AEW vs. NXT

Earlier this week, it was announced that the NXT brand will start to air live every Wednesday on USA with the premiere episode on September 18 for the group that was exclusively on the WWE Network prior to this. The move was done in response to All Elite Wrestling's TV slot on Wednesdays on TNT on October 3, which will bring sports entertainment back to the network for the first time since 2001.

There are several different aspects to this story, but let's discuss some of the more fundamental angles to the narrative ahead of both shows broadcast debuts.

For NXT, it must be stated that the developmental brand is no longer developmental, especially because it will share space with Raw so that alone impacts the future. Many times in the past, there was the "debut pop" for an NXT talent that would show up on Raw, but since those competitors will be seen weekly by a similar audience, it's not nearly as memorable for someone's debut on a different show. It's also extremely important to realize that this transition to television and a two-hour format will completely change the status of NXT. The product will have to be tailored to a much broader audience and the structure of the show will be formatted around the usual commercials of network television so the amount of time matches are given will be different as well. In many ways, NXT on a streaming platform gave the product much more flexibility, but TV structure and the two-hour slot will test the depth of the roster.

With the additional two hours on Wednesdays, that will bring the total of WWE weekly TV content to at least seven hours. I think the argument could be made that five hours a week now along with monthly pay-per-views is over saturation, but I'm not sure it's logical to expect the audience to watch an additional two hours each week. Granted, there are diehard fans that will watch as much wrestling as is available, but outside of the wrestling bubble, most of the general public doesn't want to spend that amount of time on sports entertainment each week.

Don't get me wrong, NXT has a talented roster, but to add another 30% of content to the main stream TV schedule seems like too many hours for a viewer to realistically follow, especially when the ratings for Raw and Smackdown don't indicate that there's any demand for more TV content. While the WWE machine will continue to produce countless hours of material, isn't there a limit to how much wrestling someone will realistically watch? Considering that there are more entertainment options now than any other time in history, I don't know how much of the audience NXT will retain from the Raw or Smackdown viewership.

What the All Elite Wrestling audience is remains to be seen. I've said it before and I will say it again, AEW doesn't have to compete with WWE to be successful, but rather find a way to generate revenue and become profitable. As far as business goes, profitability is the ultimate measure of success. Obviously, Vince McMahon wanted to counter the AEW weekly show, which almost gives All Elite Wrestling a form of validation because even McMahon acknowledges that the new organization is trying to establish itself on a national level. In many ways, what the Khan project has already accomplished is unprecedented, considering that in the time since WCW folded, a myriad of groups tried to "go national" in some form or fashion, but All Elite is starting on national television.

As I've said previously, there were a lot of pieces of the puzzle that had to fit together organically and spontaneously to get to this point, which is why it could work. Kenny Omega had some historic bouts in Japan around the same time that the Young Bucks became extremely popular on social media and that occurred around the time that Cody asked for a release from the WWE. The fact that the Elite trios Ring Of Honor contracts expired at the same time and Kenny Omega also finished his New Japan deal at the time played a major role in the series of events as well. Add into that Tony Khan being willing to fund a wrestling venture are things over the course of a few years that couldn't have been planned to work better than they unfolded naturally to bring the wrestling world to this point ahead of the TNT debut.

That being said, the pressure is on All Elite to produce a number, which might not necessarily be affected by the NXT schedule. One way or another AEW will have to generate viewers for its programming to truly get off the ground, and if NXT is enough to take a piece of their audience then the potential for their national success wasn't major anyway. At the same time, if AEW can hold its own against a WWE brand in head-to-head competition, that alone gives them credibility as a force within the industry.

Does that mean there will be a Wednesday night war?

As much as fans want another wrestling war, the head-to-head competition on television doesn't necessarily mean there will be a battle for ratings. If anything, much of AEW's core audience are fans that are discontent with the WWE product so it's doubtful that those supporters will be compelled to tune into NXT instead just because it airs on the same night. One of the most intriguing aspects of this scenario is that the ratings will show how many fans would watch wrestling regularly if there was an alternative product. Keep in mind, the Raw Reunion show from a few weeks ago garnered over three million viewers, a number the current product rarely draws so obviously there are more people that would watch the sport if the was a show that made them want to tune in each week.

While some jaded fans will complain about the changes to NXT or attempt to downgrade AEW to be contrarian, this entire situation is proof that competition fuels the industry. For the first time since the Monday night wars, there will be legitimate head-to-head competition for pro wrestling ratings. (TNA's short-lived attempt aside) More than anything there's a buzz around this scenario and that has generated more hype than almost anything else this year. Considering that the WWE empire has plateaued with somewhat of a complacency, All Elite Wrestling on prime time television even benefits them. Perhaps, after almost twenty years as the undisputed winner of the ratings war, a new commodity will help push the WWE to produce a show that caters more to the fan demand than the corporate agenda. Basically, there's more of a sense of optimism around the business now than there was in the past few years and that's why competition is important for the industry.

Bray Wyatt returns

When the grappler formerly known as Husky Harris resurfaced in Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's then-developmental brand in 2012, he portrayed the mystic leader persona that was formed under the guidance of the legendary Dusty Rhodes. Bray Wyatt had slimmed down from the time that fans saw him as a part of the Nexus and there was much more depth to his character, who soon added a few members to his stable to create the Wyatt family. The following year, Wyatt made his main roster debut with Harper and Rowan by his side, making an impact immediately when he defeated Kane at that year's Summer Slam.

Bray looked to be the right choice for the character, and the trio that formed the Wyatt family fit perfectly.

Unfortunately, over the next five years, Bray's ability to cut magnetic promos and make his opponents look good in the ring ultimately was an aspect that hindered rather than helped his status. I've discussed it in-depth previously so it's not necessary to repeat it again, but basically, Wyatt was more or less used to get other people over instead of being booked to get over himself. Management did Wyatt no favors because he was often beaten into powder, with his promos being the only thing that could keep him relevant since he wasn't given many signature wins. A few of the main examples include the John Cena feud in 2014 when Bray did the job at Wrestlemania. As mentioned previously, Cena was made years before that and he could've lost every match for the rest of his career and still be just as over with the audience. Cena is over to the point that he's cemented himself as a top-tier star regardless of his position on the card. On the flip side, that Wrestlemania match could've been a career-defining victory for Bray at that point in time. The relatively short-lived Daniel Bryan feud also didn't do much for Wyatt's status in the company. Finally, when Roman Reigns was struggling to get over with the audience or at least avoid the boos from the crowd, he was paired with Bray so that he could look solid in the ring. That feud was designed to benefit Roman, not Wyatt. Even his brief title run in 2017 wasn't anything that truly made him a bigger star because he only had the belt for a month and was used as a transitional champion.

The scripting of his persona didn't help either, as the seemingly perfect fit of the Bray, Rowan, and Harper trio was split up on a few different occasions. While Bray was regulated to a glorified enhancement talent, Harper and Rowan more or less floundered. While the Bludgeon Brothers gimmick gave them TV time last year, it was too cartoonish to have any longevity on the Smackdown brand. Bray was paired with Matt Hardy, mostly because neither or them had much direction at the time and they were placeholders when they had a run as tag champions. Granted, it was an entertaining team, but considering that they were thrown together to begin with, it wasn't as though the pair was a priority on Raw. Perhaps, the most important aspect of the team was that as a comical babyface, the aura that surrounded Wyatt for the majority of his WWE run and was a major piece of the puzzle for the character's ability to get over with the audience had completely diminished.

That aura is a rare and valuable tool in the sports entertainment industry.

When Matt Hardy took time off to heal some injuries, the team dissolved and Wyatt disappeared from television for nearly six months, something that was necessary if his career was going to be rejuvenated. A few months ago, he resurfaced with segments where he appeared to be the host of a children's show with cliche catchphrases and animal puppets. Ironically, it was almost a way to mock the comical things Bray had done during his prior stint in the team with Hardy. Since Wyatt has the ability to get over, the segments worked well and generated a curiosity about where it was going in terms of his return to the ring. Eventually, the sinister revelation of "The Fiend" character featured Wyatt wearing a mask made by  special effects legend, Tom Savini's studio. The Fiend's sudden and mysterious appearances on Raw were memorable spots, including when he attacked Mick Foley to take the hardcore legend's claw hold as a signature maneuver.

When Wyatt vs. Finn Balor was announced for Summer Slam, the was an anticipation for the bout, which hadn't been the case for Bray's matches for the year prior to his absence from TV. The entrance with a lantern that resembled Wyatt's head and the additions to his theme created a great presentation on pay-per-view. With Finn set to take some time off, the one-sided match was the right decision because it allows for Baylor to get some rest from the grueling WWE schedule and it gives The Fiend a solid win to get a strong start for the new character.

In many ways, WWE brass has a second chance to make Bray Wyatt a money-drawing star.

Make no mistake about it, Wyatt shouldn't have had to be repackaged, considering that he already had all the skills to be a major star with the original Bray Wyatt gimmick. He can go in the ring and cuts some of the best promos in the company on the mic so the mismanagement of his WWE career prior to this is based on the booking, not the performer. However, the new Fiend persona allowed Wyatt a fresh start and he proved again that a compelling and believable character can still be presented in the modern era.

The most important aspect of all of this is that WWE brass doesn't miss the boat with Bray again or waste another opportunity to establish him as one of the featured stars of the company. Too often in recent years, there were competitors that didn't get the chance to be elevated to the next level because their particular push didn't fit into management's plans and that's one of the reasons the promotion lacked legitimate star power in the past few years. In some respects, The Fiend recaptured the aura that management didn't capitalize on during Bray's initial run. With the decline of ratings this year, the WWE could use intriguing characters and that's why Bray Wyatt's current persona could be a useful asset to the company.

The career of Dan Barry

"Honestly, my favorite experiences are when I come through the curtain and the crowd reacts. Every time, I get a rush of emotion."

Even after eighteen years in the sport of professional wrestling, veteran grappler, Dan Barry finds himself jolted with energy when he  gets the chance to perform in front of a crowd. But, his fascination with the sports entertainment genre began long before he laced up his boots to zigzag across the country to compete across the independent circuit.

For as long as Detective Dan can remember, he identified with the spectacle of the squared circle, often watching matches with family members from an early age. The glamour of stars like Randy Savage introduced him to the theatrical side of industry before names like Regal, Malenko, and Nagata showcased the sport-based aspects. Being a New York native, Barry enthusiastically followed the late-90s of Extreme Championship Wrestling because of its strong presence in the north east. Eventually, when Barry wanted to pursue the sport he idolized from his youth, the wild organization that had a dynamic effect on the national perception of the industry during the boom period of the business had an impact on him again. Dan found himself at the NYWC training center to learn from a competitor that he watched for years previously, the accomplished and well-respected, Mikey Whipwreck.

"Mikey is the man. He is a fountain of knowledge and a funny guy. When he wanted to be fun, it was fun, but when he wanted to be tough, it was tough," Barry explained.

But, the landscape of the industry had changed drastically since the days of the Monday Night Wars that saw ECW viewed on a national level. By the time Barry debuted in the pro ranks in 2001, the business of sports entertainment had consolidated considerably. Vince McMahon's pro wrestling empire bought its competition, World Championship Wrestling, for pennies on the dollar after it imploded, while ECW collapsed under the pressure of the industry just a few months later. With only one option nationally at the time and its roster flooded with the remaining talent from the two prior organizations, in-ring glory was much more difficult for hopefuls that started their career in that era.

"I began when a drought started. WCW and ECW had folded, and the indies became this odd wasteland of alphabet soup promotions. Now, it has blown up into this scene that previously was viewed by a much smaller audience. Now it almost seems like a more entrepreneurial venture," Barry commented.

Over the course of the next several years, Dan Barry logged miles traveling literally coast-to-coast wrestling on shows of all levels to hone his craft, including much of the early portion of his career before social media allowed for a wrestler to get noticed within hours after an event concluded. From the Philadelphia-based Combat Zone Wrestling to the west coast's Pro Wrestling Gorilla, Barry's unique blend of entertainment and athleticism thrilled audiences.While he cites winning the CZW tag titles at the ECW arena as one of his career highlights, he explained that working in Ireland earlier this year was a surreal experience for him because of his Irish heritage.

The previously mentioned CZW tag titles were won with Bill Carr, who Barry formed a team with based on his detective persona after Carr finished up a stint in WWE's developmental system, Florida Championship Wrestling in 2011. The eccentric Carr worked well in the role and the pair known as Team Tremendous are known as an entertaining duo on the independent scene.

"I became friends with Bill before he got signed. When he was released, I talked to him about being a team. I pitched my buddy cop"vision, and he was not interested. One day, after a ton of badgering, he said yes. Since then, we have had the most fun traveling and acting goofy. Bill is the best, and I think he is one of the better "big guys" on the indies," Dan remarked.

When he's not inside the ring ropes, Barry maintains a successful career outside of wrestling, frequently hosts interviews for the High Spots Network, and applies his passion for entertainment on stage through comedy as well.

"I started comedy in 2011. I had always loved standup comedy, but I never thought of myself as a comedian. One day, a comedian told me to try an open mic. I fell in love with it instantly. Wrestling allows me to be the character Dan Barry, but comedy allows me to be the person," he explained.

Even as he approaches the 20-year mark of his time in wrestling, he remains a fixture of the independent scene, and his shenanigans as the High Spots host are often featured clips on social media. Still dedicated to sports entertainment, he has aspirations to work behind-the-scenes as well.

"I would love to be an agent or a producer for a wrestling company. I think I have enough ideas in my head and helping younger talent piece their stuff together would be awesome. If not, commentary or being a manager would be fun," Barry said.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Dan Barry's path in sports entertainment is that not every success story has to conclude with a "Wrestlemania moment" or a bout at the Tokyo Dome. Through almost two decades of hard work and dedication, he was able to make a name for himself climbing the ranks of the business. He built a foundation for himself as a performer and expanded upon that to keep himself ahead of the curve as the independent scene evolved to what it is today. It can't be understated how much of a success it is for a notable pro wrestler to handle the grueling task of traveling to various events while still being successful away from the ring. From early matches on dirt-stained canvases at sparsely attended cards to jam-packed events across the country in recent years, Dan Barry's career represents the ability for a performer to find themselves and make the most of their skills in almost every aspect of the industry.

Pittsburgh charity event returns

This Friday the Pittsburgh wrestling world will join forces with a few national and international stars for what has become the steel city's super show of the year for the third edition of Stomp Out Cancer, a fundraiser that donates 100% of the event's proceeds to the American Cancer Society. The August 16th card will be held in Lemont Furnace, PA as well-respected veteran grappler Brandon K donated the use of his Ryse Wrestling venue, a converted cinema, to host the event. With nearly a dozen matches scheduled and dozens of athletes slated to appear on the card, Stomp Out Cancer 3 will be the biggest in the fundraiser's history, a project that donated nearly $6,000 total to the cause in the past two years with hopes of raising the biggest funds yet for The American Cancer Society this year.

The efforts to put together this annual event began two years ago from Matt and Kenny Tressler, two brothers that focused their fandom and passion for professional wrestling toward a cause close to their hearts. Matt and Kenny were two of the most familiar faces on the independent scene, attending events on a near weekly basis for over twenty years. Over those two decades, the brothers have worked in a variety of roles for nearly every local organization and developed friendships with several performers. Quite simply, the Tresslers became as known around the circuit as many of the athletes that had matches in the ring. Sadly, very similar to many people, cancer had a profound impact upon the Tressler family. Matt and Kenny's mom was diagnosed with cancer in late-2011 and passed away shortly afterwards at the age of just 54. Mrs. Tressler was always known as a very caring lady, something she displayed often in her career as a nurse before her untimely passing so the brothers wanted to use the avenue of sports entertainment to honor her memory, as well as contribute to those that battle the terrible illness today.

"Never when we started did I think we could hit a milestone of $10,000. It blows my mind that each year more and more guys are looking to be involved. A lot of guys, as well as myself say this is the biggest show of the year as we honor loved ones that passed from cancer. This year we are honored to welcome international stars like Chase Owens and Sam Adonis. It's just unbelievable that guys like Chris Hamrick and Dominic DeNucci are willing to take time out to lend their services to our cause. We're beyond blessed at how the wrestlers, fans, and friends come together yearly for a common cause at this show," Matt Tressler said.

After a successful follow-up and an event that garnered rave reviews in 2018, the Tresslers looked to use their vast lexicon of contacts to put together an even bigger event this year. Despite the in-ring mayhem that occurs almost every weekend in some form or fashion around the Pittsburgh area, many of the athletes consider it an honor to be invited to take part in a showcase that is run for such a worthwhile cause. Along with several wrestlers known around the tri-state area, there were some special additions to the card, including ECW original Chris Hamrick, WWWF star Dominic DeNucci for an autograph signing, and New Japan Pro Wrestling star, Chase Owens.

"These Stomp Out shows are so special to the Pittsburgh area and beyond. Our crew really looks forward to filming these shows because so many wrestlers come together for an amazing cause. This show is a great example of the good of the pro wrestling community," said Missy Sorg, co-owner of the indywrestling.us production company that films many events in the area.

One of the most anticipated bouts on the card involve the previously mentioned Chase Owens as the member of the Bullet Club squares off against one of Pittsburgh's best young stars and a talent that many already expect to be nationally known in just a few years, Lee Moriarty. With recent appearances in Absolute Intense Wrestling and Chikara, the rest of the independent landscape is only starting to realize what Pittsburgh has known for the past few years, Lee Moriarty has an extremely bright future in the industry. A rugby player in high school, Lee blends natural athleticism with a dedication to learn as many aspects of professional wrestling as possible, often studying a variety of styles to add to his in-ring offense. Known at Ryse Wrestling as, "The Apex of Combat," Moriarty brings a combination of Japanese striking, lucha aerial maneuvers, and European technical grappling into the squared circle. For the athlete that was inspired to pursue sports by the iconic Bruce Lee, Moriarty considers the chance to test himself against the caliber of a wrestler such as Chase Owens a valuable opportunity in his career. Chase Owens brings an extensive international track record to this match-up, including competing against some of the biggest stars in New Japan, including Okada, Tanahashi, and many others.

"Looking forward to my match against Chase Owens at Stomp Out Cancer. Chase is a highly respected and well-traveled veteran. It will be a highly competitive match-up that I will be prepared for," Moriarty said.

On August 16th, the fans in attendance at the Stronghold Arena in Lemont Furnace will see a great show for an even greater cause. It is a chance to see a unique blend of talent from every major promotion in Pittsburgh and several athletes from surrounding states. The addition of Chris Hamrick, Chase Owens, and DeNucci add another layer to the event as competitors from different eras want to contribute to the cause. The Stomp Out Cancer Event is a shining example of how a difference can be made through the shared dedication for the professional wrestling industry.

The career of Ron Hunt

"I can't stop nobody, I can't knock the hustle" -Notorious BIG

When Christopher Wallace enhanced his image through the lyrical prose of hip hop, he created the street-wise Biggie Smalls persona through tireless repetition of his craft, an aspect that applies to much of the entertainment genre, regardless of the form it takes.

Rev. Ronnell Hunt, a legitimate ordained minister, found his hustle through a combination of seemingly endless energy and a deep passion for the sport of professional wrestling. Just a few months ago, the Pittsburgh native found himself standing inside Ring Of Honor's state-of-the-war dojo facility in front of some of the wisest minds in the business. The wrestling Reverend was chosen as one of the select few applicants for the ROH Combine in Baltimore, a training camp that has opened the door for several Ring Of Honor mainstays.

But that trip to Maryland this past May had many more miles behind it, as Ron Hunt has dedicated much of his life to entertainment in some form or fashion.

"I started with plays in college. One of my media professors was actually doing more movies and television shows. After asking him how did he get the opportunities, he told me about a company that he was working with. That was 2012 and I have been working with that company and my agent since. I have had the pleasure of working on films for Netflix, Hulu, NBC, Lifetime TV, Nike Commercials and all," Ron explained.

With dozens of roles in a variety of TV and film projects to his credit, Hunt found it natural to embrace a character, something that he eventually transitioned to for the squared circle. Fresh from high school graduation, the young Ronnell wanted to follow his passion for his childhood dream of sports entertainment before he hit the books full-time to chase scholastic glory in college. A trip to Florida brought him face-to-face with one of the most fearsome grapplers of an old school era of the industry. Afa, a Hall of Fame wrestler as a member of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team, runs a no nonsense training academy, an experience that Ron considers pivotal to the start of his wrestling career in late-2012.

"I have played football, basketball, and baseball all my life, including college years. Nothing compares to anything like professional wrestling. I have been fortunate to visit a host of wrestling schools, and Afa’s is by far the most physically, mentally draining, yet educational at the same time," Hunt remarked.

Following the grueling months of the tedious process of landing repeatedly on the canvas, Ron returned to the steel city to embark on his collegiate grappling to pursue higher education in media, another avenue that allows him to use his personal form of showmanship.

"It wasn’t until I graduated college that it took off the races for me since I could dedicate 100% of my time and efforts to this business that I loved since day one. It’s been a bit of a climb because although I am a Pittsburgh native, I was not really known to the wrestling scene. I love the Pittsburgh wrestling scene and feel every company has its unique flavor and personality. Some areas have a lot of companies, but they all feel the same. Pittsburgh has a little bit of something for everyone and that is a good thing for fans and wrestlers," Ron said.

Fueled by a variety of coffee and other caffeinated beverages, Ron Hunt has ambitiously spent  the past few years taking every media, acting, or wrestling gig he could find, often juggling those projects at the same time. His over-the-top antics and loud personality made him a memorable presence in many different settings, but it was still challenging to keep such a hectic schedule for the aspiring superstar. However, the nearly endless grind paid off more recently, when he joined West Virginia's WBOY-TV as a reporter early last year.

"It has its ups and its downs, but I try to look at everything as a learning experience. Sometimes we don’t truly understand how blessed we are until we experience someone that has it much worse than we do. Every day I leave work humbled and blessed that I was able to help someone get their voice heard and hopefully their issues solved. I work for WBOY-TV now and have been there for a year and a half. I have been working in TV as a whole for five years and radio for four years prior," he explained.

Still a diehard fan of the genre that he idolized for the majority of his life, Ron passionately follows the industry as much as he strives to learn as much as possible in the ring so he jumped at the chance to showcase his ability in front of knowledgeable figures from one of the most established promotions in the United States, Ring Of Honor. Hopefully for a chance to impress, Hunt applied to the previously mentioned ROH Combine and was seen as an athlete with much potential so he was selected to attend, an experience that he considers one of his most valuable in his time in wrestling at this point in his evolving career.

"The ROH combine is taxing on the body mentally and physically. I’ve been to a few and each day is about ten to twelve hours of being surround by knowledge, critiques from world champions, top wrestlers, executive producers, and other members of the ROH front office. You are there early in the morning. We do a host of promo work, in-ring work, matches, and take part in individual evaluations. It is a very detailed process and opens your thinking beyond way more than what you think you may already know.  I’ve had the pleasure of sitting under the learning tree of a lot of names that have helped pave the way and I am forever grateful for the opportunities that are in the works. I consider Ring of Honor my home and right now I am very blessed to say I feel like I am in great hands with them," Ron Hunt said.

The son of a pastor and fully ordained last year, Ronnell Hunt continues to pursue his Master's degree in Divinity, which gives him faith that all his hard work will pay off in one form or another.

"My ultimate goal is to make pro wrestling full time. I love to encourage people young and old, push their excitement to the next level, and also tell my story. Each year I say it’s my year, each year I feel that my footprint gets deeper in this game, and each year I raise the bar for myself so I am never complacent or satisfied. I risked way to much and came way to far to just be satisfied with where I am. If I can share my story with the world via wrestling that’s my goal."

Where this path takes Ronnell Hunt remains to be seen, but he undoubtedly has the willingness and the passion to work as hard as he possibly can to make an impact. More than anything, his story is a prime example of enthusiasm and dedication to the industry.