Dean Ambrose is the Future of the Business

From my column at Gerweck.net

I’m putting myself out there on this one. As they say on the street, you either go big or you go home.

There comes a time in any genre where a particular talent stands out from the rest of the pack. It could be for several reasons or simply because of one mitigating factor. Personal opinion comes into play as the exploits of this individual speaks to you, even if they don’t to anyone else. This person also reinvigorates your excitement for the genre to the point where you’ve become a fan again for the first time. I’m talking about professional wrestling, and the wrestler I’m referring to is Dean Ambrose, and I believe he will be the future of the business.

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What if the Fake Diesel and Razor Ramon Actually Worked?

In the Summer of 1996, Professional Wrestling’s Monday Night Wars were heating up. The nWo became an instant ratings bonanza for World Championship Wrestling while the World Wrestling Federation was struggling for their piece of the pie. In August of that year, Jim Ross announced that Diesel and Razor Ramon were heading back to WWF. This created a tidal wave of controversy as the men who performed as Razor and Diesel, were under contract to WCW.

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The New WWE – for better or for worse?

Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and defeated Alberto Del Rio to become the World Heavyweight Champion. It was a moment many wrestling fans have been clamoring for and it occurred the night after WrestleMania 29. That’s the problem, it happened after, and not at WrestleMania.

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WrestleMania 29 Results: John Cena beats The Rock for the WWE Title

WrestleMania 29 emanated from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in front of a reported sold out crowd on 80,676.

The main event was a rematch between The Rock and John Cena for the WWE title.

Cena lost to The Rock at last year’s WrestleMania, which not only the high drawing match in the history of professional wrestling but served as the catalyst for 2012 being worst year in Cena’s WWE career. The leader of the CeNation bounced back in January by winning the Royal Rumble, which gave him the golden ticket to fight for the title.

Click here to read the rest of my column @ Forces of Geek.com

Things I forgot about WrestleMania 2

With WrestleMania 29 upon us, I got the sudden urge last week to dig into my DVD collection and watch WrestleMania 2. It’s not the most popular Mania of all time, but it was a big deal back in 1986.

The first time I watched this event was in the early 90’s when I rented it from a mom and pop video store that had a massive wrestling collection. I believe this was the first time I had watched it since and boy, did I forget a lot about this event! In fact, I forgot so much of what happened that I almost turned in my wrestling fan card.

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Body Slam Podcast to host WrestleMania 29 Round Table on 4/6 with Steve Gerweck Plus DVD Raffle

April 6, 2013 – There is good news for professional wrestling fans! The Body Slam Podcast will host a jam-packed WrestleMania 29 Round Table which will be held on Saturday April 6th, exclusively at http://www.gerweck.net and will premiere at 1:00 PM EST.

The BSP will raffle off a WrestleMania DVD prize pack containing

WrestleMania 25
WWE: The True Story of WrestleMania, and
Undertaker The Streak

Entries in the form of questions or comments can be sent to bodyslampodcast@gmail.com and must be received by 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday April 3, 2013. The winners name will be drawn and read on the air during Saturday’s Podcast. Questions and comments can also be sent to the address to be read on the air.
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It’s Official, John Cena is a Good Wrestler

Guess what folks? John Cena can wrestle, and he proved it last Monday when he and CM Punk tore the house down, and arguably had the best match in the history of Monday Night Raw.

Is Cena the world’s greatest wrestler? No. Are his promos gods awful and infuriating at times? Absolutely. The fact of the matter is you can’t suck and have the kind of match that he had. CM Punk does bring the best out of him, but Cena wasn’t carried in any way, shape, or form.

“I’m serving humble pie and I hope all of my critics are hungry” were the first verbal shots fired by John Cena in his pre-match promo. He was determined to have the kind of match that fans will be talking about for years to come.

Cena is a lousy mechanic, which is what he gets such a bad rap for. However, he can tell a great story and knows how to work in the right situations. Don’t believe me? Let’s take trip down memory lane and look at the best John Cena matches.

Click here to read the rest of my column at Gerweck.net: Pro Wrestling News Since 1997

New WWE Title and a Rundown of My Favorite Championship Hardware

This past Monday on Raw, The Rock unveiled the new WWE championship belt. Some like it, but most seem to hate it. Truth be told, I will take anything over that awful spinner belt. Sure, the diamond encrusted center plate looks a little bedazzled and is a far cry from a traditional design. It will take some getting used to but I think people will grow to like it.

As a kid, I hated the Winged Eagle belt that Randy Savage won at WrestleMania 4. I was at WrestleMania 14 where Steve Austin beat Shawn Michaels in the last match contested for the title. The next night on Raw, Vince McMahon presented Austin with what became known as the Attitude Era belt which is my favorite version of the championship. Today, I’m fond of the Winged Eagle belt as I’m ushered back to my childhood whenever I see it

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as some belts look better than others and carry more prestige. Here are some thoughts the belt designs I’ve always enjoyed:

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Dutch Mantel is back and has heat with Illegal Immigrants

Dutch Mantel’s second trip into World Wrestling Entertainment has caused quite a stir with his new managerial role. Jack Swagger is a talented in-ring performer but he doesn’t have the chops on the microphone. Mantel, now Zeb Colter, might be just what the Division I All-American needs.

Mantel’s previous run in the WWE was in 1995-1996 under the name, Uncle Zebekiah. He managed Jacob and Eli, The Blu Brothers, and Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw who went on to become main event star, JBL.

My newest gerweck.net column titled The Colter Conundrum, explores the use of racist story arcs in the WWE in regards to this new character. Click here to check it out!

Debut Episode of the Bodyslam Podcast @ Gerweck.net

– The Body Slam Podcast

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of all ages: GERWECK.NET proudly brings to you, the debut episode of The Body Slam Podcast! BSP will provide discussion, insight and a little hilarity regarding all the hot topics in professional wrestling. This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and it finally came to fruition!

Your host, Atlee Greene, is a former wrestler and writer of the Wrestling Soap Box column for GERWECK.NET, and is joined by Shane Daly, a ring announcer for independent shows on the North East, and Todd Graham, wrestler, musician, jack of all traders and producer of our show.

In our debut episode, we discuss the announcement of Bruno Sammartino’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, The Road to WrestleMania 29, Bret Hart’s comments on HHH, and my final thoughts on whether the Undertaker should work this year’s WrestleMania.

Be sure to follow Atlee Greene on Twitter @midnightlogicgo and special thanks to Steve Gerweck for allowing us to paint on his canvas and make sure you follow him @gerweck Click here to feel the BODY SLAM!!!