The career of Josh Prohibition

When Mick Foley soared from the top of his friend's garage in 1985, crashing on a makeshift landing pad of dingy mattresses, he didn't envision that those clips would make worldwide television over a decade later. Foley, the Long Island native who chronicled the flight from the residential home in his New York Times best-selling autobiography, Have a Nice Day, was simply emulating his wrestling hero, Superfly Snuka. As the future King of The Deathmatch penned in the pages of his first of several books, those literal backyard wrestling clips indirectly introduced him to the pro ranks, where he would go on to achieve legendary status.

Ironically, the same year that those primitive clips of Dude Love made television, another teenager was also emulating the grapplers that he idolized, and it provided him with an introduction to the professional side of the industry. Josh Prohibition, a Cleveland native with over twenty years of in-ring experience, was enthralled with the spectacle and athleticism of sports entertainment since the time he was a very young child.

"I have loved wrestling since I was four years old.  Wrestling is my drug.  Even when my body fails me I will always stay involved, it's part of who I am and always will be," he explained.

While wrestling was always a passion, he also had an enthusiasm of music, an avenue that allowed him to meet one of the most influential people in his life and someone that he considers his brother, Matt Cross, who went around the world as a truly international star himself in the time since their initial meeting.

"During my senior year in 1997, my makeshift awful band was playing a show at our high school and during our miserable attempt at making music, a dude in a straight edge hooded sweatshirt pulled a moonsault off the stage to the floor. It was at that moment we became friends. He and I shared a love of punk rock, we were both straight edge at that time, and I think him and I are wired in a very similar fashion.  When it comes to wrestling, I think our styles matched up well," Josh commented.

The two had a similar philosophy for wrestling and both often wondered what it would be like to compete in the unique genre. Along with their comparable mindsets, they both had a background and dedication to athletics. The graceful grappler that would go on to become "M-Dogg" had developed a solid gymnastics skill sets, and Josh was considered a top-tier baseball player in high school before an arm injury and surgeries that followed halted his prospects for the collegiate level. Without baseball as an athletic outlet, the two youths turned their energy toward wrestling, copying the moves the fueled their fandom, and using the static tones of dial-up internet to distribute their over-the-top maneuvers online, which unintentionally led to them being discovered as something more than just local Ohio teens in their backyard.

“Matt Cross and I really started getting into backyard wrestling.  With each match we had, the action got crazier.  We started filming our matches and putting the video clips up online, and that is the way we got discovered by the Backyard Wrestling Video series,” Josh explained.

At a time when nearly anything wrestling was pushed to the public because of the surge of popularity of the Monday Night Wars, late-night infomercials offered a glimpse into the risky world of backyard wrestling with wild clips from risk takers that also garnered attention through online clips.

Eventually, Josh and Cross wanted to take their backyard  bouts indoors, and a scenario was set up where an actual pro ring held the matches as an audience marveled as local grapplers put themselves on the line, purely for their entertainment and passion for the sport. Ironically, John Thore, who would go on to be one of the founders of Absolute Intense Wrestling, one of the premiere independent groups in the United States and where Prohibition is currently a head trainer, organized the event. During the actual in-ring action, the unfiltered skills of Cross and Prohibition was noticed by the late JT Lightning, a longtime promoter and widely-regarded as the godfather of Cleveland wrestling. He saw the potential in the two enthusiastic athletes, but knew without the proper skills to protect their bodies in the ring, the prospects would have a short run if an injury derailed their progress. JT offered the pair proper training and they spent a year learning the correct techniques and the tedious process of landing on the canvas safely.

In the post-Attitude era of the industry, the independent scene began to thrive, as numerous groups tried to patch the void with the lack of variety among the American circuit. With the proper training, Josh and Matt took the indies by storm, working as their opponents as a featured match on the card or as a notable tag team. A combination of fast-paced and aerial action made them one of the most recognizable stars of their era, working for nearly every major independent group at the time, and appearing as mainstays for UWA in Canada, which Prohibition considers one of the highlights of his career.

“Traveling was amazing.  Seeing the country and getting to wrestle in front of different crowds was a high that was indescribable.  One of the things that made it even more special was getting to do it with one of my best friends Matt Cross. Besides that just having the opportunity to get in the ring with some of the best wrestlers in the world and being able to hold my own,” Prohibition said.

After nearly a decade of wrestling on an almost full-time basis, Prohibition was at a crossroads, not only in his wrestling career, but his life. Just prior to the publicity that put him on the wrestling radar of many groups, he pursued a teaching degree, an education that he paused when he saw the door possibly open for the chance to make a living as a sports entertainer. As is the case with any form of  entertainment, not just the skills, but also the timing of events can be a determining factor for success. Prohibition was generally considered one of the most skilled of his era, but a spot that would provide him financial security was uncertain. Instead of waiting for the draw of the “wrestling lottery” as he calls it, Prohibition decided to finish his college education in 2008 and has since flourished in the teaching profession. As a social studies teacher, the grappler that has crashed through tables or hit a top rope pile driver, encourages students to hit the books, helping them shape their own education. Along with his contributions in the classroom, Josh coached sports, and recently completed his principal license as he climbs the ranks of his profession.

Another aspect that determined the direction of Josh’s path was his family, as he and his wife have two daughters, which he considers some of the most rewarding things in his life.
“ I think it helped me recognize what’s important and not to sweat any small stuff.  Wrestling stopped being my career over a decade ago and I can say I love pro wrestling even more when I don’t have to worry about it as a source of income.  Now when I wrestle I pick and choose my spots depending on the promotion, location, and the opponent,” he explained.

Now with a family, his late-night trips with ECW original, Jerry Lynn to the famous arena in South Philadelphia were traded for reading stories or board games with his daughters, but Josh wouldn’t have it any other way, as he found a balance to appreciate the memories while building a life for his family in the future. Still, pro wrestling plays a role in the family, as social media clips show Prohibition teaching his daughter lucha libre arm drags off the couch in a comical combination of pro wrestling and parenting for them.

When he’s not teaching in the classroom, Josh still presents lessons in the square circle because as mentioned, he’s the head trainer of the AIW center, something he considers an important contribution to the industry as he helps others learn their craft the same way that he was offered pro lessons over twenty years ago.

Perhaps the most striking trait about Josh Prohibition’s story is that he didn’t necessarily “make it big” in professional wrestling, but he was undoubtedly a success in sports entertainment. With a reputation as one of the most well-rounded of his generation, his ability took him across the United States and even to other countries. He appeared on national video tapes and was also a featured character in the backyard wrestling video game. There are very few independent wrestlers that have such a lengthy list of accomplishments. At the same time, Josh earned an education and excelled in his chosen field outside of the ring with his work as a teacher. More than anything, Josh Prohibition proved that a wrestler isn’t limited to just one path, as he proved to be successful both inside and outside of the wrestling industry.

Wrestle Rex returns

The genre of professional wrestling has undergone an evolution and metamorphosis throughout its history. From the sideshows in its most primitive stages to the early days of television, which made the legendary Gorgeous George one of the most popular athletes in the 1950s, sports entertainment has thrilled audiences in all its forms. As far back as Ed "Strangler" Lewis and Jim Landos packing stadiums in the 1940s up until the amazing streaming technology of today that allows fans to watch live cards from around the globe, the grappling arts retains a headlock on its audience.

It's often said that the unique business that combines drama and athleticism is its own brand of entertainment. The squared circle is the stage and that literal canvas of the ring is where these skilled artists get the opportunity to paint an athletic picture for the audience.

It's because of this parallel that Wrestle Rex, a concept from the mind of world-traveled, Sam Adonis, has steadily become one of the most intriguing events on the Pittsburgh wrestling calendar. A venue that hosts several music acts on a regular basis, The Rex Theater on the south side provides an actual stage for a cast of international performers not often seen in the region.

"I have been working at The Rex on-and-off as security for 12 years. We had always kicked around the idea. Anytime I was in Pittsburgh, so many people asked when I was wrestling downtown, but there was never an opportunity. The idea of creating an event that appeals to non-wrestling fans that want to come have a good time made The Rex a no-brainer. Now we are four shows in and the scene is really growing," Sam Adonis explained.

The brother of WWE's Corey Graves, Adonis is a lifelong fan that chased his dream, and his dedicated matched with his in-ring ability took him around the globe as a truly international star. After finding himself as a performer in the UK, Adonis went on to work full-time in Mexico for two years for CMLL, where he's scheduled to return next month. South of the boarder is where he was really able to hone his craft, working main event matches at the legendary Arena Mexico for the diehard Latino audience. A rudo, Adonis antagonized the Hispanic crowds as a foreign villain, battling lucha legends during his tenure in one of the longest running organizations in the world. He defeated the legendary Blue Panther in a hair vs. hair match, before he eventually had to sacrifice his own hair after a bout with Negro Casas, a visual that was reminiscence of the late, Art Barr, who was an American villain in lucha libre in the early-90s. Adonis' notoriety in lucha libre took him on tours for All-Japan Pro Wrestling, the group founded by the iconic Giant Baba. Adonis considers all of this experiences very critical to his success and part of the inspiration for the Wrestle Rex events.

"My traveling has definitely made my perspective on wrestling different to almost everyone. I've been able to learn through trial and error of not only myself, but of other wrestlers and promotions in many different countries and cultures. That's why I feel what we are doing at The Rex works. It's a melting pot of all of it," Sam commented.

With names like Pentagon, Rey Fenix, La Parka, Hornswoggle, Super Crazy, Bull James, and Gangrel as alumni, Wrestle Rex became known a standout event that brings international talent with a mixture of Pittsburgh's best stars to a concert type atmosphere with fans surrounding the ring while a light show brings the glamour as the competitors make their way to the ring.

"Wrestle Rex is unique because there's something for everyone. I believe wrestling has become too much of a niche and only appeals to diehards. Wrestle Rex is standing room only with a party atmosphere, featuring some of the top talent on earth for everyone to enjoy," Adonis commented.

On Thursday, February 27th, Wrestle Rex returns to the stage with another card of global stars as they are paired with the iron city's best talent. Joe Doreing, one of the top gaijin or foreign talent in All Japan, returns to the theater for another rare American appearance, as the talented grappler works extensively overseas. The lucha influence will be back on stage as Hijo de Dos Caras, Templario, and Audaz are scheduled for the show. One of the fastest rising independent competitors, Danhausen will also compete. The western PA are will also be featured as The Mane Event, the best tag team in the area are scheduled, as well as Facade and Sam Adonis himself. One of the top acts on the marquee is former ROH, Impact, and WWE star, Matt Sydal. The sum total of all of these stars create a true buffet of pro wrestling.

"It's such an up close and personal experience. This is not like anything in Pittsburgh right now. It's such a mixture of styles of wrestling all on one show," said Bobby Williams, widely-regarded as the best referee in Pittsburgh and one of the event organizers.

While the steel city is known as much for its wrestling as for the steel it produced, Pittsburgh has an extensive and storied history of the industry. Bruno Sammartino, the Italian strongman and real-life super hero to many will always be the standard of the area. But names like Shane Douglas, Kurt Angle, and Corey Graves have also went on to represent the region as well. Now Sam Adonis proudly showcases Pittsburgh as the wrestling city that it is with this very unique event at the Rex Theater.

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury

Tonight's Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury heavyweight title fight will be a rematch of their prior clash of just over a year ago, which resulted in a razor-close draw, prompting many to call for another bout to be signed between the two champions. The pay-per-view event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and is the latest contest in the formerly stale division that has main stream media buzzing prior to bell time.

As is the case with most rematches, this second contest could mostly be based on the initial match-up, but at the same time how or if either athlete has added to their skill set could actually determine the winner. Deontay Wilder, an Alabama native that burst onto the scene through the Premiere Boxing Champions series, another reason why the sport needs main stream television exposure to create stars, with his incredible punching power will defend his heavyweight title. The 34-year-old Wilder has a record of 42-0-1 with 41 of his victories via KO, putting it among the highest knockout percentage in the sport. The lone unanimous decision win on his resume was a 2015 bout against Bermane Stiverne, who he knocked out in their rematch over two years later. At 6'7, Wilder is an impressive and humble athlete that punched his way into the championship conversation, and he's the first American heavyweight in two decades to really make waves in the heavyweight division.

Speaking of the heavyweight rankings, the modern era of Wilder, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua has rejuvenated a previously stagnant division. Even Andy Ruiz, who shocked the world with a seventh round KO of Joshua in June of last year before he showed up in sluggish shape for a losing effort in the return bout this past December, provided some intrigue as somewhat of a wild card of the division. It goes without saying that signature wins make stars, and even if an established competitor is risking a loss with tough competition, the big payday associated with that challenger is usually worth it. The champion can either win and maintain their status while making the big money or a challenger makes themselves a star thus giving the sport more depth. Sometimes an impressive performance can bring a contender notoriety even after a loss. Unfortunately, at some point in boxing, that formula was flipped and a few high profile stars secured a hefty sum for what were essentially glorified exhibition fights. Floyd Mayweather and his very selective process to agree to fight specific opponents is probably the best example of it.

For the heavyweight rankings, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko ruled the ring for the majority of the previous era, with Wladimir still competing for several years after his brother retired. Credit to Wladimir, he didn't always have the best opponents, but he fought the best competition of his era. Klitschko fought nearly every contender at the time and dominated the competition. The problem was that the heavyweight division lacked depth to the point that Klitschko's title defenses were too one-sided to try to sell on pay-per-view. His fights were major draws in his native region of Europe for live attendance, but without credible opponents, he wasn't a draw in the United States. In retrospect, it's almost a sad statement about the sport that heavyweight title contests were shown live on HBO on a Saturday afternoon after they were such a major draw on pay-per-view in a prior generation.

So, it should be no surprise that both Fury and Joshua put themselves on the map when they defeated Klitschko in 2015 and 2017 respectively. Without Wladimir being willing to take those fights against the best competition possible, the pay-per-view that is set for tonight probably wouldn't be possible. The previously mentioned 2015 victory for Tyson Fury was Klitschko's first defeat in more than a decade, and what should've been the start of his run at the top brought Fury to difficult decision in his career. A rematch was in talks, but when he failed a drug test in 2016, Fury relinquished the belt, seeking treatment for addiction and mental health issues. Surprisingly, Tyson Fury reemerged in the sport two and a half years later, as he overcame his addiction problems and received treatment for mental health issues. He made a successful return to boxing with a win in June of 2018 before he won again just two months later to set up the original fight against Wilder. Since the draw, he added two more decisive wins to his record of 29-0-1 in the sport.

Deontay Wilder also continued to rack up wins, as he won a pair of 2019 contests via KO ahead of the Fury rematch. Still, Wilder has something to prove in this bout, considering that one of the main criticism about his rise through the ranks is that his impressive total of KOs were often against subpar competition throughout the early portion of his career. Granted, Wilder has fought some contenders, including two fights against the gritty Louis Ortiz, but he doesn't have a signature win on his record. Wilder still needs a victory against a top-tier opponent to solidify his status as a true heavyweight star, and this Fury rematch is the opportunity for it.

As mentioned earlier, the story for this rematch is mostly based on the original fight. Deontay Wilder undoubtedly has one-punch knockout power, and for what he lacks in technique, the power is enough to cover for it. Usually, even great punchers must maintain the skill to set up the power shots or they spend the majority of the fight in a narrow-minded pursue of head hunting to find the one punch. In the process, they usually lose the round on points and thus are defeated on the score card. For Wilder, he has enough power that he doesn't need a perfect punch to end the fight, even a partially landed punch can drop an opponent, which is what really makes the difference with his style.

In their original bout, the action took a predictable path, the more technical Tyson Fury used combinations and his unorthodox style to land more punches than his opponent, piling up points on the score cards throughout the rounds. However, Wilder landed his trademark punches, sending Fury crashing to the canvas in both the ninth and twentieth round. When Fury hit the deck after a jab and straight right, Wilder celebrated what looked to be another KO win. Remarkably, Fury beat the count at 9 and made it to the conclusion of the fight. While there was some debate about if Fury actually got to his feet before the 10 count, it's more or less agreed upon that he was winning on the score cards, despite the two knockdowns that gave Wilder extra points. The draw was another controversial aspect because some ringside media still thought Fury won enough rounds to garner a decision victory.

In my opinion, this rematch is simple, either Wilder connects with one of those power punches to win the fight or Tyson Fury will artfully dodge them and land enough of his own punches to get a decision. It's very possible that the charismatic British boxer that brings the Mexican style to the ring, even wearing traditional Hispanic entrance gear in his fight last September will use his precise skill to make it difficult for Wilder to land the punch. Fury definitely has the defense to exploit some of Wilder's sloppiness with wild punches to land some of his own combinations. Still, I will pick Deontay Wilder to win the fight because he already showed that he can land the punch to drop Fury and he did it twice in the previous fight. Plus, Tyson Fury mentioned in an interview to promote this bout that he would consider retiring after the conclusion of the three fights left on his contract so you have to wonder if Fury is already planning his next venture, especially when he made $15 million for one match a few months ago in the WWE. Regardless, it should be an entertaining bout and considering the money that could be made, it's very possible their could be a trilogy fight.

The downfall of Teddy Hart

The name Teddy Hart in the wrestling industry will spark a lot of reaction. Unfortunately, most of it will be negative because with as talented and as athletically gifted as he is, the controversy that follows him is exponentially more than even the amount of the ability he had in the prime of his career.

That's why I wasn't surprised at all when I read the report from the PWInsider's Mike Johnson that Teddy Hart, real-life Edward Annis, was arrested last Tuesday on possession of narcotics with intent to sell in Richmond, Virginia.

The nephew of Bret and Owen, Teddy Hart has always been associated with wrestling excellence, even as early as his wrestling training as a youth with Harry Smith and TJ Wilson, but Teddy never achieved any extended level of success, despite the athletic ability often related with the family name. At just 18, Teddy was one of the youngest athletes to be offered a WWF developmental deal in the late-90s, training with Dory Funk Jr., who ran one of the early developmental programs with names like Kurt Angle, Edge, and others spending time at the Funkin' Dojo. Teddy was under contract for a short time before he was released for attitude problems, a trend that would follow him throughout the rest of his career.

With a high-flying style that combined precise skill with insane maneuvers, the Hart nephew seemed destined to land somewhere in the post-Attitude era, considering the amount of independent groups that surfaced, which were often influenced by either the Japanese scene of the early-90s or ECW. The sum total of his career yields results that are rather undistinguished, as the myth of controversy surrounding him eventually eclipsed the skills he actually brought to the table. After the shut down of WCW and ECW within the span of just a few months, Teddy was among those that were involved in the original Mat Rats project, a venture that didn't make it to air, but provided a buzz for a new type of hybrid athlete on the independent circuit.

Almost as quickly as he began to gain notoriety in the United States, Teddy's conduct cost him those opportunities. During just his second match with an early era Ring Of Honor, the infamous "steel cage incident" took place where he did unplanned dives off of the cage onto his opponents that didn't know he was going to do the dives. Teddy no sold the action of the match, took the moment away from the winners of the match, and vomited in the ring before he did moonsaults after the match. His NWA-TNA run lasted just a few matches as well, as he got into an altercation with CM Punk after a pay-per-view taping in 2004.

In America, the next few years for Teddy Hart consisted of Jersey All Pro Wrestling, which was highlighted as the place in the United States to find the infamous Canadian star. The agreement soured and he quit the promotion in early 2007. At a time when Youtube had started to become an established entity within society, Hart often made headlines for bizarre interview clips and outlandish claims, another aspect that followed him throughout his career.

Somehow he was re-signed to a WWE developmental deal that same year along with Harry Smith and Tyson Kidd as an updated version of the Hart Foundation. Not surprisingly, Teddy had about a dozen matches under contract before he was released for eccentric behavior. Without anywhere major to work in the US because of the amount of bridges he burned, he spent two years in AAA in Mexico, which fit his rather over-the-top style. His surprise one-off return for ROH at the end of 2009 was more or less the last notable booking for him until just a few years ago.

Outside of the ring, he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault during his time away from the spotlight, but the charges were eventually dropped. Other controversies from that time were the disappearance of his former girlfriend Samantha Fiddler, who is still missing, but Hart denies any involvement. It wasn't until roughly two years ago that Teddy resurfaced on the wrestling radar with the relaunch of Major League Wrestling, the upstart group that secured a smaller TV deal and has run pay-per-view events with a moderate level of success, which is an accomplishment in the modern wrestling landscape. When the disappearance case made news online, MLW released Teddy from his contract.

Within the past few months, Teddy started a relationship with ROH wrestler, Maria Manic and the two have posted several Youtube videos online that have been the cause of concern among many fans. Teddy's erratic and often nonsensical ramblings prompted many to speculation about potential drug use and his arrest last week seems to confirm that.

During the extended Youtube videos, there was an occasional mention of Teddy's mental health problems, which might be legitimate, considering his track record for a series of unwise decisions throughout his career. Still, it's somewhat of an unclear situation because who knows if those potential mental health problems would lead to a scenario where he could be charged with intent to sell narcotics? It would be unfair to speculate if any mental health problem was or wasn't responsible for Teddy's drug use.

The intent to sell side of his arrest is much more serious than the possession charge and it might shed some light on some of his outlandish comments in interviews in the past. Supposedly, Teddy Hart's father had set up a rather large inheritance for him several years ago, but it was unclear what industry it was from. He has often bragged about expensive clothes and a lavish lifestyle, but didn't appear to have any direct way of paying for it, especially after his run in Mexico concluded. In a High Spots interview a few years ago, Hart bragged amount getting steroids and expenses paid for while he wrestled in Mexico. Even in the recent Youtube series with Maria Manic, Teddy talked about getting another house and going to expensive restaurants, but his work in wrestling consisted of small independent cards after the MLW release so it's possible selling narcotics was his way to pay for these things.

If mental illness is the cause of these unwise decisions then hopefully, Teddy Hart gets the treatment and the help that he needs to fix it. At the same time, Teddy was able to function at a high level as a pro wrestler for years so assuming this was just caused by a possible mental illness might not be accurate either. As sad as it is to say, Teddy Hart might've chose to use drugs simply because that's just the decision he wanted to make in his career.

Obviously, only Teddy Hart and his doctors would know if he actually has a mental illness or if a mental disorder would be responsible for his arrest. Considering that Teddy was articulate enough to discuss as many things as he did in the Youtube series, I would guess that he knew what he was doing and the risk that went along with it. Either way, it's a very sad story because someone that started as a prospect with a lot of potential has seemed to wasted a majority of his talent. At 40, Teddy Hart is probably toward the end of his career and truthfully, he doesn't really have much to show for it. If he can get the help he needs and recover his life then that's great, but this is probably an underwhelming conclusion to his career.

Cobb debuts for AEW

Last week's episode of AEW Dynamite really emphasized once again why competition in the sports entertainment industry, and more importantly, live television, were such keys to the last boon period in the business. Some of most iconic moments in the industry were the reveal of a talent's arrival in a promotion. When Scott Hall jumped the guard rail on Nitro in 1996, the ripple effect led to the start of the Monday Night war. When Kane ripped the door off of the cell in 1997, a star was made. When the lights went out in the ECW arena and The Sandman returned to south Philadelphia, it was one of the most thunderous reactions in the history of the sport. The effect of such a surprise arrival translates around the globe as Onita's 1999 invasion of New Japan was met with the usually reserved Japanese fans pelting the ring with trash, a very rare situation for the culture.

It's often said that professional wrestling is about moments.

This past week on TNT, even if it was on a smaller scale compared to  the previously mentioned moments, there was definitely a segment that will be remembered with the appearance of Jeff Cobb, a former Ring Of Honor TV and PWG world champion. Through his work with ROH, Cobb has also done tours with New Japan, and is currently one of the top free agents in a landscape where organizations are looking to ink talent to contracts to add as much depth as possible to the roster.

The way the Dynamite show was structured worked very well because Jericho's promo that mentioned Cobb and the video package was a surprise, but his actual live appearance at the conclusion of the broadcast really created a buzz around the company. Aside from the potential of adding an athlete like Cobb, a former Olympian for Guam in 2004, to the roster, it also adds another layer to the Chris Jericho\Jon Moxley feud ahead of their pay-per-view bout at the end of the month. It should be noted that Tony Khan and AEW management made a very wise decision to run PPVs on a quarterly basis because it allows for a true build to a major match and for each event to stand out. Too often, in the era of the WWE Network where events are produced just as a way to provide more exclusive content for the network, those shows usually get lost in the shuffle of the countless hours of programming. Keep in mind, the concept of pay-per-view is to present a show that the fans are willing to pay to watch, which is even more difficult for AEW in the era of  the$10 a month for the network so as tough as it is to sell a $50 show in the modern era, it would be exponentially more difficult if they tried to sell those shows more often than a few times a year. In some ways, the few months between PPVs makes it possible to book a feud that justifies a spot on such a platform as opposed to booking a rivalry on pay-per-view simply because an event is scheduled on the calendar.

As for Jeff Cobb, he's booked to challenge Jon Moxley next week, but it will be very interesting to see if his match is more than just a one-off. As of right now, it's unclear if Cobb is an official member of Jericho's stable or if he was brought in just to add another boost to the Moxley feud. If possible, it would be wise for AEW to sign Cobb for at least a semi-regular basis, considering he brings a solid skill set and a notable background to the table. Plus, as Jericho has done with the other members of the Inner Circle, he can help present another dimension to Cobb's character and establish his persona as more than just his in-ring ability.

A very intriguing aspect to all this is that Cobb has the ability to work for more than one major company at a specific time, which is possible because of the previously mentioned competition in the industry. The demand for talent to add or keep depth on different rosters gives the talent more flexibility and more leverage to negotiate better deals. While Cobb didn't re-sign when his ROH contract recently expired, he's still scheduled to work their show for Wrestlemania weekend so right now, he's a true free agent with the ability to work anywhere that wants to book him.

As much as exclusive deals were a staple in the past, I would say that it would be better for every major promotion outside of the WWE to consider possible working agreements. It might sound too idealistic, but if AEW, ROH, and New Japan occasionally trade talent for select events, it might benefit each promotion and allow them to make more overall progress than they might make otherwise. It's a harsh reality, but even with head-to-head competition on Wednesday and the recent stock slip, the WWE is still the undisputed leader of sports entertainment in the world. If there was an informal "alliance" so to speak between the other three groups, it might set the stage for AEW to build their fan base, keep ROH stable, and add more star power for New Japan. What would Jericho and The Inner Circle showing up to assist Jeff Cobb do for ROH? What would the buy rate be for an AEW pay-per-view if there was finally another Okada\Omega rematch? What if Jericho defended the AEW title against Tanahashi for New Japan?

Again, maybe this is too idealistic, but perhaps Cobb's work in AEW along with Moxley's current run in New Japan can start discussions between the groups to form some type of working agreement. As mentioned, WWE has such a dominate market share that it's doubtful that one particular group could take a considerable piece of the pie, but maybe some combination of the three organizations could generate a lot of hype for them. Granted, the most important aspect of business is profitability, which AEW accomplished with its TNT contract extensive so each group might continue on its own path.

Still, this Jeff Cobb situation is very interesting because it's one of the few examples of true free agency in professional wrestling, which is almost a throwback to the legendary Bruiser Brody, who worked as a legitimate independent star in his era. More than anything, this scenario proves that options for the talent give them the chance to make the most money  possible because while it remains to be seen where Cobb signs on a long-term basis, the atmosphere of the industry will probably give him the chance to sign the most lucrative deal of his career.

The WWE stock situation

The corporate world, especially at a global level might be more of a shark tank than the professional wrestling business. Within just the past two weeks, Vince McMahon fired the WWE's co-presidents, George Barrios and Michelle Wilson after the two had worked for the company in that role for over a decade. The move was made ahead of the organization's fourth quarter conference call last week, and saw the stock price drop over 20% to roughly $49, as the market appeared as surprised as anyone with the sudden departure of two of the top executives of the publicly traded company. As a comparison, the stock price reached  $100 just over a year ago with the announcement of Smackdown's move to Fox. Much like Eric Bischoff in October of last year, Barrios and Wilson are more or less taking the fall for sluggish numbers nearly across the board for WWE. Network subscribers dropped nearly 10% to put the streaming service at an estimated 1.4 million subscriptions, while attendance and television ratings have dropped.

However, don't feel too bad for Barrios or Wilson, as aside from their high-paying corporate jobs under the WWE umbrella for the past ten years, they will reportedly receive seven-figure severance packages when they leave the company.

In truth, much of these happenings have nothing to do with the on-screen product and more to do with the decision-making process behind it. Keep in mind, investors don't care about who gets a push, how the young stars are built for the future, or what deals are signed to turn a profit. In fact, the investors don't necessarily have to be fans of sports entertainment or anything else they decide to buy stock for. The only thing that matters to the investors is a return on the investment to buy stock in the company. As much as going public increased the value of the WWE empire, it added another major hurdle to the corporate structure, which was being held accountable to the investors with a very direct financial consequence along with it. The sudden departure of key executives suggest some instability within the company, which is exactly why the stock price dropped because steady consistency lets shareholders know that they made a safe investment.

One of the key questions that hasn't really been answered yet is, can the WWE truly cater to its audience and its stockholders at the same time?

Let's be honest here, the WWE fan base is ultimately what spends money on the product and watches the programming to give the shows ratings, which translates into TV rights fees and ad revenue. That entire process is what ultimately fuels the company and makes the stockholders money. A loyal fan base is the foundation of the success that is built, while the shareholders collect based off of that success at the top. The vast majority of the casual fans aren't trading stocks on wall street, but the perceived value of the WWE stock is what brings in those investors and more importantly sponsors as well.

So, obviously there's a reason that WWE brass serves its investors with a stream of revenue sources, even with the controversial mega paydays associated with the Saudi government's propaganda campaign. Still, when does the intention to serve the stock price sour the actual viewing audience? The numbers for television and live attendance suggest that a notable portion of the audience is already soured on the WWE agenda. Keep in mind, wall street doesn't generously invest on what could be in the future, but rather the money that can be earned now. Some corporate suit doesn't care what independent wrestler might be the next John Cena to draw the company millions of dollars in ten years. The $40 million from the Saudi government this year is the objective, even if the decision to run shows there draw criticism from actual WWE fans.

One of the headlines from the conference call was Vince McMahon's announcement that the company has discussed potentially selling the rights to pay-per-views to another streaming service, which would essentially guarantee the company a specific amount of money every month for the event instead of the amount earned being based on how many network subscribers there were for a specific month. The upside is a guaranteed revenue stream, while the downside would be that it would basically admit a critical flaw with the concept of the network.

I've written about it many times, but it should be mentioned again here. When the network put thousands of hours of content online and included the live pay-per-views each month, it unintentionally lowered the value and the level of quality of those events. In some ways, when the writing team knows that a pay-per-view is sold for $10 a month, there's not much pressure to deliver a show that will sell subscriptions. In fact, there are very few individual events, possibly Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania, that stand out as the specific reason that someone would decide to subscribe to the network. If anything, if a fan subscribes to the streaming service, it's based on the concept of the extensive library that's available with the current pay-per-views. Along with that, when access to the current pay-per-view is sold for $10 a month, it would be difficult to increase the price after that because subscribers associate the value of the PPVs with the $10 price of the network.

Another important aspect is the WWE almost gave away too much content on the network because there's only so much wrestling even the most die hard fans are going to watch within a specific time frame. When you consider that there are seven hours of live programming on TV every week, does the general fan really want to watch more wrestling? Furthermore, while the achieves are a major selling point for a subscription, how many hours of classic content does the  average fan have time to watch? For example, if someone wanted to re-watch the Monday Night War era, without the commercials, there would be an hour and a half of footage to watch for each Raw and Nitro show. The three hours of classic footage a week translates to 156 hours of content if a fan watched to watch Raw and Nitro for a specific year. Who has the time to do that within the span of a month? If re-watching the classic era in chronological order is going to be a process that takes months, there will undoubtedly be content available to subscribers that they simply won't have time to watch. The bottom line is, there's a certain point where it doesn't matter how much content is on the network because viewers will realistically only watch a certain amount of hours so the random episodes of WCW Saturday Night from 1994 don't really translate to an extra selling point for the network.

If the WWE actually does sell its PPV rights to another service, it would theoretically take a major selling point away from its own network. If the network consisted of just the archives and some of the documentary content, it would retain a portion of its subscribers, but such a decision would more or less send the message that the guaranteed money from another group is more important than establishing the network at any other level than it is now. Despite WWE's TV deals and market share of the sports entertainment genre, I don't know if selling the PPV rights would automatically translate to success for another streaming service. Reportedly, NBC Universal, Amazon, and DAZN are possible choices for the PPV rights, but again, there are only so many hours of content fans are going to watch, the same way there are only a select few streaming services people will subscribe to for content. Would WWE network subscribes really be willing to pay for another streaming service to watch current pay-per-views?

If I had to guess, I would say that Amazon might be the only entity that might have a chance to garner an increase in their subscriptions with the addition of WWE PPVs because they can offer it as a bundle with Prime video and its free two-day shipping service. Still, all of this seems like a way to provide a short-term solution with another surge of guaranteed money that can boost the stock price, but doesn't do anything to address the basis of the problem, why have fans stopped watching the product?

While the answer to that is complex and doesn't have just one fix, the bottom line is, the WWE product doesn't retain viewers the way that it did previously. It's possible that the ideology that caters to the shareholders instead of the fans is the reason the ratings have declined. At some point, WWE management will be forced to recognize what their audience is or isn't watching and adjust accordingly or the numbers will continue to decline. Ironically, it's the attempt to cater to the stockholders that has declined the audience and in the process caused dissension among those same stockholders. Again, the investors don't care how WWE brass makes the profit so perhaps management should focus on a way to generate more viewers instead of the corporate agenda.

Edge returns

After months of speculation, Edge returned as a surprise entry in the Royal Rumble match for a tremendous reaction that will ultimately be known as one of the most memorable moments in the history of the industry. The former WWE champion abruptly retired from in-ring action in 2011 after a series of serious neck injuries and many assumed it was took risky for him to compete again. While he was away from the sports entertainment landscape, the real-life Adam Copeland worked as an actor in a variety of roles, but also had a another neck surgery to further repair the previous damage that allowed him to be medically cleared to return to action.

What does Edge's return translate to for the WWE and the rest of the industry?

Edge, who made his WWF debut in 1998, had an interesting mystic about his lone wolf persona  as he entered the ring through the crowd on a regular basis, a simple aspect that made him standout in the crowded landscape of the Attitude era. His star was built steadily over time with his involvement in the Brood stable, which saw the trio rise through the fire before they walked down the ramp. After the WCW buy out, the roster was flooded with talent as the purchase included some contracts of mostly mid-card talent under the Ted Turner banner, but Edge remained a featured performer and didn't get lost in the shuffle. He and Christian were one of the trio of teams along with the Dudleys and Hardys that were the centerpiece of the period where tag team wrestling was one of the main draws for the company in 2000. Furthermore, after the invasion angle flopped and viewership of the genre decreased exponentially without competition in the business, Edge was actually a very important piece of the puzzle, as he was one of Paul Heyman's "Smackdown six" in 2002 that rescued the blue brand, which was on the brink of cancellation. After the industry consolidated considerably following the WCW shut down, WWE brass made Raw their top priority, as even ratings for the flag ship show that had reached record-setting numbers just a few years previously had slipped. The Monday night show was packed with the majority of the star power in the company while Smackdown was clearly the B-show, which it has been for the majority of its existence. It's interesting to note that Smackdown was only launched as a counter to Thunder in the late-90s and up until recently, it wasn't given much of a major purpose in comparison to Raw.

The half dozen that Heyman used to not only keep Smackdown on the air, but to improve its numbers considerable were eventually major stars for the promotion in the years that followed. In fact, after his original neck surgery as a result of an injury in 2003, Edge returned to the Raw brand in 2004, an indication that his stock was on the rise within the organization. After his return from surgery, he spent the next year around the IC title picture before a real-life scandal unintentional provided a path further up the card. The Edge/Lita/Matt Hardy triangle made headlines on the internet and that translated to chants in the arena. Edge's role in that real-life drama casts him as a heel on television and that heat built toward his eventual MITB cash-in for a shocking title win at New Year's Revolution in 2006.

While Edge only held the title for three weeks before he dropped it back to John Cena at the Royal Rumble, his feud and memorable match with Mick Foley at Wrestlemania 22 solidified his status. In truth, similar to his work that kept Smackdown on the air in 2002, the majority of his main event run from roughly 2006 until his initial retirement in 2011, he was one of the main stars of the brand. As mentioned, Smackdown was considered the secondary show by WWE management during the era, and when the brand switched networks a few times throughout its history, Edge was one of the main performers that brought star power to the show. Let's keep in mind, Edge's move up the card in the post-Attitude era had to be based on the quality of work, he couldn't simply ride the wave of momentum of the industry. He retained World Heavyweight title at Wrestlemania 27, which didn't do Alberto Del Rio's career any favors, but it allowed him to retire as champion after nearly 15 years in the company.

The second neck surgery that Edge had that put him on the path to return to the ring wasn't just for the thrill of the chance to perform, it was also the right time for him to make a comeback from a business perspective as well. Obviously, the guy has sacrificed his body for the sport and it would be foolish to leave money on the table if he's healthy enough to collect. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, Edge negotiated with All Elite Wrestling and considered a deal there if he wasn't going to be cleared by the WWE medical staff. It goes without saying that Vince McMahon doesn't want another WWE Hall of Famer on TNT, especially considering that Dynamite has usually defeated NXT in the head-to-head ratings competition. Reportedly, Edge inked a new three-year WWE deal worth $3 million a year, making it the most lucrative contract of his career for a limited schedule that will see him appear more often than Brock Lesnar, but not on a full-time basis.

The WWE has offered big money deals to sign stars in the past because they need star power and depth to the roster, regardless of potential competition, especially when they are competing for the general entertainment dollar, which became another hurdle when the business was completely exposed as a show. That being said, this deal wouldn't have been possible without the existence of AEW because the WWE was forced to match or exceed their offer if they wanted to keep Edge under the WWE banner. Without AEW, Edge would've gotten a solid deal, as it would have to be enough for him to want to leave his house after a successful career that would suggest he already has financial security, but it probably wouldn't have been to a level that will bring him $3 million a year. Let's be honest here, a $9 million contract is something you would expect for Stone Cold or The Rock, not necessarily Edge, mostly because he's a level underneath them in terms of star power, which is still a great spot. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Edge got a major contract and he should make as much money as he possible can, but the point I'm trying to make is, this is an example of why it's important that AEW became an established entity with its new TNT deal because it benefits the entire industry.

As far as what Edge does during this new contract, the angle that was started with Randy Orton on Raw a few weeks ago seems like the build to a potential Wrestlemania match, which makes sense. Amazingly, at 46, Edge is probably in the best shape of his entire career so who knows what he does throughout the rest of the year? The product needs the star power, but how Edge is used is key to how much of an effect he will have on the ratings. Considered he inked a multi-year deal, he shouldn't be there as just a way to get others over, but at the same time, the company continues to depend on acts from the past to generate any type of buzz, with Goldberg being the most recent example on this week's Smackdown. Again, at 46, Edge isn't prepared to be the top draw for the next five years for the promotion, but the circumstances of the industry allowed him to cash-in on a major contract. Outside of the scope of the on-screen product, his return is another major example of how important competition is in the industry.

UFC 247

Tonight's UFC 247 event will see the return of UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones when he squares off against undefeated challenger, Dominick Reyes at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today, "Bones" Jones will step back into the octagon for the first time in over a year and a half. The 205 LBS kingpin's most recent title defense was a narrow split decision victory against Thiago Santos, who finished the contest with an injured knee, in July of 2019. However, that wasn't the most recent time that the champion made headlines, as later that same month, he was charged with battery, stemming from an incident with a waitress at an Albuquerque restaurant in April of last year. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to probation.

Jones, who usually fights cautiously, still couldn't finish his opponent inside five rounds despite the injury, and as mentioned, despite the damage to his knee, Santos actually won the fight on one of the judges' score cards. Was this finally a crack in the foundation of the one of the most dominate fighters in the history of the sport?

The 32-year-old champion should be building a legacy as the Muhammad Ali of mixed martial arts, with such an impressive combination of physical gifts and natural talent, but he continues to tarnish his own status, as his mishaps outside of the cage have made more headlines than anything he has done inside of the octagon. Don't get me wrong, "Bones" Jones is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters of his generation, but it's extremely disappointing to see him waste most of the opportunity that his natural skill has provided for him. Instead of being an ambassador for the sport and etching his name in the history books for the example he could set for sportsmanship, similar to Georges St. Pierre previously, Jones often finds himself in a court room so his high-priced legal team can get him a light sentence of probation.

As long as Jones can avoid legal trouble that would prevent him from fighting, not fail another PED test that would prevent him from fighting, and continue to win then his laundry list of mistakes outside of the UFC are minimized. But, what if life in the fast lane finally affects his ability to win? Considering that he's one of the top draws because of his skills, not because of his persona, without the belt his stock might drop. Bottom line, Donald Cerrone sold tickets because he has a gritty style that made for entertaining fights. Anderson Silva continued to sell tickets after his prime because the fans respected his skill in the cage and his humble post-fight interviews. Daniel Cormier has skills and a friendly nature on the mic. Jones doesn't have that goodwill built up with the UFC audience. Again, much of his success if linked to the belt so this title defense shouldn't be considered an easy fight,

Truthfully, the selling point on this bout is only on paper, as Dominick Reyes is undefeated with a 12-0 record, (6-0 in the UFC) but most of that is based on mid-level competition. Reyes' most recent and impressive win was a first round KO against former UFC middleweight champion, Chris Weidman. However, Weidman, who started his career with over a dozen wins in a row and shocked the MMA world when he KO'ed Anderson Silva to win the 185 LBS belt, lost five of his last six bouts. So, even with the victory over a former champion, Reyes defeated a competitor that is either on a skid in his career or past his prime. To say that Reyes is taking a step up in competition is an understatement and the only intriguing aspect of this contest is that nobody else has defeated Reyes yet so perhaps he will be a formidable challenge to Jones, an athlete with a record of 25-1-1. Despite not being undefeated, Jon Jones is unbeaten, as the loss on his record was a DQ early in his career on a technicality from an unintentional illegal elbow, and the Cormier bout that was overturned to a no contest when Jones failed the post-fight drug test.

While a few have gotten close, nobody has been able to solve the puzzle of "Bones" Jones, who can use his lengthy reach to keep opponents at a distance and the clinch to dictate the direction of the fight. The original Alexander Gustafsson fight and the previously mentioned Santos bout were the only times that his record looked to be in jeopardy before the score cards were announced. Quite simply, he doesn't have any major flaws in his fight style and doesn't take any unnecessary chances, a trademark of the Greg Jackson system.

Dominick Reyes is a well-rounded competitor with an emphasis of striking, but also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt. The downside is that the vast majority of his wins are in the first round so his cardio against a top-level athlete will be a key to this fight. While anyone can get clipped with a punch, the prior Anderson Silva KO from Weidman as the main example, Jones uses his reach to stay away from danger. On the score cards is the most logical place that his record might be the in jeopardy since that was the only way he looked vulnerable to a potential defeat prior to this contest so if Reyes has a chance to win, it might be on the score cards. So, the question will be if Reyes can go into the championship rounds for the first time in his career against one of the most skilled athletes of the era?

In some ways, Reyes has nothing to lose in this fight because he's still relatively unknown to most of the casual audience and he's getting this title shot as a result of a lack of opponents for Jones more than anything. The odds put Reyes as a 3-to-1 underdog, which makes sense because his undefeated record suggests that he has a chance, but he's still unproven against championship competition. While Reyes certainly does have a chance, if I had to guess I would say that Jon Jones will retain the title because Reyes doesn't have the experience against the level of competition.

Scream review

After I penned an article about the Robert De Niro directed, "A Bronx Tale" and received some positive feedback from it, I thought I'd take the opportunity to write about the horror genre, the film category that has a alot of coverage on this site. The decision for this was partial a coincidence, as for whatever reason, the Showtime channels on Comcast have shown this franchise on a semi-regular basis for the past few months, and I found myself finding different layers within the film, as random viewings accompanied recent insomnia.

However, the decision to actually write this analysis was made because the film was based upon a spoof of the cliches that littered horror films of that era. Directed by Wes Craven, Scream's 1996 release mocked and outright defied the rules of the previous generations. While Wes Craven will always be famously linked to the Nightmare on Elm Street series, his work spanned decades, as he wrote and/or directed projects as far back as the 1970s with the original Last House on The Left and The Hill Have Eyes or something as recent as the latest installment of the Scream franchise. Point being, Craven knew the horror playbook and also knew how to manipulate the perceived cliches of the genre.

Wes Craven had his status solidified before Scream was ever  green-lit for production by Dimension Films, but writer Kevin Williamson, who later went on to write for the WB's Dawson's Creek and more recently a TV Scream spinoff, got his break with the teen slasher production. Williamson was able to weave an unpredictable tale of suspense that hadn't been seen in quite some time for horror films when Scream hit the big screen, and Craven's flare to build tense moments made for a successful combination.

Despite Scream's intention to spoof the stale cliches of horror flicks, the opening scene was key because it told the audience immediately that regardless of its ability to mock the overused tactics of previous eras, this was definitely not a comedy. As is often seen in teen slashers, the typical beginning of the film found Casey Becker, played by Drew Barrymore, watching TV as she made popcorn on a Saturday night while her parents had plans for the evening. The phone rings, a foreshadow of sorts for what becomes a red flag later and when Becker answers, an almost distorted voice seemingly tries to charm her with a series of questions, including the famous, "what's your favorite scary movie" inquiry that becomes a theme of the film. As the unknown caller continues to prod away at the teen, who forgets the popcorn on the stove, the conversation escalates to become more aggressive. Eventually, the teen is shocked to see her boyfriend duct tapped to a chair on the patio as the mysterious voice insist she play a game to save his life. When she incorrectly guesses Jason as the original killer in the Friday films instead of Mrs. Vorhees, the athlete bound on the patio is gutted. In typical horror fashion, a struggle ensues as the Ghost Face killer stalks Barrymore's character. After Becker makes it outside, the place where the audience usually tells intended victims to run to escape, she's stabbed and strangled before a well placed kick gives her a final chance of survival. As Becker's parents return home, she's within distance of them, but can't scream for help because of the damage to her neck. The emphasis on the brutality of her death reinforces that this movie isn't designed to be a comedy. As the flames from the stove rise and smoke surrounds the living room, the Beckers frantically try to find their daughter in the house. When Mrs. Becker picks up the phone to call for help, she can hear the final moments of her daughter, who still clutched the cordless phone prior to her murder.

That opening scene implied that the known star, Barrymore was one of the main characters of the movie, but the death of a familiar face in the opening scene sent the message that none of the cast was guaranteed survival.

In contrast, the next scene finds Sydney Prescott, played by Canadian actress Neve Campbell, who worked on the Party of Five series both before and after Scream's success, pecking away at the keyboard in front of a very-90s clunky computer screen as she finishes her homework. How Sydney is presented in this scene really sets the tone for her character and how it evolves throughout the narrative. She's dressed in a white night gown with a pony tail that almost emphasizes her innocence and naive nature. She hears a noise outside her window and background music makes it appear that she might be the next victim, but instead, her boyfriend, Billy Loomis springs up into the window to visit her. Syd's father, who planned to take a business trip that week, nearly catches this impromptu meeting before Sydney deflects him. Loomis is a rebellious type because his mom left the family quite some time ago, and his edgy nature somewhat conflicts with Sydney's concern for his visit. Loomis is an obsessed horror fan and mentions the lack of excitement of movies edited for television before he implies that he wants to get physical with Sydney. Loomis' comparisons create a rather odd vibe around his character, but Syd trusts him and agrees to a kiss with a sense of enthusiasm. As the teens land on her bed surrounded with stuffed animals, another aspect of her innocence, Loomis quickly progresses from kissing to an attempt to put his hand up her night gown before she halts the interaction. As the two kiss again, Billy plans to scale back down from the window before Syd quickly opens her top for brief flash and a short laugh, as it was her way to express intimacy.

The following day when Sydney makes her way to school, the fictional town of Woodsboro is buzzing with the news of the two slain teens. News cameras and reporters surround the school as Syd and her friends discuss the gory incident. This conversation introduces the viewers to a portion of the main cast, which automatically translates to possible victims for the killer. Loomis is there with Syd, his best friend and fellow horror enthusiast, Stu sat next to Tatum, Syd's best friend, and finally, Randy, the film buff that works at the local video store. Remember those? Upon Stu and Randy's speculation on the grisly details, Sydney leaves after she became uncomfortable with the situation, and Loomis looks at his pal in disgust.

When Sydney makes her way home and confirms her plans with Tatum that night, which will see her spend the night at her friend's house so as not to be alone during her dad's business trip, she tunes into news coverage of the murders. This scene reveals that her mom, Maureen Prescott was murdered nearly a year earlier after an affair with Cotton Weary, played by Liev Schreiber, who is known for his work in the lead role of Ray Donovan. Sydney saw someone leave her house the night of the murder and her testimony led to Weary's conviction in what was assumed to be a closed case. When the phone rings, Syd is greeted by the same voice that called Casey Becker and the conversation lures her onto the porch, again the place the audience typical tells a possible victim to run to safety. The voice on the phone claims to know details about her mom's death, and the infuriated teen slams the front door in a rage as she returns to the house, locking the door behind her. The irony of what transpires next is that while she was outside, she actually allowed the killer to sneak in and her only option when confronted with the knife-wielding manic is to run upstairs to her bedroom, where she successful barricades the door and send a message for help using the previously mentioned clunky computer. The killer disappears from view and almost instantly, Billy Loomis jumps into view through her window again. There wasn't enough time for him to ditch the costume and get up to the window, right? But, a cell phone, also a bulky device at the time, drops from his pocket, making it at least possible that he was the one on the phone a few minutes earlier.

Sydney is so shaken that she doesn't know what to believe so she bolts to the front door and when she opens it she finds local officer, Dewey Riley startled with the evidence of the Ghost Face mask he found outside. Loomis is detained and questioned, proclaiming his innocence, as Dewey tells Syd that there's no record of her dad checking into his hotel for the business trip. Before she and Tatum can leave the police station, "cut-throat" tabloid reporter, Gale Weathers storms Sydney for an exclusive quote. Weathers received a right hook for her troubles after an offer to send the teen a copy of her upcoming book, which doubted if Cotton Weary actually committed the murder of Maureen Prescott. Dewey is Tatum's brother and escorts them home, where she commends Syd for her right hook. A call for Sydney takes her to the phone where the ominous voice informs her that not only was Loomis not responsible for the earlier struggle, but also that Weary was the wrong suspect. With Loomis still detained at the police station, he couldn't have made the call so who was the voice on the phone?

Sydney was terrified with the revelation and hangs up, prompting the lovable dork, Dewey to storm into the hallway in his underwear with his gun to protect the family. After Loomis' cell phone revealed that he didn't make the call to Sydney, news of the attack made the rounds at her school and some students were running around the halls with the Ghost Face costume. This outraged principal Henry Winkler, who threatened to expel the students, cutting up the mask in the process of his verbal reprimand. Sadly, the same scissors were used to murder the principal when The Fonze had an encounter with the Ghost Face killer later that day.

As Courtney Cox's Gale Weathers tries to flirt with Officer Dewey for possible information on the murders, Randy is visited at the video store by Stu and the two discuss the status of the case. Randy rants about the rules of horror and how those in Woodsboro are ignoring the patterns that have emerged in the case. Stu defends Loomis, asking why he would want to murder his own girlfriend, and suggests that Neil Prescott could be responsible since his location is unknown. Randy is confronted by Billy and the cleared suspect lists the reasons that the film buff might be the killer, creating his own scenarios based on the movies that he's a fan of at the video store. In yet another example of foreshadowing, this scene was referenced toward the conclusion of the movie.

The unsolved murders cause the police to enforce a curfew and with the students' earlier exit from school, Stu plans a party for his friends. The house party brings a few dozen friends together to watch Halloween, and Gale stakes outside in her news van, hoping to get a tip so that she can be the first to report the story. With Tatum there with Stu, Sydney attempts to enjoy some time with her friends and Dewey parked outside the party to guard her. During the viewing of the John Carpenter classic, Randy (Jamie Kennedy) rants again about the rules of horror, including that sex can make someone a target as it eliminates a character's purity. In the middle of his public service announcement, the phone rings and Randy receives the news that principal Fonze was hanging from a goal post at the school stadium. Most of the party rushes from the house to witness the gory spectacle, leaving only the main group of friends still there. In the commotion of the group exit, Tatum is murdered by the killer in the garage, hanging from the dog door in the garage door. Unaware of this, Randy continues to watch the film as Stu tells his guests goodbye at the door. Almost on cue, Billy shows up at the door and asked to talked to Syd since the two haven't spoken more than a brief conversation at school since her accusation landed him in the interrogation office at the  police station. The two go upstairs to talk and Syd feels bad about wrongly accusing her boyfriend of the previous attack.

Up in the room, Loomis comforts Sydney as she expresses her frustration with the circumstances of her mom's death. Eventually, Syd tells Billy she wants to be intimate with him and as the two undress, Sydney is wearing a white bra, a final sign of her innocence. After she sheds the bra, perhaps her only shield against becoming a target, Dewey and Gale find Neil Prescott's car abandon down the street from the house. After Syd's intimate encounter with Loomis, it's almost as if her naive nature was relinquished, as she questioned who he called when he was at the police station, prompting him to claim that he called his dad, but Sydney explains that she saw the sheriff call his dad. Billy backpedals to explain that he didn't get a answer when he called, but for the first time throughout the film, Loomis looks thrown off by the unexpected line of questioning. As the two finish getting dressed, the Ghost Face killer emerges and stabs Billy, who collapses in a heap on the floor.

Without the wall of virginity to protect her, Sydney is fair game for the killer and a chase ensues through the house and down the street. When she escapes a close call with the blade, she finds herself back in front of the house, with both Randy and Stu claiming that the other is the murderer. She slams the front door, leaving both of her friends outside as they both plead for her help. In the chaos, Dewey is injured, and Gale crashes her news van. Billy, who was thought to be dead just minutes earlier, stumbles down the stairs and takes the gun from Sydney to protect her from the possible killer outside. Loomis lets Randy in before he shoots him, sending the movie aficionado crashing through a table in the entry way. Loomis then reveals that his injuries from the earlier attack are phony and quotes a famous line, "we all go a little mad sometimes" from the Hitchcock classic, Psycho.

Stu went through the side entrance of the kitchen and as Sydney asks for help, Stu uses the voice altering device to tell her about the surprise. In the final scenes, Loomis explains that his mom left his family because Maureen Prescott had an affair with his father. As a part of a plan for revenge, Billy and Stu murdered her and framed Cotton Weary, who she also had an affair with after Mrs. Loomis left the family.

These scenes reveal just how cleaver Williamson's writing had to be to plant enough seeds along the way for the revelation of the killers to be a surprise and this conclusion also logically ties together the events of the movie. There had to be two killers because it allowed for the Ghost Face to be in the same place as Billy, and created questions about what a motive would be for each character. In that early scene when Syd thought she heard a noise and it was Billy at the window, she was unknowingly letting danger in the house. When Stu suggested Sydney's father as the killer at the video store, it was because that was his plan, as the pair of psychotic teens plotted to frame Neil Prescott the same way they framed Cotton Weary. While Billy was motivated by revenge, Stu simply wanted to play out the scenarios in the films he idolized, further stirring up the question, do films cause violence?

Stu brings Neil Prescott in the kitchen where he's duct tapped and plans evidence in his pocket. Billy and Stu begin stabbing each other to stage their story of unintended survival, but they become too focused on their demented plan to realize that Gale survived the news van crash and was back to attempt to help. After her rescue was halted, another struggle takes place with Loomis trying to strangle Syd, who eliminated Stu just minutes earlier when she dropped a TV on him. With Billy as the only one left to finish his plan, he raises the knife to kill Sydney, but he's intercepted by a bullet from Gale Weathers, as the reporter remembered to take the safety off this time. Ironically, the reporter was the one to save Sydney, who tends to her father still duct tapped and the wounded Randy on the floor. As the sun rises, Gale is back to her job, on location of another blood bath, while Dewey is wheeled to an ambulance. Sydney and the majority of the main cast survived despite a film that manipulated the perceived rules of horror.

As much as Scream mocked the stale cliches that saw the decline of the genre in the previous era, it also rejuvenated slash films as well, earning $173 million at the box office to become the most successful slasher movie at the time with just a $14 million budget. Ironically, similar to the franchises it mocked, Scream had its share of sequels, with the latest installment of Scream 4 in 2011. There's news of an eventual Scream 5 release, and the argument could be made that the Ghost Face killer carved its own niche alongside other horror icons like Jason, Michael Meyers, etc. While ironic, it probably shouldn't be all that surprising that Scream, the movie that was meant to point out the recycled storylines of horror, became somewhat of the things it mocked, as the franchise still plans to release a film nearly 25 years after the original. One of the most interesting things to note is that horror sequels are often panned by the critics for flimsy and unoriginal plots, but the audience still flocks to the box office. The 2018 release of Halloween didn't offer much in furthering the story of the deranged Michael Meyers, but it raked in nearly nearly $255 million dollars. So, the horror genre might find itself lacking the depth of a Humphrey Bogart performance, but from a business perspective, it's still successful

AEW resigns for TNT

Just a few weeks ago, it was announced that TNT, the network that distributed Nitro during the Monday nights wars, renewed the All Elite Wrestling Dynamite show through 2023 with a fifth year option. Debuting in October, the Wednesday night broadcast has usually garnered just below a million viewers a week, despite head-to-head competition with NXT on USA. According to the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the deal will pay AEW $175 million total for the TV rights fee, which translates to roughly $45 million a year. There's also speculation that a second All Elite show will be added to the schedule as a part of the new contract. All things considered, this move from TNT solidifies AEW's place among the professional wrestling industry and the project is definitely more than just an upstart group now.

The most important aspect of this deal, and really any business venture for that matter, is that it allows All Elite Wrestling to be a profitable promotion. As I've said many times before, success for the company isn't necessarily defeating the WWE in the ratings, but rather the ability to become a profitable organization. Revenue and profitability are what ultimately determine success.

However, this TV extension is really only a small victory as far as the overall aspirations of the Khan-owned wrestling league. The new TV contract gives them the opportunity and the funding to build their audience while making a profit, which still has a lot of work to be done. Obviously, TNT thinks the Dynamite show has potential to grow and the network was able to make money from the ad revenue associated with it. Make no mistake about it, the cable channel wouldn't have offered the extension if the economics of the Dynamite production didn't make money for them. Another aspect that I've written about before is that as far as television goes, consistent ratings are one of the most valuable commodities because it fuels commercial revenue, which is what AEW delivered with relatively consistent numbers despite the NXT competition. Regardless of the slip in Raw ratings during the past few years, one of the main reasons the WWE received such a major TV deal last year was that there's still consistent viewership.

Considering that this contract solidifies AEW's position within the industry, they will have the increased pressure of not only to continue to deliver the ratings, but also to build upon it. This is where fixing the flaws in the production and presentation of the show are extremely important, as the progress of the organization can't plateau or it could typecast All Elite in a specific role within the industry. For example, for the majority of its run on Spike TV, TNA Impact garnered a million viewers and that was their ceiling. Before the group became known for its cringe worthy Vince Russo angles or where Hulk Hogan worked Dixie Carter as a money mark to rebound from his financial debacles, the league was more or less known as the company where you would find some innovate wrestling and the place where almost any former WWE star could get work after they were released. The innovate X-Division and a revolving door of former WWE stars combination garnered the previously mentioned million viewers a week on Spike. When the number remained stagnant after the hefty contracts of Hogan, Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy, and others, it led to the financial woes that led the company to the brink of collapse before Anthem Sports eventually rescued it with the purchase of the promotion to maintain programming for its TV networks.

Don't get me wrong, the mistakes that were made with the presentation or structure of the product aren't critical flaws, as it's understood that All Elite Wrestling is a work in progress to continue to establish itself as a legitimate player in the industry. That being said, it's definitely important to correct and improve on certain aspects of the organization. Along with the task to build the audience, both in live attendance and ratings, the company must continue to build its roster. Most importantly, the roster must be made stars that can draw money and sell pay-per-views. Furthermore, with the addition of a second TV show, the rest of the roster should be featured more regularly to establish them as more than just another competitor that randomly gets booked for an occasional dynamite appearance. There are still several members of the roster that aren't usually booked for TNT, and AEW Dark on Youtube isn't a substitute for national TV exposure. When was the last time that Shawn Spears, Jimmy Havoc, or Emi Sakura were booked on TNT?

Another aspect that should be considered as the programming continues is the pace of the shows and the feuds that build toward the pay-per-views. As much as the stellar high spot matches got the AEW product noticed, not every match has to be a 20-minute display of every move in the book. Those type of matches draw well on the independent scene because most of those groups don't run weekly events. When AEW has similar matches every week, the format of the show becomes somewhat repetitive and it's not nearly as effective because the matches don't stand out as much as they did prior to that.

I'd still say that the Cody/Chris Jericho pay-per-view match was rushed and because of the stipulation of Cody not challenging for the belt again, it limits the possibility for a rematch, at least on PPV if the belt isn't on the line. Despite solid progress on a weekly basis, the Jericho/Jon Moxley match scheduled for later this month might also be rushed because after the Moxley match, who could realistically challenge Jericho for the belt on pay-per-view? This is where the WWE Network is such a factor for wrestling content across the board in the industry because regardless of the card, a $50 event is a tough sell when the streaming service has not only the PPV, but also thousands of hours of on demand content for $10 a month.

All that being said, this contract gives AEW a legitimate chance to finally provide some major competition within the industry. It's important to remember that during the duration of this deal that All Elite will have a time frame where they can capitalize on the increased exposure and the opportunities of the potential addition of other stars. Perhaps when specific contracts expire, stars like the Revival or other underutilized talented stars make the jump and continue the hype around the AEW product. It's important that AEW make the most of the time frame that they will have during this contract to make progress to allow for the company to become more well known among the casual fans. As much as any comparison to the Dixie Carter era seems like a negative, TNA had a roughly two-year period from 2006-2008 when they could've really make an impression to establish themselves as legitimate competition to WWE, but they fumbled it. At some point during this TNT deal, All Elite will have a similar chance and while it remains to be seen, I would be cautiously optimistic about their ability to become a known entity among the general audience. Any "fans" that somehow hope for the decline of AEW are extremely misguided because the success of AEW would be beneficial to the entire industry.