AEW Full Gear

 This weekend's Full Gear event could prove to be a pivotal point in the history of All Elite Wrestling, especially based on some key booking decisions that could shed some light on the direction of the organization as it enters its second year of existence. While the show seems to be very solid on paper, there are certain matches that could be very critical in terms of the perception of specific stars as the organization looks toward the future. In truth, that scenario is usually what makes for a pay-per-view worthy event because the selling point is that there's something at stake based on the results of the matches.

This isn't meant as a jab against the WWE, especially because they just announced record-setting profits in a conference call last week so you can't argue with the financial success, but as I've written several times before, not only did the launch of the WWE Network completely change the dynamic of content distribution of the entire industry, it unintentionally created a level of complacency within the WWE product. The writing team was no longer forced to "sell" an angle that motivated fans to buy a $40 pay-per-view, but rather the standard for what was considered PPV quality was lowered to just $10 for a monthly subscription.

On the flip side, it puts more pressure on AEW and other pro wrestling commodity that tries to market pay-per-view events at a more traditional price because literally thousands of hours of content are offered with the WWE Network for a fraction of the price.

As far as Full Gear goes, the finals of the number one contender tournament is one of the more anticipated bouts on the card as Adam Page, who challenged Chris Jericho in a match to determine the first AEW champion last year, will square off against Kenny Omega. While Jericho was definitely the right call for the first All Elite champion, it goes without saying that Adam Page should be one of the key players for the promotion in the next few years. He has an almost quiet charisma and the cowboy persona is something that the fans can easily identify with. The blue collar character has some traits of Stone Cold, but Page has an in-ring style that he can use to develop his own overall presentation. For Kenny Omega, considering he had some much hype after the series of Okada matches and the stellar run that he had in New Japan, his tenure in AEW has probably been slightly underwhelming. Granted, the American format doesn't accommodate 45-minute epic contests on a regular basis because of the TV structure, but I'm not sure what some fans were expecting from him when typical PPV time and something as simply as commercials for television don't allow for New Japan style matches.

That being said, I think more should've been done with Omega in terms of his position toward the top of the card, and I always found his tag team role to be a rather odd fit. In fact, for a promotion that put such an emphasis on tag team wrestling, the vast majority of the time the tag belts have existed, they were held by what was basically a thrown together team of two wrestlers that didn't have a clear path otherwise. I don't think it's a matter of Omega not being able to find success outside of the New Japan structure, but rather the way he was presented so far in AEW. Omega is one of the most talented athletes of his generation, he doesn't need 45-minute matches to try to shoehorn that narrative, but during the majority of his run in AEW, he hasn't been spotlighted as a main event star. Perhaps, that's why his portrayal in this tournament is so important since it allows him to be casts as a potential main event star in the title picture. Don't get me wrong, the Omega/Page tag matches were fine, but especially in hindsight, that run as champions might've been more to buy time to allow for other angles to get the chance to play out in the title picture than anything else. It's tough to say who would be the better choice to challenge for the belt next, especially because neither of them has turned heel yet, but whoever loses this one probably will need a heel turn to keep their character fresh. Considering his age, I'd say Kenny Omega is the better choice to challenge for the belt right now, specifically because the longer it's been since that run in New Japan, the more shine has worn off of his status. Plus, an eventually title win rejuvenates his character in America and then there are also more options for potential main event feuds.

The tag title match is rather an odd scenario because the bout was one of the most anticipated contest of the past several years and one of the very rare legitimate dream matches of the modern era. Somehow, less than stellar booking of this angle has diminished this match exponentially. Sometimes, the simplest way is the most effective way, which is the path AEW should've taken on this instead of the scenic route on the path to the pay-per-view. I wrote it at the time, but from the debut of FTR, the stare down without any physical altercation was lackluster. The story was already in place for the few year prior when it was discussed on social media. FTR should've attacked The Young Bucks, who were the baby faces defending the honor of the upstart organization. The story writes itself, there was no need to attempt to portray the Bucks as semi-heels to try to add an edge to their characters. The Bucks acted like heels when they super kicked announcers and referees, and FTR are already heels so who are the fans supposed to cheer for? I just don't get what those segments were designed to accomplish for the Young Bucks. Did FTR force them to become more aggressive? How does that fit into the original narrative that made this a dream match in the first place? The stipulation that The Bucks can't challenge for the titles again if they lose wasn't needed and it's seen as a recycled angle from the Cody match last year. The stipulation is still fresh in the fans' mind because it's part of the reason he's involved in the TNT title picture. From a storyline perspective, the Young Bucks/FTR angle was too convoluted and hindered rather than helped the build to the pay-per-view bout. Still, I think the in-ring presentation should be tremendous, and if the payoff is a success than the path to get there is relatively moot.

A quick note about Darby and Cody for the TNT belt. Since we've seen these two square off before, you know the match will be solid. I think they should give Darby the run, mostly because at some point, the group must start to really get behind some non-WWE talent to give it more of its own identity, which isn't a jab, but rather to point out that Darby is one of the stars that AEW could use to expand in the future. Darby has charisma and an aura around him, which are ingredients that can be used to draw money. The fact that fans dress up like him is proof that he connects with the crowd. In my opinion, Darby Allin has the potential to be a big star for the company in the next few years. The flip side is, he must avoid some of the unnecessary dangerous stunts that might take years off of his career. Darby is over on a national level because of who he is as a character, not because he's willing to hurl himself off of the balcony. Risky bumps just for the shock value are the indy level, but TNT is a completely different game. He can't be marketed on national television if he's sidelined for a lengthy period of time with an injury.

I'd guess that the in-ring action of Chris Jericho/MJF will be fine, but the bigger story might be the angle involved with the match. Despite his role as a heel, Jericho still gets a baby face reaction based on the entertainment value of his persona so it makes sense for him to make the switch to get a run as a baby face in AEW. This is just a guess, but I think The Inner Circle will turn on Jericho, and MJF will become the new leader of the stable. It puts more of a spotlight on MJF and it allows for a fresh run for Jericho, too.

Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW title in an I Quit match has probably had the best build for an AEW pay-per-view main event so far this year, but the result really isn't in doubt. Don't get me wrong, Eddie Kingston is one of my favorite wrestlers and I think a title run at some point should be in the cards for him, but this title shot seems a little rushed and based more off of the solid match these two had on TV than any potential main event run for Kingston. Regardless, THIS is how you build and sell a title match. Remember that we discussed how it's difficult to sell a traditional PPV in this era? Well, Kingston's work on the mic is exactly how a pay-per-view should be sold. There's something at stake and something on the line, Kingston's story emphasizes the importance of the event. This is nothing against Moxley, he's done very well as AEW champion, but I'm really hoping that somehow Kingston gets the championship. That being said, I think it's fair to say that the first non-WWE star to win the belt will probably be someone that AEW invested into as a long-term project, and Kingston just hasn't been on the roster long enough to be seen with that status. That's not to say that Kingston wouldn't be a good choice at this point in time, but rather that it looks like there's more of a build for Omega or Page to be the performer to eventually defeat Moxley for the championship.

IWC returns

 In 2006, Norm Connors' International Wrestling Cartel started the year at the Court Time Sports Center, a spacious recreation venue in Elizabeth, PA that housed three full-length basketball courts, hosting youth leagues throughout the year. When jump shots weren't being made, soccer groups kicked their way to goals, and when the youth of America wasn't learning the value of team work, the diehard IWC fan base saw pro wrestling mayhem takeover. Connors, regarded as one of the godfathers of Pittsburgh independent wrestling, began promoting IWC, the successor to his Steel City Wrestling organization of the late-90s, in 2001 and built a cult following for the Western PA fans. As is often the case with independent wrestling, promotions were often at the mercy of venues for potential cancellations or schedule changes. After a few years, Connors landed at Court Time, a semi-central location for the IWC fans, who arrived at that building for the first time on a blustery Friday night in January of 2006. "The Monster" Abyss, still in his prime of a TNA run, was the spotlight star on that particular evening.

In the 15 years since that chilly evening in Elizabeth, the professional wrestling industry, as it often does, morphed and evolved. As TNA faded from the national spotlight and letters such as AEW emerged, IWC had its own storied history inside the Sports Center. Pittsburgh legends like Dennis Gregory and Super Henti cemented much of their legacy inside an IWC ring. Henti, a 22-year pro that can still go today, once sailed from the balcony of the building onto a group of unsuspecting foes below. The late great Larry Sweeney strutted his way to become one of the most popular on the roster. The Sandman enjoyed a beverage or two while he was there. Tommy Dreamer shocked those in attendance when he captured the IWC championship. Jack Pollock, a student of underrated legend Lance Storm and one of the best grapplers in the Pittsburgh area, made an emotional return after he was sidelined for several months from surgery that repaired a knee injury.

There's no doubt about it, over the past decade and a half, Court Time Sports Center was the site of some of the most memorable moments in Pittsburgh wrestling history.

As the dynamics shifted around the industry, there were changes for IWC as well. After nearly ten years as the head of IWC, Norm retired from the industry, passing the organization along to Chuck Roberts, a longtime ring announcer that helped out for years behind the scenes before taking over the reigns. Five years as a promoter was enough for Chuck, and he saw the chance to leave the company in good hands of Justin Plummer, a fiercely dedicated video host that learned the ins and outs of the business when he interviewed stars backstage. In 2014, Plummer bought IWC and marched it forward toward the widest distribution of the product in the company's history.

Justin and his wife, Jenny, known as one of the politest ladies of the Pittsburgh scene, became their own promotional tag team, as Justin juggles negotiations while Jenny tends to much of the administration side of the business. Just as the Plummer duo looked to continue to ramp up and enhance the presentation of the International Wrestling Cartel in 2020, the entire world was  halted in its tracks by the corona virus pandemic.

As health warnings and travel restrictions began to pop up just weeks before the spring, the reality of the COVID shutdown hit the wrestling world when Wrestlemania was moved from a stadium in Tampa to a closed set. If the czar of sports entertainment saw the corona virus shutter his annual spectacular, there was a level of seriousness that had a ripple effect all across the pro wrestling world. The stories of the impact on every level are numerous, but for IWC, it took a particularly tough toll on their plans for the year.

"Overall, it has been extremely difficult and scary, but we were able to thrive in this atmosphere because we adapted so quickly and thought outside of the box. We never let the depression of the lockdown slow us down. We had to completely adapt and evolve on the fly to find a way to still run a profitable business while still keeping everyone safe and delivering a product worthy of fans' hard earned money. To recover from months of shut down and having to recover sunk operating costs at the school, we reached out to other promotions in the area who also were struggling with the pandemic and created win-win deals to work together under one roof for training," Justin explained.

The harsh reality is, despite IWC's status as the largest promotion of the Pittsburgh area, often bringing in top independent talent to the steel city, it's still classified as a small business, especially compared to the titans of the industry. While USA and Fox TV deals make a broadcast alone a lucrative portion of the global publicly-traded company, independent groups operate on a much more grass roots level. When a well-known independent performer is booked for Court Time, costs like transportation, booking fee, and possible hotel accommodations are a part of the process that gets them in front of an IWC crowd. As much as Plummer might moonsault with joy if IWC landed a corporate sponsorship to cover extra costs, Cola Cola or Skittles aren't going to pick up the tab. How to sort out the logistics to make all of that happen comes down to Justin and his select group of office staff. If a late-night call needs to be taken, it's Justin answering the phone in his slippers. With restrictions on large gatherings, Court Time closed its doors to any activity, and the previously mentioned training school was paused for a brief time. Still, Justin believed professional wrestling events with some limited seating could still be done early on during the pandemic and attempted to organize cards, but ran into hurdles of health restrictions.

"Organizing events has been heartbreaking, but awarding. I had to work closely with the state athletic commission to help get specific safety guidelines in place and approved by the state health department. Even when things looked good, the goal posts would often move and guidance would change. That's when we decided to go outdoors," said Plummer.

Absolutely convinced that his product was critical to his fans, Plummer was determined to find a way to present live wrestling, even if it meant just a piece of normal life during such unprecedented times. In one of the more unique and entertaining set ups, an old school drive-in hosted an IWC card with audio piped through the speakers as fans watched the matches from the safety of their cars. Wanting to expand upon the outdoor concept, IWC was taken to The Washington Wild Things Stadium, a minor league baseball park. The company's premiere event, Super Indy was held until the stars, as the talented prospect, Brian Pillman Jr. won the tournament to claim the Super Indy championship.

"The Washington Wild Things events came about from a previous relationship that I had with the team President. We discussed working together a year or two ago so when I decided to move IWC outdoors, I immediately contacted him to work something out that could help both of us keep our businesses going through these tough times. Once again, the event went so well that we continued to go back for more," Plummer commented.

This Saturday IWC returns to its own base, Court Time Sports Center for an event that has its fans buzzing. Despite the increase in COVID cases across the country, Plummer worked with local health officials to plan a way to run a safe event with several precautions in place for those in attendance. The live event will be kept to only 20% capacity, the entire complex will be open for seating to allow for social distancing, masks are required, hand sanitizer will be located throughout the building, and the venue will be sanitized. For those that can't get tickets to the live presentation, the IWC Network will stream the event live on its website.

"Limited capacity is tough, so unfortunately we had to raise our ticket prices from $20 to $25 to help offset the loss of spectators. We have also found ways to significantly reduce our expenses without hurting the quality of the event. We have been fortunate to make things work really well so far under these conditions. We also have the streaming option for fans that would rather watch from home. The IWC Network has quickly become a vital part of our company's success, but ticket sales will always be the name of the game. Since we are limited in sales due to safety guidelines, the streaming option has definitely gotten a boost and helps us a lot. Between the pandemic, politics, and the woes of every day life, people can expect to be able to take a three hour break from it all on Saturday night. It will be an emotional night to return to our home at Court Time, and it will be much needed distraction for everyone," Plummer said.

The career of Tracy Smothers

 I wasn't sure if or when I'd write this article, simply because it's such a somber subject. Still, as I type this, I find it difficult to find a focus because of how sad the situation is, as last week I saw on Twitter that underrated legend, Tracy Smothers passed away after a long battle with cancer. It wasn't surprising news since Tracy had been sick for almost a year and last month news surfaced that he was in the hospital from ailing health. Before the pandemic, a photo was posted online of Tracy at an independent show and he looked very frail from the effects of cancer treatment. Despite the gloomly status of the situation, my heart sank when I saw the tweets that commented on his passing, mostly for the same reason as those tributes were made on social media, Tracy was such a talented and nice guy.

I could go through his career of wrestling bears in the 80s, stealing the show in tag matches on WCW pay-per-views in the early-90s, working as the top baby face in Smokey Mountain, dancing in ECW, or his status as a beloved veteran on the indy circuit in the 2000s. However, most of that information will be chronicled in my other places so I'd like to discuss a few personal memories of the native of Nashville, Italy.

In 2004, ECW had closed a few years previously and XPW collapsed the year prior so Tracy, a gritty veteran with over 20 years of experience by that time had become a fixture on the independent circuit, working cards on a regular basis as he zigzagged from the east coast into the mid-west when he wasn't riling up crowds in Tennessee. In the years since, performers that were just aspiring hopefuls at the time have cited Tracy Smothers as one of the most insightful and helpful veterans on the indy scene. As mentioned, Smothers had done it all in his tenure after he broke into the industry in 1982. He worked the sideshow matches with the bear, he worked on pay-per-view, he cut fiery money promos, he could incite a crowd, or he could work an effective comedy match. Tracy was a wise sage of wrestling knowledge and taught those lessons to the future generations, which were ultimately some of the athletes that excel today.

The previously mentioned 2004 was when I had the chance to see Tracy live when he was booked for a Norm Connors' International Wrestling Cartel event in West Mifflin, PA. IWC, the successor to Connors' Steel City promotion from the late-90s, was a unique mixture of local talent and well-known indy competitors. At the time, IWC was generating a cult following and there was a time in the 2 or 3 years that followed that the organization might've had a chance to make a footprint outside of just the Pittsburgh area. Considering that DVDs and message board chatter were still the main way indy leagues picked up steam, for whatever reason, IWC didn't seem to get the hype of some of the other organizations. IWA Mid-South might've made headlines for setting someone on fire or glass slicing a wrestler's artery in front of 43 fans, but I'd say that the IWC product during that era was a better quality show. It wasn't uncommon for AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Chris Sabin, and CM Punk to appear on those Norm Connors shows.

This particular night, Southern Comfort, the tag team of Tracy and fellow ECW alumni, Chris Hamrick, were scheduled for their IWC debut against Jimmy Jacobs, still in his furry boots phase, and "Fabulous" John McChesney, an underrated wrestler in his own right. This show was just a few days before my 15th birthday and despite shoveling snow for a few dollars the previous week for admission to the show, my dad was nice enough to pay for a ticket as a birthday gift. I was so pumped to see AJ Styles, CM Punk, and the rest of the roster on the show. I knew Tracy from the FBI and knew he had wrestled for WCW and WWF before that, but didn't know what to expect from Southern Comfort as a tag team. I had only seen Hamrick briefly in ECW, mostly from the insane clips of matches he had with Kid Kash. Southern Comfort as a team was probably the only good concept that emerged from the abysmal failure of XPW.

As Tracy and Hamrick bounded through the curtain of the community college gym, the tightly-packed crowd erupted. The memories of Pittsburgh as an ECW stronghold was still fresh in most of the fans' mind. I started attending IWC events in 2003 so I knew Fabulous and Jacobs could go in the ring. A classic heel, Tracy got on the mic before the bell and attempted to insult the audience, but the crowd was so happy to see him, the jeered from the rasslin veteran generated more applause from ringsiders. In true Tracy fashion, he began dancing to the pattern of the cheers before he continued heelish gestures in the general direction of the crowd.

The actual match was great, and the opening exchange set the tone for not only that particular bout, but represented the buzz that the organization as a whole had at the time. McChesney and Hamrick exchanged a fast-paced series of technical maneuvers before it resulted in a stalemate, prompting another ovation from the audience.  If you watch the video of the match, you can see a young Jim clapping with enthusiasm from the wrestling display. The finish saw Hamrick hit Jacobs with a ridiculous second rope pile driver. When watching the match again on IWC TV on the local WBGN channel, I remember hearing a young Joe Dombrowski yell "Southern Bell Ringer!" just moments before the ref counted three, declaring Tracy and Hamrick the winners.

Ironically, I was on the mic with Joe for a different promotion on the same channel years later. Similar to the way that Tracy taught wrestlers, I learned a lot working with Dombrowski and wouldn't be the commentator I am today (however decent or terrible that might be) without his advice during the first few years I started doing commentary for local Pittsburgh shows.

The successful debut made Southern Comfort a regular act for Norm Connors and I had the chance to meet Tracy a few times over the next few years. I bought a picture to get signed from him at one of those shows and at the following event I brought along a few WCW trading cards to get autographed. When I asked him what it costs to get the cards signed he said, "oh, nothing, man, you brought 'em I can't charge for that." In December of 2004, The Midnight Express was on their reunion tour, working memorable matches as the original duo for the first time in years after Dennis Condry abruptly quit the business. My dad, being the good man that he is, again came through and took me to the show, despite the fact that he smoked more cigarettes outside than watched matches inside the venue. Southern Comfort wrestled The Original Midnight Express, and even though I was really excited to see the bout at the time, I'm even more thankful for the chance to see Eaton and Condry live as I reflect upon it being older now. After the show, as we were leaving, Tracy was selling merchandise at his table. He recognized me and while I didn't initially plan to stop since I didn't want to bother him if he was busy, when he saw me he said, "how you doin'?" I said, "I'm good, Tracy. That was a great match, you're the man" He smiled and said, "I'm a heel , though so don't tell nobody, man" We took a picture together and the genuine smile on his face showed that he took the time to say hello to me because he really appreciated the compliment.

That's one of the reasons that Tracy was so great because he was always such a down-to-earth individual. He also had one of my favorite matches of all time a few months later at a random Sunday afternoon IWC show in McKeesport, PA in 2005. Smothers challenged Shirley Doe, one of the most accomplished and respected veterans of the Pittsburgh area. Generally, fans assume that the IWC championship was a title to spotlight the local guys so when they defended against a national name, it was usually a safe bet that the local wrestlers would retain it. Doe, who I've been so thankful to be able to call matches for and more importantly, consider a friend during my time as a commentator, is cut from the old school cloth. Somehow, on a chilly February afternoon, Tracy and Doe put together a match that had moments where it looked like it was very possible that Smothers would capture the belt. All assumptions about the "local title" were questioned as fans were on the edge of their seats and reacted to each near fall during the course of the contest. The ability to create moments where the result of the match is in doubt is the mark of a true pro, and both Smothers and Doe made that title match stand out as much more than just a typical title defense.

Tracy Smothers' extensive career speaks for itself. He's a gem of the wrestling business and he undoubtedly deserved more credit than he received during the prime of his career. It's so sad that he passed too soon and suffered with cancer. But, I hope that his memory and matches continue to make people smile because he entertained so many fans throughout his nearly 40-year career.

The career of Dean Radford

 "Family is not an important thing, it's everything." -Micheal J. Fox

While Micheal J. Fox is known for his Hollywood roles of paling around with Doc Brown as Marty McFly, his message of family is something those from the big screen to the local scene can identify with. Similar to many genres of entertainment, professional wrestling has its share of family ties. Terry and Dory Jr. blazed a trail for decades, following the footsteps of Dory Sr., known in his heyday as the pioneer of the Texas Deathmatch. More recently, Brian Pillman Jr. and Dominik Mysterio also pursued the family business. Let's not forget the notable Samoan Dynasty that has numerous cousins, brothers, and uncles involved in the squared circle.

An example of family heritage on the Pittsburgh circuit is 19-year pro Dean Radford, a powerhouse of a grappler that was introduced to the concept of independent wrestling when his cousin, the late great, Ron "The Beast" Williams was scheduled for an appearance at the now-demolished Eastland Mall in North Versailles, located roughly 25 minutes outside of the city. Dean was in attendance for that card in the late-90s, and it was an experience that left a profound impression on him.

"Man, it was like a larger-than life-situation, I was watching the sport I loved and also my family put on a great show. The best part was later in my life, I got the privilege of forming a tag team with my cousin Ron and won the tag championships, it's a memory I’ll never forget," Dean explained.

Growing up a diehard "Hulkamaniac," Dean's exposure to live wrestling occurred early in life, as his brother took him to outdoor AWA shows when he was in kindergarten, and the sport was always a part of family activities. Throughout his youth, he stayed glued to the television, memorized by the over-the-top heroes he saw beamed through the screen. Once he made up his mind, he was set on making his way into the pro ranks, preparing in high school to eventually step into the squared circle. While Hogan and Macho Man posters plastered on his wall, he used the Mega Powers inspiration to begin a dedicated weight training regiment to prepare his body for the tedious process to learn how to become a pro wrestler.

"I did a lot of power lifting to bulk, tons of protein, and was in the gym twice a day, if I could. I made sure to get in the ring at least once a week, but if more was possible, I’d be there. The ring can work you out better than a gym for cardio," Radford remarked.

How Dean ended up in his first training sessions and who he learned from are stories that only the world of sports entertainment could produce for an aspiring hopeful.

As mentioned, he had family ties to the local scene and found himself at live cards as often as he could, particularly doing the surge in popularity of the 90s. Through his fandom, he met one of the godfathers of the Pittsburgh indy circuit, Norm Connors, who promoted Steel City Wrestling throughout the late-90s and then the International Wrestling Cartel for nearly a decade before he retired from the genre. Both promotions booked some featured stars of their time, including Cactus Jack, Dan Severn, Stevie Richards, and others, while the IWC later had AJ Styles, CM Punk, and Chris Sabin scheduled for events.

Despite getting to work as a staffer on Steel City events where many notable stars appeared, there wasn't exactly anything glamours about Dean's job as ring crew, security, and bringing a few hundred chairs into venues. However, it was something he remained enthusiastic about, simply because he wanted to be involved in the industry any way he could.

"Norm took a young kid and let him in the business. I helped set the ring up, chairs, entrance way, and sometimes security. Norm went out of his way to teach me the business and half the time he didn’t even know it, but that’s Norm, always helping someone. Norm is my wrestling dad and I owe him a great debt for allowing me into his shows and his life. I'm happy to call him my friend," Dean said.

Once he was in the loop of the western PA scene, he finally got the chance to begin his training in late-1999 with a few names well-known inside as well as outside of the steel city. T. Rantula, a giant wrestler that is regarded as a local legend and in his heyday appeared at various times for WWF, WCW, and ECW. Shane Douglas, who was still local to the area even though he worked on national TV at the time, stopped by the building to assist when he could and keep his own skills sharp. Finally, the eccentric Matt Borne, the performer that originally worked as Doink The Clown, lived in the area for a short time, working at the training school. Later on, Radford finished the course and polished his techniques under the guidance of Shirley Doe and Super Henti, a pair of some of the most respected figures in the area that each have nearly 25-year careers on their resume.

"At 18, training with T-Rantula for a year and had the great opportunity learning from Shane Douglas and Matt Borne while training with him. I really got my feet wet with IWC school learning under Shirley doe and Super Hentai. It was a great learning from all features in this business," Radford said.

By 2001, with a metal-inspired persona, Dean Radford rumbled his way to the ring for his rookie year in the sport that he idolized all of his life. Tattered shorts and a ruffled t-shirt accompanied his wrestling boots inside the ring ropes. But, when Dean was set to square off with an opponent, he wasn't alone, as nearly two dozen of his family members were often in attendance with pride to watch him perform in the sport they all followed. After nearly six years of a prime run in IWC, including when he defeated the future Corey Graves for a championship, business outside of pro wrestling took him away from the steel city.

"It was a great time, I had the honor of working lots of very talented men. I had a great run with Sterling James Keenan. It was nice that my family would always come to the shows and having like 20 people there, they would rally and the other fans followed, it was nice," Radford said.

Dean cites hugging his family in the front row after the initial championship win as one of the highlights of his nearly two decade career. However, it was his other career, as an organizer for the Red Bull beverage company that took him almost as far away from his hometown as possible when he was offered a position in Arizona. Still in the physical prime of his career, Radford looked to pursue an entirely new chapter of his story as the cactus plants that he saw there were a total switch from the snow usually associated with Western PA.

"While out there, I drove to meet a guy who I would learn is the measuring stick in Arizona wrestling and his name is Navajo Warrior. I met with him, and I came in thinking I was somebody,but he instantly made me realize that I was going to earn my spot. Best thing about being out there was really learning how to tell a story and learn to work a show like it was live tv. The way nav ran things was you run your match like the tv is live. I learned from so many down there and made some great friends," Dean remarked.

By 2009, his caffeine project was completed and his full-time job gave him the chance to relocate back to his hometown, something he looked forward to, as it allowed him to spend more time with his family again. Returning to Pittsburgh, he saw things come full-circle, as he stepped back into the ring to team with his cousin Ron for the promotion that he first saw at the mall years earlier, the now-defunct Pro Wrestling Express league.

"I got to team with Ron and also work guys I never had the chance to before. Brandon K and I took over the school after being there a few years and had some really great students come thru, one specifically, Lee Moriarty, who is on his way to being a star. I enjoy training because it helps me stay within the business without beating my body up and pass on the right ways to do business," Dean said.

Throughout his nearly 20 years in the ring, Dean suffered his share of injuries and required a few surgeries along the way, but he wouldn't trade the experiences he had. Regardless of such and extensive and accomplished career, it was only in more recent times that he had the most thrilling experiences as a wrestler. Just like the family tradition, Dean's three young kids got a chance to see their dad compete in the ring.

"It’s an amazing experience seeing their faces and truly feeling like Super man,it's just amazing," Radford said enthusiastically.

Currently, Dean Radford is one of the primary organizers for Fight Underground, the newest organization of the Pittsburgh region. With live events restricted during the pandemic, the Underground brings round table discussions and broadcasts of closed set matches to continue the fan interaction during the restrictions of the pandemic. Radford is excited to continue to work with the young talent that he sees as potentially the future of the industry in the area. Regardless of the uncertainty with the pandemic, one thing is for sure, when Dean Radford is back in the ring, as fans cheer him one, his family will be the proudest members of the audience.

HIAC review

 Most of the HIAC pay-per-view this past weekend was a card built on recycled concepts. By nature, the gimmick show dilutes the stipulation because the calendar, not the feuds determined that certain matches were booked for the cell. With the exception of the main event, the key matches weren't really anything more than what we've already seen. As talented as Sasha and Bayley are, they've had such an extensive and often inconsistent history of matches that at this point, it's more of a "been there, done that" atmosphere to it. The booking of this feud, both prior to the start of the pandemic, as well as during it, wasn't set up in the most efficient way possible. This didn't really have the heat of a long term feud that culminated in a HIAC match, but rather was just another Sasha/Bayley match that just happened to be a gimmick contest. I'm not sure if its a lack of depth in the division of just how poorly Bayley's original baby face run was on Raw a few years ago, but it goes without say that both of these athletes have the talent to be much bigger stars than they are right now.

In a similar fashion, the Roman Reigns/Jey Uso bout was more or less a carbon copy of the exact same narrative from their PPV match last month with the addition of the cell to attempt to differentiate it. You can add gimmicks, but if the narrative is the same, where's the progress of the angle? If a viewer didn't watch the show, did they really miss any key points of the angle? I'd suggest that Roman's more physical beat down of Uso in their prior match was more effective than the presentation of the HIAC match. Afa and Sika being there was a neat addition, but if Roman just viciously beat members of the family, why exactly would they congratulate him? Obviously, The Wild Samoans aren't going to be cast as heel because their legendary status makes them baby face by proxy so while I get what they were going for with this segment, it might've worked better if it was done before the match instead of after it. With the Usos being forced to align themselves with Reigns, the silver lining might be the eventual emergence of a heel Samoan stable, which could be money, especially after crowds can return to events. Still, it looks like the HIAC finish is a way to plant the seeds for a Roman/Rock match at Wrestlemania, which might be the biggest match the company could book during the current era.

A side note, Bobby Lashley beat Slap Jack in a squash match, and despite its reveal only a month or so ago, the Retribution stable is more or less worthless, making the entire build up and more importantly, the TV time invested into it worthless. This group was pushed as if it was going to challenge they entire company, but in the span of weeks, they get beat down by Bray Wyatt and then Slap Jack is booked like Steve Lombardi against Lashley so how exactly is the faction a threat? If I had to guess, I'd say that the angle was started without a clear plan or destination for where it was going, lending validity to online reports that Raw is often rewritten just hours before the show goes on the air. Management might've realized how goofy the masks and the gimmick are portrayed on TV and decided to phase it away from the spotlight on Raw. The biggest problem is, the athletes that are involved in the stable will have the "stain" of the failure on them. Yes, I understand that they wear masks and were given different names, but the addition of social media in recent years makes it very easy for even the most casual fan to find the information about who was booked for the faction. Also, when the Nexus angle tanked, a few of those competitors had to exit the company to try to get a fresh start in their careers. Plus, some of the former members of the Spirit Squad are probably still in the witness protection program.

The "progress" of the show was made with Randy Otron's victory to capture the WWE championship. The match itself was fine, but nothing too spectacular. Granted, it's possible there's a major payoff down the road, but I don't see how Orton winning the championship is beneficial to anyone. I know Drew McIntyre won the Rumble before the pandemic and the shutdown occurred after his bout with Brock Lesnar for the championship was already promoted so they had to go through with the title change, even though the empty building didn't provide a WM moment for him. That being said, without an audience, there wasn't a way to truly gauge how over Drew would've been as WWE champion. Furthermore, the most important aspect of this, is Drew McIntyre a bigger star after six months as champion during the pandemic than he was previously? It's disappointing to say this because he didn't get a fair shake with the global pandemic, but I think the answer is no. Again, most of it was because of the lack of a crowd, but the point being, Drew had six months with the title and didn't get a chance to elevate his stock. This isn't meant as a jab, but would Drew move the numbers on a drastic level when fans return?

This is just my two cents on the matter, but I think management made a key mistake with this title switch because if things are so limited in terms of TV presentation without a live audience, why not keep the title on Drew and at least get the long term title reign to tout as one of his accomplishments? Don't get me wrong, Randy Orton is an established star, but Orton is already as over as he's going to be for his career. For a company that has relied on part-time stars to bring sizzle and hype to the product for the past several years, is Orton the answer to build for the future? I just don't see how Orton brings anything new or useful to the product with another title reign. That's not meant as a criticism, but rather to point out that his status is solid and he doesn't need the title at this point in his career. Unfortunately, Orton's overall presentation is also somewhat recycled because he has the same look, music, and move set that he had over a decade ago. There's also the matter that as great as he is, Orton clearly has matches where he mails in the performance and other contests when he takes it to the next gear. How many truly memorable matches has he had during his career?

Since the environment around the product is so flat during the pandemic era, Drew didn't get a chance to truly been seen in a different light in terms of being promoted as a main event star. I can't emphasize this enough, I'm not saying that Drew can't be a top guy, but he certainly wasn't perceived as main event star during his run as champion. I'm not sure he had the chance to connect with the audience enough for there to be a demand for him to get a rematch either. The bottom line is, the title switch didn't need to happen and Orton as champion doesn't exactly progress the company. As far as future stars, the last legitimate money-drawing star the company made is still John Cena and he has been a part-timer for the past several years.

Will Rousey return to WWE?

Similar to many around the world, the WWE is still unsteady from the effect COVID had on its business model. The sold out stadium in Tampa that was going to be jam packed with nearly 80,000 fans for this year's Wrestlemania was replaced with the empty WWE Performance Center.

Despite the attempt, I still say that Wrestlemania 36 will ultimately be remembered as the Wrestlemania that wasn't.

As much as people pushed for Vince to delay the event to the summer, we saw that even a rescheduled show wouldn't have solved the problem as we are now toward the fall and COVID numbers continue to surge in many areas of the country. The biggest hurdle is if the virus is substantial in just a few areas of the world, it's still a major problem for the company because of how many international travelers attend the show. Keep in mind, even with the closed set of the performance center and then the thunder dome, there were still two outbreaks in the company during the pandemic.

As depressing as it is to consider, is it possible that the corona virus will impact Wrestlemania 37?

I sincerely hope not and the entire pandemic is mentally exhausting. However, it's at least possible that COVID could still exist around Wrestlemania season next year. In fact, tickets for the spectacular usually go on-sale in November, roughly six months before the show, but with such a level of uncertainty around the status of the virus, it's very doubtful we will see tickets advertised next month. Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has worked for half a dozen administrations over the course of nearly 40 years. As much political divide as there is currently in the country, especially just a few weeks away from the presidential election, I would say that Fauci's medical opinion is based on the information he studied, not some type of political biased. Just a few days ago, Fauci mentioned in an interview that if a vaccine is finished by the end of the year, distribution to the general public might start around April of 2021. If that scenario happens, it's very possible there are still crowd restrictions for Wrestlemania 37, simply because it's not realistically possible to get the entire country vaccinated within a month.

While the Thunder dome concept made for a much better atmosphere for television, it would be very disappointing if there was a virtual crowd for WM. So much of the environment is based on the crowd response and the visual of a full stadium is what gives the event a lot of the spectacle associated with it. Again, the international aspect of the travel involved in the show makes the situation exponentially more difficult, especially because it's unknown where the COVID numbers will be next month, much less six months from now. I have to say, I honestly thought that the pandemic would've been over in a few months after it started and I could've never guessed it would still have an impact in October when Wrestlemania was cancelled in April.

That being said, I don't want anyone to get sick and still think that everyone should follow every precaution. This isn't meant as a political statement, I don't care who anyone votes for, but it would be nice if people could be more respectful of the health of others. So, what will WM 37 mean for the WWE?

A recent online report ramped up the rumor mill that Vince McMahon wants to book Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch for the event, as a rematch for the main event of WM 35 from last year. Becky, who is scheduled to give birth in December, would have four months to get ready for the bout. Ronda, who has been less than thrilled with the wrestling fan base since her WWE exit, made news recently when she posted a picture on social media of her training in the ring with James Storm, implying that an in-ring return could be possible.

I don't know if four months is realistically enough time for Becky to get ready for such a major match, especially to shake off over a year of ring rust. Obviously, if the match happens, both athletes want to get the best performance possible from it. Another aspect to consider is, will there still be a fan demand for Ronda Rousey? As popular as she was during her peak of dominance in the UFC, some of the shine wore off of her star power after the way she handled defeats in the octagon, as well as the fan hostility in the WWE. In short, when things didn't go Ronda's way, she took her gloves and went home. How marketable she is to the sports entertainment genre, and more importantly, the general public remains to be seen, but in some ways, there's almost a "been there, done that" atmosphere around Ronda's involvement in the WWE.

The casual fans have already seen her in the squared circle and a retread of a feud from almost two years prior by the time they would get in the ring might not be the automatic draw that McMahon thinks it would be at WM 37. Basically, what new dynamic would there be for Ronda to return to the company? The whole "MMA fighter joins WWE" narrative has been done a few times already with her, Cain, and Brock so there would have to be more substance to a Rousey return.

The bigger match that I think could be used as more of a defining moment within the current era is a potential Roman Reigns vs. The Rock bout, something that both competitors have mentioned in recent interviews. As I've said, Roman is doing the best work of his career as a heel, and the only downside is, it took WWE brass four years to figure out that was the right move. The example I've used many times is that if Rocky Maivia didn't turn heel, he would've have evolved into one of the biggest stars in the history of the business as The Rock. It goes without saying that with the family ties, the story writes itself and the basis of that provides the potential for some very compelling television. The heel Roman proclaims himself the "tribal chief" and The Rock returns to defend the family honor. It's a big money match that the casual fan will tune in for and it can be used to truly propel Roman Reigns to the next level.

Granted, all of this is moot if COVID has an impact on either the WM 37 location or attendance. If management has The Rock and Rousey on the same card, along with the brand name of Wrestlemania then they have another sold out stadium show, but it wouldn't make sense to generate a fraction of the gate money if there are COVID restrictions so it's doubtful The Rock would be signed for anything else than a full scale event. The bigger picture is that the WWE must try to make some legitimate money-drawing stars because there will be a time that they won't be able to depend on The Rock, Lesnar, or Rousey to sell stadium shows. John Cena is still the last money-drawing star the company had, and the company seems to try to look for nostalgia acts to bring a buzz to the product. Goldberg's return in 2016 was great, but as with most older stars, it yields diminishing returns. Sure, there were hints on Smackdown of a potential Roman vs. Goldberg match, but if there really a demand for more Goldberg right now?

As for Ronda, I'd say there's a 50/50 chance the potential rematch with Becky happens at WM 37, particularly because it would depend on if Lynch has enough time to prepare for it. I'd say it's even more of a toss up that Rousey would generate buzz again, but that remains to be seen. As mentioned previously, the biggest unknown of the entire situation is not only, how does WWE rejuvenate the project after the slump of the pandemic era, but it will very interesting to see if it affects WM 37 next year.

AEW Dynamite

 All Elite Wrestling celebrated its first full year on TNT for its Dynamite show this past week, and the show itself did reflect much of the first year of the company as a whole, specifically because it highlighted some of the hits and misses of the upstart league.

The opening tag match of FTR vs. Best Friends is a bout that on paper should be a tag team classic, especially off the heels of the star-making performance Trent and Chuck had with the brutal parking lot brawl with Santana and Ortiz. Plus, Trent and even Chuck to some extent are underrated in terms of their in-ring ability because of how much comedy is a part of their gimmick. Obviously, FTR's ability to work as solid a match as you're going to see in 2020 goes without saying, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better tag team in the world tag than Cash and Dax. The brawling outside of the ring and the goofy video game spot with Kip Sabin just wasn't needed and do more to hinder than help this bout.

 The same way that early episodes of Dynamite had the same formula of high spot tag matches that didn't have much structure, this tag title match was overbooked as well.

Later in the show, a drawing was held to determine what teams will compete for the number one contender spot for FTR's titles, and it appears that the Young Bucks/FTR bout is finally on the horizon. Similar to the division itself, I really think the path to get to this feud was unnecessarily complicated. Sometimes the simplest form of the narrative is the best version, and in this case, the story writes itself. They didn't have to tease tension between the two teams, the rivalry between The Bucks and FTR, as well as their contrasting styles, was started a few years ago on social media. The AEW fan base is well aware of it so it would've made more sense to use that history, as opposed to trying to shoehorn another angle to get to the same match.

In my opinion, FTR's debut should've included them storming the ring and attacking The Young Bucks because it would've emphasized the history between them on social media. The stare down that didn't lead to a confrontation and even teaming together probably did more to take steam away from the angle than enhance it. Another aspect that I find puzzling is that The Young Bucks are presented like heels with the super kicks on announcers and staff, but yet, FTR are already established heels so who are the fans supposed to support in this rivalry? Booking something outside of the box just for the sake of doing it doesn't automatically lead to a better storyline because the past few weeks of television have just muddied the waters instead of adding a sizzle to what will undoubtedly be a tremendous tag team match.

Bottom line, AEW was founded partially based on the popularity of the Young Bucks, and the fans know they have executive roles within the company so casting the Bucks are the representatives of All Elite, while FTR are the "anti-AEW" wrestlers is probably the best way to sell this bout. Don't get me wrong, the skills of both teams are incredible, but it seems like management is making this angle more complicated to seem more "cutting edge" than the competition.

I hope the Miro/Kip pairing in temporary because this is yet another example of how some of these storylines can get diluted. Kip is playing video games, and Miro has the potential to be a monster heel for the company, how long until these goofy segments with Sabian erodes the mystic from Miro?

In a similar fashion, I think Orange Cassidy has to tone down some of the shtick once the bell rings. I understand that his character is what got him over big with the AEW audience so it makes sense to use that for the entrance and promos, but the soft chops and kicks during a TNT title match with Cody just seems out of place, especially when the actually in-ring content was superb. Don't get me wrong, Cassidy has all the tools needed to be a major star for the organization, but utilizing them at the right place at the right time is key. Let him do all the gimmick stuff in the interviews and segments, but putting the comedy spots into a title match just takes away from the momentum of the contest.

A quick side note about the Women's division, the recent additions to it within the past few months have really helped add depth. Hikura Shida has done a great job as champion and always delivers a solid bout. Brit Baker, who recently returned from injury, has a lot of potential to be a long term money-drawing heel for the promotion, if she can avoid more time on the sidelines. Granted, there were fluke incidents that saw her injure her knee, sustain a broken nose, and suffer a concussion. At the same time, even though really well done promos were used to keep her on television and put over her heel persona, she might have to be careful not to get labeled as injury prone because that might be the only thing that could derail her path to being a notable star for the company in the future.

The Chris Jericho/MJF segment was great stuff and it could be an indication to where they are going with this angle. Considering how popular Jericho continues to be, even as a heel, I think it's very possible we see the Inner Circle turn on him, and MJF emerges at the new leader of the stable. The justification for it could be that since Jericho lost the AEW championship, he hasn't been able to deliver on taking his stablemates to the promise land. It gives The Inner Circle a fresh coat of paint after more than a year in existence to extend its run as a faction, it elevates the status of MJF, and it allows Jericho for a major baby face run in AEW. Sammy, Santana, and Ortiz have all become more well known during their time as a part of The Inner Circle so their association with Jericho has been effective.

The AEW world title match was exactly what a main event bout should be and it brought a big fight atmosphere to TNT. I still think Lance Archer has main event potential at some point, but given his age, you have to wonder if the pieces of the puzzle will fit to see him win a major championship in AEW. Jon Moxley has his critics, but the guy is money and performs quality matches any time he's in the ring so he continues to be a solid choice as champion. The bigger question is, after two former WWE competitors as champion, who will be the first homegrown star to win the AEW title?

On a national level, there's more to it than just the in-ring skills, and there must be a certain level of star power for an athlete to be effective as the top guy in AEW. Thankfully, the company has several already on its roster that have the potential to work very well in the role. Adam Page, Kenny Omega,MJF, Pentagon, and others are all talented enough to be the world champion of a major company. As far as the sum total of not only AEW's anniversary edition of Dynamite, but the first year of the company as a whole, it might sound like a generic answer, but it had it's ups and downs. To expect the product to be perfect would be unreasonable, while overlooking the flaws wouldn't be an accurate assessment either. 

By nature, All Elite Wrestling will draw comparisons to WCW based on its level as another national group, as well as its association with TNT, the channel that broadcasted Nitro during the famous Monday Night Wars. Too often, fans look back at this era with a nostalgic lens and assume that everything they watched on Monday Nights during the boom period was great stuff. Keep in mind, the same year The Outsiders invaded to turn the entire industry upside down, Disc Inferno was still dancing on the same show. When the Steve Austin was pummeling Vince McMahon to a record-setting audience, Shawn Stasiak got a push. 

So, AEW isn't perfect, but its existence has made the wrestling business exponentially better, and from a business perspective, they are successful because the extension of the TNT deal made it a profitable venture. The critics can argue about philosophy, but profitability is ultimately the most important aspect of the industry.