More WWE releases

Just weeks after a round of WWE releases, a dozen more names have been given their walking papers by the sports entertainment empire. Nick Khan, the executive that was hired by the company last year that put together the massive $1 billion Peacock deal for the WWE Network, was trending on social media today, as fans speculated that the member of WWE brass could be the one that looks to trim the budget to increase the profit margin even more than the record-setting numbers that company has touted in recent years.

It's a harsh reality, but none of these releases have anything to do with the talent of the competitors or even with sports entertainment itself. The bottom line is, in terms of a publicly-traded global corporation, those contracts are just numbers on a page, and if Nick Khan or anyone else doesn't think the organization is getting a worthwhile return on that investment then from a purely business prospective, it makes sense to release the wrestler to save the money.

However, as World Championship Wrestling proved during the majority of its existence, professional wrestling is very much its own unique genre, and wrestlers can't be viewed as just interchangeable names on a page. Most importantly, you can't run a wrestling company as if it's just another corporate entity.

On one hand, the broad approach to the releases so far this year could come back to bite WWE brass because undoubtedly, at least one of the fired talents will go make big money for another company when that cash could've been directed toward WWE, which is exactly why Triple H stepped in to bring Samoa Joe back under the WWE umbrella since he knows that a talent like Joe will eventually draw big money elsewhere. On the other hand, all of the criticism toward the promotion for missing the boat on some talent while underutilized others might be moot. In many ways, the massive TV deals, which were based more on the dynamics of the television business than the popularity of sports entertainment, the WWE signed a few years ago gave them a five-year safety net. The money is guaranteed regardless of sluggish ratings or Attitude era numbers so the only thing to do from a corporate stand point is to maximize the profit margin, which is exactly what the releases are designed to do for the next conference call with stockholders.

Unfortunately, many fans, as passionate as they might be about the sport and their favorite legends, don't realize that the WWE doesn't have to serve its fans in the same way it did previously. As a publicly-traded company, Vince McMahon has legal obligations to the shareholders and that's ultimately the top priority for the company. Keep in mind, it's not that fans that buy tickets to the arena, but the suits that bought WWE stock that made it a billion dollar company. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming management, they took the road that yielded them the most profit when the company joined the stock market, but it's important to remember that the fans being happy with the product will always be secondary to the shareholders being satisfied with the return on their investment.

If this strategy works long term is a completely different matter.

I've written often in the past few years that the vast majority of the WWE philosophy seems geared toward making the short end money now at the expense of the future. The constant 50/50 booking and general complacency of the product hasn't generated any momentum for the program. Perhaps, with the money already guaranteed there's just not the usual incentive to spark some buzz when Raw draws record-low ratings. The same can be said for the entire pay-per-view model, specifically since the transition to Peacock. The writing team is no longer pressured to sell a pay-per-view to the audience because the concept of PPV buys doesn't exist anymore. At most, a subscription to Peacock that is bundled with other general content, is $4.99. Sure, what that means is that thousands of hours of WWE content are put up for a low price or free depending on the cable company so instead of a goal of a total amount of subscribers, the priority is the amount of hours watched since it generates ad revenue. Keep in mind, the countless hours of Nitro, classic pay-per-views, and the current shows, are all an opportunity for more ads to be placed during the viewing of the content. Essentially, it doesn't matter if Vince McMahon brings back The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns for the title or if The Brooklyn Brawler is booked for a title match because the amount of money the WWE is paid for it is guaranteed.

The problem is, the WWE is taking the guaranteed money and the easy approach the past several years with the use of part-timers or nostalgia acts, but outside of Roman Reigns, how many legitimate money-drawing stars are on the current roster? When these current mega TV deals expire, how much leverage will the company have to negotiate another big contract when the ratings will show a pattern of a decrease in the audience? Furthermore, when Brock Lesnar finally retires, who is going to draw the casual fan? Again, what stars does the company have that will be a draw for the general public?

As far as the released talent, while the skills are certainly there, none of them are earth-shattering releases because the majority of them weren't used in a major spot on television. Tyler Breeze and Fandango will be successful wherever they go next and of the dozen that were releases, they might be the pair that make the biggest impact elsewhere. Still, talent being used on a third-tier brand are expendable when a company has three different contracts worth $1 billion each total for the next few years. Although, it will be very interesting to see what happens in the next few years when the current TV deals expire and the company is tries to sign a new contract based on low TV ratings.

The career of the Runway

When it comes to tag team wrestling, it's an aspect of the industry that over the past two decades, and even at other times at various points in the history of the sport, somehow became overlooked. Ironically, historians of the grappling arts can tell you about a golden era of the territory days, a time when the country was divided into regions of different organizations, when tag matches were the main event draw for fans that flocked to the box office. In fact, the argument could be made that an action-packed tag bout might be the most thrilling narrative in the genre. One of the more endearing qualities of the duos division is the chemistry between the pairs of athletes, when two competitors fit so well together that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Let's be honest here, as cool as Road Warrior Hawk's double mohawk was, the presentation just isn't the same without Animal in another pair of spiked shoulder pads by his side. Micheal Hayes moon walking around the ring isn't quite as flashy unless he has Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy and Buddy Roberts to share the ring with him. More recently, Bully Ray had a stellar run and even picked up a world championship on his own about a decade ago, but nothing seems quite as right as when he's reunited with D-Von in the tye-dye.

But, how does a team truly form, and more importantly, where does that chemistry for a great tag team develop?

Their Minnesota background might've brought the Road Warriors together, while a love of Jack Daniels and country music united the Freebirds. The Dudleys found themselves in a dingy bingo hall in South Philadelphia before they created a legacy that measures up to the other teams mentioned. In each case, the pairings just fit together and it worked.

As far as fitting together in the over-the-top spectacle that is the larger-than-life business of sports entertainment, a fashion model with a fashion designer certainly is a tailored-fit.

Based in the Pittsburgh area, a region with a noted history of the squared circle, "The Runway," the tandem of Calvin Couture and Tyler Klein, have quickly made strides in just a few years to become one of the top teams in the tri-state area. In an example of the impact of modern technology, a social media exchange eventually led to the pair of fashion-based grapplers to consider a new stage of their careers as a team.

"We had followed each other’s social media pages for a little while and then became good friends shortly after. We both quickly realized we were drawn to similar things within wrestling and had the same outlook on where we wanted to head in our careers so it was kind of a natural next step, Calvin explained.

"Really, my first impression of Calvin was how fabulous his look was. But, honestly, first I thought was man here is someone who gets it. Wrestling, character, and the look all of it, this guy has it all. He was the personification of what wrestling is to me, honestly. He’s not about the flippy high flying stuff, he’s about being remembered by his entrance. Calvin can get over on his entrance and that’s what stood out the most to me," Tyler added.

A four-year pro, Calvin Couture quickly became one of the "must-see" athletes within the tri-state area, with an undeniable star quality and in-ring pose well beyond his experience level. Clad in a red velvet suit and blue velvet shoes to match, "The Fashionista of Professional Wrestling" expanded his profile considerably among the independent circuit. Naturally, the fashion model, known for his trademark bow tie that matches his boots for in-ring competition, has a designer to keep his style current with all the latest trends. Klein made his reputation with an offense of innovative maneuvers, and occasionally uses a tape measure to wrap up opponents when the referee is distracted, a tactic that he claims is accidental. Although, for Klein, who has a few less years under his belt as a wrestler than his tag partner, the chance to work as a unit helped him grow exponentially as a performer. 

"Personally, I love tag team wrestling. I feel like it’s too often forgotten, everyone wants that stand-alone spotlight With so many people wanting that, I’d prefer to share it with someone who has my back. With tag wrestling you feed off each other’s energy and you know you have someone there who challenges you to aspire to their level. With Calvin, that’s how I feel. Quite honestly, the indy wrestling scene could use more coherent tag teams, those that dress in similar looks and can play off each other. That’s why we have been so successful as a tag team. Too many tag places just have random tag teams, We bring that missing element," Klein remarked.

Essentially, The Runway "get it" when it comes to professional wrestling, the goal is to entertain the audience, and they have certainly accomplished that as they are more in-demand now than every before with a championship match for Prospect Pro Wrestling this weekend before they challenge The Mane Event of Ganon Jones and Duke Davis for the International Wrestling Cartel in a bout that many expect to have a major impact on the tag division in that promotion. Along with all that, the fashionable duo are scheduled for other matches in states outside of their home turf as well, which adds another dynamic to their careers.

"Oh, a typical ride is always fun. When we aren’t trying to make sure we look our absolute best, we are for sure critiquing the overall looks on the card and who could be second to us. Also, usually coming up with new and creative ways of standing out or our next look we plan on coming up with. I think because of how well we work as a team and our presence. We bring something different to the table when it comes to wrestling," Tyler explained.

The extra hours put in on the road trips to zigzag their way through different states can be exhausting and more demanding than the events close to home, but each athlete has expressed the importance to always take advantage of the opportunity to expand their brand. Preparation is a key moniker for both grapplers as they became more well known each time they would through the curtain.

"Outside the ring, Calvin is just as fashionable as he is inside the ring. He's shopping for the latest look, doing tape study, and just living his best life. He doesn’t take a break on anything," Klein said of his tag team partner.

"Tyler has a good work ethic and is always thinking of new and creative ways to stand out in a crowd," Calvin said of Tyler.

The duo saw their biggest exposure more recently when they competed for The Collective, a group of independent organizations that came together for nearly a dozen events over the course a weekend, as well as the chance to perform in Tampa during the independent events that took place during this year's Wrestlemania weekend. While those matches were their most high-profile bouts so far, you can bet that you will continue to see Calvin Couture and Tyler Klein in the spotlight, as its second nature to them. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from how The Runway was formed is, in an industry often built on selfishness and individuals effort to make themselves look good, Calvin and Tyler put their own stock aside to fully contribute to the concept of their team, which is one of the many reasons they have been successful.

Will AEW sign Braun Strowman?

With the recent releases of more WWE talent, something I discussed in a recent article, there will obviously be some discussion about where some of them will go next or what potential opportunities will be there for them, even if it's not a full-time gig. Someone like Murphy, who is a very talented athlete, but never had the chance to do anything worth while as a character in the WWE, might be brought in for a New Japan tour after more travel restrictions are lifted, but that doesn't automatically translate to a full schedule with the Japanese group. Among the half dozen competitors that got their walking papers, Braun Strowman was probably the most surprising release, simply because he was a current top guy for the organization, and at various points, the company invested a major amount of TV time into a push to establish him. If WWE brass or the writing team maximized those minutes is a completely different discussion. Still, there was a point a few years ago that the argument could be made that Strowman was the most over performer on the roster.

Of course, we know that Braun was a victim of circumstances in some ways because he got over in the middle of the Roman Reigns forced baby face push so there was a ceiling to how far management was going to go with anyone else so the rest of the roster was automatically going to be cast as secondary to Roman Reigns.

Recently, Mark Henry, who just signed with All Elite Wrestling as a broadcaster, spoke with TMZ and mentioned that he would recommend that AEW sign Strowman. First, I had the chance to meet Mark Henry a few years ago and he's one of the politest wrestlers I've met so I don't mean this as anything against him. In fact, if Mark Henry can sign another big money deal at this point in his career, I'm all for it, but at the same time, you have to wonder, other than Henry being mostly retired, why exactly is he on commentary? Besides the fact that he's a former WWE star, what exactly was the reason to sign Mark Henry? Please keep in mind, I'm happy for him to make the cash, but it wasn't as though he was known for his electric mic skills during his career so other than getting the chance to "steal" another name from Vince McMahon, what exactly did Tony Khan accomplish with this signing? Granted, I could be wrong, and The World's Strongest Man might be a great addition to the upcoming Friday night show, but on the surface, his deal seems like signing another WWE name just to sign another name.

That said, Strowman is the topic of conversation, and reportedly, the former strongman competitor was inked to a $1.2 million per year WWE contract, which might've been the reason he got fired since the budget cut looks good for the stockholders. However, the more important point is that unless he goes on a spending spree, Braun might be financially secure so it would take a major money offer from Tony Khan to sign him. The question is, would Braun Strowman be worth the investment for AEW, and is there a place for him in the organization?

On the surface, the answer is yes, but it's not quite that simple of a situation. Based on the size, speed, and the level of popularity he had a few years ago, it might seem like an easy choice to offer him the major money to debut for AEW. But, it must be mentioned that the way he was booked and how he was presented for at least the past two years under the WWE banner really minimized his star power. Let's not forget, there was a segment where he was thrown into a garbage truck, instead of being in the main event of Wrestlemania at the most popular point of his career he won the tag titles with a kid, he was booked in the horrendous swamp fight that could've ruined his career, and when he finally won the title, it was in a three-minute match in an empty building about three years after he should've already been in the main event.

Basically, the "stain" of WWE booking is upon him and it might damage the perception of him outside of the promotion.

At the same time, if there's truly a role for Strowman in All Elite Wrestling is another aspect to the whole scenario. In many respects, Braun Strowman is the prototypical WWE television wrestler, and there's nothing wrong with that, but since he was trained entirely within the WWE system, his style might not necessarily translate to other companies. Again, signing former WWE names just because they are WWE names is cannon fodder for AEW so assuming Strowman debuts there, if there progress for his career or more importantly money to be made? Yes, Braun is a very agile big man, but he had injuries the past few years, and if he can work a more fast-paced style in All Elite Wrestling remains to be seen. The 37-year-old athlete could definitely have some years left in his career, specifically a five-year time frame of what could still be considered his prime so there's certainly potential to do business with AEW, but I don't think any of that is a given based on how much his stock fell after he was booked for so many lame segments in recent years.

Strowman's storyline for Wrestlemania this year was based on Shane McMahon calling him stupid so it's doubtful that the writing team had major plans for him. Sure, Strowman was involved in the title picture the month prior to his release, but that was probably just to add some variety to the Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley angle. Again, I could be wrong, but between the injuries, the terrible booking that hindered his star power, and the overall structure of the company, I don't think Braun Strowman would automatically be a great signing for AEW. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if Strowman eventually signs a contract and if he's successful in the company.

Lee Moriarty debuts for MLW

True talent can't be denied.

In late-2015, Lee Moriarty sat behind the curtain and fastened on his kick pads for his professional wrestling debut, a tag match in a dilapidated building  for the now-defunct Pro Wrestling Express organization in McKeesport, PA. The economically disadvantaged town is often in the news as one of the most dangerous parts of the entire state. The roof of the venue leaked rain water onto the floors, the bathrooms resembled those of a port authority bus station, and chips from the drywall littered the dressing rooms.

This was about as far away from the glitz and glamour of the fame and glory of professional wrestling stardom as possible.

But, true talent can't be denied.

As cliche as it might sound, Lee, a dedicated fan of the philosophy of Bruce Lee, had the "It factor" as soon as he stepped into the ring. On the blustery night of his first match, "The Apex of Combat" was a natural inside the ropes, showing skills well beyond his experience level. He already looked like he had at least a few years of prior experience with a poise that very few have in their rookie year in the sport.

A student of the well-respected Brandon K, a veteran of nearly 25 years of the Pittsburgh scene, Lee absorbed as much knowledge as he possibly could as he sat under the learning tree of his experienced trainer, a philosophy that he continues to utilize with every aspect of his wrestling ventures today. When Brandon founded his own organization, Ryse Wrestling in 2016, he put a tremendous amount of trust in his star pupil when Lee won Ryse's first-ever Grand Championship belt.

As a commentator in the Pittsburgh area, I had the chance to call many of Lee's early bouts, but before he even made his debut, Brandon said to me, "Lee is going to be really good."

So, it wasn't a surprise in more recent years that as more people saw Lee in the ring, requests for him on independent cards steadily increased. Chicago, Ohio, and Tennessee were just a few of the 14 states where Moriarty competed, zigzagging across the country on any given weekend. A former rugby player and student of Taekwondo in high school, his natural athleticism transitioned flawlessly to the squared circle. Considering mental preparation as important as physical training, it's not uncommon for him to be glued to his computer screen to study lucha libre, Japanese, or European styles of the sport. But, the increased notoriety and exposure over the past few years presented its own set of challenges.

"It’s cool being able to travel as much as I do. The toughest part is balancing life. There are times I'm in a car for most of the day or in airports, so I can’t do things that I need to be home for," Lee explained.

His diligent studying of international aspects of the sport provide him with the ability to be as versatile of a performer as possible, a goal that he strives for in his efforts to be the most complete wrestler possible, giving each performance in the squared circle a unquie spin for that particular audience. As challenging as the late-night car trips, gas station food, or early arrivals at the airport might be, Moriarty considers the chance to perform in front of new audiences as a part of his evolution as an athlete.

"The differences can vary and usually they're noticeable if you pay attention. Some audiences favor one style more than the other so if you can wrestle multiple styles, it’s easier to adapt to that environment," Moriarty commented.

That mindset is one of the aspects of his career that has taken him to such a variety of places in the past few years since he began to branch out from his home turf of Pittsburgh, PA. Game Changer Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, Paradigm Pro Wrestling, and an appearance for Impact Wrestling are just a few of the numerous independent groups that get a unique page of the "Taiga Style" each time Lee bounds through the curtain with his trademark entrance mask on as he is greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. 

However, Lee's approach to learn, adapt an evolve goes beyond just the physical action of the ring. After attending a local community college for graphic design, he earned a certificate in Street Wear Essentials from Complex and Parsons School of Design. Lee knows how important it is, especially in the modern age of social media to be able to properly market and merchandise a brand. Logos, digital graphics, and drawings can be found sprawled across his home work space. Moriarty cites the goal to create merchandise that doesn't get typecast within the genre of professional wrestling.

"I started off with illustrations and moved into graphic design. I think of merchandise more like street wear instead of fan wear. Merch should look good everywhere you wear it, not just in the context of wrestling events," he explained.

After the awful pandemic of 2020, a time when even the biggest and brightest events of the industry were shuttered because of the risk of COVID, the entire professional wrestling world looks to return to some level of normalcy in the biggest way possible. One such group is Major League Wrestling, Court Bauer's organization that has garnered notoriety for its sport-oriented approach to the business. MLW, which currently airs its television program on Vice TV, looked for a way to kick start a new phase of the promotion with an initiative to spotlight fresh talent on a national stage when it returns to a full schedule this July.

In a pro wrestling landscape that has shifted often and has many moving parts in recent years, it was an easy decision to Bauer to bring Lee into the fold of Major League Wrestling, specifically because there's such a value in the acquisition of quality talent to a roster. Moriarty views this major star as an exciting new chapter of his career and looks the most to most of his MLW tenure. 

"A few months ago, Court Bauer reached out to me to keep encouraging me to be different and stand out. He appreciated my unique approach to wrestling then in May I was contacted about coming in to compete for MLW in the summer. It’s really cool that I’m getting the opportunity to do so while still being independent because they see me as someone that can add value to them even as an unsigned talent. That’s rare for a company as huge and successful as they are," Moriarty said.

Aside from his tremendous in-ring talent, the 26-year-old is unanimously praised for his kindness and polite manner outside of the squared circle. Promoters, opponents, peers, and fans, have noted on social media how the humble grappler deserves the success. Quite simply, you won't anyone that has something negative to say about Lee Moriarty, which is extremely rare for the wrestling business. In an example of his appreciate to the sport, Lee looks to make the most of the opportunities he has as he embarks on the new chapter of his career.

"The highlights are creating memories for everyone watching. That’s always the most important thing to me, creating the moments. That was the biggest thing I learned over the past year.  Fans can expect me to just keep trying to make wrestling as fun and unpredictable as possible. I like people not knowing my next moves. You never know where I’m going to show up," he said.

So, Lee Moriarty has certainly progressed a long way from his time as an aspiring hopeful in that dingy building with its leaky roof and dust-covered locker room on his debut in the sport in 2015. As much as he already has an accomplished journey with those late-night travels, early wake-up calls, and hours on interstate roads that eventually all begin to look the same, it still seems like this is just the beginning of the story of Lee Moriarty, a talented and humble athlete that understands and appreciates the skills he has, and more importantly with a mindset to make the most of his opportunities. At a time when almost nobody agrees on anything, it's the common consensus among those that have seen his skills that Lee is on his way to being a national and international star. A national audience will get a chance to see those skills when he debuts for MLW within the next few months.

True talent can't be denied.

Will Brock Lesnar return?

With restrictions on capacity and public gatherings being lifted in more places around the United States, as vaccine rates improve, the WWE, a genre once built on the live touring business in its heyday of the 80s, looks to go back on the road with a series of tapings next month. As we saw last week at All Elite Wrestling's Double or Nothing pay-per-view, a full house can make a drastic difference in the overall presentation of an event.

Granted, there are only certain states that have access to full venues so the WWE will have to pick and choose its live event spots until the total vaccination rate in the country reaches a suggested level of safety. Since there are specific shows that will be opened to a full crowd, that makes the importance of the perception of the WWE brand that much more important, especially at a time when the company looks to pad its stock price with budget cuts, despite the fact of guaranteed record-setting revenue from its lucrative rights fee contracts.

Essentially, when WWE opts to have the availability of a sell out, they need a card that will sell that number of tickets in the biggest venue realistically possible to maintain the image of a contemporary brand, especially because the current ratings trend suggest otherwise.

But, how exactly will Vince McMahon generate a big house for his next major event?

With more restrictions lifted next month, that puts Summer Slam on track to be the next "big PPV" to be on the calendar that has the option of a full capacity crowd in attendance. I've said this before and I will say it again, the WWE had the chance to cash in on the dynamics of the television business and the demand for live content that would limited the amount of DVR viewing, not necessarily because there was a major demand for more sports entertainment content. That's why it's so ironic that at a time when Raw, often considered the flagship show, draws record-low ratings, the company touts record-setting profits through its television contracts.

One of the only benefits for the WWE product throughout the pandemic is that the thunder dome set up allows management to manipulate the narrative with the piped-in crowd noise of their choice. Will the live crowd follow the script? Sure, there will be an initial time frame where fans are just happy to be back in the building for a live show, but as that novelty wears off, the office will get a true gauge of the current product. What exactly is the designed reaction supposed to be for Alexa Bliss acting like a little kid and the Papa Shango effects? Furthermore, what would the response have been to the absolutely ridiculous zombie lumber jack match if a crowd was there?

The bottom line is, the return of live fans, as jaded as some of them might be, could be a harsh reality check for management. What can Vince McMahon bring to the table that will have the least risk of rejection?

The way that baby faces are booked and presented within the WWE system has yielded very little, and to discuss the numerous reasons why would be too repetitive for this article. Drew McIntyre works as hard as anyone on the show, but is he truly an over baby face? In fact, who are the main event baby faces in WWE? The rather dismal Raw broadcasts the past few weeks don't exactly spark a lot of buzz around the brand. Sure, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman have done tremendous work on Smackdown, but again, where are the top baby faces on the blue brand? Big E. is still one of the most over stars on the roster, but he was just beat down by Aleister Black, who got released earlier this week so obviously, the writing team doesn't have Big E's potential push as a priority because there's no payoff to the feud that was dropped.

So, what card can Vince play, specifically for what you could assume will be a major event at Summer Slam?

While I'm sure Hulk Hogan would be willing to pitch a match where he pins the biggest stars in the company, the nostalgia acts have generally been completely underused at this point since every time the company needed a ratings boost for a particular week, the stars of the past would be announced for the show. After the Brock Lesnar reference on Raw, there's online speculation that the former UFC heavyweight champion could make his return to the organization for the Summer Slam pay-per-view. Brock, who dropped the WWE title to McIntyre at Wrestlemania last year, has been away from the company long enough to theoretically get the return pop, but is he still over enough to sell out a stadium show?

On the surface, the answer would be yes because of how strong less was pushed over the past several years, but another way to look at the situation is that Lesnar was pushed almost too much in an effort to get Roman Reigns over as a baby face that Brock has more or less done everything he can do in the WWE. The quality of Raw suffered during most of his "limited schedule" as champion a few years ago because it was difficult to built to pay-per-views without the champion on the show, and ultimately, the same formula was used for most of his recent tenure in the WWE. At this point, Lesnar back on the scene to reclaim the championship is a recycled concept.

Yes, I understand the demand for the Lesnar/Bobby Lashley match because of the aspect of two monsters with an MMA background, but you have to ask, what's the true payoff there? Will Bobby Lashley really be a bigger star than he is now if he beats Lesnar? A victory against Lesnar didn't get Roman Reigns over as a baby face, and it didn't exactly propel Drew to the next level either. Instead, Reigns is doing the best work of his career when he was allowed to naturally evolve his persona as a heel and with Paul Heyman there to cut the best money promos in the business. McIntyre was put in a tough spot with getting the win amid the pandemic, but then the booking of his title runs did more to hinder than help his potential to be a major star. If anything, Drew's impressive work ethic on a weekly basis is what got him over to a different level than he was before the pandemic.

Let's assume that Lesnar vs. Lashley in some form or fashion is scheduled for Summer Slam, where does that put Drew? If McIntyre is made to look secondary, which he already was when he was booked to drop the title twice ahead of Wrestlemania 37, how exactly does he get presented as a major star if he's not booked in the scenario? At the same time, Drew/Lesnar and Drew/Lashley already happened so regardless of how it's put together, any involvement with McIntyre will be a somewhat recycled concept.

Speaking of recycled concepts, that's basically what Brock automatically booked for the title picture is again. In many ways, because of how dominate he was booked, even though it didn't make anyone else a star in the process, a lot of the angles for Brock Lesnar in the WWE have a "been there done that" atmosphere to it. More importantly, Brock is 43, and Bobby Lashley is 44 so how exactly does that PPV match do anything to establish something for the future? Don't get me wrong, it can draw a house for one night, which is fine, but the problem on a more general level is that was the WWE philosophy the past several years across the board. Using nostalgia to have something as a draw for Wrestlemania the past several years or have a match on the card that will draw for Summer Slam or any major show, there's a one-off aspect to it. How many major shows in the past five years were built on a young star getting the championship win to cement themselves on the next level? I wrote about this before, but I have to say it again, the WWE roster might have the best in-ring talent in the history of the company, but has less legitimate money-drawing stars than any other time in history because of the presentation of the product.

Braun Strowman released

This afternoon, some shocking news hit social media as the WWE announced that it released six wrestlers, with Braun Strowman being the most surprising of the half dozen athletes to get fired from the organization. This news comes after it was reported online that there were more impending budget cuts, but most expected those to be rather mundane releases of developmental talent. Ironically, this is another move that was done more to appease the stock price than anything since it will be categorized as a cost-cutting measure, but it certainly makes a different statement about the WWE structure in terms of the ability or lack thereof to produce money-drawing stars.

Lana, who was put through a table more times than Vince Russo booked pole matches in WCW, was released. In truth, it's surprising that it took this long after Rusev's exit and it seems like she was intentionally booked for scenarios that didn't emphasize her talents. Listen, the effort was there, but was there ever going to be money made from her as a wrestler? That's not a jab against her, but rather to point out that not every figure on the show should or has to be in the ring. Lana had the mic skills and the presence to be a tremendous on-screen character as a ringside valet. It's a drastic comparison, but Ms. Elizabeth is one of the most well-known characters in the history of the business, would her run have been as memorable if she was put in the ring to do arm drags? For a more contemporary example, Paul Heyman is arguably the best talker in the industry and can generate more money with his gift of gab than the vast majority of high spots and five-star match ratings, but that doesn't mean he should be booked to drop an elbow off the top rope.

Aside from the fact that Lana was completely miscast as an in-ring competitor, the way she was used as a wrestler did absolutely nothing to establish her on the show and did more to hinder her progress as a performer than anything else. Obviously, it would be natural for her to reunite with Miro as a duo in AEW, and with the solid push that he has right now as TNT champion, it opens the door for a presentation that would allow Lana to use her mic skills to the fullest potential.

Aleister Black getting the pink slip is very surprising as well, mostly because he just resurfaced on WWE programming after an extended absence to seemingly start a feud with Big E on Smackdown. This is where the release goes beyond just the specific performer and speaks to the status of the structure of the company. How disjointed or fragmented does the WWE process have to be if a performer is penciled in for a return to television, started a new angle on television, and then gets released before there's any payoff to the storyline? If Black was given his walking papers before his return to TV then it's simply that management didn't have anything for him to do. Even if that would be a misguided notion because of how talented he is, at least the logic is there that if the writing team doesn't have a role for him then there's no reason to keep him under contract. However, the fact that the storyline was started and will now be dropped suggest that the WWE process is very unorganized. In my opinion, Aleister Black is money because he could go in the ring and he had depth to his persona. That said, I don't think you can automatically assume that he will ink a deal with All Elite Wrestling because there are too many on the roster already, but New Japan might be the landing spot for him, especially after travel restrictions are completely lifted in a few months. To say that WWE missed the boat on him would be an understatement because how much of a chance did he really get during his stint on the main roster?

Murphy is another one that you can say a lot of the same things about within the WWE landscape. The guy has the talent in the ring, but wasn't given much opportunity as a character outside of the Mysterio angle that was abruptly dropped. When he was booked as Seth Rollins' sidekick, it gave him some TV time, but his role was designed to emphasize Rollins' gimmick, not to be a featured character. I'm really not sure what's next for Murphy because there are many talented athletes on the market, and he didn't really get the chance to showcase anything more than solid in-ring skills, but there are already many performers that can go inside the ropes so where he goes within the current wrestling landscape remains to be seen.

Santana Garrett was under the WWE umbrella, but she wasn't a major focus of TV or any storylines so her release isn't a factor in the grand scheme of things.

Ruby Riot, similar to many of this lists, goes under the underutilized category. For whatever reason, despite the in-ring ability and the look to be a star, she was only used sporadically as a featured performer. In many ways, after the Riot Squad was originally disbanded for no particular reason, she floundered for the majority of her WWE tenure. That said, I'm not sure where she signs next, but she will unquestionable show up on another major platform because she has the skills to be an asset to any roster.

In terms of star power, Braun Strowman is the biggest name on the list and the biggest surprise released, based on how prominently he was featured on television in recent weeks. Last year at Wrestlemania, he pinned Bill Goldberg to win the Universal title. There story of Braun's career will probably be how it was mishandled at various key points. When he was the most over in his career, he was booked to play second fiddle to Roman Reigns for the forced baby face push that fell flat. When the fans wanted to see Braun in the main event, he won the tag titles with Nicholas, a 10-year-old fan in the audience that was actually the real-life son of WWE referee, John Cone at Wrestlemania in 2018. Of course, a few years later, Braun randomly turned heel to attempt to try to get Reigns over as a baby face again. When WWE brass finally booked Braun as the champion, the momentum was lost and they missed the opportunity to truly make him a major star. The random heel turns and lame segments take away from how over he was as a monster character. The infamous swamp fight didn't do him any favors either. Granted, Strowman had his share of injuries in the past few years so maybe that was one of the reasons for the release from the company.

The WWE/New Japan deal

An absolute blockbuster of a story hit social media last week when The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that WWE executive, Nick Khan was in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about a potential exclusive working agreement between the two organizations. The Vince McMahon philosophy for the vast majority of his tenure as the owner of the Titan Sports brand for the past 40 years was to focus on the WWE without much acknowledgement of any other competitors. Of course, the winners write the history books, and after those previous competitors are out of business, McMahon will not only recognize, but also market the legacy associated with it. The prime example being the WWE Network, the streaming platform that just sold its right to Peacock in for a five-year deal worth an estimated $1 billion dollars, a contract that the previously mentioned Khan helped get done.

Of course, there are many ways to look at this potential partnership. One is the most obvious, there were brief discussions between Nick Khan and someone from the New Japan office, but it didn't materialize into anything beyond that so any speculation is completely moot. If I had to guess, I'd say this is probably the direction that all of this goes, and maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see Vince McMahon willing to showcase or spotlight another promotion's talent. Sure, a few decades ago, McMahon had a working agreement with NJPW, but most of that was during a time when the WWF was primarily a north east promotion, not a national or international brand the way it is now.

Granted, while I don't think any of this will develop into anything meaningful, the possibilities are definitely intriguing for an industry that has needed to break new ground.

Along the same lines of the "WWE first" mindset, this entire scenario could simply be a way for WWE to block All Elite Wrestling's working agreement with the Japanese league. I think it's fair to say that even if WWE and NJPW find a way to work together, it's very doubtful that would translate to Okada on Raw or Roman Reigns at the Tokyo Dome. More realistically, you might see Finn Balor or AJ Styles, two New Japan alumni make their return to Japan for a few select appearances. Another example might be one of the "young lions" from NJPW Strong or prehaps an established veteran show up for a stint on NXT. On the other hand, you know if the current AEW/New Japan agreement continues to develop, there's much more of a possibility that the top stars from the Japanese league show up on American pay-per-view. Let's be honest here, it makes sense that Vince wants to preserve and protect his product so the options for what New Japan does in WWE or what WWE does in Japan are much more limited than with the AEW scenario.

As much as Triple H downplayed it on conference calls, make no mistake about, the initial goal for NXT's move to traditional television was to attempt to prevent All Elite Wrestling from getting off the ground. While NXT's move to Tuesday was based on USA's acquisition of NHL broadcast rights, the point remains that WWE brass saw the potential of AEW as an entity. That potential has been realized in some ways, as the group's TV contracts with TNT and TBS have allowed it to become a profitable venture, which is the entire point of any business project. The fact that AEW makes a profit makes them a legitimate player in the sports entertainment industry, and as we've seen, some former WWE stars have the option to be better utilized under the All Elite banner. Does that mean that AEW will surpass WWE? Of course not, but it does take away at least some of the perception that the McMahon empire is completely dominate within the genre.

None of this is to say that All Elite is perfect, and nobody should expect it to be, but one of the reasons the promotion found success is, they have found a way to differentiate themselves from the WWE. It has critics, but at the very least, the AEW presentation brings something to the table that viewers won't see on Raw or Smackdown. For example, and specific to this scenario, the fact that New Japan belts were defended on Dynamite gives the audience something unique. If top-notch New Japan talent are booked for All Elite pay-per-views, it's another selling point in the modern era, which is much more difficult to attempt to market traditional pay-per-view.

At the same time, there are definitely reasons for New Japan to listen to Nick Khan's offers. In some respects, if New Japan can get on the WWE radar, even to a small degree with a role on NXT, it lends more credibility to the Japanese league with an American audience because of its association with the WWE brand. The NJPW expansion into the North American market in recent years has really helped boost its profile outside of Japan with the goal to establish itself as more of a global brand. A way for New Japan to further its standing as a potential global entity is a possible associations with the biggest sports entertainment company in the world.

As far as what WWE gets from the deal, and you'd think they hold more of the cards in the negotiation because they are already an international brand, it could be expansive or something as simply as a way to add depth to the roster. At one point several years ago, there were rumblings that there were talks among WWE management to set up more international groups under the NXT moniker, but the UK spinoff is the only one that was actually launched. I've always said that such a plan is one of those things that sounds good in theory, but doesn't work in application because other countries have different styles so to run a full-time promotion there with the WWE style wouldn't automatically translate to success. A few years ago, there were rumors that WWE inquired about buying Pro Wrestling Noah before it was sold to a different company so it appears that the promotion wanted to get something established in Japan. Not to sound too much like a conspiracy theorist, but you have to wonder would the New Japan talks be a way for the WWE to possibly test the waters for an NXT Japan in the future?

More realistically, if the deal gets done, I think the ability to block AEW from the use of New Japan talent would be the main reason for it. Along with that, I think the chance to use some of the New Japan young lions on NXT television as a way to freshen up the brand would be the main use of NJPW wrestlers within the WWE. For the New Japan side, it would allow for wrestlers like Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura to return to the company for a few major matches so from that prospective, it benefits everyone involved in the deal. Again, I doubt any of this gets beyond preliminary discussions, but it will definitely be interesting to see what happens in the next few months.