Global Force Wrestling

Earlier this year, Jeff Jarrett announced the launch of Global Force Wrestling and while there was a buzz around it, there weren't many details about the new promotion. Despite the announcement nearly six months ago, there's still not a lot of information about the actual company. As of now, there's no official roster, no television deal, and no live events scheduled with the exception of a GFW branded broadcast of the New Japan Pro Wrestling Tokyo Dome show in a few months. So, what exactly is GFW?

Last year, there were several rumors that Jarrett and Toby Keith made an offer to buy TNA, but a deal wasn't reached because Bob Cater wanted Dixie to remain on TV if the company was sold. After Jarrett resigned from TNA a few months later, reports surfaced online that he was going to start another promotion and it was officially announced in April. As mentioned, no roster or TV deal has been announced, but there are working agreements with several international promotions, including AAA and NJPW. That's one of the elements that could give Global Force something unique to promote, the international talent from different promotions, which is similar to how WCW used talent from Mexico and Japan in the late 90s. More specifically, if GFW would provide an American stage for some of the top international performers, the company could generate a fan base to showcase talent that doesn't usually appear in the United States. As I've mentioned in a previous column, the Bullet Club is one of the top stables in New Japan and one of the reasons that the promotion had a resurgence the past few years so if Global Force can book the Bullet Club for events in the United States, it would certainly help the promotion become established as something other than just a PPV broadcast. The other international talent that would be beneficial for GFW is "El Patron" Alberto Del Rio because he's still fresh off of WWE TV and he returned to Mexico as a top star, but he was recently announced to debut for Ring Of Honor so it seems doubtful he would sign to Global Force.

While the possibilities of different talent provide some unique scenarios for the Global Force brand, there's still not an actual company established and in some respects, it seems like Jarrett is looking to use the broadcast of a New Japan show as a "launch" for a company that doesn't exist yet. New Japan sent some of their stars to work Ring Of Honor shows earlier this year and considering that NJPW seems to be expanding into the United States, you have to wonder why didn't they set up their own PPV deal? Was Jarrett necessary to get the Tokyo Dome show on American PPV? The New Japan office and Jarrett are the only ones that know the answer, but it certainly seems like Jarrett is getting the better part of the deal if he can associate his company name with NJPW when the promotion has already gained notoriety in the United States the past few years. If Global Force is going to become an established promotion, you have to wonder if there's really enough of the market for it to be profitable.

The wrestling business has been down in recent years and you have to wonder,  is there a market for another wrestling promotion? WWE has a majority of the wrestling fans watching the product, TNA has about a million viewers watch Impact, ROH has an audience, and Lucha Underground is trying to get a portion of the market, so what audience will Global Force try to market towards? Basically, what can Global Force bring to the table that isn't already used in a different promotion? That's not to say GFW can't be successful, but at this point, they haven't promoted anything different from what fans can already watch for a different promotion.

It will be extremely interesting to see the direction that Global Force goes and if they sign a TV deal because that's what would give them the opportunity to become a national promotion. Considering that TNA struggled to sign a new deal and even Destination America is a smaller channel, cable networks don't seem to eager to sign a wrestling company so it might be a challenge for GFW to get a TV deal. Don't get me wrong, Global Force has a chance to become a national product and there could be a great roster, but there are a lot things that Global Force would have to add to become a legitimate promotion.

CM Punk signed for UFC

For the second week in a row, Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast froze its website because of the amount of people attempting to listening to CM Punk discuss his departure from the WWE. Last week, social media was a buzz as Punk finally spoke about his decision to leave the WWE almost a year ago and during the podcast, there were many revelations about what exactly led to Punk quitting the company. I'm going to discuss a few of the main highlights from the original podcast, but if you haven't listened to it yet, I would recommend it, as it's worth listening to hear it directly from Punk.

One of the main topics for Punk was that he wasn't booked in the main event of Wrestlemania, even when he was the champion and defended the title against Chris Jericho at the event because The Rock returned to the company to wrestle John Cena for the main event. I've mentioned it before and I will say it again, while The Rock is a draw for casual fans and it certainly makes sense for him to appear at Wrestlemania, it doesn't boost the current roster if a returning star automatically gets a top spot at the biggest show of the year. How are the performers that are on the roster supposed to be perceived as major stars if they are booked for a secondary spot on the card? However, The Rock vs. Cena set a pay-per-view record and the argument could be made that more causal fans would pay to see The Rock in the main event than CM Punk, but it should also be considered that the Wrestlemania brand is a selling point, so it depends on the perspective of the situation.

Punk also detailed that he had a staph infection for two months prior to his WWE departure that the WWE medical team didn't provide useful medication for it and it was only after he left that Punk received the necessary medication for it. The WWE has since went into damage control and released a statement that their medical staff has a top priority to ensure the safety of the performers. In all fairness, medicine isn't an easy occupation and unless someone is a doctor, they probably shouldn't criticize the WWE medical staff, at least until they would have an opportunity to explain their side of the situation. Don't get me wrong, Punk could have a valid point, but it's important to consider that there are two sides to it.

Another interesting note that was revealed during Punk's appearances on Cabana's podcast was that Batista vs. Randy Orton was the original main event booked for Wrestlemania, which proves that the WWE didn't have some elaborate plan to push Daniel Bryan as an under dog, but it was the fan reaction that put Bryan in the main event. As I've said before, you can't blame Batista for his return being a flop, but rather the booking where the WWE tried to tell the fans what they should want to see in the main event. Regardless, it's great that Daniel Bryan got the push he deserved and hopefully, he can return soon.

However, Punk wasn't done making headlines, as he appeared during the UFC 181 broadcast and it was announced that he signed with the organization to fight next year. I've watched MMA for years and I was completely shocked to see Punk at the PPV. There were rumors that Punk had discussions with the UFC, but with no MMA experience, I didn't think he would actually sign with the promotion. The announcement of Punk's signing has garnered a mixed reaction, as some fans are thrilled he will enter the octagon, while others disapprove of it because of his lack of MMA experience. It really depends on how you look at it, the UFC is the major league of MMA and for a fighter to be signed, it usually indications they have proven themselves to be one of the better fighters in the sport so Punk getting a contract seems to go against that theory. On the flip side, CM Punk is one of the most popular sports figures of the past decade and it will draw major money if he fights in the UFC. Despite being a sport, the UFC is primarily a business and their profits were down this year after a series of injuries derailed some prime PPV matches so signing CM Punk is a smart business move for the company. There were also a few of the UFC's top draws that have left the promotion, including Brock Lesnar and George St. Pierre so Punk would boost the numbers that have declined after a few of the company's top stars retired. As for Punk's MMA career, he deserves credit for trying to transition to a new career, but it's doubtful that he will achieve the success of Brock Lesnar when he transitioned to MMA after his initial run in the WWE. Despite being a former NCAA national champion, Lesnar struggled with some of the basic striking of MMA and while his UFC run generated a lot of money, he retired after a 5-3 record in the sport. That's not to discredit Lesnar, but rather just an example of a lack of MMA experience effecting a career.

Punk has been training with the Gracie Ju Jitsu gym, but he has no MMA experience and it would be extremely difficult for anyone to start fighting in the UFC without major experience in some aspect of the sport. I don't think CM Punk will be majorly successful in the UFC, but it will be entertaining to see him fight in the promotion.

Will the WWE network be successful?

The WWE announced a few different things about the WWE network during a conference call a few weeks ago and it provided some interesting information about the streaming network. Most notably, there are only 31,000 more subscribers than previously announced and there are a total of 731,000 subscribers, which is still under the million subscriptions that would reportedly cover the cost of the network. Despite the relentless advertising on WWE programming, the numbers still aren't where the WWE projected them and it seems like the extra price options that were added to try to boost the numbers because adding more content didn't really have a major effect. Essentially, the WWE hasn't made a profit from the network and if they don't find a way to get more subscriptions, you have to wonder if they would shut down the network. It was announced that new subscribers get a month free and that fans can cancel a subscription so they don't have to subscribe to a six month package. Basically, the WWE has done everything they can to get people to at least preview the network so if there's going to be a boost in numbers, it would probably be in the next few months, but why hasn't the network received the subscribers the WWE  projected?

There's not really one answer for it, but looking at the current state of the business and how the perception of the industry has evolved could provide some insight into the situation. On the surface, a 24/7 wrestling network sounds like an ideal product for every wrestling fan, but society isn't exactly demanding all access to sports entertainment. I've said it before and I'll say it again, wrestling has become over exposed and that exposure has led to a shift in the perception of the sport. Before it was common knowledge that pro wrestling was predetermined, the fans had an emotional investment in the product and the emotional investment is what draws money. Without the emotional investment, pro wrestling becomes interchangeable with any form of entertainment and people have nearly unlimited options for entertainment today because of more channels, internet, and other options.

If the fans believe in a product, they will pay to see it and if you look at the top draws, there's a pattern. The fans believed in Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and others. That's not to say that the audience didn't have a clue that wrestling was entertainment because they did, but there was enough kay fabe used that people actually thought Vince McMahon was a tyrant owner. The audience doesn't have to believe everything they watch during a show, but the key is to keep them guessing as to where the line between reality and entertainment. There's a reason the main stream media took notice when CM Punk dropped a pipe bomb because they didn't know if it was a work. Another example is how Daniel Bryan got over with the audience because there was an authenticity to his character and they knew he earned a top spot in the WWE.

The WWE network features a lot of great old school footage, but a major portion of the current WWE audience are younger fans that didn't watch the product during the Attitude Era so it seems as though the company is trying to market the network to an audience that doesn't directly associate with an older product, which could be a reason for the lack luster numbers. Another reason is that most of the fans that watch Raw are casual fans and the network is something more suitable for the die hard fans. It should also be considered that with five hours of original WWE programming on TV every week, some fans might not want to pay for more wrestling. Will the network be a success? Probably, but the number of subscribers certainly make a statement about pro wrestling for the market.

Bound for Glory

The biggest TNA pay-per-view of the year, Bound for Glory aired via tape delay from the legendary Korakuen Hall and the show itself could speak volumes about the direction of the promotion. The event took place in Tokyo, Japan so it gave TNA something unique to promote and the Japanese audience provided a different atmosphere for an American pay-per-view broadcast. The company has cut cost in recent months, specifically taping several episodes of TV during a few shows in New York and the Japanese working agreement was cost effective for them as well. If TNA booked the show in the United States, there would be the production costs of transporting the TV crew and the equipment for the broadcast. However, the Wrestle-1 agreement allowed TNA to save on the expenses because the show used a Wrestle-1 ring and production crew so basically the only major expense for TNA was flying the TNA competitors to Japan.

While it was a cheap way to produce a PPV, it didn't really represent the company for the biggest show of the year and it seemed more like an episode of Impact or one of the "One Night Only" PPVs because there weren't really any storylines involved for the show. With the exception of the main event, the rest of the Wrestle-1 talent on the card weren't featured on Impact so without the TV exposure, why would American fans pay for a show if they don't know anything about some of the wrestlers on the card? Another aspect to consider is that the results of the taped show were online before the PPV aired and most of the TNA fan base are internet fans so if they ordered the show, it was probably for the match quality rather than to see who was going to win specific bouts. Speaking of the match quality, the in ring action of the event was solid. However, the major flaw at TNA's biggest show was that the TNA champion, Bobby Lashley didn't defend the title or even make an appearance at the show. How important is the show if the champion isn't there? Granted, the decision to book Lashley as champion seemed like it was based more on MVP being injured at the time than anything else, but the point being, the champion didn't appear at Bound For Glory.

Perhaps, the most interesting news about the event was a segment that actually didn't make the broadcast. After winning a tag team match, Bully Ray displayed a Bullet Club t shirt and cut a promo to challenge them. As I mentioned in a previous column, the Bullet Club is one of the reasons for the resurgence of New Japan Pro Wrestling in the past few years and the stable has an international fan base. Bully Ray is a smart business man and he didn't resign with TNA so it's possible that he could start working for NJPW. If so, it's a wise decision to push an angle with the Bullet Club because it's one of the top groups in wrestling and it could be major money for a Bullet Club/Team 3D feud.

Who will be the next top star?

Last week, the WWE announced that Roman Reigns was rushed to a hospital and he underwent emergency surgery. The time frame for his return is said to be 4-6 weeks, but with the nature of the injury and the physicality of the WWE schedule, it's possible that it will be a few months before Reigns returns to in ring action. There's much speculation that Reigns is the next top star for the WWE and that he will be the competitor to eventually dethrone Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31 to win the title. While Reigns has the potential, I don't think the next top performer is set in stone yet and a lot of it depends on the development of some of the younger stars on the WWE roster. In some respects, it's unfair to tout Reigns as being the next main event superstar while he's still relatively new to the WWE landscape and it might be more useful to lower the expectations that Reigns will be the one to get the torch from John Cena until he grows into the role. However, with Reigns on the sidelines, what does the WWE book for the next few months?

The answer is exactly what the WWE did, Dean Ambrose steps into the Authority storyline and it actually might be the right decision, even for a long term basis. It's not anything against Reigns because as mentioned he has the potential to develop into a main event star, but at this point, he seems to lack somewhat on the mic. However, Ambrose has some of the best mic skills on the roster and he's solid in the ring so it's possible that he might be the competitor to get to the next level before Reigns. That being said, the WWE finds itself in somewhat of a transition phase because it seems like Lesnar will be the one to transition the title to the next top name in the company, but there's more to it than just an on screen performance. Many fans don't realize how many different things go along with being the top star in the WWE, which is why John Cena deserves credit for the work he's done for the company. Essentially, the top star has to work every house show, Raw, and pay-per-view. Plus, there's the travel to those events and many media appearances so obviously, the WWE has to make a wise decision when investing the TV time for the next star. As I've said before, John Cena is a work horse and nobody can question his work ethic. The other aspect is that regardless of the cheers or the boos from the crowd, Cena gets a reaction from the crowd. Regardless of if the audience pays to see him win or pays to him lose, the point is they pay to see him. However, who is going to be the next face of the company?

Daniel Bryan is currently on the sidelines and his future is still doubtful, but considering the reaction on Raw when his name is mentioned, Bryan is still over with the audience. In fact, his return could set up for another run at the title, but if he can return, the effects of the injury could shorten his career so the WWE will still probably invest in a younger star. Ultimately, Cena will be the face of the WWE until he retires, but as I said earlier, it's a pivotal time frame for the WWE because Cena isn't going to wrestle another ten years and more specifically, the WWE has used nostalgia acts to draw for Wrestlemania the past few years so it will be interesting to see how they push the next superstar that will main event the biggest show of the year. Don't get me wrong, the WWE has a lot of great talent that have potential to become a draw for the promotion, but with the state of the business as a whole down, it's not an easy task for the next superstar to emerge. NXT has a lot of potential as well, but the talents their aren't featured on the main shows yet so it's doubtful they would be pushed directly into the title picture. As for now, Ambrose seems like a safe bet to book into the main storyline on Raw, but it's still a question mark as to who will challenge Lesnar for the title at the next PPV? While it makes sense for a marketing stand point to keep Lesnar as much of a WWE network exclusive as possible and Paul Heyman does great work to keep him relevant on TV, it can be difficult to launch another feud for the title if there isn't direct interaction between Lesnar and the potential challenger. Despite his solid work on Raw, I don't think Ambrose will be booked for a title match with Lesnar and the DQ finish at Night Of Champions leaves the door open for another Cena rematch so it's possible there could be another Lesnar vs. Cena match in a cell. Since Lesnar will make sporadic TV appearances, hopefully the Ambrose/Rollins feud will continue to get a decent amount of TV time because it can elevate both of their profiles in the process with additional TV exposure. It will be interesting to see the direction of the storylines in the next few weeks and more specifically the direction of the title picture for the next PPV.

International Imports

Amongst the numerous WWE releases and budget cuts, there were some major signings as well, including some international stars that could provide another set of new stars for the WWE landscape in the next few years.

During WWE's tour of Japan a few months ago, it was announced in Osaka that the company signed Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA. The signing was considered a major event as Hulk Hogan was there for the announcement and in some ways, the role for Hogan works well, as his appearance could be considered somewhat of an endorsement for Kenta, even if just from a PR perspective. Originally trained in the All Japan dojo, Kenta is well known for the Japanese strong style, which is very similar to the style of his mentor, the legendary Kenta Kobashi. Shortly after Kenta's AJPW debut, Misawa (and a majority of the All Japan roster) left the promotion and formed Pro Wrestling NOAH, which is where Kenta became a main star in Japan. He also wrestled numerous matches for Ring of Honor, including some great matches with Daniel Bryan that are worth watching if you haven't seen them. After Misawa passed away in 2009, Kenta was one of the staples of the NOAH promotion, which kept it afloat during the infamous Yakuza scandal a few years ago that led to the dismissal of some of the office staff. Now, with the company more stable, it made sense for Kenta to make the jump to WWE, mostly because he accomplished almost everything he could do in Japan and at 33, it's a wise decision for him to shift towards a less risky style. While Kenta is an incredible talent, it's doubtful that he will be booked in a main event spot during his WWE run, specifically because he doesn't speak a lot of English, which could limit options for storylines. That being said, the lack of English could be solved if Kenta was given a manager, similar to the work Gary Hart did when The Great Muta debuted for the NWA, but considering it's usually rare for the WWE to book mangers, it's possible that Kenta might remain a mid carder. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Kenta/Bryan in a main event spot, but with the emphasis on promos for the WWE product, they probably wouldn't invest the TV time for a main event if the performer doesn't speak English. However, Kenta is still an important asset for the company and he will probably be a major part of WWE's international product, specifically for the WWE network as it continues to expand into different markets. Some fans reading this might not be too familiar with the Japanese wrestling scene, but while it had almost a decade of a decline, there has been a resurgence during the past few years with the expansion of New Japan Pro Wrestling iPPVs. A spin off of the New World Order, which was actually a storyline originally done in NJPW, The Bullet Club is one of the main factions that helped fuel the boost of New Japan. While the Bullet Club mostly consist of foreign wrestlers, the Japanese audience doesn't necessarily buy tickets just to watch American wrestling, which can be seen from the attendance numbers, considering that New Japan shows usually draw a better crowd than the recent series of WWE shows in Japan. However, if Kenta is showcased on the WWE network, the Japanese audience can see one of the main stars from their country and it's a reason for them to get a subscription. During the NXT event last week, Kenta was given the name Hideo Itami and it should be extremely interesting to see his NXT run.

The Canadian veteran, Kevin Steen was recently signed to a developmental deal and while it was a somewhat of a surprising move, considering that he doesn't fit the typical WWE mold, Steen has all the skills to be successful in WWE. The former ROH world champion is charismatic brawler, who was one of the most popular champions in the promotion's history and he always tries to give the fans their money's worth, which is another reason he got over in almost every major independent promotion. The major criticism for Steen that he acknowledged himself was that he had to get in shape if he wanted a chance to sign with the WWE and he did get in shape prior to a WWE tryout in March, which led to the NXT deal. There are some similarities to Mick Foley for Steen because as mentioned, he's not the typical WWE star, but the fans recognize his hard work and he can always get a crowd reaction. Steen has an impressive move list, some of which I doubt he will use in the WWE because they have safety precautions, but the moves are secondary to the reason he was one of the most popular stars on the independent scene. He can generate a response during his matches and he's accessible to fans, using Twitter to take questions for "The Kevin Steen Show" video series that was produced the past few years. During his time wrestling for ROH and PWG, Steen received praise from some of the WWE's biggest stars, including The Rock and Stone Cold for his matches. Obviously, it's a tremendous endorsement and I would guess that Steen has a bright future in the WWE. For those that might doubt his chances at making an impact, he has good mic work and he's somewhat comparable to Bray Wyatt, as they are both mobile big competitors so while anything can happen, Steen will probably be successful.

Prince Devitt is an Irish performer, who was trained with the British style, but made a name for himself in NJPW so he definitely brings a diverse skill set to NXT. In some respects, Devitt was under the radar, as he wrestled extensively in Japan for nearly eight years and he made sporadic appearances in the United States. However, he has all the skills to be a major star and he has a good character, using face paint based on different comic book designs. Devitt has a style similar to Seth Rollins and it should work well with some of the younger stars on the NXT roster.

Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars Review

The producers of "Wrestling's Bloodiest Wars:Emergency Room" asked if I would review the upcoming pay-per-view that is set to debut on various cable systems this week and I took the opportunity to watch the show. This edition of the series features the stars of Combat Zone Wrestling and the action is insane. You won't see action like this on Monday or Wednesday, as the blood flows freely while the combatants are involved with some unbelievable stipulations.

Lucky 13 vs. Scotty Vortex
The show opens with a ladder death match and it proves from the start of the show that these competitors will take some crazy risk during these ultra violent contests. Lucky 13, who is an aerial wrestler, deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in this match, as he was power bombed on a light tube ladder and as a result, he had a very serious gash on his back. Most performers would consider concluding the match earlier, but Lucky 13 actually had the event staff wrap tap around him to stop the bleeding and he continued the match. His opponent, Scotty Vortex is one of the original Nap Town Dragons and he was more than willing to risk injury with a series of light tube spots. After his Sabu style repair, Lucky 13 bridged a ladder between the ring and the guard rail to set up for the next ultra violent scenario. As Vortex was standing on the apron, Lucky 13 attempted what seemed like a reverse hurricanrana, but landed awkwardly on the ladder and it was a rough bump. Again, Lucky 13 continued the match, but Vortex eventually won it.

"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont vs. "Chainsaw" Joe Gacy
This match featured a variety of weapons including, a bed of nails, barbed wire, and other insanity. This contest will make you concerned for Termont's safety, as he takes some nasty bumps, including a barbed wire board, a guard rail, and other dangerous spots. During the bout, Tremont's arm gets sliced with two gashes that resemble some of the trademark scars of hardcore legend, Mick Foley. As Joe Gacy, who is a good prospect from the CZW dojo, continued the offense, blood poured from Tremont head. A side note about Tremont, he has become one of the top death match wrestlers in the United States in just a few years and he can be credited for keeping the ultra violent style relevant after the genre started to fade a few years ago. After going through a barbed wire table, Tremont used a barbed wire submission to get the win.

Danny Havoc vs. Rory Mondo
Both of these competitors use the hybrid style of wrestling, as there can blend the technical aspect into an ultra violent atmosphere and it's displayed during this match. After a technical exchange, a staple gun, carpet strips, and thumb tacks all became involved in the match. At one point during the bout, Mondo's boot is removed and he was dropped onto the tacks with many of them sticking into his foot. Each wrestler has toured Japan with the Big Japan promotion and the international influence was displayed at the conclude of the contest. Mondo was bleeding profusely, but he set up an open chair upside down and he put Havoc on his shoulders for the next sequence. Mondo hit the Burning Hammer on Havoc onto the open chair, which nearly impaled Havoc on the legs of the chair. After the insane spot, the referee actually stopped the match, but Mondo wasn't done, as he landed a double stop from the top rope onto Havoc while he was on a stretcher.

Devon Moore, Danny Havoc, and Lucky 13 vs. Rory Mondo, Ron Mathis, and Drew Blood
This six man war was complete insanity and it one of the highlights in a feud between these two teams. Ron Mathis, who is one of the younger talents to make a name for himself in recent years took a nasty suplex into the guard rail during the start of the match and he also took a bump with Danny Havoc into a barbed wire board to the floor. Devon Moore, who is a veteran of the independent scene and he did some crazy spots. Moore and Mondo climbed a scaffold that was at ringside and Moore put Mondo on his shoulders for a Finlay roll off the scaffold through a barbed wire board hanging from the ceiling for an insane spot. Moore climbed the scaffold again and he did a shooting star press onto Mathis to win the match.