WarGames-101: The Match Beyond

After years of demand, WarGames will finally have its coming out party on the mainline WWE product at Survivor Series on Saturday. WarGames was a WCW staple and the brainchild of Dusty Rhodes dating back to 1987. “The match beyond” occurred once a year, except for 1999, due to budget cuts, until Vince McMahon purchased WCW in 2001.

Despite owning the I.P., McMahon never allowed WarGames to occur on the main roster. Triple H got the green light to use the concept in NXT beginning in 2017 to a resounding success. Some say McMahon felt it would cannibalize the Hell in a Cell concept, while others claim he believed two rings would take up too much space and cut into ticket sales.

Of course, there’s the age old theory that McMahon will never support a concept he didn’t create. Despite proof of sucess in his own company, McMahon wouldn’t allow the match to touch anything related to Raw or SmackDown. Once Triple H became the head of WWE creative, one of the first things he did was officially bring WarGames to the main roster.

Continue reading →

Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

What started as a Twitter feud has now found its way to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th.

Kenny Omega returns to NJPW for the first time in four years to challenge Will Ospreay for the IGWP United States Championship.

Continue reading →

Yeah, That Was Stupid

Two weeks removed from the most poorly conceived Money in the Bank cash-in of all time, one thing is clear.

No one misses Vince McMahon more than Austin Theory.

Seventeen years of MITB (Money in the Bank) winners found the opportune moment to vie for the world championship. Win or lose, wrestlers endured a brutal ladder match for a guaranteed title shot exclusively on their terms. Well, Paul Levesque tried adding a new wrinkle to the MITB concept.

Continue reading →

WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Great Muta set for New Year’s Day Clash

Pro Wrestling NOAH announced on Sunday that WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura will face The Great Muta at their Budokan Hall show on New Year’s Day.

Keiji Mutoh, otherwise known as The Great Muta, is in the process of setting up his retirement tour, with his final match scheduled for February 23, 2023, at the Tokyo Dome.

Most American fans were first introduced to Muta during his days in the NWA/WCW, where he debuted in 1989. Muta had a memorable feud with Sting, where he won the Television Title before dropping it to Arn Anderson on his way out of the promotion.

Continue reading →

Justice for Larry (CM Punk’s Dog)

The post-All Out backstage brawl is either the most well-booked fight we’ll never see or the most bizarre legit donnybrook of all time.

Reports came out last Friday that AEW is working on a buyout of CM Punk’s contract. Even more reports on Wednesday confirmed The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) were backstage at Dynamite and are returning soon.

But wait, there’s more.

WrestlingInc.com reported on Wednesday that when the door of Punk’s locker room was kicked in, it accidentally hit his dog, Larry, in the mouth. A few days later, at a pre-scheduled vet appointment, an exam revealed two of Larry’s teeth were knocked loose and had to be removed.

Larry’s role in the Labor Day weekend brawl has seemingly evolved every few weeks. At first, Ace Steel’s girlfriend was watching Larry. Then, Kenny Omega moved Larry to get him out of harm’s way, only to get bit by Ace Steel. Now, his teeth were knocked loose.

But wait, there’s even more.

Continue reading →

Thoughts on NXT Halloween Havoc

If you’re looking for some excellent professional wrestling to watch, check out the first and last match from this past Saturday’s NXT Halloween Havoc.

Continue reading →

Give MJF and William Regal an Emmy

The unspoken tension between MJF and William Regal came to a head on AEW’s ‘Title Tuesday’ edition of Dynamite.

MJF wasted no time interrupting Regal’s interview with Tony Schiavone and ensured the Blackpool resident he didn’t come to fight but to tell a story.

Continue reading →

30 Years Ago Today: Bret Hart won his first WWE Title

Wrestling fans have always had their sentimental favorites. You know? The ones you’d love to see win the world title, but their mid-card ceiling seemed unbreakable.

On October 11, 1992, Bret Hart was one of those favorites. Masterful tag team fare followed by an exciting singles run served as an example of Hart’s exquisite craftsmanship in between the ropes.

On October 12, 1992, all that changed for Calgary’s favorite son.

Continue reading →

Bray Wyatt is Back…Now What?

The spectre of ECW shined bright upon Extreme Rules on Saturday in Philadelphia. Ronda Rousey regained the SmackDown Women’s Championship over Liv Morgan; Matt Riddle conquered Seth Rollins in the Fight Pit…You don’t care about any of that.

Extreme Rules was sold on one thing and one thing only—the reveal of the White Rabbit. Weeks of clever videos filled with QR Codes and easter eggs marked the long-awaited return of Bray Wyatt.

Continue reading →

Impact Bound for Glory 2022 (Review)

Impact held its grand gala of professional wrestling on Friday as Bound for Glory emanated from the Albany Armory in Albany, New York. The eight-match delicacy with a Hall of Fame garnish had no fat on the bone. Every course was good to great, including some pleasant surprises.

Continue reading →