GCW returns to Hammerstein Ballroom

Earlier this week, well-known independent organization, Game Changer Wrestling announced that the company plans to return to The Hammerstein Ballroom, the famous venue that ECW ran in its latter years and a building that also hosted Ring Of Honor events during the Sinclair era, on January 19, 2025. The rabid atmosphere of the venue gave it a place among pro wrestling lore, and as the saying goes, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. It was also the site of the legendary One Night Stand pay-per-view in 2005 that exposed an entirely different audience to how organic the environment can be for a pro wrestling event.

Given the level of regard that the Hammerstein Ballroom has, both for its ROH and ECW history, a successful event there could definitely move the perception of an organization up a notch among the landscape of sports entertainment. On the surface, it makes sense as to why an organization would want to plant a flag there, especially if they looked to attempt to solidify themselves as the alternative to pro wrestling television in the modern era.

In many ways, within the past several years since GCW has been on the scene, they've been able to build themselves into that spot, knowing their position and there audience with an ambitious level of expansion, but still wise enough to avoid some of the pitfalls of trying to grow too fast. First and foremost, as much as Matt Cardona used GCW to completely reinvent himself and rejuvenate his career, his involvement in a death match group really allowed the independent league to stand out from the pack of indies. Zack Ryder, the prototypical WWE guy was going to wrestle a light tube match against Nick Gage, a former ex-con that almost accidentally stabbed David Arquette?

To go along with the intrigue of what was going to happen when someone that had nothing to do with a death match style got in the ring with one of the most notorious death match wrestlers of the past two decades, GCW served a buffet of pro wrestling with lucha libre, physical striking, and of course the signature grittiness expected on the independent level. Plus, say what you want about Gage, the guy is over with the GCW audience. Thankfully, he seems to have been able to clean his life up and has found a level of peace. The combination of the styles showcased and the intriguing storytelling around the GCW championship made it a fun product to follow. I'm not sure of the backstage drama that led to Rickey Shane Page's exit from the organization, but his feud with Gage was very well done in terms of how it built to a crescendo for an eventual Gage victory. Furthermore, the ability to use Jon Moxley as the GCW champion at the same time that he was the All Elite Wrestling world champion was another fun aspect. Of course, Cardona's involvement in the title picture was entertaining stuff because it was such a counterpoint to what's expected from the brand.

Speaking of the brand, as much as some of the production even today is very indy and somewhat sloppy, one of the biggest successes for Game Changer Wrestling is that they've been able to establish the brand itself as a draw. The group runs events across the country most weekends and usually draws at least a decent audience, which speaks  volumes to how important streaming is for continued visibility to the product, as well as the analytics that can show what regions are a specific draw for the product and thus can sustain live events. I'd say that during its peak as an independent, Ring Of Honor had more value as a brand, but lacked the same level of brand awareness because the distribution channels simply weren't a realistic option in the early-2000s.

It can't be understated how valuable it is to be able to deliver an event live as it happens, as opposed to trying to sell DVDs of the show after the results are known, it's just not the same viewing experience. Again, it made sense for GCW to venture to Hammerstein, especially if they saw themselves as trying to reach that semi-national spot that ECW had in the late-90s.

However, their Hammerstein event in January of 2022 was a line in the sand, and in my ways, provided an example as to why the group wasn't ready for the next level. To parse details on a show from two and a half years ago would be moot, but even the organization recognized the mixed reviews in its promo material for their return in 2025. For whatever reason, their Hammerstein event was offered on traditional pay-per-view through cable providers to go along with the standard internet distribution, which might seem like a way to provide more access to the PPV, but there was literally no advertisements or commercials that let viewers know that the show could be purchased through their cable providers so it was essential a zero gain, while it put the strict time constraints on the broadcast since it was being shown on the traditional PPV time slot at the same time as its usual online platforms. One of the first matches, a lucha scramble ran long, and at one point, a go home cue was sent over the house mic. As a result of one of the matches running long at the start of the show, the card became a logjam and resulted in a very underwhelming five-minute main event because they had simply run out of time on pay-per-view. Outside of that, it's well-known that the New York State Athletic Commission is one of the strictest in the country so many of the wilder aspects that the organization was known for were off the table. Finally, the booking of the event was almost a downer because many of the GCW mainstays lost and looked secondary to outside talent. Jeff Jarrett supposedly got the finish of his match with Effy changed with the pitch that he wins at Hammerstein to build up for a rematch where Jarrett returns the favor to put Effy over. Apparently, the savvy veteran did the Tennessee two-step to AEW before the rematch could be booked so he didn't have to lose to Effy.

The first question I have is, does GCW actually have to return to Hammerstein? Is it truly going to make a difference in their standing in 2025? Honestly, I don't think it's a critical piece of the puzzle, as GCW has found itself a profitable niche and could probably stay in that profitable, albeit small niche for several years. At the same time, it might be an attempt to spark a fresh chapter for the organization, which would make sense given the almost natural decline it had in terms of hype after being the most talked about independent for a few years. Still, I'm not sure what the overall goal is for GCW, as some of their small shows are still very indy, which is fine because that's part of the package, but at the same time, even with a successful Hammerstein show, the product isn't made for TV, with that being part of the charm so where exactly would there be in terms of expansion? I don't have the answers, but as much as GCW has provided a "bridge" so to speak for released talent to showcase themselves between organizations the way that Extreme Championship Wrestling did, it's a very difficult balancing act since attempting to expand too fast can be disastrous, which was one of the many the lessons of ECW.

Most importantly, GCW can't make the same mistakes again, not with the production or the booking. It should go without saying that ultimately what set Game Changer Wrestling a part a few years ago from the typical smash and slash indy was the storytelling involved in the product. You can only break some many tables, light tubes, and chairs before it becomes cannon fodder. The story behind the violence is still key to success, especially if the group looks to boost its profile.

It was a very wise strategy for GCW to acknowledge the previous blunder because the audience and thus the consumers of the product can appreciate honesty rather than an attempt to con them. Sure, that sounds counterproductive to the work of the industry, but it provides a level of goodwill with the fans, which makes it much easier to get the fans to invest in tickets and event orders online.

Again, I'm not sure if Hammerstein is really a necessity or if even a successful event is the key to a bigger piece of the pie for them in the current crowded pro wrestling market, but with the modern technology of streaming and the distribution channels available, GCW has at least a solid chance of continued success within its niche demographic. It will be interesting to see the eventual line-up for the event and if the Hammerstein show will be a part of an expansion for the company next year. 

The politcs of pro wrestling

Politics are more of a work than pro wrestling, and they are more profitable, too.

It goes without saying that when there is a puppet master, or booker to pull the strings in sports entertainment, very similar to any other aspect of life, nepotism and politics will play a role. The American political landscape over the past several years has resembled a Royal Rumble or a dumpster fire at various points, depending on your perspective. Five or six years ago, Lavie Margolin sent me a copy of his book, "Trumpamania" to review for this column. It was a nonpartisan look at the WWE Celebrity Wing Hall of Famer's history with Vince McMahon and how the narrative of pro wrestling was weaved into much of his political jargon. The book is a solid pick up for those that don't know the details behind the early dealings Vince had with Trump, and more specifically how the WWE was rewarded for its loyalty to him when Linda McMahon was granted a seat in his cabinet. Those pages had nothing ground-break, but again, worth the read for those that don't know how the association began in the 80s. 

It goes without saying that there are similarities between professional wrestling and American politics, because they are essentially based on the same thing, the ability to use human psychology to elicit an emotion with the goal to draw money. Within their respective narratives, sports entertainment casts a hero and a villain, and if the heel triumphs, what does that mean for the fate of the wrestling championship? In the very same way, politicians, especially the vast majority that are masters of the double talk, will paint their opponents in the most vile light possible, if the other side wins, the fate of the country is doomed. Pro wrestling fans must flock to the box office to support their hero to victory so that the foreign menace doesn't take the title away from the baby face, and supporters of a political party must donate to ensure the stability of the country. Isn't it ironic that the end game in both scenarios is how much money is brought in?

Even more ironic is that political campaigns take in hundreds of millions of dollars and somehow after election season is over, there's never a surplus of cash or a refund offered to those that donated for money that wasn't used after all the campaign costs were tabulated. There's never enough cash for what they need to run a campaign, but we're going to vote for one of these parties to run the country?

I follow politics, not because I have a vested interest in the outcome, but rather because I enjoy history and it's always interesting to see how key decisions impact the direction of the country or society as a whole. When it comes to the current political landscape, I use the late, legendary George Carlin theory, "when you're born, you get a ticket to the sideshow, but when you're born in American, you get a front row seat." Perhaps, it's because I've followed pro wrestling for as long as I can remember or that I've worked in the business on the local level in Pittsburgh as an announcer almost half my life, but I'm too skeptical to get emotionally invested in the ham-handed tactics used in American politics today. I've never bought a yard sign, a bumper sticker, a silly hat, or a t-shirt for a politician.

Still, the narrative of left vs. right and "the nation is at stake" has more or less consumed every facet of American life, especially within the past few years. If anyone wanted to save the tress, I'm sure a few rain forest were sacrificed for the amount of junk mail I've seen on an almost daily basis to promote a candidate. Because an extremely obtuse flyer in the mail is truly going to sway someone's vote, right?

With the shared traits that both genres have, it's not totally shocking that there was some crossover, but I have to say, I'm still  a little surprised how much pro wrestling is tipping its toe in the political waters. The simple reason is this, it's not good business to potentially sour half the audience, especially based on outside factors. When TKO management are calculating those big box office receipts for the latest pay-per-view, they don't care how many conservatives or how many liberals bought tickets, it's just about the cash. Sure, it's well-known that the WWE as a corporate commodity leans right, mostly because of Vince's well-known friendship with Trump, and Linda McMahon's two failed runs for Senate on the Republican ticket. However, the company hasn't publicly endorsed a political or let too much of it influence the on-screen product. Fans could still follow the WWE without a blatant dose of political drek.

As mentioned, the gap between the two is closing, as more of the pro wrestling industry sees an influx of political cannon fodder. Of course, we saw Hulk Hogan parade around on stage at the Republican National Convention like a clown and tear his shirt off at the age of 71, while proclaiming Trump to be his "hero." Stuff like that just makes me shake my head, not because of the political party associated, but because similar to many other aspects of the political landscape, it's low brow and embarrassing. However, make no mistake about it, Hogan was smart enough to see how lucrative the political game can be, and aligning himself with Trump just happened to coincide with the release of his "Real American Beer" so I think this is less of Hulk jumping into the political discourse and more of him being a shameless self promoter, which should surprise nobody.

It's almost as if just being involved in the political game can make someone millions of dollars, isn't it?

Alex Isenstadt of Politco reported that Donald Trump will be a guest on The Undertaker's podcast this week, which was another somewhat surprising tidbit, as The Undertaker is still very much involved with the WWE in an ambassador role with meet and greets for those expensive priority packages to major pay-per-views, and his one man show that often takes place in cities that hosts those major WWE events. It makes you wonder if or when there would be a tipping point where political leanings impact the audience's decision to support certain projects?

In truth, Trump does pro wrestling for politics, he embraces the role of a heel,and we all know that some fans loved to cheer the bad guys even in the kayfabe era. Sure, Trump uses scare tactics and rambles worse than The Ultimate Warrior in a promo after a night on the town in the 80s, but the guy works the crowd just like a sports entertainer. How often has it been said that perception is reality in pro wrestling? That's how you make a character believable and thus connect with the audience. It's no coincidence that Trump's rallies resemble pro wrestling crowds, he works them on the mic and allows them to response for the interaction to create the perception that he wants for his campaign. Trump gets on the mic and creates "bad guys" for his supports to rally against, and in many ways, as irresponsible as it might be, it works for his base. On the other side of the coin, his politician opponents can portray him as the big bag wolf, and a person will accept the version that that want to believe is true.

Kayfabe isn't gone yet.

Similar to anything else, I think the vast majority of this riffraff will fade from the pro wrestling landscape after the election is over, but it's fascinating to see the parallels between the two topics. The Rock spoke out against Trump during the insurrection attempt on January 6th, but that didn't stop Wrestlemania 40 for being one of the most lucrative events in WWE history when he was in the main event. Dave Bautista recently lambasted Trump during a talk show appearence, but his films are still going to do well at the box office. Trump's appearence on The Undertaker's podcast is probably nothing more than an attempt to secure a few more votes from the insecure "bro" demographic that associate machismo with loud engines and verbal drek that they couldn't possibly back up. Harley Race never had to tell anyone how tough he was.

It should be noted, and this goes for any political candidate that just because The Undertaker has Trump on his podcast, that doesn't mean that the real-life Mark Calaway with the absolute worst of the GOP stereotypes. It's important to note that he has a BSK tattoo as a sign of friendship with The Godfather, Yokozuna, and Savio Vega so it would be unfair to assuming the worst just based on Trump as a guest of his podcast.

Finally, too often the current political discourse resembles a softball team, everyone wants to pick a side, and someone with absolutely no knowledge or experience on the subject matter thinks that access to a Facebook page makes them qualified to offer an opinion. Make no mistake about it, one of the gifts that America offers is the right to express an opinion, but at the same time, that doesn't automatically mean that every opinion has value. Some yo-yo wearing a tin foil hat in North Dakota might think that the New World Order wasn't just a faction in the 90s, and will post that view publicly without any reasoning behind it. Unfortunately, I'm not going to win anyone over with my thoughts the dumpster fire of election season. No, the Mexicans aren't automatically bad people. No, the wall isn't going to get built even in the next four years. No, groceries shouldn't be this expensive and it continues to be ridiculous that nothing was done about it, Yes, people should be able to live their own lives privately and make their own decisions. Yes, Jeff Bezo should pay his fair share of taxes. Yes, the majority of the politicians are shady.

What's the status of Kevin Owens?

The WWE secured a lot of its core talent with new deals this year, as we've seen several performers across different companies test the free agent market, which is a very wise move, as it can allow them to maximize their value. Make no mistake about it, making the most money possible is the entire point of the pro wrestling business, and if the circumstances of the industry create an opportunity for a talent to up their asking prices then good for them. I'll never knock a talent for taking the money on the table, even if the promoter might've been foolish enough to overpay what their value is on the market. That's a management problem,  not a talent problem.

Most recently, Daniel Garcia cut a promo on Dynamite that claimed that he was re-signed with All Elite Wrestling, presumably for a long-term deal that he keeps him under the AEW banner for a solid portion of his prime years. The rumor mill online suggested that there was interest from the WWE, although a number wasn't revealed. However, it was mentioned in reports that Tony Khan offered Garcia a significantly higher amount to stay with his company. Some reports also said that Khan actually overpaid well above Garcia's perceived value. The same was said about Swerve Strickland when he signed a new deal with the organization a few months ago.

The idea that Swerve would leave a featured spot in All Elite Wrestling for a return to the WWE, a much bigger pond that is well stocked with talent at the moment, wasn't realistic. Still, Tony probably didn't want another former AEW talent to surface on WWE television, giving the impression that the talent see a brighter future outside of All Elite so he offered Swerve a hefty amount of cash to remain where he was probably going to stay anyway. On the other hand, Daniel Garcia was seen as a prospect with talent, but wasn't truly given the chance to run with it so it's more realistic to expect that he might consider an exit if he saw the opportunity to breakout beyond just the role of a good utility worker. If he would've been more than that in WWE or NXT is a different discussion for a different time. Similar to Swerve, Tony probably didn't want the optics of Garcia choosing to leave the company, based on the success that WWE has right now, while AEW numbers continue to slip on any  given week.

However, this is the true difference when it comes to WWE and AEW in the most basic terms, WWE is a money machine, they will sign talent as an investment and then expect a return on that investment through ticket sales, merchandise etc. It's not a perfect science, but the amount of money that is going to be offered to a talent is usually based on their ability to generate a return on the investment of the contract. It doesn't matter if the TKO corporation is a media juggernaut worth billions of dollars with billions of dollars in revenue streams. the bottom line is, TKO, as in both the WWE and UFC, got in the position as a dominate conglomerate in the entertainment business because they typical maximized their return on investment.

As we've seen in the past few years, money is no object for Tony Khan, and taking into account that All Elite Wrestling is funded by a fraction of his family's billionaire fortune, revenue and profit aren't the top priority. The bottom line is, Tony doesn't need AEW to make money to have financial security,  and given the massive amount of wealth that his family's current commodities generated outside of the pro wrestling industry just last year, his family can continue to fund the wrestling project indefinitely so ultimately, Tony doesn't truly have to take a return on investment or the bottom line on the page into account for the decisions he makes as the promoter.

Fandom, not business sense, dictates the decisions of All Elite Wrestling.

As the typical disclaimer, yes, Tony is almost unanimously praised as a genuinely nice guy that cares about his roster, but that alone doesn't make him qualified to be a successful sports entertainment promoter, especially on a national level. Just for the sake of discussion, let's assume that he overpaid the perceived value of Swerve and Daniel Garcia. The other side of the equation is this simple, how does Tony plan to book Strickland and Garcia in ways that will draw more money for the company than they are paid for each contract? If he can achieve that then he will receive a return on the investment and thus it will be a successful business transaction.

That being said, is Daniel Garcia truly in the position to be a top draw for the company? You can make the argument that Swerve might be a realistic choice because he was already in the main event scene with fan support, but until Tony can book Garcia as a way that will generate numbers, you have to question if it was a wise decision to pay him the rumored amount to sign a new deal?

I mention this because WWE star, Kevin Owens will reportedly see his contract expire soon, and depending on what you read, his status is either unclear or his close to inking a new agreement with WWE. I will preface this by saying that the WWE could offer enough money to anyone that they truly wanted to keep on their roster, that's one of the many perks of being a part of a massive merger with the UFC. At the same time, as mentioned earlier, there are very few that the WWE would do that for because return on investment is always the key. As a hypothetical, they would be more than willing to let Tony Khan double Randy Orton's salary for the final few years of his career than make a foolish business decision. Let Randy go make the major money and after the duration of his AEW deal, the WWE can induct him into the Hall of Fame and monetize his value again for the company.

I'm not sure what any of those dynamics mean for Kevin Owens, because as rowdy as he was in Ring Of Honor before he arrived in WWE, he's always been smart enough to be a businessman. He wasn't going to get to pile drive someone off a ladder through a table to the floor in WWE, and he was smart enough to know that he would get paid exponentially more cash to work within the WWE environment. While I don't think Owens truly got his due or opportunity as a main event star in the WWE, often being used in a role to make his opponents look good instead since that's one of his strengths, the office knows the commodity that he is, it's no coincidence that he was the performer chosen to work with Stone Cold for the comeback match 19 years after he retired from the ring.

It's possible that Tony Khan makes Owens an offer he can't refuse, and it's well known that Kevin Owens has been friends with The Young Bucks and Adam Cole for several years from their days in PWG. Owens might opt to work a lighter schedule with his friends for a good offer, but at the same time, he also knows that his star power is significantly brighter making comparable money on the stage of the WWE.

Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther

Everybody has a price.

This week's edition of Raw was taped last week because of the European tour that company has scheduled throughout the week. It's another example of how the TKO corporation, the group that was formed during the merger of the UFC and WWE last year, looks to globilize the product, an aspect that was made even more clear when the historic 10-year Netflix deal was signed earlier this year. 

However, the controversial Saudi Arabia deal was inked before Endeavor took over with the merger, as Vince McMahon signed a contract with the Saudi government in 2018, generating an estimated $40-50 million per event. This puts the Saudi shows among the most lucrative on the WWE calendar, even making it more profitable than Wrestlemania. Endeavor runs the WWE to make a profit, and even the $21.9 billion that the merger between WWE and UFC was estimated to be worth isn't going to turn down the Saudi cash, particularly for the boost it provides for the stock prices.

The controversy based around Saudi Arabia has mostly been swept under the rug, millions of dollars can do that. Prime time boxing matches, professional golf, and other American spots were imported on a regular basis by the Saudi government to be used as a modern propaganda tool.

Again, tens of millions of dollars will do that.

As sleazy as it might've seen at first, the concept of these American super shows from across the sports landscape being promoted in Saudi on a regular basis has made it more commonplace and on some level, more "acceptable" so the level of  controversy has waned. The WWE, along with other sports franchises, have become a staple of Riyadh season since it was instituted by the Saudi government in 2019. The name sounds like a tradition, but it was merely created five years ago to attempt to reshape the image of the county. Yes, five years later it's still shady and still somewhat disappointing that sports stars can be bought to be used for PR spin, but the money is what counts at the end of the day. Morals or ethics don't pay the bills. Given the lubricious amount of money Saudi makes from the oil industry, the talent knows that the check is going to clear.

So, in many ways, when analyzing these shows, you can leave the ethics at the door so to speak, it's been there, done that. We know the story, the WWE is there not because they approve of the government's faux attempt to seem more modern or as a way to move past the corruption the region is known for, but rather just to collect the cash and go home. As a result of where these shows are scheduled on the WWE calendar to coincide with Riyadh season, management often has to shoehorn a major match onto WWE programming when the usual direction of the product would dictate something else.

When these shows first started in 2018, I described them as glorified house shows because the pomp and circumstance was manufactured specifically for the Saudi officials, not the WWE fan base. This year, to placate the Saudi executives and make that hefty cash, the WWE Crown Jewel Championship will be created for both the men's and women's division. The irony that the females on the card must wear different attire than their usual outfits, but that rule isn't enforced for the male talent not withstanding for the event. The over-the-top championship belts were revealed at the Bad Blood pay-per-view earlier this month. The titles will be awarded to the winners of Cody Rhodes vs/ Gunther, and Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan at the Crown Jewel event at the beginning of November.

On paper, Cody vs. Gunther sounds like a marquee match until you take into account that neither of their respective titles will be on the line. The Crown Jewel championship will only be used as a prop for the specific event and will not be defended at any point afterward. The two heavyweight champions will square off in an exhibition bout with nothing actually on the line so what's the point? If anything, outside of the millions of dollars (and that's what counts), there's nothing to be gained from this scenario since one of the world champions will be positioned as secondary ahead of Wrestlemania season. It goes without saying that the value of each champion should be maximized ahead of WM to allow for the biggest spectacle possible ahead of the biggest show on the WWE calendar, albeit not as profitable since the Saudis have that spot.

All things considered, I don't think this is the time for either Cody Rhodes or Gunther to take a lost, given their individual paths among the WWE landscape. Cody took such an emotional journey to the WWE title that a loss to a major opponent should be saved for a bigger stage, if he's going to lose in a high profile spot, it should be at WM 41, not before that. With The Rock's return at Bad Blood, a potential Cody loss should be kept for when it would matter the most or have the most impact. If Rhodes loses to Gunther, it could hurt his credibility as an opponent for The Rock early next year. Along the same lines, but in a different fashion, Gunther is still building his title reign and should be kept strong to fully solidify him as a main event star. He just won the title at Summer Slam, it would hinder his progress if he was typecast as the secondary champion with a lost to Cody at this point. From purely a booking standing, you simply don't schedule this match to avoid this type of scenario, but money talks, even for the TKO corporation.

How the office navigates this delicate scenario remains to be seen, but a lot of it might depend on where management plans to take either champion in the months ahead. With a Crown Jewel championship revealed, a DQ or some other non-definitive finish isn't an option. If Rhodes is eventually going to defeat The Rock in a title match at Wrestlemania next year, the argument could be made that a loss in Saudi Arabia wouldn't make a major difference in his status as the top guy for the WWE. If management doesn't view Gunther as a long-term champion then maybe that can book him to lose to Cody, but with the level of authenticity that Gunther has, I don't think it would be wise for him to lose until he's going to drop the championship, which shouldn't be any time soon.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the office will somehow have The Bloodline or even The Rock himself cost Cody the match-up as a way to give Rhodes an excuse to lose the match, while adding to his feud with The Rock so it won't damage his status. In that case, the loss is secondary, and the rivalry has the spotlight. Granted, that type of resoultion would also make Gunther's win secondary so the victory wouldn't do much for him either, but given the circumstances, a solution where neither champion looks weak is probably the best result for the Saudi event.

Wrestle Dream review

All Elite Wrestling's latest pay-per-view, Wrestle Dream, a show that I wrote a column about earlier last week for its lack of build, is in the books, surprisingly with some newsworthy notes after the broadcast went off the air. Before we discuss the card, it should be noted that there were ten matches scheduled for this line-up, and it can't be unstated enough how unnecessary this was toward the overall presentation. Quite frankly, I'd rather have 7 or 8 matches on the show that are justified for a show on pay-per-view than the undercard be cluttered with glorified TV matches that don't add quality to the event, instead just make for a tedious viewing experience. Not every broadcast has to be four hours and not every main event has to be some 30-minute epic clash. The ability to tailor the line-up and the time given to each segment is a part of the art of booking. A paint-by-numbers approach, which is what Tony Khan often takes with his charts and graphs, can often lead to a flat presentation, particularly in terms of pacing the card. At this point, it's repetitive, but it's also the case more often than not for AEW pay-per-views.

Adam Page vs. Jay White opened the show, and considering that Jay White still looks to be a heel, and Adam Page was presented like a heel, at least this week, there wasn't much in terms of storytelling or dramas for this segment. That said, the in-ring work was quality, and if these two were positioned in the right way as far as their characters, it would check all the boxes for a solid segment in the modern era. They worked good technical exchanges until they began to build the contest with a few brutal bumps. Hangman landed a death valley driver on the apron that looked nasty before he power bombed White on the steel steps. White nailed a shin breaker on the side of the ramp way that looked brutal. The finish was very well done, it didn't overuse finishers, but rather had White counter to land the blade runner to get the win. 

Mariah May vs. Willow Nightingale for the AEW Women's title was a solid match and showcased what these two could bring to the table if given the opportunity on a more regular basis. Full credit to Mariah, she went from being just a sidekick to one of the better heels in the entire company. As I've said before, Willow organically connects with the audience and that can be used to draw money, but there are only so many times that the baby face can come up short challenging for the title before the audience loses faith in their quest for the belt. It was the right call for Mariah to retain, as she should continue to establish herself as a character on AEW programming, but I'm not sure Nightingale was the right opponent, mostly because her character didn't need to take a defeat on pay-per-view. Still, Mariah's reign has given a boost to the All Elite female division and more importantly given it a direction. It was interesting to not that Mercedes Mone, one of the high-profile free agents that inked a deal with the organization earlier this year wasn't on the card, and all things considered, I don't think it's too early to label her initial run with the company a flop. She wasn't quite as big of a star as she thought she was, but she talked up her price, and Tony Khan offered her a hefty contract to sign with his group. That's not a knock on Mercedes, good for her for being able to get that type of cash, that's the entire point of the pro wrestling business, but at the same time, it should be noted that the decline in ratings and ticket sales continued after she was brought into the fold for AEW. It might be a harsh reality, but the argument could definitely be made that Willow or Mariah could be more valuable to the company than Mercedes on a long-term basis. This segment was given the right about of time, as the ten minutes gave them enough time to work the match without any flat points. This was another contest where the finish was well done when May hit a hurricanrana off the top and then nailed a flurry of offense with a knee strike and a pile driver to get the victory to emphasis the conclusion.

Much of the same could be said when the other member of The Elite faction, Jack Perry defended the TNT championship against Katsuyori Shibata. Shibata isn't regularly featured on Dynamite so it's difficult to see him as a threat to the title and thus this match was reduced to cannon fodder on a line-up that already had 10 matches. The action was decent, but it was just an 8-minute television match on a bigger platform. There was some technical ground sequences that would've probably been more suitable for the ROH Pure division, as it was somewhat of a styles clash since Perry isn't known for the shoot style of mat work. Shibata suplexed Perry on the outside toward the apron, and Perry's legs awkwardly clipped the apron. It was a rather foolish spot, considering that Eddie Kingston has been on the shelf for months after he injured his leg during a similar sequence on a New Japan Strong show. The biggest takeaway though is, if this contest wasn't on the card of Wrestle Dream, it wouldn't have truly affected the quality of the show or made a difference in the buy rate. Shitbata chocked out Perry, but his shoulders were on the canvas so Perry got the coincidental pin fall. retained the belt.

Post-match, Perry hit Shibata with the title until Daniel Garcia made the save. Garcia looked stone-faced as usual when Perry took a powder out of the ring. As Garcia was standing in the ring, MJF returned from filming Happy Gilmore 2 to confront him. As Garcia was faced off with MJF, Perry blindsided him with the TNT championship. During the beat down, Adam Cole made his return to run off MJF. This was booked like something you would've seen sandwiched onto an old ECW pay-per-view, take that as a positive or a negative. The problem is, does anyone really want to continuation of Adam Cole/MJF? If anything, Tony Khan should put as much distance as possible between those competitors and any reference of the absolute flop that was the devil mask reveal last year. It's quite literally a rehash of an angle that didn't get over last time instead of progressing either character.

The International title match was exactly what you'd expected,an overly-choreographed incredible display of athleticism. There's a fine line between seamless transitions and one wrestler simply waiting for the opponent to get there. This was the latter, but there's no doubt that the skill and the maneuvers are impressive. The inverted tombstone that Takeshita used to put Ricochet through a table at ringside looked rough. There wasn't really a narrative to follow for most of the bout, but that's what the company is selling here, a new age video game match with high impact and minimal selling. Again, take that as either a positive or a negative depending on your perspective. The finish saw Kyle Fletcher turn on Will Ospreay, hitting him with the screw driver to allow Takeshita to win the title. On one hand, it's great to see the former DDT star get something of importance to do on the show, as he's talented enough to be a top guy. On the other hand, Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay isn't exactly a feud that fans are clamoring for in AEW.

The next segment was a way to get Swerve Strickland on the pay-per-view, but it didn't have much impact or meaning in the grand scheme of things. This was something that was completely normal for a television segment, and in that setting, it would've been fine. To put an extended promo segment in the middle of a four-hour pay-per-view is bizarre. Did this really do anything to progress the narrative? If this was to set up for the debut of Bobby Lashley then you could argue that it deserved a spot on the PPV, but if the MVP/Nana confrontation wasn't on this show, but put this week on Dynamite, would it have truly made a difference?

Speaking of not meaning much in the grand scheme of things, if it was presented right, Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos could've been a highlight of this pay-per-view, as well as some unique for the company to promote, especially at a time when Hispanic stars are a focus within the industry to capitalize on the Latino fan base. This was a two our of three falls match, which is somewhat of a lucha tradition, but of course, that wasn't established on TV prior to this so for most viewers, it's just randomly a two out of three falls bout. The athleticism was incredible, and it reminded me of a comment from the underrated legend, Lance Storm on a podcast a few years ago, "good lucha is amazing, but bad lucha might be the worst wrestling there is." The style is so different that it is often hit or miss, but when you have two high caliber luchadors like this two in the ring, you can get an incredible contest from them. This was a dazzling spot fest that provided some substance and even some sizzle to the card. The problem is, this was basically a one-off match within the landscape of All Elite Wrestling. Yes, Hologram and Mortos have been featured on Collision, a show that gets about two-thirds of the audience of Dynamite, and their exposure on Wednesday has been minimal. Between the two of them, there was more than enough character traits for the company to highlight with Hologram's really neat costume, and Mortos' bull mask that this match could've been used to solidify a character, not just another high spot match. Hologram got the win of two falls to three, but let's hope that both of these competitors get more TV exposure in the future.

Darby Allin vs. Brody King was another TV match on pay-per-view, given just under 10 minutes with nothing that you haven't seen before on Dynamite or Rampage. In fact, you could argue that either casket match on television was more PPV worthy than this contest. It wasn't a subpar match, just nothing that needed to be on pay-per-view. Darby got the victory.

The Young Bucks vs. Private Party was the spot fest that ignored all tag rules that you'd expect it to be. It was fine, but we've seen the same match several times and given the fact that Private Party was steamrolled by The Blackpool Combat Club a few weeks ago, they didn't seem to be worthy contenders for this match to be anything more than fluff on the card. It was fine for what it was, but nothing spectacular or "must see" for this pay-per-view. The Young Bucks retained the belts in a 15-minute segment.

 Mark Briscoe vs. Chris Jericho for the Ring Of Honor World championship was fine for what it was, it was a segment that fell into the glorified TV match category for this show, because it's not as though these two have built any rivalry around the championship prior to this. Furthermore, Jericho already did "The Ocho" gimmick before so it was clear that he wasn't going to win the belt, and he doesn't need to either. If truth, neither does Mark Briscoe, despite being a 20-yeat veteran, he can still go in the ring, and given the tragic passing of his brother Jay last year, there was an opportunity for Mark to be pushed toward the AEW world title to win it in honor of his brother. The story writes itself, and Mark is more than talented enough to be the world champion, but he was pigeonholed into the ROH brand. Jericho is smart enough to know that he isn't going to work as flashy of a style at his age so they exchanged a lot of stiff strikes, and they put in the effort, but there just wasn't any point in the contest where it looked like the title was in jeopardy so there was basically an exhibition match. Mark got the win with the Jay Driller is another ten minutes for a decent segment, but the belt doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

The main event was a mixed bag, as it more or less represented the problems and the strengths of All Elite Wrestling as an organization. In a vacuum, the match was a physical contest that had the right amount of selling to emphasize the brutality of the strikes and the bumps. Taking in account the scenario, around the match, it completely and totally missed the mark. The premise of the match is that if Bryan Danielson, one of the greatest of the modern era and arguably of all time, loses he must retire. The end of his career deserves all of the pomp and circumstance, especially for how beloved of a performer he is by his peers and the fans. Nothing is flatter than Danielson being choked out and then using the booking crutch of the plastic bag again, particularly because it's only trying to manufacturer controversy based on the reaction last time. If anything, it's a desperate attempt to get heat because Tony usually can't book heat properly. I've said this before, and I will say it again, Jon Moxley carried the company on his back when AEW needed someone to step up in the midst of suspensions and injuries. That said, does anyone want to see another Moxley title reign? It's not his fault, but he was overexposed. There are too many other guys that could use the belt to solidify there careers for there to be a valid argument why Moxley needs another run. This is actually a compliment to Moxley, he's already totally over with the audience, he doesn't need a belt to maintain that status in the company.

Did AEW sell wrestle dream?

This weekend is AEW's Wrestle Dream, the company's third pay-per-view offering in about a month and a half, but following "Title Tuesday," a Dynamite show that was moved from its Wednesday time slot for this week, there's not much sizzle or anticipation ahead of the event. First, it should be noted that it's tough for the organization to sell the PPV based on the "go home" show being moved from its usual time slot. A portion of the AEW viewing audience, as sluggish as they might be in recent months, that will miss the broadcast simply because there are in the routine of watching Dynamite on Wednesday.

Still, the lack of overall build for this card, and some of the same could've been said for All Out since it was just two weeks after All in from London, suggests that monthly PPV cards won't yield success for the company. Tony Khan's slapstick approach, a booking philosophy that lacks focus by nature, doesn't lend itself to monthly PPV cards. Granted, if this is being done in anticipation for the new deal with Max that could offer pay-per-views at a much lower price than there's an argument to be made for it, as it would intrinsically lower expectations for each event.

However, as of right now, AEW management is trying to sell this $50 broadcast based on the majority of the matches being advertised just days before the actual PPV. It's simply not possible to build any hype or anticipation when the first mention of some of the scheduled bouts are on a preempted episode of Dynamite.

Daniel Garcia made his return to television this week and probably cut the best promo of his career, but he's not scheduled for Wrestle Dream. The argument could be made that the most effective segment on Dynamite this week was for a performer that doesn't have any role on the PPV and thus no impact on its buyrate.

Obviously, with matches being thrown on the card just days before the pay-per-view, the hotshot approach was used to try to generate some level of importance for these bouts, but those efforts have yielded mix results. Jack Perry vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the TNT Title is a very minimal match, in terms of importance or its ability to generate a buyrate. Shibata might be one of Tony Khan's favorite wrestlers, but he's not featured too often and is a secondary character at best. Plus, Shibata, as talented as he was, is clearly past his prime after he suffered a very serious head injury several years ago. Is there any reason for the fans to think it's possible for Shibata to win the title? If he does, will he actually do anything of importance with it?

On the other end of the spectrum, the returning Jay White attacked Adam Page a few weeks ago and with minimal interaction, they have a match on pay-per-view. But, the difference is that this should be a contest that delivers bell-to-bell and has an effect on each performer's path going forward. From a character prospective, I honestly think that Adam Page was ruined multiple times during his All Elite tenure. The whiny promos, the draw when he defended the championship during his initial reign a few years ago, and the switches from baby face to heel haven't helped his career. Because of that, I have zero faith that Adam Page can be rejuvenated to the level that he had before he won the AEW championship. I don't know his contract status or if there would be interest from NXT, but he would have to completely reinvent himself somewhere else to make progress in  his career. Make no mistake, Page can go in the ring, but there are only so many times a performer can hit the reset button until they just have to go elsewhere. Jay White is a quality pro inside the ring ropes and probably should've had a much bigger role in AEW so far. That said, this return from injury is a chance for him to rejuvenate his status and hopefully work his way to the main event scene, depending what the overall plans are for the title picture on a long-term basis. In that sense, at least there's something at stake for a match that was otherwise booked without a lot of momentum behind it.

Mark Briscoe vs. Chris Jericho for the ROH world title is cannon fodder. I hate to say it, but does the Ring Of Honor brand truly matter in 2024? AEW has too many belts as it is, and this is nothing more than a mid-card match with a prop. Speaking of cannon fodder, Private Party got destroyed by the Blackpool Combat Club a few weeks ago, is the audience supposed to take them as a serious threat to the tag titles? If not, The Young Bucks vs. Private Party on the card is moot. Mariah May vs. Willow Nightingale could be the best match on the undercard, but that's a rather low standard given the matches already discussed.

Brody King and Darby Allin will probably be an entertaining car crash segment, even if it's something we've seen before. The only problem is, this was shoehorned onto the card simply because they called an audible with the Bryan Danielson match so does the result really matter? The same could be said for the International title match, Will Ospreay will defend against Ricochet and Konosuke Takeshita. It will be an incredible spot fest that will give the fans their money's worth, but does it truly have any cache besides the dazzling dives that are seen on television every week? Don't get me wrong, Takeshita is a top talent and should be the focus of the world title, but adding him into this scenario actually takes away from the narrative. When Ricochet and Ospreay went to a draw last week, it naturally set the stage for a rematch at the pay-per-view, which could've used their extensive history as a selling point. The addition of Takeshita reduces this segment to a spot fest rather than a match-up based on an extensive rivalry. Takeshita is definitely worth a spot on pay-per-view, just not being shoehorned into an already established match just to get him on the card.

Don't get me wrong, there's meat on the bone so to speak for this pay-per-view, it's just camouflaged within a slew of glorified TV matches.

The main event, originally penciled in to be Darby Allin challenging for the championship, will be Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley for the title. Unless there's something major on the horizon, particularly with Moxley's new faction, I'm not sure the match-up should've been switched. With the event being hosted in Tacoma and both Danielson and Darby being from Washington, the stage was set for the sentimental passing of the torch. If Darby is going to win the belt, the hometown victory would've been the way to do it. His style being completely reckless and counterproductive to drawing money as the champion is a different discussion for a different time. Moxley wouldn't have been given the match unless he was going to win the belt, thus ending Danielson's full-time career, but I'm not sure such an abbreviated run as champion does anything to help All Elite Wrestling or put heat on Moxley as a heel. If anything, there would have to be a build, where Danielson narrowly escapes with the title through tough competition before his run concludes. Enough cache hasn't been allowed to build up for his title run to translate to importance for the organization or heat for the opponent that retires him. At this point, the end of Danielson's title run would more or less be indifference, and there's nothing more counterproductive to drawing money than indifference.

However, as ridiculous as this might've sounded in the past, and I even wrote a column about it to dismiss the initial rumors, if Shane McMahon is revealed as a part of Moxley's group, as the cryptic reference Moxley made during an interview with Tony Schiavone several weeks ago, it would justify the switch of opponents for Danielson. When the photo of Shane and Tony Khan surfaced a few months ago, I figured it was nothing more than Tony trying to get some positive press for AEW online, and that could still be the case. Since that time, a picture of Shane McMahon with The Young Bucks was posted online, which added a little bit more credibility to the speculation, as it seems odds that they would just happen to be in the same place at the same time.

After the Netflix documentary about Vince, it should be noted that Shane was the best McMahon portrayed in the series. The story was told that Shane was overlooked as Vince's successor in favor of Stephanie, and even Shane acknowledged that his efforts in the ring were to get the approval of his dad. Given the horrendous accusations against Vince earlier this year, it's at least possible that Shane would consider a tenure in AEW as a way to do something completely on his own. As much as Shane doesn't need the money, Tony Khan would undoubtedly pay him some hefty cash simply just to say that he has a McMahon working for him. If Shane shows up, the shock alone will get fans talking and thus tune into Dynamite, giving the company a chance to regain some of the viewers that it lost after CM Punk left the company. A boost in the numbers would also look good for the new TV deal the company just signed with the Turner networks.

Outside of a monumental surprise at the pay-per-view, Wrestle Dream just doesn't have enough of importance on the card to justify the $50 price tag. It might sound trivial, but given the current economic uncertainty and the rate of inflation, a PPV with mostly glorified TV matches on paper is a more difficult sell for the company than it was in the past.

APWF returns to Johnstown

"Jimmy, I've been in this business a long time and that was one of the best matches I've ever been on the call for."

As Mike "Doc" Daugherty sat in a booth next to Declan Finnegan at a pizza place a few blocks from The Kastle, the venue that just hosted the Allied Powers Wrestling Federation's Johnstown debut this past August, he recounted the stellar main event match the three of us had just called for the indywrestling.us production team. By the time we all emptied out of the venue, it was after 10:30 PM so when we strolled into the old school pizza shop, there were only a few other customers there. Despite the August humidity and the late night, we were all still hyped as we each divided up a few slices.

Bill Collier, the current International Wrestling Cartel heavyweight champion and ace of the APWF, just put on a 30-minute classic with NWA star, Spencer Slade. This was a dramatic, action-packed bout with peaks and valleys that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the duration. It was an old school presentation blended with modern athletics, creating moments that fans are still talking about today. As the three of us sat at the broadcast table that night, you could sense the anticipation and excitement in the venue.

It was one of those rare occasions as a broadcaster where you knew you were seeing something special as it was happening in the ring. Doc has worked for a myriad of organizations as one of the most tenured and well-respected voices of the Pittsburgh area, as he has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Reengage Wrestling Alliance since its inception in 2009, as well as being the lead commentator for Prospect Pro Wrestling since it launched in 2018. I started in the business as a photographer in 2008 before I started to work as a commentator the following year. I can tell you that there's a very short list of matches that were the caliber of the Collier/Slade APWF main event we called in August. Even Declan, who is newer to the business than us, knew immediately that the organization delivered a bout that would stand up across the independent landscape.

"With so much talent on the local scene, it’s really impressive to see what APWF has started up again! The main event in the last card was as good as anything you’ll see on an independent card with Bill Collier and Spencer Slade in the Main Event!  So much talent to speak of and just packed with surprises, I cannot wait to see what’s in the horizon for the reboot of this company," said Declan Finnegan when reached via phone last week.

Now, the APWF is set to make its highly-anticipated return to Johnstown with "Nightmare at The Kastle," a Halloween theme event on October 26th. A myriad of stars, including the best young talent and a mixture of established veterans, have been assembled to create a unique presentation not often seen on the independent scene. Elijah Dean and Zach Nystrom, collectively known as Money Shot, are scheduled to appear. Dean, a former IWC heavyweight champion, has also held numerous tag team championships with his longtime tag partner, Nystrom. Flawless fundamentals and dynamic skills made Money Shot arguably the best tag team in independent wrestling today. Aside from a reign as the IWC tag championships, Money Shot held the Ryse Wrestling tag belts for almost a full calendar year in 2023, and also had a run with the Absolute Intense Wrestling tag team championship that same year.

"The fans can expect great matches from workers from everywhere that will bring their best to entertain the fans .We try to book interesting match-ups and make the shows epic, and tell the stories in the ring since we are not running monthly. That's why I call APWF shows epic events, and the people in Johnstown, PA can see this great wrestling action at the Kastle Facilty. The staff at the Kastle have been great because they want pro wrestling in the area. That's what we will bring on Oct 26th," said Bubba Brewer, owner and promoter of the Allied Powers Wrestling Federation.

"APWF" Is great for the Pittsburgh independent scene. The history behind APWFs past speaks for itself. It gives the audience new faces and a new flavor. It is led and backed by one of the best in our business, Bubba Brewer. Bubba's vision is vast and has a bright future.  I'm just honored to be a part of it. The sky is the limit when it comes to APWF," added Doc Daugherty, the lead voice of APWF.

 

As a part of Bubba's new vision for the organization, he wanted to give more female grapplers a chance to shine at a time when women's wrestling is one of the most quality aspects of the national scene. At the Kastle in August, the dangerous Lexus Synn, who is scheduled for  October 26th, knocked out her opponent, Slammin' Sammy with a vicious high kick to the face. Sammy, a determined and energetic rookie with only half a dozen matches so far in her career, refused to be denied, accepting the call for APWF to step into the ring in October with the eccentric luchadora, Peg Asa, a competitor based in the Mexican style. Peg Asa was a student at the ICWA training center, debuting about a year and a half ago in the sport. She brings an unpredictable style and has already had many pundits suggest that she has a bright future in the industry.

"APWF has been so helpful to my young career by booking me in back to back shows. I appreciate Bubba Brewer, Larry Striker, and all of the staff for their dedication and constant promotion of the shows and the wrestlers! I am honored to wrestle for them and their fans," said Slammin' Sammy.

A wave of positive momentum surrounds the APWF ahead of this October event, which will feature a costume contest for fans, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish foundation, as Bubba Brewer expressed when he relaunched the organization that he wanted to use pro wrestling as a platform to impact the communities that hosted events beyond just the action in the ring. Brewer, despite his use of modern technology to deliver his podcasts, one specifically based on his hometown team, The Pittsburgh Steelers, online every week, is as old school as they come for professional wrestling. He broke into the business in 1998, working as a pro wrestler, promoter, and organizer over the course of several years. Even the savvy veteran knows that there's a learning curve for today's market, and that has proven to be a learning experience for him as a promoter in 2024.

"Well, bringing the APWF back wasn't and isn't easy because it's a different time, but social media has helped. I also realized I can't make everyone happy. and I, with my staff, try to do the very best that we can getting and promoting our shows," Brewer explained.

Still, Bubba finds himself on the grind as a promoter in the weeks ahead of the event. It's not uncommon for him to check in with a Facebook Live video to let the fans know where he's putting up event poster to advertise the organization. The ambitious promoter leaves his house in the late afternoon with a stack of flyers and doesn't return until late night with an empty supply box before he jumps online for one of his weekly podcasts.

As a broadcaster that has been in the business for 16 years, I admire the hustle and work ethic that Bubba Brewer puts into his projects. He doesn't simply rely on social media posts or others to share content, he quite literally puts in the work and the miles to make these events happen. One thing is for sure, APWF has a special atmosphere that you won't find too often on the independent circuit, which is something that my broadcast pals and I each noticed after the stellar event at the Kastle in August.

The line-up for October is highlighted by many young wrestlers that are looking to make a name for themselves. The Rad Boyz, who Bubba has touted as the best tag team on the independent scene. will be in action. Sam Handman, who is from Johnstown, will square off against Cristiano Argento, Gorgeous Gregory, who many have proclaimed to be a pro wrestling prodtegy, will make his debut for the promotion, and The Troublemakers will also be back in action in the APWF. Speaking of the trio known as The Troublemakers, Glenn Spectre, a longtime veteran that was the first "gaijin" or foreigner to win the DDT tag team titles in Japan, has formed the group consisting of some of his students.  Canaan Kristopher is regarded by many as a true natural inside the ring ropes, and Tyler Brooks has already made an impact anywhere he goes in his relatively new career. What will The Troublemakers have in store for the APWF on October 26th?

"My goals for the APWF are to return to the S&T Bank Arena in 2025 and keep promoting shows at The Kastle. Indiana & Cambria counties have a great spot to have these wrestling shows. I will always try to help the indy market in Western PA, and hopefully one day have that indy mania event that I've been talking about for 20 years. I also want to get shows in high schools for fundraisers .It was only suppose to be one show, but it turned into three this year, and I want to be a positive force in indy wrestling," concluded Bubba Brewer.