The career of Jami Jameson

"My real pursuit of the sport started the second high school ended, I packed my stuff and moved to Louisville, Kentucky"

You've heard the stories of those that have wrestling rings in their backyards because they just couldn't wait to step inside an actual squared circle. The famous Guerrero family had a pro ring in their backyard, as well as The Hardys in their journey into the sport.

Jami Jameson, a Pittsburgh native that is nearing his ninth year as a professional wrestler, also had a squared circle at his home during his youth. He was so enthralled with the spectacle of the over-the-top world of the grappling arts that his dad found an old wrestling ring on Craig's List and made the two-hour trip to Cleveland purchase it.

"Thanks to him and my mom, we had the most thrilling, fun, wild, and extreme backyard wrestling parties in high school. I really found myself in those early days with a bunch of my friends," Jami explained.

But, his high school shenanigans with his pals were only enough until he had the opportunity to actually start his path to being a pro and he wasted no time. Jameson wasn't looking for anyone that would accept a check and give him the bare minimum lessons to be considered a pro, but rather completely committed to this career choice as a serious professional. Jami moved to Louisville to attend the well-known Ohio Valley Wrestling training academy, a system that previously produced Hall of Fame performers.

Jameson cites his early days at OVW as not only some of the most rewarding aspects of his time in pro wrestling, but also of his entire life.

"I trained for the first month or so with the late great Matt Cappotelli as my lead trainer. Matt was one of a kind and now looking back at it, I know going all the way to Kentucky and meeting Matt was one of the things I needed to do most. The friendship I made with him and growing under his eye for that short period of time was worth ever second of moving to KY," he explained.

Jameson assumed that his prior background would help him after he stepped into the OVW center, but soon learned that the curriculum would test his dedication to the industry.

 "I learned that cardio is a huge thing in the wrestling business and I needed to get on it fast. I was the worst shape in my class. We had to run a mile to start the class, run right back into the facility and continue running around the ring doing until Matt stopped us in front of the ring to do squats, jumping jacks, push-ups, sit ups and planks. After that he had us run the ropes in the ring. I threw up more times than I can remember while doing all of these drills," Jami recalls.

Under the OVW banner, Jameson had his first match with Eddie Knox, who he considers one of his best friends, in October 2015. Not long after he laced up his boots for his official debut, Jami advanced to Rip Rogers' class in Louisville before a family matter brought him back to Pittsburgh. True to how serious he was about the industry when he moved hours away to learn the craft, Jami wanted to be as polished as possible when he returned to western Pennsylvania so he put down his hard-earned money for a second time to further his wrestling education at the International Wrestling Cartel's training school. With IWC as one of the longest-running groups in the area, Jameson considers his time learning there as key to his entire career.

"I chose to join The International Wrestling Cartel's training class. That’s where I met Chris LeRusso and Andrew Palace, my new trainers. The starting class, I was miles ahead of my classmates due to the period of time I spent at OVW, but everyone held their own and caught up to me in no time. The new IWC class became family to me and we all grew together. Chris LeRusso really pushed us to our limits and taught me so much. I learned so much in that class with his training. I’d put him up there as one of the absolute best trainers in the Pittsburgh area," Jameson said.

Since the time that "The Country Hammer" made his IWC debut in 2017, Jami has worked in a variety of roles within the organization. He's competed in singles runs as well as tag team tenures during his seven-year stint in the organization. However, the main reason that IWC has been so sentimental to him was that his involvement provided him with a full circle moment.

"The main reason why IWC is so special to me is because I watched IWC since I was 16 in the front row," he commented.

An agile big man with a persona that can connect with the blue collar audience that often attends independent wrestling cards, Jami used a combination of speed and power in the ring to become one of the most solid in-ring performers around Pittsburgh. As he established himself as a force within the area, he became an in-demand talent throughout the region, adding more organizations to the list of groups where he works as a featured performer.

"Branching out and working other shows helps you learn that not every crowd is going to know who you are. That’s one of the most important things to learn, as well as making new connections in the wrestling world. I’d say learning how to work the crowd has helped me immensely because now I don’t feel too uncomfortable whenever I have to wrestle in front of a new crowd," he explained.

One such example is 2PW, where the crowd has embraced Jami as a blue collar superhero for them. Just recently, Jami won the 2PW heavyweight championship for a second time, but this wasn't just an occasion for championship glory, it was also another full circle moment for him. With a jam-packed crowd in attendance Worthington Civic Center, Jami dethroned "Big League" John McChesney, one of the performers that he watched when he sat in the front row when he was just a youngster, to claim the belt.

"I had a great time in the ring with John, dude is a legend. I’ve been watching him since I was 16 and have had the honor to be in the ring with him. He knows this business, he’s a genius when it comes to this. It was a pleasure being in there with him, a true honor. It was one of my best matches," Jami remarked.

The biggest takeaway from the journey of Jami Jameson might be the ability to dare to dream. From being memorized by The Undertaker in his youth to flying around that Craig's list ring with his high school friends, Jami set a goal to be a professional wrestling, and not only stood inside an actual wrestling ring as a trained athlete, but also celebrated as a champion.

"We all want to be the top guy. We all want to be the super hero or the super villain on the main stage of them all. So yeah, making it to the main stage, I would say, is the main goal. I pride myself on making friends here and making myself and my friends better. I have seen so many guys that I’ve been in the ring with take some of what I’ve told them and grow because of it. That’s an honor, making the wrestling place a much healthier environment," Jameson concluded.

The Royal Rumble review

Just a day after Vince McMahon re-signed for the TKO group, effectively ending the McMahon era of the WWE, a time span that dates back to the 1950s with the founding of Capital Wrestling when Vince Sr. was the boss, a new chapter of the organization was marked with the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, the official start to Wrestlemania season. Make no mistake about it, even with Vince McMahon's resignation, a move that prompted Slim Jim to bring back their sponsorship after they initially canceled it for the event after the lawsuit was reported, the organization must still distance itself as much as possible from the former boss.

McMahon's disgraceful exit must be clearly defined as the final move to clean up the structure of the company with the standards of a legitimate corporation. Despite some silly speculation on social media that Triple H's job could theoretically be in jeopardy if he had any knowledge of McMahon's action, it's very doubtful that Paul Levesque could've been aware of Vince's personal scandal because the majority of the time that the accusations were alleged to have taken place, Levesque had been away from the company because of a heart attack.

So, assuming that Triple H will remain as the head of WWE going forward, I'd say that the company is in much better hands than it would've been under McMahon, especially because his presence at the WWE office would be a  danger to the female employees. As I wrote in the article earlier this week where I discussed why Vince should be exiled from the corporation prior to his resignation, you've never heard any misconduct stories about Levesque and it's well-known that he didn't drink or use recreational drugs during his career.

In many ways, Triple H is a great old school wrestling mind without any of the bad habits of the previous generation. So, the history books will probably look back on the Royal Rumble as the official start of the Triple H era of WWE.

It was interesting to find out that the main card only had four matches, but somehow still managed to go four hours. I understand this sounds way too repetitive, but these four-hour shows, especially in this case became a rather tedious viewing experience. I'm guessing the Seth Rollins' injury scare took that title match off the table, which is understandable, but management could've adjusted the runtime to reflect that. Would anyone have thought they didn't get their money's worth if the pay-per-view went three and a half hours rather than stretching it another thirty minutes?

I've said it many times before, but it remains true, more wrestling doesn't automatically translate to better wrestling.

The show opened with the women's rumble match, and all things considered, it was very well done. The booking and psychology was there to spotlight specific performers and make the most out of the segment. As we know, the women's division is one of the most consistent and quality aspects of WWE programming, and this segment added even more to that. While Jordynne Grace doesn't really bring a measurable level of star power to the table, it was still neat to see another TNA champion in the match, as it doesn't do any damage to the dominance of WWE, it gives TNA some shine to help them continue to develop talent that might be on the table for WWE in the future, and makes the moniker of "anything can happen" more than just a marketing strategy. Let's be honest here, TNA is a niche Canadian product, and there's nothing wrong with that, as profit and revenue are the true barometer of success. If Anthem found a successful formula for TNA on the Fight Network that allows them to make a profit with the brand they rescued from the brink of collapse in 2016 then good for them. They made some wise business decisions that allowed the TNA brand to continue to be an asset, albeit mostly a non-factor in the wrestling industry. That said, WWE could promote TNA, its time slot, and the channels that it airs on in both the US and Canada, but it would have a minimal impact on their business. By nature, TNA is a niche product for diehard wrestling fans, which isn't the WWE's primary demographic so helping TNA with some extra exposure in the Rumble does zero harm to the WWE brand. Speaking of Total Nonstop Action, while the current Knockouts champion made a guest appearence, a former KO champion made a return to the WWE. As many expected, Naomi made a comeback to the company after she left in May 2022 alongside Sasha Banks. Trinity Fatu is a great athlete with an energetic entrance and solid in-ring skills so she's another great addition to the women's division that has already done very well in recent years.

Nia Jax was spotlighted in the Rumble when she had several eliminations, and the psychology of this portion of the match was key to the overall success of the segment. The office established Nia as a force in the bout before the in-ring debut of Jade Cargill, and when Jade tossed Jax over the ropes, it gave her a level of credibility because of the way that Nia was presented previously. The face off between Jade and Bianca Belair creates a level of intruging as far as potential match-ups, and it will be very interesting to see what Cargill's plans are for Wrestlemania in April. The upside of Jade in WWE is very much the same as it was in All Elite Wrestling, she has the athletic ability, the look, and the potential to be a major star. She's a real-life Marvel character, and the WWE did more to make her look like a major star in one appearence than anything AEW did in three years, which says more about how All Elite missed the boat than anything else.

Bayley won the match to advance to a title shot at Wrestlemania, which makes sense as a baby face turn would allow her to feud with the remaining members of Damage Control. Very similar to Asuka, Bayley has been an MVP for the organization and always does quality work, regardless of the role she was booked for. Management botched her initial baby face run on the main roster, but given how her character has evolved in recent years, I'd guess that the upcoming baby face turn to set up a featured match at WM 40 might be the best run of her career.

The Universal title match was good for what it was and had some good action, but there's not much to discuss about it, simply because nobody in the building or watching on Peacock believed that there was any chance that Roman Reigns was going to drop the title. Granted, that's one of the tradeoffs made of an extended and important title run, the audience knows that there will only be a switch on the biggest stage possible. So, it wasn't for lack of effort or lack of entertainment value, but there just wasn't an occasion in this contest where it looked like it was even remotely possible that Reigns was going to lose the championship so it was a rather one-dimensional presentation.

The US title match was fine, and Kevin Owens is such a solid worker that he could make Logan Paul look good without the risk of exposing his level of relative inexperience. I've said it before, I don't know if spotlighting Logan Paul truly has a worthwhile return on investment for the organization, but he's done a good job with what he was asked to do. If nothing else, he gives the company an automatic celebrity card to play when needed, which can be very valuable for the overseas events that the corporation gets paid a hefty sum to import to different countries. The only downside of this match-up was the underwhelming DQ finish, but it's very possible that it was booked to set up the rematch at Wrestlemania.

The men's Royal Rumble match was a basic paint by the numbers segment, but that isn't a negative. In fact, sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer. In this case, the two most popular stars in the company right now are CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, and that's the interaction that the audience was wanted to see in this contest. Was it predictable? Sure, but the reason it was predictable was that the two grapplers have such a buzz and investment in their paths to Wrestlemania, which is key for drawing power. If Punk got tossed out before Cody entered the match, the same jaded fans that complained that the Rumble was too predictable would gripe that they didn't get to see the anticipated showdown. As expected, Andrade made his return to the company and it will be interesting to see what he does next under Triple H's direction. Bron Breakker was given Brock Lesnar's spot in the Rumble, a decision that was made after Brock was implied to be involved in the Vince McMahon lawsuit so the Rumble cameo might not necessarily mean that Breaker will be added to the main roster, even though he should probably be on Raw or Smackdown already.

Cody tossed Punk over the ropes to win the bout, setting up the rematch with Roman Reigns. How the office decides to get there and promote it on television that next few months will be compelling television, as they will have to keep it fresh to avoid a carbon copy build from last year. If it's a retread of the build up to WM 39, the rematch might not have the same hype around it that it might receive otherwise. WWE brass will have to build and maintain interest in the contest for the next two months so it gives viewers a reason to tune into WWE programming prior to Wrestlemania in April.

The career of Jordie Noland

In the world of independent professional wrestling, the sport is much closer to the regional days of the business, a time when a territory had a core group of talent and guest stars were cycled throughout the area. In the Pittsburgh scene, a region known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, there are a myriad of independent organizations with different philosophies that present different talent in a different manner to create their own unique brand within the microcosm of western, Pennsylvania.

As an announcer on the Pittsburgh scene for a decade and a half, I've seen a lot of talent flourish within different groups. One of the most intriguing aspects of the independent circuit, both for fans and the talent themselves, is the ability to not only see talent organically develop, but also the unique opportunities that will spontaneously present themselves.

One such example took place last April at a Ryse Wrestling, the blue collar league that was founded by longtime wrestling veteran and trainer, Brandon K, when a scheduled tag team bout had to be changed just hours before bell time. Again, the independent circuit is built upon the passion and dedication of those that pursue the sport, as well as the fans that support the organizations through their attendance. There aren't any private planes to get a replacement to the venue with plenty of time to spare.

On that particular spring night in April 2023, Money Shot, the combination of Elijah Dean and Zach Nystrom, were scheduled to defend the Ryse Tag Team titles, championships they held until just last month. Dean and Nystrom are regarded by many as one of the best tag teams in independent wrestling today and their bouts are considered to be featured matches on the card. Money Shot's opponents', the Ohio-based tag team of Members Only, were forced to cancel their appearence because of an illness.

Of course, this left Money Shot without title challengers so Chris LeRusso, a 20-year pro in his own right and current matchmaker for Ryse, put down his clipboard and laced up his boots. But, LeRusso had an ace up his sleeve when he called longtime stalwart of the area, "Big League" John  McChesney to make the impromptu trip to Uniontown to make a surprise debut for the organization as LeRusso's mystery tag partner.

McChesney received the call just a few hours before bell time, and as I went over last-minute notes for the broadcast of the event, I was only told that the tag title match was still on the line-up. I had first saw "Big League" on an independent card nearly 20 years earlier so it was a neat occasion to get to call one of his matches.

As the last bout before intermission was ready to take place and the music hit, as I sat at the commentary desk ready to introduce the segment, I saw this wild face zoom through the curtain. With his tongue out in an expression similar to The Road Warriors from years passed, and a backwards hat to imply the swagger, this individual that was smaller in statue immediately exuded larger-than-life personality. This scooter wasn't simply a mobility aid, it was part of the persona and presentation of this guy. Part manager and part hype man, the energy and enthusiasm that he displayed was infectious. He wasn't rolling to the ring to get a better view of the action, he was zooming around ringside to hype the audience for the special surprise bout with the Ryse debut of his client as a part of Team Big League.

Who was this energetic guy that looked like he was having the time of his life that it was impossible for the audience not to join in with his enthusiasm?

This was Jordie Noland, and he won the crowd over almost immediately, but his journey that got him to ringside was anything but easy.

Jordie was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, more commonly known as brittle bone disease, a challenge that would be a tough task even for his wrestling idols that take all the bumps and burises inside the squared circle. As the name implies, the disease saw the future wrestling manager struggle with several broken bones and near constant pain from the condition. His childhood wasn't defined by baseball games or sunny days at the pool. Hospital visits and recovering from those broken bones were much more common for him. But, in a display of true grit, a trait often woven into the fabric of pro wrestling storylines, Noland saw a level of real-life toughness that very few have to keep his head up even under challenging circumstances.

"Growing up, was challenging to say the least, but I was able to overcome pretty much any obstacle that stood in front of me. I never did, nor do I still, let my disability control or define me. Nothing was ever handed to me, I earned and fought for everything I have and was given. Dealing with physical pain was always a struggle and challenge but, it made me stronger in the end. Not being able to play outside with the other kids sucked but I made up for it by having great relationships with my teachers, whom I still consider family to this day," Jordie explained.

Ironically, it was video games that served as Jordie's introduction to sports entertainment, as his parents didn't originally allow him to watch professional wrestling. He didn't start watching the television product until he was 14, but became so memorized by the spectacle that he devoured as much of the history of the industry as possible from any source possible after he was bitten by the pro wrestling bug.

"Honestly, just the athleticism and inspiration the talent were showing made me want to do it," Noland said of what hooked him on the grappling arts.

Not long after he fell in love with the sport of pro wrestling, he met the previously mentioned McChesney through a friend, and the longtime independent star asked the youngster what his plans were. When Jordie revealed that he wanted to be involved in professional wrestling any way he could, the grappler known as "Big League" promised to help make it happen, and John McChesney kept that promise. A few years later, when Jordie was 18, he did a guest ring announcer spot for the wrestler at an event in Pittsburgh.

Jordie didn't know it at the time, but that guest spot more than seven years ago turned into a career that has taken him throughout the industry that he admired so much. Throughout that time, the crowds can't help but get excited when they see Noland zipping around ringside. They can identify with his enthusiasm because he's having as much fun as they are. The chance to entertain and meet the fans are things that Noland cites as some of the most rewarding aspects of his tenure in the industry.

"Having a special connection with the fans is great for a multitude of reasons, but mainly one of them is being inspiring. I love knowing that the fans are happy to see me and that I make their day or make them smile. The kids, I love giving them hugs or just making them laugh or get excited about the show or matches. I also truly believe it gives them experience to approach someone with special needs without preconceived notions or judgment," he said.

As Jordie was literally and figuratively zigzagging his way throughout the independent scene alongside John McChesney, he worked alongside many of those that went on to achieve national fame. For example, before Britt Baker and Wardlow were spotlighted on AEW programming, there were mainstays of the Pittsburgh circuit. Baker and Wardlow told former All Elite EVP Cody Rhodes that Jordie was a big fan of his so Noland and his family were invited to a TV taping to meet The American Nightmare. Cody immediately saw Jordie's dedication and passion for the industry, and the two kept in touch even after Rhodes made the return to WWE.

That meeting led to the hype man to take a giant leap in his wrestling journey, being  invited to do commentary for Cody's Nightmare Factory training school events. Jordie found himself on a plane to Atlanta, thinking that this surreal experience was a one-off, but it became a staple of his wrestling schedule.

"I would’ve never guessed a scrappy kid like me on the Indy’s would get such an amazing and humbling experience. It has been a ride of fun and thrills to say the least. Now, what I at first thought was a one-time opportunity has officially become full time quarterly down in Atlanta and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity," Jordie commented.

Aside from expanding his pro wrestling horizons, Jordie joined the literary ranks as an author with his book, "A Little Life in A Big World," an autobiography that was written with the help of his former fourth grade teacher. The pages of the 2021 release detail how Noland went from being born in Honduras with the rare disorder to living his dream as a member of the pro wrestling industry.

Noland considers the book an extension of his greater goal in professional wrestling, not a self-serving venture for his own ego, but rather as an inspirational example to others.

"I want people to look at my life, my story, my disability, all of it and realize that dreams do and can come true and to never give up. Do not let the world define you, your past tell you who you are and let anyone tell you what you need to be doing in this world or to stop you from pursuing your passions," he commented.

Similar to his approach to everything else in his life, Jordie set his sights big for his goals in professional wrestling.

" I want to travel the world, be a part of this as a career, not a hobby. There is no such thing as end all be all promotion for me. What’s good enough for me is knowing that I’m doing this full time, I’m able to provide for myself and family in doing what I love and that is being in professional wrestling," Noland concluded.

On that April night of 2023, Jordie Noland was introduced to Ryse Wrestling because of a by chance opportunity, and he made the most of it. The same way a spontaneous meeting with Cody Rhodes allowed him to make the most of a chance at a commentary gig that became a regular spot for him. In a business built on egos, Jordie takes the time to serve as an inspiration for those that see his journey. The nature of the business is harsh and unpredictable, but one thing is for sure, don't count out Jordie Noland. His real-life tale of overcoming poverty, disease, and medical hurdles is an actual story of courage that rivals anything from the over-the-top world of sports entertainment.

Quite simply, when you meet Jordie Noland, you meet a real-life inspiration story.

The Vince McMahon lawsuit

On a week when the future of the distribution of sports entertainment media was announced with the deal that will bring Raw to Netflix and Dwayne Johnson was added to the TKO board of directors, implying his involvement to generate big money for the corporation, an absolute bombshell regarding Vince McMahon's misconduct scandal overshadowed it. As we know, almost two years ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that the kingpin of WWE had not only had several affairs with company employees, but also spent tens of millions of dollars in company money to keep them quiet. Several women over the course of several years signed non-disclosure agreements in exchange for millions of dollars, which gave the company such negative publicity that McMahon "retired" for a short time before he strong armed his way back onto the WWE board before the Endeavor merger with UFC last year.

The difference in the story would've been if McMahon used his personal money and if these were consensual affairs, because if that was the case, his actions would've been sleazy and the subject of public embarrassment, but nothing illegal. However, there were accusations of coercion and it was revealed that McMahon had used company funds when he paid off the women to keep the affairs private. McMahon was also served with a subpoena last year as a result of an ongoing investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since the WWE stock was publicly traded, the investments of the stockholders were misused since the NDA payments weren't disclosed to the shareholders. Furthermore, if the affairs had been public, investors might've decided not to purchase WWE stock if McMahon was still the boss.

Just a few months ago, it was reported that Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, put Triple H in charge of WWE creative, effectively ending Vince's influence on the direction of the product. Some compared it to when Ted Turner was more or less pushed out of his position after the AOL/Time Warner merger years ago. With McMahon essentially just a figure head for business meetings and the corporate events, particularly when he reportedly helped broker a deal to bring the UFC to Saudi Arabia because of his previous dealings with the government there, many assumed that he would quietly fade from the public spotlight.

The women that had accused him signed non-disclosure agreements so they couldn't legally talk about it publicly and when they were paid, the private matter was settled so it wasn't the subject of any legal decisions.

However, the Wall Street Journal has a new report about a lawsuit filed against McMahon, the company, and a former WWE executive. A former staffer,  Janel Grant, who had an affair with McMahon from mid-2019 until January 2022 alleges that McMahon's misconduct, including sex trafficking and sexual abuse voids the previously signed NDA agreement. The details of the accusations are truly horrific and are examples of absolutely depraved behavior. The Wrestling Obsever's Bryan Alvarez reported details from the 67-page lawsuit on The Wrestling Observer Live radio show, explaining that Grant was in financial trouble because she spent many of the prior years as a caregiver for her elderly parents before they passed away. According to Alvarez, McMahon initially offered her a job at the WWE office as a way for her to get back on her feet financially before he pursued a sexual relationship with her. Grant was pressured to stay in the relationship as a way to keep her job, and McMahon allegedly threatened her with legal action from his high-priced team of attorneys if she caused any problems.

 The story continues to get truly disturbing with the accusations that McMahon pressured her into sexual encounters with John Laurinaitis, who was fired from the company after he was named in the original scandal reports in 2022. McMahon shared sexually explicit photos and videos of Grant to others without her knowledge or consent. The horrific details of the lawsuit explain that McMahon defecated on her during a threesome encounter that she was an unwilling participant in during their relationship.

The accusations of the depraved behavior continued, according to the lawsuit, when Grant was used as a bargaining chip during negotiations for Brock Lesnar to re-sign with the company in 2022. While the lawsuit doesn't specifically name Lesnar, the individual was described as "a former UFC and WWE champion" involved, and that would leave Brock as the only potential person on the WWE roster. The details of the lawsuit explain that Brock was given Grant's cell phone number and requested a video of her urinating before he called her derogatory names. Allegedly, Brock planned to set up an encounter with Grant, but a storm prevented the travel plans for the meeting between them.

If any of this is true, and the lawsuit claims that Grant has screenshots of text messages from McMahon to prove it then Vince McMahon should be subject to criminal charges. This wasn't a consensual affair that McMahon simply wanted to keep away from the public. Instead, he used his position as Grant's boss and his power as the CEO of the company to exploit her and force her into sexual situations that she was unwilling to participate in, but didn't want to lose her job. Again, the legal process has to unfold, but if these claims are true then McMahon is a depraved sociopath and he would be a danger to anyone he has power over in the WWE corporate structure.

The argument could be made that even the initial accusations were more than enough to justify him being unfit to continue in his role as the boss of WWE, but given the horrendous nature of the lawsuit, there's no question that it would be unsafe for McMahon to work around the WWE staff. How would any female employee ever be safe again if McMahon is capable of this type of systematic exploitation?

The bottom line is, if this is true ,Vince McMahon and anyone else involved in the exploitation of Janel Grant should be fired from the company immediately. TKO is a publicly-traded corporation that just secured billions of dollars in revenue for the next decade, they don't need Vince McMahon, and even if he still had an important role in the corporation, he should still be fired. TKO doesn't need the negatively publicity, and hopefully, when Vince McMahon is exiled, it will be a truly new chapter for the sports entertainment business. It's ironic that McMahon wanted his pro wrestling empire to be seen as a legitimate business for years, but his actions were based on the sleazy aspects of the history of the industry. Furthermore, the most legitimate WWE will be as a business will be without McMahon involved, and while it would be impossible for the company to deny his involvement in the history of the organization, it shouldn't be celebrated going forward either. Keep in mind, Vince was the biggest heel in the industry at a time when the company had record-setting ratings so it would be unrealistic to erase him from the archives, but there should never be another Vince appreciation segment again.

As a comparison, you've never heard anything like this about Triple H and even during his wrestling days, it was well known that he didn't drink or use any recreational drugs. Obviously, the WWE will be in better hands under the guidance of Triple H instead of McMahon. More than anything, this story makes the entire industry look terrible and almost reinforces the negative stereotypes about the business. Again, assuming McMahon is exiled, hopefully this can be a fresh start for the WWE under the TKO banner. John Cena's role as a real-life superhero is a much better narrative to promote for TKO than the accomplishments of Vince McMahon.

It's important to remember that these allegations will have to be proven in court as the lawsuit unfolds, but assuming the claims are true, Vince McMahon won't be known as the maverick promoter that took a regional wrestling territory and  transformed it into a publicly-traded global corporation worth billions of dollars. Instead, the narrative of Vince McMahon will be that he ruined his legacy because he became another sleazy billionaire that tried to use his money and power to cover up misconduct as the CEO of the company.

Raw signed for Netflix

The TKO group announced a bombshell yesterday, a move that will not only impact the immediate future of the sports entertainment industry, but could also shape the direction of the industry for the rest of its history. After months of speculation, a deal for Raw's next contract was made public as Netflix, the streaming giant, has secured not only the rights to broadcast the Monday night show domestically, but will have the full line-up for WWE programming, including Smackdown, NXT, and pay-per-views internationally. The 10-year deal will be worth more than $5 billion, with an option for Netflix to exit the contract after five years, but with an extension option that could theoretically stretch the contract to a total for 15 years.

Obviously, there are several layers and different aspects to this story, with a huge portion of that being how streaming distribution will effect the WWE brand, as well as how the streaming platforms as a whole continue to evolve within the media landscape.

It should be noted that the Netflix deal will bring Raw to the streaming platform in January of next year. Smackdown will move from Fox to USA in October of this year, while the NXT brand will shift to the CW.

As far as the prospects of the Raw contract, it's a very similar paradigm to what I wrote a few weeks ago when Amazon Prime was rumored to be the leading contender to land the WWE flagship show. Within the previously mentioned crowded media landscape, and more importantly, the oversaturated streaming market, platforms are looking for the content that will allow them to secure their piece of the pie. As we know, Netflix was not only one of the first major players for streaming, but it also currently has the biggest streaming footprint. So, why would they invest such a massive amount of cash to more or less start the process to potentially become the exclusive provider of WWE content? The answer is rather simple, they will obviously bank on the continued growth of their platform from new subscriptions from the WWE's global fan base and another major aspect is that adding the WWE product to its line-up will prevent another streaming platform from using the sports entertainment brand to secure more of the streaming dollar. Keep in mind, as I said before, the pitfalls of the streaming model, particularly when customers will cherry-picking certain months to subscribe for specific content, are some of the reasons why some platforms either consolidated with another service or even lost money. For example, Disney+ has lost a massive amount of money on their streaming platform in recent years because the costs of productions are at a certain level regardless of how many people are subscribed to watch it. If a more expensive production doesn't add more subscribers or at least maintain the current number of subscribers to cover the costs involved of the new content then the platform will lose money on the project. Granted, the upside of the bulk-pricing model that Netflix has been very successful with is that it can generate more subscribers at the lower price to generate more revenue overall than the money that would've been made if the content was released at a higher price on an individual basis.

Again, the key to success for any subscription-based model is the ability to maintain subscribers and to avoid customers cherry-picking as a way to maximize revenue.

This WWE deal just gave Netflix customers or at the very least a large portion of the WWE fan base a weekly reason to subscribe to the streaming platform. For the publicly-traded corporation, this is a total win, as it guarantees them a few billion dollars, which will keep the stock price steady. When you take into account the $1.4 billion that USA agreed to for the rights to Smackdown for that five-year contract, the NXT contract for the CW, and the addition of the newly-announced Netflix deal, the WWE will generate around $800 million per year just for their TV rights deals. That's guaranteed money and most importantly, guaranteed record-setting profits for the next several years. As a corporation on the stock market, that's the best news possible for shareholders and thus the overall value of the company. Of course, Netflix wants to make a profit on the deal, and if they don't then they have the option to terminate the contract in five years, but again, assuming Netflix adds to its subscriber base with the addition of WWE programming then its a win-win for everyone involved on the business side of the agreement. It goes without saying that the trade off for the guaranteed cash that Netflix is offering is that they hope to make their profit from the deal over the course of time as the WWE brand continues to grow internationally through the increased accessibility to the product on the platform. That increased value on the contract for Netflix would also mean more value of the WWE brand. In preparation to attempt to maximize revenue for the start of the contract in 2025, Netflix already mentioned price increases, including the elimination of the cheapest price option currently available for the service.

Outside of the domestic dollars and cents, this move also increases the WWE's global footprint since the contract covers every country where Netflix is available so the WWE doesn't have to negotiate individual deals in specific countries to increase accessibility to programming. As we know, the company has made hefty cash when it was paid to bring major events to other countries. The Saudi Arabia contract is the best example, but with increased exposure, it wouldn't be surprising to see more events in foreign countries, especially within the next decade.

However, there's a concerning aspect to this as far as a long-term basis.

I hope I'm wrong, but it's possible that putting the WWE's most storied television show behind a paywall might actually erode the audience over time, or at the very least reduce the domestic fan base. Granted, Netflix is the most well-known streaming platform, but are fans really going to pay $15 a month to watch Raw, especially when the show has been on free TV for more than thirty years? There has undoubtedly been a recent upswing in WWE programming with the return of CM Punk, but were most episodes of Raw in the past few years worth paying to watch? As a comparison, access to pay-per-views and the massive WWE video library is currently $4.99 a month on Peacock, a deal that runs through March 2026 so it might be a tough sell to get the casual fan to pay $15 a month to subscribe to Netflix to watch Raw that theoretically builds up to the pay-per-views on a cheaper platform. Most importantly, and this is still a relatively unproven concept, will the general public be willing to pay for access to WWE television? Regardless of the price point, a paywall is still a barrier to entry and that might make it more difficult to make new fans in the future. Keep in mind, the Netflix deal has the potential to be a 15-year contract, what happens if an entire generation of potential fans aren't as invested in the product because half of the TV programming requires a Netflix subscription? Along the same lines, especially for the casual fan, watching two hours of Smackdown each week on USA might be enough for them in terms of wrestling content and thus it wouldn't be necessary to pay for watch Raw.

As much as some predicted the downfall of traditional television for years, it's still the most common form of media viewership, and as we've seen, the streaming market was flooded with so many options that it become a similar scenario to cable so while the Netflix deal might be successful because of the scope of the platform, this doesn't mean the pro wrestling on regular cable is suddenly an antiquated concept. There's a reason USA paid more than $1 billion for the rights to Smackdown. Furthermore, the ability to make new fans and to ensure the next generation of the fan base will still be based on easy accessibility to the product. Those that will subscribe to Netflix to watch Raw are those that are already fans of the show, but the programming on free TV is still how the company will make new fans. Along those lines, Smackdown basically becomes the top show for the company almost by proxy because it's not behind a paywall.

Finally, I'm skeptical of how successful Raw will be, at least in the United States, being put behind a paywall, simply because the audience is so used to the Monday night staple on traditional TV. It's uncharted territory and almost strange to think that the show that was so associated with the biggest boom in the history of the business and the ratings war with Nitro each week won't have ratings. The barometer of success will be how many added or maintain subscriptions for Netflix, not how many people actually watch the show, and that muddiest the waters somewhat as far as how to gauge the effectiveness of the angles. WWE fans aren't used to paying for Raw and with the economy still uncertain, it might take some time to get fans to want to add the extra expense to their wrestling budget. However, the biggest takeaway from this story is that this is major business on a global level and it's a move that is designed to build the brand in the future as an even more international fan base can be used to generate revenue for the company. The WWE brand isn't just trying to draw money domestically, they look to maximize the revenue possible from its content on a global level and thus become a truly global brand within the next decade for the company.

When will Brock Lesnar return?

Brock Lesnar looks to be on his way back to WWE.

The last time we saw the former WWE and UFC heavyweight champion was last August at Summer Slam when he concluded a memorable trilogy of matches with Cody Rhodes, a feud that was key to maintaining the momentum that Cody had as the top baby face in the company after the disappointing loss at Wrestlemania against Roman Reigns. Make no mistake about it, without the importance that Brock brought to the table for the series of matches, it's very possible Cody wouldn't be in the position to potentially main event WM again this year. The storyline was very strategic and very well done, as it gave Rhodes a monster to slay and odds to overcome so the audience didn't lose faith in him as a top guy. Lesnar's unscripted endorsement of Rhodes following their bout at Summer Slam was icing on top of the cake, as it gave him another level of credibility as a truly top star.

There are a lot of moving parts ahead of this weekend's Royal Rumble, particularly with The Rock's implied involvement with Roman Reigns that was mentioned during the segment with Jinder Mahal a few weeks ago. With two nights of WM planned, as unnecessary as it might usually be, it gives the office more options of how to shuffle the deck or where the puzzle pieces could fit into place.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer speculated that Brock will be back for the Rumble and speculated that something could be booked to set up Gunter as the eventual opponent for Wrestlemania in April. That's a safe bet, considering it makes sense and the WWE has used interactions in the battle royal to set up WM matches before. Granted, the IC belt is traditionally considered a mid-card championship and that's nothing wrong with that so it's not something that would immediately come to mind for something that would be an option for Lesnar, but the actual match-up is the money, not the belt in this particular situation. Don't get me wrong, Gunther has elevated and made the Intercontinental title more relevant and prestigious than it has been in years, but in this specific scenario, the fans would be just as invested in a Gunther/Lesnar showdown regardless of if a championship is involved or not.

Gunter is one of the very few guys in the entire industry today that can match physicality with Lesnar, and that's the biggest selling point of the contest. In fact, depending on what plans the office has for the main event scene throughout the rest of the year after Wrestlemania, the argument could be made that Gunter/Lesnar could be worthy of another trilogy of matches. Another option, assuming Cody wins the title at WM 40, would be for Gunther to challenge for the WWE championship. Sure, it would be simple storytelling, as it would give Cody another monster to slay, but if it's effective then it would be mission accomplished.

How Brock is booked and when he returns is definitely intriguing, but the circumstances when he comes back might be the biggest takeaway from this entire scenario.

Keep in mind, about a decade ago Lesnar was pushed to such a dominate level that the argument could've been made that actually too much focus was put on him. He broke The Undertaker's undefeated streak, he was the dominate champion that was rarely on television so it became difficult to book Raw without the championship as the center piece, and the product became very stale when the cache that was built for him was repeatedly unsuccessfully used to try to force the baby face Roman Reigns into the John Cena role at the time. But, times have changed within WWE. There's enough depth on the current roster that throwing the title on Brock for an easy booking decision isn't necessary. In some ways, Brock booked as strongly as he was for such an extended period of time almost became a lazy booking option since his title runs weren't based around compelling drama or required intriguing booking for the build up, but rather that he was just pushed as a dominate monster.

At this point,Brock can be used as specifically a special attraction that can boost the show when needed, but isn't used as a booking crutch either. Seth Rollins' rumored MCL injury that would rule him out of Wrestlemania derails some possible plans for the biggest show of the year, but depending on if or how the office pivots prior to the Rumble, only a slight shuffle of the deck might have to take place to give WM 40 two major main events for both nights. Instead of CM Punk/Rollins for the championship, the angle could be shifted to set up Punk/Cody Rhodes for the belt, while the speculation of The Rock/Roman Reigns bout could be used for the second night of the event. As I wrote a few weeks ago after The Rock dropped hints of a clash with the Tribal Chief when he made a surprise appearence on Raw, if the WWE can get Dwayne Johnson for a WM match at this point in his career, it's too big of a money match to pass up, mostly because of how many moving parts are involved with the Endeavor merger, the stock price, the possibilities for Raw's next TV deal, and of course, the streaming numbers on Peacock. If The Rock is scheduled for WM, the optics alone are a huge boost for the corporation. More casual fans will watch WWE programming to see The Rock's return and it will garner main stream publicity, which helps boost the stock price.

Obviously, that doesn't give Cody the true conclusion to "finish the story" but given the domino effect The Rock's involvement can have for business, if the office can sign Dwayne Johnson for a match then that will be the priority. It might not be the traditional pro wrestling philosophy because the guest star would take some of the spotlight away from the full-time performer, but the corporate agenda has to serve many different purposes for the company.

But, what about Brock Lesnar?

In many ways, Brock is the ace up their sleeve for the office and can be used to kick start the championship scene on Raw. If Rollins is ruled out, as mentioned, there's still enough meat on the bone for two nights of Wrestlemania with The Rock, Reigns, Punk, and Cody. At the same time, Brock could be used in a prominent role as well to make sure there's still enough sizzle for the biggest event of the year. Maybe The Rock and Lesnar have a match-up at some point as a throwback to their Summer Slam bout in 2002 that solidified Brock as a main event star. The biggest takeaway from all of this is how much star power the WWE added to its roster within the past for years with the return of CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. It also says a lot about the missed opportunities for All Elite Wrestling, but that's a different matter for a different time. Some will cite Triple H's takeover of creative, and that might be an accurate assessment that proves Vince McMahon was behind the times, but regardless, the company has a very anticipated line-up ahead of WM season and that hasn't always been the case in the modern era. Again, when you take into account that Brock Lesnar might be simply an added bonus to the WWE landscape, it proves the level of star power of the company. 

VHS memoirs 34

Today marks 23 years since the 2001 edition of The Royal Rumble, a pay-per-view that was held at The New Orleans Arena and kicked off a year that shaped the history of the industry. Just two weeks prior to this, Extreme Championship Wrestling ran its last official event with Guilty As Charged on pay-per-view, and WCW just finished up a calendar year that saw the organization lose a massive $60 million, setting the stage for Turner executive Jamie Kellner to cancel WCW programming. ECW ran a pair of bought house shows in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in mid-January before HHG Corp, the parent company of Extreme Championship Wrestling, filed for bankruptcy in March. Outside of the technicalities, January of 2001 saw the industry completely condense within a two-month span, ECW basically folded at the beginning of the year, and by Wrestlemania, the WWF was the only national promotion left standing.

Still, this edition of The Rumble had the ingredients of the boom period of the industry, even if that surge of popularity had to naturally begin to wind down with the lack of competition throughout the following year.

The show opened with Edge and Christian defending the tag titles against The Dudleys, and this was a prime example of the tag team peak that was a part of the fabric of the WWF in the early-2000s. As we know with traditional Rumble shows, the under card is often kept short to allow for time for the battle royal at the conclusion of the event, an aspect that was emphasized more during this era than the modern Rumble because of the time limits of traditional pay-per-view. So, this bout was given less than 10 minutes, but they made the most of it with a lot of fast-paced action, a trademark of the tag team division during this era. In something that you'd never see now, especially with the spotlight rightfully put on the dangers of head injuries, this narrative of this match was based on Bubba and D-Von suffering concussions from an attack on a previous episode of Smackdown. Again, it's rather odd to hear the word concussion used in this context because wrestling promotions avoid the term at all costs now, even for legitimate head injuries.

After a series of near falls that created a lot of drama prior to the conclusion that kept the audience guessing as to who would be victorious, The Dudleys won the championship. This was a really good way to kickoff the pay-per-view and was a reminder of how key the tag team division was to provide an entertaining pace for PPV cards.

Chris Benoit defended the Intercontinental championship against Chris Jericho in a ladder match. Given how technically skilled these two were, I'm not sure a ladder match was really necessary, but this was very much an aspect of the times, when the car crash aspect of an event was stacked to secure those PPV dollars from the bigger audience that was drawn to the genre from the Attitude era. Benoit and Jericho didn't shy away from the stipulations, as each took brutal bumps on the ladder. This went just under 20 minutes and was given the proper time to develop, a nod to the wise formatting of the card, because if you're going to book a ladder match at The Royal Rumble, it has to be given enough time to be a ladder match or it will fall flat.

The infamous dive that Benoit made throw the ropes when he was smashed with a chair was one of the key points of his contest. This match also had the spot where Jericho put Benoit in the Walls of Jericho on top of the ladder. In retrospect and for obvious reasons, it's tough to watch this again and see how many blows to the head Benoit took throughout the segment. Jericho climbed the ladder to claim the championship for the win.

On the other end of the spectrum, Ivory defeated Chyna to claim the Women's championship during a segment that went just a few minutes. This was somewhat odd, particularly with how this angle played out, along with Chyna's eventual exit from the organization. Chyna was booked for a storyline injury during this match, allowing Ivory to claim the championship. Since there wasn't much for the actual contest, there's really not anything to discuss, as the angle was the focus of the segment. As we know, Chyna "returned" from injury at Wrestlemania a few months later and regained the belt in a virtual squash match. She worked just one more match before she vacated the title and left the organization. So, maybe this injury angle was designed to set up some type of storyline with a build up for Wrestlemania, but given that it went nowhere after that, the entire situation was almost moot. That being said, it was definitely in bad taste that a neck injury angle was booked and Chyna was scripted to keep her arm frozen, implying some level of paralysis. Very similar to the concussion angle that was used as the narrative for the tag team title match, it's really odds to watch a potential paralysis angle on WWE programming since you'd never see that type of storyline on WWE programming now.

The Triple H/Kurt Angle WWF title match was a very good quality main event bout. Everything they did was crisp and smooth, a credit to how much of an absolute nature he was in the squared circle, and the ability that Triple H had as a ring general, even in the early years of his main event push. Of course, the segment was overbooked with Trish and Stephanie getting into a scuffle before Vince McMahon was involved, but again, that was an aspect of the era so it didn't really take away from the title match. Eventually, Kurt Angle got the win to retain the championship.

The Royal Rumble match itself was basically what you'd expect from a battle royal in terms of action, this this edition of the match had a few notable aspects. This was the year that Kane was really rejuvenated as a monster and he eliminated several wrestlers, adding a much needed level of credibility back to his character. Don't get me wrong, Kane was one of the most consistent performers in the history of WWE and made the most of anything he was given, but it's important to keep the status of his persona in context prior to this. When Kane burst onto the scene in late-1997, he was an unstoppable monster that had a tremendous mystic and an incredible presentation with his entrance. However, as time went on, for whatever reason, through his tag team with X-Pac and randomly being able to speak on the mic, his character was unintentionally watered down. His performances were still top notch, especially at this time, but the character had to be re-established. Thankfully, this performance helped solidify him as a force within the WWF landscape, a scene that was going to change very soon with the influx of WCW and ECW talent.

Drew Carey made his WWF in-ring debut in 2001 and eventually received at Hall of Fame induction for it. Granted this was silly and unnecessary, but considering that Carey eliminated himself from the match, this was no harm done to any of the performers that worked for the company on a weekly basis. Another cameo was The Honky Tonk Man, and in retrospect, with how much controversy he seems determined to create for himself, it's even more surprising that he was brought back to the company for his appearence. He was eventually tossed by Kane, but it's interesting to consider that this was the first cameo that was specifically based on nostalgia in the history of the Rumble. Sure, there were always guest stars, which is definitely part of the fun of the pay-per-view, but this was an occasion where the nostalgia card was played, simply because enough time had passed for The Honky Tonk Man to be considered a nostalgia act. As mentioned, it's a really fun part of the event, but in more recent years, it seems like management has tried to keep the guest stars at a minimum, which might be the right decision on a long-term basis. In the mid-2010s, these cameos became a very anticipated portion of the Rumble, but as the years went on, the argument could be made that it might've been used too often so the fans began to gauge the quality of The Rumble match on the number of surprises, not the drama of potential eliminations to determine the challenger for the championship at Wrestlemania.

Stone Cold Steve Austin won his third Royal Rumble, setting up a second showdown with The Rock in what would become a memorable trilogy that that'd wrap up a few years later. The psychology of the finish was very well done, as Austin was actually attacked by Triple H before he entered the match and was bleeding during his stint in the contest. Kane was featured as the most dominate participant throughout the contest so Austin had odds to overcome and a monster to slay before he won the contest. Since this time period was such an influx for the business and quite frankly, there were more important narratives around the industry at this point, this particular Royal Rumble event probably doesn't get as much discussion as it should, but this was a really solid pay-per-view.

The Von Erich Dynasty:Masters of The Iron Claw

Truth is stranger than fiction. It's cliche, but it's true.

Perhaps no genre represents that statement quite as well as professional wrestling, the over-the-top spectacle that originated on the carnival circuit. The scripted drama that unfolds in from of the curtain is sometimes tame compared to the controversy that that takes place behind it.

For the past few decades, the tale of the famous Von Erich family was known as one of the most compelling, yet tragic stories within sports entertainment circles. Over the years, within the niche of grappling historians, fascinating productions have been released that chronicled that triumphant and turbulent times of that family that were bonafide heroes in their home state of Texas. Sold out cards, local pizza commercials, and even board games went along with all the fame. Addiction, disaster, and suicide were intertwined with the grief and tragedy that the family endured.

Brian Harrison's "Heroes of World Class" documentary is one of the best productions ever released on the pro wrestling business. That 2006 release was followed by WWE's "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" the year after. It took more than 15 years, but just last month, "The Iron Claw," Sean Durkin's take on the Texas wrestling clan, hit the big screen with a main stream theater release. Zac Efron was slotted for the role of Kevin, the last surviving brother and the film's main character. The movie received generally positive reviews, but garnered stark criticism for rather liberal use of creative license, with the complete omission of Chris being the prime example.

Still, the Von Erich story is so fascinating and proof of that is Iron Claw's success at the box office, but what about the family's accomplishments in the ring? The real-life narrative was so unbelievable tragic and certainly worth examination, but could that overshadow the classic moments that made the family so beloved in the first place?

While the two prior documentaries and movie release tell the story of Adkisson family, there's a new production in the works that will deep dive into what made the Von Erichs a household name inside the squared circle.

The Von Erich Dynasty:Masters of The Iron Claw is the newest presentation from Joe Dombrowski, lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Wrestling and the English voice of AAA Lucha Libre. Joe, a passionate sports entertainment historian, has been enthralled with the grappling arts since his youth and has spent his entire adult life working in the industry, a time span of over twenty years.

Among his list of accomplishments of broadcaster, booker, and merchandise mogul, Joe also added content producer to his gigs that keep him busy as he often juggles multiple projects. Along with original productions like The Montreal Theory, The Brian Pillman Memorial Anthology, and more, Dombrowski also runs ProWrestlingLibrary.com, a streaming service with some of the most obscure footage and hidden gems now available through the advancement of modern technology.

Joe's presentation on the Von Erich clan, an eight-hour collection of the family's bouts that spanned over decades, was a collaborative effort that saw him bring together a myriad of resources to release a truly special compilation on the family that a new generation has discovered through The Iron Claw's success on the silver screen.

"I've been very fortunate to have spent the past few months developing a business relationship with Savmar Media and the Mario Savoldi Wrestling Library, which to me is the greatest library of classic wrestling footage not owned by a billionaire in existence today. Being aligned with Savmar allows a lot of exciting opportunities when it comes to content sharing and increased distribution for both sides, and for me, it opened a door to things like USWA-Texas, and Global Wrestling Federation, and IWCCW, and promotions and territories of that ilk that have classic Von Erich footage. With that as a foundation, I knew we could put together something special and unique, and as both of us started digging and inquiring as to what else is out there, it just got more and more special," Dombrowski explained.

Joe painstakingly spent many late nights in front of his computer screen scribbling notes for the production that eventually amassed to more than thirty classic contests that demonstrated not only the skill of their performance, but also how cemented the Von Erichs' rock star status was in the Lone Star state. With that in mind, Joe wanted to focus the spotlight of his production on the positive spectacle of the ring rather than the gloomy real-life tragedy that took center stage for other presentations based on the Von Erich name.

"You can expect the most complete and comprehensive look at the in-ring careers of The Von Erichs as a family ever put together. A lot of tellings of their stories put an emphasis and focus on the tragedies, and understandably so, it's a huge part of what makes that family's story so emotional and memorable. But,we weren't interested in doing that here. I'd much rather show you the triumphs - Kerry going an hour against Ric Flair, or David trying to beat Harley Race. I'd rather you see all the iconic names that the Von Erichs have shared the ring with, from Steve Austin to Mark Calaway to the Freebirds to Jerry Lawler. I'd rather show you a Von Erich or two you might not even know about, and how they connect to the overall story. The love the fans had for the Von Erichs is palpable, and those cheers and screams stand the test of time. This is over 30 matches, over 8 hours, showing you what made this family so beloved in the first place. Let's celebrate the memory of what one family built," Joe commented.

The heyday of the regional territory system saw as many as five full-time organizations running in Texas, but the name Von Erich is the most closely tied to the state. Through the innovative World Class television show at the time, the family were global stars, but always kept their foundation in Denton, Texas. Fritz was the patriarch, David was the ring general, Kerry was the rock star, Kevin was high-flyer, and the younger Mike and Chris were the scrappy underdogs that represented the family. This Dynasty release represents all of that action through its rare footage of the entire family.

"I've always been a fan and had such huge respect for the Von Erich name. I was watching Kerry as a really young kid. In time, I learned of his history and family. I've worked with Ross and Marshall in MLW and they epitomize polite and respectful and hard working, you can tell they were raised extremely well. That entire second generation - David, Kevin, Kerry, Mike, and Chris - all of whom are featured and represented on this set, by the way, had so much responsibility being such huge stars at such young ages. They deserve all the praise and love and fan support out there, and deserve to be remembered not just for how their stories ended, but the things they did while they were here that touched so many and lives on forever," Dombrowsk concluded.

RWA anniversary show

The Renegade Wrestling Alliance, a blue-collar league with its home base at the West Newton Gymnasium in western Pennsylvania, will celebrate its 15th anniversary this Saturday. Among the myriad of independent stars, many of which are staples of the Pittsburgh scene, a WWE legend will be in the house as a guest star for the organization's special occasion.

When the RWA began a decade and a half ago, it was simply a passion project by Derek Widziszewski, known on wrestling cards as Dr. Feelbad. Widziszewski was a familiar face of the steel city grappling scene for years and became well known for his infectious dedication to the squared circle. Finally, he brought that excitement and enthusiasm to his own brand of professional wrestling when the RWA began from humble beginning in 2009. Within the span of the past 15 years, not only did the RWA become a viable business venture as it built a dedicated fan that was truly invested in the athletes in the ring, but it also became a force within the Pittsburgh scene, a circuit that sees wrestling cards throughout the area run by different organizations on an almost weekly basis. Names like Corey Graves, Matt Hardy, The Gambino Brothers, Scotty 2 Hotty, Troy Lords, and many others were among the mixture of local stalwarts and national stars that appeared for RWA events.

"RWA gave me and others a chance when no one else would, and now 15 years later here we are. Nobody thought we'd be a force in this local industry, and here we are. RWA is home for me and always will be. Because of this place, I have gained confidence,  friends, family, and a place in this business. I couldn't be more proud and happier of the men and women who devote their time, effort, and most importantly, bodies to make this company one of the best in Pennsylvania," said Doc Daugherty, the RWA leader play-by-play announcer and one of the voices of the entire Pittsburgh wrestling circuit.

The region of western Pennsylvania, an area known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, has a wide variety of organizations that offer unique event for their audiences, but the RWA is specifically known for its diehard and dedicated audience that attends regularly. The heroes are crowd favorites, and the villains are jeered to a throwback level not often seen in the modern era.

Promoter Derek Widziszewski has often cited his personal connection with the fans as a reasoning for the genuine atmosphere at RWA events. He doesn’t see attendees as simply dollars and cents, but rather customers that he strives to give their money's worth each month RWA sets up shop in the West Newton gymnasium. Many pro wrestling pundits consider the RWA fan base as much a part of the experience as the in-ring action.

Not only is the 15th anniversary of RWA special for its promoter, but also for its head organizer, Quinn Magnum, a nearly 30-year veteran of the industry that was an in-ring performer for years before a series of injuries derailed his time inside the ring ropes. Instead, Quinn spent the vast majority of the second half of his tenure in the wrestling business as a head booker and organizer for a variety of organizations.

"It has been a fantastic journey thus far, working with a promoter that busts his butt to promote the product, a full budget to acquire top talent from the region as well as out of state, work with some of the best talent this region has to offer, great personnel both in front of and behind the curtain, and an old school style of fan base second to none," Quinn commented.

One of the most respective figures of the area, Magnum made his mark behind the scenes over the past two decades, and in the process gave a start to many that have flourished among the Pittsburgh circuit, including several that will decorate RWA’s anniversary event this Saturday.

After the COVID-19 pandemic halted live wrestling events and shuttered the entire world in 2020, Quinn thought that perhaps it was a conclusion to his time in the industry. However, much like the secret world of the mafia could be compared to the early days of the wrestling industry on the carnival circuit, just went Magnum thought he was out, pro wrestling pulled him back in.

As the owner of RWA, Widziszewski knew of Quinn’s reputation for maximizing the assets of roster, and asked him to join the RWA crew in late 2022 before Quinn jumped in with both feet early last year.

"Personally, I am very appreciative of Dr. Feelbad and all of RWA for reigniting a passion for wrestling in me that I long thought was extinguished and gone," Quinn explained via phone as he made extra notes for Saturday's event.

With Gangrel as the special guest to step into the ring with longtime veteran, Chris Taylor, the RWA fans have already voiced their anticipation on social media. Another expected highlight of the line-up is established pro, Patrick Hayes against former RWA heavyweight champion, "The Rev" Ron Hunt. Plus, there's an entire card of action scheduled for West Netwon.

With an old school mindset that has an emphasis on storytelling and emotional investment, with a flare of the modern athletics, Quinn expressed enthusiasm as he enters his second year as the head organizer for the RWA product and expects the organization to continue to grow throughout the year.

"I predict that 2024 will continue to bring an escalation in personal issues as top athletes all arrive to be one thing, the best. That always ensures there will be bad blood between people all striving for the same goals. Some have pride and will do things on the straight and narrow, while others will take any shortcut that they can to get ahead. New top talent will continue to be sought after and signed as well as surprises and very recognizable names making their way to RWA," Quinn concluded.

Hard to Kill review

Anything can happen in pro wrestling. It's cliche, but it's true.

When the return of Total Nonstop Action, a rebranding of Impact Wrestling that was changed from the original initials when Anthem Entertainment rescued the organization from the brink of collapse in 2016, was announced a few months ago, it was surprising, especially with the possible negativity of the double entendre of the letters, but not too surprising. By nature, the over-the-top world of professional wrestling can be a combination of fascinating, ridiculous, and thrilling.

This past weekend's Hard to Kill pay-per-view from The Palms, a venue once well-known for hosting UFC cards during the surge in popularity of the mid-2000s, was undoubtedly a fresh start for an organization that often had the quality talent, but not quite the sizzle to make an "impact" upon the industry within the past few years. Is it possible that dynamic could shift in 2024?

The show opened with the Knockouts Ultimate X match, and while there were a few new faces in this segment, everyone seemed to do well, even if it was a rather artificial presentation with the car crash gimmick of the bout. Let's be honest here, this type of bout is designed for an all action contest to kick off the show with a minimal level of psychology so you weren't going to get the chance for there to be much character development, if any at all, for the debuting talents. Still, this contest delivered what it was booked to accomplish, it was a fireworks type of presentation as a way to kickoff the card, and that makes sense, given the selling point is nonstop action with the rebrand. That being said, just a day after the scary Austin Theory/Carmelo Hayes incident that saw the TV match stopped because of a legitimate head injury, it was a stark reminder of how dangerous the sport can be. Thankfully, this Ultimate X segment did very well, as it gave the viewing audience the dives and spots expected for the gimmick, but everything looked to be done as safely as possible. Sure, those insane bumps from the early Ultimate X matches that made the highlight reel were memorable, but in modern times, particularly with the rightful emphasize on in-ring safety, those type of bumps should be kept to a minimum. They were in this contest as the finish saw a rough landing for Dani Luna, and a tumble for Tasha Steelz before Gisele Shaw grabbed the X logo to become the number one contender for the KO championship. As of this writing, there aren't any injuries reported from the match.

Aside from the gimmick of Ultimate X, I'd say that the Knockouts Division, one of the staples of TNA in its heyday with the Awesome Kong/Gail Kim rivalry, has a solid future. What the KO division lacks in star power, it will probably have a steady level of consistency that will allow the stars of the division to shine as much as possible. Gisele Shaw can be a marketable star for the organization, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Xia Brookside can do in the company as well.

AJ Francis, the former Top Dolla, was involved with a segment where he confronted Joe Hendry, but I'm not sure why the office wanted to bring Francis into the organization. He only had a few years experience under the WWE umbrella and has no specific star power to bring to the table. He hasn't shown an aptitude for the industry and again, a lack of name value so I don't think an even semi-national promotion is the place for him. If he can further hone his craft on the independent circuit then maybe he can rejuvenate his career, but I don't see the upside of his involvement with TNA. Outside of the infamous botch on Smackdown, would he still be in the conversation of the industry?

PCO vs. Dango become a six man tag rather quickly, with Rhino and Jake Something joining the French Canadian grappler to clash with Dango's unique group. Dango took a wild bump to the floor before the six man tag portion started. As far as the match itself, it was a basic six-minute tag match that was probably booked to get a few more wrestlers on the card than anything else. That said, it's quite remarkable that PCO still does what he does at 56, and probably even more remarkable than that is that Vladimir Kozlov is on pay-per-view in 2024. A tidbit from the early years of NWA-TNA that some fans might not know, after the Nashville-based company launched and was eventually rescued by Panda Energy a few months into its existence, Jerry Jarrett, the legendary Memphis promoter, looked for a way to sell his stake in the organization. Jerry had a lucrative construction company and invested $300,000 as a part of the start up money to launch the wrestling project. Jarrett detailed much of his frustration with the lack of progress the group made in his autobiography, "The Best of Times" and explained that he wanted to cut bait with the venture. Through his business connections in the construction industry, he met a few Russian investors that supposedly wanted to purchase NWA-TNA with  Oleg Prudius as its potential top star. Prudius was going to be trained for pro wrestling by TNA and thus the sale negotiations could start. When Jeff Jarrett wasn't open to the idea of selling to the Russians as an exit strategy, plus the red tape of Panda Energy's involvement, Jerry Jarrett took Prudius to the WWE offices in Stamford. The meeting was actually covered by the WWE website, and the publicity of it led to Panda Energy buying Jerry's stake in NWA-TNA.

Anyway, outside of a few of the trademark crazy PCO spots, there wasn't much to discuss with this match. PCO got the pin after he landed a moonsault on Bravo. However, Jake Something seems to have the potential to have a much bigger role within the organization as the year continues. He's an athletic big man that can move so he has an upside that TNA might be able to use as an asset. Also, PCO had a fun entrance in this segment, and in a crowded wrestling landscape, he's definitely a unique commodity for the company to promote for their events.

According to the broadcast, the Knockouts tag team title match was added to the show, and when you take into account that this was only given five minutes, it seemed like this was another segment that was shoehorned onto the pay-per-view to get a few more performers on the show. That said, for what it was, this was an entertaining segment, as all four athletes can go in the ring. Decay won the belts, but it'd be good to see a rematch with these two teams given the proper amount of time, as it has the potential to be a great tag title contest that just didn't get the chance to get into second gear on this card.

The X-Division title contest was the work rate match on the card and it delivered in that aspect. There was a lot of fast paced action and some wild bumps too. Vikingo's dives, while one-dimensional, are still incredible. The finishing sequence was insane, as Chris Sabin hit Vikingo with a springboard Canadian destoryer on the ramp before he launched Kushida with a German suplex off the top rope and hit the Cradle Shock to retain the X-Division belt.

Alexander Hammerstone vs. Josh Alexander was a quality bout that could've been the main event of the show. With Impact Wrestling under the radar because of how much has happened in the business the past few years with the dynamics of WWE and TNA, Josh Alexander was almost quietly one of the most consistent workers in the entire industry. I've always viewed Hammerstone as a big fish in a very small pond as far as MLW goes. He has the look of a guy you'd like would be tailor made for WWE, but did it only appear that way because of the surroundings of MLW? If Hammerstone can continue to compete at this level for TNA, he has a bright future, not only in the company, but elsewhere as well. Given the flexibility that more organizations have with working agreements, Hammerstone might be a major force in the business this year, at least at the level of TNA. Everything in this bout was solid and crisp, which is a credit to both performers. Josh Alexander got the win with the double under hook pile driver.

The perspective of the four-way tag team title match really depends on what you're looking for when you tune into a show. There were a lot of wild spots, but not much psychology or pace to the match. It seemed like the 15-minute segment could've been chopped down to two minutes of highlights and you probably wouldn't have missed anything in the grand scheme of things. Furthermore, this is where the pay-per-view started to get the impression of being overbooked with too many names on the card. The focus became rather splintered, and again seemed more like an excuse to sandwich as many people onto the screen as possible, but I'm not sure that did anything to boost their stock. Ace Austin and Chris Bey retained the titles.

The Knockouts title match was really solid and probably the best Jordynne Grace match I've seen. If Trinity Fatu made a smart business decision by following Sasha Banks out the door of WWE in May 2022 is debatable, but if nothing else, this run with TNA allowed her to prove that she's as skilled in the ring as any of the other top quality workers in the WWE women's division. This KO title match was a back and fourth contest that built well toward the conclusion. The only downside was, it's well-known, specifically among the niche TNA audience. that Trinity is set to return to WWE so none of the near falls had the believability that it could actually be the finish of the match if Trinty would've retained the title with the three count. Grace won the championship, and Trinity will probably be at The Royal Rumble so it was a successful stint for her outside of the WWE.

I've always considered Alex Shelley one of the most underrated talents of his generation, and it was a shame when he actually had to pursue higher education outside of the sport because he didn't have full-time work in the industry. That's not a knock on outside ventures or education that will lead to a different career, but rather to point out that if someone as talented as Alex Shelley didn't have work in the business then something was wrong with the dynamics of the sport. So, it's great to see him get this run as world champion and the credit for the talented performer that he is. That said, it made sense for Moose to win the championship as a way to have a fresh start for the organization. Still, I've never quite seen Moose as a performer that is as well-rounded as you'd expect a main event talent to be. Granted, for some of his Impact tenure, you could say it was inexperience, but at this point, he's been in the business for more than a decade. Don't get me wrong, he's a great athlete and an asset to the company, but his matches often lack a certain polish to the performance. This bout was fine, but went almost 25 minutes and could've been about 10 minutes shorter. The finishing sequence was well done with the flash pin for Moose to claim the title.

Nic Nemeth made his TNA debut, and while this was promoted as a big deal from the organization, as it should've been as they are in the business of selling the audience on the product, I don't see this as nearly anything earth-shattering. As I wrote just a few weeks ago in an article that discussed Nemeth's New Japan appearance at the Tokyo Dome, he's one of the most talented and underutilized guys of his generation. That's no doubt that he deserved more of an opportunity to be a main event star before concussions derailed his progress and he was labeled as injury prone. However, he spent years as a secondary competitor in WWE and was rarely on television. At certain points, he took a hiatus from the organization since the office simply didn't have anything for him to do on the show. The audience knows how talented he is, but he was content to make great money in the WWE for the prime of his career when it offered him very little exposure or opportunity. You can't blame him for taking the cash, especially when the office was willing to keep him under contract because they know how good he is, but being under the radar for so long puts his star power at a very low level.

Is 43-year-old Nemeth really the guy to kick off a fresh start for an organization?

Either way, despite the solid showing from the company on pay-per-view, as there wasn't anything subpar on the card, I'm not sure it truly changes anything with the status of the organization within the industry. It's still going to be a relatively small organization that is primarily a Canadian product, which is completely fine because Anthem has made its purchase of the promotion serve its purpose for The Fight Network, but that doesn't mean that it will make a dent in the overall business in The United States. Quite simply, the major names sign with WWE or AEW because that's where the most money and the biggest opportunities can be offered. That's not to say that Anthem should try to change their business model, especially if it works for them, but rather to point out that TNA isn't going to suddenly be able to sign the top free agents because they changed the initials. If Drew McIntyre left WWE, he's not going to return to TNA because his market value is more than Anthem could realistically offer so he'd take the hefty contract from Tony Khan.

That being said, it's possible that TNA could still have more of a productive role in the sport in 2024. With the increase in working agreements from different organizations, specifically that Charlie Dempsey, the son of the legendary William Regal, worked an event for All Japan, it wouldn't be too surprising if TNA became a place where the WWE could send talent for some added TV experience. The fact it was years since WWE worked with a Japanese company prior to Nakamura's involvement in The Great Muta's retirement tour and then the All Japan match for Dempsey, it opens the door for more working agreements than in the past. Endeavor, the parent company of WWE after the merger, recently announced a streaming deal for TNA content so it's possible for more to be added to the partnership in some form or fashion. In truth, TNA is such a small scope that they aren't any threat to WWE's massive corporation so perhaps there's a scenario where everyone can benefit. Maybe a few NXT stars work a TNA pay-per-view or some of the X-Division guys compete at an NXT TV taping? It would get noticed and the more buzz made by TNA, it continues to chip away at the stalling momentum of All Elite Wrestling. If nothing else, the relaunch of TNA creates some interesting scenarios for the dynamics of the industry.