Topuria vs. Gaethje

This weekend, Dana White and the UFC will perform for Donald Trump when the octagon is imported to the lawn of the White House for an event to celebrate the orange blob's 80th birthday. Coincidentally, this will be after Trump bought stock in TKO, the parent company of the WWE/UFC umbrella. It was also after Trump settled a $10 billion lawsuit with his own Department of Justice with an agreement that saw the lawsuit dropped in exchange for the IRS dropping any current or future audits of the Trump family. 

Just another day in America.

The White House card was actually the subject of a lawsuit of its own, but the attempted legal action, regardless of if it was furious or had merit is moot. The pay-per-view will take place as scheduled with a seven-fight card this Sunday. Of course, this grandstanding and symbolic bowing to the president is nothing more than ensuring favor from the administration going forward. It might be sleazy, it might be unethical, and there might be questions about how legal it is, but it's still a smart move. Dana White, the McMahon family, and Endeavor management will have a useful ace up their sleeve when needed, or literally a get out of jail free card. A mass pardon of rioters that tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power of an election is a very low bar so there's no doubt that Trump would bail out those that threw him a birthday party if they found themselves in legal jeopardy. It pays to have powerful connections and this UFC card cements that Trump will be more than willing to repay the favor in the future. Keep in mind, the merger of Paramount, the corporation that signed the UFC to a $7 billion rights deal for a seven-year contract, looked for government approval of a merger with Warner Brothers Discovery.

Amidst the pyro and ballyhoo for the orange villain's birthday, there is an actual fight card that could have some direct implications to some of the divisions in the company.

With Tom Aspinall still sidelined with the gruesome eye injury that he suffered in the first round of a fight against Ciryl Gane last October, and no timetable for his expected return to the UFC after multiple eye surgeries to repair the damage, Gane will stepped into the cage with Alex Pereira to determine an interim 265 LBS champion. While I hope Aspinall can make a full recovery to return to the sport, given the seriousness of the injury, I wouldn't be completely shocked if he's on the shelf long enough that he will have to vacate the title and the interim champion is eventually elevated to the position of the undisputed heavyweight titleholder. Pereira, who is a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, vacated the belt to move up to the heavyweight division. Ciryl Gane is a solid contender with a pro record of 13-2-1 and he beat solid competition to rack up those victories. The problem is, at least for this bout against Pereira, Gane's two career losses against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones were the top-tier of the division at the time. Gane can be successful against most of the contenders in the heavyweight division, but he doesn't have a win against any of the top guys. I'd say that Pereira, with his razor-sharp striking skills, would be considered one of the top-tier fighters in the UFC, despite this being his debut at heavyweight.

I could be wrong, but I'd expect Pereira to be too quick and too dangerous for Gane over the course of a five-round fight. In some ways, given the height and reach similarities, Gane will probably have some of the same issues against  Pereira that he did against Jones at UFC 285 in March of 2023. At 38, Pereira is at the latter stage of his career, but still seems to be at a physical peak so I have to pick him to win the fight.

The show will be headlined by a UFC Light Weight championship unification bout when the undefeated, Ilia Topuria squares off with Justin Gaethje. This should be a fireworks show, which is what it was designed to be. Gaethje's reputation to deliver Rocky-style performance is probably more important than his pro record of 27-5 ahead of this contest. Ilia Topuria is more well-rounded, with a nearly equal amount of knockout wins compared to submission victories in his career, whereas the vast majority of Gaethje's wins are via KO. It goes without saying that since Topuria is undefeated that he should be favored to win this one, and that's why I will pick him to get the victory. Essentially,  Gaethje has a puncher's chance, but given how dangerous he is as a striker, it's a much more competitive puncher's chance than is usually associated with the term.

Outside of the co-main and main event fights, the other five bouts, at least on paper, could be hit or miss in terms of their quality of competition. For example, Micheal Chandler, as talented as he was as a wrestler in his prime, is on a three-fight skid and is 1-5 in his last six contests. The younger opponent Maurício Ruffy should be able to beat Chandler within two rounds. Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis might be a toss up because anything can happen in the heavyweight division. One thing is for sure, if Hokit tries to trade punches with Lewis the way that he did with Curtis Blaydes in his last fight, Lewis will win by KO early in the fight. Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus is a fight under the radar and will probably be moot in the grand scheme of things in the middleweight division. Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia is another fight that nobody seems to be talking about, but I think this featherweight contest will get viewers to take notice since the two competitors are known for action inside the octagon. Former Bantamweight champion, Sean O'Malley has a fan following, and given the level of competition or lack thereof that Aiemann Zahabi competed against prior to this, I'd say the expectation is that the younger O'Malley will be able to use his speed to get the win for this to be a showcase fight for him.

The fight card is a part of an entire weekend of festivities in honor of Emperor Palpatine's birthday, and while combat sports being put on the White House lawn so that Dana White can score brownie points with the president might be a silly concept, there are serious logistics that go into the event. The Associated Press reported that the UFC presentation will cost an estimated $60 million because of the amount of construction and security concerns involved. Various media outlets have reported that the UFC will lose around $30 million dollars on the production since they can't sell tickets to the event because it will be held at the White House, and the previously mentioned construction costs. Still, the $30 million dollar loss on the show itself will be minimal when being on good terms with Trump can yield exponentially more cash through merger approvals and potential sponsorships. When you take into account that Trump literally has a vested interest into the success of TKO since he bought stock, it could reveal that the White House card is about the eventual cash, not a fight card for the company.

What's next for Steve Maclin?

As we know, competition is the key to the health of any industry, as it gives options for both the fans and the talent themselves. Within the past few years in particular, we've seen the ebb and flow of that within the professional wrestling business with the shifting dynamics of the industry. 

Of course, the free agent market will always be a topic of discussion when there are those previously mentioned options for talent, and as each organization evolves, it can alter the path that talent take when they are testing the waters of free agency. It's nothing new and actually part of doing business as a pro wrestler since it becomes imperative to maximize your value as a talent to make as much money as possible during an in-ring career. Keep in mind, there are no pensions or retirement plans for those within sports entertainment. It can be a difficult task because when a talent thinks they are being underutilized, it's a risk to willingly ask for a contract release since it abandons the security of the weekly paycheck that a national contract brings with it. Obviously, it goes without saying that there are no guarantees of a better spot or better pay elsewhere. On the other hand, if a wrestler becomes too complacent for too long and content to take the money just to hang out in catering if the company doesn't have anything for them, they could end up under the radar so long that it neutralizes their stock as a commodity. Leva Bates, Big Swole, or Jake Hager aren't exactly in-demand these days.

It's definitely a balancing act as far as when to go and where, assuming it will be the right overall career move.

As I mentioned briefly in the article that I wrote about Mike Santana's potential exit from Total Nonstop Action earlier this week when his current deal expires next month, former Impact champion, Steve Maclin requested his release from the organization. TNA confirmed that the released was granted, and the rumor mill suggests that Maclin was frustrated with his direction, as well as the structure of the company. That in itself doesn't necessarily mean that those that follow TNA should push the panic button, as it's not uncommon for a talent to be dissatisfied with the management of a promotion if the office doesn't have plans for them. The puzzling aspect is that Maclin spent a few months working with the previously mentioned Santana before this so it appeared, at least on the surface, that he was in the mix as one of the spotlighted wrestlers for TNA.

Still, it's possible that Maclin thought he hit a ceiling in the promotion, and considering that he was a former world champion, maybe he had. The group debuted on AMC at the start of the year after the working agreement with WWE brought them more publicity than they had in a decade, but as I also pointed out in the write-up about Santana, TNA might be in danger of being typecast as a minor league feeder system for WWE rather than a destination of its own for talent. If Maclin saw the writing on the wall, that might've solidified the ceiling as far as how much progress he could make under the TNA banner.

At 39, Maclin has had a decent career, albeit under the radar through no fault of his own. Maclin originally inked a WWE developmental deal in 2014 and was under contract for almost seven years before he was cut in 2021. The fact that he was trained and developed through the WWE system, especially for that length of time, it proves that he brought something to the table as a performer. Unfortunately, when he was brought to the main roster in early-2020, it was right after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the entire world, and the WWE television product that had to be filmed in an empty building was absolute drek. He was initially brought to Smackdown as a part of The Forgotten Sons stable, but a moronic tweet from Ryker in the midst of civil unrest in the country at the time saw the faction dropped from television. In many ways, Maclin was a victim of circumstances during his WWE tenure.

A few months later, he resurfaced in TNA and did relatively well there as a very solid performer at a time when the company definitely needed those efforts. As mentioned, he eventually won the world title, but the problem was that the company was still so far under the radar in terms of publicity and distribution that it wasn't a situation where it could've propelled his star power. As I said, Maclin worked with the world champion in recent months so it's tough to know exactly what prompted the request for the release, but Machin would be a solid asset to any roster in the business right now. He's probably not going to be a pay-per-view main eventer, but rather a good utility guy to have on the card, and there's nothing wrong with that.

At 39, it's doubtful that he will be back in WWE, but it's possible, depending on what they'd have planned for him. I could be wrong, but if a WWE return happens, I could see him as a veteran presence to work with the younger talent on NXT as opposed to a performer on the main roster. Maclin's real-life wife, Deonna Purrazzo is signed to All Elite Wrestling and has worked extensively for Ring Of Honor where she is the current ROH Women's Pure champion so it's possible that he signs a deal with AEW,

That being said, if Maclin debuts there, he will probably get the artificial debut pop, get featured for a few weeks and then end up in the ROH witness protection program. The ROH platform will offer him zero exposure, but it's a relatively easy paycheck to be able to work with his wife for a lighter schedule.

Speaking of All Elite Wrestling, the tag team of The Butcher and The Blade saw their contracts expire with the organization last week. The duo had been in the company for almost seven years, with flashes of success during that span of time. I have to say, assuming that they are both healthy and want to continue wrestling on a full-time basis, there has to be a landing spot for these two somewhere. They are a solid team, have a good look, and were a productive combination when they were given the chance to showcase themselves. As was the case with numerous talents in All Elite, they were lost in the shuffle after the early years of the company, and when The Blade suffered a very serious back injury that required spinal fusion surgery in late-2024,  it put him on the shelf for more than a year so the tag team had no momentum.

It should be noted that The Blade said that AEW paid for the surgery and the rehabilitation process. At the same time, it's understandable that the promotion would move on from the tag team since their act doesn't really fit into the current AEW landscape. However, and this might be the bigger point, there's an opportunity for a fresh start somewhere else, and it's possible that a new chapter could reignite their careers for another run. At 48 and 46 respectively, there's no doubt that the pair are near the latter stages of their careers, but there would probably be enough time for a final major run.

In truth, their age would probably prevent them from being on the WWE radar, but New Japan Pro Wrestling might be the place that they could excel as a team. The Butcher as the gaijin monster, and The Blade as the technician might work well with the New Japan presentation. It goes without saying that it would depending on if Cyber Fight, the company that just bought a major stake in New Japan, would be willing to spend the cash to bring more foreign talent to the organization after they spent a reported $22.6 million on the New Japan acquisition. Either way, it will be interesting to see if these departures develop into a new chapter for the specific performers or if the exit is moot in the grand scheme of things.

What's next for Mike Santana?

Mike Santana, former All Elite Wrestling star and current Total Nonstop Action world champion, is the subject of some online chatter this week, as various wrestling media outlets, including The Wrestling Observer and Fightful Select, reported that he might be on the radar of WWE in just a few weeks.

According to reports, the Puerto Rican grappler's TNA deal is set to expire next month, noting that he is slated to defend the world title at the Slammiversary pay-per-view on June 28th in Boston. That could theoretically be the place for him to drop the championship if he plans to test the waters of free agency. It was also mentioned that the belief is that WWE management would move him directly to the main roster as opposed to starting in the NXT developmental system.

All things considered, it's the right move for Santana to at least explore his options. He's at the highest point of his career at the moment so it only makes sense for him to try to maximize his value as a performer. Along the same lines, it's also logical for the WWE to look into the possibility of bringing him into the fold of the organization. As we know, TKO continues to look for ways to globalize the product, and with the myriad of recent retirements, the reality is, the next generation of stars will have to be ready to carry the brand sooner rather than later. That doesn't mean that Mike Santana is automatically going to be the guy that will be pushed to the main event of Wrestlemania, but rather to point out that as others are moved up the card, there will be spots on the roster that will need to be taken by quality performers to be able to maintain depth within each brand.

That's why it makes sense for the office to consider offering Santana a deal, as he already has several years of television experience and he's a polished pro that could reasonably be expected to start on either of the main brands without a learning curve. Of course, developmental projects are a part of the WWE system, there's an entire Performance Center in Orlando, and the NXT brand itself to serve that purpose, but again, when it comes to main stream WWE productions, especially in the modern era when there are countless entertainment options, the value of experienced talent is still a premium.

In many ways, regardless of if the Puerto Rican star ends up in the WWE or not, he's already a success story. We've discussed the scenario countless times that specific talents were lost in the shuffle in All Elite Wrestling and had to go elsewhere to rejuvenate their careers. Ricky Starks, Penta, and others are examples of that. That's not necessarily a jab at Tony Khan either, it's probably unavoidable that some talent will get lost with such a bloated roster But, the fact remains that some of the talent that Tony missed the boat on, even unintentionally, have found bigger success in other organizations. That's not a total negative, either. One of the many reasons that the industry needs competition is that it allows more stars to reach their full potential under different banners.

Santana is a good example of that. As we know, he had a stint in Impact Wrestling when the promotion was under Anthem management, but was still on shaky ground before he was one of the originals to be featured on AEW programming when Dynamite launched in late-2019 as a member of Chris Jericho's Inner Circle. It looked as though it was rather easy to see that Santana and Ortiz as a tag team were going to be fixtures of the promotion based on the early days of its existence, but as the narrative around All Elite shifted in the few years that followed with backstage disagreements making more headlines than the actual product, the Proud and Powerful tag team faded into the background for several months. Santana suffered an ACL tear during the Blood and Guts match in 2022, which sidelined him for more than a year. During his time on the shelf, it was revealed online that Santana and Ortiz had real-life disputes and the team was disbanded.

Mike Santana left All Elite Wrestling in early-2024 and signed with TNA that April. Considering that it was more or less "out of sight, out of mind" because he had been off the radar for so long between the extended recovery time from the leg injury and then lack of exposure on AEW programming, it's fair to say that Santana overachieved during his TNA tenure over the past two years. Not only did he rejuvenate his career, but he took it to the next level, as his crowd work and real-life story made him a baby face that the crowd rallied behind as a main event star for the organization. He had a significantly higher ceiling in TNA than he did in AEW. If that was because he was underused in AEW, or TNA is simply a smaller pond depends on perspective. The point is that within the past two years, Mike Santana boosted his value as a talent so it might make sense for him to make the jump to WWE if given the chance.

If Santana actually departs TNA after his contract expires next month, the move to WWE would be the only one that would make sense. If he doesn't plan to go to WWE or doesn't get an offer, he'd be better to stay in TNA, mostly because he would probably find himself in the same position that he worked to elevate himself from if he returned to AEW. At 35, Santana theoretically has several years left of his prime, and with the previously mentioned years of television experience, if he was going to sign a deal with WWE, now would be the time to do it. It's tough to gauge where he might end up within the WWE system, as there are some many moving parts and different dynamics within the publicly-traded, global corporation, but if I had to guess, I'd say that he would find at the very least a solid level of success there. As I said, TKO continues to look to expand its international footprint, and we've seen how much of a premium there is on Hispanic talent, especially with the purchase of AAA.

That being said, the other side of the coin is, where does this leave TNA?

There's no doubt that Total Nonstop Action benefited from the working relationship with NXT. Of course, it also helped the WWE since it will help to prevent any other anti-trust lawsuits after the promotion had to pay Major League Wrestling $20 million a few years ago. The AMC debut at the start of the year gave TNA its best television deal in more than a decade since it was canceled from Spike TV in 2014 after network executives found out that Vince Russo was still secretly working for the company. That new TV deal and the exposure that goes along with it doesn't happen without the WWE working agreement. However, and this is the difficult balancing act, TNA will still have to stand on its own as far as a drawing commodity if it wants to have any longevity on a truly national stage again. That's not to say that TNA can't continue to work with NXT, but rather to point out that if they mostly function as a feeder system for WWE where the bigger group continuously get to cherry-pick the best talent, then TNA will be a minor league group, not a national promotion. As we know, Joe Hendry made the leap to WWE and probably settled into a position on the card that makes sense for him. But, with Mike Santana, another TNA world champion, potentially next to make the move, does the almost reinforce the notion that TNA is a funnel for talent to WWE rather than a promotion that stands on its own merit?

I'm not sure of the answer, but I will say that TNA is at least in danger of being typecast as a minor league feeder system. Another aspect that adds some credibility to that notion is the recent report that Steve Maclin, a former world champion, was granted his release from the company, expressing frustration with the structure of the organization. If Maclin thinks he can be a bigger star elsewhere, it makes sense for him to try to accomplish that, especially if he thinks that he was stagnant in TNA. The bigger picture, and maybe the biggest take away from the Mike Santana speculation, is that how the situation unfolds within the next few months might impact the narrative of TNA as an organization, specifically if it's a destination for talent to progress there careers or if it's viewed as bridge to get elsewhere.

Italian with Apter

"You're a nephew now"

The professional wrestling world is one of the most unique genres in the entertainment business. The blend of theatrics and athleticism puts the industry in a category all of its own. What was or wasn't supposed to happen is still debated decades later. The grappling arts run the gamut of over-the-top spectacles to unbelievable tragedies. In many ways, professional wrestling is true to its origins on the carnival circuit.

However, one of the more modern portions of the business, long after the final bell sounded, the crimson dried, and the grueling road schedule was over, is the fan convention that often gives aging legends a second stanza to their careers after they've hung up their boots. There are a few full-fledged wrestling conventions sprinkled throughout the country that bring dozens of legends together for meet and greets a few times a year. while there are also the pop culture conventions almost every weekend somewhere in the United States that bring in a few pro wrestlers to compliment the other entertainment guests on that particularly line-up.

Just a few weeks ago on a late Friday afternoon, I got a text from one of my friends on the Pittsburgh wrestling scene where I do commentary for a few of the well-established organizations. Mark Charles III, affectionately known around the circuit as "The Count" for his role as a referee in the Pennsylvania region, asked me if I would like to take a trip with him to New Jersey the following day for the 80s Wrestling Con, a gathering of a slew of legends from the golden era of the business. I had seen information about the convention a few times previously, as it runs two or three times a year in Parsippany, but hadn't looked into it much, simply because of the distance of the travel involved. Mark formed many warm friendships with a myriad of the veteran performers of the industry over the past few years, including through his non-profit work as the Advisory Board Chair and Membership Coordinator for the Cauliflower Alley Club, an organization that assists pro wrestlers in need.

In an industry with a TV series titled, "The Dark Side of The Ring," Mark Charles brings a genuine kindness that should get him nominated for sainthood, especially by pro wrestling standards. Long after former WWF and WCW star, Virgil was retired from the sport and health problems affected him significantly, Mark chaperoned him to appearances to ensure his well being, refusing to accept a penny for his assistance, in the years prior to the real-life Mike Jones' passing. Along with that, when legends were booked for signings in the western Pennsylvania area, Mark was asked to take care of some of their arrangements, as organizers knew he had the trust and respect of the golden generation. Tito Santana, Koko B. Ware, and several others speak highly of not only Charles, but his sincere friendship as well.

So, when Mark had a chance to visit with many of his friends while they were in the north east, he didn't want to miss the chance to do so. Of course, I'd agreed to a five-hour trip on less than one day notice for the prosperity of pro wrestling. Granted, I'm honestly not sure why Mark would subject himself to more than 10 hours in a car with me, especially because talking about pro wrestling is my gig, both on the mic at local shows, or penning articles online. If I'm ever accused of being long-winded, I'm probably going to end up in the electric chair faster than Abdullah The Butcher at Halloween Havoc in 1991.

The road trip itself was easy, at least for me, and Mark is too nice of a guy to say otherwise so I guess it was a win-win situation. We shot the breeze about the industry, both locally and nationally, weaving our way through the hills of the region as we passed through places near the famous battle fields of Gettysburg. On the journey, the name Bill Apter, the well-known photo journalist for more than half a century, popped up on Mark's car system. The two formed a genuine friendship a few years ago and keep in touch on a regular basis. As the 50-year veteran of the industry checked in with Mark on arrival times, he launched into a collection of impressions of those that were potentially in the car with him as he navigated traffic. Terry Funk, Bruno, and a few others made cameos before Apter told "The Count" that he would see him at the building.

The czar of the "Apter mags" as they were called in their heyday before the internet was one of the few dozen luminaries that were scheduled to be at the convention. After we arrived, the venue was too loud with music playing in a relatively small place, which I'm not complaining about since a record-setting amount of steps isn't my strong suite, but rather to point out that it made conversation difficult at times. Getting the chance to meet Nikita Koloff, The Killer Bees, Jimmy Valiant, Baron Von Raschke, and The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers for photo-ops and an autograph was a thrill. Getting the chance to say hello to The Baron's daughter and asked what it was like to have such an on-screen villain for a dad was a comical moment. She was a polite lady, and despite being a menace in the ring for decades, The Baron is a gentleman, The same can be said for Jimmy Valiant, and everyone was very polite. Getting the chance to say hello to a slew of other names as Mark was kind enough to introduce me to them was also fun. The chance to meet Tommy Rich again and show him a picture we took together at Wrestle Con in Cleveland a few years ago was fun, too.

After a few hours at the convention, Mark told me that we'd grab lunch with Apter, which was somewhat surreal, as the 80-year-old print icon raced around the convention floor, getting video interviews for his ongoing projects. He even serenaded the audience in  Parsippany with a rendition of "My Way," which was still a solid showing despite the wonky sound system. The energetic zest for life that Apter has is impressive, and I legitimately won't be surprised when he celebrates his 100th birthday in a few decades.

As the convention concluded, we decided on an Italian restaurant that simply had "Italia Bistro" on the building. As a paisan, and especially as a fan of The Sopranos, the chance to get authentic Italian food in New Jersey was a victory in itself. Side note, I usually don't order pasta at restaurants because my dad makes his own sauce and meat balls so nothing else compares, but this establishment in New Jersey had tremendous ravioli. The fact that I had the chance to sit across from someone as tenured and accomplished as Bill Apter for this was, as I said earlier, somewhat surreal. One of the most striking aspects about him is that this is the guy that stood next to true global icons like Ali and Sammartino, but with such a humble nature, he was just as kind to spend time with Mark and I on that May afternoon. He even refused to allow me to call him "Mr. Apter," as he appreciated the respect, but wouldn't have it since he's such an easy-going guy.

As I said, I'm long-winded and probably could've picked his brain until his 90th birthday, but it was so cool to get his insight into the magazine industry, and to hear how he adapted through the online era. Taking the totality of his career into account, I'm not sure if most fans realize just how important "the Apter mags" were in their heyday before the internet or even cable television. Landing on the cover or getting coverage in the printed pages, particularly in the 70s and 80s made careers, as it provided a "preview" of what fans in a specific territory could expect when a performed arrived at their local arena. It was really neat to get to hear Apter discuss his mentor, Stanley Weston, who started Pro Wrestling Illustrated, as well as a collection of other publicans decades ago. Plus, Apter's work as a job coach for individuals with disabilities is admirable. Finally, the stories of his trips to Japan, including when the Yakuza threatened him with castration if his version of the previously mentioned Sinatra hit wasn't up to par at a karaoke bar one night, were insightful. Thankfully, Bill was able to leave Japan in one piece after he gave the performance a lifetime for the Japanese mafia.

What happened next is one of those things that can be filed in the "only in pro wrestling category," as it was a case of something that had to be true because it would be too outlandish to be fiction. Lucha legend, Mil Mascaras was originally scheduled for the 80s Wrestling Con, but cancelled the day prior to the event. Apter, who covered the Mexican superstar for years, was actually gifted a ring worn mask from the iconic luchador that was used for his debut in Madison Square Garden in the early-1970s. As we finished lunch, Apter asked one of the Hispanic staff if he was familiar with Mascaras, and the staff member lit up with the mention. With that, Apter popped up from the table, dashed outside, and returned moments later, wearing the iconic mask of the lucha legend into the restaurant. Apter graciously posed for a photo with the waiter and entertained a group of youngsters with the colorful lucha accessory.

Outside, Mark and Bill embraced to say goodbye, and the affection they have for their meaningful friendship is very wholesome, particularly with how much of a contrast it is to the in-ring mayhem that brought them together. Before we got back on the road to head back to Western Pennsylvania, Apter gave me a hug and proclaimed, "you're a nephew now." 

Thanks, Uncle Bill 

The career of Jack Pollock

Jack Pollock was a cornerstone of the Pittsburgh professional wrestling scene for nearly 15 years. As someone that learned under the underrated legend, Lance Storm after he took out a loan from PNC Bank to travel to Calgary and quite literally learn the ropes, Jack Pollock lived up to the old school troupes that were forged in the territory's old Stampede promotion, the place where Lance broke in nearly 25 year earlier, Pollock gave blood, sweat, and tears to the squared circle.

"Going to Calgary and training with Lance was surreal. The story that stands out the most to me was when we started working matches. My first match went off the rails so badly, everything I tried to do to get it back together wasn’t working. From the seats, Lance yelled 'just roll him up and get it over with, Sam.' Coming back to class on Monday, we were doing more matches, and I just kept saying in my head, 'please don’t pick me' so of course he picked me to wrestle. I think he could tell how upset I was about the first match and wanted to make sure I got my confidence back. That was something about Lance’s way of training I really liked. He knew how to deal everyone’s personality and could pick us up when we were down. He wasn’t a drill sergeant kind of trainer. He wasn’t there to take your money and beat you up. If you showed him respect and that you cared, he gave it back and then some," Pollock explained.

In that same fashion, when Huey Lewis blared through the speakers at a Pittsburgh venue in the years that followed, Jack Pollock gave to the business more than he received. He gave promoters a return on their investment in him as a talent, he gave the fans their money's worth through his tireless efforts in matches, and he extended his hand in friendship to numerous peers in the industry, bonds that lasted far beyond when the final bell echoed in the venue at the end of the night.

Jack Pollock, for a major portion of those past 15 year referenced earlier, was the guy that many organizations counted on as their workhorse throughout different stages of his career. He's one of the very few performers to have worked across the spectrum of the steel city circuit, as his value to any group was undeniable so he found a role within virtually every major promotion in the region at some point or another. The alphabet soup of organizations that he worked for over the years all had a significant impact on his career and contributed to his overall direction in the sport. It was through those efforts that the name Jack Pollock became synonymous with consistent quality performances and the ability to create a level of drama that invoked an emotional investment from the audience.

"Obviously, that first run towards the PWX title in 2012 was really special. The minute you go from just being on the show to being the champion for a company, the expectations change drastically. To be the flag bearer, to feel the responsibility of representing your company, to be the guy that I worked so hard to prove the people right who believed in me so much. That PWX run had so many memorable feuds for me that helped legitimize me and put me on the map. Shane Taylor really cemented me as somebody worth watching early on. And honestly, if not for splitting my eyebrow at the end of that first beating I’m not sure that feud ever becomes what it became. Some of the other PWX feuds that really stick out were the ones with Brandon K, Chris Taylor, and Bryan Bowers," Pollock remarked.

"When it comes to IWC, it’s just hard to pinpoint the highlights. The formation of Team Storm and the feud with Andrew Palace that ended inside of the cage was incredible. The whole Justin Plummer vs. Pollock story, which led to the Wardlow feud was amazing. I think about that crazy run I had to get to the title in 2018: The matches with Shane at Super Indy, Plummer at Threat Level Midnight, and then Wardlow in the cage. I went on to fight Tommy Dreamer and then did a rematch with Wardlow, ending with him throwing me off the top of the cage through the ring. That era of wrestling was just so much fun," he added.

From winning the heavyweight title of the now-defunct Pro Wrestling Express, to his run as the International Wrestling Cartel heavyweight champion, Pollock's rolodex of opponents, both inside of Pittsburgh and the national names brought in from the outside, is a reflect of the trust that event organizers had in him to deliverer in the big moments. After those years of experience, Pollock lent his veteran presence to 880 Wrestling, a newer group within the past few years that built itself as a fresh project amongst the other long-established leagues. The collection of youngsters brought a level of dedication and enthusiasm that rejuvenated Pollock during the last chapter of his in-ring career.

"The last few years of my career, I was able to have a lot of fun at 880, too. Honestly, it’s probably why I stuck around longer than I had originally planned. MV brought me in to work a few matches, but I just loved the vibe so much that I kept coming back. I think the dog collar match with Chris LeRusso stands out the most to me. Blood aside, Chris and I have been friends since my first day in the Pittsburgh wrestling scene so to do that match with my friend was really special," Pollock said.

There's no doubt that a specific era of Pittsburgh, a region known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, was defied by the efforts of Jack Pollock. However, it was the real-life Sam Ward that paid the price for it. Crashing through tables, being thrown onto thumbtacks, colliding with the steel cage, and being sent through the canvas of the ring to the floor might've been at the expense of Jack Pollock, but Sam Ward picked up the tab.

It was just a few years ago that a trip to the orthopedic doctor revealed an alarming about of damage to Ward's hip, especially given his age.

"I was still enjoying myself in ring, but my body wasn’t having fun anymore. It took longer and longer to recover from even the most basic match that I knew the time was coming. I remember tweaking my hip during a cage match for IWC in 2022 and things just got worse from there. I did everything I could to help it. I started wearing a big hip brace, weekly chiropractor visits, physical therapy, acupuncture, massages, and float tanks, I could never really get any relief so I finally saw a doctor more than a year later when they told me I had very advanced arthritis for someone my age. I started getting cortisone shots in my hip and knee every three months just to deal with the pain," Ward explained.

Last March, 15 years to the day that he took about the previously mentioned loan to travel to Canada to learn from Lance Storm, Sam repeated the same process for his final match as he did for his first match all the way back in 2011. He picked up his best friend, Marcus Mann, an accomplished manager and behind the scenes organizer for various promotions for more than a decade, and went to the venue. Instead of being a nervous youngster under a mask in West Newton the way he was for his debut, he walked into his final bout as a respected pro that was going to answer the bell one last time. Enjoy Wrestling, a wildly popular group that runs stacked cards in the city once every few months, promoted the event, and MV Young, one of the driving forces behind the previously mentioned 880 Wrestling, served as the last opponent for Jack Pollock's career.

"I tried playing it cool but I was a mess on the inside. MV and I have talked a lot about that match since it happened, there’s not a single thing I’d change about it," Ward said.

More than a year after he hung up his boots, Sam keeps himself busy with graphic design, working on a full plate of merchandise concepts for wrestlers and organizations while he enjoys spending time with his pets and watching baseball games. When he left one ring behind, he got another when he got engaged to his fiance, Eanna, who he met in 2023 through her work as a ringside valet.

A few weeks ago, at the age of just 42, Sam Ward finally underwent hip replacement surgery and has spent the time since then recovering from the procedure, with physical therapy lined up next. He will be kept out of work until he gets completely healed and cleared by his surgeon. In an effort to give back to Jack Pollock the way that he gave so much to the pro wrestling business, all of the friends he made along the way are going to come together on Sunday June 14th at the 880 Wrestling building in Pittsburgh to put on an event for donations that will support Ward until he can return to his day job.

A truly all-star cast of talent from promotions around Pittsburgh will come together to not only pay respect to their friend, but also give the fans a truly unique pro wrestling event that they won't get the chance to see anywhere else. MV Young squares off with Bill Collier, who is known for his work as Agent Zero in TNA wrestling. The Mane Event of Ganon Jones Jr. and Duke Davis will collide with Money Shot, the combination of Elijah Dean and Zach Nystrom for a contest of two of the top tag teams in region. Pittsburgh legends, Brandon K, founder of Ryse Wrestling, and Chris LeRusso, will square off in one of the most anticipated matches on the card. Pittsburgh icon, John McChesney, a 25-year veteran, is scheduled to compete against Edric Everhart, regarded as one of the best grapplers in the area today. Former IWC heavyweight champion, Andrew Palace is slated to compete against 880 standout, Marco Narcisso. A battle royal is also scheduled for the event.

Despite the titanium in his body as a permanent reminder of his sacrifices of the squared circle, Sam Ward remains thankful for the moments he experienced, the memories he created, and the friends that he made in the wrestling business.

"I really don’t have any regrets, I had my first match when I was 27 years old. I never had unrealistic expectations about what I could achieve in this business. I had fun grinding. Wrestling on a Saturday and Sunday just to wake up and go to work on Monday, I enjoyed being different," Ward concluded.

What's the status of TKO?

TKO and the WWE don't care about you. 

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp reported on a podcast appearance that WWE President, Nick Khan made on the Sports Business Journal. Khan was quoted as saying,“We will never respond to social media criticism. If ratings are down, if revenue's down, if relevancy's down, it's up to us."

In some ways, Nick Khan is right, and the reason for it is rather simple. The WWE, especially since the merger with the UFC to form the TKO corporation a few years ago, always looks to target the widest demographic possible in an attempt to draw the biggest audience possible. It might not appeal to the pro wrestling purists that can appreciate the finer points and niche details of the squared circle, but using the lowest common denominator is what makes the WWE product easy to understand for the general public. Vince McMahon, as deviant as he allegedly was in his private life, knew that the sizzle of sports entertainment sold to the casual fan a lot easier than the substance of professional wrestling, hence why he coined the term sports entertainment to separate his product during the national expansion of the 80s from the regional territories of the prior era.

The main difference, at least in terms of the perception of the product under McMahon compared to the conglomerate of today, is that even though McMahon was set on packaging his product as anything but the typical "rasslin'" stereotype, he still paid homage to some of the old school troupes that were established by his father, Vince Sr. under the Capital Wrestling banner. As defiant as some of his booking was during his latter tenure as the boss, Vince knew he had a responsibility to the audience. He might've had to fire The Ultimate Warrior after Summer Slam in 1991, but he paid him the amount of cash he demand to get the match in the ring because that's what was advertised. Vince took bumps and bled when he didn't have to in an effort to give the fans their money's worth. Many might question his logic or lack thereof at times, but it's difficult to question his dedication to the business. He kept prices affordable because he knew that families being able to afford tickets was one of the ways that the sport was passed down through generations and thus kept the fan base strong even during declines in overall business.

On the flip side, TKO looks strictly at the bottom line, and there's an argument for that, but there's also a few key counterpoints. Arnold Skaaland and Gorilla Monsoon were kept on the payroll for years because of their original association with the WWWF. The late referee Tim White had an injury cut his in-ring career short, but after years of ensuring smooth travel for his longtime friend, Andre The Giant, the former official was kept with the company in a PR role for years afterwards. Fences were mended with Bruno because he was a mythical figure for generations of fans. The audience can appreciate the acknowledgement of those that sacrificed for the sport and that's why there's such an emotional investment involved in professional wrestling.

It's a harsh reality, even if it's the right strategy if you keep a strictly business mindset, but TKO doesn't care about that emotional investment. The suites of Endeavor don't care that Dynamite Kid put himself in a wheelchair by the age of 40, they don't care that The Undertaker worked with a broken orbital bone or broken ribs on a European tour, and they don't care that in the process of the over-the-top spectacle of professional wrestling there can be real-life inspiration that impacts everyone involved. John Cena is a real-life superhero through his efforts as a pro wrestler and understood the responsibility that goes with it. For TKO, it's stictly business, they don't care how much the wrestlers of a prior generation sacrificed to pave the way for billion dollar media rights fees of today, or how much effort the current roster puts in to satisfy those contracts for the organization to be able to tout record-setting profits.

The bottom line is, how many fans can they tickets or merchandiser to for events and how much money they can squeeze from the audience in the process.

As mentioned, Nick Khan has a point, while the WWE fan base is on social media, the "internet fans" are a much smaller group. Taking the previous comparison of the casual fan, those that are vocal online are the most dedicated demographic of fans. They don't just take the time to watch the product when it's convenient, it's appointment viewing for them. They don't just form a detailed opinion on the happenings of a storyline or an event, they take the time and the effort to post about it online. You might think that listening to or serving the most dedicated fans that invest time, effort, and money intro the product would be worthwhile, but that's not the case, nor should it be. The reason is simple, those fans are going to watch WWE programming regardless so their input on the matter is moot since it doesn't effect the previously mentioned bottom line.

It might sound unfair, but wrestling fans are going to watch wrestling, and the WWE, perhaps now more than any other time in history, dictates the direction of the business. Sure, All Elite Wrestling made some waves during its initial launch, but have settled into the industry as a rather niche product that pays well. The WWE, through its merger that formed TKO, has enough media muscle and enough cash to decide where the industry goes. A prime example of this is the ESPN deal for the pay-per-views, the fact that WWE talent is regularly featured on the mainstream ESPN networks further reinforces the notion that WWE is the representation of pro wrestling in the United States. Along with that, the purchase of AAA, the expansion of international touring, and the Netflix deal that brings more of the world more access to WWE programming than ever before are steps toward the globalization of the product.

So, no, Nick Khan and TKO don't care about you. And, no, I'm not calling for a boycott or anything of the sort of WWE, that's just silly, but it's rather to answer the question, "why doesn't the WWE listen to its audience?" The reason is, they don't have to because those fans will watch anyway, and the scope of the business model is much bigger than the most diehard demographic. Keep in mind, for every smart mark online that argues about how many stars a match did or didn't get, there are expotentially more fans that will pay insane ticket prices to set front row at a WWE pay-per-view. The most dedicated fans don't impact the revenue streams, which is why it's more much important for the publicly-traded corporation to serve its stockholders and cater to the casual fan that might see a wrestler on ESPN.

Furthermore, when you take into account that the WWE can tout record-setting profits the past several years through its various media rights deal, why should they change anything? It can be debated if the WWE utilizes its current roster to its full potential, or if the product is truly as good as it can be, but there's no doubt that there's depth to the roster, both from an in-ring and star power prospective. When WWE has the biggest stars in the industry and they are making record-setting money, there's no reason they should listen to the smart mark online that's going to watch anyway. If the TKO business model eventually erodes the fan base over the course of time is a completely different discussion, but for right now, there's no reason for the WWE to change its philosophy for the product.

Mick Foley signed for AEW

Mick Foley, the former WWF champion that rose to prominence during the peak of the Attitude era and proved many doubters, including Vince McMahon wrong along the way, saw his WWE contract expire within the past few weeks. Foley, a New York Times #1 best-selling author, announced his intentions to let his WWE deal expire earlier this year because of the company's strong affiliation with Donald Trump. The legendary grappler is a very outspoken critic of the current administration and drew a line in the sand when executives were hosted in the Oval Office alongside Trump on a few different occasions because of Linda McMahon's role in his cabinet as the Head of the Department of Education. The six million dollar donation to his initial campaign and her work on the board of a Republican super pac that raised money for his re-election certainly paid off when she was gifted the positions of the Small Business Administration during the first term and then the education department for the current term. The fact that she has no actual background in education probably won't help most of America's woeful test scores.

The WWE can claim to be an apolitical organization, but that's simply not the case anymore. Thankfully for the publicly-traded corporation, the average WWE fan is more concerned with who wins the scripted match than the potential corruption of democracy in reality so they will conveniently look the other way when WWE management endorses the Trump administration, even if they don't agree with his policies.

Granted, politics are more of a work than pro wrestling, and it's more profitable too, but that's a different discussion for a different time.

Still, Mick Foley took a stand, which took at least some level of the famous Foley fortitude since not only did he walk away from the WWE payday, but he also risked alienating some of his potential customers for outside project since any political involvement can split the audience. Maybe someone with one of those silly red hats would decide not to buy an autograph or a ticket to a live show because the hardcore legend isn't a fan of the orange blob in the White House.

All things considered, it shouldn't be too surprising that Mick left the WWE, specifically because this isn't the first time that he was at odds with the office. Famously, Mick abruptly quit the company in 2001 when he was discontent with  the creative direction of the promotion in the aftermath of the WCW purchase. He was back in the WWE fold a few years later, working a memorable feud against Randy Orton, a storyline that helped push Orton up the card at the time. By 2008, Mick was put on commentary for a short-lived stint on Smackdown before he quit after Vince's infamous screaming into their headsets prompted him to quit. Foley surfaced in TNA for a handful of years, and despite his best efforts, he just had too much damage to his body to have another major run as an in-ring competitor. Mick was back again and inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, and was used for the general manager role on Raw in the years that followed. More recently, Foley was under contract for a merchandise deal, but was mostly on the convention circuit or touring for stage shows.

The former champion not under the WWE umbrella doesn't affect the promotion all that much, mostly because at his age, his on-screen role would be very limited in terms of what he could be used for. So, the merchandise aspect is the biggest part of his departure.

Last weekend, Foley made his All Elite Wrestling debut as the pre-show host with Renee Paquette at Double or Nothing, and was reported to have signed a contract with the organization. Given that Tony Khan has had Ric Flair on the payroll for the past few years, but you never see him because he's too outlandish to put on television, it's not a surprise that Tony offered a legendary performer from the past a payday for relatively easy work. That's not a knock on Tony at all, it's nice to see someone care enough to be willing to provide a level of financial security for the previous generation, but the point is, just because Foley is under an All Elite contract, that doesn't mean that he will necessarily be apart of AEW programming on a regular basis.

After the pay-per-view, Mick spoke glowingly about his experience at the event, and of course he would, it's easy to say nice things when the experience included a new contract from a billionaire. I'm not calling Mick insincere, but rather to point out that there wasn't really anything else he was going to say about his time on the show. Following up on that, Mick called himself a "Swiss army knife" for the promotion, implying that he could be useful in different roles.

Mick Foley is one of my favorite performers all of time, and his willingness to sacrifice his body in an effort to give the fans there money's worth might've been questionable, but the nobility of the intention was undeniable. Mick Foley gave more of himself than he received from the pro wrestling business, which is why it's nice that he can secure a new contract at this point in his life. That being said, outside of the smaller role as a host, or an occasional promo like the solid segment with Darby Allin before the pay-per-view, I truly don't think there's much for Mick Foley to do in AEW. At 60, Mick required several surgeries to repair the physical damage that he did to his body during his career, which included stints away from the ring. Furthermore, Mick has talked about memory issues in the past, including when he suffered a minor concussion when he tested the waters to train for a potential retirement match. The bottom line is, there's no way that Mick Foley should work a match in AEW, or probably do anything even remotely physical, as it would be dangerous, as well as irresponsible.

The concerning part is, despite such a legendary career where he overachieved, Mick never got the proper sendoff, as a throw away hardcore match against Ric Flair on TNA television more than 15 years ago was his last singles match. Considering the grand stage that Tony Khan gave Sting after his underwhelming conclusion in WWE, it's worrisome that Foley might consider an option for a last match to put an exclamation point on his in-ring tenure. Hopefully, that doesn't happen because it shouldn't.

As far as what Mick brings to the table going forward, as I said, I'm not sure there's too much for him to do other than a brief segment before the pay-per-views. Don't get me wrong, Foley is a recognizable name to wrestling fans, but as a host on the pre-show, his contributions to the bottom line would be moot. In some ways, I'd expect him to fade into the background and collect a paycheck to show up when he's asked to be there, similar to the status of Big Show the past several years. That's not a knock on Paul Wight or Mick Foley, as nobody, specifically on an individual basis, would be able to truly move the needle for AEW.

Again, it's not surprising that Mick left the WWE, he was more or less always at odds with the company in some form or fashion since he inked a contract thirty years ago when Vince McMahon scoffed at his ability to be a star until through sheer determination, Mankind became one of the biggest stars of the biggest era in the business. It's also not surprising that Tony Khan offered an aging legend a new contract, if for no other reason than he's a genuinely good guy that wants to show respect to the previous generation. At 60, Foley's run is over, this isn't a scenario where he can work with smoke and mirrors to piece together a final run the way that Sting did  so his arrival in All Elite doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things.