The Royal Rumble review

The road to Wrestlemania has begun. Despite the fact that the Peacock deal and the general structure of the "premium live event" business intrinsically reduces the importance of the historic pay-per-view brands, the name Wrestlemania still holds the most cache with the general public. Even the people that don't regularly watch WWE will tune into Wrestlemania to see the spectacle, which is how the brand maintains its status as the "must-see" pro wrestling show on the calendar. The Royal Rumble, because of its direct association with WM, still has some of the shine as well.

That being said, I think it'd be fair to say that the event itself was very much hit or miss.

First and most importantly, I don't care how common it becomes, I will still say that there's hardly ever a reason for a pay-per-view to be four hours long. It should be a very rare exception to the rule that a broadcast goes more than three hours or prehaps just under three and a half hours if a post-match angle is booked. I know this is repetitive, but it must be said again, more wrestling doesn't automatically translate to better wrestling. The amount of video packages, often vignettes that were played prior to the show or random commercials, between matches make for an extremely tedious viewing experience. Don't get me wrong, I understand the hefty revenue that goes along with sponsorships and commercials so if you have to put those ads into the live show, that's business, but the 10-minute delay between bouts after those are added to the video packages just makes for too many pauses in the action so the show drags on a semi-regular basis. Let the actual commercials, the stuff the company is getting paid for, be the break between contests and then they can trim at least thirty minutes off the broadcast.

Along with the extended broadcast of 4 hours and 18 minutes, The Royal Rumble pay-per-view was more or less booked backwards. The Rumble is probably the only time that the WWE title shouldn't close the show, and the argument could be made that the decision was made because of the post-match angle, but the fact remains that since there was such a build up for Cody Rhodes' return, his Rumble victory was the peak of the show. Since the event literally started with that peak, there wasn't anywhere else for the show to go but to decline in some ways. Since Cody winning was obvious, and it was still the right call, the vast majority of the men's Rumble, especially without the cameos to pop the crowd, was very mediocre. After Brock Lesnar's stint in the match was brief and then Bobby Lashley was eliminated, there was a noticeable lack of star power in the ring, which is a result of the very talented roster often being booked as interchangeable instead of individual stars.

Essentially, the audience, both in the building and watching on pay-per-view, knew that once Brock and Lashley were eliminated, nothing of substance was truly going to happen until Cody entered the match. If you had a few of those legend cameos that make for fun appearances, there would've been more to the match than just waiting for Rhodes to get to the ring. The other problem was that while Gunter is a tremendous performer and one of the most believable on the roster, the audience knew that he wasn't going to win the match so the extended conclusion of the match where he and Cody traded moves rather than elimination attempts was unnecessary. Fans know that the IC champion isn't going to win the Rumble so a faster conclusion would've helped the pace of the show.

Visually speaking, The Mountain Dew match was impressive, but beyond watching this segment for five minutes, it was just terrible. There wasn't really anything to the match itself, and the post-match stuff was as bizarre as the HIAC debacle or Alexa Bliss with the Papa Shango tar a few years ago. Granted, I understand this was done because of the sponsorship so use the black light and the logo on the canvas, but what was the green styrofoam supposed to be? Furthermore, what was the point of the mask that Bray Wyatt put on after the match? It looked like something from a kindergarten art class. The stuff with Uncle Howdy, who attacked Bray on Smackdown previously, randomly jumping on the stage with the fire afterwards was ridiculous. What's the point? If the gimmick or the angle is so convoluted that nothing makes sense then it might not be good television. Don't get me wrong, I've written for years that I think Bray Wyatt has the talent to be a top guy. However, his character is often used for segments that might sound good as a concept, but fumble with the application. There's a fine line between The greatness of The Undertaker persona and the Seven gimmick from WCW. When you have the special effects, there's a really small margin for error, and more often than not, these Wyatt gimmick matches make the audience shake their head. That's actually why I think the original Wyatt presentation with just the rocking chair got over as much as it did with the audience, because there wasn't an absurd amount of smoke and mirrors to dilute the talent he brings to the table.

The Raw Women's title match was fine, but it was basically just a TV match. It went about five minutes and there isn't really much to say about it. Bianca Belair is a great champion so her match at Wrestlemania should have a solid build before the major event. The post-match Alexia Bliss stuff was as goofy as the previous match and was another reason for the audience to shake their head after this bout.

Rhea Ripley winning the Women's rumble was the right decision and she has a lot of potential to be a major star. It creates intrigue ahead of WM because you could make an argument that Rhea should win the championship, but at the same time, Bianca is on a stellar run as champion. Make no mistake about it, the women's division is probably still the best segment of WWE programming.

This is where all those extended pauses in the action really brought the broadcast to a halt. It was almost midnight and there had to be more delays to set up for Hardy, whoever that is, to sing for an audience that wanted to watch him as much as they wanted to see Micheal Cole in a singlet again. Unless it's Johnny Cash or Warren Zevon, I don't want to see a musical performance on a wrestling show almost four hours into the broadcast.

Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens in a quality main event that proved why they are two of the best performers of their generation. Owens is a true star, even if he wasn't always booked that way, and Roman still does the best work of his career. The post-match angle was tremendous and a prime example of the incredible drama that can be produced when a narrative has the right presentation. Sami Zayn is arguably the most popular star on the roster, and despite Cody winning The Rumble, the argument could be made that Sami should be the one to finally dethrone Reigns. That being said, I think Cody should still be the competitor to beat Roman, but Zayn got over organically so that might be a valid reason to shift the direction of the product.

All Elite booking

Some might say that by nature, professional wrestling is full of contradictions. When someone gets sent into the ropes, they somehow always spring back off of them, the referee seemingly always becomes coherent enough after a bump to make the dramatic count of a fall, and inevitably, those pay-per-view main events conclude before end of the broadcast.

That being said, the foundation and the build of a compelling story that draws money are based in logic. Without it, the audience shakes their head and there's a total lack of emotional investment because the angle jumped the shark. Granted, sports entertainment often walks the line between posterous and preposterous, but the common thread of logic is what keeps the narrative on track.

That's why this week's edition of Dynamite was a prime example of a much bigger problem within the organization, a contradiction that was a flaw in the All Elite process almost since the inception of the company.

There's a fine line between comedy that works in wrestling and the Russo-level stuff that can make a company look foolish. The segment with Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal became a mess with lame attempts at comedy. Sonjay Dutt was a really good in-ring athlete, but his role in All Elite is rather pointless. Jay Lethal still has the ability to be a stellar performer, but this wasn't the scenario to showcase that. On the surface, it might seem like the 55-year-old Jeff Jarrett might not have much of a purpose in AEW, but for a promotion that lacks heels with heat, Tony Khan could use the perception of Double J from the All Elite audience to generate some legitimate heat. Danhausen is great and what he does works, but the pairing with Jarrett dilutes the effectiveness of both of them. When the TNA founder debuted on Dynamite, he cracked Darby Allin with a guitar and left him in a pool of blood in the ring. Now, he's involved in comedy segments with Sonjay Dutt breaking a pencil. Where's the heat? What's the point?

Next was The Young Bucks vs. Top Flight, and it was the dazzling spot fest that you'd expect it to be. Make no mistake about it, these four athletes are very talented and the athleticism is tremendous. That said, are The Young Bucks baby faces or heels? Prior to the infamous backstage brawl with CM Punk, Matt and Nick Jackson were heels. The over-the-top arrogant heel persona worked well and was more or less the character anytime there was a heel run. It's understandable that when they returned that they were baby faces since the audience was happy to see them back, but from strictly a character perspective, who are The Young Bucks? During the best-of-seven series, Pac used the hammer to get a few wins, which would imply that Death Triangle are heels, but are The Lucha Brothers really presented as villains? The ladder match last week was wild, but was anything truly accomplished for any of the characters involved?

Jake Hager vs. Ricky Starks was more or less the only bout on the show that had a clear baby face/heel dynamic, and it's no surprise that Starks is arguably on the best run of his career. You can get someone over if they have the talent and you give the audience a reason to get behind them. Assuming Starks gets the better of the JAS at the end of  this angle, he will emerge with more notoriety than he had before, which is the entire point of a storyline that is designed to put the spotlight on younger talent.

Saraya randomly turned heel without any explanation or motivation. She was quite literally a baby face in a tag match with Toni Storm against Brit Baker and Jamie Hayter last week. There wasn't any time to develop an angle or a logical reason for the heel turn, and this was something from the Russo playbook. A heel turn just for a "swerve" on the show doesn't have a follow-up since there wasn't any reason for the switch in the first place. If I had to guess, I'd say that there will be some very flimsy reasons for Saraya's heel turn, and considering that her promos haven't been the best so far in AEW, I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually gets lost in the shuffle, a situation that would neutralize most of the star power that she brings to the table. Too often, angles or booking falls flat in All Elite because it's too scattered or disjointed. There's undoubtedly a major problem with the ability to tell a concise and clear story during most of the shows.

That brings up the next point, as far as scattered booking that contradicts itself. The "get through the challenges" angle that MJF used against Chris Jericho previously is being recycled for the storyline with Bryan Danielson. So, American Dragon must beat each opponent to earn the title shot. Again, it's recycled, but you can see the point because it stacks the odds against the beloved baby face while the slime heel waits on the sidelines. The problem is, Tony Khan booked Bandido as Danielson's opponent. Not only is Bandido a baby face, but the AEW audience cheers for him because they are excited to see this stellar luchador with a reputation of excellence compete in the promotion. So, who is the audience supposed to support? In theory, the premise of the angle is that the crowd cheers Danielson to victory so he can finally get a title shot against MJF, but in the process of doing that, they would have to hope that Bandido, who they are excited to see him AEW, loses so that Danielson actually gets the previously mentioned title shot. This is a prime example of Tony Khan booking a match strictly because he wants to see it rather than what makes sense for business. Nobody doubted that Bandido vs. Danielson would be a solid match, but how does that contest make sense for this storyline? The organization literally has dozens of wrestlers under contract that aren't being used for anything, is it that difficult to book a random heel to lose this match? Where's Shawn Spears? Does Peter Avalon still have a job? Was QT Marshall too busy working on the Youtube shows to make a Dynamite appearance?

Darby Allin defeat Kushida to retain the TNT title. If Tony wants to make the TNT championship a belt that guest stars can challenge for that's completely fine and might be a unique aspect of the program to promote, but is it really wise to give the main event segment to a match that involves something that isn't even under contract? Furthermore, while Darby's win in his hometown was a great moment, Samoa Joe's run as the "king of television" was rather brief and almost hidden in the background is the status of Wardlow, who somehow had less exposure after he won the TNT than he did before that.

The bottom line is, Tony Khan should book for logic, not for himself. If an angle is going to be productive and build towards a payoff that will draw money should be the priority. On a national level, the entire point of the business venture is to make a profit on a long-term basis. If Tony Khan just wants to book the matches that he personally wants to see then he should go back to E-fed booking online. Don't get me wrong, All Elite Wrestling has a chance to make a mark on the industry beyond just a few years of existence but too often, the assets on the roster aren't fully utilized. That can only happen so many times before you miss the boat on the opportunity to truly establish the product.

Jay Briscoe passed away

Authentic, the first word that comes to mind when you mention the Briscoe brothers.

I'm still stunned as I write this at the news that Jay Briscoe, one of the staples of the modern pro wrestling landscape, passed away in a car accident at the age of just 38. Mark and Jay, the real-life brothers that were legitimately chicken farmers from Delaware, were a part of the fabric of Ring Of Honor, as they competed for the group almost since its inception. Within just a few years, Mark and Jay had such an incredible run with a series of high quality matches under the ROH banner that there was a legitimate argument to be made that they were the best tag team in the entire business.

Eventually, Jay, the older brother of the duo, had a few reigns as the Ring of Honor world champion and was continuously a mainstay in the organization throughout the years as the Briscoes were among the most popular wrestlers in the history of the company. In retrospect, it’s somewhat puzzling that when TNA made its talent exclusive and WWE began to sign a few key ROH talents around 2007 that for whatever reason, the Briscoes opted to stay on the Ring Of Honor roster. For several years afterwards, they continued to be the tag team of ROH, and the combination worked so well and the matches were so consistent that there wasn’t much reason for either of them to change their career paths. Even though the Sinclair purchase in 2011, when the company was on shaky ground with its presentation and the infamous iPPV mishaps, the Briscoes were quality talent that you could count on for a solid performance each time they stepped into the ring.

As mentioned, The Briscoes were real-life chicken farmers from Sandy Fork, Delaware and they had a level of authenticity that very few bring to the table in the modern era. At a time when everything is exposed and everyone thinks they know the tricks of the trade, Jay Briscoe could make people believe, which is why he had such a connection with the ROH audience. Jay and Mark didn't "act like pro wrestlers," they were pro wrestlers and that concept is sometimes a lost art among the current generation. You've often heard that the most successful performers are just amplified versions of themselves, and The Briscoes certainly had those characteristics.

As we know, some very misguided tweets led to the Briscoes not being added to All Elite Wrestling programming. This no need to rehash any of that, other than just as he did ten years ago, Jay apologized again last year, explaining that he recognized that his comments were ill-informed. It takes a lot for a man to admit he was wrong, and Jay Briscoe was willing to do that so I can honestly say I think his apology was sincere.

The series of bouts that the Briscoes had against FTR were modern classics and a trilogy that will be talked about for years in the future. At a time when everyone aims for that "five-star match," the teams didn't depend on recycled sequences or over done high spots to get a reaction. The Briscoes vs. FTR was high level professional wrestling that allowed the action and the drama to organically unfold to provide a stellar performance.

Still, as accomplished as Jay Briscoe was as a performer, that all seems so secondary compared to not only the life that was lost, but also the serious injuries that his family sustained in the car accident. As of this writing, it was reported online that his wife posted that one of their children was going to require surgery from the injuries in the wreck. Jay's passing was mentioned on NXT television last night, and several figures from the pro wrestling world, including Triple H posted tributes to him on social media. In an often harsh business and an even harsher world, Briscoe's passing should remind us to be as kind and understanding as we can be. More often than not the grudges that we might hold or the angry that we have isn't worth it. Even something as simple as letting the people that you care about know that you appreciate them isn't something that should be assumed or overlooked. Life is so fragile, despite how complex it often is, especially in the modern age. Jay tweeted a picture of himself and his brother just hours before the accident took his life. Tomorrow isn't promised and you can't take anything for granted. Among the things that several of his contemporaries praised him for was that Jay Briscoe was a family man, and it's so tragic to consider what his family has to endure in this situation.

Jay Briscoe was one of the most talented and authentic performers of his generation. His work helped influence and shape the path of tag team wrestling in the industry. His contributions and accomplishments in the business won't be forgotten.

Sincere condolences to Jay Briscoe's friends and family at this difficult time.

RWA Anniversary

"I thought if I do not live this dream, it will be the one regret in my life" -Derek Widziszewski

The word passion is often used in professional wrestling, both for the emotion that it generates from the fans and for what it takes for those that choose a path in the sport. Without passion, a tenure on the independent circuit would be rather brief. For the in-ring athletes, it's a tedious process of traveling, sometimes for meager pay and sometimes at sparsely-attended regional events, just for the chance that the right eyes might see them and that might lead to bigger opportunities on the indy scene. The chance to hone their craft is the only assurance they have, there are no guarantees. For promoters, the risks aren't with wrestling boots, but often with their wallets. Sure, we've all heard the horror stories of those "one and done" promoters that draw 15 fans and disappear. It's passion that allows certain individuals to attempt to bring their vision of professional wrestling to a paying audience that sustains itself in such a way to leave a continuous footprint on the sport that gives the wrestlers a literal canvas to present their art form, and the fans a place to enjoy themselves. Just like there are no guarantees when a wrestler laces up their boots, nothing can be assumed when a promoter puts their money on the line to run an event. The passion to contribute to the genre is what brings so many people from so many different backgrounds together. That passion is what allows all the moving parts to be put into place for the culmination of a live performance.

On the Pittsburgh scene, a place almost as well-known for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, nothing describes the term passion as much as the Renegade Wrestling Alliance.

Founded in 2009, the RWA, a blue collar league that has its home base in West Newton, Pennsylvania, was based on the previously mentioned dream of Derek Widziszewski, who is just as passionate about his product as the fans in attendance. Widziszewski was one of the most familiar faces of Pittsburgh wrestling long before he put on the suit jacket to promote his own cards. Derek was one of the most dedicated attendees of events for several years, and many considered his enthusiasm for the action to be infectious.

 "I loved what I saw on TV, and I loved what I saw locally on the independents," he explained.

Much like the territories of yesteryear and the old school stars that started the fandom that planted the seed of the project, the RWA started on a very grassroots level with local networking and small steps that took what was once a dream, pushing it toward an eventual reality.

"In 2009, I was renting a ring, renting chairs, only had a drape and curtain rod at the wrestler entrance, and even rented sound equipment. Now, we have everything. Our own ring, sound, chairs, ring entrance, lighting, and an incredible talent roster," Derek said.

In fact, what started as a small scale operation with that little curtain rod, celebrates it's fourteenth anniversary event this Saturday with a consistently packed house, still at its stomping grounds in West Newton, a location that the RWA made a destination for pro wrestling. Throughout the 14 years of its existence, the promotion hosted some of the best young talent in the area, a myriad of accomplished veterans, established independent stars, and its share of legends.

"I promote heavily, but I am nothing without everyone involved. Every piece of the puzzle has contributed to the evolution. it's been an amazing journey. The best talent in the region, some of the best talent that has been around the world, on TV, and so many incredible people on ring crew, security, tickets, posters, and film crew," Widziszewski commented.

"I’ve been with RWA for just a couple months now, but you can feel that there is something special happening in the organization. The fans are second to none in their support and dedication to RWA, which feeds important energy to the wrestlers, referees, announcers, crew, managers, and everyone else involved," added Quinn Magnum, a former grappler with more than 25 years experience and one of the most respected figures in Pittsburgh that now works as an organizer at RWA.

The success is in the results for the RWA, every month fans pack into the West Newton gym with as much dedication and emotional investment as you'll find anywhere in the sport. The villains generate a level of animosity not seen often in the modern era of the industry, and the heroes have the fans support as they chase championship glory. A traditional presentation blends with contemporary action to deliver a quality product that offers a little bit of everything to its audience. Derek puts in the groundwork for his product as well, often taking the time to shake the hand of every paying fan as they exit the building after the final bell. Despite the success of 14 years as an organization, he always keeps the humble beginnings of the venture in perspective.

"Derek is a truly active promoter that not only puts in the time and money to promote RWA all over the area, but genuinely cares about anyone who works for him and especially the fans. I have personally seen this man spend two hours after a show has ended to speak to each and every fan as they head out the door.  If a new fan came for the first time that night, he would know them by name when they left, I’ve seen that happen too. From a personal perspective, this is a whole new fresh start for myself that has breathed life back into my passion for wrestling as a whole," commented Quinn Magnum.

The line-up for RWA's Uprising card this Saturday reflects the importance of the milestone of the anniversary of the company. "The Rev" Ron Hunt, who is known for his appearances in Ring Of Honor and is the current RWA champion, will defend his title against accomplished veteran J-Rocc. A few months ago, J-Rocc hit a pile driver on Hunt on a steel chair, putting the champion's future in doubt, but the grudge will be settled this weekend. Among the stacked line-up, former WWE star, Scotty Too Hotty will be in the building to changeling the villainous Ryan Edmonds.

"I did not at all think I was going to revolutionize or change the business. I just wanted to put my spin on it, and live a dream. I also enjoy entertaining people and interacting with fans. The wrestlers had to test me, they had to find out for themselves that I was legitimate and not a joke. I had to prove I didn't just pay for a license and pretend I could do this, I had to earn it. So as our reputation grew, so did our product. Here we are14 years in, and the rewards are a great product we can be proud of  that gives the RWA fans 100 percent. I am so proud of our growth," Derek said enthusiastically.

The fans and the roster are buzzing with excitement ahead of the historic evening this Saturday.

"RWA was my first and original home when I started in this business, I cant express the gratitude and respect I have for everyone. I have met friends, family, and gained other opportunities due to being a part of this company since the beginning. Wherever this business takes me, I will never forget what it has done for me and my career in professional wrestling," said Mike Daugherty, RWA broadcaster and one of the premiere voices of Pittsburgh.

The Renegade Wrestling Alliance  has an extensive and storied history for almost a decade and a half. The organization was built on those that were willing to put in the time and energy to see a vision became a reality. The diehard RWA audience gets a chance to become drawn in by the allure of the in-ring spectacle, a combination of the action and draw of the sport. Even with all of that, one word, passion can sum up the impact that the RWA has on the Pittsburgh wrestling scene.

Ronnie Starks returns

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” -Micheal Corleone, Godfather III, 1990

Professional wrestling, an entertainment spectacle that was shrouded in secrecy for years, is often compared to the mafia, both for its original code of silence and its often lifetime membership.

Ronnie Starks, the 11-year-old kid that was amazed when he first watched Shawn Micheals capture the WWF championship from Bret Hart on pay-per-view in 1996, eventually broke into the pro wrestling business just over a decade later because of the impact that the influential bout had on him. Not blessed with the genetics of height or athletic ability, he decided that a career as an in-ring wrestler wasn't the best path for him, despite the fact that he went through the rigorous training of in-ring activity. Front flips just weren't his strong suite. The passion of his fandom wouldn't let him settle for anything else than the best he could possibly give to the industry that thrilled him throughout his youth, and if that wasn't running the ropes or flying off the top rope then so be it.

After he got his start in 2007 as a referee and a manager, a role where he used his self-proclaimed "gift of gab" to rile up audiences as a villain, Ronnie zigzagged around the tri-state area nearly every weekend. It might've been a sparsely-attended show in a town nobody ever heard of in West Virginia, or a packed card in Pittsburgh, regardless of if it was in the stripes inside the ropes or in a vest at ringside, Starks couldn't pass up a chance to be a part of the industry that he fell in love with at such a young age.

After almost nine years, Ronnie quite literally grew up in the industry, and many of his real-life responsibilities began to take priority over the fictional world of professional wrestling. In 2016, Ronnie thought he closed a chapter of his career, competing in a bout that wrote him out of a West Virginia organization and he wanted to put sports entertainment behind him.

Ronnie thought he was out, but the allure of the ring pulled him back in.

About two years later, Starks resumed his role as a ringside manager, and by 2019, Ronnie was back in the full swing of things, losing a tremendous amount of weight through hard work and dedication. He was in the best shape of his life and doing the best work of his career on the Pittsburgh independent scene.

But as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entire world, tragedy struck for Ronnie, and his wrestling achievements suddenly seemed secondary by comparison.

"I’m not going blame the pandemic like most people because I still did 'outlaw' shows that were filmed on closed sets. What really drove me out of wrestling is when my father died in August of 2020. The man was so scared of the virus that a heart attack from stress is what did him in. My mother told me that I needed to continue working to keep my mind off it, but a month later my mentor and someone who I considered a father figure, Shawn Maudhuit died of a heart attack. I basically lost both my fathers in a four-week period of time, and I lost myself. I knew I needed a break to regroup and figure out what to do with myself, mentally and emotionally. But most importantly, be there for my mother. Somewhere along the line, I got COVID from wrestling and felt like it was time to bail," Starks said.

Heart broken, isolated, and frustrated, Ronnie shut the door on the sport he loved again. But it pulled him back in.

In more recent months, Ronnie was recruited by the great Mike Sorg, the premiere video production leader of the Pittsburgh scene, to join his camera crew. This allowed Starks back around the independent circuit where he had a chance to spend time and reconnect with many of the friends he made during his active career. Ronnie cites it as a new lease on a wrestling life.

"Two years into my break, the Sorgs asked me if I’d be interested in learning the behind the camera aspect of the business. I loved it so much that it gave me a new outlook on wrestling. Then I started to get that itch," Starks explained.

It wasn't long before Ronnie's work behind the camera led to him peeking his head back in front of it. Tim Cross, promoter of the West Virginia-based Real Shoot Wrestling group saw that Starks had too much left in the tank to stay on the sidelines. When the league expanded into Pennsylvania, landing in New Kensington, a town northeast of Pittsburgh, it was quite literally too close to Starks to ignore. He jumped in with both feet.

"I live around that area so it was convenient. I did some ring announcing and loved it. I actually reffed a few matches too. I love Real Shoot, we are one big family. Everyone is so laid back and caring. It's easily the best locker room I’ve ever been in. I think I knew in November I was coming back full time," Ronnie remarked.

But Starks doesn't see this as ego-driven or a self-serving venture. Instead he cites his years of knowledge and the opportunity to give back to the sport.

"My plans are to help. That’s all I ever wanted to do, I want all these new people to have a veteran that they can come to for help and advice. I want to help mold the future of professional wrestling. I’ve been around long enough, I've worked for and with the best. I feel like my opinion has some importance, I just want to leave a mark on wrestling and make up for regrets of my past," Ronnie said.

So, after more than 15 years in the ring to count of the canvas, agitating the audience as a manager at ringside, or filming the action behind the camera, the 38-year-old Starks is rejuvenated for the next chapter of his extensive career.

"I just want to have fun with my wrestling friends and do good business with positive places. No negativity, just help as much as I can. Real Shoot and I have some big plans in the works, I’m excited to do something different," Starks concluded.

Just when he thought he was out, pro wrestling pulled Ronnie Starks back in.

Is the WWE for sale?

In a story that moves faster than Vince Russo's crash booking style of the 90s, Stephanie McMahon, the co-CEO and daughter of Vince, resigned from her position in the corporation the same day that her dad was officially welcomed back on the Board of Directors. As we know, the kingpin of sports entertainment strong-armed his way back into the organization after his initial request to return was declined by the other members. McMahon, who is still the controlling shareholder, informed the board that unless he was involved in the company again, he wouldn't approve of a new media rights deal, the WWE's most lucrative revenue stream, or any potential sale of the organization.

Freud would end up on the coach trying to talk through it if he attempted to analysis the eccentric billionaire, but what exactly is Vince's plan with all of this?

On one hand, this could simply be a power play for him to get his seat back in the board room, but considering that he retained his status as controlling shareholder all along, he technically didn't have to make a push to return. On the other hand, Vince might look to use this opportunity to attempt to define his legacy, instead of being another disgraced wealthy businessman that used his money and power to cover up affairs, his final bow in the public spotlight could be to cash out of his business with a mega deal worth billions of dollars. The millions he paid to hide his sleazy behavior would be chump change compared to the billions he could sell WWE for in the current market.

As I wrote in an article last week, if the WWE is actually sold, I'd be concerned for the future of the company because there is a well-documented history of non-wrestling executives not understanding the industry. Sports entertainment is a very unique commodity and you simply can't attempt to produce it like just another TV series. From a industry perspective, the WWE provides a foundation and stability for the rest of the business, and that's not a negative aspect of the corporation. With the news of Stephanie's resignation, especially with Triple H still as the head of creative, it appears that she's ready to cash out on WWE. That along with the fact that it was reported that the WWE board hired the JP Morgan firm to help start the process of a sale, as unthinkable as it might've been just a year ago, there could be a pro wrestling business without any McMahon family involvement.

However, assuming the promotion is sold, among the potential buyers, how they could realistically utilize the WWE property could have a major impact on the future of the organization.

When you take into account that Jeff Bezos usually doesn't have to pay taxes and that Amazon is already a global corporation with the capital to make a billion dollar purchase, that technically puts them in the conversation. From a business perspective, Amazon with it's Prime Video streaming service got into the content business, and it's investment to acquire the rights to the NFL's Thursday Night Football schedule proved that they were serious about getting a piece of the streaming pie. Granted, the quality of those Thursday night games often resembled Herb Abrams' UWF TV tapings, but the point is, when Amazon was willing to spend the amount of cash it takes to land an NFL schedule, you know that content is a priority. By nature, as we've seen with the Peacock deal, the WWE is a content machine more than anything else. That's why Netflix, a strictly streaming company would theoretically be a contender to purchase it as well. That said, both of these options would involve putting WWE content behind a pay wall, which wouldn't be a formula for success. Keep in mind, the WWE's goal and the majority of its vast revenue streams are based on the casual fans. The original WWE Network was proof that only a fraction of the television audience was willing to pay for WWE content.

Disney, a true powerhouse in the entertainment world and owner of several different media properties, including ESPN, is another one of those theoretical buyers because of its capital, networks, and content distribution. But, Disney is in a transitional period of its own as Bob Chapek, who replaced Bob Iger as CEO roughly two years ago, was shown the door recently so that Iger could return after he retired following an extensive tenure with the company. The 71-year-old Iger only agreed to return to the corporation for two years to help increase revenue and find a successor for the position. In recent months, among the controversy with Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, Disney stock took a tumble because of lack of a return on its streaming investments. Despite the fact that a Disney purchase could put WWE programming on ESPN, which also has a deal with UFC, it wouldn't necessarily be a time frame where the company could justify spending five billion dollars for more assets. In short, Disney has more important problems than to buy a wrestling company.

 As far as possible networks, Fox was mentioned in the conversation because of the ratings Smackdown on the station, but I don't think that the network would want to get involved in the ownership of such a massive corporation. Fox has a steady line-up on syndicated programming and a major portion of the NFL schedule, along with baseball so I don't think they'd want to be full-fledged players in the sports entertainment business.

Before this Saudi news made waves, I would've said that NBC, which owns USA and is under the Comcast umbrella, would've been the buyer that might land the deal. NBC already has a major amount of money invested in the rights for Raw, the show that is the staple of USA, and the Peacock deal so a purchase of WWE would be a way to offset that costs with the ownership of the organization. Until the Saudi purchase is officially announced, I will still say that I think NBC probably has the best chance to buy the company.

Wrestle Kingdom review

Earlier this week, New Japan Pro Wrestling presented its signature event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo Dome in front of more than 25,000 fans. The Japanese league, very similar to other wrestling groups, was hit hard by the pandemic, with reduced attendance the past two years. For a comparison, the traditional January 4th event drew a combined 70,000 fans during two nights in 2020 before the pandemic shut the world down. The travel restrictions prevented many of the foreign stars from traveling to Japan and limited capacity kept ticket sales to a minimum to follow social distancing guidelines during the peak of restrictions.

Wrestle Kingdom 17 was the first Toyko Dome event where the promotion could get back to its usual major event of the year, a show that is a staple on the wrestling calendar around the globe. With such a big stage and the increased exposure of the Tokyo Dome, what's the path of the organization now?

The show opened with the Jr. Heavyweight tag titles between Catch 22 and Lio Rush and Yoh, and it was the typical fast-paced opener that you'd expect from New Japan. The match was decent, but TJP and Lio Rush are individually insufferable so I'm not going to discuss the match further, except to mentioned that Catch 22 retained the belts.

Kairi defeated Tam Nakano to retain the IWGP Women's championship, and while it was disappointing that this match was only given five minutes, at least it appears that the stellar Stardom roster will continue to receive increased exposure under the Bushiroad banner. With the trading card company's ownership of both New Japan and Stardom, it allows for more to be done with the women's group, including the funding to sign the league's newest star, Mercedes Mone, the former Sasha Banks, to a contract. The rumor mill suggests that Mone will arrive in All Elite Wrestling soon, but that's a different discussion for a different time. I have to say, her New Japan debut was rather underwhelming. The promo she cut was flat and was almost structured like a WWE promo that didn't gel with the Japanese audience. The move she attempted on Kari was botched, and her new hairstyle looked like she lost a bet. However, there were reports that Wrestle Kingdom had increased viewership on New Japan's streaming service so from purely a number's perspective, Mone's debut was successful. During the promo, she announced that she will compete at the company's Battle in the Valley in California next month. On one hand, it would be wise to use Mercedes to continue to boost crowds in Japan to draw bigger numbers after the slump of the pandemic. On the other hand, because of the transportation costs associated with American events, these shows have some very expensive ticket prices so a former WWE star on the card can help sell tickets.

Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi beat FTR to win the IWGP tag team titles, and it's interesting to wonder what that could translate to since Dax and Cash lost each set of tag belts within a relatively short time frame. The actual match was solid and was an entertaining bout. Still, it should be noted that despite being the tag champions, which they won at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June, it seemed like most of the Japanese audience wasn't familiar with FTR. The biggest story could be what this defeat could indicate for the future of FTR. There were rumblings online a few months ago that prehaps the team would opt not to renew their AEW deals to work the indies. The fact that FTR, despite being given secondary championships as props on Dynamite, were still completely underutilized in All Elite Wrestling. If Dax and Cash decide they'd rather work the regional circuit than on TBS, it's a statement about Tony Khan's inability to maximize the roster. Make no mistake about it, FTR were the best tag team in the business last year, but weren't booked on any of the AEW pay-per-views. The biggest exposure the team was given on Dynamite was when Dax had great singles matches before he would get pinned. I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist, but it certainly appears that FTR was kept away from any position that would've allowed them to potentially outshine The Young Bucks, especially when you take into account that FTR weren't featured on pay-per-view and The Bucks didn't put them over for the AEW tag titles. The bottom line is, if Tony Khan allows Dax and Cash to walk from All Elite, it will say much more about his lack of proper management than their in-ring ability.

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ren Narita via submission to win the New Japan Television title. It goes without saying that the last thing NJPW needs is another championship, but this was a really good technical match. The argument could still be made that Sabre Jr. is the best technical wrestler in the world, and this contest gave Narita the chance to progress as well. He was given the opportunity to look like a contender instead of just a young lion and traded counters with Sabre Jr. before the British grappler got the victory.

Tama Tonga beat Karl Anderson to win the Never Open weight championship, and while there are too many titles in the company so the Never belt isn't exactly the most prestigious on the card, it created a fun storyline for this bout. As we know, Anderson re-signed with WWE when he was still a champion in New Japan so in some ways, this contest allowed for Tama Tonga to "fight for the honor" of the Japanese organization to get the belt back. It was a rather short match, but Karl got offense in early so it gave the impression that he might retain to continue a possible scenario where he kept New Japan's championship. Ultimately, Tama scored the pin and this was probably a one-off return for Anderson before he continues full-time in WWE, but it was an entertaining scenario and it shows why some exceptions can be made for working together, even for WWE. Anderson going back to New Japan to drop the belt does absolutely nothing to hinder the WWE, but it gives New Japan an extra boost on their biggest event on the calendar. It might not be the traditional WWE philosophy but it benefits everyone in the industry when other promotions remain stable because the New Japan stars of today might eventually be assets for the WWE to sign in the future.

Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino defeated Tetsuya Naito, Sanada and Bushi. There wasn't much to this six man tag bout, but there didn't need to be, as it was more a celebration of Muto before his retirement. One of the three musketeers of the organization in the 90s, Muto has such legendary status that just his appearance on the card for his final New Japan match before his retirement in a few weeks was neat segment. Shota Umino got the pin for the team to win the contest.

One of the criticisms of the New Japan style is that some of the product tends to be very formulaic, and that's what happened during the second half of the card, which isn't necessarily a negative since there was quality action, but could impact the perspective of the presentation. Most of the mid-card matches were given about ten minutes so the event had a good pace. The four way Jr. Heavyweight title match was solid, but it was more or less the same multiple competitor high spot match you would've seen several times before in New Japan. Watching this live on the east coast, you just don't need a repeat of a match you've seen before. Hiromu Takahashi got the win, but this wasn't exactly a must see match on the card.

Next, Kenny Omega made his long-awaited return to New Japan and it seems like he had something to prove during this comeback. Will Ospreay, a former IWGP heavyweight champion, made the transition from the high-flying Jr. heavyweight division to work a more main event style that focused on the physicality of the traditional Japanese style. Despite a stellar main event, Omega/Ospreay might've stole the show. This match had fast-paced action, stiff exchanges and drama toward the conclusion. Omega took a stiff kick to the face in the corner and looked to have a lot of swelling near his eye so hopefully it won't affect his AEW schedule. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that this was intended to be the start of a series of matches between the two that could span across both promotions, which would be a very unique scenario that would benefit both companies. Meltzer also called it one of the greatest matches of all time, but I wouldn't go that far. Too often, Meltzer throws out the term "match of the year" or gives something 87 stars more in the moment of a great match than anything else. Still, this was a tremendous bout that's worth going out of your way to watch if you haven't seen it. With the victory, Omega won the IWGP US title, but I don't think that really confirms anything about his status in Japan. The US belt isn't usually defended often so it will be interesting to see if the next Omega/Ospreay contest is booked for AEW or Japan.

As mentioned, the main event between Kazuchika Okada and Jay White was stellar, but similar to what was mentioned earlier, this bout had a formula and these two already had a series of matches previously. This was a great match, but if you've seen any of their prior contests than you more or less already saw this bout. That's not to take anything away from the quality of the performance because it had that incredible back and fourth action you'd expect from a Tokyo Dome main event, but there wasn't necessarily anything new or ground-breaking during the main event. Okada got the win to reclaim the IWGP championship.

Vince McMahon returns

Truth is stranger than fiction is a cliche, but in the pro wrestling business, that cliche is often true. Rumblings of Vince McMahon putting a plan in place to return to the WWE made news online a few weeks ago, with many assuming that he simply wanted to return to takeover the organization that he bought from his father 40 years ago. As I wrote at the time, it wouldn't shock me if McMahon, the eccentric billionaire that "retired" after a series of Wall Street Journal stories revealed that he paid several women over the past several years several million dollars to sign non-disclosure agreements to keep affairs or accusations of misconduct quiet, wanted to make a comeback, but it would put another spotlight on the negative publicity that prompted his original exit. Again, it's not surprising that Vince wants back into the organization that he built from a regional territory to a publicly-traded global corporation since he dedicated every facet of his life to the company. That being said, the old tropes that McMahon relied on, at least within the past several years didn't propel the next generation of stars, but rather used nostalgia to boost big time events.

You can't automatically assume that Triple H, who took over the head of creative following his father-in-law's dismissal, has the answers either, but there was definitely an effort in recent months to pivot WWE programming to build for the future. When Stone Cold had to return to the ring after 19 years of retirement to sell tickets to a stadium show, you know that the roster lacks legitimate star power. At least Triple H appears to understand that the company must try to market younger talent as the next group of stars that will draw money in the future.

That's why this week's Wall Street Journal report about Vince's most recent move to return to the organization could completely flip the script on the future of the WWE.

According to the Wall Street Journal, McMahon, who still has the controlling share of the company stock, informed the WWE Board of Directors, the same group that launched an investigation that led to his resignation, that he won't approve any sale of the company or any new television rights deals unless he's on the board.

Essentially, what this translates to is that unless Vince gets his seat at the table back, the WWE could be put into a scenario where they don't have a TV deal, which is its most lucrative revenue stream. If Wall Street realizes that McMahon is willing to let the promotion hit the wall, the stock price will plummet and the same board that showed Vince the door could watch their power within the global corporation tumble like a house of cards.

Would Vince really tank his own company?

McMahon also indicated in his letter to the board that he would potentially pursue options to sell the company if he was allowed to return to the organization. That could be a smoke screen, considering that if the corporation is sold, the board of directors would get a hefty payout, or Vince might see this as an opportunity to cash out. I see this whole thing going one of two ways, either McMahon plans to actually sell the group with the notion that if he can't run it then nobody can, which could be the same motivation behind theoretically letting the company hit the wall without a television deal, or he claims that to be the case, but basically uses it as a way to strong arm his way back into power of the WWE.

Assuming that selling the group is a realistic option, that would drastically alter the future of not only the WWE, but of the entire industry. It's a harsh reality and something that diehard internet fans might not want to admit, but WWE is the foundation of the wrestling business in the United States. That's not to say the product is perfect, it's not, but rather to point out that literally every other major promotion in history in America eventually went out of business. Verne Gagne, Bill Watts, Jim Crockett, Ted Turner, Dixie Carter, and others couldn't stay afloat throughout the lean years of their individual companies. Quite frankly, without the WWE, pro wrestling on a major scale would've ceased to exist in the United States.

One of the common themes, at least in the modern era, was when executives from outside of pro wrestling were involved in the sport, it led to the eventual collapse of the organization. Sports entertainment is a very unique commodity and you just can't use some copy and paste formula that would apply to other forms of entertainment. Make no mistake about it, if WWE is sold to an outside corporate entity, the future of the wrestling company would be in jeopardy, and Vince knows it. In truth, that might be McMahon's motivation, he cashes out and makes a few billion dollars in the process and then if the company fails without him, the legacy of the WWE is that the organization needed him to be successful. Even if that wouldn't be accurate to those that know the wrestling business, as far as the general public, Vince could "prove" his genius if WWE doesn't maintain its success after its sold.

Unless there's no chance for Vince to return on a regular basis to continue business as usual, I don't think he'd be willing to sell the WWE just for the money. He's already a billionaire and at some point, the money is just numbers on a page. The intrinsic value to maintain his status as the kingpin of sports entertainment might be what this latest story is really about for McMahon. At 77, some might assume that Vince would be prepared to enjoy his golden years and his vast wealth, but I'd guess that Vince sees himself as Lee Strasberg's Hyman Roth in Godfather II. Vince doesn't see the requirement for Triple H to be his successor because McMahon plans to be at Wrestlemania in 2044.

As far as how this plays out, it's probably going to be another example as to why Wall Street is as much of a work as pro wrestling. As long as there's money to be made then the shareholders will accept Vince's return because it will translate to more profit for them. The chance to make even more money on their stock investment is more important than any ethical standards to the shareholders. As far as the board, they basically have to give Vince his chair in the boardroom back since he already indicated that they can't renew a television deal without his approval for the company.

Don West passed away

I was very sad to hear that news that former TNA announcer, Don West passed away from cancer at the age of 59 last week. The former zany pitchman of sports collectibles on late-night TV commercials was diagnosed with brain cancer a few years ago and actually went into remission after a round of treatment, but the cancer eventually returned. His longtime broadcast partner, Mike Tenay confirmed the news publicly, prompting condolences and tributes from many throughout the wrestling world.

Don West wasn't as polished as Gordon Solie, Mike Tenay, or Jim Ross, but he didn't need to be.

Initially, especially in the early years of TNA, fans didn't really know how to take Don West, mostly because he was an unfamiliar face at a time when some other announcers that made a living in pro wrestling for years weren't offered that same spot with the upstart group in Nashville. As jaded as pro wrestling fans can be, they are also some of the most loyal fans of any genre.

The quirky color commentator was an outsider, and sometimes those experiments yield mixed results. I'm sure Mike Hogewood was a nice guy, but he was an example of why you can't just put any broadcaster on the show to provide commentary for pro wrestling. Sports entertainment is such a unique entertainment venture that you can't just copy and paste people from other sports, both in the ring or in the booth.

Ultimately, Don West became endeared by wrestling fans during his 10-year stint as an announcer and merchandise guru for the same reason he was a staple of infomercials. Don West was authentic. In a carny business often based on deception, kindly referred to as "working" most of the time, Don West was the real article. As over-the-top as the guy was, he really was that positive in real life. If I had to guess, I think that's why wrestling fans have favorable memories of him, the successful formula for so many pro wrestling characters is a version on the person with the volume turned up. 

For Don, that was literally and metaphorically during his TNA run.

West, who was a combination of frantic and energetic at the desk, genuinely was that excited to be on the call for TNA Wrestling events. The guy sounded like he was legitimately having the time of his time when some of the best athletes of that generation applied their craft in the ring. "You've got to be kidding me!" was often shouted from him during stellar contests from AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Abyss, and others.

Regardless of if he was selling "FACTORY SET!" baseball cards, shilling stuffed animals during the Beanie craze, or raving about bundles of wrestling merchandise, Don West never sounded like a used car salesman or some shady con artist because you could tell that he was legitimately thrilled to get to excitedly sell the merchandise. He wanted viewers and fans to be as excited as he was.

I actually had the chance to met Don West at a TNA house show in 2011. The event was held at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. A building for the original ECW in the late-90s, the ice rink hosted different wrestling events over the years, but was probably only properly utilized more recently. This was also the venue that Ring Of Honor ran around the same era when it was kept chilly inside to preserve the ice underneath the floor, prompting a Jim Cornette rant that led to him quitting the company.

While TNA often fumbled with their live event advertising or lack thereof and it resulted in dismal house show crowds for much of the Hogan era, the Ice Gardens had a decent crowd for the event. Before the show, there were a few stars signing autographs, and I met Samoa Joe, who was very polite. Joe vs. Bully Ray was a bout that stood out on the card, but the line-up also emphasized why most of the company's non-televised shows usually didn't draw big crowds. Similar to why TNA held monthly pay-per-views at the time, it seems like they ran house shows simply because that's what WWE did so they followed that pattern. Besides the fact that you had to be a diehard fan to search for information on live events since the local marketing was almost non-existent, the house show tours didn't represent the product that was promoted on Spike TV. Quite simply, the biggest stars in the company didn't usually work the live events so everything was a secondary presentation. Sting, Hogan, Flair, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, AJ Styles, and Christopher Daniels weren't at the show. Granted, nobody expected Hogan or Flair to show up for a live event, but the point is, the biggest stars on the roster weren't at the house shows.

The main event was a stellar contest between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. Post-show, Double J was signing autographs, and Don West was there to sell the 8X10s. In true merch mogul fashion, Don announced that he was going to include a Karen Jarrett 8X10 for anyone that purchased the TNA founder's autograph. If for some reason anyone actually wants a Karen 8X10, I still have it and will send it to you for free. As I was waiting in line to meet Double J, I asked Don if he would sign my ticket and then asked if I could take a picture with him. He was very happy to sign the ticket and thanked me for attending the show. He was as polite and as positive in real-life as he was on television. 

If Don West's impact on professional wrestling was that he was an authentic and positive guy that wanted the audience to have as much fun  as he had then I'd say that's a successful tenure in the industry.

Sincere condolences to Don West's friends and family at this difficult time.

Will CM Punk return to AEW?

Never say never in the pro wrestling business.

When CM Punk publicly buried The Elite, Adam Page,and AEW as a whole while Tony Khan sat next to him like a deer in the headlights at the now-infamous All Out media scrum, many rightfully thought that was the end of his tenure in the company. That notion seemed definite when The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that Punk, who worked only a year of his All Elite deal and required surgery to repair a torn triceps he suffered in his match against Jon Moxley at All Out, tried to negotiate a buyout of his contract. At the time, it didn't make much sense since there wouldn't be much of a reason for Tony to pay him just to leave the company when he could simply release Punk from his contract without the hefty price tag of the remainder of the deal.

There was time to work out those details and more importantly to let things cool off between everyone involved in the backstage brawl that caused a lot of negative publicity for the company. As I wrote at the time, Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling as an entity had a certain level of goodwill with the audience at the launch of the organization since the existence of AEW allowed the fans an alternative to the WWE. More specifically, fans knew that Tony Khan was already a member of a billionaire family, he didn't need to invest in a wrestling project to attempt to gain financial security. It would've been much easier for Tony to buy an island and drink ice tea on the beach, but he invested into pro wrestling as a passion project. There are pitfalls to that, some of it materialized throughout 2022, but the point being, the fans knew that the Khan family funded a sports entertainment venture because Tony had as much enthusiasm for the business as the audience.

That being said, the novelty of a new promotion naturally wears off and the group must stand or fall on its own merit. The substance that went along with the initially sizzle is what could allow for longevity. Credit where it's due, All Elite established itself as a national commodity within just a few months, which is something TNA could never truly obtain during its tenure on Spike TV. One of the barriers to entry in the sports entertainment business is the capital needed to truly compete on a national level, which is something that TNA rarely committed to during its existence. It might've worked in Memphis regionally, but the shoestring budget with months of television taped in front of the same fans at a theme park didn't allow for the organization to expand, or more importantly determine if the product could draw paying customers.

On the flip side, while attendance can vary depending on the city, All Elite Wrestling proved itself as a commodity that can draw money on the road and on pay-per-view. Neither of those aspects of the business are guaranteed either, especially at a time when pro wrestling content is $5 a month or free on Peacock. Clearly, AEW has an opportunity to establish itself as a long term entity in the sports entertainment business, but the argument could be made that some of the product missed the mark, particularly during 2022 that hindered that process for the organization.

Pettiness in interviews and temper tantrums on social media are bush league, and not the way serious professionals that want to draw the most money possible do business.

That's why CM Punk's response to Dax Harwood's post on Instagram generated some headlines among the pro wrestling rumor mill. One half of FTR mentioned on his podcast that he hopes that Punk and The Elite can work things out to do business again, and Punk's response seemed to imply that he agreed. Granted, Punk has the incentive that the most money he's going to make is under contract with AEW, but even if he decides to retreat to his couch and play SEGA for the rest of his career, he won't be in a bread line. Taking his big money years in the WWE into account, along with the $1 million he made for two fights in the UFC, Punk has financially security. Still, leaving big money on the table is almost always foolish, especially when he's still able to collect it.

Some silly optimists might claim that Punk wants to "make things right" with All Elite Wrestling, but make no mistake about it, if Punk wants back in the door of AEW, it's because it's what's best for Punk. The real-life Phil Brooks is only content when the spotlight is on him and he gets what he wants so don't expect that to change now.

However, that doesn't mean that there isn't potentially big business to do done if Tony Khan can mend fences between all parties involved.

Quite frankly, The Elite and CM Punk should absolutely bury the hatchet and work together to draw big money. It would take a negative that made the entire company look minor league and use it to draw the most money possible. You might ask why should anyone in this scenario be willing to do that?

The bottom line is, because that's what true professionals do and the reason for that is because the entire point of the pro wrestling business, especially on a national level is to draw money. If someone wants to let their ego determine who they wrestle based on who they personally get along with, they can be a weekend warrior at the local VFW since that's where that mindset belongs. When major money is on the line, it's about the ability to generate that revenue, not who's on your Christmas card list. WCW and TNA are examples of when personal agendas prevent the right business decisions being made, and we know where both organizations are today.

If Punk returns to tag against FTR against The Elite, it will draw the biggest buy rate in the history of the company. If Punk has a grudge match against Adam Page, it will draw another big number. it might be a cliche, but it's also true, personal issues draw money. CM Punk vs. AEW is a narrative that fans, regardless of what side of the argument they agree with, can get invested in as the story builds to a pay-per-view. As a promotion, All Elite, at least from a numbers perspective has plateaued. That doesn't mean the organization is in danger, but it allows for some uncertainty about the future. CM Punk might be a selfish jerk, but the controversy that was created from the backstage fight would definitely boost numbers if he had another stint in the organization after he heals from the triceps injury.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that Chris Jericho claimed behind the scenes that he will make sure Punk isn't brought back to the company, but I take that with a grain of salt. Jericho is a pro that knows the importance of drawing money and unless he reached a point in his career where he wants to make as much money as possible in a short about of time without the big picture in mind, it's doubtful that he doesn't see the value that the heat from the backstage fight brings to the table. Much bigger stars than CM Punk or The Elite put personal grudges aside to do business. Bret Hart worked with Shawn Micheals, the WWE inducted Warrior into the Hall of Fame, Bruno agreed to return to the company, and Vince McMahon even offered Eric Bischoff a job.

But will a CM Punk return to AEW actually happen?

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I don't think The Elite would be willing to work with Punk again. It's doubtful they'd want a bigger star to eclipse them in the promotion that was launched around them. Don't get me wrong, The Bucks and Omega had success with the DYI approach for All In in 2018, but weekly national television is a completely different entity. Despite Adam Page's comments about not taking advice, sometimes the lessons learned throughout the history of pro wrestling are correct. Sometimes the veterans actually know better and they are times to listen to them. Personal issues draw money, but it will be interesting to see if anyone in AEW is willing to capitalize on it.

Never say never in the pro wrestling business.

What's next for WWE?

As promised, after an article with suggestions on what All Elite Wrestling should focus on in 2023, I'm going to take a look at the WWE landscape as well. The organization had an almost unthinkable shake-up this year with the Vince McMahon misconduct scandal and the "retirement" that followed it.

The kingpin of sports entertainment was in the news again recently with reports that he wants to make a comeback to the organization that he bought from his dad in 1983 before he took the regional territory to the publicly-traded, global corporation that it is today. As I wrote just a few weeks ago, it's not surprising that Vince wants back in the door at Titan Tower, considering that he dedicated every facet of his life to the company, but his return would put yet another spotlight on what started his downfall. Granted, if Vince showed up on Raw next week, the fans in attendance would gleefully cheer and bow as he strutted down the ramp, ignoring that he was accused of several incidents of misconduct. Again, if there's that much smoke, there has to be fire, and if McMahon actually did even one of the things that he was accused of, he's a total creep. So, of course, the sport of pro wrestling will look great if fans in the crowd are shown on television praising someone with those type of misconduct incidents towards female employees.

The WWE as a whole was able to stake through the McMahon scandal without much harm since the corporation is fool-proof for the next several years because of the massive broadcast rights fees it secured through the television and Peacock deals. Mostly, the Wall Street Journal stories were a Vince McMahon problem, not a WWE problem. The argument could be made that Vince put the product in autopilot too often in recent years, booking the old tropes from his heyday since they worked before and there's nothing to lose when the money is guaranteed. Ironically, it was the structure that had the company in autopilot the past few years that actually protected the stock price when McMahon stepped down.

Some fans might be misguided to think that with Triple H at the top of the company that the main roster shows will suddenly become the NXT of several years ago, but make no mistake about it, the goal for the WWE remains the same with or without Vince McMahon. The WWE has always and should look to draw the casual fans in an attempt to get as much of the general public as possible to follow the product because that's where the biggest money is made. Drawing from the widest demographic possible is how to maximize revenue across the board. At the same time, wrestling is still quite literally on the marquee, and McMahon's attempts to try to avoid that in every way possible hindered the presentation of the product over the years. Furthermore, because McMahon won the wrestling wars during his tenure as the boss, he used those previously mentioned recycled tropes since there wasn't an alternative to take a piece of the pie away from him. Sure, All Elite Wrestling is on television, but it's only been in existence for three years. McMahon's default plan for roughly five years after 2014 was to put the title on Lesnar again if the product was sluggish. Vince didn't take a chance on trying to push new stars to the next level because he didn't have to, he had a formula that worked fairly well and there wasn't any outside factors to prompt a shift in direction.

On some level, when the company touts record-setting profits, it's tough to argue with Vince's logic, but it's important to remember that it was the climate of the television business, specifically the demand for live programming that would secure better ad rates as a way to be more DVR proof that landed WWE the major TV deals, not the popularity of the product. At some point, Goldberg isn't going to be there to boost a pay-per-view, or management isn't going to be able to get Steve Austin to return to sell tickets to a stadium show. The office seemed to rely on those aging legends too often, and keep in mind, when a part-time star was booked for a top spot on a major show, it was an opportunity that wasn't used to elevate a younger star with potential to the next level.

While the WWE philosophy as the Walmart of pro wrestling so to speak, will remain the same since its goals are to make the product cheap and easily accessible to the general public, the Triple H era at least seems to be in the direction to freshen up the shows. Roman Reigns is doing the best work of his career, and The Bloodline are the top act in the company, but truly establishing depth to the product is a process that will take time to develop over the year. One way or another, Sami Zayn should emerge from this current storyline as one of the top stars in the company. If Vince was still making the decisions, I'm not sure Sami would get the chance to be anything more that a secondary comedy character.

Quite simply, in 2023, Vince McMahon should stay wherever he is and continue to pump iron in his Icopro t-shirt because the WWE should absolutely make a solid push toward the next generation that will draw money for the company. The talent is there, but the key is truly the presentation of those stars.

Along with that, next year should be the coronation of Cody  Rhodes as a main event talent. Granted, it had to be delayed a year because of the injury and it might be predicable, but sometimes the easiest answer is the right answer. Roman Reigns has done a tremendous job as champion and in the course of his reign, he cemented himself as one of the biggest stars of his generation. That said, Cody's return from injury to win the title for his dad is a story that writes itself. The angle where Cody is finally the competitor to dethrone Roman to win the championship in honor of Dusty is a narrative can be extremely successful.

As far as the next generation, I've said it before and I will say it again, Bron Breakker should be in the fast lane to the main event scene on the main roster before the conclusion of 2023. There will only ever be one Kurt Angle, and making that comparison, especially at this point, would be unfair to Bron, but strictly as a natural in sports entertainment, Breakker developed as a performer almost as natural as when Angle inked a WWF deal in the late-90s. One way or another, we should be talking about Bron Breakker potentially winning the Royal Rumble this time next year in 2024.

Finally, and of the suggestions I'd have for WWE, this is the one I'd say has the best chance to continue on television, the company should continue to spotlight the women's division. I've mentioned it a lot recently so I won't be repetitive, but the bottom line is, the women's division might be the best segment on any of the shows and the depth on the roster allows for those athletes to continued to be showcased throughout 2023. Bianca, Bayley, and others can go in the ring and are extremely marketable stars.