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The Last ROH/NJPW Show Looks... Interesting

April 24, 2015, 7:00 am
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Hail Hydra, brothers
Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein
The second Global Wars show in Toronto, a television taping set for Saturday, May 16, has been announced, and while it lacks the overall punch of the first one, to be broadcast on Internet pay-per-view, it doesn't lack in overall interest. The NJPW stars will be wrestling in full force. Some will be getting unusual opponents, while a few of them will tackle stars more up to their level in stature. And just like at two of the other three shows, the Bullet Club will be in the main event.

Their opponents in said main event will emanate from the CHAOS stable. The match as situated will pit the trio of IWGP World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles and the Young Bucks against Kazuchika Okada and the IWGP World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, RPG Vice (Baretta and Rocky Romero). I had no idea that RPG Vice joined CHAOS, but it's still a really goddamn solid addition for the group, which also includes Gedo, Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, and HOSS PRIME Tomohiro Ishii. My disdain at seeing the goddamn Bullet Club featured three nights in the prime spot, this match should be a fantastic cap on the NJPW excursion. Not only are all six wrestlers among the best in the world right now, they have amazing heat with each other that should make for a special atmosphere.

Speaking of Gedo, he will be in action against Michael Elgin. This match will clinch that Elgin gets four different singles matches on four shows, which is a decision that I should have seen coming (since he's more well-regarded in most other fans' and in ROH management's eyes than mine) but that I'm not looking forward to anyway. And the other CHAOS member making the trip over, Nakamura, will be taking on Roderick Strong. On paper, that match could have been a main event on any one of the four shows. Nakamura is a goddamn stud in the ring too, so I don't have my doubts about it like I would if Strong were going up against anyone else. Hopefully, the Strong that regularly kicks ass in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla shows up for this match, and not the one who frequently overindulges in the typical ROH excess.

However, none of the above gets the moniker of most interesting match on the show. Dalton Castle, who has taken ROH by storm as "the Party Peacock" and who hasn't been booked on any other show during this run, will get the match of a lifetime against Jushin "Thunder" Liger. Liger's reactions to Castle's over the top facial expressions and body language will be intriguing, and they will more than likely make or break the match on the whole. Still, Castle is such a dynamic personality that he could carry that end of the match for both competitors. Speaking of wrestlers who are getting their first booking of this run of shows on the last one, Will Ferrara will get the chance of a lifetime by getting KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA's slate during this tour has seen him going above his paygrade (Jay Lethal, Elgin, Chris Sabin) in card position and establishment, so he'll be returning the favor for Ferrara, who just received his graduation from "pre-show dark match" to the main roster.

Rounding out the show will be two marquee tag matches. The first will see Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito teaming up to take on ACH and Matt Sydal. All four wrestlers take to the air with stunning results, so expect an explosive match with lots of aerial pyrotechnics. The final match will continue the everlasting feud between the Bullet Club and the Kingdom, as Mike Bennett and Matt Taven will wrestle Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson in a non-title match. The Kingdom currently hold the IWGP World Tag Team Championships, belts they won from Gallows and Anderson. And of course, given these are television tapings, the list of appearing talent also includes Jay Briscoe, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, reDRagon, Moose, Jay Lethal, Cedric Alexander, Donovan Dijak, Ray Rowe, Hanson, BJ Whitmer, and Adam Page.

On paper, this four show tour looks like it will be entertaining to say the least. It's not the best four-show slate it could be, but I imagine politics, booking agendas, and sheer costs all had something to do with how it's been scheduled. Overall, all four shows are going to be worth checking out in some form  of media. Again, I will be at the second War of the Worlds show if you want to stop by and say hello.
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Smackdown: Friendship is Magic

April 24, 2015, 8:30 am
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This week's best friends having a laugh at the expense of their opponents
Photo Credit: WWE.com
This episode of Smackdown was basically commentary heaven, with Tom Phillips sitting in for Michael Cole and no Bella guest commentary during the women's match. Never let anyone tell you that commentary is of little consequence. Michael Cole's insincere and often inaccurate narration constantly puts me on edge, and combined with Lawler's unfunny rambling I usually watch Smackdown with firmly gritted teeth. It's not a comfortable way to watch television. This week Saxton and Phillips mostly politely ignored Lawler in favour of getting on with their jobs, thus I was much more well-disposed toward the show as a whole.

Most Unnecessary Illustration of Lack of Friendship – Kane and Seth Rollins
Was anyone unclear on whether Kane and Seth Rollins' Authority-authored alliance is on shaky ground? Anyone at all? Well, Smackdown appears to have thought that some emphasis was needed, so we had yet another segment of the two of them dancing around trying to prove who's really in charge, including Kane making two matches for Rollins that didn't actually take place. The second match, against Dean Ambrose, immediately devolved into a brawl (a beautifully chaotic brawl, despite my complaining about the circumstances) that resulted in the tag match that ended the show. Here's the thing: absolutely none of that preamble was necessary. We already know Kane has it in for Seth Rollins. We could have just had the match pitting Rollins against his former Shield friends and partnering him with the most terrifying man on the roster. No talking necessary. It would have been abundantly clear that Kane was intentionally making things difficult for Rollins. SHOW, DON'T TELL, WWE.

Best Friends – Sheamus and Bad News Barrett
In the match that should have opened the show instead of Kane and Rollins sniping at each other, Sheamus and Barrett took on Neville and Dolph Ziggler. This match was guaranteed to be both fast-paced and physical and it didn't disappoint. Much as I like Neville and Ziggler as the plucky underdogs, I think I like Sheamus and Barrett as massive, condescending jerks even more, though I think it was a mistake to have Sheamus do all the talking. He's fine, but Barrett is always enjoyable to listen to, and I would argue that he could have used the spotlight more. Ziggler and Sheamus' feud and awful stipulation match at Extreme Rules have been given sufficient attention and Neville is still impressing the pants off everyone with his antics, but Barrett was just kind of...there. At any rate, the match didn't disappoint, and it was nice to see Neville get the pin for his team. I'd really like to see both of these teams continue to join forces in the future.

Doesn't Need a Friend – Naomi
BURN IT ALL DOWN, NAOMI. Sorry. I'm just enjoying the heck out of lone wolf Naomi getting to show her aggressive side. She's really taken to this heel turn so far, and I think the extra edge has improved her matches, too. She beat Natalya after some decent back-and-forth and looks great going into her title match against Nikki Bella. I'm so glad that Naomi is finally proving that she can stand on her own. Now, if we could just do something about that entrance music, which ludicrously clashes with her new character.

Best Friend to America – Ryback
I guess. I don't really know what to say about Ryback's match against Rusev. I mean, Ryback didn't really say anything in response to Rusev and Lana's usual lambasting of America and John Cena, but I suppose he stuck up for America just by being there. I also fail to understand the logic of having Ryback dominate the match, but then only win by disqualification while Rusev still got the post-match “look how powerful and dangerous he is!” pose when it was indicated that he would have lost if not for the use of the Valyrian steel/adamantium chain (MAXIMUM UNBREAKABILITY). This is not how you make your Russian-Bulgarian look strong. Rusev should not have to resort to props.

Should Join Forces – New Day and Cesaro and Tyson Kidd
Cesaro's match against Kofi Kingston was over just when it was getting started, with Kingston getting the win. I think it's time for all of the tag teams to join forces and demand more time and more respect. Kidd and Cesaro will defend their tag titles at Extreme Rules against some combination of New Day, but only on the kick-off show. Again. It's time to stop being relegated to the pre-shows and being given short, pointless matches. I don't know how they can fight back, but these are five dynamic guys; I'm sure they can figure out a plan together. It should probably involve a lot of clapping. And cats. And FRIENDSHIP.

Best Combination of Friendships Past and Present – Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Luke Harper
At this point in the show I was also watching a stream of the leadership debate for my province's upcoming election and for fun I assigned each wrestler to a candidate. They matched up surprisingly well! On top of that, the tag match between Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Luke Harper was a great way to end the show. Between the Shield reunion, the supportive friendship of J and J Security at ringside, and the presence of Luke Harper, this was basically Lacy's Happy Place. Everyone was on point and I enjoyed the match immensely. Personally, I wouldn't have had Rollins take the loss, but what can you do?
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I Listen So You Don't Have To: Cheap Heat April 23

April 24, 2015, 10:00 am
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Rosenberg comments on the Mike Tyson RAWs while Shoemaker is hung up
Photo Credit: WWE.com
If you're new, here's the rundown: I listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are better wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but these are the ones in my regular rotation that I feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If I can save other folks some time, I'm happy to do so.

Show: Cheap Heat
Episode: April 23, 2015
Run Time: 1:02:42
Guest: None

Summary: Try to follow along here: Peter Rosenberg is on the road for a funeral, but he has a laptop. David Shoemaker is in his Brooklyn apartment. The guys are both recording and streaming live to YouTube, which allows for some interaction with listeners via Twitter. They mostly talk about RAW (including Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, the Divas, John Cena and Rusev) and look ahead to Extreme Rules (ending with a full rundown of the card and predictions). About halfway through the show Shoemaker’s connection freezes, so Rosenberg vamps for about 11 minutes, talking about his reflections of watching the 1998 RAW episodes in chronological order. The rest of the show is recorded with Rosenberg holding his phone near his computer microphone so Shoemaker can sort of contribute.

Quote of the week: Rosenberg: “Oh no. Delicious Dave? Delicious Dave! Delicious Dave you’re frozen. Oh no! The question is, ladies and gentlemen, is it just Delicious Dave who’s frozen? Or is the entire podcast frozen right now? This is the adventure of doing this live. And how do I even get him out of here? Let’s see. I’m gonna try to eject Shoemaker. OK, he’s gone. And I’m gonna try to get him back right now. Let’s see. Delicious David Shoemaker, I’m going to invite him right now. And I was so excited about what he was going to say next! You never know what random WWE storyling he was going to be shilling for and tell you was amazing.”

Why you should listen: Morbid curiosity.

Why you should skip it: Aside from the technical issues, which is putting it mildly, this episode is a mess. It’s ostensibly a pay-per-view preview but it masquerades as a muddling RAW recap, but it’s fair to give plenty of blame to WWE, which followed up a surprisingly entertaining WrestleMania with a month of confusing decisions. Further, anyone who regularly listens to the What A Maneuver”podcast — and if you’re not, you should be — will question Rosenberg’s lavish praise for Attitude Era RAW composition, especially given the WAM boys are right now covering the Mike Tyson story, which is at the crux of Rosenberg’s argument.

Final thoughts: Shoemaker makes a good point at the open at how nearly everyone of interest at WrestleMania is out of the mix for Extreme Rules, but he also wrote about that at length for Grantland this week, and that’s a much better medium for the message. It might seem unfair to criticize this episode of a free podcast when the hosts are clearly just trying to produce something for their audience, but if they don’t have anything to say well, what’s the point of the exercise? Weekly shows are fantastic, especially since the WWE product is nothing if not consistently new televised material, but Rosenberg and Shoemaker still lack a clear creative direction for their podcast.
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Let's Play Two, or Beyond Wrestling's Weekend Madness

April 24, 2015, 11:30 am
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You won't like her when she's... Scorned
Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein
Beyond Wrestling is not a stranger to running shows at Fete Music on Sundays in Providence, RI. It's not even a stranger to running a doubleheader on a Sunday in Providence, RI. However, the promotion has never combined the two concepts and run headline-quality shows twice at Fete Music on the same day. That all changes this Sunday, as the promotion will be running two shows at its home venue. The early show, running at 2 PM local time, is called Scorned, and it has Kimber Lee adorning the poster. The later show begins at 6 PM, is called When Satan Rules His World, and it features Chris Dickinson on its promotional art. One does not need to have a degree in rocket surgery to figure out this duo of shows has grown from that incident. Just goes to show that if you want to work the marks in this day and age where everyone thinks they're "smart," you kinda have to play dirty.

Again, Denver Colorado (the man, not the place!) is no stranger to running two shows in a single day, but usually, the first show happens to be a shhhh, "secret" show in a more low-key venue like the NEFW Academy, or more recently, the RWA Chop Shop. It also tends not to have the big guest headliners coming in. Scorned has nothing low-key about it, not even if Low Ki happened to show up to start kicking people indiscriminately. The announced main event of the show, Steve Corino making his Beyond debut to battle Matt Tremont, sets the tone right away. Corino was known in Extreme Championship Wrestling for bleeding if someone looked at him the wrong way, and I don't think I've seen a Tremont match yet where he didn't tap a vein for some color. I would bring a poncho if I were sitting in the front row for this match. The other big match will pit the poster girl, Lee, against Pinkie Sanchez, who is Dickinson's running buddy in Team Pazuzu. If I were Sanchez, I would be praying to said mascot deity and hoping Lee doesn't rip his throat out and piss in the cavity.

Only four other matches have been announced for this show, including a potential show-stealer in AR Fox and "Speedball" Mike Bailey and a long-awaited singles match between former tag partners JT Dunn and David Starr. However, I would expect at least one surprise match, because that just seems to be how Beyond Wrestling rolls. If you're going to both shows, you will be able to cop a grilled cheese from Championship Melt between the cards, and believe me, you're going to want to conserve your energy.

When Satan Rules His World will be another high-intensity show, headlined by a match that is being BILLED as "Match of the Year." I would be skeptical of accepting any match with such a billing beforehand, but when the contest contains the Young Bucks going tete-a-tete with Shynron and Kitsune, known collectively as the Ninjas with Altitude, then maybe Colorado can get a pass for such ostentatious prognostication. Backing that match up will be the poster boy, Dickinson, getting himself into an "Anything Goes" match with Nick Fuckin' Gage. Gage, as you may or may not remember, just got done serving hard time. I'm not sure he's the guy you'd want to face off against in a no holds barred match. Additionally, Eddie Kingston tangles with Stockade, Team Tremendous does battle with War Machine, and the Hooligans and Tabernak de Team engage in a TAG TEAM HOSS FIGHT.

Ultimately, these two shows will not only end up standing on their own, but they will be a test run for later on in the summer. Chikara will be rolling into town July 26 for their Immaculate Election show. Beyond will be tacking on for a doubleheader, which wouldn't be the first time it's shared the building with another company for two shows in a day. However, I've heard rumblings of a TRIPLEHEADER going down that day, with two shows from Beyond and one from Chikara. My guess is if Scorned and When Satan Rules His World are successful enough, that escalation might not be too far out of the realm of possibility...
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Sara del Rey Featured in VICE

April 27, 2015, 5:35 am
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Look at Sara del Rey getting some shine from VICE
Photo Credit: WWE.com
VICE Online

A little over a year ago, WWE profiled one of its trainers at the Performance Center, one Sara Amato. Of course, most devotees of the indie scene knew her better as Sara del Rey, the first ever SHIMMER World Champion and the intrepid performer who made waves in nearly every promotion that mattered across the land before taking residence to train the next generation of stars down in Orlando. It's one thing for an in-house publication to do a feature on her, but VICE, one of the most popular online outlets for pop culture (and sports) decided to run a feature on her, notably using her kayfabed indie wrestling name rather than the shoot name.

The article focuses on her goals and her students, but I found a few nuggets in there of interest. For one, Triple H had some quotes that indicate a more refreshing attitude towards women. Sometimes, he says and does things that make me fearful for the future of WWE, but other times, he says and does things that make me wish he was in charge already. This article was one of the latter. The second thing I noticed was that Trips sometimes brings del Rey on the road, and she has acted as a road agent before, and not just for the women either. I don't know exactly what that means outside of the fact that she's held in pretty high esteem, but it's a cool little tidbit anyway.

del Rey is quoted that her goal is to see her trainees headline a pay-per-view someday. That goal would have been tortuously implausible about two or three years ago, but the performances of women such as Paige, Emma, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and others during prolonged NXT showcase matches plus the increase in time and attention given to Divas matches on the main roster indicate that future may not be as far off as once thought. I wouldn't hold my breath as long as Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn are still around, but at least the hope is no longer impossible, eh?
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The Devil's Favorite Turkey

April 27, 2015, 7:00 am
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You can't make this shit up
Photo Credit: ProWrestlingMag on Twitter

He's been a dentist, a Kevin Nash cosplayer, a burn victim, a brother to the Undertaker, son to Paul Bearer, necrophiliac, horror movie star, on-and-off Big Show tag partner, Director of Operations, and staunch libertarian, but now you can add bowler to Kane's resume. Thanks to the folks at Pro Wrestling Mag who found this tasty bit of info, Kane has started his own bowling team. He's even named it Kane's Fire Strikers, which is about the lamest yet most appropriate name for a team headed up by the Devil's Favorite Demon.

Of course, now that I know that Kane is a pin jockey, I need to know how good he is. Has he ever bowled a 300? And if so, does he do the flaming pyro thing that he does when he enters the ring? Does he actually use the alley's rental shoes? WAS HIS BALL FORGED AND SHAPED IN THE FIRES OF HELL? Either way, Kane continues to be the gift that keeps on giving, which will always make him relevant, no matter what mean people who tweet stuff to the pre-show Social Media Lounge might think...
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Billy Corgan Is a Poor Man's Bob Mould*

April 27, 2015, 8:35 am
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Corgan's gonna bring some angst to the TNA boardroom
Photo via Rolling Stone
Via @IMPACTWRESTLING

Following in the footsteps of Hüsker Dü's Bob Mould and actor Freddy Prinze, Jr., Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has landed a job in a televised wrestling company's creative team, as he was announced today as the newest member of TNA Wrestling's writing staff. Corgan is neither a stranger to TNA or wrestling. He's been friendly with fellow rich conservative Dixie Carter for awhile now, and his interest in wrestling manifested itself when he was the money mark/figurehead of the Chicago-based Resistance Pro Wrestling, the company that brought you "Domestic violence!" chants during a wrestling match at the first National Pro Wrestling Day.

Corgan's hiring brings some positive publicity to the embattled wrestling company, which has had reported issues of paying employees on time lately. It is unknown how much prowess he'll have in the writer's room. He left the day-to-day operations of R-Pro to the Baron Bros. and acted more or less as a public mascot for the company. However, he will be getting his hands dirty in TNA. I'd say things can't get any worse in TNA, but I haven't watched it in over a year, and I hear that it has some good things going on creatively. Still, it's funny that one of the most noted megalomaniacs in rock 'n roll is going to work on a team of writers in pro wrestling, a business that seems on par with music in terms of ego-feeding and credit-mongering. It should be interesting, to say the least.

*- Headline courtesy of Dylan Hales
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Jerry Lawler and JBL, Legal Experts: Extreme Rules 2015 Review

April 27, 2015, 10:00 am
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BUT WAS IT LEGAL? asked the shitty announcers
Photo Credit: WWE.com
Review is posted in the TH style. Catch the first hour or so of this show at your leisure on WWE Network.

Highlights:
  • Luke Harper and Dean Ambrose took their Chicago Street Fight to the streets... literally, leaving the arena in a car before they could finish their match.
  • Dolph Ziggler countered a Sheamus suplex into an inside cradle to get the victory in their Kiss Me Arse match. Sheamus, however, did not kiss Ziggler's posterior, instead hitting Ziggler with a low blow, Brogue kicking him, and then shoving his face into his ass.
  • The New Day of Kofi Kingston and Big E defeated Cesaro and Tyson Kidd for the Tag Team Championships when Kingston got a roll-up with the tights on Kidd.
  • Harper and Ambrose returned to the arena during the New Day's celebratory promo, brawling back to the ring to finish their match. Ambrose got the win with Dirty Deeds.
  • John Cena retained the United States Championship in a Russian Chain Match against Rusev.
  • Nikki Bella retained the Divas Championship over Naomi with the Rack Attack after sister Brie kicked the challenger in the face.
  • Roman Reigns overcame several tribulations to defeat Big Show in a Last Man Standing match by toppling the announce table on top of him.
  • Seth Rollins kept the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a cage match over Randy Orton thanks to interference from J and J Security and thanks to AND despite interference from Kane. Rollins hit the RKO on Orton before escaping the cage, causing confusion from the announce team over whether it was legal or not.

General Observations:
  • Luke Harper's dirty t-shirt had substantially more dirt around it in a ring around the chest area. Man, he probably shouldn't have been working on his getaway car before the match.
  • Dean Ambrose, between taking the suplex through a set-up folding chair and then a lawn dart right into the face of another chair set up in the corner, really isn't trying to have a long career, is he? I cringed just looking at him taking those bumps.
  • Michael Cole: "Harper hasn't changed his shirt in two years." Hey Cole, try like seven or eight years. That shirt has seen some shit, man. It has seen some shit.
  • The Nigel (i.e. rope flipping/"jawbreaker" lariat) is a controversial move in some circles, but I particularly enjoy it in a regular setting. So when Ambrose broke it out on the outside by almost 619ing on the hard apron before dropping Harper, I had a personal moment of glee. Wrestling is ridiculous, and I love when the performers embrace it.
  • Nothing on this show was going to top when Daniel Bryan drove a goddamn forklift last year, but Ambrose grabbing a huge piece of PVC conduit and just heaving it at Harper came a bit closer than one might have thought.
  • When Harper and Ambrose sped away in that car, I was hoping that the cameras would follow them and film them brawling around Chicago a la the WrestleMania 12 Backlot Brawl, or that they'd come back to the arena and finish their match WHILE another one was happening.
  • Jerry Lawler started recounting how he prepared for his infamous Kiss My Foot match with Bret Hart by not washing his feet for three weeks before and after during the Kiss Me Arse match between Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler, implying heavily that one or both of the competitors may not have been cleaning their derrieres after going number two. He quickly recanted, but goddammit, King, the damage was done quickly. Seriously, do these knuckleheads think before they talk? Wait, don't answer that.
  • I really dug how stiff and scrappy Sheamus and Ziggler were throughout the match. Their strikes and exchanges certainly had residue from amateur or British wrestling on them, which especially given the humiliating stakes of the match fit the occasion.
  • During one heat segment, Sheamus embraced his "fuck vanilla midgets" character by shit-talking Ziggler and dudes of his ilk. If you're gonna be a giant bully who preys on Internet-fave wrestlers, you might as well go whole hog into it.
  • Okay, I know that what happened AFTER the match negated the actual finish in terms of its impact (although it is another example of classic WWE 50/50 booking where the company tries to make everyone look strong and yet by no one facing consequences, everyone looks like a fucking loser), but how the hell does WWE redebut a main event level guy as a monster heel, have him decimate everyone he comes across, and then lose his first big special event match? It's baffling. The way the company pushed Rusev last year was brilliant, so why not give the same treatment to Sheamus?
  • Big E's look of unease while clapping contrasted the other two members of the New Day and their saccharine enthusiasm, really giving the group's oeuvre some much-needed subtext. You know that direction wasn't coming from the writers or agents either.
  • On a hardcore match-themed show, the absolute best spot of the night happened when Cesaro and Tyson Kidd had Big E in the corner, stomping him to the cadence of the crowd's "New Day Sucks!" chants.
  • I know I've been down on Kidd's revival, but his work in this tag team has been on point. Seeing him fly halfway across the ring on that springboard elbow after Cesaro brought Kingston into the ring with that second rope superplex was a visual exclamation point on that combo.
  • I will never get tired of seeing Big E tackle some dude, in this case Cesaro, off the apron onto the floor. One of these days, he's gonna have to combine it with the signature "Roman Reigns spears a dude through the timekeeper's barricade" for the ultimate moment. Maybe when he wins the WWE Championship?
  • New Day's celebratory interview with Renee Young was interrupted by the getaway car from the opening match screeching back in, this time with Ambrose behind the wheel instead of Harper. I know the hot opinion is that WWE should have footage of them brawling around Chicago to show during RAW tonight, but at this point, I kinda hope that they leave it be and let imagination take hold as to how they got back in that state.
  • I'd like to think that Ambrose missing Harper and hitting New Day with his splash from the top of the car was intentional, and that he and Harper would team up out of mutual respect and chase the Tag Champs as the Dirty Shirt Boyz, y'know, just for synergy.
  • The amount of times that John Cena and Rusev resorted to a tug of war during their Russian Chain Match led me to believe Vince McMahon, needing a fix of having body guys in feats of strength, grunting and growling as they pulled at something, directly was the agent for this match.
  • In the beginning of the match, Rusev tossed Cena over the top and used the chain as leverage to string him up by his wrists and pummel him. I was disappointed that it was the only real instance of them using the chain as a binding agent. They didn't really utilize the weapon at all, especially Rusev after he spent so much time wrapping it around dudes' faces using the Accolade.
  • Yeah, Lana being sent to the back after answering her chants felt superfluous. Lana and Rusev aren't the kind of act WWE should be breaking up right now.
  • I swear, Cena and Rusev had a good outline for a match here, but it was paced so tediously, and they missed the mark on so many ways that they could have incorporated the settings. Given that they had the best match of the night at Mania, this rematch was ultimately disappointing even with the stip in place. So of course, WWE is going to give its audience a fourth straight PPV match at Payback between the two. OF COURSE.
  • I don't want to be "that guy," but man, someone should have pulled Brie Bella aside before the Divas Championship match and told her that hat was just a bit too big for her.
  • Conversely, Naomi's new look with the neon sunglasses and the fly girl dancing is great for her new attitude. That being said, if she's a heel now, I still want her to bring the eyepatch back. However, I'm glad that her theme music got the upgrade.
  • Nikki Bella and Naomi broke into some Timothy Thatcher-esque wrestling very early in the match, concluding with a cross-armbreaker takeover spot that Naomi blocked by locking her hands together. Seriously, if you're not convinced by now...
  • Naomi went for her corner bulldog, but Bella started wandering away after breaking out. As a response, Naomi grabbed her BY HER HAIR and slowly dragged her back in as if to say "NUH UH, YOU AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE." She, as a heel worker, is gonna work out fine if she can figure out ways to incorporate big visuals with attitude such as that in most of her bigtime matches.
  • Bella, conversely, has had better matches, but I'm not sure whether it was first time jitters working as a face or whether her offense is better suited to work on top as a baddie. However, that facebreaker she hit across her knee was pure savagery.
  • Brie interjecting herself into the finish works on a narrative level because Naomi hit her first. If you take alignment at face value, which WWE clearly has shown it doesn't, then yeah, it's a dick move. But in the shades-of-gray morality that seems to play better for a wrestling audience, it makes sense that Brie wanted to get her pound of flesh and help her sister in the process. Of course, if you're still hung up as to why the Bellas got back together in the first place, well, I'm with you on that and I've just learned to bury it deep in my subconscious with the 1993 World Series and the identity of who raised the briefcase at the 1998 King of the Ring.
  • The "Roman the Virgil" sign would have been more hilarious at the Royal Rumble, but in the wake of Reigns' massive improvements in presentation, it felt almost cruel, to be honest.
  • Big Show catches a lot of deserved flak, but his shutting down of any weapons use in the beginning portion of the match was intrepid heeling. He can still be excellent if he wants to.
  • I understood a lot of what Reigns and Show were trying to do during the match, and Reigns again showed his worth is in taking a goddamn ass-whipping before paying it back tenfold, but the pacing was nightmarish in its slowness. Show looked like he was moving in pudding most of the match, and most of Reigns' table construction took for-goddamn-ever.
  • However, the finish with Reigns toppling over the English announce table onto Show while he was on the wreckage of the Spanish announce table, was awesome, maybe too awesome for a match of that pace. Hell, this match had a bunch of cool big spots happening in it (the chokeslam through the tables, spear through the barricade, spear through the Spanish table) that allowed it to masquerade as "good."
  • Bo Dallas' cooldown promo between matches was god-level, even for him. He seems to have added a darker edge to his motivational speaking, which is something he needs to be honest.
  • Honestly, why couldn't Ryback just beat Dallas in a match? The difference between it being a scheduled match and it being just Ryback coming out and beating the shit out of a dude for no reason is night and day. Yeah, I just referenced shades-of-gray morality, but I don't find anything likable about kicking someone's ass for no reason.
  • The main event cage match was super-disappointing in that it felt like every single cage match in WWE put together and averaged out for the first three quarters of it. If you're in a pay-per-view main event, don't do a paint-by-numbers gimmick match.
  • Randy Orton busting out random offensive maneuvers like he just got done playing Fire Pro Wrestling in the back is one of my favorite tropes about his big matches. That Exploder was WTF but well-done.
  • But Orton breaking out the Pedigree was a stroke of psychology that was frankly way too good for this match.
  • Okay, so I get the story that WWE is trying to tell, and as much as Kane probably needs to retire to campaigning for local Libertarian candidates by now, he's not as bad as one might think. But seriously, having Lawler and JBL argue like two belligerent uncles at Thanksgiving over what transpired at the end and the legality of it took the buzz out of the end of the show. Not that the match itself was anything special, but Christ Jesus, having Lawler whine and JBL bloviate really made the whole thing seem as confused as observers on Twitter made it out to be.

Match of the Night:Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (c) vs. Big E and Kofi Kingston, WWE Tag Team Championship Match - The first hour of Extreme Rules was about as entertaining as it could have been from an in-ring standpoint with two, okay, one-and-a-half singles matches building to a crescendo with the Tag Title match. It wasn't surprising that this match was good, but as the best match on the show, it was a slight shock. But when WWE puts four exciting at least wrestlers in a match and let them throw their bodies all over the place with reckless abandon, only to have them troll the crowd at the finish with a roll-up from a squad that is embracing its crowd hate, then maybe the results shouldn't be so shocking after all.

The match took a wild journey from start to finish. Kingston and Kidd started out going to the mat, surprising since Kingston isn't exactly regarded for his grappling. But once the hosses came out to play, the gears began to shift to a quicker pace. The Champs showed their panache and attention to detail by going double boots to Big E in the corner to the pace of the crowd chanting "New Day Sucks," something that no doubt was probably lost on the people in the back who don't "get" Team Cattitude. Their combo with Cesaro doing the ring-in superplex and Kidd hitting the looooooong springboard elbow was another example of poetry in motion. New Day answered them all match long with great weaselly tactics and expert crowd trolling to boot.

But it was the end of the match where everything came together. It had all the hallmarks of a great PWG tag match with the breakneck saves, the big false finishes, the huge spots like Big E spearing Cesaro to the floor from the ring, and even the dueling interference from their respective managers. And after all of that, the match ended on a rollup. From most other teams, that would have deflated the action a bit, but the New Day's meta oblivion gimmick almost demanded that Kingston get the win not with a big flourishing dive, but with a sneaky flash pin. All in all, it was the best bit of theater from the first hour and from the show altogether.

Overall Thoughts: Any time you get the chance to end a pay-per-view with your two color commentators arguing over what a stipulation really meant while the human wreckage in the ring signified yet another overbooked ending to a pay-per-view, you have to take that chance, right? I mean, it's what Eric Bischoff would have wanted had he won the Monday Night Wars. Then again, since WWE's still so reliant on bringing stories into the realm of legal semantics and contract maneuvering, not to mention overbooking angles needlessly or pulling off the bait and switch, one might think that the real winner of those wars happened to be the people running the show of the company that closed. And hey, the viewers got the added bonus of being treated to Jerry Lawler and JBL bickering to end the show without a strong central play-by-play man in the middle to run point and keep the narrative going. Legal bullshit and weaksauce announcing, the 21st Century WWE Tag Team of DOOM.

For as good as WrestleMania was to justify its terrible build, Extreme Rules capitalized on its lackluster promotion with an event that felt like an afterthought. Sure, the wrestling was outright solid in the first hour and in the Divas Championship match, but the majority of the booking felt like more of a disheveled placeholder than the average episode of RAW, and for what feuds to continue? If I have to watch one more Big Show/Roman Reigns match, blood will start pouring out of my ears, even if their Last Man Standing match wasn't terrible. I don't think it was particularly good either, but it at least had some first-class heeling from Show and more evolution of Reigns as a reliable white hat in the ring at least.

But at least it seems like that match had some finality to it. John Cena doesn't need to be wrestling Rusev anymore, and yet they set up an I Quit match for Payback with the extra added superfluous tension between the Bulgarian Brute and his manager built on the same sort of premise that Fandango and Rosa Mendes hastily shuffled through, and more pointedly, that Lucha Underground just did with a lot more depth and nuance with Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico. Somehow, I doubt WWE's latest version will end with Lana on equal footing with Rusev again.

I don't want to say that my time felt wasted with this show because it did have a lot of good to sift through. Conversely, while I can see where the company wanted to go with that finish, it was ill-equipped to execute on it with the announce team as assembled. Lawler is not the kind of person who can be going toe-to-toe with JBL's bluster, and his complaints sounded more like an old man bitching about the temperature of his soup rather than a narrative voice selling the finish of a pay-per-view main event angle. And Michael Cole sitting in the middle content to let them hijack the visuals at the end was more egregious than anything either of his wings said. Plus, the whole idea of Kane being positioned as a possible contender to the title for the second year in a row post-Mania feels... wrong.

Then again, at least Kane did his job right.
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I Listen So You Don't Have To: Art Of Wrestling Ep. 247

April 27, 2015, 11:30 am
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Norton has some stories, sadly none of which have to do with catching that fish
Photo Credit: WWE.com
If you're new, here's the rundown: I listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are better wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but these are the ones in my regular rotation that I feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If I can save other folks some time, I'm happy to do so.

Show: Art Of Wrestling
Episode: 247 (April 23, 2015)
Run Time: 1:05:05
Guest: Chris Hero (1:00); Scott Norton (14:28)

Summary: Colt Cabana is touring Japan, so the open involves his tag team partner Chris Hero, which works well as a setup to the interview with Norton, who realized far more success in Japan than with late-1990s WCW. The interview isn’t chronological, as it starts with Norton’s AWA experience and some Japan stories before going back to his childhood friendships with Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, the Road Warriors and others. Norton goes into detail on his arm wrestling career and how a role Over The Top finally nudged him into pro wrestling. He waxes nostalgic about the Portland territory, revisits his Japan debut, lavishes praise on the time he spent working with Hercules and ends with a look at his time in WCW, including the story of the time he almost obliterated his good friend, Eric Bischoff.

Quote of the week: Norton, on his philosophical difference with Bischoff: “I don’t go by that, but he does, names, I didn’t like that. That’s one thing I don’t agree with him on. … You don’t treat people like that, you don’t categorize people like he does, you know, the bigger the name the better he treats you. That’s bullshit. That don’t work for me. And, you know, he’ll tell you. Eric, he don’t hide nothing.”

Why you should listen: Norton represents one of Cabana’s best types of guests. He has broad name appeal based on his WCW run, which coincided with Cabana’s peak fandom, but he’s also rather unexplored based on being a Nitro/Thunder utility player. He’s got a unique backstory relative to other stars of his age (the Rick Rude childhood stuff is outstanding), and his extended runs in Japan lead to his best stories being fresh for an American podcast audience. Further, you can sense the trust he has in Cabana as a host. It’s hard to imagine him coming across better in an interview with Jim Ross, Steve Austin, Chris Jericho and so on.

Why you should skip it: It’s a great interview, but there is frustration in the way the guys jump around chronologically, especially in regards to the Japanese stories. They’re very entertaining, but some listeners (like me) might get crossed up trying to keep all the names and places straight. And though it’s predictable, Cabana’s indulgence of his Over The Top obsession takes too much focus away from the more interesting parts of Norton’s backstory. That stuff is interesting, but it would almost be better served as a standalone interview so as to allow a deeper dive for those who really share Cabana’s passion.

Final thoughts: I’m probably nitpicking on the negative side. I really enjoyed Norton and would love to hear more from him down the road. Cabana was wise to spend very little time on Norton’s WCW run in order to paint a more full picture, and furthered the benefits by wading in at the end with a hammer of a story that said plenty about Norton’s personality and the Nitro era. For what it’s worth, Hero is by now a much more enjoyable pop-in guest than CM Punk, and that has everything to do with Hero’s natural bent toward optimism and still enjoying the chance to pursue his chosen career. If you’re on the fence about this episode, definitely give it your time.
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Transphobia Is No Joke, or F Off Vince Russo

April 27, 2015, 1:00 pm
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Sorry Vince, but you don't get a pass for transphobia
Photo via Pyro and Ballyhoo Facebook page
The end to Extreme Rules wasn't the only thing that set Twitter ablaze last night. Former WWE/WCW/TNA writer and booker Vince Russo made a joke about Bruce Jenner's recent announcement that he is in the process of transitioning into life as a woman. It was an innocuous-seeming joke, but it's still not one I want to give press to. No matter how innocuous your joke is, if it's punching down at an oppressed party, it's not a joke you should be telling at all, especially in regarding trans people.

Transphobia seems to be one of the last bigotries that is acceptable in society, along with fat-shaming and some other stragglers, and by far, it is the most toxic. Not a week goes by without another tale of a trans person committing suicide because of depression brought on by bullying or othering by society, or a trans person being assaulted, raped, or killed simply for who they are. Jokes may seem harmless, sure. But when someone makes a joke and it's not called out, then it's a tacit admission that trans people are not full members of society and deserve their derision. The snowball then rolls dangerously down the hill until it ends tragically.

Of course, when called on his awful "joke," Russo doubled down by taking the thin-skinned comic's route and screaming to anyone who called him on it that it was "just a joke." He would also block anyone who had a criticism of said joke. It's a sad unfolding of events to say the least, but then again, this was the man who helped foster a toxic atmosphere during the Attitude Era, where transphobia was the norm of the day along with other garden variety bigotries. Neither Chyna nor Nicole Bass were portrayed without mentions of their "masculine" physiques, even after the former posed in Playboy.

Sure, picking on Russo may be the lowest-hanging fruit in wrestling, but just because it's easy to take him to task doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. No matter what, he's a man of fame with a platform that a lot of people hear. He's influential, just like Jim Ross or Patton Oswalt or any famous person with a bully pulpit and people who listen to him or her. If sitting back and allowing them to continue the othering of a group of people who have absolutely nothing wrong with them continues to happen, then who else might be emboldened to come out and make similar or worse claims?

Trans people are people and deserve the same rights and acceptance that any other person in this world currently has. That means fighting alongside them for said rights and acceptance, whether it's someone in high esteem or otherwise great social standing slandering them or if it's just some fuckboy faux-Christian ex-wrestling writer doing it.
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Instant Feedback: Kings of the Rut

April 27, 2015, 8:40 pm
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Not this again. Anything but this again.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
The King of the Ring tournament kicked off on RAW this evening with four first round matches to culminate in a final flourish on The Network tomorrow night. Not only did the old standby, which hadn't been conducted since 2010, evoke memories of a star-building mechanism with dubious providence that has been swept away through rose-colored fondness, it promised that maybe, just maybe, RAW would follow a different formula than the one it had been stuck in for the last god-knows-how-many-weeks. So of course, Seth Rollins' theme music hit, summoning him to the ring for another 20 minute block of vocal text to kick off the flagship.

Yes, wrestling is a show, and the verbal portion of it is just as important as the in-ring component. Exposition and explanation are key components of wrestling storytelling. Damien Sandow's first post-Mizdow soliloquy-turned-character unveiling against Curtis Axel could not have happened in a match by itself. But Sandow's big moment (which was tainted by his inflection imitating Axel that fell a bit too close to mocking people with Down's Syndrome for my taste) actually moved something forward. For the first time in forever, at least I have a chance in who knows how long, Sandow was able to speak as an agent of his own destiny rather than a device to enhance The Miz's aura.

What has Rollins said or done in these show-opening blocks that has advanced his own narrative as much as Sandow did? For that matter, could the same be said of anyone who's taken that block week in and week out? Certainly not Triple H or Stephanie McMahon. Zilch to Randy Orton. Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar had some story to move forward the night after WrestleMania, but moments like theirs have been the exception rather than the rule. The first segment of the show has been stale and stagnant, and the fact that RAW as a whole has struggled to get out of the blocks in the last several months can't be a coincidence.

Tonight's show had the built-in excuse of a tournament with honest-to-God wrestling matches, feuds intertwining, to start the show with something different. Imagine the Stardust vs. R-Truth match getting that hot initial crowd to start instead of one that had already been beaten down by the opening segment and the done-to-death distraction angle in the first quarterfinal match between Dolph Ziggler and Wade Barrett. It wasn't a great match, but it wasn't a bad one either, and both Truth and Dust could have used more energy from the crowd to get going a little faster, a little more energetic. I have no experience as a producer or an agent, but I do know what I like to see in a wrestling show, and seeing the same fucking formula week in and week out gets tiresome.

Maybe the joke's on me, because I still willingly tune into RAW each week, whether out of habit or blind devotion to watch as much wrestling as one can. Or maybe sifting through the chaff to get to things like the Sandow promo or the last two quarterfinal matches has become rewarding in its own right. However, what I do know is that doing the same thing over and over again desensitizes an audience in the best case, and a numb audience can't react to Roman Reigns' strength and coolness now, can it.
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RIP Verne Gagne

April 28, 2015, 5:30 am
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RIP Verne Gagne
Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated via WWE.com
Via WWE.com

Verne Gagne, a veritable titan in professional wrestling and promoter of one of the most successful territories in history, passed away last night at the age of 89. He had been in assisted living until 2009 and suffered from dementia in his later years.

Gagne grew up in the state of Minnesota, where he became a standout in several sports. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, but chose professional wrestling when given an ultimatum by Bears owner George Halas. He went on to found the American Wrestling Association, which for 31 years was one of the most notable companies in America. At its height in the territory days, it promoted shows from the American and Canadian Midwest all the way west to San Francisco. Gagne took the company national in the '80s, but critical errors in roster management, including not knowing what to do with Hulk Hogan, caused the steady decline of the company until its closure in 1991.

Regardless of promotional foibles, Gagne was known as a titan both in the ring and in the office. He trained or introduced the world to several of the most beloved wrestlers in history, including Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, The Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter, Arn Anderson, and most importantly, Ric Flair. He was also a highly-regarded technician in the ring, with an active career spanning over four decades before settling into a retirement schedule in the '80s. His influence can still be felt today, as noted by his inclusion in no fewer than four important halls of fame, including the WWE and Observer halls.

Gagne's massive presence was an indelible mark on the world of pro wrestling. He may have been aged, but his passing is no less sad for the amount of lives he touched. Rest in peace, Verne Gagne.
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Dana White Is... the Party Pooper

April 28, 2015, 7:00 am
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Don't hold your breath waiting for a follow-up to this
Photo Credit: WWE.com
So, if you're anything like me, you were hype as all hell for Ronda Rousey to work an actual match in WWE after her appearance at WrestleMania 31. The angle seemed to set up at least a big mixed tag match for somewhere down the road, most likely next year's big event in Arlington, TX. Having never seen Rousey fight in the Octagon, I was wondering how her star power would translate into the wrestling ring in more of a fleshed-out setting. However, those thoughts will remain just those... thoughts. After the jump, Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White has the wet blanket:



On one hand, I cannot blame White at all for wanting to protect perhaps his biggest star who isn't currently embroiled in legal hell (hi Jon Bones Jones). Pro wrestling may not have the dangers of real fighting competition that UFC has, but it's also not exactly inherently safe. No matter how different UFC and WWE are at heart, they still pretend like they're in the exact same market (and in some ways, they are).

However, it's still a crazy bummer that White isn't going to let Rousey follow through. Her first and perhaps only match could have been a spectacle for women in WWE the likes of which no one on the roster as situated could provide, at least right now. And of course, the biggest kick in the posterior is that Rousey seems down for more pro graps. She recently was on "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's podcast saying how she wanted more than the taste she got at Mania.

Again though, the blame can't be placed on White here as much as it should be thrown at WWE. Triple H, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and the rest of the crew tasked with making that WrestleMania moment happen needed to realize that in order for it to work, they had to have Rousey cleared for another date down the road. They flew without a net, and now it's bitten them all in the behinds. And of course, the ultimate losers in the whole deal are the fans who got teased. C'est la vie, I suppose. Then again, this incident won't be the first time nor will it be the last when wrestling fans are given the proverbial bait and switch.
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I Listen So You Don't Have To: Steve Austin Show Ep. 214

April 28, 2015, 8:30 am
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Douglas recounts a harrowing tale of addiction on the Austin show
Photo Credit: WWE.com
If you're new, here's the rundown: I listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are better wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but these are the ones in my regular rotation that I feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If I can save other folks some time, I'm happy to do so.

Show: Steve Austin Show Unleashed
Episode: 214 (April 23, 2015)
Run Time: 1:42:55
Guest: Shane Douglas, part one (21:51)

Summary: After a lengthy farting story, Austin gets on the phone with his longtime colleague Shane Douglas. The talk at length about Douglas’ struggles with and triumph over addiction to painkillers an the physical toll of his time in ECW. After a break, the conversation turns to lighter fare, such as his amateur wrestling days, success in education, how he idolized Bruno Sammartino and got into professional wrestling through the guidance of Dominic DeNucci, his time in the UWF and working with Bill Watts, bleeding in the ring and honing the mechanical aspects of a pro career. Austin promised another hour of conversation next week, then read a bunch of Urban Dictionary terms for farts.

Quote of the week:“I committed that second, like this is it, it’s either going to kill me or I’m gonna get off it. And I left home, told my wife a lie, that I was going on the road, and I left and went over to Orlando, I was living in Sarasota at the time, went over to Orlando, checked into the hotel that TNA kept its boys in, to sleep in. Paid for a week, told the guy at the front desk I was gonna be working on my book and didn’t want disturbed for any reason. Went over to Walgreens right across the parking lot and bought a roll of duct tape, duct taped the curtains shut, took my last dose and laid down for what I was hoping would be, you know, a quick one and done. I laid there about eight days in a puddle of my own puke and shit, just too weak to get to the bathroom. But I was able to kick it, thank God. If you said right now, ‘Shane, I’ll give you 10 million bucks to go through it again,’ I’d think about it for a second, but I’d definitely turn you down.”

Why you should listen: The addiction talk is real — much deeper and raw than what Shawn Michaels discussed with Austin and Jim Ross (though to be fair, I’ve not read Michaels’ new book). Unlike Michaels, who says he just quit cold turkey, Douglas went on a roller coaster ride and nearly paid the ultimate price. Douglas’ comments on Sammartino are always welcome, and while I can’t promise anything for part two, this episode is fully free of the unvarnished ECW nostalgia that often drives a wedge between Douglas and modern fans.

Why you should skip it: After the drug talk ends, most of the episode overlaps with Douglas’ Art Of Wrestling appearance. At one point, Douglas is surprised with how much backstory Austin knows, overlooking the way Austin utilizes Wikipedia in his prep work. It’s not unusual for Austin, but frustrating because he scratches the surface of their time working against each other in early 1990s WCW tag team matches. I was hungry for much more of that and a lot less of what I could read myself.

Final thoughts: It’s not really fair to judge a two-part episode until the second part is released. There are a few hints part two will address most of what I considered to be omissions from this half, so it’s entirely possible that by next Thursday it’ll all come off as well done. That said, it might not be necessary to listen to this one to have context for the next, so if you’re really bothered by the addiction story, take a pass.
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On King of the Ring and Network Specials

April 28, 2015, 10:00 am
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More of stuff like this on The Network, please
Photo Credit: WWE.com
The semifinals and finals of the King of the Ring tournament will be airing tonight on the WWE Network. R-Truth, Wade Barrett, Neville, and Sheamus are the semifinalists, which should ensure at least two if not three decent-at-least matches (Truth can pull a good match out of his butt from time to time). While the tournament's promotion seems to be a make-good on Main Event's disappearance from the Network, it is also a glimpse into the kind of versatility in booking events that said over-the-top streaming service gives the company. King of the Ring clearly is not ever going to be its own pay-per-view again, but it's also something that is a bit more special than what usually gets broadcast on RAW. It's an event that it tailor-made for the Network.

In the first year of its existence, WWE has only scratched the surface in how versatile a tool it has in its in-house streaming output. Having pay-per-view events pre-and-post shows for those aforementioned shows as well as for the regularly televised offerings, NXT, and providing access to its massive archive is just the start of what could be offered. The increase in original shows, like documentaries, reality shows, or the upcoming slate of scripted non-wrestling programs shows an increased understanding of the size and scope of the studio space, but even that isn't at the boundary of potential. WWE, no matter what Vince McMahon and his cronies say otherwise, is at heart a wrestling organization, so why not provide more and more live, first-run wrestling content than what is already available?

WWE broke ground on that versatility last year, when it ran an exclusive post-RAW match for the United States Championship between Sheamus and Rusev. The King of the Ring is just an extension of that policy, and one that should serve as a template going forward. Pay-per-views on the Network are great because they provide an affordable access point for fans, but it's clear WWE does not want to alter the formula on those shows from what's already been established. The unique matches and experimental stuff can totally happen on The Network as "exclusive" content that people can't otherwise watch without a subscription.

The King of the Ring tourney becoming an annual Network exclusive should only be the beginning of a bigger rollout. The slate really should feature a variety of different concepts and shows that should not be limited to standalone specials like the show tonight. WWE actually sniffed around another great path for using The Network with the Sheamus/Rusev match. If John Cena is making the United States Championship the de facto Television Title, then what's to stop the company from making the Intercontinental Championship a Network-exclusive Championship? Imagine twice or three times a month Daniel Bryan or whoever holds the the title gets 10-20 minutes after RAW or Smackdown to have a marquee match on exclusive WWE airspace. That would automatically enhance the experience for new and existing subscribers.

In reality, The Network is only limited by WWE's budget and imagination, and since WWE owns the airspace, the budget portion might not be as much of a concern as one might think. The King of the Ring could be a blip in the radar, or it could very well be the beginning of what the WWE Network could ultimately become. Hopefully, the turn of events makes it more the latter, but that's up to the people in charge.
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Royalty Beckons Austin, TX

April 28, 2015, 11:30 am
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Ricochet is on his way to Inspire Pro... hey!
Photo Credit: Devin Chen
Steve O'Reno, former handicap match specialist and current Inspire Pro J-Crown Champion, was scheduled to take on East Texas/New Orleans indie standout Bu Ku Dao at the May 31 extravaganza In Their Blood II, but his challenger had to pull out for personal reasons. While fans of the indie scene in the area were undoubtedly disappointed, it gave Inspire Pro officials the chance to make not lemonade, but tartly delicious lemon bars out of the heaping pile of citrus life had heaped upon them. Instead of a one-on-one match, O'Reno is now booked in a four-way. The first opponent is reluctant member of the New Movement, Jiggle-O James Johnson. The second opponent is relative newcomer to Inspire Pro, Donovan Danhausen. And the third opponent? Well, some may know him as the Best of the Super Juniors. Some may know him as the current Lucha Underground Champion. He's a prince in one incarnation, but to everyone else, the man is a king.

Yes, Ricochet is coming to Inspire Pro Wrestling.

He's one of the hottest wrestlers in the world right now, and he's also arguably Inspire Pro's biggest "get" since opening its doors way back in 2013. Ricochet automatically elevates any card with which he's involved, and while I would pay extra money to see him and O'Reno take flight in a one-on-one matchup, having the extra bodies in this match isn't necessarily a bad thing. The four-way match is one that tends to highlight big spot guys.

Ricochet may be the biggest name added to the show yet, but he's far from the only reason to head on down to the Marchesa Theater at the end of next month. The first ever XX-Division Champion will be crowned in three-way action, as Jessica James, Athena, and eternal underdog Delilah Doom will vie to make history. Doom's number one fan, Angelus Layne will team up with Tim Storm to take on the invading Candice LeRae and Joey Ryan. Ricky Starks and Ray "Death" Rowe will throw hands to see who gets the next shot at the Inspire Pro Champion, but who will hold that belt? "Dirty" Andy Dalton will have his hands full, as ACH comes back to Texas to try and take the title. And the first ever Inspire Pro Champ, "One Man" Mike Dell will face a challenge from the cocksure Barrett Brown. This show was already loaded before the addition of the latest guest star.

But man, adding Ricochet to the mix elevates In Their Blood 2 from "must-see" to "goddamn stupid if you miss it." It's true, not everyone can make it to Austin, TX, and the Marchesa Theater can only hold so many people before it violates fire code. But you had best better keep your eyes peeled afterwards to either Smart Mark Video or Amazon to get you this show after it happens. Trust me, it's gonna be good.
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Ten Years Gone

April 28, 2015, 1:00 pm
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Rest easy, Chris
Photo Credit: WWE.com
Ten years ago today, Chris Candido passed away in a hospital due to complications from surgery to drain his lungs from pneumonia, which may have been another complication that happened from surgery to repair a broken ankle days before. Candido's death at age 33 was one of the most senseless and preventable deaths, which makes his all the sadder.

Candido was an innovative wrestler for his size, as much a part as kicking off the junior heavyweight revolution in America as anyone else in his early indie career. He ended up signing with WWE as a member of the Bodydonnas stable while other peers of his went to WCW. Even though he ended up getting eclipsed in notoriety by his girlfriend Tammy Lynn "Sunny" Sytch, he still left somewhat of a mark on the company. After his release, he would bounce around various promotions, working for ECW (where he got his first big break), WCW, NJPW, and finally TNA. He was a tremendous worker with a résumé over a decade long.

The preventable nature of Candido's death makes his passing all the more bitter, yet in even in the most advanced countries like the US, malpractice and bad hygiene are all too common. At 33, he not only had a long career ahead of him, he had a lot of life left. It's a goddamn tragedy. Rest in peace, Chris Candido.
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"Unlike Other Kings of the Ring, I Can Speak with an English Accent"

April 29, 2015, 5:30 am
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I'M AFRAID I'VE GOT SOME BAD NEWS... I'M RAISING YOUR TAXES
Photo Credit: WWE.com

For only the second time in the history of the tournament, an Englishman won the King of the Ring tournament. The United States and Ireland spent so much time trying to break free of the monarchy, and Canada only honors the Crown as a formality, almost as a politeness. Those crazy Canadians and their chronic niceness.

Anyway, Wade Barrett appropriately won the cape and the crown and the sceptre, live in front of a raucous Moline crowd and several subscribers to The Network, bringing the crown home to a nation that is used to having kings and queens rule them with fists of varying material providence. William Regal decided to reign over his subjects by trying to save a couple of pennies in turning the lights off. He wasn't popular. Something tells me Barrett's rule won't be much nicer.

Speaking of that rule, the question becomes how Barrett's reign will unfold. Kings of the Ring haven't always gotten the royal treatment after their wins. Most people point to Steve Austin as the paradigm, but he spent the summer dicking around until he got a hot date with Yokozuna at the SummerSlam preshow that year. His push was a late bloom. For every Brock Lesnar or Owen Hart who were able to use the crown to catapult into stardom of some degree, well, a Billy Gunn was there to counterweight. Or even worse, the most recent King of the Ring Sheamus went from winning the tournament to getting railroaded by WWE's vengeful parity booking. Barrett is no stranger to that kind of shit booking. Can he escape now that he has the crown jewels? All signs point to who the fuck knows. But at least fans of his, and many are out there, can bask in this royal victory.
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I Listen So You Don't Have To: Steve Austin Show Ep. 215

April 29, 2015, 7:00 am
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Austin and Keller break down Extreme Rules in its entirety
Photo Credit: WWE.com
If you're new, here's the rundown: I listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are better wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but these are the ones in my regular rotation that I feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If I can save other folks some time, I'm happy to do so.

Show: Steve Austin Show
Episode: 215 (April 28, 2015)
Run Time: 1:53:33
Guest: Wade Keller (4:30)

Summary: Austin gets right down to brass tacks this dropping the conventional opening segment in favor of getting right on the phone with Keller to break down Extreme Rules. They do speak briefly about a Ring of Honor show Keller attended, and the show review gets derailed quickly for the guys to share their thoughts about Daniel Bryan. Eventually, a match-by-match breakdown ensues with extended thoughts on nearly every performer. There’s a brief bit for Keller to plug his work at the end.

Quote of the week:“People are just gonna laugh at this concept, but plan a Smackdown main event four weeks ahead of time. OK, pause for laughter. But build it up for four weeks so that when it happens, that people are like, ‘This is a match that’s been four weeks in the making, Cesaro and Kidd finally have New Day cornered, they finally get the championship match.’ Build up to it for an hour, hour and 15 minutes and then put it out there with 40 minutes left in the show. And give us that Bockwinkel heading AWA ESPN treatment when you dedicate almost an hour of the show to it. …You got 52 weeks to fill, it’s freaking Smackdown. Just experiment once in a while.”

Why you should listen: This is almost certainly Austin’s best pay-per-view review episode. They explore not just the matches but the ongoing status of nearly everyone involved. Austin is a great blend of a guy who doesn’t live and die with the week-to-week narrative with someone sharp enough to understand things even ardent fans might overlook because they haven’t been a WWE performer. The praise for the tag title match is heartwarming to anyone who thought it was the highlight of Extreme Rules, and the criticisms are both fair and thoroughly explained — a far cry from what most other podcasts in my rotation can promise.

Why you should skip it: I don’t listen to Keller’s show or read his writing, but I imagine a lot of the opinions he shared with Austin are available elsewhere. If you are in denial about Bryan, you’ll for sure want to skip straight to the Neville praise. Beyond that, or for the obvious warning to listeners who are entirely uninterested in current WWE offerings, it’s hard to find much to dislike here.

Final thoughts: Episodes like this deepen my appreciation for Steve Austin the wrestling personality and increase my enjoyment of WWE’s main product. Highly recommended.
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Jeff Hardy Broke His Leg on a Dirtbike... and It Was Filmed

April 29, 2015, 8:30 am
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Say this for Hardy, he lives his life like he says he does
Photo Credit: Lee South/Impact Wrestling.com
Via F4W Online

Jeff Hardy, currently co-holder of the TNA World Tag Team Championships with his brother Matt, broke his leg while riding a dirtbike outside of his residence yesterday. He attempted a jump from one hill to another across a considerable distance. The bike landed rough, and Hardy fell off, fracturing his tibia. The whole thing was caught on video, which you can see after the jump:



Obviously, Hardy will have to miss some time to recover, which will throw the Tag Titles into more disarray. The Hardy Boyz won the titles in an Ultimate X match after Eddie "Eddie Edwards" Edwards fractured his heel, causing he and Davey Richards to vacate the Championships. The only title in recent memory I can think of having a similar curse attached to it is the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Championship, coincidentally also held by Richards during the touched period. However, that "curse" was due to terrible booking decisions and happenstance, not injuries.

The knee-jerk reaction to the incident is to ask whether Hardy should have been allowed to ride a dirtbike or what he was doing pushing 40 still doing those kinds of things, and honestly, that line of thinking is absolute ass-kissing capitalist horseshit. The man is an adult, and he should be able to do what he wants with his free time, no matter how risky it is. If the break had happened during Ultimate X, a mandate from his job, then would that magically be okay? I don't buy it. Either way, I hope Hardy gets better soon.
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