RWA anniversary show

The Renegade Wrestling Alliance, a blue collar league based out of West Newton, Pennsylvania, will celebrate its 16th anniversary with a stacked card hosted at the West Newton gym, dubbed "The House of Renegades" this Saturday night.

Founded on the passion for professional wrestling of Derek Widziszewski, known as "Dr. Feelbad" when he walks through the curtain to address the typical rowdy wrestling action at events, RWA opened its door in 2009 merely based on hopes and dreams. As is the case with any business venture, there are always risks and obstacles, which can be exponentially more difficult within the very unique genre of sports entertainment.

Juggling talent, marketing, the economy, the climate of the industry itself, the numerous requirements from the athletic commission, and just about anything else that can be a factor in the live event business can all be road blocks for a successful pro wrestling organization. Keep in mind, this is independent wrestling, there aren't major corporate sponsors writing a hefty check to get their logo shameless plastered all over the screen. As we know from many different examples on the indy circuit, an organization can only thrive when it directly serves its audience, prompting fans to travel to the venue to pay their hard-earned dollars for a unique live entertainment experience.

The milestone of the 16th anniversary is a testament to not only the RWA's ability to serve its audience, but also its ability to grow its reach as a force in the industry over the course of that time. Recessions, pandemics, and changing trends in the sport didn't deter the promotion from continuing to produce its own brand to add to the potpourri of Pittsburgh wrestling.

“I used to go to RWA shows as a fan in the early years when the crowds were not that great. All these years later. I’m happy to see that RWA still exists, and that it’s a packed house every month. In the last year that I’ve had the opportunity to work with Doc and Tony on commentary, I feel the promotion has grown even more and I’m happy to be a part of the broadcast team," said color analyst Jason Gray.

"RWA was the first promotion I worked for, I will always call home. Because of this company, I am now working different promotions and have over 15 years of experience. I am forever grateful to call this my home. When RWA started, many people picked us to fail, to not last with the others. Now, I can say we are one of the top promotions in the Pittsburgh indies. RWA will continue and is going to have a strong year in 2025, added Mike "Doc" Daugherty, lead play-by-play announcer and one of the premiere voices in Pittsburgh.

One of the many reasons for that growth is the atmosphere from the dedicated fan base of West Newton. The passionate audience that jams itself into the gym with refreshments and popcorn from the concession stand bring their energy for the product every event, consistent of one of, if not, the most dedicated audiences in Pittsburgh wrestling. RWA is their wrestling and the support is reflected in the accomplished tenure of the organization.  

Promoter Derek Widziszewski has often cited his personal connection with the fans as a reasoning for the genuine atmosphere at RWA events. He doesn’t see attendees as simply dollars and cents, but rather customers that he strives to give their money’s worth each month RWA sets up shop in the West Newton gymnasium. Many pro wrestling pundits consider the RWA fan base as much a part of the experience as the in-ring action. When the fans call for ticket reservations, they can talk to Derek directly, and it's not uncommon to see Widziszewski at the doorway more than an hour after the final bell of the evening, as he takes the time to personally thank each fan for their attendance.

The action from the stellar crew of performers provides the fuel for the promotion in front of the curtain, but behind the scenes, there's an equally dedicated team that puts all the pieces of the puzzle in place before the doors open for the night of action. From security and ring crew to management and production members, there's a concerted effort to organize before the bell rings and indywrestling.us cameras go live for the broadcast.

"Derek and his entire support group, along with the great roster of phenomenal talent that RWA had when I first came into the organization and are currently there now have welcomed me with open arms. This is  something that not only rejuvenated me in wrestling, but has been very humbling as well, finding out that working together towards a common goal can be completely fulfilling," said Quinn Magnum, a former in-ring grappler that has 30 years of experience in the industry that he brought to the promotion when he joined the management team at the start of last year.

The management team has kept itself quite busy in preparation for the anniversary celebration, as the line-up looks to be pivotal toward the course of 2025 for the promotion. Three-year pro Gianni Micheal Emricko, who many pundits have predicted a bright future for in the sport, will defend his No Limits championship against a bonafide Pittsburgh legend, Dennis Gregory, a competitor that has won championships in the region for more than three decades. Speaking of championships, a wild five-way Steel Gauntlet will be held to determine the new RWA PA Regional champion when Super Hentai, Glenn Spectre, Shadow man Elijah, "The Rev" Ron Hunt, and AJ Alexander square off in a highly-anticipated bout.

Among the full card of action scheduled will be the main event, a clash of super heavyweights, as Crash Jaxon defends his title against the monstrous Beastman. The contest will be a rematch from last month, which saw Beastman get disqualified when he attempted to injure Jaxon, ignoring calls from the referee. Prior to the mayhem that ended the match early, the agile big men put on tremendous displays of speed and athleticism not often seen from competitors of their size. Crash, a youngster that was embraced by the RWA crowd after he won the Renegade Rumble to earn a title shot, eventually defeated accomplished veteran Mike Law to claim the championship. Guided by the infamous Tony Kincaid, who has steadily become one of the most powerful figures in the organization in the past year, the mammoth Beastman just recently returned to the United States after his second successful tour of Japan with the Big Japan Pro Wrestling group, competing in Korakuen Hall, the Madison Square Garden of Japanese professional wrestling.

"I'm excited for RWA's anniversary show, I'm excited to watch Feelbad and the RWA fans have to watch AJ Alexander become the PA Regional Champion. When Beastman takes the RWA Heavyweight championship from Crash, I'm going to be excited to watch Feelbad cry when he realizes my beast and my business partner hold all the power," said Kincaid when he was reached via phone.

The other bouts on the card feature talent from across the Pittsburgh spectrum, as one of RWA's philosophies is to bring together the best talent from both inside and outside of the area. Champions from accomplished groups like Prospect Pro Wrestling and Ryse Wrestling, along with talent from Buffalo, Lexington, and Columbus will showcase their skills in the squared circle of the RWA.

Despite the milestone and the celebration of 16 years of the Renegade Wrestling Alliance, management already has a progressive look toward the future with its goals for the upcoming year.

"Our hope for 2025 is to continue to grow and provide a positive experience for the great fans of RWA, while finding new ways to evolve, improve, and create new ways to present the great sport of professional wrestling. This is something that RWA hopes to achieve in 2025 as I believe in and appreciate everyone that puts in the time to make RWA one the pinnacle organizations around," concluded Quinn Magnum.

Penta debuts on Raw

After months of speculation, Penta, the former AAA and AEW star, arrived on Raw as the mystery luchador opponent for Chad Gable. Based on the signs in the crowd in San Jose, his debut wasn't much of a secret, which is fine because the company actually put his merchandise on WWE Shop a few hours before the Raw broadcast started, and according to PWinsider's Mike Johnson, Penta has already sold a respectable amount of merchandise for a new star that just got there.

The segment itself was very well done, the introduction alone made Penta look like a major star, and for his first outing on WWE television, the office made sure to put him in a position to succeed. It's no coincidence that Chad Gable was the opponent for him, as his agility and technical skills allowed him to be more adaptable to Penta's style. Furthermore, debuting him on the west coast was a very wise decision as well since the Hispanic demographic of the area is more familiar with lucha libre than some of the other areas of the country. Let's be honest, if the WWE machine truly gets behind him, Penta has the character and the talent to get over as a national star, but at this point, the reality is, the crowd probably wouldn't have been as familiar with him on his debut night if the show was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All due respect to Cedar Rapids, of course.

The fact that the crowd was so behind him, particularly with the "Cero Miedo" chants before the match even started was a major positive because even for the fans that had no idea who he was before he walked out on Raw, it gave the impression that this guy is a big deal. As I've written before, perception is reality, which is something that All Elite Wrestling should take note of, specifically with this example of another former contracted talent that shows up in WWE looking like a bigger star in one night than they did in years working for Tony Khan.

As far as the match, it was a little clunky, as Penta worked both sides of the body, something common in lucha libre, but considered essentially backwards in the United States. As a result, Penta's back was to the camera at different times, which is something you rarely see in the WWE and thus why it stuck out as somewhat odd here. While the post-match promo was very nice because it was a genuine moment, something that is usually very useful in professional wrestling, it seems like Penta might've misunderstood the purpose of the post-match segment. Instead of jumping to the portion about a new era of WWE, a tagline since the move to Netflix, and the era of Penta, he basically did an appreciation speech. No, I don't think Penta went into business for himself or intentionally went off-script, but rather that he isn't used to working the television environment of WWE.

Yes, he was on the All Elite roster for five years, but I think it goes without saying that the production value and thus the experience needed to work on the stage is on another level in WWE. That's not a jab at AEW either, simply to point out that working the camera dictates much more of the presentation in WWE than any other sports entertainment company. Something as trivial as ring positioning or when a spot takes place is a key aspect of WWE programming. The talent have to be aware of the hard camera more or less at all times, and it's understandable that there would be an adjustment period for new talent.

I think that's why the few mishaps in the overall presentation are moot in the grand scheme of things. Keep in mind, Penta worked his first ever WWE live on Raw so of course there's going to be somewhat of a learning curve to get up to speed on camera work or timing of promo segments. Granted, I could be wrong, but based on what looked like genuine happiness when he cut the post-match promo, I'd guess that Penta understands that working with the WWE is a different scenario than AAA or AEW.

As we know, Mistico, who wrestled under the name Sin Cara, had a rather infamous run in WWE several years ago because it appeared that he refused to adapt in any form or fashion to the WWE presentation. Remember, the WWE caters to the casual fan so regardless of the specifics, much of the product has to be tailored to the general public. After botches and mishaps, Mistico was released, and another wrestler was put under the mask so the company's investment in the character wasn't a complete waste of resources. Make no mistake about it, Mistico was a tremendous drawing card in Mexico, but the WWE is the global stage.

It remains to be seen how Penta adapts to the new atmosphere, but I doubt that he will make the same mistakes as Mistico. Furthermore, I don't think that WWE brass will make the same mistakes of All Elite Wrestling, basically missing the boat on what they had with Penta and Rey Fenix for the majority of the five years that they were under contract. As we know, Fenix's deal was extended because of injury time, and while it's petty, if Tony Khan has the legal right to do it then you can't blame him for enforcing the contract, especially when Fenix was paid during the healing process from the injuries. Still, it's more or less confirmed that Fenix will join Penta as soon as his All Elite deal expires.

That might be the biggest takeaway from this whole situation, it's yet another example of WWE signing a free agent that All Elite underutilized despite the opportunity to spotlight their skills. It's not just with the presentation and the importance that was placed on his WWE debut, but as was already reported, the WWE has also already successful merchandised the design of his mask. That's one of the many reasons that the WWE is the entertainment powerhouse that it is today, because more often than not, they maximize potential revenue streams.

As far as if WWE has finally found their next Latino superstar to take the torch from Rey Mysterio, the answer might be yes and no, depending on your perspective. At 40, Penta still has some prime years of his career left, but it's difficult to say if he will be on the WWE roster five years or a decade. At the same time, the question of if the WWE has a performer that has the potential to be a major superstar and draw big money for the Hispanic demographic at a time when the organization is looking to globalize as much as possible appears to be yes, it's very possible that Penta could be the key performer for a continued expansion into the Mexican market. Again, it remains to be seen how Penta's run will develop in the WWE or if he can make the transition to the specific WWE style, but one thing is for sure, it was undoubtedly a very memorable debut, which at least sets up the lucha star for a successful run.

What's next for Ricochet?

Ricochet might be on the path of feast or famine in All Elite Wrestling.

The 36-year-old AEW star began wrestling in his teenage years and within almost the past two decades has worked for more or less every major organization in the industry. He was a mainstay of the independent circuit of the 2010s and became known on a global basis through his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling. His 4-year stint there had many spectacular bouts, including a match against Will Ospreay that garnered a lot of buzz online at the time.

Right after he finished up in Japan, he inked a deal with WWE in early-2018 and found success on the NXT brand, as many "work rate" athletes did during that era. Despite more than five years on the main roster, and reigns with both the IC and US belts, Ricochet basically plateaued as a mid-card guy. Furthermore, he was, fairly or unfairly, typecast as a "good hand" in terms of his tremendous athletic ability, but just not someone that had the total package to be able to be a top guy in the position to draw serious money. That's not necessarily as much of a jab as it might sound like either. There simply are only a few guys that can check all the boxes of a main event performer. Every company and almost every card needs those "good hands" to be the glue of the presentation. Make no mistake about it, there was a reason that Ricochet was the opponent chosen for Logan Paul at Summer Slam in 2023. As much as I don't understand why anyone cares what Logan Paul does, or the draw for anyone that is "famous for being famous," credit where it's due, Paul has done well in the WWE. However, the office isn't going to risk a train wreck on pay-per-view with someone that brings the sponsorship opportunities that Logan Paul does so they put him in the ring with a capable hand to make sure everything went smoothly. That's a credit to  Ricochet's skills, not to emphasize what he might be missing from his skill set.

Still, there was a notion among fans that  Ricochet had more to offer than the opportunities that he was given in the WWE.

One of the benefits of a healthy industry, and why it's so important that there are options within the business, is the chance to test the free agent market. Ricochet's WWE contract expired last year and he opted to see what his value would be outside of the company, which is a smart decision, especially if he hit a ceiling in terms of how far up the ladder he can go within the organization. Not that Ricochet is the next Cody Rhodes, but The American Nightmare is a prime example of how important it is to be able to evolve a career with a fresh start somewhere else. Nobody in the office thought that Stardust was going to main event Wrestlemania, but a six-year absence gave him the chance to ascend to the top spot in the company.

Jim Cornette had a very wise philosophy in this regard when he explained, "how can we miss you if you don't go away?" and all things considered,  Ricochet at least has a chance to rejuvenate himself to raise his stock for a potential return in the future.

However, and this is the other side of the coin as far as the risks involved in trying to branch out to attempt to prove the office wrong, in some cases, if a talent flounders, they might end up proving management right.

I'd say that it remains to be seen what the answer to that will be in  Ricochet's case, but at this point, it looks like he might unintentionally prove that maybe WWE management made the right call to keep him at a certain level. One of the positives, and in some cases the negatives, of the freedom for talent in AEW to tweak their presentation, is that some of the guardrails that are used in WWE to hide weaknesses can be exposed in the Khan-owned organization. During a recent interview, Triple H was asked about Ricochet's exit, and while Triple H praised his athletic ability, he mentioned that the former NXT star wasn't comfortable on the mic or working the camera. So far, his AEW tenure has exposed his lack of mic skills and his promos have been so cringe worthy that is was one of the reasons that the audience soured on him.

The real-life performer is probably a great guy, but he sounds like a total dork when he speaks on television. Furthermore, he made the mistake of jabbing with random trolls on Twitter so he looks very petty in the process. Finally, during AEW's series of events at The Hammerstein Ballroom last month, the New York fans decided to throw toilet paper at him, which is now becoming a part of the show after that.

In theory, if he can lean into the rejection of the audience, it could help him evolve his character work as a heel, but the major problem is, and this is one of the reasons that some view high spot wrestlers are viewed as limited in how far they can move up the card, it's going to be difficult to work as a heel when his maneuvers are so spectacular. This is actually meant as a compliment, Ricochet's one of the most graceful performers in the business today so there's somewhat of a conflicting narrative for him to try to work as a heel. Now, you might say that he's already getting heat from the audience, but there's a difference between heel heat and "go away heat." If the fans would rather just not see Ricochet or more specifically not have to listen to his cringe worthy promos, his could be stuck in a position of indifference, where it doesn't quite get over enough for him to be an asset as a heel, but the audience is too soured on him to embrace him as a baby face either.

The notion of indifference is the complete opposite of how to draw money in professional wrestling.

The reason I mention that the talented aerial star might be in a no-win situation is that he made his debut at Wembley Stadium in August and it took less than three months for the crowd to reject him. First, you have to wonder, was there a plan for Ricochet beyond the artificial debut pop? We've seen several guys show up and be featured on television for a few months until they fade into the background of the typical slapstick booking approach often used by Tony Khan. More importantly, even if they was a plan before, what's the plan now? It goes without saying that the hostility from the audience was unexpected so how will his character be used to adjust to that? It's possible that there won't be any specific adjustments made beyond what we've already seen when he will pause between dazzling high spots to taunt the crowd.

I'm not trying to be too pessimistic, because he's undoubtedly one of the most talented high flyers of the modern era, but the harsh reality is that he might not have the mic skills to be an effective baby face, and since the fans already soured on him, he might not have the character skills to be an effective heel. Again, indifference is the opposite of what draws money, and the bottom line is, that might put Ricochet in the category of just being a "good hand," not a major star, which is exactly where the WWE put him before his AEW debut.

What's next for New Japan?

New Japan Pro Wrestling, one of the most storied organizations in the entire pro wrestling industry, held a pair of signature Tokyo Dome events last week, with the trademark Wrestle Kingdom show on January 4th and then followed that with Wrestle Dynasty, a co-promoted event with All Elite Wrestling, the next day. The working agreement between the two sides has been somewhat odd over the past few years, particularly because the majority of the "agreement" saw Tony Khan cherry-pick most of the top talent from the Japanese league. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a "talent raid," that was a term developed by Vince McMahon to spin the narrative of the Monday Night war when he found himself on the losing side of the ratings battle for the first time as a promoter during that era. Tony Khan's acquisition of talent was simply that he offered more money than New Japan could reasonably counter offer for, and the talent decided to take the money and the bigger platform of national television in the United States to sign with AEW.

That's not a talent raid, that's just capitalism.

Sure, it's going to be an uphill proposition for NJPW regardless because they can't compete with a billionaire, or the expanded revenue of the American major leagues, despite being the biggest promotion in Japan. That's not a jab, either. New Japan has a tremendous history and some of the greatest bouts in the history of the sport took place in an NJPW ring, but the bottom line is, the New Japan product was always designed to sell toward its domestic market, both culturally and with its presentation so it simply doesn't have the resources of a global wrestling promotion.

In short, if WWE wants a New Japan wrestler, and in the modern era, even more so now with Triple H running the company with better opportunities given to foreign talent, more often than not, the TKO corporation can land the free agents. WWE is going to pay them top money, knowing that they are asking a performer with a top spot in their native country to completely relocate to the United States. There was a reason Shinsuke Nakamura was content to reportedly surface when he was off television for several months prior to the US title push. At the same time, WWE is a billion dollar corporation because it maximizes its return on investment the vast majority of the time so if Tony Khan is willing to overpay performers just to add them to his roster, and we've seen several examples of this, WWE brass won't pay more than they think they can generate promoting a competitor for their contract.

That puts New Japan in a tough spot, as the WWE can offer top money and the potential for a major spot in the biggest sports entertainment organization in the world, which ultimately means even more money, or Tony Khan will agree to sign some of the Japanese stars for more than New Japan could realistically offer given the organization's economic status. There was a time when the WWE would've been seen as somewhat of a step down for Japanese talent, especially during its heyday or as recently as the low point of the business there in the early-2000s. Basically, the sports-based performers weren't going to risk being saddled with a hokey gimmick, or working tag matches TL Hopper on an episode of Superstars, all due respect to Tony Anthony. Plus, Jinsei Shinzaki's stint in the WWF was just under a year and a half, with a notable series of matches against Bret Hart as the only portion of his tenure that had any importance, despite his stellar skill set. Also in 1994, there was a very memorable, but very brief working agreement with the All Japan Women's group. Again, despite some tremendous talent, they weren't truly presented or featured to the level of their in-ring ability.

Within the modern era, the old wrestling troupe of limitations with foreign talent, especially those that don't already speak fluent English, is almost considered an antiquated concept. So, Japanese talent appear to be more receptive to importing their careers to the United States. Of course, since Tony Khan is a longtime subscriber of The Wrestling Observer newsletter, he understands the value and sometimes overvalues the top-tier Japanese talent.

The combination of those factors have made it increasingly tougher for the New Japan office to replenish its talent pool within the past decade or so. AJ Styles and Nakamura were originally signed away with The Good Brothers in 2016 before the launch of All Elite Wrestling saw the temporary exits of Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and Adam Page in 2019. Within the past five years of AEW's existence, Kota Ibushi, Shibata, Jay White, Okada, and others from the main event scene of New Japan were signed by Tony Khan.

Essentially, in some form or fashion, as soon as NJPW would reestablish it's main event picture, some of those stars would be signed elsewhere. It's not easy to create or develop money-drawing stars. As talented as most of the New Japan roster is with a higher standard of in-ring work, with a few exceptions, than some of the rosters in America because of the emphasize of the Japanese style, the bottom line is, major performers that can legitimately draw money are still very rare.

The pair of Tokyo Dome events were six and five hours respectively so to parse details on the matches would be too lengthy, but the broaden scope, both for the draw and the top bouts, can tell the story of the organization right now. Wrestle Kingdom, with Zack Sabre Jr. headlining against  Shota Umino drew just under 25,000 fans. Wrestle Dynasty saw Sabre Jr. defend the IWGP belt against Ricochet, garnering just over 15,000 fans in the building. Umino is a solid performer, but the general notion is that he's not a star yet. The numbers for Wrestle Kingdom more or less confirm that. Sabre Jr. is one of the most gifted technicians of his general, but if I had to guess, I'd say that he was only given a reign with the heavyweight championship based on the complete lack of depth on the current roster. I'm not surprised that his defense against Ricochet drew significantly less than the traditional dome event the day before. Make no mistake about it, the former WWE competitor is very talented, but is he truly a star? Would there be any reason for the fans in Japan to believe that he was actually going to win the title during a one-off appearance?

One of the good aspects of Wrestle Dynasty was that Kenny Omega returned to in-ring action after more than a year due to a life-threatening bout with diverticulitis at the end of 2023. I have to be honest, I was skeptical that Omega could return to top form, not just because of the intestinal issues, but also the several surgeries that he had to repair injuries that put him on the shelf for almost a year prior to that. Omega and Gabe Kidd had a tremendous bout that was less of the usual overly choreographed sequences that are often seen in the modern era and more of a physical contest that was designed to look more competitive during the match.

It remains to be seen how far Gabe Kidd can go up the ladder or if New Japan management would want to invest major stock into him this year, but I don't think it would be unrealistic to consider the contest a potentially star-making performance for Gabe Kidd, even if he didn't win the match.

I'm not sure if Gabe Kidd is going to get that type of push, or if that would truly help boost NJPW numbers, but again the attendance figures for the Tokyo Dome events revealed a diminished interest in the product, at least for live event tickets. Bushiroad, the parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling, CEO Takaaki Kidani told Tokyo Sports during the post-event press conference that the goal is to draw 40,000 fans for Wrestle Kingdom next year. That's a very lofty goal, especially because the company hasn't drawn anything close to that number since before the pandemic. However, New Japan president, Hiroshi Tanahashi plans to retire at the Tokyo Dome next year so that might be enough to get to that type of attendance. The legendary grappler carried the company on his back when it was on the brink of collapse in the early-200s, but more than two decades in the ring have undoubtedly taken a toll on him so it's a wise decision for him to retire. That being said, while the final bout for Tanahashi might be a major draw for the organization, how the NJPW office builds for the future remains to be seen. This might be too optimistic, but with the roster so bloated in AEW, maybeTony Khan could do the company a favor and send some of his talent that otherwise would only be wrestling occasionally in America to Japan for an extended period of time to add some depth to the roster.

Raw debut on Netflix

The WWE entered unprecedented territory last night when Raw, the longtime flagship show of the publicly-traded corporation, made its debut on Netflix. In a move that truly globalizes the product to a level never before seen, the streaming platform broadcasted the landmark episode live throughout the vast majority of the civilized world.

In signature WWE style, there was all the pomp and circumstance that you'd expect to go along with the $5 billion dollar deal that took the program from its traditional cable spot to behind the Netflix paywall. With the executives front row, there was quite literally the pyro and ballyhoo to maximize the atmosphere of the new era of the WWE.

The show opened with an absolutely incredible video package narrated by Triple H, which was another example of how unmatched the WWE production value truly is, especially for these major shows. In a reflection of the episode itself, this sold the sizzle, not the substance, which is completely fine, as that was the designed nature of the broadcast. Of course, you simply can't have Wrestlemania-type matches 52 weeks a year, but still, the debut edition of Raw on Netflix could give an indication of the overall direction of the brand going forward, particularly with the build to Wrestlemania this year, which will be held Easter weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The first segment saw The Rock cut a basic, but effective promo, and it's probably a good thing that he didn't let himself ramble on with anything that went beyond the 10-minute mark as far as mic time. However, it should be noted that The Rock praised Cody Rhodes, who he feuded with prior to WM last year so unless they are dropping what could've been a money match, it was a little odd that any of the previous hostility was essentially ignored. The Rock's reemergence on the WWE scene with his appointment to the TKO board last year was a good PR move, as the company looked to distance itself in every way possible from Vince McMahon, but it's also been a good decision for Dwayne Johnson as well. This isn't meant as a knock, but his films haven't done quite as well at the box office and a few were panned by critics in recent years. That's not to say that he's not still a mega star in Hollywood, every career, especially in the movie business, has some peaks and valleys. The Rock brings an added sizzle to the WWE product, and at the same time, it puts the real-life Dwayne Johnson in an environment where he looks like a bigger star so it becomes a win-win situation for everyone.

Considering his age, if The Rock has more matches planned, I'd guess that they'd have to take place sooner rather than later. If he isn't on the card for Wrestlemania in Las Vegas, I simply don't see him delaying any of the potential marquee matches for a few years. If the WWE is going to promote The Rock vs. Cody, or The Rock vs. Roman Reigns in a Samoan showdown, it would probably have to been within the next year or two. Interestingly, when the first match on the card saw Reigns beat Solo Sikoa to win the acknowledgement as the only tribal chief, when it looked like there could be a post-match heel turn by The Rock on Roman, which could've been a way to use their tag team defeat at WM last year to build toward this year's event, The Rock simply stood in the ring as Reigns celebrated. As far as the match itself, it was a solid segment, it might not have been a Tokyo Dome spot fest, but it was very well done from a story telling perspective. I could be wrong, but for some reason, I'd still guess that The Rock vs. Roman will happen at Wrestlemania. I think Jacob Fatu/Reigns could be a stellar match at the biggest show of the year, but Fatu is still relatively new to the WWE landscape, and The Rock is obviously the bigger money match.

Hulk Hogan made a brief appearance to cut a promo and was more or less booed out of the building. Some will claim this had to do with his political affiliation with the orange villain, but The Undertaker endorsed Trump and still received a positive crowd reaction based on his legendary status. Some might make the case that everyone deserves a second chance, but it's important to keep in mind that Hulk had a reputation as a jerk long before the infamous Gawker tape revealed that he said several racial slurs and derogatory comments. The difference is that there are a slew of podcasts to tell those stories on a more public basis, they aren't just in the dirt sheets or on shoot interview VHS tapes for a niche audience like they were in the past. Furthermore, it's also much easier for Hogan's track record of exaggerated claims and outright lies to be debunked with modern technology.

The Hulkster was there to announce that his "Real American Beer" had signed a sponsorship deal with the WWE. As aloof and obtuse as the entire brand is, Hogan jumped on the Trump train for the same reason that the convicted felon joined the political game, it's relatively easy money. Keep in mind, political donations are counted by the tens of millions of dollars. Not to mention the merchandise and the stock scams that go along with the marketing tagline to "save America." Terry Bolea saw that there was hefty cash to be made on the notion of "patriotism" and wanted to make sure he got a piece of the piece. Sure, it's insincere and it's scummy, but from purely a business perspective, it's a smart move. The Hulkster will gleefully collect some money from the purchases of "Real American" beer, which will be bought from the same local yokels that still think coal is going to make a comeback and that the wall is going to be built.

Don't get too riled up, though. Remember, politics are more of a work than pro wrestling, and it's more profitable, too.

However, sponsorships have increased drastically after the merger with the UFC last year, and they played a very key role in the overall presentation of the first episode of the Netflix era. The canvas had a slew of logos on it, which is completely fine. While I understand why Vince didn't want the mat to look like a billboard, the bottom line is, it's a way to make even more money, and when the company is publicly-traded, there's a responsibility to the stockholders to maximize revenue. I also understand why the organization used the black canvas, as it gave more of a sports-based visual, but it was almost too dark overall so hopefully the color scheme can be tweaked going forward.

Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan to win the Women's championship, and it made sense to book the title switch on this show to have as many noteworthy results as possible. Liv did a good job as champion, but I think it's time for both competitors to move onto a new feud, especially with the previously mentioned Wrestlemania on the horizon, with Ripley's opponent probably being determined at The Royal Rumble in a few weeks. The Undertaker cameo after the match was fun, and it was a cool moment to give Ripley the endorsement from the legend to conclude the segment.

The main event was CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, another bout that could've taken place, and probably will still take place, at Wrestlemania. The match was fine, it wasn't subpar or anything, but I got the impression that they were saving some dramatic in-ring scenarios for a bigger stage. Unless, Punk is going to challenge for a championship in the main event, there seems to be too much meat left on the bone for the Rollins/Punk rivalry to wrap up on Raw. Furthermore, during the John Cena cameo, he said that he will enter The Royal Rumble, and the narrative of him breaking the recognized championship record during his retirement tour is almost too good of an opportunity to pass up for the company because it would maximize his final run.

One of the other major takeaways from this show was that the term "wrestling," a word that was once banned under Vince McMahon, was used often. Truth be told, while I understand why the sports entertainment tagline would be used for marketing purposes and sponsorships, it always seemed silly that McMahon tried to avoid "wrestling" being said on a pro wrestling show. The video packages of the spectacle of sports entertainment definitely make sense, but nobody has ever said they bought a ticket to go to the "sports entertainment matches." Obviously, this is just one episode, but it certainly looks like management has some major plans for the product this year.

3LW Pittsburgh debut

Pittsburgh, a city known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, has such a storied history of the genre of the squared circle that it often gets passed down from generation to generation. The stories of Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling, house shows at the Civic Arena, or wild bouts at the Golden Dome in Monaca become a part of family discussions when reminiscing about grappling of the past. Bruno, Angle, and Douglas are just a few of those western Pennsylvania legends that left an impact on the sport.

It goes without saying that sports entertainment is woven into the fabric of the area almost as much as any of the other sports the region is known for. The field, the rink, and the ring all draw a passionate response from the dedicated fans of the city. As such, it's not uncommon for live events to be hosted from a myriad of organizations on any given weekend throughout western Pennsylvania. Those dedicated sports fans usually have the opportunity to see a live wrestling somewhere each weekend. With nearly a half a dozen groups bringing in respectable crowds on a regular basis, the Pittsburgh scene has proven to be a market that is ripe for quality professional wrestling.

This Thursday, Three Legacies Wrestling, a group that was founded by former WWE star, Jesus "Ricardo" Rodriguez in mid-2022, will make its Pittsburgh area debut with its presentation of "Steel City Grit," a nod to the traditional and heritage associated with the region. Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the 3LW product, a combination of spectacle and enthusiasm from its young roster that is blended with styles from around the globe, will be imported to Pittsburgh with the goal to add its flavor to the vibrant wrestling scene of the city.

"Pittsburgh has a very rich pro wrestling history and a lot of very passionate fans. And an area that that I have had the privilege of wrestling in many times, both independently and with WWE so it felt like a right fit to bring not only the 3LW talent that opportunity, but to also showcase the 3LW talent to the western PA audience. We are proud that over the course of our history, we have grown not, just internally, but also our base area which, is a testament of the product and presentation of 3LW," said Rodriguez.

The 38-year-old grappler has spent more than half of his life involved in the professional wrestling industry in some form or fashion. Through his extensive experience in a variety of roles, he brings a jack-of-all-trades skill set to the table. He has shown that he can discover, polish, and produce aspects of the sport at any level. He has found himself in a sold out stadium under the brightest lights of Wrestlemania, and he helped aspiring hopefuls take their first step in a wrestling ring as a trainer around the world at various training centers. Ironically, the west coast native traveled quite literally around the globe through the avenue of professional wrestling, with his early days in his hometown under the persona of "Chimaera," but it was the quiet city of Lancaster where he landed for his most ambitious project of his career as an event organizer.

"I have learned in this newly found journey as a promoter that it takes a lot of work and patience and trust, not only in your abilities, but in your entire team. Having that confidence that your product and your brand can deliver is key, but so is being able to promote oneself because as a good saying goes 'what good is having a good product if no one knows about it.' And the more we grow that more people can experience it," he explained.

True to his path in the sport of building the genre, and in this case, the brand from every level, a critical piece of the puzzle for the 3LW project is its training center, where Rodriguez serves as its head trainer. A pair of wrestling rings in the facility house eager students that look forward to the chance to quite literally learn the ropes from an accomplished veteran like Rodriguez. A row of flags representing various countries decorates one of the wall, a reflection of the curriculum that teaches a potpourri of styles within the grappling arts.

"It began with the mission to give back to not only the wrestling industry, but also the community. 3LW provides the platform and the tools for wrestling hopefuls to help achieve their dreams as well as help build a strong community with its charity events," Rodriguez remarked.

Among the talent that will have the chance to shine during 3LW's Pittsburgh debut are names like the wild man Tarzan Duran, who will tangle with stellar NWA star, Spence Slade in the evening's main event, the Pittsburgh-based, but internationally renowned Facade will square off with energetic youngster, Pat Angel Zoey Cannon, J.S. Hawthorne, and many other mainstays of the Three Legacies project will be on the card. The eccentric and always entertaining Super Oprah is also advertised for the event.

"I’m looking forward to debuting at 3LW especially in one of the greatest wrestling cities like Pittsburgh. I’m also excited to go against one of the biggest names in pro wrestling, Facade. I know he has a high set of skills, but so do I, and I’m looking forward to matching his energy and hopefully come out on top with my first win at 3LW against one of the best to do it. This will be a great start to the new year," Pat Angel commented enthusiastically.

The event will be held at "Sunken Bus Studios," an event space in the city that hosts a myriad of entertainment events. Comedy shows and live music are staples of the building, but the arrival of 3LW has prompted anticipation from participants and fans alike ahead of Thursday's live action.

"Three Legacies Wrestling has been growing rapidly elsewhere in Pennsylvania and I'm excited to experience the vibe first hand. It's very rare to see an event pop up in this part of Pittsburgh, being only four miles from home for me, I hope to see some familiar faces come out to support so we can see Jesus and 3LW in the area more often," said Joe Dombrowski, the voice of the English broadcasts of AAA Lucha Libre and lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Wrestling that will host the evening as 3LW ring announcer.

"Steel City Grit is a show I'm very excited to be a part of. If it's anything from past experiences working for Three Legacies in Lancaster, it will be a night of exhilarating, high-paced and family friendly action with a colorful cast of characters. The fantasy clash of styles with Spencer Slade and Tarzan Duran make for a bargain at the door," added George Ross, one of the best referees on the independent circuit that will be there to make the count for the Pittsburgh debut.

The diverse landscape of the steel city circuit will get the chance to experience a fresh and unique addition when Three Legacies Wrestling brings its brand to Sunken Bus Studios this Thursday.

"Fans can expect a night of high flying, fast paced, character-driven, pro wrestling action that's suitable for all ages," Rodriguez concluded.

What's next for AEW?

Just before the end of 2024, I penned an article about what could be used for a happy new year for WWE brass, mostly focused on the fact that the retirement tour of John Cena, almost unanimously the biggest star that company produced since the heyday of Steve Austin and The Rock in the Attitude era, could be the centerpiece for the publicly-traded corporation to draw big numbers at higher ticket prices than in the past. I also mentioned that Cena, the guy who was a total workhorse for the company throughout the vast majority of his career, deserved the final run, particularly with the possibility of dethroning Cody Rhodes to break Ric Flair's recognized title record. I doubt you could consider it a knock on Cody or a downgrade on his status if he dropped the belt for the time being to someone at the level of Cena. In many ways, Cena provided the blue print for the modern top guys, such as Rhodes and Roman Reigns, to follow as far as a representative for the organization. Sure, the wild stories of the 80s are fun cannon fodder during podcast interviews, but there's a way too lengthy list of performers that passed away way too young because of their lifestyle at the time. In the modern when everyone has a camera on their phone and social media could ruin a career within minutes, it's exponentially more important for top guys to be as cautious and measured as possible.

You won't see John Cena get a DUI, he won't storm off of an important interview, and he takes his role as a figure that some fans look up to seriously. As I wrote prior, John Cena is the real-life hero that Hulk Hogan pretended to be on-screen.

However, All Elite Wrestling is the other side of the coin, as for all being the other major force within the sports entertainment industry. For all of its faults, and there are plenty of rightfully faults of the AEW product, the Khan-owned organization still has a noticeable impact on the direction of the business. It's nothing new, regardless of the struggles that company had behind the scenes or with the numbers for the on-screen programming, but the bottom line is as long as Tony Khan is willing to offer competitive money for talent (and sometimes he even overpays) compared to the WWE, his promotion can dictate a portion of the narrative of the genre in the United States.

So, what does All Elite Wrestling have to do for a happy new year in 2025?

This isn't a jab about the competition, but it goes without saying that it's exponentially easier for WWE to bank on Cena because of his history and star power over the previous two decades. 

For All Elite, the answers are potentially much more complicated since the harsh reality is that the company has lost steam and viewership since Cody Rhodes left the organization nearly three years ago. As we know, Rhodes mentioned publicly in the documentary released last year about his return to WWE that he signed a nondisclosure agreement prior to his exit from AEW, but hopefully, at some point in the future, someone with knowledge of the situation can shed some light on it, as it appears that there was a serious divide between the once tight-knit Elite group. Regardless of the reasoning, Rhodes' exit and then the terrible publicity of backstage chaos in the few years afterward have drastically impacted the perception of the organization. It might be a cliche, but sometimes cliches are true, and in this scenario, perception is reality. The ratings and attendance reflect that narrative, as the controversy around the company has eroded some of the enthusiasm and good will of the audience.

As far as putting a positive spin on the new year, including Max as a streaming platform is artificial corporate fluff. Sure, it makes the WBD executives happy, and it makes sense to keep those suites happy since they gave AEW a few hundred million dollars for their next TV deal, but it's important to keep in mind that a simulcast doesn't improve the content of the shows. Let's be honest here, Dynamite was streamed and Triller and Fite prior to this so none of this is new territory for the television show. Viewers that aren't watching All Elite programming don't watch because of dissatisfaction with the content, not a lack of access.

The substance of a potentially positive spin for AEW will sink or swim based on the decisions made that will determine the overall direction of the show. Don't get me wrong, Tony Khan is a billionaire, and I'm not so what do I now? But, my two cents on the matter is that Tony's philosophy of catering to the diehard audience that usually follows The Wrestling Observer newsletter won't translate to success on national television. By nature, the newsletters aren't for the general public or the casual fan, but when a show is on TBS, it must be geared toward the broadest audience possible.

That's not to say that a wrestling-based product can't be successful, WCW proved that it can be during its peak, albeit for an abbreviated period because of discontent behind the scenes, not the action in the ring.

In many ways, the general philosophy of an emphasize of wrestling action is the right call. All Elite should aim to be the Pepsi to WWE's Coca Cola. There are a few decades to prove that nobody is going to produce a slicker show or have more pyro and ballyhoo than the WWE machine. The WWE sells the spectacle and became a billion dollar corporation because of it. Let the franchise guys like Ospreay and Okada go other there, much like they did at Worlds End, and place an importance on it that is on the level of their skill set. The biggest problem with the set up for the finals at Worlds End was literally no progress was made, Okada started as the Continental champion and then finished as the Continental champion so from a storyline prospective, if a view simply skipped the tournament, what did they miss? Was remain the Continental titleholder really a way to make Okada seem more important, specifically when his character doesn't have much direction since The Young Bucks disappeared from AEW TV?

As far Ospreay, I wrote previously that he could be the guy for AEW in a similar way that AJ Styles was considered the standard for TNA, but he's spinning his wheels working the mid-card with only an emphasis on "great matches" instead of being booked in the main event scene to establish his star power.

I want to make it clear, All Elite Wrestling has a tremendous amount of talent, but the way that they are used doesn't highlight or establish them as money-drawing stars. Again, if great matches alone were the way to draw money on a national level in the United States, TNA would've had an exponentially bigger run than it did during its peak almost two decades ago.

This is why for All Elite to have a happy new year, my two cents on the matter to the billionaire boss that runs the company is to simplify every aspect possible of the on-screen presentation. Don't concern yourself with how many stars a match-up will receive from Dave Meltzer, the talent on the roster is solid regardless of a ratings system in a newsletter, take the talent that is the most over with the audience and book them against the heels with the most heat from the crowd. Allow the baby face to fight for the audience and get the heel to put obstacles in the way. Maybe Ospreay should've been the one to save the organization from the reign of Moxley's faction. The four-way at the pay-per-view was an artificial way book a main event without a compelling angle. What's the point of the Moxley stable? Despite some rambling promos, I'm not sure a purpose has been declared.

Tony is a well-known fan of old school wrestling, and instead of an overly-complicated presentation based on the charts and graphs from his days of E-fed booking on the internet, perhaps a simplified old school approach would be useful for his wrestling project in 2025. It might be more productive to take the most over talent and book them against the most hated heels. The journey of the baby face to triumph is ultimately how you draw money, there are decades of examples from dozens of territories to prove it as being an effective strategy for the company.