The stage is set for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, an event that was pivotal, especially in the past two years, of shaping the main event of Wrestlemania. The question going into this year's event is, is the WWE setting itself up for another hostile crowd reaction?
Building the Roman empire was an uphill battle for the WWE and through no direct fault of his own, Reigns was subjected to backlash that was projected towards WWE brass for anointing the next star. The WWE fans wanted their voices heard and it was audible as they booed Reigns out of almost every building leading towards Wrestlemania 31. As I've said before, the audience didn't want to be told who they should want to see in the main event and the resentment towards Reigns was such that Seth Rollins was booked to cash in and win the title.
Roman was booked for a series of feuds designed to get him over with the crowd as somewhat of a "fresh start," including matches with Bray Wyatt, who is good enough to get others over while still maintaining his own credibility as a heel. The strategy worked and the crowd steadily became more receptive to Reigns, but things were rushed when WWE champion Seth Rollins tour his ACL on a European tour and was force to vacate the title. With a depleted talent roster from other injuries, it seemed as though the WWE would go with Reigns as the chosen champion to win the belt in a tournament at Survivor Series, which he did, but Sheamus cashed in his title shot to win the championship before the PPV went off the air. Some fans criticized Sheamus as champion, but he did exactly what he was booked to do and that was get Roman over with the crowd. There are a lot of varabies for how different types of heels can be used depending on the situation and while there is certainly a place for the "cool heels" to flourish, (something the NWO proved during their heyday) Sheamus was there to give Reigns a boost toward the title. Sheamus was doing the classic heel's job, get heat from the audience and get the baby face over. That being said, Sheamus is also a solid in ring competitor and anyone that criticizes his transitional run as champion is probably just looking for something to complain about on social media.
As somewhat of an "all-in" move, Vince McMahon returned to WWE TV and even at 70, he's still a tremendous heel. In fact, the argument could be made that Vince taking the super man punch prior to Reigns' title victory was the key to getting the fans to cheer him as the champion. The chairman doesn't appear on WWE programming often so when he was on Raw, it was a "special event" type of angle and it added an extra emphasis to the storyline. The Vince card is probably the best shot (and most effective way) to get Roman over completely as a baby face, but could the Rumble hinder the progress Reigns has made?
Keep in mind, the initial hostility towards Reigns was because the audience perceived that the office was giving him the spot that the fans wanted someone else to get for Wrestlemania. While the title being defended in the Rumble itself adds a unique dynamic to the match, it also limits the potential results with Reigns already booked for it and there's the risk of the crowd booing him if he eliminates one of the fan favorites, in a sense "taking their spot" for Wrestlemania. Perhaps what ignited the resentment toward Reigns last year was that it was very predictable that the office wanted to push him as the next top guy and the fans took it as ignoring their requests so if the plan is the generic "Reigns defeats everyone to keep the title" type of angle, the crowd might not embrace it. Specifically, when Reigns speared Brock Lesnar on Raw, the crowd was booing and if he eliminates Lesnar from the Rumble, what's the reaction going to be?
It almost seems like the WWE is going to have to book some type of swerve or surprise to protect Reigns from indirectly taking the heat that's directed toward management. It's disappointing that Reigns was subjected to so much flak during his initial push because he works hard and you can tell the effort is there to improve on the weak aspects of his character, but sometimes the scripted promos he's given are counter productive. Too often, Roman does promos designed to sound witty or cleaver, but come off as a lame attempt at comedy and then the following week, he will do a promo that presents him as the Samoan monster that will fight all comers, which is way more effective. There's the historical value of the Samoan heritage and the legendary stories of the indestructible figures such as Afa, Haku, etc. that could be used as a temple to present Reigns in the modern context as a monster. Granted, that's not to say that Roman should be given some cartoonish gimmick, but he doesn't have to attempt to cut lame promos either.
At the conclusion of Raw, Bray Wyatt was showcased as the survivor of the brawl in the ring and as I said, he's good enough to keep himself relevant, but I don't think a push the week of the PPV, even standing over the fallen Brock Lesnar, will get Wyatt instant credibility as the major heel to potential win the Rumble. This is where the WWE using Wyatt mostly to get other competitors over will effect how he's perceirved going into the Rumble. Don't get me wrong, I've said many times that Bray Wyatt has the skills to be a main event star, but after being beaten into powder the past several months, how many fans really think Bray Wyatt has a chance to win the Royal Rumble? Another point to be made is, there's a lack of legitimate heels in the WWE and it doesn't seem like there's any direct answer other than possibly turning someone heel. When you consider all the injuries, who's the top heel on Raw? Essentially, the answer would be the Authority, but Stephanie isn't going to work a Wrestlemania main event and Vince is 70 so does that put Triple H in the title picture? Again, aside from turning someone heel, what options do they have? Lesnar is clearly a baby face and judging from the reaction on Raw, the crowd might boo Roman at the Rumble so maybe the answer is to turn Reigns heel? That would add a different dynamic to the Reigns/Lesnar rematch at Wrestlemania. If the crowd actually does boo Reigns at the Rumble, the WWE should finally turn him heel because there's not really an alternative plan the way Rollins was booked to cash in last year because of the injuries. The point being, the WWE should be very careful how the Royal Rumble is booked because they could unintentionally generate hostility towards Roman Reigns and it provides and interesting scenario leading to Wrestlemania in a few months.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
New Japan stars signed for WWE
Last week, I penned a column about the remarkable year of New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2015 after the stellar Wrestle Kingdom 10 event at the Tokyo Dome in front of an estimated 60,000 fans. Just a few days later, the WWE announced that their streaming network launched in Japan and some very surprising rumors followed.
A few of the key players of the New Japan roster, including AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows were said to have given their notice to management to prepare to sign with the WWE. The story was more or less "confirmed" when WWE.com posted about it and if it's on the official website, the deal is probably already sealed so what does this translate to for the WWE landscape?
First of all, the WWE network launched in Japan this week and it's no coincidence that these talent acquisitions were made around the same time, as getting four of the top stars of NJPW will help boost subscriptions for the digital platform in Japan. Aside from the obvious value of getting a piece of the Japanese fan base, the new arrivals can also add depth to the NXT brand, where it's a safe bet that some of the talent will work during their WWE run. Finn Balor will probably be brought up to Raw at some point in the near future, especially with the roster currently being so depleted from injuries and when he departs from NXT, AJ could step up as the center piece of the product to keep the brand stable.
Speaking of AJ Styles, I was extremely surprised that his name was mentioned during all the speculation because it just didn't seem like his style would fit within the WWE environment, but I was shocked when Samoa Joe was signed, and he's done well so who knows what's in store for AJ? That being said, AJ Styles is one of the most talented athletes that has stepped into the squared circle and despite being a veteran now, it should be remembered that he used a revolutionary move set early in his career before it was common place on the independent scene. Bottom line, Styles is talented enough to work anywhere in the world and while the NXT emphasis on in ring action would probably suit him well, his skills would be on par with any level of the WWE. However, at 38, you have to wonder how long Styles will continue to wrestle, especially considering the aerial moves he used during most of his career, but if he works in WWE for at least five years before retiring, there's certainly the opportunity a successful run.
Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are a solid veteran team that add depth to any roster, and are seasoned enough to adapt to any product. Doc Gallows is very familiar with the WWE atmosphere and got his initial job with the company as "impostor Kane" and while it wasn't exactly a gimmick to build a career off of, it allowed the young Gallows to work with a veteran for his original WWE exposure, which was a valuable learning experience if nothing else. His next role as Fetus wasn't going to be a main event character either, but again, the experience helped when he eventually found himself as a performer. As was the case for much of CM Punk's WWE run as a whole, the Straight Edge Society probably wasn't utilized as well as it could have been, but Gallows' role there, as well as his time in TNA allowed him to enhance and polish his character towards the presentation that was successful in New Japan. A 15 year pro, Karl Anderson was trained at Les Thacther's HWA, which has produced several notable stars. Anderson wrestled extensively on the independent scene in the United States until he started working for New Japan, where he was a featured tag team star for nearly eight years and was formerly a team with current WWE coach, Matt Bloom. Karl Anderson also has good mic skills and did most of the mic work for the Bullet Club so his promo ability is another asset he brings to the table.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a charismatic striker and one of New Japan's most popular stars. This is another surprising signing for a few reasons. Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW, owns a very profitable trading card business and would seemingly have the money to sign Nakamura to a major deal to keep him on the roster, but for whatever reason, he seems to be going to the WWE. Another reason being Nakamura will have to relocated from Japan to the United States and speaks limited English so there could be some what of a culture shock for the Japanese superstar. However, there's the potential for a major upside to his venture to the WWE, more specifically that he's a main stream star on the NJPW roster in Japan, but he could be a global star in the WWE. Some might assume that Nakamura will be limited to the mid card because of his lack of English, but there's no doubt that he has the potential to be a main event star in the WWE. If Nakamura is going to achieve the most from his time in the WWE, I would suggest that the booking to follow the same pattern that they've used for Samoa Joe, don't tamper with a gimmick that works and let the talent get over on the bigger stage the same way they had previously. Granted, this is just my two cents, but the reason unique talents get over is because they have certain intangibles that shouldn't be diluted just for a WWE trademark. Samoa Joe as Samoa Joe is the best formula for success and he didn't get some goofy name just so the WWE could own the rights to it. That's actually one of the benefits of the WWE at the top of the industry, if a competitor uses their original name that they've used in other promotions in the WWE and then works elsewhere, it doesn't really effect the WWE ratings. In fact, the story on WWE.com about the signings used the performers' original names so they might be an indication that their characters won't be tainted in the WWE environment. In my opinion, the WWE should let Nakamura be himself and he will probably get over WWE audience because he has all the ability to be a top star anywhere in the world. Obviously, there's a chance that his popularity doesn't translate, but if given a chance, it's extremely possible that Nakamura could be the first Japanese WWE champion. (Yes, I know Inoki has an unrecognized reign as WWF champion, but that was basically just a publicity stunt to boost audiences for the tour at the time) As far as promos go, Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter have both proven that managers can still effectively do the mic work to get a program over with the crowd so give the Japanese star a manager to talk for him.
How successful the imports from New Japan will be within the WWE remains to be seen, but there's a major upside to the entire acquisition and while the company itself is building toward the future, it certainly helps to add this talent group to the roster for a variety of roles. Could there possible be a spin off of the Bullet Club as "the Balor Club" in the WWE? Could the fans finally see AJ Styles booked for some WWE dream matches? Either way, the entire situation is intriguing and provides a spark for the WWE heading towards the Royal Rumble.
A few of the key players of the New Japan roster, including AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows were said to have given their notice to management to prepare to sign with the WWE. The story was more or less "confirmed" when WWE.com posted about it and if it's on the official website, the deal is probably already sealed so what does this translate to for the WWE landscape?
First of all, the WWE network launched in Japan this week and it's no coincidence that these talent acquisitions were made around the same time, as getting four of the top stars of NJPW will help boost subscriptions for the digital platform in Japan. Aside from the obvious value of getting a piece of the Japanese fan base, the new arrivals can also add depth to the NXT brand, where it's a safe bet that some of the talent will work during their WWE run. Finn Balor will probably be brought up to Raw at some point in the near future, especially with the roster currently being so depleted from injuries and when he departs from NXT, AJ could step up as the center piece of the product to keep the brand stable.
Speaking of AJ Styles, I was extremely surprised that his name was mentioned during all the speculation because it just didn't seem like his style would fit within the WWE environment, but I was shocked when Samoa Joe was signed, and he's done well so who knows what's in store for AJ? That being said, AJ Styles is one of the most talented athletes that has stepped into the squared circle and despite being a veteran now, it should be remembered that he used a revolutionary move set early in his career before it was common place on the independent scene. Bottom line, Styles is talented enough to work anywhere in the world and while the NXT emphasis on in ring action would probably suit him well, his skills would be on par with any level of the WWE. However, at 38, you have to wonder how long Styles will continue to wrestle, especially considering the aerial moves he used during most of his career, but if he works in WWE for at least five years before retiring, there's certainly the opportunity a successful run.
Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are a solid veteran team that add depth to any roster, and are seasoned enough to adapt to any product. Doc Gallows is very familiar with the WWE atmosphere and got his initial job with the company as "impostor Kane" and while it wasn't exactly a gimmick to build a career off of, it allowed the young Gallows to work with a veteran for his original WWE exposure, which was a valuable learning experience if nothing else. His next role as Fetus wasn't going to be a main event character either, but again, the experience helped when he eventually found himself as a performer. As was the case for much of CM Punk's WWE run as a whole, the Straight Edge Society probably wasn't utilized as well as it could have been, but Gallows' role there, as well as his time in TNA allowed him to enhance and polish his character towards the presentation that was successful in New Japan. A 15 year pro, Karl Anderson was trained at Les Thacther's HWA, which has produced several notable stars. Anderson wrestled extensively on the independent scene in the United States until he started working for New Japan, where he was a featured tag team star for nearly eight years and was formerly a team with current WWE coach, Matt Bloom. Karl Anderson also has good mic skills and did most of the mic work for the Bullet Club so his promo ability is another asset he brings to the table.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a charismatic striker and one of New Japan's most popular stars. This is another surprising signing for a few reasons. Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW, owns a very profitable trading card business and would seemingly have the money to sign Nakamura to a major deal to keep him on the roster, but for whatever reason, he seems to be going to the WWE. Another reason being Nakamura will have to relocated from Japan to the United States and speaks limited English so there could be some what of a culture shock for the Japanese superstar. However, there's the potential for a major upside to his venture to the WWE, more specifically that he's a main stream star on the NJPW roster in Japan, but he could be a global star in the WWE. Some might assume that Nakamura will be limited to the mid card because of his lack of English, but there's no doubt that he has the potential to be a main event star in the WWE. If Nakamura is going to achieve the most from his time in the WWE, I would suggest that the booking to follow the same pattern that they've used for Samoa Joe, don't tamper with a gimmick that works and let the talent get over on the bigger stage the same way they had previously. Granted, this is just my two cents, but the reason unique talents get over is because they have certain intangibles that shouldn't be diluted just for a WWE trademark. Samoa Joe as Samoa Joe is the best formula for success and he didn't get some goofy name just so the WWE could own the rights to it. That's actually one of the benefits of the WWE at the top of the industry, if a competitor uses their original name that they've used in other promotions in the WWE and then works elsewhere, it doesn't really effect the WWE ratings. In fact, the story on WWE.com about the signings used the performers' original names so they might be an indication that their characters won't be tainted in the WWE environment. In my opinion, the WWE should let Nakamura be himself and he will probably get over WWE audience because he has all the ability to be a top star anywhere in the world. Obviously, there's a chance that his popularity doesn't translate, but if given a chance, it's extremely possible that Nakamura could be the first Japanese WWE champion. (Yes, I know Inoki has an unrecognized reign as WWF champion, but that was basically just a publicity stunt to boost audiences for the tour at the time) As far as promos go, Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter have both proven that managers can still effectively do the mic work to get a program over with the crowd so give the Japanese star a manager to talk for him.
How successful the imports from New Japan will be within the WWE remains to be seen, but there's a major upside to the entire acquisition and while the company itself is building toward the future, it certainly helps to add this talent group to the roster for a variety of roles. Could there possible be a spin off of the Bullet Club as "the Balor Club" in the WWE? Could the fans finally see AJ Styles booked for some WWE dream matches? Either way, the entire situation is intriguing and provides a spark for the WWE heading towards the Royal Rumble.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
New Japan Pro Wrestling
This week, New Japan Pro Wrestling presented Wrestle Kingdom 10, the promotion's version of Wrestlemania and thus it's biggest show of the year. Last year, an entirely new audience was introduced to the Tokyo Dome tradition when WK 9 was broadcast in the United States for the first time ever through a partnership with Global Force Wrestling. As 2016 begins, there's always some discussion and analysis of the previous year, which was mostly good for the industry on a variety of levels. That being said, New Japan Pro Wrestling has to be considered the promotion of the year for 2015, as it continued to expand the promotion and it's really a remarkable accomplishment, especially when you take into account the state of Japan's biggest promotion just a decade ago.
Over 40 years ago, Antonio Inoki, one of the star pupils of the legendary Rikiodozan, founded New Japan Pro Wrestling and the company ascended to become the top organization in the country. Rikidozan's other top student, Giant Baba formed All Japan the same year and while it remained respectful, an intense rivalry developed during the next two decades as each group tried to claim the top spot. New Japan produced legends like The Great Muta, Masahiro Chono, and Hashimoto. All Japan introduced its share of legends such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Jun Akiyama. There were also several "gaijin" or foreign wrestlers used throughout the years for each company, including Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Dusty Rhodes, and many others.
The entire Japanese landscape would begin to change with the death of Giant Baba in 1999 and the exit of Misawa (along with the majority of the AJPW roster) to start Pro Wrestling NOAH the following year. By 2002, the trend of performers leaving well established promotions due to political disputes continued and the Japanese scene was completely over saturated with a wave of alphabet soup companies. Instead of stacked rosters for a few groups, an organization would have a few well known stars with an under card of mostly unknown wrestlers. With All Japan a shell of its former self, only propped up by Muta's jump to the company, New Japan began to struggle as well when the somewhat eccentric Inoki implemented a change in philosophy. Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Pride, Inoki started booking more mixed martial arts type angles and most of them fell flat in the pro wrestling environment. While there's a similar demographic, pro wrestling and MMA are different genres, and it's somewhat difficult to expect an MMA fighter to transition to taking bumps. The Japanese style is based on in ring action and precise skill, but NJPW featured sloppy worked MMA based matches that soured many fans of traditional pro wrestling. The low point of this and probably the best example was when former football player and current combat fighter, Bob Sapp won the IWGP Heavyweight title in 2004. Sapp was clumsy and sluggish in the ring, and the attendance reflected that, as Inoki's MMA experiment fell flat. In 2005, Inoki's empire was on the brink of bankruptcy after decades of success previously and he was forced to sell the organization to the Yuke's video game company. To add to the uncertainty of the organization, Brock Lesnar, who was looking for anywhere to jump start his career after a failed bid to join the Minnesota Vikings, refused to drop the IWGP belt in 2006 after a six month reign as champion. Lesnar took the title to Inoki Genome Federation's debut show and had a match with Kurt Angle, but that left New Japan without a credible heavyweight champion. A tournament was booked and a new champion was named, but it took several years and several impressive matches to rebuilt the credibility of the championship.
Fast forward to 2012 and NJPW still hadn't become a profitable for Yuke's and they sold to Bushiroad, a popular trading card company. Naoki Sugabayashi was declared President of the new group and the combination wrestling veterans, Jado and Gedo became the booker. Within a few years, the booking ideology of establishing younger New Japan stars and the debut of new foreign talent, many of of whom were among the best workers on the independent scene in the United States, fueled a resurgence for the company. Before Finn Balor was receiving rave reviews for his matches on the WWE Network, Prince Devitt worked extensively in Japan and and started what would become the most popular stable in the world in 2013. The Bullet Club, a throw back to the New World Order, (an angle that was originally used in the UWFI in Japan) consisted of a group of mostly "gaijin" wrestlers looking to take over New Japan. Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, The Young Bucks, AJ Styles, and others that are a part of the stable have helped make New Japan more well known outside of its home country. The Bullet Club t-shirt became the most in demand wrestling apparel in years and a working agreement with the Chicago based Pro Wrestling Tees website allowed fans in North America the chance to order a licensed t-shirt. As far as the native stars, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada, both of whom wrestled around the globe to sharpening their skills with different styles, had a classic series of matches that elevated the New Japan brand.
When Bushiroad purchased NJPW, one of the upgrades to the league was the expansion of internet pay-per-view events, which is more common in Japan than in the United States and it created another revenue stream for it. In 2015, New Japan inked a deal with Axis, the former HD Net channel, to air a TV show, NJPW's first TV deal in the US, which must be considered a major accomplishment for the organization. Along with American television, New Japan launched the "New Japan World" streaming service, which is similar to the WWE Network.
The past year featured the debut of American PPV, a US cable deal, one of the most popular stables in the world, and a great talent roster to compliment the launch of an online service. It's even more remarkable, considering that a decade ago the promotion almost collapsed, but WK 10 had an attendance of around 60,000 so it's certainly an impressive accomplishment. Where New Japan goes from here remains to be seen, but it's good to see that the storied history of the company will continue as the organization is stable and it's showcases some great events.
Over 40 years ago, Antonio Inoki, one of the star pupils of the legendary Rikiodozan, founded New Japan Pro Wrestling and the company ascended to become the top organization in the country. Rikidozan's other top student, Giant Baba formed All Japan the same year and while it remained respectful, an intense rivalry developed during the next two decades as each group tried to claim the top spot. New Japan produced legends like The Great Muta, Masahiro Chono, and Hashimoto. All Japan introduced its share of legends such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Jun Akiyama. There were also several "gaijin" or foreign wrestlers used throughout the years for each company, including Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Dusty Rhodes, and many others.
The entire Japanese landscape would begin to change with the death of Giant Baba in 1999 and the exit of Misawa (along with the majority of the AJPW roster) to start Pro Wrestling NOAH the following year. By 2002, the trend of performers leaving well established promotions due to political disputes continued and the Japanese scene was completely over saturated with a wave of alphabet soup companies. Instead of stacked rosters for a few groups, an organization would have a few well known stars with an under card of mostly unknown wrestlers. With All Japan a shell of its former self, only propped up by Muta's jump to the company, New Japan began to struggle as well when the somewhat eccentric Inoki implemented a change in philosophy. Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Pride, Inoki started booking more mixed martial arts type angles and most of them fell flat in the pro wrestling environment. While there's a similar demographic, pro wrestling and MMA are different genres, and it's somewhat difficult to expect an MMA fighter to transition to taking bumps. The Japanese style is based on in ring action and precise skill, but NJPW featured sloppy worked MMA based matches that soured many fans of traditional pro wrestling. The low point of this and probably the best example was when former football player and current combat fighter, Bob Sapp won the IWGP Heavyweight title in 2004. Sapp was clumsy and sluggish in the ring, and the attendance reflected that, as Inoki's MMA experiment fell flat. In 2005, Inoki's empire was on the brink of bankruptcy after decades of success previously and he was forced to sell the organization to the Yuke's video game company. To add to the uncertainty of the organization, Brock Lesnar, who was looking for anywhere to jump start his career after a failed bid to join the Minnesota Vikings, refused to drop the IWGP belt in 2006 after a six month reign as champion. Lesnar took the title to Inoki Genome Federation's debut show and had a match with Kurt Angle, but that left New Japan without a credible heavyweight champion. A tournament was booked and a new champion was named, but it took several years and several impressive matches to rebuilt the credibility of the championship.
Fast forward to 2012 and NJPW still hadn't become a profitable for Yuke's and they sold to Bushiroad, a popular trading card company. Naoki Sugabayashi was declared President of the new group and the combination wrestling veterans, Jado and Gedo became the booker. Within a few years, the booking ideology of establishing younger New Japan stars and the debut of new foreign talent, many of of whom were among the best workers on the independent scene in the United States, fueled a resurgence for the company. Before Finn Balor was receiving rave reviews for his matches on the WWE Network, Prince Devitt worked extensively in Japan and and started what would become the most popular stable in the world in 2013. The Bullet Club, a throw back to the New World Order, (an angle that was originally used in the UWFI in Japan) consisted of a group of mostly "gaijin" wrestlers looking to take over New Japan. Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, The Young Bucks, AJ Styles, and others that are a part of the stable have helped make New Japan more well known outside of its home country. The Bullet Club t-shirt became the most in demand wrestling apparel in years and a working agreement with the Chicago based Pro Wrestling Tees website allowed fans in North America the chance to order a licensed t-shirt. As far as the native stars, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada, both of whom wrestled around the globe to sharpening their skills with different styles, had a classic series of matches that elevated the New Japan brand.
When Bushiroad purchased NJPW, one of the upgrades to the league was the expansion of internet pay-per-view events, which is more common in Japan than in the United States and it created another revenue stream for it. In 2015, New Japan inked a deal with Axis, the former HD Net channel, to air a TV show, NJPW's first TV deal in the US, which must be considered a major accomplishment for the organization. Along with American television, New Japan launched the "New Japan World" streaming service, which is similar to the WWE Network.
The past year featured the debut of American PPV, a US cable deal, one of the most popular stables in the world, and a great talent roster to compliment the launch of an online service. It's even more remarkable, considering that a decade ago the promotion almost collapsed, but WK 10 had an attendance of around 60,000 so it's certainly an impressive accomplishment. Where New Japan goes from here remains to be seen, but it's good to see that the storied history of the company will continue as the organization is stable and it's showcases some great events.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
The Return of the Pit Bull
On February 12, 201l, Andrei Arlovski was knocked out by Sergei Kharitonov in the first round of a Strike Force bout, his fourth consecutive loss and it prompted many to call for his retirement. A former UFC Heavyweight champion, Arlovski was on a multiple fight win streak before he left the promotion after he contract expired in 2008 and won a contest against Roy Nelson under the Elite XC banner before the above mentioned four fight skid.
Quite frankly, his career was considered over and the competitor known as "The Pit Bull" looked to be a shell of himself, which many assumed would lead to him concluding his career on the smaller fight circuit as many from his era have done in recent years. Six months after the disappointing defeat in the Strike Force cage, Arlovski reemerged at the smaller Pro Elite show and dominated his opponent to get the victory. During his time away from competition, "The Pit Bull" began training with the Jackson fight team in New Mexico and the time spent sharpening his skills with some of the Jackson standouts, including Jon Jones, rejuvenated his career.
Over the next two years, Arlovski won six of eight fights in a variety of promotions with only one blemish, a loss to Anthony Johnson in the World Series of Fighting organization. Prior to that, he fought Tim Sylvia to a non contest, and both bouts that he didn't win were surrounded in controversy so he was in top form when he returned to the UFC in 2014.
Truthfully, when Arlovski resurfaced in the UFC, I didn't think he would do much because I watched the KOs mentioned above and thought his career was finished. Granted, he put together a winning streak to open the door for a returned to the Zuffa organization, but I take most of the wins a competitor gets in the smaller fight leagues with a grain of salt once they take the step up in competition for some of the more well known promotions (UFC, Bellator, etc.) because the major league competition is different from the smaller venues.
Six years after he defeated Jake O'Brien via TKO, Andrei Arlovski returned to the octagon to fight Brendan Schaub, not exactly top competition, but he won a split decision on the judges' cards. Just three months later, Arlovski was a major underdog in a bout with "Big Foot" Silva, but he KO'ed the Brazilian in less than three minutes. Earlier this year, he stepped into the cage with dangerous heavyweight, Travis Browne, who had only two losses on his impressive MMA record. Again, most assumed Arlovski would be defeated by the younger opponent that is seemingly in the prime of his career, but after a wild exchange, Arlovski landed a series of punches and the referee rescued Browe from further damage with a stoppage. Just a few months ago, he won an unanimous decision in a lackluster fight against Frank Mir, but it added to his current six fight winning streak, which include four wins since he returned to the UFC.
This Saturday, Stipe Mioic will provide the opposition and once again, on paper, Arlovski is considered the under dog, but should "The Pit Bull"be doubted? The Croatian brings a solid 13-2 record into the cage and precise striking ability, drawing comparisons to legendary, Mirko Crocop. If Arlowski tries to throw wild flurries, similar to what he did in the Browne contest, Mioic will land a counter and finish the fight. However, if Arloski fights smart and can dictate the pace, you have to at least give him a chance to win.
That said, if he can win five fights in a row in the UFC,you would think he would be in line for a shot for the Heavyweight title, a belt he last held almost a decade ago. Who would've thought that Anderi Arlovski would be in the UFC title conversation heading into 2016? Regardless of the result of the Mioic bout, Arlovski deserves a lot of credit for completely rejuvenating his career in what must be considered one of the most unexpected comebacks in mixed martial arts history.
Quite frankly, his career was considered over and the competitor known as "The Pit Bull" looked to be a shell of himself, which many assumed would lead to him concluding his career on the smaller fight circuit as many from his era have done in recent years. Six months after the disappointing defeat in the Strike Force cage, Arlovski reemerged at the smaller Pro Elite show and dominated his opponent to get the victory. During his time away from competition, "The Pit Bull" began training with the Jackson fight team in New Mexico and the time spent sharpening his skills with some of the Jackson standouts, including Jon Jones, rejuvenated his career.
Over the next two years, Arlovski won six of eight fights in a variety of promotions with only one blemish, a loss to Anthony Johnson in the World Series of Fighting organization. Prior to that, he fought Tim Sylvia to a non contest, and both bouts that he didn't win were surrounded in controversy so he was in top form when he returned to the UFC in 2014.
Truthfully, when Arlovski resurfaced in the UFC, I didn't think he would do much because I watched the KOs mentioned above and thought his career was finished. Granted, he put together a winning streak to open the door for a returned to the Zuffa organization, but I take most of the wins a competitor gets in the smaller fight leagues with a grain of salt once they take the step up in competition for some of the more well known promotions (UFC, Bellator, etc.) because the major league competition is different from the smaller venues.
Six years after he defeated Jake O'Brien via TKO, Andrei Arlovski returned to the octagon to fight Brendan Schaub, not exactly top competition, but he won a split decision on the judges' cards. Just three months later, Arlovski was a major underdog in a bout with "Big Foot" Silva, but he KO'ed the Brazilian in less than three minutes. Earlier this year, he stepped into the cage with dangerous heavyweight, Travis Browne, who had only two losses on his impressive MMA record. Again, most assumed Arlovski would be defeated by the younger opponent that is seemingly in the prime of his career, but after a wild exchange, Arlovski landed a series of punches and the referee rescued Browe from further damage with a stoppage. Just a few months ago, he won an unanimous decision in a lackluster fight against Frank Mir, but it added to his current six fight winning streak, which include four wins since he returned to the UFC.
This Saturday, Stipe Mioic will provide the opposition and once again, on paper, Arlovski is considered the under dog, but should "The Pit Bull"be doubted? The Croatian brings a solid 13-2 record into the cage and precise striking ability, drawing comparisons to legendary, Mirko Crocop. If Arlowski tries to throw wild flurries, similar to what he did in the Browne contest, Mioic will land a counter and finish the fight. However, if Arloski fights smart and can dictate the pace, you have to at least give him a chance to win.
That said, if he can win five fights in a row in the UFC,you would think he would be in line for a shot for the Heavyweight title, a belt he last held almost a decade ago. Who would've thought that Anderi Arlovski would be in the UFC title conversation heading into 2016? Regardless of the result of the Mioic bout, Arlovski deserves a lot of credit for completely rejuvenating his career in what must be considered one of the most unexpected comebacks in mixed martial arts history.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
NXT Takeover:London Review
Last week, the NXT brand went across the pond to London, England for a special WWE Network presentation and as a whole, the event could be an indication for the future of the brand itself. It should be noted that the British crowd really added to this show and it quite literally speaks volumes for the demand for pro wrestling in the UK. After years without well known promotions to capitalize on the market, European wrestling has seen a spark within the past year and independent shows throughout the region are currently drawing sell out crowds of a few thousand fans for each show. Rev Pro-UK, Progress Wrestling, and ICW have all done well recently with some tremendous young talent to fuel the resurgence in Britain. Mark Andrews, Marty Scurll, and Will Ospreay are some of the top talent that are helping to spotlight UK wrestling again so credit to them.
As for NXT Takeover, the show opened with Auska vs. Emma and throughout the contest, it became obvious that the competitor formerly known as Kana in Japan carried her opponent to a decent match. Auska has had to wrestle down to her opponent's level in recent NXT specials, first with Dana Brooke and now with Emma, but hopefully these matches are being used to establish her for something more important in the future because she has the ability to have some great matches when she's booked with a capable opponent. In many ways, Auska seems to be presented specifically for the NXT brand and I don't see her transitioning to the main roster, which is fine if the WWE intends to establish NXT as a full fledged brand. Similar to Samoa Joe, Auska provides a boost for the show when some of the younger talent gets moved to the main roster and if the money is right, there's nothing wrong making a career in NXT. That being said, with the stiff kicks and style, Auska as a heel would be money and a feud against Bayley could provide intriguing TV. Auska won the match and hopefully, there's a major angle for her in the future.
The tag team title match was solid and both teams worked well. Enzo is ridiculously over with the audience and the reaction his mic work received could be an indication that the team is ready for the main roster. However, considering the tag division is busy at the moment, WWE brass might not want to add another team to Raw to avoid them getting lost in the shuffle. Dawson and Wilder remind me of the Arn/Tully combination of the Brain Buster, and they work a similar style, which seems to compliment the NXT brand. Dawson and Wilder retain the belts, and it seems like they are going to get an extended run as the tag champions.
The Nia Jax/Bayley title match was solid, mostly because Bayley sold everything well and really enhanced the bout when Jax was trying to get heat during the match. Quite simply, Bayley is as good of a baby face as anyone in the business and if given the opportunity, she could be a major star for the company. The only downside of this contest was the portrayal of Jax and it tainted her "monster" persona somewhat in the process. Jax is relatively new to the NXT landscape and she was booked for a title feud almost as soon as she debuted so since she did the job in London, what now? While Jax was presented as a monster heading into the match in England, she didn't sell like a monster and her frustration during the false finishes didn't sell the gimmick either. Maybe I'm analyzing this one too far ahead, but if Nia Jax isn't booked for something relevant following the title match, her NXT time could eventually be summarized as just being another opponent for Bayley for the Network special.
The Apollo Crews/Baron Corbin match was decent, nothing spectacular, but nothing terrible either. However, Corbin did some good heel work from a character prospective and such development adds some depth to the brand. Granted, NXT is based on the in ring product, which allows it to be an alternative to the main WWE shows, but well established heels are a good addition to any wrestling product. As for Apollo Crews, assuming he can continue to work on mic skills and character, he has all the skills to be a major success for the WWE. From an in ring stand point, Crews is the complete performer you would think the WWE tries to recruit, but as seen in the past, mic work is at least half the battle for success on a national stage. That being said, I think Apollo Crew will do well when he transitions to the main roster.
Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor was a great match that helped elevate the brand and the NXT title itself because it placed an importance on the actual title instead of it being used as just a prop. It was a hard hitting, fast paced, and physical bout that was a good representation of the brand. As mentioned earlier, Samoa Joe will probably remain on the NXT roster and there's nothing wrong with that, especially if the money is right. As I've mentioned before, it's disappointing that Joe worked in TNA during the prime of his career because he has the ability to be a bigger star, which is why it's good to see him get a run in the WWE. On the flip side, Finn Balor might eventually move to the main shows and if he does, he would have to be considered a potential main event competitor. Obviously, there are a lot of variables, but an eventual Balor/Rollins feud could be money for the WWE.
As for NXT Takeover, the show opened with Auska vs. Emma and throughout the contest, it became obvious that the competitor formerly known as Kana in Japan carried her opponent to a decent match. Auska has had to wrestle down to her opponent's level in recent NXT specials, first with Dana Brooke and now with Emma, but hopefully these matches are being used to establish her for something more important in the future because she has the ability to have some great matches when she's booked with a capable opponent. In many ways, Auska seems to be presented specifically for the NXT brand and I don't see her transitioning to the main roster, which is fine if the WWE intends to establish NXT as a full fledged brand. Similar to Samoa Joe, Auska provides a boost for the show when some of the younger talent gets moved to the main roster and if the money is right, there's nothing wrong making a career in NXT. That being said, with the stiff kicks and style, Auska as a heel would be money and a feud against Bayley could provide intriguing TV. Auska won the match and hopefully, there's a major angle for her in the future.
The tag team title match was solid and both teams worked well. Enzo is ridiculously over with the audience and the reaction his mic work received could be an indication that the team is ready for the main roster. However, considering the tag division is busy at the moment, WWE brass might not want to add another team to Raw to avoid them getting lost in the shuffle. Dawson and Wilder remind me of the Arn/Tully combination of the Brain Buster, and they work a similar style, which seems to compliment the NXT brand. Dawson and Wilder retain the belts, and it seems like they are going to get an extended run as the tag champions.
The Nia Jax/Bayley title match was solid, mostly because Bayley sold everything well and really enhanced the bout when Jax was trying to get heat during the match. Quite simply, Bayley is as good of a baby face as anyone in the business and if given the opportunity, she could be a major star for the company. The only downside of this contest was the portrayal of Jax and it tainted her "monster" persona somewhat in the process. Jax is relatively new to the NXT landscape and she was booked for a title feud almost as soon as she debuted so since she did the job in London, what now? While Jax was presented as a monster heading into the match in England, she didn't sell like a monster and her frustration during the false finishes didn't sell the gimmick either. Maybe I'm analyzing this one too far ahead, but if Nia Jax isn't booked for something relevant following the title match, her NXT time could eventually be summarized as just being another opponent for Bayley for the Network special.
The Apollo Crews/Baron Corbin match was decent, nothing spectacular, but nothing terrible either. However, Corbin did some good heel work from a character prospective and such development adds some depth to the brand. Granted, NXT is based on the in ring product, which allows it to be an alternative to the main WWE shows, but well established heels are a good addition to any wrestling product. As for Apollo Crews, assuming he can continue to work on mic skills and character, he has all the skills to be a major success for the WWE. From an in ring stand point, Crews is the complete performer you would think the WWE tries to recruit, but as seen in the past, mic work is at least half the battle for success on a national stage. That being said, I think Apollo Crew will do well when he transitions to the main roster.
Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor was a great match that helped elevate the brand and the NXT title itself because it placed an importance on the actual title instead of it being used as just a prop. It was a hard hitting, fast paced, and physical bout that was a good representation of the brand. As mentioned earlier, Samoa Joe will probably remain on the NXT roster and there's nothing wrong with that, especially if the money is right. As I've mentioned before, it's disappointing that Joe worked in TNA during the prime of his career because he has the ability to be a bigger star, which is why it's good to see him get a run in the WWE. On the flip side, Finn Balor might eventually move to the main shows and if he does, he would have to be considered a potential main event competitor. Obviously, there are a lot of variables, but an eventual Balor/Rollins feud could be money for the WWE.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
WWE.com ECW Poll
Recently, WWE.com conducted a poll asking fans about their favorite "forgotten ECW star" and thus far, its yielded some intriguing results. That being said, another question that has to be asked is, should these particular stars have been in the position to be forgotten at all? Granted, the WWE Network gives more fans more access to footage than anytime in history, but did these extremists deserve another national stage after ECW folded?
Joel Gertner, the raunchy manger of the Dudley Boys during their heyday in the South Philadelphia based promotion, was one of the main pieces of the puzzle that allowed the complete package of the Dudley stable to get legitimate heat from the savvy ECW crowd during a time when the possibility of getting that type of heat wasn't as common as during the kayfabe era of the business. Gertner also took some dangerous spots during his run so there was actually a payoff when one of the extreme heroes finally got to him. Simply put and this is meant as a compliment, Gertner was easy to hate as a heel and tailored his role perfectly to the ECW environment. On the flip side, Joel was over as a baby face as well and his verbal exchanges with Cyrus were anticipated openings of pay-per-views. While he had good promos, Joel Gertner was one of those performers that seemed to be molded specifically for ECW and it's doubtful that he could've transitioned to another national promotion without a watered down act. That's not a jab at him either, just that he played his role so well in ECW that it would have been diluted under more PG restrictions. However, Gertner is still involved with independent wrestling and started his own podcast earlier this year.
The late John Kronus was a product of the famed Killer Kowalski wrestling school and along with Perry Saturn, formed one of the promotion's most popular teams, The Eliminators. It should be noted that The Eliminators were one of the teams that put an emphasis on tag wrestling in 1997 before the "golden age" of the division with the TLC matches a few year later. Kronus was a heavyweight that could perform some amazing aerial moves and while he wasn't the most graceful high flyer, it was impressive that a competitor his size could do an array of top rope moves. He was probably too one dimensional to transition elsewhere, but had a decent run there because his positives skills were allowed to shine. He left ECW in 1999 and had a brief run on the independent scene before he passed away in 2007.
Roadkill was one of the initial students to debut from the ECW House of Hardcore school and along with another HOH school alumni, Danny Doring formed a tag team that became the last ECW tag champions. The Amish inspired character was a heavyweight that was really agile and the wild style of ECW tag matches allowed for a simple formula to hide his relatively inexperience with only a few years in the business. While the gimmick was memorable, Road Kill was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2005 and despite wrestling within the system for three years, he was eventually released. Road Kill shouldn't be forgotten, but he wasn't exactly the most well rounded wrestler either so it's understandable that he didn't resurface on the national stage after WWE's ECW project.
"The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell is the one on this list that jumps out as someone that should still have a job with a national company today and he could still be a valuable performer for any promotion. Originally signed for the doomed "blood runs cold" angle in WCW, Mitchell sat at home for the majority of his Turner deal and there was speculation that the office didn't realize he was still on the payroll. After two years off the radar, The Sinister Minister debuted as a cult persona on Hardcore TV in 2000 and he narrated some of the episodes. Eventually, Mitchell managed Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri as well as becoming a notable character during the later era of the organization. After ECW folded, Mitchell had a few different runs in TNA and did exceptional mic work during them. The mic skills, the persona, and the ability to do just enough to get a talent over without overshadowing them, which is the key to a great manager, made Jim Mitchell a valuable piece of the puzzle for his angles. His work with Abyss gave the monster more substance and something to build storylines around, and really added a new dimension to the character. Mitchell understands the role of a manager and if used correctly, managers could still be used effectively today. Sadly, since managers are used to push angles, not t shirt sales, it's a nearly forgotten art form. That being said, James Mitchell shouldn't be on a forgotten list, he should still be working on national TV.
Sadly, Hack Myers recently passed away at the age of 42 and sincere condolences to his family. Myers started in the early days of ECW as just a local enhancement talent, but he gained cult status as the "Extreme Shah" and had a run as one of the more popular competitors on the card. While his in ring ability was limited, he had a better run than most probably would've guessed and is still remembered as one of the more colorful characters of the Philadelphia promotion.
Similar to James Mitchell, Cyrus was a later addition to the ECW roster, but he was effective anytime he was on screen. Booked as the Network representative when TNN began interfering with the formatting of the TV show, Cyrus generated tremendous heat for the angles he worked and in the process, helped continue to provide intriguing TV when the promotion had declining star power. That being said, the roster at the time was still capable and Cryus' mic skills added a sizzle that highlighted the potential of some of the younger stars, including Rhino. Interestingly enough, Don Callus had a somewhat notable wrestling career before he surfaced as the TNN authority figure and worked in several different countries in the early 90s. He was noticed by fellow Canadian, Bret Hart and was eventually signed for the WWF as the cult leader Jackyl in 1997. For whatever reason, Callis was abruptly released a year later and surfaced in ECW shortly after that. While The Jackyl character was booked to manage the cartoonish Truth Commission and later subjected to Vince Russo booking, Cryus showed the true ability that Callis had as a performer. He made a few appearances in TNA during its early days, but eventually retired from the industry and works for the Canadian trade commission. I would guess that Callis found a good job outside of pro wrestling and was content to make good money, but he really is an underrated talent that should've had a job after ECW closed.
During the early stages of ECW, when it was just finding its extreme niche in the otherwise stagnant industry of the early 90s, Paul Heyman still worked in front of the camera as Paul E. Dangerously and using his trademark phone, he called 911. The big man known as 911 would storm the ring at Paul E's request and choke slam the jobbers that were going to cause a mutiny among the die hard Philadelphia fans. As 911 provided a conclusion to the intentionally corny segments, the fans chanted loudly for the rescue. As one dimensional as 911 was, the choke slam segment being the only notable ability he could bring to the table, he received some of the biggest reactions of early ECW shows. According to almost all observations, his few attempts at actual matches were disastrous so it's understandable that his career concluded in ECW.
Chilly Willy was an example of an addition to the roster that could have done extremely well, if he was given the opportunity to develop his skills while wrestling for the extreme group, but considering the wrestling landscape was flooded with free agents in 2001 when WWE bought WCW, Chilly Willy probably got lost in the shuffle of the industry and hadn't necessarily made enough of a name for himself during his rather short run in ECW to get a contract. Eventually, Chilly Willy was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2004, but he was released a year later.
Joel Gertner, the raunchy manger of the Dudley Boys during their heyday in the South Philadelphia based promotion, was one of the main pieces of the puzzle that allowed the complete package of the Dudley stable to get legitimate heat from the savvy ECW crowd during a time when the possibility of getting that type of heat wasn't as common as during the kayfabe era of the business. Gertner also took some dangerous spots during his run so there was actually a payoff when one of the extreme heroes finally got to him. Simply put and this is meant as a compliment, Gertner was easy to hate as a heel and tailored his role perfectly to the ECW environment. On the flip side, Joel was over as a baby face as well and his verbal exchanges with Cyrus were anticipated openings of pay-per-views. While he had good promos, Joel Gertner was one of those performers that seemed to be molded specifically for ECW and it's doubtful that he could've transitioned to another national promotion without a watered down act. That's not a jab at him either, just that he played his role so well in ECW that it would have been diluted under more PG restrictions. However, Gertner is still involved with independent wrestling and started his own podcast earlier this year.
The late John Kronus was a product of the famed Killer Kowalski wrestling school and along with Perry Saturn, formed one of the promotion's most popular teams, The Eliminators. It should be noted that The Eliminators were one of the teams that put an emphasis on tag wrestling in 1997 before the "golden age" of the division with the TLC matches a few year later. Kronus was a heavyweight that could perform some amazing aerial moves and while he wasn't the most graceful high flyer, it was impressive that a competitor his size could do an array of top rope moves. He was probably too one dimensional to transition elsewhere, but had a decent run there because his positives skills were allowed to shine. He left ECW in 1999 and had a brief run on the independent scene before he passed away in 2007.
Roadkill was one of the initial students to debut from the ECW House of Hardcore school and along with another HOH school alumni, Danny Doring formed a tag team that became the last ECW tag champions. The Amish inspired character was a heavyweight that was really agile and the wild style of ECW tag matches allowed for a simple formula to hide his relatively inexperience with only a few years in the business. While the gimmick was memorable, Road Kill was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2005 and despite wrestling within the system for three years, he was eventually released. Road Kill shouldn't be forgotten, but he wasn't exactly the most well rounded wrestler either so it's understandable that he didn't resurface on the national stage after WWE's ECW project.
"The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell is the one on this list that jumps out as someone that should still have a job with a national company today and he could still be a valuable performer for any promotion. Originally signed for the doomed "blood runs cold" angle in WCW, Mitchell sat at home for the majority of his Turner deal and there was speculation that the office didn't realize he was still on the payroll. After two years off the radar, The Sinister Minister debuted as a cult persona on Hardcore TV in 2000 and he narrated some of the episodes. Eventually, Mitchell managed Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri as well as becoming a notable character during the later era of the organization. After ECW folded, Mitchell had a few different runs in TNA and did exceptional mic work during them. The mic skills, the persona, and the ability to do just enough to get a talent over without overshadowing them, which is the key to a great manager, made Jim Mitchell a valuable piece of the puzzle for his angles. His work with Abyss gave the monster more substance and something to build storylines around, and really added a new dimension to the character. Mitchell understands the role of a manager and if used correctly, managers could still be used effectively today. Sadly, since managers are used to push angles, not t shirt sales, it's a nearly forgotten art form. That being said, James Mitchell shouldn't be on a forgotten list, he should still be working on national TV.
Sadly, Hack Myers recently passed away at the age of 42 and sincere condolences to his family. Myers started in the early days of ECW as just a local enhancement talent, but he gained cult status as the "Extreme Shah" and had a run as one of the more popular competitors on the card. While his in ring ability was limited, he had a better run than most probably would've guessed and is still remembered as one of the more colorful characters of the Philadelphia promotion.
Similar to James Mitchell, Cyrus was a later addition to the ECW roster, but he was effective anytime he was on screen. Booked as the Network representative when TNN began interfering with the formatting of the TV show, Cyrus generated tremendous heat for the angles he worked and in the process, helped continue to provide intriguing TV when the promotion had declining star power. That being said, the roster at the time was still capable and Cryus' mic skills added a sizzle that highlighted the potential of some of the younger stars, including Rhino. Interestingly enough, Don Callus had a somewhat notable wrestling career before he surfaced as the TNN authority figure and worked in several different countries in the early 90s. He was noticed by fellow Canadian, Bret Hart and was eventually signed for the WWF as the cult leader Jackyl in 1997. For whatever reason, Callis was abruptly released a year later and surfaced in ECW shortly after that. While The Jackyl character was booked to manage the cartoonish Truth Commission and later subjected to Vince Russo booking, Cryus showed the true ability that Callis had as a performer. He made a few appearances in TNA during its early days, but eventually retired from the industry and works for the Canadian trade commission. I would guess that Callis found a good job outside of pro wrestling and was content to make good money, but he really is an underrated talent that should've had a job after ECW closed.
During the early stages of ECW, when it was just finding its extreme niche in the otherwise stagnant industry of the early 90s, Paul Heyman still worked in front of the camera as Paul E. Dangerously and using his trademark phone, he called 911. The big man known as 911 would storm the ring at Paul E's request and choke slam the jobbers that were going to cause a mutiny among the die hard Philadelphia fans. As 911 provided a conclusion to the intentionally corny segments, the fans chanted loudly for the rescue. As one dimensional as 911 was, the choke slam segment being the only notable ability he could bring to the table, he received some of the biggest reactions of early ECW shows. According to almost all observations, his few attempts at actual matches were disastrous so it's understandable that his career concluded in ECW.
Chilly Willy was an example of an addition to the roster that could have done extremely well, if he was given the opportunity to develop his skills while wrestling for the extreme group, but considering the wrestling landscape was flooded with free agents in 2001 when WWE bought WCW, Chilly Willy probably got lost in the shuffle of the industry and hadn't necessarily made enough of a name for himself during his rather short run in ECW to get a contract. Eventually, Chilly Willy was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2004, but he was released a year later.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
After several months in the making, Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will finally clash inside the octagon for this Saturday's UFC 194 event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. Originally scheduled for July, the bout was cancelled less than two weeks prior after Aldo cited a rib injury and at the time, there were conflicting reports about the extent of the Feather weight champion's injury. Chad Mendes was booked as last minute replacement and despite a solid effort was stopped in the closing seconds of the second round. McGregor won the interim Feather weight belt and the dynamic performance solidified him as one of the promotion's rising stars.
I penned a column prior to the Mendes fight to discuss if the charismatic Dublin native was the UFC's top star and when you take into account Ronda Rousey's recent defeat, it appears as though the stage is set for McGregor to seize the throne as the UFC's top draw, which was previously held by fighters such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, and Brock Lesnar at various times.
On paper, 145 LBS king pin Jose Aldo should be the favorite to be victorious leading into the contest, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Despite being undefeated in the past ten years with only one blemish on his professional record, Also will probably go into the fight as a slight underdog because Conor McGregor has all the momentum entering the cage. One of the criticisms of Aldo is that he has cancelled five previous title defenses and because those bouts had to be rescheduled, he has fought sporadically in recent years. In fact, Aldo has been away from competition for a year, which is the second time in his career that he took a year between fights and he fought no more than twice in a calendar year since 2010. Considering the year absence, will Aldo show any signs of ring rust during the McGregor bout? When it comes to a skill set, Jose is nearly flawless with razor sharp striking technique, great take down defense, and a Brazilian Ju Jit Su black belt. The Brazilian is without question an extremely dangerous opponent, but he had questionable cardio during previous fights so that could be an avenue for the challenger to claim the title.
As for the result of the fight, it will probably be a rather simplistic scenario and the outcome will depend on where the fight takes places, as well as who dictates the pace of the contest. Conor has two defeats on his record, both via submission and Aldo has excellent ground skills so if the fight goes to the ground, the advantage will go to Jose Aldo. As mentioned, the champion's cardio has been questioned and Conor has an explosive style so if he can push the pace, McGregor might be able to secure a decision through the later rounds. I would suggest that Aldo would be the most dangerous in the first two rounds and if McGregor can survive the initial wave of offense, he has a favorable chance of success in the championship rounds. One of the few criticisms of McGregor is his somewhat one dimensional style and if he doesn't bring at least decent grappling defense into the cage, it could allow Aldo to retain the title.
As far as a prediction for the winner of this one, I have say that Conor McGregor will claim the undisputed Feather weight title, mostly because he has the momentum going into the fight and his opponent, Jose Aldo could have alot of ring rust after an extended absence from the cage. That being said, it won't be an easy night for McGregor, even if he's victorious because Aldo still one of the top fighters in the sport. From a business prospective, Conor is the draw for the UFC and you can expect Saturday to mark the start of a new era in the Zuffa organization or the group will still be searching for its next top star.
Nearly lost in all the fiery shuffle of the Feather Weight title hype is the Middle weight title bout, where Chris Weidman will defend his belt against top contender, Luke Rockhold. Interestingly enough, this battle could surpass the main event in terms of the quality of the action because it's a very evenly matched and it will probably be close fight. Weidman, who shocked the world when he slayed the dragon that was Anderson Silva, has quietly became one of the top fighters in the world, most recently Vitor Belfort earlier this year. Weidman has a grappling base, but is extremely well rounded and has no glaring flaws in his game, along with a flawless record so far in his MMA career. Luke Rockhold brings a very similar skill set into the octagon and only has two defeats on his pro record. Since these two are so even in terms of their skills and experience, I would guess there won't be a direct advantage for either fighter based on where the fight takes place. However, I have to pick Weidman to retain the championship because he's undefeated and as mentioned, he's a well rounded fighter but I wouldn't be shocked if Rockhold gets the win.
I penned a column prior to the Mendes fight to discuss if the charismatic Dublin native was the UFC's top star and when you take into account Ronda Rousey's recent defeat, it appears as though the stage is set for McGregor to seize the throne as the UFC's top draw, which was previously held by fighters such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, and Brock Lesnar at various times.
On paper, 145 LBS king pin Jose Aldo should be the favorite to be victorious leading into the contest, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Despite being undefeated in the past ten years with only one blemish on his professional record, Also will probably go into the fight as a slight underdog because Conor McGregor has all the momentum entering the cage. One of the criticisms of Aldo is that he has cancelled five previous title defenses and because those bouts had to be rescheduled, he has fought sporadically in recent years. In fact, Aldo has been away from competition for a year, which is the second time in his career that he took a year between fights and he fought no more than twice in a calendar year since 2010. Considering the year absence, will Aldo show any signs of ring rust during the McGregor bout? When it comes to a skill set, Jose is nearly flawless with razor sharp striking technique, great take down defense, and a Brazilian Ju Jit Su black belt. The Brazilian is without question an extremely dangerous opponent, but he had questionable cardio during previous fights so that could be an avenue for the challenger to claim the title.
As for the result of the fight, it will probably be a rather simplistic scenario and the outcome will depend on where the fight takes places, as well as who dictates the pace of the contest. Conor has two defeats on his record, both via submission and Aldo has excellent ground skills so if the fight goes to the ground, the advantage will go to Jose Aldo. As mentioned, the champion's cardio has been questioned and Conor has an explosive style so if he can push the pace, McGregor might be able to secure a decision through the later rounds. I would suggest that Aldo would be the most dangerous in the first two rounds and if McGregor can survive the initial wave of offense, he has a favorable chance of success in the championship rounds. One of the few criticisms of McGregor is his somewhat one dimensional style and if he doesn't bring at least decent grappling defense into the cage, it could allow Aldo to retain the title.
As far as a prediction for the winner of this one, I have say that Conor McGregor will claim the undisputed Feather weight title, mostly because he has the momentum going into the fight and his opponent, Jose Aldo could have alot of ring rust after an extended absence from the cage. That being said, it won't be an easy night for McGregor, even if he's victorious because Aldo still one of the top fighters in the sport. From a business prospective, Conor is the draw for the UFC and you can expect Saturday to mark the start of a new era in the Zuffa organization or the group will still be searching for its next top star.
Nearly lost in all the fiery shuffle of the Feather Weight title hype is the Middle weight title bout, where Chris Weidman will defend his belt against top contender, Luke Rockhold. Interestingly enough, this battle could surpass the main event in terms of the quality of the action because it's a very evenly matched and it will probably be close fight. Weidman, who shocked the world when he slayed the dragon that was Anderson Silva, has quietly became one of the top fighters in the world, most recently Vitor Belfort earlier this year. Weidman has a grappling base, but is extremely well rounded and has no glaring flaws in his game, along with a flawless record so far in his MMA career. Luke Rockhold brings a very similar skill set into the octagon and only has two defeats on his pro record. Since these two are so even in terms of their skills and experience, I would guess there won't be a direct advantage for either fighter based on where the fight takes place. However, I have to pick Weidman to retain the championship because he's undefeated and as mentioned, he's a well rounded fighter but I wouldn't be shocked if Rockhold gets the win.
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