Hell Freezes Over: Jeff Jarrett to WWE Hall of Fame

   It was reported yesterday that the latest induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year will be Jeff Jarrett.  I am absolutely shocked, to say the least!  I'm not shocked because of anything like talent, but more so based on him having his own wrestling companies.  I never thought that Jarrett would ever get to the WWE Hall of Fame!  It's akin to when the Ultimate Warrior was welcomed back and went into the Hall of Fame, something nobody thought would ever happen.  I figured his father Jerry Jarrett would go in before Jeff did!  Needless to say, I felt obligated to write about this.

   I appreciate Jarrett's accomplishments and feel he's done enough to deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame.  However, that's not to say he doesn't have his faults!  He was also never a huge star in wrestling. Mike Graham famously said of Jarrett: "he broke six thousand guitars but never drew a dime."  While I definitely agree with this statement, with all due respect to the late Graham, this quote is the most I remember from Graham's wrestling career and it was long after he retired.  I'll get the negative stuff out of the way first.

   Jeff Jarrett is someone I never considered to be a main event talent or at the level of a World Champion.  In my opinion, he was a midcarder at best!  That's not a bad thing, though!  Strong midcarders are important in wrestling organizations.  Ted DiBiase, Roddy Piper, and Mr. Perfect never held the WWE Title but it took nothing away from their legacies.  By the time Jarrett won the WCW World Heavyweight Title, the company was in shambles and the Title meant nearly nothing.  In the year 2000 alone, the Championship changed hands well over 20 times.  Jarrett also gave himself the World Title in TNA a handful of times.  While I don't agree with the way things ended between him and the WWF in 1999, especially if the rumors about Jim Ross and Steve Austin not liking Jarret or him holding the WWF up for money are true, I still don't think Jarrett was a main event talent. Plus, he could be seen as slightly boring.

   I don't want to be too negative, though, because that's not what this blog is about.  Jeff Jarrett started under his father Jerry Jarrett's CWA promotion as a referee.  He briefly worked the World Class territory as well before those companies merged to become the USWA, co-owned by Jerry Jarrett and Jerry "The King" Lawler.  Jeff had some success there but didn't reach the level of fame he's known for until he came to the WWF in 1994.  However, one of the things that made the WWF reach out to Jarrett was what put him on the map, winning the Tag Team Titles with Jerry Lawler.

Double J

   With Jarrett's WWF debut came a brand new gimmick, that of a Country Music star turned wrestler. It was almost like a County version of the Honky Tonk Man.  He came out with a guitar and flashy attire, claiming to be as big a deal as Country legends like Dolly Parton and playing the Grand Ole Opry.  Much like the Honky Tonk Man, Jarrett also couldn't play but still carried his guitar with him, often using it as a weapon, which became his most well-known trait, even well after the gimmick was finished.  Jarrett was nicknamed "Double J" and would often spell out his name, emphasizing the word double.  "J - E - double F J - A - double R - E - double T.  That's 'Double J,' Jeff Jarrett," he would exclaim.  Jarrett would also ask the most condescending rhetorical question; "Ain't I great?" and strutted like he was Ric Flair.

   After his momentum stalled in the Summer of 1994, he brought in the Roadie, who took care of all the equipment, did mic checks, and also caused a lot of distractions for Jarrett.  With the Roadie by his side, Jarrett started winning matches and eventually earned an opportunity at the Intercontinental Title, held by Razor Ramon at the time.  The two would face off for the Title at the 1995 Royal Rumble. During the match, the Roadie often interfered and the two men would capitalize on a knee injury Razor sustained during the match.  Later on, Razor was about to perform his "Razor's Edge" finisher but his knee gave out. Jarrett then pinned Razor to become the new Intercontinental Champion.

   Jarrett held that Championship two more times during his first stint with the WWF but the next chapter of his career was probably the most intriguing.  Jarrett's continuous claims of being a great Country singer caused him to put his money where his mouth was, as he had not yet played his guitar or sang.  Most fans assumed he was lying.  Jarrett then promised he would put on a concert and unleash his new single "With My Baby Tonight."  To everyone's shock, he actually sounded good and the song was quite catchy.  I'm embarrassed to say I still know all the words. However, something wasn't quite right!  It was clear to everyone that Jarrett was lip syncing.  Jarrett would later deny those claims, however, persisting with the lie.  After Jarrett lost the Intercontinental Title to Shawn Michaels with backfired interference from the Roadie, he went back to the USWA, not to be seen again in the WWF for six months.  It turned out that the Roadie was the one who actually sang the song, eventually calling himself "The Real Double J," Jesse James.

   Jarrett returned briefly in early 1996 in a forgettable feud with Ahmed Johnson before parting for WCW.  By the end of the year, Jarrett was in a position to try and become a member of the Four Horsemen.  Horsemen leader Ric Flair was somewhat intrigued but Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, and Steve "Mongo" McMichael were not sold on it at all.  Mongo's wife Debra was fond of Jarrett, much to the chagrin of her husband.  Jarrett was never a true Horseman, though.  Most of the time he spent during this time was in somewhat of a love triangle with Mongo and Debra.  He also did wrestle as a babyface when WCW was being overtaken by the nWo.  Jarrett represented WCW in matches against nWo members from time to time.  Eventually, Debra became Jarrett's valet for the remainder of Jarrett's time in WCW.

   Jarrett returned to the WWF by the end of 1997 in the "NWA revival" storyline, featuring Jim Cornette at the helm.  Cornette brought with him NWA legends like Barry Windham and the Rock n' Roll Express, UFC legend Dan "The Beast" Severn, and Jeff Jarrett to form an NWA stable. Jarrett briefly held the NWA North American Heavyweight Title before going back to his old gimmick, this time with the former Col. Robert Parker, now known as Tennessee Lee. The Godwinns soon became known as Southern Justice and joined him.  The stable feuded with Degeneration X members X-Pac, Billy Gunn, and the Road Dogg, formerly Jarrett's Roadie.  

   Jarrett's feud with X-Pac became personal and the two men faced off at SummerSlam 1998 in a "Hair vs. Hair Match."  Jarrett lost and X-Pac cut his hair, leading to a new attitude for Jarrett.  Jarrett would exclaim "don't piss me off!"  Jarrett left his stable and reunited with Debra, who became his manager.  His new, more aggressive attitude made him someone to take a lot more serious.  Jarrett then formed a team with the late Owen Hart.  They gelled well together and actually had a reign as WWF Tag Team Champions.  After Owen died tragically in an accident, Jarrett dedicated his match the next night to his friend, as well as breaking down with Debra in an interview about Owen.

   Jarrett was on his own again and targeted the Intercontinental Title and by the end of his third WWF run, he became a record setting six time Intercontinental Champion.  He had feuds with Edge and D-Lo Brown, among others.  Jarrett's character turned to that of a chauvinist and claimed that women should be barefoot and pregnant, in the kitchen, and all of the other cliches you could think of.  Along with Jarrett and Debra, was Miss Kitty.  Jarrett attacked the Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young, among every other woman on the WWF roster.  However, he met his match with Chyna.  Chyna defeated Jarrett in a "Good House Keeping Match" to become the first female Intercontinental Champion and Jarrett was not seen again in the WWF. 

   WWF writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara left the company around the same time.  Jeff Jarrett then returned to WCW. Russo and Ferrara also started working in a writing capacity in WCW.  Because Russo was a big Jarrett supporter, he did what he could to help his friend.  Jarrett was christened the "Chosen One" and it would lead to Jarrett having a few reigns as the WCW World Heavyweight Champion and leading an nWo revival at one point, calling everyone around him "slapnuts" along the way.  As I stated earlier, by the time Jarrett won the big one, the Title didn't mean anything.  He was simply not on the main event level, when people like Sting, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, and Hulk Hogan were on top. Speaking of Hogan, Jarrett defended the Title against Hogan at Bash At the Beach 2000 in one of the most infamous moments in wrestling history. Vince Russo did a worked shoot, in which he reversed Hogan's Title win and bashed Hogan, with the Hulkster never to be seen in WCW again.  Later on, Jarrett lost the Title to Booker T.

   When WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon, Jarrett's contract was not picked up. In 2002, Jarrett and his father Jerry started operating a territory of the NWA called TNA, or Total Non-Stop Action.  It eventually broke off from the NWA and the company went through several phases of owners and management.  Jeff ran the company initially and as you could imagine, he made himself the center of it, giving himself the World Title a number of times in the process.  A majority of Jarrett's time with the company was spent being the World Champion in various feuds.  He was the Verne Gagne of  TNA.  However, what Jarrett contributed the most during this time was the amazing stars he helped mold.  People like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, James Storm, and Austin Aries became big stars because of their time in TNA.  While Jarrett may not have had main event talent, he sure had an eye for it.  With Jarrett at the helm, he also put together the X Division, used a six-sided ring, and created matches such as the "King of the Mountain" match and Ultimate X.

    Jeff Jarrett has been in the wrestling business his whole life. Even if you feel his career has been mediocre, you have to admit he's done enough to earn a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.  I respect what he has accomplished, both in the ring and as a promoter.  I'm just curious as to how or if they will cover his 16 years of TNA and Global Force Wrestling.  Jarrett has been a staple in the wrestling business.  While I never thought of him as a main eventer or worthy to be a World Champion, that doesn't make his career any less Hall of Fame worthy.  I'm shocked, but stranger things have happened.  The Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, and Goldberg, among others, have all been welcomed back and both sides made amends at some point.  With that, I'll say congratulations to Jeff Jarrett.  During the speech of the person inducting him, I think it would be funny to see the Road Dogg come out and check the mic and make sure everything is all set.  Either that, or perform "With My Baby Tonight" as Jarrett comes out!




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The Golden Age of Tag Team Wrestling

   The 1980's was a time that tag team wrestling started to become more popular.  While there were some great teams in the NWA and AWA respectively, where tag team wrestling really shined was in the WWF.  Back then, teams had a purpose.  Teams had names, dressed similar, had tag team finishing maneuvers, and gelled really well with each other.  There weren't just feuds for the Tag Team Championships, there were separate tag team feuds.  Going into WrestleMania V alone, there were five different tag team matches on that card.  The 1987 and 1988 Survivor Series featured elimination matches with almost the entire tag team division, with 10 teams/20 men involved.  From 1986 to 1992, at any given time, there were at least 3 tag teams that could have believably been Tag Team Champions, as well as several teams that were good contenders.  Even teams low on the totem pole had a spotlight.! I'm going to look at several tag teams from that era.

   I really enjoyed tag team wrestling in those days and it seems in the last ten years or so that many tag teams have been broken up haphazardly.  In 2017 alone, there were breakups of Enzo & Cass, American Alpha, the Vaudevillains, the Hype Bros, Golden Truth, and makeshift teams like Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.  Even NXT's DIY broke up!  Many wrestlers need to stay in a tag team. Look at the Road Warriors, for instance!  Could you picture Animal or Hawk as successful singles wrestlers?  What about the Dudley Boys!  Yes, Bubba Ray did eventually break out on his own with his Bully Ray character, but until that time, neither Bubba nor D-Von were successful singles competitors.  Not every team has a Marty Jannetty!  For instance, when Cryme Tyme broke up, neither Shad Gaspard nor JTG did anything of note and eventually both got released.  With that being said, I guess I'll start with the team that set the standard for tag team break ups.

The Rockers

   Like Gorilla Monsoon once said about this tandem, the Rockers were certainly "tag team specialists."  Though they had initial success in the AWA, when they reached the WWF, they really rose to fame.  It's a shame they never won Tag Team gold but when there were so many incredible teams during that era, it was certainly understandable. Their high-flying antics and crisp double team moves were so much fun to watch.  They were extremely popular, especially with the female audience members. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were just amazing together and had great matches with just about any team on the opposition.  It was fun watching double dropkicks, as well as their double aerial maneuvers.  As we all know, their break up is legendary and led to a Hall of Fame career for Michaels, while Jannetty did not fare as well.  Though their Barber Shop break up is certainly legendary, let us not forget the fabulous team that was the Rockers!

Hart Foundation

   When it comes to great tag teams, look no further than the Hart Foundation.  While Bret Hart became a legend on his own, his team with Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart was just as important to the history of the WWF and its tag team division.  The Hart Foundation had two lengthy reigns with the WWF Tag Team Championships and were almost always in contention for the Titles.  With the exception of a short period in 1989 where each tried to make it as singles stars, the Hart Foundation were always there.  The combination of Hart's technical skill and Neidhart's power made them a force to be reckoned with.  They always made for a great promo as well!  Bret's no non-sense attitude was complimented well by Jim's over the top persona. No one rocked pink quite like the Hart Foundation! Who could forget their legendary matches against teams like the British Bulldogs, Demolition, and Strike Force?  Their "Hart Attack" finisher was always a sight to see and it's easy to see why they were so highly regarded.  

Bushwhackers

 Luke and Butch had past success in other promotions as the vicious and villainous Sheepherders but they truly reached the pinnacle of their popularity when they made their WWF debut as a lovable babyface team. Their unorthodox antics, including licking, biting, and their famous "Bushwhacker March" were very popular with the crowd, especially all the kids. The duo from New Zealand were very entertaining. Although they were not very successful when it came to win-loss records, they were over and were almost always used during their time with the company.  

British Bulldogs

   The British Bulldogs were the perfect combination of power, speed, and technical ability.  During their time in the WWF, both Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid were very young.  Both men hailed from England and trained in the infamous Hart Family Dungeon. Davey became Bret Hart's brother-in-law when he married Bret's sister Diana.  Both men were known for powerful and impressive moves such as their impressively long standing Suplexes. Dynamite was a little more technical, had some submission moves in his arsenal, and often performed diving head butts off the top rope, inspiring one Chris Benoit later down the road. The Bulldogs were fan favorites and won the Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 2.  Their matches against the Hart Foundation and Fabulous Rougeau Brothers were legendary.  Who could forget their mascot Matilda?  Dynamite Kid had been involved in great classics at Stampede years before with such greats as Tiger Mask.  Davey Boy went on to have a great career, while Dynamite's injuries forced him to retire.  While both were accomplished singles wrestlers, the British Bulldogs had a great impact on tag team wrestling.

Demoltion

   No team was more dominant in the WWF during this time than Demolition.  Ax and Smash were heavy hitters that used brute force to tear down their opponents.  Ax had performed in the WWF and other territories, mostly known as the Masked Superstar and enjoyed some success. Smash had been a part of the NWA's Russians with Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff as Krusher Kruschev.  When these veterans got together in the WWF, they became Demolition.  While initially they were seen as a Road Warriors rip off, Demolition accomplished a lot and proved the critics wrong, eventually becoming three time WWF Tag Team Champions.  They had painted faces and wore black leather and studded attire.  They wore masks to the ring and looked quite menacing.  At WrestleMania IV, with the help of manager Mr. Fuji, Demolition defeated Strike Force for their first Tag Team Titles and until The New Day came along, they held the record for longest reigning WWF Tag Team Champions.

   Although they never got the match everyone wanted to see against the Road Warriors, Demoltion's matches with the Hart Foundation were classics.  Though initially heels, their growing popularity in the late 80's led to the famous double turn between them and the Powers of Pain at the 1988 Survivor Series.  Ax and Smash even started the 1989 Royal Rumble and fought each other briefly and it was amazing to see.  As soon as the third man entered, they were back together as a team.  Crush joined the team in 1990 and they often defended the Titles under "Freebird" rules.  Due to health problems and some misunderstandings, Ax left and was replaced fully with Crush.  Smash and Crush weren't able to replicate Demolition's early success and the team was just not the same anymore.  Demolition were a big reason why the WWF's tag team division was so successful during this time.  

Fabulous Rougeau Brothers

   Jacques and Raymond were already part of a legendary family.  Their father Jacques Sr. and uncle Johnny Rougeau were accomplished wrestlers.  The Rougeau Brothers came to the WWF in 1986 and started off as good guys.  This French-Canadian brotherhood were a great technical team and were entertaining to watch.  They became even better when they turned heel.  After the Hart Foundation broke away from manager Jimmy Hart, Hart joined up with the Rougeaus and they became the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.  Even though I was eight years old, I still understood the sarcasm of waving those tiny American flags.  Who could forget their hilarious theme song "All American Boys?"  The Rougeaus's new attitude propelled them to higher profile feuds and matches.  Their locker room brawl with the British Bulldogs is still talked about to this day.  Even though they never won the Tag Team Titles together, they were in contention and could have been seen believably as Champions.  After Raymond retired, Jacques went on to more success, winning the Intercontinental Title as The Mountie, and having three reigns as Tag Team Champion with Pierre as the Quebecers.  

Strike Force

   Rick Martel and Tom Zenk were a team known as the Can-Am Connection. After Zenk left the company, Martel needed a partner.  During an assault of Tito Santana at the hands of the Islanders, Martel came to the rescue. When Rick and Tito were interviewed together, they famously said when it came to the Islanders, they would strike with force, and the Strike Force was born.  Their theme "Girls In Cars" was the most cheesy 80's song you could think of.  They were young and good looking guys that the girls went crazy over.  By that time, both had been established singles wrestlers, as Martel was a former AWA World Heavyweight Champion and Santana was a two-time Intercontinental Champion.  Both had also won Tag Team Titles with other partners in the WWF so it was a good fit.  Their break up led to Martel becoming "The Model," one of the most well known and entertaining gimmicks of the time.  

Road Warriors/Legion of Doom

  The Road Warriors, Hawk and Animal, won Tag Team Titles in every promotion they were in.  They broke through as a rough and tough team in the AWA and NWA before finally showing up in the WWF as the Legion of Doom.  With their Mohawks, painted faces and spiked shoulder pads, they were quite intimidating.  Though they were initially heels, their popularity rose tremendously and the fans couldn't get enough of them.  They may not have been the most gifted athletes but their brute force and intensity made them legendary.  Their backstage promos were something to watch, especially due to Hawk's uncanny ability to be funny and scary at the same time.  They had battles with Doom, the Steiner Brothers, and members of the Four Horsemen in the NWA before battling the likes of the Nasty Boys, Natural Disasters, and Money Inc. in the WWF.  They are known as one of the greatest tag teams of all time and with manager Paul Ellering by their side, they were unstoppable.

Brain Busters

   In early Fall, 1988, Arn Anderson and Tulley Blanchard of the Four Horsemen left the NWA and came to the WWF.  They were managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who christened them the Brain Busters.  After legendary matches against the likes of the Rock n' Roll Express, and Barry Windham & Lex Lugar, this well conditioned and technical team with the gift of gab fought the Rockers and Demolition during their short stay in the WWF.  Together, they ended Demolition's record-breaking Tag Team Championship reign and were able to retain in matches against the Hart Foundation.  They were an integral part of the Heenan Family.  After they left the WWF at the end of 1989, they never teamed again, as Arn rejoined the Four Horsemen and Tulley was not rehired by the NWA.  They complimented each other in the ring and on the mic and their work in both companies puts them in this list.

Mega Powers

   I could go on for days with the tag teams during this era in the WWF alone.  Many of these teams were all around at the same times and with how great teams like the Hart Foundation and Demolition were, it's easy to see why some of the other really good teams didn't reach the mountain top.  It was similar to Hulk Hogan's tenure as WWF World Champion in the singles division, as very few were able to hold the Title. Speaking of Hogan, he and "Macho Man" Randy Savage became the Mega Powers and although they never pursued Tag Team gold, their team is still remembered.  Had they decided to go for the Tag Team Titles, who could have stopped them?  Though the Rockers' break up was one of the best heel turns, it was a really big deal when the Mega Powers exploded at WrestleMania V.  Of course, that was mainly due to a misunderstanding about their manager Miss Elizabeth, who brought the two together.  After besting the makeshift team of the Million Dollar Man and Andre the Giant called the Mega Bucks, they set their sights on the Twin Towers.  The Big Bossman and Akeem collectively made up the Twin Towers and had manager Slick by their side.

NWA & WCW Tag Teams

   Some of the greatest tag teams also wrestled for the NWA and WCW.  For years, you'd see the Rock n' Roll Express battle the Midnight Express.  Any combination of the Fabulous Freebirds was always an entertaining night and their blood feud with the Von Erichs in World Class was that of legend.  Whether it was the power and dominance of Doom or the pure wrestling ability of the Steiner Brothers, there were always great tag teams around.  I think this time period in general concentrated a lot more on tag team wrestling.  Even lower tier tag teams like the Fantastics and the Fabulous Ones were able to tell a story and entertain the crowd.

Honorable Mentions
   There were several other teams in the WWF during this time period that were important to tag team wrestling.  For instance, the Killer Bees were the originators of the old switch-a-roo that Demolition would perform years later, as one would wear a mask and they would often switch without the referee being the wiser.  B. Brian Blair and "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell would later become fan favorites as well. Brunzell was accustomed to tag team wrestling as he had success previously with Greg Gagne in the AWA as the High Flyers.  The Islanders were a formidable team in their day.  After Tama left, Haku had a brief singles career before finding his greatest run as a team with Andre the Giant, winning the Tag Team Titles together as the Colossal Connection.  The Barbarian and the Warlord, known as the Powers of Pain, started in the NWA and came to the WWF in the Summer of 1988.  They had a great feud with Demoltion and was a team I felt should not have broken up.  The women's division had some good teams as well!  One of the best teams in the women's division at the time were the high flying Jumping Bomb Angels, who won fans over as the survivors of their team at the Survivor Series, and captured the Women's Tag Team Titles at the 1988 Royal Rumble.
 
   The original Orient Express featured Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato.  The team actually got much better when Sato was replaced with Kato, who was Paul Diamond under a mask.  Diamond and Tanaka had previously teamed together in other promotions as Badd Company and had wars with the Rockers. Before a singles career, Paul Roma was in tag teams and one of the most popular tag teams of the late 80's was the Young Stallions, featuring Roma and Jim Powers.  A few years later, Roma would turn heel and align with Hercules to form an underrated team, Power & Glory, managed by Slick.  Mike Rotundo teamed with Barry Windham in the  mid-80's in the WWF as the U.S. Express.  In fact, their theme "Real American" would later go on to be more synonymous with Hulk Hogan.  In 1992, Rotundo had a new persona as Irwin R. Schyster, or IRS.  He had even more tag team success with the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase as Money Inc., capturing the WWF Tag Team Titles three times.

   The early 90's continued in the tradition of tag team wrestling, as the Rockers, Hart Foundation, and Legion of Doom were still around.  Joining them were the Nasty Boys, who found success with a decent run as Tag Team Champions and were managed by Jimmy Hart.  Another Hart managed team was the Natural Disasters, Earthquake and Typhoon.  The team formed when  Earthquake's foe Tugboat turned on the Bushwhackers and became Typhoon.  It was also due to Andre the Giant turning down Earthquake's offer to team with him.  Tag team wrestling was important and well represented during this time period.

WWF Tag Team Renaissance
   There was a resurgence of tag team wrestling in the WWF in the late 90's and early 2000's.  Some of the teams were not too great but the best ones more than made up for it.  Some of the lower tier tag teams included Kaientai, T&A, and Too Cool.  In the middle of the card were teams like the APA. The three teams that ruled the roost during this time were the Hardy Boys, Dudley Boys, and Edge & Christian.  They were the innovators of the TLC match and any match including any or all of these teams brought tag team wrestling back to the forefront.

   During times when the brands were split into Raw and Smackdown, tag teams were few and far between, not enough on each brand to have a decent division.  I hope that there can one day be a time where tag team wrestling gets a lot more attention.  My basic point was to reminisce about my favorite tag teams during the greatest time for tag team wrestling in the WWF.  I'm sure there were many other great teams from this era that I missed but I covered the most important ones.




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 on YouTube, 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!
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Silly Rabbit, Wrestling Is For Kids!

   Yesterday, I touched upon the subject of parent responsibility when it comes to children watching wrestling.  This was due to a person straight up calling some colleagues of mine irresponsible for letting their kids watch wrestling.  Let's just call her "Sara from Nebraska!"  After listening to our entire podcast last night, she told us we reacted exactly the way she expected and that we proved her point.  That is the most confusing statement I've ever heard!  If anything, she proved our point! Today she tells us she will no longer listen to us.  It turns out, this lady isn't even a parent in the first place, so she has no leg to stand on.  She claims wrestling is only for adults and for some reason, brought God into the equation.  I decided to follow up on this!  This blog is not designed to react to this lady  because we already did that last night on The War Report.  It is merely about explaining that for the most part, wrestling is for kids.  

   First, I want to get the following out of the way because it will likely lead to its own blog.  With the exception of the Attitude Era, wrestling has been and is for kids.  What people fail to realize is the Attitude Era is something that needed to happen, a necessary evil, if you will.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Attitude Era!  However, I was a teenager at the time.  Younger kids should not have been allowed to watch that.  During the Monday Night War, the WWF at the time was losing in the ratings to WCW.  Vince McMahon's company was on the possible verge of going out of business.  McMahon never wanted to stray from a PG environment but did what he had to do to survive.  In the end, the WWF turned things around and won the war.  If not for the Attitude Era, we might be watching Nitro and Thunder these days.  Rest assured that had the WWF not been in any danger, Vince likely would have never went to a TV-14 rating.

   I grew up in the 80's during the height of Hulkamania.  It was a time of larger than life characters and over the top personas.  Wrestlers with no character quickly got lost in the shuffle.  I have been a fan since I was about two years old.  It became huge for me the first time I saw Hulk Hogan on TV as a little boy.  I also requested to play the bagpipes because of Rowdy Roddy Piper.  My parents bought me wrestling figures and other merchandise, as well as taking me to events.  I grew up in Long Island, NY so a majority of the live events I attended were at the old Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Garden.  Arguably, Hulk Hogan was the biggest known name during this time.  It wasn't until Stone Cold Steve Austin came along that someone would outsell Hulk's merchandise.  Beyond the characters, a lot of the wrestlers back then were great role models.  At the time, Hogan had a mantra of training, saying your prayers, and taking your vitamins.  

   Wrestling is something I took to early on and I'm still a fan to this day.  It's always been my way of escaping the real world for a few hours every once in a while and letting myself get lost in it.  It's just like any other form of entertainment.  There were so many kid friendly wrestlers during this time. You had the Ultimate Warrior, Hillbilly Jim, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and many more.  When the Hart Foundation became good guys, Bret Hart started to give his sunglasses to little kids on his way to the ring.  The Rockers, Koko B. Ware, and especially the Bushwhackers were characters kids could really get into.  You had Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, who was the perennial babyface.  There was Tito Santana, Big Bossman, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and George "The Animal" Steele, just to name a few more.

   When the New Generation came about, other stars started to rise in popularity.  People like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, Diesel, and the Undertaker all had merchandise that were designed for kids.  Doink went from evil clown to happy fun-loving clown.  A lot of these wrestlers had colorful outfits and everything about them just resonated with kids.  I was a little Hulkamaniac until I was about 13 when his act got a little tired and many of the kids that watched in the 80's were growing up.  Oddly enough, I got back into Hogan when he turned heel and helped found the New World Order.  

   Due to the Monday Night War, the Attitude Era came about in order for the WWF to survive. Following that was the "Ruthless Aggression Era," which was a lot more tame but still somewhat more adult-oriented.  In 2008, WWE finally went back to PG again.  New wrestlers became the role models.  People looked up to guys like Batista, Eddie Guerrero, and perhaps the biggest one of all time, John Cena.  Cena was even more of a do-gooder than Hulk Hogan!  When Cena came along, he became the flag-bearer for the company and even to this day is still the top guy.  Cena even became the most requested wrestler for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  WWE has also participated with things such as Conner's Cure.  Those videos of Conner meeting his hero Daniel Bryan were some of the sweetest things you'll see and it's hard not to cry.  

   In the last several years, a main source of merchandise sold was due to kids.  While I understand kids don't have money, their parents sure do!  Kids love wrestling and have for a long time.  Beyond John Cena, you can't look at the crowd and not see some kid with a Bayley shirt or a New Day shirt. Kids love to dance along with Naomi and even want to "Walk With Elias!"  Little girls want to be just like Charlotte Flair and despite a certain percentage, Roman Reigns is a big deal to kids.  Even though he is a "Monster Among Men," Braun Strowman is starting to get the attention of children.  I understand it, as I was a kid who grew up watching wrestling and fell in love with it.

   Just to make sure WCW has their time in the sun, I should mention of few of their stars that made wrestling fun for kids.  In the 80's, Sting was one of the biggest things going in wrestling.  His surfer look included spiked hair, colorful outfits, and face paint.  When those kids became teenagers, those little Stingers still looked up to him, but now in his "Crow" persona.  Kids had many other favorites, including the Steiner Brothers, Lex Lugar, and Goldberg.  Kids were happy to perform the Spineroonie with Booker T and cheered on Diamond Dallas Page when he hit a Diamond Cutter.  Not to mention, all the Luchadores such as Rey Misterio, Psicosis, and Juventud Guerrera.  

   I believe wrestling will always be a haven for kids.  Some may have been a lot different had it not been for the influence of wrestling, and I'm talking about the positive way.  Content that kids watch is all about what their parents allow.  When I have kids, I will allow them to watch wrestling.  However, I will watch with them and make sure they understand that it is for professionals and not to be done at home.  I will also deem what is appropriate or not for them to watch.  Are there irresponsible parents that let their kids watch wrestling?  Yes!  I just don't agree with people generalizing and saying that all parents are irresponsible.  Wrestling is like any other form of entertainment, not any better, not any worse.  If you have shitty kids, chances are you are shitty parents and that has nothing to do with whatever they may be allowed to watch.  The buck stops with the parent!  I'm not a parent myself so I have no right to judge parents for the way they raise their children, and I'm smart enough to know that.  The bottom line is that wrestling for the most part is geared toward kids.  

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 on YouTube, 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!
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Kids Watching Wrestling and Parent Responsibility

   This particular subject has been on my mind in the last few days.  If you're familiar with my blogs, you would know that I work for TagMeADate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans. That led to the creation of our podcast called The War Report.  Information about all of that can be found below.  We have listeners send in questions to us regarding the site, anything to do with wrestling, etc.  Recently, we received a question about whether parents were responsible or not for letting their kids watch professional wrestling.  However, this was directed specifically towards those of us on our show that have children.  It came off as this person implying that those who let their kids watch wrestling are irresponsible.  We will be addressing this tonight at 7:00PM EST.  However, I wanted to say a few things about this beforehand.

   If the question was in general asking if some parents were irresponsible in the way their kids watch wrestling, I would agree.  However, since it was directed at my colleagues that have kids, it implied straight up irresponsibility, for which I do not agree.  In case you haven't noticed, wrestling is for kids!  It was like that in the 80's and it's that way now.  With the exception of the Attitude Era, wrestling in the last 50 years has been for kids.  That's what drives merchandise sales for wrestling events!  I am 38 years old and have been a fan since I was three.  When my parents asked me what musical instrument I wanted to play, I replied "the bagpipes!"  I said that because I saw Rowdy Roddy Piper wrestle. I grew up watching Hulk Hogan and Macho Man.  I watched as a kid and turned out fine!  

Parent Responsibility
   During my adolescence in the 80's, wrestling on television was very kid friendly, with colorful characters.  I had all the wrestling figures as I grew up and other memorabilia and attended wrestling shows.  My parents didn't even have to inform me what wrestling really was, as I kind of figured it out on my own.  I knew not to do these things at home and my parents were responsible when it came to me watching wrestling.  Did I play around and practice some moves?  Yes, and I think many kids did as well.  However, I was smart enough to know what moves not to do and usually there was a bed or soft surface involved.  It was just light playing that many kids did, whether it was from watching wrestling or whatever else was on TV.  Don't get me wrong, though!  I do not condone backyard wrestling or anything that is unsupervised!

   I do agree that parents should be careful and responsible when it comes to their children watching wrestling.  Watch with your children and explain to them a little of the ins and outs of wrestling, pertaining to safety and not to do that at home, which WWE for a number of years has warned its younger fans.  But don't tell me wrestling isn't for kids!  If you ask the average child that watches wrestling who their favorite wrestler is, there's a good chance they might say John Cena. When I was that age, my favorite wrestler was Hulk Hogan.  If parents explain wrestling to their kids, then it is absolutely okay for them to watch.  We're in a PG era currently so there may not be as many risque things.  Obviously, many kids have bed times and may only get to watch a little.  In that case, the parent may watch the rest and figure out what is and is not appropriate for the child to watch the next day after school.  I don't agree with this person basically attacking those on our show that have kids for allowing them to watch wrestling.

  The 90's and the Attitude Era might be a different story!  When it comes to being a wrestling fan, I find myself very fortunate to be the age I am.  I had the honor of being a kid during Hulkamania and a teenager during the Attitude Era, the two most profitable times in professional wrestling.  Though I was a teenager watching Stone Cold Steve Austin flipping the bird or DX saying "suck it," I do recall children that knew about wrestling as well.  That right there would be a good example of a parent taking responsibility for the content their children watch.  However, it's still not fair to condemn people that let their kids watch wrestling.  I know people that state wrestling kept them out of trouble as kids.  Wrestling has always been an outlet for me to escape but as a child especially, it was simply magical!  I'm not a parent but rest assured that when I am, my children will be watching wrestling and it will be done in a responsible way.

   There are many wrestlers that are great role models for kids and people they can look up to. When I was a kid, the Ultimate Warrior was a hero of mine, for instance.  To kids, these people are larger than life!  Even at my age, I can attest to that!  Since the dawn of our company, we have been fortunate to have met some of our heroes growing up and the current guys as well.  I can even call a few of them friends!  Even now, these people truly are larger than life.  Nowadays, someone like Bayley is a huge role model for little girls and I already went over John Cena being the poster boy when it comes to wrestling role models.

   There is a degree of responsibility parents should take when it comes to their kids watching wrestling.  And yes, there are irresponsible parents out there, whether it has to do with wrestling or any other form of entertainment their kids enjoy!  However, you cannot generalize that all parents that let their kids watch wrestling are irresponsible!  I'm sure my colleagues and I will have some choice words for this person tonight on our show.  The bottom line is, whether we like the way it came off or not, this question has led to a fantastic topic and I hope any of you reading this will tune in tonight.  You can respond to me in comments for this blog or even better, share with the TagMeADate crew.  As always, the bottom of my blog contains all of that information.  I'd love to hear what you all think!




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 on YouTube, 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!
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The Plane Ride From Hell

   May 5th, 2002 will go down as one of the most embarrassing moments in WWE history.  Many incidents occurred on a plane ride going home from the Raw brand's European Tour and due to the nature of these incidents, it was notoriously named the "Plane Ride From Hell."  Several superstars and WWE personnel were involved in these incidents.  I will get into detail about these incidents, as well as pose a what-if question pertaining to the flight and the safety of its passengers.

The Ponytail

   Road agent Michael Hayes was involved in one of the major incidents on this particular 7-hour flight.  Like many others on the flight, he had been drinking too much and got himself into some trouble.  He tried to instigate fights with both Scott Hall and Bradshaw during the flight.  He went into an area, thinking it was a bathroom, and almost urinated on Linda McMahon, of all people!  At some point, he was passed out, either due to a supposed punch out by Bradshaw or more likely, from drinking too much.  Hayes, although his hairline had receded big time, still maintained a long ponytail.  It was reported that due to heat he had with Hayes, X-Pac cut off the ponytail.  When everyone got back to the next show, X-Pac then stapled it to the wall for all the wrestlers to see.

A Flair For the Bold

   Ric Flair has been known to be a notorious drinker his entire career, living up to his wrestling persona, even well past his days as the leader of the Four Horsemen.  During the flight, Flair was reported to have been wearing a robe but nothing else on beneath it.  Throughout the flight, Flair was seen exposing himself to several flight attendants.  Some of them accused him of sexual assault, which was taken care of outside of court.  No one was surprised to hear about this, oddly enough.  

Exes and Oh-No's

   By the late 1990's, Dustin Rhodes and his wife Terri were separated and then eventually divorced. Although they didn't work with each other like they did during Goldust's initial run, they still were around each other.  Dustin had some personal issues going on during the time and like several others on board, he drank too much as well.  He got on the loudspeaker and started serenading his ex-wife. Terri was completely embarrassed and pleaded with him to stop.  It took head of talent relations at the time, Jim Ross, to get Dustin to stop and sit down.

No Incident Is Still An Incident

   Scott Hall, beyond his time as a wrestler, is probably best known for his drinking problem.  If not for Diamond Dallas Page in recent years, Hall may be just another statistic right now.  Hall was unhappy with his second stint with the WWF and his personal demons were on display.  Apparently, he was not a part of any incidents on the flight, although it was reported that he was shown to be belligerent before the flight and on the tour.  He was asleep for most of the flight but after it was over, Justin Credible helped him off the flight in a wheelchair, right in front of Jim Ross and the boss, Vince McMahon, who wasn't on that flight but was waiting for the roster to land.  Just a day or two later, Hall was fired.

Wrestling On a Plane

   Curt Hennig just made a tremendous comeback months earlier at the Royal Rumble with his Mr. Perfect persona.  However, Hennig was also known for his personal demons.  Drinking got the better of him as well, as he instigated a fight with newcomer at the time, Brock Lesnar.  They had known each other before Lesnar's debut due to both being from Minnesota.  Though Lesnar did nothing to start this, he took Hennig down in a slight wrestling scuffle that Triple H had to break up.  During the altercation, the two rammed into the emergency exit door.  Although the flight crew confirmed no amount of force could open the door, it was still very dangerous.  Although something like this occurred years earlier between Kurt Angle and Vince McMahon himself, this one was much worse due to its nature.  Much like Scott Hall, Hennig was fired days later.  Unfortunately, Hennig died just over a year after this.

My What-If Scenario

   A majority of the Raw brand superstars were on this flight.  Besides the people I've mentioned, others confirmed to be on the flight included the Big Show, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Undertaker, and Arn Anderson, who was working as a road agent.  However, on the tour during those first few days in May included Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Stevie Richards, Shawn Stasiak, the Hardy Boys, William Regal, Spike Dudley, Booker T, Crash, Tommy Dreamer, Lita, Jacqueline, Trish Stratus, Molly Holly, Jazz, Paul Heyman, and Jerry Lawler.  It's likely that most, if not all of those people, were on the same flight.  The only Raw roster members not confirmed to be a part of the tour were Kevin Nash, Kane, Big Bossman, Bubba Ray Dudley. Raven, and D-Lo Brown.  Nash I know was injured at the time.  The others, since they weren't on any of the tour's cards, were most likely not on board.  

   What would have happened if the brawl between Hennig and Lesnar did in fact open the emergency exit door?  It would have at the very least sucked Hennig and Lesnar out of the plane, killing them, as well as the man that broke it up, Triple H.  It could have claimed the lives of more as well.  What if there was something wrong with the plane and it crashed, killing everyone on board?  What would have happened to the WWF?  That's crazy to even think about but I'm trying to put a scenario in my head of how the company would keep going after that.

   Let's just assume the six Raw superstars not on the tour were alive, as well as the entire Smackdown roster.  That would also include Chris Benoit, who was injured at the time.  Although he did show up on Raw a month later, he was originally drafted to Smackdown and wasn't on the flight. Other injured superstars at the time were Rhino and Chavo Guerrero.  The following were Smackdown superstars: The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, D-Von Dudley, Val Venis, Maven, Billy Gunn, Chuck Palumbo, Edge, Mark Henry, Billy Kidman, Tajiri, Chris Jericho, Albert, The Hurricane, Al Snow, Lance Storm, Diamond Dallas Page, Christian, Test, Faarooq, Taz, Hardcore Holly, Perry Saturn, Rikishi, Scotty Too Hotty, Ivory, Torrie Wilson, and Stacey Keibler.  With the Raw six and the injured wrestlers, this list includes 37 active competitors.  

   With the surviving staff, Vince McMahon would have had a lot to face.  Not only would he have lost half of his staff, he would have lost his wife as well.  It's almost impossible to speculate what would have happened or how McMahon might have handled things.  My intent is to talk about what I think might have been the plan going forward.  I would imagine that The Rock's presence would be needed a little more, even though his movie career was really starting to take off.  I also think Hulk Hogan would have been around longer as well.  It would have drastically changed the rest of the Pay-Per-Views that year, especially SummerSlam, having to figure out a new person for The Rock to pass the torch to in place of Lesnar.

   With so many wrestlers gone, I'd assume the roster split would end, at least for a while until more wrestlers debuted.  With only three active women, the Women's Division would probably end as well.  I also think some tag teams would have reunited, including the Dudley Boys and Edge and Christian, just to actually have a tag team division.  Later that year, the WWF changed to WWE and brought in several other people by the year's end; including John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Scott Steiner, Rey Misterio, Eric Bischoff, Rico, Jamie Noble, Nidia, Three Minute Warning, Zach Gowen, Shannon Moore, and Dawn Marie.  Shawn Michaels also came back from retirement as well that year.

   With all of the wrestlers including the ones that were brought in by the end of the year, this is how I would use the roster.  The main event superstars would be The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, and Shawn Michaels.  The mid-card guys going for the Intercontinental Title would be Scott Steiner, Chris Benoit, Diamond Dallas Page, Kane, John Cena, Randy Orton, & Batista.  The tag team division would include the Dudley Boys, Edge & Christian, Billy & Chuck, and Three Minute Warning, as well as other makeshift tag teams.  The lower card wrestlers would be D-Lo Brown, Val Venis, Mark Henry, Test, Rikishi, Maven, and Albert.  There were still enough wrestlers to fill a Hardcore division, including Perry Saturn, Raven, Taz, Hardcore Holly, Faarooq, Al Snow, and Big Bossman.  The Cruiserweight Division would still be intact, as it was a Smackdown exclusive.  This would include Billy Kidman, Tajiri, Chavo Guerrero, The Hurricane, Scotty Too Hotty, Rey Misterio, Shannon Moore, Jamie Noble, Lance Storm, and Zach Gowen.

   Though it would have been a massive blow to the roster and wrestling as a whole, Vince McMahon would have been strong enough and smart enough to keep his empire going.  Thankfully, no one was hurt that fateful night.  The worst of it were the firings of Curt Hennig and Scott Hall, and punishments for the others involved.  This could have been a huge tragedy and we're lucky no one was hurt or killed.  It's one of those stories that is shocking and entertaining, as well as a lesson to be learned.  Both those in the business and fans alike will always talk about the "Plane Ride From Hell!"

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!
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NXT vs. Main Roster

     In recent years, the NXT Takeover specials have occured the night before the "Big Four" WWE PPV events.  With Money In the Bank this year being a dual-brand PPV, it will step up to be included in the new "Big 5."  With that in mind, Takeover: Chicago will be happening the night before.  Since then, wrestling fans have been comparing the Takeover events to their WWE main show counterparts, with some even claiming Takeover was better.  While I happened to enjoy some Takeover events more than the WWE shows the next night, I don't think it's a fair comparison.  It's not exactly the same audience!  But, why does this comparison happen?  I happen to like the Takeover specials, as well as the WWE PPV's.  Why can't I like both?  Why does one have to be superior to the other? This blog will be about how and why certain wrestlers don't always make the same impression being on NXT compared to Raw or Smackdown.  

THE DISCONNECT

   As we've seen since NXT went from game show to pure developmental territory, when a wrestler makes the transition to Raw or Smackdown, that wrestler isn't always perceived the same by the fans.  More often than not, this occurs.  There are several examples of wrestlers that haven't quite connected the same way.  While I understand that the audience may be different or that some fans may not even watch NXT, I happen to watch both programs and enjoy them for what they are. Though I enjoy NXT immensely, not everything is perfect and I can admit that.  However, since we're on the subject of superstars not reaching the same success on the main roster, I'll stick with that.

The Ascension

   In NXT, the Ascension were the most dominant team during their stay.  They held the Tag Team Championships for quite some time and they seemed unbeatable.  To be fair, there weren't exactly a lot of credible challengers, but that's neither here nor there.  At some point, it came time for Konnor and Viktor to make their way to the main roster.  It looked promising when vignettes started airing about the team.  However, when they showed up on Raw, they were almost immediately shown as a sham.  They came out comparing themselves to legendary tag teams of the past, such as the Road Warriors and Demolition.  The fans saw right through it, and soon enough after squashing a few teams, they were brought back down to reality and lost in the shuffle ever since.  The fact of the matter is, the Ascension were never really that good.  Much like Paul Heyman was able to do for ECW, NXT was able to accentuate the positives and eliminate the negatives.  However, a lot of fans seem to get upset when NXT superstars get called up yet fall flat on Raw and Smackdown.

Adam Rose

   Niche gimmicks are always tough to gauge when it comes to how they will be received. Some over the top gimmicks have worked incredibly, such as Goldust.  However, for every Goldust is a gimmick that didn't quite work out. One such example is Adam Rose.  In NXT, his gimmick was that of a man that loves parties.  It was almost a parody of the kind of characters played by Russel Brand. Adam Rose was quite eccentric and flamboyant, and referred to his entourage as his "Rosebuds," as well as calling people that weren't interested in his parties, lemons.  He danced his way to the ring with many part-goers and he would body surf his way into the ring.  He also had a catchy theme song.  However,  this gimmick was a last ditch effort to keep the man that portrayed him employed.  Though his much more serious previous character Leo Kruger was intriguing, fans didn't quite take to it.  On the first NXT show where Adam Rose debuted his new character, it caught on immediately and the fans were even singing his theme in unison.  Things were looking up but once he got to the main roster, it was all down hill from there.  I was one of the few people that actually liked the gimmick and thought it was entertaining.  However, I had a feeling it wouldn't connect with the audience in the same way on Raw and Smackdown.  Sure enough, I was right!  It can be argued that the so-called "smarter" fans watched NXT and took to gimmicks more so than the casual audience might.  Eventually, even after some tweaks and a heel turn, Rose was released.

Emma

   Just before the crowning of the first NXT Women's Champion, there were a number of women that were both popular with the fans and gifted athletes in the ring.  Two of those women were Paige and Emma.  While still NXT Women's Champion, Paige showed up on Raw to defeat AJ Lee for the WWE Diva's Title.  Ever since, Paige has enjoyed a few reigns and found success, while also having a few setbacks.  On the other hand, Emma's gimmick was quite odd. She had this weird dancing entrance that somehow the NXT audience loved.  I for one, didn't quite get it.  Thankfully, Emma was quite good in the ring.  I knew once she got to the main roster, it wouldn't connect.  My above statement proves that not every NXT fan loves everything about NXT and its superstars.  Emma showed up on Raw as an awkward love interest for Santino Marella.  An injury ended up being a blessing in disguise, though.  She came back to NXT and turned heel, recreating herself.  Her new persona made fans take her more serious but ultimately, when it came to Emma, she just didn't connect the way she did on NXT.

Tyler Breeze

   In NXT, one of the more out there gimmicks was Tyler Breeze.  He portrayed a fashion model that came to the ring with a "Selfie stick."  He was basically a combination of the model characters in the film Zoolander.  While it was unusual, it brought Breeze into the NXT Championship picture.  Though he never won the Title, he was almost always in contention. He became NXT's gatekeeper, being the last guy wrestlers would work with before challenging for the NXT Championship or going to the main roster.  He even had the privilege of working with the legendary Jushin "Thunder" Liger.  However, when he came to Smackdown, the gimmick fell flat.  After a forgettable first feud with Dolph Ziggler, Breeze went back down the card.  Thankfully, his "Fashion Files" segments with teammate Fandango have saved his career.  I could go on with many others but I just wanted to point out a few examples of wrestlers that didn't quite connect in the same way.  

THE JURY'S OUT

   Some wrestlers are in a situation where their gimmick is teetering on either connecting or not connecting with fans.  

Bayley

   Bayley was one of the most popular wrestlers in NXT.  Her playful gimmick made her the ultimate underdog that everybody loved.  I had two extremely different schools of thought when it came to Bayley. Either her gimmick was going to flop right away, or she was going to sell merchandise like a female John Cena.  To my surprise, she's stuck in the middle. While she does sell merchandise and some fans love her, many others can't take her seriously, despite her prowess as an in-ring competitor.  I worry about Bayley's treatment on Raw these days and have since her debut, but I'm afraid the jury's still out.

THINGS TAKE TIME

   There are some fans that get upset when their favorite NXT stars, especially ones that have been in other promotions, don't get pushed right away or in the same way on the main roster.  While I may have had those thoughts at first with some wrestlers, I learned to have patience.  There are some superstars who have made the transition from NXT to Raw or Smackdown that either took a while to gain momentum, or are still trying to find their groove.  There are quite a few in this category!

Bobby Roode

   In TNA, Roode rose to become a main event talent and one of the most sought after wrestlers in the business.  His gimmick altered slightly upon his arrival to NXT and it was simply...glorious!  It wasn't long before Roode became the NXT Champion and he enjoyed a nearly eight month reign with the Title.  Just after SummerSlam last year, Roode debuted on Smackdown as the glorious one.  I feel like some fans need to relax a bit.  Just last month, he won a tournament to become the new United States Champion and I think it's safe to say, he's doing okay for himself.  Just under six months is not enough time to decide whether you think the ball has been dropped on someone or not.

Shinsuke Nakamura

  This is another example of a talent that took a while to find his groove and fans have been pointing it out.  In New Japan, Shinsuke Nakamura is a legendary name and he took his talents to NXT.  In NXT, he flourished, having tremendous matches with his opponents, as well as trading the NXT Champiosnhip with Samoa Joe.  Just two days after WrestleMania last year, Nakamura made his way to the Smackdown brand.  He started off just fine, with wins over Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin alike.  Though I did question him losing clean to WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, you have to remember that he still did get the opportunity, as well as defeating John Cena of all people to do so.  People also made a big deal about him being the first one eliminated at the Survivor Series. Fans didn't like the inconsistencies with Nakamura and felt he was being held down.  Well, he just won the 2018 Royal Rumble and is most likely taking on AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.  Now who's being booked questionably?

INJURIES KILL MOMENTUM

   Sometimes, injuries play an unfortunate part in how a wrestler gets booked and is affected.  This has happened to several wrestlers that have made the transition from NXT to Raw or Smackdown. Finn Balor debuted on Raw in July of 2016.  The next month he won a Fatal Fourway and then defeated Roman Reigns and ultimately Seth Rollins to become the first WWE Universal Champion. However, he got injured the night he won it, was forced to vacate the Championship, and sat out until just after last year's WrestleMania.  When the Revival debuted on Raw, fans wanted them to have the same success they did in NXT as Tag Team Champions.  However, injuries at different times to both Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder messed up their plans. Samoa Joe is currently dealing with an injury that might take him out of WrestleMania.  

THE OPPOSITE EFFECT

   While for the most part, NXT superstars aren't portrayed the same once they land on Raw or Smackdown, once in a blue moon, the exact opposite happens.  The best example of that is the following superstar...

Who Wants To Walk With Elias?

   Who could have predicted that Elias would be one of the best up and coming superstars on Raw?  To me, though he had the same gimmick in NXT, it didn't feel like it was connecting.  I thought it was dumb and would completely flop upon entrance to the main roster!  How wrong I was!  Somehow, Elias is even better on the main roster than he ever was in NXT.  His gimmick has been tweaked somewhat and he's definitely taken a lot more serious than he ever has.  I feel that he will slowly transition out of this current gimmick and into what he's meant to be and evolve.  To answer the question of who wants to walk with Elias, I think many of us do!

    As I've illustrated, there are many differences between NXT and the main roster.  Not everyone is going to be portrayed the same by creative or received the same way by the fans.  Even so, NXT is still a very important tool in the development of WWE superstars.  There is constantly an influx of talent and while not everyone works out, there are a few that have.  Whether you like him or not, Roman Reigns is one of those superstars that came from NXT and has become one of the most polarizing stars in WWE today.  Could the next breakout star be in NXT?  For all we know, the next breakout star might not even by employed by WWE currently.  

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!
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