If you are an avid fan of WWE then you must be aware of the various gimmicks the many wrestlers have had over the years. Wrestlers often turn to popular characters from fantasy to film to seek inspiration for their acts, so that fans can find their gimmicks appealing and battle the high competition.
Glenn Jacobs as Kane (Image via WWE)
This could not have been more true for one WWE Hall of Famer, Glenn Jacobs, whose character Kane was inspired by Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise. Although Jacobs carried the name to fame, it was Jim Cornette who was the mastermind behind the character.
Michael Myers Inspired One of the Most Evil Gimmicks in WWE
Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in Halloween Ends Photo Credit: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
There have been countless horror movies and many villains throughout the history of cinema, yet Nick Castle‘s portrayal...
Glenn Jacobs as Kane (Image via WWE)
This could not have been more true for one WWE Hall of Famer, Glenn Jacobs, whose character Kane was inspired by Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise. Although Jacobs carried the name to fame, it was Jim Cornette who was the mastermind behind the character.
Michael Myers Inspired One of the Most Evil Gimmicks in WWE
Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in Halloween Ends Photo Credit: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
There have been countless horror movies and many villains throughout the history of cinema, yet Nick Castle‘s portrayal...
- 3/22/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
Finding the right actor for a role is always a difficult task. Finding the right one to be a body-double for a professional wrestler is a whole ‘nother thing. Producer Evan Husney told TheWrap he got “so lucky” when casting his reenactments for the Viceland pro-wrestling docuseries “The Dark Side of the Ring,” which debuts on Wednesday.
“Sometimes we just got so lucky,” he told us. “Obviously, we had people working super-hard to cast those people and to get it right, but at the same time we just got a lot of easy breaks.”
Like that time Husney found his “Macho Man” Randy Savage just cosplaying around New Orleans’ WrestleMania 34. Husney almost dropped his beer, which would have been another tragedy in the “Dark Side of the Ring” — a title his mom came up with, by the way — saga.
“I thought he’d come back from the dead,” Husney said,...
“Sometimes we just got so lucky,” he told us. “Obviously, we had people working super-hard to cast those people and to get it right, but at the same time we just got a lot of easy breaks.”
Like that time Husney found his “Macho Man” Randy Savage just cosplaying around New Orleans’ WrestleMania 34. Husney almost dropped his beer, which would have been another tragedy in the “Dark Side of the Ring” — a title his mom came up with, by the way — saga.
“I thought he’d come back from the dead,” Husney said,...
- 4/10/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Viceland is exploring the ugly side of the professional wrestling business with new docuseries “Dark Side of the Ring,” which features interviews with WWE alums Bret Hart, Bruce Prichard, Jim Cornette, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and more.
Narrated by legendary booker, wrestler and manager Dutch Mantell, the six-episode series will examine the collision of fantasy and reality in the singular universe of professional wrestling, the only sport whose stars’ larger-than-life characters exist in and often out of the ring, telling some of the dark and untold stories around some of the sport’s all-time greats — stories that obsess hardcore wrestling fans and will compel new viewers alike.
Viceland’s description continues:
From backstage controversies to mysterious deaths and unsolved homicides, this series explores the darkest stories from the golden age of professional wrestling — with each episode centered on a professional wrestling icon, including the tragic love story of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Miss Elizabeth,...
Narrated by legendary booker, wrestler and manager Dutch Mantell, the six-episode series will examine the collision of fantasy and reality in the singular universe of professional wrestling, the only sport whose stars’ larger-than-life characters exist in and often out of the ring, telling some of the dark and untold stories around some of the sport’s all-time greats — stories that obsess hardcore wrestling fans and will compel new viewers alike.
Viceland’s description continues:
From backstage controversies to mysterious deaths and unsolved homicides, this series explores the darkest stories from the golden age of professional wrestling — with each episode centered on a professional wrestling icon, including the tragic love story of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Miss Elizabeth,...
- 3/29/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling was originally named Tits and Ass Wrestling. You might already know that but, for those of you who are still in the dark, Tna Wrestling was never meant to be any-thing more than a fun lark for Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo. Based on pushing the WWE’s Attitude Era to its limit, Tna was going to be chaos for the sake of chaos, with every ridiculous idea that would have been repressed any-where else be given the spot-light. How-ever, a call from the remnants of the once great National Wrestling Alliance changed the plans at the last minute, because the Nwa wanted to offer its title belts, especially the greatest and most important wrestling title in the sport’s history, the Nwa World Heavyweight Championship, for its roster to wrestle for. At that moment, Jeff Jarrett made a deal with the Nwa that would turn Vince Russo’s wet-dream into,...
- 6/26/2018
- by Nathan Favel
- Nerdly
WWE.com
When Jack Swagger looks back on his career he will remember fondly the summer of 2014 when he became an unlikely American hero. Backed by his generously-mustachioed manager Zeb Colter, the once heel Real Americans battled the evil foreigner Rusev as they won over audiences across their county.
Swagger’s time in the spotlight has definitely waned since, partly due to the absence of his manager Zeb. In a recent interview with MTV UK, Jack Swagger revealed that Colter will be imminently returning. “He’s going to be back very soon, saluting ‘We The People’ more than ever.”
While the current WWE audience knows Zeb as a highly outspoken manager, his career spans all the way back to the 1970’s. In addition to managing he’s also wrestled and booked and has been instrumental in molding some of the biggest stars the wrestling business has ever seen.
Zeb has...
When Jack Swagger looks back on his career he will remember fondly the summer of 2014 when he became an unlikely American hero. Backed by his generously-mustachioed manager Zeb Colter, the once heel Real Americans battled the evil foreigner Rusev as they won over audiences across their county.
Swagger’s time in the spotlight has definitely waned since, partly due to the absence of his manager Zeb. In a recent interview with MTV UK, Jack Swagger revealed that Colter will be imminently returning. “He’s going to be back very soon, saluting ‘We The People’ more than ever.”
While the current WWE audience knows Zeb as a highly outspoken manager, his career spans all the way back to the 1970’s. In addition to managing he’s also wrestled and booked and has been instrumental in molding some of the biggest stars the wrestling business has ever seen.
Zeb has...
- 4/9/2015
- by Mitch Nickelson
- Obsessed with Film
wwe
Steve Austin had a long, strange journey to get to the top of the mountain at WWF. A former high school and college football player, Steve Williams was a life-long wrestling fan and started training with “Gentleman” Chris Adams at the Dallas Sportatorium in 1989.
He debuted for the Von Erichs’ World Class Championship Wrestling against Frogman LeBlanc. When Wccw merged with Jerry Jarrett’s Continental Wrestling Association, he was dubbed “Steve Austin” by Dutch Mantell, the man who would become Zeb Colter.
His long and storied career would take him all over America, first at World Championship Wrestling as “Stunning” Steve Austin, then briefly in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He joined World Wrestling Federation in 1995 as “The Ringmaster” but that character never felt quite right. He transitioned to the “Stone Cold” character that made him a superstar and in 1996 he delivered his famous “Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your...
Steve Austin had a long, strange journey to get to the top of the mountain at WWF. A former high school and college football player, Steve Williams was a life-long wrestling fan and started training with “Gentleman” Chris Adams at the Dallas Sportatorium in 1989.
He debuted for the Von Erichs’ World Class Championship Wrestling against Frogman LeBlanc. When Wccw merged with Jerry Jarrett’s Continental Wrestling Association, he was dubbed “Steve Austin” by Dutch Mantell, the man who would become Zeb Colter.
His long and storied career would take him all over America, first at World Championship Wrestling as “Stunning” Steve Austin, then briefly in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He joined World Wrestling Federation in 1995 as “The Ringmaster” but that character never felt quite right. He transitioned to the “Stone Cold” character that made him a superstar and in 1996 he delivered his famous “Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your...
- 11/18/2014
- by Kieran Shiach
- Obsessed with Film
wwe.com
This week’s WWE Smackdown was filmed on Tuesday night from Corpus Christi, Texas. The main event pitted Chris Jericho against Erick Rowan, with a co-main event of Dolph Ziggler vs Alberto Del Rio. A key development coming out of the show was Randy Orton challenging Roman Reigns to a SummerSlam match. With just three weeks to go until the August pay per view, WWE’s key feuds are heating up. The episode will be broadcast this Friday night, the results are as follows:
- Jack Swagger defeated Cesaro with the Patriot Lock. This resulted in Lana and Rusev coming out and challenging Swagger to a match at SummerSlam. Zeb Colter accepted on Swagger’s behalf.
It’s hard times yet again for Cesaro, with his losing streak continuing. For Swagger things look much rosier, his feud with Rusev is one of WWE’s hottest programs for SummerSlam.
This week’s WWE Smackdown was filmed on Tuesday night from Corpus Christi, Texas. The main event pitted Chris Jericho against Erick Rowan, with a co-main event of Dolph Ziggler vs Alberto Del Rio. A key development coming out of the show was Randy Orton challenging Roman Reigns to a SummerSlam match. With just three weeks to go until the August pay per view, WWE’s key feuds are heating up. The episode will be broadcast this Friday night, the results are as follows:
- Jack Swagger defeated Cesaro with the Patriot Lock. This resulted in Lana and Rusev coming out and challenging Swagger to a match at SummerSlam. Zeb Colter accepted on Swagger’s behalf.
It’s hard times yet again for Cesaro, with his losing streak continuing. For Swagger things look much rosier, his feud with Rusev is one of WWE’s hottest programs for SummerSlam.
- 7/30/2014
- by Grahame Herbert
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
The WWE Main Event show is exclusively shown on WWE Network every Tuesday at 8pmET. If you miss the show live it’s easy to access in the WWE Network’s library by clicking on Shows, then In Ring and you’ll find it right there.
We plan on writing about it weekly here on WhatCulture in a one page post with a recap of the matches, key segments and thoughts on the characters involved as well. While it’s not a show with major segments or “can’t miss” moments that Raw has, we feel it’s worthwhile so we’re going to cover it.
At the start of the show they advertised Rusev vs. Jack Swagger. On Raw they said it was going to be Rusev against Sheamus. It just shows how quick they are to change their mind.
Seth Rollins defeated Fandango
It was a...
The WWE Main Event show is exclusively shown on WWE Network every Tuesday at 8pmET. If you miss the show live it’s easy to access in the WWE Network’s library by clicking on Shows, then In Ring and you’ll find it right there.
We plan on writing about it weekly here on WhatCulture in a one page post with a recap of the matches, key segments and thoughts on the characters involved as well. While it’s not a show with major segments or “can’t miss” moments that Raw has, we feel it’s worthwhile so we’re going to cover it.
At the start of the show they advertised Rusev vs. Jack Swagger. On Raw they said it was going to be Rusev against Sheamus. It just shows how quick they are to change their mind.
Seth Rollins defeated Fandango
It was a...
- 7/23/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
After receiving huge criticism from the media, particularly here in the UK, WWE have responded with a statement regarding Lana’s controversial promo at last night’s WWE Battleground PPV.
Issued on WWE.com, the statement reads;
“Last night’s segment during WWE’s Battleground event was in no way referring to the Malaysia Airlines tragedy. The storyline with characters Rusev and Lana has been a part of WWE programming for more than 3 months. WWE apologizes to anyone who misunderstood last night’s segment and was offended.”
Whether the media has blown the whole saga out of proportions is up for debate, but regardless, it is probably fair to say that it was at least insensitive of the company to have Lana cut a promo before Rusev’s match against Jack Swagger last night. Given the recent tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines plane that was shot down last week,...
After receiving huge criticism from the media, particularly here in the UK, WWE have responded with a statement regarding Lana’s controversial promo at last night’s WWE Battleground PPV.
Issued on WWE.com, the statement reads;
“Last night’s segment during WWE’s Battleground event was in no way referring to the Malaysia Airlines tragedy. The storyline with characters Rusev and Lana has been a part of WWE programming for more than 3 months. WWE apologizes to anyone who misunderstood last night’s segment and was offended.”
Whether the media has blown the whole saga out of proportions is up for debate, but regardless, it is probably fair to say that it was at least insensitive of the company to have Lana cut a promo before Rusev’s match against Jack Swagger last night. Given the recent tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines plane that was shot down last week,...
- 7/21/2014
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
WWE Battleground is smack in the middle of Money in the Bank and SummerSlam — right between two of the biggest shows of the year. Because of that, this will be a throwaway event with little change or much excitement. Storylines will be built here and a clearer picture of SummerSlam will be made by the end of the night. Here are predictions of what should be happening at this less-than-stellar, but purposeful WWE event.
Pre-Show Match Cameron vs. Naomi
Naomi proved to me that she can have a great divas match at Money in the Bank 2014 and I look forward to seeing more of her. This is a grudge that I suppose we’re supposed to care about because of the history of these two as Funkadactyls, but I mainly just want to see Naomi win and move on to bigger things. Plus, I’m sure Jimmy Uso has taught...
Pre-Show Match Cameron vs. Naomi
Naomi proved to me that she can have a great divas match at Money in the Bank 2014 and I look forward to seeing more of her. This is a grudge that I suppose we’re supposed to care about because of the history of these two as Funkadactyls, but I mainly just want to see Naomi win and move on to bigger things. Plus, I’m sure Jimmy Uso has taught...
- 7/19/2014
- by Francois Chang
- BuzzFocus.com
WWE.com
As Jim Ross would say, pro wrestling “ain’t ballet.” Even further, for as much as Triple H is known as the “Cerebral Assassin,” the stress of working in wrestling as a business can certainly tax anyone’s mind. Since the turn of the 21st century, pro wrestling has become a more physically active and undoubtedly mentally strenuous business than ever before. Between TLC matches, hardcore wrestling, the evolution of WWE as a corporation and the recent roll-out of the WWE Network, the industry is in a far different place than it has ever been before.
That being the case, WWE’s desire to present its product in an evolved manner takes a toll on not just the company itself, but as the wrestlers-turned-corporate content contributors. As matches are no longer just matches and riches reach untold heights, the desire for wrestlers (and the company itself) to do more,...
As Jim Ross would say, pro wrestling “ain’t ballet.” Even further, for as much as Triple H is known as the “Cerebral Assassin,” the stress of working in wrestling as a business can certainly tax anyone’s mind. Since the turn of the 21st century, pro wrestling has become a more physically active and undoubtedly mentally strenuous business than ever before. Between TLC matches, hardcore wrestling, the evolution of WWE as a corporation and the recent roll-out of the WWE Network, the industry is in a far different place than it has ever been before.
That being the case, WWE’s desire to present its product in an evolved manner takes a toll on not just the company itself, but as the wrestlers-turned-corporate content contributors. As matches are no longer just matches and riches reach untold heights, the desire for wrestlers (and the company itself) to do more,...
- 7/10/2014
- by Marcus K. Dowling
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Following Monday’s edition of Raw there were only three matches that were official for WWE’s Battleground pay-per-view on July 20 in Tampa. After last night’s Smackdown and Main Event tapings we can add four matches to the official lineup to make it seven.
Here’s what we knew officially after Raw.
WWE World Heavyweight Title Fatal 4-Way: John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane. That’s the clear main event. Nothing else on this card is really close to it in terms of its stature.
WWE Intercontinental Title Battle Royal: Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, Rob Van Dam, Big E, Alberto Del Rio, Fandango, Sheamus, Cesaro, Damien Sandow, The Great Khali, Ryback, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. There are 13 names. The key addition is Sheamus, who is already the Us Champion. He could add the Ic Title to the Us Title he already has.
Following Monday’s edition of Raw there were only three matches that were official for WWE’s Battleground pay-per-view on July 20 in Tampa. After last night’s Smackdown and Main Event tapings we can add four matches to the official lineup to make it seven.
Here’s what we knew officially after Raw.
WWE World Heavyweight Title Fatal 4-Way: John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane. That’s the clear main event. Nothing else on this card is really close to it in terms of its stature.
WWE Intercontinental Title Battle Royal: Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, Rob Van Dam, Big E, Alberto Del Rio, Fandango, Sheamus, Cesaro, Damien Sandow, The Great Khali, Ryback, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. There are 13 names. The key addition is Sheamus, who is already the Us Champion. He could add the Ic Title to the Us Title he already has.
- 7/9/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
The next WWE pay-per-view is called Battleground and it takes place on July 20 in Tampa, Florida. Even though there is only one more week of Raw before the show, WWE has only announced three matches for the event. Two of them were known last week and one was added on Raw.
The new match added to the show was Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter) taking on Rusev (with Lana). During Raw, Rusev was in a match and Colter appeared doing a taped promo that aired during the Rusev. That kind of promo doesn’t happen too often. The story has been built up for weeks now, so it makes sense that they’ll have the “Real American” taking on the evil “Russian” at Battleground.
Swagger wasn’t at Raw, nor was he at any of the live events this weekend. The reason given for that is due to...
The next WWE pay-per-view is called Battleground and it takes place on July 20 in Tampa, Florida. Even though there is only one more week of Raw before the show, WWE has only announced three matches for the event. Two of them were known last week and one was added on Raw.
The new match added to the show was Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter) taking on Rusev (with Lana). During Raw, Rusev was in a match and Colter appeared doing a taped promo that aired during the Rusev. That kind of promo doesn’t happen too often. The story has been built up for weeks now, so it makes sense that they’ll have the “Real American” taking on the evil “Russian” at Battleground.
Swagger wasn’t at Raw, nor was he at any of the live events this weekend. The reason given for that is due to...
- 7/8/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
One big criticism of the WWE writing team is that aside from the main storyline, they do not book long-term for their Pay Per Views. The shows are then littered with thrown-together matches with little-to-no backstory. No show was this more evident than last year’s Battleground, which had last-minute advertised matches like Santino Marella and Great Khali against The Real Americans, Curtis Axel against R-Truth, and Bray Wyatt against Kofi Kingston. It was one of the worst Pay Per Views of the year in 2013.
With only three weeks between Money in the Bank and this year’s Battleground, WWE could have gone a similar route by only booking three or four major matches and throwing together random matches to fill up the rest of the card. Instead, in one night, on a fantastic Raw from Hartford, Connecticut, the WWE writing team set the stage for an entire card for the next show.
One big criticism of the WWE writing team is that aside from the main storyline, they do not book long-term for their Pay Per Views. The shows are then littered with thrown-together matches with little-to-no backstory. No show was this more evident than last year’s Battleground, which had last-minute advertised matches like Santino Marella and Great Khali against The Real Americans, Curtis Axel against R-Truth, and Bray Wyatt against Kofi Kingston. It was one of the worst Pay Per Views of the year in 2013.
With only three weeks between Money in the Bank and this year’s Battleground, WWE could have gone a similar route by only booking three or four major matches and throwing together random matches to fill up the rest of the card. Instead, in one night, on a fantastic Raw from Hartford, Connecticut, the WWE writing team set the stage for an entire card for the next show.
- 7/7/2014
- by Seagull
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
This week was an eventful one as WWE held their annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view that ended with John Cena winning the WWE World Heavyweight Title. It was his 15th WWE/World Title and the company has already started talking about how he might be their greatest champion ever. The other news from that show was that Seth Rollins won the Mitb contract ladder match, which will allow him to cash in the coveted briefcase on the WWE Champion at any time in the next year.
The next night on Raw, WWE delivered what may have been their best edition of their flagship show in 2014. It’s right up there with the night after WrestleMania at least. There were the surprise returns of Chris Jericho, The Miz and Aj Lee. We also saw turns for Jack Swagger & Zeb Colter while it looks like Paige might join the dark side too.
This week was an eventful one as WWE held their annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view that ended with John Cena winning the WWE World Heavyweight Title. It was his 15th WWE/World Title and the company has already started talking about how he might be their greatest champion ever. The other news from that show was that Seth Rollins won the Mitb contract ladder match, which will allow him to cash in the coveted briefcase on the WWE Champion at any time in the next year.
The next night on Raw, WWE delivered what may have been their best edition of their flagship show in 2014. It’s right up there with the night after WrestleMania at least. There were the surprise returns of Chris Jericho, The Miz and Aj Lee. We also saw turns for Jack Swagger & Zeb Colter while it looks like Paige might join the dark side too.
- 7/5/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
On Monday, June 30th, The most tired of pro wrestling tropes – evil foreign strongman proclaiming their dominance over weak Americans – was portrayed by the latest purveyors of said stereotype, Rusev the Russo-Bulgarian Brute, and his “ravishing” manager, Lana. However, with the aid of a seasoned territory-era wrestler, a performer lacking in direction, and the strength of the two aforementioned heels, a magical moment transpired that may have kicked off one of WWE’s strongest babyface runs in recent memory.
Employed by World Wrestling Entertainment for nearly a decade, veteran grappler Jack Swagger has all of the physical tools, but has lacked that certain something to connect with the crowd as a top-tier villainous persona. However, with Zeb Colter (legendary wrestler Dutch Mantel) by his side, he’s been blessed with a persona that isn’t so much likable as it is believable, which given his new babyface program...
On Monday, June 30th, The most tired of pro wrestling tropes – evil foreign strongman proclaiming their dominance over weak Americans – was portrayed by the latest purveyors of said stereotype, Rusev the Russo-Bulgarian Brute, and his “ravishing” manager, Lana. However, with the aid of a seasoned territory-era wrestler, a performer lacking in direction, and the strength of the two aforementioned heels, a magical moment transpired that may have kicked off one of WWE’s strongest babyface runs in recent memory.
Employed by World Wrestling Entertainment for nearly a decade, veteran grappler Jack Swagger has all of the physical tools, but has lacked that certain something to connect with the crowd as a top-tier villainous persona. However, with Zeb Colter (legendary wrestler Dutch Mantel) by his side, he’s been blessed with a persona that isn’t so much likable as it is believable, which given his new babyface program...
- 7/4/2014
- by Marcus K. Dowling
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Happy Birthday America! Since today is July 4th, which is Independence Day in the United States, we thought it would be the perfect time to take a look back at the most patriotic American wrestlers ever.
Since WWE is a company based in America, they’ve employed hundreds of American wrestlers over the past thirty years and beyond. There are plenty of names that could fit under the idea of listing proud American wrestlers, but what about the ones that had gimmicks that are purely based on the idea of being American heroes or villains? There have been several of those in WWE history.
We are actually seeing one of those patriotic angles in WWE right now as Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter have stood up to the “Russian” duo of Rusev and Lana, who have taken shots at America for the past several months. This past week on Raw,...
Happy Birthday America! Since today is July 4th, which is Independence Day in the United States, we thought it would be the perfect time to take a look back at the most patriotic American wrestlers ever.
Since WWE is a company based in America, they’ve employed hundreds of American wrestlers over the past thirty years and beyond. There are plenty of names that could fit under the idea of listing proud American wrestlers, but what about the ones that had gimmicks that are purely based on the idea of being American heroes or villains? There have been several of those in WWE history.
We are actually seeing one of those patriotic angles in WWE right now as Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter have stood up to the “Russian” duo of Rusev and Lana, who have taken shots at America for the past several months. This past week on Raw,...
- 7/4/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
It was announced in the first segment of Raw that John Cena will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Kane, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns at WWE’s Battleground pay-per-view from Tampa on July 20th. It’s a Fatal Four Way match, which means the man that gets the first pinfall or submission will be the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
While the Fatal Four Way match hasn’t been done as a PPV main event in a while, it’s the second PPV in a row with more than two people in a major title match. When you keep doing it all the time the novelty wears off a bit.
The main event on Raw saw Cena team up with Reigns against Kane and Orton. The match ended in a Dq after Kane attacked Cena with the steel steps. Reigns ended up brawling with Orton. When Reigns returned,...
It was announced in the first segment of Raw that John Cena will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Kane, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns at WWE’s Battleground pay-per-view from Tampa on July 20th. It’s a Fatal Four Way match, which means the man that gets the first pinfall or submission will be the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
While the Fatal Four Way match hasn’t been done as a PPV main event in a while, it’s the second PPV in a row with more than two people in a major title match. When you keep doing it all the time the novelty wears off a bit.
The main event on Raw saw Cena team up with Reigns against Kane and Orton. The match ended in a Dq after Kane attacked Cena with the steel steps. Reigns ended up brawling with Orton. When Reigns returned,...
- 7/1/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
There are all types of managers in wrestling. Sometimes they are former wrestlers that can’t have matches anymore, other times they are simply people that are great talkers and sometimes they can even be people that are dating or married to the wrestler they were with.
A successful manager is somebody that enhances the talent that they are managing. If the manager takes up too much of the spotlight then it detracts from the person trying to do their thing in the ring.
Have you ever noticed that most managers are usually shorter guys or at least people that aren’t that tall? The reason for that is because if the manager looks bigger than the talent that’s in the ring then it makes the talent look inferior. Same reason you won’t see a 6’5″ referee either.
It seems as if there’s a resurgence of...
There are all types of managers in wrestling. Sometimes they are former wrestlers that can’t have matches anymore, other times they are simply people that are great talkers and sometimes they can even be people that are dating or married to the wrestler they were with.
A successful manager is somebody that enhances the talent that they are managing. If the manager takes up too much of the spotlight then it detracts from the person trying to do their thing in the ring.
Have you ever noticed that most managers are usually shorter guys or at least people that aren’t that tall? The reason for that is because if the manager looks bigger than the talent that’s in the ring then it makes the talent look inferior. Same reason you won’t see a 6’5″ referee either.
It seems as if there’s a resurgence of...
- 5/17/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
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WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will need no introduction to many, if any, of you reading this column but something you might not be aware of is that around the same time I kicked off Pinfall, he launched a weekly podcast called The Ross Report and it’s a great listen. (catch it here)
Over the last twelve weeks he’s had an impressive roster of guests on his show including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts and Shawn Michaels, but it was the guest he had on a couple of weeks ago that has given me food for thought for this time’s column, the incomparable Jim Cornette.
Cornette has been around the wrestling business forever and has a million interesting stories about a million different things and people, but it wasn’t so...
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will need no introduction to many, if any, of you reading this column but something you might not be aware of is that around the same time I kicked off Pinfall, he launched a weekly podcast called The Ross Report and it’s a great listen. (catch it here)
Over the last twelve weeks he’s had an impressive roster of guests on his show including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts and Shawn Michaels, but it was the guest he had on a couple of weeks ago that has given me food for thought for this time’s column, the incomparable Jim Cornette.
Cornette has been around the wrestling business forever and has a million interesting stories about a million different things and people, but it wasn’t so...
- 5/13/2014
- Shadowlocked
WWE.com
We’re on the road to Extreme Rules and things are starting to get extremely mediocre. It can’t be helped as the yearly WrestleMania hangover is in full effect. There’s no Undertaker, no Brock Lesnar and we’re now settling into a new normal. Also, did you know what Tna has a pay-per-view this week? Most people did not, as Impact’s ratings dropped to all-time low levels. That’s not much of a “yes movement” for Eric Young’s title reign, that’s a channel changing movement.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad: The Shield’s attacks on SmackDown were a lot of fun (poor Brad Maddox took a brutal toss into the wall), Antonio Cesaro got WWE’s first tornado siren theme music since Perry Saturn, and Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter had great dueling promos. But who wants to hear about that?...
We’re on the road to Extreme Rules and things are starting to get extremely mediocre. It can’t be helped as the yearly WrestleMania hangover is in full effect. There’s no Undertaker, no Brock Lesnar and we’re now settling into a new normal. Also, did you know what Tna has a pay-per-view this week? Most people did not, as Impact’s ratings dropped to all-time low levels. That’s not much of a “yes movement” for Eric Young’s title reign, that’s a channel changing movement.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad: The Shield’s attacks on SmackDown were a lot of fun (poor Brad Maddox took a brutal toss into the wall), Antonio Cesaro got WWE’s first tornado siren theme music since Perry Saturn, and Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter had great dueling promos. But who wants to hear about that?...
- 4/27/2014
- by Andrew Soucek
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
The weeks after WrestleMania usually mean a reset in WWE. It can be compared to a professional sports league in that WrestleMania is the end of one season while Raw the night after is the beginning of the next season. It’s fair to say that the WWE year goes from WrestleMania to WrestleMania.
In the case of Cesaro and his former allies Zeb Colter & Jack Swagger, the new WWE year meant changes for all of them. Cesaro was getting cheered by the WWE Universe prior to WrestleMania and the assumption was that he would go babyface after it, but it appears as though he’s still in the heel role except that he’s now a “Paul Heyman Guy” with an even brighter future. That’s great for him, but what about Colter & Swagger?
Colter went on Twitter a couple of days ago to say that he...
The weeks after WrestleMania usually mean a reset in WWE. It can be compared to a professional sports league in that WrestleMania is the end of one season while Raw the night after is the beginning of the next season. It’s fair to say that the WWE year goes from WrestleMania to WrestleMania.
In the case of Cesaro and his former allies Zeb Colter & Jack Swagger, the new WWE year meant changes for all of them. Cesaro was getting cheered by the WWE Universe prior to WrestleMania and the assumption was that he would go babyface after it, but it appears as though he’s still in the heel role except that he’s now a “Paul Heyman Guy” with an even brighter future. That’s great for him, but what about Colter & Swagger?
Colter went on Twitter a couple of days ago to say that he...
- 4/16/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
“I’m not a Zeb Colter guy, I’m a Paul Heyman guy.” After last Monday’s Raw, the internet is still buzzing over Cesaro’s shocking announcement that he is a Paul Heyman Guy, and subsequently leaving Zeb Colter. It was a big two days for Cesaro, which saw him in the Tag Team Championship Match at WrestleMania, eliminate The Big Show and win the Andre The Giant Battle Royal Memorial, and then joining forces with Paul Heyman on Raw.
Aligning with Heyman was a huge curveball thrown by the WWE, and something that may have been done just for the shock value for a post WrestleMania Raw. We saw Heyman in the span of an hour, go from standing besides Brock Lesnar and calling out all the wannabes in the WWE, to representing Cesaro and naming him the King Of Swing.
I’ll admit I was...
“I’m not a Zeb Colter guy, I’m a Paul Heyman guy.” After last Monday’s Raw, the internet is still buzzing over Cesaro’s shocking announcement that he is a Paul Heyman Guy, and subsequently leaving Zeb Colter. It was a big two days for Cesaro, which saw him in the Tag Team Championship Match at WrestleMania, eliminate The Big Show and win the Andre The Giant Battle Royal Memorial, and then joining forces with Paul Heyman on Raw.
Aligning with Heyman was a huge curveball thrown by the WWE, and something that may have been done just for the shock value for a post WrestleMania Raw. We saw Heyman in the span of an hour, go from standing besides Brock Lesnar and calling out all the wannabes in the WWE, to representing Cesaro and naming him the King Of Swing.
I’ll admit I was...
- 4/13/2014
- by Enzo Marino
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
This past Monday’s Raw had an interesting development as it pertains to the tag team title situation in WWE. The Real American defeated the tag team champions The Usos in a non-title match. It’s typical WWE booking to have champions lose non-title matches. In fact, it happened three times on Raw since Randy Orton and Aj Lee also lost. They do that as a way to build up contenders.
The manager of the Real Americans, Zeb Colter, tweeted about how Cesaro and Jack Swagger deserved a tag team title match at WrestleMania 30 after their win.
It’s interesting to note that on a recent edition of a German broadcast of Raw, Cesaro was announced for the Andre the Giant battle royal, but it appears though that decision has been changed since he hasn’t been pushed for it on television. If he was a part of it,...
This past Monday’s Raw had an interesting development as it pertains to the tag team title situation in WWE. The Real American defeated the tag team champions The Usos in a non-title match. It’s typical WWE booking to have champions lose non-title matches. In fact, it happened three times on Raw since Randy Orton and Aj Lee also lost. They do that as a way to build up contenders.
The manager of the Real Americans, Zeb Colter, tweeted about how Cesaro and Jack Swagger deserved a tag team title match at WrestleMania 30 after their win.
It’s interesting to note that on a recent edition of a German broadcast of Raw, Cesaro was announced for the Andre the Giant battle royal, but it appears though that decision has been changed since he hasn’t been pushed for it on television. If he was a part of it,...
- 3/19/2014
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
2013 was a mixed year for WWE in terms of storylines, match quality and fan interest, but regardless of those things it is still safe to say that 2013 was a very interesting, sometimes controversial and often entertaining year for WWE and features some really excellent moments and matches, while also providing, as wrestling always tends to, some septic little happenings that annoyed, frustrated and bored wrestling fans to tears. This set looks at a variety of these moments and matches in what is labelled as the “Best of Raw & Smackdown” from 2013.
Here is the content listing:
Raw – 7th January 2013 – Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match for the WWE Championship – Cm Punk vs. Ryback Smackdown – 11th January 013 – Last Man Standing for the World Championship – Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio Smackdown – 25th January 2013 – The Rock & Cm Punk’s Verbal Battle Raw – 28th January 2013 – Paul Heyman & Mr. McMahon Confrontation Raw – 25th February 2013 – Winner faces The...
Here is the content listing:
Raw – 7th January 2013 – Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match for the WWE Championship – Cm Punk vs. Ryback Smackdown – 11th January 013 – Last Man Standing for the World Championship – Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio Smackdown – 25th January 2013 – The Rock & Cm Punk’s Verbal Battle Raw – 28th January 2013 – Paul Heyman & Mr. McMahon Confrontation Raw – 25th February 2013 – Winner faces The...
- 3/9/2014
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
Chris Carlson/AP/Press Association Images
Hulk Hogan will return to WWE Television on the 24th of February Raw in Green Bay, Wisconsin, reports PWInsider.
That Raw comes the night after Elimination Chamber and on the evening of the WWE Network launch. In addition to Hogan, his long time manager Jimmy Hart is also expected to be in attendance on Raw, to promote his show ‘Legends House’ which will be featuring on the WWE Network.
The report of Hogan’s return also reveals some of the details of his deal with WWE. The Hulkster agreed the contract shortly after leaving Tna a few months ago. The WWE had discussed using Hogan for publicity attention at the Network announcement in Las Vegas on January 8th, but instead decided he would be better utilised on WWE television.
As we reported yesterday, The Undertaker is also scheduled to return on the February 24th Raw.
Hulk Hogan will return to WWE Television on the 24th of February Raw in Green Bay, Wisconsin, reports PWInsider.
That Raw comes the night after Elimination Chamber and on the evening of the WWE Network launch. In addition to Hogan, his long time manager Jimmy Hart is also expected to be in attendance on Raw, to promote his show ‘Legends House’ which will be featuring on the WWE Network.
The report of Hogan’s return also reveals some of the details of his deal with WWE. The Hulkster agreed the contract shortly after leaving Tna a few months ago. The WWE had discussed using Hogan for publicity attention at the Network announcement in Las Vegas on January 8th, but instead decided he would be better utilised on WWE television.
As we reported yesterday, The Undertaker is also scheduled to return on the February 24th Raw.
- 2/11/2014
- by Grahame Herbert
- Obsessed with Film
When many people think of the great WrestleManias, a select number of events tend to pop up in the mind of most fans. WrestleMania X7 is probably the best WrestleMania of all time and a candidate for the best American wrestling PPV of all time. WrestleMania III is up there thanks to the spectacle of the Silverdome and a rather great event overall. That’s fine and dandy, but I’m going to throw a different WrestleMania into the mix. WrestleMania VII may be the best WrestleMania that nobody talks about.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room and one of the main reasons that most fans tend to shy away from WrestleMania: Gulfsploitation. I don’t even know if that is a word, but that is probably the best name for it. Taking Sgt. Slaughter who at that point had been portrayed as an American hero...
First, let’s address the elephant in the room and one of the main reasons that most fans tend to shy away from WrestleMania: Gulfsploitation. I don’t even know if that is a word, but that is probably the best name for it. Taking Sgt. Slaughter who at that point had been portrayed as an American hero...
- 11/28/2013
- by Robert Goeman
- Obsessed with Film
Reigning WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes are no strangers to tasting doubles gold. Both have held prestigious tag titles before.
These half-brothers, one bizarre, the other dashing, are exciting fans the world over with their current run. On air, WWE commentators have referred to it as a “Cinderella story.”
Since defeating The Shield at the Battleground pay-per-view Cody and Goldust have been on a roll. In a rematch on Raw they captured the belts and then defended them at the next monthly event Hell In A Cell in a Triple Threat match also involving The Usos.
With the Rhodes family now set to feud with Zeb Colter’s Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro) after they beat them on Raw this week only time will tell how long their reign will last.
If, like us, Goldust gives you a sense of nostalgia for wrestlers of yesteryear...
These half-brothers, one bizarre, the other dashing, are exciting fans the world over with their current run. On air, WWE commentators have referred to it as a “Cinderella story.”
Since defeating The Shield at the Battleground pay-per-view Cody and Goldust have been on a roll. In a rematch on Raw they captured the belts and then defended them at the next monthly event Hell In A Cell in a Triple Threat match also involving The Usos.
With the Rhodes family now set to feud with Zeb Colter’s Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro) after they beat them on Raw this week only time will tell how long their reign will last.
If, like us, Goldust gives you a sense of nostalgia for wrestlers of yesteryear...
- 10/29/2013
- by Jamie Clark
- Obsessed with Film
Some would argue that the WWE is too top-heavy with regards to the number of heels that are currently running roughshod over the rest of the roster. All of the current champions are heels, there are two predominant heel stables in the forms of the Shield and the Wyatt Family, and the people that run all of the shows are heels. Couple that with the lack of convincing face superstars that either draw mixed crowd responses or are too busy bawling in the centre of the ring to actually compete, then all of the shows are pretty much dominated by a wide collection of nefarious bad guys.
The king heel at the moment amongst the active superstars is the WWE Champion Randy Orton, embroiled in the hottest rivalry leading into Sunday’s Night of Champions with Daniel Bryan. His status as the heralded face of the company has given his...
The king heel at the moment amongst the active superstars is the WWE Champion Randy Orton, embroiled in the hottest rivalry leading into Sunday’s Night of Champions with Daniel Bryan. His status as the heralded face of the company has given his...
- 9/15/2013
- by Callum Wiggins
- Obsessed with Film
There many different locations in the WWE universe that have garnered much respect. We have the sacred ground of Madison Square Garden, the Allstate arena in Chicago and the Boston Garden. But out of all locations WWE has been, there’s nothing more fun than when WWE goes to “Bizarro World” in Toronto Air Canada Center.. And it’s only fitting that the bizarre one Goldust returns this past Monday from Toronto to avenge his brother attempting to get Cody’s job back against the WWE champion, Randy Orton.
The night begins with the returning WWE Hall of Famer Edge coming home to Toronto and the company. The Rated R Superstar comes back to a racous reaction. He says that he loves being back but it wasn’t of his own accord. Edge says he was mandated by Triple H to have a reunion with his old partner not Christian...
The night begins with the returning WWE Hall of Famer Edge coming home to Toronto and the company. The Rated R Superstar comes back to a racous reaction. He says that he loves being back but it wasn’t of his own accord. Edge says he was mandated by Triple H to have a reunion with his old partner not Christian...
- 9/10/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Welcome to the first wrestling show review I’ll have written here on Nerdly.
Nxt is the development system for WWE and is often spoken of as the best wrestling show out there right now, with the deep and excellent development roster that WWE has right now.
The show opens up with Corey Graves talking to Rick Victor from The Ascension. The conversation becomes heated and Graves is attacked by Victor and his tag-team partner Conor O’Brian.
First match of the night is “The Moonchild” Cj Parker in his new hippy gimmick taking on the Zoolander inspired Tyler Breeze. “The Model” Rick Martel has cause for a lawsuit if Breeze debuts his own perfume. Breeze needs to add some new facial expressions to his repertoire. He is solid in the ring, being trained by fellow Canadian Lance Storm but he needs to really “find” this character, it feels very one dimensional right now.
Nxt is the development system for WWE and is often spoken of as the best wrestling show out there right now, with the deep and excellent development roster that WWE has right now.
The show opens up with Corey Graves talking to Rick Victor from The Ascension. The conversation becomes heated and Graves is attacked by Victor and his tag-team partner Conor O’Brian.
First match of the night is “The Moonchild” Cj Parker in his new hippy gimmick taking on the Zoolander inspired Tyler Breeze. “The Model” Rick Martel has cause for a lawsuit if Breeze debuts his own perfume. Breeze needs to add some new facial expressions to his repertoire. He is solid in the ring, being trained by fellow Canadian Lance Storm but he needs to really “find” this character, it feels very one dimensional right now.
- 8/31/2013
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
With all the over-the-top McMahon craziness from Monday night, people may gloss over the Wednesday night offering of the Main Event and Nxt. But in reality it is still without a doubt the best one-two punch of WWE produced programming all week. Especially this week as we get a double dose of crazy, sexy and cool with Divas Champion Aj Lee. Plus, we see an awesome two out of three falls match with Antonio Césaro and Sami Zayn. Let us begin with this week’s Main Event.
The show begins with a solid six man tag with the Usos and Kofi Kingston versus The Shield. Everybody was on point as both trios gave it their all. At one point, the babyfaces did an amazing triple dive on the Hounds of Justice. The match had great back-and-forth between the two sides. Kofi Kingston definitely looks the best since his return to the WWE.
The show begins with a solid six man tag with the Usos and Kofi Kingston versus The Shield. Everybody was on point as both trios gave it their all. At one point, the babyfaces did an amazing triple dive on the Hounds of Justice. The match had great back-and-forth between the two sides. Kofi Kingston definitely looks the best since his return to the WWE.
- 8/22/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
There’s no doubt there was a lot of outrage on the internet following the conclusion of WWE SummerSlam. There were a lot of questions with Triple H, Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan as Raw rolled into Anaheim. In the city of the Anaheim Angels, was there a devil on the shoulder of The Game? What’s next for John Cena and is Daniel Bryan’s big push over? About a month ago, I asked the question is Daniel Bryan the new Stone Cold Steve Austin? Judging from this weeks episode It definitely seems like that’s the case. While he may not swearing or lewd he seems to be set up to be the main protagonist against the new McMahon-Helmsley regime.
The show begins with John Cena who comes out and explains that he is just as disgusted by the actions of Triple H. Cena says that Bryan deserves to be champion.
The show begins with John Cena who comes out and explains that he is just as disgusted by the actions of Triple H. Cena says that Bryan deserves to be champion.
- 8/20/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Just six days from the biggest party of the summer in La, WWE rolled into the Golden State capital of Sacramento for Raw. Was it a California dream of a go home show? Or a party pooper as we head into Staples Center this Sunday? Well, let’s break it down and I’ll give my thoughts.
The night begins with Daniel Bryan making his way to the ring to compete in a rematch with Wade Barrett. Daniel Bryan, with rally towel in hand (somewhere the former Ricky Ortiz is complaining of gimmick infringement) and wearing The Beard Is Here shirt as it is announced that Brad Maddox is the special guest referee. There wasn’t much to this match as the story was Maddox does a quick three count giving Barrett a victory. Bryan attempts to go after Maddox, but the Raw General Manager quickly exits the ring heading up the ramp.
The night begins with Daniel Bryan making his way to the ring to compete in a rematch with Wade Barrett. Daniel Bryan, with rally towel in hand (somewhere the former Ricky Ortiz is complaining of gimmick infringement) and wearing The Beard Is Here shirt as it is announced that Brad Maddox is the special guest referee. There wasn’t much to this match as the story was Maddox does a quick three count giving Barrett a victory. Bryan attempts to go after Maddox, but the Raw General Manager quickly exits the ring heading up the ramp.
- 8/13/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Just a few weeks away from SummerSlam, WWE entered the Title Town of Green Bay, Wisconsin for this week’s Monday Night Raw. It was kind of fitting because the WWE Title was definitely the focus of this episode. As their encounter in Los Angeles gets closer Daniel Bryan and John Cena couldn’t get farther apart. The same can be said for the McMahon family themselves as the turmoil between Hunter, Stephanie and Vince finally seems to be boiling over. But will it lead to something we all want to see? Or will it bring serious venom and vitriol in the WWE universe?
The show begins at Stephanie McMahon recaps the last few weeks of strife between her husband and her father saying she found a compromise. The Vice President of Creative then says that Daniel Bryan agreed to the corporate makeover discussed last week. She shows a video...
The show begins at Stephanie McMahon recaps the last few weeks of strife between her husband and her father saying she found a compromise. The Vice President of Creative then says that Daniel Bryan agreed to the corporate makeover discussed last week. She shows a video...
- 8/6/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Since his debut in 2008, Sheamus has run roughshod over the WWE. The Celtic Warrior has used his overwhelming power and unmatched will and determination to get a boot up on all obstacles. However, in the last week, thanks to the wounds of The Money in the Bank the man formerly known as the Irish curse seemed to have found a blessing in a bruise giving him some much-needed vulnerability. This week’s Main Event and Nxt illustrates the two sides of the same Fella. Let’s break down the difference by recapping the Main Event first.
The Main Event began as the Irish import battled “The Real American” Jack Swagger in a really good match. Swagger did a great job working the leg creating drama in the match. Quite frankly that match is the best Jack has looked in some time. I like the psychology of this. It does wonders for Sheamus as a babyface.
The Main Event began as the Irish import battled “The Real American” Jack Swagger in a really good match. Swagger did a great job working the leg creating drama in the match. Quite frankly that match is the best Jack has looked in some time. I like the psychology of this. It does wonders for Sheamus as a babyface.
- 7/26/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Hello everyone, I’m here for the double dose of Wednesday World Wrestling Entertainment, The Main Event and Nxt. This week, I’m going to do something a little bit different. Let’s start with this week’s Nxt from Full Sail University.
After the show open, the action instantly kicks off with the last semi-final match in the Nxt Women’s Championship tournament. Tom Phillips and Brad Maddox welcome us with the dance card definitely full as Summer Rae battles the very bubbly Emma. Overall, a good match with some good back and forth. Summer once again uses her legs in interesting ways. Emma looked the best she had in quite some time and getting the character she is starting to get the balance of entertaining alongside wrestling. In the end, Emma pulls out the upset after a series pinfalls.
Afterwards, Summer Rae attacks Emma which brings down Paige...
After the show open, the action instantly kicks off with the last semi-final match in the Nxt Women’s Championship tournament. Tom Phillips and Brad Maddox welcome us with the dance card definitely full as Summer Rae battles the very bubbly Emma. Overall, a good match with some good back and forth. Summer once again uses her legs in interesting ways. Emma looked the best she had in quite some time and getting the character she is starting to get the balance of entertaining alongside wrestling. In the end, Emma pulls out the upset after a series pinfalls.
Afterwards, Summer Rae attacks Emma which brings down Paige...
- 7/11/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
On the eve of Independence Day here in the Us, WWE gave us there Stars & Stripes editions of Nxt and the Main Event. The two-hour block showcase some Real Americans battling for pride in their country and chasing the American dream of championships and briefcases. As always, let’s begin with the Main Event.
We begin the night’s festivities by introducing tonight’s announce team the returning son of the “American Dream” Cody Rhodes and Josh Matthews. Another solid showing from Rhodes in the booth. Especially in the opening match of the night featuring his best friend Damien Sandow as he goes against Christian.
Christian makes his entrance first to a mixed reaction as Sandow comes out cutting a promo calling his opponent a troglodyte. Sandow also added a quote from a great man, Damien Sandow saying, “in the Valley of the Stupid, the half-wit is king”. The enlightened...
We begin the night’s festivities by introducing tonight’s announce team the returning son of the “American Dream” Cody Rhodes and Josh Matthews. Another solid showing from Rhodes in the booth. Especially in the opening match of the night featuring his best friend Damien Sandow as he goes against Christian.
Christian makes his entrance first to a mixed reaction as Sandow comes out cutting a promo calling his opponent a troglodyte. Sandow also added a quote from a great man, Damien Sandow saying, “in the Valley of the Stupid, the half-wit is king”. The enlightened...
- 7/4/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Over the last few weeks, Raw has been very entertaining to say the least. With the rise of Daniel Bryan, the disintegration of the Punk- Heyman relationship and Kaitlyn and Aj battling it out, the show has felt more vibrant. However, even with all those elements still in play the show felt a little lackluster then in previous weeks.
The show begins not with a recap of last week as has been customary for the last few months, but with a cold open with Vickie Guerrero. The managing supervisor announces the champion versus champion main event with Alberto del Rio and John Cena.
This would lead to a showcase of great WWE and World Champions of their perspective eras. I like the pomp and circumstance of it all, but I think more often than not, regardless of how you hype the match it just doesn’t matter like used to.
The show begins not with a recap of last week as has been customary for the last few months, but with a cold open with Vickie Guerrero. The managing supervisor announces the champion versus champion main event with Alberto del Rio and John Cena.
This would lead to a showcase of great WWE and World Champions of their perspective eras. I like the pomp and circumstance of it all, but I think more often than not, regardless of how you hype the match it just doesn’t matter like used to.
- 7/2/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
This week both WWE Main Event and Nxt had quite an interesting showing featuring former champions in action. From the Peeps and Jericholics to the Emmalation of true Bolievers, all fan bases were well represented for the most part. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, how about we begin with this week’s Main Event from Gamecock country North Charleston, South Carolina.
We open this weeks episode back with a two-man booth as the Miz and Josh Matthews welcome us the show. Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring for his Wednesday night debut against last week’s color commentator extraordinaire Cody Rhodes. Overall, a really good back and forth match as to be expected. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the booking sheet for Cody Rhodes this week as he takes a loss in the Walls of Jericho.
I don’t mind that Cody loses to...
We open this weeks episode back with a two-man booth as the Miz and Josh Matthews welcome us the show. Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring for his Wednesday night debut against last week’s color commentator extraordinaire Cody Rhodes. Overall, a really good back and forth match as to be expected. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the booking sheet for Cody Rhodes this week as he takes a loss in the Walls of Jericho.
I don’t mind that Cody loses to...
- 6/27/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Wrestling has always been about good vs evil. The bad guy vs the good guy. Who’s going to win? Who do you cheer for? Who do you hate?
Today a lot of wrestlers like to walk the fine line between both. A guy like John Cena comes to mind, he’s a guy who kids love and most adults hate. Anyways, this isn’t about the inbetweeners, it’s about the bad guy. The one you love to hate.
What makes a great heel? A great heel is someone who you can’t stand. They want to be booed, they thrive on it. They say things to intentionally get under your skin and they love every minute of it.
A truly great heel doesn’t care about selling merchandise or being liked outside of the ring. He’s someone who you watch in hopes of seeing him get his ass kicked.
Today a lot of wrestlers like to walk the fine line between both. A guy like John Cena comes to mind, he’s a guy who kids love and most adults hate. Anyways, this isn’t about the inbetweeners, it’s about the bad guy. The one you love to hate.
What makes a great heel? A great heel is someone who you can’t stand. They want to be booed, they thrive on it. They say things to intentionally get under your skin and they love every minute of it.
A truly great heel doesn’t care about selling merchandise or being liked outside of the ring. He’s someone who you watch in hopes of seeing him get his ass kicked.
- 6/20/2013
- by David Noriega
- Obsessed with Film
Sometimes in life good and bad things come in threes. Luckily for us this week, WWE has been on the good side of things with programming and the trend continued into the Main Event and Nxt. Let’s begin with the Main Event from my old stomping ground of Dayton, Ohio and the Nutter Center.
The number three is quite prevalent at the beginning of the show. Not only is our opening the featured contest a six tag but we have the return of the three-man booth. Let me discuss that for a minute, I thought the pairing of Cody Rhodes, the Miz and in Matthews worked well together. This trio had great chemistry and gave great insight to the matches. Further showing that commentary so is important to the overall aesthetic to the product and how it’s sometimes a detriment in the wrong context.
Action begins as the...
The number three is quite prevalent at the beginning of the show. Not only is our opening the featured contest a six tag but we have the return of the three-man booth. Let me discuss that for a minute, I thought the pairing of Cody Rhodes, the Miz and in Matthews worked well together. This trio had great chemistry and gave great insight to the matches. Further showing that commentary so is important to the overall aesthetic to the product and how it’s sometimes a detriment in the wrong context.
Action begins as the...
- 6/20/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
John Oliver has finally discovered a popular television program that offers a nuanced but entertaining discussion of complex issues. No, it's not his "Daily Show" -- it's "WWE Raw." Oliver was thrilled to discover a WWE storyline Wednesday in which xenophobe manager Zeb Colter rants about immigrants coming to the U.S. to take Americans' jobs -- just as the British-born Oliver is taking Jon Stewart's for the summer. Also read: Piers Morgan, Immigrant With Job No American Wants, Faces Deportation Oliver played footage of ringside commentators debating the finer points of who should...
- 6/19/2013
- by Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
Last night’s Raw had quite the task to live up to after the excellent Payback pay-per-view in Chicago. With great matches and subtle storyline moments would the WWE deliver a good episode of Raw in Grand Rapids, Michigan? I believe for the most part that happened except for a few minor annoyances in my opinion.
The show began with the very over the top Alberto del Rio mugging to the fans with a chorus of boos echoing the arena much like the night before. Del Rio gets more and more agitated. Alberto justifies his reasoning for attacking Dolph’s head during the match needs back to when Ziggler won the title. Adr feels completely justified the fact that Dolph caught him when he was injured. I like this because it makes sense. Alberto continues to say that the fans turned their backs on him when he’s done everything...
The show began with the very over the top Alberto del Rio mugging to the fans with a chorus of boos echoing the arena much like the night before. Del Rio gets more and more agitated. Alberto justifies his reasoning for attacking Dolph’s head during the match needs back to when Ziggler won the title. Adr feels completely justified the fact that Dolph caught him when he was injured. I like this because it makes sense. Alberto continues to say that the fans turned their backs on him when he’s done everything...
- 6/18/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
After the announcement of John Cena’s injury from the European tour, there was a lot of speculation on what the WWE would do going into Monday. And what did we get exactly? Honestly, one of the weirdest episodes of Raw in recent memory.
I don’t know if it was the exhaustion from the flight over the Atlantic, but everything felt really haphazard. No more evident than with our opening match a triple threat match with Big E Langston versus Zeb Colter and Ricardo Rodriguez (rocking the Zubaz). The winner got to pick the stipulation for the triple threat match at Extreme Rules. It was what it was in the end, Ricardo picking up the victory, rolling up Colter for the win. I love the fact that halfway through the match everybody realize that it was no disqualification. It was one of those moments that left me scratching my head.
I don’t know if it was the exhaustion from the flight over the Atlantic, but everything felt really haphazard. No more evident than with our opening match a triple threat match with Big E Langston versus Zeb Colter and Ricardo Rodriguez (rocking the Zubaz). The winner got to pick the stipulation for the triple threat match at Extreme Rules. It was what it was in the end, Ricardo picking up the victory, rolling up Colter for the win. I love the fact that halfway through the match everybody realize that it was no disqualification. It was one of those moments that left me scratching my head.
- 5/2/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Boston, which saw the beginning of the colonial Revolution against the British also saw the debut of the Confederation of Injustice, the Shield against Tons of Funk and Kofi Kingston. The matches like most involving the pair with they begin to get dominated then get the advantage leading to the victory. Interesting the notes that Naomi and Cameron, who were there at the beginning of the match instantly disappeared with commentary due to the unpredictable and violent nature of the Shield. I like that touch. However, it did so like a weird and it in a gap in logic considering the ladies came down with them.
Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose look impressive as they take down another trio and beat down T and Brodus, giving them both the triple power bomb. Also that spear from Dean Ambrose to Brodus looked rather sick.. I know from the booking on Monday that...
Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose look impressive as they take down another trio and beat down T and Brodus, giving them both the triple power bomb. Also that spear from Dean Ambrose to Brodus looked rather sick.. I know from the booking on Monday that...
- 4/11/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
Wrestlemania 29 has come and gone and the most exciting event of the year is a whole 365 days away again. Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania was very important, because it sets the tone for the rest of the year. For the past two years, it was pretty clear what would be happening at next year’s Wrestlemania. The first John Cena vs. The Rock match was set immediately after Wrestlemania 27 on Raw and the brewing rematch and Brock’s warpath for Wrestlemania 29 was set at the same time a year after that. Tonight we learned a lot, but not as much as previous years.
Raw opened with John Cena as the new WWE Champion where he cut a typical promo. The crowd was super hot and didn’t let down one bit. Truly, the star of the show were the fans and their highly audible chants. Lots of obscenities...
Raw opened with John Cena as the new WWE Champion where he cut a typical promo. The crowd was super hot and didn’t let down one bit. Truly, the star of the show were the fans and their highly audible chants. Lots of obscenities...
- 4/9/2013
- by Francois Chang
- BuzzFocus.com
WWE Wrestlemania 29 airs on Pay-per-view tonight and there are a lot of questions on the minds of wrestling fans. Will Brock Lesner force Triple H into retirement? The Rock, who recently appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was named the cover athlete for 2K Sports first wrestling title, WWE 2K14. But does that mean “jack” when he faces off against John Cena? Who will win, when The Undertaker takes on Cm Punk? What surprises and guest appearances will have lasting effects on the next year of WWE action?
Without further adieu, here are a few of our predictions for tonight’s WWE Wrestlemania 29 festivities!
Chris Jericho vs. Fandango
This match was certainly on nobody’s radar when Chris Jericho returned earlier this year at the Royal Rumble. WWE teased a Jericho and Ziggler feud for a good Ziggler build-up match at Wrestlemania, but that ultimately never materialized. The rub...
Without further adieu, here are a few of our predictions for tonight’s WWE Wrestlemania 29 festivities!
Chris Jericho vs. Fandango
This match was certainly on nobody’s radar when Chris Jericho returned earlier this year at the Royal Rumble. WWE teased a Jericho and Ziggler feud for a good Ziggler build-up match at Wrestlemania, but that ultimately never materialized. The rub...
- 4/7/2013
- by Francois Chang
- BuzzFocus.com
Former WWE Tag Team, Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion Christian has been spotted backstage at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey just hours before WrestleMania 29 kicks off live.
Christian has been on WWE’s injured reserve list since last year after he suffered an aggravated shoulder injury shortly after appearing in the Smackdown brand’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match and dropping his Intercontinental Championship to The Miz shortly after. Despite rumours that he would make his return at this year’s Royal Rumble PPV Christian – real name William Jason Reso – has remained away from the WWE spotlight and has not been seen anywhere until earlier this week when fans saw him sneaking into WWE’s hotel of choice in the middle of the night.
Christian’s decision to arrive under cover of darkness made many fans speculate he was in town as a surprise for...
Christian has been on WWE’s injured reserve list since last year after he suffered an aggravated shoulder injury shortly after appearing in the Smackdown brand’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match and dropping his Intercontinental Championship to The Miz shortly after. Despite rumours that he would make his return at this year’s Royal Rumble PPV Christian – real name William Jason Reso – has remained away from the WWE spotlight and has not been seen anywhere until earlier this week when fans saw him sneaking into WWE’s hotel of choice in the middle of the night.
Christian’s decision to arrive under cover of darkness made many fans speculate he was in town as a surprise for...
- 4/7/2013
- by Matt Aspin
- Obsessed with Film
Smackdown definitely felt a little bit sweeter this week. Maybe it was just because they were from Chocolate City USA, but it seems to have much more at its center.
Let’s begin with the opening as we play storytime with The Rock and hear about his plight of a fifteen-year-old in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania craving a Whatchamacallit. I’ll give them this much. It was entertaining hearing Dwayne discuss taking a candy bar from an old lady was cute but it felt like a lot of filler considering the segment we got on Monday. And then came John Laurinaitis from the back, who now works backstage as the head road agent that’s why he was there.
The interplay between the two was okay, nothing spectacular, but everybody knew where this was going Rock was going to attack Johnny Ace after dispersing the advances of people power in fighting John Cena at Wrestlemania 29.
Let’s begin with the opening as we play storytime with The Rock and hear about his plight of a fifteen-year-old in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania craving a Whatchamacallit. I’ll give them this much. It was entertaining hearing Dwayne discuss taking a candy bar from an old lady was cute but it felt like a lot of filler considering the segment we got on Monday. And then came John Laurinaitis from the back, who now works backstage as the head road agent that’s why he was there.
The interplay between the two was okay, nothing spectacular, but everybody knew where this was going Rock was going to attack Johnny Ace after dispersing the advances of people power in fighting John Cena at Wrestlemania 29.
- 3/30/2013
- by Paul Jordan
- Obsessed with Film
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