Last week, the WWE announced that Roman Reigns was rushed to a hospital and he underwent emergency surgery. The time frame for his return is said to be 4-6 weeks, but with the nature of the injury and the physicality of the WWE schedule, it's possible that it will be a few months before Reigns returns to in ring action. There's much speculation that Reigns is the next top star for the WWE and that he will be the competitor to eventually dethrone Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31 to win the title. While Reigns has the potential, I don't think the next top performer is set in stone yet and a lot of it depends on the development of some of the younger stars on the WWE roster. In some respects, it's unfair to tout Reigns as being the next main event superstar while he's still relatively new to the WWE landscape and it might be more useful to lower the expectations that Reigns will be the one to get the torch from John Cena until he grows into the role. However, with Reigns on the sidelines, what does the WWE book for the next few months?
The answer is exactly what the WWE did, Dean Ambrose steps into the Authority storyline and it actually might be the right decision, even for a long term basis. It's not anything against Reigns because as mentioned he has the potential to develop into a main event star, but at this point, he seems to lack somewhat on the mic. However, Ambrose has some of the best mic skills on the roster and he's solid in the ring so it's possible that he might be the competitor to get to the next level before Reigns. That being said, the WWE finds itself in somewhat of a transition phase because it seems like Lesnar will be the one to transition the title to the next top name in the company, but there's more to it than just an on screen performance. Many fans don't realize how many different things go along with being the top star in the WWE, which is why John Cena deserves credit for the work he's done for the company. Essentially, the top star has to work every house show, Raw, and pay-per-view. Plus, there's the travel to those events and many media appearances so obviously, the WWE has to make a wise decision when investing the TV time for the next star. As I've said before, John Cena is a work horse and nobody can question his work ethic. The other aspect is that regardless of the cheers or the boos from the crowd, Cena gets a reaction from the crowd. Regardless of if the audience pays to see him win or pays to him lose, the point is they pay to see him. However, who is going to be the next face of the company?
Daniel Bryan is currently on the sidelines and his future is still doubtful, but considering the reaction on Raw when his name is mentioned, Bryan is still over with the audience. In fact, his return could set up for another run at the title, but if he can return, the effects of the injury could shorten his career so the WWE will still probably invest in a younger star. Ultimately, Cena will be the face of the WWE until he retires, but as I said earlier, it's a pivotal time frame for the WWE because Cena isn't going to wrestle another ten years and more specifically, the WWE has used nostalgia acts to draw for Wrestlemania the past few years so it will be interesting to see how they push the next superstar that will main event the biggest show of the year. Don't get me wrong, the WWE has a lot of great talent that have potential to become a draw for the promotion, but with the state of the business as a whole down, it's not an easy task for the next superstar to emerge. NXT has a lot of potential as well, but the talents their aren't featured on the main shows yet so it's doubtful they would be pushed directly into the title picture. As for now, Ambrose seems like a safe bet to book into the main storyline on Raw, but it's still a question mark as to who will challenge Lesnar for the title at the next PPV? While it makes sense for a marketing stand point to keep Lesnar as much of a WWE network exclusive as possible and Paul Heyman does great work to keep him relevant on TV, it can be difficult to launch another feud for the title if there isn't direct interaction between Lesnar and the potential challenger. Despite his solid work on Raw, I don't think Ambrose will be booked for a title match with Lesnar and the DQ finish at Night Of Champions leaves the door open for another Cena rematch so it's possible there could be another Lesnar vs. Cena match in a cell. Since Lesnar will make sporadic TV appearances, hopefully the Ambrose/Rollins feud will continue to get a decent amount of TV time because it can elevate both of their profiles in the process with additional TV exposure. It will be interesting to see the direction of the storylines in the next few weeks and more specifically the direction of the title picture for the next PPV.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
International Imports
Amongst the numerous WWE releases and budget cuts, there were some major signings as well, including some international stars that could provide another set of new stars for the WWE landscape in the next few years.
During WWE's tour of Japan a few months ago, it was announced in Osaka that the company signed Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA. The signing was considered a major event as Hulk Hogan was there for the announcement and in some ways, the role for Hogan works well, as his appearance could be considered somewhat of an endorsement for Kenta, even if just from a PR perspective. Originally trained in the All Japan dojo, Kenta is well known for the Japanese strong style, which is very similar to the style of his mentor, the legendary Kenta Kobashi. Shortly after Kenta's AJPW debut, Misawa (and a majority of the All Japan roster) left the promotion and formed Pro Wrestling NOAH, which is where Kenta became a main star in Japan. He also wrestled numerous matches for Ring of Honor, including some great matches with Daniel Bryan that are worth watching if you haven't seen them. After Misawa passed away in 2009, Kenta was one of the staples of the NOAH promotion, which kept it afloat during the infamous Yakuza scandal a few years ago that led to the dismissal of some of the office staff. Now, with the company more stable, it made sense for Kenta to make the jump to WWE, mostly because he accomplished almost everything he could do in Japan and at 33, it's a wise decision for him to shift towards a less risky style. While Kenta is an incredible talent, it's doubtful that he will be booked in a main event spot during his WWE run, specifically because he doesn't speak a lot of English, which could limit options for storylines. That being said, the lack of English could be solved if Kenta was given a manager, similar to the work Gary Hart did when The Great Muta debuted for the NWA, but considering it's usually rare for the WWE to book mangers, it's possible that Kenta might remain a mid carder. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Kenta/Bryan in a main event spot, but with the emphasis on promos for the WWE product, they probably wouldn't invest the TV time for a main event if the performer doesn't speak English. However, Kenta is still an important asset for the company and he will probably be a major part of WWE's international product, specifically for the WWE network as it continues to expand into different markets. Some fans reading this might not be too familiar with the Japanese wrestling scene, but while it had almost a decade of a decline, there has been a resurgence during the past few years with the expansion of New Japan Pro Wrestling iPPVs. A spin off of the New World Order, which was actually a storyline originally done in NJPW, The Bullet Club is one of the main factions that helped fuel the boost of New Japan. While the Bullet Club mostly consist of foreign wrestlers, the Japanese audience doesn't necessarily buy tickets just to watch American wrestling, which can be seen from the attendance numbers, considering that New Japan shows usually draw a better crowd than the recent series of WWE shows in Japan. However, if Kenta is showcased on the WWE network, the Japanese audience can see one of the main stars from their country and it's a reason for them to get a subscription. During the NXT event last week, Kenta was given the name Hideo Itami and it should be extremely interesting to see his NXT run.
The Canadian veteran, Kevin Steen was recently signed to a developmental deal and while it was a somewhat of a surprising move, considering that he doesn't fit the typical WWE mold, Steen has all the skills to be successful in WWE. The former ROH world champion is charismatic brawler, who was one of the most popular champions in the promotion's history and he always tries to give the fans their money's worth, which is another reason he got over in almost every major independent promotion. The major criticism for Steen that he acknowledged himself was that he had to get in shape if he wanted a chance to sign with the WWE and he did get in shape prior to a WWE tryout in March, which led to the NXT deal. There are some similarities to Mick Foley for Steen because as mentioned, he's not the typical WWE star, but the fans recognize his hard work and he can always get a crowd reaction. Steen has an impressive move list, some of which I doubt he will use in the WWE because they have safety precautions, but the moves are secondary to the reason he was one of the most popular stars on the independent scene. He can generate a response during his matches and he's accessible to fans, using Twitter to take questions for "The Kevin Steen Show" video series that was produced the past few years. During his time wrestling for ROH and PWG, Steen received praise from some of the WWE's biggest stars, including The Rock and Stone Cold for his matches. Obviously, it's a tremendous endorsement and I would guess that Steen has a bright future in the WWE. For those that might doubt his chances at making an impact, he has good mic work and he's somewhat comparable to Bray Wyatt, as they are both mobile big competitors so while anything can happen, Steen will probably be successful.
Prince Devitt is an Irish performer, who was trained with the British style, but made a name for himself in NJPW so he definitely brings a diverse skill set to NXT. In some respects, Devitt was under the radar, as he wrestled extensively in Japan for nearly eight years and he made sporadic appearances in the United States. However, he has all the skills to be a major star and he has a good character, using face paint based on different comic book designs. Devitt has a style similar to Seth Rollins and it should work well with some of the younger stars on the NXT roster.
During WWE's tour of Japan a few months ago, it was announced in Osaka that the company signed Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA. The signing was considered a major event as Hulk Hogan was there for the announcement and in some ways, the role for Hogan works well, as his appearance could be considered somewhat of an endorsement for Kenta, even if just from a PR perspective. Originally trained in the All Japan dojo, Kenta is well known for the Japanese strong style, which is very similar to the style of his mentor, the legendary Kenta Kobashi. Shortly after Kenta's AJPW debut, Misawa (and a majority of the All Japan roster) left the promotion and formed Pro Wrestling NOAH, which is where Kenta became a main star in Japan. He also wrestled numerous matches for Ring of Honor, including some great matches with Daniel Bryan that are worth watching if you haven't seen them. After Misawa passed away in 2009, Kenta was one of the staples of the NOAH promotion, which kept it afloat during the infamous Yakuza scandal a few years ago that led to the dismissal of some of the office staff. Now, with the company more stable, it made sense for Kenta to make the jump to WWE, mostly because he accomplished almost everything he could do in Japan and at 33, it's a wise decision for him to shift towards a less risky style. While Kenta is an incredible talent, it's doubtful that he will be booked in a main event spot during his WWE run, specifically because he doesn't speak a lot of English, which could limit options for storylines. That being said, the lack of English could be solved if Kenta was given a manager, similar to the work Gary Hart did when The Great Muta debuted for the NWA, but considering it's usually rare for the WWE to book mangers, it's possible that Kenta might remain a mid carder. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Kenta/Bryan in a main event spot, but with the emphasis on promos for the WWE product, they probably wouldn't invest the TV time for a main event if the performer doesn't speak English. However, Kenta is still an important asset for the company and he will probably be a major part of WWE's international product, specifically for the WWE network as it continues to expand into different markets. Some fans reading this might not be too familiar with the Japanese wrestling scene, but while it had almost a decade of a decline, there has been a resurgence during the past few years with the expansion of New Japan Pro Wrestling iPPVs. A spin off of the New World Order, which was actually a storyline originally done in NJPW, The Bullet Club is one of the main factions that helped fuel the boost of New Japan. While the Bullet Club mostly consist of foreign wrestlers, the Japanese audience doesn't necessarily buy tickets just to watch American wrestling, which can be seen from the attendance numbers, considering that New Japan shows usually draw a better crowd than the recent series of WWE shows in Japan. However, if Kenta is showcased on the WWE network, the Japanese audience can see one of the main stars from their country and it's a reason for them to get a subscription. During the NXT event last week, Kenta was given the name Hideo Itami and it should be extremely interesting to see his NXT run.
The Canadian veteran, Kevin Steen was recently signed to a developmental deal and while it was a somewhat of a surprising move, considering that he doesn't fit the typical WWE mold, Steen has all the skills to be successful in WWE. The former ROH world champion is charismatic brawler, who was one of the most popular champions in the promotion's history and he always tries to give the fans their money's worth, which is another reason he got over in almost every major independent promotion. The major criticism for Steen that he acknowledged himself was that he had to get in shape if he wanted a chance to sign with the WWE and he did get in shape prior to a WWE tryout in March, which led to the NXT deal. There are some similarities to Mick Foley for Steen because as mentioned, he's not the typical WWE star, but the fans recognize his hard work and he can always get a crowd reaction. Steen has an impressive move list, some of which I doubt he will use in the WWE because they have safety precautions, but the moves are secondary to the reason he was one of the most popular stars on the independent scene. He can generate a response during his matches and he's accessible to fans, using Twitter to take questions for "The Kevin Steen Show" video series that was produced the past few years. During his time wrestling for ROH and PWG, Steen received praise from some of the WWE's biggest stars, including The Rock and Stone Cold for his matches. Obviously, it's a tremendous endorsement and I would guess that Steen has a bright future in the WWE. For those that might doubt his chances at making an impact, he has good mic work and he's somewhat comparable to Bray Wyatt, as they are both mobile big competitors so while anything can happen, Steen will probably be successful.
Prince Devitt is an Irish performer, who was trained with the British style, but made a name for himself in NJPW so he definitely brings a diverse skill set to NXT. In some respects, Devitt was under the radar, as he wrestled extensively in Japan for nearly eight years and he made sporadic appearances in the United States. However, he has all the skills to be a major star and he has a good character, using face paint based on different comic book designs. Devitt has a style similar to Seth Rollins and it should work well with some of the younger stars on the NXT roster.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars Review
The producers of "Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars:Emergency Room" asked if I would review the upcoming pay-per-view that is set to debut on various cable systems this week and I took the opportunity to watch the show. This edition of the series features the stars of Combat Zone Wrestling and the action is insane. You won't see action like this on Monday or Wednesday, as the blood flows freely while the combatants are involved with some unbelievable stipulations.
Lucky 13 vs. Scotty Vortex
The show opens with a ladder death match and it proves from the start of the show that these competitors will take some crazy risk during these ultra violent contests. Lucky 13, who is an aerial wrestler, deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in this match, as he was power bombed on a light tube ladder and as a result, he had a very serious gash on his back. Most performers would consider concluding the match earlier, but Lucky 13 actually had the event staff wrap tap around him to stop the bleeding and he continued the match. His opponent, Scotty Vortex is one of the original Nap Town Dragons and he was more than willing to risk injury with a series of light tube spots. After his Sabu style repair, Lucky 13 bridged a ladder between the ring and the guard rail to set up for the next ultra violent scenario. As Vortex was standing on the apron, Lucky 13 attempted what seemed like a reverse hurricanrana, but landed awkwardly on the ladder and it was a rough bump. Again, Lucky 13 continued the match, but Vortex eventually won it.
"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont vs. "Chainsaw" Joe Gacy
This match featured a variety of weapons including, a bed of nails, barbed wire, and other insanity. This contest will make you concerned for Termont's safety, as he takes some nasty bumps, including a barbed wire board, a guard rail, and other dangerous spots. During the bout, Tremont's arm gets sliced with two gashes that resemble some of the trademark scars of hardcore legend, Mick Foley. As Joe Gacy, who is a good prospect from the CZW dojo, continued the offense, blood poured from Tremont head. A side note about Tremont, he has become one of the top death match wrestlers in the United States in just a few years and he can be credited for keeping the ultra violent style relevant after the genre started to fade a few years ago. After going through a barbed wire table, Tremont used a barbed wire submission to get the win.
Danny Havoc vs. Rory Mondo
Both of these competitors use the hybrid style of wrestling, as there can blend the technical aspect into an ultra violent atmosphere and it's displayed during this match. After a technical exchange, a staple gun, carpet strips, and thumb tacks all became involved in the match. At one point during the bout, Mondo's boot is removed and he was dropped onto the tacks with many of them sticking into his foot. Each wrestler has toured Japan with the Big Japan promotion and the international influence was displayed at the conclude of the contest. Mondo was bleeding profusely, but he set up an open chair upside down and he put Havoc on his shoulders for the next sequence. Mondo hit the Burning Hammer on Havoc onto the open chair, which nearly impaled Havoc on the legs of the chair. After the insane spot, the referee actually stopped the match, but Mondo wasn't done, as he landed a double stop from the top rope onto Havoc while he was on a stretcher.
Devon Moore, Danny Havoc, and Lucky 13 vs. Rory Mondo, Ron Mathis, and Drew Blood
This six man war was complete insanity and it one of the highlights in a feud between these two teams. Ron Mathis, who is one of the younger talents to make a name for himself in recent years took a nasty suplex into the guard rail during the start of the match and he also took a bump with Danny Havoc into a barbed wire board to the floor. Devon Moore, who is a veteran of the independent scene and he did some crazy spots. Moore and Mondo climbed a scaffold that was at ringside and Moore put Mondo on his shoulders for a Finlay roll off the scaffold through a barbed wire board hanging from the ceiling for an insane spot. Moore climbed the scaffold again and he did a shooting star press onto Mathis to win the match.
Lucky 13 vs. Scotty Vortex
The show opens with a ladder death match and it proves from the start of the show that these competitors will take some crazy risk during these ultra violent contests. Lucky 13, who is an aerial wrestler, deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in this match, as he was power bombed on a light tube ladder and as a result, he had a very serious gash on his back. Most performers would consider concluding the match earlier, but Lucky 13 actually had the event staff wrap tap around him to stop the bleeding and he continued the match. His opponent, Scotty Vortex is one of the original Nap Town Dragons and he was more than willing to risk injury with a series of light tube spots. After his Sabu style repair, Lucky 13 bridged a ladder between the ring and the guard rail to set up for the next ultra violent scenario. As Vortex was standing on the apron, Lucky 13 attempted what seemed like a reverse hurricanrana, but landed awkwardly on the ladder and it was a rough bump. Again, Lucky 13 continued the match, but Vortex eventually won it.
"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont vs. "Chainsaw" Joe Gacy
This match featured a variety of weapons including, a bed of nails, barbed wire, and other insanity. This contest will make you concerned for Termont's safety, as he takes some nasty bumps, including a barbed wire board, a guard rail, and other dangerous spots. During the bout, Tremont's arm gets sliced with two gashes that resemble some of the trademark scars of hardcore legend, Mick Foley. As Joe Gacy, who is a good prospect from the CZW dojo, continued the offense, blood poured from Tremont head. A side note about Tremont, he has become one of the top death match wrestlers in the United States in just a few years and he can be credited for keeping the ultra violent style relevant after the genre started to fade a few years ago. After going through a barbed wire table, Tremont used a barbed wire submission to get the win.
Danny Havoc vs. Rory Mondo
Both of these competitors use the hybrid style of wrestling, as there can blend the technical aspect into an ultra violent atmosphere and it's displayed during this match. After a technical exchange, a staple gun, carpet strips, and thumb tacks all became involved in the match. At one point during the bout, Mondo's boot is removed and he was dropped onto the tacks with many of them sticking into his foot. Each wrestler has toured Japan with the Big Japan promotion and the international influence was displayed at the conclude of the contest. Mondo was bleeding profusely, but he set up an open chair upside down and he put Havoc on his shoulders for the next sequence. Mondo hit the Burning Hammer on Havoc onto the open chair, which nearly impaled Havoc on the legs of the chair. After the insane spot, the referee actually stopped the match, but Mondo wasn't done, as he landed a double stop from the top rope onto Havoc while he was on a stretcher.
Devon Moore, Danny Havoc, and Lucky 13 vs. Rory Mondo, Ron Mathis, and Drew Blood
This six man war was complete insanity and it one of the highlights in a feud between these two teams. Ron Mathis, who is one of the younger talents to make a name for himself in recent years took a nasty suplex into the guard rail during the start of the match and he also took a bump with Danny Havoc into a barbed wire board to the floor. Devon Moore, who is a veteran of the independent scene and he did some crazy spots. Moore and Mondo climbed a scaffold that was at ringside and Moore put Mondo on his shoulders for a Finlay roll off the scaffold through a barbed wire board hanging from the ceiling for an insane spot. Moore climbed the scaffold again and he did a shooting star press onto Mathis to win the match.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Hogan to wrestle again?
I was set to continue writing a column about some of the new WWE signings (that should be posted next week) and I planned to publish it tomorrow, but as I was scrolling through the recent wrestling news, I read a story that should be addressed. WWE ambassador, Hulk Hogan is once again trying to work his way into a big money match, this time with Stone Cold Steve Austin, as Hogan called out Austin during a recent interview. Hogan concluded his statement when he said that if the match with Austin couldn't happen, he wants to wrestle John Cena. Isn't it ironic that Hogan is trying to get a match with the biggest star of all time and the current top star?
Hogan is a smart business man, but his recent attempts to spark potential matches through outside media outlets are laughable. He went as far as hinting that he could wrestle another match previously, even though it was reported that he didn't pass the WWE physical for his return to the company, which is why he hasn't done anything other than promos. At this point, Hogan should only appear for promos and a PR role when it makes sense. Hogan trying to cash in on another match is ridiculous and the results would probably be embarrassing, for both Hogan and the WWE. Before Hogan's attempt to draw Austin into a match, he actually named Lesnar as a potential opponent during a TMZ interview because the WWE champion informed him, "Party's over grandpa." As ridiculous as Hogan's attempt to work another match is, it's not really that surprising, considering his career.
Hogan has always looked for a way to maximize his pay check, which is somewhat understandable, but he damaged companies in the process with no regard to what it did to the business. The argument could be made that Hogan drained TNA and that it was one of the contributing factors for the current TNA situation. You can't blame Hogan for taking the money, but the reality is, Hogan needed the money and he wasn't there to help TNA. There was also a similar pattern during Hogan's WCW run and while he used his creative control stipulation if he didn't want to do the job, he will probably take a different approach when trying to pitch a WWE match.
Hulk knows that he doesn't have the political power to insist that he gets a win during a match with the WWE champion or the top star in the company, which is why he would volunteer to do the job because the pay check is the only reason he is trying to promote a potential match. As embarrassing as a current Hogan match would be, the money is more important to Hulk than tarnishing his legacy. Let's be honest here, Hulk is 61 years old and Brock Lesnar just destroyed John Cena so how would it be logical for Lesnar to do anything other than squash Hogan? The same could be said for a Cena match, why would he sell anything for Hogan? That being said, Hogan's lame attempt to get a match probably won't generate a demand for it and it seems doubtful the WWE would book it.
Hogan is a smart business man, but his recent attempts to spark potential matches through outside media outlets are laughable. He went as far as hinting that he could wrestle another match previously, even though it was reported that he didn't pass the WWE physical for his return to the company, which is why he hasn't done anything other than promos. At this point, Hogan should only appear for promos and a PR role when it makes sense. Hogan trying to cash in on another match is ridiculous and the results would probably be embarrassing, for both Hogan and the WWE. Before Hogan's attempt to draw Austin into a match, he actually named Lesnar as a potential opponent during a TMZ interview because the WWE champion informed him, "Party's over grandpa." As ridiculous as Hogan's attempt to work another match is, it's not really that surprising, considering his career.
Hogan has always looked for a way to maximize his pay check, which is somewhat understandable, but he damaged companies in the process with no regard to what it did to the business. The argument could be made that Hogan drained TNA and that it was one of the contributing factors for the current TNA situation. You can't blame Hogan for taking the money, but the reality is, Hogan needed the money and he wasn't there to help TNA. There was also a similar pattern during Hogan's WCW run and while he used his creative control stipulation if he didn't want to do the job, he will probably take a different approach when trying to pitch a WWE match.
Hulk knows that he doesn't have the political power to insist that he gets a win during a match with the WWE champion or the top star in the company, which is why he would volunteer to do the job because the pay check is the only reason he is trying to promote a potential match. As embarrassing as a current Hogan match would be, the money is more important to Hulk than tarnishing his legacy. Let's be honest here, Hulk is 61 years old and Brock Lesnar just destroyed John Cena so how would it be logical for Lesnar to do anything other than squash Hogan? The same could be said for a Cena match, why would he sell anything for Hogan? That being said, Hogan's lame attempt to get a match probably won't generate a demand for it and it seems doubtful the WWE would book it.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena
A few weeks ago on Raw, "Plan C" was revealed as Paul Heyman announced Brock Lesnar as the next challenger for the WWE championship. It was known to some fans that there were plans for Lesnar to return to the company because a video package to hype Summer Slam surfaced online, which advertised a Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena main event. Regardless of the marketing material that announced the match early, there's still a ton of buzz around it, mostly because of the tremendous promo skills of Paul Heyman and he's currently delivering the best promo work in WWE.
John Cena and Lesnar clashed for Lesnar's first PPV after he returned to the company two years ago in a very physical, entertaining match, which is also what can be expected at Summer Slam. As I've said previously, Lesnar delivers in major matches and considering the WWE network is at a pivotal point of international distribution, the main event of Summer Slam must live up to the hype. It's a wise decision to book Lesnar in the main event spot for the title, as it capitalizes on the heat generated from breaking the streak. A side note about the Lesnar/Undertaker match, I don't think the streak should have ended and while it garnered a crowd reaction at the time, it could have soured many fans on the event. The outrage among fans seemed to be more that it was Lesnar, a part timer, who is there strictly for the the money ended it than it was that the streak actually ended. I would guess that if CM Punk, someone that fans know sacrificed for the wrestling business or even Kane ended the streak, there would be a different reaction.
That being said, Lesnar ended the streak and he has a lot of heat because of it so Summer Slam is the WWE's opportunity to cash in on the end of the streak. That cash in opportunity is the reason why Lesnar must win the title at the PPV because if he doesn't, the end of the streak was just to set up another challenger for John Cena. As I've said previously, Lesnar is a draw and despite the prospective of some fans, Cena is probably more of a draw than Lesnar. I mentioned in a column a few weeks that Cena is the most marketable star in the WWE and some of the feedback claimed that Cena was to blame for the lack luster network number, which isn't a fair assessment of the situation. Cena is a work horse and he sells more merchandise than anyone on the roster so there's no doubt that he's the most marketable star. The bottom line is, fans pay to see John Cena and it doesn't matter if they pay to cheer him or pay to see him lose, as long as they are watching the product.
As I said, the network is at a pivotal point, as it gets international distribution, which could be a major success for the WWE and the winner of the title match at Summer Slam could determine if fans will continue to invest in the network in the next few months. That's another reason Lesnar winning the title is a key for the WWE because while John Cena wrestles on a regular basis on Raw, Lesnar just works PPV matches, which is a wise decision. As a result of Lesnar's limited schedule, it's more of a "special event" when he actually wrestles a match and if he wins at Summer Slam, the Lesnar title matches would be a network exclusive during the next few months.
John Cena and Lesnar clashed for Lesnar's first PPV after he returned to the company two years ago in a very physical, entertaining match, which is also what can be expected at Summer Slam. As I've said previously, Lesnar delivers in major matches and considering the WWE network is at a pivotal point of international distribution, the main event of Summer Slam must live up to the hype. It's a wise decision to book Lesnar in the main event spot for the title, as it capitalizes on the heat generated from breaking the streak. A side note about the Lesnar/Undertaker match, I don't think the streak should have ended and while it garnered a crowd reaction at the time, it could have soured many fans on the event. The outrage among fans seemed to be more that it was Lesnar, a part timer, who is there strictly for the the money ended it than it was that the streak actually ended. I would guess that if CM Punk, someone that fans know sacrificed for the wrestling business or even Kane ended the streak, there would be a different reaction.
That being said, Lesnar ended the streak and he has a lot of heat because of it so Summer Slam is the WWE's opportunity to cash in on the end of the streak. That cash in opportunity is the reason why Lesnar must win the title at the PPV because if he doesn't, the end of the streak was just to set up another challenger for John Cena. As I've said previously, Lesnar is a draw and despite the prospective of some fans, Cena is probably more of a draw than Lesnar. I mentioned in a column a few weeks that Cena is the most marketable star in the WWE and some of the feedback claimed that Cena was to blame for the lack luster network number, which isn't a fair assessment of the situation. Cena is a work horse and he sells more merchandise than anyone on the roster so there's no doubt that he's the most marketable star. The bottom line is, fans pay to see John Cena and it doesn't matter if they pay to cheer him or pay to see him lose, as long as they are watching the product.
As I said, the network is at a pivotal point, as it gets international distribution, which could be a major success for the WWE and the winner of the title match at Summer Slam could determine if fans will continue to invest in the network in the next few months. That's another reason Lesnar winning the title is a key for the WWE because while John Cena wrestles on a regular basis on Raw, Lesnar just works PPV matches, which is a wise decision. As a result of Lesnar's limited schedule, it's more of a "special event" when he actually wrestles a match and if he wins at Summer Slam, the Lesnar title matches would be a network exclusive during the next few months.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Spike TV cancels TNA
This week it was reported on TMZ that Spike TV has decided not to renew TNA Impact when the TV contract expires in October and there are several rumors that it could lead to the company shutting down. However, the story has more to it, as there are reports that Vince Russo confirming that he works for the company as a consultant, led to Spike's decision not to renew the contract. Supposedly, Spike TV isn't a fan of Russo because of some of the angles he booked during his run as a writer for the program that aired on the network and TNA hid that he was still involved with the company. There was a rather bizarre incident that led to the information being revealed, as Vince Russo accidentally E mailed production notes to PWinsider's Mike Johnson that were supposed to be sent to the TNA announce team. Initially, Russo denied it and he claimed he "swerved" Johnson to prove the dirt sheets would report any rumor. Mike Johnson, who is a reporter that confirms the content he publishes as much as possible in wrestling, said he would post the e mail online if Russo didn't confirm the truth. After that Russo confirmed on his website that he's a consultant for TNA and then it was reported that Spike TV wasn't going to renew the TV deal. The report generated a lot of discussion online and Russo was dismissed from the company.
Did Russo get TNA cancelled? While, TNA hiding Russo's involvement with the company probably didn't help, it's doubtful that Russo is the reason that Spike announced they won't renew the deal. The Spike executives are the only ones that know the answer, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably a variety of reasons. TNA has a steady 1.0 ratings, which is decent, depending on the network, but after nine years on Spike, the numbers are basically the same so as a TV program, Impact hasn't increased viewers. The stagnate numbers are only one aspect of the show and the goofy booking probably didn't do them any favors either. Spike TV owns Bellator MMA so it's possible they are going to try to put their own entity into the prime time spot, but at this point, who knows? It's always possible that Spike is using the announcement to negotiate a lower deal to resign TNA because at this point, Spike can say, "here's the deal, sign it or get cancelled." Dixie Carter claims on Twitter that negotiations with Spike are continuing, but what else is going to say? Spike not willing to renew the program doesn't exactly help the perception of the TNA brand and it could effect the prospects of another network signing a deal.
I doubt that another network will sign TNA, mostly because the perception of pro wrestling in the United States is at somewhat of a low point and more specifically, TNA itself is known more for it's blunders as a company than the talent on the roster. In some respects, TNA today is very similar to WCW in 2001, as there's not much that can be done to improve the product. The company has been too bush league for too long for it to be considered a competitive or profitable product. The laundry list of mistakes that TNA has made to get to this point are numerous and they were discussed previously so there's no reason to discuss them again. As much as some people might want to blame Vince Russo, he's not the only reason TNA might shut down and there's certainly many different things that led TNA to getting canceled. Dixie, Hogan, and others can get the blame for the decline of the company. So, will TNA shut down?
Without TV, there's no doubt that TNA will shut down because without the TV contract and ad revenue, there's really no way for the company to generate money. If the company shuts down, it sets wrestling back ten years because competition fuels business. It would be extremely disappointing if competitors such as, Samoa Joe, Rhino, etc. didn't have a stage and there aren't many options in the United States. The WWE has a main roster and an entire roster at NXT so how many spots would there be for TNA talents? Realistically, there's only a few wrestlers on the TNA roster that might be offered a WWE deal, not because they don't have the skills, but the WWE seems to want to make its own stars. If nothing else, TNA shutting down might be an opportunity for Global Force Wrestling to get a spot, but again it would set wrestling back because it would take years for a new promotion to become competitive for the wrestling business.
Did Russo get TNA cancelled? While, TNA hiding Russo's involvement with the company probably didn't help, it's doubtful that Russo is the reason that Spike announced they won't renew the deal. The Spike executives are the only ones that know the answer, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably a variety of reasons. TNA has a steady 1.0 ratings, which is decent, depending on the network, but after nine years on Spike, the numbers are basically the same so as a TV program, Impact hasn't increased viewers. The stagnate numbers are only one aspect of the show and the goofy booking probably didn't do them any favors either. Spike TV owns Bellator MMA so it's possible they are going to try to put their own entity into the prime time spot, but at this point, who knows? It's always possible that Spike is using the announcement to negotiate a lower deal to resign TNA because at this point, Spike can say, "here's the deal, sign it or get cancelled." Dixie Carter claims on Twitter that negotiations with Spike are continuing, but what else is going to say? Spike not willing to renew the program doesn't exactly help the perception of the TNA brand and it could effect the prospects of another network signing a deal.
I doubt that another network will sign TNA, mostly because the perception of pro wrestling in the United States is at somewhat of a low point and more specifically, TNA itself is known more for it's blunders as a company than the talent on the roster. In some respects, TNA today is very similar to WCW in 2001, as there's not much that can be done to improve the product. The company has been too bush league for too long for it to be considered a competitive or profitable product. The laundry list of mistakes that TNA has made to get to this point are numerous and they were discussed previously so there's no reason to discuss them again. As much as some people might want to blame Vince Russo, he's not the only reason TNA might shut down and there's certainly many different things that led TNA to getting canceled. Dixie, Hogan, and others can get the blame for the decline of the company. So, will TNA shut down?
Without TV, there's no doubt that TNA will shut down because without the TV contract and ad revenue, there's really no way for the company to generate money. If the company shuts down, it sets wrestling back ten years because competition fuels business. It would be extremely disappointing if competitors such as, Samoa Joe, Rhino, etc. didn't have a stage and there aren't many options in the United States. The WWE has a main roster and an entire roster at NXT so how many spots would there be for TNA talents? Realistically, there's only a few wrestlers on the TNA roster that might be offered a WWE deal, not because they don't have the skills, but the WWE seems to want to make its own stars. If nothing else, TNA shutting down might be an opportunity for Global Force Wrestling to get a spot, but again it would set wrestling back because it would take years for a new promotion to become competitive for the wrestling business.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Angle, Goldberg, and Flair
The WWE seems to be in somewhat of a transition phase, as Bray Wyatt,
Roman Reigns, and others have begun to make their mark on sports
entertainment, but recent interviews fuel speculation that some stars
could return to the company.
Kurt Angle is currently sidelined with an MCL injury that required surgery and there are rumors that he might not be resigned to TNA, considering the length of time he will need to recover and that TNA seems to be cutting costs anywhere possible. Angle's health and if he should still compete has been a topic of debate since his departure from the WWE, but after a stint in rehab last year, it seemed as though Angle was doing better with his heath. Despite Angle's lengthy list of injuries, including a broken neck during his competition at the Olympics, he hasn't really had any extended time on the shelf until the most recent injury. You have to wonder, should Angle return to the ring at this point in his career? Obviously, Angle's health is more important than wrestling and hopefully, he makes the decision about his career based on what does the right thing for his health. There was some discussion about a possible return to the WWE, but considering his rocky departure from the promotion in 2006 and his subsequent problems, I doubt the company would resign him because of the potential health risks. That being said, it would be great to see Angle conclude his career in the WWE and despite his problems in recent years somewhat over shadowing his career, it should be noted that he accomplished more in just a few years than most competitors during an entire career. Angle recently returned to TNA in a mic role, which gives him a spot on TV while he's injured so it appears as though he will resign with the company when his current deal expires.
Former WCW and WWE World Heavyweight champion, Bill Goldberg become the subject of discussion after his recent appearance on the Jim Ross podcast when he said he had some preliminarily negotiations about a potential return to the company. Some have linked the rather sudden talk of a WWE deal to the rumors of Sting and that might be the case, but I don't think Goldberg is trying to steal Sting's thunder. However, I think Goldberg would be more willing to discuss a WWE deal, simply because if Sting is willing to sign, after years of hesitation towards WWE, it could assure Goldberg that he will get a better deal after his rocky run in the company over a decade ago. Speaking of Goldberg's initial run in the company, it was rather lack luster for a variety of reasons, but he isn't really to blame for most of them. During Goldberg's major run in WCW that made him a star, he was booked to disguise his limited in ring ability and for key matches, he was booked with competitors that could make him look good in the ring or the matches were usually only about 5-8 minutes, which makes sense because it showcased Goldberg without exposing his lack of in ring ability. That's not a jab at Goldberg either because the presentation of the character in WCW was was what made him successful and considering that he only wrestled for a few years, it's a credit to his intensity that it made him the top star for WCW during the company's peak. However, when Goldberg was World Heavyweight champion in the WWE, he was booked as if he was going to carry competitors to good matches, which is something he never did in his career. Ultimately, the WWE didn't really highlight what made Goldberg a star while he wrestled for the company, but it could have been just a different philosophy for the WWE. Either way, it's somewhat understandable that Goldberg was soured on his WWE run and it would be interesting to see what angles he would be booked for if he resigned for the promotion. Will Goldberg actually return to the WWE? I doubt it, mostly because aside from a Ryback feud, what is there for Goldberg to do? A John Cena match could be an option, but with the shift toward a younger audience, how many of those fans actually watched Goldberg during the peak of his career? As I mentioned, Goldberg has name value, but does that really translate to star power for the current wrestling market?
Ric Flair made an appearance on Raw and hyped the WWE title match at Battle Ground, but there are rumors he could return to TV on a regular basis as a manager for his daughter, Charlotte. It certainly makes sense and it would be good to see Flair on the show, considering how obvious it is that he wants to be involved in the sports, despite his WWE retirement in 2008. It's tough for me to say this, but I actually think it would be better for Flair to be signed to a WWE deal again to protect him from the pitfalls after the spotlight fades, which seem to be a recurring situation for him since his retirement. Specifically, his financial problems that caused him to be the subject of a lawsuit on two different occasions from the merchandise company Highspots.com and ROH, both for Flair breaching his contract. That along with the infamous story that he was unable to pay his bar table while in TNA and it's disappointing that arguably the greatest pro wrestler of all time had such problems after his WWE departure. However, Flair's financial decisions are his own so ultimately, he's responsible for them. Some of the incidents surrounding Flair the past few years have somewhat tarnished his legacy, but a return to the WWE will maintain his status as a legend.
Kurt Angle is currently sidelined with an MCL injury that required surgery and there are rumors that he might not be resigned to TNA, considering the length of time he will need to recover and that TNA seems to be cutting costs anywhere possible. Angle's health and if he should still compete has been a topic of debate since his departure from the WWE, but after a stint in rehab last year, it seemed as though Angle was doing better with his heath. Despite Angle's lengthy list of injuries, including a broken neck during his competition at the Olympics, he hasn't really had any extended time on the shelf until the most recent injury. You have to wonder, should Angle return to the ring at this point in his career? Obviously, Angle's health is more important than wrestling and hopefully, he makes the decision about his career based on what does the right thing for his health. There was some discussion about a possible return to the WWE, but considering his rocky departure from the promotion in 2006 and his subsequent problems, I doubt the company would resign him because of the potential health risks. That being said, it would be great to see Angle conclude his career in the WWE and despite his problems in recent years somewhat over shadowing his career, it should be noted that he accomplished more in just a few years than most competitors during an entire career. Angle recently returned to TNA in a mic role, which gives him a spot on TV while he's injured so it appears as though he will resign with the company when his current deal expires.
Former WCW and WWE World Heavyweight champion, Bill Goldberg become the subject of discussion after his recent appearance on the Jim Ross podcast when he said he had some preliminarily negotiations about a potential return to the company. Some have linked the rather sudden talk of a WWE deal to the rumors of Sting and that might be the case, but I don't think Goldberg is trying to steal Sting's thunder. However, I think Goldberg would be more willing to discuss a WWE deal, simply because if Sting is willing to sign, after years of hesitation towards WWE, it could assure Goldberg that he will get a better deal after his rocky run in the company over a decade ago. Speaking of Goldberg's initial run in the company, it was rather lack luster for a variety of reasons, but he isn't really to blame for most of them. During Goldberg's major run in WCW that made him a star, he was booked to disguise his limited in ring ability and for key matches, he was booked with competitors that could make him look good in the ring or the matches were usually only about 5-8 minutes, which makes sense because it showcased Goldberg without exposing his lack of in ring ability. That's not a jab at Goldberg either because the presentation of the character in WCW was was what made him successful and considering that he only wrestled for a few years, it's a credit to his intensity that it made him the top star for WCW during the company's peak. However, when Goldberg was World Heavyweight champion in the WWE, he was booked as if he was going to carry competitors to good matches, which is something he never did in his career. Ultimately, the WWE didn't really highlight what made Goldberg a star while he wrestled for the company, but it could have been just a different philosophy for the WWE. Either way, it's somewhat understandable that Goldberg was soured on his WWE run and it would be interesting to see what angles he would be booked for if he resigned for the promotion. Will Goldberg actually return to the WWE? I doubt it, mostly because aside from a Ryback feud, what is there for Goldberg to do? A John Cena match could be an option, but with the shift toward a younger audience, how many of those fans actually watched Goldberg during the peak of his career? As I mentioned, Goldberg has name value, but does that really translate to star power for the current wrestling market?
Ric Flair made an appearance on Raw and hyped the WWE title match at Battle Ground, but there are rumors he could return to TV on a regular basis as a manager for his daughter, Charlotte. It certainly makes sense and it would be good to see Flair on the show, considering how obvious it is that he wants to be involved in the sports, despite his WWE retirement in 2008. It's tough for me to say this, but I actually think it would be better for Flair to be signed to a WWE deal again to protect him from the pitfalls after the spotlight fades, which seem to be a recurring situation for him since his retirement. Specifically, his financial problems that caused him to be the subject of a lawsuit on two different occasions from the merchandise company Highspots.com and ROH, both for Flair breaching his contract. That along with the infamous story that he was unable to pay his bar table while in TNA and it's disappointing that arguably the greatest pro wrestler of all time had such problems after his WWE departure. However, Flair's financial decisions are his own so ultimately, he's responsible for them. Some of the incidents surrounding Flair the past few years have somewhat tarnished his legacy, but a return to the WWE will maintain his status as a legend.
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