Posts Tagged ‘wwe’

Rasslin’ 2014 will be a Very Good Year

Posted: January 3, 2014 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

potatoshooterlogoajclogo2by @anarchyroll
1/2/2014

2013 started out with a lot of potential. The Rock came back, the spinner belt was retired, Hulk Hogan’s TNA contract wasn’t renewed, Jim Cornette stopped booking ROH, Brian Danielson became the biggest star in the business, and Brock Lesnar made magic with CM Punk at Summerslam in an absolute masterpiece of a pro wrestling match. However, as I’ve been reading various dirt sheets’ year in review lists, blogs, polls, etc one thing is clear…2013 was an overall down year for the business.

Ratings, attendance, and buy rates were down for each of the big three. WWE, TNA, and ROH were each at one point during the year completely unwatchable, although as per usual ROH kept their bad programming to a minimum and insanely awesome programming to a maximum. Especially as the year went on, Delirious distinguished himself as one of the best bookers of post attitude era, if not the best in my personal opinion. Many would say TNA was unwatchable the entire year, I wouldn’t argue per say, but would stick up for the last month of the BFG series and the last month of the year. We all know when WWE went downhill don’t we? I’ll give you a hint, the entire season of autumn.

I’m from Chicago, I’m not a Cubs fan but waiting until next year seems woven into my DNA whether I want it to or not. I believe 2014 will be a very good year for pro wrestling/sports entertainment. Here’s why:

WWE: Lesnar, Batista, Taker will all be in the fold from January through April. WrestleMania season is literally a 1/4 of the year and those three part timers mixed with the emerging era of midsized workhorses WWE has developed (Bryan, Punk. Cesaro, Ziggler, Ambrose, Rollins, Rhodes, Sandow) will lead to great matches by default that will only need good storytelling and production value to pop a rating, both of which are WWE’s specialties. My money is on Brian Danielson main-eventing and winning the Undisputed Title at WrestleMania XXX. Why? A gut feeling guided by pattern recognition from 24 years of watching pro wrestling.

TNA: In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by all metrics of monetary success, you haven’t, TNA Impact Wrestling has been putting on quality television for a whopping six weeks now. Although many haters shat all over the Dixie gimmick tournament, and Dixie Carter in general (deservedly so), the pacing, production, character development, and storytelling segment to segment, show to show, has become definitively solid since Bound for Glory. TNA has a history of this, see 2009, and even though I may not find the majority of the show personally entertaining, good TV principles are good TV principles, and TNA is utilizing them consistently for six weeks and counting.

ROH: As a mark for the original ECW it should come as no surprise that I find ROH to be the most entertaining company in the modern wrestling era. The fast paced, aggressive, more high spots less selling style appeals to me more personally. BUT my match of the year 2013 is CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar, which was the opposite of what I just described. Take the indyriffic matches out of it and I still say ROH is producing the best television show consistently, week in week out, month in month out, big show to big show. Everything that takes place on ROH TV means something, leads to something, and/or is connected to something that has been going on in the company for at least three months. If you bitch and moan about WWE and TNA being piss poor (which at times you’d be right) then you better be watching ROH. In case you missed it, Cornette is gone, so it’s safe to come back, Smokey Mountain of Honor died as of Final Battle 2012. 2013 was a great year for the company and unless the entire roster reports to NXT, 2014 should see them grow as big and bright as Sinclair Broadcasting is willing to monetarily invest.

Chris Hero a Cautionary Tale

Posted: November 24, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
Tags: , , , , , , ,
0

potatoshooterlogo

by @anarchyroll
11/23/2013

Chris Hero made his triumphant return to the indy scene last weekend.  The matches saw him wrestle a star of the past in “Sugar” Shane “Hurricane” Helms and a star of the future in “The Whole Shebang” Johnny Gargano. Both matches were well received and considered technically proficient at a high level, as should be expected considering all three participants.

It was just a little less than ten years ago that many were calling Chris Hero the next Chris Jericho in the same breath they were calling CM Punk the next Shawn Michaels. In the years that followed, one of those two defied their indy guy label and physique to break through the glass ceiling from rassler to pop culture relevant sports entertainer. The other just made his return to the indy scene.

Chris Hero’s release was greeted with a lot of shock from internet wrestling fans. Wasn’t his arrival to WWE developmental delayed by six months due to some kind of failed test?   I’m not too sure because that fact got blurred into a haze of his bouncing moobs during his entrance at ROH Final Battle 2011. Speaking of moobs, let’s get to the heart of why Kassius Ohno is no more.

There are two kinds of things in this world. Those things we have direct control over and those that we don’t. What we don’t have direct control over we can only put focus, energy, and effort toward influencing. A good physique is required to get over in the WWE unless you are a super heavyweight (Gorilla Monsoon, Yokozuna, Great Khali, Kane). CM Punk didn’t change this, nor could he. The bodybuilder archetype is a product of Vince Sr., only elevated by his son. Before Hogan, Cena, Warrior, and Batista there was Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Rocky Johnson, Tony Atlas and so on.

From the day Hero signed his contract he had body related issues, why did Claudio get to NXT months before him if they were signed at the same time?  Lifting weights is tedious if you aren’t being paid to do it full time. It is made clear what people signed to WWE Developmental are supposed to do with their time. Do work in the ring, in the weight room, on the treadmill, in the tanning bed, watch tape, ask questions, don’t fail a drug test or get arrested, find and develop a character and mic/promo skills, and hit the weight room again.  Did I miss something?

I have seen Chris Hero wrestle in person well over a dozen times. He doesn’t need help on the mic, doesn’t need help in the ring, his cardio is solid, his character can use some distinguishing, and if he was tan enough for HDNet cameras he is tan enough for WWE cameras.  But, the elephant in the room is not Chris Hero’s physique, it is his attitude toward developing it.

It was reported that Triple H personally squashed Hero’s main roster elevation this year over physique and conditioning concerns. Anyone who says they are surprised this happened is lying or ignorant, and not just because of Triple H’s history of squashing pushes. The last time Chris Hero’s physique wasn’t an issue for him was when he still wore shirts and pants. I thought when he got to developmental, his instructions would have been to lift weights five days a week, learn to work for hard camera the sixth, and rest on the seventh.

Chris Hero is a great worker, a mechanic with natural charisma which for me is the ideal combination. He also has size, all he needed was the physique. If he was unwilling to put in the time and supplements to get in shape for vanity purposes, that it is his failure not the WWE’s. 21 months is more than enough time to develop abs, grow lean muscle, clean bulk up, and then cut down WWE’s ideal size/look when you are 6’4.

Hopefully he gets the message and hears the wake up call. What are those? That what he does and the way he does it has reached its pinnacle which in this case is a plateau. To get to the next level he’ll have to do things differently. His move set doesn’t need to change, his hair or beard don’t need to be shaved, his attire doesn’t need an over haul, he doesn’t need to cease being a hip hop enthusiast.

Much like Colt Cabana found The Art of Wrestling to elevate his status, Chris Hero can do the same with learning to love and cultivating the habit of regular weight training.  Tastes can evolve, the brain is like plastic, he can learn to like it, can learn to be good at it, can make it part of his lifestyle, which will in turn open up new doors that have and are presently closed to him.

I empathize with his self imposed plight. Weight training is hard. I myself have lost 60 lbs over the past year and easy is not a word I would use to describe the process in any way, shape, or form. I am about to start clean bulking up 40 lbs over what is likely to be an extended period of time. Again it will be hard, probably would be less hard if WWE moved me to Orlando and paid me to train for two years, just saying.

Don’t know what you got till it’s gone will in my estimation be how this period is remembered two or three years from now when Kassius Ohno and Antonio Cesaro are challenging for the WWE Tag Titles. I think Hero will wake up in a cold sweat on a cold night in Ohio and realize what he had and will have the fire lit under his ass to do everything he can to try and get it back.  That fire under his ass, that is why he got released, because that is what he’ s missing in WWE’s eyes, not just that 20 extra pounds of lean mass.

WWE Universe Black Hole Sept-Nov 2013 Edition

Posted: November 9, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

potatoshooterlogoajclogo1by @anarchyroll
11/8/2013

For the first time in probably a full decade, I have something in common with the common WWE fan, I haven’t watched RAW in three weeks.  As the ratings would reflect, the overall WWE product has literally gotten worse every week since Summerslam. In my opinion everything on television not involving someone with the last name Rhodes has been as unwatchable as anything Impact Wrestling has put on television in the same time period.

There was a spike for the return of Super Cena and the Five Moves of Doom.  But the novelty and bump expired quickly than the pass smart marks give him when he busts out one of his four technically proficient matches each year.

The last three months has been educational as it has taught me that the wrestling “press” are complete marks for WWE…and of course Japan the land of no promos and career shortened stiffness, rest in peace Alex Shelley, say hi to Rick Rude for me.

I watched the entire CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman Guys feud, every second of every match and every promo.  All of which was either mediocre or homoerotic, often times both.  But the internet wrestling “reporters” were shoveling it down like it was filet mignon.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I sure hope they are married to plus sized ladies, because it would explain a lot.

Brian Danielson’s castration would have been worth it if he got the title at Hell in a Cell, but, you know, he had to start a feud with a retired wrestler who in the best case scenario won’t get in the ring with him for six months.  Sounds like the Bully Ray vs. Hulk Hogan feud with worse mic skills.

But have no fear, The Big Show is here!!! Paul Wight is my favorite super heavyweight wrestler of all time by a mile.  As big as Andre and as spry as Bam Bam Bigelow.  I thought him and Sheamus had the match of the year at Hell in a Cell 2012.  But the only reason he should be within sniffing distance of the WWE Title right now is to be Daniel Bryan’s first pay per view title defense.

The Authority…what else can be said about The Authority that wasn’t said about Miley Cyrus at the VMAs?

I applaud the WWE Universe for tuning out in moderate numbers over the past month.  It’s no mass exodus like we saw during The Alliance, but what we’re seeing doesn’t require an six million viewer per episode run on the bank.  Though maybe in the future any faction in WWE shouldn’t be allowed to have its name start with The and the letter A…we’ll all be better off…

Potato Shooter: Once in a Generation Opportunity

Posted: October 1, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

logo1

by @anarchyroll
August 26th 2013

An event has unfolded not seen in mainstream wrestling for twenty years. The two faces of the WWE, the number one and number two, are both injured at the same time for a prolonged period of time. John Cena and Sheamus are both out of action for 4 to 6 months with a triceps and shoulder injury respectively. Both injuries are legit, both timelines however can be works, as has been the case in the PG Era, Cena’s injury in 2007 being the most flagrant example. However, both men are likely to stay on the sidelines until after the new year to be both healthy and rested for the Road to WrestleMania that begins at the Royal Rumble.
 

Every member of the WWE roster both main and developmental should be as happy and excited as they can possibly be. Not at the misfortunes of others, but at the literally once in a generation opportunity to take an assisted leap towards grabbing a brass ring of World Wrestling Entertainment. Cena and Sheamus collectively are the face of WWE, one need only download their overly promoted app to see that both men literally are the symbol of the RAW and Smackdown brands.  Both of the franchises are out until January, part timers like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Chris Jericho have all fulfilled their contractual obligations for 2012, and there is zero news or even credible rumor of an available needle moving name like Batista, The Rock, or Goldberg being brought into the fold. What is WWE left to do to fill the void for the remainder of the year that involves presenting seven hours of original television content a week for the next 19 weeks?
 

With Triple H’s brief track record of calling the shots the answer is as obvious as it is positive to fans of my ilk; push young talent.  Fans should not be discouraged by the current pseudo New Corporation that has formed between the McMahon family and Randy Orton.  This angle/storyline is merely a vehicle to push Daniel Bryan in a way that Vince McMahon is comfortable and familiar with; that being the white hot babyface chasing the heel champion for the title making the face that much hotter. The angle merely takes up a handful of segments between RAW and Smackdown each week, even if it were to take up a full hour, that leaves six hours per week not counting NXT that needs to be filled.

 

One can always play fantasy booker, in future articles I will do just that starting with TNA/Impact Wrestling. However, one need not take a turn to unrealistic town to know that this is the time for the young lions to show what they got. Any promo, special move, or merchandise idea they have saved for a special time, now is the time to do/pitch it. Any favor to call in with a veteran or office personnel, now is the time to call it in. Any meeting they get called into between now and Jan 1st 2014, sell yourself as if St. Peter was on the fence about letting you in at the pearly gates. If you’re Kassius Ohno (Chris Hero) start lifting weights with a smile on your face three times a day every day with an IV of whey protein pumping into your veins. The times is now gentlemen!

 
Not since both Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage exiting stage left in 1993 has there been this kind of opportunity for young wrestlers in “the show” to succeed and exceed with a perfectly legit shortcut dropped into their laps. There are no more than one contender for each title in WWE. Recent signees like Sami Callihan and Samurai Del Sol NEED be pushing to get on NXT television. NXT standouts like Adrian Neville (PAC),  Bo Dallas, Corey Graves, Leo Kruger, Sami Zayn (El Generico), and Xavier Woods (Consequences Creed) NEED to be pushing to get called up to Smackdown. Opening match players like Justin Gabriel, Zack Ryder, and Drew Mcintyre NEED to be pushing to get into the US and IC divisions. Mid Carders that don’t have a MITB briefcase like Cody Rhodes, Fandango (Johnny Curtis), Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli), R-Truth, and Kofi Kingston NEED to be pushing to get in the main events. And main event jobbers like Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Kane, and Christian NEED to be pushing to get that World Heavyweight Title on their waste to (re)establish credibility with fans and cement their made men status.

 

Now is the time, not later. The Road to WrestleMania is where youth movements and veterans looking to finally get the big shot go to die this side of Rey Mysterio. WWE backstage politics is more than 50% congruence testing, now is the time for those who want to be the top guy to pass the test and grab the ring. Jim Ross, John Cena, and Triple H constantly reference the lack of desire to “own the place” this recent generation of superstars posses or lack in this case. What they mean is that the guys not named CM Punk and Daniel Bryan (Brian Danielson) have been too afraid of getting fired to stand up like men with complete confidence and say “I AM THE NEXT HULK HOGAN! I AM THE NEXT STEVE AUSTIN! I AM THE NEXT JOHN CENA!” Now is the time gentlemen to tell that to yourselves, to the fans, and to the office. This is when Vince, Stephanie, and Triple H will take a chance, not in January. The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Yokozuna, Shawn Michaels, and Kevin Nash can all a test that when the faces of a generation go away, WWE has to replace their spots and title reigns with somebody, might as well be you.

Newer Entries