Roman Reigns cancels match

Wrestlemania 36 was taped at the WWE Performance Center earlier this week, but the main event contest was changed, as Roman Reigns, who was booked to challenge Bill Goldberg for the Universal Championship declined to participate because of concerns about the corona virus situation. All things considered, it's absolutely the right move because Reigns is more at risk for the virus because of his leukemia treatment in the past. Reportedly, along with the WM matches that were taped, several episodes of television were taped as well because of new limits to the amount of people that can gather within an area an a "stay home" order for the county where the performance center is located will go into affect this week. There were already concerns about illness on the WWE roster, as both Rey Mysterio and Dana Brook were replaced on the card since there were quarantined as a precaution after they had an illness. The Miz also didn't work the tapings because of an illness, and Andrade was injured on Raw so he wasn't scheduled for the event.

That being said, it probably won't actually make much a difference that Roman isn't on the card.

Don't get me wrong, that's not a jab a Reigns, because even though I don't think his continued mega push is justified, he undoubtedly has a fan base among the WWE audience, but rather that I don't think anyone involved in this year's Wrestlemania is going to get over. In many respects, these events are only Wrestlemania in name, which again highlights the point that I discussed in an article earlier this week. Without all the smoke and mirrors that usually go along with the promotional push for WM, this card was exposed for a rather flat show that doesn't necessarily have an "in demand" match to sell it. Proof of that is the rather scrambled booking even before the corona virus cancelled many sports. Obviously, management isn't building around 53-year-old Goldberg so this was going to be yet another title win for Roman at Wrestlemania, which is fine because he's still the top star the publicly traded corporation is going to build around, but Roman winning a relatively short match without any crowd reaction doesn't give WWE brass the moment they are looking for here. Keep in mind, the entire basis of a Goldberg bout, especially at this point in his career is based on the tremendous crowd response he can generate so how exactly is a Roman victory in an empty building going to be presented as a "passing of the torch" type of moment?

If anything, delaying the eventual Reigns win for the belt will give him a better chance to finally get over on a long term basis because there would be some type of atmosphere for the match. I don't think anyone on the event is truly going to get over, including Drew McIntyre if he defeats Brock Lesnar. Again, Drew has potential, but what type of historic moment can be immortalized on the WWE Network when the bell rings on a title win without any reaction? If Drew wins the belt, is the image of him posing on the ropes in an empty building something that will get him over as a top star?

As of this writing, spoilers for the events, which will include matches filmed from different locations, haven't been reported online. Considering that only a limited number of people were in the building, it's very possible that the results of the matches won't be leaked, but The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer speculated that Braun Strowman might be the replacement for the Universal Championship match. If Braun does challenge Goldberg, I'd still say that Goldberg doesn't drop the belt even though his reign was designed to be a short run. Similar to the McIntyre situation, despite that Braun was considered by many to have main event potential a few years ago, winning the world championship in an empty building does nothing to truly establish him on the next level. Plus, the combination of subpar booking when he was the most over, and more recently a laundry list of injuries that kept him off TV at various times, Braun isn't really anywhere near as over now as he was when fans thought he should be scheduled for a title match a few years ago.

It's estimated that there will be at least 15 matches presented over the two day span of Wrestlemania events, but again this is really only the name so that Vince McMahon can say that they still had WM in some form or fashion during a global health crisis. If the Raw and Smackdown shows at the performance Center are any indication of the type of show WM 36 will be then it might be an asterisk in wrestling history because nothing about this show seems like it will be a major moment for the company. In fact, the show going on is literally the only accomplishment from next weekend's broadcast because the promotion won't be able to tout another record-setting attendance for the biggest show on the calendar. Since the show was taped on a closed set, they also won't be able to boast about the economic impact they can bring to the host city of WM, which is a staple of their corporate sales pitch when cities bid to host the event.

So, being replaced on the card is probably better for Roman Reign's chances of success.

With the lack of live shows or any live sports, the first events back in front of an audience are not only going to be anticipated, but bring with it an energetic environment. If WM was pushed to the Summer Slam spot on the calendar then maybe the event would have a chance of gotten over as a major spectacle, but that simply isn't a possibility in an empty venue. Furthermore, if Roman Reigns wins the title at the first live Smackdown that has fans in attedence then that would probably be a more memorable moment than a "Wrestlemania moment" in an empty venue.

The status of Wrestlemania

The past week in professional wrestling and the world in general has been a whirlwind. With non-essential businesses shutdown and recommended quarantined countries, the public definitely has more important problems than the status of Wrestlemania. Still, as we all (hopefully) try our best to contribute to a solution and not add to the problem, this entire scenario had a staggering effect on sports entertainment. Recent Raw and Smackdown shows have been almost unwatchable with no audience and stars posing for a non-existent crowd. The entire independent circuit, including the dozens of shows that are usually scheduled around WWE's major event, is more or less paused as many cities are limiting public gatherings. However, in true Vince McMahon fashion, the leader of sports entertainment won't allow even a possible pandemic halt his signature event, as the show is still scheduled to air as a two-night event on the WWE Network. Aside from wondering why the company would push forward when it seems much more logical to postpone the event until public restrictions are lifted, the question is, what will this Wrestlemania be without a crowd?

Furthermore, what does the entire situation say about the WWE product?

Recently, I began reading  Michael Azerrad's depressing, but fascinating biography about Nirvana, "Come As You Are:The Story of Nirvana." Azerrad's in-depth look at the rock trio that ushered in a change in the music industry includes quotes from dozens of hours of interviews he had with the members of the band, including the late front man, Kurt Cobain. But, before he traces the path of Cobain's isolated childhood, documents Dave Grohl's fierce drum style, or Chris Novoselic's mellow lifestyle, Azerrad spends the first few chapters exploring why the punk rockers had the chance to break through to the main stream from Seattle's underground music scene. When the band's 1991 Nevermind album sold more than 5 million copies upon its initial release and has since sold a total of nearly 30 million copies, making it one of the best-selling rock albums of all time, it made a statement about the music industry. Too often, the main stream record labels of the early-90s would use promotional dollars, not the quality of the music to sell records. Most songs that made the charts at the time were all sizzle and no substances, mostly fading away when the next trend was pushed to the public. Cobain's gravel voice along with the unfiltered musical style of Grohl and Novoselic couldn't be corporately packaged as anything other than what it was, an unapologetic view of society. Sure, the band had other members in its early days and a few collaborators, including the talented Pat Smear, but the three musicians most well-known as Nirvana were a successful combination for a reason.

As much as entertainment takes numerous forms, the success behind it often has a similar narrative, there's a theme that the audience can identify with or connect to within the performance. It's not a coincidence that during the same era that Jerry Springer had pay-per-view specials and Howard Stern was heard by nearly 20 million listeners that Steve Austin drove a beer truck to the ring because professional wrestling reflected most of society.

In some respects, the no frills atmosphere of WWE programming has exposed some of the reasons there was discontent with the product in recent years. Perhaps, similar to the music industry that Nirvana put on notice, the current WWE landscape is more about the over-the-top production value than the quality of the content. For the past several years, the Wrestlemania brand, not the actual card, has been the selling point of the biggest event on the calendar. Now, without the option to use all the smoke and mirrors of a massive set and pyro to act as a form of camouflage, maybe the WWE product is being viewed as what it might be in its purest form, a rather flat event without anything that truly draws viewers.

As a comparison, the WWE became the walmart of wrestling, a cheap and easily accessible brand that the audience is already familiar with, but that doesn't necessarily translate to quality. In fact, how many times in recent months has management brought back stars from at least two decades ago to boost the ratings for a particular week? The bigger question is, how much of WWE viewing patterns are more habitual or a familiarity based on the success of the past than the ability to make viewers want to tune in each week? Outside of Brock Lesnar or John Cena, both of them as part-timers, who actually moves the needle? The talent is there, but the structure and presentation of the product might hinder the progress of some competitors on the roster.

The publicly traded company churns out content almost as if it was on auto-pilot to satisfy its stockholders more than a focus on the demands of the audience. I've written about it several times before, but with the dominate market share that the company maintains, there's a certain level of complacency and mediocrity that developed within the product. As a result, the core audience that has those habitual viewing patterns still tunes in, but with less consistent viewing on a weekly basis. Part of the problem is that the structure of WWE programming more or less allows for that because there are times that a viewer could skip a month of Raw and not really miss the majority of the narrative of the show.

It appears that the company has gotten too comfortable in its position as the undisputed leader of sports entertainment, and again with the price of pay-per-view events being $10 a month on the network, they unintentionally lowered the value of those events. Along with that, since the network is sold as a bundle with the classic content and special features, there's not the pressure for management to sell a specific pay-per-view to the audience. As much potential as Drew McIntyre has, it wasn't as though the audience was rallying around him prior to the Royal Rumble win and before that he almost floundered on the mid-card on Raw so it's possible that the writing team just picked McIntyre because someone had to win the Rumble more than he was over enough with the audience to justify a major push.

Granted, the over-the-top atmosphere is always a trademark of WM, but there's pyro every year so ultimately the quality of the event is what makes it memorable, not the set for the entrance. If this year's WM had matches or storylines that the fans were emotionally invested in than the venue wouldn't be a determining factor of its success. The major difference is that the company can't use its promotional dollars to attempt to sell viewers on the importance of the event.

The totality of this situation is why All Elite Wrestling being successful would be extremely beneficial to everyone involved in the wrestling industry. Obviously, some of the aspects of AEW must be tailored to the main stream to expand it's fan base, but similar to how Nirvana took a niche form of music and presented it in fashion that became main stream, there are elements of AEW's product that could help boost the wrestling industry. For example, last week's episode of Dynamite didn't have fans either, but had more hype than anything during the recent Raw or SD shows. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be negative about Wrestlemania, but the performance center TV shows highlight the lack of buzz around the product. The same question continues to surround WWE booking decisions, what will the company schedule when they don't have stars from the past to boost the product? The answer won't be at WM 36 because a 53-year-old champion is defending the title and Roman Reigns is booked for the main event for the fifth time in the past six years to attempt to get him over as the top star.

The career of Joe Dombrowski

In February of 2013, as blustery snow fell outside, I found myself inside a dingy building that was going to host an independent card with roughly three and a half years of commentary experience at the time. As space heaters blasted to keep the venue from becoming an ice box, preparations were actually being made for the Pro Wrestling Express' return to television on WBGN, a now-defunct local channel that years earlier featured blocks of various wrestling content of different groups at different times. Ironically, When I was in middle school, I discovered one of the local leagues, IWC on the same channel. Even more ironic than that, one of the voices I heard on that original Saturday night program in 2003 was a young Joe Dombrowski, who went one to be known for his ventures throughout the independent scene. A decade later, on this snowy night in Western PA, I was paired up with Joe to kick off the newest season of the previously mentioned PWX TV era. I had been told before that I had always done a solid job on the mic, which is why I kept the spot as their play-by-play commentator since mid-2009, but I knew Joe's level of experience brought a whole new aspect to the broadcast. In the next four years that we spent sitting next to one another, calling matches in the gritty environment, I learned more working with the veteran commentator than I had anyone else previously. After that first WBGN broadcast, Joe mentioned to me that I did fine and just needed the polishing through experience, which is a similar dynamic that longtime wrestling voice, Jeff Gorman provided for him year earlier. And Joe was right, as I learned the "glue" of sound bytes through the opportunity to work with him for those next few years.

Since that time in the dilapidated venue in a less than reputable part of town, both of us have moved up the ladder in our own ways. Joe, a true hustler, finds himself in a different state almost every weekend, while I moved on to a more prominent role on the local scene, announcing more well-known events around Pittsburgh. While Dombrowski is known so much for the prepared, professional style he brings to the mic, his personal passion for the industry sometimes doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Aside being forced to spend an inhumane amount of time of time with the carny Virgil, who is Joe Dombrowski? Furthermore, what has fueled his dedication to work in the professional wrestling genre for his entire adult life?

"To me, wrestling is my passion, it's my life. It's what's hooked me since the age of five, and it's never let go. It's an outlet for emotions, both good and bad. It's an escape, but it's also everyday life. Wrestling is everything and sometimes I'm scared to think of where or what I'd be without it," Dombrowski explained.

Similar to most north east fans, Joe grew up as a diehard WWF fan of the early-90s and became virtually obsessed with every facet of the spectacle that beamed through his television with its cast of larger-than-life characters. Christmas and birthdays were highlighted with the excitement of receiving new Hasbro figures or wrestle buddies. A quiet bookworm, Joe read immensely during his youth and became even more fascinated with the story telling of sports entertainment. As time went on, he devoured as much history of the industry as he could find, thumbing through musty magazines to read original reports of the territories or tracking down grainy VHS copies of classic footage before modern technology allowed such easy access to so much content. He also developed a deep appreciation for the mindset that goes into the building blocks of the drama of the action, studying the behind-the-scenes accomplishments of famous bookers, insider lingo for the matchmakers, such as Eddie Graham, Kevin Sullivan, and Dusty Rhodes.

His diligent studying of the sport led him to want to become more involved, and at barely 18, he made one of his first deals in the business, bringing the International Wrestling Cartel, run at the time by one of the godfathers of Pittsburgh wrestling, Norm Connors, to his high school for a fund raiser. Without the genetics or natural athletic ability, power slams weren't in the cards for him, but when Connors wanted a tie-in with the school, that eventually led to Joe putting his prose down in front of the mic.

"The learning process of a new announcer is a very difficult one, because there really isn't any formal 'training', it's a lot of learning as-you-go. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by a very experienced group of announcers - Jeff Gorman, Anthony Kingdom James, Chuck Roberts - who were able to help cover my weaknesses, lead me along, and give me the hands-on experience I needed to sink or swim and keep me in check along the way. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to them all. Beyond that, I tried to immerse myself in the stories and personalities around me, both on-air and writing for IWC's site. The more I knew what promoter Norm Connors wanted, the better I could try to convey that to the audience," Joe commented.

So, by 2003, the lifelong fan transition that fandom into an introduction to the industry, making his first regular gig in wrestling IWC's previously mentioned local TV spot alongside the talented Kingdom James and one of the original voices of the independent circuit, the esteemed Jeff Gorman. The trio had the chance to call bouts for steel city mainstays like Super Henti, Shirley Doe, and Dennis Gregory on the same cards that also featured names like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and CM Punk.

"Joe's drive and passion to be a great wrestling announcer was evident from day one. I consider our team with Kingdom James to be the greatest announcing trio ever. When I stepped aside, I knew Joe would be able to fly the ship in IWC, and I am so proud to see him succeed in ROH, TNA and all over the world," Jeff Gorman said.

Within just a few years, Dombrowski had developed a solid highlight reel and a reputation as a wordsmith around western PA that his name was randomly mentioned during a conversation about an upcoming UK project, 1PW, the group that rose to prominence extremely quickly and declined even faster. Still, when the 20-year-old American had the chance to make a few trips across the pond, he gained valuable experience, both in knowledge and the harsh reality of some of the pitfalls of wrestling.

"It was such a crazy experience, looking back on it, especially at only 20 years old. I wish there had been someone in place on the financial end that had a little more vision and fiscal responsibility, and I wish there had been someone on the creative end to better regulate there as well, because it just wasn't organized the way it could have been when I was there. When I left, the shows were sellouts, but the company was still bleeding money. Being let go was the first real big "wind out of my sails" moment as far as a step or two backwards. I still had regular work in IWC in Pittsburgh, and I had just started with Cleveland All Pro Wrestling under JT Lightning," Dombrowski remarked.

As the mid-2000s continued, the enthusiastic youngster began working for the late JT Lightning, considered by many to be one of the pioneers of the Cleveland scene. JT's organization and its run on their local market TV led to Joe working with other groups in the area, producing and booking countless names of the independent circuit. His "Prime Wrestling" series has an extensive library with many hidden gems, including the early years of NXT star, Johnny Gargano. The once-aspiring matchmaker wasn't just a dreamer, but actually went out and accomplished the goal to produce live cards, often putting dozens of hours in prior to events, something that had its positives and negatives. Late-night writing sessions had him scribbling down detailed notes that would later get the chance to play out on-screen.

"The best part is being able to create, produce, and see a young talent start to 'get it.' So many talents have come through doors of events I've done that have gone on to great success, and I take credit for none of it, that's all them, but I'm honored to be a small part of their journey, and maybe help one or two light switches get flipped on or doors open along the way. Whether it's Johnny Gargano a decade ago, or Atticus Cogar now, I'm always so proud to watch a talent grow, develop, and find themselves. The right character in the right story conveying the right moment, man, it's magical. The least fun aspects are the opposite, there's a lot of grunt work associated with any type of booking gig. The wants of the promoter, of the talent, how the fans react, and how that all alters your vision along the way, and before you even get there, you have to make sure you have the scheduling and availability of about 40 different people in order and be able to cycle them in and out as seamlessly as possible," Joe explained.

By 2010, he was well established as a voice of the indys and received his biggest opportunity at the time, the chance to broadcast for Ring Of Honor, which was still independently owned when he debuted there. After a handful of shows, the company was sold and with a change of ownership came a change in direction, as those from new management wanted a more familiar name for its new platform. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Joe continued his hustle, working on cards every weekend and just a few years ago, the grind paid off when he became the exclusive announcer for their Future of Honor division, something that he considers one of his favorite current projects.

"I'm proud to say I've always been a part of the ROH family, popping up here and there over the years when I can lend a hand. I really enjoy taking part in Future of Honor and the ROH Online Exclusives present day because it gives me a chance to work with young, hungry talent who have the same excitement I had in 2010, and still have today, and are so excited to have their stories told," Joe said.

As technology continued to improve, Joe tried to say ahead of the curve, offering a voice over service that allows companies from across the country to hire him without the expensive transportation costs. When he's not working in his home office, a room with memorabilia stretched across the walls, he produces many digital projects, such as "The Montreal Theory" or a more recent look at Les Thatcher's HWA. The concept of a deep dive on the controversy of Survivor Series 1997 was sparked during a casual conversation with Steve Corino, and Joe's natural curiosity for conspiracies like the JFK assassination peeked his interest to examine the drama that indirectly led to some of the biggest business in the history of the industry.

"We are all competing for a finite amount of disposable income from a finite amount of wrestling fans and, while when I started expanding my merchandising, iPPV was an its infancy, and you had to seek out these products, now literally everything is at your fingertip, and usually bundled together at a very low price. So for me to not have the clout of a WWE Network or Honor Club or New Japan World, I need to think differently compared to everyone else. I can't realistically hit that huge mainstream wave, but if I take a different approach to it, I can find some cool hidden gems that can appeal to a niche of the sub-culture and carve out my own piece of the pie," he said. 

The usually shy Dombrowski during the weekdays was able to project himself through calls of a suplex, swerves, or a heel turn. He found a place for himself and fit in with some of the most eccentric and unique individuals of the wrestling industry. But, for years, Joe still felt a sinking weight on himself because of his sexual orientation, could he be accepted as gay in what is often typecast as a testosterone-driven sport?

"Outside of wrestling I'm a very quiet, private person. I'd rather just blend in with the crowd and exist peacefully. I was always an introvert and always battled confidence issues and social anxiety. The decision to come out came hand in hand with turning 30. When both numbers in your age change, I think you automatically step back and take a look at your life, for better and worse, no matter who you are. I did that, and I just wasn't happy personally. I felt like I couldn't be myself, like I had to live a double or triple life. I was always scared to death to do it, especially having grown up in the 90s where doing so was practically scandalous, and having the anxiety and confidence issues I battled anyway. I finally just hit a point where I knew I needed to do it in order to be happy and mentally healthy, and that was more important to me than anybody's opinions. I can't put into words in this space how positive of a move that was to me, I'm far from perfect, but it was a huge weight off of my shoulders," Dombrowski said.

His announcement was met with overwhelming support and positivity, as those on the wrestling scene still saw him for the quirky personality that enjoys Tim Hortons and impersonating Stu Hart. With a clearer mind than ever, Dombrowski continued to grind forward and his endless hours on the road paid off with additional international exposure, as he joined the English broadcast team for AAA's Triplemania event at the recommendation of former WWE announcer, Matt Striker.

"My debut in AAA doing TripleMania XXVII last year, my international work in Canada, Mexico, England, and most recently Qatar, and so many of the content I've been able to create and produce through PWO, PRIME, Premier, Welterweight and originals like Montreal Theory, Finding Zach Gowen, or The Legend of Virgil & His Traveling Merchandise Table are all highlights. I'm not a 'WWE or bust' kind of guy, but I'm always looking for new projects, new opportunities, new promotions. Short-term, I'd love to do more and more with ROH and AAA, and keep churning out side projects as well. Whatever comes up from here, I'd like to think I'll be ready for it. But, most of all, the main goal is to be comfortable financially, have the freedom to do the things I want and I love, and more than anything to be happy," Joe said.

Joe Dombrowski is without question one of the voices of independent wrestling, but perhaps more importantly than that, he not only grew up in wresting, but found his own identity in wrestling. If he's not sitting ringside at a broadcast in any number of states or watching classic episodes of The Twilight Zone, he will often watch obscure original broadcasts of wrestling shows because that's how much passion he has for the business. There are very few currently on the indy scene that have dedicated the amount of countless hours and late nights to the sport that he has, and perhaps the most poignant aspect to his story is that with enough dedication success can be achieved in the professional wrestling industry.

Should Wrestlemania be cancelled?

As a Western Pennsylvania wrestling fan, I live roughly 30 minutes from PPG Paints Arena, the venue that sees Sidney Crosby gracefully glide on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins and was set to host tonight's edition of Monday Night Raw. As a way to push the gas on the hype for an almost underwhelming Wrestlemania card on paper and because of the coincidence of the calendar, Stone Cold Steve Austin was scheduled to appear in the steel city. But, as we saw last Friday for Smackdown, Raw was moved to the WWE Performance Center, as the status of the corona virus situation continues to remain unclear.

All things consider, it was rather bizarre to watch the action on Smackdown, with a scaled down, albeit, still accurate set for matches in front of no crowd. The reasoning for this is rather simple since much of the wrestling narrative during a live broadcast is built upon a crowd reaction. Listening to Stone Cold talk for any extended period of time is very entertaining, proof of which is the fascinating Broken Skull Sessions on the WWE network, but seeing the Stone Cold style promo without an audience just wouldn't translate. In fact, one of the many reasons that Austin is still one of the most over figures in the history of the sport is because he connects with the audience to garner such a crowd response.

All of this is rather unprecedented scenario so who knows what a three-hour broadcast will look like without fans until Raw airs tonight. With WWE shows taking place without fans in attendance, the question that persists is, will Wrestlemania actually get postponed? Some people are even asking why hasn't the event been postponed already?

As is usually the case with government, politics, not the concern of the people is probably the priority.

Again, this is such an unprecedented atmosphere that any speculation is merely a guess because nothing can be based on a previous scenario. That being said, with the NBA, NHL, MLS, and XFL cancelled or suspended while entire countries are shutdown, it seems like there's no reasonable way to expect that Wrestlemania could or should run as planned, but that doesn't mean it wont.

A lot of the predicament is bogged down in political red tape so some of the details are murky, but the bottom line is the cash involved for everyone if Wrestlemania is postponed. Similar to how there's insurance for actors when they sign on for a film (a tragic example is when Paul Walker passed away mid-way through the production of a Fast and Furious film, there was an estimated cost of $50 million to shoot additional scenes) to cover any unplanned expenses, most of the touring and ticket business is structured the same way. Basically, if a government mandate is made that Wrestlemania can't happen then in theory, the city of Tampa and it's venues would be responsible for the additional costs involved in the cancellation, including the millions of promotional dollars the WWE spent to advertise an event that was projected to bring several million dollars worth of an economic impact to the area. On the flip side, if the WWE itself cancels the show then they are on the hook for all those costs and possibly any ticket refund costs through Ticket Master.

In recent reports, Tampa area county commissioner, Les Miller mentioned that he "hoped WWE would make the call themselves," which translates to nobody wants to be left holding the bag for the costs associated with the  event being held at Raymond James Stadium. Make no mistake, Miller's concern probably isn't the citizens he represents, but rather the political ramifications of costs to the city.

Granted, WWE isn't going to fold if Wrestlemania is postponed, but there's a ripple effect around WM that could cost the company several million dollars in addition to the promotional cost of the Tampa pay-per-view. Usually, the success of WM is a staple of WWE's success as a publicly traded corporation so if the event is postponed until the next quarter then the results for the current quarter would be drastically below projections, which would tumble the stock price. Even then, the WWE isn't in any danger, as the mega TV contract secured not only its stability, but also profitability for the next five years. Still, Vince McMahon didn't become a billionaire because he didn't capitalize on opportunities to make money. Plus, Wrestlemania is the center piece of his sports entertainment empire and without that payoff, both financially and for the storylines, the company will almost be completely stale.

Perhaps it would be a wise decision for WWE to run retro type programming to built up a demand for new content instead of the momentum for angles stalling when the rest of the build to WM is in front of no fans. Either way, some projections put other sports possibly the chance to resume their season in a month or two so there's no reason to logically expect Wrestlemania to proceed as planned. As of this writing, WM is still scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on April 5th, but that could change at anytime. Just a few days ago, the WWE issued a statement that there working on a contingency plan if WM isn't hosted at the stadium so it appears that Vince McMahon still plans to run the sports entertainment spectacle. If Wrestlemania should be postponed or if it actually will be postponed are two different things. Considering that nearly every major sports league, Disney world, and even the MGM casino in Las Vegas have cancelled or closed, I think Wrestlemania should be postponed instead of Vince running the show just to see the company didn't cancel an event, but if I had to guess, I would still say that Wrestlemania will still happen in some form or fashion as planned. More than anything, this entire situation proves again that professional wrestling is one of the most unquie genres in entertainment and it will be very interesting to see the conclusion of this situation.

Will Wrestlemania be cancelled?

As is often seen on Twitter, the social media platform became a place of hysteria yesterday when it was revealed online that Tampa officials will meet sometime this week to determine if public events, including Wrestlemania, which is scheduled to take place at Raymond James Stadium in just a few weeks should be postponed or cancelled because of concerns about the corona virus in a major public gathering. First of all, the absolute worst case scenario is that the sports entertainment spectacular would be temporarily postponed, it's not as though the event just wouldn't happen this year. Despite the five-alarm five mentality that many fans are using to approach this scenario, it's very doubtful that the event will be postponed, even if it should.

Listen, my degree is in Communications so I'm not going to necessarily attempt to offer any medical advice on how someone should personally handle their individual situations. I will leave that to the scientists, doctors, and other professionals from that field that are a lot smarter than me. Sill, I think a few general things can be determined, at least about how this could or should impact the WWE's schedule.

With countries like Italy more or less shut down, and Japan already cancelling many public sporting events, including at least two weeks of a New Japan tour, it's obvious that that virus is a matter of a legitimate concern. How much of a concern or enough of a concern in the United States to cancel major events seems to be unknown right now. Depending on what news channel you watch, it's generally agreed upon that the virus has impacted other countries more than America so in theory, any cancellations would be considered more of a recommendation than a requirement. That being said, since fans from all 50 states and dozens of countries attend Wrestlemania, there is definitely a valid concern that perhaps fans from other regions in the world could exposure American attendees to the virus that wouldn't have otherwise been in contact with it.

All that being said, as is the case with many public health scares, the totality of this scenario seems to be blown out of proportion, especially because the vast majority of people exposed to the virus aren't in any fatal danger. It's ironic that viruses like this seem to pop up on the news radar every few years, prompting shelves to be emptied of supplies that people think are necessary for survival. Then again, is there ever a reason not to be stocked up on toilet paper?

So, while the majority of fans that attend Wrestlemania will be fine, the true determining factor should be not the amount of people it could affect, but rather how serious it could be or the chance for it to spread to people it might affect in the most serious cases.

In a perfect world, the event would be postponed in an attempt to prevent any risks at all, but America is a capitalist society and that might be the actual determining factor for the Tampa officials. Some college tournaments have been cancelled, and some pro teams have postponed or limited attendance to games, but those are relatively small occurrences in the grand scheme of things. The bottom line is, the Wrestlemania brand brings along with it millions of dollars, both for the company and for the host city. Reportedly, there was an economic impact of $165 millions for the New Jersey area when it held the event last year. Quite simply, those Tampa politicians need those dollars to come into their state and it makes for a good item to brag about on their next election campaign.

Essentially, there's too much money to be made off of Wrestlemania for the event to be cancelled and probably not postponed. The other aspect of this is that Vince McMahon's entire sports entertainment empire was build around the success of Wrestlemania so it's doubtful that he will sit on the sidelines without suggesting every possible solution before the city would shutdown the event.

If the show would be cancelled or postponed, I would be completely shocked, but if it happens it will undoubtedly cause a ripple effect in the industry. Obviously, dozens of independent groups have scheduled their events and conventions around Wrestlemania to capitalize on the amount of fans that travel to the area for the show, but without WWE's event, it's doubtful the independent groups could still draw the major crowds they have in the past few years. For the WWE, how it would address the scheduled matches and storylines for the show would be a rather unprecedented predicament. Would they book the matches to happen sooner or try to delay the card until a rescheduled WM event? Could they realistically maintain the interest in the card for a few months until WM was cleared to happen? Furthermore, if the cancellation of public events become more of a topic of conversation among government officials, would that affect WWE's touring schedule?

In my opinion, Wrestlemania won't be cancelled, simply because of the amount of money involved. It might be a harsh reality to the public, but the government isn't really concerned with the public's health, but rather the economic ramifications of anything related to a health crisis. The best example is actually from the same state that will host Wrestlemania. If Disney World, one of the main revenue streams for that global corporation isn't closed than Wrestlemania isn't going to be cancelled. The argument to shutdown public gatherings as merely a precaution is legitimate, but money talks in the United States.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in this situation and the aftermath of the decisions that will be made. It should be noted that theoretically, the officials in Tampa would make the determination if WM should be postponed, not Vince McMahon. Finally, I hope everyone around the world that has been affected by the virus gets better because situations like this are often a reminder to even the most diehard pro wrestling fans that they are more important things than sports entertainment.

The return of PWX

It's 1997, the boom of the professional wrestling industry is just beginning to surge with a record-setting number of viewers tuning into sports entertainment every Monday night. Recognizable sports figures like Dennis Rodman, who infamously skipped practice to attend a Nitro taping, Kevin Greene, and Mike Tyson were all involved in the fandom of the grappling arts.

That wave of wrestling momentum brought along with it more exposure for the sport as a whole and thus more of a demand for a product that has remained a fixture of entertainment in some form of fashion since the early days of television in the 1950s, which saw the iconic Gorgeous George Wager became as famous as any athlete in the country at the time.

In the late-90s, when society as a whole began to evolve with a more edgy nature toward music and entertainment, pro wrestling naturally followed suit to maximize its draw to the audience. In an era when Marylin Manson's album went platinum, Jerry Springer had pay-per-view specials, and Howard Stern was heard by nearly 20 million listeners, the culture in America was ready to push the envelope, and so did its professional wrestling.

In a true example of capitalism, as the demand for sports entertainment increased so did the outlets that offered it. Long before Paul Heyman was the advocate for a former UFC heavyweight champion, the mad scientist of the genre was the leader of a revolutionary concept that changed the face of the business, Extreme Championship Wrestling, a renegade group based in South Philadelphia that was ahead of the curve for where society was trending at that point. With the demand for more over-the-top action being seen in the national groups, the wild and violent nature of ECW began to expand on its following, as more fans stumbled upon the promotion by mere accident when channel surfacing.

As history showed, it was actually the national platform that doomed the hardcore organization because it collapsed under the pressure of the financial demands of a national TV network. However, before that disastrous run on TNN, the organic nature of ECW flourished with its late-night syndicated program that got away with more violence because of its time slot and became a way for them to market VHS sales of events, an aspect that was critical for the promotion's survival. Depending on the location, the Hardcore TV show aired at various times, often paired with secondary WWF programming, which was produced to maximize the amount of content that could be pushed to the viewing audience.

In Pittsburgh, a city known as much for its wrestling as the steel it produced, the late-night block of pro wrestling featured ECW, Shotgun Saturday Night, and an unlikely choice, a local group that had established ties in the area. The Pro Wrestling Express was co-founded in 1994 by the late local legend, Sean "Shocker" Evans, who went on to train at WCW's Power Plant in Atlanta and appeared in various WWE TV matches before he passed away from cancer in 2007. Evans, kind and generous to everyone that knew him, saw an opportunity to bring an independent group to the western Pennsylvania area, both for his peers to have a place to learn their craft and for the dedicated fans to enjoy. Evans approached Jim Miller, who ran a candy store at a local mall and inquired about the possibility of running events there. Miller, a longtime fan, but admittedly naive to the wrestling business at the time, initially hesitated, but eventually agreed, getting his promoter's license through the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.

Miller, who had a background in design and construction, trusted the in-ring expertise to Evans, while he worked feverishly behind the scenes to put the pieces in place for an eventual expansion. Just a few years after its launch, PWX was wildly popular on the local scene, garnering hundreds of fans to the now-demolished Eastland Mall. The local crew had such a buzz behind them that the concept of a television show was formed and it landed on a UPN affiliate alongside the previously mentioned national groups.

"There was a point in time when that show was huge, especially for us local fans seeing our wrestlers the same night as ECW on TV," said Joe Folino, a longtime Pittsburgh fan.

At a time when the internet was not a household item and streaming nearly any promotion wasn't possible, the television exposure was a major positive for PWX. In the total of its 25-year history, PWX ranks among the longest-running independent groups in North America. Stars like T. Rantula, Dennis Gregory, Brandon K, Quinn Magnum, Paul Atlas, Bubba The Bulldog, and many others etched their names into the Pittsburgh sports history books through their efforts in a PWX ring.

However, as is the scenario for any promotion throughout the annals of the sport, there are ups and downs. For PWX, they've seen their share of disappointments, but managed to survive through it. From the cancellation of its original television show, the disintegration of the structure of venues, and the general challenges of the wrestling business, Jim Miller remained a sturdy figurehead of the organization. The company consistently ran events throughout its two and a half decade history. Sometimes for a few hundred fans and other times for a few dozen, but the passion to entertain the paying audience remained.

Based in McKeesport, PA, a city known for its high crime rate and violence, PWX looks to stand as a shining example of positivity to give the families of the area a safe place to enjoy entertainment for the night. Miller, who recently launched his own non-profit group, SAVE to help economically disadvantaged kids in the area, has made it his mission to help clean up the city, including the dilapidated abandon church near the wrestling venue, which is scheduled to be demolished soon.

After it reached its 25-year milestone, the organization was at a crossroads, as philosophical differences behind the scenes led to the departure of  key fixtures of the company. But, the theory of Pro Wrestling Express was always to provide a platform for the future and an opportunity for those that want to snatch the brass ring.

Danny Able, an 8-year pro that was originally a student at the PWX school, stepped up to take the reigns when the promotion went on a hiatus to restructure itself. Considering himself a jack of all trades, Able dipped his toe into wrestling, production work, and general entertainment in his numerous ventures both inside and outside of the squared circle.

"I think the hiatus was unavoidable. It was the result of longtime differences between the former management and the owner. The new PWX will be a focus on young, upcoming talent and making each show into a unique experience unlike the rest of indy wrestling. Personally, it's a chance to prove myself. I've felt for a long time that as a technical wrestler and a sports entertainer, I'm one of the best around," Danny Able explained.

An eccentric character with a unique out-of-the-box approach to wrestling, Able blends elements from traditional mat techniques with comic book-inspired drama to create a presentation not seen anywhere else. Able will have to wear many hats in his new role for PWX's April 18th return, but he sees himself as more than ready for this opportunity.

"I am the new head trainer and I will be hosting each show. Behind the scenes, I am the creative director and will remain an active member on the roster. I came into the position, basically because when the company went on hiatus, I had nowhere else to perform," Able said.

With an approach to rebuild from the ground level, Able remains humbled and focused on the chance he has to use this platform to express himself, taking a brand that many in the Pittsburgh scene had forgotten about and bring it back to the prominence that it once had.

"I don't have many future plans in wrestling beyond what's in front of me right now, but I am excited to be working on the creative and management side of the business," he explained.

If PWX returns to the level it once was remains to be seen and will be a work in progress, but with new faces scheduled to perform and Danny Able as it's creative organizer, the will undoubtedly be an intriguing chapter in the company's extensive history. 

Will Tyson Fury retire?

Less than two weeks after his dominate victory over the dangerous Deontay Wilder, the newly-minted heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury implied that he would retire after he finishes the two fights on his current contract with Top Rank during a recent interview on British television.

At 31, Fury is still in the prime of his career and is riding a wave of momentum following arguably the biggest win of his career with the seventh round stoppage of the formerly undefeated Wilder. The eccentric Fury had indicated prior to the heavyweight clash last month that he would indeed hand up his gloves at the conclusion of his current deal, but considering how much hype the Wilder bout received from the ESPN promotional push and thus the exposure it provided him, could Fury really exit the sport when he finishes another pair of contests?

With a razor-close and controversial draw in their previous bout, the Wilder-Fury rematch had the most hype for a heavyweight match the sport had seen in years, but Fury's superior technique and physical style proved a more effective strategy than Wilder's one-dimensional, albeit still dangerous punching power. When Fury landed a sharp straight right hand to the side of Wilder's head, the Alabama native crashed to the canvas in a heap before he staggered to his feet to beat the count and survived the round. Still, the damage was done and with a stream of blood from his ear, Wilder was on borrowed time. As the contest progressed, Wilder looked unsteady and lost as to what to do next with the more aggressive opponent. Finally, as Deontay was getting battered with punches, his corner threw in the towel mid-way through the seventh round to halt the fight.

As much as Wilder protested, his trainer undoubtedly did the right thing, and there was no reason to risk further injury, especially when the extent of the damage to his ear was unclear during the fight. Per the contract signed before the return bout, Wilder selected the rematch clause, which will see the two heavyweights meet again for the trilogy fight in July. In the aftermath of the heavyweight collision, Wilder cited his 40 LBS entrance gear that he wore to the ring as the reason that he lacked energy during the course of the fight. While Wilder has to say something to attempt to sell the third fight, an event where he will receive a 40% share of the purse because of the loss in the return bout, it's hard to believe that entrance gear was the excuse for a lackluster performance. Granted, it's theoretically possible,  but the punch that put Wilder on the mat is probably the actual reason the fight tilted into Fury's favor after the third round.

Tyson Fury said in the media interviews before the fight that he planned to be more aggressive in the ring to avoid another draw, and he used that aggression to land punches against Wilder. As I wrote in an article prior to the bout, the fight was a chance for Wilder to prove he could compete against the top-tier opponents, but his limited skill set didn't allow him to be effective against Fury because once he sustained too much damage in the early rounds, Wilder didn't have the power to end the fight with one of his signature knockouts. As of right now, unless Deontay Wilder somehow adds a completely different offense to his game plan in the next six months then it's doubtful that he will be victorious in the trilogy bout. Quite frankly, unless Wilder adds more traditional boxing skills to his strategy then he will only have the potential KO power that he brought into the ring just two weeks ago, and after such a lop-sided win for Fury, it's doubtful that promoters can sell another $80 Wilder-Fury fight to the general public.

So, assuming that Fury wins the trilogy bout, he would have one fight left in his career, which prompted many to call for a Fury/Anthony Joshua fight in a European showdown that would probably draw a record-setting gate. Joshua, a skilled technician, surged to prominence when he defeated dominate champion, Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. Since that time, Joshua has fought the majority of his bouts in stadiums, drawing tens of thousands of fans to watch the contests live in his native country. Aside from the fluke KO loss to Andy  Ruiz, a defeat that he later avenged, Joshua has put himself in the conversation for the best heavyweight of the modern era. Considering that Joshua himself has the drawing power to host a stadium event in England, adding Tyson Fury to the equation sets up for a mega payday for everyone involved. But, perhaps that might be the reason Fury could call it a career after that bout?

It's possible that Fury, win or loss, takes the major cash he will earn from a boxing match with Anthony Joshua and use that finanical security to retire. However, the concept of a boxer retiring is almost mood because most stayed retired until their next fight. Often, "retirement" is only a prop to sell a comeback fight so at this point, it's very skeptical that Fury would actually exit the sport. That being said, he might take a year or two away from the ring to pursue more work with the WWE, which could use him in a variety of roles, especially with a potential European tour. In some ways, Fury might replicate the path of Floyd Mayweather, he claimed that he quit boxing and did a match at Wrestlemania against the Big Show before he put the gloves on again.

With Joshua scheduled to fight in June, and Fury penciled in to return in July, it would technically be possible for the two British boxers to sign a deal to fight at the end of the year, but that seems a little rushed, especially because boxing tends to attempt to let fights to build to garner hype  for the eventually pay-per-view. If I had to guess, I would say that Fury continues to compete as a boxer while he's still in the prime of his career and can still demand top market value. At the same time, it does create the intriguing scenario that with WWE on his radar, the company might be able to sign one of the most recognizable figures among the current landscape in sports. Granted, Fury would have to be used in limited angles, but a few select matches could benefit the company.

AEW Revolution performance

After last weekend's All Elite Wrestling Revolution pay-per-view, fans were buzzing on social media about many aspects of the stellar event. The AEW Tag Team championship bout was called a potential early match of the year candidate by many pundits after the Young Bucks challenged the team of Kenny Omega and Adam Page for what became a thirty-minute spectacle that combined incredible athleticism and dramatic story telling. There was also the thunderous ovation for the unique persona of Orange Cassidy when he actually tried. Cody's battle against the dastardly Maxwell Jacob Friedman had fans rallying for the grandson of a plumber to get a measure of revenge against the villain.

But, at the top of the card, "Le Champion," who has put together one of the accomplished careers in the history and in many ways put himself in a league of his own, Chris Jericho defended the AEW World Championship against, Jon Moxley. Moxley, who rejuvenated his career when he arrived in the Khan-owned organization last May, has shown the wrestling world what he can truly bring to the table with his work in AEW as well as his successful stint in New Japan, where he recently competed against the legendary Minoru Suzuki. Following a physical contest that saw Moxley suffer a nasty gash near his eye, perhaps a rebuttal from the headbutt that he delivered to Jericho during the weigh-in last week on Dynamite, Moxley finally claimed the belt. Post-match, he gave the fans in attendance in Chicago a passionate speech about what the championship means to him and how those that support the company made it possible.

However, there was still a singular voice that garnered an immense amount of attention and praise when the pay-per-view went off the air. As the proprietor of "A Little Bit of The Bubbly" prepared to make the walk to the ring with his stablemates, Ortiz and Santana, by his side, the lyrics of Fozzy's hit song, "Judas" echoed throughout the arena. Instead of guitar riffs and drums accompanying the popular verses, a melodic voice opened the song and a choir joined in for a special introduction that added to the atmosphere of the big time main event.

A beautiful young lady with bright eyes and an even brighter smile contributed to the solo portion of the performance, as her smooth vocal skills projected a combination of a powerful and graceful deliver of an almost gospel version of the rock song. But, who was this soulful singer and how did a choir end up in Chicago for a professional wrestling pay-per-view?

As is often the case with many discovers in the music industry, the newest contributor to "Judas" was found by sheer coincidence on social media. A true multi-media entrepreneur, the musician, podcaster, and pro wrestler, Chris Jericho ventured to sea in recent years with his "Rock and Wrestling Rager," a cruise that took fans of different genres on a voyager to the Bahamas while they enjoyed concerts, wrestling matches, and live podcasts. With the second trip onto the ocean of this project, the very unique setup hosted an edition of Dynamite that saw fans on the ship sing along as the over thirty-year pro walked through the entrance way, a trend that has become common with crowds since that time.

Meredith Bell, a lifelong singer and performer, saw the clip of the audience participation and decided to post her own rendition of the wrestling theme on social media.

"I figured it was pretty cool, so why not take a shot at it myself? I recorded myself singing a cover of Judas utilizing the Acapella app. I did every individual part, ran through it a few times then posted the finished product. I didn’t expect for it to be noticed at all, I just did it for fun," She explained.

With over three and a half million Twitter followers, it seemed doubtful that the busy superstar would find the acapella video of his song, but somehow, not only did the wrestling champion see it, he was very impressed with Meredith's vocal style. In just a few days, what started as just a fun side project for Twitter became an opportunity for her to put together a group to perform live at an AEW event.

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, she began singing in her grandfather's church choir when she was just a toddler and was a natural performer, participating in theater and stage productions throughout high school and college. Even after she moved to Philadelphia when she competed college, Meredith continued to pursue music, starting a rock band of her own, Palace Burn, as well as continuing the traditional performances of singing in a variety of roles. As much as the canvas of the squared circle is the stage of the All Elite grapplers, Meredith gets an equal adrenaline rush anytime she gets the chance to perform, considering music a true passion.

"Singing and performing mean absolutely everything to me. It’s the one thing I know, hands down, that I’m good at. I have always loved singing and since my tenure with Palace Burn, I’ve been working very hard to get noticed and get my music out there," she commented.

A diehard wrestling fans since her middle school days, originally fascinated when she saw Gangrel's Brood rise through the flames, the chance to perform on an AEW card brought together two of her favorite aspects of the entertainment industry, music and the ring.

"It was a surreal experience. What made it even more special is that the fans were so supportive, singing along to every word. Their voices were tremendous, it made me feel really good to know that they were into it. It’s been wild. You don’t realize how many people are watching you at an event like that until you open your phone and all your apps crash because there are so many responses. Most of the feedback has been so positive, and I’m thankful for that. Shows that all of our hard work paid off," Meredith said.

One of the perks for Meredith and her choir group as guest of Le Champion was that Jericho himself attended their rehearsal and complimented them on their skills, something that she cites as one of the highlights of the experience. With her social media presence growing from the pay-per-view exposure, Meredith remains extremely thankful for the hospitality she was shown by the AEW staff, and enthusiastically looks to the future with aspirations of either eventually touring nationally with a band, or making it big as a voice of the sports entertainment field. Along with her singing, Meredith recently began working as a ring announcer for Chikara, one of the most well-known independent groups in the business.

Where Meredith Bell goes from here in the wrestling or music industry remains to be seen, but her story is a reminder of how true talent shines through and what can be accomplished with years of hard work. She took a chance to post her vocal skills on social media and less than two months later, she found herself singing on pay-per-view. Her dedication to performing was seen by over 10,000 people live in Chicago and thousands more on the pay-per-view broadcast so it's safe to say that the talented performer has a bright future.

Goldberg wins the title

This past Thursday, the WWE returned to Saudi Arabia for another highly profitable show as a part of the Saudi government's propaganda campaign. Once again, the event became the subject of controversy, but it wasn't because of the location of the show. In fact, the supposed outrage about the WWE's business dealings with the Saudis wasn't enough to stop fans from watching the product, or even watching this particular show so why shouldn't the company take the cash for one of its most profitable venture's of the year?

However, the dispute among fans after the show went off the air was based on the booking decisions that were made and how it influences the card for Wrestlemania, the show that is usually promoted as the biggest event on the calendar. With only a few weeks of build up, Bill Goldberg was shoehorned into a title match because the Saudi government pays for recognizable stars from the past. Considering the absolute train wreck that was the Goldberg/Undertaker match the last time the former WCW champion performed in Saudi Arabia, many assumed it was basically a televised house show match that would continue to build Bray Wyatt as champion so that Roman Reigns could challenge a major heel at Wrestlemania, especially after the heat that Wyatt got from the Daniel Bryan feud.

Somehow, Bill Goldberg pinned Wyatt in roughly three minutes to win the Universal Championship.

How exactly does any of this logically fit with the direction of the product in the past 3-4 months? Bray Wyatt was presented as an unstoppable force to almost a cartoonish level. That portrayal is ultimately what would be used to push Roman Reigns as the champion if he was the one to finally slay the villain. The ridiculous amount of weapons that Seth Rollins used or any offense from Daniel Bryan wasn't enough to defeat Wyatt, but the aging Hall of Famer was able to beat him in just a few minutes?

Listen, when Bill Goldberg won the title with the surprise victory at Survivor Series in 2016, I was thrilled because it was a legitimate surprise, which rarely happens in the modern era. Plus, considering the amount of charity work that Goldberg does and how he uses his notoriety for those causes, it was good to see him get a better conclusion to his WWE run than the lackluster finish to his stint in 2004. But, the Goldberg comeback story has been told and there's a been there, done that atmosphere to it.

That being said, the 2016 run had to be carefully booked and Goldberg, who was limited in his prime, had to be protected so that his weaknesses weren't exposed to the current audience. The few matches he did during that stint went well and the longest match he had was against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 33 before he finished up that time frame in the company. Considering his age, if you try to play the Goldberg card too often, you risk those weaknesses showing through his tremendous display of intensity. When the Goldberg/Undertaker match flopped because of injuries to both athletes during the contest, in some ways, the myth of Goldberg was exposed and it was a reality check that he's not the same performer that he was during the Monday Night Wars.

That's not meant as a jab against him either, it's a very difficult task to attempt to portray the same in-ring style from two decades ago. At the same time, what does Goldberg as champion accomplish now? The Fiend was supposed to be the ultimate villain that could be used to get a baby face over. Unless Goldberg is going to compete on a regular basis, what does his run as champion translate to for the product? On Smackdown, there was a segment to set up Roman vs. Goldberg at Wrestlemania without any type of number one contender match. Keep in mind, Reigns has been away from the title picture for almost a year and a half so in theory, the win at WM 36 is yet another attempt to get him over as the champion. If beating The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Triple H on pay-per-view didn't get Roman over then how exactly is Goldberg going to be the key victory for him?

At 53, Goldberg had the comeback run and really doesn't bring anything else to the table beyond a nostalgia act, which is fine when it's used correctly, but this latest title victory actually speaks to a much bigger problem among the WWE landscape. I've written about it many times in the past few years, but the trend of using stars from the past to boost the current product instead of making new stars continues for WWE programming.

The bottom line is, aside from Brock Lesnar, who currently on the roster is a legitimate money-drawing star for the promotion?

In fact, John Cena is still the last main stream star that the company made and he hasn't been a full-time performer for the past few years. As I've said before, the opportunity cost of the Roman Reigns mega push a few years ago was that other stars had a ceiling as to how over they could get with the audience and sometimes you have to run with a star when the time is right or management missed the boat. Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn etc. probably all should be bigger stars than they are right now. Too often, the majority of the roster were used as interchangeable and there was a certain level of  mediocrity in terms  of star power. Bray Wyatt was one of the most over acts on WWE TV, but the sum total of his current run didn't make much progress for the product.

Since Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg is scheduled for the Wrestlemania card, how does that build for the future? When Roman pins a 53-year-old champion, will that make him a bigger star? Furthermore, when will management evolve the product and put the responsibility to draw the stadium crowds to the current generation? The talent has the skills, but aren't usually given the opportunity. Perhaps, the strictly-structured WWE system doesn't allow for talent to organically get over as much as they could without those restrictions, but either way, it's obvious that management continues to depend on the part-time stars to sell tickets.

The reason the company made an entire cast of new stars in the Attitude era is because they had to find the best performers they could and run with them since they had competition for the audience. During the Monday night wars, the corporate agenda couldn't dictate who got a push because they had to run with the stars that the viewers were going to watch if they wanted to maintain numbers against Nitro. Maybe, it's the fact that they dominate the market share, the hefty TV contract, the price of the Network, or a combination of all of those aspects, but management doesn't seem to have the next generation of stars that will draw money as a priority. In some respects, it seems like they are taking the easy money now without taking into account how those decisions could affect the future.

When Brock Lesnar squashed Ricochet in a minute and a half, that more or less tells the audience that he doesn't have the ability to be a top star. Look at when Kofi was defeated on the Smackdown debut on Fox, he hasn't had nearly the hype around him since that match. I penned an article two and a half years ago about the diminishing returns that the Brock experiment yielded and I think that status remains today because despite his dominate reign, how many performers has Lesnar made a bigger star? Has WWE management really got a return that justifies their investment of cash and TV time into Lesnar? Don't get me wrong, if Brock can get the cash, good for him, but it appears that WWE brass would rather depend on Brock to prop up the big events than the task of making legitimate full-time stars. The question about the totality of the decisions of the past several years is, what does the WWE book five years from now when the current part-timers aren't going to wrestle at the big events? More importantly, who is going to draw money for the WWE after Lesnar, Goldberg, and The Undertaker finally retire?