The HIAC pay-per-view, a Raw brand exclusive, will air live on the WWE network and the event was promoted this past week on Raw as a show with three main events. Those "main events" are all matches to take place inside the cell, a structure that at one time was a rare spectacle to peak certain feuds.
However, as seems to be the case with almost every gimmick in pro wrestling, the cell was overused and thus, the gimmick was watered down. I've always said that gimmick type of pay-per-views will cheapen the actual stipulations, which became even more prominent when WWE bass added more gimmick shows to the calendar. There's a PPV for cell matches, TLC matches, MITB, extreme rules, etc. The problem with that concept is, the matches that are booked for the stipulations aren't booked because it fits the feud, but rather the show with a certain stipulation is on the calendar. As mentioned, this isn't a new predicament in sports entertainment either, especially when you consider that a cage match used to be the most barbaric stipulation possible. Granted, as the business evolves, there are times that you can push the envelope, but you can certainly get more from a well booked angle than using a random gimmick match to sell the show.
That being said, sports entertainment has reached its current state and three cell matches will be presented on one show, but do these matches justify the cell?
The US title match is the glaring error here from the booking team, as they want to keep Roman Reigns relevant with the United States title, a type of consolation prize since he didn't get over as WWE champion. While it's understandable that management wants to do what they can with Reigns because of the amount of time they invested in him previously, there's really no reason that Roman/Rusev should be inside the cell. Keep in mind, the fan reaction to Reigns continues to be lukewarm at best and it's not as though Rusev is getting major heat weekly either so there's not much to build in terms of a heated rivalry. It seems like Roman was booked for the HIAC match simply because the WWE is trying to continue to spotlight him in some form or fashion on every PPV, but if the fan response doesn't justify it, does it really matter? If I had to guess, I would say that the Roman/Rusev contest gets a mediocre reaction and it will probably hinder the momentum of the event.
The WWE Universal title match is an interesting one because it combined the injury to Finn Balor with the storyline that Kevin Owens is the chosen champion, which was a great decision, especially since management had to call an audible after the unfortunate Balor injury. There's a lot of different angles that can be developed from this whole scenario, but rushing this match-up into a cell just because it's the current PPV does nothing to add to it. It should be noted that the Jericho/Owens dynamic is extremely entertaining and Jericho's involvement has helped establish Owens as a more prominent star on the show. Speaking of Chris Jericho, I have to say that his current run is a prime example of the stellar performer that he is and his ability to adapt to the current product whenever he returns to the company speaks volumes to his talent. Despite all the praise, Y2J still might not completely get the credit he deserves, but just to put it in prospective, he kept up with Seth Rollins in the ring, one of the best young stars of today. At 45, Jericho can still go and he's as good now, if not better than he was previously in his career. Back to Rollins/KO, there hasn't been enough build up to justify the cell match and even if these two use the HIAC to make the match memorable, where does the feud go from here? If KO drops the title, which probably won't happen yet, there will be a rematch so what do these two do to try to top a potentially great cell match? If they don't use the cell at all, why book the stipulation? But, at the same time, if Rollins is taking bumps into the fence, won't the rematch next month fall somewhat flat? This is the reason why HIAC was booked at the conclusion of a feud so that there wasn't the obstacle of trying to top it during the next match in the series. I expect this to be a solid match, but it just seems out of place to rush it into a HIAC match when the feud could be built up further.
The women's title match is probably the only contest on the card that actually justifies the HIAC stipulation, as it's an extensive feud and the historic aspect of the first women's bout inside the cell goes along with the women's revolution that was promoted. I've read some criticism online that it's too dangerous to book women in a HIAC match, but they are professionals and skilled athletes. Plus, there's a risk for anyone that performers in pro wrestling so the viewing audience shouldn't be more concerned for this match than they are during any other cell match at the show. In truth, this one should the main event, mostly because it's a history making bout, but it probably won't, which could lead the momentum of the show going flat depending on how the rest of the card is booked. As mentioned, this is really the only match that justifies the gimmick so it will be interesting to see how the show is presented and if there are any flat points during the pay-per-view.
Maybe I'm being too cynical here, but I just don't think there will be a situation where you can logically book three cell matches at one event. If you think back to the video packages that hyped The Undertaker/Shawn Michaels, the well produced vignettes made it seems like it was a truly dangerous match, and then Mick Foley proved that it was a truly dangerous match. When Mankind took the 15 ft. plunge for the top of the cage and risked his life in the process, an aura was created around the match. Nobody has ever topped it and they won't, but the point being, the gimmick was established as truly dangerous. Since Foley crashed through the Spanish announce table, they have been dozens of other cell matches, and a few of them worked well while others diluted the aura that Mick established for the stipulation. When Mick "retired" in 2000 after a cell match, it worked well since it had previously cemented his legacy. Triple H and Chris Jericho had a memorable match in 2002, as did Lesnar and The Undertaker that same year.
That said, if Sasha/Charlotte were the only cell match on the card, it would further spotlight the historic match. The gimmicks on this card are essentially being used as a substitute for well booked angles, management can't get the crowd behind Reigns so let's put him in the HIAC to give him a featured bout at the PPV. The stipulation can add the sizzle, but the argument can be made that there's not much substance for this event. The bottom line is, one HIAC match on this show would mean a lot more than three "main events" as it would stand out, especially since the women's bout is historic.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
TNA lawsuit
Last week, it was reported that Billy Corgan, the President of Impact Ventures, is suing TNA and filed an injunction to freeze any transactions within the promotion. Yes, the president of the organization is suing the company, only in pro wrestling.
Among those named is owner Dixie Carter, and Corgan also filed a restraining order, but details of the legal action are official sealed so most of the circumstances that prompted the lawsuit won't be public until the court proceedings take place.
However, considering that during the promotional efforts for the Bound For Glory pay-per-view earlier this month Corgan spoke about his bid to buy the company, it's safe to assume that this injunction is related to his stock in the promotion. This is just my two cents on the situation, but if I had to guess, I would say that Billy Corgan was under the impression that the money he invested to pay for TV tapings was going to be put towards his eventual purchase of the organization and that the funding prior to the official sale was only to keep the company afloat until all the negotiations could be handled.
Again, I'm just guessing here, but it basically sounds like Dixie Carter was trying to swindle Corgan into paying to keep her company in business without any real intention of actually selling to him. Maybe she was hoping he would pick up the tab and she could remain the owner? When you take into account Dixie's history of generally terrible decision making, it seems at least possible that all of these "negotiations"might've been nothing more than Dixie trying to find someone to fund her vanity project after the owner of Panda Energy, Bob Carter decided to stop paying for his daughter to be a TV star.
Whatever the case, none of these scenarios will improve the perception of Dixie Carter, who was criticized after she allowed Hulk Hogan to run roughshod over TNA and collect a ridiculous paycheck, a decision that ultimately contributed to the group's current financial struggles. Fans saw Hulk show up when he needed the money, work Dixie for major cash, and then leave before his own ignorance destroyed his status in the business. As a result of Hogan draining TNA, many cornerstones of the promotion were asked to take a substantial paycheck, but most opted to seek employment elsewhere and have done well for themselves. After Hogan collected his cash, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, and others left TNA for a chance at better opportunities. It's obvious the type of talent that Dixie let walk out the door instead of pay them a reasonable contract, but just as an example, you can consider where those three are now. AJ Styles is the WWE champion, Samoa Joe is a former NXT champion, and Christopher Daniels just recently stole the show in the main event of an ROH pay-per-view. Clearly, Dixie Carter made the wrong decision when she chose to pay Hogan to do nothing to improve the company since the ratings were stagnant. She paid a 60-year-old that has a history of draining as much out of a promotion as he can instead of some of the best athletes of this generation.
Corgan made it clear during interviews before Bound For Glory that while he funded the previous three sets of TV tapings, he wasn't going to continue to invest more money unless there was a plan in place to move the organization forward, which was probably a reference to his purchase. Just days before the pay-per-view there was speculation on if the show would take place and how TNA would pay for the TV tapings the following week. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, The Fight Network, based in Canada, paid for the most recent tapings that will provide episodes of Impact for the rest of the year.
Billy Corgan somehow getting the opportunity to completely buy the company is probably the only result that would allow it the chance move forward, as his dedication and passion for the sport is something that fans can rally behind. If Dixie remains the owner, there will be the perception that she tried to rip off one of the few allies she had that tried to help the promotion and after this debacle, who would be willing to invest more money into TNA? It's possible that The Fight Network will try to buy the group, as it could be a way for them to expand into the US market, but it would depend on if they are willing to invest money into TNA beyond the initial purchase, unless they are trying to buy the tape library to provide more content to the network. Either way, Dixie Carter doesn't have the money to fund TNA so what exactly does she expect to happen? She's going to have to sell TNA and get at least some compensation for it or the company will simply close when she can't afford to pay for the next set of TV tapings.
Some might be asking, is TNA really worth the hassle of a lawsuit?
While the "brand" of Total Nonstop Action doesn't have substantial value, the TV contracts, both domestically and internationally, are essentially the difference between the possibility of a national company or an independent group. As I've written before, it's extremely difficult for pro wrestling to get a TV deal in 2016, and proof of that is Global Force Wrestling taped a pilot last year, but still doesn't have American distribution. The bottom line is, the WWE is the undisputed top sports entertainment company in the world and most TV networks don't consider a perceived "minor league" show worth the TV slot. Impact Wrestling has TV contracts in the United States and overseas, which is the key for any potential sale. Corgan already mentioned changing the name, which would be a very smart move, and technically you can name the show anything, the actual TV contract is the true value on the table. Attempting to start from scratch without a TV deal in place would be exponentially more difficult than it would be to reshuffle the deck and start fresh for Impact Wrestling or whatever name is used.
Granted, this lawsuit could simply be a matter of Corgan getting repaid the money that he invested and then he leaves the company. I've said it many times and I will say it again, there's not much upside if TNA shuts down, and nobody, not even the WWE, benefits from one national company. When is whole situation is resolved, Dixie Carter could be known as the most inept owner in wrestling history. Hopefully, Billy Corgan gets ownership of the company because at least it would give TNA a legitimate chance at a fresh start and the possibility that it could move forward as a company.
Among those named is owner Dixie Carter, and Corgan also filed a restraining order, but details of the legal action are official sealed so most of the circumstances that prompted the lawsuit won't be public until the court proceedings take place.
However, considering that during the promotional efforts for the Bound For Glory pay-per-view earlier this month Corgan spoke about his bid to buy the company, it's safe to assume that this injunction is related to his stock in the promotion. This is just my two cents on the situation, but if I had to guess, I would say that Billy Corgan was under the impression that the money he invested to pay for TV tapings was going to be put towards his eventual purchase of the organization and that the funding prior to the official sale was only to keep the company afloat until all the negotiations could be handled.
Again, I'm just guessing here, but it basically sounds like Dixie Carter was trying to swindle Corgan into paying to keep her company in business without any real intention of actually selling to him. Maybe she was hoping he would pick up the tab and she could remain the owner? When you take into account Dixie's history of generally terrible decision making, it seems at least possible that all of these "negotiations"might've been nothing more than Dixie trying to find someone to fund her vanity project after the owner of Panda Energy, Bob Carter decided to stop paying for his daughter to be a TV star.
Whatever the case, none of these scenarios will improve the perception of Dixie Carter, who was criticized after she allowed Hulk Hogan to run roughshod over TNA and collect a ridiculous paycheck, a decision that ultimately contributed to the group's current financial struggles. Fans saw Hulk show up when he needed the money, work Dixie for major cash, and then leave before his own ignorance destroyed his status in the business. As a result of Hogan draining TNA, many cornerstones of the promotion were asked to take a substantial paycheck, but most opted to seek employment elsewhere and have done well for themselves. After Hogan collected his cash, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, and others left TNA for a chance at better opportunities. It's obvious the type of talent that Dixie let walk out the door instead of pay them a reasonable contract, but just as an example, you can consider where those three are now. AJ Styles is the WWE champion, Samoa Joe is a former NXT champion, and Christopher Daniels just recently stole the show in the main event of an ROH pay-per-view. Clearly, Dixie Carter made the wrong decision when she chose to pay Hogan to do nothing to improve the company since the ratings were stagnant. She paid a 60-year-old that has a history of draining as much out of a promotion as he can instead of some of the best athletes of this generation.
Corgan made it clear during interviews before Bound For Glory that while he funded the previous three sets of TV tapings, he wasn't going to continue to invest more money unless there was a plan in place to move the organization forward, which was probably a reference to his purchase. Just days before the pay-per-view there was speculation on if the show would take place and how TNA would pay for the TV tapings the following week. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, The Fight Network, based in Canada, paid for the most recent tapings that will provide episodes of Impact for the rest of the year.
Billy Corgan somehow getting the opportunity to completely buy the company is probably the only result that would allow it the chance move forward, as his dedication and passion for the sport is something that fans can rally behind. If Dixie remains the owner, there will be the perception that she tried to rip off one of the few allies she had that tried to help the promotion and after this debacle, who would be willing to invest more money into TNA? It's possible that The Fight Network will try to buy the group, as it could be a way for them to expand into the US market, but it would depend on if they are willing to invest money into TNA beyond the initial purchase, unless they are trying to buy the tape library to provide more content to the network. Either way, Dixie Carter doesn't have the money to fund TNA so what exactly does she expect to happen? She's going to have to sell TNA and get at least some compensation for it or the company will simply close when she can't afford to pay for the next set of TV tapings.
Some might be asking, is TNA really worth the hassle of a lawsuit?
While the "brand" of Total Nonstop Action doesn't have substantial value, the TV contracts, both domestically and internationally, are essentially the difference between the possibility of a national company or an independent group. As I've written before, it's extremely difficult for pro wrestling to get a TV deal in 2016, and proof of that is Global Force Wrestling taped a pilot last year, but still doesn't have American distribution. The bottom line is, the WWE is the undisputed top sports entertainment company in the world and most TV networks don't consider a perceived "minor league" show worth the TV slot. Impact Wrestling has TV contracts in the United States and overseas, which is the key for any potential sale. Corgan already mentioned changing the name, which would be a very smart move, and technically you can name the show anything, the actual TV contract is the true value on the table. Attempting to start from scratch without a TV deal in place would be exponentially more difficult than it would be to reshuffle the deck and start fresh for Impact Wrestling or whatever name is used.
Granted, this lawsuit could simply be a matter of Corgan getting repaid the money that he invested and then he leaves the company. I've said it many times and I will say it again, there's not much upside if TNA shuts down, and nobody, not even the WWE, benefits from one national company. When is whole situation is resolved, Dixie Carter could be known as the most inept owner in wrestling history. Hopefully, Billy Corgan gets ownership of the company because at least it would give TNA a legitimate chance at a fresh start and the possibility that it could move forward as a company.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Will Greg Hardy become an MMA fighter?
Greg Hardy, the former defensive end in the NFL that saw a domestic violence case shut the door on his NFL career, was one of the most controversial figures in sports last year. Recently, he made headlines again, this time for his new career path as a potential mixed martial arts fighter.
A sixth round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Greg Hardy was a highly touted prospect from his stellar collegiate career when he was selected by the Carolina Panthers, and he transitioned well to the next level, setting team records during his first three seasons in the league.
His talent on the field is undeniable, while his actions off the gridiron were despicable.
In 2014, he was set enter free agency, but the Panthers opted to use the franchise tag, putting him among the highest paid players for his position and allowed the team more options for an eventual long-term deal. But, Hardy played only one game of that season after an incident during the off season began the start of the end of his career.
On May 13, 2014 Greg Hardy was arrested for assault after he "allegedly" strangled and threatened to kill his former girlfriend during a domestic dispute. Two months later, he was found guilty on the charges and sentenced to 18 month probation, but Hardy appealed, requesting that a jury hear the case. When the victim in the case didn't appear in court to testify for the trial, the charges were dropped and it was indicated that a civil settlement was reached. Basically, the victim was paid not to testify and a technicality allowed Greg Hardy to get away with beating a woman without any legal penalty. Eventually, a series of horrific photos of the victim were released that showed several bruises on her body.
After he was placed on the exempt list because of the domestic violence case, The Panthers decided not to attempt to resign him for 2015, but the Dallas Cowboys took a chance and signed him to a one year deal. His on field production was sluggish and he was considered a source of tension within the organization, as his social media posts created friction among the staff. He wasn't offered another contract at the conclusion of the season, and no other NFL team wanted to sign him because of the negative press involved.
While Greg Hardy didn't pay a legal penalty, his cowardly actions toward a woman cost him an NFL career.
Just a few weeks ago, he was arrested for cocaine possession and that case is ongoing. As mentioned, Hardy announced he plans to pursue an MMA career and started training several months ago. UFC President, Dana White was asked about the possibility of Hardy fighting in the organization last week and he said that Hardy probably wasn't at that level. That said, if there's money to be made from it, someone will sign Greg Hardy to fight in the cage and there will undoubtedly be viewers for it, especially fans that wants to see him get punched in the face. It's doubtful that the UFC would want to promote such an athlete because there's something distasteful about advertising a competitor with a domestic violence charge in a combat sport. But, if there's money on the table, Hardy will get a chance to step into the cage for some organization. It would certainly be moral justice if Greg Hardy got pummeled.
This goes without saying, but a man should NEVER hit a woman and there's NO excuse for it. Obviously, Greg Hardy used his bank account to make the case go away, but make no mistake about it, he is a coward. If Greg Hardy actually gets signed to fight an opponent of any relevance, he will get beat. As much as he shouldn't get any publicity, if an MMA career leads to him getting punched in the face then hopefully he gets a contract to fight somewhere.
A sixth round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Greg Hardy was a highly touted prospect from his stellar collegiate career when he was selected by the Carolina Panthers, and he transitioned well to the next level, setting team records during his first three seasons in the league.
His talent on the field is undeniable, while his actions off the gridiron were despicable.
In 2014, he was set enter free agency, but the Panthers opted to use the franchise tag, putting him among the highest paid players for his position and allowed the team more options for an eventual long-term deal. But, Hardy played only one game of that season after an incident during the off season began the start of the end of his career.
On May 13, 2014 Greg Hardy was arrested for assault after he "allegedly" strangled and threatened to kill his former girlfriend during a domestic dispute. Two months later, he was found guilty on the charges and sentenced to 18 month probation, but Hardy appealed, requesting that a jury hear the case. When the victim in the case didn't appear in court to testify for the trial, the charges were dropped and it was indicated that a civil settlement was reached. Basically, the victim was paid not to testify and a technicality allowed Greg Hardy to get away with beating a woman without any legal penalty. Eventually, a series of horrific photos of the victim were released that showed several bruises on her body.
After he was placed on the exempt list because of the domestic violence case, The Panthers decided not to attempt to resign him for 2015, but the Dallas Cowboys took a chance and signed him to a one year deal. His on field production was sluggish and he was considered a source of tension within the organization, as his social media posts created friction among the staff. He wasn't offered another contract at the conclusion of the season, and no other NFL team wanted to sign him because of the negative press involved.
While Greg Hardy didn't pay a legal penalty, his cowardly actions toward a woman cost him an NFL career.
Just a few weeks ago, he was arrested for cocaine possession and that case is ongoing. As mentioned, Hardy announced he plans to pursue an MMA career and started training several months ago. UFC President, Dana White was asked about the possibility of Hardy fighting in the organization last week and he said that Hardy probably wasn't at that level. That said, if there's money to be made from it, someone will sign Greg Hardy to fight in the cage and there will undoubtedly be viewers for it, especially fans that wants to see him get punched in the face. It's doubtful that the UFC would want to promote such an athlete because there's something distasteful about advertising a competitor with a domestic violence charge in a combat sport. But, if there's money on the table, Hardy will get a chance to step into the cage for some organization. It would certainly be moral justice if Greg Hardy got pummeled.
This goes without saying, but a man should NEVER hit a woman and there's NO excuse for it. Obviously, Greg Hardy used his bank account to make the case go away, but make no mistake about it, he is a coward. If Greg Hardy actually gets signed to fight an opponent of any relevance, he will get beat. As much as he shouldn't get any publicity, if an MMA career leads to him getting punched in the face then hopefully he gets a contract to fight somewhere.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
The top five WCW wrestlers in 2000
The year 2000 was the beginning of a new millennium and in my ways, it was also the beginning of the end of World Championship Wrestling. Vince Russo, the head writer for the WWF during the bulk of the Attitude Era that generated record TV ratings, had jumped ship to the Turner organization just a few months earlier in October of 1999. Some within the Ted Turner group thought they acquired the services of the mind behind the creation of Steve Austin, The Rock, and Mick Foley. Clearly, they didn't and soon the Turner executives realized that Vince McMahon was the primary force behind his product, not Russo.
Without the McMahon filter, Russo booked some of the most infamous angles in the history of the business, and the laundry list of mistakes landed WCW $60 million in debt for the year 2000. David Arquette as WCW champion, Russo himself as a champion, Judy Bagwell on a pole matches, and the disgusting angle that mocked Jim Ross were more than enough of a reason for the majority of the viewing audience to change the channel to WWF programming.
That being said, while Russo definitely earned his fair share of the blame for the demise of WCW, there were also a number of other contributing factors, including outrageous contracts that would make it difficult for even a moderately successful company to turn a profit. Some of the less prominent luchadors that were used for secondary programming or the random six man tags on Nitro, where the participants could've been interchangeable because they were only there to work the lucha style, not a storyline, were given six figure contracts. Don't get me wrong, if a performer can get a deal for that type of money, good for them, but the point being, it's a prime example of the lack of cost management in WCW.
The loss of $60 million dollars after finally turning a profit the few years previously looms over the history of the organization, and most generally consider the year 2000 the downfall of WCW, especially since the promotion rode much of the momentum of 1998 through 1999 so some of the blunders, such as how Goldberg was misused, weren't as apparent at the time. Just three months after the start of 2001, WCW was purchased for pennies on the dollar by the WWF. A major reason for this was the AOL/Time Warner merger, but the bottom line is, WCW wouldn't have been sold if it made a profit.
As much as the year 2000 contributed to the demise of WCW, there were several aspects to the product that could've helped the company survive if it wasn't sold. In fact, there were MANY underutilized talents that could've been major stars for WCW, but just didn't get the push they deserved at the time. For the purposes of this list, we won't include tag team since that could be another article for another time, and as talented as they were, the "Radicalz" won't be used for this list because they left the company just weeks after the start of the year.
So, who were the top five underutilized talents in WCW in 2000?
5. The Great Muta
An absolute legend in Japan, The Great Muta has reached mythical status in his home country and amazingly still wrestles occasionally for his Wrestle-1 promotion, despite many serious injuries during his thirty year career. Although the majority of his career took place in the far east, Muta said in the past that he considers the United States his second home because of the critical role it played in the development in his career. Even before the mysterious Great Muta, guided by the underrated legendary manager Gary Hart, appeared on TBS in 1989 to begin a memorable feud with Sting as one of the last great moments in the NWA, he worked in Florida under a variety of names. His skills were immediately noticed, hence the reason he achieved semi main event status during the angle with Sting shortly after his TBS debut alongside Gary Hart. For the next several years, Muta alternated between WCW stints and working in front of major crowds in the Tokyo Dome. In fact, his involvement with the NWO Japan stable gave WCW an international aspect, and in the process allowed for a presentation that suggested that it wasn't just a southern "rasslin" company.
By 2000, the nearly 15 years of wrestling full time had taken its toll on him (taking time off to heal from injuries after WCW closed and completely reinventing himself in All Japan gave Muta a career resurgence in 2001) and he wasn't quite as dynamic as he had been previously, but the powers that be completely wasted the chance to use The Great Muta in a productive way. At one point, he and Vampiro were the tag champions, but they held the belts for one day, winning them at the New Blood Rising pay-per-view before the duo dropped the titles the following night on Nitro. Known as The Dark Carnival, Muta and Vampiro were paired with the Insane Clown Posse, a stable that generated a noticeable crowd reaction even though they didn't get a substantial push on TV. In theory, Muta's legendary status could've been used to help establish Vampiro, who was one of the more over WCW stars at the time, and also bring a unique element to the stable. If Russo or others in charge had given The Dark Carnival any meaningful angles, they could've added something edgy to the product without the raunchy gimmicks used in the WWF during the Attitude Era. Obviously, since Ted Turner owned the company, there were some restrictions as to what was allowed on their shows, but with ICP as a somewhat controversial group at the time, WCW programming could've seemed edgy without being distasteful. Granted, Russo made up for that with a variety of disgusting storylines, but the point being ICP could've provided something different for the company. Unfortunately, The Great Muta was regulated to secondary WCW programming and completely misused. In some ways, Muta is The Undertaker of Japan in terms of how well he portrayed the character and his longevity, which is why it was so disrespectful that he was booked for three minute matches on syndicated shows before the promotion closed.
4. Rey Mysterio Jr.
The only cruiser weight on the list, Rey Mysterio Jr. was another career that was terribly mismanaged in WCW, but the WWE proved several years later that Rey had all the talent to transition from a cruiser weight to a main event style. The charisma, mic skills, and crisp in ring work are what ultimately set him apart from other lightweight performers. Even though he did spectacular moves, Rey could sell and he knew how to connect with the audience, which is the key to drawing money. Plus, Rey could work with anyone and that was even more of a reason to give him a main event push because he can make his opponents look good in the ring. If you go back to 1999 when Rey was forced to unmask, he essentially floundered until he was added to the Filthy Animals, and even then he was there with others that the booking team had no plans for so nothing truly relevant was done with them.
A few of the many reasons that the WWE survived during the ups and downs of the industry are marketing and merchandising. Vince McMahon was smart enough to see the merchandising value of the Mysterio mask and it became more than just an aspect of his wrestling character, it generated revenue with t-shirts of the design, masks that the younger audience could wear during his matches, etc. For WCW, that opportunity for merchandise sales was traded for a segment on the show and it didn't lead to a major angle either. Rey was unmasked and then worked the lower mid-card for much of the remainder of his career there. In 2000, when the company was trying to desperately reboot the product, an underdog Rey could've brought something fresh to the main event scene, especially after the older generation of competitors became stale.
3. Vampiro
This Canadian made his wrestling home and began his rise to fame in Mexico, becoming as accepted into the lucha libre culture as any of the native performers. The rock music inspired grappler became extremely popular in Mexico in the early 90s and worked in a variety of roles in entertainment since that time. A very unique individual, Vampiro is still somewhat misunderstood despite many interviews, and even a documentary about his career. His career was mishandled from the start in WCW, as he made his debut on Nitro in June of 1998 and didn't resurface again until March of 1999, despite being under contract the entire time he wasn't booked for events. The following year he was one of the most over performers on Turner programming and his feud with Sting is one of the few highlights for the organization in that era. It was rumored that at the time, Sting didn't want to lose the conclusion of the feud so the angle was finished rather quickly, and Vampiro returned to mid card status. As mentioned earlier about Muta, the Vampiro/ICP stable could've been used to give the perception of an edgy group on the Turner network without the vulgarity of the attitude era.
Vampiro said many times himself that he wasn't a polished technical wrestler, and if you watch his matches, they usually have a wild structure, but he was charismatic enough to work the main event for WCW. The bottom line is, Vampiro was over in 2000 and could've been used to bulk up the sluggish title picture at the time, especially after the momentum he generated during the Sting feud.
2. Lance Storm
This might seem like an odd addition, considering in that his six month run in the company, Lance Storm won multiple titles at once, but when you take in account the context of those angles, it really emphasizes how the booking team completely underutilized one of the most graceful athletes of that era. One of the last graduates of the legendary Hart Dungeon, Lance Storm gained national notoriety in ECW after a stint in Smokey Mountain Wrestling in the early 90s got him noticed among diehard fans. The extreme group provided Storm to stand out as a technical wrestler among all the usual mayhem, and Storm gave ECW variety, proving that their shows were more than just hardcore stunts.
Since Storm was pushed well, he probably would've stayed in ECW, but the financial struggles of the company led to him not getting paid on time on more than one occasion so he signed with WCW in June of 2000. When he arrived at the Turner organization, he worked a generic Canadian heel gimmick with a Team Canada stable that included Jim Duggan turning heel for a brief time to become Canadian. Somehow, the powers that be saw Storm being Canadian as more important than the fact that he was an extremely talented performer that didn't need goofy angles to get over. Sure, Lance won three titles at once, but that was basically so that Russo could put another Canadian flag on the belt and use some ridiculous name for it.
In a company where the in ring action was highlighted, WCW should've been a place where Storm excelled, but the lame booking hindered his progress. Lance Storm could work with anyone and present quality matches, which is why he should've been used better when the promotion was stale. All things considered, Lance Storm could've been a main event heel in 2000.
1. Mike Awesome
Known as The Gladiator in Japan, Mike Awesome made his name in the United States after an insane series of matches with Masato Tanaka in ECW, where he won the heavyweight title. Even though he was a heavyweight competitior, Awesome was unbelievably agile for his size and was a very unique commodity during the prime of his career. Similar to Storm, Mike Awesome left ECW when he wasn't paid on time, and while he was vilified at the time, in retrospect many fans understand why he jumped to WCW. If anyone on this list was a guaranteed star for WCW, it's Mike Awesome. The guy looked like a monster and again, he brought something different to the table than what was seen on WWF shows at the time.
Despite the potential, not surprisingly, Vince Russo booked Awesome as a comedy act for "The 70s guy" gimmick and then as a random member of Team Canada. Ultimately, Mike Awesome wasn't given the chance to do anything relevant in WCW, which is almost unbelievable until you consider Russo's track record. Awesome had momentum starting there from his time as ECW champion and could've been booked as a credible WCW champion if lame comedy gimmicks didn't hinder his career.
There might not have been a way to avoid the shut down of World Championship Wrestling because of the corporate merger, but there's no doubt that the talent was there to boost the organization if it wasn't sold.
Without the McMahon filter, Russo booked some of the most infamous angles in the history of the business, and the laundry list of mistakes landed WCW $60 million in debt for the year 2000. David Arquette as WCW champion, Russo himself as a champion, Judy Bagwell on a pole matches, and the disgusting angle that mocked Jim Ross were more than enough of a reason for the majority of the viewing audience to change the channel to WWF programming.
That being said, while Russo definitely earned his fair share of the blame for the demise of WCW, there were also a number of other contributing factors, including outrageous contracts that would make it difficult for even a moderately successful company to turn a profit. Some of the less prominent luchadors that were used for secondary programming or the random six man tags on Nitro, where the participants could've been interchangeable because they were only there to work the lucha style, not a storyline, were given six figure contracts. Don't get me wrong, if a performer can get a deal for that type of money, good for them, but the point being, it's a prime example of the lack of cost management in WCW.
The loss of $60 million dollars after finally turning a profit the few years previously looms over the history of the organization, and most generally consider the year 2000 the downfall of WCW, especially since the promotion rode much of the momentum of 1998 through 1999 so some of the blunders, such as how Goldberg was misused, weren't as apparent at the time. Just three months after the start of 2001, WCW was purchased for pennies on the dollar by the WWF. A major reason for this was the AOL/Time Warner merger, but the bottom line is, WCW wouldn't have been sold if it made a profit.
As much as the year 2000 contributed to the demise of WCW, there were several aspects to the product that could've helped the company survive if it wasn't sold. In fact, there were MANY underutilized talents that could've been major stars for WCW, but just didn't get the push they deserved at the time. For the purposes of this list, we won't include tag team since that could be another article for another time, and as talented as they were, the "Radicalz" won't be used for this list because they left the company just weeks after the start of the year.
So, who were the top five underutilized talents in WCW in 2000?
5. The Great Muta
An absolute legend in Japan, The Great Muta has reached mythical status in his home country and amazingly still wrestles occasionally for his Wrestle-1 promotion, despite many serious injuries during his thirty year career. Although the majority of his career took place in the far east, Muta said in the past that he considers the United States his second home because of the critical role it played in the development in his career. Even before the mysterious Great Muta, guided by the underrated legendary manager Gary Hart, appeared on TBS in 1989 to begin a memorable feud with Sting as one of the last great moments in the NWA, he worked in Florida under a variety of names. His skills were immediately noticed, hence the reason he achieved semi main event status during the angle with Sting shortly after his TBS debut alongside Gary Hart. For the next several years, Muta alternated between WCW stints and working in front of major crowds in the Tokyo Dome. In fact, his involvement with the NWO Japan stable gave WCW an international aspect, and in the process allowed for a presentation that suggested that it wasn't just a southern "rasslin" company.
By 2000, the nearly 15 years of wrestling full time had taken its toll on him (taking time off to heal from injuries after WCW closed and completely reinventing himself in All Japan gave Muta a career resurgence in 2001) and he wasn't quite as dynamic as he had been previously, but the powers that be completely wasted the chance to use The Great Muta in a productive way. At one point, he and Vampiro were the tag champions, but they held the belts for one day, winning them at the New Blood Rising pay-per-view before the duo dropped the titles the following night on Nitro. Known as The Dark Carnival, Muta and Vampiro were paired with the Insane Clown Posse, a stable that generated a noticeable crowd reaction even though they didn't get a substantial push on TV. In theory, Muta's legendary status could've been used to help establish Vampiro, who was one of the more over WCW stars at the time, and also bring a unique element to the stable. If Russo or others in charge had given The Dark Carnival any meaningful angles, they could've added something edgy to the product without the raunchy gimmicks used in the WWF during the Attitude Era. Obviously, since Ted Turner owned the company, there were some restrictions as to what was allowed on their shows, but with ICP as a somewhat controversial group at the time, WCW programming could've seemed edgy without being distasteful. Granted, Russo made up for that with a variety of disgusting storylines, but the point being ICP could've provided something different for the company. Unfortunately, The Great Muta was regulated to secondary WCW programming and completely misused. In some ways, Muta is The Undertaker of Japan in terms of how well he portrayed the character and his longevity, which is why it was so disrespectful that he was booked for three minute matches on syndicated shows before the promotion closed.
4. Rey Mysterio Jr.
The only cruiser weight on the list, Rey Mysterio Jr. was another career that was terribly mismanaged in WCW, but the WWE proved several years later that Rey had all the talent to transition from a cruiser weight to a main event style. The charisma, mic skills, and crisp in ring work are what ultimately set him apart from other lightweight performers. Even though he did spectacular moves, Rey could sell and he knew how to connect with the audience, which is the key to drawing money. Plus, Rey could work with anyone and that was even more of a reason to give him a main event push because he can make his opponents look good in the ring. If you go back to 1999 when Rey was forced to unmask, he essentially floundered until he was added to the Filthy Animals, and even then he was there with others that the booking team had no plans for so nothing truly relevant was done with them.
A few of the many reasons that the WWE survived during the ups and downs of the industry are marketing and merchandising. Vince McMahon was smart enough to see the merchandising value of the Mysterio mask and it became more than just an aspect of his wrestling character, it generated revenue with t-shirts of the design, masks that the younger audience could wear during his matches, etc. For WCW, that opportunity for merchandise sales was traded for a segment on the show and it didn't lead to a major angle either. Rey was unmasked and then worked the lower mid-card for much of the remainder of his career there. In 2000, when the company was trying to desperately reboot the product, an underdog Rey could've brought something fresh to the main event scene, especially after the older generation of competitors became stale.
3. Vampiro
This Canadian made his wrestling home and began his rise to fame in Mexico, becoming as accepted into the lucha libre culture as any of the native performers. The rock music inspired grappler became extremely popular in Mexico in the early 90s and worked in a variety of roles in entertainment since that time. A very unique individual, Vampiro is still somewhat misunderstood despite many interviews, and even a documentary about his career. His career was mishandled from the start in WCW, as he made his debut on Nitro in June of 1998 and didn't resurface again until March of 1999, despite being under contract the entire time he wasn't booked for events. The following year he was one of the most over performers on Turner programming and his feud with Sting is one of the few highlights for the organization in that era. It was rumored that at the time, Sting didn't want to lose the conclusion of the feud so the angle was finished rather quickly, and Vampiro returned to mid card status. As mentioned earlier about Muta, the Vampiro/ICP stable could've been used to give the perception of an edgy group on the Turner network without the vulgarity of the attitude era.
Vampiro said many times himself that he wasn't a polished technical wrestler, and if you watch his matches, they usually have a wild structure, but he was charismatic enough to work the main event for WCW. The bottom line is, Vampiro was over in 2000 and could've been used to bulk up the sluggish title picture at the time, especially after the momentum he generated during the Sting feud.
2. Lance Storm
This might seem like an odd addition, considering in that his six month run in the company, Lance Storm won multiple titles at once, but when you take in account the context of those angles, it really emphasizes how the booking team completely underutilized one of the most graceful athletes of that era. One of the last graduates of the legendary Hart Dungeon, Lance Storm gained national notoriety in ECW after a stint in Smokey Mountain Wrestling in the early 90s got him noticed among diehard fans. The extreme group provided Storm to stand out as a technical wrestler among all the usual mayhem, and Storm gave ECW variety, proving that their shows were more than just hardcore stunts.
Since Storm was pushed well, he probably would've stayed in ECW, but the financial struggles of the company led to him not getting paid on time on more than one occasion so he signed with WCW in June of 2000. When he arrived at the Turner organization, he worked a generic Canadian heel gimmick with a Team Canada stable that included Jim Duggan turning heel for a brief time to become Canadian. Somehow, the powers that be saw Storm being Canadian as more important than the fact that he was an extremely talented performer that didn't need goofy angles to get over. Sure, Lance won three titles at once, but that was basically so that Russo could put another Canadian flag on the belt and use some ridiculous name for it.
In a company where the in ring action was highlighted, WCW should've been a place where Storm excelled, but the lame booking hindered his progress. Lance Storm could work with anyone and present quality matches, which is why he should've been used better when the promotion was stale. All things considered, Lance Storm could've been a main event heel in 2000.
1. Mike Awesome
Known as The Gladiator in Japan, Mike Awesome made his name in the United States after an insane series of matches with Masato Tanaka in ECW, where he won the heavyweight title. Even though he was a heavyweight competitior, Awesome was unbelievably agile for his size and was a very unique commodity during the prime of his career. Similar to Storm, Mike Awesome left ECW when he wasn't paid on time, and while he was vilified at the time, in retrospect many fans understand why he jumped to WCW. If anyone on this list was a guaranteed star for WCW, it's Mike Awesome. The guy looked like a monster and again, he brought something different to the table than what was seen on WWF shows at the time.
Despite the potential, not surprisingly, Vince Russo booked Awesome as a comedy act for "The 70s guy" gimmick and then as a random member of Team Canada. Ultimately, Mike Awesome wasn't given the chance to do anything relevant in WCW, which is almost unbelievable until you consider Russo's track record. Awesome had momentum starting there from his time as ECW champion and could've been booked as a credible WCW champion if lame comedy gimmicks didn't hinder his career.
There might not have been a way to avoid the shut down of World Championship Wrestling because of the corporate merger, but there's no doubt that the talent was there to boost the organization if it wasn't sold.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
UFC 204
Tonight, Michael "The Count" Bisping returns to his hometown to fight at the Manchester Arena in the main event of UFC 204. Bisping, the winner of season three of the Ultimate Fighter reality show, has fought in his native country several times, often as the top draw for the cards. However, this is the first time that he will return home to defend his championship, the UFC Middleweight title, a belt he won after he knocked out former champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 earlier this year. Bisping will be challenged by one of the most decorated athletes to ever step into the cage, Dan Henderson, the competitor that knocked him out in devastating fashion in 2009. More than anything, the chance to avenge the loss is what spurred this rematch.
Despite being a replacement on short notice for an injured Chris Weidman, Bisping took the long road to the championship, starting his career in the UK in 2004 and then clawing his way up the ranks for a decade in the UFC before claiming championship gold. The trend of his career was one where he would go on a winning streak and defeated solid competition, but for some reason he just couldn't defeat some of the more top tier fighters. For example, early in his UFC career, Bisping went on a four fight win streak before he lost a split decision against Rashad Evans. After that, he won three bouts in a row before the previously mentioned KO loss at UFC 100. Later, he strung together four more victories before he was defeated via decision in a contest with Chael Sonnen in 2012. The next few years yielded mixed results and he garnered a record of 25-7 prior to his fight with CB Dollaway last year.
He won a decision against Dollaway, the start of his current four fight win streak. The combination of a brown belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and a boxing background allowed Bisping to be well rounded without any obvious flaws in his game. He has always won enough to keep himself in the conversation, but as mentioned, just didn't have a signature win on his resume to justify a title shot. But just a few months prior to the Rockhold pay-per-view match, he defeated Anderson Silva via unanimous decision. Granted, the aging Silva is not the same competitor he was during the prime of his career a few year ago, but still dangerous and a win against him is still a notable accomplishment. Micheal Bisping was the underdog heading into the title fight, as the odds favored the champion since Rockhold had submitted him in their initial fight in 2014. As mentioned, Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the fourth round to claim the title.
The once brash Brit that enjoyed playing the role of the villain was now a humble champion.
At UFC 204, Dan Henderson will look to deliver a repeat performance and land his trademark right hand, adding UFC gold to his collection, which is the only major MMA belt he hasn't won. A former Olympic wrestler, Henderson has numerous accolades from his time in the amateur ranks. He made a name for himself fighting in Pride, where he held titles simultaneously in welterweight and middleweight divisions. He actually won a UFC middleweight tournament early in his career, but didn't start full time with the promotion until Zuffa bought Pride in 2007. During the next two years, he had a record of 3-2 in the UFC, including the UFC 100 win before he opted to seek a better deal with Strike Force. Henderson fought there four times and won the Strike Force light heavyweight belt, along with defeating the legendary Fedor Emelianenko before the company was also bought by the UFC in 2011.
Upon his return to the Zuffa banner, Henderson defeated Shogun Rua in one of the greatest fights of all time. But, following the epic war, he went on a three fight skid, leaving the legendary grappler's career in doubt. He defeated Rua via TKO in a rematch before a pair of losses again prompted some to call for his retirement. He defeated Tim Boetsch before a loss to Vitor Belfort brought his record to 31-14 prior to his fight with Hector Lombard at UFC 199, the same event where Michael Bisping won the middleweight championship. Lombard was favored to win the contest, but Henderson shocked the crowd in attendance when he knocked out his younger opponent with a vicious elbow and followed up with ground strikes before the referee called for the stoppage.
At 46, many have doubted Dan Henderson in the past, saying it was time for him to retire, but he managed to win to keep his career moving forward. Can he shock the world and win the only MMA belt that has alluded him?
In truth, the only aspect that justifies this rematch is that Henderson knocked out Bisping with a highlight reel moment seven years ago. Since that time, Bisping has sharpened his skills, training with a variety of styles while Henderson has gotten older. Don't get me wrong, all Henderson has to do is to land one punch, but there were certain times when his performances were hit or miss during the past few years. In an odd irony, Henderson has won enough in recent years to justify that his career continues similar to how Bisping once won enough to keep himself in the conversation as a contender. At this point, UFC 204 is an entirely different bout than their original UFC 100 contest. As mentioned, Bisping earned his way to the championship and in the process, earned the respect of many fans that previously looked forward to the seeing him get KO'ed. Henderson is unanimously respected by his peers and fans, but it's a fair question to wonder how much age will factor into the fight. While some might assume that another potential KO is the way for Henderson to win the belt, I would suggest that it will take an entirely different strategy for the multi-time champion to win a UFC title. It seems like Henderson will be at a speed disadvantage and if he only looks for the chance to land the right hand, it could allow Bisping to score the points necessary to win a decision. In fact, some of Henderson's previous decision losses were a result of when he looked just for the right hand and in the process made himself one dimensional despite his lengthy amateur background.
If Henderson is going to be victorious, he will have to use more than just the right hand and if nothing else, at least use his wrestling skills to set up the strikes. Again, age could play a factor because these two polished pros aren't going to take any unnecessary chances so it's very possible this fight goes five rounds, which will require proper cardio. If anyone could win a UFC championship at 46, it's Dan Henderson, but I have to say that I will pick Bisping to retain the title. That said, it would be great to see the legendary veteran conclude his career as a champion and he displayed many times during his nearly twenty year career that all it takes is one punch for him to win, which is why this is an intriguing fight.
Despite being a replacement on short notice for an injured Chris Weidman, Bisping took the long road to the championship, starting his career in the UK in 2004 and then clawing his way up the ranks for a decade in the UFC before claiming championship gold. The trend of his career was one where he would go on a winning streak and defeated solid competition, but for some reason he just couldn't defeat some of the more top tier fighters. For example, early in his UFC career, Bisping went on a four fight win streak before he lost a split decision against Rashad Evans. After that, he won three bouts in a row before the previously mentioned KO loss at UFC 100. Later, he strung together four more victories before he was defeated via decision in a contest with Chael Sonnen in 2012. The next few years yielded mixed results and he garnered a record of 25-7 prior to his fight with CB Dollaway last year.
He won a decision against Dollaway, the start of his current four fight win streak. The combination of a brown belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and a boxing background allowed Bisping to be well rounded without any obvious flaws in his game. He has always won enough to keep himself in the conversation, but as mentioned, just didn't have a signature win on his resume to justify a title shot. But just a few months prior to the Rockhold pay-per-view match, he defeated Anderson Silva via unanimous decision. Granted, the aging Silva is not the same competitor he was during the prime of his career a few year ago, but still dangerous and a win against him is still a notable accomplishment. Micheal Bisping was the underdog heading into the title fight, as the odds favored the champion since Rockhold had submitted him in their initial fight in 2014. As mentioned, Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the fourth round to claim the title.
The once brash Brit that enjoyed playing the role of the villain was now a humble champion.
At UFC 204, Dan Henderson will look to deliver a repeat performance and land his trademark right hand, adding UFC gold to his collection, which is the only major MMA belt he hasn't won. A former Olympic wrestler, Henderson has numerous accolades from his time in the amateur ranks. He made a name for himself fighting in Pride, where he held titles simultaneously in welterweight and middleweight divisions. He actually won a UFC middleweight tournament early in his career, but didn't start full time with the promotion until Zuffa bought Pride in 2007. During the next two years, he had a record of 3-2 in the UFC, including the UFC 100 win before he opted to seek a better deal with Strike Force. Henderson fought there four times and won the Strike Force light heavyweight belt, along with defeating the legendary Fedor Emelianenko before the company was also bought by the UFC in 2011.
Upon his return to the Zuffa banner, Henderson defeated Shogun Rua in one of the greatest fights of all time. But, following the epic war, he went on a three fight skid, leaving the legendary grappler's career in doubt. He defeated Rua via TKO in a rematch before a pair of losses again prompted some to call for his retirement. He defeated Tim Boetsch before a loss to Vitor Belfort brought his record to 31-14 prior to his fight with Hector Lombard at UFC 199, the same event where Michael Bisping won the middleweight championship. Lombard was favored to win the contest, but Henderson shocked the crowd in attendance when he knocked out his younger opponent with a vicious elbow and followed up with ground strikes before the referee called for the stoppage.
At 46, many have doubted Dan Henderson in the past, saying it was time for him to retire, but he managed to win to keep his career moving forward. Can he shock the world and win the only MMA belt that has alluded him?
In truth, the only aspect that justifies this rematch is that Henderson knocked out Bisping with a highlight reel moment seven years ago. Since that time, Bisping has sharpened his skills, training with a variety of styles while Henderson has gotten older. Don't get me wrong, all Henderson has to do is to land one punch, but there were certain times when his performances were hit or miss during the past few years. In an odd irony, Henderson has won enough in recent years to justify that his career continues similar to how Bisping once won enough to keep himself in the conversation as a contender. At this point, UFC 204 is an entirely different bout than their original UFC 100 contest. As mentioned, Bisping earned his way to the championship and in the process, earned the respect of many fans that previously looked forward to the seeing him get KO'ed. Henderson is unanimously respected by his peers and fans, but it's a fair question to wonder how much age will factor into the fight. While some might assume that another potential KO is the way for Henderson to win the belt, I would suggest that it will take an entirely different strategy for the multi-time champion to win a UFC title. It seems like Henderson will be at a speed disadvantage and if he only looks for the chance to land the right hand, it could allow Bisping to score the points necessary to win a decision. In fact, some of Henderson's previous decision losses were a result of when he looked just for the right hand and in the process made himself one dimensional despite his lengthy amateur background.
If Henderson is going to be victorious, he will have to use more than just the right hand and if nothing else, at least use his wrestling skills to set up the strikes. Again, age could play a factor because these two polished pros aren't going to take any unnecessary chances so it's very possible this fight goes five rounds, which will require proper cardio. If anyone could win a UFC championship at 46, it's Dan Henderson, but I have to say that I will pick Bisping to retain the title. That said, it would be great to see the legendary veteran conclude his career as a champion and he displayed many times during his nearly twenty year career that all it takes is one punch for him to win, which is why this is an intriguing fight.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
ROH Ladder War
Last weekend, Ring of Honor returned to pay-per-view for their All Star Extravaganza event in front of a packed house in Lowell, MA. Among the highlights of the stellar show were the PPV debuts of Shane Taylor and Keith Lee, a tag team that could evolve the role of heavyweights in the sport. There was also the tremendous Kamaitachi/Dragon Lee contest, the latest in a series of matches that has thrilled audiences literally around the globe with bouts in CMLL in Mexico and New Japan before it was imported to ROH.
Despite the shining moments of young stars that have a bright future in the business, it was a seasoned veteran that arguable stole the show with a display of incredible passion for the industry.
At the top of the card was a three team "Ladder War," a rarely booked stipulation, but one that lives up to the hype and has produced some memorable results, as competitors push the limit in the risky match. The tag team championships were only the line when The Addiction, The Motor City Machine Guns, and The Young Bucks showcased their skills in the main event.
Christopher Daniels, a 23 year veteran of the squared circle, wore a crimson mask for a majority of the match and took bumps that most competitors half his age wouldn't be willing to take, even on pay-per-view. At 46, Daniels can still go inside the ring ropes and quite frankly, in a match with five other wrestlers, he didn't have to take the bumps he did. A nasty backdrop onto a ladder and crashing into a guard rail from the apron were only a few of the moments that stunned the live crowd. Why didn't this seasoned pro use the vet card and allow his younger contemporaries to take the extra risks? Simple, because that's not his style and it would be a difficult task to find a match where he mailed it in. Christopher Daniels always gives it 100% because of his dedication to the sport, a dedication that probably hasn't been acknowledged as much as it should during his career.
After pursing a degree in theater for a potential acting career, Christopher Daniels trained to become a pro wrestler at Windy City Pro Wrestling in Chicago, where he began his career in 1993. The rest of the 90s were a flourishing period for Daniels, as many opportunities came his way, but in what became somewhat of a recurring theme in his career, he just didn't seem to be at the right place at the right time. In 1998, he debuted for the WWF, working a series of dark matches and secondary TV appearances during the next few years, but at the time, the company didn't feature many lightweight wrestlers and he ultimately didn't land a contract there. The following year, he had a brief stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling, appearing in half a dozen matches during the span of a few months, and also became a mainstay on the west coast for promotions such as All Pro Wrestling, the independent group that was featured in Beyond The Mat. It was also in 1999 that Daniels achieved notable success in Japan under a mask as the colorful Curry Man persona when he worked extensively for Michinoku Pro. In 2001, he worked a match on WCW Nitro and was offered a contract after the contest. WCW, a promotion that did focus on the cruiser weight style, was seemingly a place that Daniels would've worked well, but he was released shortly before the organization was sold.
Despite his work being praised by national and international promotions, Christopher Daniels was a victim of circumstance in some ways, as his national exposure in the United States was cut short when Ted Turner's wrestling group imploded. However, the character of "The Fallen Angel," a cult leader of sorts, continued to garner notoriety by wrestling for many different independent promotions across the United States. In 2002, Ring Of Honor was launched and Daniels is considered one of founding members of the company. ROH generated an underground following and Christopher Daniels is one of the main reasons the company got off the ground in the early 2000s. A combination of aerial grace and technical ability allowed "The Fallen Angel" to stamp his name in ROH history as one of the most important figures for the group that now broadcasts on syndicated TV as well as pay-per-view.
The same year ROH began, Total Nonstop Action was started after former WCW champion Jeff Jarrett launched a weekly pay-per-view series, and when the company was looking for athletes to innovate, The Fall Angel was added to the roster within the first few months of the launch. After nearly a decade in the industry, Daniels finally had a semi national platform between the diehard fan base of ROH and the increasing exposure of TNA. The history of what would become Impact Wrestling is complicated, but Daniels always delivered quality matches there, either as a part of Triple X in the early days or his lengthy feud with his real-life best friend, AJ Styles.
Speaking of Styles, the WWE champion had such a storied rivalry with Daniels that it could be argued that The Fallen Angel helped him evolve into the WWE star he is today. In some ways, Daniels almost played second fiddle to his younger, more charismatic opponent, even though they were equally as talented bell-to-bell. I always thought that TNA missed the boat on Christopher Daniels because he was rarely booked to defeat Styles during their numerous contests. After a certain point, an AJ/Fallen Angel match was guaranteed to be fantastic, but the result wasn't in doubt. Obviously, there are similarities between the two and as mentioned, it could be said that they are equally talented so I don't think there was any reason that Christopher Daniels didn't get a run as heavyweight champion during his time in TNA. I can't quite pinpoint it, but I will say that it seemed as though for some reason, Daniels just didn't connect with the crowd completely during his time at the Impact Zone. Maybe it was because he put such an emphasis on delivering solid performances that character development was secondary? That said, Daniels can undoubtedly identify with an audience, but it was actually using the Curry Man character so maybe the different dynamic allowed him to work more toward the crowd? It's somewhat ironic that at 46 years old, the "Almighty" spin that Daniels added to his character in recent years seems to work the best for him, as his mannerisms and promos are arguably the best of his career.
Regardless of any perceived lack of crowd interaction there might've been, it's absurd that Daniels was released from TNA in 2014. You won't find a sub par Christopher Daniels match and that's why he's always an asset to any promotion. His TNA career was really a mixed bag, sometimes they booked him correctly, sometimes they fumbled it, but it's unquestionable that he contributed substantially to the promotion. Shortly after his TNA exit, Daniels resurfaced in ROH, the promotion he helped build, and along with Kazarian, the duo have done well there.
Christopher Daniels didn't have the typical size of a pro wrestler when he started in 1993 and he didn't make a name for himself cutting promos, but he has over twenty years of a track record as one of the most consistent performers in the sport. He made a name for himself as one of the most graceful and skilled athletes of his era, accomplishments that he often didn't received the proper credit for at various time. If anything proves how talented Christopher Daniels is, it's that he's one of the few active competitors that has wrestled for every major promotion of the modern era. Each team deserves a lot of credit for the effort they displayed in the ladder match, but it also highlighted the reason that Christopher Daniels remains a credit to the wrestling business after such an extensive career.
Despite the shining moments of young stars that have a bright future in the business, it was a seasoned veteran that arguable stole the show with a display of incredible passion for the industry.
At the top of the card was a three team "Ladder War," a rarely booked stipulation, but one that lives up to the hype and has produced some memorable results, as competitors push the limit in the risky match. The tag team championships were only the line when The Addiction, The Motor City Machine Guns, and The Young Bucks showcased their skills in the main event.
Christopher Daniels, a 23 year veteran of the squared circle, wore a crimson mask for a majority of the match and took bumps that most competitors half his age wouldn't be willing to take, even on pay-per-view. At 46, Daniels can still go inside the ring ropes and quite frankly, in a match with five other wrestlers, he didn't have to take the bumps he did. A nasty backdrop onto a ladder and crashing into a guard rail from the apron were only a few of the moments that stunned the live crowd. Why didn't this seasoned pro use the vet card and allow his younger contemporaries to take the extra risks? Simple, because that's not his style and it would be a difficult task to find a match where he mailed it in. Christopher Daniels always gives it 100% because of his dedication to the sport, a dedication that probably hasn't been acknowledged as much as it should during his career.
After pursing a degree in theater for a potential acting career, Christopher Daniels trained to become a pro wrestler at Windy City Pro Wrestling in Chicago, where he began his career in 1993. The rest of the 90s were a flourishing period for Daniels, as many opportunities came his way, but in what became somewhat of a recurring theme in his career, he just didn't seem to be at the right place at the right time. In 1998, he debuted for the WWF, working a series of dark matches and secondary TV appearances during the next few years, but at the time, the company didn't feature many lightweight wrestlers and he ultimately didn't land a contract there. The following year, he had a brief stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling, appearing in half a dozen matches during the span of a few months, and also became a mainstay on the west coast for promotions such as All Pro Wrestling, the independent group that was featured in Beyond The Mat. It was also in 1999 that Daniels achieved notable success in Japan under a mask as the colorful Curry Man persona when he worked extensively for Michinoku Pro. In 2001, he worked a match on WCW Nitro and was offered a contract after the contest. WCW, a promotion that did focus on the cruiser weight style, was seemingly a place that Daniels would've worked well, but he was released shortly before the organization was sold.
Despite his work being praised by national and international promotions, Christopher Daniels was a victim of circumstance in some ways, as his national exposure in the United States was cut short when Ted Turner's wrestling group imploded. However, the character of "The Fallen Angel," a cult leader of sorts, continued to garner notoriety by wrestling for many different independent promotions across the United States. In 2002, Ring Of Honor was launched and Daniels is considered one of founding members of the company. ROH generated an underground following and Christopher Daniels is one of the main reasons the company got off the ground in the early 2000s. A combination of aerial grace and technical ability allowed "The Fallen Angel" to stamp his name in ROH history as one of the most important figures for the group that now broadcasts on syndicated TV as well as pay-per-view.
The same year ROH began, Total Nonstop Action was started after former WCW champion Jeff Jarrett launched a weekly pay-per-view series, and when the company was looking for athletes to innovate, The Fall Angel was added to the roster within the first few months of the launch. After nearly a decade in the industry, Daniels finally had a semi national platform between the diehard fan base of ROH and the increasing exposure of TNA. The history of what would become Impact Wrestling is complicated, but Daniels always delivered quality matches there, either as a part of Triple X in the early days or his lengthy feud with his real-life best friend, AJ Styles.
Speaking of Styles, the WWE champion had such a storied rivalry with Daniels that it could be argued that The Fallen Angel helped him evolve into the WWE star he is today. In some ways, Daniels almost played second fiddle to his younger, more charismatic opponent, even though they were equally as talented bell-to-bell. I always thought that TNA missed the boat on Christopher Daniels because he was rarely booked to defeat Styles during their numerous contests. After a certain point, an AJ/Fallen Angel match was guaranteed to be fantastic, but the result wasn't in doubt. Obviously, there are similarities between the two and as mentioned, it could be said that they are equally talented so I don't think there was any reason that Christopher Daniels didn't get a run as heavyweight champion during his time in TNA. I can't quite pinpoint it, but I will say that it seemed as though for some reason, Daniels just didn't connect with the crowd completely during his time at the Impact Zone. Maybe it was because he put such an emphasis on delivering solid performances that character development was secondary? That said, Daniels can undoubtedly identify with an audience, but it was actually using the Curry Man character so maybe the different dynamic allowed him to work more toward the crowd? It's somewhat ironic that at 46 years old, the "Almighty" spin that Daniels added to his character in recent years seems to work the best for him, as his mannerisms and promos are arguably the best of his career.
Regardless of any perceived lack of crowd interaction there might've been, it's absurd that Daniels was released from TNA in 2014. You won't find a sub par Christopher Daniels match and that's why he's always an asset to any promotion. His TNA career was really a mixed bag, sometimes they booked him correctly, sometimes they fumbled it, but it's unquestionable that he contributed substantially to the promotion. Shortly after his TNA exit, Daniels resurfaced in ROH, the promotion he helped build, and along with Kazarian, the duo have done well there.
Christopher Daniels didn't have the typical size of a pro wrestler when he started in 1993 and he didn't make a name for himself cutting promos, but he has over twenty years of a track record as one of the most consistent performers in the sport. He made a name for himself as one of the most graceful and skilled athletes of his era, accomplishments that he often didn't received the proper credit for at various time. If anything proves how talented Christopher Daniels is, it's that he's one of the few active competitors that has wrestled for every major promotion of the modern era. Each team deserves a lot of credit for the effort they displayed in the ladder match, but it also highlighted the reason that Christopher Daniels remains a credit to the wrestling business after such an extensive career.
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