Phil Baroni vs. Karo Parisyan: A Link To The Past

Phil Baroni and Karo Parisyan recently clashed in a welterweight bout, at Bellator 122, that instantly brought me back to the infancy of my MMA mega fandom. In 2003, Baroni took the UFC by storm with his “New York Bad Ass” persona and brutal knockout power, and Parisyan made his UFC debut with an impressive display of Judo that shook the welterweight division. I was surprised I hadn’t heard about this fight until the morning of the event. Baroni and Parisyan are nowhere near the top ten today, but they are recognizable names from an era that ushered in the sport’s boom period. Continue reading “Phil Baroni vs. Karo Parisyan: A Link To The Past” →

Evil Empire #3 Review

Max Bemis’ work on his debut series Polarity was trip down the rabbit hole of depression with a superhero spin to it. His writing spoke to me on so many levels because I felt the authenticity in his words which stems from his battle with bipolar disorder. Bemis brings the same genuineness to Evil Empire as he touches on our society’s state as a whole and the perceived BS that seemingly holds it all together. Continue reading “Evil Empire #3 Review” →

UFC’s Calendar Craze

It’s funny how sometimes you can set out to do one thing, and then completely turn around and do something else. I’m of the opinion that the UFC is putting on way too many shows. The interest varies across the board due to some cards boasting big-name stars on the marquee while others simply have nameless faces posing as feature attractions.

With approximately forty-five events scheduled for 2014, the UFC runs the risk of over-saturating the market which will lead to customer fatigue. However, what if every event was must-see TV? As I was writing an article for the Camel Clutch Blog, my analysis of the situation has changed my position on the matter. There is a method to the Zuffa onslaught of shows that could pay huge dividends going forward.

Check out my newest article titled “Too Many UFC Shows Could Be a Good Thing” up now at the Camel Clutch Blog.com

Why Can’t Brock Lesnar Be WWE Champion?

The main event for Summer Slam is set. Brock Lesnar will challenge John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Some are predicting a Lesnar victory while most feel he has no business being champion. However, it is business that is driving the decision to possibly make him the king of the mountain.

Continue reading “Why Can’t Brock Lesnar Be WWE Champion?” →

Gustafsson Out, Cormier in against Jones at UFC 178

Extra, extra, read all about it. Alexander Gustafsson is out of his title fight rematch against Jon Jones, and Daniel Cormier will step in as his replacement on September 27^th in Las Vegas. It’s a shame that Gustafsson is injured and will miss out on his opportunity for the time being. However, this new match up presents a plethora of possibilities. Continue reading “Gustafsson Out, Cormier in against Jones at UFC 178” →

Stephanie McMahon Stole The Show on Raw

The corrupt authority figure is an exhausted crutch in the storytelling that is a part of professional wrestling. While many have assumed the position, few have flourished in the role. Vince McMahon was the best in this situation because not only does he really own WWE, but more importantly, he is not afraid to show his ass…sometimes literally. I have to give props to Stephanie McMahon for her performance as of late. Triple H never shows weakness or vulnerability, so his character is easy to tune out. Stephanie, on the other hand, is doing things differently. Continue reading “Stephanie McMahon Stole The Show on Raw” →

Hackivist HC Review

Hacker stories are a dime a dozen, but Alyssa Milano, yes, that Alyssa Milano, has presented a fresh premise that is engaging and ties into all of the concerns we have about social media.

Our story follows Ed Hiccox and Nate Graft, who, by day, are brilliant young co-founders of YouLife social networking company. Continue reading “Hackivist HC Review” →

The Body Slam Podcast Ep 23: How should WWE use KENTA, Racism in Wrestling, Lashley, and more

The Bodyslam Podcast is back in the saddle with an all new episode. This week, Atlee Greene goes solo with some of the biggest topics in professional wrestling as he discuss

– Dion Beary’s article in The Atlantic on Racism in wrestling

– KENTA and how the WWE should use him

– TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley fighting for Bellator MMA. Should he fight as champion?

Follow The Bodyslam Podcast on Twitter @BodySlamPodcast

Follow Atlee Greene on Twitter @MidnightLogicGo

Follow Gerweck.net on Twitter @gerweck

E-mail us at bodyslampodcast@gmail.com

Click here and feel the SLAM!

It’s Showtime Folks: Thought’s on Sting’s Return

It took 13 years, but Sting finally appeared on WWE television in an official capacity. Albeit it was in a commercial for the company’s 2K15 video game, but it was still cool to see something after months of speculation. Gamers will be happy to have the WCW icon as a full-fledged character in the game as opposed to taking tedious amounts of time to create him. I really enjoyed this commercial. The violinists playing Sting’s original crow theme as he emerged from the shadows was very well done. I can’t get that song out of my head as I’ve been humming it since Monday. The next logical step in this promotion’s progression should culminate with an in-ring appearance. Then again, that might be just a pipe dream. Continue reading “It’s Showtime Folks: Thought’s on Sting’s Return” →

Robocop vs. The Terminator HC Review

I remember when the Frank Miller cybernetic crossover first hit comic book shelves in 1992. Seeing Walt Simonson’s vibrant and action-filled cover made me drool in anticipation. Unfortunately, my parents grounded me for some fifth-grade hijinks, which prevented me from reading comic books for almost a year.

I never went back to read it when my sentence ended, but thanks to Dark Horse Comics, I get to revel in a lost relic of my childhood.

The strength of this story lies in the portrayal of Robocop’s humanity. The fact that his existence leads to the creation of Skynet makes perfect sense and works flawlessly. The narration is informative and never takes the foot off the pedal when conveying the gravity of the situation.

Time travel storylines are either done very well or very poorly, and Miller seamlessly switches back and forth between timelines as futures and pasts consistently checkmate each other in an attempt to save their version of reality.

Whoever coined the phrase less is more never saw Walt Simonson’s artwork as splash pages, and “Krunch” and “Gronk” moments kept my eyes glued to the page. Steve Oliff’s coloring brings a gritty sense of wonder and despair to these images.

This newly restored edition is perfect for those who want a good crossover with depth and awe and those who want to enjoy it again for the first time.

Score: 9 / 10