As usual, the post-WWE pay-per-view social media reaction garnered mixed results. Part-time champion Brock Lesnar defeated Braun Strowman, one of the most performers on the roster, so somehow that ruined the entire three hour events, which isn't realistic at all.
But, what did No Mercy indicate for the direction of the WWE product?
Jason Jordan had a solid showing against The Miz, something that theoretically would go toward establishing him on his own since he departed from the tag team scene on Smackdown. However, the reaction to him recently has generated boos from the crowd. It must be made clear, these boos have nothing to do with his ability in the ring, but rather the lackluster reveal as Kurt Angle's son a few months ago on Raw. The reason being, the writing team built up a major angle for weeks, only to have the reveal be an illogical storyline that had zero impact on the direction of the brand. At the time of the reveal, Jordan wasn't featured or had a major standing on the Smackdown brand. He went from relative obscurity to a major reveal.
In retrospect, it almost seems like the writing team set up a surprise in an attempt to boost ratings for the short term without any clear resolution. Maybe Jordan was a last-minute decision because management didn't have any other options. Plus, his sudden push on Raw after the previously mentioned obscurity on SD gives the impression that Jordan is getting an entitled push, and we all know how well that worked for Roman Reigns.
There's no doubt that Jordan has the talent bell-to-bell, and if anything, is lacking from a character prospective. That said, the best way to get the most from the lackluster reveal would be to set up for a heel turn where Jordan explains that he swerved Angle in an attempt to further his career. That would actually take the illogical reveal and use it as a way to progress his character.
Bray Wyatt/Finn Balor was a solid match-up, but it repeated a pattern often seen with Wyatt's angles. His mic skills are used to build up a contest and then he does the job. That's not to say that Finn doesn't deserve the push or the victory, but what does it say for Wyatt after losing two pay-per-view matches in a row? The feud is essentially concluded and it did nothing for Wyatt. Bray is a performer that stays over because of his mic work, not the way he's booked.
The problem is, that's essentially the only thing Bray was used for during the majority of his WWE career, he gets others over. Even his WWE title run was brief and relatively uneventful before he dropped the title to Randy Orton. The argument could be made that Wyatt hasn't looked strong since he was paired with Harper and Rowan. Consider the other two aren't doing anything, perhaps the trio should be reunited again.
Bray Wyatt is a dynamic performer that connects with the audience, but if he doesn't get an angle that actually elevates his status, his effectiveness going forward will be diminished. It's disappointing to say, but Wyatt is almost used as a glorified jobber.
The tag team title match delivered a quality bout and was possibly the best match on the show. While the writing team certainly earns most of the criticism it receives, No Mercy proved that tag team wrestling is reaching a high point again, which hasn't been the case for more than a decade. Cesaro and Sheamus have done extremely well as a pair and are arguably the best tag team in the WWE. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are two of the best in-ring workers in the company, and their skills have translated to the tag team scene. Plus, the New Day and The Usos had a great series of bouts on SD so it's good to see an emphasis on tag teams again.
The women's title match was great. However, it exposed that the flaw of the division is with the writing, not the wrestling. The 50/50 booking and title switches for an extended period of time diminished the importance of the belt. Instead of the "women's revolution" being a long-term plan, it was used simply as a marketing tag line. Somehow, the writing team managed to book Bayley's character into the ground, while Sasha's star quality was minimized. Nia's in-ring work continues to improve, but her persona remains indifferent. Emma remains irrelevant. Alexa Bliss has done well establishing herself as a believable villain, but without well-booked babyfaces to challenge her, it becomes a moot point. All the said, the competitors did very well in the match, which proves the problem is not their in-ring ability.
Enzo defeated Neville to win the Cruiserweight title, which shows how much WWE brass values the status of the belt. Enzo spent the last several months complaining and getting smashed on Raw. But, he goes to 205 Live and wins the title almost immediately. What statement does that make about the rest of the Cruiserweight division? After Cass turned heel, Enzo was exposed as one dimensional in almost every aspect. Without Cass to do the in-ring work, Enzo does the same promo every week and then a sloppy match. You have to wonder if he will remain popular after his standard promo becomes stale?
The Roman Reigns/John Cena match and the main event appear to be linked, at least in my view. Roman Reigns was booed at No Mercy, but as usually done at pay-per-views, the audio level of the crowd was lowered in an attempt to quiet the hostile reaction. "Big Dawg" kicked out of four AA finishers to defeated John Cena. It was no surprise that post-match, Cena raised Roman's hand and offered an endorsement. In theory, Reigns earned the respect of his "harshest critic," as was set up with the worked-shoot promos in the previous weeks.
It's almost unbelievable that WWE brass continues these "superman" type comebacks when those fuel the resentment toward Roman Reigns. Does anyone in the office really think that Roman kicking out of four finishers will change the fan reaction to him? One of the many reasons the audience rejects Roman is that management tries to insult their intelligence. The whole "hey, look Roman must be really good because he keeps kicking out" might've worked in 1993, but not today when it's commonly acknowledged that the product is a scripted show.
Braun Strowman has done extremely well and he's amazingly agile for someone of his size. In a complete contrast to Reigns, Braun got over spontaneously with the crowd. His presentation and performances made him one of the most over stars on WWE TV on a weekly basis. The dominating push that Braun was given created an anticipated bout with Brock Lesnar, the former UFC heavyweight champion that was pushed as a monster almost continuously since he returned to the WWE over five years ago. Lesnar "conquered" Braun after one F-5 so basically the dominating push to set up the match was used to eventually further cement Brock as the unstoppable monster.
So, where's the link between the two matches?
The reason Roman kicked out of four finishers, and Braun wad pinned with one F-5 is simple. This is all being used for an eventual Reigns vs. Lesnar rematch at Wrestlemania 34, where Roman will win the title again. The anointed champion will be the one to slay the unstoppable monster to further shoehorn his push at the top guy in the company.
As I wrote last week, the WWE owns 95% of the market for sports entertainment in the United States, and if Vince McMahon wants fans to watch Roman Reigns as the top guy then they will watch him. Unless it effects revenue, and it won't, why should WWE brass change their plan? They want Roman Reigns to be the next guy to attend all the corporate events, and no amount of boos is going to change that. Revenue is the bottom line and WWE brass recently touted record-setting profits. Vince McMahon doesn't care if people pay to boo or pay to cheer Roman Reigns, as long as they keep buying tickets and network subscriptions.
It's almost comical that the amount of fans that complain after pay-per-views still continue to subscribe to the network. At this point, the WWE plan is clear, Roman Reigns is going to main event Wrestlemania for several years. Everyone that follows the product can see that so how it is surprising when he beats John Cena?
Don't get me wrong, the cringe-worthy Roman Reigns push isn't exactly the best TV, but everyone knows what to expect when they watch Raw. There's no competition to challenge WWE and if the general public wants to watch professional wrestling then they will watch Raw. Are there best choices for the next top guy in the WWE? Probably, but does it matter? No, because until it effects revenue, there's no reason for management to change their plans.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
John Cena vs. Roman Reigns
When The Shield stormed onto the WWE scene in late 2012, the trio immediately generated a buzz among fans. Independent standouts, Tyler Black and Dean Ambrose were well tenured prior to their arrival, and many that followed their careers from their time working on the dirt-stained canvases of the indy circuit anticipated their next chapter on the national stage. The former ROH and CZW heavyweight championships respectively, were joined by a former aspiring NFL player. A member of the Samoan dynasty, Roman Reigns signed a WWE deal in mid-2010 and found himself on WWE pay-per-view less than two and a half years later.
As I wrote at the time, and I still think so now, The Shield was ended way too early. The original and unique presentation made the group one of the most over acts the WWE had at the time. A less than two year run left the stable with much more to accomplish, and in retrospect, could've helped the perception of Roman Reigns. Anointed as the next top guy because of his last name and his look, Roman was allowed to keep all the elements that made The Shield success, using the same attire, music, and entrance that helped make the stable popular. That occurred while Rollins and Ambrose both had to change and get over key elements of their characters.
As history shows, WWE management shoehorned their hand-picked successor into the main event spot of Wrestlemania repeatedly despite the hostile crowd reaction. To be fair, Reigns puts in the effort and he's doing what he's told to do. That said, WWE brass did him no favors in the way they handled his mega push, and continue to put him in less than favorable circumstances today. In 2015, after Daniel Bryan had to relinquish the championship the previous year because of injury, fans were clamoring to see him reclaim the title. The writing team had other plans and someone was foolish enough to put Bryan in the Royal Rumble to set up an uneventful elimination, which suggested that they learned nothing from the Rumble revolt the prior year. Reigns won and was booed out of the building. The message was clear, the fans wanted Daniel Bryan, and management didn't care. The heat was directed at the writing team, not necessarily Reigns, but the audience viewed him as the reason why Bryan wasn't in the main event. Another injury eventual retired Bryan, and the Reigns push continued.
Since that Royal Rumble win in 2015, "Big Dawg" worked the main event of three consecutive Wrestlemania shows and won the championship multiple times, but still gets booed consistently on TV. The blatantly forced push, the repetitive move set, and the "superman" comebacks during matches haven't helped the situation.
The entire point of all this is for Roman to replace the aging workhorse, John Cena when he finally retires from WWE. Ironically, the current feud that could be designed to "pass the torch" might actually reinforce the criticism toward Reigns. Since the start of this angle, the past few weeks of television saw the two verbally jab ahead of their match at No Mercy. The "worked shoot" promos are supposed to use reality-based material not often mentioned on WWE programming as a way to make it stand out and generate a buzz before their pay-per-view contest.
The first mistake management made was to put Reigns in a situation where he was expected to match Cena on the mic. John Cena has always had solid promo skills and speaks naturally, while one of Roman's biggest weaknesses continue to be finding a comfort zone for doing promos. During this initial sparring session, not only did Roman get lost during the exchange and paused awkwardly, but Cena also mentioned the lack of promo ability. Aside of that, it was also pointed out that WWE brass is trying to clone Reigns to be the next Cena.
Last week, another verbal chapter was written, this time "Big Dawg" claimed that he had more great matches in the span of two years than Cena had in an entire career. It sounds like a decent jab until the realization that John Cena's matches with AJ Styles could be considered match of the year candidates in WWE. At the conclusion of the promo, Cena delivered a KO when he referenced Reigns' failed drug test from 2016, a wellness policy violation just a few months after he won the WWE championship at Wrestlemania.
The problem with all this is, basically everything that Cena said is true and there's a track record to add validity to it. At the same time, there's no substance to Roman's claims and his profanity to buy time when he was lost sounds more like a cover for being lost than an insult. The awkward pauses prove exactly what Cena said about Reign's inability to cut promos.
At some point, you have to wonder, how exactly will this get Roman Reigns over?
While John Cena is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the industry, even his most vocal critics will recognize his work ethic. Quite simply, John Cena has earned his stripes among the WWE audience during the last 15 years. He dedicated years to WWE, returning from injuries early, representing the company well, and carrying the brand on his back for the majority of the current era. At the other end of the spectrum is Roman Reigns, the anointed athlete that was given the keys to the top spot long before the audience had a chance to vote. Furthermore, even though Reigns has the last name, the fact is that he pursued professional wrestling because he failed at a football career. If Joe Anoa'i was a starter for the Minnesota Vikings in 2008, do you think he would've quit football to sign a WWE deal in 2010?
This past week on Raw, the writing team was smart enough not to put Roman in the ring with Cena for another mic exchange, but rather let Reigns get a few jabs at his opponent unopposed instead of the verbal trading. It seems like this decision is almost a recognition of Reign's lackluster mic work in the previous weeks. Still, the promo lacked credibility and seemed forced because there wasn't much substance to it. After everything John Cena has done for the WWE brand, it's very difficult to build an angle where the selling point is that somehow Cena didn't dedicate enough of himself to the promotion. The bottom line is, Cena has dedicated himself to sports entertainment more than almost anyone from the current roster, which isn't anything against the other performers, but rather highlights his specific work ethic.
All things considered, I'm not sure if Roman Reigns getting over is possible without a full heel turn. If this attempted baby face push continues and Reigns doesn't gain more crowd support after the Cena feud, he will probably continue to get booed out of the building on a weekly basis.
But, does that really matter?
The answer is no, it doesn't matter how much the crowd boos Roman Reigns. As I've written before, it's a harsh reality, but if Vince McMahon wants fans to watch Reigns then they will watch him. The WWE dominates 95% of the sports entertainment market in the United States and unless the Roman push affects revenue, which it won't, there's no reason for management to change their business plan. The WWE is a publicly traded company and recently touted record profits so why exactly should they change anything? Vince McMahon doesn't care if fans pay to cheer or pay to boo Roman, as long as they buy tickets and network subscriptions. So, this Cena feud won't be the key to getting Roman Reigns over, but if fans continue to buy the product, and they will, it doesn't make a difference from business aspect for the company.
As I wrote at the time, and I still think so now, The Shield was ended way too early. The original and unique presentation made the group one of the most over acts the WWE had at the time. A less than two year run left the stable with much more to accomplish, and in retrospect, could've helped the perception of Roman Reigns. Anointed as the next top guy because of his last name and his look, Roman was allowed to keep all the elements that made The Shield success, using the same attire, music, and entrance that helped make the stable popular. That occurred while Rollins and Ambrose both had to change and get over key elements of their characters.
As history shows, WWE management shoehorned their hand-picked successor into the main event spot of Wrestlemania repeatedly despite the hostile crowd reaction. To be fair, Reigns puts in the effort and he's doing what he's told to do. That said, WWE brass did him no favors in the way they handled his mega push, and continue to put him in less than favorable circumstances today. In 2015, after Daniel Bryan had to relinquish the championship the previous year because of injury, fans were clamoring to see him reclaim the title. The writing team had other plans and someone was foolish enough to put Bryan in the Royal Rumble to set up an uneventful elimination, which suggested that they learned nothing from the Rumble revolt the prior year. Reigns won and was booed out of the building. The message was clear, the fans wanted Daniel Bryan, and management didn't care. The heat was directed at the writing team, not necessarily Reigns, but the audience viewed him as the reason why Bryan wasn't in the main event. Another injury eventual retired Bryan, and the Reigns push continued.
Since that Royal Rumble win in 2015, "Big Dawg" worked the main event of three consecutive Wrestlemania shows and won the championship multiple times, but still gets booed consistently on TV. The blatantly forced push, the repetitive move set, and the "superman" comebacks during matches haven't helped the situation.
The entire point of all this is for Roman to replace the aging workhorse, John Cena when he finally retires from WWE. Ironically, the current feud that could be designed to "pass the torch" might actually reinforce the criticism toward Reigns. Since the start of this angle, the past few weeks of television saw the two verbally jab ahead of their match at No Mercy. The "worked shoot" promos are supposed to use reality-based material not often mentioned on WWE programming as a way to make it stand out and generate a buzz before their pay-per-view contest.
The first mistake management made was to put Reigns in a situation where he was expected to match Cena on the mic. John Cena has always had solid promo skills and speaks naturally, while one of Roman's biggest weaknesses continue to be finding a comfort zone for doing promos. During this initial sparring session, not only did Roman get lost during the exchange and paused awkwardly, but Cena also mentioned the lack of promo ability. Aside of that, it was also pointed out that WWE brass is trying to clone Reigns to be the next Cena.
Last week, another verbal chapter was written, this time "Big Dawg" claimed that he had more great matches in the span of two years than Cena had in an entire career. It sounds like a decent jab until the realization that John Cena's matches with AJ Styles could be considered match of the year candidates in WWE. At the conclusion of the promo, Cena delivered a KO when he referenced Reigns' failed drug test from 2016, a wellness policy violation just a few months after he won the WWE championship at Wrestlemania.
The problem with all this is, basically everything that Cena said is true and there's a track record to add validity to it. At the same time, there's no substance to Roman's claims and his profanity to buy time when he was lost sounds more like a cover for being lost than an insult. The awkward pauses prove exactly what Cena said about Reign's inability to cut promos.
At some point, you have to wonder, how exactly will this get Roman Reigns over?
While John Cena is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the industry, even his most vocal critics will recognize his work ethic. Quite simply, John Cena has earned his stripes among the WWE audience during the last 15 years. He dedicated years to WWE, returning from injuries early, representing the company well, and carrying the brand on his back for the majority of the current era. At the other end of the spectrum is Roman Reigns, the anointed athlete that was given the keys to the top spot long before the audience had a chance to vote. Furthermore, even though Reigns has the last name, the fact is that he pursued professional wrestling because he failed at a football career. If Joe Anoa'i was a starter for the Minnesota Vikings in 2008, do you think he would've quit football to sign a WWE deal in 2010?
This past week on Raw, the writing team was smart enough not to put Roman in the ring with Cena for another mic exchange, but rather let Reigns get a few jabs at his opponent unopposed instead of the verbal trading. It seems like this decision is almost a recognition of Reign's lackluster mic work in the previous weeks. Still, the promo lacked credibility and seemed forced because there wasn't much substance to it. After everything John Cena has done for the WWE brand, it's very difficult to build an angle where the selling point is that somehow Cena didn't dedicate enough of himself to the promotion. The bottom line is, Cena has dedicated himself to sports entertainment more than almost anyone from the current roster, which isn't anything against the other performers, but rather highlights his specific work ethic.
All things considered, I'm not sure if Roman Reigns getting over is possible without a full heel turn. If this attempted baby face push continues and Reigns doesn't gain more crowd support after the Cena feud, he will probably continue to get booed out of the building on a weekly basis.
But, does that really matter?
The answer is no, it doesn't matter how much the crowd boos Roman Reigns. As I've written before, it's a harsh reality, but if Vince McMahon wants fans to watch Reigns then they will watch him. The WWE dominates 95% of the sports entertainment market in the United States and unless the Roman push affects revenue, which it won't, there's no reason for management to change their business plan. The WWE is a publicly traded company and recently touted record profits so why exactly should they change anything? Vince McMahon doesn't care if fans pay to cheer or pay to boo Roman, as long as they buy tickets and network subscriptions. So, this Cena feud won't be the key to getting Roman Reigns over, but if fans continue to buy the product, and they will, it doesn't make a difference from business aspect for the company.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
The career of Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta, former Middleweight champion, passed away at the age of 95. The turbulent life of the troubled former boxer was the subject of numerous books, and provided the story that was told in Martin Scorsese's classic film, "Raging Bull."
The pattern of chaos that followed him for the majority of his life started early on, as he grew up in poverty and his father was often abusive toward the family. Neighborhood conflicts in New York landed him in reform school during his youth, where he first learned the sport of boxing. After an undefeated amateur career, he turned pro in 1941 at the age of just 19. Garnering an incredible 106 bouts on his professional record, LaMotta fought often during his nearly 14-year career. His direct style was matched by his iron chin, and he became known for being able to withstand an unbelievable amount of punishment in the ring. An unwavering series of hooks and an unstoppable will become trademarks of his legacy.
Perhaps, the Bronx native's most famous performances were his series of fights with the legendary "Sugar" Ray Robinson, one of the most accomplished champions in boxing history. The two athletes squared off an astounding six times, which saw Robinson victorious in five of the contests. The brutal spectacles remain a topic of discuss among sports fans decades later. The most well known and final LaMotta/Robinson match-up took place in 1951 in front of nearly 15,000 fans at Chicago stadium. "Sugar" Ray landed vicious combinations and staggered his opponent, but LaMotta showed incredible toughness, refusing to hit the canvas. Thankfully, the referee rescued the Bronx Bull in the thirteenth round, which saw a bloody and bruised former champion draped across the ring ropes in a scene that became an iconic image of his career.
Controversy followed the "Raging Bull" even outside of the squared circle, both personally and professionally. A rising middleweight contender by the mid-1940s, he agreed to throw a fight with Billy Fox in November of 1947 so that the mafia would use its connections to secure him an eventual title shot. Less than two years later, he did get a shot at the title, defeating Marcel Carden to win the championship in June 1949. When he dropped the belt to Robinson in the previously mentioned final fight of their series, he moved to light heavyweight for the remainder of his career. The ring wars with Robinson appeared to take their toll on him, as his venture to the next weight class yielded mixed results. In late 1952, he was knocked down for the first time in his career during a losing effort against Danny Nardico. He took a year off to recover from injuries before he had a pair of wins that led to a debated split decision loss to Billy Kilgore.
He retired from the ring in 1954 with a record of 83-19-4 during his career.
Post-fighting, LaMotta used his rugged charisma to run night clubs and appeared as a stage performer as well. In 1957, he was arrested when it was discovered that underage girls were allowed admission to a night club he ran, and he served six months on a chain gang. After his release, he continued to work in show business, appearing in over a dozen films. He made a cameo in the Paul Newman classic "The Hustler," and made numerous television appearances.
In 1960, he was asked to testify at senate hearings to investigate the mafia's influence on boxing. The former champion explained how he threw the Fox fight in exchange for a title shot.
His 1970 autobiography is what led to the production of the classic film a decade later. LaMotta trained Robert De Niro in preparation for the film, and the actor won an Academy Award for his tremendous on-screen performance. "Raging Bull" took a look at the brutality of LaMotta's life from all aspects. In many ways, the major success of the film renewed his popularity and introduced him to another generation of fans.
In the years since Scorsese's masterpiece was released, Jake LaMotta became a fixture on the autograph circuit, often telling the stories of the ring wars of his boxing career. He also published several more books that told in-depth stories of his bouts with Ray Robinson. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Jake LaMotta was certainly a complex individual, his decisions in his personal life were questionable, while his dedication to fighting was admirable. Thankfully, he seemed to find some type of peace later in life as an elder statesman of the sports world.
The pattern of chaos that followed him for the majority of his life started early on, as he grew up in poverty and his father was often abusive toward the family. Neighborhood conflicts in New York landed him in reform school during his youth, where he first learned the sport of boxing. After an undefeated amateur career, he turned pro in 1941 at the age of just 19. Garnering an incredible 106 bouts on his professional record, LaMotta fought often during his nearly 14-year career. His direct style was matched by his iron chin, and he became known for being able to withstand an unbelievable amount of punishment in the ring. An unwavering series of hooks and an unstoppable will become trademarks of his legacy.
Perhaps, the Bronx native's most famous performances were his series of fights with the legendary "Sugar" Ray Robinson, one of the most accomplished champions in boxing history. The two athletes squared off an astounding six times, which saw Robinson victorious in five of the contests. The brutal spectacles remain a topic of discuss among sports fans decades later. The most well known and final LaMotta/Robinson match-up took place in 1951 in front of nearly 15,000 fans at Chicago stadium. "Sugar" Ray landed vicious combinations and staggered his opponent, but LaMotta showed incredible toughness, refusing to hit the canvas. Thankfully, the referee rescued the Bronx Bull in the thirteenth round, which saw a bloody and bruised former champion draped across the ring ropes in a scene that became an iconic image of his career.
Controversy followed the "Raging Bull" even outside of the squared circle, both personally and professionally. A rising middleweight contender by the mid-1940s, he agreed to throw a fight with Billy Fox in November of 1947 so that the mafia would use its connections to secure him an eventual title shot. Less than two years later, he did get a shot at the title, defeating Marcel Carden to win the championship in June 1949. When he dropped the belt to Robinson in the previously mentioned final fight of their series, he moved to light heavyweight for the remainder of his career. The ring wars with Robinson appeared to take their toll on him, as his venture to the next weight class yielded mixed results. In late 1952, he was knocked down for the first time in his career during a losing effort against Danny Nardico. He took a year off to recover from injuries before he had a pair of wins that led to a debated split decision loss to Billy Kilgore.
He retired from the ring in 1954 with a record of 83-19-4 during his career.
Post-fighting, LaMotta used his rugged charisma to run night clubs and appeared as a stage performer as well. In 1957, he was arrested when it was discovered that underage girls were allowed admission to a night club he ran, and he served six months on a chain gang. After his release, he continued to work in show business, appearing in over a dozen films. He made a cameo in the Paul Newman classic "The Hustler," and made numerous television appearances.
In 1960, he was asked to testify at senate hearings to investigate the mafia's influence on boxing. The former champion explained how he threw the Fox fight in exchange for a title shot.
His 1970 autobiography is what led to the production of the classic film a decade later. LaMotta trained Robert De Niro in preparation for the film, and the actor won an Academy Award for his tremendous on-screen performance. "Raging Bull" took a look at the brutality of LaMotta's life from all aspects. In many ways, the major success of the film renewed his popularity and introduced him to another generation of fans.
In the years since Scorsese's masterpiece was released, Jake LaMotta became a fixture on the autograph circuit, often telling the stories of the ring wars of his boxing career. He also published several more books that told in-depth stories of his bouts with Ray Robinson. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Jake LaMotta was certainly a complex individual, his decisions in his personal life were questionable, while his dedication to fighting was admirable. Thankfully, he seemed to find some type of peace later in life as an elder statesman of the sports world.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
The career of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
I can't find the words to accurately express the sadness about the news that the legendary Bobby "The Brain" Heenan passed away last week at the age of 73. The conclusion of his life came after numerous health problems that began after he was diagnosed with throat cancer over 15 years ago. The terrible illness and the harsh treatments that had to be used to combat it drastically changed his appearance over the years, including the damage it did it his jaw. It was truly heart breaking that the series of health problems took away his trademark verbal gifts. But, in a true display that spoke volumes to his character and remarkable strength, even cancer couldn't take away the wit or the will of "The Brain."
Long before he become one of the most beloved and admired figures in sports entertainment by both fans and his contemporaries, a young Bobby grew up in Chicago, where he watched the golden era of professional wrestling on television. In his early teenage years, he dropped out of school to work in an effort to help support his family. One of his early jobs was working for Dick The Bruiser, the grizzled veteran that ran part of the Chicago territory. Heenan sold programs and concessions at events in his hometown until 1965 when he started inside the squared circle as "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. Along with flying around the ring as a wrestler, the villainous Heenan also managed names like Blackjack Lanza, a rugged athlete that saw his stock rise after he was paired with the manager.
In 1974, now known as "The Brain," he began working for Verne Gagne in the American Wrestling Association, one of the most well known leagues at the time. He was booked as the advisor to Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens, two legendary grapplers that became a tremendous team. In one of the most memorable moments in the organization's history, while The Brain was given a Pro Wrestling Illustrated managerial award, Stevens took exception to Heenan's pushy antics. Stevens waffled Bobby with a punch that sent him flying for one of his tremendous bumps and then the trophy was smashed. After that, Heenan continued to manage Bockwinkel, an athlete with exceptional technical ability that made him what most consider the definitive AWA champion.
After nearly a decade working the mid-west for Gagne, Bobby saw the industry shift with the power of cable and Vince McMahon's ability to capitalize on it. Hulk Hogan, Verne's top star, left the AWA in 1983. Gagne didn't recognize the change in the business and was too far the times to keep pace with the WWF. In 1984, Heenan gave his notice to the AWA and worked his remaining schedule before he arrived in the WWF to manage another former AWA star, Jesse Ventura. "The Body" and "The Brain" would've been a stellar combination, but shortly after the pair were assembled, Ventura was forced into an abrupt retirement after a health scare from blood clots.
In 1985, Heenan joined Big John Studd in a notable feud with Andre The Giant that culminated in a match at Wrestlemania. He also played a role in the main event the next Wrestlemania when he managed King Kong Bundy in a steel cage to challenge Hulk Hogan for the championship. The following year, he played a key role in arguably the biggest match of the 80s when he guided the heel turn of Andre The Giant to attempt to win Hogan's championship in front of a record-setting crowd of 93,000 fans at Wrestlemania III in the Pontiac Silver Dome. Make no mistake, it wasn't a coincidence that Bobby was booked for these storylines, and it showed the the confidence that the office had in his ability to add to major bouts. Around the same time, he worked alongside his close friend Gorilla Monsoon to host "Prime Time Wrestling," and the classic interaction between them are fan favorite moments.
By 1991, a neck injury he sustained in Japan in 1983 led to the conclusion of his managerial career, prompting his last angle to be the introduction of Ric Flair as the "real world champion" in the WWF. Flair, who was the WCW titleholder when he left the promotion, made an anticipated arrival to the WWF. Again, it was no coincidence that Heenan was assigned an angle of this importance and he helped make the storyline as memorable as it was at the time. In fact, Heenan's call along with Gorilla Monsoon of the Royal Rumble match that saw Flair win the WWF title in 1992 is regarded as some of the best commentary work of all time. In late 1993, after almost 30 years in the industry, Heenan decided he wanted to spend more time with his family and mutually agreed to finish his WWF run. In a nice moment, his longtime friend, Monsoon was the authority figure that threw him out of the building on Monday Night Raw for his storyline departure.
Just a few weeks after news of his WWF deal expiring, Heenan was offered a contract with WCW, where he started in early 1994. The Turner deal offered The Brain a reduced schedule that allowed him to spend time with his family, a lucrative contract, and health insurance benefits. For almost seven years, Bobby continued his work as an announcer, adding to Nitro and pay-per-view events. His release from the company in late 2000 was seen as a cost-cutting measure when the organization was on the brink of collapse.
After WCW folded, Heenan and Mean Gene Okerlund made a surprise return to the WWF at Wrestlemania in 2001 when they provided commentary for the gimmick battle royal that saw many former stars appear to an enthusiastic response from the live crowd. Shortly after his cameo at Wrestlemania XVII, Heenan was diagnosed with throat cancer. When he resurfaced on WWE TV for the Hall of Fame in 2004, his appearance had changed drastically as a result of the radiation treatments for the illness. Still, even thinner and somewhat frail from the harsh cancer treatments, Bobby stole the show, providing a memorable acceptance speech that earned him a standing ovation. In a nice moment, "The Brain" said a tearful tribute to his late friend, Gorllia Monsoon, who died in 1999 after his own battle with cancer.
Just two years later, Bobby appeared at the HOF again, this time to induct Mulligan and Lanza, The Blackjacks. It was no surprise that "The Brain" once again stole the show with a memorable speech. I was actually in attendance at the Hall of Fame ceremony at the Rosemont Horizon, and for Wrestlemania 22 at the All State Arena. The entire weekend was an experience, and getting the privilege to see "The Brain" live really was one of the highlights of the trip. In 2010, the WWE released a DVD on Heenan's career, which spotlighted his many accomplishments, the admiration of his peers, and the strength he displayed during his illness.
Sadly, in recent years, Heenan continued to suffer from the effects of the radiation treatments. It was tragic that the verbal ability that he was well known for during his legendary career was taken away from him. Still, The Brain enjoyed working the convention circuit as a way to meet fans and see his peers. As a credit to his undeniable ability to entertain, he often used non-verbal acts to get a laugh from those in attendance. It was heart breaking to see the legendary manager in such a deteriorated physical state, but the look in his eyes told you that his wit was still sharp. Unfortunately, news of falls and fractures were common for him in the past two years.
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan had a career that spanned four decades and along the way he entertained in every role he played in the industry. As a manager, commentator, even part-timer wrestler, Heenan was tremendous. His skills, timing, and verbal ability were top notch. Quite simply, Bobby Heenan was the greatest manager of all time and one of the most entertaining figures in the history of the business.
Long before he become one of the most beloved and admired figures in sports entertainment by both fans and his contemporaries, a young Bobby grew up in Chicago, where he watched the golden era of professional wrestling on television. In his early teenage years, he dropped out of school to work in an effort to help support his family. One of his early jobs was working for Dick The Bruiser, the grizzled veteran that ran part of the Chicago territory. Heenan sold programs and concessions at events in his hometown until 1965 when he started inside the squared circle as "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. Along with flying around the ring as a wrestler, the villainous Heenan also managed names like Blackjack Lanza, a rugged athlete that saw his stock rise after he was paired with the manager.
In 1974, now known as "The Brain," he began working for Verne Gagne in the American Wrestling Association, one of the most well known leagues at the time. He was booked as the advisor to Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens, two legendary grapplers that became a tremendous team. In one of the most memorable moments in the organization's history, while The Brain was given a Pro Wrestling Illustrated managerial award, Stevens took exception to Heenan's pushy antics. Stevens waffled Bobby with a punch that sent him flying for one of his tremendous bumps and then the trophy was smashed. After that, Heenan continued to manage Bockwinkel, an athlete with exceptional technical ability that made him what most consider the definitive AWA champion.
After nearly a decade working the mid-west for Gagne, Bobby saw the industry shift with the power of cable and Vince McMahon's ability to capitalize on it. Hulk Hogan, Verne's top star, left the AWA in 1983. Gagne didn't recognize the change in the business and was too far the times to keep pace with the WWF. In 1984, Heenan gave his notice to the AWA and worked his remaining schedule before he arrived in the WWF to manage another former AWA star, Jesse Ventura. "The Body" and "The Brain" would've been a stellar combination, but shortly after the pair were assembled, Ventura was forced into an abrupt retirement after a health scare from blood clots.
In 1985, Heenan joined Big John Studd in a notable feud with Andre The Giant that culminated in a match at Wrestlemania. He also played a role in the main event the next Wrestlemania when he managed King Kong Bundy in a steel cage to challenge Hulk Hogan for the championship. The following year, he played a key role in arguably the biggest match of the 80s when he guided the heel turn of Andre The Giant to attempt to win Hogan's championship in front of a record-setting crowd of 93,000 fans at Wrestlemania III in the Pontiac Silver Dome. Make no mistake, it wasn't a coincidence that Bobby was booked for these storylines, and it showed the the confidence that the office had in his ability to add to major bouts. Around the same time, he worked alongside his close friend Gorilla Monsoon to host "Prime Time Wrestling," and the classic interaction between them are fan favorite moments.
By 1991, a neck injury he sustained in Japan in 1983 led to the conclusion of his managerial career, prompting his last angle to be the introduction of Ric Flair as the "real world champion" in the WWF. Flair, who was the WCW titleholder when he left the promotion, made an anticipated arrival to the WWF. Again, it was no coincidence that Heenan was assigned an angle of this importance and he helped make the storyline as memorable as it was at the time. In fact, Heenan's call along with Gorilla Monsoon of the Royal Rumble match that saw Flair win the WWF title in 1992 is regarded as some of the best commentary work of all time. In late 1993, after almost 30 years in the industry, Heenan decided he wanted to spend more time with his family and mutually agreed to finish his WWF run. In a nice moment, his longtime friend, Monsoon was the authority figure that threw him out of the building on Monday Night Raw for his storyline departure.
Just a few weeks after news of his WWF deal expiring, Heenan was offered a contract with WCW, where he started in early 1994. The Turner deal offered The Brain a reduced schedule that allowed him to spend time with his family, a lucrative contract, and health insurance benefits. For almost seven years, Bobby continued his work as an announcer, adding to Nitro and pay-per-view events. His release from the company in late 2000 was seen as a cost-cutting measure when the organization was on the brink of collapse.
After WCW folded, Heenan and Mean Gene Okerlund made a surprise return to the WWF at Wrestlemania in 2001 when they provided commentary for the gimmick battle royal that saw many former stars appear to an enthusiastic response from the live crowd. Shortly after his cameo at Wrestlemania XVII, Heenan was diagnosed with throat cancer. When he resurfaced on WWE TV for the Hall of Fame in 2004, his appearance had changed drastically as a result of the radiation treatments for the illness. Still, even thinner and somewhat frail from the harsh cancer treatments, Bobby stole the show, providing a memorable acceptance speech that earned him a standing ovation. In a nice moment, "The Brain" said a tearful tribute to his late friend, Gorllia Monsoon, who died in 1999 after his own battle with cancer.
Just two years later, Bobby appeared at the HOF again, this time to induct Mulligan and Lanza, The Blackjacks. It was no surprise that "The Brain" once again stole the show with a memorable speech. I was actually in attendance at the Hall of Fame ceremony at the Rosemont Horizon, and for Wrestlemania 22 at the All State Arena. The entire weekend was an experience, and getting the privilege to see "The Brain" live really was one of the highlights of the trip. In 2010, the WWE released a DVD on Heenan's career, which spotlighted his many accomplishments, the admiration of his peers, and the strength he displayed during his illness.
Sadly, in recent years, Heenan continued to suffer from the effects of the radiation treatments. It was tragic that the verbal ability that he was well known for during his legendary career was taken away from him. Still, The Brain enjoyed working the convention circuit as a way to meet fans and see his peers. As a credit to his undeniable ability to entertain, he often used non-verbal acts to get a laugh from those in attendance. It was heart breaking to see the legendary manager in such a deteriorated physical state, but the look in his eyes told you that his wit was still sharp. Unfortunately, news of falls and fractures were common for him in the past two years.
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan had a career that spanned four decades and along the way he entertained in every role he played in the industry. As a manager, commentator, even part-timer wrestler, Heenan was tremendous. His skills, timing, and verbal ability were top notch. Quite simply, Bobby Heenan was the greatest manager of all time and one of the most entertaining figures in the history of the business.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin
Last night, the biggest fight in boxing took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The match-up, one that many anticipated, provided fans with the opportunity to see arguably the best two pound-for-pound fighters in the sport square off to determine a unified middleweight champion. Undoubtedly, Gennady Golovkin vs. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was the latest addition to a banner year for boxing, a year that proved that the once stagnant sport can generate a buzz among the main stream public when bouts are made that fans want to watch.
In fact, this year might be the first in past decade that boxing is definitively ahead of mixed martial arts with the amount of anticipated bout delivered. Not surprisingly, the surge in popularity of mixed martial arts, and more specifically when the UFC took a considerable piece of the pay-per-view pie with names like Chuck Liddel, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, and others, was what prompted boxing promoters to make an organized effort to rejuvenate the sport. As is always the case, when money was left on the table, suddenly management was able to get fights signed. Along with that, the Premier Boxing Championship series, an experiment that yielded mixed results thus far, was at least an attempt to give some names more main stream exposure. Perhaps the most direct exposure to the general public was the recent trio of fights that aired on ESPN, including the dramatic Manny Pacquiao/Jeff Horn fight, a contest that generated an average of 3.1 million viewers for the network. With an increase in sports coverage from nearly every media outlet, ESPN had a well-documented dip in viewership, and a much-criticized mass layoff of many employees. The network needed the ratings and boxing needed the exposure so it was a win-win for everyone.
The pair of thrilling Kovalev-Ward bouts, the heavyweight slug fest of Jousha/Kiltchkso, and another Deontay Wilder KO all made headlines within the genre. So, why did boxing repeat the same mistake that hindered its progress for decades?
Canelo, the 27-year-old protege, is arguably the most popular fighter in the sport, bringing with him the dedicated Latino fan base. Ironically, his opponent Saturday night, is also extremely popular with the Hispanic fans because of his Mexican-influenced style by trainer Abel Sanchez. While Alvarez might be the most technically skilled in boxing, many consider Triple G the most dangerous fighter in the sport today. The two athletes went back and fourth over the course of twelve solid rounds, a path that saw the narrative of the bout shift on more than one occasion. Quite simply, this was an entertaining prize fight that is a prime example of the display in the ring when the top two competitors sign for a contest.
Golovkin used his trademark jab often while Alvarez landed counter punches. As the bout progressed, Triple G displayed his iron chin, walking through Canelo's punches and pressuring the younger athlete. The native of Kazakhstan won the majority of the rounds in the middle of the contest with a constant series of combinations. In the latter stages, Alvarez's corner wisely told him that he needed the last three rounds to keep it close on the score cards. The Mexican superstar surged toward the conclusion of the bout, fighting with a sense of purpose in the final rounds. Clearly, he acknowledged that he might've been behind on the cards. The dramatic final bell saw the fighters embrace in a show of respect, and viewers anticipated the decision.
So, how exactly did this contest become so tainted?
In truth, I had the fight scored a draw because of Alvarez's ability to probably secure the last three rounds. Still, it's very logical to see a two or three round difference depending on prospective. Official judge Don Trella scored it 114-114, a total that I obviously agree with because I calculated the same score as I watched the live fight. Dave Moretti had it 115-113 for Golovkin. Again, as I said, that is a completely possible score, especially depending on the view of effective punching, effective aggression, etc. Somehow, Adalaide Byrd saw it 118-110 for Alvarez, which translates to awarding Golovkin just two rounds.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! WHAT FIGHT DID ADALAIDE BYRD ACTUALLY WATCH?!
If she had awarded the contest to Canelo by anywhere close to a logical margin then this draw doesn't effect the conversation about a great fight. However, instead of discussing the classic prize fight that Triple G and Alvarez had on Saturday night, the narrative is strictly about the corrupt judging in boxing. In many ways, Adalaide Byrd ruined the perception of this fight and took the focus away from the tremendous effort that both competitors showed in the ring. Once again, just as in many years in the past, the discussion of boxing is around the same corruption that plagued the sport for decades. Despite the great fights this year, the biggest spotlight on the sport will focus on one judge's illogical score card.
Adaladie Byrd should never judge a professional fight of any importance ever again, but it wouldn't be too surprising if she's sitting ringside to total the score cards for the rematch next year because those are the politics of boxing. Six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions in 2002 and he is the promoter for Saul Alvarez. Canelo is the promotional organization's top star, earning the company major cash on his way to become the most popular Mexican fighter in boxing, a spot previously held by De La Hoya himself. Make no mistake, Golden Boy Promotions wants to protect the golden goose. Oscar promoted the Canelo/Triple G fight, which would appear to be a conflict since he has a literal vested interest in one of the competitors, but it's business as usual for boxing.
It's ironic that De La Hoya, a gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics, called the Mayweather/McGregor spectacle last month a disgrace to boxing, because you can bet that he will gleefully promote the Canelo/Triple G rematch and justify the corrupt score card to sell another pay-per-view card. Let's be honest here, De La Hoya's complaints had nothing to do with the integrity of boxing, but rather his concern that the UFC star's boxing debut just a few weeks before a Golden Boy card would take a piece of the pay-per-view pie. If Oscar had a chance to make some cash from Mayweather vs. McGregor, his opinion would be very different. The reality is, Triple G/Canelo was going to sell to boxing fans because it was the bout with substance, not just sizzle. At the same time, Mayweather and McGregor made the right business decision and put an entertainment spectacle on pay-per-view that made money for everyone involved.
Perhaps Oscar should make sure his own cards are legitimate before he criticizes someone's venture. You can't blame Alvarez for this either, he fought a very dangerous opponent, and he didn't score the fight. The bottom line is, during a year when it looked as though boxing was going to rebuild itself, the corruption that has always played a role made headlines again. It's very disappointing that instead of the discussion of Canleo and Triple G's action packed fight, the headlines are about Adalaide Byrd's corrupt score card.
In fact, this year might be the first in past decade that boxing is definitively ahead of mixed martial arts with the amount of anticipated bout delivered. Not surprisingly, the surge in popularity of mixed martial arts, and more specifically when the UFC took a considerable piece of the pay-per-view pie with names like Chuck Liddel, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, and others, was what prompted boxing promoters to make an organized effort to rejuvenate the sport. As is always the case, when money was left on the table, suddenly management was able to get fights signed. Along with that, the Premier Boxing Championship series, an experiment that yielded mixed results thus far, was at least an attempt to give some names more main stream exposure. Perhaps the most direct exposure to the general public was the recent trio of fights that aired on ESPN, including the dramatic Manny Pacquiao/Jeff Horn fight, a contest that generated an average of 3.1 million viewers for the network. With an increase in sports coverage from nearly every media outlet, ESPN had a well-documented dip in viewership, and a much-criticized mass layoff of many employees. The network needed the ratings and boxing needed the exposure so it was a win-win for everyone.
The pair of thrilling Kovalev-Ward bouts, the heavyweight slug fest of Jousha/Kiltchkso, and another Deontay Wilder KO all made headlines within the genre. So, why did boxing repeat the same mistake that hindered its progress for decades?
Canelo, the 27-year-old protege, is arguably the most popular fighter in the sport, bringing with him the dedicated Latino fan base. Ironically, his opponent Saturday night, is also extremely popular with the Hispanic fans because of his Mexican-influenced style by trainer Abel Sanchez. While Alvarez might be the most technically skilled in boxing, many consider Triple G the most dangerous fighter in the sport today. The two athletes went back and fourth over the course of twelve solid rounds, a path that saw the narrative of the bout shift on more than one occasion. Quite simply, this was an entertaining prize fight that is a prime example of the display in the ring when the top two competitors sign for a contest.
Golovkin used his trademark jab often while Alvarez landed counter punches. As the bout progressed, Triple G displayed his iron chin, walking through Canelo's punches and pressuring the younger athlete. The native of Kazakhstan won the majority of the rounds in the middle of the contest with a constant series of combinations. In the latter stages, Alvarez's corner wisely told him that he needed the last three rounds to keep it close on the score cards. The Mexican superstar surged toward the conclusion of the bout, fighting with a sense of purpose in the final rounds. Clearly, he acknowledged that he might've been behind on the cards. The dramatic final bell saw the fighters embrace in a show of respect, and viewers anticipated the decision.
So, how exactly did this contest become so tainted?
In truth, I had the fight scored a draw because of Alvarez's ability to probably secure the last three rounds. Still, it's very logical to see a two or three round difference depending on prospective. Official judge Don Trella scored it 114-114, a total that I obviously agree with because I calculated the same score as I watched the live fight. Dave Moretti had it 115-113 for Golovkin. Again, as I said, that is a completely possible score, especially depending on the view of effective punching, effective aggression, etc. Somehow, Adalaide Byrd saw it 118-110 for Alvarez, which translates to awarding Golovkin just two rounds.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! WHAT FIGHT DID ADALAIDE BYRD ACTUALLY WATCH?!
If she had awarded the contest to Canelo by anywhere close to a logical margin then this draw doesn't effect the conversation about a great fight. However, instead of discussing the classic prize fight that Triple G and Alvarez had on Saturday night, the narrative is strictly about the corrupt judging in boxing. In many ways, Adalaide Byrd ruined the perception of this fight and took the focus away from the tremendous effort that both competitors showed in the ring. Once again, just as in many years in the past, the discussion of boxing is around the same corruption that plagued the sport for decades. Despite the great fights this year, the biggest spotlight on the sport will focus on one judge's illogical score card.
Adaladie Byrd should never judge a professional fight of any importance ever again, but it wouldn't be too surprising if she's sitting ringside to total the score cards for the rematch next year because those are the politics of boxing. Six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions in 2002 and he is the promoter for Saul Alvarez. Canelo is the promotional organization's top star, earning the company major cash on his way to become the most popular Mexican fighter in boxing, a spot previously held by De La Hoya himself. Make no mistake, Golden Boy Promotions wants to protect the golden goose. Oscar promoted the Canelo/Triple G fight, which would appear to be a conflict since he has a literal vested interest in one of the competitors, but it's business as usual for boxing.
It's ironic that De La Hoya, a gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics, called the Mayweather/McGregor spectacle last month a disgrace to boxing, because you can bet that he will gleefully promote the Canelo/Triple G rematch and justify the corrupt score card to sell another pay-per-view card. Let's be honest here, De La Hoya's complaints had nothing to do with the integrity of boxing, but rather his concern that the UFC star's boxing debut just a few weeks before a Golden Boy card would take a piece of the pay-per-view pie. If Oscar had a chance to make some cash from Mayweather vs. McGregor, his opinion would be very different. The reality is, Triple G/Canelo was going to sell to boxing fans because it was the bout with substance, not just sizzle. At the same time, Mayweather and McGregor made the right business decision and put an entertainment spectacle on pay-per-view that made money for everyone involved.
Perhaps Oscar should make sure his own cards are legitimate before he criticizes someone's venture. You can't blame Alvarez for this either, he fought a very dangerous opponent, and he didn't score the fight. The bottom line is, during a year when it looked as though boxing was going to rebuild itself, the corruption that has always played a role made headlines again. It's very disappointing that instead of the discussion of Canleo and Triple G's action packed fight, the headlines are about Adalaide Byrd's corrupt score card.
Friday, September 15, 2017
ROH athletes help fan
Professional wrestling, the genre that combines a mixture of athleticism, drama, and theatrics, has thrilled audiences for decades. The sport that originated on the carnival circuit over a hundred years ago underwent an evolution as the years progressed, a metamorphosis that saw dimly lit buildings transformed into high-definition arenas. The fast-paced, hard-hitting style of Kenny Omega's stellar matches in 2017 is certainly very different from the legendary Ed "The Strangler" Lewis' grappling contests in 1917.
Still, the common theme within the wild world of sports entertainment is that it connects with the audience. Fans that flock to the venues to see a live show or those who anticipate a streaming event clamor to watch the larger than life personas paint on the canvas of the squared circle.
The human emotional expressed during a battle between heroes and villains is a key building block to any form of storytelling, an aspect that allows the unique art form of pro wrestling to identify with fans from every demographic. It also becomes a bonding experience for those that enjoy watching the spectacle inside the ring ropes together.
One such example is the Klaus family, Georgia natives that spend their quality time together watching an array of athletes pummel opponents to chase championships or demand vengeance. Everyone from John Cena and Bayley to Cody and the Bullet Club are favorites in their household.
"Me, my sister, and step dad all love wrestling. WWE, NJPW, ROH, it's just enjoyable," said Jonathan Jackson
The grappling action is a continuous source of entertainment for the close-knit family. However, the littlest fan of the house had a recent health scare when four-year-old Gabby was sent to the Intensive Care Unit after a serious asthma attack last week. She spent two full days under constant supervisor to monitor her breathing before she was moved to a regular room on her third day at the Augusta University Medical Center. Finally, she was allowed to go home after four days and still receives routine breathing treatments at home to fully recover.
During her time on oxygen while at the hospital, her uncle Jonathan reached out to one of the family's family stars, the Ring Of Honor world champion, Cody Rhodes, an athlete he met several times previously at various events, where former WWE star was always very polite. It was arranged that Cody's wife, the beautiful Brandi, recorded a "get well" video for her. Seeing one of her favorites from Youtube blogs immediately brightened up the tired toddler.
"My mom said she wasn't feeling well, but she told her who it was and showed her the video. My mom said the reaction was priceless. She was smiling and her mood just changed completely," Uncle Johnathan explained.
Gabby's aunt posted an update shortly before the little girl was allowed to return home that showed her with the trademark "Too Sweet" pose, a retro gesture that regained wild popularity from New Japan Pro Wrestling. The tremendously talented Cody Rhodes, and one half of one of the best tag teams in the world, The Young Bucks' Matt Jackson responded with well wishes. The adorable girl was even too much to resist for the finger-breaking villain Marty Scurll, who sent his hope for her speedy recovery.
Thankfully, Gabby is now back home, where she can continue to play with dozens of action figures in the living room while her family watches New Japan World or Monday Night Raw.
"She would come in the living room just to be with us. My mom isn't a fan of wrestling, and at first, Gabby would say she liked it because my mom didn't. It was cute. A few weeks later she would ask who people were, copy the chants, do the entrances, and watch videos on YouTube. She listens to the themes and loves watching videos of Brandi's video blog. Her favorites are Brandi Rhodes, Cody, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and AJ Styles," Johnathan said.
With the exception of using an inhaler in the future, four-year-old Gabby Klaus will make a full recovery. The asthma attack that landed her in the ICU would be a scary situation for anyone, especially for a toddler, but through the kindness of top notch athletes and the power of the social media platform, she had the chance to focus on well wishes from her favorite on-screen stars instead of a gloomy hospital room. These thoughtful and simple gestures made a total difference to Gabby and her family. Remember, this is just one example of the many things these competitors have done to be helpful outside of the ring. More than anything, this is an example of the power of professional wrestling and the truly positive effect it can have on everyone even outside of the squared circle.
Still, the common theme within the wild world of sports entertainment is that it connects with the audience. Fans that flock to the venues to see a live show or those who anticipate a streaming event clamor to watch the larger than life personas paint on the canvas of the squared circle.
The human emotional expressed during a battle between heroes and villains is a key building block to any form of storytelling, an aspect that allows the unique art form of pro wrestling to identify with fans from every demographic. It also becomes a bonding experience for those that enjoy watching the spectacle inside the ring ropes together.
One such example is the Klaus family, Georgia natives that spend their quality time together watching an array of athletes pummel opponents to chase championships or demand vengeance. Everyone from John Cena and Bayley to Cody and the Bullet Club are favorites in their household.
"Me, my sister, and step dad all love wrestling. WWE, NJPW, ROH, it's just enjoyable," said Jonathan Jackson
The grappling action is a continuous source of entertainment for the close-knit family. However, the littlest fan of the house had a recent health scare when four-year-old Gabby was sent to the Intensive Care Unit after a serious asthma attack last week. She spent two full days under constant supervisor to monitor her breathing before she was moved to a regular room on her third day at the Augusta University Medical Center. Finally, she was allowed to go home after four days and still receives routine breathing treatments at home to fully recover.
During her time on oxygen while at the hospital, her uncle Jonathan reached out to one of the family's family stars, the Ring Of Honor world champion, Cody Rhodes, an athlete he met several times previously at various events, where former WWE star was always very polite. It was arranged that Cody's wife, the beautiful Brandi, recorded a "get well" video for her. Seeing one of her favorites from Youtube blogs immediately brightened up the tired toddler.
"My mom said she wasn't feeling well, but she told her who it was and showed her the video. My mom said the reaction was priceless. She was smiling and her mood just changed completely," Uncle Johnathan explained.
Gabby's aunt posted an update shortly before the little girl was allowed to return home that showed her with the trademark "Too Sweet" pose, a retro gesture that regained wild popularity from New Japan Pro Wrestling. The tremendously talented Cody Rhodes, and one half of one of the best tag teams in the world, The Young Bucks' Matt Jackson responded with well wishes. The adorable girl was even too much to resist for the finger-breaking villain Marty Scurll, who sent his hope for her speedy recovery.
Thankfully, Gabby is now back home, where she can continue to play with dozens of action figures in the living room while her family watches New Japan World or Monday Night Raw.
"She would come in the living room just to be with us. My mom isn't a fan of wrestling, and at first, Gabby would say she liked it because my mom didn't. It was cute. A few weeks later she would ask who people were, copy the chants, do the entrances, and watch videos on YouTube. She listens to the themes and loves watching videos of Brandi's video blog. Her favorites are Brandi Rhodes, Cody, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and AJ Styles," Johnathan said.
With the exception of using an inhaler in the future, four-year-old Gabby Klaus will make a full recovery. The asthma attack that landed her in the ICU would be a scary situation for anyone, especially for a toddler, but through the kindness of top notch athletes and the power of the social media platform, she had the chance to focus on well wishes from her favorite on-screen stars instead of a gloomy hospital room. These thoughtful and simple gestures made a total difference to Gabby and her family. Remember, this is just one example of the many things these competitors have done to be helpful outside of the ring. More than anything, this is an example of the power of professional wrestling and the truly positive effect it can have on everyone even outside of the squared circle.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Will Anthem sell GFW?
Last week, just days after I wrote about the lack of a brand or place for Global Force Wrestling on the current wrestling landscape, there was another reported shift in management. Jeff Jarrett, NWA-TNA and GFW founder, took an indefinite leave of absence from the company. This move took place less than two weeks after the AAA Triplemania show, an event that was surrounded in controversy. Sexy Star refused to release an arm bar and intentionally injured Rosemary in one of the most unprofessional acts ever seen inside of the square circle. It goes without saying, Sexy Star should be banned from the business and never employed by a professional organization again. Along with that, Jeff Jarrett, who had a series of questionable appearances in recent years, worked a battle royal at the AAA event and looked to be intoxicated. Similar incidents occurred at smaller independent shows as well, including Double J allegedly being intoxicated at an IWA Mid-South show in 2014, and at a Wrestlecon event in 2016 that saw Karen Jarrett spit on fans while an impaired Jeff Jarrett argued with security.
Double J undoubtedly had an accomplished career and is apart of one of the most notable wrestling families in the history of the sport. This isn't a jab at him. I actually met Jarrett twice, once when I was younger and then again several years later at a TNA house show in 2011. He was very polite both times so I sincerely hope that he can recovery from any problems.
That said, "the show must go on" and the situation doesn't put GFW or its future in a favorable view. In fact, after Jarrett's dismissal, rumors began to swirl that Anthem, the parent company of Canada's Fight Network, was ready to sell the promotion to avoid the debt associated with the project.
Anthem's Ed Nordholm, president of Impact, made an appearance on the Wrestling Observer radio show last week to address the speculation. Of course, Nordholm denied any reports of a possible sale and claimed that Anthem planned to invest into GFW. Make no mistake about it, if a sale is in the cards, nobody within Anthem will confirm it until the agreement is finalized.
In the interview, Nordhom said the wrestling business was, "more complicated" than he thought it would be when Anthem bought Impact. He also sounded unsure of himself when he answered questions with very generic responses that lacked any major detail. Most importantly, the president of GFW didn't explain how the organization plans to monetize its product in any realistic way. He also said that he wasn't a fan of wrestling previously, and there are many former WCW figures that could fit that description as well, which didn't benefit the Turner company in the 90s.
Quite simply, Nordholm doesn't sounds like he actually knows how to run a wrestling promotion or the nature of the business. That's not to say that he's not working hard, either, but rather the reality that he simply might not have the background to progress an organization in sports entertainment. The bottom line is, within a year of the purchase organization, and six months of the rebranding, Global Force continues to be surrounded in controversy.
When Anthem bought the promotion at the beginning of this year, they essentially bought the ability to have a TV time slot in the United States, which is a valuable asset, and the tape library. They didn't buy an established brand. The entity they purchased was in debt to a variety of sources, including a tax lien from Tennessee. There was also a completely negative perception of TNA so what exactly did Anthem expect when they signed a deal to buy the company?
There was a conference call for the group last week when they informed the public of several developments within the organization, a move that was probably an attempt to garner some positive PR more than anything else. However, while some of those announcements might seem like progressive steps on the surface, a more realistic look puts the situation into the proper perspective. One of the major aspects of the Anthem business plan is the launch of the Global Wrestling Network, a streaming service that will basically be the GFW version of WWE's network. In theory, this is a solid idea because it attempts to use the TNA video library, perhaps the most valuable commodity that Anthem owns under the GFW umbrella, to generate revenue. At $7.99 a month, the service will give fans the chance to watch the extensive TNA footage that spans back to 2002 and contains some of the greatest matches of the decade from AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, etc. The problem is that with such a limited audience currently watching the product (more on that later), how many fans will actually pay $8 a month to watch more TNA? Keep in mind, there are some classic matches in the TNA vault, but there are also the angles that garnered the organization a lot of criticism as well. Does anyone want to pay to watch the Russo angle that saw Samoa Joe get kidnapped by ninjas? Again, to put it in prospective, the WWE Network has roughly 1.6 million subscribers, and still offers a free month to new subscribers to attempt to boost numbers. Remember, those 1.6 million subscribers are a result of WWE's global TV to "sell" fans on the streaming service. Considering the amount of TV the WWE produces, the thousands of hours of content available on the WWE Network, the two hours of weekly Impact, and independent events, are a substantial amount of fans really going to pay for a GFW streaming site?
Sure, there are diehard fans that will watch anything professional wrestling, but with more entertainment options than ever before, even an $8 network isn't an automatic sell. If WWE cuts back on network production costs to ensure a profit and still try to boost numbers with a free month, how exactly is Anthem going to sell fans a pay service? Low ratings are an indication that people aren't watching Impact on free TV so there's no realistic reason to expect a profitable online service. For example, Impact last week garnered 227,000 viewers, one of the lowest ratings of the year. This is why the another announcement from the conference call that Anthem signed for another year on Pop TV isn't exactly good news. Granted, it confirms that Impact will have a television presence in the United States, but as I wrote last week, Pop TV just doesn't have the TV clearance that will make it possible for the company to make a profit.
The bottom line is, will Anthem sell Global Force?
During the Observer interview, Nordholm said that a sale is not a consideration, but what else is he going to say? Despite the public comments and Anthem's multi-million dollar corporation, the Fight Network isn't going to continuously fund a project that doesn't make a profit. Nordholm said himself that Impact isn't profitable yet. The GFW project is based upon capitalism so even if there isn't a timetable for profit, there will unquestionable be a time when Anthem decides it's not worth the debt. At the same time, any "fans" that somehow look forward to a potential Global Force shut down are extremely misguided. Nobody, not even the WWE benefits from one national company. Sinclair Broadcasting owns Ring Of Honor, but Sinclair is in the television business, not the wrestling business. There's nothing wrong with that because Sinclair uses ROH as an original content provider and at the same time ROH has a stable future. Sinclair knows the ROH niche and also knows that it would be an extremely expensive venture to attempt to compete directly with WWE. The point being, if Global Force finally closes its doors, there will be talented performers without a place to work and it also limits opportunities for those within the industry. If anything, the entire TNA debacle proves just how difficult it is for a national sports entertainment entity to establish itself. The WWE has such a major market share that it would be exponentially more difficult to launch a major promotion now than it was even in years prior.
The key will be if Global Force can became a profitable venture because that's ultimately what will keep them in business. The basis for anything nationally in the sports entertainment genre is the TV platform because everything is sold based on that. The ad revenue is based on ratings, the ability to build angles to "sell" pay-per-views, advertise live events, and establishing stars to use to generate revenue in every aspect of the company are all things that are marketed through television. As I said, I don't think Pop TV is a realistic network to use for GFW to become profitable so at least for now the answer about a possible sale depends on how much money Anthem is willing to spend to keep Global Force Wrestling in business, because right now, there's no realistic indication that the company will become profitable on the Pop TV network.
Double J undoubtedly had an accomplished career and is apart of one of the most notable wrestling families in the history of the sport. This isn't a jab at him. I actually met Jarrett twice, once when I was younger and then again several years later at a TNA house show in 2011. He was very polite both times so I sincerely hope that he can recovery from any problems.
That said, "the show must go on" and the situation doesn't put GFW or its future in a favorable view. In fact, after Jarrett's dismissal, rumors began to swirl that Anthem, the parent company of Canada's Fight Network, was ready to sell the promotion to avoid the debt associated with the project.
Anthem's Ed Nordholm, president of Impact, made an appearance on the Wrestling Observer radio show last week to address the speculation. Of course, Nordholm denied any reports of a possible sale and claimed that Anthem planned to invest into GFW. Make no mistake about it, if a sale is in the cards, nobody within Anthem will confirm it until the agreement is finalized.
In the interview, Nordhom said the wrestling business was, "more complicated" than he thought it would be when Anthem bought Impact. He also sounded unsure of himself when he answered questions with very generic responses that lacked any major detail. Most importantly, the president of GFW didn't explain how the organization plans to monetize its product in any realistic way. He also said that he wasn't a fan of wrestling previously, and there are many former WCW figures that could fit that description as well, which didn't benefit the Turner company in the 90s.
Quite simply, Nordholm doesn't sounds like he actually knows how to run a wrestling promotion or the nature of the business. That's not to say that he's not working hard, either, but rather the reality that he simply might not have the background to progress an organization in sports entertainment. The bottom line is, within a year of the purchase organization, and six months of the rebranding, Global Force continues to be surrounded in controversy.
When Anthem bought the promotion at the beginning of this year, they essentially bought the ability to have a TV time slot in the United States, which is a valuable asset, and the tape library. They didn't buy an established brand. The entity they purchased was in debt to a variety of sources, including a tax lien from Tennessee. There was also a completely negative perception of TNA so what exactly did Anthem expect when they signed a deal to buy the company?
There was a conference call for the group last week when they informed the public of several developments within the organization, a move that was probably an attempt to garner some positive PR more than anything else. However, while some of those announcements might seem like progressive steps on the surface, a more realistic look puts the situation into the proper perspective. One of the major aspects of the Anthem business plan is the launch of the Global Wrestling Network, a streaming service that will basically be the GFW version of WWE's network. In theory, this is a solid idea because it attempts to use the TNA video library, perhaps the most valuable commodity that Anthem owns under the GFW umbrella, to generate revenue. At $7.99 a month, the service will give fans the chance to watch the extensive TNA footage that spans back to 2002 and contains some of the greatest matches of the decade from AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, etc. The problem is that with such a limited audience currently watching the product (more on that later), how many fans will actually pay $8 a month to watch more TNA? Keep in mind, there are some classic matches in the TNA vault, but there are also the angles that garnered the organization a lot of criticism as well. Does anyone want to pay to watch the Russo angle that saw Samoa Joe get kidnapped by ninjas? Again, to put it in prospective, the WWE Network has roughly 1.6 million subscribers, and still offers a free month to new subscribers to attempt to boost numbers. Remember, those 1.6 million subscribers are a result of WWE's global TV to "sell" fans on the streaming service. Considering the amount of TV the WWE produces, the thousands of hours of content available on the WWE Network, the two hours of weekly Impact, and independent events, are a substantial amount of fans really going to pay for a GFW streaming site?
Sure, there are diehard fans that will watch anything professional wrestling, but with more entertainment options than ever before, even an $8 network isn't an automatic sell. If WWE cuts back on network production costs to ensure a profit and still try to boost numbers with a free month, how exactly is Anthem going to sell fans a pay service? Low ratings are an indication that people aren't watching Impact on free TV so there's no realistic reason to expect a profitable online service. For example, Impact last week garnered 227,000 viewers, one of the lowest ratings of the year. This is why the another announcement from the conference call that Anthem signed for another year on Pop TV isn't exactly good news. Granted, it confirms that Impact will have a television presence in the United States, but as I wrote last week, Pop TV just doesn't have the TV clearance that will make it possible for the company to make a profit.
The bottom line is, will Anthem sell Global Force?
During the Observer interview, Nordholm said that a sale is not a consideration, but what else is he going to say? Despite the public comments and Anthem's multi-million dollar corporation, the Fight Network isn't going to continuously fund a project that doesn't make a profit. Nordholm said himself that Impact isn't profitable yet. The GFW project is based upon capitalism so even if there isn't a timetable for profit, there will unquestionable be a time when Anthem decides it's not worth the debt. At the same time, any "fans" that somehow look forward to a potential Global Force shut down are extremely misguided. Nobody, not even the WWE benefits from one national company. Sinclair Broadcasting owns Ring Of Honor, but Sinclair is in the television business, not the wrestling business. There's nothing wrong with that because Sinclair uses ROH as an original content provider and at the same time ROH has a stable future. Sinclair knows the ROH niche and also knows that it would be an extremely expensive venture to attempt to compete directly with WWE. The point being, if Global Force finally closes its doors, there will be talented performers without a place to work and it also limits opportunities for those within the industry. If anything, the entire TNA debacle proves just how difficult it is for a national sports entertainment entity to establish itself. The WWE has such a major market share that it would be exponentially more difficult to launch a major promotion now than it was even in years prior.
The key will be if Global Force can became a profitable venture because that's ultimately what will keep them in business. The basis for anything nationally in the sports entertainment genre is the TV platform because everything is sold based on that. The ad revenue is based on ratings, the ability to build angles to "sell" pay-per-views, advertise live events, and establishing stars to use to generate revenue in every aspect of the company are all things that are marketed through television. As I said, I don't think Pop TV is a realistic network to use for GFW to become profitable so at least for now the answer about a possible sale depends on how much money Anthem is willing to spend to keep Global Force Wrestling in business, because right now, there's no realistic indication that the company will become profitable on the Pop TV network.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Marti Belle drops an elbow on Alzheimer's
Just over a year ago, I penned an article about the career of the dynamic Dominican athlete, Marti Belle, who personified the ideology of the American dream. Details of the first-generation American's journey from the "wrestling club" she formed with her cousins as they watched all the wrestling they could during her youth in New York city to her eventual debut on national television gave readers an insight into how determined she was to succeed.
However, what was the foundation behind that motivation?
Long before Marti Belle grappled as apart of the trio of the Doll House or impressed a worldwide audience on the WWE network, Matribel Payano was a seven-year old little girl that arrived back in America after spending the majority of her childhood in the Dominican Republic with her family. Martina Sanchez, affectionately known as "Abuelita," ventured from her native country to the United States in hopes of providing future generations of her family with more opportunities. A resident for over 50 years, Abuelita Martina was always thoughtful of the well-being of others, which is why her time as an employee at a senior center for several years after she arrived in New York suited her perfectly.
When Marti arrived to live with her grandma in 1996, her Abuelita didn't realize just how important her generosity would be just two decades later. The enthusiastic wrestling fan eventually found the world famous Gleason's gym and learned the craft of professional wrestling, a series of events that led to traveling many places to perform, but the basis for that was the home that Mrs. Sanchez provided.
After a successful year and a half on the Total Nonstop Action roster, Belle was allowed to mutually depart from the company to seek greater opportunity, which she found shortly afterwards with Kansas City's National Wrasslin' League in late 2016. Aside from running events in various areas of Missouri, an area known for its history, NWL takes a modern approach to the business. Launched earlier this year, the organization is already featured on television in their local markets and provides a promising platform for talent. Full-time NWL employees are put on a salary and offered health benefits. The beautiful and articulate Marti Belle was contracted as the host of NWL events and social media, but still grapples in the ring. The exposure to the non-wrestling aspect of the industry was a valuable experience for her.
"I began working for the NWL in December, and it has been an amazing experience. It is the first time in my career, where I can say wrestling is my only job, and how I make a living. Not only am I making a living, but I am doing so with full benefits including health care which is a huge plus. It's also helped me so much with my career - taking on a backstage role has given me insight on a different part of this business. I feel like my promos and how comfortable I am in any situation in front of the camera has gotten even greater," she explained.
Unfortunately, around the same time that Marti reached a new level in her profession, Abuelita Martina's battle with Alzheimer's neared its end. Always a determined lady, Mrs. Sanchez lived with the disease for over twenty years, working at the senior center for the majority of that time until she retired because of the effects of the disease.
"I lost my grandmother this past December and it was one of the most difficult things I've had to endure. She was an amazing person, who gave her life to make sure I had a great life. I have been able to accomplish a lot of goals this year, which she unfortunately has not been here to see," Marti said.
As a tribute to Abuelita Martina, Marti sported a ribbon on her gear for her appearance in the Mae Young Classic on the WWE Network. But she also wanted to continue contributions toward Alzheimer's research and resources. As the sixth leading cause of death in the country, an estimated 5.5 million Americas are living with Alzheimer's disease. In response, Belle launched an online fundraiser in conjunction with the ALZ walk that will take place this Saturday in Sedalia, MO.
"Last year, I raised over a thousand dollars for the ALZ walk, but this year I set the goal so much higher because I knew that my family, friends and fans would come through. I am doing this to honor her," Belle said.
As donations have come from wrestlers and fans, Marti is nearing the goal she set, which she is hoping to surpass as donations will be accepted through the month of September. As an added bonus, every donation of at least $10 gains an entry into raffles for various wrestling prize packages that she put together for this campaign.
Martina Sanchez immigrated to the United States over five decades ago to give her family a better life. Considering Marti Belle's accomplishments on national television and worldwide on the WWE Network, Abuelita was certainly successful. As a tribute to Mrs. Sanchez, Marti is using her platform as an accomplished athlete to contribute to a good cause. As one of the most talented female competitors in the industry today, Marti certainly made Abuelita Martina proud, both for her contributions inside and outside of professional wrestling.
However, what was the foundation behind that motivation?
Long before Marti Belle grappled as apart of the trio of the Doll House or impressed a worldwide audience on the WWE network, Matribel Payano was a seven-year old little girl that arrived back in America after spending the majority of her childhood in the Dominican Republic with her family. Martina Sanchez, affectionately known as "Abuelita," ventured from her native country to the United States in hopes of providing future generations of her family with more opportunities. A resident for over 50 years, Abuelita Martina was always thoughtful of the well-being of others, which is why her time as an employee at a senior center for several years after she arrived in New York suited her perfectly.
When Marti arrived to live with her grandma in 1996, her Abuelita didn't realize just how important her generosity would be just two decades later. The enthusiastic wrestling fan eventually found the world famous Gleason's gym and learned the craft of professional wrestling, a series of events that led to traveling many places to perform, but the basis for that was the home that Mrs. Sanchez provided.
After a successful year and a half on the Total Nonstop Action roster, Belle was allowed to mutually depart from the company to seek greater opportunity, which she found shortly afterwards with Kansas City's National Wrasslin' League in late 2016. Aside from running events in various areas of Missouri, an area known for its history, NWL takes a modern approach to the business. Launched earlier this year, the organization is already featured on television in their local markets and provides a promising platform for talent. Full-time NWL employees are put on a salary and offered health benefits. The beautiful and articulate Marti Belle was contracted as the host of NWL events and social media, but still grapples in the ring. The exposure to the non-wrestling aspect of the industry was a valuable experience for her.
"I began working for the NWL in December, and it has been an amazing experience. It is the first time in my career, where I can say wrestling is my only job, and how I make a living. Not only am I making a living, but I am doing so with full benefits including health care which is a huge plus. It's also helped me so much with my career - taking on a backstage role has given me insight on a different part of this business. I feel like my promos and how comfortable I am in any situation in front of the camera has gotten even greater," she explained.
Unfortunately, around the same time that Marti reached a new level in her profession, Abuelita Martina's battle with Alzheimer's neared its end. Always a determined lady, Mrs. Sanchez lived with the disease for over twenty years, working at the senior center for the majority of that time until she retired because of the effects of the disease.
"I lost my grandmother this past December and it was one of the most difficult things I've had to endure. She was an amazing person, who gave her life to make sure I had a great life. I have been able to accomplish a lot of goals this year, which she unfortunately has not been here to see," Marti said.
As a tribute to Abuelita Martina, Marti sported a ribbon on her gear for her appearance in the Mae Young Classic on the WWE Network. But she also wanted to continue contributions toward Alzheimer's research and resources. As the sixth leading cause of death in the country, an estimated 5.5 million Americas are living with Alzheimer's disease. In response, Belle launched an online fundraiser in conjunction with the ALZ walk that will take place this Saturday in Sedalia, MO.
"Last year, I raised over a thousand dollars for the ALZ walk, but this year I set the goal so much higher because I knew that my family, friends and fans would come through. I am doing this to honor her," Belle said.
As donations have come from wrestlers and fans, Marti is nearing the goal she set, which she is hoping to surpass as donations will be accepted through the month of September. As an added bonus, every donation of at least $10 gains an entry into raffles for various wrestling prize packages that she put together for this campaign.
Martina Sanchez immigrated to the United States over five decades ago to give her family a better life. Considering Marti Belle's accomplishments on national television and worldwide on the WWE Network, Abuelita was certainly successful. As a tribute to Mrs. Sanchez, Marti is using her platform as an accomplished athlete to contribute to a good cause. As one of the most talented female competitors in the industry today, Marti certainly made Abuelita Martina proud, both for her contributions inside and outside of professional wrestling.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
What's the GFW audience?
Last week, I penned an article about the recent additions to the Global Force roster and discussed the "impact" there might be on the company. Despite the new ownership under the Anthem banner, very similar to Total Nonstop Action, Global Force Wrestling has yet to truly establish their identity within the genre.
That brings up the question, is there a place for GFW on the wrestling landscape?
When Jeff Jarrett and his dad, legendary promoter Jerry launched NWA-TNA on weekly pay-per-view in June of 2002, there was unquestionable a need for another major promotion in the United States. The previous year, Vince McMahon won the wrestling war of the 90s when he bought Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling, an organization with ties to the decades of history of the National Wrestling Alliance, for pennies on the dollar. Just a month after WCW shut down, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the renegade promotion that revolutionized the presentation of the business in America, filed for bankruptcy.
The market was flooded with established talent, and WWF only had a certain number of roster spots. In fact, one could argue that despite many of the biggest names from WCW deciding to stay home and collect a pay check for the duration of their Turner contract, the WWF actually still had too many wrestlers under contract to realistically feature on their various television shows in 2001. The flopped invasion angle didn't create a sense of optimism within the industry, and many wondered about the consequences of a monopoly.
Jeff Jarrett had left the World Wrestling Federation under less than favorable circumstances in 1999 when his contract expired while he was IC champion. Supposedly, he demanded a specific amount of money to drop the belt before he jumped to WCW. Obviously, that closed the door on a Double J return after the Turner organization folded.
Jarrett needed a place to work, and the industry needed an alternative, both for the fans and the performers. His family had promoted shows for decades, often on a shoestring budget so the initial project certainly had potential. In theory, a weekly pay-per-view show at $10 a month was a decent value because it gave the consumer four events for nearly the same price as the monthly WWE PPVs at the time. The problem was, there wasn't a way to realistically market or sell a promotion that fans hadn't heard of previously. It also made booking more difficult because there had to be a "selling point" every week to generate buys, as opposed to building an angle to sell on pay-per-view. As a result of the cost of broadcasting live each week, the NWA-TNA format couldn't sustain itself. Just four months after the launch, the group was on the brink of collapse before Dixie Carter convinced her dad, Bob Carter, the owner of Panda Energy to invest into the wrestling organization.
The ups and downs of the Carter era are well documented. In retrospect, what was the best chance for TNA to be successful?
It's a harsh reality, but history shows that there's usually a brief period for a sports entertainment entity to get off the ground. For example, ECW picked up from 1995 and was nationally recognized by 1997. The entire Turner era of WCW with its surge and collapse took roughly 12 years. The point being, there are critical points where an organization has the platform to make an impression on the viewing audience and that determines if fans buy what the organization is selling. Granted, there are different eras and the product evolves, but that leads to the critical points within the history of a company.
For Total Nonstop Action, the opportunity to make a major impression on a wrestling audience was its debut on Spike TV, the company's first national cable deal, in October of 2005. Sure, the group produced television for roughly a year for Fox Sports Network in a terrible time slot on Friday afternoon, but the Spike deal gave them main stream exposure. With the Ultimate Fighting Championship surging in popularity, viewers certainly tuned into the channel, and the aerial showcase of the X Division fit well with that demographic. While the reasons that the company never truly peaked are numerous, including the lack proper marketing, advertising, or booking, their roster at the time was probably at its best in terms of the ability to have the chance to get an audience to notice the product. AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, James Storm, and other TNA originals provided fresh faces with an alternative in-ring style. At the same time, The Dudley Boys, Sting, Kurt Angle, and Christian were just a few of the names that brought star power during the years that followed.
The time span that TNA had its best chance to really propel itself up the ladder was probably from 2005 through 2008, a time period that saw some of the most spectacular matches of the decade delivered from a variety of athletes. Abyss and AJ Styles had a tremendous cage match that showcased both wrestlers as main event caliber stars. That's just one of many quality matches that took place under the TNA banner. The reasons why the major boost in numbers never launched are well documented and another discussion for another time, but the point is, the group had the national platform on cable TV and the roster to make progress toward competition in the industry. Ultimately, Dixie Carter wasn't' able to capitalize on the opportunity the Spike time slot and roster provided for the organization. If anything, it underscores how important presentation is from a wrestling prospective, and how critical effective marketing and advertising are from the aspect of business. The pieces of the puzzle were there, but were never assembled quite correctly. The numbers told the story, Impact ratings on Spike were stagnant and pay-per-view buy rates were minimal.
The systematic downfall of Total Nonstop Action is also another story for another time. Hulk Hogan, who was nearly bankrupt in 2010, signed a deal and worked Dixie Carter for every dime he could before he left in 2013. The failed Monday night Impact experiment and dismal live attendance figures highlighted the company's inability to market or monetize a brand. Hulk tried to turn Impact into a weekly WCW reunion, and made major cash without any regard for the lack of progress TNA made during his time as a "consultant" for them. The domino effect of Hogan's money grab led the collapse of organization. When the company failed to profit, Bob Carter finally stopped funding his daughter's vanity project. Eventually, Dixie went as far as trying to scam Billy Corgan before several lawsuits from various groups led to Anthem's payments to clean up her mess and purchase the organization. Many stars jumped off the ship when they had the chance and are doing quite well for themselves.
Global Force was the new brand with Jeff Jarrett back as apart of the writing team, which resulted in the return of some familiar faces and the debut of new talent. Still, the Alberto El Patron situation fumbled the "fresh start," and the acquisition of performers from the independent scene to attempt to replenish the depleted roster yielded mixed results.
So, what is the Global Force brand?
Unfortunately, the answer has yet to be established and even if a continuous identity is presented, it might only rank as a lesser version of an already existing product. For example, the WWE is the undisputed leader in production, presentation, and star power. The history of the company and the specific events all lead toward the enhancement of the perception of its stars. Quite simply, nobody can compete with the WWE production value. During the previously mentioned 05-08 era, there was a strong argument to be made that with Styles, Joe, Sabin , etc. that TNA had the best in-ring product in the world. In 2017, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to argue that New Japan Pro Wrestling doesn't deliver the best in-ring action anywhere. In fact, the Omega/Okada series will be considered some of the greatest bouts in the history of the industry. Suzuki, Tanahashi, Naito, The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, and others have delivered performances that made the Japanese league the talk of the wrestling world.
As the name implies, GFW wants to use international talent, which in theory is a decent idea. However, Ring Of Honor uses international talent on a regular basis and has done so the past few years. Specifically, New Japan talent for the "War of the Worlds" events, and CMLL wrestlers during a recent UK tour. Arguably, Ring of Honor has brought the best international talent from outside of the United States to events on American soil so the Global Force talent exchange seems more like a scaled down version of what was already done in another promotion. Along the same lines, Impact has featured some luchadors to capitalize on the recent popularity of lucha libre. Again, it's a decent idea in theory, but Lucha Underground already has that portion of the market.
The bottom line is, what does GFW bring to the table that is unique?
Furthermore, other than being on television, what's the draw to watch the product? Who's the biggest star currently under contract? Johnny Impact? Bobby Lashley? In the past, building stars would be the answer, but can the organization do that on Pop TV? In comparison, Spike TV has an 80% TV clearance in the United States, while Pop has just 64% TV clearance so millions of potential viewers don't have access to Pop TV. The difference of distribution had a drastic effect on ratings. During their time on Spike, TNA averaged around 1.2 million viewers, but Pop TV currently garners about 350,000 viewers each week. The major drop in viewership has a direct impact on every aspect of the company.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't an attempt to bury Global Force, but rather the fact that their current platform doesn't seem to be the best chance for success. Another factor that works against GFW is the amount of stars that went elsewhere to find greater success, which implies TNA lacked the opportunity for notoriety. Quite simply, there aren't enough viewers to build stars, sell pay-per-views, or run profitable live events with the current situation on Pop TV. The incentive for Anthem to keep GFW in business is that it provides original content for their networks relatively cheap. Make no mistake, Anthem Entertainment is in the television business, not the wrestling business. If GFW eventually has an opportunity to elevate itself as a form of competition in the industry remains to be seen, but there will certainly have to be a series of improvements to the product before it finds an audience.
That brings up the question, is there a place for GFW on the wrestling landscape?
When Jeff Jarrett and his dad, legendary promoter Jerry launched NWA-TNA on weekly pay-per-view in June of 2002, there was unquestionable a need for another major promotion in the United States. The previous year, Vince McMahon won the wrestling war of the 90s when he bought Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling, an organization with ties to the decades of history of the National Wrestling Alliance, for pennies on the dollar. Just a month after WCW shut down, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the renegade promotion that revolutionized the presentation of the business in America, filed for bankruptcy.
The market was flooded with established talent, and WWF only had a certain number of roster spots. In fact, one could argue that despite many of the biggest names from WCW deciding to stay home and collect a pay check for the duration of their Turner contract, the WWF actually still had too many wrestlers under contract to realistically feature on their various television shows in 2001. The flopped invasion angle didn't create a sense of optimism within the industry, and many wondered about the consequences of a monopoly.
Jeff Jarrett had left the World Wrestling Federation under less than favorable circumstances in 1999 when his contract expired while he was IC champion. Supposedly, he demanded a specific amount of money to drop the belt before he jumped to WCW. Obviously, that closed the door on a Double J return after the Turner organization folded.
Jarrett needed a place to work, and the industry needed an alternative, both for the fans and the performers. His family had promoted shows for decades, often on a shoestring budget so the initial project certainly had potential. In theory, a weekly pay-per-view show at $10 a month was a decent value because it gave the consumer four events for nearly the same price as the monthly WWE PPVs at the time. The problem was, there wasn't a way to realistically market or sell a promotion that fans hadn't heard of previously. It also made booking more difficult because there had to be a "selling point" every week to generate buys, as opposed to building an angle to sell on pay-per-view. As a result of the cost of broadcasting live each week, the NWA-TNA format couldn't sustain itself. Just four months after the launch, the group was on the brink of collapse before Dixie Carter convinced her dad, Bob Carter, the owner of Panda Energy to invest into the wrestling organization.
The ups and downs of the Carter era are well documented. In retrospect, what was the best chance for TNA to be successful?
It's a harsh reality, but history shows that there's usually a brief period for a sports entertainment entity to get off the ground. For example, ECW picked up from 1995 and was nationally recognized by 1997. The entire Turner era of WCW with its surge and collapse took roughly 12 years. The point being, there are critical points where an organization has the platform to make an impression on the viewing audience and that determines if fans buy what the organization is selling. Granted, there are different eras and the product evolves, but that leads to the critical points within the history of a company.
For Total Nonstop Action, the opportunity to make a major impression on a wrestling audience was its debut on Spike TV, the company's first national cable deal, in October of 2005. Sure, the group produced television for roughly a year for Fox Sports Network in a terrible time slot on Friday afternoon, but the Spike deal gave them main stream exposure. With the Ultimate Fighting Championship surging in popularity, viewers certainly tuned into the channel, and the aerial showcase of the X Division fit well with that demographic. While the reasons that the company never truly peaked are numerous, including the lack proper marketing, advertising, or booking, their roster at the time was probably at its best in terms of the ability to have the chance to get an audience to notice the product. AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, James Storm, and other TNA originals provided fresh faces with an alternative in-ring style. At the same time, The Dudley Boys, Sting, Kurt Angle, and Christian were just a few of the names that brought star power during the years that followed.
The time span that TNA had its best chance to really propel itself up the ladder was probably from 2005 through 2008, a time period that saw some of the most spectacular matches of the decade delivered from a variety of athletes. Abyss and AJ Styles had a tremendous cage match that showcased both wrestlers as main event caliber stars. That's just one of many quality matches that took place under the TNA banner. The reasons why the major boost in numbers never launched are well documented and another discussion for another time, but the point is, the group had the national platform on cable TV and the roster to make progress toward competition in the industry. Ultimately, Dixie Carter wasn't' able to capitalize on the opportunity the Spike time slot and roster provided for the organization. If anything, it underscores how important presentation is from a wrestling prospective, and how critical effective marketing and advertising are from the aspect of business. The pieces of the puzzle were there, but were never assembled quite correctly. The numbers told the story, Impact ratings on Spike were stagnant and pay-per-view buy rates were minimal.
The systematic downfall of Total Nonstop Action is also another story for another time. Hulk Hogan, who was nearly bankrupt in 2010, signed a deal and worked Dixie Carter for every dime he could before he left in 2013. The failed Monday night Impact experiment and dismal live attendance figures highlighted the company's inability to market or monetize a brand. Hulk tried to turn Impact into a weekly WCW reunion, and made major cash without any regard for the lack of progress TNA made during his time as a "consultant" for them. The domino effect of Hogan's money grab led the collapse of organization. When the company failed to profit, Bob Carter finally stopped funding his daughter's vanity project. Eventually, Dixie went as far as trying to scam Billy Corgan before several lawsuits from various groups led to Anthem's payments to clean up her mess and purchase the organization. Many stars jumped off the ship when they had the chance and are doing quite well for themselves.
Global Force was the new brand with Jeff Jarrett back as apart of the writing team, which resulted in the return of some familiar faces and the debut of new talent. Still, the Alberto El Patron situation fumbled the "fresh start," and the acquisition of performers from the independent scene to attempt to replenish the depleted roster yielded mixed results.
So, what is the Global Force brand?
Unfortunately, the answer has yet to be established and even if a continuous identity is presented, it might only rank as a lesser version of an already existing product. For example, the WWE is the undisputed leader in production, presentation, and star power. The history of the company and the specific events all lead toward the enhancement of the perception of its stars. Quite simply, nobody can compete with the WWE production value. During the previously mentioned 05-08 era, there was a strong argument to be made that with Styles, Joe, Sabin , etc. that TNA had the best in-ring product in the world. In 2017, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to argue that New Japan Pro Wrestling doesn't deliver the best in-ring action anywhere. In fact, the Omega/Okada series will be considered some of the greatest bouts in the history of the industry. Suzuki, Tanahashi, Naito, The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, and others have delivered performances that made the Japanese league the talk of the wrestling world.
As the name implies, GFW wants to use international talent, which in theory is a decent idea. However, Ring Of Honor uses international talent on a regular basis and has done so the past few years. Specifically, New Japan talent for the "War of the Worlds" events, and CMLL wrestlers during a recent UK tour. Arguably, Ring of Honor has brought the best international talent from outside of the United States to events on American soil so the Global Force talent exchange seems more like a scaled down version of what was already done in another promotion. Along the same lines, Impact has featured some luchadors to capitalize on the recent popularity of lucha libre. Again, it's a decent idea in theory, but Lucha Underground already has that portion of the market.
The bottom line is, what does GFW bring to the table that is unique?
Furthermore, other than being on television, what's the draw to watch the product? Who's the biggest star currently under contract? Johnny Impact? Bobby Lashley? In the past, building stars would be the answer, but can the organization do that on Pop TV? In comparison, Spike TV has an 80% TV clearance in the United States, while Pop has just 64% TV clearance so millions of potential viewers don't have access to Pop TV. The difference of distribution had a drastic effect on ratings. During their time on Spike, TNA averaged around 1.2 million viewers, but Pop TV currently garners about 350,000 viewers each week. The major drop in viewership has a direct impact on every aspect of the company.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't an attempt to bury Global Force, but rather the fact that their current platform doesn't seem to be the best chance for success. Another factor that works against GFW is the amount of stars that went elsewhere to find greater success, which implies TNA lacked the opportunity for notoriety. Quite simply, there aren't enough viewers to build stars, sell pay-per-views, or run profitable live events with the current situation on Pop TV. The incentive for Anthem to keep GFW in business is that it provides original content for their networks relatively cheap. Make no mistake, Anthem Entertainment is in the television business, not the wrestling business. If GFW eventually has an opportunity to elevate itself as a form of competition in the industry remains to be seen, but there will certainly have to be a series of improvements to the product before it finds an audience.
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