the main roster simply just for the shake of something "new" to be advertised. What happens with the novelty of a new face wears off? What substance will there be for any of the NXT athletes? Unless the writing team specifically has a meaningful angle for them, these moves to the main roster are a short-term solution that will yield a diminishing return within just a few months. For example, if EC3 makes his debut on Raw this month, what's the plan for him at the Royal Rumble? Will there be an angle that builds to a match at Wrestlemania?
When new talents debut, you must consider the landscape of the current roster, and the argument could be made that the writing team hasn't done enough with the roster they have now so that's not exactly a good indication for the NXT talents that are scheduled to debut. One of the more disappointing aspects of the WWE product has been that the talent is there, but it seems that most of them are underutilized or presented in a way that minimizes the ability they bring to the table. A prime example is initially Dean Ambrose was presented as "sitcom crazy" instead of being perceived as legitimately dangerous. Even after the heel turn, Ambrose was booked for segments that didn't give him the chance to get as much heat as possible. Plus, the entire Ambrose/Rollins angle is a retread of the feud from a few years ago when they Shield dissolved except with the roles reversed with Ambrose as the heel. The argument could be made that both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were underutilized before their injuries. Along with that, Finn Balor is another example of a main event level talent that doesn't get the chance to showcase his skills.
Ironically, this "fresh start" includes Smackdown, but if anything, the blue brand is actually doing things right. Daniel Bryan is an over heel, and AJ Styles is an over baby face and they have solid main event matches so it's a successful formula. Furthermore, last week's Mustafa Ali/Bryan match was a way to make Ali look like a star because he was made competitive against the WWE champion. Ali has the talent and was given the platform to showcase his skills in a scenario that evaluated his status.
There's a difference between introducing new faces and making new stars. Especially with Roman on the shelf, management should focus on the process to make new legitimate money-drawing stars. The question is simple, how many currently on the roster could be credible Wrestlemania main event stars? Would Dean Ambrose or Seth Rollins sell out a stadium in 2019? That's not a jab at either competitor, but rather to explain that talent alone isn't enough to sell those tickets, they must be presented in a way that's worthy of that stage. Who would be a credible winner for the Royal Rumble? Maybe John Cena because he's one of the few legitimate draws the company has right now. Keep in mind, the talent is there, but it's a matter of presentation.
In fact, there's much speculation that Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch could be the main event of Wrestlemania next year, and that scenario should be a lesson to the writing team. Ronda had a name and lived up to the hype in the squared circle. Sure, sometimes her inexperience shows and her matches are rather simplistic, but it works. Becky organically and spontaneously became one of the most popular stars on Smackdown, which proves, the writing team can't force someone to get over. It's possible that the direction of Raw will become more organic, but as of now, there's not much new about the fresh start for the Raw brand.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Magnum CK's retirement
"Life is a journey, not a destination" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Three years ago when Chris Parsons reemerged onto the professional wrestling scene in the mid-west, he had grown as a person on a variety of levels before he decided to lace up a pair of boots again. Prior to that decision in 2015, the grappler that proclaimed himself Magnum CK upon his return to the squared circle, had pursued sports entertainment previously in 2009, but didn't assemble the pieces of the puzzle that seemed right. Ironically, night shifts at a warehouse and night classes led him to follow a path to the theater, which saw him spent a few years living in Chicago to study the art at the iconic Second City stage company, where names like Farley, Belushi, Murray, Colbert, and others honed their craft before they made their names in show business.
Parsons found himself through the stage. After a successful tenure in the music halls of Chicago, he moved back to the mid-west and was ready to introduce sports entertainment to the persona that exemplified who he was. With a combination of the devious side of Andy Kaufman, an influence of Arn Anderson, and a flamboyant spin of Gorgeous George, Magnum CK spent the past few years bringing his unique brand to the ring to entertain the audience.
A mainstay in Ohio's Absolute Intense Wrestling, Magnum zigzagged across that state to perform, and branched out to several promotions in the tri-state area, as well as working matches as far away as Canada for Toronto's Greek Town Wrestling. Despite his villainous persona, his performances inside the ring ropes garnered rave reviews for the ability to always entertain the paying customers. Perhaps, the highlight of Magnum's return to the sport was this past July when he and his stablemates, The Production, a theater-inspired group that suited him perfectly, won the AIW tag team titles.
However, the success and more specifically, the grind of wrestling every weekend took its toll on his body.
"For me, my lower back started hurting after a match in New Jersey in March 2018 and that same pain got significantly worse over time as I continued wrestling. By June, I was a mess. Bending forward would cause such a sharp pain that it would immediately zap my breath away. I had to cut down my weight training load by half at least and there were many movements that I dropped altogether because I simply could not do them. Nonetheless, I kept wrestling at least 6-10 times a month and did not miss a beat on the road, despite the fact that everything was clearly getting much worse," Magnum explained.
A few doctors appointments and therapy sessions later, Chris Parsons was confronted with a harsh reality about the status of his injury, and an even more difficult decision to make for his wrestling career.
"Over six months after all of this pain started, I got a call from my doctor's office with my scan results. The doctor told me that I did have fractures in my spine, stress fractures. She said that I had probably had them since the pain started back in March. The reason why they weren't healing could have been because I was wrestling every week, but the doctor added that the most likely reason they were not healing, and why i had the fractures in the first place, was because I have spina bifida. In addition to the spina bifida, I found out that I had likely broken my tailbone in a match from June on an atomic drop that went a little sideways. Apparently my tailbone is now curved the wrong way. and that was contributing to the extreme pain when sitting down. Truly, there is currently no comfortable position to be in whether standing, sitting, or laying down. Essentially, I was at a point where I was facing further, permanent damage," Parsons said.
After the time he spent living on a friend's couch in his younger days to starring roles on the stages of Chicago, Chris Parsons finally found the performer he wanted to be in the squared circle so he was torn as to what to do about his sports entertainment passion. But, when he suffered serious pain after a relatively light match in the spring, he knew it was time to hang up his boots.
"I had a follow up and the words "spinal fusion" were mentioned again as a real possibility and I knew I had a decision to make after waking up in this state after a fun little match that had such little physicality. I talked to my wife for dozens of hours. Eventually, I just had to make a choice. I am still a young man and I have a theater life that involves not only directing shows and managing theaters, but performing in musical theater with my wife and kids as well. It had finally occurred to me that these injuries were so serious that if I made a wrong move I could see my entire performing future goodbye," he commented.
Last month, it was only fitting that the conclusion of Magum CK's in-ring career took place where it truly took off, inside of an AIW ring, an event that saw fans in a line that stretched the length of the venue for those that wanted to express gratitude for his contributions to the events. After the finally belled sounded on a tag team contest, Magnum performed a musical tribute to his hero, Andy Kaufman, as the fans and his peers in attendance gave him a standing ovation when he exited the ring.
"In every way, it was the most magical night of my performing career. I've been performing for 16 years and had some amazing roles and nights, but the day of my last match was the ultimate for me as a performer. I've never felt so loved and respected," he explained.
Post-wrestling, Chris Parsons is already very busy when he's not spending as much time as he can with his family, including his duties as a manager of two theater productions, and a job to become an English teach next year. He and filmmaker, Mike Rhodes also began work on "Markin' Out 2," a sequel to their documentary about independent wrestling. After he heard the final three count of his wrestling career, Parsons had a chance to reflect on his accomplishments.
"A kid who grew up to be a wrestler that he would've loved to watch. That's it. I had a dream and I did it. All I ever wanted was to feel like I was good at wrestling. I feel that I was great at wrestling and a lot of people know it too. What else could I ask for? At the end of the road, I look back and smile with pride because I became the performer that I always dreamed that I could be," he said.
So, the destination for Magnum CK's wrestling career was abruptly cut short when he began to reach the peak of his career, but the journey he took to obtain his goal in professional wrestling saw him earn the respect of his peers and entertain the audience.
Three years ago when Chris Parsons reemerged onto the professional wrestling scene in the mid-west, he had grown as a person on a variety of levels before he decided to lace up a pair of boots again. Prior to that decision in 2015, the grappler that proclaimed himself Magnum CK upon his return to the squared circle, had pursued sports entertainment previously in 2009, but didn't assemble the pieces of the puzzle that seemed right. Ironically, night shifts at a warehouse and night classes led him to follow a path to the theater, which saw him spent a few years living in Chicago to study the art at the iconic Second City stage company, where names like Farley, Belushi, Murray, Colbert, and others honed their craft before they made their names in show business.
Parsons found himself through the stage. After a successful tenure in the music halls of Chicago, he moved back to the mid-west and was ready to introduce sports entertainment to the persona that exemplified who he was. With a combination of the devious side of Andy Kaufman, an influence of Arn Anderson, and a flamboyant spin of Gorgeous George, Magnum CK spent the past few years bringing his unique brand to the ring to entertain the audience.
A mainstay in Ohio's Absolute Intense Wrestling, Magnum zigzagged across that state to perform, and branched out to several promotions in the tri-state area, as well as working matches as far away as Canada for Toronto's Greek Town Wrestling. Despite his villainous persona, his performances inside the ring ropes garnered rave reviews for the ability to always entertain the paying customers. Perhaps, the highlight of Magnum's return to the sport was this past July when he and his stablemates, The Production, a theater-inspired group that suited him perfectly, won the AIW tag team titles.
However, the success and more specifically, the grind of wrestling every weekend took its toll on his body.
"For me, my lower back started hurting after a match in New Jersey in March 2018 and that same pain got significantly worse over time as I continued wrestling. By June, I was a mess. Bending forward would cause such a sharp pain that it would immediately zap my breath away. I had to cut down my weight training load by half at least and there were many movements that I dropped altogether because I simply could not do them. Nonetheless, I kept wrestling at least 6-10 times a month and did not miss a beat on the road, despite the fact that everything was clearly getting much worse," Magnum explained.
A few doctors appointments and therapy sessions later, Chris Parsons was confronted with a harsh reality about the status of his injury, and an even more difficult decision to make for his wrestling career.
"Over six months after all of this pain started, I got a call from my doctor's office with my scan results. The doctor told me that I did have fractures in my spine, stress fractures. She said that I had probably had them since the pain started back in March. The reason why they weren't healing could have been because I was wrestling every week, but the doctor added that the most likely reason they were not healing, and why i had the fractures in the first place, was because I have spina bifida. In addition to the spina bifida, I found out that I had likely broken my tailbone in a match from June on an atomic drop that went a little sideways. Apparently my tailbone is now curved the wrong way. and that was contributing to the extreme pain when sitting down. Truly, there is currently no comfortable position to be in whether standing, sitting, or laying down. Essentially, I was at a point where I was facing further, permanent damage," Parsons said.
After the time he spent living on a friend's couch in his younger days to starring roles on the stages of Chicago, Chris Parsons finally found the performer he wanted to be in the squared circle so he was torn as to what to do about his sports entertainment passion. But, when he suffered serious pain after a relatively light match in the spring, he knew it was time to hang up his boots.
"I had a follow up and the words "spinal fusion" were mentioned again as a real possibility and I knew I had a decision to make after waking up in this state after a fun little match that had such little physicality. I talked to my wife for dozens of hours. Eventually, I just had to make a choice. I am still a young man and I have a theater life that involves not only directing shows and managing theaters, but performing in musical theater with my wife and kids as well. It had finally occurred to me that these injuries were so serious that if I made a wrong move I could see my entire performing future goodbye," he commented.
Last month, it was only fitting that the conclusion of Magum CK's in-ring career took place where it truly took off, inside of an AIW ring, an event that saw fans in a line that stretched the length of the venue for those that wanted to express gratitude for his contributions to the events. After the finally belled sounded on a tag team contest, Magnum performed a musical tribute to his hero, Andy Kaufman, as the fans and his peers in attendance gave him a standing ovation when he exited the ring.
"In every way, it was the most magical night of my performing career. I've been performing for 16 years and had some amazing roles and nights, but the day of my last match was the ultimate for me as a performer. I've never felt so loved and respected," he explained.
Post-wrestling, Chris Parsons is already very busy when he's not spending as much time as he can with his family, including his duties as a manager of two theater productions, and a job to become an English teach next year. He and filmmaker, Mike Rhodes also began work on "Markin' Out 2," a sequel to their documentary about independent wrestling. After he heard the final three count of his wrestling career, Parsons had a chance to reflect on his accomplishments.
"A kid who grew up to be a wrestler that he would've loved to watch. That's it. I had a dream and I did it. All I ever wanted was to feel like I was good at wrestling. I feel that I was great at wrestling and a lot of people know it too. What else could I ask for? At the end of the road, I look back and smile with pride because I became the performer that I always dreamed that I could be," he said.
So, the destination for Magnum CK's wrestling career was abruptly cut short when he began to reach the peak of his career, but the journey he took to obtain his goal in professional wrestling saw him earn the respect of his peers and entertain the audience.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
The Raw brand
This past week on Raw, the IC champion, Seth Rollins won a TLC match against GM Baron Corbin less than a week away from the TLC pay-per-view so essentially the gimmick of an entire gimmick event was given away on television. Yes, I know that WWE Network subscriptions are only $10 so it's not that they are costing themselves revenue by putting the match on TV ahead of time, but rather overexposing an already overexposed stipulation. I've said it before and I will say it again, these gimmick-based shows do nothing but water down stipulations and take away from the aura of a gimmick match when a storyline actually calls for it. A stipulation match should be booked based on if it suits the feud, not the month on the calendar. Further illustrating that point were the near record-low ratings that Raw garnered this week. The Wrestling Observer's Bryan Alvarez expressed his discontent with the status of the show, prompting Jimmy Jacobs, former member of the WWE writing team and current Impact producer, to respond that writing a three-hour show isn't an easy process.
Obviously, Jacobs is a brilliant mind and he's correct about the task of producing several hours of TV on the WWE schedule, but what exactly caused this slump for the company's flagship show?
I wrote about it extensively throughout the past year, the Roman Reigns super push was essentially limiting the ability for others to achieve the next level of star power. There's a certain time frame that a competitor has when they can organically be elevated further up the card to have their star power maximized. The opportunity cost of the forced Reigns push was that it created a glass ceiling for others on the roster, and regardless of how over they were with the audience, they were going to stay a level below Roman Reigns. For example, the peak for Braun Strowman to make the jump to the main event scene would've been around WM 34, but management was set on Roman so Braun won the tag titles with a kid from the crowd. Braun's random heel turn a few months ago to try to solidify Reigns' championship spot further diluted his reaction from the crowd. When Strowman was substituted for Reigns more recently, he wasn't nearly as over as he was earlier this year. In theory, since Vince McMahon owns sports entertainment in the United States, management can position their choice in the top spot, but when you put as many chips on an athlete as WWE brass bet on Roman, there can be a substantial lack of depth in the main even picture if that competitor isn't on the roster. Make no mistake about it, the talent is there, but how many currently on the Raw roster would be perceived as legitimate Wrestlemania main event stars?
Stellar athletes like Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Samoa Joe, and others were basically kept at mid-card status so that Roman could be presented as the top star. It's no coincidence that Raw has lacked any type of solid direction since Roman stepped away to deal with health problems. The past few years, it didn't matter how over a performer was with the audience, they were automatically kept at a level below Roman Reigns, which is why the show doesn't have clear main event talent right now. The good news is, when Roman Reigns returns to the ring, and he will, it will undoubtedly make him a top-tier star for the rest of his career. The challenges that Joe Anoa'i will overcome in reality will be much more important than anything that is scripted for Roman Reigns. But, what's the direction under Roman returns?
As mentioned, Braun as a substitute, especially after a lackluster heel turn just weeks before that, didn't get over as much as an organic push would've with the audience. Braun's elbow injury kept him off TV, which puts the brand into more of a slump because there's not necessarily a main baby face on the show. It certainly doesn't help the situation that Brock Lesnar, the current Universal Champion, is ice fishing or hunting for moose instead of appearing on WWE TV. You can't blame Brock either, he was offered a great deal and he completely took advantage of it. That being said, the way that Brock disappears with the title and the lack of a champion on Raw in recent years is at an almost absurd level. There's a difference between making championship appearances rare and devaluing the belt. As I wrote previously, I don't think the WWE will get a return that justifies the hefty invest, both financially and a booking aspect, from the Lesnar experiment. On the other hand, you have to give Brock credit, he worked the UFC and WWE very well to maximize his payday. Perhaps, he had no intention of a return to the octagon, but he was smart enough to shove heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier just before his WWE contract was set to expire.
With Braun on the shelf and no indication for Brock's next match, the main angle on Raw is the Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose feud. But they already worked an entire feud based on the destruction of the Shield a few years ago, and the only difference is a role reversal with basically the same premise to the angle. I could be wrong, but Rollins/Ambrose has a "been there, done that" atmosphere to it.
So, what's the solution for Raw?
First of all, Jimmy Jacobs is correct, writing several hours of TV every week is a demanding process, and any "fans" that think they could do a better job than those that get paid to do it are extremely misguided. Most "fans" would script a stacked Raw for a week and then find themselves wondering what to do next. That being said, it's very possible that the fundamental problem with Raw is that it might be unrealistic to produce a solid three-hour show every week. At the same time, the company gets paid exponentially more money for the third hour so at least for now, it's a successful decision. If those lackluster segments affect the perception of the product or the numbers in the next few years remains to be seen. Another key aspect could be simply incorporating fresh talent into the program, similar to the way that Mustafa Ali was scheduled for a match with Daniel Bryan on Smackdown this week. Usually, the 205 Live roster has less exposure than someone in the witness protection program, but allowing Ali to work a competitive match against the WWE champion on SD presented him as a potential star to the main stream audience.
Regardless of any criticism of the WWE product, the time slot, or the booking, it's a moot point because the WWE will make over $2.4 billion combined for the Raw and Smackdown shows during the next five years. The WWE is set to generate record-setting revenue and it be the most profitable in the history of the company so from a business prospective the company is already successful.
Obviously, Jacobs is a brilliant mind and he's correct about the task of producing several hours of TV on the WWE schedule, but what exactly caused this slump for the company's flagship show?
I wrote about it extensively throughout the past year, the Roman Reigns super push was essentially limiting the ability for others to achieve the next level of star power. There's a certain time frame that a competitor has when they can organically be elevated further up the card to have their star power maximized. The opportunity cost of the forced Reigns push was that it created a glass ceiling for others on the roster, and regardless of how over they were with the audience, they were going to stay a level below Roman Reigns. For example, the peak for Braun Strowman to make the jump to the main event scene would've been around WM 34, but management was set on Roman so Braun won the tag titles with a kid from the crowd. Braun's random heel turn a few months ago to try to solidify Reigns' championship spot further diluted his reaction from the crowd. When Strowman was substituted for Reigns more recently, he wasn't nearly as over as he was earlier this year. In theory, since Vince McMahon owns sports entertainment in the United States, management can position their choice in the top spot, but when you put as many chips on an athlete as WWE brass bet on Roman, there can be a substantial lack of depth in the main even picture if that competitor isn't on the roster. Make no mistake about it, the talent is there, but how many currently on the Raw roster would be perceived as legitimate Wrestlemania main event stars?
Stellar athletes like Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Samoa Joe, and others were basically kept at mid-card status so that Roman could be presented as the top star. It's no coincidence that Raw has lacked any type of solid direction since Roman stepped away to deal with health problems. The past few years, it didn't matter how over a performer was with the audience, they were automatically kept at a level below Roman Reigns, which is why the show doesn't have clear main event talent right now. The good news is, when Roman Reigns returns to the ring, and he will, it will undoubtedly make him a top-tier star for the rest of his career. The challenges that Joe Anoa'i will overcome in reality will be much more important than anything that is scripted for Roman Reigns. But, what's the direction under Roman returns?
As mentioned, Braun as a substitute, especially after a lackluster heel turn just weeks before that, didn't get over as much as an organic push would've with the audience. Braun's elbow injury kept him off TV, which puts the brand into more of a slump because there's not necessarily a main baby face on the show. It certainly doesn't help the situation that Brock Lesnar, the current Universal Champion, is ice fishing or hunting for moose instead of appearing on WWE TV. You can't blame Brock either, he was offered a great deal and he completely took advantage of it. That being said, the way that Brock disappears with the title and the lack of a champion on Raw in recent years is at an almost absurd level. There's a difference between making championship appearances rare and devaluing the belt. As I wrote previously, I don't think the WWE will get a return that justifies the hefty invest, both financially and a booking aspect, from the Lesnar experiment. On the other hand, you have to give Brock credit, he worked the UFC and WWE very well to maximize his payday. Perhaps, he had no intention of a return to the octagon, but he was smart enough to shove heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier just before his WWE contract was set to expire.
With Braun on the shelf and no indication for Brock's next match, the main angle on Raw is the Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose feud. But they already worked an entire feud based on the destruction of the Shield a few years ago, and the only difference is a role reversal with basically the same premise to the angle. I could be wrong, but Rollins/Ambrose has a "been there, done that" atmosphere to it.
So, what's the solution for Raw?
First of all, Jimmy Jacobs is correct, writing several hours of TV every week is a demanding process, and any "fans" that think they could do a better job than those that get paid to do it are extremely misguided. Most "fans" would script a stacked Raw for a week and then find themselves wondering what to do next. That being said, it's very possible that the fundamental problem with Raw is that it might be unrealistic to produce a solid three-hour show every week. At the same time, the company gets paid exponentially more money for the third hour so at least for now, it's a successful decision. If those lackluster segments affect the perception of the product or the numbers in the next few years remains to be seen. Another key aspect could be simply incorporating fresh talent into the program, similar to the way that Mustafa Ali was scheduled for a match with Daniel Bryan on Smackdown this week. Usually, the 205 Live roster has less exposure than someone in the witness protection program, but allowing Ali to work a competitive match against the WWE champion on SD presented him as a potential star to the main stream audience.
Regardless of any criticism of the WWE product, the time slot, or the booking, it's a moot point because the WWE will make over $2.4 billion combined for the Raw and Smackdown shows during the next five years. The WWE is set to generate record-setting revenue and it be the most profitable in the history of the company so from a business prospective the company is already successful.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
The career of Jimmy Rave
Most middle school kids are focused on a science project, a book report, or they avoid all scholastic responsibilities and spend their time conquering levels on the newest video game. However, when Jimmy Guffey was a youth during the peak of the "Attitude Era," the biggest boom in popularity of professional wrestling, he didn't concern himself with winning fictional titles in "career mode" on Playstation or Nintendo 64, but rather a goal that saw him actually step foot into a real wrestling ring. At just 14, Guffey began a journey, a path that saw him quite literally grow up inside the squared circle.
A fan since before his days in elementary school, Jimmy Guffey had always enjoyed the athleticism and the theatrics of sports entertainment, but didn't realize the sport existed outside of his television screen. When his family relocated to Marietta, Georgia when he was 13, an independent wrestling event was held at the local high school, and the youngster was amazed at the up-close aspect an indy event provided. Around that same time, Guffey attended baseball practice one afternoon and spotted a legend on the field. The legendary "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes attended the practice with his son, Cody. The future Ring of Honor and NWA champion attended another school in the area and was also there for baseball practice. "The American Dream's" presence had a profound impact on Guffey and led him to pursue an opportunity to learn the craft.
"My first baseball practice at 13 years old, I saw Dusty Rhodes at the field then realized I was in a hot bed of wrestling. I quickly sought out a school and started training," he explained.
In 1999, after he learned the proper techniques of the sport at a local training center, Guffey made his professional wrestling debut, as the 16-year-old Mr. XTC, a masked persona he used in the early stages of his career. Within time, Guffey adopted a moniker that would become known around the globe as he proclaimed himself Jimmy Rave. He quickly earned praise for his natural ability inside the ring ropes, and aside from the Georgia indy scene, Rave garnered notoriety from magazines as one of the performers to watch in the new millennium. More specifically, NWA Wild Side, an affiliate located in Georgia, saw Rave win its Jr. Heavyweight title in 2001.
After he received praise for his combination of aerial ability and solid technical skills, Rave began to branch out around the independent scene in the years that followed, working for NWA-TNA during its formative years in contests that aired on syndicated "Xplosion" TV and the national pay-per-view broadcasts that took place in Nashville, TN.
In 2003, he began working for Combat Zone Wrestling and won the Iron Man championship. The north east exposure opened more doors for him and he began his original tenure with Ring Of Honor, which was prior to their nationally syndicated TV broadcasts, but ROH was considered the top independent group at that time. The smooth technician added a completely new layer to his persona, he became one of the most hated villains in the industry. By 2005, the smug, arrogant antagonist incited volatile reactions from ROH audiences as the "Crown Jewel" of the Embassy, a group led by Prince Nana, one of the best managers of his generation.
A fan since before his days in elementary school, Jimmy Guffey had always enjoyed the athleticism and the theatrics of sports entertainment, but didn't realize the sport existed outside of his television screen. When his family relocated to Marietta, Georgia when he was 13, an independent wrestling event was held at the local high school, and the youngster was amazed at the up-close aspect an indy event provided. Around that same time, Guffey attended baseball practice one afternoon and spotted a legend on the field. The legendary "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes attended the practice with his son, Cody. The future Ring of Honor and NWA champion attended another school in the area and was also there for baseball practice. "The American Dream's" presence had a profound impact on Guffey and led him to pursue an opportunity to learn the craft.
"My first baseball practice at 13 years old, I saw Dusty Rhodes at the field then realized I was in a hot bed of wrestling. I quickly sought out a school and started training," he explained.
In 1999, after he learned the proper techniques of the sport at a local training center, Guffey made his professional wrestling debut, as the 16-year-old Mr. XTC, a masked persona he used in the early stages of his career. Within time, Guffey adopted a moniker that would become known around the globe as he proclaimed himself Jimmy Rave. He quickly earned praise for his natural ability inside the ring ropes, and aside from the Georgia indy scene, Rave garnered notoriety from magazines as one of the performers to watch in the new millennium. More specifically, NWA Wild Side, an affiliate located in Georgia, saw Rave win its Jr. Heavyweight title in 2001.
After he received praise for his combination of aerial ability and solid technical skills, Rave began to branch out around the independent scene in the years that followed, working for NWA-TNA during its formative years in contests that aired on syndicated "Xplosion" TV and the national pay-per-view broadcasts that took place in Nashville, TN.
In 2003, he began working for Combat Zone Wrestling and won the Iron Man championship. The north east exposure opened more doors for him and he began his original tenure with Ring Of Honor, which was prior to their nationally syndicated TV broadcasts, but ROH was considered the top independent group at that time. The smooth technician added a completely new layer to his persona, he became one of the most hated villains in the industry. By 2005, the smug, arrogant antagonist incited volatile reactions from ROH audiences as the "Crown Jewel" of the Embassy, a group led by Prince Nana, one of the best managers of his generation.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
The career of The Dynamite Kid
It's with great sadness that I read the news on social media that Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington, one of the greatest and most innovative performers in the history of the sport, passed away on his 60th birthday.
A native of Lancashire, England, Billington learned boxing in his early youth and saw the traditional World Of Sport bouts. At just 16, Billington wanted to pursue the craft and was recruited to learn the sport by Ted Betley, a former grappler that trained aspiring students. Betley took the young hopeful to Billy Riley's training academy, the infamous "Snake Pit" in Wigan, England. A former British Empire champion, Riley was a masterful submission specialist and coached a gritty style of catch wrestling at his school. The young Tom Billington endured exhausting hours in the gym to learn the technical catch wrestling style and it provided a solid foundation for his career.
Using the moniker "The Dynamite Kid," Billington made his pro debut as a scrawny 17-year-old kid on the World of Sport program in 1975. A natural in the squared circle, his athletic ability and technical skill were quickly noticed. Within just a few years of his start in the sport, he won a variety of lightweight championships in his native country until he relocated to Canada in 1978 to work for the legendary Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion, a move that played a pivotal role in his career. Once he arrived in the Canadian territory, he worked a series of memorable matches with a rookie Bret Hart and gained more exposure for his exceptional skills.
His stellar performances in Stampede brought him the opportunity to work tours of New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he began to cement his legacy as one of the greatest performers to step into a ring. His series of matches against Tiger Mask throughout the early 80s were some of the most innovative bouts in the history of the industry and inspired a generation of wrestlers. A fast-paced, physical style became one of Dynamite's trademarks and his risky matches thrilled Japanese audiences. The Tiger Mask/Dynamite series made headlines throughout the wrestling world and was imported to Madison Square Garden for a WWF event in 1982. Tiger Mask successfully defended the WWF Light Heavyweight championship, and Dynamite was on the WWF radar, another major aspect that later played a role in his career.
By 1984, Tiger Mask, who was one of the most popular wrestlers in Japan, left NJPW after a dispute with Antonio Inoki. Billington continued his series of impressive contests with names such as Roller ball Rocco, who worked as Black Tiger in New Japan. Billington also brought his cousin, Davey Boy Smith to Japan after he started his career a few years earlier in England. After Tiger Mask's exit, Dynamite thought there was the potential for more money elsewhere, and he jumped with Davey Boy as a tag team to Giant Baba's All Japan. That same year, The British Bulldogs were among the collection of Stampede talent that were offered a chance to work for the WWF as Vince McMahon prepare for his national expansion. In his autobiography, "Pure Dynamite," Billington explained that he didn't sign an exclusive contract with the WWF because he wanted to keep Japan an option. He worked several tours for All Japan and a full-time schedule for the WWF in 1985. During their run, the British Bulldogs had notable matches with the Hart Foundation, The Dream Team, and others. Perhaps, the highlight of their run as a tag team was when they won the WWF Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania 2.
In late-1986, Dynamite suffered a serious back injury and required surgery, prompting the end of the Bulldogs' run as champions. After a decade in the wrestling business, the wear and tear of his risky style did serious damage to his back. Complicating the situation, years of excessive steroid abuse to add bulk to his smaller frame and frequent drug use took a toll on Billington's body. He sounded very bitter in his book when he detailed the circumstances of his injury and that it required the Bulldogs to drop the belts. He also wrote that doctors advised him to stop wrestling, but the 27-year-old Billington returned to the ring as soon as he could and continued a full-time WWF schedule in March of 1987.
The Bulldogs' departure from the WWF was surrounded in controversy and the details of the incident depend on who you ask about the scenario. As mentioned, Dynamite had the reputation as a harsh person and was known to work stiff in the ring. In fact, as was highlighted on a WWE DVD release over a decade ago, a rookie named Jack Foley worked as an enhancement talent and was injured during a match with the Bulldogs. The future WWE champion tried to land an elbow, which Dynamite took offense to and then hit him with a clothesline in the face. Foley suffered a dislocated jaw and it took several weeks for him to recover from the injury. Thankfully, Dynamite and Foley made peace years later. However, a backstage fight with Jacques Rougeau, where Billington hit him when Rougeau was playing cards led to another confrontation when Jacques knocked out Billington's front teeth. This led to the Bulldogs' last appearance at the Survivor Series in 1988.
Following their WWF exit, Dynamite and Davey Boy returned to Stampede and worked tours of All Japan in 1989. As history showed, Davey Boy eventually went back to the WWF while Dynamite continued to work in Japan. Just two years later, Dynamite's innovative and stellar 15-year career came to an abrupt end when he retired from full-time action in 1991. The high impact maneuvers that made him a star around the globe took their toll. Years of steroid and drug abuse had destroyed his body. After he announced his retirement, he appeared in the ring a few times in the years that followed, but he was a shell of himself during his final appearance in 1996.
In the late 90s, Billington was confirmed to a wheelchair as a result of all the damage done to his body. It was tragic to see the athlete that thrilled audiences around the world with his aerial skills confined to a wheelchair. As mentioned, his autobiography that was originally published in 2001, seemed as though Dynamite held grudge toward some throughout his career. Sadly, in 2013, he suffered a stroke and required full-time care at his home in England. Thankfully, it was reported that he made peace with some of the people he had disagreements with previously.
Tom Billington was a complicated man, and the career of the Dynamite Kid is as innovative as it is a cautionary tale. But, make no mistake about it, he never truly received the credit he deserved for his in-ring accomplishments and the professional wrestling genre wouldn't be where it is today without his contributions to the sport.
A native of Lancashire, England, Billington learned boxing in his early youth and saw the traditional World Of Sport bouts. At just 16, Billington wanted to pursue the craft and was recruited to learn the sport by Ted Betley, a former grappler that trained aspiring students. Betley took the young hopeful to Billy Riley's training academy, the infamous "Snake Pit" in Wigan, England. A former British Empire champion, Riley was a masterful submission specialist and coached a gritty style of catch wrestling at his school. The young Tom Billington endured exhausting hours in the gym to learn the technical catch wrestling style and it provided a solid foundation for his career.
Using the moniker "The Dynamite Kid," Billington made his pro debut as a scrawny 17-year-old kid on the World of Sport program in 1975. A natural in the squared circle, his athletic ability and technical skill were quickly noticed. Within just a few years of his start in the sport, he won a variety of lightweight championships in his native country until he relocated to Canada in 1978 to work for the legendary Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion, a move that played a pivotal role in his career. Once he arrived in the Canadian territory, he worked a series of memorable matches with a rookie Bret Hart and gained more exposure for his exceptional skills.
His stellar performances in Stampede brought him the opportunity to work tours of New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he began to cement his legacy as one of the greatest performers to step into a ring. His series of matches against Tiger Mask throughout the early 80s were some of the most innovative bouts in the history of the industry and inspired a generation of wrestlers. A fast-paced, physical style became one of Dynamite's trademarks and his risky matches thrilled Japanese audiences. The Tiger Mask/Dynamite series made headlines throughout the wrestling world and was imported to Madison Square Garden for a WWF event in 1982. Tiger Mask successfully defended the WWF Light Heavyweight championship, and Dynamite was on the WWF radar, another major aspect that later played a role in his career.
By 1984, Tiger Mask, who was one of the most popular wrestlers in Japan, left NJPW after a dispute with Antonio Inoki. Billington continued his series of impressive contests with names such as Roller ball Rocco, who worked as Black Tiger in New Japan. Billington also brought his cousin, Davey Boy Smith to Japan after he started his career a few years earlier in England. After Tiger Mask's exit, Dynamite thought there was the potential for more money elsewhere, and he jumped with Davey Boy as a tag team to Giant Baba's All Japan. That same year, The British Bulldogs were among the collection of Stampede talent that were offered a chance to work for the WWF as Vince McMahon prepare for his national expansion. In his autobiography, "Pure Dynamite," Billington explained that he didn't sign an exclusive contract with the WWF because he wanted to keep Japan an option. He worked several tours for All Japan and a full-time schedule for the WWF in 1985. During their run, the British Bulldogs had notable matches with the Hart Foundation, The Dream Team, and others. Perhaps, the highlight of their run as a tag team was when they won the WWF Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania 2.
In late-1986, Dynamite suffered a serious back injury and required surgery, prompting the end of the Bulldogs' run as champions. After a decade in the wrestling business, the wear and tear of his risky style did serious damage to his back. Complicating the situation, years of excessive steroid abuse to add bulk to his smaller frame and frequent drug use took a toll on Billington's body. He sounded very bitter in his book when he detailed the circumstances of his injury and that it required the Bulldogs to drop the belts. He also wrote that doctors advised him to stop wrestling, but the 27-year-old Billington returned to the ring as soon as he could and continued a full-time WWF schedule in March of 1987.
The Bulldogs' departure from the WWF was surrounded in controversy and the details of the incident depend on who you ask about the scenario. As mentioned, Dynamite had the reputation as a harsh person and was known to work stiff in the ring. In fact, as was highlighted on a WWE DVD release over a decade ago, a rookie named Jack Foley worked as an enhancement talent and was injured during a match with the Bulldogs. The future WWE champion tried to land an elbow, which Dynamite took offense to and then hit him with a clothesline in the face. Foley suffered a dislocated jaw and it took several weeks for him to recover from the injury. Thankfully, Dynamite and Foley made peace years later. However, a backstage fight with Jacques Rougeau, where Billington hit him when Rougeau was playing cards led to another confrontation when Jacques knocked out Billington's front teeth. This led to the Bulldogs' last appearance at the Survivor Series in 1988.
Following their WWF exit, Dynamite and Davey Boy returned to Stampede and worked tours of All Japan in 1989. As history showed, Davey Boy eventually went back to the WWF while Dynamite continued to work in Japan. Just two years later, Dynamite's innovative and stellar 15-year career came to an abrupt end when he retired from full-time action in 1991. The high impact maneuvers that made him a star around the globe took their toll. Years of steroid and drug abuse had destroyed his body. After he announced his retirement, he appeared in the ring a few times in the years that followed, but he was a shell of himself during his final appearance in 1996.
In the late 90s, Billington was confirmed to a wheelchair as a result of all the damage done to his body. It was tragic to see the athlete that thrilled audiences around the world with his aerial skills confined to a wheelchair. As mentioned, his autobiography that was originally published in 2001, seemed as though Dynamite held grudge toward some throughout his career. Sadly, in 2013, he suffered a stroke and required full-time care at his home in England. Thankfully, it was reported that he made peace with some of the people he had disagreements with previously.
Tom Billington was a complicated man, and the career of the Dynamite Kid is as innovative as it is a cautionary tale. But, make no mistake about it, he never truly received the credit he deserved for his in-ring accomplishments and the professional wrestling genre wouldn't be where it is today without his contributions to the sport.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz
Last weekend, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions entered the world of mixed martial arts to promote the trilogy bout of Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz, a series that saw Liddell victorious on two prior occasions in the UFC. De La Hoya, a former gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics and six-division champion, has successfully promoted boxing since 2002, with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez as the top earner for the Golden Boy banner in recent years. Alvarez, who inked a mega five-year, $365 million dollar deal with the DAZN streaming service last month, is scheduled for a contest against Rocky Fielding in just a few weeks, another event promoted under the Golden Boy umbrella.
De La Hoya is a well-established promoter in boxing, but the world of MMA is a different genre and many were skeptical about an event headlined by two aging former stars. I penned an article a few months ago when this bout was initially announced and explained the potential pitfalls of a comeback for the 48-year-old Liddell. As of this writing, buy rates for the pay-per-view, a show that included some amateur bouts, aren't announced yet, but early speculation is that the PPV didn't have a solid advance because the original price of the broadcast was listed at $49.99 before it was reduced to $39.99 the week of the bout.
I'm not sure how the comeback fight for "The Iceman" would be a draw in 2018, and it's a risky fight to book since it could be a letdown for the viewing audience. Sadly, it wasn't a surprise when Liddell crashed to the canvas after one solid punch in the first round without virtually any notable offense during the contest. It was more than eight years ago since Chuck last competed in the cage, which saw him sustain a third consecutive KO loss and prompted calls for his retirement. A former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Chuck was the face of the organization during its surge in popularity in the early 2000s. His tenure in the UFC concluded in 2010 when he lost five of his last six bouts in the octagon.
Prior to this Golden Boy fight, Liddell looked slower when he sparred and had a noticeable limp as he entered the arena. Ultimately, Chuck didn't have the movement to avoid Ortiz's punches or the speed to counter them. It was very disappointing to see one of the legends and most important fighters in the history of the sport look like a shell of himself. As I said in the previous article, nobody wants to remember the Ali-Holmes fight. In some ways, it was almost irresponsible for the California State Athletic Commission to sanction this fight and for Golden Boy to promote it. There was no indication that Liddell was physically capable of being competitive in a mixed martial arts fight.
That's not meant as any disrespect to Liddell, he's an absolute legend, but he already suffered several KOs in his career and another vicious knockout at 48 years old could have many unknown consequences for him. With as much emphasis as there is on concussions in sports today, allowing Liddell to fight shouldn't have even been considered. "The Iceman's" longtime trainer, John Hackleman didn't work the corner for this bout, which is another indication that it was obvious that Chuck didn't have a realistic chance to be competitive against Ortiz.
Post-fight, the athletic commission announced an indefinite medical suspension for Liddel, which would require him to apply to have it lifted before he could attempt to fight again. All things considered, this wasn't a good start for Golden Boy in mixed martial arts, especially considering that the only other recognizable name of the card, Tom Lawlor lost via decision in a lackluster fight. What exactly was entertaining about this event? A less than stellar under card and a main event that saw a legend get knocked unconscious in a fight that there wasn't a demand to see and probably shouldn't have been sanctioned to happen.
Since the event, UFC president, Dana White and De La Hoya have traded verbal jabs, which isn't a surprise, considering that Oscar wants to attempt to take a piece of the pay-per-view pie from the UFC. However, you have to wonder if this attempt at MMA from Oscar was more of a response to the Conor McGregor/Floyd Mayweather bout last year that was put on PPV just two weeks before a Canelo bout than an attempt to start to promote regular MMA events. One of De La Hoya's main selling points of his MMA project was that fighters will make more money there, which is typical promoter spin of a narrative. If De La Hoya is serious about a long-term MMA project, why not invest the money to sign some of the notable fighters currently in their prime after their Bellator or UFC deals expire?
Hopefully, Liddell wasn't fighting for the money at his age and let's all hope that he doesn't fight again because it's not worth the risk to his health. If anything, the results of this trilogy fight should be a cautionary tale for other former stars of Chuck's generation that might consider a return to the sport for a big payday. Liddell should be remembered for his thrilling punches and tremendous wins, but this defeat tainted some of his legacy. More than anything, this was just a sad fight and it probably shouldn't have happened.
De La Hoya is a well-established promoter in boxing, but the world of MMA is a different genre and many were skeptical about an event headlined by two aging former stars. I penned an article a few months ago when this bout was initially announced and explained the potential pitfalls of a comeback for the 48-year-old Liddell. As of this writing, buy rates for the pay-per-view, a show that included some amateur bouts, aren't announced yet, but early speculation is that the PPV didn't have a solid advance because the original price of the broadcast was listed at $49.99 before it was reduced to $39.99 the week of the bout.
I'm not sure how the comeback fight for "The Iceman" would be a draw in 2018, and it's a risky fight to book since it could be a letdown for the viewing audience. Sadly, it wasn't a surprise when Liddell crashed to the canvas after one solid punch in the first round without virtually any notable offense during the contest. It was more than eight years ago since Chuck last competed in the cage, which saw him sustain a third consecutive KO loss and prompted calls for his retirement. A former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Chuck was the face of the organization during its surge in popularity in the early 2000s. His tenure in the UFC concluded in 2010 when he lost five of his last six bouts in the octagon.
Prior to this Golden Boy fight, Liddell looked slower when he sparred and had a noticeable limp as he entered the arena. Ultimately, Chuck didn't have the movement to avoid Ortiz's punches or the speed to counter them. It was very disappointing to see one of the legends and most important fighters in the history of the sport look like a shell of himself. As I said in the previous article, nobody wants to remember the Ali-Holmes fight. In some ways, it was almost irresponsible for the California State Athletic Commission to sanction this fight and for Golden Boy to promote it. There was no indication that Liddell was physically capable of being competitive in a mixed martial arts fight.
That's not meant as any disrespect to Liddell, he's an absolute legend, but he already suffered several KOs in his career and another vicious knockout at 48 years old could have many unknown consequences for him. With as much emphasis as there is on concussions in sports today, allowing Liddell to fight shouldn't have even been considered. "The Iceman's" longtime trainer, John Hackleman didn't work the corner for this bout, which is another indication that it was obvious that Chuck didn't have a realistic chance to be competitive against Ortiz.
Post-fight, the athletic commission announced an indefinite medical suspension for Liddel, which would require him to apply to have it lifted before he could attempt to fight again. All things considered, this wasn't a good start for Golden Boy in mixed martial arts, especially considering that the only other recognizable name of the card, Tom Lawlor lost via decision in a lackluster fight. What exactly was entertaining about this event? A less than stellar under card and a main event that saw a legend get knocked unconscious in a fight that there wasn't a demand to see and probably shouldn't have been sanctioned to happen.
Since the event, UFC president, Dana White and De La Hoya have traded verbal jabs, which isn't a surprise, considering that Oscar wants to attempt to take a piece of the pay-per-view pie from the UFC. However, you have to wonder if this attempt at MMA from Oscar was more of a response to the Conor McGregor/Floyd Mayweather bout last year that was put on PPV just two weeks before a Canelo bout than an attempt to start to promote regular MMA events. One of De La Hoya's main selling points of his MMA project was that fighters will make more money there, which is typical promoter spin of a narrative. If De La Hoya is serious about a long-term MMA project, why not invest the money to sign some of the notable fighters currently in their prime after their Bellator or UFC deals expire?
Hopefully, Liddell wasn't fighting for the money at his age and let's all hope that he doesn't fight again because it's not worth the risk to his health. If anything, the results of this trilogy fight should be a cautionary tale for other former stars of Chuck's generation that might consider a return to the sport for a big payday. Liddell should be remembered for his thrilling punches and tremendous wins, but this defeat tainted some of his legacy. More than anything, this was just a sad fight and it probably shouldn't have happened.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
The WWE UK expansion
With the expansion of the NXT UK brand recently, including its first live Takeover special early next year, WWE brass continues to put the pieces of the puzzle in place for its global network of affiliates. Management is smart enough to know that they will always need a feeder system to stock talent as their plans are expanded so within the past few years, the publicly-traded, global company made working agreements with a variety of independent companies. Evolve in the United States, as well as Progress and ICW in Europe are allowed to maintain the use of some of their homegrown stars that ink WWE deals. This is a very wise move and a win-win for everyone because it brings top talent into the WWE system to use as they promote in different locations, while keeping key independent groups around to provide a platform for talent to be discovered.
Could the WWE sign dozens of wrestlers to exclusive contracts and the indy groups fizzle out? Sure, but if those organizations shut down, that would make it much more difficult for new talent to be discovered. The WWE allows these groups to work under their umbrella and thus have a continuous pool of talent to choose from when they test the market in new areas.
Roughly a decade ago, there were rumblings about the WWE expanding into Mexico, Japan, and Europe. It was a concept that seemed very possible in theory because of WWE's global reach, but proved to be much more difficult in application because of the style and culture of some of those regions. For example, lucha libre has been wildly popular in its native country for many years. While its had downturns similar to wrestling anywhere, lucha has done consistent business south of the boarder for decades. Names like Santo, Blue Panther, Guerrero, Mysterio, Barr, and many others decorate its extensive history. That being said, lucha has a completely different approach than anything seen in main stream pro wrestling in the United States. More specifically, modern lucha has a complete lack of psychology that is used for most American wrestling. Another key point is that much of the popularity of lucha in Mexico is based on the traditional and cultural aspects of the country.
The WWE events that are held there usually yield mixed results, sometimes drawing well, but other events will only have moderate attendance. The WWE product is totally different product than the events that draw major crowds in Mexico so the American export just doesn't completely translate to that audience. The point being, because professional wrestling is already so well established in Mexico, it's doubtful that there's a market or a demand for a WWE promotion based in the country.
The same could be said for the Japanese market, on the surface, an expansion there would make sense because there's an established fan base, but much of that popularity was established decades ago. While there are similarities, the Japanese style is still different from what's presented on American TV, and much of that style is based on the Japanese culture. The WWE tours of Japan usually draw well, but that is for an annual tour, which might not necessarily draw if events ran on a regular basis. The downturn in the Japanese market was around 2005, which might've been a time period when a new product could've been introduced, but the point is moot because that wasn't an era when the WWE had the leverage for such an expansion. Another important consideration is that the Japanese landscape already has many different promotions that market towards different demographics so it's not as though there's a demand for a WWE Japan group. New Japan Pro Wrestling has done very well the past five years and draws the biggest crowds in the country. There are a few women's companies that run successfully and draw decent crowds. There are also death match groups like Big Japan that have done well in the past few years.
So, what made the UK expansion possible?
Most importantly, until a few years ago, the UK market didn't have any major companies with a noticeable buzz around them. However, more recently, the European scene boomed in popularity and many talented wrestlers had the chance to be discovered. Jimmy Havoc, Pete Dunne, Mark Andrews, Marty Scurll, and several others began to perform in front of diehard, sold out crowds. The UK saw its major homegrown wrestling disappear when the traditional World of Sport program was cancelled from TV in the early 90s so there was undoubtedly a demand for live wrestling in the country. Make no mistake about it, the WWE launched a UK-based brand because there was money to be made in the European market and they weren't going to leave that cash on that table. There was also the opportunity to cater to that fan base because while the World of Sport tradition is very well known, the style that was popularized in the modern era is more of a hybrid style often seen on the independent scene so the WWE has a chance to get a market share because it's a relatively new era of the sport in Europe. The opportunity is there, but such an expansion is a process and it remains to be seen if the project is successful on a long-term basis.
According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, management recently made changes to the UK talent contracts, prohibiting them from working for certain promotions that aren't affiliated with WWE. Reportedly, the move was made because an injury to Travis Banks at an event for a different group forced NXT television to be rewritten. It was said that those UK talents were given a raise to compensate for the shows that had to be eliminated from their schedule. Despite what some might think, I'd guess this decision was made more to protect their investment in the UK project than any attempt to harm smaller indy groups. Keep in mind, if WWE wanted to sign all the talents to an exclusive deal and take talent away from UK independent organizations, they certainly could've done that. Clearly, WWE brass knows the value of a system that allows talents to learn different styles, and thus there are the previously mentioned working agreements that keep talent around Evolve, Progress, etc.
What could be the plan for this expansion?
It can't be understated how much of a tedious process an expansion into other places around the world would be for the company. It's not as simple as putting the WWE logo on a product and expecting a major draw, which is why the NXT UK brand was built from the use of UK talent to test the market. As mentioned, the European market is probably the WWE's best chance for a full-time brand because of the demand for the hybrid style of the sport. That being said, I'd say it would be much more difficult for the company do to the same thing in Japan or Mexico because of the previously mentioned traditional and cultural aspects of the genre in those places. But, who knows what this could bring in other markets? PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported that German star, Walter recently signed a WWE deal, and there are plans for him to primarily work the UK brand and continue to work for his home promotion WXW. Could there be an eventual WWE expansion into Germany?
Aside from the actual new markets and the fresh talent that could be discovered there, this type of expansion really shows how much the WWE dominates the market share in the United States. If that's a good thing or not depends on the context, but the depth of the overall talent roster and the ability to sign so many talented athletes is possible because Vince McMahon completely owns the sport in the United States. If there was legitimate competition in America, it's possible some talents might've opted to sign elsewhere, but for the major money in this country, WWE is the place to go for majority of talented prospects. With the domination of the United States market, it makes sense for the company to expand overseas and it will be extremely interesting if the NXT UK brand becomes a full time project. Hopefully, with the WWE more willing now to work with smaller promotions than anytime in history, these working agreements will lead to more opportunities for the athletes on the roster and some unique matches for the brand.
Could the WWE sign dozens of wrestlers to exclusive contracts and the indy groups fizzle out? Sure, but if those organizations shut down, that would make it much more difficult for new talent to be discovered. The WWE allows these groups to work under their umbrella and thus have a continuous pool of talent to choose from when they test the market in new areas.
Roughly a decade ago, there were rumblings about the WWE expanding into Mexico, Japan, and Europe. It was a concept that seemed very possible in theory because of WWE's global reach, but proved to be much more difficult in application because of the style and culture of some of those regions. For example, lucha libre has been wildly popular in its native country for many years. While its had downturns similar to wrestling anywhere, lucha has done consistent business south of the boarder for decades. Names like Santo, Blue Panther, Guerrero, Mysterio, Barr, and many others decorate its extensive history. That being said, lucha has a completely different approach than anything seen in main stream pro wrestling in the United States. More specifically, modern lucha has a complete lack of psychology that is used for most American wrestling. Another key point is that much of the popularity of lucha in Mexico is based on the traditional and cultural aspects of the country.
The WWE events that are held there usually yield mixed results, sometimes drawing well, but other events will only have moderate attendance. The WWE product is totally different product than the events that draw major crowds in Mexico so the American export just doesn't completely translate to that audience. The point being, because professional wrestling is already so well established in Mexico, it's doubtful that there's a market or a demand for a WWE promotion based in the country.
The same could be said for the Japanese market, on the surface, an expansion there would make sense because there's an established fan base, but much of that popularity was established decades ago. While there are similarities, the Japanese style is still different from what's presented on American TV, and much of that style is based on the Japanese culture. The WWE tours of Japan usually draw well, but that is for an annual tour, which might not necessarily draw if events ran on a regular basis. The downturn in the Japanese market was around 2005, which might've been a time period when a new product could've been introduced, but the point is moot because that wasn't an era when the WWE had the leverage for such an expansion. Another important consideration is that the Japanese landscape already has many different promotions that market towards different demographics so it's not as though there's a demand for a WWE Japan group. New Japan Pro Wrestling has done very well the past five years and draws the biggest crowds in the country. There are a few women's companies that run successfully and draw decent crowds. There are also death match groups like Big Japan that have done well in the past few years.
So, what made the UK expansion possible?
Most importantly, until a few years ago, the UK market didn't have any major companies with a noticeable buzz around them. However, more recently, the European scene boomed in popularity and many talented wrestlers had the chance to be discovered. Jimmy Havoc, Pete Dunne, Mark Andrews, Marty Scurll, and several others began to perform in front of diehard, sold out crowds. The UK saw its major homegrown wrestling disappear when the traditional World of Sport program was cancelled from TV in the early 90s so there was undoubtedly a demand for live wrestling in the country. Make no mistake about it, the WWE launched a UK-based brand because there was money to be made in the European market and they weren't going to leave that cash on that table. There was also the opportunity to cater to that fan base because while the World of Sport tradition is very well known, the style that was popularized in the modern era is more of a hybrid style often seen on the independent scene so the WWE has a chance to get a market share because it's a relatively new era of the sport in Europe. The opportunity is there, but such an expansion is a process and it remains to be seen if the project is successful on a long-term basis.
According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, management recently made changes to the UK talent contracts, prohibiting them from working for certain promotions that aren't affiliated with WWE. Reportedly, the move was made because an injury to Travis Banks at an event for a different group forced NXT television to be rewritten. It was said that those UK talents were given a raise to compensate for the shows that had to be eliminated from their schedule. Despite what some might think, I'd guess this decision was made more to protect their investment in the UK project than any attempt to harm smaller indy groups. Keep in mind, if WWE wanted to sign all the talents to an exclusive deal and take talent away from UK independent organizations, they certainly could've done that. Clearly, WWE brass knows the value of a system that allows talents to learn different styles, and thus there are the previously mentioned working agreements that keep talent around Evolve, Progress, etc.
What could be the plan for this expansion?
It can't be understated how much of a tedious process an expansion into other places around the world would be for the company. It's not as simple as putting the WWE logo on a product and expecting a major draw, which is why the NXT UK brand was built from the use of UK talent to test the market. As mentioned, the European market is probably the WWE's best chance for a full-time brand because of the demand for the hybrid style of the sport. That being said, I'd say it would be much more difficult for the company do to the same thing in Japan or Mexico because of the previously mentioned traditional and cultural aspects of the genre in those places. But, who knows what this could bring in other markets? PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported that German star, Walter recently signed a WWE deal, and there are plans for him to primarily work the UK brand and continue to work for his home promotion WXW. Could there be an eventual WWE expansion into Germany?
Aside from the actual new markets and the fresh talent that could be discovered there, this type of expansion really shows how much the WWE dominates the market share in the United States. If that's a good thing or not depends on the context, but the depth of the overall talent roster and the ability to sign so many talented athletes is possible because Vince McMahon completely owns the sport in the United States. If there was legitimate competition in America, it's possible some talents might've opted to sign elsewhere, but for the major money in this country, WWE is the place to go for majority of talented prospects. With the domination of the United States market, it makes sense for the company to expand overseas and it will be extremely interesting if the NXT UK brand becomes a full time project. Hopefully, with the WWE more willing now to work with smaller promotions than anytime in history, these working agreements will lead to more opportunities for the athletes on the roster and some unique matches for the brand.
Monday, November 26, 2018
The VHS memoirs Volume 5
This month marks twenty one years since the Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart WWF title match at the Survivor Series, the site of the infamous Montreal incident that became one of the most controversial and most influential events in the history of the industry. Despite being one of the most discussed topics in the past two decades, there are still questions about what happened that night in Montreal. Who knew about the plan to end the match? Was Bret in on it? Was there a plan for him to go to WCW to cash-in on a Ted Turner contract?
The circumstances that led to the infamous incident are almost as controversial as the bout itself. Shawn Michaels has said himself that he was in a much different place with many problems in his life in 1997 before he became a born again Christian a few years later. Still, Michaels had a reputation at that time as one of the best in-ring workers of his generation, and would later add to his resume with an event better run when he returned from injury in 2002.
The late 90s were a boom period for the professional wrestling business, but the WWF had to weather the storm of Ted Turner's acquisition of several former WWF stars before McMahon took the lead in the Monday Night war for weekly ratings. Eric Bischoff, a former third-tier announcer for Verne Gagne's AWA, become the executive vice president for Turner's WCW in 1994, and took a different approach to running the organization than those that made decisions previously. Bischoff knew he needed star power and in the span of just a few years, he used the Turner resources to sign several of the performers that McMahon made stars. Hulk Hogan, who left the McMahon empire under less than stellar circumstances, signed an extremely lucrative contract with WCW in 1994. The terms of that deal would eventually be one of the many factors that contributed to the company's demise. Randy Savage, another top star for the WWF in the 80s, also inked a Turner contract shortly after that.
The debut of WCW Nitro, a Monday night show to compete against the WWF's flagship show Raw, added to the pressure of competition of the pro wrestling market. Those factors along with the slump of the industry in the early 90s made it very difficult for Vince McMahon to maintain the top spot in sports entertainment. When McMahon finished in the red for 1996, some of his top stars looked to maximize their market value, and that year both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash opted to jump to WCW when their WWF contracts expired. The Outsiders and the initial run of the New World Order, a stable that saw Hulk Hogan turn heel, gave WCW a drastic lead ahead of the WWF, a situation that put the future of the company in jeopardy.
By late 1997, McMahon had taken the gloves off and was ready to embark on a new philosophy of "Attitude" with programming that pushed the envelope further than the corporate structure of the Turner product. It was a move to attempt to maintain turf in the wrestling war and at the time, there were no guarantees for success. Bischoff, the only figure in the industry to put Vince on the ropes, looked to further expand the Turner acquisitions to try to overwhelm the WWF with the momentum of Nitro that was built throughout the previous year. Bret, the WWF's longtime champion, was offered a very lucrative deal from Turner, but initially turned it down, agreeing instead to 20-year contract with McMahon that would pay him more money in the later years of the deal. In theory, this gave the WWF a chance to avoid the financial pressure of WCW and keep Hart on the roster. Just months later, Vince realized he can't afford Bret's deal, and the future of the company is in doubt. McMahon allowed Bret the opportunity to negotiate with WCW while still under a WWF contract. Reportedly, Hart signed for an astounding $2.5 million a year and it was estimated that he made over $6.5 million during his WCW run, which concluded when he was released in October 2000 after an injury.
However, just three years before his WCW exit, Hart was still the WWF champion, which made it necessary for WWF management to make plans for the belt. It's well-documented that Michaels made a comment previously that he would refuse to lose to Bret so Hart refused to do the job in Montreal for their scheduled pay-per-view bout. Supposedly, the "scripted" finish to the match was set to be a DQ after outside interference. History showed that as Shawn had Bret in the sharpshooter, McMahon yelled for the time keeper to ring the bell, and in the ring, the referee Earl Hebner called for the bell on-screen. As soon as the music played, a stunned Hart realized the plan was changed without his knowledge and he spit at McMahon. Michaels looked visibly upset in the ring and was hustled backstage for his safety as an irate crowd pelted ringside with trash. Ironically, "Wrestling with Shadows," a documentary from Canadian filmmakers had chronicled Bret's journey for most of the previous year and were recording that night at the Survivor Series. After an infuriated Hart went backstage, he found McMahon, who told Bret he deserved a punch so Hart threw one punch that staggered McMahon, who was seen on the documentary as he shuffled down the hall.
Since that infamous night, many people, both fans and wrestlers, speculated that Montreal was a work designed to allow Bret to leave and generate heat for McMahon. While nobody outside of a select few from meetings in 1997 will actually know the real story, I would guess that Bret Hart was legitimately swerved that night.
The reasons for this guess are relatively simple and there's not some shocking revelation, but rather a look at the scenario at the time. It's much easier for conspiracy theorists to attempt to piece together a grand plan for Bret's mega deal to drain WCW's resources, but that assumption is only a possible theory because WCW folded, and in reality it shutdown for many reasons other than Hart's contract. Keep in mind, in 1997 WCW had all the momentum in the wrestling war and adding the former WWF champion would've theoretically added to that. There was no way to know that WCW would completely botch the use of Bret Hart during his run there, especially after the way it successfully used Hall and Nash in 1997.
There were also no guarantees when the decision was made at Survivor Series that it would contribute to the start of Mr. McMahon as one of the most successful heel personas in the history of the industry. The viewing audience could've interpreted the notorious title switch as an indication that the WWF was crumbling while the competition just signed their top star. Again, it can't be understated that there was no guarantee that the turbulent situation would eventually lead to the biggest feud of the era when Stone Cold vs. McMahon set TV ratings records. As I mentioned, there's no way to know the actual story, but it speaks volumes about the impact of the Montreal incident that is remained a topic of discussion for more than two decades.
The circumstances that led to the infamous incident are almost as controversial as the bout itself. Shawn Michaels has said himself that he was in a much different place with many problems in his life in 1997 before he became a born again Christian a few years later. Still, Michaels had a reputation at that time as one of the best in-ring workers of his generation, and would later add to his resume with an event better run when he returned from injury in 2002.
The late 90s were a boom period for the professional wrestling business, but the WWF had to weather the storm of Ted Turner's acquisition of several former WWF stars before McMahon took the lead in the Monday Night war for weekly ratings. Eric Bischoff, a former third-tier announcer for Verne Gagne's AWA, become the executive vice president for Turner's WCW in 1994, and took a different approach to running the organization than those that made decisions previously. Bischoff knew he needed star power and in the span of just a few years, he used the Turner resources to sign several of the performers that McMahon made stars. Hulk Hogan, who left the McMahon empire under less than stellar circumstances, signed an extremely lucrative contract with WCW in 1994. The terms of that deal would eventually be one of the many factors that contributed to the company's demise. Randy Savage, another top star for the WWF in the 80s, also inked a Turner contract shortly after that.
The debut of WCW Nitro, a Monday night show to compete against the WWF's flagship show Raw, added to the pressure of competition of the pro wrestling market. Those factors along with the slump of the industry in the early 90s made it very difficult for Vince McMahon to maintain the top spot in sports entertainment. When McMahon finished in the red for 1996, some of his top stars looked to maximize their market value, and that year both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash opted to jump to WCW when their WWF contracts expired. The Outsiders and the initial run of the New World Order, a stable that saw Hulk Hogan turn heel, gave WCW a drastic lead ahead of the WWF, a situation that put the future of the company in jeopardy.
By late 1997, McMahon had taken the gloves off and was ready to embark on a new philosophy of "Attitude" with programming that pushed the envelope further than the corporate structure of the Turner product. It was a move to attempt to maintain turf in the wrestling war and at the time, there were no guarantees for success. Bischoff, the only figure in the industry to put Vince on the ropes, looked to further expand the Turner acquisitions to try to overwhelm the WWF with the momentum of Nitro that was built throughout the previous year. Bret, the WWF's longtime champion, was offered a very lucrative deal from Turner, but initially turned it down, agreeing instead to 20-year contract with McMahon that would pay him more money in the later years of the deal. In theory, this gave the WWF a chance to avoid the financial pressure of WCW and keep Hart on the roster. Just months later, Vince realized he can't afford Bret's deal, and the future of the company is in doubt. McMahon allowed Bret the opportunity to negotiate with WCW while still under a WWF contract. Reportedly, Hart signed for an astounding $2.5 million a year and it was estimated that he made over $6.5 million during his WCW run, which concluded when he was released in October 2000 after an injury.
However, just three years before his WCW exit, Hart was still the WWF champion, which made it necessary for WWF management to make plans for the belt. It's well-documented that Michaels made a comment previously that he would refuse to lose to Bret so Hart refused to do the job in Montreal for their scheduled pay-per-view bout. Supposedly, the "scripted" finish to the match was set to be a DQ after outside interference. History showed that as Shawn had Bret in the sharpshooter, McMahon yelled for the time keeper to ring the bell, and in the ring, the referee Earl Hebner called for the bell on-screen. As soon as the music played, a stunned Hart realized the plan was changed without his knowledge and he spit at McMahon. Michaels looked visibly upset in the ring and was hustled backstage for his safety as an irate crowd pelted ringside with trash. Ironically, "Wrestling with Shadows," a documentary from Canadian filmmakers had chronicled Bret's journey for most of the previous year and were recording that night at the Survivor Series. After an infuriated Hart went backstage, he found McMahon, who told Bret he deserved a punch so Hart threw one punch that staggered McMahon, who was seen on the documentary as he shuffled down the hall.
Since that infamous night, many people, both fans and wrestlers, speculated that Montreal was a work designed to allow Bret to leave and generate heat for McMahon. While nobody outside of a select few from meetings in 1997 will actually know the real story, I would guess that Bret Hart was legitimately swerved that night.
The reasons for this guess are relatively simple and there's not some shocking revelation, but rather a look at the scenario at the time. It's much easier for conspiracy theorists to attempt to piece together a grand plan for Bret's mega deal to drain WCW's resources, but that assumption is only a possible theory because WCW folded, and in reality it shutdown for many reasons other than Hart's contract. Keep in mind, in 1997 WCW had all the momentum in the wrestling war and adding the former WWF champion would've theoretically added to that. There was no way to know that WCW would completely botch the use of Bret Hart during his run there, especially after the way it successfully used Hall and Nash in 1997.
There were also no guarantees when the decision was made at Survivor Series that it would contribute to the start of Mr. McMahon as one of the most successful heel personas in the history of the industry. The viewing audience could've interpreted the notorious title switch as an indication that the WWF was crumbling while the competition just signed their top star. Again, it can't be understated that there was no guarantee that the turbulent situation would eventually lead to the biggest feud of the era when Stone Cold vs. McMahon set TV ratings records. As I mentioned, there's no way to know the actual story, but it speaks volumes about the impact of the Montreal incident that is remained a topic of discussion for more than two decades.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
NXT Review
Last weekend, the NXT Takeover:War Games II event featured just five matches on the card, but showcased a tremendous amount of talent and made a statement about several of the performers booked on the show.
An impromptu Matt Riddle/Kassius Ohno match took place, with Riddle hitting a flying knee just seconds into the match for the flash KO win. I'd guess this will be used to set up a feud between the two, and I don't think it really took anything away from Ohno because of how it was presented. In many respects, Ohno has solidified his status in NXT as a very valuable asset in the player-coach role and can be a useful tool in the development of younger stars. Make no mistake about it, it's no coincidence that Riddle was paired with the former Chris Hero for his initial appearances under the NXT banner. Ohno doesn't appear to be on the radar of the main roster, and there's nothing wrong with that, considering that he can have a successful run in NXT as an in-ring mentor to others on the brand, which is an important piece of the puzzle to the development of new talent.
For Matt Riddle, I was initially skeptical when I heard that he began to pursue professional wrestling a few years ago after a career in mixed martial arts, mostly because you never know how an athlete will make the transition to taking bumps or their ability to sell. That said, Riddle is a natural in the squared circle and has made the transition to sports entertainment as seamlessly as anyone. Riddle has a unique charisma that can't be scripted or manufactured, which is another key to major success in the industry. Along with that, he has a genuine enthusiasm for the business that the audience can connect with, another aspect that allows for an athlete to get over with the crowd. While it's too early to truly predict specifics on his WWE career, the early indication is that Riddle has all the skills to be a major star in NXT.
The Shayna Baszler/Kairi Sane two out of three falls match was solid, but was too rushed based on the stipulation of the match. Perhaps the interference from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir will be used to set up an eventual six person tag, but three falls weren't needed to lead to that. Duke and Shafir are newer recruits to the brand, and I'm sure their athletic backgrounds will be helpful in the training process, but their inexperience showed with the sloppy interference spots. Shayna retained the title, a decision that was probably the right call as to avoid the title being switched too often and thus hindering its importance. Despite only three years as a professional wrestler, the former UFC fighter is extremely skilled in the squared circle. In fact, it speaks volumes to her ability that she's already reached this level in a relatively short time in the sport. She brings an authenticity and believably to her persona that adds a lot to her matches. The only downside for Baszler is that at 38, she might have a shorter time frame to really maximize the peak of her wrestling career. It seems like an almost natural pairing that at some point, Baszler might transition to the main roster as a heel to feud with Ronda Rousey. Obviously, Ronda would need to get more experience before that, but it would be quite the contrast for a heel former MMA fighter to challenge Ronda for the Women's championship.
Kairi Sane is very talented and fits well within the NXT brand. On the flip side, I'm not sure the "Pirate Princess" persona would translate to the casual fans of the main roster. Perhaps, that means Sane will remain on the NXT roster, but at just 30, you would think that Raw or Smackdown is in her future at some point. However, considering the track record of most NXT successes after they debut on the main roster, Sane's unique character could get lost in the shuffle if a general audience doesn't understand the gimmick. While a lack of fluent English shouldn't be a major barrier, it's very possible the writing team wouldn't script a long-term angle for Sane on main stream television based on a perceived language barrier. It will be extremely interesting to see the path that Sane takes and if/how she eventually transitions to the main roster.
The Johnny Gargano/Aleister Black bout was tremendous and had the quality of a main event contest just about anywhere. The Gargano/Ciampa feud proved that Gargano can effectively sell and work as the classic babyface. On the surface, a heel turn for him might've been a questionable decision, but he again proved the caliber of the performer he is, and worked heel extremely well. Black got the victory here and when the time is right, he will undoubtedly be a great addition to the Raw or Smackdown roster. With as much as NXT transitions yield mixed results, Aleister Black has all the skills to be a major star on WWE TV. Aleister Black is a unique commodity and if booked correctly, he brings an incredible amount of potential to the table for the main roster.
The NXT title match showcased the ability of Velveteen Dream, but proved what a workhorse the champion is during this run. Tommaso Ciampa is superb in his role as a maniacal heel and the argument could be made that he's the best heel in the business right now. Despite his flashy and entertaining persona, Velveteen is just 23 with only a few years experience in the ring so make no mistake, part of the reason this NXT title bout was the best bout of his career so far is because he worked with a top notch athlete such as Ciampa. That being said, Velveteen Dream almost certainly has a bright future, especially considering that Raw and Smackdown would utilize his character ahead of his ring skills, at least for a possible debut on the brands. Ciampa is such a great heel that gets tremendous heat while still being very entertaining with his stellar wrestling ability that you almost want to suggest that he stays in NXT as long as possible because of the incredible run as champion.
There was too much action to review in the War Games match, but a very important general statement can be made about this contest. All of the participants in this match have the ability to be performers that the company can build around for any brand. With athletes like this under contract, the future of the WWE is very secure and it will be very interesting to see how their careers progress in the WWE. More specifically, while there will only be one Shawn Michaels, I've said it before and I will say it again, Adam Cole has the ability to be this generation's Shawn Michaels if he's given the chance on a major stage.
As great as this Takeover event was, the potential and progress of these stellar athletes could be moot if they aren't booked correctly in the next phase of their careers. The right presentation is an even more important key to success when such stellar athletes will work the peak of their careers on the WWE roster.
An impromptu Matt Riddle/Kassius Ohno match took place, with Riddle hitting a flying knee just seconds into the match for the flash KO win. I'd guess this will be used to set up a feud between the two, and I don't think it really took anything away from Ohno because of how it was presented. In many respects, Ohno has solidified his status in NXT as a very valuable asset in the player-coach role and can be a useful tool in the development of younger stars. Make no mistake about it, it's no coincidence that Riddle was paired with the former Chris Hero for his initial appearances under the NXT banner. Ohno doesn't appear to be on the radar of the main roster, and there's nothing wrong with that, considering that he can have a successful run in NXT as an in-ring mentor to others on the brand, which is an important piece of the puzzle to the development of new talent.
For Matt Riddle, I was initially skeptical when I heard that he began to pursue professional wrestling a few years ago after a career in mixed martial arts, mostly because you never know how an athlete will make the transition to taking bumps or their ability to sell. That said, Riddle is a natural in the squared circle and has made the transition to sports entertainment as seamlessly as anyone. Riddle has a unique charisma that can't be scripted or manufactured, which is another key to major success in the industry. Along with that, he has a genuine enthusiasm for the business that the audience can connect with, another aspect that allows for an athlete to get over with the crowd. While it's too early to truly predict specifics on his WWE career, the early indication is that Riddle has all the skills to be a major star in NXT.
The Shayna Baszler/Kairi Sane two out of three falls match was solid, but was too rushed based on the stipulation of the match. Perhaps the interference from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir will be used to set up an eventual six person tag, but three falls weren't needed to lead to that. Duke and Shafir are newer recruits to the brand, and I'm sure their athletic backgrounds will be helpful in the training process, but their inexperience showed with the sloppy interference spots. Shayna retained the title, a decision that was probably the right call as to avoid the title being switched too often and thus hindering its importance. Despite only three years as a professional wrestler, the former UFC fighter is extremely skilled in the squared circle. In fact, it speaks volumes to her ability that she's already reached this level in a relatively short time in the sport. She brings an authenticity and believably to her persona that adds a lot to her matches. The only downside for Baszler is that at 38, she might have a shorter time frame to really maximize the peak of her wrestling career. It seems like an almost natural pairing that at some point, Baszler might transition to the main roster as a heel to feud with Ronda Rousey. Obviously, Ronda would need to get more experience before that, but it would be quite the contrast for a heel former MMA fighter to challenge Ronda for the Women's championship.
Kairi Sane is very talented and fits well within the NXT brand. On the flip side, I'm not sure the "Pirate Princess" persona would translate to the casual fans of the main roster. Perhaps, that means Sane will remain on the NXT roster, but at just 30, you would think that Raw or Smackdown is in her future at some point. However, considering the track record of most NXT successes after they debut on the main roster, Sane's unique character could get lost in the shuffle if a general audience doesn't understand the gimmick. While a lack of fluent English shouldn't be a major barrier, it's very possible the writing team wouldn't script a long-term angle for Sane on main stream television based on a perceived language barrier. It will be extremely interesting to see the path that Sane takes and if/how she eventually transitions to the main roster.
The Johnny Gargano/Aleister Black bout was tremendous and had the quality of a main event contest just about anywhere. The Gargano/Ciampa feud proved that Gargano can effectively sell and work as the classic babyface. On the surface, a heel turn for him might've been a questionable decision, but he again proved the caliber of the performer he is, and worked heel extremely well. Black got the victory here and when the time is right, he will undoubtedly be a great addition to the Raw or Smackdown roster. With as much as NXT transitions yield mixed results, Aleister Black has all the skills to be a major star on WWE TV. Aleister Black is a unique commodity and if booked correctly, he brings an incredible amount of potential to the table for the main roster.
The NXT title match showcased the ability of Velveteen Dream, but proved what a workhorse the champion is during this run. Tommaso Ciampa is superb in his role as a maniacal heel and the argument could be made that he's the best heel in the business right now. Despite his flashy and entertaining persona, Velveteen is just 23 with only a few years experience in the ring so make no mistake, part of the reason this NXT title bout was the best bout of his career so far is because he worked with a top notch athlete such as Ciampa. That being said, Velveteen Dream almost certainly has a bright future, especially considering that Raw and Smackdown would utilize his character ahead of his ring skills, at least for a possible debut on the brands. Ciampa is such a great heel that gets tremendous heat while still being very entertaining with his stellar wrestling ability that you almost want to suggest that he stays in NXT as long as possible because of the incredible run as champion.
There was too much action to review in the War Games match, but a very important general statement can be made about this contest. All of the participants in this match have the ability to be performers that the company can build around for any brand. With athletes like this under contract, the future of the WWE is very secure and it will be very interesting to see how their careers progress in the WWE. More specifically, while there will only be one Shawn Michaels, I've said it before and I will say it again, Adam Cole has the ability to be this generation's Shawn Michaels if he's given the chance on a major stage.
As great as this Takeover event was, the potential and progress of these stellar athletes could be moot if they aren't booked correctly in the next phase of their careers. The right presentation is an even more important key to success when such stellar athletes will work the peak of their careers on the WWE roster.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Daniel Bryan wins the title
Last night, Daniel Bryan was booked to challenge AJ Styles in an unadvertised WWE championship match, which saw Bryan turn heel and win the belt. The title switch further shuffles this weekend's Survivor Series card, adding Bryan vs. Lesnar to the event, a pay-per-view that will see Charlotte replace Becky Lynch after a concussion during a brawl on Raw.
A heel turn for Daniel Bryan, one of the most popular on the roster for the past several years, might seem like an odd decision on the surface, but a look at his tenure since his return to the ring earlier this year allows for a more complete view of the path of his persona. When Bryan Danielson was legitimately forced into retirement nearly three years ago from what was thought to be a career-ending neck injury, it was one of the most emotional segments in the history of the industry. In the few years prior to the announcement, Bryan had become the most over athlete in the company through his stellar in-ring skill and his ability to connect with the audience. His dedication to the sport and his genuine appreciation for the fan support made the crowd demand that he get the opportunity he deserved as a main event star.
WWE brass had other plans and despite the demand from the audience, management attempted to minimize Bryan's role ahead of WM 30. However, it wasn't until the writing team was forced to include Daniel Bryan in the main event that he was booked for the spot that he earned, celebrating as champion at the biggest event of the year in 2014. Unfortunately, an injury a short time later forced Bryan to vacate the belt. When he returned to the ring, he resumed his status as an extremely popular competitor on the roster and some assumed he would be back in the main event spot at WM in 2015. Not surprisingly, Roman Reigns was chosen for that match against Brock Lesnar at WM 31, and Bryan won the IC title instead at the event. Sadly, he suffered a concussion just weeks later and had to relinquish another championship. The status of his career was unknown for almost a year until the previously mentioned retirement in 2016, but he resurfaced on WWE programming as the Smackdown General Manager in July of that year. Keep in mind, an injury put Bryan on the sidelines, but he maintained his popularity.
When he was cleared to return to the squared circle this past March, it seemed obvious that the most logical option was for him to resume his spot as a top star on the Smackdown brand. Somehow (and not shockingly) management fumbled the opportunity and his career again. The underdog competitor that management didn't want made it to the top through the support of the fans only to be forced to retire from injury at the peak of his run. The comeback story could write itself, but that's not the path that the writing team took when they wrote the script.
The direction of his career almost minimized his star power and he was made to look secondary to The Miz for every major pay-per-view match of a rivalry that had years of history behind it. In fact, Bryan's only victory against the Miz on a major stage since his return was the Super Showdown event where Bryan won a fast bout with a fluke pin. At what point since his return to the ring at WM 34 did the WWE showcase Daniel Bryan as anything more than a mid-card talent? More importantly, when did the reaction to him decline? The point being, it hasn't and despite the lackluster booking since his return, Daniel Bryan is still a very popular character on the show.
That being said, management missed the boat on the opportunity to tell the ultimate comeback story. The chance to show his journey back to the championship after a career-threatening injury was fumbled. So, at this point, the best way to freshen up his persona is a heel turn that will allow him to vent his frustrations toward the WWE machine. He did everything by the rules and still wasn't given a chance so he did what he had to do to claim the WWE title again. Ironically, this is another scenario where the story could write itself. Make no mistake, Daniel Bryan can absolutely play the role of a vicious heel, with his run in Ring Of Honor as the "American Dragon" in 2006 as proof of it.
While the heel turn sets up for a renewed emphasis on the AJ Styles feud, it created an almost counterproductive situation for the newly-booked Bryan/Brock Lesnar match at Survivor Series. Prior to Smackdown on Tuesday, a Bryan/Lesnar bout had a compelling narrative that was relatively easy to tell, as the underdog tries to battle the monster challenger. What will the story be for two heels in the match?
Regardless, the most important aspect of this entire situation is that it gives Daniel Bryan a chance at a new chapter of his WWE career, and the ability to maximize his ability as a main event star on Smackdown. At this point, a heel turn is the best option to rejuvenate his run on Smackdown and there might be some cautious optimism around it, but it remains to be seen if management utilizes this chance to its fullest potential, especially considering that Daniel Bryan should've already had a major run as a baby face champion this year.
A heel turn for Daniel Bryan, one of the most popular on the roster for the past several years, might seem like an odd decision on the surface, but a look at his tenure since his return to the ring earlier this year allows for a more complete view of the path of his persona. When Bryan Danielson was legitimately forced into retirement nearly three years ago from what was thought to be a career-ending neck injury, it was one of the most emotional segments in the history of the industry. In the few years prior to the announcement, Bryan had become the most over athlete in the company through his stellar in-ring skill and his ability to connect with the audience. His dedication to the sport and his genuine appreciation for the fan support made the crowd demand that he get the opportunity he deserved as a main event star.
WWE brass had other plans and despite the demand from the audience, management attempted to minimize Bryan's role ahead of WM 30. However, it wasn't until the writing team was forced to include Daniel Bryan in the main event that he was booked for the spot that he earned, celebrating as champion at the biggest event of the year in 2014. Unfortunately, an injury a short time later forced Bryan to vacate the belt. When he returned to the ring, he resumed his status as an extremely popular competitor on the roster and some assumed he would be back in the main event spot at WM in 2015. Not surprisingly, Roman Reigns was chosen for that match against Brock Lesnar at WM 31, and Bryan won the IC title instead at the event. Sadly, he suffered a concussion just weeks later and had to relinquish another championship. The status of his career was unknown for almost a year until the previously mentioned retirement in 2016, but he resurfaced on WWE programming as the Smackdown General Manager in July of that year. Keep in mind, an injury put Bryan on the sidelines, but he maintained his popularity.
When he was cleared to return to the squared circle this past March, it seemed obvious that the most logical option was for him to resume his spot as a top star on the Smackdown brand. Somehow (and not shockingly) management fumbled the opportunity and his career again. The underdog competitor that management didn't want made it to the top through the support of the fans only to be forced to retire from injury at the peak of his run. The comeback story could write itself, but that's not the path that the writing team took when they wrote the script.
The direction of his career almost minimized his star power and he was made to look secondary to The Miz for every major pay-per-view match of a rivalry that had years of history behind it. In fact, Bryan's only victory against the Miz on a major stage since his return was the Super Showdown event where Bryan won a fast bout with a fluke pin. At what point since his return to the ring at WM 34 did the WWE showcase Daniel Bryan as anything more than a mid-card talent? More importantly, when did the reaction to him decline? The point being, it hasn't and despite the lackluster booking since his return, Daniel Bryan is still a very popular character on the show.
That being said, management missed the boat on the opportunity to tell the ultimate comeback story. The chance to show his journey back to the championship after a career-threatening injury was fumbled. So, at this point, the best way to freshen up his persona is a heel turn that will allow him to vent his frustrations toward the WWE machine. He did everything by the rules and still wasn't given a chance so he did what he had to do to claim the WWE title again. Ironically, this is another scenario where the story could write itself. Make no mistake, Daniel Bryan can absolutely play the role of a vicious heel, with his run in Ring Of Honor as the "American Dragon" in 2006 as proof of it.
While the heel turn sets up for a renewed emphasis on the AJ Styles feud, it created an almost counterproductive situation for the newly-booked Bryan/Brock Lesnar match at Survivor Series. Prior to Smackdown on Tuesday, a Bryan/Lesnar bout had a compelling narrative that was relatively easy to tell, as the underdog tries to battle the monster challenger. What will the story be for two heels in the match?
Regardless, the most important aspect of this entire situation is that it gives Daniel Bryan a chance at a new chapter of his WWE career, and the ability to maximize his ability as a main event star on Smackdown. At this point, a heel turn is the best option to rejuvenate his run on Smackdown and there might be some cautious optimism around it, but it remains to be seen if management utilizes this chance to its fullest potential, especially considering that Daniel Bryan should've already had a major run as a baby face champion this year.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Hogan announced for Saudi Arabia event
A few weeks ago, I penned an article and explained that despite the negative publicity of the Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia, everyone's got a price, even the WWE. Since that column was posted, it was confirmed that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated just minutes after he entered the Saudi consulate last month. Regardless of the dictatorship style murder to silence a critic of the Saudi royal family, the WWE is not only still willing to accept the major cash from the Saudi government, but also be used by Mohammed bin Salman as a PR tool in an faux attempt to change the perception of the country, which is known for its harsh restrictions toward certain groups of its population. As I said previously, the WWE is a global, publicly-traded company and they signed $2 billion worth of TV contract that will start in 2019 so it's not as though the promotion needs the money. That said, is the Saudi money really worth it? Granted, business is business, but isn't there a line of decency somewhere?
The negative perception about this event taking place a month after Khashoggi's murder isn't just general discussion outside of the genre of professional wrestling. John Cena, the company's top star for more than a decade, declined to participate in the event. At 41, Cena was a workhorse for the organization for the past several years, but more recently took a lighter schedule to pursue an acting career. It makes sense because after such a grueling schedule for the majority of his WWE run, he obviously won't be in the ring on a full-time in the future. Even the hefty payday isn't worth the negative press and the effect it could have on his acting career. Plus, Cena has the status within the company that he can refuse the appearance without any repercussions.
Another star, Daniel Bryan, refused to work the show because of Saudi Arabia's restrictions toward women and other groups. Different from Cena in this situation, Bryan doesn't have a brand or an image to protect. Daniel Bryan is doing something that WWE brass isn't willing to do, he won't compromise his values for cash. That authenticity is one of the many that Daniel Bryan is one of the most over athletes of the modern era because the fans can identify with him and see the effort he displays in the ring.
It speaks volumes that two of the WWE's top stars refused to be associated with this event.
With the exit of Bryan and more specifically Cena, the WWE had to find a way to deliver the star power that the Saudi family is expecting for that huge payday. So, Hulk Hogan was quietly announced as the host of the event. The former WWF champion was fired in 2015 after a leaked tape surfaced that showed Hogan use several racist remarks. The racist rant was just one of many things that tainted the disgraced champion's legacy over the past decade. Prior to his run in TNA, Hulk was known as a tabloid circus. The racist comments made by Terry Bollea ruined much of the legacy of Hulk Hogan. Granted, there will always be naive fans that cheer for Hulkamania, but the reality is, Bollea doesn't seem like the most honorable person. Let's not forget, he made a career of using his creative control clause to maintain his status at the top of the card. There's no place in society for Hogan's narrow-minded view and he certainly doesn't deserved to be promoted by a global promotion.
Ironically, Hulk returned to the company for a backstage meeting prior to the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in July. Reportedly, Hogan's "explanation" was that he didn't know he was recorded when the leaked tape was filmed and apologized for it. Several wrestlers were dissatisfied with his apology and expressed discontent on social media. From a historical context, there's no realistic way to erase Hogan's wrestling career so let that stand on its own, but at the same time, that doesn't mean that the WWE should promote Terry Bollea. Remember, several lewd comments from Bollea surfaced, it wasn't a one-time incident so there's definitely a pattern as to who he is when he's not portraying Hulk Hogan on-screen. Since those comments went public in 2015, Hulk remains a polarizing figure, as some fans still support his accomplishments in sports entertainment, while others don't want to be associated with the comments he made in reality.
So, why would the WWE bring him back?
Again, the Saudi family is paying for name value more than anything else, and with Cena's refusal, management needed something to justify the major paycheck from the Saudi government. Obviously, since the Saudi government assassinated a journalist, they aren't concerned with Hulk's disgusting remarks from the leaked tape. I'd guess that even WWE management knows how terrible Hulk's involvement looks because his scheduled appearance wasn't advertised or promoted on TV this week.
Hopefully, Hulk's involvement with modern sports entertainment is contained to the Crown Jewel event, what else could he realistically do for the WWE? While he would probably be more than willing to drop the leg on younger talent to get another win at 65 years old, Hogan doesn't have much value from a PR perspective at this point. Unfortunately, with the shady situations around this event, Hulk's involvement almost seems suitable. More than anything, this Crown Jewel pay-per-view just makes the WWE, which represents professional wrestling on a main stream basis, look terrible. The major corporation takes money from the corrupt government, which is sadly common for business outside of sports entertainment. The most disappointing aspect of this whole situation is that the WWE is already extremely profitable without the Saudi contract and they could cancel the event.
The negative perception about this event taking place a month after Khashoggi's murder isn't just general discussion outside of the genre of professional wrestling. John Cena, the company's top star for more than a decade, declined to participate in the event. At 41, Cena was a workhorse for the organization for the past several years, but more recently took a lighter schedule to pursue an acting career. It makes sense because after such a grueling schedule for the majority of his WWE run, he obviously won't be in the ring on a full-time in the future. Even the hefty payday isn't worth the negative press and the effect it could have on his acting career. Plus, Cena has the status within the company that he can refuse the appearance without any repercussions.
Another star, Daniel Bryan, refused to work the show because of Saudi Arabia's restrictions toward women and other groups. Different from Cena in this situation, Bryan doesn't have a brand or an image to protect. Daniel Bryan is doing something that WWE brass isn't willing to do, he won't compromise his values for cash. That authenticity is one of the many that Daniel Bryan is one of the most over athletes of the modern era because the fans can identify with him and see the effort he displays in the ring.
It speaks volumes that two of the WWE's top stars refused to be associated with this event.
With the exit of Bryan and more specifically Cena, the WWE had to find a way to deliver the star power that the Saudi family is expecting for that huge payday. So, Hulk Hogan was quietly announced as the host of the event. The former WWF champion was fired in 2015 after a leaked tape surfaced that showed Hogan use several racist remarks. The racist rant was just one of many things that tainted the disgraced champion's legacy over the past decade. Prior to his run in TNA, Hulk was known as a tabloid circus. The racist comments made by Terry Bollea ruined much of the legacy of Hulk Hogan. Granted, there will always be naive fans that cheer for Hulkamania, but the reality is, Bollea doesn't seem like the most honorable person. Let's not forget, he made a career of using his creative control clause to maintain his status at the top of the card. There's no place in society for Hogan's narrow-minded view and he certainly doesn't deserved to be promoted by a global promotion.
Ironically, Hulk returned to the company for a backstage meeting prior to the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in July. Reportedly, Hogan's "explanation" was that he didn't know he was recorded when the leaked tape was filmed and apologized for it. Several wrestlers were dissatisfied with his apology and expressed discontent on social media. From a historical context, there's no realistic way to erase Hogan's wrestling career so let that stand on its own, but at the same time, that doesn't mean that the WWE should promote Terry Bollea. Remember, several lewd comments from Bollea surfaced, it wasn't a one-time incident so there's definitely a pattern as to who he is when he's not portraying Hulk Hogan on-screen. Since those comments went public in 2015, Hulk remains a polarizing figure, as some fans still support his accomplishments in sports entertainment, while others don't want to be associated with the comments he made in reality.
So, why would the WWE bring him back?
Again, the Saudi family is paying for name value more than anything else, and with Cena's refusal, management needed something to justify the major paycheck from the Saudi government. Obviously, since the Saudi government assassinated a journalist, they aren't concerned with Hulk's disgusting remarks from the leaked tape. I'd guess that even WWE management knows how terrible Hulk's involvement looks because his scheduled appearance wasn't advertised or promoted on TV this week.
Hopefully, Hulk's involvement with modern sports entertainment is contained to the Crown Jewel event, what else could he realistically do for the WWE? While he would probably be more than willing to drop the leg on younger talent to get another win at 65 years old, Hogan doesn't have much value from a PR perspective at this point. Unfortunately, with the shady situations around this event, Hulk's involvement almost seems suitable. More than anything, this Crown Jewel pay-per-view just makes the WWE, which represents professional wrestling on a main stream basis, look terrible. The major corporation takes money from the corrupt government, which is sadly common for business outside of sports entertainment. The most disappointing aspect of this whole situation is that the WWE is already extremely profitable without the Saudi contract and they could cancel the event.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
The VHS Memoris Volume 4
This month marks twenty years since the 1998 edition of World Championship Wrestling's Halloween Havoc pay-per-view, an event that in retrospect, summarized many of the flaws and missed opportunities of the Turner organization during the boom period of the industry in the late 90s.
Aside from a solid Chris Jericho vs. Raven opener, the majority of this under card was less than memorable, including two Disco Inferno matches. With a dozen matches scheduled, (more of that later) many of this early bouts that didn't offer much in terms of match quality or storyline seemed shoehorned onto the show. A side note about Raven, he doesn't seem to really get the credit he deserves for the innovative career that he had, but at the same time, some of that might be his own fault because he clearly had another gear when he was motivated to put in the work. The Raven of 1998 still had very crisp ring work, and it was certainly a contrast to his lack of effort just a few years later.
As mentioned, the preliminary contests are more or less just randomly placed on the card so there's not much to discuss about them, which is unusual because WCW was known for its stellar under card of talented younger athletes, but that wasn't the case for Halloween Havoc in 1998. However, Bret Hart worked a match against Sting, which would've been considered a dream match in the right situation. An example of this would be the bout they had nearly a year later at WCW Mayhem in the semi-finals of the WCW World title tournament. But again, at the time of this Halloween Havoc contest, it was another example of how WCW didn't use Bret in a more effective way. Up until that point, Bret was arguably as well-known for his tenure in the WWF as Sting was for his run in WCW, and with the same submission finisher, as well as their solid in-ring ability, this was a match that had the potential to be at the top of the card.
Unfortunately, the Havoc clash was a year after Bret's initial jump to WCW and through lackluster booking, all the momentum he had after the Montreal incident was systematically halted through a series of decisions that minimized his name value. It creates some intriguing possibilities when you consider, what would've been possible if the company didn't completely mismanage Bret Hart? Keep in mind, less than a year before this pay-per-view, the former WWF champion left Vince McMahon's organization after one of the most controversial incidents in the history of the industry, and at that time, the general consensus was that Vince was wrong for his decision. Granted, in the two decades since, many people understand the chose that McMahon had to make, but in 1997, Hart was viewed as the workhorse of the company that got shunned on his exit. When Bret arrived on Nitro roughly a month later, WCW could've used his status as the "true WWF champion" to propel him into the hero role against the NWO in the main event picture in 1998. Remember, in November of 1997, the WWF was still on the ropes in the battle of the Monday Night Wars, and adding Bret Hart to the roster should've given WCW an edge the following year. Instead, Bret was portrayed as a secondary figure during most of his WCW run.
The infamous Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior match has become known as one of the worst matches in the history of pay-per-view. While it was nice to see Warrior make peace with many of his former rivals when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago, it's well-known that for the majority of his in-ring career, he was very difficult to work with in nearly every promotion. Warrior's original WWF run was just four and a half years, but his iconic presentation made him extremely popular, and he also made major cash so when he left amid controversy in 1992, he didn't need to continue to wrestle since he was financially secure from his previous main event run. When the WWF was struggling in 1996 from the slump of the industry the previous few years and the pressure of the competition of Nitro that started in late 1995, Warrior was brought back for Wrestlemania 12 for a squash match with Triple H. Less than three months later, Warrior left again after he supposedly no-showed scheduled appearances.
Considering his track record, it's puzzling why Eric Bischoff, the Vice President of WCW, even considered working with Warrior during a boom period when the company obviously didn't need to sign another aging star to find star power. However, there was speculation that Hogan pushed for Warrior's involvement so that Hulk could beat him to get a win since he had to put Warrior over at WM 6 nearly a decade prior. Sure, it sounds petty, but that's not surprising with Hogan so it certainly seems possible. Bischoff got exactly what you could expect from Warrior, a series of bizarre promos and a few terrible matches. This bout summed up why the structure of World Championship Wrestling allowed politics to destroy the company. Hogan was at the top of the card and had creative control to make sure he stayed there. Instead of talent with potential getting the chance to work with Hogan, a feud from years earlier was recycled so that Hulk could get an ego boost. Perhaps, if WCW had a mindset to look beyond just a week-to-week rating, the company wouldn't have imploded after original angles became stale. In fact, other than Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page, what main event star were truly discovered after Hogan signed with WCW?
Speaking of Goldberg and DDP, their main event of Halloween Havoc became known for two things, most importantly, the show ran long and they paying audience didn't get to watch it, and it was considered Goldberg's best match for the Turner organization. Similar to how Hogan's politics didn't allow for new stars to work their way to the main event, the environment of WCW didn't give Goldberg the chance to evolve as a performer. It was very rare that he was booked against an opponent that could provide depth to his matches.
Ultimately, those one-dimensional matches are why the fans started to reject Goldberg the following year and his run as a top star was relatively short in WCW. Still, the potential was there for him to be a major star on a long term basis if he was booked properly when he was at the peak of his career. His stellar run in WWE last year proved that if something is booked right, in terms of showcase the strengths and camouflage the weaknesses, it can be a successful.
Aside from a solid Chris Jericho vs. Raven opener, the majority of this under card was less than memorable, including two Disco Inferno matches. With a dozen matches scheduled, (more of that later) many of this early bouts that didn't offer much in terms of match quality or storyline seemed shoehorned onto the show. A side note about Raven, he doesn't seem to really get the credit he deserves for the innovative career that he had, but at the same time, some of that might be his own fault because he clearly had another gear when he was motivated to put in the work. The Raven of 1998 still had very crisp ring work, and it was certainly a contrast to his lack of effort just a few years later.
As mentioned, the preliminary contests are more or less just randomly placed on the card so there's not much to discuss about them, which is unusual because WCW was known for its stellar under card of talented younger athletes, but that wasn't the case for Halloween Havoc in 1998. However, Bret Hart worked a match against Sting, which would've been considered a dream match in the right situation. An example of this would be the bout they had nearly a year later at WCW Mayhem in the semi-finals of the WCW World title tournament. But again, at the time of this Halloween Havoc contest, it was another example of how WCW didn't use Bret in a more effective way. Up until that point, Bret was arguably as well-known for his tenure in the WWF as Sting was for his run in WCW, and with the same submission finisher, as well as their solid in-ring ability, this was a match that had the potential to be at the top of the card.
Unfortunately, the Havoc clash was a year after Bret's initial jump to WCW and through lackluster booking, all the momentum he had after the Montreal incident was systematically halted through a series of decisions that minimized his name value. It creates some intriguing possibilities when you consider, what would've been possible if the company didn't completely mismanage Bret Hart? Keep in mind, less than a year before this pay-per-view, the former WWF champion left Vince McMahon's organization after one of the most controversial incidents in the history of the industry, and at that time, the general consensus was that Vince was wrong for his decision. Granted, in the two decades since, many people understand the chose that McMahon had to make, but in 1997, Hart was viewed as the workhorse of the company that got shunned on his exit. When Bret arrived on Nitro roughly a month later, WCW could've used his status as the "true WWF champion" to propel him into the hero role against the NWO in the main event picture in 1998. Remember, in November of 1997, the WWF was still on the ropes in the battle of the Monday Night Wars, and adding Bret Hart to the roster should've given WCW an edge the following year. Instead, Bret was portrayed as a secondary figure during most of his WCW run.
The infamous Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior match has become known as one of the worst matches in the history of pay-per-view. While it was nice to see Warrior make peace with many of his former rivals when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago, it's well-known that for the majority of his in-ring career, he was very difficult to work with in nearly every promotion. Warrior's original WWF run was just four and a half years, but his iconic presentation made him extremely popular, and he also made major cash so when he left amid controversy in 1992, he didn't need to continue to wrestle since he was financially secure from his previous main event run. When the WWF was struggling in 1996 from the slump of the industry the previous few years and the pressure of the competition of Nitro that started in late 1995, Warrior was brought back for Wrestlemania 12 for a squash match with Triple H. Less than three months later, Warrior left again after he supposedly no-showed scheduled appearances.
Considering his track record, it's puzzling why Eric Bischoff, the Vice President of WCW, even considered working with Warrior during a boom period when the company obviously didn't need to sign another aging star to find star power. However, there was speculation that Hogan pushed for Warrior's involvement so that Hulk could beat him to get a win since he had to put Warrior over at WM 6 nearly a decade prior. Sure, it sounds petty, but that's not surprising with Hogan so it certainly seems possible. Bischoff got exactly what you could expect from Warrior, a series of bizarre promos and a few terrible matches. This bout summed up why the structure of World Championship Wrestling allowed politics to destroy the company. Hogan was at the top of the card and had creative control to make sure he stayed there. Instead of talent with potential getting the chance to work with Hogan, a feud from years earlier was recycled so that Hulk could get an ego boost. Perhaps, if WCW had a mindset to look beyond just a week-to-week rating, the company wouldn't have imploded after original angles became stale. In fact, other than Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page, what main event star were truly discovered after Hogan signed with WCW?
Speaking of Goldberg and DDP, their main event of Halloween Havoc became known for two things, most importantly, the show ran long and they paying audience didn't get to watch it, and it was considered Goldberg's best match for the Turner organization. Similar to how Hogan's politics didn't allow for new stars to work their way to the main event, the environment of WCW didn't give Goldberg the chance to evolve as a performer. It was very rare that he was booked against an opponent that could provide depth to his matches.
Ultimately, those one-dimensional matches are why the fans started to reject Goldberg the following year and his run as a top star was relatively short in WCW. Still, the potential was there for him to be a major star on a long term basis if he was booked properly when he was at the peak of his career. His stellar run in WWE last year proved that if something is booked right, in terms of showcase the strengths and camouflage the weaknesses, it can be a successful.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
What's the status of Impact?
Throughout the decade and a half of its existence, the company that started as NWA-TNA and went through a variety of name changes saw its share of peaks and valleys. When it began in 2002 as an upstart weekly pay-per-view project under the direction of legendary promoter, Jerry Jarrett and his son Jeff Jarrett, the organization attempted to use the lineage of the recognizable NWA initials to attempt to garner an audience for a new product. The professional wrestling industry in the post-WCW era had over a year of strictly a WWF monopoly when the concept of a national NWA promotion was launched so there was definitely a demand for an alternative.
However, there were numerous hurdles that made the ambitious project a difficult task.
Mostly importantly, the distribution of a weekly pay-per-view event proved that it couldn't be a successful long-term option in 2002. At the time, a WWE PPV broadcast had a price tag of $40 so in theory, a fan could watch four of the $10 NWA-TNA events a month for the same price as one of the monthly WWE shows. Again, in theory this was a logical concept. The problem was, unless fans already knew about this weekly schedule, it was very difficult for a new audience to discover the product. Most of the wrestling fans base simply didn't know NWA-TNA existed, and if they did, they weren't willing to pay to sample it. There wasn't an effective way to market this new group to the already established fan base and thus, it almost immediately became a niche product.
Economically, this distribution system was a failed model because of the extensive costs of running a live broadcast every week on pay-per-view. Without a way to market the events for more exposure, it wasn't realistic to expect the weekly buy rates to cover the cost of production. Don't get me wrong, the X-Division, especially its early years, was a pioneering style that continues to have an influence on the industry today, but again, it was a niche market. And, make no mistake about it, a niche product can be profitable if it can be produced with the right budget, but NWA-TNA had major league expenses when they only generated minor league exposure. Perhaps, if the company had started today with the ability to utilize social media and streaming services, it might've been a different story. But, the point is, Jerry Jarrett looked to sell his share of the organization in 2003 after the weekly PPVs didn't get off the ground.
In late-2002, Dixie Carter received funding from Bob Carter's Panda Energy company to purchase a majority share of NWA-TNA. As he detailed in his book, "The Best of Times," Jerry Jarrett saw Dixie's lack of wrestling knowledge and eventually left the company. After the Dixie takeover, TNA began to tape additional matches prior to live broadcasts that were used for "Xpolosion," a show that aired on some regional local access channels. Dixie knew enough to realize that TNA needed some type of cable TV exposure if the organization was going to build toward competition in the industry.
In June of 2004, two years after its launch, TNA "Impact" debuted on Fox Sports Net on Friday afternoons. The one-hour show wasn't exactly in the best time slot, but it provided the viewing audience more access to the product. After a year on that network, the deal expired and the company produced web-based episodes of Impact while it searched for a new TV deal. It was definitely a time of uncertainty because at that point, the group began to produce traditional three-hour PPVs so they had to find a suitable platform to promote those events.
It was major progress for TNA when its show began on Spike TV, the network that previously broadcast Raw and the UFC, in October of 2005. The Saturday 11 PM time slot wasn't prime time, but it gave the promotion the most exposure in its history. Reportedly, Spike TV also invested in the product, paying a portion of Sting's hefty contract when he signed with the company in 2006. As an entity, the argument could be made that TNA had its best chance to elevate itself as legitimate competition within the 2006-2008 time frame with names like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Abyss, Kurt Angle, Sting, Christian, Rhino, and others on the roster. During the majority of its run on Spike, Impact averaged a million viewers on a weekly basis. The numerous reasons and booking debacles about why it didn't happen is another article for another time. Hulk Hogan's involvement in 2010 that used Dixie Carter as a major money mark and how it drained the financial resources from the company that led it to the brink of collapse is also another article for another time.
The point being, TNA remained on Spike TV for nine years until it was cancelled in December 2014. Reportedly, Dixie lied to Spike executives and claimed that Vince Russo wasn't involved in the television show. Russo accidentally sent an e mail intended for announcer Mike Tenay with production notes to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who reported the story. When Spike officials found out Dixie lied about the writing of Impact, they decided to cancel the show, which had declined in the ratings.
Without a network, Dixie Carter's league landed on the sparsely-watched Destination America channel in 2015. After Impact had the lead-in of UFC programming during its original run on Spike, shows like Major League Bass Fishing accompanied Impact on Destination America. It wasn't a wrestling channel and it proved to be a very lackluster combination. TNA's deal wasn't renewed after the one-year contract expired.
The following year, Impact found its way to Pop TV, which eventually put the foundation in place for the Anthem Sports purchase that rescued the company when it almost shut down. When Anthem started to run the company early this year with Executive VPs Don Callis and Scott D'Amore, the show was still scheduled for its usual time slot of Thursdays at 8 PM each week. At the start of the year, the program generated roughly 300,000 viewers weekly, a drastic decline from the Spike TV era with much more TV clearance, but still an improvement from Destination America in 2015. However, there was a noticeable decline in numbers over the past few months, more specifically since the start of football season with Thursday night games. Recently, Impact has garnered under 200,000 viewers for some episodes.
Last week, Impact announced that the TV show will move to 10 PM on Thursdays, but what does this translate to for the company?
It mostly depends on if this is just a move to avoid some of the competition from football or if it's a way for Pop TV to minimize Impact before they cancel the show. Although, it would be odd for the network to move the show for just a few months until the conclusion of the NFL season, but at the same time, what's the goal of a show that airs until midnight? Granted, this isn't certain doom for the organization, and Impact survived rocky situations before, but the late-night time slot doesn't help Impact establish itself. It's possible that Anthem and Pop TV would be content with a niche audience, which is fine. Keep in mind, the bottom line in business is profitability so if Anthem finds a way to profit with Impact Wrestling that airs at 10 PM than it's a successful project. NWA-TNA couldn't find a profitable niche, but if Anthem does then it's a smart business move. It remains to be seen what effect this late-night time slot will have of the status of Impact, but it doesn't necessarily hinder put the company.
However, there were numerous hurdles that made the ambitious project a difficult task.
Mostly importantly, the distribution of a weekly pay-per-view event proved that it couldn't be a successful long-term option in 2002. At the time, a WWE PPV broadcast had a price tag of $40 so in theory, a fan could watch four of the $10 NWA-TNA events a month for the same price as one of the monthly WWE shows. Again, in theory this was a logical concept. The problem was, unless fans already knew about this weekly schedule, it was very difficult for a new audience to discover the product. Most of the wrestling fans base simply didn't know NWA-TNA existed, and if they did, they weren't willing to pay to sample it. There wasn't an effective way to market this new group to the already established fan base and thus, it almost immediately became a niche product.
Economically, this distribution system was a failed model because of the extensive costs of running a live broadcast every week on pay-per-view. Without a way to market the events for more exposure, it wasn't realistic to expect the weekly buy rates to cover the cost of production. Don't get me wrong, the X-Division, especially its early years, was a pioneering style that continues to have an influence on the industry today, but again, it was a niche market. And, make no mistake about it, a niche product can be profitable if it can be produced with the right budget, but NWA-TNA had major league expenses when they only generated minor league exposure. Perhaps, if the company had started today with the ability to utilize social media and streaming services, it might've been a different story. But, the point is, Jerry Jarrett looked to sell his share of the organization in 2003 after the weekly PPVs didn't get off the ground.
In late-2002, Dixie Carter received funding from Bob Carter's Panda Energy company to purchase a majority share of NWA-TNA. As he detailed in his book, "The Best of Times," Jerry Jarrett saw Dixie's lack of wrestling knowledge and eventually left the company. After the Dixie takeover, TNA began to tape additional matches prior to live broadcasts that were used for "Xpolosion," a show that aired on some regional local access channels. Dixie knew enough to realize that TNA needed some type of cable TV exposure if the organization was going to build toward competition in the industry.
In June of 2004, two years after its launch, TNA "Impact" debuted on Fox Sports Net on Friday afternoons. The one-hour show wasn't exactly in the best time slot, but it provided the viewing audience more access to the product. After a year on that network, the deal expired and the company produced web-based episodes of Impact while it searched for a new TV deal. It was definitely a time of uncertainty because at that point, the group began to produce traditional three-hour PPVs so they had to find a suitable platform to promote those events.
It was major progress for TNA when its show began on Spike TV, the network that previously broadcast Raw and the UFC, in October of 2005. The Saturday 11 PM time slot wasn't prime time, but it gave the promotion the most exposure in its history. Reportedly, Spike TV also invested in the product, paying a portion of Sting's hefty contract when he signed with the company in 2006. As an entity, the argument could be made that TNA had its best chance to elevate itself as legitimate competition within the 2006-2008 time frame with names like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Abyss, Kurt Angle, Sting, Christian, Rhino, and others on the roster. During the majority of its run on Spike, Impact averaged a million viewers on a weekly basis. The numerous reasons and booking debacles about why it didn't happen is another article for another time. Hulk Hogan's involvement in 2010 that used Dixie Carter as a major money mark and how it drained the financial resources from the company that led it to the brink of collapse is also another article for another time.
The point being, TNA remained on Spike TV for nine years until it was cancelled in December 2014. Reportedly, Dixie lied to Spike executives and claimed that Vince Russo wasn't involved in the television show. Russo accidentally sent an e mail intended for announcer Mike Tenay with production notes to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who reported the story. When Spike officials found out Dixie lied about the writing of Impact, they decided to cancel the show, which had declined in the ratings.
Without a network, Dixie Carter's league landed on the sparsely-watched Destination America channel in 2015. After Impact had the lead-in of UFC programming during its original run on Spike, shows like Major League Bass Fishing accompanied Impact on Destination America. It wasn't a wrestling channel and it proved to be a very lackluster combination. TNA's deal wasn't renewed after the one-year contract expired.
The following year, Impact found its way to Pop TV, which eventually put the foundation in place for the Anthem Sports purchase that rescued the company when it almost shut down. When Anthem started to run the company early this year with Executive VPs Don Callis and Scott D'Amore, the show was still scheduled for its usual time slot of Thursdays at 8 PM each week. At the start of the year, the program generated roughly 300,000 viewers weekly, a drastic decline from the Spike TV era with much more TV clearance, but still an improvement from Destination America in 2015. However, there was a noticeable decline in numbers over the past few months, more specifically since the start of football season with Thursday night games. Recently, Impact has garnered under 200,000 viewers for some episodes.
Last week, Impact announced that the TV show will move to 10 PM on Thursdays, but what does this translate to for the company?
It mostly depends on if this is just a move to avoid some of the competition from football or if it's a way for Pop TV to minimize Impact before they cancel the show. Although, it would be odd for the network to move the show for just a few months until the conclusion of the NFL season, but at the same time, what's the goal of a show that airs until midnight? Granted, this isn't certain doom for the organization, and Impact survived rocky situations before, but the late-night time slot doesn't help Impact establish itself. It's possible that Anthem and Pop TV would be content with a niche audience, which is fine. Keep in mind, the bottom line in business is profitability so if Anthem finds a way to profit with Impact Wrestling that airs at 10 PM than it's a successful project. NWA-TNA couldn't find a profitable niche, but if Anthem does then it's a smart business move. It remains to be seen what effect this late-night time slot will have of the status of Impact, but it doesn't necessarily hinder put the company.
Friday, October 12, 2018
The Saudi Arabia event
"Everybody's got a price"
Those are the lyrics for the theme song and a catch-phrase of "The Million Dollar Man," a Vince McMahon creation that utilized the less than admirable traits that wealth can generate from certain people. Ted DiBiase's villainous persona appeared in many segments where he used his money to get others to sacrifice their mortality for the almighty dollar.
It's somewhat ironic that the WWE, a global publicly-traded company, finds itself as the corporate member of the audience that performs tasks for the cash. When the WWE held The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April with a WM-type card just weeks after the actual Wrestlemania, it generated much criticism because of some of the cultural restrictions in the country. For example, women athletes, a group that the WWE claims to promote as an extremely important part of their organization as a part of the female empowerment marketing strategy, weren't allowed to compete in Saudi Arabia. Some might view this as just the traditions of a different culture, while others will think it's a repressive regime. Either way, it's difficult to judge these things from an outside perspective. However, when the WWE accepts the Saudi cash, they must also be prepared from the criticism that goes along with it.
At the time of the Greatest Rumble, I penned an article that explained that the Saudi deal was strictly business and that a corporate entity wasn't going to skip the chance to get that type of money in a deal with the government of a foreign country. It's still strictly business, but the perception of the contract went to a different level recently, and though it won't happen, WWE might want to think about the reality of this deal, not just the sports entertainment events it brings to the country.
Recently, the Saudi government has been the subject of many news stories because of the disappearance of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi consulate, but didn't return. Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family, was seen entering the building, but footage has yet to surface that shows his exit. There are rumors that he might've been assassinated, a claim that the Saudi government denies, but what happened to the reporter remains unknown.
It would be unfair to jump to conclusions, but the notion that a government agency had someone assassinated to keep them quiet isn't exactly a new concept. Was there anyone on the grassy knoll?
But, the point is, the major news currently around the world about Saudi Arabia is that the government might've silenced a critic because he didn't praise their decisions. With the Crown Jewel event being held there, the WWE is indirectly associated with the controversy around the country. According the The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the Saudi royal family is paying roughly $40 million for each WWE event, which makes it an extremely profitable venture. That said, depending on the stock price, the WWE is worth nearly a billion dollars, do they really need the money considering this particular situation?
Just a few days ago, Turkish government officials claimed that there's evidence of the assassination, but Saudi Arabia continues to deny any involvement, and the investigation hasn't concluded yet.
As of this writing, the Crown Jewel event is still scheduled to take place and WWE released a statement that said they are "monitoring the situation." Keep in mind, this WWE deal and other western imports into the region are simply a vanity project to try to improve the image of a country that is often associated with strict cultural traditions. Basically, the WWE is being paid to be used as a PR tool for the Saudi government. Again, the company is worth nearly a billion dollars and will make $2.5 billion for its combined TV deals in the next five years so is the potential negative press worth the Saudi money?
Aside from the money, which is the most important factor, the WWE doesn't need to be associated with the Saudi royal family because the organization is already a global entity. The bottom line is, the Saudi government needs the WWE more than the WWE needs the royal family's cash, but it's management's decision to determine if the amount of money they will be paid for this show is worth it. Obviously, if a reporter was killed because the Saudi royal family didn't approve of criticism then it's a total disgrace. Essentially, the WWE should be better than this to accept major cash if there was actually an assassination at the consulate. All things considered, it might be a better decision for management to cancel the show because the promotion is financially secure and this is an opportunity for WWE brass to prove there's a standard for the company.
That being said, management already invested TV time into the storylines that are booked for the show, including the return of Shawn Michaels after an eight years retirement. Speaking of HBK, it speaks volumes about the power of the dollar when he agrees to wrestle again after the stellar conclusion to his career in 2010. Why take away from the match with The Undertaker in 2010? At this point, what does WWE brass do with the promoted Undertaker/Kane vs. DX match or the Universal title match? In some ways, the company is booked into a corner since the matches are already advertised.
Vince McMahon built a north east territory into a truly global brand, and in the process, he consolidated the entire sports entertainment industry, buying the tape libraries of every major promotion in the United States, which built the foundation for the WWE Network. The WWE stock price is currently at $84.30, which is an exponential increase from the price of $22.30 last year. So why would the WWE allow the company to be used as a PR tool for Saudi Arabia?
Everybody's got a price.
Those are the lyrics for the theme song and a catch-phrase of "The Million Dollar Man," a Vince McMahon creation that utilized the less than admirable traits that wealth can generate from certain people. Ted DiBiase's villainous persona appeared in many segments where he used his money to get others to sacrifice their mortality for the almighty dollar.
It's somewhat ironic that the WWE, a global publicly-traded company, finds itself as the corporate member of the audience that performs tasks for the cash. When the WWE held The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April with a WM-type card just weeks after the actual Wrestlemania, it generated much criticism because of some of the cultural restrictions in the country. For example, women athletes, a group that the WWE claims to promote as an extremely important part of their organization as a part of the female empowerment marketing strategy, weren't allowed to compete in Saudi Arabia. Some might view this as just the traditions of a different culture, while others will think it's a repressive regime. Either way, it's difficult to judge these things from an outside perspective. However, when the WWE accepts the Saudi cash, they must also be prepared from the criticism that goes along with it.
At the time of the Greatest Rumble, I penned an article that explained that the Saudi deal was strictly business and that a corporate entity wasn't going to skip the chance to get that type of money in a deal with the government of a foreign country. It's still strictly business, but the perception of the contract went to a different level recently, and though it won't happen, WWE might want to think about the reality of this deal, not just the sports entertainment events it brings to the country.
Recently, the Saudi government has been the subject of many news stories because of the disappearance of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi consulate, but didn't return. Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family, was seen entering the building, but footage has yet to surface that shows his exit. There are rumors that he might've been assassinated, a claim that the Saudi government denies, but what happened to the reporter remains unknown.
It would be unfair to jump to conclusions, but the notion that a government agency had someone assassinated to keep them quiet isn't exactly a new concept. Was there anyone on the grassy knoll?
But, the point is, the major news currently around the world about Saudi Arabia is that the government might've silenced a critic because he didn't praise their decisions. With the Crown Jewel event being held there, the WWE is indirectly associated with the controversy around the country. According the The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the Saudi royal family is paying roughly $40 million for each WWE event, which makes it an extremely profitable venture. That said, depending on the stock price, the WWE is worth nearly a billion dollars, do they really need the money considering this particular situation?
Just a few days ago, Turkish government officials claimed that there's evidence of the assassination, but Saudi Arabia continues to deny any involvement, and the investigation hasn't concluded yet.
As of this writing, the Crown Jewel event is still scheduled to take place and WWE released a statement that said they are "monitoring the situation." Keep in mind, this WWE deal and other western imports into the region are simply a vanity project to try to improve the image of a country that is often associated with strict cultural traditions. Basically, the WWE is being paid to be used as a PR tool for the Saudi government. Again, the company is worth nearly a billion dollars and will make $2.5 billion for its combined TV deals in the next five years so is the potential negative press worth the Saudi money?
Aside from the money, which is the most important factor, the WWE doesn't need to be associated with the Saudi royal family because the organization is already a global entity. The bottom line is, the Saudi government needs the WWE more than the WWE needs the royal family's cash, but it's management's decision to determine if the amount of money they will be paid for this show is worth it. Obviously, if a reporter was killed because the Saudi royal family didn't approve of criticism then it's a total disgrace. Essentially, the WWE should be better than this to accept major cash if there was actually an assassination at the consulate. All things considered, it might be a better decision for management to cancel the show because the promotion is financially secure and this is an opportunity for WWE brass to prove there's a standard for the company.
That being said, management already invested TV time into the storylines that are booked for the show, including the return of Shawn Michaels after an eight years retirement. Speaking of HBK, it speaks volumes about the power of the dollar when he agrees to wrestle again after the stellar conclusion to his career in 2010. Why take away from the match with The Undertaker in 2010? At this point, what does WWE brass do with the promoted Undertaker/Kane vs. DX match or the Universal title match? In some ways, the company is booked into a corner since the matches are already advertised.
Vince McMahon built a north east territory into a truly global brand, and in the process, he consolidated the entire sports entertainment industry, buying the tape libraries of every major promotion in the United States, which built the foundation for the WWE Network. The WWE stock price is currently at $84.30, which is an exponential increase from the price of $22.30 last year. So why would the WWE allow the company to be used as a PR tool for Saudi Arabia?
Everybody's got a price.
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