What's next for Raw?

There were several years, primarily during the forced Roman Reigns baby face super push that completely flopped, when the WWE product was often paint-by-numbers drek. The three hours of Raw every week, often booked without a champion when Brock Lesnar appeared enough to still be qualified for the witness protection program, was simply just a tedious viewing experience that many fans watched out of habit, not with anticipation. If you need proof of how tough it was to script a show without the championship to serve as a centerpiece, the company created a consolation prize belt not too long ago to avoid the booking hurdles of a show without a champion again. In 2016, a few years before the launch of All Elite Wrestling, and when the lead-in programming for Impact Wrestling was ice fishing, the sports entertainment industry was completely stagnant. The WWE was king of the hill, but the recycled concepts and forced corporate agendas eroded the audience each year.

Granted, when the climate of the television business led to broadcast rights fees that garnered record profits in more recent years and the company was just a part of a $21.9 billion merger, any criticism of a few years of stale programming is moot. Still, that lackluster era that saw talent underutilized and ultimately the corporate image, not the fan demand catered to had an effect on the organization. While Smackdown will land on USA, and NXT will have a new network with the CW, Raw is currently without a new deal in place. That's not to say that it's time for management to panic or that the Monday night show won't find a spot, because obviously, it will, but the fact that the company was seemingly put on autopilot for a few years and then the pandemic hindered every aspect of the world, the organization definitely needed something to freshen up its presentation, specifically for when it shops Raw around to networks.

As we know, Roman Reign turned heel so that he could organically evolve as a performer, Cody Rhodes returned to the company and is more or less the top baby face on the roster, and while the total viewers declined compared to five years ago, the current WWE product is something that the remaining audience is willing to spend money for. The costs of live event tickets increased, but still sell very well because management seems more focused on serving its audience rather than just its shareholders. That's not to say that the WWE is in the midst of some boom period, that would imply that the organization is a part of pop culture, it's not, outside of an occasional mainstream reference to a prior era when the sport was more popular. However, that's not a knock on the current direction of WWE, but rather to point out that even though the product isn't necessarily mainstream, it caters to the current WWE audience. As much as corporate lip service as one of the aspects of being a publicly-traded corporation, the bottom line is, if management provides programming that the audience wants to watch then more revenue will be generated so it's still a win for the stockholders on the next conference call.

That's why this week's edition of Raw, while still tedious, might be an indication of a continued upswing in terms of the overall presentation in 2024.

Don't get me wrong, we all know that three hours is too long for a weekly show, and proof of that is that the vast majority of the episodes of Raw see a dip in the ratings for the third hour since the casual fans simply don't want to sit through three hours of wrestling. That said, the third hour is also one of the reasons that the company landed the massive TV deals so despite the fact that it was a common criticism for more than a decade, most of the discussion about the domino effect of three hours of Raw is cannon fodder.

This week's episode, outside of the anticipated CM Punk promo, was mostly an average Raw as far as its content, but that's not the biggest takeaway from this past Monday. The bottom line is, there was anticipation to see what was going to happen, and that's a rarity within modern pro wrestling. The reasons for that are numerous, with online leaks and social media not helping the situation, but the reality is, it's been years since there was a genuine buzz around WWE programming the way that there is right now. Obviously, there was cache with the return of Randy Orton after he was on the sidelines for a year and a half, an example of the Jim Cornette theory of, "how can we miss you if you don't go away" and then the shock of the CM Punk return. It goes without saying that by nature you can't have those things happen on a weekly basis to boost the television show, but the point being, the fact that the WWE had both happen in one night puts a renewed spotlight on the WWE product to allow for the company to showcase itself to a broader audience that might've stopped watching during the previously mentioned stagnant period for the organization.

Randy Orton worked a very safe style for the past twenty years, his matches weren't flashy, but everything was solid and he was the prototype for what Vince McMahon wants in a main event. That's not a knock on him either, he stayed at or near the top of the card for most of his career because of the style he worked. Orton is there for the cash, and that's the point of the pro wrestling business. However, even with the safer style, after two decades of in-ring competition, injuries can happen. The fact that Orton was able to return is quite remarkable, especially when he probably already has enough money to hang up his boots. I don't think it'd be wise for him to work any of the reduced number of house shows to avoid any extra toll on his body after the serious back injury. Instead, they can use Orton as an asset of Raw to spotlight him and showcase his status as an established veteran. Orton vs. Dominik Mysterio was a wise choice and allowed both to shine in their specific roles.

Cody Rhodes continues to be a staple of the show and it goes without saying that his segments will continue to give viewers a reason to tune into the show, particularly as the company moves toward Wrestlemania season. Similar to how Dominik was used against Orton on Monday, The Judgment Day are a strong enough heel group to be used to fuel the baby faces on the brand.

Of course, everyone wanted to hear what CM Punk had to say with a live mic, and the office was smart enough to promote it throughout the night to attempt to keep viewers tuned into the show. That being said, the eight-minute segment was essentially a generic return promo, with the exception of the last line that Punk uttered into the camera. I think it'd be fair to say that after all of the anti-WWE rhetoric, specifically taking jabs at the two-night format of Wrestlemania during his feud with MJF in AEW, CM Punk is a complete hypocrite. Again, Punk is about the biggest spot possible for Punk, not the prosperity of pro wrestling, but that's fine because as I've said before, the business is about making money. It's just ironic that Punk claimed he wanted to make the sport better, but is willing to praise WWE when the price is right. He will gleefully main event of the the show of the same two-night concept of Wrestlemania that he mocked previously. Phil Brooks isn't ethically better than anyone else in the often seedy sports entertainment industry, even if he tries to spin the narrative that way.

CM Punk claiming that he was "home" in the WWE was laughable, but it was lip service that he will get paid a lot of money for, the new line of CM Punk merchandise is already on the WWE Shop website. It was even more comical that Brooks said that he "changed" in the segment. As I wrote when I discussed his return to the organization in an article a few days ago, he got into another backstage fight in AEW just three months ago so it's very doubtful that he had a personal revelation within those three months. After he concluded the mic work, he said into the camera, "I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to make money" before the broadcast went off the air. That's probably the only authentic statement he made when he was on Raw, and that's fine because again, making money in the entire point. It's just important to remember that Punk is there for the cash, not to improve pro wrestling.

All that said, the hypocritical nature of Punk's return doesn't matter at all. The point being, he was away from the organization for almost a decade and there was a demand for him to return to the company, setting up a lot of intriguing possibilities. Make no mistake about it, Phil Brooks is a jerk, but he's a talented jerk that has a dedicated fan base. There were more viewers for Raw before he left than there are now, and his return, along with the other talent mentioned, could give fans that haven't watched the show a reason to be reintroduced to the product in some ways. It might be an artificial boost based on the post-PPV buzz, but Raw had a 29% increase of viewers compared to last week, despite competition from Monday Night Football. That's the biggest takeaway from the return of Randy Orton and CM Punk to Raw, it provides an opportunity for the company to bring back some of the causal fans that might've stopped regularly watching WWE programming several years ago.

KSWA fan fest

In 1985, Magnum TA, who broke into the business a mere five years earlier before he skyrocketed to prominence as one of the rising youngsters in the industry,  stood across the ring from "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair with the NWA World Heavyweight championship on the line inside Three Rivers Stadium, the historic venue that saw the Steelers dynasty win four Super Bowls the previous decade. Pittsburgh, a region known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, was known as WWF country, primarily because of the foundation put into place by the Italian strongman, Bruno Sammartino. However, this rare northeast appearence for the Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promoters, was memorable for more than just where the event took place.

Famously, a rain storm hit the outdoor show, leaving Flair and his challenger to battle in the downpour for the vast majority of the 55-minute bout. The contest was declared a disqualification when Magnum unintentionally sent the champion sailing over the top rope, and the exhausted Flair landed on the soggy turf at ringside.

Thankfully, Terry Allen's upcoming visit to the steel city is set to be much for pleasant and for a good cause. Plus, the former NWA United States champion is bring an old friend and former foe with him, "The Russian Nightmare Nikita Koloff.

This Saturday, the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance will host its biggest spectacular of the year, "Fan Fast" at The  Langley American Legion Post 496 in Sheraden, PA with a full card of action and the two previously mentioned NWA legends making very rare Pittsburgh appearances for the special night. The KSWA, founded more than two decades ago and specializing in grappling events held inside the city limits, participates in a variety of fundraisers for various causes throughout the year. In a show of holiday spirit, the KSWA offices formed a Christmas tag team with Allegheny County Department of Human Services Holiday Project for a toy drive at Fan Fest. The fans that are expected to jam-pack the American Legion this weekend are encouraged by the wrestling league to bring a new, unwrapped gift that can be donated for families in need this holiday season.

The good cause and the night of grappling provide a win-win for everyone involved.

Aside from the chance to meet Magnum TA and Nikita Koloff for photo-ops and autographs, fans in attendance will see a unique night of action that can only be delivered by the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. A throwback to the heyday of Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling from a prior era, the KSWA league focuses its brand on entertaining characters and action that evokes an audience reaction, as the "krazies," the wholesome nickname given to the dedicated KSWA fanbase, jeer the villains while they rally the heroes to victory.

KSWA stalwarts like ring announcer "Trapper" Tom Leturgey, and beloved official, Shawn Patrick will be in the house to join the cast of stars on the card this Saturday. Trapper Tom's booming voice will lead names like local legend, T. Rantula to the ring to clash with the upstart Johnny Norris, an agile big man that has made waves throughout the arena since events began to run again after the pandemic. Patrick will be tasked with counting the shoulders when The Apex, the combination of Ron Hunt and Joshua Kovad square off with the duo of Pittsburgh legend, Dennis Gregory and accomplished youngster, Edric Everhart. Independent wrestling icon Super Henti will step into the ring with Tyler Grayson with the Golden Triangle Championship at stake. Longtime cornerstone of the organization, The Dynasty's Shawn Blanchard goes one-on-one with "Commander" Don Scholz to settle a score boiling between the two at The American Legion. The KSWA Heavyweight championship will be decided when Lou Martin defends against three challengers in a wild fatal four-way contests. Plus, other scheduled bouts will complete the card for what many anticipate will be a memorable night of professional wrestling action.

CM Punk returns

Never say never in the pro wrestling business.

When CM Punk was fired from All Elite Wrestling after a backstage brawl with Jack Perry at Wembley Stadium just three months ago, speculation started almost immediately about the potential for a WWE return. Those discussions are almost a natural part of the conversation any time a star hits the free agent market with two national companies in the industry again, but there was very little substance to it.The only indication that there might be a chance that the real-life Phil Brooks would even be on speaking terms with WWE was that he showed up backstage at Raw in Chicago earlier this year, reportedly to mend some fences, including brief conversations with The Miz, who he lashed out at on social media a few years ago, and Triple H before he was asked to leave because management didn't want any accusations of contract tampering. That visit took place when Punk was still on the sidelines while healing from triceps surgery for an injury that he suffered in a match with Jon Moxley last year before the infamous All Out press conference and backstage fight with The Young Bucks.

As I wrote at the time, CM Punk is a masterful politician and his visit to the WWE event before he was brought back to AEW was undoubtedly to let Tony Khan know that he had options in the industry. Furthermore, I wrote that despite the criticism, lengthy lawsuits, and the riff between the two sides, CM Punk returning to the company was still a possibility. If Warrior, Sable, and others made a comeback, it was in the cards for Phil Brooks. One of the reasons that Vince McMahon is the king of sports entertainment, and the WWE was a part of a $21.9 billion merger recently, is that business was always the top priority. Vince McMahon doesn't need someone to send him a Christmas card to work with them, if they can make him money he will do business with anyone.

So, CM Punk's return to WWE was surprising, but not shocking.

In truth, I put no stock into the rumors of a possible return to the company in Chicago, simply because it was mentioned for almost a decade in some form or fashion when the organization ran an event in his hometown. Specifically, I didn't think that WWE would want to risk the hassle of someone with well-documented problems in both organization and just had another physical altercation a few months ago. Still, I'm not exactly sure why the corporation re-signed the 44-year-old grappler since they already have record profits, but there are a few different possible reasons.

While this might not have been the main reason, this is definitely a way that the WWE can show its dominance over All Elite Wrestling. They signed Cody Rhodes and made him the top baby face in the company. They will take CM Punk, who they fired and went to court with several years ago, and promote him to a much bigger spot than anything he did in Tony Khan's company. Don't get me wrong, I sincerely hope that All Elite finds continued success because the industry needs options, but as the story of the organization unfolds, it becomes obvious that AEW is a secondary company.

The bigger point is that the wrestling world will be talking about WWE going into next year, and that will certainly help when they look for a new TV deal for Raw at the end of 2024. Some have cited Roman Reigns' lack of appearances or some suggestion that his title reign might become stale, but adding CM Punk into the mix, assuming he can stay healthy, will add a new dynamic to WWE programming.

In some ways, bringing Punk back into the promotion utilizes the years of strife between the two sides since there's a level of mystic about what would happen if the real-life Phil Brooks was back inside a WWE ring or what he might say with a live microphone. Granted, everyone involved in the original dispute had almost ten years to let the animosity settle and there's a lot of water under the bridge after a decade, but I still wouldn't be surprised if Punk eventually has another dispute with management. At the cringe worthy post-show press conference, which was about as entertaining as watching a marathon of Ryback matches, amateur reporters fumbled their way through questions. Triple H noted that nobody is the same as they were ten years ago and seemed to indicate that the company and Punk were on good terms. While I'd generally agree with Triple H that people evolve over time and growth as a person can provide a lot of insight, I'm not sure that applies to Phil Brooks. He was away from pro wrestling for seven years and it took less than a year for him to have problems with AEW management the same way he had disagreements with WWE management. I doubt Brooks had some personal revelation about trying not to be a smug jerk in the past three months, but as always, drawing money is the most important factor in business. That being said, at this point, Brooks doesn't have nearly as much leverage as he had in the past, particularly because with the record-setting profits the company already has for its stock price CM Punk needs WWE more than WWE needs Punk. That's not to say that he doesn't bring value or star power to the table, but rather to point out that the company's success doesn't hinge on if Punk is on their shows, and in a similar fashion, if Punk still wanted to make a hefty payday from sports entertainment, he could work a match for New Japan at the Tokyo Dome. Perhaps, that balance will actually allow the two sides to work together better than they had before since there's less pressure for everyone involved when it'd be just as easy to leave the company or terminate the contract.

According to The Wrestling Obsever's Dave Meltzer, Brooks signed a multi-year deal, which makes sense to maximize the return on the investment of TV time and promotional dollars, but at the same time, a major factor will be if he can avoid injury. I think it's fair to say that you have to take the vast majority of what Meltzer says with a grain of salt, but he claimed that Vince McMahon wasn't involved in the decision to re-sign Punk. I think it's very doubtful that Vince didn't have some level of discussion about it, but given the corporate structure of TKO, who knows how much power Vince retains now? Meltzer added that the deal to bring Punk back took place within the past week or so, which is definitely believable since it was kept quiet, outside of the usual rumors when the WWE held a show in Chicago.

With as polarizing and as controversy as CM Punk is, opinions are definitely going to vary on him. The Seth Rollins rant that was posted on social media was a work, and it wouldn't be too surprising if Punk has a match with Rollings for the heavyweight championship at next year's Wrestlemania. As I said, Punk is a jerk, but he's a talented jerk with a dedicated fan base. If talent can make money working with him then that's exactly what they're going to do for the company. Again, you don't have to send someone a Christmas card, the entire point of the wrestling business is to make as much money as possible, and if CM Punk is an asset to that effort then it makes sense for him to work there. At the same time, the fact that Phil Brooks is willing to re-sign with a company that he supposedly despised for the right price says a lot about his claims of being a martyr for the industry. Everybody has a price, Phil Brooks did. Speaking of which, as much as he criticized the WWE for taking the Saudi money, don't be too surprised if you see CM Punk make his debut in Saudi Arabia when the government offers him the right amount of cash. That's not necessarily a knock because as mentioned, the wrestling business is about making the most money possible, and the industry isn't exactly know for its ethics and moral standards anyway.

Taking into account his level of star power and the circumstances of his return, CM Punk is going to have to be used in a high profile spot, he's simply not a mid-card guy at this point in his career. He made himself enough of a controversial figure that he either has to be booked in a featured spot or stay home. Since he decided he didn't want to stay on the couch, as I said before, I'd guess that he works a feud with Rollins to lead to a Wrestlemania match. That way Cody can still chase the title to try to finally beat Roman for the championship. Some might wonder why management brought Punk back at Survivor Series instead of The Royal Rumble since that's the official kickoff of WM season. I'd say that it was easier to bring him back in Chicago because the office knew that he would get the massive hometown reaction. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the WWE audience responses to him, particularly when he appears on a regular basis.

The bottom line is, if the WWE machine can promote CM Punk and he can draw money, and more specifically add a boost when they negotiate the new TV contracts then it makes sense for him to re-sign with the company. Since both sides would be fine without the deal, if something goes off the rails, everyone can step away with minimal damage to any name value. Aside from the draw of possible TV ratings and PPV tickets sold, this opens the door for new CM Punk merchandise so there are several revenue streams associated with this return. Of course, CM Punk will be thrilled to be back in the company right now because all of the spotlight will be on him, but we've seen this story before, will Punk still be on good terms with the company next year? Still, at least for now, it's very intriguing to see CM Punk back in the WWE and it's quite remarkable that they were able to keep it a surprise for the pay-per-view.

Survivor Series review

The WWE staple of the fall season took place with Survivor Series in Chicago, and it's not only the final "big" pay-per-view of the year, but also the last PPV before the eventual kickoff of Wrestlemania season in 2024. Ironically, All Elite Wrestling hosted Collision in conjunction with a special Saturday edition of Rampage in Pittsburgh as well. As you might've read prior to this, the great Pat MacLaughlin and I have attended the four previous Dynamite tapings at The Peterson Events Center, the venue where the Pitt Panthers play basketball. However, with how slapstick the AEW product has been, the upcoming holidays, and the fact there was already a signature event on the same night, we declined to attend Collision. It's not so much that I thought it was going to be a subpar event in terms of in-ring quality, but the fact that almost nothing was advertised in advance, the usually hefty ticket prices didn't seem worth it without a solid selling point. Throughout the holiday week, I kept an eye on ticket prices and was somewhat shocked at not only the amount of seats that were left, but also the type of seats that were still available. For example, our usual seats of "ZOO F," the lower level section right above the floor sears, were tickets that you had to have the presale password for to have a reasonable chance to secure, were still listed for Collision just two days before the event. Earlier this week, there was actually a $10 ticket deal announced for the show, but even that didn't seem to move tickets, which says more about the Ticket Master system than the ability for the promotion to sell seats. Sure, the tickets would've been just $10, but then you have to factor in the $25 in Ticket Master fees. After that, you have to add in the cost of parking once you get to the venue and then if you purchase a $6 Coca Cola, the two tickets you bought for $20 become a $100 cost for the total experience so it's a quick jump from $10 per person to $50 each for the "bargain" tickets at the event.

Granted, All Elite Wrestling will be fine without Mac and I in attendance, but I think the situation is somewhat of a microcosm as to why AEW has struggled to move tickets recently, specifically for the Saturday night show. As I wrote before the debut edition in June, the addition of another weekly TV show is more than just twice the amount of weekly shows booked for the scripting of the organization, but it also doubles the amount of tickets that the company had to sell each week. Taking into account inflation and the uncertainty of the economy, its tough to expect fans to buy tickets to a major wrestling show more than once or twice a year, especially with the extra costs that we discussed earlier. There are only so many markets that All Elite Wrestling can run for its television and thus they are only so many fans within those markets that can reasonable purchase tickets for certain events.

In this case, it's much more affordable for the wrestling fans in Pittsburgh to watch Survivor Series on Peacock than to spend the hefty amount of cash on Collision tickets right before the holidays.

Anyway, the show kicked off with the women's War Games match, the usual format for the PPVs that have a pair of gimmick matches on the card with one to open and then one to close the show. With just five matches on the card, pacing becomes very important, especially with two longer gimmick matches since it becomes a priority to prevent the presentation from dragging to avoid a tedious viewing experience. The problem with the war games concept that can sometimes be encountered is that the segment can become very formulaic since the rules of the match lead to a specific structure. Perhaps, that's why weapons were introduced into the match early to avoid a carbon copy of other War Games matches in the past or even the main event later in the night.

The contest went about 35 minutes so there was a lot of action, but the biggest takeaway is that this was yet another example of how much depth the women's division has right now. The highlights were probably Iyo's insane dive with the trash can from the top of the cage and then the moonsault that Charlotte did off the cage. Backy Lynch got the win when she pinned Bayley after a leg drop through a table.

The IC title match was decent, but it appeared like there was too much of a character clash in some ways. By all accounts, the real-life Mike Mizanin is a great guy, but his character was always tailor-made for a heel persona. It was somewhat odd to see him cast as a baby face on-screen and the narrative seemed a little forced. Plus, he was used regularly as one of the heels that was foiled in comedy segments and he did very well in that role, but it was difficult to view him as a legitimate threat to championship after Gunter had such a dominating reign. Along with the narrative of the match being somewhat forced, the action itself was partially forced as well. Again, The Miz character was a secondary comedy act prior to this so it wasn't realistic to see Gunther selling as much as he did for him. The bout went about 15 minutes, but it would've made more sense for this to be an almost one-sided five minute match where Gunther dominated most of the segment. Gunther retained, which was a smart decision since he's the first wrestler in several years to bring a notable level of prestige back to the championship.

Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar was a match that I was looking forward to, particularly because the direction of the storyline could position Dragon Lee to be elevated to a higher spot on the card. As I've written previously, while there will only be one Rey Mysterio, I really think that Dragon Lee has the ability to be used in the "Mysterio" spot so to speak in terms of the top Hispanic star in the company. Rey being used as an on-screen mentor or manager for Lee might be a good way to keep him on television without the risk of more injuries. Don't get me wrong, Santos Escobar is a really solid talent, but at almost 40, he's undoubtedly at the latter stages of his career. On the flip side, Dragon Lee is more than a decade younger so it makes sense for the WWE to invest in him as the next major lucha star because it maximizes the amount time that he could draw money for the company.

The match itself was somewhat surprising, as it was rather brief with only about seven minutes given on the card and the finish was abrupt. While it had its moments with Dragon Lee's dive and a few other aerial maneuvers from both competitors, I expected more from this segment. Instead of a lucha showcase, it was more of a storyline based bout with Escobar really emphasizing the heel tactics, which is fine, but given the ability of these athletes, this seemed like a missed opportunity for the in-ring quality it could've added to the show. Plus, Escobar winning a short match in abrupt fashion didn't really do anything to establish Dragon Lee so it will be interesting to see the direction of the storyline after this pay-per-view.

The Women's title match was fine, but at roughly ten minutes, it was basically just an average match that was used to pace the card. Zoey went from being Trish's sidekick to a title challenger rather quickly without much character development so the result was obvious. Rhea Ripley retained and this was more of a TV match than anything else.

Similar to the hurdles of War Games concept, the men's match had them emphasized more than usual because the action of the contest for the vast majority of the segment was basically cannon fodder since it was built around the return of Randy Orton. You more or less knew that nothing of consequence was going to take place until Orton was in the ring. The tease of the MIB cash-in was well done and added some intrude to the conclusion. After Orton's appearance, the match went to the finish quickly and it allowed for the ability to maximize the impact of the return. Cody got the pin for his team to get the win.

Overall, Survivor Series was fine and a mostly solid event with some quality bouts and only a few misses with how the card was formatted. The post-match return in Chicago was interesting, but that subject will be covered in its own article. One thing is for sure, the wrestling world will be talking about WWE and it sets the stage for some intriguing possibilities next year.

What's the status of Jack Perry?

You've heard the cliche that history repeats itself, but it's a cliche for a reason and it's one that applied to pro wrestling often throughout the extensive history of the genre. Sometimes, the cliche can be the correct decision because the easiest answer is also often the right answer. On the other hand, if a cliche is a miss, it can be a huge miss. As we know, part of the art of booking and thus the journey that an angle takes the audience on as they follow the narrative is the conclusion. Is the payoff worth the time that the audience invested to follow the storyline, and was it worth the money that the company invested to promote it?

Since sports entertainment, while stretching some of the limits of logic at times, is based on reality, there must be a concise and logical path for a storyline to make sense so that it can maximize the payoff. That payoff can be in the form of pay-per-view buys, increased ratings, increased attendance etc. The bottom line is, a successful major angle is be able to add revenue for the organization.

Without a clear destination, the path to get to the conclusion of a storyline can stray toward different points that ultimately hinder its effectiveness.

Once such example was the infamous Black Scorpion, voiced by Ole Anderson, that feuded with Sting during the early years of the Turner ownership of WCW. The persona looked rather generic and did honky illusion acts to add a layer of mystery to the character. Supposedly, Al Perez, who was a solid in-ring worker, was considered for the role, but quit the company. There were a revolving door of performers put underneath the mask at various times for on-screen appearances, but there wasn't anyone with star power that was chosen for the role, partially because the parlor tricks The Black Scorpion did were lame instead of intimidating. It very much had the fingerprints of former Pizza Hut executive, Jim Herd on it as another cheap attempt to try to copy the WWF at the time.

Eventually, without anyone of major notoriety to put in the role for a proper reveal, Ric Flair was unmasked as The Black Scorpion, which was a total dud because Flair had just worked with Sting for the WCW Heavyweight championship a few months earlier so it was a complete retread of what the audience already watched.

Hopefully, All Elite Wrestling has its ducks in a row to prevent a massive letdown with the eventual reveal of who is under the devil mask.

As I wrote earlier this week in a review of The Full Gear pay-per-view, much of All Elite programming was built around the devil mask, and at the very least, it was strongly implied that something would be revealed at the pay-per-view. Instead, there was barely a mention of it, and the booking of the show has garnered some criticism online.

This past week on Dynamite, the masked figure made an appearance on the broadcast in a backstage segment and a distorted laugh might've given the fans a clue as it who it might be. Some have speculated that Jack Perry, who was suspended indefinitely following the physical altercation with CM Punk at All In at Wembley Stadium, might've been the performer under the mask. Perry hasn't been seen since the backstage fight that sent him home and led to Tony Khan giving CM Punk a pink slip. The laugh certainly sounds similar to Jack Perry, but the idea of the former Jungle Boy has the reveal was almost unanimously panned on social media after Dynamite went off the air.

Granted, if Tony Khan really wanted to work the audience, it would be smart to put different wrestlers under the costume before the reveal since it would keep them guessing and technically, anyone can be used in the role until the character is unmasked. At the same time, a lot of this depends on if Tony had a destination for the angle before it started and if those plans are still in place. Taking into account the often half-hazard nature of the format of Dynamite, I'd guess the reveal of who will be under the mask wasn't decided before the storyline started. In some ways,it almost seemed like Tony is stalling for time on the actual reveal, and if that's the case then maybe that's why there wasn't any reveal at Full Gear. All things considered, I'm not sure if anyone that could realistically be used for the unmasking of the character would live up to the hype, and more importantly, whoever is under the mask will need a firm direction after they are revealed.

If it's MJF, it's expected and there no element of surprise. If it's Adam Cole, I'm not sure how much impact it would have since the entire Cole/MJF storyline is so silly that it'd be difficult to immediately present him as a credible heel. Rodrick Strong is a great talent and has done a decent job with the "neck strong" gimmick, but is he the guy to lead a heel faction? Wardlow is an option, but he lost so much momentum and is basically in the same spot he was two years ago that it might be too much of a leap to suddenly put him in that role. Ironically, CM Punk, who was fired after the previously mentioned fight with Jack Perry backstage, would probably be the best reveal because of his history with MJF and it would allow an angle that could use the real-life heat to boost a storyline. That said, it's very doubtful that Tony would be able to repair the rift with Punk, especially just a few months after he was fired so it's not a realistic option.

If the reveal is Jack Perry, I'd expect the same reaction that the concept already received online. After his aloof appearance at a wrestling convention earlier this year, fans more or less soured on him because he sounded completely indifferent to the concept of pro wrestling. If Jack Perry doesn't care about his matches, why should the fans care and more importantly why should they want to pay to watch them? Plus, Perry would be a rather illogical choice since his involvement with MJF or the main event scene as a whole has been very minimal. Quite frankly, Jack Perry is a secondary performer, and this angle should have a main event talent.

I've said that the MJF/Adam Cole angle hinders them both, but it's still more or less the top angle in the company, with the intrigue being who is underneath the devil mask. If the reveal of who is underneath the costume is a flop, the argument could be made that the entire product would fall flat, too. Don't get me wrong, fans still talk about The Black Scorpion in WCW more than thirty years later, but it's because of how much of an infamous mishap it was for the Turner organization. Who knows what Tony Khan has planned, or if he even knows what direction the angle will go, but if Jack Perry is revealed as AEW's Black Scorpion, it will be memorable for all the wrong reasons for the company.

VHS Memoirs:Survivor Series 1992

Survivor Series, the second longest-running pay-per-view event behind only Wrestlemania, will air live this Saturday on Peacock. The streaming service is far away from the initial broadcast of either closed circuit in its earliest editions in the late--80s or calling jammed phone lines to order the show in the 90s. Despite watching this event on Peacock for this review, the 1992 edition of the show was actually one of the first WWF VHS tapes I had, as I remember my dad bought it for me, and according to the sticker that is still on the box, it was a used copy for $4.97. The Coliseum Video release opened with Revered Slick preaching about Thanksgiving, but for whatever reason, that introduction isn't included on Peacock. That's one of the downsides of more or less everything going digital within the massive WWE library. While it's amazing to have such easy access to thousands of hours of wrestling content, there are certain portions of events that sometimes don't make the switch to the streaming service, seemingly with no reasoning behind why some edits are made and some edits aren't for the digital presentation. That's why as antiquated as it might seem, I will always be a proponent of physical media in some form or fashion since it's the only way to truly ensure access on a regular basis, especially when you don't know who could end up with the distribution rights of the WWE Network and what edits they might make to the catalog.

Anyway, the show opened with The Headshrinkers vs. High Energy, the brief combination of Owen Hart and Koko B. Ware. Complete with parachute pants and suspenders, this was more or less a thrown together duo after Jim Neidhart was fired earlier in the year. This bout only went about six minutes, but for what it was, it was a solid opening segment. Samu and Fatu, despite their size, could keep up with their faster opponents and it allowed for some good exchanges. It's somewhat disappointing that The Headshrinkers were still being used as the stereotypical savage tag team at this point because make no mistake about it, these guys can go in the ring. Afa was at ringside snacking on a turkey leg before he used a bamboo stick to whack Koko behind the referee's back. The finish saw Samu land an impressive top rope splash on Owen to get the victory. If there was given more time, I think it could've been an even better match, but as mentioned, this had roughly six minutes, which wasn't enough time for the contest to get into second gear.

A match that went only five minutes, but probably should've been given even less time on the broadcast was Nailz vs. The Big Bossman in a nightstick on a pole match. Of course, this first competitor to get the stick can use it. The Nailz character lasted less than a year and was only brought into the company to feud with Bossman, with this being the payoff to the storyline. Infamously, Nailz had a confrontation with Vince McMahon a few weeks after this pay-per-view and was fired from the company. However, given the character and the conclusion of the angle, I'm not sure there was really anything left for the persona to do in the organization in terms of storylines. To say the match was bowling shoe ugly would be charitable. Ray Traylor was known for being agile for his size and relatively light on his feet, but there wasn't much he could do with this cement mixer of an opponent. The pace and almost every spot of this short bout was very clunky. The only redeeming quality of this segment was Bossman sold very well. Eventually, Bossman got the nightstick and delivered two shots to Nailz before the villain was able to get control of the stick to land two shots of his own. A miscue from Nailz allowed Bossman to hit his signature slam to get the pin before a final shot with the nightstick set his foe tumbling through the ropes to the floor. The only positive that you can really point out in this match is that they protected the nightstick gimmick. Each wrestler was only hit with it twice instead of a dozen times, which would dilute the effectiveness of the gimmick. Again, this was only five minutes, but seemed like a marathon to sit through this segment.

Rick Martel vs. Tatanka was a contest that I expected more from, to be honest. Martel is probably underrated and doesn't get the credit he deserves because his main event stint in the AWA earlier in his career was during the latter stages of the organization. He had solid stints in the WWF and then his comeback run in WCW was cut short after an injury in 1998. Tatanka had somewhat of an odd career path in some ways because he was booked for an extended undefeated streak upon his arrival in the company in the early-90s and looked to fit what the organization wanted to present in that era to soften the image of the brand, but for whatever reason, he never got passed a lower mid-card spot. After a few years in the WWF he more or less disappeared from main stream wrestling until he had a comeback run in the WWE around 2006. The match itself was rather basic, nothing great and nothing subpar. It was just an average match that didn't really stand out from the rest of the card with a deliberate pace that looked to work the crowd more than to provide in-ring action. Tatanka got the win to reclaim his eagle feathers.

Speaking of underwhelming, Razor Ramon and Ric Flair vs. Macho Man and Mr. Perfect was promoted as one of the featured bouts on the card, donning the front cover of the original box art, but it fell short of expectations, especially given the legendary talent in the match. Originally, The Ultimate Warrior was supposed to team with Randy Savage, but had left a few weeks earlier because of yet another dispute with management. Don't get me wrong, the action was fine with some good exchanges between the participants at different points, but it just didn't reach a level where it would be considered a main event bout. If I had to guess, one of the reasons might've been that Curt Hennig hadn't wrestled for over a year at that point because of a serious back injury so perhaps ring rust was a factor. The finish didn't do the segment any favors when Macho and Perfect won via a very flat disqualification.

Yokozuna beat Virgil in a two-minute squash match so there's not much to discuss about it.

The Natural Disasters and The Nasty Boys beat Money Inc. and The Beverly Brothers in a traditional Survivor Series match. Despite all of the participants, this was basically the same eight-man tag formula that you'd see on home video releases during this era as a way to provide a "special event" for exclusive content on the VHS presentation. However, this is an opportunity to discuss why these types of matches were the original selling point of the Survivor Series concept on pay-per-view and also why an entire card of multi-man matches had to be scaled down to usually one signature match on a broadcast. Keep in mind, when the Survivor Series debuted on pay-per-view in 1987, it was during the squash match era that had potentially one featured match with stars on weekly television, but the dynamics of the business were still designed to sell tickets to local house shows. In a similar fashion, the Survivor Series concept allowed fans to see an entire night of stars compete against each other when it wasn't common place on WWF TV. When more stars competed against each other as the TV product evolved, an entire show of eight-man tag matches was too repetitive so they scaled down the original concept.

The Undertaker beat Kamala in a casket match. This only went about five minutes and won't get seven stars, but it was really entertaining for what it was. The vignettes of The Undertaker building the custom casket for Kamala were memorable and one of the many examples of how The Undertaker portrayed the character better than anyone else could've done it. Kamala wasn't Lou Thez, but he was one of the most memorable characters because of how well he worked the gimmick and could add different aspects to it through the years. For example, the cannibalistic persona from a decade earlier in Mid-South had the mannerisms and body language to look like a legitimate threat to the top baby faces in the territory. By 1992, taking into account the direction of the company, Kamala was more of a cartoon and he presented that dynamic well too so he was undoubtedly a versatile performer. His over-the-top expressions and being afraid of the casket, while cartoonish, were well done in terms of the presentation.

 The main event was the newly-minted WWF champion Bret Hart defending against Shawn Micheals in a match that more or less saved the show as far as in-ring quality. It's ironic that these two took center stage at this point because they would more or less be the centerpieces in the aftermath of the steroid scandal and be used as a part of the "new generation" to help repair the image of the company. You can tell that these two are still developing their main event styles that they would use regularly in the years that followed, but this is a really solid match. It was more than twenty minutes of fast-paced action, and everyone was crisp and smooth. Micheals bumped all over the place to make the champion look strong, and the crowd was behind the action as the momentum tilted back and fourth during the contest. Eventually, Bret Hart got the submission with the sharpshooter to retain the championship.

 Overall, this pay-per-view was essentially a product of its era and thus seems rather subpar now, outside of the main event. The matches that had potential to deliver in-ring action were too short to get to the next level, and the flat DQ finish in the tag match hindered the presentation of star power on the show.. The main event is definitely worth watching, but the vast majority of this show is skippable because of the lack of quality on the card.

What's next for the NWA?

The NWA house of cards might be ready to collapse. 

Nick Hausman, who recently branched off into his own site after being known as the guy that sparked CM Punk's press conference rant last year, reported just a few days ago that the NWA, the group owned by Smashing Pumpkins front man, Billy Corgan, will make significant budget cuts in the near future. Hausman explained that the number of wrestlers that are flown into tapings will be reduced to save on costs, as well as minimizing the amount of hotel accommodations needed for each event. All of this makes sense, especially when the company is still being independently run in the sense that there aren't corporate sponsorships or outside investors to help cover the tab. Billy Corgan is the owner of the National Wrestling Alliance and that means if thousands of dollars are needed to produce a live event or a TV taping, the cash is coming directly from his pocket. That can be a tremendous financial burden, especially when Corgan has to balance his personal responsibilities with the duty of being the owner of a pro wrestling organization. Granted, he has been very successful in the music business for decades so its doubtful that he would allow himself to be dragged into financial peril because of the NWA, but again that puts a realistic limit on how much he can invest into his wrestling project.

Among the tribalism of wrestling fans, many don't realize the extensive amount of capital needed to run a sports entertainment venture on even a semi-national level.

Corgan, who is set for a tour alongside Green Day next year, dismissed the rumors when he spoke to Fightful Select, claiming that the finances of the promotion are fine and their TV deals are still in place. Obviously, if the group was in financial trouble, it's very, very doubtful that Corgan would confirm it to a media outlet. That would do nothing to help the image of the organization that already had a storm of negative publicity recently with the infamous cocaine spot on pay-per-view. Speaking of the controversial event, there are reports online that suggest that the show only drew a few hundred buys. If that's the case then it's very possible that Corgan lost money on the show.

Listen, it goes without saying that as long as Corgan has the funds and is willing to spend the money then the National Wrestling Alliance will continue to exist. However, as I explained in an article I wrote last week, while the NWA has some solid talent, it will be a very tough task to carve a piece of the pie in the current crowded pro wrestling landscape. Does the NWA have a concept that will make enough fans take notice and want to spend money on it? We've seen their recent plans to re-establish the regional system among the independent scene, which is an interesting concept, but it remains to be seen if it can gain some traction, and more importantly, generate revenue. Ultimately, that's the barometer of success for the NWA and any other pro wrestling league. If the money that Corgan invested into the current form of the promotion will yield him a profit than any budget cuts or criticisms of the PPV segment are moot.

On the flip side, this could be the early warning signs that the NWA is following a similar path to that of Extreme Championship Wrestling, a group that actually had Corgan in attendance for some of its later events. The Smashing Pumpkins star cracked Lou E. Dangerously with a guitar once, splitting the former Sign Guy Dudley's head open in the ring. Corgan actually told the story on a podcast once that Paul Heyman, desperate to try to keep ECW afloat, offered to sell him a 10% stake in the organization for $1 million. Knowing that the group was already in massive debt, Corgan declined.

It's well-known that in its latter stages, ECW started to cut back on who was booked, travel expenses, and production. Rob Van Dam famously went on hiatus from the organization because of the amount of money he was owed prior to the company's final pay-per-view, Guilty As Charged at the Hammerstein Ballroom, where he only agreed to appear if he was paid up front. Is it possible that Billy Corgan is trying to expand the NWA too fast?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think you're going to see the NWA abruptly shut down, because again, as long as Billy has the money and is willing to pick up the tab, the NWA will continue to exist, but it's an incredibly difficult process for one person to use their personal money to fund a pro wrestling project, especially on a national level. Speaking of which, if a pro wrestling commodity is going to be successful on the national scene, sponsorships and commercials are a major piece of the puzzle. It's a very valuable added revenue stream and one of the reasons that it can be more profitable to reach a national platform. Without those advertisers for a national TV show, there's only the added expense of the extra production costs without the ad revenue of the platform, which is one of the reasons ECW folded after they were on TNN for a year.

However, it's not as simple as just getting a broadcast on the air, an organization must establish a brand identify to bring those sponsorship dollars to the table. For example, the WWE is the Walmart of wrestling, it's relatively cheap and easily accessible so it's not surprising that Snickers is a sponsor or that the iconic tag team with Slim Jim still exists today with the current generation of stars alongside Macho Man. Paul Heyman took ECW to national television to attempt to secure more markets for ticket sales and potential PPV buys, which makes sense on the surface, but he didn't maximize any of the potential revenue streams associated with national television so it was only increased production costs without the commercial revenue.

The point being, I'm not sure the NWA has truly established what their brand is right now, as it has strayed away from the "tradition" aspect since Nick Aldis left the company, and a lot of the momentum the group had previously was stalled by the pandemic. I hope I'm wrong because as I've said before, I think the league has some solid talent on its roster, but I just don't see how Billy Corgan can realistically fund two television shows unless there's a tremendous upswing in NWA business. Perhaps, since business stalled more recently, maybe Corgan is trying to push the group to a bigger star in an attempt to kick start the previous hype it had?

That's somewhat similar to the way Paul Heyman rushed ECW to TNN, and there are too many parallels for it not to be somewhat of a concern to have an effect on the organization. In some ways, the NWA is still an independent group that props itself up as a national entity because of the initials, and there's nothing wrong with that either. As I said in the article last week, it's better to be a profitable independent promotion than to be a small national company that loses money. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see how the economics of this scenario can work in the NWA's favor. As we know, television production isn't cheap, and I don't think there's enough of the market that will invest the time and money to follow the product that would allow for a national TV show to be successful.

Unfortunately, the most notable talent from the original NWA Power series, including Ricky Starks, Eddie Kingston, and others signed elsewhere for better money. That's not a knock on Corgan, but rather to point out the limitations for a company that hosted their shows on Youtube. Obviously, that's why the company wants to try to expand, but it takes more than just the willingness and the capital to be successful on the next level. There must be a roster and an overall concept that fans are willing to pay to watch. There's a lot of competition for the sports entertainment dollar, and as of right now, the NWA hasn't made waves for anything "must see" on their shows so I'm not sure if there's even a demand for it on television.

Full Gear review

I penned an article yesterday about the prospects of the Full Gear pay-per-view, specifically that the line-up on paper didn't have a "must see" match, and that the success of the show might've depended on the reveal of who was under the devil mask. Unfortunately, there was no reveal, despite the fact that the devil mask was a primary portion of AEW programming so at least the conclusion of the event was very, very underwhelming.

Was there enough on the rest of the card to make this a worthwhile pay-per-view?

The show opened with the six man tag team of Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland against Christian, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne. The segment was decent and achieved its goal of showing Sting, providing good action, and progressing the Copeland/Christian narrative. Again, this was fine and a good piece of the puzzle for Sting's retirement tour, but at the same time, it seemed like this was more of a placeholder for Copeland than anything else. In truth, being in the opening match of a four-hour event almost minimizes Copeland's appearance on the PPV. Unless, there are bigger plans with a brighter spotlight, and hopefully there is, it took just a month and a half for Copeland to become just another guy on the AEW roster. Theoretically, Copeland/Christian would be a major match for the All Elite banner, but as I've written before, the key to successful booking is based how an angle is presented, and more often than not, especially given the recent track record, Tony Khan misses the opportunity to maximize the payoff for the company.

Orange Cassidy beat Jon Moxley to retain the International title, and while I didn't expect too much from this, given Moxley's recent return from injury, this was a really solid bout. Taking into account that the Texas Death Match was the "blood and guts" segment later in the night, this title match was a physical contest with stiff strikes to contrast the other matches on the card. All things considered, the Blackpool Combat Club appears to be rather disjointed, with Bryan Danielson on the sidelines, Claudio on the pre-show, and Moxley working as a heel. Again, this was a solid in-ring bout, but Moxley needs a more firm direction in terms of his character, and some new ground needs to be covered for Cassidy, who already had the storyline where he defended the title every week rather than work an extended feud.

"Timeless" Toni Storm defeated Hikaru Shida to claim the Women's championship. This went about ten minutes, which gave it enough time to develop, but didn't let it drag toward the conclusion. The match itself was fine, nothing spectacular, but nothing subpar either. The finish was really flat, as Toni stumbled to hide a metal tray in her gear to deliver the hip attack for the win. Storm has done well with the "Timeless" character as a throwback to an actress of the golden age so it makes sense for her to win the title to establish the new persona as much as possible on television. Plus, the gimmick allowed her to avoid being lost in the shuffle of the division.

I wrote that the tag team title ladder match was going to be the car crash segment and it definitely was. The ladder bumps were risky and everyone in the match deserves credit for the performance. It should be noted that The House of Black have an incredible entrance and they look like larger than life stars. I don't know if or how Tony Khan can maximize their presence, but they have the talent to be a much bigger deal among the All Elite landscape. Bill Big might have the most generic name in the business, but he deserves a lot of credit for the way he has completely turned his career around. He went from a WWE castaway and then struggled with personal problems. He could've easily become another cautionary tale in the business, but he's on the best run of his career right now. He looked like a monster in this match, and while I was very skeptical when he initially surfaced in AEW, he's undoubtedly an asset to the company. The gonzo bomb that Brody King did to Dralístico off the apron through the ladder was insane and probably the highlight of the match. Ricky Starks and Big Bill retain in a wild segment.

The three-way contest for the TBS title match was okay, but it become very clear throughout the bout that Kris Statlander is a level above her opponents in terms of in-ring skills. There was a noticeable dip in quality when Statlander wasn't involved in the match, but that's not to say that Julia Hart won't improve during her reign as champion. Julia is in a rather unique situation, as her character work is very well done and she gets a reaction from the audience, but she doesn't have  nearly enough in-ring experience to compete on national television. Assuming she will get the chance to work with the right opponents, it's very possible that she can evolve into the role of the champion and become a more well-rounded performer. Given the way that she stole the pin to get the victory, it looks like Julia will work with Statlander, which is a really smart decision.

The Texas Death Match was the "blood and guts" segment on the pay-per-view, and while I get what they were going for in this match, it went too far and could ultimately sour a portion of the audience on the product. Adam Page drinking the blood of Swerve wasn't hardcore or pushing the envelope, it was just gross. Don't get me wrong, I've watched Japanese death matches for years that involved fire, light tubes, etc. but All Elite Wrestling is supposed to be a national commodity, not a niche underground promotion. Swerve bled buckets and was legitimately stapled when Page used a stable gun in the contest. You could literally see the staples in Swerve's skin, and it was completely unnecessary. Pro wrestling is a work for a reason, New Jack used a staple gun in ECW and it was a total work. ECW was also more popular in its heyday than AEW is right now so should they use real staples?

Furthermore, and this is the biggest problem with this type of segment, it takes matches too far and then it sets a dangerous standard for what they audience expects from these type of matches. They used barbed wire, tables, glass, the staple gun, and chairs, but the audience still chanted "we want fire" toward the end of the match. All Elite already has a noticeable injury rate and these type of bouts won't help that situation. Swerve Strickland got the win and this was a gory spectacle, but I'm not sure that's a positive in the grand scheme of things.

Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega vs. The Young Bucks was fine for what it was, but the Texas Death Match more or less ruined the crowd for the rest of the event. It's an example of a lack of booking skills not to recognize the drop in the pace of the show after a blood bath of that magnitude. If Swerve and Page were going to use more or less every gimmick possible except for fire than put them in the main event spot so the crowd isn't quiet for everything else that follows it. I understand the argument to put the world title on last, but again, if there's such a brutal segment planned then it should close the show to avoid the burn out of the crowd. Omega and Jericho got the win, which looked to plant the seeds for a Young Bucks heel turn. Considering what The Bucks have accomplished in the organization, it might be a wise decision for them to take some time off so they could return for a fresh run in a few months.

I understand what they were going for in the main event, but I honestly think Tony Khan missed the mark for what he booked in this segment. Jay White and MJF are two great in-ring workers, and AEW's main selling point as an alternative to the WWE is that it can sell work rate. That wasn't the narrative that was told in the main event, which is fine, but it seemed like it was a missed opportunity for a quality in-ring main event. Instead, it was almost thirty minutes of MJF selling the leg and after a three and a half hour show, it was a very tedious viewing experience. The match dragged at certain points and that's not something that should happen in the main event of a pay-per-view. Some might argue this, but since MJF sold the leg so often, it undoubtedly made Jay White looks weak that he couldn't beat such an injured opponent. After such an extended segment, there was the anticipation of the reveal of who was under the devil mask, but as mentioned before, there wasn't any reveal and it led to a very underwhelming conclusion to the pay-per-view.

Will Full Gear sell?

Ahead of tonight's Full Gear pay-per-view, and after a relatively busy PPV schedule for All Elite the past few months, as well as the addition of another pay-per-view scheduled for the end of December, you have to wonder, is there enough meat on the bone to sell Full Gear?

I actually planned to pen this article after Dynamite last week, but my computer decided to tap out after a power surge at my house, and the 2017 machine tanked faster than WCW ratings in 2000. The computer was wished well in its future endeavors as a recycled mail box. Of course, trying to reassemble programs and files is TNA-level frustrating, but at least we're back to cover the current wrestling news as the industry nears the conclusion of the year.

When you look at the card on paper, I'm not sure if there's a specific match that stands out as "must see," but truth to told, given how dedicated the AEW core audience is that usually orders these shows, I'm not sure if there will be a major dent in the usually 140,000 buys that most AEW pay-per-views generate. Reportedly, the Wembley show drew 200,000 buys. The good news is, 200,000 buys for pro wrestling in the modern era, especially when only a select few boxing or UFC cards will draw better numbers on traditional PPV, is an accomplishment for the organization. Sure, they got a boost from the historic nature of the event, but the point is, there are definitely more viewers than the usual fans that are willing to spend money on an AEW broadcast under the right circumstances. The flip side is, among those fans that were willing to purchase the London show, a portion of them aren't usually willing to pay for AEW pay-per-views.

Despite the Wembley success on pay-per-view, there might be a ceiling for the All Elite PPV audience, and theoretically, that might be a concern because it puts a limit on the realistic revenue that the organization can garner from its fan base. While capturing a portion of the market and generating a fan base are key aspects of success on the national level in the sports entertainment business, the ability to translate the TV audience into PPV customers is also very important, at least until a streaming deal offers a more affordable option to a wider demographic of viewers.

As it stands now, Tony Khan has the task to book a show that fans think will be worth the $50 to order the event. Again, I'm not sure there's anything on paper for Full Gear that accomplishes that. An encouraging aspect is that unless he floods the card before bell time tomorrow, there are eight matches scheduled for the event so hopefully, it won't become a tedious viewing experience. I understand the premise of Zero Hour, but as I've mentioned several times, I just don't need to sit through a five hour wrestling show. Before broadcasts were scheduled for at least for hours, there was a purpose for a preview show, especially in a prior era when it was much more difficult to sell the audience on a purchase when there were usually two other wrestling groups on pay-per-view that month. Keep in mind, All Elite Wrestling had a three-hour block of live programming last night, is there really a need for Zero hour when Full Gear will probably conclude around midnight?

Obviously, the biggest selling point, at least as it was implied to be on television, is the reveal of the mysterious attackers and the "leader" in the devil mask. Some have speculated that it might be CM Punk, and the former AEW champion even posted some teases to it on social media, but I think that's very doubtful. Don't get me wrong, Punk back with a stable by his side to go to war against AEW would be tremendous since it would finally take the real-life heat and use it to draw money, which is why they should've done originally, but I truly believe neither side wants anything to do with the other. Punk trolling on social media isn't anything new, and if the reveal falls flat, the heat will be on Tony Khan, not him.

I've also said several times how I think the entire MJF/Adam Cole angle makes them both look like dorks, not stars so I'm not going to retread any of that, but rather to point out that if Adam Cole, who was out of action from a foot injury, is revealed as the one under the devil mask, it makes the world champion look incredibly dumb. Again, MJF, even when it resorted to cheap heat, made a name for himself by being the ultimate villain. That's not something you can go half way with either, and he committed to it, but this current angle dilutes a lot of what he established for his persona previously.

Another suggestion is that MJF might be the one revealed under the mask, which is possible, but technically wouldn't make sense since MJF was in the ring when it was implied that an attack happened live backstage. However, I could see the reveal being MJF and his reign as world champion being used as the primary selling point for the pay-per-view at the end of December, with the angle being based on if MJF retains, he will potentially take the belt with him during "the bidding war of 2024" assuming his contract actually expires at the end of the year.

Hikaru Shida/Toni Storm should be solid, the six man tag should be fine, but it's definitely a match based on sizzle, not substance. Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley already happened twice so I don't think there's a reason for another rematch, at least not right now. Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland is a feud that I just don't think can get into second gear and it seems like it's more to keep both of them busy than anything else so the match is more or less cannon fodder on the card. Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega vs. The Young Bucks should be decent. The three-way TBS title bout will probably be the bathroom break match to help pace the card. The tag team title ladder match will be the car crash segment so let's hope nobody gets hurt, especially with the current injury rate in the company.

I think the main event will be a really solid in-ring segment, but again, much of the success of not only the title match, but the pay-per-view as a whole will probably be based on the reveal of who is under the devil mask. Jay White is a top-notch performer and definitely a credible world champion, but so much of the focus of the feud spotlighted the person under the devil mask, a Jay White victory might be lost in the shuffle of the post-match angle.

What's the status of the NWA?

The history of professional wrestling will tell a tale of different companies in different eras that seemed to have some potential to get off the ground, but never quite made it. Pro Wrestling USA, a joint effort by a collection of promoters to attempt to stand up against Vince McMahon's national expansion in the 80s, fell a part because those same promoters couldn't agree on the direction of the organization, often attempting to position their own champions ahead of the combined effort. Global Wrestling Federation was rumored to be the next big group in the early-90 that would rival the WWF, but that disintegrated rather quickly when it was discovered that the mysterious financier that planned to fund the project was as legitimate as the scripted finishes on the wrestling shows. Herb Abrams thought he'd be the next Vince McMahon with his UWF venture, but a series of erratic decisions and hefty amounts of cocaine left the promotion in shambles and led to Abrams' early death. TNA looked to be on the cusp of elevating itself to the next level after it debuted on Spike TV in October of 2005 and had a few strong years, but Dixie Carter's decision to sign Hulk Hogan eventually led to her dad's decision to stop funding his daughter's vanity project when the organization spent too much money trying to expand under Hogan's direction.

The point is, a company can have a good concept and make a lot of the right decisions, but it only takes one wrong decision to put the domino effect in motion that ruins any potential it had.

Billy Corgan and the NWA may have made a serious mistake that alters the trajectory of the company. Just recently, Corgan announced on Busted Open Radio that his organization, which he rescued from obscurity several years ago, signed two television deals with a top twenty network. The rumor mill suggested that the channel that inked the NWA was the CW, a channel that has morphed into various names over the years. It didn't take long for not only controversy to surround the National Wrestling Alliance, but also rumors of doubt about the deal following the company's recent pay-per-view event.

The uproar was caused by a backstage segment where Jim Mitchell, a vastly underrated manager from ECW and TNA notoriety, was shown snorting what was implied to be cocaine and then offering it to those around him. Besides the fact that this was Vince Russo-level stupidity, especially with a TV deal on the horizon, it was also completely useless. Mitchell is still one of the best talkers in the business, regardless of if he works on a major platform or not, he doesn't need "shock jock" gimmicks to get his stable over or to promote a match so that it can draw money. Furthermore, what exactly was the cocaine spot supposed to accomplish? It didn't get anyone over, wasn't used to draw money, and the only attention it received was negative since it made the NWA look like an amateur hour outfit as opposed to a national entity that is ready for network television.

Herb Abrams probably would've enjoyed the segment, but outside of that, what exactly was the entertainment value designed to be? The CW, even as one of the smaller broadcast networks, is still main stream distribution for the NWA so why would they do anything to jeopardize that in any way? Where the story gets murky is that the CW deal wasn't officially announced and there are conflicting reports about if the spot on the pay-per-view actually harmed the potential for a television deal, depending on what media outlet you decide to follow on the subject.

However, we know for sure that NXT, the developmental brand for WWE, will move to the CW in 2024. This is just speculation, but I honestly don't think that the WWE would agree to air its programming alongside another sports entertainment company. That's just not the WWE protocol so if anything, I'd take the NXT announcement as either CW dropped the NWA from consideration or the rumored channel for the National Wrestling Alliance wasn't CW when Corgan announced that a TV deal was being signed. Still, Corgan's original claim that his group signed with a top twenty network limits the options, and truthfully, of those listed, the CW was the only one that looks like it would've been willing to sign a wrestling show, which was shown when it actually landed NXT.

Again, if the story is factual depends on who you believe, but my two cents would be that it is a legitimate story, based on the top twenty networks comment from Corgan initially and the NXT announcement that was made not long after the controversy. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, Billy Corgan denied that the cocaine spot at the pay-per-view caused any problems for the organization. It's very possible that this might've been an attempt at damage control or to minimize the scope of the error in judgment.

The biggest problem is that the argument could be made that even if the NWA still lands on the CW network that the organization still has an uphill climb to truly attempt to get a measurable piece of the pie among the current crowded wrestling landscape, a market share that is much smaller than that of a previous era. Keep in mind, Raw sometimes dips below two million viewers, and Smackdown is usually just above two million viewers. That's generally going to be the ceiling for sports entertainment viewership in the modern era so any other organization is just trying to get a portion of those viewers since the WWE has such a dominate market share. AEW can sometimes generate a little less than half of that for Dynamite as the second national group in the United States so there are exponential decreases as smaller promotions try to make a dent on that level.

Don't get me wrong, the NWA has some solid talent, but is there enough meat on the bone so to speak for the casual viewer to consistently follow the product? Take into consideration, there's seven hours of WWE programming and then five hours of AEW shows weekly. That's not to mention every other entertainment option that is available that competes for viewers with the expanded distribution of media. Plus, Impact will rebrand back to TNA early next year to attempt to become an albeit smaller, but noticeable third group.

Make no mistake about it, Billy Corgan did more with the NWA than anyone else in the past thirty years, but it's simply an incrediblly tough task to compete with the money and the brand awareness of the other national organizations. I know some fans raved about the NWA Power concept when it originally launched before the pandemic, but I only vaguely followed the show because the economics just don't work to host a show on Youtube and get enough ad revenue generated that will allow the organization to offer competitive contracts. I didn't see how the project could sustain itself and thus didn't want to invest too much time into a product that could eventually fizzle out.

That's why this TV deal is so critical if Corgan truly wants to take the NWA to a national platform, because otherwise the group is more or less an independent organization, and there's nothing wrong with that either. It would be better to be a profitable independent promotion than a small national company that loses money trying to run on a bigger scale.

Outside of Tyrus as NWA World Heavyweight champion before his retirement, Billy Corgan made a lot of the right decisions to rejuvenate a brand that many thought was nothing more than a nostalgia act, but the decision to script the cocaine spot on pay-per-view might be the one wrong decision that hinders a lot of progress for the company.

Pro wrestling Libraries relaunched

Joe Dombrowski, who many fans know as the American voice of the AAA Lucha Libre organization and Major League Wrestling, is as dedicated a historian of the professional wrestling business as you will find. Joe, who spent Christmas morning early in his youth unwrapping WWF Habros figures, has more than two decades inside the sports entertainment industry, a path that proves truth is stranger than fiction. After quite literally growing up in the sport and spending his entire adult life working around the squared circle, he wore more or less every hat possible. He has done commentary, promoted shows, booked cards, served as an evening's ring announcer, written for press releases, and done about everything someone can without owning a pair of wrestling boots.

Throughout his time calling matches from the age of just 18, Dombrowski's passion for the industry only grew and he became fascinated with the most rare and obscure aspects of the sport. If something was lost to time, Joe wanted to unearth it and deliver it to an audience that could appreciate it as much as he did. If professional wrestling had a version of "Unsolved Mysteries," Dombrowski would've been the perfect host to track down the answers to promotional wars and wrestler disputes. Based in Pittsburgh, a region known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, Joe finds himself on the road most weekends, zigzagging throughout different states, and even international work through the previously mentioned lucha connection. It's a tough hustle, as a week's worth of prep work for a commentary position is reviewed on the way to a venue, with gas station food and coffee fueling the grappling aficionado, but he wouldn't have it any other way. With all of that, he had the chance to work with a wide array of figures from the sport that he embraced so early in his life. One weekend, he might find himself in Cincinnati alongside the legendary Les Thatcher to dig through dusty boxes in the former grappler's garage to uncover never-before-seen footage of the lost WWF developmental territory. The following weekend, he might find himself at a merchandise table at a local event while Virgil shameless attempts to sell an NWO lunchbox to anyone in the general vicinity.

After many late nights with tidbits scribbled onto a notebook in front of a computer screen, Dombrowski launched his Pro Wrestling Libraries streaming service, a platform dedicated to not only the notable independent wrestling content that he produced during his time as a head organizer of different promotions, but also his original documentary series that garnered rave reviews, a few years ago.

"It really wasn't anything I set out to do initially, it was more just the changing of the times. I started physically producing DVDs for PWO/PRIME Wrestling around 2011 or so, and then started producing original content in 2013, and the collection grew as ideas and opportunities came my way. Fast-forward a number of years, and it's clear that streaming and digital content and VOD is the future and year-over-year," Joe explained.

Dombrowski, along with his usual gigs that take him from Chicago to Philadelphia to Las Vegas to Tijuana, produced successful original content that found a niche audience that always anticipated his next release. The Brian Pillman Memorial Anthology, a collection that he put together with his friend, the previously mentioned Les Thatcher, is an all-time best seller for him. The Montreal Theory, an investigative look an the infamous Survivor Series, was a cult hit for the announcer. Plus, countless hours of independent content that he produced during his career that featured the formative years of some performers that went on to achieve national fame highlighted the streaming platform.

Unfortunately, in August of this year, Pivotshare, a platform that hosted Pro Wrestling Libraries and other groups for several years, abruptly shutdown, with all of the content originally posted there, including hundreds of hours of Joe's content, unavailable to viewers. Being the ambitious entrepreneur he is, Joe leap into action to get his catalog back online.

"It wasn't quite starting from scratch, but it was close to it. I had two options, re-upload it all through an existing content provider or start to re-build everything myself. I had a few business meetings, considered every option available, but with the sheer size and diversity of what I have, and where I want to take it into 2024, doing my own thing was really the only sensible option. It will take time to rebuild, bandwidth and storage space and the like are not free," Joe said.

After putting a headlock on the technical side of launching a new streaming site and pinning his plans for the future, Dombrowski has painstakingly began to add the archives of his library onto the new streaming platform. As of now, more than 115 hours of footage is avlaible, with the expectation that roughly a dozen hours of new content will be added each weekend until the service reaches its prior standing. But, the MLW wordsmith wanted to take the opportunity of a fresh start to take his collection to the next level, striking deals with a variety of content creators to bring even more obscure footage to fans. Rarities like the Savoldi, Poffo, USWA, and infamous Herb Abrams' UWF, Global Wrestling Federation, and even Puerto Rico territories added a completely new aspect to the Pro Wrestling Libraries service. Similar to any successful small business, Dombrowski knows that there are billion-dollar corporations that compete with the sports entertainment dollar so he makes it a mission to serve his loyal customers with the most unique collection of content possible.

"The deeper you get into content production, distribution, restoration, etc, the more people you meet and the more deals you make. It opens up so many doors to bring classic matches from the territory or early independent days to a new audience hungry for something different that they haven't seen, and may not even know existed. I want to bring that to DVD as well, which will allow me to physically take it on the road and reach new audiences there as well, and people into that style and era of content will still buy DVDs, at least the majority will. In turn, this allows some of my content from PWO/PRIME Wrestling to some of my compilations and documentaries to be exposed to new audiences through their channels and avenues as well. The biggest win goes to the fans who have more access to all of this than ever, and believe me when I say, we haven't even come close to scratching the surface," Dombrowski remarked.

Despite the exhausting process of adding hours of hours of content online, often done while he does laundry in between road trips for television tapings or streaming independent cards, Dombrowski was rejuvenated with the fresh start and looks to make his platform a one-of-a-kind video destination for fans of the genre.

"I've always been one to look for ideas and concepts that are underserved to a mass audience. Is it something they've never seen or done in a way they've never seen it? Is it something they've seen, but we can package it in a more accessible or compelling way ? Is there a talent who is going to be on a huge worldwide stage in five years but we have him here at our disposal now? All of that thinking has gone into making what the library is today. Fans should expect something that caters to them to matter what type of fan they are. I truly want any fan when they come to my website or my merch table, to see something and go 'Oh, I didn't know you had this!' From Johnny Gargano to Randy Savage to Virgil to The Cogar Brothers to Okada to The Von Erichs to Zach Gowen and all points in between, it is somewhere in the Pro Wrestling Library," Dombrowski concluded.

Crown Jewel review

Just a week after Saudi Arabia hosted the Tyson Fury/Francis Ngannou super fight, the propaganda campaign, a narrative that was made even more blatant as the event progressed, continued with another lucrative WWE presentation for Crown Jewel, a broadcast headlined by LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Still, as profitable as these shows are, more often than not, they amount to glorified house shows with very little of substance booked for the Saturday afternoon cards. So, was this all just Saudi sizzle or was there enough meat on the bone for this event to truly progress WWE storylines?

The show opened with the Seth Rollins title defense against Drew McIntyre, and this was a quality championship bout, as everything they did was crisp and smooth. Rollins and McIntyre are top-notch pros and their performance reflected that. However, the biggest hurdle was that there was never a point in the contest where it looked like Drew might actually win the title, a dynamic that has more to do with the way that Drew was used previously than anything about the specific performance in the segment. As I wrote previously, for whatever reasons, Drew was typecast as the talent to use when the champion needed a credible challenger, but it's not a situation where he was considered to win the championship. It's disappointing, but Drew's best run was during the bleak atmosphere of the pandemic and he truly hasn't been given the recognition or the credit he deserves for when he put the company on his back during an extremely difficult time, especially when he had to work matches in an empty building. When Roman Reigns needed a major opponent at Clash at The Castle, McIntyre was slotted to be the challenger. When Seth needed someone to work with at a stadium show, Drew got the call.

I also wrote that you can only book someone in that spot and have them lose so many times before the audience doesn't view them as someone that can or will win the title so you have a situation where the result isn't in question. Drew took a few months off after Wrestlemania earlier this year and there was speculation about his contract status, but many assumed he re-signed when he returned to the company after the three-month hiatus. While I don't think AEW would know what to do with Drew on the roster and he probably would flounder there, if he didn't actually re-sign a contract with WWE already, he might have to consider another exit from the organization. Obviously, he can always take the cash and stay with WWE, and that would make sense, but I'm not sure he will get the opportunity to work in the main event scene again on a consistent basis. It almost seems like management has a "been there, done that" mindset with McIntyre as champion, but make no mistake about it, he's one of the best in the business.

The promo video where various WWE stars talked about how great the Saudi airlines are and put over the "modern" city was cringe worthy and almost laughable. It couldn't have been any more blatant of a ham-handed PR campaign unless they had the teleprompter or the cue cards in the frame.

As a reminder of how much this is oil money just trying to spin the narrative of the country, the women's match saw all five competitors wear bodysuits to completely shield them from the audience. This would be fine, except Nia Jax is the only one  that usually wears something similar to that type of outfit. It's not a matter of tradition or something like that in the country, because the entire point of this PR campaigns with western entertainment is to attempt to improve the country's image, and one of the main criticisms in the past was the treatment of women. If Drew McIntyre can work in his usual gear, why can't Bianca Belair?

The match itself was fine, but was a little clunky because of the number of competitors involved and seemed somewhat rushed, as it was only given about ten minutes for the segment. This was more or less a house show match so Rhea retaining was the obvious result.

John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa was fine, nothing subpar, but nothing spectacular either. This contest was basically what you'd expect from a Cena match, especially in Saudi Arabia at a time when he could be called back to Hollywood at any point when the rest of the union disputes are settled. The Saudis paid to have the star power of John Cena in the country, not for a five star classic so this bout was a safe contest that didn't jeopardize his movie schedule, which was the wise decision. Solo getting the win makes sense because Cena is going to be over either way and as mentioned, his involvement in the product is temporary anyway. Hopefully, this win can be used to further establish Sikoa as a standout star.

Don't get me wrong, I completely understand why The Miz TV segment took place because when the government is paying literally tens of millions of dollars for the show, the company is going to play to the local audience, but the segment dragged and the momentum of the entire broadcast was halted. The fact that it was over twenty minutes between the action of the matches made for a very tedious viewing experience. The Miz TV segment could've been booked for the preshow and accomplished the same goal to have something at the event for the live crowd.

Logan Paul beat Rey Mysterio for the US title, and this was essentially a segment that was booked for the publicity of Paul winning a title. It would make sense, but as I've written before, the ratings don't go through the roof when he's on television and it doesn't appear that his demographic will translate into regular WWE viewers so I'm not sure if Logan Paul as US champion will translate to much in the grand scheme of things. The match, similar to Cena/Solo, was fine, but nothing too spectacular. It was somewhat of a mixed bag, as it had its moments, but there were a few flat points since the content went over 15 minutes.

Iyo Sky retained the Women's title in a match with Bianca Belair, with the assist from the returning Kari Sane. It seemed like, at least from the reaction, that the live crowd didn't initially realize who Kari was when she showed up at ringside. The match was fine, but I think the argument could be made that these two had better matches  in the past few months. The bigger story is that Kari is back in WWE, and despite the rumors prior to this, I'm still somewhat surprised that she actually decided to return, given her rocky exit from the promotion after injuries a few years. The women's division is already a very aspect portion of WWE programming and the addition of Kari Sane to the roster only solidifies that status within the company.

In another example of more or less a house show match, Cody Rhodes pinned Damien Priest. The segment only went about ten minutes and just didn't get into second gear. Earlier in the night, Priest attempted to cash-in his MITB contract for a title shot against Rollins before Sami Zayn interrupted him. It was a good use of the contract gimmick because it kept viewers guessing as to what would happen, but after Sami ran away with the brief case, and Priest was defeated in a rather basic match, he doesn't seem to be in the position to be propelled to the next level even if he cashes in for the title shot.

Speaking of matches that didn't get into second gear, the main event didn't get there either. It was a decent match, but nothing great and there was never a point when it looked like LA Knight had any chance to realistically win the championship. It was almost as though they were simply going through the motions until the typical interference and disarray before the finish. You have to give Knight credit, he pushed himself to get over and the audience reacts to his character. If he was content with WWE catering and a paycheck, he probably would've been released with the Maximum Models tag team a few months ago. In theory, there should be more performers on the roster as ambitious as LA Knight that wants to get themselves over, even if it's not in the office's original plans. That said, in the grand scheme of things, Knight's popularity is still relatively new, and Roman's championship storyline is a narrative that will unfold on a long-term basis. There was really no reason to consider switching the title, and as much as it might disappoint some Knight fans, this was more or less his ceiling as a main event competitor, at least on the Smackdown brand.