‘Kayfabe’ is Now in the Dictionary

Professional wrestling might not be real, but the word defined to protect it is now a real word you can find in the dictionary.

Merriam-Webster released its latest update on Friday for September 2023. 690 words, acronyms, and definitions were added to America’s most trusted and respected dictionary.

Goated, Mid, Padawan, Simp, Bracketology, ngl, and Kayfabe are some of the words now officially recognized by the famed publisher.

Diehard enthusiasts who follow wrestling are aware of many behind-the-scenes terms. Kayfabe protects the suspension of disbelief for the audience.

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Favorite Matches #3: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

On the evening of April 5, 2009, Michael Hickenbottom and Mark Calaway didn’t put on just another excellent performance. They produced a classic match that a generation of wrestling enthusiasts look to as the capstone of their fandom. I knew Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 was going to be something special considering the landscape of WWE at the time. Continue reading “Favorite Matches #3: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels” →

Top Five Royal Rumble Eliminations

This past Sunday’s Royal Rumble match treated fans to some fun over-the-top-rope eliminations. One elimination, in particular, saw Braun Strowman hurl the ill-suited James Ellsworth out of the ring with a chokeslam that sent him crashing to the floor, hip first.

Seeing this hip-crushing ejection got me thinking of some of the memorable Rumble match eliminations over the years that have stuck with me. Some made for great moments while others served as the kick-off to a bitter feud. Then some are just plain terrible.

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The Odds of AJ Styles vs. Shawn Michaels Actually Happening

It’s only fair to start this post by stating that this match is probably not going to happen….but what if?

An image made its voyage around the internet last week hyping a fantasy match up at next year’s Royal Rumble pitting WWE World Champion AJ Styles against Shawn Michaels. Styles himself added more fuel to the speculative fire when he tweeted out the image in question and said “Interesting photo…is it not?” Continue reading “The Odds of AJ Styles vs. Shawn Michaels Actually Happening” →

10 Greatest Intercontinental Title Matches Held at Summer Slam

Another SummerSlam is in the books, and overall, it was a good show. One of the matches featured Ryback defeating The Miz and Big Show to retain the Intercontinental title. However, it was a far cry from the classics of yesteryear.

Just like WrestleMania is known for its world title matches, a hallmark of SummerSlam was the stellar Intercontinental Title bouts. They weren’t just great in-ring spectacles, but they often served as a defining moment for a wrestler’s career.

Bret Hart’s impressive back-to-back performances for the coveted title played a prominent role in ascension to the main event scene.

Many long for the days when “the biggest party of the summer” produced unforgettable IC Title matches.

Let’s look at Ten Best Intercontinental Title Matches held at SummerSlam. Continue reading “10 Greatest Intercontinental Title Matches Held at Summer Slam” →

Meeting the Excellence of Execution: Bret Hart

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Bret Hart is my all-time favorite wrestler and he was my inspiration for trying my hand at professional wrestling. The “Hitman” appeared at a pop culture convention last weekend and I was offered press credentials to cover the event.

I really wanted to meet him. So for the sake of professionalism, I declined the offer. I didn’t know when I’d have another chance to rub shoulders with the “excellence of execution” so in the words of Mike Pono “Dude, be a fanboy for once.”

The thing is, I know so much about his career, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have anything to say or ask. On the drive to the convention center, my wife assuredly stated “Its Bret Hart, I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Continue reading “Meeting the Excellence of Execution: Bret Hart” →

WWE Network Recommendations

I crawled into bed late last night to watch TV. Channel after channel, nothing tickled my fancy until I said “Hey, you have the WWE Network.” I logged onto my iPhone and fell asleep watching WrestleMania Rewind chronicling the iconic confrontation between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. When I woke up, I realized I’d just experienced something that my ten year old self could only dream of. Continue reading “WWE Network Recommendations” →

Ten Greatest WWE Champions of All Time

The WWE Championship is the holy grail of professional wrestling. It’s the belt that every aspiring and current wrestler dreams of holding. Having this honor bestowed upon you means you are the best that this business has to offer.

Today, I will rank the top ten WWE Champions of all time.

To say this list was hard to compile would be a colossal understatement—42 wrestlers over 50 years made for several list changes. The thing to remember is that all lists of this type are subjective. You do the best you can with criteria that make sense to you.

For example, Money is extremely important, but being a big draw doesn’t define a wrestler. Iron Man 3 made over four hundred million at the box office, but it’s not winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

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It’s time to Ring the Damn Bell with SummerSlam.

Growing up, SummerSlam used to fall on or near my Birthday so for me, it was the perfect way to close out the summer before heading back to school. I think Summer Slam could benefit from being stadium show like WrestleMania because there are more weather friendly venues in the summer time. Plus, it would truly give the event that “Biggest party of the Summer” feel.

The ladder match at Summer Slam 1995 between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon was a great match that captivated the audience from beginning to end. Unfortunately, it is a victim of its success because everyone remembers their classic encounter at WrestleMania 10, and as a result, the sequel gets lost in the shuffle.

A hallmark of SummerSlam is the amazing Intercontinental title matches. Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler in 2009 doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It was twelve minutes of bell-to-bell action that told a fantastic story in the process.

The fine folks over at Ring the Damn Bell invited me on as a guest blogger to help breakdown Top Five Summer Slam matches of all time. There have been so many amazing matches this event has produced over the years, it’s hard to narrow them down but that didn’t stop us from trying.

Click here to check out our choices for the Top Five SummerSlam matches.

It’s All About The Luck of The Draw in The Royal Rumble

The unsung hero of the Royal Rumble event is the golden spinning tumbler that holds the numbers drawn randomly to determine the order of entry into the Royal Rumble match. The luck of the draw is so important because the higher the number, the higher a wrestler’s chances are of victory. Back in the day, the actual drawing of the numbers was focused on a lot more because it gave fans a clue as to what spot the wrestlers drew without revealing the actual point of entry.

Continue reading “It’s All About The Luck of The Draw in The Royal Rumble” →