John Cena retirement

John Cena, the last mega star that the company made in the past two decades, has officially hung up his sneakers. Given the retirement tour and the fact that Cena has been part-time for the past several years, I'd say that he will be one of the very few performers that actually stays retired from the ring. The retirement tour itself had peaks and valleys, with the initial buzz of the heel turn being rather brief in the grand scheme of things, as it fell woefully flat when Travis Scott was sent in place of The Rock at Wrestlemania. The notion was solidified when Cena randomly turned baby face again on an episode of Smackdown just before he dropped the title back to Cody Rhodes. If the Cena heel turn should've happened at all in hindsight is debatable, but the fact that he retired as the heroic baby face makes that discussion rather moot.

Still, the entire year of WWE, as it should've been, was built around the exit of the superstar that was at the very rare top level of the industry. This isn't a knock on any of the other current talent, and taking into account the perception of the industry today compared to twenty five yeas ago, it might not be possible for an individual star to reach that level when the brand itself is promoted as the main selling point, but Cena is the only guy from the relatively modern era that is on the same level as top-notch stars from previous generations. Stone Cold, Ric Flair, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker are guys that eras were built around. John Cena is in that category.

However, what puts him in a league of his own in many ways is an aspect of his career that goes beyond the matches, the storylines, or the merchandise sales.

Nobody is perfect, everyone has an occasional bad day, and it's nearly impossible to always be on as an entertainer. More than ever before, between social media and smart phones, if someone has a negative moment, it can be captured for public judgement, regardless of the context or the circumstances around it. That being said, you rarely saw negative interactions with John Cena in public, and he knew the importance of the role that he had as the top guy in the PG era. This is where the jaded diehard fans miss the forrest through the trees so to speak. While Cena was pushed to the top of the card relatively early in his career and thus had to play catch up for a period of time in terms of his in-ring work, the position of the top star in a publicly-traded corporation requires more than just the skills of a main event star in the ring. Cena eventually got there and could go bell-to-bell, even if that success was based on dramatic storytelling rather than star ratings. But, the much bigger point was that John Cena was the best representative that the company could ask for. He did the media appearances, he quietly did the charity work for years without any recognition until Paul Heyman insisted on it, and you never saw Cena do anything to paint the organization in a negative light. For example, you never saw Cena make headlines for a DUI or made the rounds on TMZ for some type of public outburst. Again, nobody is perfect, but John Cena has a track record that suggests that he knew that his responsibilities as the top star were more than just working the main event on the card.

Along those lines, it can't be understated how much of an impact Cena had as a hero for so many that needed someone to look up to. There's a reason that he has the most Make-A-Wish requests in the history of the organization, and the genuine moments that were captured were proof that it wasn't something that Cena took as some type of novelty. He carried the responsibility of being a role model the same way that he carried the duties of being the WWE champion during his prime, understanding how much of an impact he had on so many as something that surpassed the scripted drama of a pro wrestling match. In many ways, John Cena was the real-life superhero that Hulk Hogan only pretended to be in the heyday of his career.

There was an authenticity to John Cena, and that allowed him to be a hero, providing hope for those that needed it. The honor in his charity work speaks volumes about the man behind the pro wrestling persona.

As far as Saturday Night's Main Event, that might've been the title of the show, but this will simply be known as John Cena's last match. I understand the point of putting the younger talent on the under card to allow for the next generation to get some spotlight on such a memorable night, but this was undoubtedly a one-match show.

At 48, John Cena wasn't going to be the wrestler that he was 10 or 15 years ago, but this was a solid performance that had a certain level of drama to it because of the cache that he has for everything he did in his legendary career. The audience was emotional invested because of the respect they had for his accomplishments as a performer and a representative, not necessarily if he defeated the scripted villain on this particular night. That being said, while I completely understand why Cena wanted to go out on his back, and traditionally that is the right move, I'm not sure it was the right decision here. The reason I say that is that given the level of Cena's impact on the business and that he's still in great shape, this was a scenario where it would've been better to allow for the triumph final victory to retire on a winning note, somewhat similar to when Peyton Manning retired after winning the Super Bowl.

The match went about 25 minutes, and despite Cena wanting to leave it all in the ring for his final performance, I think the bout went about 10 minutes too long. Again, I understand what they were going for with the sleeper hold and counter sequence toward the conclusion, but it dragged on a little too long and thus lost some of its effectiveness by the time Cena tapped out. Speaking of which, that was a rather odd transaction that added to the disappointment of the finish, as Cena smiled before a whimper of a tap out. I think they could've avoided some of the immediate negative reaction if Cena was choked out rather than tapped out because then the narrative would've been that he never gave up even though he was defeated.

The post-match celebration was a very nice moment and the video package to commemorate his career was very well done. The broadcast ended on a very wholesome note so the disappointing finish will probably be secondary in the big picture. That being said, it highlighted a unique dynamic of the modern era, when everything is exposed as a work, including the WWE Unreal show, the heat doesn't go toward the heels, it goes toward the office because the audience knows that's who made the decision. I'm not sure if there's anyway around it since the horse is out of the barn on the scripting process of WWE, but it undoubtedly changes the perception of the product. Triple H got booed mercilessly, not Gunther. Part of the problem and a scenario that reinforced hostility toward the office is that management has been cast as villains at various points for almost thirty years. It remains to be seen how the creative team will navigate this situation with other storylines in the future, but there's no doubt that the perception of the product has changed for the audience.

Finally, and this might be the biggest takeaway from John Cena's retirement, in a business where they are too many tragedies, disappointments, and cautionary tales, John Cena is a true credit to the professional wrestling industry.

The career of Tad Jarvis

"With tears in his eyes and a championship in his hand, Tad Jarvis is the champion, the Ryse Grand champion!"

Those were my closing remarks on the broadcast of the main event of the Ryse Wrestling ninth anniversary event, the crescendo of a wild segment with twist and turns until its final bell, a way to finish a chapter in an unpredictable year for the organization. A slew of injuries, scheduling conflicts, and inclement weather made it a tough year behind the scenes. But, scrambling of the pieces is simply the nature of the beast of independent wrestling so the true takeaway is how each organization adapts to those changes along the way. 

Just a few hours before Jarvis stood in the ring with the newly won belt, I was carefully walking toward the venue doors, a former Sears space, of the Uniontown Mall on a blustery December afternoon, as my roller bag, complete with my suit, black dress shirt, and trusty comb, bumped along the uneven parking lot. Longtime pro, Jeff Davenport, who has thirty years in the business and works as a key assistant behind the scenes, held the door open for me. As I shuffled into the building to escape the harsh windchill, I said hello to a few people as I made my way backstage, a maze of rooms that used to stock appliances during the venue's heyday as a supply store. I found my usual seat and cracked open an energy drink with the hopes that the caffeine would propel me through the night into pro wrestling prosperity.

Just as I was getting my suitcase set up, Tad Jarvis, a homegrown Ryse grappler from the organization's Stronghold training center, popped into the doorway, wearing an obnoxious Christmas sweater that only he could pull off. The former military man was trained for combat and served his country honorable, but when he wasn't wearing the uniform of the nation, a duty that he took with the upmost seriousness, the stoic approach to service was replaced by an easy going, light-hearted guy that was very easy to get along with. In fact, even in the shark tank of the pro wrestling business, you aren't going to find anyone to say something negative about him, which is rare, as almost everyone has an axe to grind somewhere in the notoriously difficult sports entertainment genre.

"When I enlisted back in 2015, I started out as a private in an Aviation Unit and worked as a 92F, which is Petroleum Supply Specialist. In between my time in the service, I had found out about the Stronghold Training Center and acquired a tryout. I was training three times a week while serving on orders and drill weekends. Within the time of service, I was with a new transportation unit and that halted me from becoming promoted to Sargent. I went to school to become heavy equipment  operator then I became a Sargent. I finished my career and chose to continue wrestling because that’s where my heart was," Tad explained.

"Short term was to get through training and take in everything I can to become a good wrestler and to be on shows. My grandfather was a big influence for me as he was could to training and watch on to see how I was progressing," he added.

By the time Tad had his first match, against a fellow stalwart of the Ryse ranks, Lewis in 2019, it opened the door for him to grow, not just as a performer in the ring, but as an individual outside of it. Jarvis saw a parallel between the lessons of the grappling arts and the lessons of life.

"Ever since then that’s when I realized that I wanted to prove my grind, my dedication, my hustle for this business, my family and for myself. That hasn’t changed to this day. That’s what helped me become who I am today, Jarvis commented.

"When you think of Ryse Pro Wrestling, you think of what thrives a company, and its heart and soul. Insert Tad Jarvis, from day one has scratched and crawled from training at the Stronghold to finding himself as the social media icon. Tad has gone through so many times of changing it up, but all he had to do was believe in himself and what works," added Dean Radford a nearly 25-year veteran of the sports and one of the head organizers of Ryse.

Underneath the military uniform, in a sharp contrast to how strict and dutiful he was in the service, he has a slew of 90s-inspired tattoos, with homages to Toy Story and Nickelodeon scattered across his arms. In a permanent decoration in his service to others, much like his time in the military, Jarvis has a puzzle piece tattoo, a symbol of his dedication toward his previous work as a caretaker for those on the autism spectrum.

Tad's approach to the pro wrestling game was the same as he took when he served the country, he was available and ready for duty. On this chilly night for the biggest event on the calendar for the organization that is based in his hometown, he was simply asked to be there in case he was needed so without any guarantees of an opportunity, he showed up with his gear, willing to help any way he was asked.

That right there is such an underrated aspect of the finer points of the professional wrestling genre, especially on the local level of the independents. There aren't corporate sponsors or mega media contracts to bolster the leagues. Pittsburgh is known for its wrestling and on any given weekend has at least one, if not two cards somewhere in the region. 

Tad Jarvis isn't the biggest, the tallest, or the faster, but he's one of the most dedicated and hardest-working wrestlers in the storied region of Pittsburgh pro wrestling. He's the guy that is the first to tighten the ropes or straighten up the rows of chairs before the paying customers are in the building. He's as humble today as he was when he first started in the business as a trainee six years ago. Regardless of how many organizations that he's worked for over that time span, becoming a staple of the local leagues, he's kept his dedicated approach to his wrestling career.

That's why when Ryse was in need, it was apropos that Tad Jarvis answered the call.

Throughout the year, it was revealed that the villainous David Lawless, a devious lawyer, used his legal prowess to seize control of power of the organization. Desperate to that control back, the legendary Brandon K, the founder of the organization, put his thirty year career on the line to get his company back. When the villains on the roster rushed the ring to assist Lawless, Brandon found himself in peril before anarchy erupted, as the trio of Ron Mathis, Bruce Grey, and Tyler Vox mad the save for the Ryse founder. As wrestlers flew in every direction, the dust eventually settled before Brandon landed a super kick to get the three count to reclaim the company. Post-match, Brandon demanded that Lawless defend the championship, proclaiming that Tad would challenge for the belt right now.

After a tense back-and fourth exchange of near falls, and dramatic peaks and valleys, Jarvis nailed a spear to get the win. As music blared, Tad clutched the title in triumph for the teary-eyed scene explained earlier.

"Honestly, words can’t describe it. From the disbelief of seeing all the hard work paying off of the ups and downs you go through in this business to hearing the crowd cheering and chanting  'You deserve it!' gave me chills," Jarvis said.

This championship victory was certainly a long way from the first days that Tad stepped into a ring to learn how to land safely on the stiff canvas, as well as the in-ring maneuver when he wasn't learning how to use heavy machinery for the military on the weekends.   

"I was tearing up as Brandon K hugged me and telling me how proud he was of me. It’s a feeling you have to experience as it floods all your emotions," Tad said.

 

"Tad Jarvis is said to be the heart and soul of Ryse, and I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. Tad represents what I really wanted Ryse to be about, hungry young talent getting a chance to perform, get better, and excel in this business. Tad has not only worked super hard for us in the ring, but also out of it. Wherever we do appearances for charities and local events to help promote Ryse, he’s always the first to volunteer. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in 2026," said Brandon K.

 

As much as realizing a pro wrestling dream was a surreal experience, Tad has an even bigger occasion on the horizon, as his daughter is scheduled on March 19, 2026 to make her debut in the world.

 

"This is my first child that is biologically mine as I do have a son and a daughter that are my step kids, but are pretty much they like are my own and nothing would change that. You want to do everything right and you always want to be there to protect them. Starting off with a new born baby is ever scarier for me but I am excited and ready for a new learning experience. I love my family and we can’t wait for our little girl to come into this world," Jarvis said enthusiastically.

 

As mentioned, Tad Jarvis wasn't the biggest, the tallest, or the fastest. He had ordinary traits that he transformed into championship qualities through dedication and and a tireless work ethic. In the simplest of terms, Tad Jarvis earned the Ryse Grand Championship, a path that he forged through skill and being dependable, regardless of the assignment. The championship victory was the culmination of six years of earning that spot at the top of the organization that he calls his home.

Netflix buys HBO

After a few months of speculation, there will be even more consolidation of the media landscape in the United States, as Warner Brothers Discovery will sell the Warner Brothers studio, including its archival assets, and HBO to Netflix for a staggering $82 billion. This purchase is just three years after Warner Brothers merged with Discovery, which resulted in the repackaging of the HBO streaming service on a few different occasions. The sale itself isn't necessarily shocking, as it was reported that WBD was carrying significant debt the past few years and will lose the rights to the NBA after the current season to a combination of Disney, NBC, and Amazon. The traditional cable networks under the WBD banner will remain a part of the company, known as Discovery Global. That means that the news networks like CNN and the channels that air All Elite Wrestling programming, TNT and TBS, will stay under the control of the current Turner umbrella.  

The short answer as to why this happened and thus the willingness to sell a few of the biggest pieces of the assets of the organization is the evolving media business, as more entities are willing to take more chances to secure a bigger piece of the pie in the long run. Sometimes, it has worked out for them, and sometimes it hasn't, with the previously mentioned Warner Brothers/Discovery merger as an example of how the company couldn't balance the debt that it had from such deals with the competition from other groups to secure the rights to content. Keeping pace, and more importantly in some respects, staying ahead of the curve in terms of viewing patterns and trends of programming is critical in the modern media market.

Yesterday, Paramount,one of the initial bidders alongside Netflix and Comcast, was said to have offered $108 billion in an attempt to take the deal away from Netflix. It has an impact in terms of the media landscape, but from purely a professional wrestling respective, Paramount is a company that does business with TKO so the effect or lack thereof on AEW's position on TBS would more or less be the same. Outside of that, the fact that such major cash is being thrown around is proof of how corporations are trying to position themselves for the future, and the ripple effect of that scenario has a much bigger domino effect, both for inside and outside of the realm of sports entertainment in the future.

Assuming that Global Discovery stays intact for the time being, the impact on All Elite Wrestling will be minimal. For as many that try to predict the death of traditional television, it's still the most common distribution method for content, if it wasn't, TNA wouldn't need the AMC TV deal to potentially expand their footprint, WWE wouldn't keep Smackdown on USA in the United States, and AEW wouldn't have signed with Turner originally when it was set to launch as a new entity in the industry. Tony Khan inked a new TV deal with WBD at the start of this year, which will keep All Elite on the networks through at least 2027, with the option for an additional year.

That being said, All Elite's current contract is in no danger, but depending on how the dynamics continue to shift in the media business, Tony might have fewer options for their next deal, which is one of the many negative aspects of a possible monopoly in any industry. Right now, Discovery will refocus their business model on traditional television, which isn't necessarily a bad strategy because as mentioned, TV is still the standard, and regardless of the misguided notion of the collapse of the platform, will remain a fixture of how viewers consume content, if for no other reason than it's still the most profitable avenue for sports and news networks.

Still, the fact that Discovery was willing to sell it's archives, which would theoretically be able to be marketed for profit in perpetuity, is proof that the organization had to do something drastic to keep itself a viable commodity, not just today, but in the future. For example, Looney Tunes still has merchandise and stays relevant, including recent films like Space Jam 2 to be an intellectual property to generate cash. The Wizard of Oz is absolutely timeless and similar to Looney Tunes already mentioned, it still has ways to generate revenue going forward. A more contemporary example is Harry Potter, a massive franchise that continues to be immensely popular. Movies, Merchandise, and theme park attractions are all involved in the ownership of such a franchise, which is a prime example of how there can be exponentially more money involved through various licensing deals. The same type of scenario can be stated for the acquisition of HBO with its series and sports library. Everything from The Sopranos and The Wire to the vast amounts of classic fights from the HBO Boxing division could be a part of the Netflix service.

Again, Discovery gave up the long term earning potential of the franchises under their banner in exchange for the possible $82 billion or even $108 billion in the relatively short term. Don't get me wrong, $100 billion is so massive that at some point it just becomes numbers on the page, but the biggest point being is that it was a move that the company had to make to stay above water.

Why this matters going forward is simple, will this reshuffling of assets truly cement Discovery Global for the future or is this a band aid the way that the WBD merger was a few years ago?

As mentioned, All Elite Wrestling's TV deal is fine for now, but in the long run, the continued consolidation of the media landscape can ultimately hinder the market. Is this sale to Netflix or Paramount just a step in the direction that will eventually see the television networks sold to a different buyer? It's difficult to see that Netflix would want to get into the traditional TV business at this point since it's leading the way in streaming so maybe Discovery Global will look to boost its networks now in an effort to sell them at a higher price to a group like Comcast in the future? If the networks themselves start to be sold in pieces in a few years, that would be something that could have an effect on the long range AEW business plan.

The fewer media owners that they are, there will be less avenues for content to be distributed to consumers. From the ownership stand point, it allows them to maximize revenue and maintain market share, but that's a situation that serves their interest, not the customers. Let's be honest, when Warner Brothers merged with Discovery three years ago, nobody would've thought that there would be any sale, let alone such a massive sale, by 2025. That's why I don't think it's impossible that the networks could be next if Discovery Global doesn't fully get off the ground without the foundation of the massive Warner Brothers and HBO archives behind it. The most valuable network still under the Discovery banner is CNN, specifically because how much cable news is a draw with the current political climate so if Discovery wants to dice up a few more of its assets in a few years, CNN would probably be the channel that would garner interest from buyers. That leaves TBS and TNT safe, but that doesn't mean that they will be owed by Discovery by the time that AEW is ready for its next TV contract. Furthermore, I wouldn't be shocked, based on the upcoming sale to either Netflix or Paramount, if the Discovery group is eventually completely purchased to be acquired by another media conglomerate, it would just be a matter of who would want to buy the pieces of traditional, which would probably be Comcast. Where this goes from here is anyone's guess, but I'd say that there's a legitimate possibility that All Elite Wrestling might have to look for a different media partner by the time that they are ready for their next television contract. It's the harsh reality of the business world, but the bigger footprint that WWE has, and by some extension that TNA can make with their new TV contract with AMC, it limits the options for AEW in the future.

The career of Derek Dillinger

"It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." -Rocky Balboa, 2006

When Sylvester Stallone, the actor that famously wrote the first film of the legendary franchise when he was so broke that he had to sell his dog for the time being because he couldn't afford to feed him, brought the iconic character back after the underwhelming fifth installment over 15 years earlier, he used the older and wiser version of Rocky to deliver another inspiration message to a new generation.

Thankfully, Sly was able to buy his dog back after the success of the first film, an ironic nod to the narrative that played out in the franchise a few decades later. Ultimately, Rocky's prose was about perseverance, and it's not surprising that art can imitate life, both in and outside of the ring.

Narratives play out in different forms, the stage, the big screen, or in the ring. Sports entertainment is as much of a drama as the sports films that unfold over the course of physical combat.

One such example is the real-life Derek Klein, a young veteran of the business with more than 12 years of experience that is just beginning to scratch the surface of the prime of his career. Known in the squared circle as Derek Dillinger, a power hunger director persona that weaves old school cinema into an in-ring presentation, the grappler based out of Cleveland saw his profile expand exponentially in recent years as he branched out into neighboring states.

However, just like Balboa had to take a standing eight count in the 80s, Klein had to take his lumps in his real life while trying to balance the pursue of his art in recent years. When he wasn't icing bruises and dealing with injuries from the ring, the harsh reality of life hit him even harder. Klein went through a divorce before both of his parents passed away in the span of just nine months. When his father passed, a link to his earliest attendance at the matches was lost, as his dad was the one that took him to live cards when he was just a toddler.

 Klein felt lost and alone, citing the hurdles in his life as a part of a maturing process when he emerged from the rocky times.

"As an only child, things at times felt really hard to handle. In this wrestling world, I used to try to appease everyone, even when that same level of respect wasn’t reciprocated. Honestly, I would let that added stress burden me. It would make me feel significantly down on myself, my skill set, my career even if I didn’t show it, but I overcame that. I’ve done the most maturing, when I stopped caring. I have respect for everyone and I stay humble, but as in life everyone you encounter isn’t your best buddy. Every one has this preconceived notion of me because I usually stick to myself but, in reality I’m focused on why I’m here," Derek explained.

After Derek reevaluated his path in professional wrestling, he took a change of course outside of it as well, leaving the long and taxing hours of the medical field to take on an office role that would give him more flexibility to expand his pro wrestling schedule.

"I’m a very impulsive person, I was in dire need to reevaluate my life, which I did, complete changes all across the board. Some of them may have been more drastic than others but, I needed to make a bunch of changes to continue to grow. After leaving the medical field, I ventured into an insurance type of role that would give me more freedom to achieve my wrestling goals, he explained.

With his professional and personal life more in balance, Derek started to produce the best work of his career, zigzagging from the east coast of the United States, throughout the mid west, and into Canada. He cites the late nights, long car rides, different crowds, and different opponents as a critical part of his journey to evolve into the performer that he is today.

"There are definitely levels to this, a lot of people don’t want to accept that, but it’s definitely true. I often compare it to climbing a flight of stairs to this door, but when you reach that door and break through, there are just another set of steps. So on and so forth. What works, what doesn’t work, and what can I improve. When I first started, I was just throwing anything at the wall to see what would stick. It wasn’t until I started going to different training schools and picking the brains of any vet I was on a show with. Stepping out of my comfort zone has allowed me to become mentored by some very talented individuals," he commented.

One of the promotions that Derek excelled has a place close to his heart, a group he grew up watching, his hometown league, Absolute Intense Wrestling, one of the most well-known independents in the country. It was in the AIW squared circle that he had the chance to work with the late, legendary Tracy Smothers, and his dad's favorite wrestler, Shane Douglas. The Cleveland-based league showed faith in Derek, promoting him to a featured position with various championships, and winning the prestigious J-Lit Invitational Tournament, an event held in honor of the late JT Lightening, who founded Cleveland All Pro Wrestling, regarded as the godfather of the Cleveland scene. In an homage to the gory spectacle of extreme that enthralled him as a youngster, Derek also cites his no rope barbed wire match against Joshua Bishop in 2022 as a career highlight.

"I’ve had the privilege and trust from a lot of promoters to share the ring with some of the very best to do this. John Thorne of Absolute Intense Wrestling has given me so many opportunities and has put me against some of the toughest competitors imaginable," Klein remarked.

Picking the brains of the pioneers has remained a key of development for Derek. In another reflection of his fandom of Extreme Championship Wrestling in its heyday, much like the promotion itself, Derek became a stable of Pittsburgh, one of the old stomping grounds of extreme, through his work in the International Wrestling Cartel, one of the longest-running organizations of the Pittsburgh circuit. The Dudleys, Tommy Dreamer, Enzo, Fandango, Gangrel, Henry Godwinn, Elias, and others are some of the names that Derek worked with in IWC to help give him a higher education in the finer points of the grappling arts. In another show of faith, IWC's current owner, Justin Plummer invested into Derek's skills through championships and promotional opportunities in high stakes spots on the IWC cards.

"When I first met Derek in 2015, this young lion with a big smile was just so happy to be there. Started watching him have good matches with some of the Pittsburgh veterans like Mad Mike, Stryder, and Shirley Doe. Then when Derek went to Ryse, he had some bangers with another young talented wrestler who is the current ROH Pure champion, Lee Moriarty. Now, Derek is not only a student of the game, but his path is set and he knows where and what he wants. His wrestling speaks for itself, the character is in play and I'm sure we are just now watching him scratch the surface for what's to come on much bigger levels," said Dean Radford, former IWC heavyweight champion and currently one of the head organizers of Ryse Wrestling.

His Canadian ventures were another full circle moment of sorts, as it again brought back days of when he watched the grainy Hardcore TV show in front of the television next to his dad when Derek was still in elementary school. The international experience was another step in the path, the same type of steps he mentioned earlier, to the polished performer that he is today.

"Greektown Wrestling is my Canadian home. Channing Decker has given me the opportunity to make connections and work with so many ECW legends I’ve grown up watching. He’s help connect me with Tommy Dreamer, Ultimo Dragon and Masato Tanaka," Klein commented.

"No matter what language barriers you may face, the language of professional wrestling is universal," he added.

The sum total of the past 12 years, peaks and valleys from both inside and outside of the ring, yielded the director of in-ring chaos that Derek Dillinger is today. The brash villain is a combination of slick character development and a fast-paced, hard-hitting style with a flare of old school attitude. Plus, as a throwback to the heels of the silver screen, Derek Dillinger found a partner in crime in recent years, the apropos addition of Katie Arquette.

"Since Katie and I have been aligned together in wrestling, personally she got to see different layers than what the general consensus sees of me. She would be the first one to tell you, there are definitely methods to my madness, but she also helped me learn not to hyper fixate on things that aren’t in my control," Klein explained.

When he isn't shuffling insurance papers at the office or slamming opponents in the ring on the weekends, Derek still finds a home in the squared circle as a co-head trainer of the AIW school alongside Dominic Garrini in Cleveland, as well as an assistant trainer at IWC's Iron City Wrestling Academy, where Arquette just started as the head trainer with a new group of aspiring students. Derek cites his work as a trainer as one of the most rewarding aspects of his time in the sport.

"My passion for teaching the younger crop of students is next level. Watching aspiring wrestlers learn makes me so happy. I’ve had a hand in training some very special wrestlers most noteworthy Sam Holloway currently signed to a WWE ID deal," Klein said.

Despite the success, Klein keeps his focus to continue to move forward, seeing that notion as a critical part of his journey in the sport.

"I’ve been really fortunate with the opportunity to be able to work a bunch of AEW shows, which opens up a bunch of new goals I’m striving for. Obviously, everyone who competes as a wrestler steps into this world with the ultimate love of professional wrestling. My entire life that’s all I ever enjoyed and all I ever wanted. I would love to just be able to make a living off of that, he said.

Still through his pursuit of professional goals as Derek Dillinger, the real-life Derek Klein learned the value of perseverance through the triumphs and tragedies of life. From losing Mr. and Mrs. Klein to sharing the ring with Tanaka and Dreamer, Klein has learned life lessons that extend far beyond the ring.

 "Tomorrow is never promised. You have to live your life doing the stuff you enjoy. Stuff that brings you happiness, you can’t hide behind insecurities or the traditional 'What Ifs?,'" he concluded.

Maybe Stallone was right? It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward? Derek Klein certainly looks to be proof of that.

What's next for Darby Allin?

"It's better to burn out than to fade away"-Neil Young

That lyric was originally a part of the 1979 release of "Hey Hey, My My" from Neil and The Crazy Horse band. It resurfaced 15 years later at the conclusion of Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain's suicide note. Much like many of the Canadian rock legend's prose, that phrase has a deep meaning to many, different based on individual perspective. Some see it as pushing the limit to make the biggest impact possible in exchange for rather mundane longevity. Others might view it as a statement about perseverance, the ability to push forward in an effort that make the most of things in a shorter term than for a longer passive existent.

I connect enough with the phrase that I have the lyric tattooed on the inside of my left arm, and seeing Neil Young perform some of his biggest hits in person this past August in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio was a religious experience, even for someone like me who considers religion more of a work than pro wrestling. It's more profitable, too. The two and a half hour journey to the outside venue that's located in a state park was a pilgrimage to get a chance to see the 80-year-old rocker in person while I still had the chance and at times, it was surreal to see Neil jam on the guitar with such enthusiasm at his age. Side note, I have to thank long time Pittsburgh pro wrestling veteran, Dean Radford for his help to make sure I made it up the several hills in the picturesque park to the location of the concert.

So, I can undoubtedly appreciate the notion behind the artistic vision of pushing the pace to make an impact on the world. However, there's a very significant difference between those type of artistic pursuits and business ventures.

Professional wrestling is such a unique genre that it blends athletics and theatrics to became an art from in itself. Bruiser Brody had such an imposing presence and an aura that he could send hundreds of Japanese fans scattering just by stomping in their direction. The Undertaker portrayed his character well enough that fans were willing to overlook that he couldn't actually be able to produce lightning or return from being buried alive on a few different occasions. The late great Hayabusa soared through the air in a contrasting combination of grace and grittiness in wild death matches as the top star of Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in the 90s. The epic battles of the four pillars of All Japan, with Kobashi, Misawa, Kawada, and Taue thrilled audiences for its revolutionary high impact style.

That being said, the absolute bottom line is that sports entertainment is a business. The true barometer for success, at least from strictly a business perspective, is revenue and profit. The way to maximize the box office for the promotion, and the earning potential for the performer to make a full-time living in the industry, is the ability to continue to perform on a regular basis. The talent has to be healthy to be able to build up to the big payoff at the crescendo of a storyline. For example, one of the many reason that Cody Rhodes' two-year journey to the championship fueled an upswing in WWE business at that point was the time invested in the character and the storyline. There were peaks and valleys over the course of time that ultimately set up for the moment of victory. Without that journey, there's no payoff because there wouldn't be a narrative established along the way.

That's why it's not shocking, but still woefully disappointing that Darby Allin, a kamikaze of a performer, seems to have finally burnt the candles on both ends long enough that it has caught up with him, as he was reportedly injured during a match with Kevin Knight on Dynamite, spending a week in the hospital before he was sent home. According to The Wrestling Observer, the exact extent of his injury is unclear, but there's a legitimate possibility that he will be eliminated from the Continental Classic tournament.

This doesn't look to be career-threatening, but it's sadly an indication of where Darby's career is going and that it will be over sooner rather than later. I would take no satisfaction if I'm correct in this matter, but there are enough precautionary tales to see where his career is headed unless he changes course. Darby made a career of dangerous and at times, outright foolish bumps. The Dynamite Kid had a more precise approach to the bumps he took during a legendary, but turbulent career, and he ended up in a wheelchair by the time he was 40. Mick Foley took too many wild bumps, but at least he took most of them with a theoretically purpose behind it, which is where Darby is lacking.

When Darby Allin arrived in All Elite Wrestling, he had a mystic about him, which can be used to draw money. There was intrigue in the background and the development of the character. There were even fans in the audience that would dress up like him with their faces half painted, which is a true indication of being over as a valuable commodity. The problem is, Darby's character never developed to anything beyond that, and his presentation became rather one-dimensional. In fact, the longer that his tenure has continued in AEW, the more that his act become solely about the dangerous risks. His matches and even storylines have become based on the dangerous spot of the segment, not the dramatic narrative of a match-up or an angle.

It's not a coincidence that you don't see fans dressed up in the audience like Darby now, a reflection that he's probably less over today than he was originally in the company, which is underwhelming for someone that was going to be considered one of the "pillars" of the organization.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't meant as a jab against Darby Allin, but rather quite the opposite. Darby has the ingredients to be a top drawing card for AEW, but his philosophy has limited that. More specifically, if Darby or any other performer for that matter is on the injured list, they can't draw money for the company in the ring. Furthermore, what character development has there been for Darby in the past few years? He took the time to climb Mt. Everest, but how many tickets did that sell for AEW? Sure, some of Darby's ineffectiveness has to do with the continuous slapstick book in the promotion, but the fact that he's allowed to do the dangerous stunts as a substitute for a compelling persona, it takes away an opportunity to connection with the audience beyond the "shock value" of the bumps.

That's the true difference between Cactus Jack and Darby Allin, the fans care about Mick Foley, but aren't given the opportunity to emotionally invest in the journey of Darby Allin. That emotional investment is how you draw money, because without it, the wrestlers are just interchangeable pieces on the card. There's a reason that the most over performers are usually the main event of the show. Too often, Darby is just there for the stunt show and after the ridiculous bump, he's swept away almost immediately to make room for the next portion of the stunt show. The recent Bloods and Guts match when Darby was body slammed off of the entrance way through a flaming table before he was extinguished so the segment could continue is a prime example of this.

At 32, Darby Allin should theoretically be in the prime of his career and thus at the peak of his ability to draw money for the promotion, but this latest injury could eliminate him from the tournament. There's no doubt that he can go in the ring, and as mentioned, he has a persona that could connect with the crowd, but all of that is moot if he plans to continue to take completely unnecessary chances in the ring. If I had to guess, I don't think there will be one specific incident that cuts Allin's career short, but rather the collective wear and tear over the course of time. As we've seen from the current injury rate, professional wrestling is dangerous enough, but with the way that Darby quite literally plays with fire, it seems like just a matter of time before he gets burned. Maybe it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things since money is no object for Tony Khan, but it would still be disappointing to see Darby's career reduced to a stunt show because he brings more than that to the table for the company.

TNA signed for AMC

Never say never in the professional wrestling business.

It's a cliche, but it's true.

Just over a decade ago, Total Nonstop Action was on the brink of collapse, as there was a tax lien on the organization from the state of Tennessee, where the promotion was originally based, and Billy Corgan, who was funding the TV tapings to keep the organization afloat in exchange for what he thought was a stake in the company, filed a lawsuit against Dixie Carter after it appeared that she attempted to swindle him to pick up the tab for production. This was after her dad, the owner of Panda Energy, Bob Carter pulled the plug on funding her venture to make herself a TV star. The reckoning was a long time coming, as Dixie's markish mistakes finally caught up to her, and when Panda Energy stopped footing the bill, TNA simply wasn't a viable business entity. She got worked for major money by Hulk Hogan before he walked out the door a few year earlier to eventually go back to WWE and then the TV show, Impact was cancelled by Spike TV in 2014 after Vince Russo accidentally revealed that he was still working for the company after the network specifically didn't want him involved with the organization.

When TNA was canned from Spike TV, an era of the company was over, and truth be told, it's a small miracle that the group survived through some very lean years that followed. Impact had a year on Pop TV and Destination America respectively until the previously mentioned tax lien forced Carter to sell to Anthem Entertainment, a Canadian corporation that only bought the floundering promotion to keep Impact, it's highest-rated show, on The Fight Network. The Impact show spent a year on the pursuit channel in 2017, literally with ice fishing as lead-in programming. 

Some of the blunders that followed were laughable, the ill-fated Global Force crossover, Alberto Del Rio as champion, and their American distribution that primarily consisted on a Twitch stream online. In an effort to bolster TNA's distribution, Anthem, purchased HD Net, a channel that became AXS, to give TNA some type of American exposure. Still, the TV clearance of AXS was rather limited, and TNA was essentially a Canadian product, which is fine, as it gave wrestlers a place to make a living in the industry. The exit of Scott D'Amore, one of the driving forces behind the attempts to grow the promotion, a few years created questions about if the revived TNA brand had hit a ceiling or not.

Amazingly, it was just announced this week that Total Nonstop Action will return to mainstream cable in the United States in 2026 when it debuts on AMC January 15th at 9 PM for live weekly shows. To truly put this in perspective as far as how important such a deal is if the organization truly wants to expand, you can trace the initial downfall to when Impact was cancelled from Spike TV in 2014 and the domino effect that it had that led to the brink of collapse before it was rescued by Anthem.

If anyone wants to try to downplay the level of impact this deal could have on the business because of the shrinking number of cable subscribers with the supposed death of traditional television, the bottom line is, TV is still the biggest form of content distribution. If it wasn't TNA would've been able to grow without it, and AEW would've launched without it. This deal with AMC not only brings a major revenue stream into the fold for TNA, which would theoretically give them more money to invest in contracts for talent, but also gives them the biggest platform, by a significant margin, that they've had in more than a decade. AMC has an estimated TV clearance of 57 million homes. For a comparison, TBS, the network that airs Dynamite, has an estimated TV clearance of 68 million homes. AXS, the channel that currently airs Impact in the United States, has an estimated clearance of just under 30 million homes, nearly half of the TV clearance of the new TV deal.

As mentioned, the logistics of the TV deal were critical in the downfall of the organization, and it's more than possible that it could be the key to an upswing as well.

On the surface, this gives TNA the ability to market and promote its product to a mainstream audience again, and in some ways, particularly because the promotion is more or less completely different than it was during the Spike TV era, has a chance to make a first impression of sorts on AMC. There's no doubt that producing live weekly programming is exponentially more expensive than marathon tapings over the course of a few days, but that's also why TNA is getting a reported $10 million for the contract. Part of what AMC is paying for is live content, which generally secures a better ad rates than reruns. Along with that, it brings up questions as to what TNA is going to do for that television schedule, as it puts quite the demand on the company to have a product that will sell tickets each week. The key will be if TNA will pick a small venue as a home base the way that the WWE does for NXT or if they will attempt to run a full touring schedule, which might be too ambitious, at least for right now.

A live touring schedule is expensive and it's not easy to move tickets in every market, the past few years of Dynamite attendance is proof of that. So, it might be better for TNA to tape in a stand alone location until they get established as an entity on AMC, particularly because regional television numbers will provide them some indication as to where they could sell tickets to live events for TV tapings.

After the initial announcement, there were some rumors that this would signal the end of the TNA/NXT working agreement, which TNA president, Carlos Silva debunked immediately. It goes without saying that the NXT crossover is what brought TNA a degree of hype that allowed them to secure a much bigger television deal than they have right now, and the WWE knows that so dissolving the partnership now would neutralize the progress made on both sides. The bigger TNA gets, the bigger the stars become, which allows for a more productive feeder system for the WWE, and at the same time, the more viewers Impact can garner, the NXT talent look like bigger stars in the process, which could help their presentation directly or indirectly on the WWE main roster in the future. The biggest takeaway from a wrestling perspective this evolving partnership is even the massive TKO corporation realizes that they can't develop talent in the entire business so allowing performers the ability to evolve within TNA is a way to keep them on the radar without taking resources away from the Performance Center or the NXT system. From strictly a business point of view, this TNA agreement keeps the WWE shielded from anti-trust accusations, which resulted in a $20 million settlement in the lawsuit from Major League Wrestling last year.

In that respect, it's a win-win for everyone. TNA gets a chance to grow and they offer anti-trust protection for WWE ,as well as a league for developmental talent to evolve. The WWE is an empire, and TNA knows that they are much better served as a second-tier league on the same side as the massive corporation than trying to compete against it for a slice of the market share.

The key going forward is, TNA can't offer a minimal approach to its new time slot. Sure, WWE is going to  cherry-pick who they think will make the best transition to the company, but hopefully, they won't raid too many performers, as there must be enough meat on the bone for viewers to truly dedicate a portion of their time to following TNA Impact in the crowded pro wrestling landscape, as far as the amount of hours are available every week. Essentially, this will have to be more than just the TNA show on a bigger channel, but rather the quality of the product must be solid enough to garnered a portion of the weekly wrestling audience. Just because the brand will be on AMC, it doesn't automatically translate to success so it will be interesting to see what the overall direction of the company will be on the new network. Given the connection with WWE, it might be wise to allow a few TNA legends that are under WWE contract, such as AJ Styles or Abyss, to appear on the show to boost the organization.

The domino effect of this is that it can either take a piece of the pie away from All Elite Wrestling, or at the very least, make it more difficult for the Khan-owned organization to maintain its market share. Make no mistake about it, the more TNA expands, the more competition for the pro wrestling dollar there will be for AEW. Another two hours of pro wrestling a week with TNA on AMC could have an effect on Dynamite viewership. Don't get me wrong, there's a demographic of completely diehard wrestling fans that will watch anything with a wrestling ring, but that's a niche of a niche. The reality is, the average viewer, even a diehard fan, is only going to watch a certain amount of wrestling content each week. The scenario could have an exponentially bigger effect on AEW business if TNA runs a full touring schedule. If TNA brings its show to a city where AEW ran shows before, it's possible that fans could choose tickets to Impact as something new instead of Dynamite if both groups have shows in the same location around the same time frame. The economic uncertainty doesn't lend itself to the average consumer buying live event tickets multiple times a year so there would have to be a decision made if two companies run in the same city. Along those same lines, if TNA runs a handful of pay-per-views a year, it's possible that it could take away some of the AEW buys. Similar to the live event budget, many fans have a PPV budget as well.

Obviously, it remains to be seen if TNA can produce a show that will garner an audience on AMC, and it will take a lot of the right puzzle pieces falling into the right place for the brand to establish itself on a bigger level, but it undoubtedly creates some interesting scenarios ahead of 2026, mostly how the success or lack thereof will have an impact on the rest of the industry. This would've seemed completely impossible five years ago, but it's not completely out of the question that TNA could eventually work its way back up to the second spot in the sports entertainment business in the United States if the AMC deal is successful.

Rousey vs. Taylor

The amount of nonsense on social media will never cease to amaze you, both for the drek that most of the general public posts with their thoughts on everything, regardless of if anyone asked for their opinion on the matter or not, and some of the outright farcical sewage that some claim as fact. The current administration does it all the time. So, I was more than a little skeptical when I saw the information that Ronda Rousey, the former MMA phenom that ushered in the era of women's mixed martial arts to its biggest stages, was supposedly in negotiations for a boxing match against Katie Taylor, the gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics. Taylor made news last year when her rematch with Amanda Serrano served as the exciting co-main event for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson spectacle that drew more than 72,000 fans to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas with a massive global audience on Netflix.

The exposure to boxing and casual fans created anticipation for the trilogy fight, which Taylor won via a close decision on the score cards this past July. All things considered, the Irish boxer has quickly made herself the most hyped female boxer in the sport, surpassing the younger Claressa Shields, who lost a little buzz after an undistinguished MMA experiment in recent years. That's not to say that the undefeated Shields doesn't have a lucrative future, as she's only 30, but rather to point out that the right promotional push can be key in these type of scenarios. Serrano is promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions group, hence the spot on the under card of Paul/Tyson, and for Taylor, that spotlight undoubtedly put her name and skills in front of such a major audience that it would only be smart business to try to capitalize on it with another big time bout after the conclusion of the trilogy with Serrano.

Still, I had a very difficult time believing that Ronda, who saw her meteoric rise to fame fall just as quickly when she was knocked out with a highlight reel head kick by Holly Holm, a multi-time boxing champion and former UFC Bantamweight champion, would legitimately consider a fight against a boxer that won Olympic gold medal with 25-1 pro record.

The bottom line is, Katie Taylor is more dangerous than Holm, and exponentially more dangerous than MMA legend, Amanda Nunes, who landed nearly a dozen unanswered punches before the referee rescued Ronda to stop their 2016 bout, sending her into retirement.

So, why would Ronda Rousey even consider such a boxing contest?

Apparently, it has been confirmed by enough news outlets that negotiations for the potential Taylor/Rousey fight have taken place, with Las Vegas being the possible host city some time in 2026. I think it's fair to say that it's not as though Rousey will suddenly become a competitive or even competent striker, at least compared to Taylor, by the time the fight would be in the ring. This isn't quite a money grab or a show side fight, but it's not exactly credible either. Financially, it's a win-win situation for both of them, as it would be the biggest payoff of Taylor's career, who at 39 is undoubtedly in the latter stages of her tenure as a boxer. It might've taken until that latter stage for her to gain some mainstream notoriety, but prize fighting is about making the most money possible, and the fight business is still a part of the entertainment business. A clash with the former MMA champion can give the Irish boxer a chance to make enough cash to live comfortably when she finally decides to hang up her gloves.

Despite Rousey's overwhelming success in her relatively short MMA career prior to this and a lucrative, albeit, a mixed bag of WWE runs in more recent years, the decision to enter the world of boxing without any experience and limited striking skills in the octagon, must be a financial choice as well. This isn't to say that "Rowdy" Ronda will be in the bread line any time soon, but with the way she more or less burned bridges with the WWE with her criticism of the company after she wasn't catered to in her second run the way that she was for her first run in 2018, a one-off novelty fight for millions of dollars probably is the best way to maximize her earning potential at this point in her career.

Keep in mind, the movies and television roles dried up relatively quickly after she was KO'ed by Holm and any chance of a comeback to MMA was snuffed out when she was pummeled into retirement by Nunes the following year. In many ways, the shine wore off of Ronda so fast because of the way she did or didn't handle the defeats in her career. Essentially, she told fight fans that she didn't have the heart to handle adversity or defeat. When she lost to Holm, she more or less went off the grid for a year, infamously refusing to do any media before her return to the UFC against Nunes. When Rousey lost again, she simply quit the sport.

That alone sends more of a message to the audience than any knockout loss ever could. Rocky didn't win against Apollo during the first fight, but he didn't give up either.

That's why her WWE debut, while a major boost to the overall female division in the company, wasn't quite as spectacular as the promotional machine tried to make it. Basically, Ronda made the jump to a scripted sport because she quit MMA. She was willing to settle into sports entertainment because she could be catered to and made to look like a superstar again. Her criticism of the pro wrestling fan base didn't do her any favors when she returned to the company in 2022 and despite being used in the title picture again, the year and a half that she spent on WWE television was rather underwhelming, giving the impression that her stint as a WWE performer was merely a novelty act that was "been there, done that" by the time she had a second run in the organization. Her final WWE bout was a submission match against fellow former MMA fighter Shayna Baszler, and the contest was panned as a clunky presentation that garnered "boring" chants from the crowd at Summer Slam in 2023. It's ironic that Ronda has done far better than Shayna in MMA, but Baszler had made a much better transition to pro wrestling than Rousey. It's also ironic that Ronda criticized pro wrestling after her WWE tenure, as she didn't complain about sports entertainment when she was being promoted as one of the top acts in the company, but took issue with it when she actually had to justify her spot with decent performances during her second run. She had a handful of pro wrestling appearances after that, but nothing major or noteworthy.

As I said, this bout isn't exactly a cash grab, despite being financially motivated, and it's not quite a circus fight even though it's a novelty bout. Ronda is a former MMA champion that beat legitimate competition, as well as a bronze medalist in judo at the Olympics in 2008. 

However, and this is the biggest takeaway from this potential step back into the ring after almost a decade away from competition, this is definitely not a full-fledged comeback to combat sports.

At 38, Ronda Rousey isn't going to pursue a career in boxing, especially with no previous amateur boxing experience. The fact that she would be competing against a current lightweight boxing champion with zero prior boxing experience tells you everything you need to know about why she might take this fight. That's not necessarily a knock against her either, if someone is willing to pay her millions of dollars to compete in a boxing match against Katie Taylor, she has the right to take the money on the table. That's capitalism, and that's nothing wrong with that.

That being said, it would be an unbelievable upset if  Ronda Rousey somehow beat Katie Taylor in a boxing match. Because of that, I don't think the bout, which would undoubtedly get a lot of hype if for no other reason that the trend that has seen these type of boxing events get a lot of buzz in recent years, would do anything overall for female boxing. This is a one-off novelty unless Ronda shocks the world, not a rivalry that the sport can be built around the way that Taylor/Serrano was for a few years. But, sometimes the money is simply too good to turn down. Ronda had a family in more recent years and a mega payday ensures financial security for them so you can't blame her for taking the cash if offered. Again, an event like this is probably the way for her to maximize her earning potential at this point in her career. At the same time, it'd be nice for Taylor to get a big payday before she retires, too. As mentioned, the fight business is still the entertainment business. This event would be Rousey's way of garnered one more major payoff, not a return to combat sports or another chapter to her career. If there's a demand to see her fight again remains to be seen, but if there's money to be made then the bout will probably be signed to happen.