What I'm Thankful For In Wrestling

   I'm about a week late but I thought with the recent string of complaining among wrestling fans, I would write about what I'm thankful for when it comes to professional wrestling.  While there are things that happen in wrestling I may not agree with, overall I'm thankful for a lot of things.  I'm going to list 10 things I'm thankful for in wrestling, in no particular order

1. Wrestling Itself

   First and foremost, I'm thankful for professional wrestling itself!  I've been watching since 1983 at the age of 4 and it's been the one constant in my life.  It's something I can count on!  It takes me away from real life every once in a while and I let myself get lost in it.  I grew up enamored by the larger than life personalities like Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Andre the Giant.  During the New Generation, I was entertained by ring generals like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels.  During the Attitude Era, I had the privilege of being a teenager as I watched anti-hero's like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, & Degeneration X.  Also during that time was the Monday Night Wars, where I saw Mankind's rise to the top on one station, while watching Goldberg and the nWo on another.  Wrestling is still very special to me and it always will be.  It's funny, I've gone to more conventions and met more wrestling personalities in my 30's than at any other age and I'm loving every minute of it.  While being an adult has its responsibilities, it also means you don't care as much what others think.  I'm damn proud to be a wrestling fan!

2. The Superstars

   People can say what they want and compare eras but you must admit, there are some talents in the wrestling world today.  I know I come off as WWE-centric and that's partially true as it's what I mostly grew up watching and it's the most accessible.  However, wrestling around the world currently is gaining steam once again.  New Japan has become the number two promotion in the wrestling world.  New Japan has given us incredible talents like Okada and Ibushi.  Ring of Honor is still producing great wrestling and superstars as well.  The Bullet Club is all over the place!  While Impact may have its management problems, it doesn't take away from the wrestlers themselves.  In WWE, there is plenty to be thankful for.  There is the meteoric rise of the Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman, The Shield is back together, and AJ Styles is the WWE Champion.

3. NXT

   I am not going to compare NXT to Raw and Smackdown because that's not realistic.  I am, however, going to talk about how thankful I am for the existence of NXT.  When NXT first started, it was a game show of sorts.  While the concept was somewhat silly, it also led to the signing of Daniel Bryan and gave birth to the Nexus storyline.  Once it took over FCW as WWE's main training facility, things started to change.  Guys like Seth Rollins, Bo Dallas, Big E, and Neville were given the opportunity to do what they do on a larger scale.  A buzz started to happen!

   With the inclusion of the WWE Network, more people were able to see NXT for the game changer it was becoming.  NXT was the place to be!  Through its evolution, we got to witness long awaited signings like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Roode, to name a few.  The women's revolution restarted in NXT with the inclusion of Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch.  We also saw the amazing undefeated streak of Asuka, and many sought after female talents get signed.  The Takeover events have really become something special and rarely disappoint.  I could probably talk all day about NXT so maybe I'll save that for its own blog.

4. Chris Jericho

   No one in the wrestling world has been able to reinvent himself quite like Chris Jericho.  He never loses a step.  His last run was one of the most entertaining stints he's had.  We all received the greatest gift of all...The Gift of Jericho!  And we drank it in, maaaaaaaan!  We also got to see his partnership with Kevin Owens and the Festival of Friendship.  Of course, how can I forget about The List?  You know what happens when I forget about The List?  You know what happens?  Self...I just made The List!  Currently, Y2J, the genius that he is, is working the wrestling audience and creating a fantastic feud between himself and Kenny Omega.  Not only that, the "Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla" has taken it upon himself to put together a cruise for wrestling fans next year.  I am truly thankful for Chris Jericho!

5. War Games

   After waiting almost 20 years, wrestling fans finally got what they asked for in a War Games match.  True, there was no top of the cage and the rules of entering changed slightly, but nonetheless, we got to see it.  It may be tweaked and possibly brought back to its original form some day.  I'm happy it came back in NXT and here's why!  I feel like it was a way to test the waters before they choose to do one at a major WWE PPV.  It was to generate a buzz and get people excited about the match again.  With several factions on Raw and Smackdown, it seems more likely we'll get to see one on a larger platform.  I have read that War Games will return to Takeover next year but that doesn't necessarily mean it will stay in NXT.  The War Games match we got to see was entertaining and brutal and I think it did the match type justice.

6. Adam Cole Bay-Bay!

7. Wrestling Conventions

   In the last few years, I've been fortunate enough to attend several wrestling conventions, large and small.  Years ago, other than WWE Axxess, I did not know these things existed.  With the advent of the company I work for, TagMeADate.com, we've been vendors at some conventions and got to meet a lot of the guys we grew up watching or still watch today.  I'll even go as a fan to still promote my product but also meet my heroes.  They say don't meet your heroes!  I say that's nonsense!  I've gotten to know some of these people on a personal level.  Some even remember my name and that's huge!  The fact that these exist is something to be thankful for.  I truly treasure the photos I've taken with these larger than life personalities and I've built up a nice autograph collection.

   17 years ago, I met Bruno Sammartino at a signing.  I still have his 8x10 autograph and I'm sure at some point it will be worth a lot of money.  Even so, it means too much to me as a fan to ever part with it.  Money isn't everything, after all!  Although, everybody's got a price for the Million Dollar Man!  All kidding aside, I got to meet Ted DiBiase himself two years ago and he even did his infamous laugh for those of us in attendance.  I got to participate in and record episodes of Apter's Alley with Bill Apter, someone I can call a friend, which is pretty incredible!  Whether it's WrestleCade, WrestleCon, The Big Event, or any small meet and greets, do yourself a favor and attend.

8. Women's Wrestling

   Never has there been a better time to be a fan of women's wrestling.  In the last few years, we've witnessed what has come to be known in the wrestling world as the Women's Revolution.  It's taken a long time and there's still a long way to go, but women in wrestling are really starting to get the platform to succeed.  We saw the rise of women in NXT, which caught the attention of Raw and Smackdown to follow suit.  Women have now had Iron Man Matches, climbed the ladder for Money In the Bank, and found themselves inside Hell In a Cell.  Now there's even a rumor of a possible women's Royal Rumble match.

 
   With the recent Mae Young Classic, we were treated to many female wrestlers on the Indy scene who some may not be as familiar with.  Besides several of the women we've seen pop up in NXT from time to time, we were treated to women such as Mia Yim and Marty Belle, both of whom used to be in Impact's Dollhouse faction.  We got to see women like Santana Garrett, who has been really making a name for herself.  You've got legacies such as Tessa Blanchard and Rachel Ellering making their families proud.  You've also got comeback kids like Serena Deeb.  Another thing we've been able to see lately is the incredible rise of Asuka and the future looks bright for women's wrestling in general.  I'm thankful for women's wrestling!

9. The WWE Network

  In my opinion, a subscription to the WWE Network is worth it for PPV's alone!  I was sold on the idea as soon as I heard I wouldn't have to pay upwards of $50 for every PPV event.  There's also entertaining original programming and a vast amount of wrestling shows from around the world and over time.  Since WWE owns a majority of tape libraries from various promotions, you can watch the NWA, WCW, ECW, Mid-South, World Class, AWA, and most of the other wrestling territories that once were.  Of course, you can watch every single WWE PPV ever, along with old episodes of Raw and Nitro so you can relive the Monday Night Wars.  I'm not trying to be a shill for the Network, I just happen to enjoy it.  It's wrestling's version of Netflix in a way.  

10. Triple H

   I'm sure I'm going to get heat for this but Triple H is one of the reasons why things have improved in WWE.  He's got his finger on the pulse of wrestling.  I know ultimately Vince McMahon has the final say on everything but you can't tell me Triple H's influence isn't there!  I know some are angry with him putting himself into the Survivor Series and "overshadowing" everything.  Of course, there are still those who say he only got to where he is because he married into the McMahon family.  He's also intelligent, driven, and passionate about the wrestling business.  He became a main eventer and world champion before he even pondered the idea of dating Stephanie McMahon.   Also, could it be possible that the two are actually in love?  My, what an insane idea!

   Triple H has a great deal of old school thinking, yet knows when things need to evolve.  Look what he's done with NXT!  For all intents and purposes, that is his baby!  Unlike people such as Kevin Dunne, Triple H is not a "yes man."  Yes, being married into the McMahon family helps but now I see it's for the better.  He's not doing this for himself; he genuinely believes in the wrestling business and wants it to grow and flourish for many years to come.  Triple H is very similar to the way his father-in-law was many years ago.  Verne Gagne was so stuck in his ways, he didn't realize what he had in Hulk Hogan.  McMahon, on the other hand, capitalized!  Hulkamania led to WrestleMania and the rest is history!  Dunne tells McMahon what he wants to hear, while Triple H tells him what he needs to hear.  I'm thankful for Triple H!

   What I'm trying to get at here is that there is a lot to be thankful for in wrestling.  Wrestling is subjective and not everyone is going to agree with everything that goes on.  As fans, please try to appreciate what you do have and not focus on what you don't.  I don't always like everything I see but I accept reality and deal with it.  Like The New Day, I have the power of positivity!  I try to focus on what I enjoy.  What do you enjoy about wrestling?  What are you thankful for?



If you have any further thoughts on this topic, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

Complaining For the Sake of Complaining

   Something I've noticed while watching professional wrestling over the last 30 plus years is that fans love to complain.  I don't want to sound hypocritical because I can admit I've been guilty of complaining as well.  I understand and it's human nature.  However, there is a difference between complaining about something worthwhile and complaining just to complain.  There seems to have been a lot of that lately, specifically pertaining to the two new women's factions terrorizing Raw and Smackdown respectively.

   Before I get into that, let's go back a week to the Survivor Series event.  As I have mentioned in a previous blog, I found Survivor Series to be one of the best of that name in a long time and even thought it was one of the best PPV events this year period.  I found absolutely nothing wrong with it!  People complained about the possibility of Brock Lesnar vs. Jinder Mahal so they had AJ Styles win the WWF Title to change Brock's opponent and appease the fans.  They changed it and yet people still complained.  Then there were complaints about the booking of the main event and surprise surprise, complaints about Triple H.  What is this, 2004?  Believe me, there are things WWE and other promotions do that I may not agree with but never has something been enough to get me up in arms about!

   The next night on Raw, we shared a moment many fans have been waiting for for quite some time, the return of Paige.  Paige didn't come alone, however!  After interrupting a #1 contender match featuring Bayley, Sasha Banks, Mickie James, and Alicia Fox, from behind came NXT and former Tough Enough stars Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille.  Fox was smart enough to run away while the rest were attacked by the new trio.  Later on, Paige and her cohorts set their sights on Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss and beat the Goddess senseless!  

  

   I thought it was great and exciting!  What happened next with fans?  Complaints!  People were complaining about the pop Paige got, or lack there of.  People complained it wasn't the right set of women.  People complained it should have been done differently.  Again, I've been guilty of complaining but I never let a single thing in wrestling ruin my day.  

   The next night on Smackdown, we got another NXT trio in the form of Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan, who attacked Naomi and Becky Lynch baskstage.  Later on, they took out Natalya and Smackdown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair during their match.  Again, I thought, wow, this is pretty cool!  The complaint I was about to see honestly didn't even dawn on me.  Someone created a meme pointing out the similarities between the two factions and the rest joined in to complain about it.  Frankly, I hadn't noticed at all!  Secondly, who cares?  

   This also led to a separate complaint about how the women in wrestling aren't as attractive anymore, which is one of the most ridiculous and chauvinist things I've ever heard!  This is 2017 and things have changed!  I'd like to think people have changed enough where a thought so shallow would not be commonplace.  Yet here we are!  Even as a teenager during the Attitude Era, I didn't care that much about the scantily clad women running around.  As a wrestling fan, I came to watch wrestling.  If there's talent, who care's how good they look?  It's just icing on the cake!  

   

   Look at someone like Trish Stratus.  Her lack of skill when she first started notwithstanding, she grew to become excellent in the ring.  Trish was lucky enough to be one of few women, or even wrestlers in general, that had the whole package.  She was good in the ring, on the mic, had charisma, and was beautiful to boot.  The "It Factor," if you will!  These days especially, I don't care what they look like.  The other factors are more important.  In the midst of this Women's Revolution in wrestling that has been going on, looks are the last thing I notice.  

   In a short period of barely over a week, I've seen so many complaints I've lost count!  Is it possible to be patient and watch things happen?  Can we just enjoy the ride?  Can we step off our soapboxes and away from our outdated ways of thinking long enough to simply be entertained?  I understand that wrestling fans have always and will always complain, and I've come to accept that.  However, let's try to talk about things in wrestling that make us happy!  I'm not trying to put down the act of complaining.  If you have a valid argument, I'm willing to listen.  Don't complain just for the sake of it and try not to complain too much!  I think my next blog will consist of focusing on what currently in pro wrestling I enjoy and am entertained by.  Since we're only six days removed from Thanksgiving, we can call it things in wrestling I'm thankful for.  What things in wrestling are you thankful for?

If you have any further thoughts on this topic, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

Lack of Use For the Macho Man

   In the last two years of his time in the WWF, Randy "Macho Man" Savage was used very sparingly.  His last moment of glory was at WrestleMania VIII when he defeated Ric Flair for the WWF Title.  For most of 1993 and 1994, he was barely used at all!  He appeared in the 1993 Royal Rumble but then he wasn't seen in a wrestling capacity until Survivor Series, and that was only because he was a last minute replacement for Mr. Perfect.  After a quick stint in the 1994 Rumble and a match at WrestleMania X with Crush, Savage wasn't used through the remainder of his time with the company.

   According to rumors, he was looked at as past his prime and they were making way for the "New Generation."  While this era did provide great wrestlers such as Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Razor Ramon, it was the least profitable time period for the WWF.  Savage was 42 at the time but he still had value.  His name recognition was huge still and he would have gladly put over Hart and worked with Michaels.  In my opinion, it was wrong not to use a commodity like the Macho Man.  I get that they were trying to get away from guys like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior.  However, Savage was arguably a better worker than both and still had it in the ring.  I'd like to show how Savage could have been used at the events they decided not to feature him.  He didn't have to win all the time but just the sheer name value alone would have added to a card. 

   Let's start with WrestleMania IX.  I can possibly get behind him not appearing at King of the Ring or even SummerSlam, but this is WrestleMania for crying out loud!  It was an absolute travesty to leave someone like Randy Savage off the card.  For seven years prior, Savage put on clinics at WrestleMania with the likes of Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat.  He had epic encounters with Hogan and Warrior.  He had entertaining feuds with Dusty Rhodes and George "The Animal" Steele.  He went the distance against four opponents in one night to win his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship.  

   How in the world can you leave Macho Man out of WrestleMania?  They used him for commentary but not in a match.  It still boggles my mind to this day and especially during that time when I was a kid.  In my world, he would put over Yokozuna at WrestleMania in a #1 contender match while Hogan put over Bret Hart in the main event.  With him being a former "King," it would be nice to see him wrestle at the 1993 King of the Ring.  If not in the tournament, I'd like to see him challenge for the Intercontinental Title and work with Shawn Michaels.  It would have done wonders for the Heartbreak Kid!  Interference by Diesel could lead to Savage being in the corner of Mr. Perfect against Michaels at Summer Slam to counter Diesel.  

   Barring Mr. Perfect leaving the company briefly just before Survivor Series, the plan would still be to keep Savage off due to selling his injury at the hands of Crush.  The difference here is I would have had Crush on Diesel's team in the first place.  It would work out when Savage comes out to replace Perfect and to be on the opposing team of arch nemesis Crush.  After WrestleMania X when Savage defeated Crush, there's still the 1994 King of the Ring and SummerSlam because Savage didn't leave the company until the fall of that year.  In hindsight, had he been a part of these events, he may not have left.  For argument's sake, let's say he still did leave, possibly being upset with how he was used anyway.  At the King of the Ring, I'd have him in the tournament itself.  I'd finish his feud with Crush once and for all in an actual match at SummerSlam where Savage would team with the Headshrinkers against Crush, Yokozuna, and Mr. Fuji.  

   At the end of the day, the whole point of my ramblings is that the WWF didn't know what they had with Savage until he was gone.  I feel he could have been better utilized, or frankly utilized at all!  Id like to know your thoughts!  Do you agree with me that they could have benefited from a name like the Macho Man?  Was his use, or lack there of, perfectly justified?  Inquiring minds want know!

If you have any further thoughts on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

WrestleMania IX Restructure

   WrestleMania IX has been pegged by most fans and critics as one of the worst WrestleManias of all time.  While I agree with that, I'd go with XI as the all time worst.  I did not mind the main event of Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna, but the Hogan win after was unnecessary.  At first, my 13-year-old self was happy.  That died down in a few minutes when I realized how dumb this was.  I honestly would have kept several matches the same but changed a few others.  My rule of thumb in my own fantasy booking is creating matches that would make sense with previous or upcoming storylines.  

Original Card

Dark match - Tito Santana vs. Papa Shango

Intercontinental Title - Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka

Steiner Brothers vs. Headshrinkers

Doink vs. Crush

Razor Ramon vs. Bob Backlund

Tag Team Titles - Money Inc vs. Mega Maniacs

Lex Lugar vs. Mr. Perfect

Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez

WWF Title - Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna

Impromptu Title Match - Yokozuna vs. Hulk Hogan

   Here are some matches I am keeping the same.  Doink vs. Crush is staying due to the storyline at the time, and I actually enjoyed the unexpected second Doink interference.  I also kept Lex Lugar vs. Mr. Perfect due to their storyline and the Perfect/Shawn Michaels story it led to.  The last match I kept the same was Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez.  I tossed around the idea of replacing Gonzales with Bam Bam Bigelow due to Gonzalez being terrible but ultimately kept it due to the spectacle of seeing someone towering over the Undertaker.  However, I would change it to a decisive pinfall victory instead a disqualification because in my opinion, no matches at big PPV events should ever end in disqualification, count out, or draws.  The chloroform part could still be worked in but I'd do it after the match.  

   I moved things around slightly with the Money Inc/Mega Maniacs storyline.  I moved it to the night after WrestleMania as a filler for Hulk Hogan between WrestleMania and King of the Ring.  Therefore, Brutus Beefcake would return the night after WrestleMania.  With that being the case, I would save the Jimmy Hart face turn for the next night as well.  I decided to have Money Inc drop the Tag Team Championships to the Steiner Brothers.  That feud would continue again after the Mega Maniacs storyline in between.  That leaves the Headshrinkers out and even though that was a good match, it had to change due to my restructure.  

   

   You may be wondering where that leaves Hulk Hogan.  Well, I'd actually have Hogan challenging Bret Hart for the WWF Title in the main event.  I'd have Hogan return a month earlier than he did and win the Royal Rumble.  Yokozuna would be the last man eliminated.  Now you have a way to enter into a Hogan/Yokozuna storyline later on.  I would have Hogan putting Bret over to end WrestleMania.  Don't worry about Yokozuna, though, because his days as Champion are coming soon.  Backtracking to the Royal Rumble, Randy "Macho Man" Savage is eliminated second to last by Yokozuna due to interference by Mr. Fuji.  An irate Savage reenters the ring and helps Hogan eliminate Yokozuna.  Due to the circumstances of this being the first Royal Rumble where the winner gets a Title shot at WrestleMania, I would do Yokozuna vs. Randy Savage in a #1 Contender Match at WrestleMania, with the winner getting the shot the night after on Raw.  Yokozuna would defeat Savage and take the Title from Bret the next night on Raw in the same manner we witnessed at WrestleMania

   Another match I would change is Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka.  While it was a good match, the count out ending made the fans angry.  Also, Tatanka had a winning streak going and had he won the IC Title, he would have had to lose it.  Therefore, I put Owen Hart in the contender spot.  This would work as Owen and HBK ended up on opposite teams later that year at the Survivor Series, leading to Owen's feud with brother Bret.  Since Sensational Sherri was no longer Michaels' manager, I would still have her second any opponent of Michaels, specifically to start the Sherri/Luna Vachon feud.

   The match that deserved a change the most was Razor Ramon vs. Bob Backlund.  The chemistry just wasn't there.  This was before Backlund's erratic heel turn and character change so he was just boring at this point.  A throw away match with Backlund did nothing for Razor, who had only just debuted the fall of 1992.  A match against Tito Santana would have worked out much better.  Tito at this point in his career was putting over the new stars.  Tito was the first big singles test for Shawn Michaels and look how that worked out!  Razor vs. Tito would be a faster pace as well.

   The last change is to take the stars that didn't make it onto the show and make the dark match into a Battle Royal.  That's where you put the Headshrinkers and the rest of the roster.  Since Tatanka's winning streak is something I want to keep, he ends up the winner.  In my opinion, this is a much better card but everything still makes sense and storylines still progressed similarly.  You will still get the Michaels/Perfect feud, Hogan putting over Yokozuna after his Money Inc storyline, reestablishing and finishing the Money Inc/Steiner Brothers program, and Bret Hart's King of the Ring win and road to championship redemption.  I'm curious to know your thoughts!

If you have any further thoughts on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

Playing Devil's Advocate on the Lex Express Failure

   This is something that not many people discuss anymore in professional wrestling.  Many are quick to judge the Lex Express experiment as a failure.  Fans will talk about Lex's lack of personality or emotion, how the push came out of nowhere, his ring work, and many other reasons why this was deemed a failure.  People seem to be blaming everything solely on Lugar.  I understand that many times the wrestler is responsible for many things but there are times when the blame cannot be fully placed upon the wrestler's shoulders.  I'm here to offer a Devil's Advocate approach to this story.

   Picture it, Ohio, 1993!  That's for all you Golden Girls fans out there!  Hulkamania in the WWF was dead, as Yokozuna regained the  WWF Championship with the help of an exploding camera.  Mere days later, Yokozuna's manager Mr. Fuji wanted to celebrate his client's win and issued a Body Slam Challenge on the 4th of July aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid.  Fuji wanted to rub Yoko's win in the faces of Americans and what better way to do it than on America's Birthday?  And on an American warship at that?  Since Hogan was known as extremely patriotic, some fans thought maybe Hogan would make one more comeback.  

   Superstars could barely knock the Sumo champion off his feet, let alone slam him.  Many superstars and even some football players tried their hardest, but couldn't lift the big man off his feet.  NFL player Bill Fralic, who took part in the WrestleMania 2 battle royal, took his shot.  Wrestlers including both Steiner Brothers, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Crush made attempts but no one was able to do it.  Mr. Fuji and Yokozuna were basking in their glory.  Suddenly, a helicopter descended upon the ship.  Who could this have been?  Was it someone to answer the challenge?  

   Everyone was shocked, as Lex Lugar of all people got off the chopper, adorned in the red, white, and blue.  Lugar had been a heel up until that point, known as The Narcissist, a man who claimed he was beyond perfection.  Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who introduced Lugar at the Royal Rumble months earlier, tried to reason with Lugar, who swatted the Weasel out of his way and made a B-line towards the ring.  After some botched interference by Fuji, Lugar lifted Yokozuna off the ground and slammed him, although many people described it more as a hip toss.  WWE historians will tell you it was a body slam but that's neither here nor there.

   All of a sudden, there was a new American hero in the World Wrestling Federation.  Yes, it was an abrupt change that came from left field and some will even argue it was the WWF's way of replacing Hulk Hogan.  The push soon began after the celebration of this momentous feat.  Lugar would then embark upon a month long bus tour deemed the Lex Express.  Was it a little corny?  Sure, I'll give you that!  At the same time, fans were in for the ride and wanted someone to topple Yokozuna once and for all, bringing the Championship back to America.

   They spared no expense going all in with this bus tour.  He rode around all over the country on the bus and met fans at every stop.  It was enough to garner him a shot at the WWF Title at SummerSlam in the main event.  Here's where it was looked at as a failure in fans' eyes.  SummerSlam came and it was time for the main event.  Lugar knocked Yoko out of the ring and the behemoth couldn't answer the ten count.  Lugar won the match.  However, a Title can only change hands in a pinfall or submission decision.

   Here's where I started to get upset.  It's not because he didn't win the Championship, which I believe he should have, but that's not the point!  The reason I was upset is because they had Lex celebrate in the ring as if he was the new Champion.  Even at the age of thirteen I was baffled by that logic.  He may as well have lost!  I thought it was the dumbest thing I'd ever seen!  They made him look like a complete jackass!  No wonder fans lost interest!  If he lost and got cheated it would still rally fans.  If he had won the gold, it definitely would have rallied fans.  This is where the push completely lost momentum and Lex was destined for obscurity for the remainder of his time in the WWF.

   If you're going to go all in and invest in a bus tour, why not give him the Title?  Even for a few months!  Fast forward to the 1994 Royal Rumble where Lex Lugar and Bret Hart were the last two left.  The winner, of course, was to go on to WrestleMania X and face Yokozuna for the WWF Championship.  In a bizarre turn of events, both Lugar and Hart went over the ropes and onto the floor at the exact same time.  WWF President Jack Tunney announced that both men would compete for the Championship at WrestleMania.  The winner of a coin toss would receive the shot first.  For storyline purposes, Lugar won the coin toss because the rivalry between Bret Hart and Owen Hart was heating up.

   At WrestleMania for Lugar's match against Yokozuna, a special referee was appointed.  That man was Mr. Perfect.  Perfect disqualified Lex, perhaps to get even for his loss to Lugar at the previous WrestleMania.  That was the end of the road for Lex.  It was rumored that Lex was in line to win the Title but his chances were pushed aside due to a drunken night in which Lex blurted out the ending.  That has never been proven so I still take it as a rumor.  However, Lugar did not do much of note after that.  With the exception of a feud the Tatanka of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation and a short-lived tag team with the British Bulldog, that was it for Lex in the WWF.

   Based on all of those facts, I want to know everyone's opinion on this matter.  Was the Lex Express and Lex's push in general a failure?  Or, did creative drop the ball?  It's my opinion that Lex should have won the Title.  More importantly, it's my opinion that he was set up to fail by celebrating as he had won the belt.  Would things be different if Lex Lugar became the WWF Champion?  Would it not have mattered?  We'll never know!  

If you have any further thoughts on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

My WrestleCade Experiences - Fan vs. Vendor

   For the last six years, WrestleCade has been the wrestling convention to go to.  Yes, some will argue that WrestleCon is superior because it's around WrestleMania weekend in whatever location that event happens to be that year.  But to me, WrestleCade, down in Winston-Salem, NC, is the top! That is mainly due to the professionalism shown by WrestleCade and AML promoter Tracy Myers.  Because TagMeADate has been a vendor at past WrestleCade events, my fellow staff and I have come to know Mr. Myers as a friend.  Of course, it has been co-promoted now with our good pal Charlie Armstrong, a great promoter in his own right.

   I just got back from WrestleCade 2017 and I wanted to share a perspective I have from the convention, both as a vendor and as a fan.  2015 was my first WrestleCade event where I represented the company I work for, TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Along with me was the Vice President and who we refer to as the First Lady of TagMeADate, Stacey Glenwick.  We had the privilege of sharing our table with Rebel, Jamine St. Clair, and Missy Hyatt.  To our left was our good friend Dr. Tom Prichard, whom we had met several months before.  Also to our left was Bill Apter, who is also a friend.  He was kind of enough to write a special message to me and the TagMeADate crew in a copy of his book "Is Wrestling Fixed?  I Didn't Know It Was Broken!"

   Because we were sharing a table with wrestling talent, we were responsible for making sure Rebel got paid and kept her autograph and photo opp sales in tact.  However, we also had our own product to market.  By the time I drove out there, Stacey had already set up our table and it looked great.  I went out of my way to get some give-aways for the guests so I bought about 50 chocolate bars and had individual wrappers made with our company's logo on them, which I brought to the event and proudly displayed them.  

   One of the nice parts about being a vendor was most of the pictures we took with wrestling talent were on the house, since we had a little more time at the beginning to introduce ourselves and get to know them a little.  Also, Stacey already had built up a rapport with several superstars, including Matt Hardy and Booker T.  I also ran into Robert Gibson of the Rock n' Roll Express, whom I had met several months earlier and he remembered me.  A thrill for me was that some of these people knew me by name.  Also, I was honored to have been chopped by Tom Prichard, in a playful way of course!  

   When there was a slight lull, we explored and tried to get as many photos as possible to promote our company.  Some of the other people we met and got pictures with that day were Mr. Kennedy, John Morrison, Justin Gabriel, Joel Gertner, The Blue Meanie, Tatanka, and Jimmy Hart.  We also took another photo with The Stro, who we already knew from a previous event.  We also got to speak with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.  At John Morrison's table, Shelton Benjamin stopped by to say hello and exchange pleasantries.  Even though we were there to promote, I couldn't help being a little starstruck, as my heroes I grew up watching were before my very eyes.  

   2016 was a slightly different story.  TagMeADate was vendor once again.  However, I was on my own this time.  It's a whole different animal doing it by yourself.  I set up the table and made sure everything was perfect.  I also set up a PowerPoint on my laptop displaying all the wrestlers who had helped make TagMeADate a success.  Because I was alone, I had to stay by my table most of the time and wasn't able to walk around and meet some of the wrestlers.  

   Before the convention started, I approached Lanny Poffo, who shared a house with TagMeADate creator Steve Glenwick during WrestleCon in Dallas earlier in the year.  He remembered us so he was more than happy to take a picture.  I also ran into several other people, some of which I met before and others who met different members of my team and remembered us.  I was happy to report our success to Sonjay Dutt, who I had met in Dallas months earlier.  I also spoke with George South, who I met in Raleigh, NC that year.  Both Eddie Edwards and EC3 also asked how business was.  I brought my chocolate bars again.  

   Charlie Armstrong was kind enough to sit some independent talent at my table, to help spread the word.  Doing this alone but not having to take care of another's finances allowed me to take it all in.  Besides promoting TagMeADate as best I could, I couldn't help notice the comradery between the wrestling talent.  These people have traveled together and have known each other for many years.  I remember the late Rowdy Roddy Piper referred to it as the wrestling fraternity.  To see these men and women hug and say hello to each other confirmed why I'm a wrestling fan in the first place!

   This year was different because I went as a fan.  Again, because some of these people worked with TagMeADate before, it made things even more enjoyable.  Tom Prichard was the first person I saw when I walked in and I made a B-line to his table.  He was overjoyed as he recognized me and asked how things were going.  I told him about all the positive things we have done since the last time we saw him.  He was happy for us and proud.  I couldn't ask for more!  I know I'm name-dropping quite a bit, but I do it for two reasons, out of excitement and for the blessings given to my company by these wonderful men and women.

  

   Without disclosing an amount, let's just say I spent some money.  When there are so many great talents, it's hard not to.  The downside to going as a fan is the sheer amount of people there.  It's a pretty crazy atmosphere and takes a long time to move just two feet.  Four hours may seem like a long time but with the amount of people there, it was over in the blink of an eye.  I met some incredible people today including Dean Malenko, Rosemary, Crazzy Steve, The Boys, Terry Taylor, The Barbarian, Kid Kash, Madison Rayne, Ivelisse, and D-Lo Brown.

   I must say, Molly Holly is one of the sweetest people I have met.  She looked fantastic and it was just a pleasure speaking with her, as she was one of the last of the incredible women of the 1999-2005 era that I met.  Two years ago at a convention featuring Trish Stratus, Lita, Ivory, and Victoria, there was a missing piece of the puzzle and that was Molly.  Another sweetheart was the legendary Madusa.  I have to say, some of these people are incredibly humble and appreciative of their fans.  'Duce was no exception!  She even let me hold the very same Women's Championship belt she once infamously disposed of on live television.  Finally, I spoke with Rachel Ellering, who I think I may be in love with; but I digress.  She told me she thinks of the Authors of Pain as her little brothers.  I told her how proud I was of her as a wrestler and want to see her on WWE TV.  

   The highlight for me had to have been my appearance on The Barber Shop set!  I got to play the role of Shawn Michaels in the famous Rockers breakup scene on The Barber Shop.  I was there along with Marty Jannetty and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake himself, whose barber sheers I got to hold.  To have grown up in that era and witnessed the heel turn heard 'round the world as a kid, I couldn't pass this up!  You'll go broke at this place with the incredible talent provided.  The only downside besides the people traffic was that one of the wrestlers I prepaid to meet, didn't show up.  Ronnie Garvin was schedule to appear but he was not there.  I was bummed for two reasons, one because I needed a refund and two, I genuinely wanted to meet him.  That's a chance you take with these events.  There were several other no-shows due to various reasons including Butch Reed and Awesome Kong.  Most glaringly missing was Terry Funk.  Unfortunately, I learned that Terry's wife has taken ill and he had to leave.  My thoughts are with the Funk family.

   Overall, I highly recommend the WrestleCade convention, both as a vendor and as a fan.  Both have their ups and downs but the positives completely outweigh the negatives.  One last observation, especially coming from someone who is 5'8, is that these people are gigantic in person.  Even the people who look small on TV are huge!  It's true what they say, they are larger than life performers.  If there is another WrestleCade next year, be sure to check it out.  You won't be disappointed!

If you have any further examples on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

When a Finisher Meant Something

  Call me old school, but I long for the days when a finisher was the true end of a match 95% of the time.  Kicking out of multiple finishers is not something new.  It was practically the majority of the Attitude Era!  However, it is my opinion that wrestlers kick out of finishers way too much!  Can we preserve at least some kayfabe?  Can we pretend it's not completely dead?  Don't get me wrong, I don't think wrestlers should never kick out of finishers.  I just think it needs to be an incredibly rare thing!

   Remember when the DDT was a finisher?  Since the dawn of that maneuver, there have been different variations and suddenly, it's no longer a finisher!  I don't understand how we got to that point!  I understand wrestling evolves and things like body slams and suplexes don't finish matches anymore.  A DDT is a totally different ballgame, though!  It's a devastating move where your head goes straight down to the mat.  How are people kicking out of this?  Should they be kicking out of this?

   You may be saying to yourself that only the main eventers kick out.  I know John Cena is notoriously known for kicking out at two!  Roman Reigns has also joined the party!  However, it's all I see!  I know it happens in WWE a lot but the worst culprits are Ring of Honor and various Indy promotions.  The art of selling has gone to Hell!  That's a different discussion altogether!  I understand that having matches end abruptly after one finisher is not what fans enjoy these days.  However, there are ways to get around not being pinned after the finisher.  Everyone still loves the classic "foot on the rope" routine, for instance!  

   On the contrary, there are certain maneuvers that were there for the pageantry and showmanship and yet they were considered finishers.  Case in point, The Worm!  How can anyone in not kick out of that?  Sure, it was entertaining, but it shouldn't have been a finisher.  As much as I love The Rock, I still don't like the idea of the People's Elbow as a finisher.  Is it a great signature move that sets up a finisher?  It sure is!  Another example would be the Cobra.  It looks like it would delay your opponent briefly but not finish an opponent.  I know I'm going to get heat for this but the Samoan Spike was not something I considered a finisher.  Yes, a padded thumb to the throat can be quite painful but it looks to me as the perfect signature move before you go in for the kill.  

   Back to the lecture at hand!  Let's talk about the Super Kick, shall we?  Before anyone starts on me for what I'm about to say, I'm aware that Dolph Ziggler, the Usos, and various others have also overused this move!  However, the biggest culprits when it comes to this move are the Young Bucks.  They have practically ruined the Super Kick as a finisher.  These stupid Super Kick parties are not entertaining to me.  In fact, the evolution of the maneuver is quite amazing.  Before Shawn Michaels adopted it and added the showmanship to make it "Sweet Chin Music," it was just a side kick.  Now, we've gone backwards where it's not a finisher anymore.  A swift kick to the face should definitely be a finisher!

   I also know people are going to argue that Hulk Hogan's leg drop was not a finisher.  It was also a different time then!  However, I would think someone running and dropping their entire weight on you with their leg is quite devastating!  Hogan was also a near 300lb guy.  There's a difference between him dropping the leg and a Cruiserweight dropping the leg.  I also know people will question why I don't think the People's Elbow is a finisher but Randy "Macho Man" Savage's flying elbow was.  Here's the difference!  Savage went to the top rope, whereas The Rock did it from a standing position.  

   When you talk about brutal and abrupt finishers, there were several that fall into this category.  The Tombstone, the F-5, the Pedigree, the RKO, and the Stone Cold Stunner are just a few.  Some people might argue that I'm a hypocrite because there are moves I consider silly but think highly of the Mandible Claw.  Before the emergence of Mr. Socko, Mankind's Mandible Claw was based on hitting certain nerves in the mouth that render an opponent useless!  I'll even go one further and say that Mr. Socko made it that much worse for an opponent.  Not only were your nerves being worked over, but you also had the smell of an old sock that someone just pulled out of their pants!  See, I like to have fun too!

   Another problem seems to be matches where people "should" have kicked out of something because it was a single finisher but couldn't defeat their opponents with multiple ones.  The biggest example would be the match between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman at No Mercy.  People were very upset that Braun lost after one F-5, yet couldn't put Brock away.  While I was also upset, it was not for this reason.  I happened to think Braun should have won the match outright and became the Universal Champion, never mind the finisher nonsense!  Here's hoping to a Royal Rumble win and the monster among men redeeming himself against the Beast at WrestleMania!

   I guess I'm somewhat of a hypocrite in a way, as I really enjoyed the WrestleMania wars Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker had, as well as the classic Rock/Stone Cold rivalry, all of which contained multiple finisher kick-outs.  Their matches also went well beyond that and contained fantastic story-telling!  The bottom line is, is there a way to get back to where finishers are really finishers?  I want finishers to mean something again!

If you have any further examples on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

The Rise of Women's Wrestling

   When did the women's revolution in wrestling start?  It's a debatable topic!  Many will say when some of the more significant women from NXT came over to Raw and Smackdown.  Some people claim it was women such as Paige and Emma that started it, and some go back further to other moments.  What is clear now is how the importance of women's wrestling has risen in the last few years.  Women's wrestling has had its ups and downs over the years and sometimes no matter how many strides forward it takes, it still doesn't manage to get the respect it deserves.

   Women's wrestling started around the 1930's.  Women such as Mildred Burke, Judy Grable, Mae Young, and the Fabulous Moolah were some of the pioneers of women's wrestling.  Much like professional wrestling itself at the time, women's wrestling was taken more serious than in later years.  There was a point in time, however, when women's wrestling wasn't deemed as important, even blatantly saying that it didn't draw.  By the late 1980's, it was fading away.   In the WWF at the time, Fabulous Moolah had held the Women's Championship for 28 years.  She was also a big part of the WWF's huge wrestling boom in the 80's.  Her feud with Wendy Richter was a big deal, especially with the involvement of music sensation Cindy Lauper.  Judy Martin and Leilani Kai were also respected women wrestlers, as were the high-flying Japanese duo the Jumping Bomb Angels.  Meanwhile, women like Madusa and Sensational Sherri were tearing it up in other promotions.  Of course, there were many women who were managers or valets that were extremely important to the industry, most notably the late Miss Elizabeth.

   I would be remiss if I didn't mention G.L.O.W., or Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.  This promotion did a lot for women's wrestling in the 80's and launched several careers.  This was certainly a cast of characters and gave them a platform to succeed.  Who could forget characters like Big Bad Mama, Mt. Fuji, Little Egypt, and Ninotchka?  It even inspired a documentary and a Netflix series based on the promotion.

   

   The WWF Women's Championship was quietly retired in 1990 after Rockin' Robin's 16 month reign when she left the promotion.  While women's wrestling was still going on in other promotions and Japan as well, it wasn't around in the WWF until 1993 when the first revival of women's wrestling began.  Madusa came to the company as Alundra Blayze and became the new WWF Women's Champion.  Things seemed to be going well again.  She was extremely over and had incredible matches with the likes of Bull Nakano, Aja Kong, and the underrated Rhonda Singh, who was straddled with the horrible gimmick of Bertha Faye.  You also had women like Luna Vachon making a mark.

   Women's wrestling, especially in the WWF, took a nose dive when Blayze left for WCW, taking her Championship with her, and throwing it in a trash can on live TV during an episode of WCW Monday Nitro.  Because of this, she was shunned from the company for a long time.  It was a huge ratings boost for WCW, however.  She has since noted she regretted the decision every day of her life until her return and Hall of Fame induction.  It was certainly an infamous moment in the annals of professional wrestling.

   During the mid-1990's, women were simply valets or managers.  We saw the rise of Sunny and Sable.  However, the Attitude Era was immanent and unfortunately, women in wrestling were seen as mere eye candy and certainly not taken seriously at all.  When the Women's Championship was revived, Sable took the title.  However, she was known more for her sexuality and being more over than husband at the time, Marc Mero.  The same could be said for Sunny.  Even though wonderful women's wrestlers like Jacqueline Moore were around, it just wasn't of the utmost importance.  There were "Bra and Panty" matches, matches involving some kind of pool anywhere from water to pudding, and many other horrible gimmick matches.  

   One shining light in all of this was Chyna, who not only put women's wrestling back on the map, but was such an attraction for professional wrestling itself.  Her power and intensity was enough to propel herself to an Intercontinental Championship reign and she also became the first woman to compete in a Royal Rumble match.  Whether it was with Degeneration X, with Eddie Guerrero, or on her own, Chyna was a very important part of the reemergence of women's wrestling.  

   However, in the midst of all this, women's wrestling started to rise again.  Quietly, impressive wrestlers like G.L.O.W. veteran Ivory (formerly known as Tina Ferrari) and Molly Holly came in.  In 2000, former fitness model Trish Stratus entered the fray.  While she was not very good in the ring at first, and was used more for her beauty, she got very good very fast and has since become one of the greatest women ever to grace the ring.  While the "Attitude" was still very much there, the athleticism improved greatly as more athletic female wrestlers emerged, such as Lita, Victoria, Gail Kim, Mickie James, and Beth Phoenix.  Women's wrestling was at a peak in the early to mid-2000's.  Meanwhile, promotions like TNA started producing their "Knockout's Division."  Kim moved over there and got an even bigger platform to succeed, as well as Awesome Kong and the Beautiful People.

   Back in the WWF, things started to take a turn for the worse as Trish and Lita retired and Gail Kim left the company.  It was at this time that the term "Diva" was being used a lot for women in wrestling.  For me, it always had a negative connotation, as its name conveyed a woman who was full of herself.  Women's wrestling wasn't treated fairly anymore.  The action in the ring wasn't as significant anymore.  The match quality decreased significantly.  Here's where you had women like Michelle McCool, Maryse, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, Stacey Keibler, Torrie Wilson, and many others around.  Many of them couldn't wrestle very well, but at the same time, weren't completely at fault.  There were given minimal time and minimal training.  They were pretty much set up to fail.  Then there was the emergence of the Diva's Championship, which soon engulfed the Women's Championship.  It didn't help matters that the belt was a glorified pink butterfly!  Poor Natalya was lost in a sea of talentless women.  The show "Total Divas," which I enjoy very much by the way, was introduced and while women like AJ Lee tried to get around this problem and wrestle, you had the Bella Twins, Cameron, and the infamous Eva Marie.  

   In my opinion, the time from 2007 to about 2014 were the dark ages of women's wrestling.  As a male wrestling fan, I appreciate women's bodies as much as the next guy, but I watched them for the actual wrestling.  If I wanted to see scantily-clad women, I had many other outlets for that.  I just wanted to watch them in the ring and be appreciated for what they brought to the table.  However, women's wrestling really started to catch fire in the independent promotions and quietly, WWE took notice and started to follow suit.  

   One of the main reasons why the NXT brand started to become popular was its female competitors.

Paige bursting onto the scene on the main roster helped a lot but her experience all over the world and especially NXT, was the reason why.  NXT brought to the table the "Four Horsewomen" of WWE, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Becky Lynch.  All four were extremely talented and fantastic in the ring.  NXT allotted them the time and showcased them in way that captivated the audience.  As they started getting called up, more women emerged, such as Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella.  Asuka came along and really changed the game. Her charisma, intensity, and undefeated streak, which is still going on, has made her an extremely vital part of women's wrestling.  With this came the first Pay-Per-View main event featuring women's wrestling in the first female Hell In a Cell match between Charlotte and Sasha.  Meanwhile, Sasha and Bayley had the first ever Women's Iron Man Match, and the latest event has been the first Women's "Money In the Bank" Ladder Match.

   Aside from actual wrestling, women started to get other significant roles and were treated with more respect.  Lillian Garcia has been one of the best announcers in professional wrestling.  Of course, in the 80's, we were treated to a wonderful woman in Mike McGuirk.  At the current time, we have the talented Renee Young, who has been an interviewer and commentator at times.  This woman has been scouted by ESPN many times, yet shows how vital she is to WWE right now.

   The defining moment and the shift of when the Women's Revolution really took over was when the Diva's Championship was retired, along with the term "Diva," and replaced with a true Women's Championship.  That title was soon strictly a Raw Championship, and Smackdown developed its own Women's Championship as well.  With the recent Mae Young Classic, we were treated with an excellent tournament of tremendous female competitors.  Along with several who have since joined NXT, Raw, and Smackdown, were gifted wrestlers from various Indy promotions.  Wrestlers like Santana Garrett, Tessa Blanchard, and Rachel Ellering have been tearing it up.  We may possibly get MMA stars like Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler as well.

   With all the positives come a few negatives, some of which lying within WWE and unfortunately some coming from fans.  Some people have a very outdated mentality when it comes to women's wrestling.  Some feel it still doesn't or will never draw, while others feel the current crop of women aren't very attractive.  Again, to me, I never cared much about nonsense like that, even as a teenager in the Attitude Era!  There were and are plenty of women who may not be the most attractive, but are incredible in-ring performers.  It seems that no matter how far women's wrestling has come, it still hasn't come far enough.  None of this is the fault of any female wrestler.  Hopefully, things will continue to change for the better.  As a fan, I feel good knowing that women's wrestling has come this far and am excited to see where it goes next.

If you have any further examples on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

Survivor Series Weekend Thoughts

Quick diatribe: I have a problem with the use of the word sole when it comes to Survivor Series.  If there is more than one survivor, you cannot use the term sole.  Sole refers to ONE!  Saying sole survivors (plural) does not make sense and I can't stand it when people do it, especially when WWE does it!  Also, it's sole and not soul!  Pardon me, just had to get that off my chest!  3-2-1.  1-2-3.  What the heck is bothering me?  There, I feel better now!

SURVIVOR SERIES WEEKEND

   WOW!  That word pretty much sums up this past Survivor Series weekend!  Both shows were great from top to bottom.  I have very little or possibly even no complaints.  I'm separating the two for a second.  Takeover: War Games was great!  Generally, NXT and the Takeover specials always come through.  As for Survivor Series, this was one of the best Survivor Series PPV's in a long time.  The card really shaped up to be amazing due to all the last minute changes and every match delivered.   I'd actually put it up there with any WWE PPV this year!  It makes me feel good because the Survivor Series holds a very special place in my heart, and it was nice to see it rise back to being rightfully included in the "Big Four."

NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES

   Takeover always delivers and this one was no different!  Even when the NXT roster got purged in the last year or two, they still find a way to put on an amazing show.  I always have high expectations for Takeover and I'm almost never disappointed.  This one was special because this was the first time WWE ever did a War Games match.  It's something we fans have dreamed about for so long.  We haven't seen a War Games match in a long time.  

LARS SULLIVAN VS. KASSIUS OHNO   

   This match did what it was supposed to do, make Lars Sullivan look unstoppable!  Sure, it wasn't a technical masterpiece but it served a purpose.  Someday, there will be someone who can match up with Sullivan power-wise and that day will be an exciting one.  Kassius "I wish his name was still Chris Hero" Ohno was a great first real test for Sullivan.  Sullivan doesn't do much for me but I've been proven wrong.  Two years ago, I never thought Braun Strowman would be anything more than a generic big man.  My, how that all has changed!  Sullivan surprised me with some agility I hadn't seen previously.

ALEISTER BLACK VS. THE VELVETEEN DREAM

   From top to bottom, this match made both guys.  I actually think it did more for Dream, even in a losing effort.  Both men put on a showcase!  Usually, there's one match that people consider match of the night but for this event, I couldn't choose!  I'm not really a fan of the character of The Velveteen Dream but I'll give credit where credit is due.  The former Patrick Clark put on a show in the ring.  I really liked when Black would come back with his own mind games.  Aleister Black is awesome!  He comes off as such a bad ass and I love everything about the character.  This match delivered big time and there's a bright future for both.

EMBER MOON VS. NIKKI CROSS VS. PEYTON ROYCE VS. KAIRI SANE

   Where do I begin?  Ever since Asuka gave up the NXT Women's Title in the midst of her undefeated streak to ply her craft on Raw, fans have been chomping at the bit to see a new champion crowned.  Kairi Sane impressed many by winning the Mae Young Classic so she deserved a spot.  Ember Moon came the closest anyone has to defeating Asuka so she deserved a spot.  Nikki Cross is a fierce competitor and a dynamic character.  Peyton Royce is quite entertaining and it was nice to see one half of "The Iconic Duo" in contention.   All four women proved why women's wrestling belongs!  It was action packed and everyone played their part well.  I enjoyed Peyton's entrance where she said goodbye to Billie Kay and changed gears to focus on the task at hand.  Ember Moon hitting that double Eclipse at the end was a sight to behold.  It was emotional seeing Ember finally take the Championship and even more so when it was presented to her by the Empress of Tomorrow herself.  It was truly a special moment!

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP - DREW MCINTYRE VS. ANDRADE "CIEN" ALMAS

   I had mixed feelings on the result of this match until I understood everything that went down.  The match itself certainly didn't disappoint and I had no reason to believe it would.  Both men can go.  I feel Drew is more than worthy to jump back up to Raw or Smackdown.  Almas has really turned things around.  His heel turn, and especially the addition of Zelina Vega, helped him tremendously.  I still don't see him on the NXT Championship level but that's neither here nor there.  I'll admit I was angry about the result at first.  Then I thought one of two things; either Drew is injured or he's bound for greener pastures.  It turns out, Drew was injured.  I wish him a speedy recovery!  For Almas, I'll hold my judgment until I see what he brings to the table during his reign.

WAR GAMES: UNDISPUTED ERA VS. SANITY VS. AUTHORS OF PAIN & RODERICK STRONG

   To see War Games finally appear in the WWE environment was a dream come true.  While I would have preferred to see a top to the cage because I'm a traditionalist, I understand why there wasn't one.  And boy, are they obsessed with shark cages?  Back to the matter at hand, this match was incredible!  The booking was great, seeing the Undisputed Era get the first numbers advantage.  When the rest of Sanity finally made it in, I knew we were in for something special.  I was confused at first why Killian Dane didn't enter until he started grabbing every weapon he could find.  Dane and Wolfe made me look at both in a whole new light.  While some may think it was cheesy, I enjoyed Roderick Strong in traditional AOP gear.  At least he wasn't smiling like Kurt Angle at TLC!  This was bloody and barbaric.  Alexander Wolfe got busted open pretty bad.  The top of the cage spot was tremendous!  All 9 men busted their ass and even though the winners of the match were the Undisputed Era, the real winners were the fans.  

SURVIVOR SERIES 2017

   Before this event began, already on paper, the card looked great.  Survivor Series has been touch and go for years.  While tradition kept it in the "Big Four," it lost its identity a long time ago.  I enjoy tradition so when the elimination matches went away for the most part or were just thrown together, it just felt like an any other PPV.  This was one of the best Survivor Series in a long time and I can't think of one thing to complain about.

KICK-OFF

MATT HARDY VS. ELIAS

   Not a bad way to kick off the show!  You already know what you're getting with Matt Hardy and Elias is really coming into his own as a character.  It builds tremendous momentum for Elias, besting a ring pro like Hardy.  Matt has always given back so the result made sense, even though I, like many, am clamoring for the lawsuit to end in his favor so he can become "Broken" once again!  

CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE - ENZO AMORE VS. KALISTO

   Much like their previous encounter, Enzo and Kalisto put on a pretty good match with a result I expected.  I still feel like they don't quite know what to do with the Cruiserweights, especially without Neville in the picture.  Enzo has filled the void with his promos, though!  Sadly, if not for the division, Enzo may not even be there.  I would have actually preferred an elimination match with the division but this match was entertaining.

KEVIN OWENS & SAMI ZAYN VS. THE FASHION POLICE (Breezango is a lazy name)
   Owens and Zayn had something to prove due to not being included in the men's elimination match as a part of Smackdown.  The story here has been progressing nicely.  Even though their later appearance was expected, I wasn't any less entertained.  They play off each other so well.  Breeze and Fandango have really taken this gimmick to something special.  Their segments are always funny and they're no slouches in the ring either.

AND SO IT BEGINS...

THE SHIELD VS. THE NEW DAY
   On paper, this match looks great.  Also on paper, The Shield takes it easily.  However, you can never count out The New Day.  I was really looking forward to this match.  The match itself obviously delivered but having a good story increases the odds of it being enjoyable.  All 6 men did an incredible job.  I was on the edge of my seat several times as it looked like The New Day had the match won at certain points.  I liked the tease of the triple power bomb until we finally did get to see it.  The Shield prevailed but The New Day certainly brought it!  Again, this was a match where the true winners were the fans.

RAW WOMEN - ALICIA FOX, SASHA BANKS, NIA JAX, ASUKA, BAYLEY
vs.
SMACKDOWN WOMEN - BECKY LYNCH, NATALYA, TAMINA, CARMELLA, NAOMI
   The women's elimination match was up next.  It had changed recently when Natalya replaced Charlotte Flair on the team due to losing the Smackdown Women's Title to the Queen herself.  Even though Becky Lynch was the team captain, Nattie sure acted like she was!  All 10 women worked well together.  Putting Asuka against any of her opponents was a treat.  It was also fun to watch Nia and Tamina face off.  I was sad to see Becky eliminated so early.  Even though I originally questioned the use of Alicia Fox in the match itself, let alone in the captain role, her being her crazy self in a captain's hat is all I needed to change my mind.  The match ended as I expected, with Asuka as the SOLE survivor.  See folks, the correct use of the word sole!

THE MIZ VS. BARON CORBIN - INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION VS. US CHAMPION
   This one was for bragging rights and even though it was two heels, there was certainly drama there.  Corbin started on social media, bringing Miz's other half Maryse into the mix.  The Miz fired back in a scathing promo on Corbin.  Personally, I'm not a fan of anything Baron Corbin does.  I used to be a hardcore Miz hater but I've come completely around.  It was a nice touch seeing Maryse in the crowd and the Miztourage did their job well.  I did not pick Corbin to win, but it certainly helps him.  Very good match altogether!

THE BAR VS. THE USOS - RAW CHAMPIONS VS. SMACKDOWN CHAMPIONS
   This was another match that was changed.  Originally, the Usos were set to face the Shield's Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose.  We soon learned that The New Day's attempt at "Under Siege" part two was simply a mind game.  Rollins and Ambrose were so concerned with a Smackdown invasion that they took their eyes off the ball.  Enter Sheamus and Cesaro!  They don't just set the bar...they are the bar!  Together, these two have proved to be a force in the Raw tag team scene.  On the other hand, the Usos have the pedigree and experience.  Since adopting a more sinister attitude, the Usos have really stepped up.  Both of these teams tore the house down!  It was anyone's game and I would have been happy with either team winning.  In the end, Sheamus & Cesaro couldn't escape the Uso Penitentiary!

ALEXA BLISS VS. CHARLOTTE FLAIR - RAW CHAMPION VS. SMACKDOWN CHAMPION
   As stated earlier, this match was changed as well.  New Smackdown Women's Champion Charlotte was not what the Goddess prepared herself for.  Alexa had a chip on her shoulder, having defeated the other three Horsewomen, and she was determined to add Charlotte to the stable.  On the other hand, you can never count Charlotte out.  Both women brought their A game.  Size difference not withstanding, Little Miss Bliss didn't back down.  In the end, the daughter of the Nature Boy prevailed.  All hail the Queen!

UNIVERSAL CHAMPION BROCK LESNAR VS. WWE CHAMPION AJ STYLES
   Before I get into this match, it's important to address the elephant in the room.  It was originally going to be Lesnar vs. Jinder Mahal.  However, the Phenomenal One hindered Jinder to become the WWE Champion.  The result is a dream match becoming reality and frankly, a better fit.  Whether Jinder regains the title remains to be seen but let's face it, not many people were interested in Brock vs. Jinder.  Although, it would have been amusing to watch Brock toss around the Singh Brothers like dolls.  Everyone knows what the Beast can do in the ring and Paul Heyman will gladly tell you about it.  While AJ was deemed the underdog in this contest, he more than rose to the occasion and brought the fight to the Conqueror!  As predicted, Brock took AJ to Suplex City.  Styles fought back and had Brock reeling a few times.  Although Lesnar won the match, AJ did not lose any credibility whatsoever.

RAW - KURT ANGLE/BRAUN STROWMAN/SAMOA JOE/FINN BALOR/TRIPLE H
vs.
SHANE MCMAHON/RANDY ORTON/JOHN CENA/BOBBY ROODE/SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
   If ever there was a match who's star power was so prevalent, this was it!  You can take any combination of the 10 men involved and have incredible matches.  This match had everything and the face-offs were awesome.  The brothers-in-law faced off in Shane and Hunter.  We saw Cena and Orton get manhandled by Braun.  We saw HHH and Roode face to face, Balor and Cena, Angle and Shane,  HHH and Shinsuke, Joe and Cena, etc.  I thoroughly enjoyed the match.  Even though Owens and Zayn interfering was predicted, it added something.  I fully expected Jason Jordan to cost either the Game or Angle the match.  However, we ended up seeing HHH take out Angle.  Here's where I started seeing the complaints.  Yes, the booking is somewhat questionable and erratic, but it accomplished what it set out to.  There's a reason HHH is called the Cerebral Assassin.  However, he soon found out that you don't cross Braun Strowman.  The end saw Triple H decimated by the Monster Among Men!

   The booking would be an extremely minor complaint but overall, I enjoyed the Survivor Series a great deal and felt it was one of the better ones in recent years.  It certainly made me look forward to the fallout on Raw tonight and Smackdown tomorrow.  I also look forward to what NXT has in store for us leading into the next events.   The Survivor Series Weekend was a pleasure to watch.




If you have any further examples on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!

Hulk Hogan: Heel as a babyface!

   Despite his problems and obvious issues in the past, both in the real world and backstage in the political wrestling world, Hulk Hogan is still one of my favorites.  There was a period I lost interest as a fan, however!  To put this into context, I am 38 years old.  When I was growing up, it was in the Golden Era during the peak of Hulkamania.  He main evented many a WrestleMania during this time.  He was seen as unstoppable, immortal, a driving force for American patriotism, had values he stood by, etc.  Sooner or later, that sort of thing wore off.  

   By the time late 1991 came around, I was 11 years old and was a little sick of the Hulkster.  It just become hokey to me!  I was tired of seeing him win all the time.  Can you imagine if the internet was around during those days?  Hogan might have been looked at like John Cena was all these years and how Roman Reigns is looked at today.  I didn't come back around to Hogan until the nWo was created.  Not only was I sick of all that, but I noticed something about the Hulk Hogan character.  While deemed the ultimate good guy, he seemed to do a lot of heelish things.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized how true it was.  I'm about to run down the many instances of Hulk Hogan acting like a heel while portraying a babyface.

   Have you ever noticed that many of Hulk Hogan's tag team partners, allies, and friends turned on him?  It happened a lot over the years!  Paul Orndorff, Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, Sid Justice, etc.  I can go on forever!  Don't get me wrong, a lot of these turns happened over jealousy and many of them were unjust for their actions.  However, some of it may have been justified if you really break it down.  

   The first person I remember turning on Hogan was Mr. Wonderful.  Orndorff had been a heel earlier, as he and Rowdy Roddy Piper feuded with Hogan.  Orndorff became a babyface after a falling-out with Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton.  He gained Hogan's trust and they started teaming together, often against the Heenan Family, namely Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy.  Eventually, Orndorff could be seen looking somewhat annoyed at the showboating Hogan was doing.  Let's be honest, Hogan did a lot of showboating, as much or possibly more than a heel Ric Flair ever has.  During a match, Hogan did seem to try to battle on his own, rarely tagging out.  After a misunderstanding, Mr. Wonderful turned on Hogan and joined the Heenan Family.  Was Orndorff justified because of Hogan's selfishness for never tagging and over-the-top showboating?

   Andre the Giant was a different story altogether.  Andre turned to the dark-side courtesy of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan getting into his head.  This lead to the match that really put WrestleMania on the map for years to come.  Hogan slamming Andre is an iconic moment.  But let's think about what led up to the turn!  Some of the backstory is a moment when Andre was presented a trophy for his 15-year undefeated streak.  Hogan was presented a trophy as well for his 4-year title reign.  Hogan's trophy was noticeably larger and his feat was celebrated more.  Was this just jealousy on Andre's part?  Or did Hogan have it coming?  

   The Macho Man's turn came about because of jealousy around the lovely Miss Elizabeth.  Granted, Savage was much more vicious in his turn but there were moments you couldn't help just question.  For instance, during a celebration for the Mega Powers' win over the Mega Bucks at Summer Slam 1988, Hogan put Elizabeth on his shoulder.  He somewhat draped his hand over her backside and the look on Randy's face was priceless.  Hogan did pay a lot of attention to Elizabeth.  In another example, Hogan "accidentally" eliminated Savage from the Royal Rumble.  Even though it's every man for himself, I'll show the hypocrisy later on in yet another example involving Hogan.  During a match between the Mega Powers and the Twin Towers on Saturday Night's Main Event, Savage was sent flying out of the ring, landing on poor Elizabeth.  Hogan immediately took her in his arms and ran to the back to get her treatment, but also left his partner to the wolves.  Was Savage just a jealous maniac?  Or was he justified in his actions?

   There are many other examples of Hogan acting like a heel.  He would often gouge his opponents' eyes or choke them with his shirt.  He would be seen bullying interfering managers, and even gave Sensational Sherri an Atomic Drop!  Hell, poor IRS ended up getting choked with his own tie.  Hulk was a crybaby often, disputing decisions and making it all about himself.  It wasn't until I got a little older that I looked back and noticed these things.

   Hulk Hogan was screwed over at the 1991 Survivor Series when Ric Flair's interference cost him his championship to the Undertaker.  At "This Tuesday In Texas" during the rematch, Hogan hit Undertaker with Paul Bearer's urn to win back his championship.  Due to both men cheating in their matches, the title was vacated.  In my previous blog, I wrote about the end of the 1992 Royal Rumble.  Sid eliminated Hogan fair and square.  Hogan was angry, and tried to pull Sid out, eventually successfully as Flair dumped Sid from behind to win the Rumble and the WWF Championship.  When Hogan eliminated Savage from the Rumble years prior, it was seen as accidental.  Yet, somehow Hogan was upset this time with the "every man for himself" rule. 

   Hogan took an almost year-long break after that.  He returned to save his buddy Brutus Beefcake at the hands of Money Inc.  The match between the Mega Maniacs and Money Inc at WrestleMania IX ended with the Maniacs getting disqualified.  Hogan then took their money and gave it to the crowd.  Later that night, Hogan came to the aid of Bret Hart, who had just lost his title to Yokozuna due to Mr. Fuji's interference.  As Hogan was checking on Hart, Fuji challenged Hogan to a title match right then and there with Yokozuna.  After some minor goading and an okay from Hart, Hogan accepted, quickly ending the night by winning the title from Yokozuna.  For a split second, I was happy!  That feeling soon ended when I realized that was a little messed up of Hogan to just go in there and get the glory for himself.  The Hogan/Hart match that never happened, however, is more about Terry Bollea as a person, not the character Hulk Hogan.

    Also, if you notice, Hogan almost never lost clean.  The only time he lost clean was to the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI.  WCW was just the same!  The WCW title was vacated after a controversial match between Hogan and The Giant.  At World War 3, a three-ring 60-man battle royal would determine a new champion.  Hogan was unfairly eliminated, yet caused a scene during new champion Randy Savage's coronation.  He made it all about himself, ruining the Macho Man's moment.  Hogan would continue the same antics in his WCW tenure until he revealed his true colors at Bash At the Beach, joining Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to create the New World Order.  The always adamantly anti-Hogan Bobby Heenan was the first to say "I told you so" regarding the Hulkster.  Years later, when the lines really started to blur, it was acceptable for "good guys" like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock to do heelish things.  However, it was looked down upon during Hulk Hogan's era.  Or was it just ignored?  Did they think people weren't paying attention?  Well, I did! 

   At the end of the day, I just wanted to point out the irony of Hulk Hogan acting like a heel during his time as a babyface.  

But I'm still a Hulkamaniac, brother!

If you have any further examples on the situation, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST, brought to you by TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android app is vastly approaching so stay tuned!