Double or Nothing

This past weekend, the much anticipated debut of All Elite Wrestling, the Double or Nothing pay-per-view, took place at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. It's well-documented that the Khan family has the funding to provide the foundation for the first true alternative in professional wrestling since the shut down of WCW in 2001. Perhaps just as important is the television deal that the company signed to air on TNT in October later this year. Such a contract is rather unprecedented for an upstart group, but most of what the All Elite company accomplished so far is unprecedented as well. The main stream distribution of TNT will get the product exposure to the general public and the opportunity to draw the casual fans. If that happens remains to be seen, but Double or Nothing was certainly a solid start for a company that looks to become an alternative in the sports entertainment genre.

The pay-per-view card opened with So Cal Uncensored vs. the OWE trio and it was an action-packed contest to set the tone for the card. While I don't think any particular member of SCU will jump to superstardom from the increased exposure later this year, the three competitors work very well as a utility group, which is absolutely an asset to any company. The 49-year-old Christopher Daniels can still go and it's a tremendous statement to his ability as an athlete that he can keep pace at this point in his career. It's also nice to see him get a big time contract because he definitely deserves it. In some ways, it's disappointing that Daniels almost didn't get the credit or the chance he deserved for most of his career. He was one of the most graceful athletes of his era, but often times played second fiddle to AJ Styles, simply because AJ was much more charismatic. Don't get me wrong, AJ is incredible and will be known in the history books as an all-time great, but Daniels went step for step with him during their classic matches in the TNA era. The OWE team gives All Elite a unique aspect to promote and it will be interesting to see if Chinese athletes become a regular part of events. While this OWE team was represented by Japanese athletes, Cima made a wise decision when he took the role as president of Oriental Wrestling Entertainment in Shanghai after it was founded in 2017. In recent years, there were discussions about the ability to capitalize on the Chinese market because of the major population of the country, but most outside ventures, such as WWE's occasional trips were mostly on an annual basis and didn't actually establish the sport in the country. The difference with OWE is that it's a pro wrestling league based in Shanghai so there's the ability to run events on a regular basis and build an audience.

The women's four-way bout was decent, even if it was a little unorganized, but that can sometimes happen with multiple-person matches under tornado rules. Kylie Rae and Brit Baker showed a lot of potential and considering their characters, both could be used as a good choice as the baby face the crowd can rally for after heels are established in the division. The only minor mistake was that both didn't directly work the hard cam so a few shots were missed during the match. More than anything, it's just a matter of time before they get the experience of working a TV environment so they will probably develop those skills as events progress in the future. It was very interesting to see Amazing Kong return to a major stage, especially considering that she was mostly away from the sport for the past several years. It's not known if this was a one-off or if Kong signed for additional appearances, but assuming that she still wants to compete, it might be a worthwhile addition to the women's division, as Kong was one of the major reasons the knockout division was popular during her TNA run.

The Best Friends shined in their tag team contest against Jack Evans and Angelico. Particularly, Chuck Taylor is an athlete that can do it all in terms of in-ring and mic work, but until the past year or two was mostly underappreciated for the ability he brings to the table. This is one of the reasons that the potential success of AEW is such an important part of the paradigm of the industry because it allows for athletes with the talent to be national stars to get a chance to maximize their ability to get over with the biggest audience possible. Jack Evans has been known throughout the years for his extremely risky aerial style, but he hasn't really ever cemented himself in any particular promotion. While his in-ring style is spectacular, it can often be one dimensional and somewhat sloppy. His most extensive run was the few years that he was a tag team champion in Mexico, but the argument could be made that Triple A was in a slump during that time. Angelico might have some potential, but at this point, he's just a high spot wrestler, which AEW has many of on the roster already. Don't get me wrong, Evans and Angelico are talented, but if they are going to get over on a main stream level in the United States, there has to be more than just the high spots. For example, the Best Friends work an entertaining, fast-paced style, but they are as over as they are because they have characters to compliment it.

The Joshi six women tag was a cluster, but it could serve a greater purpose for the AEW brand. Similar to the OWE working agreement that can bring Chinese wrestlers to America, booking Joshi athletes in AEW gives the group another unique aspect to promote. Sure, The Kabuki Warriors are featured on Smackdown, but there's obviously a WWE spin on their style or at the vest least, the booking of the team doesn't lend itself to the traditional style. In many respects, the pure Joshi style remains underrepresented in the American landscape, and could definitely be used to draw the female demographic that isn't usually the target audience for pro wrestling organizations.

While the under card was solid, the top three matches were the bulk of the show and ultimately what it will be remembered for in the history books. Cody vs. Dustin was a feud that WWE could've capitalized on years ago, but missed the boat on what could've been a compelling brother vs. brother rivalry. Thankfully, Double or Nothing gave the Rhodes family a chance to properly tell this story and it became a classic match-up. The video package prior to the bout was very well done and set the stage for the two to have such an tremendous in-ring performance. As Dustin spilled an unbelievable amount of blood, the two told an emotional story of two eras fighting it out to prove something in front of a sold out crowd. This bout proved that there's undoubtedly still a place for blood in pro wrestling if it's used in the proper context, and also that aerial high spots aren't the only way to build an incredible match, something that often gets forgotten in the modern industry. The embrace of the brothers after the match was a very emotional moment and it represented much of what usually isn't seen under the WWE umbrella. When a product is over-scripted, over-produced, and sanitized, there's a disconnect or a lack of emotion because the audience watches a performer follow the direction of the writing team as opposed to making a segment their own. Make no mistake about it, the WWE writing team gets a lot of flak, sometimes deservedly so, but they have a very difficult job with scenarios that hinder their chances of success. That being said, there's not a way someone on the writing team could've produced the moment that Cody and Dustin had in the ring. It was a moment built on organic and spontaneous emotional, which is why the audience identified with it.

The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers was an incredible tag team classic. While it was a bout based on high spots, they sold the moves and everything made sense, which is truly the difference with these types of matches. More importantly, these four athletes are over as characters, which gives them the ability to be a draw beyond just the bell-to-bell action. Specifically, Pentagon has the gimmick and the skills to be a major star, and I still think that Impact Wrestling missed the boat on him when they had him drop the championship to Austin Aries a few years ago. It will be very interesting to see how these two teams translate to the main stream audience of TNT later this year.

The Jericho/Omega contest was great and the structure was another example of the brilliant career of Chris Jericho. On a show that was built around fast-paced high spots, this bout was based on a stiff and physical match, which made it stand out. Originally, I thought Omega was going to get the victory since it seems like the brand will be built around him, but it actually makes sense for Jericho get the win. The contest was booked as a rematch of the stellar Tokyo Dome match last year so it makes sense to set up for the trilogy bout, which gives All Elite another major match to eventually promote on pay-per-view. Plus, the title match will give Adam Page more notoriety when he works against Jericho to determine the first All Elite Wrestling champion. It should also be noted that similar to how the physical match stood out on a card of high spots, the finish did as well because instead of the numerous kick outs on the event, Jericho got the win after he hit the Judas Effect elbow as a finisher that actually ended the match.

As mentioned, it remains to be see how the AEW brand translates to the general audience, but more than anything, Double or Nothing showed the potential for an alternative to be established in the business, which was rarely seen after Vince McMahon bought WCW. As I've written before, the sports entertainment monopoly led to a level of complacency and mediocrity for the McMahon empire so the potential success of AEW is undoubtedly helpful for the entire industry.

Angel Gate wrestling

The year of 2019 saw the further emergence of women's wrestling to reach some of its highest levels in the history of the professional wrestling industry. Female grapplers are no longer regulated to a novelty act, but rather given their rightful chance to showcase their ability as athletes inside the ring ropes. This transition to a focus on in-ring competition for ladies in the business can be seen on every level, from the national stage to aspiring hopefuls that step into the squared circle to start the training process on the dirt-stained canvases of training centers.

Another key aspect of professional wrestling this year is the new opportunities that are flourishing throughout the genre. This weekend at a converted school building that was transformed into a throwback wrestling venue nearly eight years ago, Angel Gate Women's Wrestling will present its first live internet pay-per-view. Angel Gate was a project that launched last year under the umbrella of the Pro Wrestling Express promotion, an organization with over two decades of history with events in McKeesport, PA, a city roughly thirty minutes outside of Pittsburgh. A region as well known for its wrestling as the steel it produced, the western Pennsylvania region has a dedicated fan base that followed the PWX product throughout the years. Despite its lengthy history, the PWX group took a major step in the evolution of the product when it began the all-women's league in March of 2018 to supplement its "Fight Society" shows that run regularly as well.

"For us, with over twenty years of shows, we wanted to bring something new to the fans to compliment the history of this area. Angel Gate allows us an avenue to bring in female stars from around the country to compete for our fans. The live pay-per-view gives outside fans the chance to watch the action unfold as it happens. It's a great opportunity for everyone," said Quinn Magnum, a now-retired veteran wrestler that has worked as an organizer on the PWX office staff for the past several years.

With the extensive history that Pittsburgh is known for, Angel Gate set a goal to bring something new to the area, including talent from multiple states and even other countries to create a product that featured some of the top talent on the independent scene. Lady Frost, who made her pro debut just last year on national television during a Monday Night Raw bout against Asuka, has quickly ascended the ranks of the independent circuit, including as an entrant in Chikara's Young Lion's Cup this past March, as well as recently signing with the Ring Of Honor dojo. An athlete in various sports before she pursued the squared circle, Frost brings a dynamic and unique style to the ring. Her skills also earned the praise of the legendary Mick Foley earlier this year. However, this Saturday brings a tough test for her as she will challenge Queen Aminata, a competitor that made an impression of her own on a national stage just a few weeks ago, competing in a tag match against the Kabuki Warriors on Smackdown Live. Originally from Guinea, Aminata is as intelligent as she is athletic, learning to speak four different languages before she began her journey in the sport.

"It’s always a privilege to be a positive part of history in whatever way it may be. I’m happy to be a part of this Pittsburgh promotion that’s trying to create a path for women, fans, and the community. I’m really looking forward to the future of Angel Gate," Lady Frost said.

One of the most unique aspects of the Angel Gate project is that it provides a platform for a wide array of competitors from rising talent to longtime veterans. One of the most tenured wrestlers scheduled for the event is Missy Sampson, who has 24 years of experience to bring to the table. As she zigzagged across the independents for more than two decades, she earned a reputation as one of the toughest females in the sport.

"The IPPV this weekend means an opportunity to show a broader audience that those of us who have been around for a bit can still go. It allows us to share the show further than the local audience. It’s a great opportunity for not only the wrestlers, but to also expand the fan base of Angel Gate as a newer promotion. The fans can expect from me this weekend what I have always delivered to them, giving 100% of myself once I step in the ring. I will be making time to meet them before the show and intermission and showing that even the more seasoned competitors shouldn’t be overlooked," Sampson commented.

On the flip side, a rookie will also get a chance to shine on this card as the self-proclaimed "Adorable Doll" Annabelle will compete at the event. With just a year of in-ring experience, she looks forward to using this stage to make a name for herself in a sport she wanted to learn since her youth. Standing just 5'2, Annabelle makes her way in pro wrestling through grit and determination.

"When I started training, most people just wrote me off. I wasn't what a wrestler was supposed to be, but I kept showing up because this is something I always wanted to do. The support from the other wrestlers and the fans means a lot to me," Annabelle said.

With established names like Holidead, the twerking Ray Lynn, and several others from the independent circuit are among the line-up of the stacked event, possibly the most anticipated match is the main event for the Angel Gate championship. The inaugural champion Roni Nicole has dominated the competition thus far at Angel Gate events, utilizing the Japanese style she perfected during extended tours of various promotions in Japan. Her opponent, Toronto's KC Spinelli has made a name for herself for being as loud and as skilled as anyone with her well-rounded ability. "Two Scoops" became a favorite with the Angel Gate live audiences for her charismatic persona and thrilling bouts. The buzz among many ahead of this contest is, who will claim the championship on such a big night for the promotion?

While there will be action-packed matches throughout the night, this expanded distribution and the ability for fans around the globe to tune in is only made possible by a hard-working, dedicated video crew. Mike and Missy Sorg founded the Indy Wrestling US and Sidekick Media Services group over a decade ago, and in that time have become the premiere filming company in the Pittsburgh area. Video streaming, podcasting, and editing across several different fields made the Sidekick media crew some of the most recognizable faces in the city, including at their Beechview studio. The video production staff have expressed their enthusiasm ahead of this historic pay-per-view.

"Our team at Sidekick Media Services has over a decade of filming and live streaming corporate and entertainment events.  With streaming options more common now, it made sense to bring live streaming integration to Pittsburgh wrestling. We have been implementing and testing live streaming over the past year in an effort to roll out iPPV options, and we feel that Angel Gate is the perfect testing ground given the current evolution of wrestling. The professional-grade custom set-up we use allows us to live switch multiple camera feeds while pulling in audio from the commentary team to push it all out in HD quality with on-screen graphics and banners," Missy Sorg explained.

A combination of internationally-traveled stars, established independent talent, and Pittsburgh prospects will get their chance to showcase this skills to a pay-per-view audience for a truly unique event. Perhaps the the most intriguing aspect of this project is how those athletes match-up to create diverse competition with matches that aren't usually seen around the independent scene. More than anything, this platform allows for a historic card in Pittsburgh wrestling with major distribution for the athletes on the roster.

Hardcore Heaven 2000

This week marks nineteen years since the ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000 pay-per-view that was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in front of an estimated 3,500 fans. The event is noteworthy as a representation of the latter stages of the company, both for why it eventually went out of business and also the potential it had in the future.

While the under card consisted of a three-way dance, a Kid Kash/CW Anderson bout, and a tag team three-way that were nothing spectacular, but decent enough, it was actually the opening match that had more of an impact on the direction of the organization. Masato Tanaka, the FMW import that had some incredible matches with former champion Mike Awesome the previous two years, defeated Balls Mahoney in a relatively short, but physical match. In retrospect, the chair shots in this match are cringe worthy, especially because of the information known now about head trauma and concussions. Tanaka pinned Mahoney, but this was the last PPV appearance for him, as he left the company to return to Japan shortly afterwards. Given the fact that Mike Awesome jumped to WCW less than a month prior to this, it took more depth away from the roster when another former champion departed. It was well-documented that Awesome left because of bounce checks, but it's not known if Tanaka concluded his run because the company couldn't afford him or if he simply wanted to return to his native country. Regardless of the reason, it can't be understated how much his exit took away from the star power of the organization. Awesome was pushed as a monster that ran through everyone, and Tanaka was one of the few that had multiple wins against him when they traded the ECW heavyweight title. Within the span of roughly four weeks, ECW was without two athletes that were a pivotal part of the title picture for several months prior to that. At a time when the league tried to keep pace with their multi-million dollar competition, the FMW working agreement was one of the unique aspects that they could promote, but much of that left with Tanaka after this event.

The New Jack/Angel brawl was more or less what you would expect from the typical New Jack segment with the exception of a particularly insane balcony dive where he dove from a further distance than usual. A few things to note from this portion of the event, including that the New Jack run-ins while somewhat repetitive in retrospect, were so well placed and well done that it had more longevity as a part of the events. That being said, the real-life Jerome Young wasn't an in-ring technician, but had tremendous talent in his prime. He brought an authenticity and a unique persona to the industry. More than that, if he could've separated his character from business outside of the ring, he had the ability to do more in wrestling than to just be typecast as an ECW act. Make no mistake about it, Jerome Young could've been a valuable asset to ROH or TNA on a regular basis in the years that followed the shutdown. Unfortunately, New Jack legitimately beating up an elderly Gypsy Joe with a bat or stabbing an untrained opponent at a sparely attended independent show were the incidents that he was most known for after his run in the company. Angel is an interesting prospect as well because when the market got flooded with talent post-ECW, he didn't really get the chance to do more in pro wrestling, but he seemed to have some potential in 2000. More specifically, his feud with New Jack garnered him some notoriety, mostly because he had rare victories against him.

One of the more notable matches from this event was the Tajiri/Steve Corino bout, as it showcased two athletes that would've been able to be elevated up the card if the group continued after 2001. Corino had a memorable, but brief run as the champion and could've been someone that Heyman built the company around if the promotion didn't close. Corino was a bloody mess in this contest and it some ways, matches like this allowed him to "earn his stripes" for the ECW audience. As he proved in his career afterwards, Corino wasn't just a hardcore typecast, but rather had a well-rounded skill set that translated to different styles, which is exactly why he would've been a major star in the company if it didn't shut down. Tajiri was already over with the crowd and his skills were always sharp so I think the argument could be made that with the right angle to set it up, he could've eventually been booked for a title run.

Speaking of potential and the possibility for new stars to build around, Rhino was probably the biggest prospect that had his time as a main event star halted because the extreme group went out of business. Rhino defeated Sandman and this pay-per-view also featured the infamous pile driver spot to Lori Fullington through a table. In many ways, Sandman helped make Rhino's career since this feud put him on the map at the age of 23 with just a few years of in-ring experience. It's disappointing that the previously mentioned flood of talent to the WWF in 2001 didn't allow for him to get a chance at a run toward the top of the card. Similarly, even though he had a brief stint as NWA champion in TNA, the promotion missed the boat on him in 2005. Rhino is one of the most underrated of his generation because he seemed to have main event potential throughout his career.

The Rob Van Dam/Jerry Lynn match-up was basically the RVD/Lynn match they made famous in ECW, but the proper context puts this into prospective. While the match was solid and entertaining, the series had continued for over a year at this point and it seems like this contest was booked to add depth to a pay-per-view that didn't have names like Mike Awesome, Super Crazy, or Sabu on the card. Don't get me wrong, RVD/Lynn was always a good match, but it was a repetitive series at the time of the event.

The main event was solid and the Impact Players storyline worked, but more important than the actual match was that it was Lance Storm's final ECW appearance. As Lance detailed in interviews, he opted to leave because of bounced checks and signed a deal with WCW less than a month later. Obviously, this was an indication that the organization was financially unstable, but it was also another situation that saw a lack of depth without Storm on the roster. Truly an underrated legend, Storm could do it all in terms of his ability to work a spot on the card. Lance could work a solid opening match to start a show or provide a main event level contest depending on where he's booked. Lance Storm's ability to work well with anything he was scheduled for is a valuable asset to a company.

The WWE ratings

Within the past few weeks, a spotlight was put on a continuous trend of WWE's genre, the regular decline of the television ratings, suggesting that less viewers are drawn to the product on a weekly basis. This slip in numbers presents itself despite the sports entertainment empire offering more programming now than any other time in history, but perhaps that's a part of the problem?

Depending on the week, Raw will average roughly 2.5 million viewers and Smackdown garners around 2 million viewers. More recently, those numbers have dropped to the point where there's an average of just above 2 million viewers for each show, with Raw drawing slightly above and Smackdown just below that 2 million benchmark. In years past, 2 million viewers would be a panic mode for WWE brass, which still appears to somewhat be the situation now, but there doesn't seem to be quite the sense of urgency some would expect for the publicly-traded company.

The reasons for the decline in numbers are numerous and complex, but a few broad general conclusions can be drawn from the direction of the product. Forgive me if I've covered these topics in some fashion before, but the explanation for the current landscape is not a new problem for WWE management. Possibly the simplest reason for the lack of buzz around the product is an over saturation of content, both on mainstream television and through the WWE network. Maybe this is too simplistic, but the traditional rule of supply and demand puts this scenario into perspective. In 1998 when the industry boomed in pop culture, professional wrestling churned out as many primary and secondary shows as the general public was willing to watch. Raw's success as a top draw in cable brought with it the addition of Smackdown, Sunday Night Heat, and a myriad of syndicated shows with it. On the flip side, Nitro's ability to outdraw Vince McMahon saw the Turner umbrella add a third hour that ultimately contributed to its downfall, Thunder as a compliment to the Monday night program, and a slew of international shows. The only reason any of that additional programming was brought to the table was because there was a market for it and more specifically, there was a demand for professional wrestling content so the audience watched more of the product. Is there really that type of demand for WWE shows in 2019? Granted, the third hour of Raw is justified by the millions of extra dollars the company is paid for it, but the show is beleaguered with the task of maintaining an audience for those three hours. As the numbers show, the third hour almost always drops compared to the initial two hours. There are three hours of Raw, two hours of Smackdown, pay-per-views that run over three hours on the network, and the network exclusive shows that don't really have an impact on the product. Has anything noteworthy happened on 205 Live? There's more programming without any indication of a demand for it so that is what leads to the decline.

This might sound too basic, but there's also the aspect that even wrestling fans have a limit to how much wrestling they want to watch, especially causal fans. Sure, there are diehard fans that watch nearly everything and then meticulously critique it, but that's a relatively small number in comparison to the WWE's target audience. The diehard fans complain the most, but are the most loyal to the product so management's problem has more to do with the draw of the general public.

I've discussed it before, and it's a topic of regular debate from many that follow the sport, which is how the 50/50 booking that might attempt to protect talent actually hinders the process to make a star. A few months ago, I penned an article that explained that WWE brass took the steps to promote the brand ahead of the talent, making the company the draw instead of any particular star, which has its positives and negatives on each side. On one hand, if a major name gets injured, the writing team doesn't have to scramble to book a way to elevate a competitor to carry the brand and can simply plug someone else into the same spot instead. On the other hand, that philosophy creates a certain level of mediocrity or complacency because very few get pushed as top-tier stars. For example, as great as Seth Rollins is in the ring, would it have made a difference in ticket sales or network subscriptions if Finn Balor was booked against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania? Lesnar is considered a priority by management so he's showcased as a star, which allows him to move the needle. Granted, I'd still say that the WWE invested way too much into him in the past 3-4 years, but the point is, if Brock Lesnar appeared more often on Raw that would boost the numbers, simply based on the fact that he's made to look like a star when he's on-screen. Balor and Rollins are two of best athletes of their generation and some of the best performers on the roster, but the totality of their WWE career puts them at more or less the same level in terms of their ability to draw numbers. Don't get me wrong, both have the ability to be money-drawing stars, but the structure of the product puts a ceiling on how over they can be with the audience.

Another aspect is the illogical presentation at various times during storylines, specifically random heel or baby face turns without explanation or reasoning. For example, Triple H and Stephanie are presented as heels or baby face depending on the specific angle that week. During the build up to Wrestlemania, it wasn't determined if Triple H was a heel or not during promos in the ring with Becky Lynch. That's only one storyline of several where the direction is murky and less effective than it could be if there was a direct path. Some nonsensical decisions should've been avoided in recent years as well. It's a drastic example, but if Vince McMahon decided to wait until two years after the 3:16 promo to run with Stone Cold then he wouldn't have been as over otherwise. The point is, there's a specific time frame when a talent gets over and that competitor needs to be pushed at its peak to get as over as possible with the audience. The argument could be made that while the writing team tried to get Roman Reigns over despite the rejection of the crowd at the time, they actually missed the chance to elevate Braun Strowman to a level where he could be a money-drawing talent for the company. Along with that, Bayley, Sasha, Drew McIntyre, and others should probably be more established than they are right now. The rigid structure of the overall presentation of the product leads to the previously mentioned complacency and furthermore a lack of emotional investment in the storylines. Keep in mind, Vince McMahon has owned the professional wrestling market in the United States for nearly two decades so without the competition for the sports entertainment dollar on a national level, the corporate agenda can be pushed ahead of the fan demand. Prior to the pro wrestling monopoly, when a talent got over, the writing team had to run with it because otherwise the viewers could change the channel or spend their pay-per-view dollars on a different event. The emotional investment is key because that's what draws the money in the business. Without the emotional investment, pro wrestling becomes interchangeable with any other form of entertainment. Perhaps, this is one of the many reasons it would be extremely beneficial to the industry if All Elite Wrestling can get off the ground of a national level because it could potentially shift the paradigm of the business.

This problem was seen more recently because the series of attempts to reignite interest in the shows are only a short term solution. That itself speaks volumes to the lack of weekly interest in programming when numbers are low just a month after Wrestlemania. As long ago as the original brand extension in 2002, I thought the concept of different stars on specific brands with more belts was too convoluted for the main stream fans. During the boom period of the 90s, if a casual fan asked, "who's the champion?" there was an answer that gave an indication of who the top star was at the time. Now, there's a superstar shake up, a wild card rule, more titles that anyone can reasonably keep track of, and an lack of continuity on television. Instead of all that, how about a compelling feud that viewers want to watch?

The NXT stars brought to the main roster just for the pop are featured for that specific week and then get lost in the shuffle because there wasn't a plan for them other than the pop for their debut. Even the title matches that were put on television were designed to try to boost a number that week, not for an angle that could build to the following week.

That being said, and as I've written before, all of this might be a moot point, considering that the WWE will generate record-setting revenue next year and will have the most profitability in the history of the company. The start of their $2.5 billion TV contracts is later this year and the current stock price is roughly $84 so despite the slump in viewers, the company is still very financial secure. In fact, the company is extremely successful from a business prospective. However, the bigger picture might be that the WWE is cashing in on the major TV money offered now, and the structure of the product necessary for the money could hinder the ability to make stars for the future.

The Career of Lance Hoyt

The year of 2019 certainly has its share of new opportunities within the professional wrestling industry and scenarios once thought not possible are a reality. When Bushiroad, the parent company of a popular Japanese trading card game, bought the majority interest of New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2012, there was an emphasis on expanded distribution of the product. New Japan, the country's largest and one of its most prestigious organizations, was founded by the legendary Antonio Inoki in 1972. Since the Bushiroad acquisition, NJPW surged in popularity with a mixture of incredible native stars and tremendous "gaijin" or foreign athletes. The launch of New Japan World, the group's streaming service, brought the Japanese product to an entirely new audience and led the way for live events to be held in various countries around the globe.

In just a few months, the company takes another major step in its North American expansion as the opening night of the historic G-1 Climax tournament will kick off the month-long format at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on July 6th before its conclusion in Japan in August. The G-1 is considered one of the most important tournaments in the sport with names like Muta, Chono, Tenzan, Nagata, Tanahashi, and several other legends decorating its nearly three decade history.

Ironically, a Texas native found his "wrestling home" inside the New Japan ring, including when the 6'8 grappler, Lance Hoyt was in the middle of a battle royal melee in front of nearly 40,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome earlier this year for the promotion's signature, Wrestle Kingdom event.

As is usually the case in the unpredictable wrestling business, there were many different shifts in the path that Lance took before he found himself in the squared circle with Japanese legends. An extensive collegiate background and a passion for sports drew him to the action-packed nature of professional wrestling.

"I was a huge fan of the blend of acting and athleticism done on a live stage," Lance explained.

After he learned the proper training, Hoyt honed his craft on the Texas independent scene in his formative stages, but his impressive agility for an athlete of his size got his noticed early on, prompting an offer from the upstart NWA-TNA organization in 2004, just a few years after he laced up his boots to start his career. Utilizing his huge stature, Hoyt was paired with grizzled veteran, Kid Kash as his bodyguard, "Dallas," a nod to his home state. The chance to work with an experienced tag partner and the ability to learn on the bigger stage of television and pay-per-view was an aspect of his career that he considers a highlight.

"Early TNA was fun because there were so many steps forward at that time. First TV, first three-hour PPVs, and then first live shows. Working with Kash helped me tremendously to transition into working on that stage and I still use many of the lessons learned even today," he explained.

After almost five years under the TNA banner in one form or another, Lance left the organization to seek bigger opportunities. At the time, many commentaries on the industry noted that TNA missed the boat on Hoyt, as his combination of athleticism and size brought much potential to the table. Just a few months later, he inked a WWE developmental contract. He spent time in the Florida Championship Wrestling system before he was called up to the infamous WWE version of ECW. When the less-than-extreme brand was folded, Lance was moved to Smackdown, but the shift of several competitors saw him lost in the shuffle before his release in late-2010. Still, Lance took the year and a half under contract as a valuable learning experience for how to perform on a major platform.

"The main thing was the need to be absolutely confident in who you are and what you’re doing or you won’t succeed. I may not have accomplished that there, but it has helped me since then."

Hoyt's personal philosophy of always push forward to succeed  proved to be wise, and it didn't take long for the free agent to get an offer that became the most successful of his nearly two decade career. In 2011, Lance began working with New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the organization's serious approach to the sport fit his smash-mouth style perfectly.

"New Japan is much more sport-oriented. So,they focused more on wrestling than the entertainment aspect of the business," he explained.

The past eight years saw Hoyt's career truly flourish as his fast-paced, brute in-ring work made a tremendous duo with Davey Boy Smith Jr. as the two became the "Killer Elite Squad." Under the guidance of the legendary Minoru Suzki, the pair were also members of Suzuki-Gun, a stable that ran roughshod over New Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH over the years. The combination of Hoyt and Smith Jr. has made them one of the most successful tag teams of their generation, winning multiple titles in different promotions.

"Working with Smith has been amazing. KES winning the IWGP tag titles three times, NOAH GHC Tag twice, and NWA World Tag titles two times has been best part of my career so far," Hoyt commented.

While the he cites being away from home as one of the most difficult aspects of being an international wrestler, Lance Hoyt has a deep appreciation for the company and country that brought him so much success.

"The respect level in all aspects is one of my favorite things about Japan and the Japanese people. It’s exhibited in everything, how the speak to each other, how they eat, and how the wrestling fans treat the wrestlers."

 That respect an admiration is why the G-1's location in his hometown of Dallas is such a special occasion for Lance Hoyt, because it's a chance for him to bring the company that embraced him into their culture to his native city for a historic occasion in professional wrestling.

"Being in Texas is a huge deal. Not only for me, but New Japan, the G-1 Tournament, and the wrestling industry all together. It’s an important and historic day for pro wrestling," he explained.

It's rather fitting that Lance Hoyt's nearly 20-year career goes full circle as the company that saw him achieve his biggest success runs a historic card in the city where his journey in the professional wrestling industry started. This G-1 event is an indication of the bring future of professional wrestling in 2019 and also a milestone in Lance Hoyt's accomplished career.

The XFL TV deal

Earlier today, I was very surprised to hear Trey Wingo from ESPN's Golic and Wingo mention that the network along with Fox reached a deal to broadcast XFL games for the league's relaunch in February of next year. Oliver Luck, former quarterback drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1982 and adviser in a variety of sports roles over the years, signed as the commissioner of the XFL last year. Oliver Luck appeared on the program to discuss the TV announcement, but was very vague when asked about the possibilities of the spring league, especially after the abrupt collapse of the Alliance of American Football organization just last month.

As accomplished as Oliver Luck is as an executive in sports, his lack of any specific answers doesn't exactly create a sense of optimism around the XFL revival. On the surface, a TV deal under the ABC umbrella and its bundle of networks that is complimented by the Fox stations as well, sounds like a very good indication for the league. However, the reality is, that distribution is only one piece of a very complex puzzle, something that puts the success of another McMahon football project in doubt.

I penned an article last year prior to the announcement of the XFL return, and explained the various aspects of why there wasn't any reason to expect a different result for this league in 2020 than the season of 2001. If anything, the AAF disaster is more proof that any secondary football product won't get off the group in the United States. Most importantly, the brand identity is possibly the biggest key to success in terms of national sports. Football is generally considered the most popular sport in America and the NFL is the top league of that sport so if fans want to watch football, the NFL is regarded as the elite product in that genre. On the flip side, the XFL is only known for being one of the biggest flops in sports history. How exactly will Oliver Luck or Vince McMahon change that image before the start of the 2020 season? Keep in mind, there are still very few details about the actual league, the game play, or the players. Speaking of which, similar to any other business, much of the NFL's success is built upon star players so who will bring star power to the XFL?

Just a few months ago, Vince McMahon sold nearly $300 million in WWE stock to set up a way to fund the football project, and while that is a major amount of money, is it realistically enough to fund an entire league? Unless McMahon gets a decent amount of cash from the previously mentioned networks for the rights to broadcast the games, which doesn't seem possible given the only track record the brand has is as a ratings disaster, he might have to invest even more money to fund at least the initial season. Remember, Vince has to pay the players, coaches, production costs, stadium costs, and advertisement just to launch the league.

These newly announced TV contracts give the XFL main stream distribution, but again, this scenario is a complex situation and the TV side is just a part of the presentation. With Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington DC listed as host cities, management will have to find a way to draw live attendance. All things considered, will those markets be a draw for spring football?

The Dallas and Houston teams will use smaller stadiums than the NFL with 25,000 and 40,000 seats in those venues respectively. However, both cities have well-established NFL and college football fan bases so what's the market for an XFL franchise? The Los Angeles group will use the LA Galaxay's soccer stadium to host games with a 27,000 seat venue. Again, LA has two NFL teams, so where's the demand for another football organization in a non-traditional football city? New York was one of the original XFL locations and might be able to generate some buzz, simply because the population makes it easier to draw more fans, but Met life Stadium has over 80,000 seats so even decent live attendance could look empty on TV.

St. Louis might be the best host city for the league because the Rams moved to the previously mentioned LA, and the XFL franchise could be branded as the city's team. Similar to that, Tampa By might be a surprising market for the league since the Buccaneers finished with a dismal 5-11 record last year so perhaps, the XFL Tampa Bay group could draw if it's a winning team. Washington DC might also be a draw in a similar fashion. Seattle is a city loyal to the Seahawks so it's doubtful another football team will generate attendance there. That said, at best, the XFL might garner live attendance in half of its city, but what about the rest of the schedule? The optics of potentially empty stadiums isn't a good indication for the league.

All things considered, even a year into the process, there's still not any reason to expect the XFL in 2020 to get off the ground. In many respects, the XFL is still a tarnished brand known more for its infamous decline than anything else. Aside from the vague statements from Vince McMahon and Oliver Luck, is there any indication that this will be anything more than a secondary league with secondary players? What's the draw to watch the XFL? The bottom line is the XFL could air on several channels, but there has to be a reason for fans to watch the product.

Impact Rebellion review

Last weekend, Impact Wrestling presented its most recent pay-per-view event, Rebellion from Toronto, the same city where Anthem Sports is located. This is just the second traditional PPV of the year for the group owned by the Fight Network, but the setting alone was a vast improvement compared to previous broadcasts. In January, the company ran an event in Nashville at the same venue that hosted many of the early NWA-TNA shows. Despite the homage to the history of the organization, the small venue and less than stellar lighting made the promotion look minor league. Unfortunately, that trend continued Wrestlemania weekend when the United We Stand show looked like a subpar independent event in terms of production. Terrible lighting and camera work made the show almost unwatchable while the audio went off air several times throughout the night. In some respects, perception is reality and during a weekend when nearly two dozen shows ran, Impact was one of the few that ran into technical glitches so what does that say about the group?

Thankfully, the Rebellion pay-per-view had a much better look with the stage and set up. Granted, it's a smaller building, but the presentation didn't look minor league. As far as production, this might've been the best event under the Anthem banner. As far as the actual show, there wasn't a bad match on the card, when is the last time someone could say that about an Impact/TNA pay-per-view?

The scramble opener has been one of the trademarks of Impact since its early days on pay-per-view and it's a solid way to kick off the show. The only downside is there's basically zero character development or progress for almost every athlete that's booked for these type of bouts. In some respect, some within the high spot matches get type cast in that role. But, it's also possible that a stand out performance could be used to propel a talent toward an angle that establishes a persona that gives more depth to their character. For example, Ace Austin won the match, but aside from the flips, who is Ace Austin? Don't get me wrong, he's a tremendous athlete and has the potential to develop into a star, but as far as a character, he's just another high spot wrestler on the roster. For now, that works because it puts a spotlight on his athletic ability, but if he's going to become a draw for the promotion, he will have to differentiate himself from the rest of the division.

Scarlet vs. Rohit Raju was probably better than it had any right to be as a randomly added to the pay-per-view. I'm not sure if Scarlet could or should be a full-time wrestler as opposed to a specific role on the show for different storylines or if Raju has a bright future on the roster, but again, if this match is considered a low point on the show then it shows the improvement of the quality of the company from the bottom to the top of the card.

The Knockouts title match was solid and better than it might've looked on paper. Taya had a well-known run in Mexico, but how or if she would translate to an American TV product remained to be seen. Jordynne Grace had notoriety from the independent scene, but again, how that transitions to a bigger platform doesn't guarantee success.To their credit, both women competed up to the big stage and delivered a good performance in a featured contest on the card. Granted, Taya and Grace don't bring major star power to the table yet, but matches like this can help build toward that.

The Sami Callihan/Rich Swann match was good for the sloppy hardcore bout on the card, which isn't meant as a jab either, but rather that they worked the wild brawl on the show very well. I've said it before and I will say it again, I think Sami has the ability to work the main event scene for Impact. While he does these matches well and they fit his character, it's almost a little disappointing that he almost automatically gets booked for these type of matches in the mid-card on the pay-per-views instead of an angle in the main event.

The Tessa Blanchard/Gail Kim bout was great and it worked on a variety of levels. It provided a nice farewell for Gail Kim to officially retire from her in-ring career, and despite the acknowledgement of her accomplishments, she probably doesn't fully get the credit she deserves because much of her career took place on the smaller stage of TNA. Make no mistake about it, Gail Kim is one of the best of her generation. Tessa seemed to get noticed mostly because of the Blanchard name early in her career, but this contest could be a career-making performance for her since the narrative was that Gail passed the torch. Blanchard competed at Gail's level, and their embrace at the conclusion of the bout was a very nice moment that solidified Gail's endorsement. Similar to some of the others on the card, Tessa doesn't have the star power yet, but the potential is certainly there and more than anything, it creates a sense of optimism around the Impact brand, which hasn't been the situation for years.

The Impact World title match was decent, but it was obvious that Brian Cage's injury hampered the pace of the match since Johnny Impact and referee, Lance Storm scrambled to buy him time outside of the ring. It's very unfortunate that Cage got hurt during the biggest match of his career and hopefully it doesn't derail his reign as champion. I'm not sure where Johnny Impact  goes from here because he already had a main event run and at 39, he might be toward the conclusion of his in-ring career. It was very interesting to see Michael Elgin appear at the event, and it indirectly adds to the sense of optimism around the organization. Elgin is well-known for his work in Ring Of Honor and New Japan during the past few years. Reportedly, Elgin declined to re-sign with New Japan and obviously inked a deal with Impact instead. At the very least, it gives the perception that known stars look at Impact as a way to progress their career.

The main event was a very good match and it showcased some of the best talent on the roster. LAX could possibly be the best tag team in the business today and they might be the team to build the entire division around in the future. Pentagon has the ability and the character to be the Impact World champion again, and management missed the boat on his initial run a few years ago. Pentagon has all the tools to be a major star for the company. Fenix is a great athlete and is a tremendous asset to the promotion.

As mentioned, there wasn't a subpar match on the card and there was a lot of potential showcased on this event. At the same time, Impact's biggest problem is and will remain their limited distribution. Yes, I understand that Twitch broadcast the TV show for viewers that don't have access to the Pursuit Channel, but the weekly viewing averages roughly 10,000 views of the show. The bottom line is, Impact could have a great show every week, but if only a limited audience has access to it or knows how to watch it, does it really benefit the company? While Impact certainly has more optimism around it now, the status of the company won't improve until there's a better TV deal for the product.