In just over a week, Wrestlemania will take place in Orlando, Florida and AJ Styles, almost undoubtedly the best in-ring performer on the roster, is booked for a match with Shane McMahon. This match-up was thrown together rather quickly in the past few weeks and was the subject of much criticism among fans, as the general thought is that AJ deserves a more polished competitor to work with at the biggest show of the year.
When AJ Styles started wrestling in his hometown in 1998, he quickly made a name for himself for his pure athleticism and less than two years later, he signed a WCW contract just months before the promotion folded. He maintained his profile on the independent scene through his work in NWA Wild Side and the short-lived World Wrestling All-Stars promotion, prompting an offer from NWA-TNA when the company launched in 2002.
For the next 11 years, AJ Styles was the franchise of TNA and the athlete that most defined the organization. While the group has never truly made it main stream, the cable and pay-per-view outlets gave him a platform to showcase his unbelievable athletic skills. Styles is considered by many to be the wrestler of the decade of the 2000s, as he did things in the ring that most hadn't seen before. He also brought an intensity and crispness to his work that consistently put him among the best wrestlers in the world at any given time.
After Hulk Hogan gutted TNA's budget when he worked Dixie Carter for major money, the company asked many of those that built the group to take a pay cut for their next contract. Styles, who carried the company on his back, was among those that opted to work elsewhere. It didn't take long for AJ to find another full-time schedule, which consisted of working for New Japan, Ring of Honor, and even a few independent appearances. Japan was a very successful venture for the native of Gainsville, GA that saw him win the IWGP Heavyweight championship, making him one of the few foreigners in the company's 40-year history to win the belt. During his two year run in NJPW, AJ was the leader of the Bullet Club, the most popular stable in the world at the time.
From his early days in TNA, fans always wondered, "what would happen if AJ Styles goes to WWE?" More than anything, it was just hypothetical because the thought was that AJ either wouldn't be offered a deal as a result of his high-risk move set or his talents would be squandered by the WWE machine. Unquestionably, the talent was always there, but timing can really be everything. If AJ showed up in 2008, he would've been lost in the shuffle of WWE. When AJ finally debuted in 2016, the circumstances were right for his introduction to the company and it allowed him to be properly featured. At a time when WWE is expanding, there's a demand for quality talent in a variety of styles. Is Enzo as solid in the ring as AJ? No, but Enzo is extremely entertaining in his own way, which is why he's successful. With the exit of CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and others in recent years, there was an opportunity for premiere talent to excel, and it provided a platform for AJ Styles. AJ is one of the wrestlers that can have a good match with almost anyone, similar to those mentioned above, and that ability is an extremely valuable asset.
After he appeared in the Royal Rumble, AJ worked a feud with Chris Jericho, an angle that garnered some complains since Styles was the new star in the company and Jericho didn't need the win, but it's very possible that management put Styles in a program with Y2J to see if he could adapt to the WWE playbook. Since that time, Styles won the WWE title and had some of the best matches in the company, including tremendous matches with John Cena. In many ways, AJ took the "HBK role" so to speak because he became one of the most over performers on the roster simply with his ability to have consistently great matches. Plus, Styles had considerably better promos in the past year than at any other point in his career so even at 39, the argument could be made that Styles is a better overall competitor now than he was in TNA.
After such a stellar 2016, you would think that AJ would be a major factor in WM, but for whatever reason, WWE brass decided to book Bray/Orton for the top spot on Smackdown, which is fine if it ultimately elevates Wyatt to the next level. But, it seems like all the momentum Styles had was halted when he didn't have an opponent just weeks before the show. Shane McMahon, the member of the family that quietly left the organization in 2009 after it became apparent that Stephanie and Triple H would eventually take over, returned to an enthusiastic response last year. There's no doubt that Shane provided a spark to the product and he deserves major credit for all the risks he took in his previous tenure. When WM 32 lacked hype, he was paired with The Undertaker for a cell match, generating a buzz simply because fans expected Shane to dive off the cage. Ultimately, the angle surrounding the contest was pointless as Shane became an authority figure anyway so nothing was on the line for the bout.
As I said, Shane earned his stripes, and went above expectations when he started on TV almost two decades ago to prove that he brought more to the table than just his last name. However, the 47-year-old isn't necessarily the same character that he was when he plunged from the video screen in 2000. Shane has gray hair and a family, is 2017 really a time when he should participate in stunts to camouflaged his novice in-ring skills? Aside from that, it's unfair to expect him to give the same performance now that he did almost twenty years ago.
So, why did the writing team decide to book AJ vs. Shane at Wrestlemania?
Basically, it's an ego playing a role in the decision making process. That's not to say that Shane has some malicious intent behind it either. Clearly, he takes the risks he does because he wants to give the fans a great show. But, considering that Styles was the most praised in-ring athlete on the roster in 2016, I would guess that it was as simple as Shane wanted to have a match with Styles so it was booked. This isn't intended to sound disrespectful to Shane, but considering his age and experience level, it's doubtful that WM 33 will be some type of repeat of the match he had with Kurt Angle at the King of the Ring. The bottom line is, AJ Styles deserves a solid in-ring opponent at the biggest show of the year. At 39, how many WM matches will Styles get the chance to have? He worked a risky style for years, and it seems like his appearances at the showcase event should be maximized, especially because he has the skills to deliver classic matches.
But, why is ego allowed to dictate business?
As repetitive as this sounds, it's another example of the ripple effect of the lack of competition in the industry. WWE is so far ahead of its "competition" that management could book their own choices without nearly as many consequences as if there was an alternative. If the fans want to watch wrestling, they will watch WWE. Are there technically other options? Sure, but management assembled some of the best talent in the world on the roster and then get to decide what role they have on a particular show. Fans can watch WM 33 for $10 on the network, what other wrestling pay-per-view is the general public going to order this month? Realistically, WWE doesn't have to "compete" for buyrates so there's not an outside factor that pushes the product to the next level. The decision to book AJ vs. Shane McMahon is an example of why competition is the key for any business.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Should Goldberg be the universal champion?
In two weeks, Wrestlemania 33, the biggest show on the WWE calendar, will take place in Orlando, Florida. Ahead of the showcase event, there's much debate about if the card assembled is the best possible option or if it will cause fumbled opportunities. Just to keep things simple, we will discuss the top matches on the card that remain a debate among fans, as a full review of the show is better suited for after the event.
Many fans criticized the short match at Fast lane that saw Bill Goldberg defeat Kevin Owens in less than a minute to win the Universal championship. Anyone that complains about this particular match or title switch obviously doesn't see the bigger picture. When Goldberg returned for presumably a one-off appearance to promote the 2K17 video game, nobody expected he would get THAT type of crowd reaction. The former WCW champion's original run in the WWE was lackluster for a variety of reasons, and the fans were happy to see him back in the spotlight as it provided the opportunity for a much better conclusion to his career than the WM 20 bout that is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Clearly, there was still money to be made with Bill Goldberg, and the decisions that led to a lack of legitimate star power from the current roster that make him one of the better options for a prominent spot on the WM card is different discussion for a different time. The bottom line is, Goldberg is over with the audience and WWE brass would be foolish not to use that to draw money. Is it a nostalgia run? Absolutely, and if it means box office then there's nothing wrong with that. Again, at that level, it's about what sells, both tickets and network subscriptions, not necessarily a five star match.
Speaking of matches, despite the criticism, management booked this angle very wisely, keeping the payoff until the biggest possible spotlight. It's well known that Goldberg had a simple, basic formula to his matches in his prime. That was ultimately one of the reasons that his latter run in WCW was less than stellar, because the fans already saw his act countless times during the previous two years. Add that WCW at the time wasn't exactly an atmosphere that provided the opportunity for him to evolve and it's easy to see why he remained a one dimensional performer. So, there's essentially one type of Goldberg match and it will be presented at the biggest event of the year, maximizing its ability to draw money, which is extremely smart business move.
There's no question that the writing team used every smoke and mirrors trick in the book to get to this point, which is another smart move. If Survivor Series was booked to go 10-15 minutes and the bout was terrible then any other potential money from the Goldberg return is down the drain. If Goldberg was exposed as less than quality in the ring, the aura around him and the build up to his appearance exponentially diminishes. Instead of a one-off, this angle will go almost six months and draw more money than anyone thought possible so at the very least, the build up was well done. Is it possible that Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg at WM doesn't live up to the hype? Sure, but considering the situation, I think that it will be a solid, physical match with its share of dramatic moments that entertain the crowd. Remember, WM 33 is a stadium event and the anticipation of Goldberg/Lesnar for the title will sell tickets. Some have complained about the 50-year-old winning the title, but he's still in tremendous shape for his age and looks like a destroyer so on the surface it seems logical. Some might ask, why add the title to the Brock/Goldberg match? Again, it involves maximizing the angle and adding the belt to the equation makes the bout as big as possible. Lesnar was the most pushed athlete on the roster the past few years and the history with Goldberg was the basis of the feud. Considering how push Brock was, and how over Goldberg is with the audience, it makes sense to surround the match with the biggest stakes possible to get the most return on the investment.
For those that claim that Kevin Owens was "buried" when Goldberg defeated him, it's an extremely misguided view. It's not as though Goldberg systematically destroyed KO and pinned him while the former champion had no offense. Chris Jericho, who is scheduled for a contest with Owens at WM, showed up to "distract" him and thus, Goldberg was able to get the surprise win. Owens maintains his momentum because he can claim it was a fluke and the "real" reason he lost the title was because of Jericho's entrance. In reality, the finish at Fast lane had a dual purpose, it gets the title on Goldberg for WM 33, and it sets up the Jericho/Owens match.
The Owens\Jericho angle was one of the most entertaining acts on WWE TV in recent memory, and it was beneficial for both competitors. KO, a talented but unproven main eventer before he won the title, became a much bigger star through his association with Jericho, and that is a prime example of an established star that helped elevate the younger talent. Jericho also had the chance to completely rejuvenated himself for his latest WWE run, and its truly remarkable that the 26-year pro continues to adapt to the current product whenever he returns to remain relevant. Furthermore, it speaks volumes to Jericho's talent that after more than 25 years in the industry, he remains one of the best in-ring performers in the sport. More than anything, this most recent run proves that Chris Jericho is an all-time great in the business.
As far as the feud itself, the dynamic of the heel Owens was the best possible route, because as versatile as Jericho is, it makes the most sense to cast KO as the villain. At this point in his career, YJ2 will get the respect pop for everything he accomplished, and because of that, KO will get more heat, despite getting cheered in the past. Make no mistake, KO is a unique athlete and he has the star quality so ultimately, this path will make him a bigger star than he was just six months ago.
The bottom line is, Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar for the title and the way that the former WCW champion was protected since his return is a smart business move for Wrestlemania. If part-timers as main eventers is generally the right move for the future of promotion is a different matter. The point is, WWE invested a lot into Brock and this scenario puts the company in position to make the most return on their investment. The jaded fans within the wrestling bubble don't seem to realize that for a publicly traded company, WM is also a business event to show off numbers and thus boosting the stock price. It might or might not be a good thing for the product, but the goals of a publicly traded corporation are much more complex than just a sports entertainment company.
Many fans criticized the short match at Fast lane that saw Bill Goldberg defeat Kevin Owens in less than a minute to win the Universal championship. Anyone that complains about this particular match or title switch obviously doesn't see the bigger picture. When Goldberg returned for presumably a one-off appearance to promote the 2K17 video game, nobody expected he would get THAT type of crowd reaction. The former WCW champion's original run in the WWE was lackluster for a variety of reasons, and the fans were happy to see him back in the spotlight as it provided the opportunity for a much better conclusion to his career than the WM 20 bout that is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Clearly, there was still money to be made with Bill Goldberg, and the decisions that led to a lack of legitimate star power from the current roster that make him one of the better options for a prominent spot on the WM card is different discussion for a different time. The bottom line is, Goldberg is over with the audience and WWE brass would be foolish not to use that to draw money. Is it a nostalgia run? Absolutely, and if it means box office then there's nothing wrong with that. Again, at that level, it's about what sells, both tickets and network subscriptions, not necessarily a five star match.
Speaking of matches, despite the criticism, management booked this angle very wisely, keeping the payoff until the biggest possible spotlight. It's well known that Goldberg had a simple, basic formula to his matches in his prime. That was ultimately one of the reasons that his latter run in WCW was less than stellar, because the fans already saw his act countless times during the previous two years. Add that WCW at the time wasn't exactly an atmosphere that provided the opportunity for him to evolve and it's easy to see why he remained a one dimensional performer. So, there's essentially one type of Goldberg match and it will be presented at the biggest event of the year, maximizing its ability to draw money, which is extremely smart business move.
There's no question that the writing team used every smoke and mirrors trick in the book to get to this point, which is another smart move. If Survivor Series was booked to go 10-15 minutes and the bout was terrible then any other potential money from the Goldberg return is down the drain. If Goldberg was exposed as less than quality in the ring, the aura around him and the build up to his appearance exponentially diminishes. Instead of a one-off, this angle will go almost six months and draw more money than anyone thought possible so at the very least, the build up was well done. Is it possible that Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg at WM doesn't live up to the hype? Sure, but considering the situation, I think that it will be a solid, physical match with its share of dramatic moments that entertain the crowd. Remember, WM 33 is a stadium event and the anticipation of Goldberg/Lesnar for the title will sell tickets. Some have complained about the 50-year-old winning the title, but he's still in tremendous shape for his age and looks like a destroyer so on the surface it seems logical. Some might ask, why add the title to the Brock/Goldberg match? Again, it involves maximizing the angle and adding the belt to the equation makes the bout as big as possible. Lesnar was the most pushed athlete on the roster the past few years and the history with Goldberg was the basis of the feud. Considering how push Brock was, and how over Goldberg is with the audience, it makes sense to surround the match with the biggest stakes possible to get the most return on the investment.
For those that claim that Kevin Owens was "buried" when Goldberg defeated him, it's an extremely misguided view. It's not as though Goldberg systematically destroyed KO and pinned him while the former champion had no offense. Chris Jericho, who is scheduled for a contest with Owens at WM, showed up to "distract" him and thus, Goldberg was able to get the surprise win. Owens maintains his momentum because he can claim it was a fluke and the "real" reason he lost the title was because of Jericho's entrance. In reality, the finish at Fast lane had a dual purpose, it gets the title on Goldberg for WM 33, and it sets up the Jericho/Owens match.
The Owens\Jericho angle was one of the most entertaining acts on WWE TV in recent memory, and it was beneficial for both competitors. KO, a talented but unproven main eventer before he won the title, became a much bigger star through his association with Jericho, and that is a prime example of an established star that helped elevate the younger talent. Jericho also had the chance to completely rejuvenated himself for his latest WWE run, and its truly remarkable that the 26-year pro continues to adapt to the current product whenever he returns to remain relevant. Furthermore, it speaks volumes to Jericho's talent that after more than 25 years in the industry, he remains one of the best in-ring performers in the sport. More than anything, this most recent run proves that Chris Jericho is an all-time great in the business.
As far as the feud itself, the dynamic of the heel Owens was the best possible route, because as versatile as Jericho is, it makes the most sense to cast KO as the villain. At this point in his career, YJ2 will get the respect pop for everything he accomplished, and because of that, KO will get more heat, despite getting cheered in the past. Make no mistake, KO is a unique athlete and he has the star quality so ultimately, this path will make him a bigger star than he was just six months ago.
The bottom line is, Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar for the title and the way that the former WCW champion was protected since his return is a smart business move for Wrestlemania. If part-timers as main eventers is generally the right move for the future of promotion is a different matter. The point is, WWE invested a lot into Brock and this scenario puts the company in position to make the most return on their investment. The jaded fans within the wrestling bubble don't seem to realize that for a publicly traded company, WM is also a business event to show off numbers and thus boosting the stock price. It might or might not be a good thing for the product, but the goals of a publicly traded corporation are much more complex than just a sports entertainment company.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
The Hardys vs. TNA
Before I pen this next column, I must say that I didn't intend to write about the subject of Impact Wrestling again until the next few weeks of their TV played out, allowing for a more accurate analysis of the direction of the product after the recent mass exodus of talent.
As I mentioned in an article last week, The Hardys, a pair that were probably the most popular act in the promotion, left the organization, a move that surprised me because I still think the situation would've benefited everyone involved had the duo resigned. Matt and Jeff would have a more flexible schedule and creative freedom than they would get under WWE contract. As I've said before, the "deletion" stuff is too outlandish for my view of pro wrestling, but that doesn't mean the success of the gimmick shouldn't be recognized. Matt Hardy undoubtedly completely reinvented himself and generated a cult following that extended far beyond TNA's sluggish ratings. Reportedly, negotiations halted because of how TNA approached the deal, and the company wanted a percentage of The Hardys' independent earnings. As I said last week, does TNA really need a piece of Matt's indy money to survive? Furthermore, what does it say about Anthem, a multi-million dollar corporation when they are trying to take money earned from outside projects from an independent contractor?
Ed Nordholm, the president of Impact, doesn't seem to realize that Anthem didn't have the leverage when they negotiated with the Hardys. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy prior to the Fight Network purchase, and "Broken" Matt was one of the only positive aspects of the TNA at the time. More importantly, with a rejuvenated characters, The Hardys have several options on the table, including Ring Of Honor, where they are the current tag team champions. So, why exactly did Nordholm expect Matt to fold to Anthem's demands?
The aspect of this situation that made it newsworthy is that Anthem threatened to sue the Hardys, claiming the corporation owns the rights to the "broken" gimmick that the team used while working there. This is where things get extremely murky, both from a legal and PR stand point. First, it should be noted that Matt and Brother Nero created the most recent version of their wrestling personas themselves, something that was acknowledged prior to their departure. Also, even if Anthem executives claim they have the rights to the "deletion" characters because those variations appeared on their TV show, Matt Hardy used the "broken" gimmick several months before Anthem bought the promotion so there's precedence of the persona being used before their purchase, which might indirectly give the Hardys the legal rights to use the characters outside of TNA, similar to how Christian was allowed to use the name "Christian Cage" during his TNA run because he performed using that name prior to his original run in WWE. Again, it's a very murky situation so who knows what resolution will be determined?
As a company that is trying to rebrand itself, Anthem made the wrong PR move here, because their sells pitch on TV is that the company should be about providing entertainment for the fans. Anthem went as far as to send a cease and desist order to pay-per-view providers that carried the ROH PPV last weekend, threatening to sue if the show featured "Broken" Matt on the broadcast. Essentially, Nordholm is putting the ROH pay-per-view deal in jeopardy, and what does Anthem gain from it? It doesn't send a positive message when Impact Wrestling tried to disrupt a smaller promotion's event. As I said previously, the WWE dominates the market in the United States and it makes sense for other promotions to have somewhat of a working agreement rather than divide a smaller piece of the pie. Ring Of Honor has a lot of great talent that many fans enjoy watching, so what benefit is there for Anthem to try to sabotage that?
In truth, this all appears to be sour grapes from Nordholm and it seems very petty. The Hardys didn't want Anthem to take a percentage of their indy money and opted to leave the promotion so management is attempting to hassle them when they work elsewhere. Keep in mind, the fans primarily support the talent, not necessarily management. Fans don't tune into Impact and say, "I hope management does a great job!" The point being, who are the fans going to support in the Hardys/Anthem dispute? Obviously, the fans are going to support the wrestlers before they side with the suits.
The bottom line is, despite the new ownership, this is basically the same pattern Impact had for years prior to the Anthem purchase. There's a talented roster that the fans want to see be successful, but management makes decisions that will make you shake your head. Again, why try to cause problems for ROH? It's not as though the threat of a lawsuit will prompt the Hardys to resign a TNA deal. Aside from negative PR, what does Anthem get from this situation?
The legal side of this will probably get extremely convoluted, but as a guess, I will say that I think the Hardys will eventually be able to continue the "broken" gimmick in some form or fashion. As for Anthem, it does nothing but bring more negativity for the company, and they don't gain much even if they "win" a legal battle. If anything, shouldn't Impact Wrestling management focus all their efforts toward the reset of a completely tarnished company? Considering the lack of brand identity and lack of substantial revenue streams, doesn't Anthem have more important business than to try to sue the Hardys?
As I mentioned in an article last week, The Hardys, a pair that were probably the most popular act in the promotion, left the organization, a move that surprised me because I still think the situation would've benefited everyone involved had the duo resigned. Matt and Jeff would have a more flexible schedule and creative freedom than they would get under WWE contract. As I've said before, the "deletion" stuff is too outlandish for my view of pro wrestling, but that doesn't mean the success of the gimmick shouldn't be recognized. Matt Hardy undoubtedly completely reinvented himself and generated a cult following that extended far beyond TNA's sluggish ratings. Reportedly, negotiations halted because of how TNA approached the deal, and the company wanted a percentage of The Hardys' independent earnings. As I said last week, does TNA really need a piece of Matt's indy money to survive? Furthermore, what does it say about Anthem, a multi-million dollar corporation when they are trying to take money earned from outside projects from an independent contractor?
Ed Nordholm, the president of Impact, doesn't seem to realize that Anthem didn't have the leverage when they negotiated with the Hardys. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy prior to the Fight Network purchase, and "Broken" Matt was one of the only positive aspects of the TNA at the time. More importantly, with a rejuvenated characters, The Hardys have several options on the table, including Ring Of Honor, where they are the current tag team champions. So, why exactly did Nordholm expect Matt to fold to Anthem's demands?
The aspect of this situation that made it newsworthy is that Anthem threatened to sue the Hardys, claiming the corporation owns the rights to the "broken" gimmick that the team used while working there. This is where things get extremely murky, both from a legal and PR stand point. First, it should be noted that Matt and Brother Nero created the most recent version of their wrestling personas themselves, something that was acknowledged prior to their departure. Also, even if Anthem executives claim they have the rights to the "deletion" characters because those variations appeared on their TV show, Matt Hardy used the "broken" gimmick several months before Anthem bought the promotion so there's precedence of the persona being used before their purchase, which might indirectly give the Hardys the legal rights to use the characters outside of TNA, similar to how Christian was allowed to use the name "Christian Cage" during his TNA run because he performed using that name prior to his original run in WWE. Again, it's a very murky situation so who knows what resolution will be determined?
As a company that is trying to rebrand itself, Anthem made the wrong PR move here, because their sells pitch on TV is that the company should be about providing entertainment for the fans. Anthem went as far as to send a cease and desist order to pay-per-view providers that carried the ROH PPV last weekend, threatening to sue if the show featured "Broken" Matt on the broadcast. Essentially, Nordholm is putting the ROH pay-per-view deal in jeopardy, and what does Anthem gain from it? It doesn't send a positive message when Impact Wrestling tried to disrupt a smaller promotion's event. As I said previously, the WWE dominates the market in the United States and it makes sense for other promotions to have somewhat of a working agreement rather than divide a smaller piece of the pie. Ring Of Honor has a lot of great talent that many fans enjoy watching, so what benefit is there for Anthem to try to sabotage that?
In truth, this all appears to be sour grapes from Nordholm and it seems very petty. The Hardys didn't want Anthem to take a percentage of their indy money and opted to leave the promotion so management is attempting to hassle them when they work elsewhere. Keep in mind, the fans primarily support the talent, not necessarily management. Fans don't tune into Impact and say, "I hope management does a great job!" The point being, who are the fans going to support in the Hardys/Anthem dispute? Obviously, the fans are going to support the wrestlers before they side with the suits.
The bottom line is, despite the new ownership, this is basically the same pattern Impact had for years prior to the Anthem purchase. There's a talented roster that the fans want to see be successful, but management makes decisions that will make you shake your head. Again, why try to cause problems for ROH? It's not as though the threat of a lawsuit will prompt the Hardys to resign a TNA deal. Aside from negative PR, what does Anthem get from this situation?
The legal side of this will probably get extremely convoluted, but as a guess, I will say that I think the Hardys will eventually be able to continue the "broken" gimmick in some form or fashion. As for Anthem, it does nothing but bring more negativity for the company, and they don't gain much even if they "win" a legal battle. If anything, shouldn't Impact Wrestling management focus all their efforts toward the reset of a completely tarnished company? Considering the lack of brand identity and lack of substantial revenue streams, doesn't Anthem have more important business than to try to sue the Hardys?
Sunday, March 12, 2017
The VHS Memoirs Volume 2
The blue collar region of western Pennsylvania is as synonymous with sports as it is with the steel it historically produced over 50 years ago. Along with the Steelers and the Penguins, Pittsburgh is also known for its wrestling. From the time that "Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling" aired in the 1960s, the steel city had, and still has a strong fan base.
Among the names of Dominic DeNucci, Shane Douglas, and Kurt Angle, there is one name that has the most storied history in the iron city, Bruno Sammartino. After surviving a Nazi invasion of his village and illness while hiding in the mountains during World War II, Bruno immigrated to Pittsburgh with his family in 1950. Less than a decade later, he debuted in the sport of professional wrestling and the Italian strongman went on to become one of the most popular stars in the history of the industry, reigning as champion a combined 11 years. Almost 70 years after Bruno arrived in Pittsburgh, he remains one of the city's most respected and recognized figures.
Quite simply, Bruno is an icon in his hometown, very similar to how he still maintains mythical status among many fans today. The tales of Sammartino's grappling battles are told from generation to generation, and even those that aren't old enough to have watched him compete live are aware of his status. Obviously, these achievements were rightfully highlighted when the native of Abruzzo, Italy was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a few years ago.
However, this edition of the VHS memoirs will go back to a time when Sammartino was still at odds with some of the more vulgar aspects of the business and his praises weren't often mentioned on WWF TV.
My dad, Papa LaMotta grew up in the blue collar town of Braddock, PA where his parents worked very hard to provide a humble upbringing for him. The legendary late Grand pap LaMotta was a WW II veteran and worked at Edgar Thomas Steel Miller for over thirty years as a crane operator. She passed before I was born, but by all accounts, Grandma LaMotta was a saint that treated everyone from every background with acceptance. She was full blooded Italian and her recipes are still staples of my dad's impressive cooking ability today. These details are very common to many from Western PA and it's one of the reasons that Bruno connected with the audiences of the north east, they could relate to his story. Respect, honor, and toughness defined so much of that generation.
My dad is old enough to have seen Sammartino wrestle live, and I was told a rather comical story about a particular occasion at an event at the Civic Arena. In the mid-70s, Bruno worked the circuit with "Superstar" Billy Graham, a revolutionary performer that was one of the first villains to garner crowd support for his Ali-type interview style. A teenager at the time, my dad was a longtime Bruno fan, but also enjoyed the cool persona of the Superstar. He had second row seats for this clash of WWWF titans and anticipated the entrance of the popular heel. Superstar Graham strutted to the ring and then posed on the turnbuckle, flexing his massive biceps before he torn his tye dye t-shirt. Papa LaMotta enthusiastically cheered until he noticed cups and ice landing near him. A few rows away from him, two elderly Italian ladies took exception to the cheers for the beloved Bruno's foe. So, they attempted to throw their empty cups at my dad while swearing at him in their native language for cheering the "bad guy." After dodging the refreshments, he watched the two legends battle to a count out.
Fast forward to 1997, I was 8 years old and had heard the stories that Bruno was the greatest champion of all time, and at that age, who was I to argue? Champion for over 10 years was enough of a reason for me to believe it. Just as the wrestling boom of the 90s was starting, the "Fox Fest," an event run by the local Fox 53 station, featured more wrestling content than usual that particular year. The event took place at Monroeville Mall, which is actual the location where "Dawn of the Dead" was filmed. Among those in attendance, representing WCW, was Brain Knobbs. It's another story for another time, but I asked the Nasty Boy why he wasn't wrestling in the WWF anymore. Also there, was "the living legend" himself, Bruno, making a familiar appearance around the area. It truly speaks volumes to how many generations admire Sammartino when you consider that no matter how many events he appeared at since stepping away from the national spotlight, there was always a substantial amount of fans eager to meet him.
After hearing the accolades of this wrestling hero for the majority of my life, little Jim walked up to the living legend and shook his hand. In truth, I remember being extremely shy at the time because THIS WAS BRUNO, and at 8 years old, seeing the athlete from the classic Coliseum Home Video VHS tape really was larger than life. I told him that my dad had told me that he was always the champion and Sammartino laughed at how enthusiastic I was to explain this. He happily took a picture with me and signed the Polaroid, a photo I recently shared on Twitter. Since that meeting in 1997, I met Bruno on two other occasions, in 2005 at an independent event and then in 2011 at a Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling signing. Thankfully, when I was older, I was much more composed than the original meeting, but I still find it comical how shy I was in 1997. But, I can say that each time I met Bruno he was always polite and happy to greet fans.
As mentioned, stories like this are common in Pittsburgh, and today, Bruno is recognized as the global icon that he is through the WWE Hall of Fame. Even at 81, Sammartino maintains a workout routine and he's in truly unbelievable shape for his age. Meeting the living legend, if it was when I was in elementary school or in college, was always an honor. There's no doubt that Bruno Sammartino is as much of a champion as a person as he was as wrestler during his career.
Among the names of Dominic DeNucci, Shane Douglas, and Kurt Angle, there is one name that has the most storied history in the iron city, Bruno Sammartino. After surviving a Nazi invasion of his village and illness while hiding in the mountains during World War II, Bruno immigrated to Pittsburgh with his family in 1950. Less than a decade later, he debuted in the sport of professional wrestling and the Italian strongman went on to become one of the most popular stars in the history of the industry, reigning as champion a combined 11 years. Almost 70 years after Bruno arrived in Pittsburgh, he remains one of the city's most respected and recognized figures.
Quite simply, Bruno is an icon in his hometown, very similar to how he still maintains mythical status among many fans today. The tales of Sammartino's grappling battles are told from generation to generation, and even those that aren't old enough to have watched him compete live are aware of his status. Obviously, these achievements were rightfully highlighted when the native of Abruzzo, Italy was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a few years ago.
However, this edition of the VHS memoirs will go back to a time when Sammartino was still at odds with some of the more vulgar aspects of the business and his praises weren't often mentioned on WWF TV.
My dad, Papa LaMotta grew up in the blue collar town of Braddock, PA where his parents worked very hard to provide a humble upbringing for him. The legendary late Grand pap LaMotta was a WW II veteran and worked at Edgar Thomas Steel Miller for over thirty years as a crane operator. She passed before I was born, but by all accounts, Grandma LaMotta was a saint that treated everyone from every background with acceptance. She was full blooded Italian and her recipes are still staples of my dad's impressive cooking ability today. These details are very common to many from Western PA and it's one of the reasons that Bruno connected with the audiences of the north east, they could relate to his story. Respect, honor, and toughness defined so much of that generation.
My dad is old enough to have seen Sammartino wrestle live, and I was told a rather comical story about a particular occasion at an event at the Civic Arena. In the mid-70s, Bruno worked the circuit with "Superstar" Billy Graham, a revolutionary performer that was one of the first villains to garner crowd support for his Ali-type interview style. A teenager at the time, my dad was a longtime Bruno fan, but also enjoyed the cool persona of the Superstar. He had second row seats for this clash of WWWF titans and anticipated the entrance of the popular heel. Superstar Graham strutted to the ring and then posed on the turnbuckle, flexing his massive biceps before he torn his tye dye t-shirt. Papa LaMotta enthusiastically cheered until he noticed cups and ice landing near him. A few rows away from him, two elderly Italian ladies took exception to the cheers for the beloved Bruno's foe. So, they attempted to throw their empty cups at my dad while swearing at him in their native language for cheering the "bad guy." After dodging the refreshments, he watched the two legends battle to a count out.
Fast forward to 1997, I was 8 years old and had heard the stories that Bruno was the greatest champion of all time, and at that age, who was I to argue? Champion for over 10 years was enough of a reason for me to believe it. Just as the wrestling boom of the 90s was starting, the "Fox Fest," an event run by the local Fox 53 station, featured more wrestling content than usual that particular year. The event took place at Monroeville Mall, which is actual the location where "Dawn of the Dead" was filmed. Among those in attendance, representing WCW, was Brain Knobbs. It's another story for another time, but I asked the Nasty Boy why he wasn't wrestling in the WWF anymore. Also there, was "the living legend" himself, Bruno, making a familiar appearance around the area. It truly speaks volumes to how many generations admire Sammartino when you consider that no matter how many events he appeared at since stepping away from the national spotlight, there was always a substantial amount of fans eager to meet him.
After hearing the accolades of this wrestling hero for the majority of my life, little Jim walked up to the living legend and shook his hand. In truth, I remember being extremely shy at the time because THIS WAS BRUNO, and at 8 years old, seeing the athlete from the classic Coliseum Home Video VHS tape really was larger than life. I told him that my dad had told me that he was always the champion and Sammartino laughed at how enthusiastic I was to explain this. He happily took a picture with me and signed the Polaroid, a photo I recently shared on Twitter. Since that meeting in 1997, I met Bruno on two other occasions, in 2005 at an independent event and then in 2011 at a Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling signing. Thankfully, when I was older, I was much more composed than the original meeting, but I still find it comical how shy I was in 1997. But, I can say that each time I met Bruno he was always polite and happy to greet fans.
As mentioned, stories like this are common in Pittsburgh, and today, Bruno is recognized as the global icon that he is through the WWE Hall of Fame. Even at 81, Sammartino maintains a workout routine and he's in truly unbelievable shape for his age. Meeting the living legend, if it was when I was in elementary school or in college, was always an honor. There's no doubt that Bruno Sammartino is as much of a champion as a person as he was as wrestler during his career.
Friday, March 10, 2017
The revolving door of impact wrestling
When Anthem Entertainment, the parent company of the Canada-based Fight Network, rescued TNA from bankruptcy and more specifically Dixie Carter, it was unclear the direction the company would go. Since the acquisition, there were releases, signings, and returns from the new regime. As much as some might consider this news, it's par for the course when new management takes over a wrestling promotion. When a new booker took over a territory, they brought in their key players to present their version of the product to the audience. Maybe I'm being too pessimistic here, but the "big changes" being promoted on recent Impact tapings don't necessarily mean success for the organization, because how many times were "big changes" advertised for TNA in the past? Still, at least there's an effort to progress the group forward, which is a contrast to the floundering of TNA during the past few years with Dixie Carter as president.
There were a series of exits from Impact, some of them seemed to be strictly a case of money and it makes you wonder if Anthem is trying to stick to a budget or if its just trying to run Impact Wrestling as cheap as possible.
A year ago, Mike Bennett, a mainstay for Ring Of Honor previously, debuted as "The Miracle" on Impact. Aside from a debut the presented him as a star, Bennett wasn't given much of a chance to elevate his status, and depending on who you ask, some think the former member of the Kingdom has the potential to be a top star. TNA either didn't provide that stage for him or didn't invest the TV time to properly establish him so the true value he brings to the table has yet to be determined. I'd suggest he will return to Ring Of Honor and resume his run there. Considering it provides a fresh start in ROH, Bennett's detour in TNA isn't a negative aspect of his career. Regardless of if Mike Bennett will become a top guy where he lands or not, he's undoubtedly an asset for almost any roster because of his well rounded skill set. Maria Bennett also announced her departure from Impact, which makes sense considering the conclusion of her storyline and the circumstances of the situation. Reportedly, the former WWE diva has pursued an education for a career outside of professional wrestling so it's possible she might retire from the industry for a more normal job.
Jade, a former Knockouts champion, apparently finished up with the company last week after her extensive feud with Rosemary, concluding in a last KO standing match. Unless it was a money dispute, I'm not sure why management wouldn't resign this unique athlete, as she brings solid skills to the organization and could be a unique commodity to promote for branding the promotion. A lot of the same could be said for her former stable member Marti Belle, who asked for her release recently after there weren't plans for her as her contract was almost expired. The Knockouts division was a staple of Impact Wrestling so who knows what direction it goes from here? At this particular point, the KO roster isn't as solid right now after the recent departures.
Drew Galloway, the once "chosen one" in WWE, left TNA after an up and down run there. I wouldn't be surprised if Galloway makes his way back to WWE, as it's similar to Bennett's possible return to ROH, the Impact appears allow for a fresh run when he returns. As much as 3MB might've theoretically been a misuse of Galloway, he made it work, and he's unquestionably talented enough to be a star in the WWE. Plus, he works regularly for Evolve, the independent group that already has a working agreement with WWE so it's possible that could play a role in his return to either Raw or Smackdown. Supposedly, TNA management waited until just days before his contract expired to offered the former IC champion a contract extension with a pay cut and he declined.
The Hardys, the most popular performers on the TNA roster in recent years, also left the promotion after a reported pay dispute. Some reports suggest that management wanted a percentage of the Hardy's independent bookings, which isn't a smart business move. When you take into account that the money the Hardys can command on the indy scene right now is based on the personas they created themselves, why does Anthem think they should take a portion on money earned outside of Impact Wrestling?Anthem Entertainment is a multi-million dollar company, do they really need part of Matt's indy money to survive? Furthermore, is the amount of money Anthem wanted to take from the indy bookings really worth the exit of arguably most popular act?
I have to be honest, I was very surprised to read about the Hardy's departure from TNA, as I wrote in a column prior to the departure that it benefited everyone involved if they resigned. However, after details of the negotiations surfaced, you can't really blame them for opting to work elsewhere. "Broken" Matt and Brother Nero recently won the ROH tag titles, belts they will probably drop back to The Young Bucks Wrestlemania weekend, but the point being, they certainly have other options. Obviously, there's the possibility of a WWE return, but I still think the rocky exit both Hardys had at different times could play a role in a deal being offered. If they resign for either Raw or Smackdown, I would guess that it would be a one-year contract for mostly a nostalgia run, similar to what the Dudley Boyz did during their most recent return. Either way, it doesn't make Anthem look good when the team with the most star power on the roster simply opts to walk away from the negotiations.
There were also a series of debuts and returns to give an indication of the plan for the company going forward, including Jeff Jarrett rehired as a consultant. Jeff Jarrett, who founded NWA-TNA with his father Jerry, the legendary Memphis promoter, was brought back after Dixie Carter no longer had any authority in the promotion. After he left TNA a few years ago, Jarrett launched Global Force Wrestling, but despite running TV tapings in Las Vegas, the group didn't land a deal. In truth, GFW was just a series of independent shows and the project just didn't get off the ground, which is more of a statement about how difficult it is for a wrestling company to get a TV contract in the current market than anything else. Still, Double J is one of the most experienced minds in the business and he was one of the main players that built TNA from the ground up so at least on the surface, it seems worthwhile to use his knowledge as an advisor.
Another former employee, Dutch Mantell returned to the company to resume his role as a member of the booking committee, and he also appeared on camera during the tapings last week. The former Zeb Colter cut some of the best promos on WWE TV during his time there, and I was surprised that he wasn't offered a spot on the creative team or NXT prior to his release, unless he simply wanted a lighter schedule at this point in his career. Make no mistake, Dutch is one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the industry and he will be a valuable asset for Impact Wrestling. Dutch's run as a booker in Puerto Rico is known as one of the peaks in business for the island, and his time in TNA previously is considered one of the better eras of the promotion among fans.
Bruce Pritchard, a former WWE and TNA executive, was brought back for an on-screen role at the recent tapings, but I don't think he is necessary for any critical aspects of Impact Wrestling.
Alberto El Patron, the former WWE champion, finally made his TNA debut after much speculation since his WWE release. Judging from what took place on Impact this week, Alberto will be involved in the heavyweight title picture, which is a smart decision. For a variety of reasons, ADR didn't get the run he was capable of in the WWE, and he without question had the ability to become the top Hispanic star in the company, especially after the departure of Rey Mysterio. Originally, the year that Del Rio won the Rumble, WWE brass opted to allow Edge to get the win at Wrestlemania to retire as champion because a neck injury cut his in-ring career short. Since Del Rio ultimately left the company, it's easy to say in retrospect that Edge's moment was the right call, but at the time, not winning the title on the biggest stage possible didn't exactly put Del Rio on the main event level. Alberto left the promotion after he rightfully slapped a former WWE social media employee that made a disparaging joke about Mexican heritage, but returned to a tremendous crowd reaction, beating John Cena to win the United States title. Again, Alberto didn't really get the chance to have the run he could've had and soon floundered in the League Of Nations stable.
Thankfully, Alberto had many options because he's a major star in his native country, and worked the independent scene for various promotions. The signing could be extremely beneficial to Impact Wrestling because Alberto El Patron has the star quality and brings legitimate star power to the organization, as he's known to the Hispanic market and to WWE fans. The only potential downside to this is, how long will he work for TNA? At almost 40, Alberto stated previously in interviews that he only plans to wrestle for a few more years. He made great money in his career, both in Mexico and in WWE, as well as his involvement in outside projects so it's not as though Alberto has to wrestle just to make a living. He's currently the president of a Latino MMA group and announced plans to open a restaurant so it appears as though his decision about where to wrestle isn't strictly financial, as he has other resources.
The point is, if Impact Wrestling is more of a side project for Alberto than management should be careful how much TV time they invest in him because TNA has a history of former WWE stars that left and the company scrambled to book alternative angles. That being said, as of now, Alberto El Patron is a great signing for Impact Wrestling.
According to spoiler reports, LAX, a combination of Konnan, Homicide, and others returned at the TV tapings. Konnan is an extremely controversial figure and it's somewhat surprising that he will be back on TNA television because he actually sued the company almost a decade ago. Homicide is one of the most underrated talents in the modern era and doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for his innovative style. However, he suffered many injuries from his risky style during his career so it remains to be seen if he will be as dynamic as he was the last time he worked for TNA. All that aside, it's well known that Konnan has a storied friendship with Rey Mysterio, and it's possible that this LAX reunion is more of a way to attempt to get Rey to sign a contract, which might be worth it because of the fan base Rey could bring to the company.
As mentioned, shuffling the talent when a new regime takes over is nothing new in pro wrestling and it will be interesting to see the direction of the product in a few months. But, it certainly doesn't create much optimism about the show when many talented performers exit at the same time. More specifically, the way the Hardys were written off of TV makes Anthem look bush league. It might be too pessimistic of a view, but until noticeable progress is made, I don't think these "big changes" are the key to success for the company.
There were a series of exits from Impact, some of them seemed to be strictly a case of money and it makes you wonder if Anthem is trying to stick to a budget or if its just trying to run Impact Wrestling as cheap as possible.
A year ago, Mike Bennett, a mainstay for Ring Of Honor previously, debuted as "The Miracle" on Impact. Aside from a debut the presented him as a star, Bennett wasn't given much of a chance to elevate his status, and depending on who you ask, some think the former member of the Kingdom has the potential to be a top star. TNA either didn't provide that stage for him or didn't invest the TV time to properly establish him so the true value he brings to the table has yet to be determined. I'd suggest he will return to Ring Of Honor and resume his run there. Considering it provides a fresh start in ROH, Bennett's detour in TNA isn't a negative aspect of his career. Regardless of if Mike Bennett will become a top guy where he lands or not, he's undoubtedly an asset for almost any roster because of his well rounded skill set. Maria Bennett also announced her departure from Impact, which makes sense considering the conclusion of her storyline and the circumstances of the situation. Reportedly, the former WWE diva has pursued an education for a career outside of professional wrestling so it's possible she might retire from the industry for a more normal job.
Jade, a former Knockouts champion, apparently finished up with the company last week after her extensive feud with Rosemary, concluding in a last KO standing match. Unless it was a money dispute, I'm not sure why management wouldn't resign this unique athlete, as she brings solid skills to the organization and could be a unique commodity to promote for branding the promotion. A lot of the same could be said for her former stable member Marti Belle, who asked for her release recently after there weren't plans for her as her contract was almost expired. The Knockouts division was a staple of Impact Wrestling so who knows what direction it goes from here? At this particular point, the KO roster isn't as solid right now after the recent departures.
Drew Galloway, the once "chosen one" in WWE, left TNA after an up and down run there. I wouldn't be surprised if Galloway makes his way back to WWE, as it's similar to Bennett's possible return to ROH, the Impact appears allow for a fresh run when he returns. As much as 3MB might've theoretically been a misuse of Galloway, he made it work, and he's unquestionably talented enough to be a star in the WWE. Plus, he works regularly for Evolve, the independent group that already has a working agreement with WWE so it's possible that could play a role in his return to either Raw or Smackdown. Supposedly, TNA management waited until just days before his contract expired to offered the former IC champion a contract extension with a pay cut and he declined.
The Hardys, the most popular performers on the TNA roster in recent years, also left the promotion after a reported pay dispute. Some reports suggest that management wanted a percentage of the Hardy's independent bookings, which isn't a smart business move. When you take into account that the money the Hardys can command on the indy scene right now is based on the personas they created themselves, why does Anthem think they should take a portion on money earned outside of Impact Wrestling?Anthem Entertainment is a multi-million dollar company, do they really need part of Matt's indy money to survive? Furthermore, is the amount of money Anthem wanted to take from the indy bookings really worth the exit of arguably most popular act?
I have to be honest, I was very surprised to read about the Hardy's departure from TNA, as I wrote in a column prior to the departure that it benefited everyone involved if they resigned. However, after details of the negotiations surfaced, you can't really blame them for opting to work elsewhere. "Broken" Matt and Brother Nero recently won the ROH tag titles, belts they will probably drop back to The Young Bucks Wrestlemania weekend, but the point being, they certainly have other options. Obviously, there's the possibility of a WWE return, but I still think the rocky exit both Hardys had at different times could play a role in a deal being offered. If they resign for either Raw or Smackdown, I would guess that it would be a one-year contract for mostly a nostalgia run, similar to what the Dudley Boyz did during their most recent return. Either way, it doesn't make Anthem look good when the team with the most star power on the roster simply opts to walk away from the negotiations.
There were also a series of debuts and returns to give an indication of the plan for the company going forward, including Jeff Jarrett rehired as a consultant. Jeff Jarrett, who founded NWA-TNA with his father Jerry, the legendary Memphis promoter, was brought back after Dixie Carter no longer had any authority in the promotion. After he left TNA a few years ago, Jarrett launched Global Force Wrestling, but despite running TV tapings in Las Vegas, the group didn't land a deal. In truth, GFW was just a series of independent shows and the project just didn't get off the ground, which is more of a statement about how difficult it is for a wrestling company to get a TV contract in the current market than anything else. Still, Double J is one of the most experienced minds in the business and he was one of the main players that built TNA from the ground up so at least on the surface, it seems worthwhile to use his knowledge as an advisor.
Another former employee, Dutch Mantell returned to the company to resume his role as a member of the booking committee, and he also appeared on camera during the tapings last week. The former Zeb Colter cut some of the best promos on WWE TV during his time there, and I was surprised that he wasn't offered a spot on the creative team or NXT prior to his release, unless he simply wanted a lighter schedule at this point in his career. Make no mistake, Dutch is one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the industry and he will be a valuable asset for Impact Wrestling. Dutch's run as a booker in Puerto Rico is known as one of the peaks in business for the island, and his time in TNA previously is considered one of the better eras of the promotion among fans.
Bruce Pritchard, a former WWE and TNA executive, was brought back for an on-screen role at the recent tapings, but I don't think he is necessary for any critical aspects of Impact Wrestling.
Alberto El Patron, the former WWE champion, finally made his TNA debut after much speculation since his WWE release. Judging from what took place on Impact this week, Alberto will be involved in the heavyweight title picture, which is a smart decision. For a variety of reasons, ADR didn't get the run he was capable of in the WWE, and he without question had the ability to become the top Hispanic star in the company, especially after the departure of Rey Mysterio. Originally, the year that Del Rio won the Rumble, WWE brass opted to allow Edge to get the win at Wrestlemania to retire as champion because a neck injury cut his in-ring career short. Since Del Rio ultimately left the company, it's easy to say in retrospect that Edge's moment was the right call, but at the time, not winning the title on the biggest stage possible didn't exactly put Del Rio on the main event level. Alberto left the promotion after he rightfully slapped a former WWE social media employee that made a disparaging joke about Mexican heritage, but returned to a tremendous crowd reaction, beating John Cena to win the United States title. Again, Alberto didn't really get the chance to have the run he could've had and soon floundered in the League Of Nations stable.
Thankfully, Alberto had many options because he's a major star in his native country, and worked the independent scene for various promotions. The signing could be extremely beneficial to Impact Wrestling because Alberto El Patron has the star quality and brings legitimate star power to the organization, as he's known to the Hispanic market and to WWE fans. The only potential downside to this is, how long will he work for TNA? At almost 40, Alberto stated previously in interviews that he only plans to wrestle for a few more years. He made great money in his career, both in Mexico and in WWE, as well as his involvement in outside projects so it's not as though Alberto has to wrestle just to make a living. He's currently the president of a Latino MMA group and announced plans to open a restaurant so it appears as though his decision about where to wrestle isn't strictly financial, as he has other resources.
The point is, if Impact Wrestling is more of a side project for Alberto than management should be careful how much TV time they invest in him because TNA has a history of former WWE stars that left and the company scrambled to book alternative angles. That being said, as of now, Alberto El Patron is a great signing for Impact Wrestling.
According to spoiler reports, LAX, a combination of Konnan, Homicide, and others returned at the TV tapings. Konnan is an extremely controversial figure and it's somewhat surprising that he will be back on TNA television because he actually sued the company almost a decade ago. Homicide is one of the most underrated talents in the modern era and doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for his innovative style. However, he suffered many injuries from his risky style during his career so it remains to be seen if he will be as dynamic as he was the last time he worked for TNA. All that aside, it's well known that Konnan has a storied friendship with Rey Mysterio, and it's possible that this LAX reunion is more of a way to attempt to get Rey to sign a contract, which might be worth it because of the fan base Rey could bring to the company.
As mentioned, shuffling the talent when a new regime takes over is nothing new in pro wrestling and it will be interesting to see the direction of the product in a few months. But, it certainly doesn't create much optimism about the show when many talented performers exit at the same time. More specifically, the way the Hardys were written off of TV makes Anthem look bush league. It might be too pessimistic of a view, but until noticeable progress is made, I don't think these "big changes" are the key to success for the company.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
The career of Rickey Shane Page
When Rickey Shane Page was announced for the CZW Tournament of Death in 2015, I penned an article about the 14-year veteran's journey to one of the most showcased events on the independent scene. From the time he saw Mick Foley take a leap of faith off the top of the cell in 1998, professional wrestling was his goal, and the deathmatch genre that he saw on bootleg tapes of Japanese matches led to him develop a similar style when he pursed a career inside the squared circle.
As a commentator in Pittsburgh, I had a chance to call a few of RSP's matches and one of the things I always mentioned was that he was one of the most underrated competitors on the indy circuit. He had a heavyweight frame, but was extremely agile and the combination made him a unique commodity in a time when the cruiser weight style became trendy. I knew that TOD was a good chance for Rickey to receive some well deserved exposure, but his debut in Delaware that afternoon on June 13, 2015 was just the start of a banner ultraviolent year for him.
The Ohio native earned a reputation for his innovative offense and hardcore matches in his home state so the nearly 1,000 fans that surrounded the ring at the Markland complex greeted him with an enthusiastic response when he walked through the curtain for his first round bout with CZW mainstay Danny Havoc.
"I was really excited. TOD was always a bucket list item for me. I was a little nervous. Luckily, I've been in the ring with Danny Havoc before so I knew what we could do together. I was just focused on having fun and trying to have the best match I could. Anytime I step in the ring with Danny, it's magic and that time was no different," Rickey explained.
The light tube match was a dangerous stipulation that prompted its fair share of bloodshed, but despite the weapons at his disposal, Page showcased a variety of strikes during the bout. In the end, a suplex from the top rope through a light tube board concluded RSP's bid in the tournament, leaving his face covered in crimson. Havoc was seriously cut when the contest finished, as blood streamed like a facet from the side of his head. While RSP didn't win the trophy in 2015, he earned the approval of the deathmatch fan base, as his performance was unanimously praised by those in attendance.
Despite the solid showing, some competitors became almost "tournament exclusives" in years prior so RSP wasn't exactly guaranteed a new chapter of his career after his CZW debut. In fact, it would be six months until Rickey appeared on another Combat Zone card, this time for the biggest event of their calendar, Cage of Death for a rematch with Havoc. However, even signed to work such a well known event, Page still wasn't scheduled to be booked full time for the company.
"Every time I step foot in the ring, I have something to prove. I always want to entertain and have a good match," he said.
The start of 2016 saw RSP work a pair of Combat Zone events while he continued to elevate his profile on the independent scene in a variety of groups. His previous ultraviolent bouts with Havoc prompted another invitation for the Tournament of Death.
This time, Rickey was more prepared for the possibility of wrestling three matches to make it to the finals saying, "I tried not to think to much about it. I didn't want to psych myself out. If you think too much, that's when things can go wrong."
In the first round, RSP was greeted with another energetic crowd response and defeated Tim Donst in a fans bring the weapons match to advance to the second round. He returned to the ring for his next match, but he didn't have his traditional wrestling boots for a barefoot battle with Conor Claxton that featured thumbtacks, which he won to advance to the finals.
In the finale of the tournament, Rickey stood across the ring from the then-CZW champion Matt Tremont for a barbed wire and light tube match. As the two grapples smashed light tubes over each other, Ricky suffered a serious cut above his eye and blood gushed from the lengthy laceration. The staff rushed to the ring and attempted to duct tape the wound closed to allow for the conclusion of the match.
"I hit my face on some glass that was in the ring. It was a freak accident. It was bleeding a lot like a crazy amount of blood. it was one of the only times that I was actually scared while wrestling," he said.
Clutching the bandages to his head, Page continued the bout, which saw the two finalists scale a scaffold. Rickey used a death valley driver from the scaffold through a flaming table covered with light tubes to win the Tournament Of Death championship.
"It was surreal. It's a huge honor to be in that class of guys. Sometimes, I still can't believe it happened," he explained.
Within the span of just one year, Rickey Shane Page went from a potential one-time CZW appearance to winning one of the most storied tournaments in independent wrestling. RSP's passion and effort for the sport displayed during matches earned the appreciation of an entire new group of fans that discovered his work through CZW. But, Page stays focused toward continuing the momentum in his career and the journey that started nearly a decade and a half ago.
"I want to be the CZW world heavyweight champion. I would like to get signed to the WWE, I have some friends there and I think I could bring something different there. But, for now, I just want to keep moving forward, going to new places and having fun. That's always my goal," he said.
As a commentator in Pittsburgh, I had a chance to call a few of RSP's matches and one of the things I always mentioned was that he was one of the most underrated competitors on the indy circuit. He had a heavyweight frame, but was extremely agile and the combination made him a unique commodity in a time when the cruiser weight style became trendy. I knew that TOD was a good chance for Rickey to receive some well deserved exposure, but his debut in Delaware that afternoon on June 13, 2015 was just the start of a banner ultraviolent year for him.
The Ohio native earned a reputation for his innovative offense and hardcore matches in his home state so the nearly 1,000 fans that surrounded the ring at the Markland complex greeted him with an enthusiastic response when he walked through the curtain for his first round bout with CZW mainstay Danny Havoc.
"I was really excited. TOD was always a bucket list item for me. I was a little nervous. Luckily, I've been in the ring with Danny Havoc before so I knew what we could do together. I was just focused on having fun and trying to have the best match I could. Anytime I step in the ring with Danny, it's magic and that time was no different," Rickey explained.
The light tube match was a dangerous stipulation that prompted its fair share of bloodshed, but despite the weapons at his disposal, Page showcased a variety of strikes during the bout. In the end, a suplex from the top rope through a light tube board concluded RSP's bid in the tournament, leaving his face covered in crimson. Havoc was seriously cut when the contest finished, as blood streamed like a facet from the side of his head. While RSP didn't win the trophy in 2015, he earned the approval of the deathmatch fan base, as his performance was unanimously praised by those in attendance.
Despite the solid showing, some competitors became almost "tournament exclusives" in years prior so RSP wasn't exactly guaranteed a new chapter of his career after his CZW debut. In fact, it would be six months until Rickey appeared on another Combat Zone card, this time for the biggest event of their calendar, Cage of Death for a rematch with Havoc. However, even signed to work such a well known event, Page still wasn't scheduled to be booked full time for the company.
"Every time I step foot in the ring, I have something to prove. I always want to entertain and have a good match," he said.
The start of 2016 saw RSP work a pair of Combat Zone events while he continued to elevate his profile on the independent scene in a variety of groups. His previous ultraviolent bouts with Havoc prompted another invitation for the Tournament of Death.
This time, Rickey was more prepared for the possibility of wrestling three matches to make it to the finals saying, "I tried not to think to much about it. I didn't want to psych myself out. If you think too much, that's when things can go wrong."
In the first round, RSP was greeted with another energetic crowd response and defeated Tim Donst in a fans bring the weapons match to advance to the second round. He returned to the ring for his next match, but he didn't have his traditional wrestling boots for a barefoot battle with Conor Claxton that featured thumbtacks, which he won to advance to the finals.
In the finale of the tournament, Rickey stood across the ring from the then-CZW champion Matt Tremont for a barbed wire and light tube match. As the two grapples smashed light tubes over each other, Ricky suffered a serious cut above his eye and blood gushed from the lengthy laceration. The staff rushed to the ring and attempted to duct tape the wound closed to allow for the conclusion of the match.
"I hit my face on some glass that was in the ring. It was a freak accident. It was bleeding a lot like a crazy amount of blood. it was one of the only times that I was actually scared while wrestling," he said.
Clutching the bandages to his head, Page continued the bout, which saw the two finalists scale a scaffold. Rickey used a death valley driver from the scaffold through a flaming table covered with light tubes to win the Tournament Of Death championship.
"It was surreal. It's a huge honor to be in that class of guys. Sometimes, I still can't believe it happened," he explained.
Within the span of just one year, Rickey Shane Page went from a potential one-time CZW appearance to winning one of the most storied tournaments in independent wrestling. RSP's passion and effort for the sport displayed during matches earned the appreciation of an entire new group of fans that discovered his work through CZW. But, Page stays focused toward continuing the momentum in his career and the journey that started nearly a decade and a half ago.
"I want to be the CZW world heavyweight champion. I would like to get signed to the WWE, I have some friends there and I think I could bring something different there. But, for now, I just want to keep moving forward, going to new places and having fun. That's always my goal," he said.
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