McMahon vs. McAfee

Vince McMahon is the emperor of sports entertainment, and was willing to sacrifice his time, energy, and his body for his business. Say what you want about the third generation promoter, he was willing to go as far as and even occasionally further than the performers on his pay roll. You often heard, Vince wouldn't ask any of his wrestlers to do something that he wasn't willing to do himself. Vince has taken the bumps through tables, bled on pay-per-view, and his share of vicious chair shots.

McMahon, notoriously known for his nearly obsessive work ethic, defeated every other promoter in America when he took the regional group that his father founded in the north east and expanded to a national organization. Jim Crockett, Eric Bischoff, Verne Gagne, Bill Watts, and a slew of others all have their promotion's legacy under the ownership of McMahon, who used it to build the WWE Network that sold its rights to Peacock for $1 billion. Vince's ability to merchandise pro wrestling with action figures, t-shirts, and nearly anything else that can have a logo put on it, is one of the many reasons he generated the revenue to eventually take sports entertainment to the stock market.

Vince even refused to do the job to Uncle Sam when he was acquitted during the steroid trial in the early-90s when the federal government tried to claim he distributed steroids to the WWF roster. Jerry McDevitt is a good tag team partner in court.

Granted, the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL weren't quite as successful as the global corporation that the WWE is today, with the company touting record-setting profits on conference calls, but when it comes to opponents, McMahon defeated the opposition.

However, despite his ability to sleep few hours and work the majority of the hours at any given time, McMahon is mortal, and there's one opponent that always remains undefeated. Even Vince McMahon can't beat father time.

Don't get me wrong, there's a good chance that Vince will outlive us all and book Wrestlemania 70 at the age of 108 at his desk in Stanford, but the recent rumors of a potential Pat McAfee/McMahon match are concerning for a variety of reasons. I have no doubt that even at 76, McMahon can still swagger to the ring and cut a promo with the classic McMahon hype to promote a big time match, but getting into the ring for even a basic match is almost asking for a train wreck. Vince's matches that were well known for their spectacle twenty years ago were still described as "bowling shoe ugly" as far as the technical presentation. For example, McMahon vs. Hogan at WM 19 is known for its dramatic narrative, particularly with a bloody McMahon peeking from above the apron, but the match itself was rather sloppy, something that can be overlooked when such great drama unfolds during the contest.

I sincerely hope that McMahon's involvement at Wrestlemania is something other than a physical match, and maybe he will be in Austin theory's corner, but putting a 76-year-old Vince in the ring to take bumps is probably dangerous and could end up just disappointing. I'm surprised that McMahon would really consider an actual match at this point because does anyone want to see the chairman look like a shell of himself? Unfortunately, Austin Theory was made to look like a dork recently on television so it's doubtful that his involvement at WM, even if it would include Vince, would make a major difference in ticket sales.

Perhaps even more surprising than the possibility that McMahon will return to the ring is his choice of opponent, Smackdown commentator, Pat McAfee. The former NFL player did well during his in-ring appearances in NXT based on his novice level of experience, but to put someone with very little in-ring experience in a match against 76-year-old Vince at Wrestlemania seems almost too risky for it not to be a disaster. Granted, McAfee isn't my cup of tea as an announcer, but he receives generally positive reviews for his work on Smackdown so why exactly take away from that with an angle with McMahon?

Sure, if Vince does an angle with McAfee there will be some attempt to justify a contest between the two, but I would guess the logic will be flimsy at best. I'm only guessing, but prehaps McMahon wants to capitalize on some of the main stream press the former football star's Youtube show received, but that's definitely based more on some of the outlandish Aaron Rogers appearances than the actual popularity of the show. Unless there's some long-standing Irish grudge between the two, why exactly would the aging chairman want to challenge one of the announcers?

The bigger story, even bigger than a McMahon return to the ring, is what this truly says about the status of the WWE. Yes, I've discussed it before, but the fact that it remains such a focal point is why it's still a talking point. I don't agree with the two-night Wrestlemania events because it dilutes the importance of the show itself, but the bottom line is, the  company will have to sell a combined 170,000 for a stadium that looks full, something that is important for the stockholders. We've heard the rumors of Steve Austin making a comeback at 57 to boost ticket sales, but adding Vince at 76, at least on the surface suggests that the company is scrambling to do anything that might move more tickets. That makes sense and it's also why there were ticket discounts accounted recently for those that might to attend both nights. However, the much bigger problem than selling the tickets themselves is the fact that the WWE doesn't have anything currently on its roster, including the recycled Brock vs. Roman match, that is truly a major draw for a stadium show. I've mentioned it before and I will say it again, the company is the most profitable in its history, but at some point, the agenda to get the short-end money might at the expense to build for the future of the company.

Cesaro exits WWE

The wheels of the rumor mill continue to turn, as speculation around the free agent market within the world of professional wrestling continues with confirmed departures, a debut, and other discussion points. The biggest story this week was that Cesaro, formerly known as Claudio Castagnoli before his WWE tenure, left the organization after his contract expired. PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported that the former tag team champion simply declined the deal the company offered for him to re-sign. That puts Cesaro on the list of several former WWE talent that didn't get released, but rather declined to remain on the WWE roster with the notion that they might have a better future elsewhere, which makes quite the statement about the structure of the promotion.

Obviously, the summary of the scenario is that WWE missed the boat on Cesaro, but a look at the details really show how much the sports entertainment empire was off the mark.

It goes without saying that if the WWE can't make use of Cesaro and all of his amazing natural skills then that says a lot more about the WWE than it says about the former Claudio. With the incredible feats of strength and top notch in-ring ability, there was absolutely no reason Cesaro wasn't featured as a main event star for the company. Maybe he wasn't the best on the mic, but isn't that what managers are for? Would it have been that difficult to pair him with Paul Heyman, Dutch Mantel, or Paul Ellering on a full-time basis during some portion of his run in the organization? His power and skill were unique assets that could've been a draw for the promotion if those abilities were spotlighted.

Instead, he was typecast as a good hand, which is why he was pigeon-holed into a tag team role throughout the majority of his WWE career. When there was someone else the writing team didn't have anything for, that competitor was paired with Cesaro because it was a safe bet based on his skill. The stints with Jack Swagger, Sheamus, and Nakamura all had a level of success, but it was clear that Cesaro was used in a tag team role because management didn't see him as more than a mid-card act.

I could be wrong, but I sincerely believe that Cesaro was a main event guy that just needed the right presentation and the right opportunity. I'm not trying to paint with a broad brush, either. Some competitors are mid-card guys and there's nothing wrong with that. But, a performer can have all the tools and the presentation is still key. It's a drastic example, but Roman Reigns as a generic baby face with the forced narrative as the next John Cena was a total flop. Roman Reigns as an organic heel is the biggest star in the company.

To recount the individual angles or matches that WWE fumbled for Cesaro would be a moot discussion. The point being, at 41, he still has at least a few prime years left in his career, but definitely had to make a move now if he wanted to create a fresh chapter somewhere else. The other side of the coin is an example of someone like Dolph Ziggler, a solid performer that could probably reach a bigger level outside of the WWE, but took a good WWE contract to be used at a certain level, and there's nothing wrong with that either. Business is business, and if Dolph can make good money from a WWE contract then good for him. Still, the Cesaro exit puts another talented free agent on the market.

Of course, there will be some natural speculation about a potential All Elite Wrestling debut because it's the second national promotion in the United States, but based on the total wrestling landscape, I wouldn't assume  an AEW contract is automatically a done deal. The bloated roster, including the recent addition of Buddy Matthews this past week on Dynamite, makes it very easy for a competitor to get lost in the shuffle. Anybody know where Jay Lethal is? Sure, if Claudio walks onto the stage on TV next week, there will be a big pop for the debut and it will trend on social media, but beyond that, what would the plan be for him in AEW? Again, presentation is the key regardless of the company.

I would guess that there's a 50/50 chance that Cesaro inks an AEW deal, with the other possibility being a New Japan contract. All things considered, he would be a bigger fish in a smaller pond, but it would be a stage for him to raise his stock before an eventual arrival in All Elite, and thus a better chance to avoid getting lost in the shuffle. The Japanese product had much of its momentum stalled by the pandemic cancellations so a major foreign debut would help generate some hype for the organization as well. Keep in mind, Cesaro is a tremendous in-ring athlete, but the argument could be made that his star power is rather minimal at the moment because of being kept so far under the radar in the WWE for the past several years. After a decade under contract, Cesaro is a more well-known than he would've been if he was just wrestling on the independent scene, but isn't exactly a major name because of the lack of spotlight so despite the pop for a potential debut, he doesn't immediately bring a level of star power that is comparable to CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole or several others on the AEW roster. So, he would immediately be seen at more of a mid-card level, which is why raising his value outside of All Elite might be a wise decision.

The biggest takeaway from Cesaro's decision to exit the WWE is that clearly the process to make stars is based on what management assumes they have with a performer, not necessarily the actual process to build a star. The WWE saw Roman Reigns as their next top guy several years before he reached that level and no amount of reject was going to change the office's path. Sure, he finally turned heel after six years of rejection, but that wasn't because management saw what wasn't working and opted to change course, it was more that they finally run out of things for Roman to do as a generic baby face. The office saw Cesaro as a good hand in the ring that couldn't cut a promo and they never truly attempted anything with him outside of that narrative. Granted, maybe all of this is a moot point because WWE secured record-setting profits for the next few years between the TV contracts, the Saudi money, and the Peacock deal, but the fact that management couldn't utilize an athlete the level of Cesaro as a star, it's probably one of the many reasons that outside of Roman Reigns, the company hasn't made any legitimate money-drawing stars in the past ten years.

Pro wrestlers plunge for good cause

Professional wrestlers are known for their willingness to risk it all for the glory of sports entertainment. A flying elbow drop or a dive onto an unsuspecting foe are staples of the sport. However, this weekend, a trio of a few of the top grapplers on the independent circuit will take a different type of plunge before they dive into the ring later the same day to keep up with their busy wrestling schedule.

Calvin Couture and Tyler Klein, an accomplished tag team known as "The Runway" for their fashion and style in the squared circle, will be joined by stellar women's star Ray Lyn to participate in Pittsburgh's Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for local Special Olympic organizations. The event is set to take place this Saturday at Heniz Field, the venue that hosts Steelers games, and will feature volunteers jumping into icy pools in the peak of winter for a good cause. Dubbed "Freezin for a Reason," the dive into the chilly waters is a relatively easy task for these tough wrestling grapplers that each consider the Special Olympics a very worthwhile cause for the special athletes that get a chance to display their skills through the organization's efforts.

"I volunteered with Special Olympics all four years when the games took place at my university so the cause is special to me," said Calvin Couture.

"I love sports and being active and the special Olympics really gives that ability and spot light to these amazing athletes. To help in anyway I can always makes me feel great. All through college I was always really involved with being part of doing something fun and exciting to raise money. Doing an event like Dance Marathon back then was so munch fun. And while I do prefer a nice warm beach I can for sure handle that ice cold water like I handle opponents in the ring and the three of us already have some stellar swim suits picked out just wait," added Tyler Klein.

Known as one of the best tag teams in Pittsburgh, an area with an extensive wrestling history, Couture and Klein bring their fashion sense inside the ring ropes to mesh with their solid mat skills to be one of the most entertaining acts in the steel city. It's not uncommon for the duo to zigzag across the western Pennsylvania scene and into other states nearly every weekend as their calendar stays full of opportunities because of their well-rounded ability.

"The Runway have entertained crowds with their style and attitude, along with their wrestling ability since teaming together. They are definitely a team on the rise, said Don Halliwell, an accomplished pro wrestling writer and one of the most knowledgeable fans of the independent scene. Many of the circuit's top stars see their face at several events as they cover the happenings of the indys.

Despite the dive in literally freezing weather this Saturday, something that is quite unusual for most, The Runway will still be following a common schedule when they are set to perform at Wrestle Pit, an all-star card that will take place in the steel city later that night.

Joining the fashion tag team will be Ray Lyn, one of the most accomplished women's wrestlers in the sport today. Lyn, sometimes known for her twerk skills, has wrestled for nearly every major organization in the industry today and her wrestling ability has taken her quite literally across the country. Ray Lyn also pledged to take the polar plunge with her wrestling pals because she knows how much the funds raised will help other athletes showcase their skills in their chosen sport. Very similar to The Runway, Ray Lyn keeps a busy calendar with wrestling opportunities and will also appear at the Wrestle Pit event just hours after the icy dive into the freezing water.

 "Rachael is one of the top women's stars on the independent scene today, whether it is in singles matches or in the tag team Blonde Force Trama, she will be fighting hard and talking trash the whole time," commented Halliwell.

Professional wrestling is one of the most unique and diverse forms of entertainment and thus has a varied of opinions on almost every aspect of the sport. However, despite the arguments on social media about the industry's free agents or star-ratings, everyone can agree that the special Olympics is a great cause for the athletes.

VHS Memoirs Volume 24

Today marks 19 years since the 2003 edition of No Way Out, the pay-per-view that promoted the return of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin after the former champion walked out of the company several months earlier because of a dispute over a scheduled match with Brock Lesnar on Raw. Besides the fact that the event was 19 years ago, it's topical in another way with the rumors that Austin will return for the ring for a comeback in his home state of Texas at Wrestlemania. In retrospect, Austin's return for the company at this show was the unknown start of the end of his in-ring career, as he had his last match against The Rock the following month so you can see how his original exit from the company further halted much of the momentum that the industry had during the Attitude era. The closure of World Championship Wrestling saw a few million wrestling fans simply stop watching professional wrestling, and any fuel that remained into 2002 was exhausted when Austin disappeared from TV screens. Granted, every wrestling boom, by nature, is followed by a down period, but the Stone Cold exit was definitely a shift in the standing of the business in pop culture.

The show opened with Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho for a solid bout, and again, in hindsight it's interesting to see the development of these stars at this point in their careers. Jericho, who was a big free agent signing before he hit a rough patch in the WWF, was the first undisputed champion, but his time in the main event during this era was rather brief and more or less designed to put Triple H over after the devastating injury that put him on the shelf for almost a year. Jericho only had the championship for a few months before he dropped it to Triple H and despite a Wrestlemania main event, Jericho wasn't solidified as a main event guy in 2003. It's very disappointing that Hardy was released from the company for drug issues just two months after this match since you can see glimpses of the potential that he lived up to years later when he cleaned up his personal problems. There was some really good fast-paced spots throughout this contest, including some impressive high-flying from Hardy. The finish saw Jericho hit a power bomb from the top rope before he used the Wall of Jericho to get the win. Post-match, Shawn Micheals did a run-in to make the save for Hardy, and despite the show taking place in Montreal, the site of the infamous screw job, the crowd still gave Micheals a decent reaction, as his confrontation with Jericho added to the storyline for their at Wrestlemania.

Next up was a tag title match as the champions William Regal and Lance Storm defended against Kane and Rob Van Dam. On the surface, the biggest takeaway here is that while Kane and RVD had a good run as a team, it's odd to think that this was a throw together team since the writers didn't have anything better for them to do on the shows. As I've written many times, Regal is one of the most underrated legends of all-time, and much of the same can be said for Storm, who was just never in the right place at the right time to get a really big run. Regal and RVD had a great technical exchange at the start of the match, but when Kane tagged in, a mistimed power slam unintentionally knocked out Regal. The replay was tough to watch and it's even more difficult to watch now with the increased awareness of concussions in sports. Obviously, if this happened today the match would've been stopped, but 2003 was a time when the show must go on and as soon as Kane realized Regal was hurt, you can see everyone in the match try to buy time. Lance takes over and gets Regal back to the corner so he can tag in and you can see he and Kane improvise some spots. It was also difficult to watch Regal get tagged back into the bout after he recovers and continue the match. The finish was well done when Storm grabs Kane's mask and while The Big Red Machine can't see who is in front of him, he accidentally choke slams RVD so Regal and Storm can retain the belts.

The cruiser weight champion Billy Kidman defended the title against Matt Hardy. The match was fine, but considering how much of a lack of the spotlight the WWE put on the entire division, the crowd's interest in this contest was minimal at best. Kidman was a solid performer, but it was clear that he was typecast in the WWE, and the office had plans for Hardy as a heel rather than the division itself so Kidman and the rest of the cruiser weights were more or less cannon fodder for this angle. Matt Hardy won the title after an impressive Twist of Fate off the ropes.

As we know, this retro reviews allow for comparisons to how different competitors progressed in their careers, and The Big Show certainly has an interesting narrative to his WWE tenure. While The Big Show had a great run in the main event that nobody probably expected years later, what should've been the prime of his career here was very underwhelming. He was sent to OVW in 2000 to get in better shape, but those problems persisted at various times throughout his two-decade run in the WWE. Big Show vs. The Undertaker gave a definite contrast for a big man that was in shape opposite a big man that was getting by on height alone. Within the first few minutes, Show looks completely out of breathe and the majority of his time on offense was cumbersome and sloppy. The Undertaker sells a lot for him, including bleeding a small amount, but Big Show is too tired to look like a monster. The Undertaker gets the victory with the triangle choke, which was followed by a post-match attack from A-Train, but any attempt to get heat back was lackluster because the match was average at best.

Edge was attacked earlier in the show so it was Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin, and Charlie Hass in a handicapped match. The action was fine, but there's not necessarily too much to discuss because how many epic handicapped matches have you seen? This contest was booked more to sell the storyline for the Brock vs. Angle match at Wrestlemania 19. Brock and Benoit got the win, but nothing too speculation as far as the in-ring stuff.

Triple H defended the World Heavyweight title against Scott Steiner for a rematch of their infamously awful bout at Royal Rumble the previous month. I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist (was there anyone on the grassy knoll?) but the rumor was floated over the years that prehaps the Steiner/Triple H Royal Rumble bout was designed to make Steiner look bad or that Triple H sandbagged him to tank the performance. All things considered, I'd say that Triple H, at least in 2003, had no interesting in making Steiner look like a major star, especially after how Steiner's run in the WWE continued after this. This match at No Way Out went only half the time of their previous contest and after Steiner got the DQ win at the Rumble, which was a totally flat finish, he was beaten here to more or less conclude his time in the title picture. Besides the fact that politically Triple H was going to take the blame for the subpar matches, proof that management had no plans for Steiner to do anything worthwhile was that he wasn't even on the card for Wrestlemania the following month. I'm just guessing, but I think the only goal that management wanted to accomplish here was for Triple H to squash the free agent signing that got a major crowd reaction at Survivor Series a few months earlier.

Steve Austin vs. Eric Bischoff wasn't really a match, but the crowd went insane to see Stone Cold back into a WWE ring. The segment itself went about five minutes, but quite frankly, that's it it needed to be to send the crowd home happy. The audience in Montreal just wanted to see Stone Cold back in the ring and to hit a few stunners, which he did and the fans went crazy for it so mission accomplished.

The main event was The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan, which was mostly a spinoff of their incredible match-up at Wrestlemania the prior year. This contest was fine, but at only around 10 minutes, it wasn't going to replicate the emotion of the iconic WM bout. The Rock used his Hollywood heel persona and made the aging Hogan look great in the ring. The Rock got the win after heel referee Sylvain Grenier assisted during the match and all things considered, 2003 was his last major year in wrestling before he went to Hollywood full-time.

Elimination Chamber review

The WWE shareholders probably rejoiced after the Elimination Chamber "premium event" in Saudi Arabia because as we know, the fee that the Saudi government pays for the WWE to be propaganda material makes the company's trip to the county one of their most profitable revenue streams. Everyone has  a price, even Vince McMahon. It's been said before, but I have to say it again here, these Saudi shows just seem so forced and sleazy, but the wrestling business isn't exactly known for its moral standards either. That being said, this was the last pay-per-view before Wrestlemania and at the very least, Saudi was incorporated into the usual schedule instead of shoehorning another event onto the calendar so this event was more than just a glorified house show.

The broadcast opened with Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg, and besides this being a match that was scheduled that didn't take place, was there really any demand for it? Sure, the Saudis pay for Goldberg, but the amount of times that the former WCW champion just walks onto the stage to get another title shot is almost comical at this point. Don't get me wrong, I understand that with Goldberg's hefty contract it doesn't make sense to book him for a run with the 24/7 title, but you can only pay the "one more run" card so many times until the fans just don't buy it. That's why nobody in the building or watching on Peacock actually thought that there was any chance for him to beat Reigns so again, outside of the Saudis paying for propaganda material, was there any reason to book this match? While it's great that Goldberg uses his fame as for charity and takes his position as a role model seriously, the 55-year-old definitely looked his age in this contest. That's not meant as a knock on him since he's still in great shape, but there's only so many times that smoke and mirrors can be used to camouflage an aging athlete. The actual in-ring action was fine because the match only went five minutes, but outside of a cameo appearance, I'm not sure what there's left for Bill Goldberg to do in WWE. The 2016 comeback was lightening in a bottle and worked very well, but the train wreck against The Undertaker in 2019 should've been the conclusion of Goldberg's in-ring career. As we know, Reigns won and if nothing else, this presentation proves that he should continue his run as WWE champion.

The Women's Elimination champion match had a lot of good action and knew when to go to the finish so the match didn't drag during the show. More than anything, this proved how much talent the company has in the women's division and the argument could be made that there should be more spotlight shined on the division as a whole. Bianca Belair looked like a star and won the match to advance to WM to challenge Becky Lynch, but considering that the long term plan is Becky vs. Ronda, it's very doubtful either of them are defeated at Wrestlemania. As I wrote about the Day One pay-per-view, if the result is too predictable, the fans don't care about the match, and while Bianca vs. Becky should be a quality contest, the interest in it will be minimal if it's clear that the office always had Becky/Ronda as the priority of the division. A side note, Alexa Bliss made her return to the ring after several  months away and it's not completely clear what direction the writing team is going to take her character, but if management values her contributions as a performer, it would be wise to get her as far away from any of the Sci-Fi aspects as possible. Terrible scripting ruined Bray Wyatt's tenure in the WWE, and the same could happen to Bliss if she's booked for lame special effects during matches. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the whole scenario is that Bliss is a quality performer as an in-ring athlete and an on-screen character so the prime of her career shouldn't be wasted on silly gimmicks.

 Ronda Rousey and Naomi defeated Charlotte and Sonya Deville in an average match at best. I understand the stipulation of Ronda with a hand tied behind her back and that this was simply a way to build the Ronda/Charlotte WM match, but it made her a rather clunky presentation. Ronda isn't the most polished in-ring work to start with and putting her in a match where she has to work spots with one arm just makes the process more difficult for an athlete that should be put in easier scenarios to look good in the ring. There wasn't anything wrong with the match, but it was just a basic win for the baby face team.

Drew McIntyre beat Madcap Moss, who amazingly escaped serious injury after he was spiked on his head mid way through the contest. The action was fine and Moss took good bumps to make Drew look strong, but I just can't take any of this seriously. Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss are portrayed as a comedy heel team, why exactly should a perceived star like McIntyre feud with them? That's not meant as a negative toward the athletes behind the Corbin and Moss characters, but rather to point out that Drew went from being pushed as a supposedly top guy to a mid-card feud with Happy Corbin. It's really disappointing to consider that two years ago McIntyre won the title at WM and this year he will probably be booked for a throw away mid-card match at the show.

Becky Lynch retained the Raw Women's title when she pinned Lita, and this was a really entertaining match, but again, it was a scenario, similar to Reigns/Goldberg, that nobody watching thought Lita had any chance to win the championship. Despite not being a full-time wrestler for several years, Lita can still go and I really think she should consider a full-time comeback if the writing team would have something worthwhile for her on the Raw brand.

I have no idea why The Viking Raiders had to fly to Saudi Arabia just to make an entrance, but I hope they got paid well for it.

Similar to the women's Elimination Chamber match, the men's version went about 15 minutes, which was enough time to get to the action and finish the show. I really hope that the extended pay-per-views are reserved for only Wrestlemania and maybe Summer Slam because not every "premium live event" has to be a four-hour broadcast. This show went just under three hours and had a good pace for a better viewing experience. Bobby Lashley was taken out of the chamber, which was a way to get the belt to Lesnar without damaging Bobby's status on Raw, but since the company already promoted the Brock/Reigns bout as title for title, let's hope Lashley challenges the winner of that instead of a triple threat match since WM is a two-night event. I've said it before and I will say it again even though it's a moot point, the Brock/Reigns card is completely overplayed. Similar to the dynamic of Becky and Ronda in the women's division, management puts such a priority on Brock/Roman that if a storyline doesn't involve Lesnar or Reigns, it's clear that it's a secondary angle on the show. On one hand, the WWE is assured record-setting profits with guaranteed money from their TV and the Peacock deals so it doesn't necessarily matter if Lesnar/Reigns is a recycled main event. On the other hand, the fact that there are rumors that WWE management pitched a return to the ring for Steve Austin to sell tickets might speak volumes about the company's actual ability to draw fans.

VHS Memoirs Volume 23

Within the slew of content and news that there is to discuss within the current wrestling landscape, it can be difficult to find time to check out retro content, an ironic aspect to the fact that 90% of the WWE Network is built on the extensive video library, and Peacock bought the rights to it for $1 billion. Still, I try to make time when I can to watch different events from the past, particularly because hindsight can add a lot to certain shows.

The 1997 edition of The Great American Bash was a pay-per-view during WCW's heyday, a relatively short time frame when the organization had its ducks in a row and produced the best wrestling program in the world. The NWO was still fresh and very cool, the luchadors weren't cast as subpar stars, and main stream athletes wanted to be a part of World Championship Wrestling. Although, it was rather odd that the main event for the following month's pay-per-view, Lex Luger and The Giant vs. Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman was already announced so the show might've been glossed over in some ways by the company itself.

The broadcast opened with Ultimo Dragon vs. Psychosis, a bout that was based on the luchador's brief association with Sonny Onoo after Dragon turned baby face on Nitro. This was a very good contest that had more aspects of storytelling and pacing than the typical cruiser weight match on TV at the time because they were given 15 minutes so the match built to high spots instead of just a stunt show when contests were shoehorned into a few minutes on a segment. Something that should be noted here, these two, regardless of their international reputations, still don't get enough credit for how solid they were inside the ring ropes, as well as their influence on the industry. Ultimo Dragon not only had such an influential run that had a ripple effect for years, but was also a notable trainer later in his career as well. Rey Mysterio is such a legend and had such a charismatic post-WCW career that it seems like Psychosis sometimes unintentionally gets forgotten about after the two were linked so often in their early careers. There will only be one Rey Mysterio Jr. but let's not forget that in terms of bell-to-bell action Psychosis kept up with him for a large portion of his career. Dragon got the win in one of the better matches on the card.

Next up was The Steiner Brothers vs. Harlem Heat and this was really tag team wrestling 101 with a lot of action sandwiched into about a ten minute match. This is another bout where hindsight provides a compelling view point to this segment. Scott Steiner had a main event run on his own and became known for his outspoken comments in interviews, as well as his comical promos, but re-watching these contests could remind fans just how great the Steiners were as a team. These were four bigger guys that kept a fast pace throughout the duration of the match and it was a prime example of WCW tag wrestling. However, the finish was extremely flat and more or less ruined the segment. Vincent randomly did a run-in to drop an elbow on Booker T with the illogical explanation to get the Steiners DQ'ed so that The Outsides would have to defend their titles against Harlem Heat instead. Basically, what the booking told the audience was that Harlem Heat weren't perceived as a threat to the titles, despite the fact that Booker T and Stevie Ray were already tag champions on multiple occasions. There was a follow-up to this on Nitro that set up for another number one contender match, but this is the type of finish you book on television, not pay-per-view.

Konnan vs. Hugh Morrus was a contest based on a lukewarm at best feud for several weeks on television and the pay-per-view match wasn't much better. This bout was clunky and got almost zero crowd reaction. There were several points when the match dragged and if it was going to be booked on the card at all, it shouldn't have been given more than five minutes. Konnan got the win with a submission, but this was very skippable.

Glacier vs. Wrath was fine, but a basic match that wasn't anything too spectacular. Mortis was handcuffed at ringside, and for a feud that was cannon fodder based on the success of the realism of the NWO, the Glacier/Mortis rivalry still got a decent amount of TV time, as well as the introduction of Wrath to the company. Perhaps that was because of the investment already made into the angle, but even that is more speculation than anything since WCW wasn't exactly known for its strict budget during this era. in many ways, this bout also showed why Glacier was so limited with his success in WCW. Obviously, the guy was a good athlete, but outside of very choreographed karate spots, he couldn't really work in any of the transitions or the "glue" of a pro wrestling match that puts all the pieces together. To be fair to the wrestler behind the gimmick, the logistics of WCW's plan to capitalize on the success of Mortal Combat didn't do him any favors either. At a time when The Outsiders could pop the crowd with a cool promo on the mic, the snow and the light show for Glacer wasn't going to translate to the audience. Glacier got the win before he was attacked by Motris and Wrath after the match.

It was Akira Hokuto vs. Madusa in a career vs. title match, with the stipulation that if Madusa didn't win the championship then her career was done. I have to be honest, considering that Hokuto was still in her prime as one of the best Joshi wrestlers at the time and Madusa's track record in Japan, I expected a lot more from this match. It had its moments, but was rather sloppy and somewhat lackluster. Many of Madusa's most well-known performances were against the Joshi wrestlers in America, but this fell short of the standard. Hokuto worked on Madusa's knee, but this contest didn't build any momentum. Akira Hokuto got the win with a suplex for a rather flat finish. Post-match, Madusa sold the knee, which might've been another way to write her out of the shows. I'm not sure why this was a career match, and despite a few searches, I can't find any info on why Madusa left the company for almost two years or what she did during that time. Maybe it was the lack of an actual women's division that led to her decision to leave or it's possible the company just didn't have anything for her. Based on the information I found, her return in 1999 was actually for a two-year contract that was paid out until mid-2001.

Chris Benoit beat Meng in a street fight to get one step closer to a match with Kevin Sullivan, and this was a very entertaining physical brawl that could be in consideration for the best match of the night. Despite the lack of rules, this bout was based on a very stiff style instead of weapons and it was a wild match. Amazingly, Meng tapped out, which I don't think happened before this show. Post-match, both athletes were taken from the ring on a stretcher to really emphasize the brutal nature of the segment. Sometimes, this could be a little too over the top, but the segment was really well done for this storyline.

Kevin Greene defeated Mongo after a miscue with the infamous brief case from Jeff Jarrett. This wasn't exactly Flair/Steamboat, but it was entertaining for what it was on the show. More than anything, it's impossible not to see how much fun these guys had during this match and their enthusiasm made for a fun match. Granted, Kevin Greene was in the middle of a football career, but considering his performance based on his level of experience, it at least seemed like he had the ability to make the transition to a full-time wrestler if he wasn't already signed to an NFL team. Say what you want about Mongo's sometimes comical performances, but the guy was pure entertainment, which is the bottom line in pro wrestling.

The Outsiders defended their tag championships against the combination of Roddy Piper and Ric Flair for a basic, but fine contest. The most noticeable portions of this match was that even though Flair was in his late-40s here, he could still go step-for-step with Scott Hall early in the match. You've heard a lot of different versions of the confrontation between Piper and Nash after a tag match on a Nitro went off the rails, and who knows what story is accurate, but there were definitely moments in this bout where it looked like Piper didn't want to sell much so Nash took over with more offense to get the match toward the specific path. Syxx interfered and caused Flair to brawl with him backstage, leaving Piper in the ring. Hall hit the Outsider's Edge to get the win.

The main event was Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page, which probably got the main event spot because Hogan wasn't on the card, but this was still a main event performance. This match was a wild brawl and the back and fourth action built the drama toward the conclusion. This segment really proves how much psychology can build a contest and get the crowd to follow the action. The finish saw Scott Hall run-in to interfere, and Savage hit the elbow to get the win.

Cody Rhodes leaves AEW

There was absolutely blockbuster news today when it was announced on social media that Cody Rhodes, one of the Executive Vice Presidents that helped launch All Elite Wrestling in 2019, has left the company. Rhodes posted a tweet to thank those involved with the company, and Tony Khan thanked Brandi and Cody for their contributions to the organization. Adding another layer to the entire scenario are reports that Rhodes has been in talks with WWE and could return to the promotion soon.

All things consider, this could have a ripple effect for both groups, depending on what Cody's next move is in the industry.

With a business as jaded as professional wrestling, there will be those that only take the negative from this situation, but again a lot of that depends on how much credit or lack thereof Cody will get for the launch of AEW. As I've written before, the reason that All Elite got off the ground was because the right pieces of the puzzle were in the right place at the right time. Cody left the WWE and created a buzz on the independent scene at the same time that The Young Bucks generated a major following on social media. All of that happened while Kenny Omega made headlines in The Wrestling Observer for an incredible series of match with Okada in New Japan. The Elite group used Ring Of Honor as a platform in America and drew packed houses for the Sinclair-owned organization. The fact that Cody and The Young Bucks had their contracts expire with ROH around the same time that Omega finished up with New Japan was an organic way for all of the alternative buzz outside of the WWE to be put under a major league banner with the investment from Tony Khan to launch another national promotion. Keep in mind, if Khan wasn't willing to fund the project, the spontaneous buzz of The Elite wouldn't have had the chance to go beyond the reach of ROH.

The pieces of the puzzle were in the right place at the right time, including Chris Jericho's exit from WWE. For the first year of its existence, Cody was the more or less the on-screen leader of the AEW movement. He turned down Vince McMahon's money to play a cartoonish gimmick and risked failure to spark something new for the industry. And, make no mistake about it, AEW accomplished that goal since the business is more compelling now than it was for the past two decades, particularly because free agents have another major league option. Rhodes gained a level of goodwill with the AEW audience, something he embraced when he smashed a Triple H throne with the WWE COO's trademark sledgehammer at AEW's first pay-per-view.

Early on, the promotion was still establishing itself and in some ways, Cody was a big fish in a smaller pond because while he's undoubtedly a tremendous in-ring performer, the roster at the time had many athletes that weren't known to a national audience yet so he was one of the bigger stars on the roster by default. He had the role as a top guy in an upstart promotion, and there's nothing wrong with that, but as the company expanded, specifically with more star power on the roster, his role definitely shifted.

This isn't meant as a knock on Cody at all, but CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and arguably Adam Cole are bigger stars than he is, even within the scope of AEW so prehaps Cody saw the writing on the wall that his time as the prince of All Elite was nearing its conclusion so he wanted to exit the organization. Could that be an ego move? Sure, but not necessarily because it's very possible that Rhodes thought he accomplished all he could in AEW, especially if he didn't want a heel run.

The other side of the coin is that his departure was announced after it was clear that the audience wasn't going to embrace his rally promos on Dynamite. It's difficult to sell the audience Cody as a revolutionary when it looks like he was more concerned with being a reality TV star than being a pro wrestler. The possibility with far less sizzle for all of this is that maybe Rhodes wants to try film roles or reality television full-time to transition away from sports entertainment. That being said, in some ways, this does validate the criticism towards Rhodes because when bigger stars become a part of All Elite and he couldn't play the role of the face of the company, he took time away to film reality shows and then he left. When Brandi Rhodes wasn't cheered for simply showing up for a spot that was only designed to shoehorn her onto television, her and Cody left the company.

If Cody returns to the WWE is a completely different matter, but management might be willing to offer him big money just for the optics of the situation. WWE couldn't get CM Punk back into pro wrestling, even though he was under the WWE umbrella for the short-lived FS1 show. Daniel Bryan, FTR, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, and others saw a better future for themselves in AEW. If WWE signs one of the original AEW Executive Vice Presidents to a contract, it at least somewhat tilts the narrative that stars see opportunities in the WWE. All things considered, despite the attempted bravado of Cody smashing the Triple H throne or any of the promos about the pro wrestling revolution, it still shouldn't be all that surprising if Rhodes returns to the WWE. Bret Hart, Bruno, and many others made a comeback after a lot more animosity than the Rhodes situation. Granted, if Cody re-signs, it remains to be seen how he would fit into the current WWE landscape, but I would guess he would only ink a new deal for big money and it's doubtful WWE brass would be willing to invest that type of cash into another Star Dust run so he would probably have meaningful storylines on Raw.

All of that being said, the impact on All Elite without Cody Rhodes is rather minimal because as mentioned, bigger stars have signed with the group and the roster has much more depth now than it did in 2019. Obviously, Rhodes is one of the reasons for the company's success, his hiatus from television for the stints on reality shows already proved that the organization has enough star power even if Rhodes isn't on the roster. Either way, it will be very interesting to see what happens with this situation and it's another reason why the existence of All Elite benefits the entire industry.

Austin at Wrestlemania

After last night's Raw, an edition that aired on the Sci-Fi network because of the coverage of the Olympics on USA, Stone Cold was trending on Twitter, with the rumor mill suggesting that the WWE Hall of Famer was pitched the idea of possibly doing a comeback match in his home state of Texas at Wrestlemania. To add some fuel to the fire, Kevin Owens, who just recently inked a new contract with the company, made some remarks about Texas during a promo on the show.

Steve Austin retired from the ring 19 years ago, but could his home state be enough to bring him back to the ring for another send off?

Let's hope not, mostly because Steve Austin is one of the very few guys that stepped away from the ring while he could still go and considering that he had a tremendous match with The Rock at WM 19 to finish his career, why take away from that conclusion? Stone Cold is the biggest star in the history of the business and drew more money, as well as sold more merchandise during an abbreviated career than most other major stars generated in a few decades. In many ways, Austin's decision to hang it up in 2003 protected his legacy because the fans never saw a decline in his performances. The allure of one more match or one more big payday often taints a previous retirement and becomes rather forgettable in the grand scheme of things. Does anyone really want to consider that train wreck of a tag match in Saudi Arabia as Shawn Micheals' final performance? Kane's mask fell off, Shawn ate the floor on a moonsault, and Triple H torn his pectoral muscle, which required surgery during the debacle. Does anyone want to remember Ric Flair's almost embarrassing TNA run after he was given the greatest retirement of all time in the WWE?

At 57, Steve Austin is still in great shape, but the odds of him returning to the ring are slim. He doesn't need the money and nothing outside of financial gain, what can really be added to his legacy at this point? He's already the biggest box office draw in the history of the sport, what else is there to really accomplish? Furthermore, over the years, you've read that Austin occasionally declined guest appearances because he doesn't want to be there without something meaningful to do on the shows. Again, what can really be added to his legacy in 2022? Sure, the armchair bookers might point to the Brock Lesnar match that was scheduled to happen before Austin infamously walked out of the company in 2002, and the story for an angle is there, but would the in-ring performance be at least on par with what Austin did when he was nearly twenty years younger? If not, is it worth it to take away from a match that saw him finish his career with a stellar performance? Furthermore, it's not as though Austin is going to take German suplexes from Brock so how exactly what a potential Brock/Austin match live up to the hype?

Right now, all of this is rumor and speculation, and while I don't think Steve Austin will lace up the boots again, it's always a given that he will make a cameo appearance in his home state, which is the more realistic option anyway.

The pairing of Austin and Kevin Owens, which looks to be the direction the angle is going, will be a very good combination that will hopefully get more press for Owens. Perhaps it was because his contract status was up in the air until he recently signed a new multi-year deal, but within the past year or so, I would say that Owens was very underutilized. Owens doesn't look like Lex Luger, but he has the in-ring ability and the charisma to be a major star for the company. It's very disappointed that at various points in his WWE tenure, he seemed to get lost in the shuffle or regulated to a secondary role, but make no mistake about it, he has the skills to be a top guy.

Just for the sake of discussion, Austin vs. Owens would probably be the most realistic possibility for a Stone Cold return because as mentioned, Austin isn't going to get dropped on his head by Lesnar. Don't get me wrong, the Austin/Owens promos to build up the match would be great television, particularly because of Owens' ability as a heel and the fact that Austin is the most over baby face of the modern era. Owens would bounce around the ring to make Austin look great and it would probably be a fun brawl.

But would Austin vs. Owens in 2022 have the sizzle or the level of performance of Austin vs. The Rock in 2003?

If not then there's no reason to book the match. Some on social media have cited the reports about the pitch to Austin as an indication that the company is scrambling to see more tickets for the two-night event, but I would take that with a grain of salt. In truth, the brand of Wrestlemania is the main selling point of the show, and while there are positives and negatives to that business philosophy, the bottom line is, the vast majority of the tickets sold for the show are purchased before the card is even confirmed. As mentioned, it's more or less a given that Stone Cold will be at the event, and all things considered a confrontation with Owens can accomplish the goal of a WM moment in Texas without any of the risks of an actual match. Stone Cold can hit the stunner on Owens, drink beers, and the audience is happy to see him at the event. Sometimes the simplest solution is the answer and as long as Stone Cold stuns the heel and celebrates then it's mission accomplished without any risk of tainting the legendary final match with The Rock at Wrestlemania several years ago.

Keith Lee signed for AEW

After much hype and even more speculation, the reveals of the "forbidden door" took place on last night's edition of Dynamite, which proved to be an episode that could be an indication of the direction of the promotion ahead of next month's pay-per-view. However, it also makes you wonder was the promotional push from Tony Khan a wise strategy and more specifically, did it live up to the hype?

First, I don't want to be too negative about what was a very good episode of Dynamite, but the fact that Tony Khan announced a "surprise" ahead of time more or less takes the actual element of surprise out of the equation. Granted, everyone enjoys a good surprise in pro wrestling, but again those moments aren't usually advertised prior to the show. That being said, I have to be honest, I really don't agree with this promotional tactic because regardless of what materializes, there's almost always unrealistic expectations from the fans or sometimes the organization overestimates its acquisition. How many times did TNA promote something that was supposed to "change the wrestling world" during its existence? Granted, Tony Khan is a promoter so by definition he wants to "sell" his show to the audience, but sometimes it's better for the audience to be pleasantly surprised instead of mildly content.

Perhaps, the biggest takeaway from all of this is that the term "forbidden door" is completely overused in pro wrestling and has become this era's "this is awesome" chant. Just because it was really cool when Hiroshi Tanahashi said it a few years ago that doesn't mean that every yokel with a Twitter account has to mangle it's definition. In truth, the "forbidden door" hasn't existed since All Elite and New Japan started working together during the pandemic. Kenta, Minoru Suzuki, Ishii, Yuji Nagata, and others have appeared for AEW so is it necessarily a major political jump if someone from the Japanese league shows up on TBS?

Interestingly, after Dynamite went off the air, Tony Khan tweeted that he made a blunder with his definition of forbidden door last week and didn't get confirmation on Jay White's appearance until just a few days ago. This can be looked at one of two ways, either Khan wants to be as transparent with the fans as possible, which is a good PR move or it reveals that he didn't have all of his ducks in a row for a national television product. I'm not sure either perspective is overly positive because best case scenario, he accidentally misrepresented his product or looked for anyone associated with New Japan to get the situation covered. If Jay White was only confirmed a few days ago, are the fans supposed to believe there are big plans for him in AEW?

Speaking of Jay White, an an athlete and an in-ring performer, he's a top-notch talent that will theoretically be a major addition for the organization, but as with everything else, it depends of how White is utilized under the All Elite banner. His involvement on the show was rather minimal with a cameo backstage so it's very possible this is only for a one-off match instead of an actual stint in the company. Again, if White was only signed to cover for the "forbidden door" tweet, how much does his involvement translate to in the grand scheme of things? If all the hype for the forbidden door only yields a six man tag on Dynamite, was it worth it? I'm not trying to be too harsh, but throwing around buzz words just to get fans to take notice on Twitter has to lead to more than essentially a guest spot on TBS or it becomes much more difficult to build buzz in the future.

The other side of the coin is that if Jay White is even a semi-regular on the All Elite roster, they just landed a major player with main event potential for the promotion. Jay White could have several potentially great bouts on pay-per-view with some of the talent already signed to AEW, and as we've discussed before, selling a traditional pay-per-view in the modern era is much more difficult so quality bouts are important for those events. The bottom line is, Jay White, assuming there aren't conflicts with the New Japan schedule, brings a lot more depth to the AEW roster.

The other reveal was for the qualifying match for the ladder match at Revolution and it was Keith Lee. I have to say, strictly based on the hype, this one was somewhat of a letdown, which wasn't a reflection on Lee's ability as an athlete, but rather his current standing among the sports entertainment landscape. Granted, the big man that can fly isn't nearly as unique now as it was years ago, but Keith Lee is still a very good performer that undoubtedly deserved better than the mostly dismal run he had toward the conclusion of his WWE tenure. As I wrote when he was released, WWE brass never truly knew what to do with Keith Lee and he didn't have much of a chance on the main roster. Lee had a successful two-year stint in NXT, but as we know, most of that is disregarded when a talent is moved to the main roster. As far as the biggest exposure of his career on the main roster, he only had a few months on Raw before COVID contributed to some serious health problems that put him on the shelf for several months. When he returned, he competed for a relatively brief run as "Bear Cat" Lee, which saw the office present him as a generic big man instead of the agile athlete that he is in the ring. The gimmick flopped and he was released in November.

Again, don't get me wrong, Keith Lee is a very good talent, but he spent the vast majority of the past year either completely off television or with an underwhelming gimmick so currently, the signing of Keith Lee just doesn't have the amount of star power that would usually be associated with the type of hype that Tony Khan announced on social media. Instead of a major signing, the debut of Keith Lee seems to be more of a debut with a lot of potential, which isn't necessarily the same thing because Lee doesn't have much momentum since he was on the sidelines for an extended period of time.

Overall, I don't think the cameo of Jay White or the signing of Keith Lee are anything earth-shattering, which isn't meant as a jab at Tony Khan, but rather to point out that an announcement of a surprise isn't always the best promotional tool. Jay White could be a major asset for AEW, but as far as a the signing itself, he's a niche talent for American fans, especially for a show on TBS. Similar to that, Keith Lee has the potential to have a very good run in All Elite, but the majority of the television audience had only previously saw him as an undistinguished mid-carder on Raw. The problem with all of this is that the speculation based on the announcement had names like Jeff Hardy and Bray Wyatt mentioned, which are two much bigger stars than White or Lee.

Keep in mind, it's better to allow for the actual surprise than to announce it in advance because it's better for the audience to be pleasantly surprised than mildly content.

Finally, the main event was tremendous and it was exactly what was needed to really cement Adam Page as AEW world champion. In the promo last week, Page mentioned he was the champion for nearly three months, but had only defended the title twice, which doesn't add to his credibility as the blue collar champion. On the flip side, the fact that Page was willing to bleed buckets to defend the belt establishes him as a fighting champion, which was really the missing piece of the puzzle for his run as champion.

The career of AJ Alexander

"For me, there is currently no life outside of wrestling. I’m either studying some aspects of wrestling, training wrestling, traveling for wrestling or wrestling period." -AJ Alexander

The 23-year-old grappler broke into the business just four and a half years ago, but considers himself "all-in" on his dream to make a name for himself as a full-time wrestler, putting in the long hours on the canvas to hone his craft during intense training sessions, as well as longer hours commuting from events most weekends.

"Simple, headline the Tokyo Dome," was AJ's direct response when asked about what his true goal is in an industry that was built on spectacle and pageantry.

The Tokyo Dome, also know as the Egg Dome, is one of the most famous venues in Japan and hosted many foreign guests throughout its more than thirty year history. When American music acts took their tour to Tokyo, they found themselves on stage in the Dome. When the MLB was welcomed into a country that has a lengthy history of baseball itself, the Tokyo Dome provided the field for the games. The historic building has an extended track record for combat sports as well, hosting numerous well-known events. Modern fans know the venue for New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual Wrestle Kingdom spectacle, but puroresu was a staple there since it opened more than three decades ago. James "Buster" Douglas shocked the world when he overcame 42-1 odds from most of the sports books when he knocked out Mike Tyson to claim the world championship in 1988. During its heyday, the MMA league, Pride Fighting Championship drew some of its biggest crowds in the mid-2000s inside the building, with it not being uncommon for their mega shows to bring around 50,000 fans to the box office. Of course, wrestling legends like Muta, Chono, and several others thrilled audiences in the Tokyo Dome.

But, how did a youngster from a small town in Ohio formulate the idea that a sport could take him around the globe and cross international boarders?

As unique as his Japanese goals might be, AJ's introduction to the genre of sports entertainment was very common. Similar to so many that develop a passion for the industry, the mat mayhem was staple for the Alexander family so AJ naturally followed suite.

"My family has always been lifelong wrestling fans, so naturally when I was born I just gravitated toward the sport. So much so that I seen these larger than life people and thought to myself I’d be there one day," AJ said.

As time went on, he was totally invested in the genre and when the chance to be near the ring presented itself, AJ and his family attended small alphabet soup indy shows near their home just for the chance to see live wrestling. Seeing the local leagues gave AJ the thought that prehaps he could join the ranks of the pros, something that seemed like a far off dream when he sat in front of the television with his family when he as just a youngster. It took some research, but eventually AJ found Quinn Magnum, a 25-year pro that was an agile big man in the Pittbrugh area, before a series of injuries cut his in-ring career short, prompting him to work behind the scenes as an organizer for the past several years. Regarded as one of the most knowledge and respected figures of the steel city indy scene, Magnum has an extensive track record as a trainer as well. 

"I did some research and came across Quinn Magnum’s training in Pittsburgh where I was able to meet people like Quinn and Lee Moriarty who just want to see the business as a whole succeed. They helped me so much and they continue to do so today," Alexander explained.

Magnum's no-nonsense approach provided his students with a solid foundation, and AJ cites his guidance as key to his aspiring career. From the first day he stepped foot into a wrestling ring, Alexander felt at home. At times, he found himself stumped as new concepts were introduced, but through consistency and diligent studying, he completed the training to prepare for his pro debut in 2018. A true mentor that those that put the trust in him to safely learn the craft, Magnum remains a resource for his students even after they establish themselves on the indy circuit.

"Quinn has been so helpful to my career, I still turn to him on occasion to have him watch and break down a match. One of the hardest things to learn was to do everything left handed and I’d probably say clotheslines. I couldn’t learn a clothesline to save my life. At this point in my career, I’ve been able to sit down and obtain a lot of advice from a lot of people," AJ added.

Since that time, AJ spent the past three and a half years zigzagging around the tri-state area, competing for everything from packed crowds to sparsely-attended events. He sees every opportunity to step through the curtain  as an chance to gain valuable learning experience, taking something away from every match. His athleticism and energetic presentation are blended with his tedious studying of Japanese and lucha libre footage to create an in-ring style that made him a standout among the grapplers of the region.

"Wrestling for different promotions is amazing. You get to met new fans, grow your own brand, and work with new people. I’ve very recently started breaking way out and getting booked outside of the Pittsburgh area. I think I have some international dates coming up so those are some exciting opportunities coming up," he remarked.

During his time working the independent scene, AJ has also impressed some of the veterans of the scene, including an athlete that Alexander once watched as a fan at those small-time shows in his hometown years ago.

"I remember meeting AJ in 2019. It was the first time I had stepped foot in a locker room in 6 years and I was making my rounds in the locker room and introduced myself to him. He had a look of shock in his face and asked if I was Dash Bennett. He then proceeded to tell me that he grew up watching me in his hometown. I grew up in the neighboring town of Wheeling so I instantly felt a bond with him, seeing as how few people from that area made it into the business. Aside from that, every time I said goodbye to him after a show he would call me his hero. That, as you can imagine is very humbling, so I tried to take a special interest in him and help where I could. I’m still waiting for the day where I’m able to share the ring with him as either a partner or opponent," said Dash Bennett, a pro with more than 20 years of experience.

The Tokyo Dome might be a lofty goal, but one thing is for sure, AJ Alexander will give himself a chance through his determination, dedication and ambition for the sport.

CM Punk vs. MJF

This past week on Dynamite in Chicago, CM Punk was defeated in his hometown when he lost a lengthy match to MJF for a show that actually saw a dip in the ratings from last week, which may or may not be an indication of the booking of a 40-minute match as the conclusion to the show. It was Punk's first defeat in AEW, but in truth, he's more or less bullet proof since he's the biggest star in the company. So far, we've seen him occasionally wrestle some of the mid-card guys, which is fine, but this was the first indication of some major business to be done as far as a heated angle. 

More on the main event later, but it was also very interesting to see the direction this episode took and prehaps the reality check that it gave AEW management.

Brian Kendrick's scheduled appearance was cancelled after some horrendous comments he made years ago resurfaced. Kendrick apologized for the ridiculous things he said, but for someone that was a marginal player in the industry in recent years, it's doubtful that signing him would be worth the possible negative PR. Wheeler Yuta, member of the Best Friends stable, took his place for a match with Jon Moxley, who looks to be in great shape since his return. It's really great to see Moxley healthy and in top form. That being said, Wheeler Yuta is a lower-card wrestler that is a part of comedy faction, and despite his talent in the ring, at this point in his return, Moxley should've squashed him. That's not a knock against Yuta, but rather to point out, he hasn't been presented as a guy that would be on the same level as Moxley and hasn't had much recent exposure on television anyway. In my opinion, it would've been more useful for Moxley to continue his momentum since the return with a quick victory.

As I've said before, All Elite Wrestling isn't perfect and it doesn't have to be either. As much as there are some natural comparisons to WCW because All Elite is the first legitimate competition for WWE in two decades, and the association with the Turner networks, if you watch some of those episodes from Nitro even in its heyday those shows weren't perfect either. Disco Inferno vs. Jerry Flynn didn't exactly set ratings records. That being said, there are valid criticisms toward the company and based on the response from the Chicago crowd, prehaps Tony Khan should listen to some of the feedback.

The post-match promo from Bryan Danielson where he criticized some of the goofy segments of past shows actually got a positive reaction even though he's a heel, and it might be something that Khan should take into consideration. It's not meant as a personal jab against the competitors, but the harsh reality is that some wrestlers just aren't on the level to be on national television. Don't get me wrong, it's great that some of those people had a chance to sign a full-time contract and get a chance to work for one of the major companies in the United States, but are the fans going to refuse to buy tickets if Kip Sabin isn't on the AEW roster? Part of building a national promotion is knowing what works and what doesn't and if someone didn't get over then it's better to trim the roster. Keep in mind, AEW is a national promotion so someone that had success with a niche gimmick in front of 200 fans at an indy show isn't automatically going to get over on a national level. Danielson got a reaction from the audience because he was right, and for a company with "All Elite" in the title, there has to be some quality control with the product.

Speaking of quality control, nepotism in wrestling is nothing new, even Greg Gagne got a push, but the Dan Lambert/Brandi segment was absolutely cringe worthy and a reason to change the channel. I guess the point  was that the angle was going to attempt to use reverse psychology on the audience so that if AEW acknowledged some of the criticism in the storyline then the fans would give the angle more of a chance, but it fell completely flat. If anything, Dan Lambert cutting the promo didn't give the fans a reason to give Brandi more of a chance, it just validated many of the criticisms. The name-dropping of other promotions or names throughout this feud hasn't been "edgy" it just sounds like a desperate attempt to get the fans not to reject it. The Jedi mind trick to try to get support for Brandi with the thought that Lambert has more heat then her won't work because again, when the heel has a point, prehaps, it's a valid criticism. Brandi trying to insult the crowd throughout the promo isn't going to do her any favors either because a heel/heel program will usually get the crowd to go to the concession stand instead of picking a side. That being said, any attempt for this segment to portray Brandi better fizzled out when she tried to square off against Page Van Zant. Are the fans supposed to believe that Brandi would actually want to fight a former UFC fighter? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Brandi is a wonderful lady and the charity work that the company does is great, but would she really be on television if she wasn't in the Rhodes family? Furthermore and more importantly, is there honestly a demand to see her on television? The only thing that was accomplished here is that it gives more credibility to the speculation that Cody Rhodes would prefer to be a reality TV star than a pro wrestler, even if that isn't an accurate summary of the situation.

Finally, Tony Khan announced a surprise free agent signing for Dynamite next week, but announcing it ahead of time eliminates the "surprise" aspect of it. Granted, it was announced publicly to get the ratings boost from it, but at the same time, isn't a moment more impactful when it's actually a surprise? More specifically, if "surprises" are the only way to draw better numbers than the structure of the show should be re-evaluated. The Cody/Sammy ladder match was hot-shot booking on a one-week build to try to generate a number, and this surprise debut is another form of that, but consistent quality shows are what ultimately build steady numbers. Hopefully, Khan avoids that booking pitfall because TNA spent its peak and millions of dollars with the assumption that "one more big signing" was the key. I won't speculate on who the signing might be, simply because there are so many free agents on the market after the most recent WWE releases that the majority of the discussion would be moot. That being said, it's usually not a wise strategy to hype free agent signings because it usually creates unrealistic expectations and then there could be somewhat of a letdown. The previously mentioned Punk/MJF match might've gone too long, but the much more important point is that it put over MJF as a star, which might not draw bigger numbers right now, but will be a step toward drawing better numbers in the future. This episode of Dynamite underscored a very important point for All Elite Wrestling, you can have a great roster, but it's also key to have the pieces in the right place to build the company.

Shane McMahon released

"It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business." -Micheal Corleone

Ironically, professional wrestling, similarly to the mafia, which may or may not actually exist, (shhh) had its own codes of conduct. Both business ventures were, in their golden eras, shrouded in mystery. The original National Wrestling Alliance, with its network of promoters, actually had a mob-type stranglehold on the industry for a few decades. At the end of the day, positive or negative, the name of the game in professional wrestling is to make the cash. Granted, the sports entertainment genre has dozens of examples of when personal agendas or egos were the primary objective, and that's why Vince McMahon is the king of sports entertainment. Through the national expansion of the 80s, the steroid scandal of the early-90s, the wrestling war of the late-90s, and any other turbulence, Vince survived when other promoters went out of business. Say what you want about him now, but McMahon won against the federal government and kept his company afloat to eventually become a billionaire today. In an industry where animosity and vendettas ruined deals, McMahon never let grudges get in the way of good business. Sable sued the company in 1999 and returned to television in 2003. Warrior demanded more money before he would go to the ring in 1991, but his return to the company for the Hall of Fame sold a lot of merchandise in 2014. Bret Hart legitimately KO'ed Vince backstage, and years later "The Hitman" is a two-time WWE Hall of Fame.

Maybe that's why it shouldn't be, but somehow it's still very surprising that Vince's son, Shane was released from the company just a few days after the Royal Rumble, an event where the rumor mill suggested that Shane's role as a producer for the signature match caused major problems backstage. Obviously, internet gossip usually has to be taken with a grain of salt, but considering that Shane was in the Rumble and there was seemingly no follow-up on Raw, it's very possible that the speculation that he attempted to book the Rumble around himself is accurate.

Again, Vince giving his own son his walking papers might be shocking, but a closer look at the McMahon family dynamic shows it shouldn't be that surprising. Furthermore, this creates a lot of question about the direction of the organization in the future, particularly based on if McMahon looks to sell the company.

It goes without saying  that almost every family has disagreements or heat over Thanksgiving dinner. There's always a crazy uncle at dinner or those cousins that you only see at funerals because you simply wouldn't associate with them otherwise. I would guess that those traditional family dynamics are amplified in the McMahon family. Vince was a ruthless businessman that took a regional group all the way to a global company that is publicly traded on the stock market. Since Vince bought the WWWF from his dad in 1983, many assumed that the tradition would continue and eventually Shane would be the next McMahon to run the WWE, but for whatever reason, several years ago, it became obvious that he wasn't the heir to the sports entertainment empire. In the early-2000s, Shane exited WWE programming for almost two years before he had a semi-regular role on-screen during various stints on television until he abruptly resigned from the company in early-2010. He did media work in China and also established pay-per-view deals for different content. While nobody from the family has stated it publicly, it's thought that Shane's initial departure was because it became apparent that Stephanie and Triple H were put in line by Vince to eventually run the company. Why Shane wasn't given the keys to the castle is anyone's guess, but his recent release seems to add validity to the notion that there was always tension within the family as their involvement in the company became more official during the past two decades.

On one hand, the ripple effect of this is rather moot. Of course, social media speculated what Shane's next move might be, specifically because he was reportedly scheduled to feud with Seth Rollins for a Wrestlemania match after the Rumble so it appears that he wants to wrestle again. So would he actually sign with another wrestling organization other than WWE? In short, no, even with the McMahon family tension, Shane isn't going to ink a deal with another sports entertainment group. You won't see Shane vs. Orange Cassidy on TBS. There's way less sizzle to the story, but if I had to guess, I would say that Shane will probably just pursue other business interest outside of the scope of wrestling, which is the same thing he did when he left the organization in 2009. It's known that before the Zuffa group rescued the UFC from the brink of collapse that Shane pitched a deal to buy the organization to his dad so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets involved as an executive of an MMA group.

On the other hand, if Shane can get fired, nobody is safe from getting the future endeavor notice except Vince himself. The past two years of the entire world seem like the Twilight Zone because of the pandemic, but the amount of people that the organization released due to "budget cuts" just seems odds and it makes you wonder what are the long-term plans for the company? Some of the former WWE talent have said in interviews that there wasn't much job security when a few dozen releases became a common headline, but for those on the roster now, it has to be concerning if even Shane can get released from the company.

As much as I don't put any "stock" in the sale rumors of the company, it still must be taken into account as at least a possibility. Is the office trying to trim the budget as much as possible to pad already record-setting profits to make the numbers look even better for a potential buyer? As I've written before, I seriously doubt that the organization will ever be sold as long as Vince is around because when you're already a billionaire, the money just becomes a number on a page. Vince took his organization from just the north east to a global entity, it's very doubtful he would put what he built into someone else's hands. That being said, Vince is 76 and while he will probably outlive us all, who would takeover the company? Triple H's ideas were largely dismantled in recent months, and Shane just got the axe so who would run the company? Sure, Stephanie is an option, but obviously, some of her plans would include Triple H and if his concepts were going to be a part of the future then NXT 2.0 wouldn't exist. Maybe Nick Khan was hired to eventually sell the company?

Aside from the next CEO of WWE, Shane's release, from purely an on-screen perspective, probably isn't a major letdown. Keep in mind, his most recent full-time tenure on television in 2018 was stale and often seemed shoehorned into the product. Don't get me wrong, Shane always worked hard in the ring and was willing to take big risks to compensate for not being the next Lou Thez, but stunt show matches by nature yield diminishing returns. Instead of occasional thrilling matches, Shane's last stint on television appeared to be more self-severing than anything else because he got more TV time than most of the roster. For example, Shane vs. AJ Styles was booked for WM 33 so that Shane could have a decent match at WM, not necessarily what might be the best use of Styles on the show. The same could be said for the planned feud with Seth Rollins for WM this year, is a Shane McMahon match the best way to book Rollins at the biggest show of the year? As mentioned, I think Shane will continue to work outside of professional wrestling and this story will probably fade from the headlines since he won't end up working for other wrestling company, but it certainly makes you wonder about the management structure and the future of the company.