TNA: Q&A with Impact Wrestling’s Hulk Hogan

SATIRE

I recently caught up with Hulk Hogan. Hulk was on his way to Brooke’s PETA shoot but was generous enough to answer some questions about TNA.

Hulk, you and Eric reportedly swore to never work with Vince Russo again, what happened?

Well let me tell ya something brother, I’ve had my problems with Russo in the past. He has screwed me and I’ve screwed him. We’ve had our problems but Dixie is paying us so much money we had to forget how fast we destroyed WCW. If only he knew my cut of the dough is twice the size of his…. brother. 

Hulk, don’t you think Immortal has run its course? It has had almost every member of the TNA roster apart of it.

Yes, brother I understand that comment but whether fans like it or not, we’re just getting started! Me, Bischoff, and Russo have been thinking about placing Angle in the group! I’ve also called my boys, Hall and Nash. We’re going to reform the NWO as the BNWO. I plan on breaking NWO’s record of a five year storyline brother!

But what about the welfare of TNA as a company?

Brother, I don’t care about TNA! The only thing I care about is the check and paying for Linda’s lavish lifestyle through this divorce!

What are your thoughts on the Divas of Doom? They are strangely similar to the Jackie and ODB angle.

I’ve got only one thing to say about that brother. You can put lipstick on an Anvil but it’s still a man… brother.

Hulk, what part did you have in the change from TNA to Impact Wrestling?

I thought it was foolish brother. The motto “Wrestling Matters Here” was strange considering the spotlight is always one Me, Eric, and Immortal. Personally, I wanted to change it to TNAwful.

One last question Hulk, what you gonna do when the Insane Icon, Sting, comes for you?

Well I’ll tell you what I’m not going to do and that’s put him over brother!!!

WWE’s Justin Gabriel: How I Would Book His Singles Run

WWE’s South African Sensation, Justin Gabriel, has been on a role since his split from Justin Gabriel. After three reigns as Tag Team Champions, WWE Creative finally realized Gabriel is a natural face. The guy was born to thrill live audiences.

Now that Mr. 450 is on his own, I feel it’s time for the WWE to set long term plans in motion. Simply put, the WWE should slowly build Gabriel up as one of their top stars. Before I state my plans, I’d like to note a number of recent events.

A few months back, Gabriel returned to his hometown of Capetown, South Africa for a series of live events/house shows. The WWE tour proved successful when every show sold out.

In turn, earning the WWE millions.

Two million to be exact.

As a business, I feel the WWE should take advantage of this by building Gabriel up for the main event scene.

Before I begin, I’d like to mention that I would utilize  Black or White by Bleeding in Stereo as Gabriel’s theme.

For starters, place Justin Gabriel in a solid mid card feud.

The WWE has done an “ok” job of establishing Gabriel as a solid mid card face with the multiple vignettes from South Africa. They’re putting the Sensation on display for the live audiences who enjoy Gabriel’s unique in ring style. Thing is, besides meaningless matches with Tyson Kidd and JTG, the WWE has no apparent direction for Gabriel.

If I was booking Gabriel’s singles run, I would go two different directions. First, I’d place Justin in a mid card feud with Kidd. I would have the feud revolve around “one upsmanship”. Simply but, it would be as if Kidd were telling Gabriel “anything you can do, I can do better”.

It would benefit both men as Tyson is another subject of the WWE’s botched pushes. Simply put, I’d put the two in a series of matches that would allow them to display their unique styles of wrestling. In turn, fans would get behind Gabriel as a face while despising Kidd as a heel.

For the feud to be effective, the WWE should allow it to continue for months. For example, the Sheamus vs. John Morrison feud or Orton vs. Christian.

In the end, set up a gimmick match for the number one contendership to the IC or World Title.

One feud would lead to another.
This would ultimately lead to a feud with Cody Rhodes. Instead of rushing a Dibiase fave turn, have Gabriel come in fresh off his contenders match with Tyson Kidd.

Cody has the power to aid Gabriel in getting over as a face. Rhodes and Gabriel are both great workers and allowing them to wrestle a ten minute match is beneficial to both superstars.

Rhodes wants to reestablish the relevance of the Intercontinental Championship. The best way to do so is to have him face strong opponents like Gabriel. I’m not saying Justin should win the championship but allow him to establish himself as a worthy contender to any championship.

I would set up a tag match with Gabriel and Daniel Bryan facing Rhodes and Dibiase. Gabriel would pick up the win at a 450 to Rhodes. This would sell the feud to casual fans as most would give Gabriel a chance at defeating Cody in a title bout.

Cody Rhodes would win the feud (Dibiase assistance) but I would add one twist. Rhodes and Gabriel would face off in one last match. This time, the winner would face Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Instead of Rhodes picking up a predictable victory, Dibiase would inadvertently cost Rhodes the match. In turn, the Rhodes/Dibiase feud could boil over while Gabriel steps up as a main event competitor.

The face vs face card hasn’t been played for sometime now. Like the Hardy/Triple H feud from 2007, have Gabriel and Orton assist the other on a constant basis. The WWE should establish the mentor/protégés angle before the impending matchup. Ultimately, Orton would win a great match with Gabriel coming close on occasion.

By the time everything listed should play out, the Royal Rumble pay per view should be approaching.

I would have Gabriel enter in at number one. The South African Sensation would remain in the bout until only two competitors are left.

Gabriel should be eliminated after some back and forth action between the two.

This allows Gabriel’s relevance to stay intact leading up to WrestleMania 28.

The Elimination Chamber ppv should have another valiant performance by Gabriel, only to have Gabriel come up short once again.

After the ppv, I would reinstate the WWE Money in the Bank ladder match. While the MITB ppv is great, it doesn’t provide a stage like WrestleMania.

It also gives the winner a choice of choosing between the World and WWE Titles.

This would be Gabriel’s breakout moment. After months of slow build and shortcomings, Gabriel would win the MITB ladder match.

By this time, Gabriel should be one of the WWE’s most beloved Superstars. Thing is, I would have Gabriel cash in on the WWE Champion instead.

While Daniel Bryan continues run on SmackDown, Gabriel would become the WWE Champion on RAW. In turn, there would be two fresh faces in the main event scene.

Gabriel’s reign would last no longer than five months, allowing him to become a staple to the main event scene.

Thanks for reading Revolutionaries!

Ric Flair: What If He Died in the 1975 Plane Crash?

Sifting through the timeless classics and treasured legends of the past, it would be a mistake to overlook the one and only, Ric Flair. Arguably the greatest wrestler of all time, Ric Flair has amassed a resume befitting of this legendary performer.

With his signature flamboyant style (adopted from Buddy Rogers), Flair has become synonymous with the words, professional wrestling.

From level of competitiveness, the five star matches, the compelling promos and perhaps most importantly, the incomparable rush of excitement that flows through one’s being when the infamous “WOO!!!” signals Flair’s imminent arrival.

While Flair’s influence on pro wrestling can only be matched by that of Hulk Hogan, most fail to realize that it almost never was.

On October 4, 1975, Flair boarded a plane in Charlotte, North Carolina for a show in Wilmington. In what was supposed to be a routine flight, but the plane ran out of gas as it approached Wilmington’s Airport runway.  The plane cut through several tree tops and a pole before abruptly crashing.

Flair’s plane crash documented locally.

 

Flair broke his back in three places, while the pilot and fellow wrestler, Jimmy Valentine, sustained life threatening injuries.

The pilot passed away three months later, while Valentine was paralyzed due to a broken back.

Initially, Flair was informed by doctors that he would never wrestle again. Flair refused to accept this and began a vigorous physical therapy schedule. In six months, the Nature Boy was back in the squared circle.

The plane crash drastically effected NWA Mid Atlantic and the lives of those involved.

The biggest question is what if Ric Flair died in the plane crash?

What if the 16-time World Champion never graced the WWE, WCW, NWA and TNA with his polarizing presence? 

Would professional wrestling be the same? No

Would it be as significant as it is today? Of course not

Let’s examine the things that would’ve been different had Ric Flair died in 1975.

Loss of stables

While Ric Flair has flourished as a singles competitor, modern fans will remember Ric Flair for his time in numerous stables. As the head honcho of the Four Horsemen, Flair innovated and popularized the concept of heel stables.

In this day and age, it’s common to follow by example.

The Four Horsemen eventually led to NWO, Degeneration X, Nation of Domination, Evolution, and the modern day, Fortune.  Simply put, if Flair and the Horsemen hadn’t set the bar for Heel Stables, it’s highly possible that most of these stables would’ve never come about.

While the Four Horsemen are famous for being the Original Heel Stable, their importance also upstarted the careers of others.

Coincidentally, this brings me to my next point.

Future Stars

Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen were exceptionally over (as heels) with the crowd that fans would pay to see them get their comeuppance. The Horsemen feuded with the likes of Sting, Dusty Rhodes, the Steiner’s and Lex Luger in the late 80s.

Through the feuds, guys like Sting and Lex Luger achieved super stardom.

Simply put, The Horsemen were willing to put over others for the sake of business. It gave fans the idea that the Horsemen were vulnerable to faces like Sting and Luger and created the anticipation that fueled fans to purchase pay-per-views and tickets.

Other stables, particularly NWO, weren’t willing to do so, thus creating the idea that WCW Superstars were unable to bring the stable down. Coincidentally, this played a huge role in WCW’s demise.

Like I stated above, the Horsemen aided other wrestlers in achieving super stardom.

If Ric Flair had died in 1975, the Four Horsemen wouldn’t have come to be. Without the Four Horsemen, Evolution would’ve never come to be. Without Evolution, Randy Orton and Batista might not have become top tier talent.

As two of the biggest WWE Superstars of the past decade, it would’ve impacted the WWE in a huge way had they not have become as huge as they did.

Alone, Flair has become an influence for multiple WWE Superstars. He has received praise from his piers; Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Dave Batista have publicly acknowledged his impact on their careers.

Maybe we wouldn’t have the likes of a Shawn Michaels or a Triple H had Flair not been around. Naitch has become an idol to wrestlers all over the world. Ric Flair is the reason they wanted to pursue a professional wrestling career. 

What if he wasn’t there at all?

WCW

It would be foolish to argue against the fact that the acquisitions of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash made World Championship Wrestling a powerhouse.  Along with Hulk Hogan, Nash and Hall created the New World Order.

NWO ran rampant over WCW for the remainder of the company’s run.

But, if Ric Flair would’ve died in the 1975 plane crash, WCW would’ve died before the stable came to be. Wrestling promoter Jim Crockett owned multiple promotions that were apart of the National Wrestling Alliance. Ultimately, Crockett decided to roll each into one single entity.

Crockett wanted to expand his promotion nationally and built it around Ric Flair being World Champion.

With Flair as the first World Champion, Ric was the proverbial face of WCW. Flair and rising star, Sting, were the glue that held World Championship Wrestling together in its early stages.

Charisma + mic skills + in ring ability= ENTERTAINMENT

Ric Flair is arguably the greatest wrestler of all time. From the first time the Nature Boy stepped into the ring in 1972, to his final WWE match with Shawn Michaels in 2008, Flair’s flamboyance and dirty tactics will forever cement his status as the MAN.

The arrogance and playboy style that aided Flair in feuds with Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Sting, Bret Hart, and even Shawn Michaels.

Brilliant promos and segments put him on a level higher then anyone else, mic wise.

“The Nature Boy” would have ‘beautiful’ rivalries with Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart and his long time in-ring enemy Sting.

His match at WCW’s “Clash Of The Champions” against Sting and his match against Ricky Steamboat at “Wrestle War 1989” are considering to be one of the very few “5 Star” matches in wrestling history.

With all this success, titles came by the dozens to “Naitch” (literally).

Ric was a winner EVERYWHERE he went.

A seven time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, eight time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and two time WWE Champion.

Ric has the all-time record for most Heavyweight Championships and because of the tremendous respect pro wrestling promotion owners have for Ric, he will most likely keep the all-time record and not allow another performer get even two titles within the record.

In the end, if Ric Flair would’ve passed in 1975, pro wrestling wouldn’t be as significant as it is.

While Hulk Hogan was being Superman, Ric Flair was keeping the dignity of the business in tact.  Flair was the man going inside the squared circle, wrestling for thirty and forty minutes, his head gushing blood, because he loves professional wrestling.

Honestly, I can’t imagine professional wrestling with Ric Flair.

Without him, things just wouldn’t be the same.

(This was posted in light of the recent events surrounding Ric Flair)

WWE Through Kaleidoscope: Punk, Austin and the Dissection of Two Eras

As we sank deeper into the “family friendly” and predictable antics of the PG Era, we found salvation in the likes of an unlikely hero known as CM Punk. It has been two months since Punk cut his infamous “shoot” on RAW and the WWE has undergone a drastic change since.

WWE programming has revolved around CM Punk and John Cena since, while introducing the forgotten art of media influence. Simply put, the WWE has done everything in its power to legitimize their recent efforts by inserting real-life events into the forthcoming era.

And who better to be the proverbial flag-bearer than the Second City Saint, CM Punk.

Punk’s influence and spectacular personality has added more edge, unpredictability and real life controversy into WWE programming. At the same time, Punk has drawn comparisons to a similar (but different) anti-hero in Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Austin was the face of the WWE during the Attitude Era.

The similarities between the flag-bearers and their respective eras have sparked a considerable amount of speculation as of late.

In turn, Jacob Waring presented the task of comparing the two eras and to prove why Punk and TV-PG are better than Austin and TV-14.

How do you best perfection?

Remember, I’ll be focusing on can the Reality Era be better than the Attitude Era. At this point, it’s too early to proclaim the Reality Era as the better.

While it’s almost impossible to do so, I’ve dissected both eras/superstars and have orchestrated the following piece.

Enjoy!

 

Chapter 1: The Boss

While Austin ushered in the Attitude Era, his feud with Vince McMahon was undoubtedly the center piece of WWE programming.

In case you’re a newer WWE fan, I am referring to the beginning of the WWF’s Attitude Era. Before the era came to be, Vince McMahon was a mild-mannered commentator (like Michael Cole before 2010). Fans everywhere knew McMahon was the chairman of the WWF, but McMahon refrained from displaying this on WWF programming.

The hatred spiraling from Vince’s part in the Montreal Screwjob, fueled creative to place Vince on regular programming as “Mr. McMahon.”

At the same time, Stone Cold Steve Austin was the top WWF superstar (besides Shawn Michaels).

Austin’s rebellious attitude often caused the two to clash, sparking one of the greatest rivalries in pro wrestling history.

Currently, a very similar angle is falling into place.

Triple H has taken on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) while Vince has been “fired.” The COO has occasionally clashed with Punk, sparking disparaging comments about Hunter’s wife and political power backstage.

The introductions of Kevin Nash and Stephanie McMahon have sparked questions concerning Hunter’s involvement in Punk being screwed out of the title at SummerSlam. It seems as if Nash and Stephanie are foreshadowing an inevitable feud between Triple H and CM Punk in the not so distant future. 

 

Chapter 2: Austin/Rock, Cena/Punk

Initially, the popularity of Stone Cold Steve Austin was seemingly unmatched. While Austin was feuding with Mr. McMahon, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was establishing himself as a future megastar. Despite portraying a heel persona, Rock’s hilarious promos/interviews propelled him to the top card and a face role.

By the time a feud was established between the two, Johnson’s popularity matched that of Austin.

Simply put, Austin was still the head honcho but Rock wasn’t too far behind.

If you observe the current WWE roster, John Cena and CM Punk have taken on the roles of Austin and Rock. Punk’s “shoot” promo has propelled him to new heights, becoming the WWE’s second biggest star behind John Cena.

Rock and Austin were magic together, and the fact that Cena/Punk has already wrestled a five-star match instantaneously proves the two can carry the WWE into a new era. 

Coincidentally, Cena and Punk are likely to face Rock and Austin at WrestleMania 28.

 

Chapter 3: Attitude/Reality

The Attitude Era can be defined by numerous things. It was a radical shift in programming as the “family friend” antics were as common back then as they were before Punk’s shoot. Heroic characters were replaced by anti-heroes while the WWF rid itself of the family friendly storylines and replaced them with stories that would bring about shock value.

The WWF inserted real-life issues with Vince’s involvement in the Montreal Screwjob, effectively passing programming off as real. The WWF transformed into an edgier form of entertainment that fit the “trash TV” genre that was immensely popular in the late ’90s.

In turn, the WWF attracted the young adult demographic that the previous PG era failed to attract.

The WWE rejuvenated the marketing strategy by having Punk cut his “shoot” promo. In the months that preceded the shoot, rumors of Punk leaving the WWE had significantly risen. The week before the shoot, Punk announced that he was in fact “leaving” and taking the WWE Championship with him.

The company needed the “reality” factor and they got it with Punk.

The young adult demographic is steadily returning to the WWE but I don’t expect a drastic change until a few months down the line.

 

Chapter 4: The Rattlesnake and the Straight Edge Superstar

These two men portray exceptionally different lifestyles/gimmicks, but are so similar. Austin was the face/draw the WWF needed. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were mediocre draws as the top faces of the company while Austin became one of the biggest. Austin was the proverbial “bad boy” who caused fans to anticipate every move he made.

Austin was the anti-hero the Attitude Era needed because he possessed the charisma and attitude the era would have lusted for without him.

Coincidentally, Austin began his rise to superstardom with his Austin 3:16 promo and upset victory over Jake Roberts. Austin utilized profanity and delivered an un-scripted promo that most cite as the first time the WWF delivered “attitude.”

It can be argued that CM Punk was already a star when he delivered his shoot promo, but there’s no denying that it propelled CM Punk to a new level of superstardom. Punk even wore an Austin T-shirt while cutting his promo!

Austin’s 3:16 promo began his rise to the top of the WWF while Punk is still climbing to the top.

I think we’ll have to await the future as Punk has yet to reach his potential.

 

Chapter 5: Who’s Better? CM Punk or Stone Cold Steve Austin?

When attempting to establish the better of two talents like Punk and Austin, you must examine every aspect of pro wrestling. Basically, you have to question yourself and ask “what makes a great WWE Superstar?”

Mic skills, charisma and wrestling ability are the normal measuring sticks. Thing is, both men excel at each department.

Simply put, it’s like choosing between apples and oranges.

Ultimately, I’ll leave it up for you to decide.

They’re so different, but possess a number of similar qualities that they’re often placed in the same category. With that being said, I’ll handle this topic with no bias and as delicate as humanly possible. 

 

5.1: Microphone Skills and Charisma

Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the greatest mic workers in WWE history. Austin’s influence over an audience skyrocketed when he picked up a mic. Like The Rock, Austin utilized a number of legendary catch-phrases which were common in his 3:16 promo at King of the Ring 1996.

Being the beer drinking, attitude-filled, tough person he is, Austin ignored the witty comebacks and utilized serious promos during the Attitude Era. He was unrated, vulgar and serious whenever he was cutting a promo. Austin got right down to business on the mic but he could also cut a comedic promo.

What?

On the other hand, CM Punk displays a large amount of intelligence when he’s on the mic. Punk can out-think his adversary by utilizing his superior vocabulary with ease. He has that ease which comes only to the exceptional mic workers. No matter what kind of promo he is given to cut, he does it well.

He can be serious, as he was with Hardy in 2009.

He can be evil, as he was with Mysterio in 2010.

He can be funny, as he was during his announcing stint and during his feud with Cena earlier on this year.

He is all you want in a mic worker, and that is being said, considering the restricted environment he’s working in. Say he had the freedom of content from the Attitude Era; he would have been regarded as the greatest mic worker of all time.

Charisma

In the charisma department, I think Chinmay summed it up. Punk is a charismatic Superstar but Austin is on a level of his own. 

 

5.2: In-Ring Ability

The Rattlesnake was also a great worker. Thing is, a SummerSlam match with Owen Hart led to Austin suffering a serious neck injury after a pile driver. The Rattlesnake suffered a broken neck and temporary paralysis that eventually led to his retirement in 2003. Believe it or not, the injury established Austin as the tough guy he was attempting to portray.

Austin was a brawler. It fit the persona he was attempting to portray while Austin was still a great ring worker. The Rattlesnake is probably the most aggressive wrestler to grace a WWE ring as he possessed one of the most unique in-ring psychologies I’ve witnessed.

Punk is also great in the ring.

The most striking feature about his style is that it is so remarkably different from everyone else’s in WWE. It reeks of the independent leagues. That is probably why the IWC seems to be so fascinated with it. I personally am a huge fan of the independents, so that must be why I can appreciate it more than others.

Word has it that Punk was starstruck by the style of NJPW Star Kenta. Punk adopted some forms of his striking from Kenta and his finisher, The Go 2 Sleep.

Simply put, Punk is a master at multiple aspects of wrestling. From submission, striking, technical, high-flying and flashy, Punk can do it all.

 

Chapter 6: Which Era Is Better? Marketing Ability

Yes, the Attitude Era was indeed the best era profit-wise. Besides this, the Reality Era has just begun and we have yet to realize its potential and the direction WWE will go with this.

Despite this, I firmly believe the Reality Era can surpass it if properly handled. The Attitude Era catered to the adult/young adult demographic which was the hugest factor in their success. On the other hand, the Reality Era can surpass it through their stars.

Of course, CM Punk would be the star for the male/young adult demographic. The fact that all CM Punk related merchandise sold out (excluding the BITW shirt) of WWEShop.com is proper justification to this. Besides, UFC makes millions off the target demographic each year.

Brock Lesnar is the UFC’s biggest draw and that’s because of name recognition. Lesnar rose to prominence in the WWE and it’s safe to say he drew a ton of WWE fans to the UFC.

On the other hand, you have John Cena for the women and kids.

Cena has always appealed to those demographics more than the young adult audience. Now he has Punk to pick up the slack.

The fact that a plethora of fans were willing enough to pay 500 dollars for Punk’s latest shirt, shows the impact he has over that male demographic.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a guy like CM Punk leading an era. He’s the perfect model for kids.

He’s straight edge!

 

Chapter 7: Wrestling Matters Here

While the Attitude Era was golden storyline-wise, it did not focus on pro wrestling itself. Disregard nostalgia and realize the most memorable AE matches were filled with multiple spots. For example, Mankind vs. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell at King of the Ring 1998, wasn’t a match.

It was Mankind taking spots for the better part of 20 minutes.

At SummerSlam, we witnessed a plethora of quality wrestling matches (except Sheamus/Henry).  WWE Money in the Bank saw the WWE receive its first five-star match ratings in years because of John Cena vs. CM Punk.

Ever since MITB, the WWE has seemingly reinvested interest in professional wrestling matches. The simple fact that both World Title matches lasted over 20 minutes, is a kind notion to this. Before this “era,” it was rare for a typical WWE match to last over seven minutes.

In turn, the WWE is attempting to draw fans who watch pro wrestling for the in-ring action. For example, Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate USA flourish because of their classic wrestling matches.  The WWE can take advantage of the strategy of those companies and showcase stars like Punk and Daniel Bryan who would appeal to fans who love a great wrestling match.

Besides Punk and Bryan, there are a ton of mid-carders who possess the wrestling ability to thrill a crowd but don’t have the proper stage to utilize it.

 

Chapter 8: Better Stage for Showcasing/Opportunity

During the Attitude Era, there wasone World Championship. The WWF title was held by Austin and Rock throughout the majority of the AE, while stars like Triple H, Mankind, Big Show and Kane were subject to mediocre reigns as WWF Champion. Besides this, most didn’t have opportunities to display their ability and show that they could become as big as others.

Currently, there are two shows for WWE Superstars. While SmackDown is considered the B Show, without it, numerous Superstars are likely to have remained in the mid card for the majority of their careers. Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Edge, Batista, Rey Mysterio and even The Undertaker have flourished on the blue brand.

It’s also aiding guys like Daniel Bryan in improving their work and preparing for the main-event level.

Imagine if the Attitude Era had another brand?

CM Punk is a product of another WWE brand. Without ECW, it’s highly likely that CM Punk would’ve never become World Champion while receiving his walking papers before he got an appropriate start. In turn, guys like The Miz, John Morrison and Kofi Kingston were products of the ECW brand.

If they didn’t have ECW to come into their own, it would take away from the current mid-card scene.

 

Chapter 9: “Real” Programming

Despite the Attitude Era possessing a number of “real” aspects, some things were downright ridiculous and gave fans the idea that programming was lackluster. For example, the gimmick of Gangrel, Christian and The Brood was a little overboard, if I must say—placing something that is subject to mythical and folk tales, subtracted away from the “realism” fans crave.

This wasn’t the only questionable tactic in an era that was supposed to revolve around realism.

On the other hand, WWE has attempted to sell this new era as “real.” For example, the WWE unverified Punk’s Twitter, deleted his Facebook, removed his theme song from ITunes and removed his Superstar page from the website. They allowed Punk to mention ROH, NJPW and other wrestling promotions in the company.

As the WWE Champion, he appeared at Indy shows, crashed WWE’s section of the Comic Con, and mentioned the releases of multiple WWE Superstars last week. Simply put, Punk is living up to the “Voice of the Voiceless” nickname he bestowed upon himself.

The WWE is pushing the envelope with this era as they need to regain the young adult demographic.

Besides, fans love when the Superstars break kayfabe and mention real-life events.

It was rare in this day and age.

Thanks for reading Revolutionaries. This was initially my last article on the Bleacher Report and I transferred it to the Revolution as I knew you would enjoy it. 

Welcome to The Revolution

Hello Revolutionaries, welcome to the first official post on the RiZE Revolution. Before I start, I’d like to note that I’m posting this from the Android WordPress app. Simply put, it’s difficult on this device LOL.

Nonetheless, with the design upgrade (courtesy of C-Cool), I felt as if it was only fitting that I update you on my current situation. I’ve been suspended from the B/R. I’ve spent the last week recounting my actions and tracing my steps, trying to find a substantial reason for my surprising removal.

Today, Dave Morrison informed me that I was banned from the Bleacher Report. The problem is, the administrator suspended me for the comments of others. I informed Morrison of this and he corrected the mistake but informed me that I will remain suspended until Friday.

He informed that comments I made in the B/R forum, Twitter, and an interview with Joe Burgett will decide my fate on Friday. Simply put, I’ll know if I’m permanently banned from the site at the end of the week. Nonetheless, I don’t plan on returning to Bleacher as I feel as if I’ve accomplished everything possible.

On the other hand, I’d like to thank all of my supporters for standing behind me and against my suspension. I read every comment and am glad I pleased you all.

You guys are the only reason I remained on the site as long as I did. If nothing at all, it was always my goal to please you.

Anyway, it’s time to start fresh and establish myself on other sites.

The RiZE Revolution is a site where no subject is taboo. I intend on discussing MMA, NBA, and of course, professional wrestling.

I want to diversify and continue to impress my readers on a normal basis.

I also write for the Enigmatic Generation of Wrestling. We’re still building on the site and would love to accompany aspiring writers/commenters.

Be sure to join the forum, download free wallpapers, and read the BEST pro wrestling articles any site has to offer.

Well, that’s it for the first post of the Revolution. Be sure to follow me on twitter @HeelRiZE, follow the Revolution, and drop a comment.

Special thanks to C-Cool for the site design and thank you to the Bleachers who have always supported me.

The best is yet to come.

RiZE

WWE/TNA Newswire: Crimson/Storm Injuries, RAW, MITB Buys, Morrison U.S. Title Run?

Hello Revolutionaries, RiZE is back with the PW Newswire. I’ve read some interesting stories today and I’d like to share a sensible response to them.

First up, two of Impact Wrestling’s biggest stars have suffered injuries. Cowboy James Storm suffered a partially separated shoulder a few weeks back. Storm attempted to work through the injury but was advised by doctors to “take it easy”.

Any physical interaction could ultimately lead to Storm missing 4-6 weeks of in ring competition. Storm isn’t the only TNA talent plagued by injury.

The Undefeated Crimson has apparently been written off of television due to a hairline fracture in his ankle. In case you missed Impact, TNA set up an angle where Samoa Joe orchestrated an attack on Crimson.

The Samoan Submission Machine attacked Crimson backstage, slamming Crimson’s ankle between a wooden object and steel steps.

Crimson is now “forced” to sport a fiber glass cast and crutches.

My take: Apparently, TNA wasted the buildup of Crimson. After reading spoilers, I can safely say I incorrectly predicted Crimson vs. Kurt Angle for Bound For Glory.

On the other hand, Storm is still apart of the BFG Series but the chances of the Cowboy winning are slim.

I hope these guys heal the injuries, as they are both prominently featured on weekly programming.

RAW started with Kevin Nash, CM Punk, and Triple H discussing last weeks incident. After verbal attacks by each, Nash informed Triple H that Laurinaitis had signed him to a contract.

The inevitable Punk vs. Nash match was set for Night of Champions while Triple H and CM Punk remain at each others throats.

Is CM Punk a draw or not? This question will be answered by the impending 2011 Money in the Bank buyrate. A few weeks ago, the buyrate was reportedly 265,000. This number is a drastic raise when taking last years MITB buys under consideration.

However, multiple sites are reporting that the number is between 185,000-200,000. Simply put, this isn’t a big improvement considering the hype that surrounded the event.

In my opinion, MITB was built around one match. In turn, dropping the overall interest of the ppv. I don’t blame the number on Punk but lack of overall buildup.

I may be getting ahead of myself, as the actual numbers wont be revealed until October.

The rumored Night of Champions card leaked online and aside from the obvious, there’s a seemingly new contender for Dolph Ziggler’s U.S. Championship.

The Prince of Parkour, John Morrison, is rumored to take on Ziggler for the championship. As of late, Morrison has been placed in a “jobber to the stars” role. Morrison has retained his match quality but has ended up on the losing end since his return.

The real question is, is this a step up or step down for JoMo?

If Morrison has a reign similar to that of Daniel Bryan’s or Ziggler’s IC Title reign from 2010, it’ll give Morrison time to properly build himself up for the main event spot he’s destined for.

But remember, this is a RUMORED card. Alex Riley’s name was also listed but Riley has gone through a “demphasis” as of late.

We’ll have to await the decision of WWE Creative as plans are always subject to change.

This is it for this edition of the Newswire.

Be well revolutionaries!