I want to talk this week a little about austerity. There have been many calls around the globe recently to cut back on spending, that high debt will lead to slower growth economically. This call has been backed up by a scientific study called the Reinhart-Rogoff study. This study done by Carmen Reinhart and Ken Rogoff has been backed around the world by policy makers. The theory connects slow economic growth with high debt, especially GDP to debt at 90% or higher. It was influential in Greece and the UK to turn them on a path of austerity. Cut the debt and you will see growth.

Unfortunately in the real world, it hasn’t happened. Post 2008 UK debt has fallen but they have entered a triple dip recession, while Greece continues to flounder while anti-austerity riots continue to rampage through the country. So what went wrong? We had scientific research that told us one thing was true. It has been a center point of current Republican budget analysis. Rep. Paul Ryan from my home state of Wisconsin has continued to push this theory, and makes note of Reinhart-Rogoff in his new budget.

This issue was, it was bad science. Reinhart-Rogoff left out crucial data, and large chunks of it. They cherry picked US data post WWII and ignored large chunks of data from New Zealand. Not to mention, they misused the spreadsheet program. A new study by Thomas Herndon, Michael Ash, and Robert Pollin pointed these errors out, and has started to change the argument back to standard economic models.

It is in the face of new data that we must change. We can not be prisoners to the old ways of doing things. When new data comes along, we must be willing to stop, and change. In that moment, we see if we are scientists or ideologues. Burgh Brawl changed the game. Jack Pollock is your new Heavyweight Champion. New data. Ashton Amherst is out of Best in Pittsburgh, but won Burgh Brawl. New data. And Payton Graham was eliminated by The Fan Guy in Burgh Brawl. New…and unfortunate data.

Mr. Graham will not be attending our next show…that’s not to say that I will not be there. I will, and I will be addressing a few lingering issues. That being said, lets get to PWX’s Crossfire.

After a great show in a packed sold out Wrestleplex, you have to wonder how it can be topped. It is always a treat to watch the shows from the commentary booth for me, as I did last show, and seeing that large of a crowd that pumped, it reminded me of why I show up. To do what I do best, which I take people to glory.

Greatest American Villains vs Iron City Monsters

This show has the return of some tag team action. GAV has come a long way. They were an integral part of Steele Corp’s rise to the next level, but were often forgotten once the height was reached. I applaud them for finding a way to gain new life. They have allowed management and friends hold them back for too long. I am picking them over the aging and frustratingly still employed ICM.

This week we have an interesting twist as members still in the Competition (Both Stryder and Amherst have been eliminated) will choose opponents for the other members.

JR Mega vs ???

With an opponent picked by Chris Taylor, why shouldn’t it come down to the very last minute. Taylor has continued to show his lack of professionalism through out the entire process. At any rate, I have to take Mega here. After his demolishing of Jay Flash last show, Mega has found his stride.

Chris Taylor vs Nick Mirra

Not sure what Jason Cage is thinking here with the selection of the young Mirra to take on Taylor. If his intent is to give Chris a night off, then he has achieved his goal. We saw at Burgh Brawl when Flash and Mega wrestled that the men in BIP are far and above better than the lower tiers. So Cage selecting an over rated goof like Mirra is shocking. Mirra cares more about making a splash than winning matches. This could be the easy win Taylor needs to get himself back in contention.

Jason Cage vs “The Spotlight” Scottie Gash

Now, Chris LeRusso knows how to pick an opponent. Gash is frustrated after his loss to Radford, and even more frustrated that he let Cage beat him in their epic best of 5 series at the end of 2012. Since then Gash has been on a mission, and this is a great opportunity for him here. Cage continues to outshine the competition and steal win after win. This one should be great, as teacher and student collide. I’m going to take Cage right now, in a close one. I feel like Scottie might be more banged up than he’s leading on.

Troy Lords vs Brandon K

Here’s an interesting idea proposed by JR Mega. Brandon K has been hurt. So what do you do? Give him an opponent that can tear and rip in a brutal submission style. It is a smart idea in order to slow Brandon down. K has represented everything that Troy is standing against right now, so I will bet he will come out hungry. I’m going to take Brandon here in a victory as I am with all the BIP contenders, there is a reason they are in a competition and others are not.

Chris LeRusso vs Deion Cruize

Another head scratcher here this time by Brandon K. He picks a rookie to take on LeRusso, who has been as good as anyone else since getting a spot in this competition. The man destroyed Stryder and has become a force over the last few months. Maybe it’s the insult of the move that is intended to throw Chris off his game. If it does, smart call by K. But in reality, it seems to me to be an easy W for LeRusso.

Order of Total Oblivion vs Able and Johnson

After Jay Flash and Tony Johnson eliminated Mad Mike at Burgh Brawl, it gave them the right to challenge for the tag team championships. The tag team division has been in shambles since I left to peruse other challenges in my life, but this should be a great match. With Flash pulling out, we are left with a more unified team in Able and Johnson. I’m picking those two as new champions.

Dean Radford vs Shane Taylor
3 Rivers Championship

Most people know that I consider Shane Taylor the best of the best. The guy has every tool. In any simulation, Shane is always a top contender. Radford has been very impressive thus far, and continues to not just be strong but also resourceful. I’m not sure if Shane has his mind right though, and the job of BC Steele is to get his mind off Magnum and on Radford. If that can be done, then I will take Shane Taylor.

Jack Pollock vs Ryan Reign vs Ashton Amherst
PWX Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat

After months of struggle Pollock finally beat Reign. And he deserved it. A great match by all accounts. But the chase is easier than holding on. His first test is his two top opponents in one match. The one advantage he has is what I see too much in triple threat matches. When two men have such animosity toward each other, it often lets the third man sneak in the back door. We saw it not too long ago with LeRusso vs Stryder vs Gory. And K vs Mega vs Cage. When there is too much hatred between two men, the third man has the advantage. It’s up to Morgan and BC to keep their men calm and focused. I am taking Pollock to retain here, as I do in most triple threats. Watch the third man.

Finally I will have something to say on April 19th. As I said before, Payton is taking a leave of absence as I wonder if he is still hungry enough. I will be addressing the PWX fans, and maybe even some member of the locker room, and maybe some former employees of PWX as well.

#ImBringingSwaggerBack

Marcus Mann

That’s a nice little photo of it from thinkprogress.org. It shows the inherent problem with the oil. It’s heavy, and clumpy.

Now we all remember Deep Water Horizon and the incredible mess it left in the gulf coast. The scale was massive, and the sheer amount of oil was catastrophic to the environment there. It was a large amount, and we started having a debate about our readiness as a country to clean up spills. If we have the technology to drill and transport this product, we should have the technology to safely clean it up when there is an accident. We were very inadequate when it came to that type of spill, our tech had not changed in nearly 40 years. We were still using booms and skimmers to clean up crude oil in the Gulf. The biggest issue we face now, is that with tar sands, the clumpy heavy nature will cause it to sink underwater. Making our skimmers and booms worthless.

Here is a look at the damage via CBS news. As you can see the mess just spreads and spreads, and as we saw in Michigan this type of thing can and will take months and millions of dollars to clean. The question now becomes, which is smarter? Spending millions to clean up messes or spending millions to research better clean up and safer pipelines?

Now you’re wondering…what does all that have to do with Burgh Brawl? Well, as a man who fancies himself a statistical and mental juggernaut, there is always a lingering question heading into Burgh Brawl. Is it smarter to prepare diligently on strategy or to just hit conditioning and let nature take over in there? One can plan all one wants to, but there are so many variables and unseen circumstances, one can not prepare for them all. As we saw last year, Ashton Amherst prepared well going in, and even at the 2 spot made it quite far. But in the end, it was the guy who just went out there and did it in Brandon K who won the night. Is Burgh Brawl just luck? We will answer that a bit later.

This has to be my favorite show of the year. Last year I had the honor to call the show on color commentary, and this time I have skin in the game. It is a unique experience, and one I’ve looked forward to. This is about skill, and smarts, but also about…being the Best In Pittsburgh. So, before we get started let me tell you to get there early and get your seats. Because this show will be packed.

That’s right. We are jumping right into it. What a show?!

Ashton Amherst vs JR Mega

Former NWA tag team champions collide. This is a big match up for JR. Here is a guy who more than ever wants to prove his worth, and show everyone he wasn’t the weak link in that tag team. Meanwhile Ashton has been more concerned with the Heavyweight Title than with this competition. Maybe he’s bored? I don’t know. But in this match, I will take Ashton. I like his unique skill set here. Mega makes his living by keeping guys off guard with innovative offense. But Ashton adapts well, and understands that strategy. I’d take Ashton here, who could have a long night depending on our main events. He will look to end it early and get ready for Burgh Brawl.

Gory vs Brandon K

Probably my favorite match up of the night. Brandon has been showing his grit recently. Maybe I was wrong? Or maybe not. His test this week is Gory, who after doing exactly what I said he’d do last show, is poised to get himself on a roll. K lives for speed and technique, we all know that. But it will be hard for him to match it with Gory. If both were in their primes, then we’d have a match that would tear down buildings. But on Saturday? Look for them to steal the show. On this night, I’m taking Gory. Youth and speed my friends, two things you can not teach.

Chris LeRusso vs Stryder

A rematch. We talked about these two last time, and I’ve been right all along that LeRusso can not beat Stryder. It was Stryder himself that told me that LeRusso has yet to pin him. Stryder has some secret to LeRusso that he’s not letting anyone know. A tell or weakness that only Stryder has been able to see. But I also spoke to LeRusso, the man has watched all the tape of himself. He scouts himself to see what others see. He may have found the hitch in his swing. I’m taking LeRusso this time, in a reversal of normal protocol.

Chris Taylor vs Jason Cage

I’m thinking of starting a new blog called WHYGCT (Where Have You Gone Chris Taylor?). One, that’s an homage to WHYGAVS one of the best Pittsburgh Pirate blogs on the planet (it is baseball season). And two, Chris Taylor continues to disappear in my eyes. Where is big time Chris Taylor? Where is the guy that went out there and stole the show? Meanwhile Jason Cage continues to impress and continues to win matches. I’m taking Cage here, and in the long run is making a distinct case as the Best In Pittsburgh.

Dean Radford vs “The Spotlight” Scottie Gash
Three Rivers Title

Here’s a side note for you folks. I have people all over ask me how they can be a manager in pro wrestling. And I tell them all the same thing…It’s not just standing on the outside and rooting a guy on. There is a lot of work that goes into it. I advise every single person to go out and get trained. I had the honor of training right here at PWX, and did so under Scottie Gash. So when I tell you that Scottie will win against Dean Radford, it’s not because I want it to happen (I do) or because the numbers say so (they do). It’s because I got an inside glimpse of the mind of Scottie Gash. And no matter how big, how fast, how mean someone is…you can always win if you’re smarter. Gash is smarter than Radford.

Ryan Reign vs Jack Pollock
Heavyweight Title
Special Guest Referee Ashton Amherst

So, if Ryan Reign beats Jack Pollock…can he be done with him? This is the 6th singles match between these two. And facts are facts, Jack Pollock has won once…by count out. At what point does Reign have to keep beating Quinn Magnum’s favorite in order to move on to the next contender? Reign has epitomized a champion. He has created more buzz than any champion in the past. You could argue perhaps Chris Taylor’s reign. Or perhaps Stryder’s. but think about buzz worthy. Think about who’s made the most noise as champion? Give me Reign on Saturday, and give me the end of Jack Pollock.

Burgh Brawl

To pick Burgh Brawl is a holy grail. To actually pick a winner is one of the toughest things you’ll ever do simply because of our favorite word here: Variables. There are so many to choose from. As someone now managing a client for this event; it is up to me to prepare him. And there are plenty of strategies to choose from as well. As we said earlier, what is the best method? Well, for myself I’m not reviling that yet, as it is far too early to give up secrets. Let me just say this, Payton Graham will be a force in there. And he is obviously my pick to win. But his performance depends on patience, discipline, and tenacity. Size will help, but it is the patient man who will pass, and get his shot at glory.

On a special note…

I’d like to send out best wishes to Crusher Hansen here. As some know, Crusher had a medical emergency before the last PWX show, and had to go to the hospital. We will respect his privacy here and say no more, only to say that we wish him the best. Payton Graham and I are both Crusher Hansen guys. He with Camp Crusher, myself as a graduate of the new PWX academy. As I said before, Scottie and Crusher gave me lessons I can not replace. And one of the best moments of my short career was getting to manage Scottie in a 6 man tag against Crusher. To be out there with both my trainers meant a lot to me as a person. Crusher and I have not always seen eye to eye (hence his gorilla press of me into Payton and Jack Pollock) but he always knows how much I respect him. PWX isn’t the same place with out him. Crusher is known to everyone as a brother, a father figure, a friend or a mentor. There’s not one person I know that wouldn’t want to say, take care of yourself and we will see you soon.

Remember, you can either play by the rules…or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

The basis of my love for statistics and numbers comes from a love of facts first and foremost. The data is used to support the factual based opinions one can subscribe to. Anything else is rather…unpleasant. I took that love and studied economics with it. It was the simplest way to take a love of numbers and turn it into a career.

If you enjoy economics they way I do, then this week’s new out of Cyprus was a big deal. This a country that based too much of its economy on straight banking, they decided that buying up Greek debt was also a good idea, then during the austerity craze of 2011 decided to cut debt too fast. The country faced similar problems to that of Iceland circa 2008. The debt was too high on bad deals, and their credit rating eventually felt the burden. There is certain lessons we can learn of Cyprus. The first is that debt wasn’t their problem. It was the kind of debt they pulled in. Taking in bad debt from Greece was their downfall. The Euro was strong and that rates on that debt seemed manageable, but in the end they were shocked at how bad that debt really was. But most importantly was that the issue was not due to their social safety net, it wasn’t about healthcare or entitlement programs, this was about bad banking.

So you’re wondering, how does this play into this weeks show for PWX? Well, imagine to yourself that Quinn Magnum is Cyprus and that Jack Pollock is Greece. Pollock has put himself in a terrible position by taking on Krystal Frost and Ryan Reign. He made his own life miserable because he can’t get it through his head to cut his losses. So Pollock packages his bad planning, gives it his AAA guarantee, and sells it to Quinn Magnum. Quinn has now put his own championship committee spot on the line for Pollock. Well there is a crisis headed towards them in the name of Shane Taylor. The lessons of Cyprus apply here. It isn’t debt Quinn Magnum needs to look at, it’s the type of debt. Trusting in Jack Pollock this much is the wrong idea. Jack Pollock is about to sink his own chances at a title, sink Quinn Magnum’s career…and could sink the entire PWX along with it.

That being said, here is this week’s picks for March Madness.

Danny Able vs AJ Storm

This is a match I’m going to watch very closely. Danny has been growing more and more, and AJ is one of those young kids that you can see some real potential in. This is a classic showcase for two guys who should be marked now as potential Futures Cup champions. Watch Able’s ground game here, and Stacy Hunter’s leadership as he picks up the victory.

Robert Parker Williams vs Deion Cruize

Mr. Williams has had quite a chip on his shoulder recently. PWX has been ignoring Mr. Williams, and he showed vs AJ Storm that ignoring him is a mistake. He and Dash Bennett took Jack Pollock to the limit. And had a referee not made a bold call and wrongfully ejected Mr. Williams, the match would have gone differently. I’m taking Mr. Williams here over the young Cuize. Another rookie showing great promise, but matched up with the wrong man this week.

Chris Taylor vs “Ruthless” Josh Robinson

A match made from social media. From what I gather Robinson has made some pretty scathing comments on social media about Chris Taylor. Nothing that wasn’t suggested here, or will be said in the future. Chris Taylor over the last year has had injuries and pitfalls. We ask everyday “what have you done for me lately?” Well, lately Taylor has been doing well in the Best In Pittsburgh Competition. He’s pulled himself out for one night, and the drive to show not just his fellow competitors, but everyone inside wrestling, that Chris Taylor still has it will let him pick up the win.

Blue Collar Slaughterhouse vs The Dogs of War
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Ah, the return of tag team wrestling. Good to see. As the architect behind this division, it is great to see it reborn. While I have moved on to bigger things recently, I have to say I love to see a team like BCS making their debut. They take on Mad Mike and Crusher Hansen here, and I have some inside knowledge. I have watched Mike war with these guys before. This should be a good fight, and I’m taking Blue Collar for the win.

“The Spotlight” Scottie Gash vs Matt Justice

Can’t say how impressed I was with Justice. He beat a very game Tony Johnson and proved why he’s an elite athlete. A great performer and a hard guy to prepare for. Gash has his work cut out for him. If I do know one thing about Gash, it’s that he’s studied every bit of tape he can get his hands on. That’s one thing Scottie drilled into every student he taught, tape study is the most important thing you can do to get an edge. Having said that, I’m taking Justice here. I think his style is a tad too much for Scotty.

Jack Pollock vs Shane Taylor

It should be made ear here that I’m picking Shane Taylor. Shane has already beaten Pollock once. In fact he dominated him. Destroyed him and left him bloodied. Their second match, Pollock won via count out after a shoulder injury to Taylor. Jack Pollock has not pinned Shane. Has not made him submit. And I don’t see why one would go all in on thinking he will. Quinn Magnum made a unwise bet. I hear Mr. Magnum considers himself quite the card player. Well he’s just went all in pre-flop with 7-2 off suite against pocket paint. Can he win? Sure. But he’s got barely a 12% chance. Why shove all in?

Best in Pittsburgh Competition.

JR Mega vs Brandon K vs Jason Cage

When it comes to Jason Cage, I’ve been wrong. He’s been proving that he belongs in this competition. But, where I’ve always been right is that when Jason Cage wrestles JR Mega, you take Mega. If anyone has his number over the years, it’s been Mega. That being said, I’m going to take K here as a spoiler. I think those two will be too interested in beating each other to see K picking up the win.

Chris LeRusso vs Gory vs Stryder
Ladder Match

This match is very similar to the other triple threat match. LeRusso can not beat Stryder. He’s never pinned him inside the Wrestleplex, and more importantly that has to drive Chris insane. Stryder is proving his reputation, and has done well. But a ladder match is Gory’s playground. I’m very tempted to take Stryder, the man has been great in triple threat matches over the years, even defeated Hayes and Amherst in a triple threat ladder match as Champion. But Gory thrives in these spots, and he takes a big win away from Stryder and LeRusso.

Shirley Doe/ Super Hentai vs World Finest

Again, great to see tag wrestling return. Beverly made a great debut last event and impressed an entire locker room with his match. Doe and Hentai are great tag specialists, and violent men. Age vs youth makes me flip a coin on this one. I’m going to take Worlds Finest in a close match.

Dean Radford vs Adam Flash
3 Rivers title

Dean Radford made an open challenge to anyone outside of PWX to come in and take his title. Well he should have been looking INSIDE PWX because Payton Graham deserves another shot after clearly pinning Radofrd. Yet some one eyed referee said Radford’s foot was on rope. But whatever. Que sera sera right? Wrong. But we will get to that. Right now we are talking Adam Flash, who last we saw tore it up with Chris Taylor. Flash put on a show, but couldn’t beat Taylor. And Frankly I don’t think he beats Radford either. Deans too big and on too much on a roll.

Ryan Reign vs Ashton Amherst
PWX Heavyweight Title

In what could be Reign’s last defense before Burgh Brawl, you have to admire what he’s done. We all knew 2012 would be the year to watch Reign. We did not know it would push well into 2013 as well. Not enough can be said about him and how he’s chained together an impressive run. Now he stands off against a man that helped turn him into the champion he is now. So what would it mean for Ashton to walk out champion? Would the BIP matches then become title matches? No one knows. In classic Ashton form he could throw a monkey wrench into the entire thing. I will say this, if Ashton wants to be considered Best in Pittsburgh. Now is his shot. For myself I’m taking Reign in a tight one.

Lastly…there is the Burgh Brawl Challenge.

Now I’m sure you all want to know what’s going on, but I can’t ruin the surprise. You will just have to come out and watch as Payton Graham…oops, almost gave it away.

Remember you can either follow the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

My ideas and my concepts are very much my own. I don’t talk about them mostly because healthy debate has been destroyed. Most people don’t understand logic and how to form arguments. Facts are facts, opinions are opinions. But opinions can be wrong when they are set on faulty premises and facts. I can’t come on here and say “It is my opinion that evolution is not real because a monkey cant turn into a human, we’ve never seen it.” That opinion is wrong. That opinion is created on a false premise. The premise that humans evolved from monkeys is not apart of the theory of evolution. So the opinion is wrong because the facts that back it are wrong. But those facts won’t change someone’s mind.

So, when you get into the game of predictions, one has to put aside bias and only look at facts. The only important thing we have is our facts, outside of that a predictor only has random chance. No person who predicts should be making choices based on chance. But sad to say, a lot of people are doing so. Facts are what make an argument valid. Facts are what give us discussion. Facts are what drive debate. Facts are what allows worlds to collide.

That being said, here are the facts about When Worlds Collide on Friday March 8th.

“Bulletproof” Dany Able/Troy Lords vs The Dogs of War (Mad Mike/Crusher Hansen)
An interesting pairing of Lords and Able here. First and foremost let me say that Troy Lords has continued to impress me as I’ve gotten to watch him up close. I’ve become a fan of his and his style that is not just hard nosed, but has evolved to become more unique. That being said, Troy didnt seem like a fan of working with a manager who has certain ideas about strategy. So I wonder how nice Troy will play with Stacy Hunter. We saw last show that Troy doesn’t always play by the rules. Which I respect. But if those two don’t get on the same page, the returning tag team of Mad Mike and Crusher Hansen will take them down a peg. I’m picking The Dogs here. Mostly due to their knowledge of each other both as opponents and partners.

“The Spotlight” Scottie Gash vs Deion Cruize
Classic rookie vs veteran match here. Scottie came back fired up to take down Dean Radford, and maybe he focused too hard on that one goal. This is the type of match we want to see Scottie in. Get his feet under him with a win over the rookie. Deion has impressed when he has been given opportunity, but I doubt he takes down Gash.

Shirley Doe vs “The Notorious” Shane Taylor
Shane has continued to rehab the shoulder he hurt in October against Jack Pollock. We are at 5 months on the rehab and he is starting to look 100% healthy again. This should be his toughest test so far, as Doe hits hard and takes a beating almost as good as any man on the roster. I will take Taylor here, but I think Does makes it a fight

Bobby Beverly vs Paul Atlas
The PWX Unleashed debut of Beverly should be interesting. I’ve had the opportunity to see Beverly preform before and I was impressed. He brings a different type of game to PWX. One I think the roster had been lacking. A nice mix of speed and athleticism mixed with hard nosed strikes. Beverly will impress the crowd as well. I’m taking him over Atlas. Paul still has a bit of gas left in the tank, and when pushed to the right level can still go. But I don’t think he has enough for this match.

“The Iceman” Tony Johnson vs Matt Justice
Another Unleashed debut, this time for Matt Justice. A man who has been recently tearing up every place he has gone. As we know, Tony is one of my breakout stars to watch this year, but one big flaw in Tony’s game has been dealing with size. Guys that are bigger than Tony have given him fits. Justice will match up with Johnson size wise but adds a nice mix of high intensity and speed. These two match up very well. I am taking Justice in a coin flip here, due to experience.

Dash Bennett vs Robert Parker Williams vs Jack Pollock
Pollock must win to get a 2013 title shot
In what is a glorified handicap match, Jack Pollock will have to beat the odds here and beat two men. The whole situation continues to be dire for Pollock who is running through hoops for Krystal Frost. RPW and Bennett have a full fledged hatred of Pollock over the last year, and they plan to get the revenge they’ve wanted since Burgh Brawl LAST year. A pick here is tough, but I think Dash lets RPW pick up the win.

Best In Pittsburgh Series

Brandon K vs Chris Taylor
This is probably the most intriguing match on this card. The styles here match up very well, and the story is one we are all aware of. There will always be a group of fans that will love a good student vs teacher match up. The best part is that Brandon continues to show that he can play the same game as those he taught. Most important of all is that Taylor has been coming off a bit of a slow start. His focus doesn’t seem to be there this early in the series, which could hurt him not only in the long run, but also right now as he takes on a more rejuvenated K. I’m taking K here.

Ashton Amherst vs Jason Cage
I feel like every week I do these picks I pick against Cage. He continues to surpass expectations every time as well. This week continues a trend as I’m picking Ashton for the win here. Out of the entire group I think Cage has the most to prove in this series, and I think he has been doing just so. But this is quickly becoming Aston’s series to lose.

Chris LeRusso vs Stryder
The Wildcard of the Best In Pittsburgh Chris LeRusso continues to make noise and make his case. What interests me most about this match is that it wasn’t long ago that these two men were champions, one the Heavyweight, the other the Three Rivers. Both had redefined the championship they wore and both went to battle with each other more than once. LeRusso wasn’t ever quite able to pick up the victory the way he wanted to. This time I’m leaning towards LeRusso. While Stryder continues to carry the banner for the underdogs, I will take a favorite.

Dean Radford vs “Platinum” Payton Graham
The last time these two had a one on one match, Payton had Radford pinned for the victory, had there been a competent referee at that moment you would have seen a new Three River Champion. But that’s the past. Today we see two men of equal size, equal strength and equal intensity. We see a man in Dean Radford who has carried that championship for 5 months now. A man who continues to defend his title against the best PWX has to offer. But what no one else can see is the weak spots. The chinks in his armor. Those little injuries that Dean likes to hide. He lives his life as a charade hiding every little part of him that is in pain. Well Dean, we noticed it. On March 8th there will be a NEW Three Rivers Champion.

Ryan Reign vs Jay Flash
Pop quiz. You are the PWX Heavyweight champion and you can pick any person to be your opponent…who do you pick? Well, knowing you guys you’d pick Jack Pollock. You’d say “He’s earned it.” Well so what? There are two types of people in this company, people who want to be champions, and people who are champions. Ryan Reign is champion. And the smartest pick was Jay Flash. Why? Well 1) Jay Flash has been trending down for a while now. Read my earlier posts for more on Jay Flash and his downward spiral. 2) Jay just got his clock cleaned by Shane Taylor. Why wouldn’t you pick the most injured guy on the roster? Reign is doing his job perfectly as champion and will walk out Heavyweight Champion AGAIN.

Remember you can either play by the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

We all move at the speed of technology. What was interesting today won’t be interesting tomorrow. Your life has certain standards though. You’re not going to throw away the comfortable old hoodie, or you may read a favorite book a second time. There is something about this world of fast moving tech and the celebrity culture of new stars that keeps our minds blazing, yet at the same time we are not above the warm comforts of our cherished activities. Twitter can not replace a day of fishing on the lake, Blu-Ray can’t compete with the embrace of a warm day as you read your favorite novel. We still hold on to both things.

In wrestling things move at the same speed. We still hold to traditions of the early years. But as we have seen recently, things move fast in the tech world. PWX has made a stride into television and Internet. Social media has given fans access to their favorite wrestlers, YouTube gives them the ability to watch countless matches from all over the world. What was once new is now old, and what is old can still have a special place in our heart.

That brings us to the enigma that is Ashton Amherst. A man seen as a veteran at a young age. A man who was claiming to be Best In Pittsburgh before anyone else. A man who wanted to lead a group of young men to glory only when it served him. A leader who didn’t lead. A man who’s respected for being disrespectful. A man who’s bravado humbles most others. He is a combination of tradition and technology. Ashton Amherst is like reading H.G. Welles’ “The Time Machine” on a Kindle. But the biggest question is, when the clock strikes, and the night is over, does Ashton come through the forest and into the light as The Best in Pittsburgh?

The biggest issue Ashton has is that his talk has been big. The man has claimed his right since the beginning. He fought for his inclusion into the series by force or politics, it didn’t matter. Ashton should be the last one to have something to prove. But he actually has the most. His accolades are matched by few in the series (Only, truthfully Brandon K, Taylor and Stryder are on par objectively), but it is the way he’s gone about it that has made the game harder for him.

By his own standards Ashton should walk through this series and prove his ability and his lofty thought of himself as easy as it is for any man to beat children at a game of H-O-R-S-E. But that won’t happen. Ashton has already seen that this series will not be easy, and it will take everything he’s ever had to get through it. It won’t just be stealing a show, or finding a way to win. This series is about two or three matches a night. Its about stipulations and matches that will shorten your career. I’m not sure how prepared he was for what is to come.

Look, Ashton is clearly one of the front runners for this series. He has incredible ability. His style is matched by few. He combines Muay Thai 5 point of contact strikes with great athleticism and speed. He has a great ground game and is very strong despite his lack of height. In fact, it’s been his advantage. Much like guys like Malenko or Dynamite Kid, Ashton has used his height to create a low strong base. His power comes from his legs, his game from his base and core up. He uses that low point of contact to keep guys off balance. Mix that with his springboard ability, a great submission ground game and a real mind for using momentum against an opponent, and what you have is someone well deserved to be considered Best In Pittsburgh.

But all that aside, one thing remains standing in the way of Ashton claiming that title. And it is Ashton’s own mouth. Can Ashton cash the check that his mouth has been writing all over the steel city? Ashton may have the first claim, but ask the Cherokee Indians about first claim. It only matters who has the biggest gun in the fight.

Remember, you can either play by the rules…or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Man

History deniers are much the same, except replace the understandable emotion of life’s work being flushed away and replace it with “Uneducated fart sounds.” The most famous example is the holocaust denier. The men and women who think that the holocaust was a hoax. Yeah. Seriously. Let that sink in. There are milder versions as well, people who think Thomas Jefferson was a Christian, or that FDR’s New Deal PROLONGED the Great Depression. These are factually wrong, and people shouldn’t be teaching anyone these things. The Internet has made it worse, including fake quotes attributed to historical figures. Darwin never used the term “Survival of the fittest,” and Patrick Henry never said

“There is an insidious campaign of false propaganda being waged today, to the effect that our country is not a Christian country but a religious one—that it was not founded on Christianity but on freedom of religion. It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by “religionists”, but by Christians—not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

Yet it is a common attributed quote to the man. We believe Columbus sailed to America to prove the world wasn’t flat when that was proved in the 3rd century BCE. It was common knowledge, we already had globes.

If you don’t understand history you are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. And that brings us to February Revolution. An event for PWX that last year saw ONYM shock the world and reveal Ashton Amherst as their leader and founder. It shocked every single person that a man who was vocal against it, showed everyone he was the originator.

So before you come out to the show on Saturday the 23rd, remember this…Revolutions are meant to shock and surprise.

“The Notorious” Shane Taylor vs Jay Flash
If I was Jim Cramer (Side note: I do roll my sleeves) I would be pounding the button and screaming “SELL SELL SELL!” Jay Flash is a good competitor, but he’s becoming a one trick pony very fast. I’m shocked to see him not change up his game. That being said, Shane Taylor is the monster that guys like Jay Flash NEED to evolve their game for.

Danny Able/Tony Johnson vs Mad Mike
I have a small rule here. I tell each an every scout and number cruncher one big thing. If your evaluations pick one man to beat two…then your evaluations are off. Able and Johnson are two competitors that are very game. It can’t be overstated how high I am on Johnson. Kid has every tool in the book, and will break out soon. Meanwhile Able is starting to shrug off the rookie blues thanks to the veteran instinct of Stacy Hunter. Mike has seen the wheels come off a bit since losing to Ryan Reign at the Anniversary show, and I don’t think he recovers this time.

Crusher Hansen/Doe/Dean Radford vs Payton Graham/”The Spotlight” Scottie Gash/”The Absolute” Troy Lords- 6 Man Tag
After watching Troy Lords and my close personal confidant and cherished friend Payton Graham take the screws to Crusher and Doe I realized some things…One is that the decline of Troy Lords has been exaggerated and the other is that if you want something bad enough, you take it. This six man is about sour grapes and nothing more. Hansen is still poking his nose around for no reason. Doe has nothing else to do except get involved in things that don’t concern him. And Dean Radford is so scarred that Payton Graham is going to take his championship that he has to hide behind his friends. That’s ok, because there is nothing new under the sun, except perhaps the image of a NEW 3 Rivers Champion.

Best in Pittsburgh Series

Chris LeRusso vs Jason Cage
Chris LeRusso made a violent entrance into the Best in Pittsburgh series by nearly ending Brandon K’s career with a Tombstone on the stage. Now he comes into this show as the wild card. He is a man who I think was insulted by not being injected into the event in the first place over someonelike Jason Cage. LeRusso has proven more in PWX, and in my opinion more already in this series with one giant match. I take LeRusso here.

JR Mega vs Stryder
A match up of underdog vs favorite. Stryder has been making noise once again and it is all thanks to being a member of this series. JR did come through last time, much to my surprise. But I’m not sure if he can get by Stryder this time. What makes Stryder so good is the versatility of his game. Something Mega can also take credit for. But Stryder has a proven track record in big moments, including a Sean Evens tournament win. I take Stryder here by a spear.

Ashton Amherst vs Brandon K
This one is interesting. I just wrote not too long ago about Brandon K and his issues here in the tournament. But Amherst is coming off a shoulder injury. Injury bugs like this always worry me. That being said I’m taking Ashton here. The guy has a legitimate claim to being The Best in Pittsburgh, and I think it will come down to him and Gory in the end.

Ashton Amherst vs Chris Taylor
To be the best in Pittsburgh you better have stamina. All of these men have had to go more than once and Ashton will not be an exception (though if he wants to be, he has my number). Taylor has continued to show a revitalized nature, and has come back stronger and stronger looking more and more like his mentor Brandon K. And he will look a lot like Brandon on the 23rd, because I predict another Amherst win.

Gory vs Jack Pollock
This is interesting. Krystal Frost (who either hates me or wants to crawl inside my hoodie while I’m wearing it on any given second of the day…seriously, she’s crazy) has decided to throw every obstacle into Jack Pollock’s way. This time, it’s Gory. Stepping outside the Best in Pittsburgh Competition, Gory will try speed on strength with PWX’s resident monkey wrench. This one is very close, numbers run about 50-50 here, so there is no wrong or right way to go. Gory has been prepping for the BIPC wrestlers so Pollock may throw him off. At the same time Pollock has been so focused on Reign, he hasn’t been full prepared. Last time they met, Gory won. So I go Gory once again.

Dean Radford vs Troy Lords OR Payton Graham
Interesting here as no one is sure who Dean Radford will wrestle. Both men earned a shot, so we will have to wait and see. All you need to know is if Payton Graham gets his shot, he will walk out as Champion.

Ryan Reign vs Jimmy Nutts
It was a tad over a year ago I made a prediction that 2012 would see Reign and Nutts feud over PWX gold. Maybe it wasn’t in 2012, but they are now at that level. Nutts always impresses me. I can’t say I like that he impresses me, but he does. He has so very few holes in his game. But the ones he does have, BC Steel and Ryan Reign have already scouted. I have yet to see a Champion who smells victory like Reign. A man who can spot that one loophole and walk out as Champion. Reign routinely retains.

As for myself? Well lets just say I am cooking something up. PWX fans will be seeing a lot more of me soon, don’t you worry.

Remember, you can either play by the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

The idea is fascinating as you start to comprehend that every move you make has multiple outcomes, and somewhere, in some universe, you did take that job, or didn’t buy that dog. Every little thing translates into a more different and bigger picture.

So, think of your life as a tire. Every mile you travel takes a little off that tire. You can choose the easy newly paved streets to travel down, or you can pick the hard dirt roads. The wear and tear you endure is entirely your call. The hard roads give you the experience to know which pitfalls to avoid, and the new roads give you a longer look at life.

This all brings me to Brandon K. Brandon has been the monster truck tire of PWX. Brandon has driven down the road so many times, and he knows every pot hole and every trap. But the question we pose today is: When does the tire fall off? When is it time for PWX fans, and management to look to see if its time to stop rotating the tires…and get a new set?

We here at The eXpress Lane have always tried to put a positive spin on what Brandon has been doing. There is a certain amount of respect that the man deserves. Not just for his former accomplishments, but because he can still go out there and compete. But when is competing enough?

Let’s be honest, I love watching Brandon K go out there and do his thing. He continues to strive to be the best, and takes guys to the limit every time he steps in the ring. Brandon is Pittsburgh’s measuring stick. If you think you can play with the Varsity squad, you step in the ring with Brandon K. Chris LeRusso made the jump from overlooked cocky kid, to legitimate threat for titles and possibly becoming officially The Best in Pittsburgh. Much of that has to go to Chris’ dedication and work ethic as much as his talent. But LeRusso made that jump off the back of Brandon K and his victory in the Iron Man match for the 3 Rivers Title. Ryan Reign did much the same, by beating Brandon it launched him into credibility with the Championship Committee, giving him the title shot he deserved at Sean Evens, one he capitalized on.

Is Brandon K still the measuring stick if he continues to lose matches? Sure he won Burgh Brawl last year, and had big time moments…but listen, that’s all entertainment. He got lucky in a battle royal, and he’s had a lot of guys want to beat him up. But as we have watched the decline of the old guard (Crusher Hansen and Mad Mike in particular) to a role that shows signs of the brilliance they once had, with still great entertaining matches, but the level of competition from them is lacking when it comes to the upper echelon of talent…do we lump in Brandon with that group?

It’s a hard question to answer because of the style K uses. While the joints have taken their wear and tear over the years, and the speed has been reduced, Brandon didn’t suffer like Hansen, Mad Mike, Paul Atlas or even Quinn Magnum did. That’s because their game was strength, and you can have the largest arms in the world, but when knees and elbows and necks start wearing down so will your power. Brandon K on the other hand can still make a living on the ground. He has transitioned from speed to technique. No one can counter a hold or move quite like K. He’s uncanny. And that has extended his life as a top competitor past his prime years.

The question still remains, with young studs like Amherst, Gory, Mega, Taylor, LeRusso, Stryder and a mystery man…is Brandon K overmatched in this series? Time will tell. But at the end we will answer the bigger question: When is it “times up” for Brandon K? We are about to see if Brandon can still hang with the elites, or if the measuring stick has been snapped in half…

You can either play by the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann.

So when we do predictions here, there is a level of algorithmic number crunching and spreadsheets that I pour over to plug in the correct numbers. And there are so many variables in wrestling that it makes it a chore to plug and plug and plug…and then have something change last second( IE a new stipulation) that changes things even more. The difference in two wrestlers in a singles match vs a no DQ match could be huge. A massive swing. That’s where the human scout comes in. What many don’t know is that I take advice and listen to the constant talk from the veterans in the locker room as well as outside.

Film study is important as well. It takes hours to compile the information that I need to see to actually make a prediction that is more than flipping a coin. Which I could do. I could flip a coin and you people wouldn’t know the difference. And that’s ok. We can’t all know what we are talking about. That’s why some of us are successful managers, and some of us sit in the crowd and yell things with food in their mouth…which is very unbecoming of you. Seriously, stop.

And so it is with no further delay that I give you my picks for February Fury. A show that one year ago saw the debut of my good friend Edric Everhart. Happy Anniversary buddy!

First up

Troy Lords/”Platinum” Payton Graham vs Crusher Hansen/Shirley Doe
So Doe finally gets a tag team partner to face someone and its for another title shot? Ridiculous. Quinn Magnum continues to duck my calls about how he lets Doe get away with not forfeiting the tag team championships. But that doesn’t matter. The return of Crusher Hansen last show doesn’t matter (Sidenote: I was about to beat up Mr. Hansen and then take my frustrations out on the homeless goof that is Jack Pollock before I was distracted by a big bee). What matters is that Payton Graham, my personal confidant, is in this match. So Mr Lords, ride those coattails all the way to a title shot.

“Bulletproof” Dany Able vs Jimmy Nutts
Lets be honest. I don’t like Jimmy Nutts. Personally, he makes my skin crawl. And I have to say one of the greatest moments in my personal life is watching him lose to Tanner Reynolds. Oh what a day that was. But to be frank, the kid is good. There are few people that can match his speed and strength in the same package. Nutts is good. Which makes Tanner so much better. Danny Able is coming off his first biggest victory yet against Jay Flash. Danny has some ability, but I’d be derelict in my duty if I did not pick Jimmy Nutts.

Chris LeRusso vs Mad Mike
A feud that defined the Brass Knuckles title in 2011 is back for one night only. The only change is that this is not the same Chris LeRusso. The game has changed for Chris, and it seems to have changed for Mike as well. Has PWX’s monster finally been figured out? I’m taking LeRusso here, he’s a guy that has scouted Mike regularly and has evolved his game while Mike hasn’t.

Best in Pittsburgh Series
A lot of talk this week about who is in and who is out. Makes things interesting to say the least. Krystal Frost has added a 10 minute time limit to each match, and Quinn Magnum is now adding last minute stipulations as well. The game has changed for BIP and I’m more than excited. It does make solid picks harder to come by, but we soldier on.

Stryder vs ???
We aren’t sure yet who Stryder will be taking on, but one thing is for sure; Stryder will bring his A game once again. The 2nd longest reigning champion in the history of PWX has had some struggles recently. I’d like to think that I have been the reason, but Stryder has been so good for so long because he can change up and go in a different direction. He regularly adds size or trims down to add a wrench into your plans. No pick here because we have no opponent.

Brandon K vs ???
Same situation, different wrestler. No prediction here. But lets take a moment to throw some praise at Brandon. When was the last time you saw Brandon take his game to this level? Perhaps about a year ago in his fued with Chris LeRusso and the Iron Match match that defined the three rivers title until Dean Radford was able to rip it away. K has taken his work to an art form level. Mix in his speed and resilience and you are looking at one incredible competitor.

Gory vs Jason Cage
In what should be the most explosive match up of the evening, Gory will take on the resurgent Cage. Speed vs speed here, and more importantly is the pressure each competitor is under. Both now stand at 1-1, and a loss here is massive. A loss could turn the tide from favorite to bottom of the barrel. That being said I’m going with Gory. When it comes to speed, that’s the game Gory wants to play, and unless Cage can find a way to use his strength and stay grounded he will have his issues. It will take him out of his element, and in the end it favors Gory.

JR Mega vs Chris Taylor
Last time I told all of you to put your money on Mega. And it paid off. It was the smart pick. Mega knows Cage. I told you last time never bet on momentum, and after Taylor lost to Reign just two week ago, and Mega picked up a victory…you’d be inclined to go with Mega one more time. Well lets not get ahead of ourselves. Balance is key. Wrestlers will trend up and down from week to week much like a baseball team. Five wins in a row for a baseball team is a nice week, for a football team it can mean a season defining turn around. For wrestlers it’s more similar to baseball. A win is nice but it doesn’t mean there is a trend here. So in this one, take Taylor. His performance against Reign says more than any win.

Ryan Reign/”The Spotlight” Scottie Gash vs Jack Pollock/Dean Radford
This is the most intriguing match of the night. This one is so different than anything else you will see that evening. Mismatched tag partners and even worse, mismatched title holders. So, we have the basics to go on, and we have certain strengths and weaknesses to look at. Pollock/Radford will have a strength advantage. That’s big for their side of the ring. The best strategy they can have is to isolate a opponent and use that power to blast their way to a victory. The issue is on the other side is two men who are great tag team wrestlers. Reign had an amazing run in Golden Reign, and was one of the best young tag team wrestlers at one time. He has naturally branched out, but he still has that base. Gash is one of the best tag team wrestlers in the history of PWX. Both are great at formulating and executing. Look for Gash to drive this team with veteran knowledge and a smart approach to two of the biggest guys on the roster. I will take Reign and Gash.

Remember, Saturday February 9th is the big day. It’s a stacked card that me and my team are excited for. We here in The Lane love cards like this because there is always a surprise, which means even more ways to tweek our system and scout talent even better. Also, Payton Graham takes his first step into becoming 3 Rivers Champion.

Until next time…

You can either play by the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

The problem is that people complain too much. Everything was better in 1952. Except for, you know, the threat of communist blowing us all up and stripping us of our freedoms…oh, and if you weren’t white, well you also didn’t have as much fun. People always think their generation had it right, and the new generation has it wrong. The issue, they complain about so much that you can’t tell what’s thoughtful critique from old man “Get off my porch!” yelling at the world. Much like Nate Silver points out in his new book, it’s hard to tell the signal from the noise. What is honest and wise critiques from a generation that’s been there and done that, and just crazy old man ramblings.

And that’s where we stand with predictions today. How do you justify one prediction over another? How does one stand above the rest as credible? Research, education and not being a moron helps. But you’re reading this, so you are probably at least literate. You came here because, you want real predictions. Bold predictions. Not just “hey I think Stryder will be good” predictions either. You want bold, out on the limb but accurate predictions.

Well folks, you’re entitled to some. Remember last year? I predicted that Ryan Reign and Jimmy Nutts would both have big years. While they didn’t feud over gold at PWX, they sure did take off and have become two of the hot young wrestlers in the area. I also predicted after the debut of Jack Pollock we’d see more young wrestlers. Since then PWX debuted Dion Cruise and Danny Able from the academy. And not mentioning AJ Storm, Tyler Cross and my personal friend Edric Everhart would be a crime. All making waves in PWX this year. Guys like Tony Johnson and Jay Flash finally hit their stride, and Jack Pollock exploded to the main event as a Heavyweight Title contender in record time.

I’m not saying I’m brilliant. I’m just saying I was right. You can tell me I’m brilliant. Thank you.

So it’s time once again for this year’s Bold Predictions.

Now, I could tell you that Jack Pollock will have a break out year, and will be a champion. Or that we will see the return to glory for Stryder. And I will be right. But that’s easy. You want bold. You want big. So here we go…

Tony Johnson will be a 3 Rivers Champ this year. Nobody (outside The Exceptions) has impressed me more in 2012 than Tony Johnson. As I watched him, I became more and more shocked at the pure talent he has. He is tall and has an uncanny strength as well. But it’s his athleticism that shocks you the most. To see a 6’3″ guy drop a top rope knee like he does is impressive. It can’t be overstated that Stacy Hunter’s influence has calmed Tony, and focused him into a bright new direction.

Chris LeRusso will be PWX Heavyweight Champion this year. That’s right. The man who brought relevancy back to the 3 Rivers Title had an amazing year. Chris took his game in a new direction so far in 2013, and has unloaded with more strikes. The man who has a martial arts background has changed decisively in order to evolve the game from a ground based technician who can pound with strikes, to a striker who stands up more. LeRusso changed PWX with his focus as 3 Rivers Champion. The man simply has one more hurdle to be taken as seriously as he should be.

Jason Gory will be know as The Best In Pittsburgh. This competition is all about who is the best. Who can put on the best matches? When it comes right down to it, nobody in the competition completes and entertains quite like Jason Gory. There is a fine line in this series, and each man is closer to his peers than they’d like to admit. But I feel Gory just stands out above the rest enough to garner the recognition he deserves.

JR Mega wins The Shocker Sean Evens Memorial Tournament. I have watched Mega continue to make it to the finals, and just not get over the hump. There has always been something to hold JR back just enough. Last year it was the sheer momentum of Jack Pollock’s epic run. It was also a bad match up as he was not a guy Mega had time to scout, or knew much about. This year I feel Mega has the experience and the ability to pull it off. He is my early odds on favorite again this year.

Finally, on a personal note, I’d like to predict that 2013 will be the year of The Exceptions. Payton Graham, Edric Everhart, Tanner Reynolds and myself will not let you forget that this year is all about us. I’d like to say they will have a break out year…but to be honest, they have all already broken out. They are already the best wrestlers in PWX today, dare I say of all time.

Until next time kids remember…
You can either follow the rules, or you can be an Exception.

In the modern era of wrestling, be it local or national, there are more variables than Taylor Swift ex boyfriends. If you want to pick the winners of matches, you have to understand these variables. If you want to have a legitimate shot at winning money impressing your friends, then the variable becomes your enemy.

Now, in reality, there are two types of wrestlers. Those who embrace the variables, and those that fear it. For example, over the last 6 months Ryan Reign has been a man that has embraced the variable. He’s not afraid to win matches by any means. He’s not thinking pin or submission, Reign is thinking about being a champion. Contrast this with Stryder. A man who, during his run, was so afraid of the variable. Stryder always had one thought on his mind, win the match by pinfall or submission. And he was successful for a time, for a long time actually.

So which is better? Both men have shown success over a long period of time, and both have shown that winning is the most important thing. When choosing who wins it’s always more important to go with the guy that embraces variables. Guts will only get you so far. That being said; here is my pick ’ems for 1-26-13’s big show.

Shane Taylor V AJ Storm
First lesson, don’t pick against Shane Taylor. The man is pure adrenaline and anger in a 300+ pound animal. I might not be the only one doubting how “ready” Mr. Taylor is, but it doesn’t matter. BC Steele has the right to give his man enough time to rehab. When doctors clear him, they will clear him.

Troy Lords V Shirley Doe
Ok, I can’t be the only one crying foul on this. Doe has no partner, hasn’t defended his tag titles in over 30 days, and yet nothing has been said by the Championship Committee, even after letter after letter from yours truly…Whatever.
As far as the match goes, I’m interested. Doe has yet to compete in a singles match inside the Wrestleplex. He’s been a tag specialist for months. Meanwhile Troy Lords has been dominating the young PWX locker room. Lords is a throw back, and Doe is as well, but the most important of all is the history these two share. Watch out for a hard hitting match that will steal the show for old time fans. Personally, I’m picking Lords.

The Exceptions V Jack Pollock and ???
Is this a joke? Has to be. If you aren’t picking The Exceptions then I don’t understand why you’re reading this piece. Now, granted, Pollock can prepare for his team while we unfortunately have no idea who Pollock’s tag team partner will be. Advantage: Pollock. But we all know Jack Pollock has no friends, and no tag team partner. Crusher Hansen isn’t around anymore, and frankly, no one else likes Pollock. Doesn’t matter. Exceptions win big. And…maybe end Jack Pollock for good. Hush though, that’s a secret between friends. #Exceptions2013

Tony Johnson V Mad Mike
Youth and athleticism vs wisdom and brutality. Which do you take? Me (and I’m so glad you asked), I will take the up and comer Tony Johnson. Sure Mike is big and strong and fierce and determined and blah blah intangibles blah. Tony has everything working for him. Skills, strength and a veteran mind in Stacy Hunter in his corner.

Danny Able V Jay Flash
The kid that never always wins vs the future cup champ. If you want a good contest to see the future of PWX shine, here’s your chance. Able is a good, young up and coming athlete that might be able to turn that losing winning streak into something considerable with his new manager Stacy Hunter. Meanwhile Jay Flash does flips. Who am I taking? Well, Jay Flash…sadly. Jay has potential, and is eye catching. And he’s good. I just don’t like him. Blame Payton and Edric on this one. Ever since ONYM, they’ve wanted to punch that guy in the face.

Best In Pittsburgh
You want to sound smart? Pick these winners and you’re the smartest man in sports.

JR Mega V Jason Cage
Mega is coming off a big time loss to Brandon K. Jason Cage is coming off a huge win over Stryder. Momentum will tell you to pick Cage. But you’re smarter than that, you wouldn’t do something dumb like believe in momentum would you? Of course not! Intangibles are for the untalented. Pick Mega here. Mega knows Cage very well, don’t forget. Mega beat Cage at Sean Evens. He beats him again.

Jason Gory V Chris Taylor
Jason Gory came to PWX to prove something. And so far he has. Gory put his name in the Best In Pittsburgh competition, and every time his name gets mentioned people seem to say the same thing. “Well, yeah…Gory is.” So it’s kind of strange to me that people think Gory is the underdog here. Sure PWX is Chris Taylor’s home, and sure he’s the longest reigning champion in the 18 year history of the company. But as the line goes…What have you done for me lately?

Brandon K V Stryder
Some might say Brandon K has lost a step, some might be inclined to say that his best years behind him. And that’s all true. Brandon isn’t as quick, and as a result, not as precise. But Brandon K at an 8 is better than most guys at a 10. It’s true. I once heard an exasperated Ryan Mitchell yell out in the locker room “That guy just doesn’t stay down!” And that’s a fact. But Stryder wasn’t the second longest reigning champion in PWX history due to luck. Stryder made a career of keeping guys down. No one kicks out of a spear (Notable “Exception”- Tanner Reynolds ). And I think he keeps Brandon down for a big win.

Dean Radford V “The Spotlight” Scottie Gash
A feud that has peeked my interest. Gash had been on a down swing last we saw him. He lost to Stryder and Burgh Brawl and had a hard time finding his mojo again. But Gash is a smart veteran. (Personal side note: Gash is a man I learned a lot from. His constant motto is “Adapt” which has served me well. There may be some slight bias in the next bit) Scottie Gash doesn’t just change his game, he makes you change yours, and has turned the tables on Radford. Radford went from chasing down a title, to being dogged everywhere he goes. Couple that with an injury to his calf, and I will take Gash for the win.

Ryan Reign V ???
Ryan Reign gets to pick his own opponent, if you don’t have all your money on him…you’re not playing the game right.

Love/Hate
Love: The Exceptions- Basically in a Handicap match. No contest.
Hate: Jack Pollock- He’s a goof. Enough said.
Love: Shane Taylor- Why wouldn’t you?
Hate: AJ Strom- You’re on the tracks kid, and the train is coming through.

Until next time remember,
You can either play by the rules, or you can be an Exception.

Marcus Mann

The eXpress Lane Season 1 Episode 15

BC Steele and Marcus Mann preview PWX Revolution

The eXpress Lane Season 1 Episode 7

The eXpress Lane Season 1 Episode 6

The eXpress Lane Season 1 Episode 5

It’s here I will be posting some of my findings. In my life, before wrestling, I was a stat geek. As a 17-18 year old kid watching the Oakland A’s do the impossible, it made me aware that stats were the future. I grew up a wrestling fan, and watched hours of my father’s AWA tapes. And one thing always stuck out to me. Intelligence always won the day. So when I went to the University of Wisconsin for economics it was purely for that reason. It was there I discovered advanced stats through fantasy sports. More importantly it was hours of computer algorithms and simulation programs that changed me view.

Here we look beyond the win-loss record and will use Win Probability (WP+) and break down wrestlers on value with Value Over Replacement Wrestlers (VORW).

I mentioned on twitter last week that I think Shane Taylor may be the most valuable free agent in PWX. Well why? Well it comes from his WP+ which we weight on a scale with 100 being average. Based on linear weights and simulation models, WP+ looks at how often a wrestler should win a match when all variables are 0 (These would include match stipulations, manager influence, official bias, no crowd etc.) These factors are eliminated and based on stats through film study (speed from rope to rope, strength, endurance etc.) we start to get a picture of what would happen. Then we run the simulation program a thousand times. It’s from here that we come up with a probable win percentage. Shane Taylor should win any match he is involved in 89% of the time, so then we weigh that variable interference and come up with WP+. Shane is a 123 WP+. One of the highest you will find right now.

Now, once you plug in probable strategy into the simulation model, things can be clearer, but there is a human factor in the ring. They don’t always use the best strategy and therefore will be unsuccessful. But we will know why. Advanced stats could make a wrestler even more effective, it’s the Extra 2% that economists look at, that could make all the difference.

Well needless to say that sparked something. I got this response from Chris Taylor

Fair enough. He’s right. That was one hell of a match, and he came up pretty big in that moment, especially coming back off an injury with some ring rust. But then I got to thinking a little more about this situation.

Interesting isn’t it? What’s even more interesting is when Ryan Mitchell comes into the picture we have an even more accurate view.

When Chris Taylor was injured, Ryan had quite the change of heart in order to help his, at the time, former friend. And ever since that injury they have never been closer. Social media is ablaze about Mitchell and Taylor.

But what has their friendship meant for their time at PWX? It’s given Ryan a pitiful win-loss record for one. Taylor hasn’t been much better getting beat by JR Mega at his own game.

Quick, which one is in line for a PWX Heavyweight Title shot? The answer? Neither. They have been passed up by hungrier wrestlers. And the debut of “The Future” Calvin McGrath is not going to help matters either. Since becoming “friends” again, Chris Taylor has fought through injuries to have a mediocre 2011. Can he rebound? Sure, why not? What’s to stop one of the greatest PWX Champions of all time? Chris Taylor wore the Championship longer than anyone else. What’s to stop him from reliving his glory? For one…Ryan Mitchell.

Since when did Chris Taylor become a sidekick? Since when was Chris Taylor reduced to being Mitchell’s buddy? If anything Mitchell should be TAYLOR’S sidekick. Taylor is a PWX Grand Slam winner, not to mention countless other championships won around the tri-state area. And let me tell you he has more in the tank then anyone realizes. But in my opinion, and take it for what it’s worth, Chris Taylor won’t be successful again at PWX until he DROPS Ryan Mitchell.

Episode 4 features BC Steele and Payton Graham breaking down New Years Knockout and making their predictions for the January 14th 2012 show

What does this mean for her alleged return on January 14th? Stay tuned for more.

Last night, Ashton Amherst showed up to his appeal hearing with his attorney in tow wearing sweatpants and his “Best in Pittsburgh” T-shirt drinking a coffee. Wearing sunglasses he slouched into his chair and talked on his phone for most of the proceedings. PWX Championship Committee member Quinn Magnum was not pleased by what he called Mr. Amherst “complete disrespect for the process.”

The Championship Committee performed a lottery to see who would hear Mr. Amherst case, and Shawn Patrick was the winning member. Before the official proceedings Mr. Patrick assured me that “Everything would be handled fairly. I take my responsibilities seriously and would never compromise my integrity.”

Mr. Amherst attorney (who refused to be named) made his case for his client. For those who don’t remember Mr. Amherst was fined $2,500 for an attack on a PWX official which is a normal response from the PWX rules committee which includes NWA officials and PWX veterans.

Mr. Patrick heard the case by Mr. Amherst’s attorney, and being swayed by the evidence has reduced Mr. Amherst’s fine to $1. Mr. Amherst had not been paying attention, and had been playing “angry birds” on his phone. When he heard the ruling he simply slammed a one dollar bill down on the table in front of Quinn Magnum, laughed and walked out.

Mr. Amherst refused to comment on his case and only lobbed insults.

Mr. Patrick said he was swayed by Mr. Amherst’s case and what he called “(Amherst’s) impeccable record of community service.” Asked what service Mr. Amherst performs in the community Mr. Patrick said “Oh, he helps a lot of working single mother…One dollar at a time.”

Quinn Magnum said he would hold his comments for another time.

The fine came down last night, and I was asked to sit on this news as PWX officials want to debut the new twitter site with this news, and I agreed. Since then Mr. Amherst has decided to appeal the fine and has a hearing set for today with a Championship Committee member which will be at random per the appeals process. Mr. Amherst could not be reached for comment but did tweet…

Stayed tuned as more will follow soon as I will be attending the hearing in McKeesport today.

Now, I may not be an expert and I may not be the greatest in the world, but I am predicting a big year for myself and PWX’s social media community. PWX has begun to reach out to fans and new media in a way no other wrestling company in the tri-state area has before. As we saw in 2011, Facebook and twitter have help fuel revolutions to overthrow governments and launch massive protests at home and abroad. Twitter broke news of the death of a terrorist, and it became a tool for people to connect more than ever. PWX has embraced the new media revolution. So charge up your iPhones kids, because PWX will be a regular destination.

When I think BOLD I think of Ashton Amherst who has been one of the boldest wrestlers to date. Look for Ashton to be Heavyweight Champion once again, and look for him to have an extended reign.

Speaking of reigns, Ryan Reign is looking to build off a breakout year for him. Is there anyone in PWX right now with a high ceiling than Reign? Ever since Reign beat Ryan Mitchell he has had a confidence that has made him even better. Look for 2012 to be a big year for Ryan Reign.

When you talk about up an comers, the PWX debut and rise of Jimmy Nutts has been special. You want a BOLD prediction? Nutts and Reign’s feud over The Futures Cup won’t end there. They will feud over gold in 2012.

“Platinum” Payton Graham has made some bold claims. None bigger then his claim to be a Circle of Respect member. My prediction? That photo is coming down.

Finally, we saw a debut of a young wrestler near the end of this year in Jack Pollock. A wrestler who after training with Lance Storm in Canada, came to the PWX Academy to finish his training. With PWX’s new scouting department AND with new students at the academy, look for a lot of young wrestlers to debut in the future. There is no better place to train in the area, and the best of the best will be coming out of the PWX Academy.

So what are your bold predictions for 2012?

The eXpress Lane Season 1 Episode 3

A preview of Christmas Chaos and Part 2 of the interview with “The Spotlight” Scottie Gash

The eXpress Lane debuts with a rundown of Fan Appreciation Night and part one of an interview with “The Spotlight” Scottie Gash.