What's next for AEW?

As we are just a few days away from the start of 2023, when some many people will claim  that they have new year's resolutions that will last about as long as a modern (or old school) Bill Goldberg match, many pro wrestling pundits will put together retrospectives of the previous year. I've never done that, as I think it's low-hanging fruit that amounts to a retread of previous discussions. If you'd like to read my thoughts on the major stories of 2022, those columns available online since I covered them when they happened.

Instead, I'm going to borrow a concept that I read in a local Pittsburgh paper nearly twenty years ago. In middle school, my dad would save the pro wrestling column that was in the printed pages for me and I'd clip them out, saving them for years. The fellow's name was Ronnie, but I can't recall his last name, although I specifically remember he often had a pessimistic view of the sport. Considering this was 2003, I guess I can't blame him. Anyway, the premise of that particular column was what the WWE should do to improve their product in 2004, which had hit a low point with the Triple H reign of doom throughout much off the prior year. It's ironic that so many fans will credit and applaud Triple H now, but if you attempt to watch the era when he dominated so much of the programming, it's a very, very tedious viewing experience.

And, somehow roughly half of the viewers are watching the show now compared to that time period.

So, with that premise in mind, I'm going to wrap up 2022 (let's hope I finally get my Twitter account back in 2023) with my suggestions for what All Elite Wrestling should do to improve their chances in the new year, as well as another column that will focus on the WWE product.

As I wrote in an article about Honor Club earlier this week, 2022 wasn't a banner year for All Elite Wrestling and some might say that it was the first year in its rather brief existence that the organization didn't finish with a net positive in terms of exposure or progress. The CM Punk/Elite debacle being the main example, and something that everyone offered an opinion on at the time so there's no need to rehash any of that. However, and this is much more critical for success than some might realize because it boils down to some tough decisions being made, Tony Khan must run a tighter ship.

Hopefully, Khan learned, even if it was the hard way, that pro wrestling, a genre that originated from the carnival circuit, is a shark tank. He can either sign his favorite wrestlers to hefty contracts so that they can be his friends, or he can run a business that looks to be profitable. Too often, especially with the overused gimmick matches and the bloated roster, AEW programming resembles Tony's E-fed that he booked on his computer as he collects real-life action figures to script for his shows. To run a tighter ship, the rules should be simple, if someone gets into a fight backstage, regardless of who they are, they should be released from the promotion. If someone is difficult to do business with then they aren't worth the hassle and you should cut them from the roster. In truth, they are only a few true difference makers currently on the All Elite roster and that talent is professional enough not to disrupt business. Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and Brit Baker are the stars that represent the All Elite brand with a certain level of star power. Plus, with such a bloated roster, it's not as though there aren't wrestlers there that can replace someone if they are released for backstage disagreements. If The Elite get into another fight, they should be gone the same way anyone else should be cut from the roster. You've heard rumors that Thunder Rosa was difficult to work with, release her from her contract and send that message that it's either do business to help the company progress or go back to the independent scene.

Speaking of the bloated roster, if Tony Khan doesn't cut it down to a manageable number, it will come back to bite him in the long run. WCW and TNA had the same problem. You can now watch WCW on Peacock because Vince McMahon sold the broadcast rights for a five-year deal that was worth $1 billion. Technically, TNA doesn't exist anymore since Anthem Entertainment, the parent company of The Fight Network in Canada, rescued it from bankruptcy, but if you have access to the channel, you can watch Impact Wrestling in small venues that make it look like a glorified independent group.

The concept of cutting the roster down is easy. Anyone that isn't a regular on either Dynamite or Rampage should be potential cuts from the organization. Don't get me wrong, it's great when a wrestler can have the moment where they achieve their dream of landing a national contract, but the reality is, especially on a national level, it's a business. Slim J, AR Fox, Shawn Dean, Lee Johnson, Aaron Solo, Peter Avalon, Fuego Del Sol, Serpentico, JD Drake, and at least a dozen others could be released and it will make zero difference in the status of the organization. That's not to say that some of those guys don't have talent, but the bottom line is, there are only so many spots that can realistically be used for a national promotion.

As far as who Tony should focus on in 2023, that is a tough decision, but it's a good problem to have because lost in the shuffle of the countless signings, there are key talent that legitimately have the potential to be the future of the organization. Lee Moriarty is exceptionally talented and with the right exposure has the opportunity to be a major asset for the organization. Brian Pillman Jr. was trained by Lance Storm so he can go in the ring, and the story of his second generation status could be an intriguing narrative throughout his All Elite career. Hook is wildly popular at television tapings and should be used for more meaningful segments on Dynamite. Powerhouse Hobbs is a guy with main event potential and should at least be closer to that goal in 2023. Tony Khan should consistently make it a priority to showcase these four throughout next year.

The finally piece of the puzzle should be to simplify everything about the product. Too often, Khan attempts to use some type of intricate New Japan style booking in an attempt to win "booker of the year" from The Wrestling Observer, and the result is usually episodes of Dynamite that are all over the place. How Rush was trying to recruit Preston Vance or the Matt Hardy/Andrade stuff before that just seemed like segments thrown together to attempt to get as many guys on television as possible without any logic behind it. Rick Ross swearing on live television while everyone in the ring looked lost isn't main stream exposure, it's just sloppy scripting of the show. The whole attempt at "shades of gray" instead of baby faces and heels as an attempt to be cutting edge is more often than not an excuse for when someone doesn't get over to the level that the booker designed an angle to accomplish.

The sports entertainment business, regardless of the promotion or era, is still built on a few key factors because the industry is structured to use psychology to draw money. The emotional investment, not the actual moves, is what draws money. Tony Khan should use simple aspects of the sport, take a heel with heat and an over baby face and let them feud for the championship. MJF is the biggest heel in the company, and Bryan Danielson is one of the most beloved performers of his generation. The story writes itself. There doesn't need to be weekly gimmick matches or table spots to build to the pay-per-view match. Allow those guys to use the skills that got them to that position on the card to sell the PPV. Furthermore, the talent that the crowd identifies with the most should be the performers that are spotlighted on television on a regular basis. Eddie Kingston, Ricky Starks, and a few others are potential challengers for MJF as the heel champion.

What's the status of ROH TV?

After several months of speculation, Tony Khan recently revealed that Ring Of Honor, the promotion that he bought earlier this year, will resume original programming with its shows landing on Honor Club, the streaming service that was set up by Sinclair Broadcasting before they sold it to the All Elite kingpin. Khan, the ambitious and eccentric owner of AEW, clearly wanted to have his own "wrestling moment" when he gleefully announced the acquisition on television, proclaiming "there's no Shane, it's me" a nod to the WCW purchase when Shane McMahon was revealed as the new "owner" when there were originally plans for a relaunched World Championship Wrestling to have its own two-hour time slot on Saturdays on TNN.

Make no mistake about it, Ring Of Honor wasn't WCW, and Tony isn't Shane McMahon.

The similarity is, much like how the relaunch of WCW never materialized, Ring Of Honor wasn't picked up for its own television show either. As we know, the two-hour WCW slot went to the horrendous Excess show that never quite had a point and then that spot was divided into the B-show Velocity and Confidential for the WWE's tenure on the network. How the Honor Club experiment unfolds remains to be seen, but it could create more problems than its worth.

I know this is a slight retread of my previous comments on this topic, but it should be mentioned within this discussion as well. The ROH brand wasn't a draw after The Elite left to form All Elite Wrestling. That's not a knock on the talent that remained on the roster, but the point is, the wrestling landscape got more crowded and ultimately, Sinclair opted not to invest money in its wrestling project when it counted. If Sinclair would've offered The Elite and Cody Rhodes the right number a few years ago, All Elite Wrestling wouldn't exist today. The bottom line is, Sinclair Broadcasting bought ROH from Cary Silkin for the original programming the promotion could provide that would secure better ad rates than reruns of other shows on the stations, not to get into the pro wrestling business.

When The Elite had a chance to sign with a billionaire for big money, Sinclair opted not to attempt to compete in the wrestling industry, and that was eventually a decision that prompted them to sell the organization. Still, the point being, the Ring Of Honor brand couldn't sustain itself so it was sold. The brand couldn't draw the revenue to make it profitable so it's biggest asset isn't it's "value" as an organization in 2022, but rather the video library that has footage of some of the biggest stars of the current generation. The influence of ROH, which is represented through that video library, is its legacy.

As I've said before, Khan's attempt to relaunch the group with its involvement on AEW programming dilutes the product and makes it more difficult to establish All Elite. Again, it should be emphasized that All Elite Wrestling is the best chance that Tony Khan has of long term success in sports entertainment so that should be the only focus of Dynamite.

The attempt to put ROH television behind a paywall is silly because there will be a cost associated with taping the content with transportation, production staff, etc. Plus, the company would theoretically have to sell tickets to have fans in attendance for these shows. Would Honor Club generate enough revenue to cover the costs of taping new content? Furthermore, is there truly enough interest in the ROH brand that fans would rather buy tickets to those tapings than Dynamite events? Sure, Tony could book the ROH tapings for Universal Studios, which hosted Dark before or schedule ROH matches before Dynamite tapings, but then you're asking fans to pay $10 a month for a show that at least aesthetically looks like the secondary Youtube shows.

The problem this creates is two-fold. On one hand, if Tony Khan can put ROH on a streaming service, the fans will clamor for All Elite programming to be put on its own streaming platform, which would imply the transition away from the traditional $50 pay-per-view broadcasts, but as we know, that is one of the most profitable revenue streams for the company so it's not a realistic option as long as AEW pay-per-views sell reasonable well. Secondly, assuming that fans would think it was worth spending the $9.99 a month on Honor Club, it would slice into their "wrestling budget" throughout the year. It doesn't sound like much, but when there are quarterly AEW pay-per-views, that means that four months of Honor Club would be close to the cost of an original All Elite PPV so over the course of the year, that would almost double their costs on wrestling content for Khan-owned groups if they ordered at least two All Elite shows.

From what we know of reported buy rates, the All Elite broadcasts generate a very similar number on a consist basis, which translate to the fact that there's a core group of fans that are willing to spend money on All Elite pay-per-views. Granted, that's a niche, even if it's a profitable niche. Now, you must take into account how many of those diehard fans would be willing to spend another $120 a year on wrestling shows for Honor Club?

It might be a harsh reality for the diehard All Elite fans, but the totality of AEW wasn't a good year in 2022. There was questionable booking, underutilized talent, (Has anyone seen Miro?) and chaos behind the scenes on multiple occasions that fueled speculation about the lack leadership in the company. Both WCW and TNA are examples of what can happen with a lack of leadership of an organization so it was certainly concerning to read reports of so much disarray backstage. Adam Page wasn't booked well as champion and his stock is probably at its lowest than any other point in his AEW tenure. MJF walked out and took the focus away from Wardlow, who is also at a low point in his All Elite career. The Elite were suspended after a backstage fight with CM Punk, who buried the company at a press conference while Tony sat there looking lost during the press conference. Speaking of Punk, he made big money and didn't truly move the needle, as the ratings were more or less the same and he spent three months of the year he was under contract injured. Andrade wasn't happy with how he was booked so he provoked a backstage confrontation with Sammy Guevara to attempt to get fired. The signing of Jeff Hardy didn't work out as planned. Most importantly, in September of last year, Tony Khan just added Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole to the roster, but the numbers are basically at the same level a year later so how much progress was made for the company?

Mandy Rose released

The professional wrestling business, an industry that originated from the carnival circuit, was never known for its high ethical standards. Thankfully, as the sport evolved, including the start of the WWE Wellness policy, as well as better choices from the current generation, the genre has cleaned up some of its more notorious aspects.

That said, and as we saw with the Vince McMahon scandal, the corporate image that WWE touts as a part of its massive television deals and lucrative sponsorships often clash with the nature of the content. Despite the PG era, even when John Cena was in the midst of his big run at the top of the company, the narrative of the shows are usually told through some form of violence. Regardless of the WWE's mega success as a corporate entity on Wall Street. it's still fair to ask if a business like professional wrestling can truly thrive when shareholders, not the fans, are served first. One could argue that yes, it can be successful based on the WWE's record-setting profits in recent years, which is absolutely a valid point, but the other side of the coin is that at the very least, it's a difficult balancing act to produce contemporary pro wrestling that won't rock the boat for the stockholders. Considering that it's those investors that made WWE worth a few billion dollars, they maintain the priority as to what the WWE office serves first.

If you want to know the level of power the board of directors has that serves the shareholders, keep in mind that it was revelations of misconduct that were sent to them that ultimately saw Vince McMahon ousted from his own organization.

That's why the surprising release of Mandy Rose is somewhat of a tricky situation because there are several contradictory dynamics within the scenario.

Originally inked to a WWE deal through the Tough Enough competition in 2015, she worked on the main roster for almost four years with a rather undistinguished run before she returned to the NXT brand in 2021. Credit to Mandy, she was a completely average performer during the majority of her original main roster stint, but completely reinvented herself in NXT and did the best work of her career.

That's why many fans were shocked when she dropped the NXT Women's title last week after an extended reign and was released from the company two days later. Reportedly, WWE management were aware of her FanTime, a site similar to OnlyFans, page prior to this, but weren't happy with the more recent nude content she posted. Since the page is behind a pay wall, one of the subscribers, who appeared to have paid extra for "custom content" leaked the videos online, which led to her firing from the organization. 

In some ways, this goes back to the controversial policy that Vince McMahon put in place in 2020 that prevented talent from third party ventures such as Twitch, non-WWE merchandise, and sites like OnlyFans. On one hand, as ridiculous and illegal as it probably is, while WWE talent are classified as independent contractors, which means that the office wouldn't have the right to prevent them from doing other projects, the bottom line is, it's not going to change. The WWE performers are going to be employees in every sense of the word except they won't be given any of the benefits of that status, and the billion dollar company that they work for will get to skate around offering health insurance or payroll taxes. It's unfair, but it's not going to change because it's not a political issue since pro wrestling is often looked at as low brow entertainment so it won't get the investigations or regulation of the NFL or other sports.

Mandy charges $30 for a subscription to her FanTime content and while I don't get the point of this because there are only so many pictures or videos of a person you can see before it's literally the same content recycled several times, there's no doubt that OnlyFans and similar sites are major revenue streams for female performers. Don't get me wrong, if they can get those monthly subscriptions, good for them, that's capitalism. Hey, nobody is paying me for pictures of surgery scars and bunions so I'm not criticizing the hustle. In theory, if a female wrestler is producing content outside of the WWE bubble on their own time, as an independent contractor, the office shouldn't have a right to prevent that. At the same time, Mandy Rose has the notoriety she does because of the exposure of WWE television, which is what ultimately allowed for the number of subscriptions that generated a hefty sum on money for her on the pay site. She wasn't just another pretty face on the internet behind a pay wall, she was WWE star Mandy Rose, which allowed her to standout from the thousands of other pages on those sites.

So of course, the WWE exposure played a role in her success outside of the company, but does nude content behind a pay wall justify her release?

It's important to note that many of these sites only allow adults to subscribe so it's not as though her nude content was posted publicly for any of the younger audience to randomly find on Instagram. Plus, when Seth Rollins, Paige, or other WWE stars had private photos leaked online, they weren't released from their contract. The difference being that Mandy has a pay service, and the others were victims of a hack of their private photos so in some ways that's an apples to oranges comparison. Still, as far as the potential "morality" or lack thereof in the situation, the Usos had several DUIs, but weren't released. The bottom line is, Mandy Rose choosing to post nude content on a subscription site isn't nearly as outrageous as some of the other headlines that WWE stars made in the past.

The true hypocrisy of all of this is that Vince McMahon was accused of misconduct with employees and it took The Wall Street Journal investigation to take it public. Yet, Mandy gets fired for posting nude content on a private web site?

Unfortunately, it might not be fair, but it's within the WWE's right to terminate her contract if they decide her decisions reflect negatively on the corporation. To be clear, I don't see the logic of that because Vince got the boot for actual misconduct, and the company is making literally billions of dollars so it's not as though Mandy hustling a few extra dollars is going to affect the company's bottom line. The fact that the talent contracts are completely one-sided is another matter completely, but the point is, Mandy knew what she signed when she inked a WWE contract, and the terms of the deal give the company the right to release her.

It's a harsh reality, but when you take into account the amount of money the company generated, and the depth of the women's division on the main roster, Mandy Rose was expendable. If I had to guess as to the reason she was released, I'd say that they don't want to set a precedent that would potentially allow the rest of the roster to get involved in OnlyFans or similar sites. If more of the roster were involved in those type of projects, it might garner negative publicity when the company is already trying to distance itself from the negativity of the Vince McMahon situation.

VHS Memoirs Volume 31

Last week marked 26 years since In Your House:It's time, a pay-per-view that used the two-hour format before the In Your House series became a full-fledged PPV with the usual three-hour time slot and ultimately put the monthly pay-per-view schedule in place to go head-to-head with World Championship Wrestling for a slice of the PPV pie. It's interesting to note that the competition from the Turner organization, not necessarily the demand for premium cards every month, was what fueled this decision. It might seem like business as usual when you're trying to cut into the profit margin of the other group, but the domino effect of this was huge because it completely changed the way pro wrestling was booked. That along with the weekly live television broadcasts almost made the concept of long-term booking an antiquated concept. After the 90s, it was no longer an epic saga that culminated in a big match at Wrestlemania or Starrcade, it was how do we sell a pay-per-view card this month. It might sound trivial since monthly events are so common place now, but the structure of booking wasn't the same after that decision was made, and you could argue that there are some major pitfalls to that philosophy.

This particular In Your House event isn't really spoken of in the same way as some of the more memorable shows. Mind Games, Buried Alive, The Canadian Stampede, and Final Four remain topics of discussion for the impact they had on the era.

The show opened with Al Snow working as Leif Cassidy, the doomed New Rockers gimmick during a short stint as a tag team with Marty Jannetty, against Flash Funk, the WWF persona that Too Cold, Scorpio used during this period. This was after Jannetty left the organization so Al Snow was left with a gimmick that was more or less dead in the water at that point. You can see some of the unbalanced bitter heel show through, which was the original premise of the gimmick he attempted to use when he was on loan ECW. Some might remember he still wore the Rockers outfit at the Hardcore Heaven 1997 pay-per-view against Rob Van Dam. For whatever reason, Flash Funk, who was relatively new to the organization, at this time, had a rather extended entrance, and it dragged with minimal crowd reaction before the time the bell rang. Vince McMahon trying to dance at ringside made the stunner he took at Wrestlemania earlier this year look like poetry in motion. 

The match itself was solid, resembling something similar to an ECW type match these two could’ve had there, but it was in front of a crowd that wasn’t invested in either performer. There was solid technical wrestling, but there was barely any crowd response. Al Snow had an impressive overhead suplex on the Scorpio over the ropes  to the floor and followed up with a dive, but that only garnered a momentary reaction. Scorpio also had a dive outside the ring and the finish saw him hit his trademark 450 splash to get the win, which finally got a pop the crowd . If I had to guess, this match was booked on pay-per-view to theoretically add the in-ring action to the card, but the characters, not necessarily the performers themselves weren’t over with the audience. More than anything, it’s interesting to consider that within a year, Al Snow was on his way to becoming extremely popular in ECW  with the head gimmick that defined his career, but during this time, period, despite being a very solid, entertaining worker, he had no direction from a character perspective. 

Speaking of characters with no investment or reaction from the crowd, the fake Diesel and Razor Ramon were scheduled to compete against The British Bulldog and Owen Hart for the tag team titles. The imposter Diesel, who, as we know, went on to become Kane, and the phony Razor Ramon were as terrible in retrospect as they were originally. Granted, the use of replacement performers, for those specific characters had more to do with the lawsuit at the time against WCW than trying to salvage the Diesel and Razor personas, but the whole thing was bizarre. The crowd in attendance was just as confused as the rest of us and thus nobody in the building cared about this contest. You can’t expect the audience to offer any response when they know the performers in the outfits aren’t actually Scott Hall or Kevin Nash. Along with that angle, the lackluster Jim Ross heel turn on commentary, didn’t do the segment any favors either. Just like Glenn Jacobs wasn’t Diesel, and Rick Bognar wasn’t Razor Ramon, the attempt at being a heel just wasn’t Jim Ross at the desk.

As far as the actual match, Owen Hart is a smooth and a crisp as you expect, and his s slick maneuvers at least make this match watchable. However, as if bogus versions of former champions wasn’t enough to make this match rather useless, there’s a random cameo from Pierroth and Cibernético since AAA talent were scheduled for the following month's Royal Rumble. The luchadors went to ringside for seemingly no reason before they left without explanation. After that, Steve, Austin walks to ringside and brawls with Bulldog on the floor. This all happens while the match is still going on so there’s no pace and no focus on a contest that lacked any interest from the audience anyway. I’m not sure what the point of the cameos were or even the match itself. Bulldog and Owen retained but if you skip this match, you’re not missing much of this contest.

Marc Mero challenged for the Intercontinental championship against Triple H, with the angle being the basis for sable's WWF debut and her eventual role as Mero‘s manager. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t a subpar match, but it wasn’t anything spectacular either. It was more or less the basic WWF match you would see during this era, and Triple H lost via count out, which was a completely flat finish.

For what was promoted as an Armageddon match, which was essentially a Texas Deathmatch, the Executioner squared off against The Undertaker. An all-time great as one of the Fabulous Freebirds, Terry Gordy had an accidental overdose on pain medication during a flight to Japan that left him with brain damage in the early-90s, and he wasn’t the same in the ring for the rest of his career. Reportedly a favor to Michael Hayes, Gordy was given the generic role as The Executioner during The Undertaker's original feud with Mankind. While it was nice that Gordy was able to make some cash in the WWF for the two months he was there, it’s just sad to see the legendary wrestler a shell of himself throughout dispatch. The wild trademark Gordy punches looked rather sloppy and he moved in the ring almost as if he was unsure of himself as opposed to being such a natural during the prime of his career. There weren’t any signature Gordy bumps or intensity during this segment. It was a very basic subpar match, and I’m guessing that’s why midway through the contest Mankind attacked The Undertaker. There was a brawl through the aisle and Gordy was temporarily thrown outside the arena. Mankind got sent sailing through part of the In Your House set before security eventually put him in a straight jacket. The Executioner eventually returned, but The Undertaker hit a tombstone to get the win.

The main event seemed to be more to set up the originally scheduled Bret Hart/Shawn Micheals rematch at Wrestlemania from the previous year more than anything else. This match was fine, but Sid had some really clumsy moments, and event Bret Hart could've cover for it. It wasn't a subpar match, but not the quality you'd associate with a Bret Hart main event, which was based on his opponent. The finish saw Sid taunt Micheals, who got on the apron, but Bret was sent crashing into him, sending HBK to the floor, and that allowed Sid to hit the power bomb to retain the belt. As we know, Micheals went on to beat Sid at The Royal Rumble in his hometown, and since Bret had a claim to the championship based on this disputed finish at In Your House, that would've set up for the Wrestlemania rematch. Conveniently, Shawn "lost his smile" and vacated the championship to avoid dropping it to Bret to set up for the rubber match.

What's the status of Riddle?

"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent" -A Bronx's Tale, 1993

That line became a central theme of Chazz Palminteri's one-man show that eventually hit the screen a few years after its theatre run as a part of Robert De Niro's directorial debut. Palminteri's semi-autobiographical street drama follows a youth during the racial tension of the 1960s. Lorenzo, the boy's father, brilliantly played by De Niro, oppose Palminteri's mafia boss character, warns his son throughout the film about the pitfalls of wasted talent.

Sadly, this theme was so identifiable because it played a continuous role in the entertainment field throughout history, specifically the live event business where the performers lead somewhat of a nomadic lifestyle to make each city on their schedule. Everything from professional wrestling to music and film have seen careers cut short when talented performers struggled with substance issues.

That's why it's so concerning that there are reports from The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer that WWE star, Matt Riddle was written off of television on Raw because he was sent to rehab after his second wellness policy violation. This isn't the first time Riddle made headlines, as he was accused of sexual assault by a female independent wrestler a few years ago, who filed a lawsuit against him and WWE. Riddle claimed that he had an affair with her, but it was consensual. The lawsuit was later dismissed and at least from the WWE side, it appeared that he was cleared of wrongdoing in that situation.

How this stint in rehab reflects upon him might be a different story.

Matt Riddle, who made a name for himself as a competitor in the UFC, was released from his MMA contract in 2013 after multiple failed drug tests for marijuana. While THC is medically and even recreationally legal in some states, fighting under the influence of anything is dangerous for both athletes. This isn't about pain management or recovery from injuries after a fight, this is as simple as if a fighter is intoxicated when they compete, they might not be as able to protect themselves or follow the referee's instructions. It's not a question of ethics, as it's widely accepted that there are medical benefits to THC, but rather the safety in combat sports.

Regardless of your personal view of THC, it seemed like Riddle would rather smoke marijuana than be a professional fighter because he couldn't pass the required drug tests.

Originally, when I heard that Riddle was going to make the transition to pro wrestling, I didn't expect much, not as a knock against him, but rather that it can be a difficult transition to go from a sport where competitors are trained to try to prevent their opponent's offense to a business where there's a level of cooperation. That said, he found success rather quickly, taking to the ring rather naturally when he broke into the business in late-2014. Within three and a half years, a portion of that time he spent working for PWG and Evolve, Riddle was offered an NXT contract in 2018. He had a successful tenure on the developmental brand before he landed on the main roster in 2020 and he initially floundered as many former NXT stars did when they moved to either Raw or Smackdown. In many ways, at least early in his main roster run, Matt Riddle was booked to look like a dork. He was cast as a Rob Van Dam 4:20 persona without being nearly as cool as RVD so the result was just scripted attempts at lame comedy. Finally, in mid-2021, he began to work with Randy Orton, and the association with a much bigger star allowed him to turn the corner to get over with the audience.

As we know, Orton has been on the sidelines for several months because of various injuries and there's no set time table for his return. Still, Riddle took the momentum that he had from the RK-Bro team and used it to become one of the featured stars on Raw.

I have to say, I'm not a fan of the whole "bro" gimmick, maybe it's because it's a reminder of all those Vince Russo interviews when he deflects blame for the collapse of WCW, but I find Riddle's promo delivery cringe worthy, not trendy. He's fine in the ring, but I wouldn't necessarily rank him as one of the top performers in the company either. That being said, there's no doubt that Riddle is over with the WWE audience. It might not be my cup of tea, but the scooter and the "bro" character are popular among the crowd.

That's why the rumors of drug issues are so disappointing.

Since Riddle's gimmick is based on the whole 4:20 culture and the fact that he was given the boot from the UFC because he continuously failed drug tests for marijuana, it's no surprise that he's a THC user. However, the WWE Wellness policy, specifically since the legalization of THC in many states, no longer tests for marijuana use on the roster. While steroids are possible, the rumors suggest that Riddle failed for hard drugs since he was sent to rehab. For example, if Riddle failed for cocaine, not only his career, but his life would be in danger. His health is obviously more important than a spot on Raw so assuming he actually failed for hard drugs, the WWE made the right decision to send him to rehab.

On a podcast earlier this year, Riddle claimed that his personal life was in "shambles" because of a very difficult divorce that was proceeding while he was getting the best television exposure of his career. It's possible that Riddle wanted time off to deal with some of his personal problem, of it's possible that those personal problems are what led to the failed drug tests. Dave Meltzer reported that the most recent failed test was Riddle's second Wellness Policy failure in the span of just a few months, which was why his match with Seth Rollins was rescheduled for Clash at The Castle.

For Riddle to abruptly be written off of television, I'd guess that there's credibility to the reports that he was sent to rehab. Hopefully, he gets his problems taken care of and can return to the company in healthy condition. To put it in perspective, Riddle was signed to a WWE deal less than four years after he started training to be a pro wrestler, and in the four years that he's been under a WWE deal, he has a spot as one of the more popular stars on Raw. Those are opportunities and chances that shouldn't be squandered. The ability to make good money in the biggest sports entertainment organization in the world after just a few years of experience shouldn't be taken for granted. Where things get tricky is that we assume that Riddle will be brought back to WWE television after the stint in rehab, but it would be understandable if it would take some time with several clean drug tests before management would continue to invest TV time into his character for the show.

The contract of Sasha Banks

The story of Sasha Bank's next move in professional wrestling continues to develop, as she was trending again earlier today on social media (I'm still waiting to hear back from Twitter support after Elon's new algorithms mistakenly flagged my account for being a robot, and I will continue to mention that in this column until I at least get a response) after The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that money talks between the two sides fell a part. The real-life Mercedes Varnado reportedly wanted a contract on the same level as her co-workers, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.

Meltzer claims that WWE management didn't want to offer her that kind of cash and thus it appears she will be on her way to Japan to work big money bouts for Bushiroad with New Japan and Stardom. On the surface, it seems like a very reasonable request, but was the WWE office right in their assessment of Sasha Banks?

First, it should be noted that Sasha Banks is as talented as Becky and Charlotte. She's just as marketable, if not more so than either of them and brings the same level of star power to the table. The women's division has such depth right now that to attempt to truly rank the top performers ahead is moot in most cases. In theory, there's no reason Varnado isn't worth that type of contract to the WWE. However, when you take into account the rocky history between the two sides, the outside of the ring disputes, not the on-screen talent, might've been the determining factor.

As I wrote previously, Sasha Banks walked out of a scheduled main event right before a live broadcast went on the air. She wanted to prove a point and she certainly did, but at the same time, she also made it very difficult for the office to invest both time and money into her again. Keep in mind, she took a four-month hiatus from the company in 2019 because she was unhappy with the creative direction. At this point, she has a track record of leaving the building if she doesn't like the script she's given so what happens if she's booked in the main event of a pay-per-view and decides she doesn't want to drop the title? Don't get me wrong, there are times where a talent should speak up for themselves or leave if they aren't happy with their position in the company, but you always do business because that's the level of trust the office has to have with its performers. Back in July, Sasha could've worked the main event of Raw and still left to make her point. She reportedly put her tag team belt on the desk in front of management before she left the building. It would've been better business to notify management she was done after that night, worked the match, and left. That would've given the writing team a week or so before the next pay-per-view to script a reason Banks wouldn't be on the shows going forward, and the office didn't have to scramble before a live broadcast.

Don't get me wrong, Sasha is one of the most talented of her generation and undoubtedly a big star, she's going to draw major numbers in Japan, but again, the bottom  line is, after she walked out on Raw, there's a risk that WWE management must take into account if they are going to invest TV time and money into her character.

That said, does Varnado have a legitimate gripe toward how she was booked in the WWE? Absolutely, she was rarely spotlighted to her fullest potential and often played second fiddle to Charlotte. That's why despite multiple reigns as Women's champion, Banks didn't have a definitive run as champion because her short stints with the title were ultimately designed to get Charlotte closer to her dad's number of championship reigns. It's not fair, but politics and nepotism aren't anything new in pro wrestling. It's an ego-driven business and it's a harsh reality, but those politics, not just ability, can determine the direction of a storyline. Remember, Charlotte was at odds with the promotion at one point, including the rift with Nia Jax when legitimate punches seemed to be thrown in the ring, and the infamous belt swap segment with Becky Lynch on Smackdown. Eventually, things settled down and everyone was able to do business again, which is the entire point of the industry because that's how you draw money.

Finally, while some fans will jump on the anti-WWE bandwagon because that's usually the trendy thing to do on social media, I have to say, I think the office made the right call. Between the hiatus in 2019, the walk out on Raw, and the ridiculous C2E2 photo-ops that surfaced, I'd guess that Mercedes Varnado thinks she's a bigger star than she actually is in the industry. Considering the depth of the women's division in WWE, they don't need her on the roster to solidify the division, and prehaps, she doesn't need the WWE. The difference between the hiatus in 2019 and her most recent dispute with the company is that a few years ago, the options for talent, at least in the United States, were limited. Even after All Elite Wrestling started, there wasn't a guarantee that the project was going to get off the ground so it wasn't until the past two years that talent could realistically expect comparable money to WWE in America. Right now, everyone wins, Varnado will go to Japan to make some hefty cash, and the WWE will continue to generate record-setting profits with its television deals. I wouldn't be surprised at all if she eventually returns to WWE in a few years, which might be best for everyone since it allows for a fresh start.

That being said, regardless of the amount of cash Tony Khan could offer her, I seriously doubt that she would sign with All Elite Wrestling, and if she does, it won't end well. If  Varnado was unsatisfied with the booking in WWE, there's no way she would want to work with the inconsistent booking that Khan often uses for the product. Sasha Banks' ability is worth as much as Becky or Charlotte's contract, but the difficulty to work with Mercedes Varnado simply isn't worth the hassle. Love him or hate him, Jim Cornette had a saying that could summarize this situation, "how can we miss you if you won't go away?" Varnado's work in Japan will allow her to make major money, work with stellar talent, and could ultimately set the stage for her to be a bigger star when she returns to the company.

Vice TV documentary

Earlier this week, the "Nine Lives of Vince McMahon," a two-hour exposé on the downfall of the kingpin of sports entertainment, aired on Vice TV. This was a highly-anticipated program, particularly for its association with the Dark Side of The Ring series, which garnered rave reviews.

All things considered, I have to say, the "Nine Lives" feature falls well short of the standard of both the original Dark Side episodes, as well as the editions of Tales from The Territories.

Both Dark Side and The Territories have done very well for Vice TV so it was no surprise that the network would examine Vince McMahon's swift fall from public billionaire to being ousted from the organization he took to a global level. Dark Side of the Ring was praised for its unsanitized and report-style look at pro wrestling controversies that either weren't discussed on a national level before or stories that were only presented with the WWE spin of the narrative. That said, I found McMahon episode to be too much like a tabloid show, with the sole intention to try to paint Vince as a failure that somehow succeeded in spite of that, which just isn't accurate. You don't have to like Vince McMahon, and the way he conducted himself was definitely sleazy, if it wasn't criminal, but the entire show seemed like it was a cut and paste job to get something on television while his exit was still a current topic.

Has Vince tried and failed at other ventures? Sure, but other than to attempt to take a jab at him, what does a failed Evel Knievel pay-per-view have to do with the misconduct scandal or even the premise of "nine lives" on this episode? In my view, McMahon had nine lives because he didn't go bankrupt when the WWF was on the ropes in 1997, he refused to do the job for Uncle Sam in 1994, the WWF maintained its hot streak despite the negative publicity after the tragic accident that took Owen Hart's life in 1999, or that the Benoit tragedy didn't destroy the business in 2007. The steroid scandal of the early-90s was probably the biggest threat to McMahon's empire and the time spent on that in this presentation was minimal. Keep in mind, the steroid scandal of that time period was already the subject of an episode of Dark Side of the ring so there was a huge portion of the footage used that was recycled from that series.

It appeared, at least from my view point, that the first hour was to tell the audience how terrible of a person Vince is supposed to be and then the second hour was designed to focus on the affairs that would then "prove" that he is an awful person. Don't get me wrong, Vince might be a creep or sleazy for paying to keep his affairs quiet, but that doesn't change the fact that what could've been a riveting documentary on one of the biggest stories in the history of the industry was reduced to clips slapped together without much detail on the actual story of the episode.

This had the potential to be this generation's "Wrestling with Shadows" as far as what it could've uncovered about the inner workings of the sports entertainment business, but it was forgettable.

The reasons why for this are numerous, but it boiled down to the fact that this was rushed to television so there wasn't much done to provide actual context to the ripple effect the scandal had on the company. Vince Russo as a talking head was laughable, mostly because he hasn't been around the WWE product for over 22 years, minus a two-week stint when it was determined that he was more or less unemployable in the WWE structure. Credit to Russo for somehow keeping a job in the wrestling business as long as he did, which translates to he was able to swerve Dixie Carter into paying him, but he's so far removed from the WWE office that he provides zero insight into the current management of the organization. Dave Meltzer is one of the longest-tenured reporters of the industry and from a historical perspective is one of the best resources anywhere. However, Dave makes a living exposing the tricks of the trade so naturally, he's not someone McMahon would view favorably. Furthermore, by the nature of his work, the negative publicity around the industry, including the steroid trial, provided Melzter with a hefty amount of "red meat" to write about to sell newsletter subscriptions. For many years, Meltzer was persona non-grata for the WWE. On the flip side, Tony Khan, the owner of the second biggest pro wrestling group in the United States is a reader of his newsletter and makes himself available for extended interviews. Taking all that into account, I'm not sure Dave is the most impartial person to interview for this episode. Bryan Alvarez was probably the most sensible talking head in this production and he's someone that more often than not, takes a fair look at pro wrestling topics. His weekly podcast with underrated legend, Lance Storm is a hidden gem in the almost ludicrous amount of sports entertainment podcasts on the internet.

Aside from the talking heads that were hit or miss, because of the non-disclosure agreements that were signed, none of the females involved in the settlements from the initial Wall Street Journal reports appeared on this show. The misconduct, which might be skewed by legal jargon in the non-disclosure agreements, at least appeared to happen since a settlement was offered in the first place, but there's not much context to it when very few names are public, and those talking in the episode are only providing the same information already publicized in the reports.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending McMahon, when there's this much smoke, there's a fire somewhere and even if he did the least repulsive claims against him, he's a total creep for how he treated women. The issue is how this production took the easy way to painted him in the worst light possible instead of what could've been a definitive chronicle of his exit from the company.

Will Vince McMahon return?

When one of the biggest stories in the history of the professional wrestling industry, the "retirement" of Vince McMahon, made headlines in July, many thought it'd be almost impossible for the emperor of sports entertainment to step away after he devoted seemingly every aspect of his life to his organization. The billionaire's rocky exit from the company that he built from the north east territory that he bought from his father in 1983 to the publicly-traded global corporation that it is today came after a series of Wall Street Journal articles revealed previously undisclosed hush money payments that McMahon paid to keep his affairs quiet. Several payments were made to several women over the years, totaling almost $20 million from consensual affairs to an accusation of misconduct with claims that a female talent was told if she didn't get sexual involved with him, it might put her job at risk.

As I wrote at the time, morally there's an argument to be made against McMahon's decisions to have affairs, but if it was consensual then his decision to pay those women not to sell their story to the press wasn't necessarily anything that could jeopardize his standing within WWE. As long as it was a consensual affair then his personal life doesn't impact his position as the CEO. The huge problem was the accusation that McMahon coerced a female performer into an encounter with him, which is not only wrong, but also a criminal act. The female reportedly accepted a $7.5 million settlement to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which would effectively keep it out of the legal system, but that incident gave the WWE Board of Directors legitimate reason to launch an investigation, which took place over the course of the months before his "retirement."

The details of if that female was actually coerced or if McMahon's actions were illegal are a moot point in some ways because the hush money was paid to avoid that. However, there were a few things that we know for sure based on the revelations from the Wall Street Journal stories. McMahon was accused of misconduct and paid to make it go away. Considering that we've seen McMahon go to court for lawsuits in the past, you could at least make the guess that there was some credibility to these claims because Vince paid up instead of letting the story go public. McMahon isn't giving up his cash for a false story, this is a guy that fought in court to not have to pay royalties to talent from the 80s. He also paid to have consensual affairs stay quiet. It might not be illegal, but it's definitely sleazy that another wealthy businessman used his power to have several affairs.

So, McMahon was out of the WWE and Triple H, his son-in-law that many thought would be the next person to take the sports entertainment throne before his health problems put WWE executive, Nick Khan in the lead for that spot, takeover the company. The product, the topic of criticism in recent years because of some of Vince's decisions based on the usual WWE tropes, went in a different direction, bringing back several wrestlers that were released from the company during the pandemic. Still, it's a WWE product and the premise will always remain the same, attempt to draw as many casual fans as possible. A side note, I think that the Triple H regime has yielded mixed results thus far, but overall there does finally seem to be some focus to build for the future, which is always a good decision.

While I'm still waiting to hear back from Twitter support after my account was mistakenly flagged as being a robot two weeks ago, despite the fact that I've had the account for over ten years, I saw that Vince's name was trending on social media. I assumed it was because Vice TV's documentary about the scandal and his swift downfall premieres tonight, but was surprised to see that not only are there two new accusations against him, one from a former female referee in the 80s and a claim from a spa manager in 2011, but also that there are rumors that McMahon wants to make a comeback to the WWE.

The rumor that Vince might to return to the WWE is probably the least surprising aspect to the entire story. binge-watching The Sopranos and The Wire can only occupy so much time. Vince's life, legacy, and much of his existence are associated with the company. Many expected McMahon to "die in the chair" at his desk in Titan Tower at 102 before he would retire to play golf and drink ice tea.

If Vince makes the move to actually return would be surprising because it puts the WWE board and its shareholders, the group that ultimately allowed him to become a billionaire when they bought the stock, in the position to object to his presence in the organization. It would get very tricky because McMahon is still the majority shareholder in the corporation. Granted, the fans would cheer gleefully and bow to him if he showed up on television again, which is exactly what happened when he made an appearance on Smackdown right after the original Wall Street Journal reports were published, which didn't exactly make pro wrestling look good.

However, the issue would become should Vince McMahon, someone with several allegations of misconduct against him, be allowed to return to the corporate environment.

On the surface, the answer is easy, no an executive that was accused of and paid to keep work place misconduct quiet shouldn't be brought back less than six month after his exit. That said, the pro wrestling business isn't known for it's ethical standards. Believe it or not, the stock market and the politics that affect it are even shadier than anything that happens in pro wrestling. Still, unless Vince's return would affect the stock price, and it might, there's no reason the shareholders wouldn't welcome him back onto the conference calls. The reason being is simple, the WWE is guaranteed to continue to tout record-setting profits based on its hefty TV deals and the Peacock deal so as long as the shareholders make money on their investment, they won't object to his return to the company.

Sasha Banks signed for Wrestle Kingdom?

Just last week, I penned an article about Sasha Banks' future in pro wrestling, discussing the latest rumors around the next move in her career. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that there were "money talks" between the two sides before he reported that she was backstage at a WWE live event in Mexico, which would suggest that fences could be mended between the two parties. While I never doubted her talent or star power, I mentioned that prehaps it was best that she step away from the sport for an extended period of time to start fresh down the road. More than anything, I emphasized that the company might be hesitant to invest too much stock or television time into her character upon her return because she has a track record of walking out on a live television show just before it went on the air. That's not good business, and at some point, the office has to measure the risk/reward of the Sasha Banks situation. What if she was unhappy with a creative direction before a live pay-per-view when she's booked in the main event and refuses to go to the ring?

A publicly-traded, global company with literally billions of dollars in revenue based on its broadcast rights fees can't take that type of risk.

On the other hand, I explained that the options in sports entertainment give her more leverage with a negotiation, and the fact that she filed for trademarks on variations of her name appeared to put WWE management on notice that if they didn't meet her expectations of a contract, she at least took the steps to potentially work elsewhere.

Today, (I still don't have access to my Twitter account that was mistakenly flagged as spam last week so anyone with any info on how to get it unsuspended, please e mail me) Sasha's name was trending on social media, with reports from PWInsider's Mike Johnson, the most accurate reporter in the sport, that the real-life Mercedes Varnado is expected to appear on Wrestle Kingdom 17, New Japan's signature event at the Tokyo Dome, in January. This creates several interesting possibilities, as NJPW's parent company, Bushiroad, also owns Stardom, considered by many to be the top women's wrestling group in the world. Former NXT star, Kari Sane, is the current IWGP Women's champion, and there was a crossover event recently held with New Japan and Stardom talent. This would open the door for an IWGP Women's title match at the Tokyo Dome, considering that there's a more direct affiliation with the two Bushiroad-owned organizations.

Obviously, this would be a huge deal for New Japan, and it'd be another way to expand its foreign audience, which is what Chris Jericho's stint with NJPW did a few years ago with an increase in subscriptions to its streaming service. Granted, the Japanese style will always be a niche product in the United States by nature, but it's always wise to find ways to expand that profitable niche.

As far as if it will actually happen, Mike Johnson is one of the very few reporters that I'd give the endorsement to, if he reports it then it's accurate. That being said, there was a time when stuff like this would be considered fantasy booking on an obscure video game or some random E-fed message board in the corner of the internet, but the industry evolved dramatically within the past five years. Some might criticize Chris Jericho's amount of TV time on Dynamite, but his surprise appearance to attack Kenny Omega to set up at match at Wrestle Kingdom in 2018 really was a landmark moment in the industry. You can't write-off something as unrealistic if the talent is willing to explore their options.

At the same time, things came together for New Japan over the past decade, minus some rocky times during the pandemic, that allowed the company to flourish and expand under Bushiroad's ownership. The parent company's willingness to invest in the organization allowed for stability and the expansion of merchandise, as well as more accessibility to the Japanese league allowed revenue streams that made it possible for major names like Jericho and Jon Moxley to work for the company. Simply put, when the organization was on the brink of collapse in 2005 after Antonio Inoki's failed MMA experiment, the group couldn't afford big names from the United States.

But, the pieces of the puzzle seem to have organically fit into place to open to door for Sasha Banks to work for New Japan at the Tokyo Dome, which isn't something anyone would've guessed last year.

As I wrote last week, the WWE women's division is probably the most solid group in the entire company with Bianca Belair, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bless, Nikki Cross, Charlotte, and others. So, the WWE doesn't necessarily need Banks to solidify the division, and at the same time prehaps Banks doesn't need the WWE either. If Sasha overestimates how big of a star she actually is, is another discussion for another time. The point being, the WWE can afford anyone with the record-setting profits they will continue to bring in based on the previously mentioned TV deals, but they might decide that Sasha's conditions for a return to the company wouldn't be worth the contract, based on the current depth of the division.

So, that opens to door for Sasha to make big money in Japan for either a one-off or a series of matches. There's a level of flexibility working in Japan because on its tour schedule so Banks could make a hefty amount of cash without any of the long-term commitments that are usually associated with pro wrestling contracts. When you take into account her success at a relatively young age in the WWE, she already made enough money to presumably have some financial security so maybe she wants to take the time to accomplish some different "artistic" goals in the sport before she eventually hangs up the boots. In some ways, Banks' working for the WWE for several years at a young age and then potentially going to Japan is the reverse of the usual path. For example, Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura did much of their "legacy work" in New Japan before they signed with the WWE and had the chance to work a lighter style to avoid the extra toll on their bodies as they got older.

The reports don't confirm if Sasha will just be in attendance or if she will appear in front of the live crowd, but if there's any realistic possibility to get Sasha Banks on the card for Wrestle Kingdom, I'd say that the Bushiroad executives get her in the ring for a match at the Tokyo Dome, not just an appearance to set up a bout at a smaller venue. In some ways, this might be the best solution for everyone because it allows Sasha to accomplish some personal goals, and as much criticism as Jim Cornette might get these days, he's right with the notion of, "how can we miss you if you don't go away?" If Sasha works internationally for another year or so, it will make her eventually return to WWE that much bigger, which is exactly why Cody Rhodes returned with such momentum at Wrestlemania this year.

Sumie Sakai at Ryse

 It might be cliché, but there are times when things in professional wrestling, a sport, known for its carny shenanigans as much as it’s spectacle, go full circle. Usually, I don’t write much about myself in this column, simply because it’s not relevant to the topics that I cover. Essentially, you click on these articles (and I thank you for it) read about pro wrestling, not me. While my Twitter account is still in limbo because the new algorithms thought I was a bot despite having the account for 10 years, some readers know from my social media that I’ve been a play-by-play announcer on the Pittsburgh independent wrestling scene for almost 14 years. Side note, I filed an appeal last week to let Twitter Support know that I am an actual person and not a spam account, but I haven’t received a reply yet. Anyway, over the course of the years I’ve worked behind the mic in pro wrestling, there were definitely times when I just shook my head at some of the shady business tactics or ridiculous antics that could only happen in pro wrestling. On the flip side, I’ve also had a chance to work with and meet some wonderful people, including some of those that I watched from the audience at a younger age.

You may have read my article earlier this week about the sixth anniversary show of Ryse Wrestling, an organization I’ve done commentary for for over four years, minus some time during the pandemic. Ryse showcases some of the best talent from the Pittsburgh, and brings in an occasional guest for a special appearance. As the organization, founded by veteran grappler Brandon K in 2016, celebrates, six years in existence, they have one of those special guest scheduled for this card this Saturday at the Uniontown Mall in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a blue collar town just south of Pittsburgh. That grappler is Sumie Sakai, a Joshi pro wrestler that ventured to America in the early-2000s and became a staple of the independence scene before she became the inaugural Women Of Honor champion for Ring Of Honor, as well as working as a trainer. 

This weekend Sumie will be in a tag match with AJ Alexander, a prospect from the steel city, to challenge Christian Noir, who is one of the hidden gems of the area, and one of the most notable female wrestlers of the Pittsburgh scene, Laura Loveless.

Obviously, getting to share the ring with such an accomplished international star is something that the three Pittsburgh grapplers are looking forward to, this occasion to call a Sumie Sakai is also a full circle moment for me.

In 2005, when I was just 16, Norm Connors, the godfather of the Pittsburgh scene, promoted a highly-anticipated card in Monroeville Pennsylvania at the sensibly named Monroeville Sports Center. Norm, a funeral director in his civilian life, promoted Steel City Wrestling in the 90s before he took over operations at the International Wrestling Cartel, a group he promoted for several years until he regained his senses and a a normal blood pressure when he retired from the circuit to resume normal life. Connors ran the IWC banner for nearly a decade and was hands-on with his promotion. When fans called to reserve tickets in the early-2000s for an IWC event, that was a direct line to Norm, who took the phone orders himself. The July 2005 card was particularly special for Norm, as he landed a legitimate dream match when he booked AJ Styles, an IWC regular at the time, against Matt Hardy, who was in the midst of major controversy at the time because he was released from the WWE when the Lita/Edge affair went public. After the match was signed, Matt negotiated a return to WWE, attacking Edge backstage at Raw in a segment to set up the feud that would take place on television. However, Hardy was allowed to keep his commitment on the indies, including a few more dates with Ring Of Honor. As history tells us, Matt and AJ ended up in the same place more than once, but in 2005, this was thought to be the only time such a match would take place.

Ironically, I discovered IWC over two and a half years earlier when they had a 30-minute television show on local channel WBGN, a station that had blocks of wrestling for years. It's also ironic that about a decade after I found the show on that channel, one of the local groups that I did commentary for had a program that aired on the same station. 

Eventually, IWC had its Friday night spot bumped to an hour time slot on Saturdays. When I attended a Raw event in October of 2003, some of the IWC  rookies at the time were handing out flyers for an upcoming show in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania that had Shane Douglas on the card. Being a fan of ECW and Shane Douglas, I went to the show dubbed "November Pain", which had The Franchise taking on local radio personality Bubba The Bulldog. After that, I became a regular at events with one of my wrestling pals, even though we weren't old enough to have a license so my dad was nice enough to drop us off at the door.  At a time when the independence scene was just starting to cook because the WWF gobbled up its competition on the national level, and there was a demand for an alternative, IWC had a unique mixture of independent names and solid local talent. There was a time when AJ Styles, CM Punk, Colt Cabana, Chris Sabin, and others made regular stops in Pittsburgh. Of course, being in high school, these events were things to look forward to and  so I'd often cram homework in on Friday nights to be done in time to go to a show on Saturday night. 

For the prosperity of pro wrestling, we wanted to make these adventures as efficient as possible so we'd hit the Wendy's drive-thru on the way to see the action in the squared circle. At first, this was an unintentional choice, but it happened so often that  it became a tradition that we had to get Wendy’s before we consumed the wrestling action for the evening. Somewhere, I hope Jim Cornette is proud. Whether it was two bacon cheeseburgers plain or the now-discontinued, home style chicken strips and french fries, the Wendy’s bag became as much of a must for these trips as the wrestling action itself. 

Thankfully, since this event was in July, I didn’t have to cram homework to make the show, but my usual wrestling pal was on vacation with his family so my dad was nice enough to take me to the show. He sat in the audience, and probably smoked more cigarettes outside the venue than watched matches inside, but I appreciate the fact that he took me to the show. It goes without saying that AJ vs. Styles was going to draw a crowd, but there was a solid crew on the under card as well. At this particular event, Matt Sydal and Delirious brought their stellar bout that made waves on the independent circuit to the Pittsburgh area and had a great match in front of a new audience. Delirious also made a Ryse appearance over the summer and had a great match alongside solid pro, Tony Johnson. Sumie was teaming with Gwen Spectre, who was a very underrated talent that just recently made his return to the ring last year, to clash with Chris Hero and Daisy Haze. Sumie was very technically sound and a polished professional. The intergender tag match was one of the highlights of the show. At intermission, I met Delirious and bought an 8X10, getting a picture with both he and Sydal because of how impressed I was with their match. I noticed that Sumie had a table and went to say hello, telling her she was awesome. She was very polite and thanked me several times. My dad, just back in the building from yet another cigarette break, took a picture of us, which I have in a photo album that has several years worth of wrestling pictures in it.

 Since that time, I followed Sumie's career and was very happy for all of her success, mostly because she deserved it with the solid skills she brings to the table, and how kind she was when I was just a kid that was thrilled to meet talented wrestlers. I don't like to attempt to give myself credit because I think those that are good enough don't have to do that, but I will say that I think I always do a solid job on the commentary, putting the talent first, which should be the standard in the sport, but that's not always the case on the indies. I learned a lot working with the great Joe Dombrowski almost a decade ago for a few years in a building that probably should've been condemned long before any of us were there, and he taught me the "glue" of announcing. The legendary Jeff Gorman and J. Worthington Farnsworth are always great resources. Again, I don't think it's right to give myself credit, but I'm decent enough to have maintained a place on the independent scene so I guess that counts for something. Either way, with Sumie on the card this Saturday at Ryse, an event that I can honestly say I think will give the fan their money's worth, I will get to work on the same event as a wrestler that I was just happy to get a picture with over 17 years ago.

Regal leaves AEW

Last week, I penned an article about MJF's promo on AEW Dynamite, where he made several references to WWE. I also mentioned that Friedman attacking William Regal didn't do much to generate heat, considering that Regal cost Jon Moxley, the top baby face in the company, the championship the week prior. Regal as a character wasn't a sympathetic figure to the audience and thus there wasn't any major heat to be generated from the attack. If anything, the Regal persona got a taste of his own medicine so from a storyline perspective, he might've gotten what he deserved when he chose to align with Friedman. I discussed the rumors that Regal might've been written off the show to open the door to a return to WWE, but didn't put too much stock in it at the time because there were conflicting reports about his contract status.

Within the past few days, the narrative around William Regal's future became much clearer, and his decision to depart All Elite Wrestling might speak volumes about the organization.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported different versions of the story regarding the British grappler's All Elite deal as the situation evolved, and eventually it was revealed that when he signed with the organization earlier this year, he had to option to finish his tenure if he was offered a return to the WWE, which translated into the option to exit his AEW contract earlier if Triple H was put in an executive position again. As we know, the misconduct scandal that sent Vince McMahon into "retirement" brought Triple H into the role as the leader of the company. We also know that Triple H and Regal have been close friends for years, with Triple H putting him into a role in the developmental system that he held for years before he was surprisingly released in April.

As I wrote at the time, I didn't understand why the WWE released him, as I think Regal is one of the most underrated performers of all time and one of the best minds in the history of the business. His value to a developmental system and as a coach can't be understated. That''s why it was such a stellar signing for All Elite Wrestling since the company has an overstock of young talent with potential, but could use a veteran to help develop that talent to be able to reach their fullest potential.

William Regal should've been one of the truly key acquisitions in the evolution of All Elite Wrestling as a company so what happened?

On-screen, Regal was always well-received from the diehard AEW audience because that crowd knows what he brings to the table and all that he accomplished. He formed the Blackpool Combat Club, and while I get what they were going for, I'm not sure the stable was the best choice since it led to Regal and even a few of the members of the stable not being utilized as well as they could be otherwise. Regal has tremendous mic skills, but the argument could be made that Moxley and Bryan Danielson didn't need someone to talk for them. Furthermore, there was a point during his early All Elite tenure that Danielson was probably the best heel in the business, but Tony didn't capitalize on it. The American Dragon is a main event performer, not just another member of a faction. If anything Claudio as the guy that Regal could talk for might've been the best decision for a member of the stable that could've used a manager. On the flip side, if Regal would've worked more extensively with MJF, it would've made sense because the veteran villain would give his endorsement of the young heel. All things considered, Regal probably could've been used better on television.

Behind-the-scenes, Tony Khan had one of the best coaches of the past two decades in his organization to assist the talent, but we never quite saw his influence on the product. While EC3 isn't exactly the most credible source because he's too focused on controlling his narrative, he claimed in a recent podcast that the majority of the All Elite roster weren't interested in Regal's advice. Justin LaBar from Busted Open Radio tweeted that he heard through the rumor mill that some talent took Regal's instructions, while others disregarded it. Brian Pillman Jr. responded to explain that while some of the roster didn't, he and others often listened to Regal's coaching sessions before television tapings. Obviously, it's good that some of the roster took the chance to learn from the legendary veteran, but it also confirms that some of the roster didn't take the time to listen to one of the most accomplished performers in the history of the industry.

Quite frankly, anyone that doesn't see the value or understand what an opportunity it is to listen to someone of Regal's level, they are marks for themselves that don't have any idea what the true point of the business is, and maybe that's why the All Elite numbers have plateaued.

Former All Elite champion, Adam Page infamously said in an interview that he doesn't listen to the advice of the coaches backstage because he has his own style, which was something that CM Punk made reference to during the infamous All Out media scrum. Page's statements lend credibility to the claim that the AEW roster wasn't interested in Regal's instructions.

Regal's departure from All Elite Wrestling might validate some of its common criticisms of the company.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy most of the All Elite product, and while sometimes I shake my head at some of the nonsense on the shows, I legitimately want to see the organization be successful. Its existence has provided a better industry for the talent and the fans. That said, the foundation of the organization was based on the success of a few wrestlers on the independent scene, which is completely different than the scale of national television. AEW can be the "pro wrestling brand" on national TV without the inside baseball indy stuff that the majority of the TBS audience wouldn't get anyway. Danielson vs. Dax Harwood was pro wrestling on a national level. The Elite playing games in the main event to snicker at CM Punk is minor league. That's not to take away from the trio's talent, but to point out that they should realize if All Elite is going to truly get off the ground on a long-term basis, they should be smart enough to put business first,

Keep in mind, Regal had the option to exit his AEW deal early, he didn't have to leave before his contract expired. The fact that he took the chance to depart the organization early, especially when guys that he publicly endorsed like Danielson and Claudio are on the roster seems to be an indication that he doesn't think improvements to the structure of the company can be made in the future. Regal's job for several years in the WWE developmental system was to find talent that had the potential to be major stars and draw money, and then coach them to reach their fullest potential. Either a talent had the ability and the mindset to draw money or they didn't, and he was a filter of that for the biggest sports entertainment company in the world.

This isn't meant as a personal jab against The Elite, especially because it's not their area of expertise, but William Regal knows more about how to develop mainstream stars than anyone in the stable. If most of the All Elite roster thinks that super kicks and referencing reports from The Wrestling Observer in matches are keys to being successful than All Elite Wrestling will remain a niche product.

I'm not saying this confirms that the organization is doomed or anything like that, but the fact that William Regal didn't see enough of a reason to continue to work there gives the impression the structure of the organization doesn't have the ability to maximize its assets. At best, Regal thought he couldn't help the talent develop into major stars, and the worst case scenario is, one of the brightest minds in the history of the sport thought that the company that is the best chance to be competition to WWE in the past two decades is a lost cause. Either way, if William Regal doesn't want to work someone, it doesn't create optimism about the organization's chance to expand to a more mainstream audience.

Ryse anniversary show

Longtime Pittsburgh wrestling veteran, Jason Clements, known to wrestling fans as Brandon K for almost 25 years, founded his own organization six years ago. After so many years of zigzagging across different states in his pursuit of stardom, the man with the moniker "First Klass" wanted to bring the sport he loves to his hometown so Ryse Wrestling was launched in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a blue collar town just south of Pittsburgh, in 2016. With with an extensive résumé of in-ring accomplishments, he knew that even the most polished performers eventually have to hang up their boots. But, Clements has such a passion for the industry, not only did he want to complete his career on his terms, but wanted to remain a part of the business that has meant so much to him and his family.

Breaking into the business in 1998, the performer that became a fan favorite among the Pittsburgh in the circuit, went on to become not only one of the most respected in-ring workers, but also one of the steel city's most notable trainers. Over the two decades that he has competed inside the ring ropes, Brandon K work, several states, and even a few WWE dark matches because he had a reputation as a consistent quality worker. He translated those in ring skills to being a trainer, originally under the pro wrestling express, banner and considered his time teaching others as one of the most rewarding aspects of his extensive career.

"This year has been a payoff for all the hard work everyone has put into this brand. Our growth has seen a substantial increase because of how hard everyone works in front of the curtain and decisions made behind it. It's amazing to go back to the beginning and watch the product where we only charged $10 for what was almost a rookie event. Now, those athletes worked hard enough to put us as a major player in the wrestling world," Brandon explained.

Just some of the names that he is responsible for introducing to the business are AEW star Lee Moriarty, NXT’s Thea Hail,  and Duke Davis. Davis, one half of the tag team, The Mane Event alongside Gannon Jones Jr., are considered by many to be the next break out tag team. Along with those grapplers, Brandon trained many that became successful staples of the Pittsburgh in the scene, including fixtures of the Ryse organization.

"Ryse has so much young quality talent mixed in with guys that have been around for a while that can help that young talent grow and get better.  I am one of the oldest guys in the locker room and being in Ryse not only makes me feel young, but gives me hope that the future is in good hands," commented BC Steele, regarded by many Pittsburgh pundits as the best manager in the history of the region's extensive independent scene.

The project was very much a family affair, as Clements' parents that often supported him from the audience throughout the vast majority of his career, enthusiastically took positions on staff to help with the project. Mrs. Clements cheerfully greets the wrestlers that are scheduled for the card on any particular night before the doors open and then she's just as happy to greet the fans as she runs the snack bar. Mr. Clements can often be seen supervising the ring crew before and after events. Kristy Clements, the founder’s wife, is a co-owner of the organization and often takes care of paperwork throughout an event.

The upstart league took many of the prospects that Brandon trained, and gave them an opportunity to truly showcase their skills. A mixture of young talent and solid veterans gave the organization a level of quality from the opening match to the final bell. Names like Matt Conard, Derek Dillinger, Christian Noir, and many others made Ryse an organization that grew its following over the first few years of its existence. As the league continue to build itself and expand to other towns outside of its home base, the COVID-19 pandemic that shuddered the entire world also had a major impact on Brandon‘s wrestling venture in 2020. 

Initially based in a converted cinema, when the building wasn’t hosting live matches and rowdy fans, the venue doubled as the training center, where Brandon gave his years of knowledge to the next generation of aspiring hopefuls. When the pandemic prevented live events or training sessions, Brandon was faced with the harsh reality of the economics of the situation. In an effort to keep ticket prices affordable to fans, and by nature of independent wrestling, Ryse couldn’t continue its lease at the cinema if it couldn't bring in the usual revenue from its training center and live events.

Real life, Jason  Clements had to consider if his wrestling passion as Brandon K could whether the uncertainty of a global pandemic. Instead of allowing his dream of promoting his students to live out their own dreams to be shuttered, he explored his options and eventually found refuge in the Uniontown Mall. The space that was a Burlington Coat Factory was transformed into a full-fledged wrestling arena, with a video screen, full entrance way, and of course, a wrestling ring, a canvas for the grapplers to apply their art form.

When 2022 provided some sense of hope for a return to a level of normalcy, Ryse looked to shuffle up the deck to create a fresh chapter in its new location, hiring Pittsburgh veteran Chris LeRusso, who has a twenty-year career of his own to work as an organizer in a management role.

"I think we’ve seen a lot of our younger talent develop and start to bring their A game. Seeing Tad Jarvis learn so much under the learning tree of Brandon K or how the Cowpoke Paul has grown, even talent like The Great Alexander have really improved and showed why they belong in the main event. My job is to put on the best pro wrestling show possible with the talents we have; along with some special guests. I look at potential match-ups with the fans in mind first. I want them to walk away knowing they got their money’s worth," LeRusso said.

The dreams, hopes, and aspirations of Ryse Wrestling will be celebrated this Saturday night at the Uniontown mall for its sixth anniversary show, an event that everyone involved looks to make a special evening for the dedicated fan base that followed the product to its newest location. A stacked card of stellar talent set the stage for what should be a memorable night of action. Pretty Boy Smooth puts his nearly year long reign on the line when he defends the Ryse Grand Championship against Edric Everhart, a performer that many have said had a break out year in 2022. Other action on the card brings the legendary Sumie Sakai to Pittsburgh in a tag team bout with AJ Alexander to face off against Laura Loveless and Christian Noir. The Runway of Calvin Couture, and Tyler Klein, a duo that have made an impression on the independent circuit inn several states this year, will defend their tag titles in a four-way contest . Finally, Cowpoke Paul, upstart with less than one year of  in-ring experience, but someone that shows poise beyond his years, will clash with the villainous Great Alexander in a bull rope match.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the story of Ryse Wrestling is the level of dedication and persistence that was required to make it possible. As mentioned, the independent circuit is a small business by nature and thus the company relies on its dedicated audience to help the league continue to flourish. There were no corporate sponsors to ensure the future of the organization through the rocky times of COVID-19. Instead, it was the persistence of Clements and his family for their passion project tonight to continue and flourish through the efforts of the athletes that put forth their best efforts to entertain the paying audience. Some might say it would’ve been easier to close up shop with the uncertainty of the venue, a training school ,or when life events could resume during the pandemic, but the persistence to continue to contribute to the sport of professional wrestling brought Ryse Wrestling to its sixth anniversary event this Saturday night in Uniontown.

"We've all learned so much over the years, especially me. I've made bonehead decisions and I've made intuitive ones, but I've learned from them all, and hope to continue to learn and do better for this awesome company. Next year, we will continue to evolve and we won't rest until we are at the top of the mountain," Brandon concluded.

VHS Memoirs Volume 30

This week's edition of The VHS Memoirs will be a unique event, with This Tuesday in Texas as the selection on Peacock. While today marks 31 years since the original event, it's interesting to note that WWF management tried to establish Tuesday night as a potential pay-per-view spot that long ago. Granted, some of the closed circuit events were held outside of the weekend, but with the technological advancements of the ability to order an event at home, it became more important to have the convenience of the weekend. More than a decade later, the office tried this experiment again with Taboo Tuesday, but that lasted only two years until the vote concept was shifted to Cyber Sunday. If I had to guess, I'd say that fans, especially in the more modern era, just have too much to do during the week for anyone to settle in for a pay-per-view viewing.

This event took place just before the start of the more cartoonish aspects of the company, a concept that was amplified after the steroid scandal of the early-90s in an attempt to soften the organization's image. It's ironic that Steve Keirn, who broke into the business under the guidance of legendary promoter, Eddie Graham, was a part of a heartthrob tag team in the 80s with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones, but resurfaced just a few years later as the brawling Skinner in the WWF. With nasty tobacco in his mouth and an alligator claw around his neck, the gator gimmick was memorable, but somewhat overshadowed the fact that he was a very skilled in-ring wrestler. Proof of that being his extensive record as a trainer in the WWE developmental system during the FCW era.

The special Tuesday night pay-per-view opened with Bret Hart defending the IC title against the previously mentioned Skinner. This was a classic baby face/ heel bout and everything these two did looked solid. There weren’t a lot of high spots here, but each maneuver was crisp and the action was kept believable. Skinner made Bret look like a million dollars at the start of the contest before the villain rammed the IC champion's shoulder into the post, causing him to collapse to the outside. This is where the fundamentals are so important and some of those aspects are missing in today's presentation. Bret's selling was so well done that it put the result of the contest in doubt, and Skinner looked like a vicious competitor as he put the boots to Hart, while tobacco flew everywhere. Nobody had to go through a table or take an unprotected chair shot to build the drama of the match. Everything was solid with realistic punches, kicks, and selling that built the narrative of the contest. In fact, the most "devastating" portion of the contest was when Skinner used the dreaded alligator claw to take a cheap shot at Bret near the conclusion. Thankfully, Bret was able to kick out and eventually secured the sharpshooter for the victory. A side note, Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon were entertaining as always during the broadcast, but it was particularly comical that Heenan mentioned the cost of gas prices, which continues to be a topic of discussion more than thirty years later.

Randy Savage clashed with Jake "The Snake" Roberts for one of the more memorable segments of the era. The Macho Man defeated Roberts in a brief five-minute match, but it was the post-match heat that really made this such a memorable angle. Roberts hit Savage with a few DDTs at a time when the move was protected, and the baby face was at the mercy of the villain. Ms. Elizabeth ran to the ring to attempt to help Savage, but Roberts grabbed her by the arm and took her away from the fallen hero. He "slapped" her and she collapsed to the canvas, clutching her face. In reality, Jake barely made any contact, but the presentation of the dastardly action was done well. Jake's post-match promo was tremendous and he made himself sound like the most despicable heel on the roster. Savage's post-match response was exactly what you'd expect from The Macho Man. He was incensed and vowed revenge against the heel. That type of heat is how you draw money.

Next up, The Warlord challenged The British Bulldog, and this match was the cement mixer you'd expect it to be. I'm sure The Warlord is a nice guy, but outside of saying a lot of prayers and taking a lot of "vitamins," his aptitude for pro wrestling was rather limited. The guy looked like a monster, but it was downhill after that. So, this wasn't exactly Lou Thez vs. Karl Gotch. The action was basic and rather clunky so there's not much to discuss for this contest. Speaking of looking huge, Davey Boy looked massive to an almost unhealthy level, which is why it was no surprise that he departed for WCW shortly after the steroid scandal brought negative press to the company the following year. Davey Boy got the victory with a crucifix pin and relieved a nice reaction from the crowd. However, this clearly is wasn't his best work. Don't get me wrong, The Bulldog could go in the ring and had many great bouts, but this match was around the time that his outside of the ring issues affected his performance.

Another match that didn't exactly send the crowd into a frenzy was the rather random tag match of Ted DiBiase and Repo Man vs. Virgil and Tito Santana. This was a very average and very basic tag match that would've been on any throw away episode of a random syndicated TV show at the time. DiBiase was solid, Repo Man was okay, Tito didn't have the same fire he did when he was younger and didn't look like he wanted to take too many bumps, and Virgil's in-ring work was very sloppy. Repo man and DiBiase get the win, but this match is skippable.

The main event was The Undertaker vs. Hulk Hogan in a rematch after the controversy at Survivor Series just a week earlier when The Undertaker won the title with an assist from Ric Flair. If I had to guess, I'd say that the brief title switch was booked just to set up this rematch to attempt to sell a Tuesday night pay-per-view. This was definitely the sizzle to the show, as opposed to the substance of the in-ring work in the opening match. As far as the in-ring action, it was more or less the typical Hogan match you'd expect without anything that wasn't already in the usual playbook. The conclusion of the bout was chaos, as Flair was at ringside, and WWF president, Jack Tunney was there. Hulk hit Flair with a chair, which sent him crashing into Tunney. While the WWF president was down at ringside, Paul Bearer tried to hit Hogan with the urn, but he moved and it was The Undertaker that got cracked with the urn. The Hulkster waffled Bearer with a punch and picked up the earn before he threw the ashes in The Undertaker's face. In a somewhat odd finish, Hogan used a roll up to get the win.

Will Sasha Banks return?

During the rather subpar Ronda Rousey/Shotzi Smackdown Women's title match at Survivor Series this past weekend, the crowd responded with "we want Sasha" chants, prompting the production truck to lower the crowd mics. Still, the chants brought her status back into the conversation, which is still murky at best. At this point, you'd have a better chance of finding out DB Cooper's financial status than Sasha's contract status. A few months ago, it was reported that the company granted her a release, but there were also rumors that disputed it so nothing is confirmed. It could be a situation where the office allowed her the option to sit out the reminder of the contract, with the notion that they use the time to smooth things over for a new deal. Another possibility could be that management granted her the release in exchange for signing a non-complete, again with the idea that the dispute could be resolved before the non-compete expires.

As we know, Sasha and her tag team partner, Naomi walked out of Raw almost six months ago while they were the Women's Tag Team champions because they were unhappy with the creative direction they were given on the show. This wasn't the first time that Sasha took a hiatus from the organization, as she was gone from television for four months because of creative differences in 2019. As I wrote at the time, Sasha Banks is undoubtedly extremely talented and a star, but she's not quite as big of a star as she thinks she is for the company. You've heard rumors for years about her ego, and an occasion negative fan experience on social media so there's some level of credibility to the notion that she's difficult to work with, the biggest example being that she walked out of a live broadcast.

There are a number of layers to this scenario, both for Sasha and the organization.

On one hand, you can't blame Banks for wanting to be in the position to make the most money possible, but at the same time, the women's division arguably has the most depth among the entire WWE landscape so the division is fine without her. The WWE marketing strategy is often to promote the brand ahead of any specific individual so it gives the organization more flexibility with contract disputes or injuries. It's a harsh reality that Sasha may or may not be aware of, but much of her stardom is associated with the WWE spotlight so if she ventures outside of that platform, it remains to be seen how much of the audience would follow her other projects.

She made a rather infamous appearance this past August at the C2E2 convention, where fans paid $130 for photo-ops, but Banks insisted that they stayed away from her with a distance of about five feet, which had these expensive pictures look like "in the same frame as Sasha Banks" instead of a memento of the experience. As I said at the time, if Banks was concerned with health risks from being in a packed convention center, that's completely understandable but then isn't it best to just decline the appearance? The fact that she was willing to attend the packed convention as long as fans were willing to pay her $130 for a photo-op and didn't get near her seems like such a money grab.

More recently, news surfaced that she applied for trademarks of variations of her name, including "Banks Mone," and that's something that could be an indication that she has plans for wrestling outside of the WWE. It could also be a very cleaver negotiation tactic to give WWE management the impression that she's ready go elsewhere if they don't meet her standards for a contract offer. This is where the layers of the story get very interesting because, AEW, for all of its rightfully criticisms, gives talent at least comparable money for what's offered in WWE so that allows the performers to attempt to get the best deal possible. Remember, the bottom line is, professional wrestlers are independent contractors so there's no pension or retirement fund for them when they hang up the boots. Making the most money possible in the prime years of their careers should always be a priority for talent.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer claimed that Banks and WWE are in "money talks," which is very possible, but I'm not sure that alone will be the deciding factor about her status. The publicly-traded global company is the most profitable in its entire existence and will continue to maintain that level for at least the next few years because of its massive television deals with USA and Fox.

The WWE can afford anyone so the question is, will Sasha Banks be worth the hassle of potential future disputes with her creative direction if she returns to the company?

This is another aspect where things get tricky. Nobody, not even "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stopped the WWE machine when he walked out of the organization in 2002. Granted, Austin's status as the biggest star in the history of the business kept the door open for him to return, but the point being, there's a certain point where the company will move forward if an agreement can't be reached. If Sasha overplays her hand, it could be a similar situation to the original Ultimate Warrior disputes when a star overestimates their value to the company and thus management decides there's too many hurdles to do business with them.

The bottom line is, given her track record, will Sasha Banks be willing to do business?

In some ways, Sasha's two previous walkouts don't help her negotiations because even if she returns, how much TV time would the company be willing to invest in her? Based on the past business dealings, there's some level of risk to book her in a featured position. What would the company do if Sasha was in the main event of a pay-per-view and decided not to go to the ring because she didn't like the finish? She walked out on a Raw main event so why should management trust that it wouldn't happen again?

As far as the odds that she re-signs with the company, I'd give it a 50/50 chance based on the limited information we know now. If she should return or not is a different matter. I'd suggest that she takes a few years away from the ring completely and attempts to get a fresh start, either in WWE or somewhere else, at some point after that. Granted, I think Sasha isn't quite as big of a star as she thinks she is, but she can test the waters with film work and other projects outside of sports entertainment. Disputes between promoters and talent have existence as long as the wrestling business itself, but this isn't the late-90s with a head-to-head ratings war so individual performers aren't necessarily as critical to the success of the company. Right now, the women's division is quite possibly the best aspect of the WWE product so the promotion doesn't need Sasha Banks for that success, and to be fair Banks might not need the WWE platform either.