Thursday, June 12, 2014

Happy Future Endeavors Day!

Somebody call their mommas.

Eleven WWE Superstars were released from their contracts today. While a few may fall under the I-thought-they-were-released-long-ago category, others are somewhat a surprise. For example, 3 Man Band is now down to 1.5 Man Band (if you include Hornswoggle as a member) thanks to the cuts of Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal. Two kids' favorites, Brodus Clay and Yoshi Tatsu, were also future endeavored.

With an increasing number of NXT guys graduating lately, it makes sense cuts had to made somewhere to make room for them. But, is Rusev the new Brodus? Do Adam Rose and his posse make for a better band? Is Emma winning over the kiddies with her bubbles?

Besides McIntyre, Mahal, Clay and Tatsu, WWE also released JTG, Aksana, Curt Hawkins (somewhere Zack Ryder is breathing a sigh of relief), Theodore Long, Camacho, Evan Bourne and Referee Marc Harris.

Now, let the TNA rumors begin...

Monday, June 2, 2014

Double Divas


Last night, I watched Payback just to see what would happen with Daniel Bryan and Bri Bella. (All the matches seemed to be the same thing we've been seeing for, well, months.) And, Bri made it all about her and quit. Now, this is WWE quit, which means she'll probably have a match against Stephanie McMahon at SummerSlam. Or, she's knocked up and had to quit. Either way, it was the one thing I wanted to see and it's the one thing that makes me want to see what's next.

Meanwhile, on "Total Divas" it was Bri and Daniel's wedding. But, that wasn't why I DVR'd the show. I wanted to see how Nikki was going to steal the show with her drama. She won the title "Worst Maid of Honor Ever," according to Bri. The only thing that would have made it better is if Natalya's spilling of Nikki's secret got to John Cena, and he felt like he wasn't even on that totem pole instead of just the bottom of it.

They are called Divas for a reason.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Honoring the Military

While today is the day we honor our fallen heroes, WWE honors our military at every stop along their tour. You may have seen the announce team point out soldiers on Raw and Smackdown, but did you know they got to see the show for free?

At every live event, U.S. military personnel from the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard can acquire free tickets. All they have to do is go to the box office the day of the event and present a military ID. Tickets are available while supplies last, so if the show is sold out, tickets will not be available. The only event that does not qualify is WrestleMania.

WWE also offers a 10 percent discount on merchandise. To learn more, visit the WWE Shop.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Horror Stories

Somebody at the WWE likes their horror movies. But, which one is the best?

I'm not talking about "See No Evil" or "Occulus." I'm talking about the stories playing out in the ring.

First, in this corner, we have John Cena facing a demonic child under Bray Wyatt's influence. In the other corner, we have Kane traumatizing yet another Diva.

The kid was kinda awesome, but this story is just eh. The choir scene would have made a bigger impact if we couldn't see the kids holding the masks behind their backs as they walked to ringside. Plus, the results just seem flat. This story has its moments, but it needs, I suppose, more editing.

However, Kane's attacks are textbook, but still great, just like any good horror movie. For example, in movies the victim always runs up the stairs instead of getting out of the house. With Kane, if his music hits, and he's not coming down ramp, he's coming through the bottom of the ring. And, what did Brie do? SHE STAYS IN THE RING! Even new girl Paige knew to get out of that ring.

Then, this week, the car is brought into the building. Kane is stalking Brie and Daniel. Do they check the backseat before getting into the car? No. Who's there? Uh, Kane.

And, then, does Daniel leave Kane for dead? Why should he? Like any good horror movie victim, he goes back to check on him. What happens? Kane sits up.

This is the better story because even though we know what's going to happen, our stars do not, and we get to yell unheard directions to screen. It's classic, and that's what makes it great.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Legends House teases fights, delivers fun

Is "Legends House" living up to your expectations?

I don't know what I was expecting these past two years I've been eagerly awaiting "Legends House." (Yes, it really has been THAT long since they filmed.) I don't think I wanted to see them act like their characters, even though those are the names they are using on the show. Maybe I've watched too much Real Housewives drama that I'm jaded.

They keep teasing that these personalities don't mix well. Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan argued, but that really was nothing compared to the Guidices. Roddy Piper even went for a concerning walk, but that truly was more of a healthy thing. The rest is just basic ribbing-- they are having fun with each other.

And, yes, it's nice to see these guys get along, but that doesn't make compelling television. Maybe that's why the show didn't air before now (I seem to remember it originally meant to be aired on some channel, or at least being shopped.)

The best part of the show so far was the attempt to make food or somehow find food via GPS. It was amazing that these guys apparently have never had to prepare and cook their own food. It was real. It was really them, learning each other's skills and working together to reach a goal. (Yes, Mean Gene and Pat played cards, but only after their own failed attempt. Their card playing encouraged the others to get involved.)

Perhaps that should have been the focus of the show all along-- sort of like that Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie reality show-- put these guys in normal situations for the rest of us, and let us watch as they fumble and discover each other's strengths, especially since they seem so concerned about fighting. Maybe, especially since that argument was about working with kids, they could babysit kids of various ages. Wouldn't it be fun to see Mean Gene exclaim, "Holy Balls!" after opening a diaper?

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Death of a Warrior

Just days after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, WWE confirmed the Ultimate Warrior died last night. He was 54 years old.

According to TMZ, Warrior collapsed outside an Arizona hotel while walking to his car with his wife, Dana.

On Monday night, Warrior (he legally changed his name to that in 1993) may have only walked down the ramp to ring, but still shook the ropes before starting a now eerie speech:

Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something that's larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him, and make the running the man did live forever.


I am happy his young daughters were able to not only see their father inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday night, but were also able to see him cheered by the fans while sitting front row at Raw Monday night.

Warrior is a past WWF Champion and Intercontinental Champion. He made his WWF/WWE debut in 1987.

Many Superstars of past and present offered their condolences and memories on social media:









Monday, April 7, 2014

WrestleMania 30: Post Blog

A year ago, while we were happy to be hosting WrestleMania in the Garden State, some of us thought it would have been more fitting for this year's show to be in NJ/NY. After all, the first, X and XX were at Madison Square Garden.

But, you could say, even though the biggest show in wrestling entertainment was more than 1,200 miles away, NJ and NY still stole the show.

As the show opened, we saw one of favorite "Real Housewives of New Jersey," Melissa Gorga, on display in the front row. In other diva news, Jersey Girl AJ Lee retained her title against 13 competitors.

In the biggest news of the night, New Yorker Paul Heyman saw his beast, Brock Lesnar, defeat The Undertaker.

Yes, it took a New Yorker finding an MMA-trained wrestler for Taker's streak to end.

I'm not sure if this is something we can be proud of-- in fact, this probably increases Lesnar and Heyman's heeldom, if that's possible. (And yes, I'm such a heel, that I made up that word. Go ahead, try to look it up.)

Hopefully, as Taker announces his retirement tonight, someone will come from the rafters and convince him he has one more match in him. That's when we can be proud and say if it wasn't for Heyman, well, you know the rest...