WrestleRealm

Could WWE's Hall of Fame Class 2012 provide more attention than nostalgia?

2012-01-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

Many industry insiders look more forward to the precursor to WrestleMania than the actual card itself.

The reason for this is simple. It's a time to reflect, cherish, and celebrate the pioneers and legends of Professional Wrestling. It's one of the few times of the year that both insiders as well as fans can see many wrestling legends under one roof.

This year is quite different. The recently retired Edge is an obvious choice for the Hall of Fame, but the next set of inductees carry a little more intrigue with their induction.

The Four Horsemen were established in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1986 and quickly became one of the most innovative ideas in the history of Professional Wrestling. While teams of multiple members existed in small spurts throughout the years, the Four Horsemen took it to another level as they were far more vicious and sophisticated than any group that came before them.

This group existed off and on for the next 14 years with various members. The main constants in this group were "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and the "Enforcer" Arn Anderson. Even with rotating members, this stable of wrestlers were always well recognized by the fans. Fans to this day hold up four fingers as a tribute to the Horsemen.

With the Hall of Fame induction, comes controversy. The original members of the Four Horsemen were Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard with J.J. Dillon as the manager of the team. The current induction shows that Ole Anderson has been left out and Barry Windham is slotted for the induction. While many consider this the best incarnation of the team, Ole being shunned from the induction has received some attention. It is thought that there are some harsh internal feelings within the industry against Anderson that has kept him from being inducted.

Even with the attention Ole Anderson/Barry Windham received early on, it does not really compare to the attention Ric Flair has received. Flair is currently contracted to Impact Wrestling (TNA) and has been a prior inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. Flair has already publicly stated that he will be at the induction ceremony and will conduct a speech for the Four Horsemen's induction. This may prove to be a legal matter as rumours have begun to circulate that TNA can sue due to the WWE financially benefiting from promoting Flair for this event. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen, but Flair has confirmed that he will appear.

Time will dictate the resolution to this matter, but one can be certain that this may be one of the most interesting Hall of Fame events of all time.

Could Brock Lesnar be the "Next Big Thing" again in the WWE?

2012-01-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

By now, you've probably heard the rumours and speculation regarding the future of Brock Lesnar.

After a brutal first round loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, Lesnar announced to the sold-out crowd in Las Vegas that he had officially retired from the sport. Almost immediately after this announcement, the IWC (Internet Wrestling Community) began speculating on a WWE return.

While Lesnar hasn't competed in a WWE ring since 2004, his presence in the sport cannot be denied. Very few men have ever climbed to the top of the business as quickly and with as much attention as Lesnar had in the early 2000's. Lesnar became a force in the world of WWE and was awarded the WWE Championship at the tender age of 26.

After numerous matches in the WWE, numerous reigns as the WWE Champion, media attention, endorsement deals, video game adaptations, and merchandise sales, Lesnar decided to call it quits after four years in the WWE. His total WWE career ranged from the years 2000-2004. Although his departure led to much discussion, the time he achieved his success in professional wrestling is one of the most impressive feats that anyone has accomplished in this line of work.

After a failed attempt at Professional Football (although he was cut last at Minnesota Vikings training camp) and some time wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling (which led to another World Championship), Lesnar announced that he would step into the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Much like his WWE tenure, his time in the UFC was not lengthy, but very successful.

Lesnar compiled a 5-3 win/loss record in Mixed Martial Arts, including a reign as the UFC World Heavyweight Champion. Winning this championship makes Lesnar the only man to win both the WWE Championship and the UFC World Heavyweight Championship. Two distinct titles in very different worlds.

There is no disputing the accomplishments Lesnar has achieved in life make him a very unique individual. Lesnar was an accomplished amateur wrestler at the University of North Dakota. Lesnar became possibly the fastest rising star ever in Professional Wrestling. He then went on to the NFL only to narrowly miss playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Lastly, he became the top star in the UFC and the companies top Pay Per View drawing card.

No wonder the rumours are rampant. Lesnar is THE star in everything he tries. Wrestling fans can only hope that he brings this star power back to the WWE.

Chris Jericho - A true professional in Professional Wrestling

2012-01-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

No matter what the opinion of the IWC (Internet Wresting Community) is, Chris Jericho is a true genius in the art of Professional Wrestling.

After weeks of the "End of the World" segments that aired on television, Jericho returned on the January 2nd edition of WWE Raw. With a classic Jericho entrance and throwback look (the light up jacket was amusing), Jericho fired up the crowd like he had never left the ring.

He then continued to fire up the crowd, again and again. Followed by him leaving the scene a few moments later, all without saying a word.

For those who have followed Jericho's career from Smokey Mountain Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and the WWE, know that one of the main skills in Jericho's vast skill set is his ability to talk fans into the seats. A mere promo by Jericho as a face or a heel is enough to garner a huge reaction from any set of fans all over the world.

Jericho proved to the world on this occasion that he can reinvent himself. He had done similar in 2007 when the fans did not take to his new short hair look. By taking away everything that people liked about him he made himself one of the business' best heels during a two year span. So much so that he has been one of the most missed superstars since his departure in 2010.

Many of the fans who flock to Internet forums did not understand Jericho's latest return. There were complaints that it made no sense and that it served no purpose. A vast majority of the fans have not been able to wrap their heads around the fact that Jericho spent five minutes on camera without doing much of anything.

If you look closely though, this made a lot of sense and is one of the most interesting returns in recent history.

Jericho used body language to captivate the audience. He had an entire arena cheering everything he did. For those few precious moments, they ate out of his hand. They could not get enough of his antics. With little subtle movements, he had some fans turning against himself upon his exit. Many fans wondered why he had showed up at all.

That is the art of Professional Wrestling. Leave them wanting more.

Fans WILL tune in to the January 9th edition just to see why Jericho has returned and if he will speak into the microphone. Fans WILL tune in to find out who "she" is that holds the "key" to his return as the the return vignettes indicated.

The truth is, if true wrestling fans aren't intrigued by this return, they more than likely never were true fans in the first place.

Making the WWE Championship interesting again.

2011-11-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

It's no wonder that CM Punk garners the most reads on this website. It's also no surprise why he reigns on top of World Wrestling Entertainment.

CM Punk has continued his improbable rise in the WWE despite any detractors the "Straight Edge Superstar" may seem to have. Punk is not over-muscled, does not have the WWE "star" look, and is not the All-American poster boy that has been prevalent in the WWE in nearly every decade.

It may be hard to put your finger on what exactly people like about CM Punk. Internet fans will tell you it's his ring work and how his promos go "inside" the industry. While this may be true to a degree, it may just be as simple as him having that "X" factor. That intangible that no one can explain.

CM Punk is far different from John Cena. While Cena portrays a "clean-cut" good guy who doesn't stray too much from the rules, Punk will blatantly push the boundaries to scratch his way to the top. He does this in such a way that he has continually "blurred" the lines between the hero and villain. Alberto Del Rio may be a talented bad guy, but even he doesn't portray that bad boy image that Punk does.

We've stated it before that no one seems to do the things Punk does when it comes to the "status-quo" of the WWE. Punk makes it a point to mention he is not a "sports-entertainer". He's a professional WRESTLER. He has made himself such a marketable character that every time he picks up a microphone, you are tuned into what he is saying. (Even if this seems toned down on camera in recent weeks)

On November 20th, 2011, CM Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio to capture the WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The "fabled hall" that is the Garden had thousands in attendance, many wearing CM Punk's "Best in the World" t-shirt. This is even more proof that Punk is slowly becoming the staple of the company. The fans roared in approval when Punk became the champion as they have a champion they believe in again.

Not bad for a guy who was reportedly buried numerous times over the past six years.

Impact Wrestling World Tour - Windsor, Ontario. 11/06/11

2011-11-06T22:17:00.000-08:00

Live event results from the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

We were there live as Impact Wrestling made it's return to Windsor. In a first here at The WrestleRealm, we're going to do a brief run-down of the card as well as some highlights.

Jesse Sorensen vs Austin Aries - X-Division Championship.

Solid opener by both Aries and Sorensen. Austin Aries continues to shine as the heel X-Division Champion and finishes off Sorensen by pulling the tights for the three count. Aries received a lot of heat during the match as well as "Austin Aries" chants.

ODB vs Velvet Sky - Knockouts Championship.

ODB continued to taunt Velvet with her usual antics, while Earl Hebner played up the "Montreal Screwjob" as well as groping both combatants and kissing ODB. After the kiss, Velvet polished off ODB to retain the Knockouts Championship.

Magnus vs "Cowboy" James Storm.

In the shortest match of the evening, James Storm super kicked Magnus after his beer was taken from him. Storm also had the crowd join in on a rendition of "O' Canada".

Abyss vs Mr. Anderson.

After a "failed" attempt to retrieve the microphone from the ceiling, Abyss attacked Anderson during his mic schtick. Anderson finished Abyss off with the Mic-Check and then continued his schtick. Anderson also brought a kid into the ring to assist him with this feat.

Ric Flair promo

After a brief intermission, Ric Flair came out to a huge ovation. Flair spoke about the many times he has been in Ontario. The "Nature Boy" then stated that the last time he was in Windsor was for Bob Probert's funeral. (NHL Enforcer from Windsor) Flair continued to say some moving words for Probert and put the city over. Flair left to a huge pop from the crowd.

Gunner vs Scott Steiner vs Rob Van Dam.

After Gunner walked to the ring, Scott Steiner came out to a nice pop. Steiner then proceeded to rip on the audience and run down some of the women in the crowd. Steiner received massive heat for this. Rob Van Dam then came out to a huge pop from the crowd and was then beaten for most of the match by both Steiner and Gunner. After a Van Dam comeback, RVD hit the "Five Star Frog Splash" on Gunner for the win. RVD then high fived most of the front row fans.

Bully Ray vs Jeff Hardy.

Bully Ray came out to a ton of heat and tore a part signs in the audience. Ray then topped Steiner's heel promo from earlier and received the most heat of the night. Jeff Hardy then came out to the biggest face pop of the night. After a short match, Hardy hit the Swanton Bomb for the win.

You can view these lives event pictures on our new live event section, here.

Hogan's Fallout Continues

2011-10-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

In response to our blog post yesterday, ( The Hogan Effect - 2011 ) more news has came out regarding the title change plans from the Bound For Glory Pay Per View last weekend.

Hulk Hogan posted the following on his Twitter ( @HulkHogan ) this morning:

"Goodmorning HULKAMANIACS,can't wait for all the Rood fans that turned to haters to see the big picture,thank God we still have real marks HH"

Meanwhile, former WCW President Eric Bischoff also posted the following on his Twitter ( @EBischoff ) this morning:

"Having a blast watching Internet marks react. Candy from a baby!"

Now while both Hogan and Bischoff seem to be into fooling "Internet marks" and supporting "real marks", most know that Impact Wrestling has always been a "smart" wrestling crowd of fans who are more "in-the-know" than the average fan. Hogan and Bischoff however feel as though they have an edge over wrestling "marks".

This is nothing new to most hardcore fans. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff at one point booked several angles to mess with their fan base and try to make them second guess what is real and what isn't.

Looking into this further, both Hogan and Bischoff are now trying to convince wrestling fans that this was the plan all along. If you think logically about this, why would two men with years of success in professional wrestling have to justify to a bunch of "Internet marks" why Bobby Roode did not win the World Championship and have another wrestler pull off the upset on free television? Why push one wrestler to the moon, promote them heavily on your show to win the championship and have a supporting player capture the title? Again, on free television with little promotion?

Again, much of this may be speculation. Maybe Impact Wrestling spent a lot of money on promotional pieces for Bobby Roode only to have him "miss" the championship this time and then capture it from an "on-screen" friend. (Again, please see the RSS feeds on our side bar for spoilers)

Also, maybe it's speculation that Impact Wrestling decided to have one of the greatest wrestlers of all time in Kurt Angle not "put over" the up-and-coming star and help launch a main event career.

Then again, maybe and Hogan and Bischoff just want the vast majority of the "Internet marks" to debate this topic to get them to view the next few episodes of Impact Wrestling and create interest in the product.

Somehow, the latter doesn't seem likely. But, this is the Internet and "Hogan Knows Best".

The Hogan Effect - 2011

2011-10-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Regardless of any preconceived opinions, Hulk Hogan is still arguably one of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling. Many fans now in their 30's, 40's, and 50's look back on what many consider the "good ol' days", that included Hogan and company.

However, those days are long gone and to some they weren't that great either.

Putting aside the past rivalries and backstage issues that included Hogan in the 1980's and 1990's, things seem just as heated at times in this era as well. Over the past year, Hogan has found himself in more than one controversy. Hogan has endured a continued war of words with his now ex-wife Linda, having the Ultimate Warrior create a video piece called "Karma is coming to collect" which ran down Hogan's entire life in a negative way, and he has also seen some controversy in his current wrestling role.

Ah yes, professional wrestling. Where it all began.

Over the past two years, Hogan has been involved with TNA/Impact Wrestling. While, Hogan's true role in the company has never been revealed, it is widely accepted that he along with former WCW President Eric Bischoff have input in the storyline direction of the company.

Which leads to Hogan's current controversy, Bobby Roode.

Now while not every fan knows who Bobby Roode is, he has been a solid in-ring performer and up and coming star in professional wrestling for many years. Roode, who has been with Impact Wrestling since 2004, has survived the wave of talent that has come and gone in that time frame. Roode has worked mostly as a tag team wrestler during this period and became a main fixture of the show. Bobby Roode really became a relevant player in professional wrestling during 2011 as he won the "Bound for Glory" tournament to determine who would face the World Heavyweight Champion at Impact Wrestling's self-proclaimed "biggest show of the year".

It almost seemed inevitable that the up-and-coming Roode would dethrone the legendary Olympic Gold Medalist and World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle live on Pay-Per-View.

As most by now know, this did not happen.

Rumours began to swirl that Hogan lobbied for Roode not to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. Rumours also circulated that Hogan felt Roode was not ready for a run as World Champion.

Now, while this site is not dedicated to rumours, we feel this is a relevant news story. With Roode losing in his World Championship match, the company built up a star only to fail on their biggest show of the year.

The biggest kicker in all of this? The World Championship has since changed hands on a taped edition of Impact Wrestling free of charge. The title changed hands to a wrestler who had been the exact same shoes Roode was prior to winning the World Championship, only without the monster push. (Read the RSS feeds on the right hand side of this page for spoiler alerts)

Whether this all rests on Hulk Hogan's shoulders is irrelevant at this point. Unfortunately for him, he is now being blamed for another resentful moment in the wrestling business.

CM Punk continues to trend

2011-10-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

While we cannot fully determine the merits of a superstars worth to World Wrestling Entertainment, Internet stats cannot be dismissed.

This blog has seen a steady diet of views on a weekly basis, but the most searched superstar according to Blogger stats is without a doubt CM Punk.

Take a blog from June 28, 2011 for example. CM Punk - Blurring the lines has had an abundance of views in the past week alone. This post has received 87 views in that span. Anytime the keywords are checked through this site, "CM Punk" has been searched through Google more than anything else.

There is no question that currently CM Punk has put himself in a position to have a long run in the WWE. His "shoot" promo from the June 27th, 2011 edition of Raw had completely shaken things up and made him more marketable than he had ever been. The promo itself was a precursor to CM Punk being a consistent main event wrestler as well as introducing John Laurinatis (who Punk called out in the promo) as an on-screen foe to many of the top stars in the company. Punk has also consistently sold more merchandise than he had previously and has been featured in many of the company's top angles.

It may only be a matter of time before CM Punk is the WWE attraction and one can only wonder how long it will be before the WWE pulls the trigger and makes him the consistent focal point of all of their programming.

So, how was Triple H as WWE's COO?

2011-10-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

If this title hasn't confused you enough, maybe this retrospective will.

Make no mistake about it, Triple H is more than just a WWE performer. He is more than an authoritative act on television. He is a member of the McMahon family and currently serves as the Executive Senior Advisor behind the scenes in the WWE "Universe".

Like most current WWE angles, reality must blur fiction and thus we saw Triple H as "Chief Operating Officer" of the WWE throughout most of the summer up until his "firing" in October.

The angle began when Triple H informed his father-in-law, Mr. McMahon that the board of directors had given him a vote of no confidence and appointed Triple H as the "COO". Triple H then began the normal "General Manager" role on a larger scale as he was "controlling" both the Raw and Smackdown! brands.

The angle itself was convoluted as Triple H feuded on air with many different wrestlers. Most notably, he wrestled CM Punk at the "Night of Champions" Pay Per View as Punk had constantly questioned his role as COO.

Triple H also "fired" his longtime friend, Kevin Nash. This angle was confusing in the sense that Nash was not "hired" by Triple H, but by John Laurinatis.

The angle has also seen Triple fine wrestlers $250,000, fire The Miz and R-Truth, and saw almost the entire WWE locker room give him a vote of "No Confidence".

Now, this is not a website where we criticize all WWE related angles. However, no where in this storyline was a wrestler advanced to main event status or became a "break-out" star. CM Punk may be the most popular wrestler in the WWE, but even he wasn't able to continue his great microphone work after his brief feud with Triple H.

John Cena barely played off Triple H. Neither did Sheamus, Randy Orton, or many of the other major stars on the roster. The Miz and R-Truth had been fired by Triple H, but this angle was rushed as well.

All in all, this angle was one of the more interesting to come a long in some time, but the WWE's version of father time just does not seem fair. Lack of time can create lack of logic, and some are still scratching their heads over "The Game's" time as COO.

Has Zack Ryder changed the business? You know it!

2011-10-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Often times in professional wrestling there have been superstars who have gained attention in unconventional ways. Whether it be by a controversial act in the ring, a real life feud out of the ring, or by a mainstream appearance, wrestlers throughout the years have found other avenues to "get over" with the fans.

Zack Ryder may be the most unconventional of all.

He wasn't the first to venture into the social media world, but he is by far the most successful to date. With his weekly Youtube series, Z! The True Long Island Story, Ryder gained a large following while being sparingly featured on WWE television.

His series became an instant hit due to the content of his show. Ryder is among the many contractually signed superstars of the WWE to experience a "downtime" in his career. Often times both he men and women of the WWE are not featured on television for various reasons. If the number of non-appearances reaches a certain point, they may even be released from their contract with little-to-no fan fare.

Ryder then successfully launched his Youtube channel and gained a following. Poking fun at himself as well as the WWE for not utilizing him, many fans began developing an interest in him to the point where fans began chanting his name during live television during other participants matches.

His Youtube show has seen "Long Island Iced Z" do everything from showcasing his father (wearing full John Morrison attire), to his action figure collection, to his love of "Boy Bands", and appearances by many WWE employees. Many of whom who have also been not featured on a regular basis.

Even though Ryder himself has stated that he may end the show when the "time is right", this could very well be a new plateau for other WWE Superstars who aren't being showcased.

Woo Woo Woo….you know the rest.

Words are weapons - Do we as fans take things too far?

2011-09-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Realistically, we all have our own opinions on hot button topics. Whether it be drugs, sexual endeavors, criminal acts, racial discrimination….etc. But, what gives wrestling fans the right to cast judgement on people they really don't know? Is there a reason?

Many fans flock to Internet "dirt sheet" websites to find the latest news and rumours on their favourite or most hated wrestlers on a daily basis. See, pro-wrestling is not unlike any other sport or entertainment industry. Fans are biased in their opinions about why said star is great or why said star isn't worth what they are making.

However, pro-wrestling has one unique and distinct difference as opposed to other industries that incites fans even more-so.

They blur the lines of reality and fiction.

A lot of fans opinions have to do with their on-screen persona's, their abilities in the ring, and how they perceive their own fans. Once the "4th" wall is broken down, all bets are off. A wrestlers personal life becomes the ire of fans and their continued bias opinions increase significantly.

Take the Hardy Boyz for example. Both Matt and Jeff Hardy have found themselves in personal, professional, and legal matters. Now, regardless of personal opinions, these two brothers had achieved their goals at very young ages and have paid the price for doing so. They are not unlike anyone else in the world. In fact, if the fame and fortune were stripped away, no one would even know what problems they are currently facing. The situations may change and the outcomes may vary, but they would not be any different than anyone else in their age range.

Should they be setting an example for their fans, young and old alike? They can, if they choose. But, that is completely subjective. You can also make a case that there are millions of people in the world making mistakes and not setting examples for people around them. That can be subjective as well. The truth is, opinions will always be prevalent but so is hypocrisy. Most people have heroes and role models, but even they have warts as well, no matter what their public perception is. Mickey Mantle was a hero to most, but even he said he as no role model. He as well, had warts.

So, while fans are laughing at others due to their personal problems, keep in mind that these are in fact real people with real problems. It could be you, someday.

2011 SummerSlam Predictions

2011-08-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

The "WrestleMania" of the Summer is almost here as the 2011 version of WWE SummerSlam airs tonight. With only five matches total announced for the event, a lot of the interest lies on the WWE Championship match. However, we can still analyze the other offerings for this card.

Kelly Kelly (c) vs Beth Phoenix

While many skeptics have been critical of Kelly Kelly as the Divas Champion, she does have her fair share of fan-fare. However, Beth Phoenix has been one of the most consistent female wrestlers the WWE has had for the past several years. As well, the current alignment with Natalya as D.O.D. (Divas of Doom) should be too much for Kelly to retain. Look for a new Divas Champion.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix

Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett

Remember these words, "going through the motions". This is what Wade Barrett has done since he has no stable mates. Barrett is in desperate need of something to happen, but I don't see that happening on this night. Daniel Bryan should go over and continue to look strong in his long quest to be a World Champion.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan

Sheamus vs Mark Henry

Mark Henry has been on the best run of his career while Sheamus is seemingly "going through the motions". While Sheamus has been solid during his recent face turn, it would be hard to imagine anyone stopping Henry at this point. Look for Mark Henry to do some damage after this match and to possibly challenge for the World Championship in the near future.

Prediction: Mark Henry

Christian (c) vs Randy Orton

No Holds Barred

It's been an odd (but well deserved) reign for Christian. In fact, he may be one of the premiere heels in the company at this time. Unfortunately for him, his work is a bit over-shadowed with the great angles RAW is currently running. Randy Orton is also "going through the motions" and doesn't really need the win here. Look for Christian to retain and continue the feud for at least another month.

Prediction: Christian

John Cena (c) vs CM Punk (c)

Guest Referee HHH

This is without a doubt THE match of the show. With the momentum CM Punk has garnered over the past couple of months and with Cena looking vulnerable, this is one of the most intriguing match-ups in sometime. Look for HHH to have involvement in this match, possibly costing Cena his chance at the championship.

Prediction: CM Punk

Photo credit: WWE.com

Guest column: What really drives a following?

2011-08-03T06:24:00.000-07:00

Some real exciting news has happened for me and I would like to share with everyone who has followed this blog. I had submitted a Guest Column for SLAM! Wrestling and it has been accepted. Below I have provided the link for this column and would appreciate any feedback you may have. Thanks to all and thanks to Greg Oliver for running the column.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/GuestColumn/2011/08/01/18495216.html

CM Punk - The Cult of Personality

2011-07-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

CM Punk returns with the WWE Championship.

Many people within the wrestling industry have claimed they can "change" the business, but very few actually succeed in that attempt. In 2011, there seems to be only one person who has been able to do it.

His name? CM Punk.

Whatever his current status is with the WWE, it was clearly made irrelevant on the July 25, 2011 edition of Monday Night Raw. After the new WWE Champion was crowned in Rey Mysterio, the title was immediately put up for grabs against John Cena. Cena, the perennial champion of the WWE, defeated Mysterio in a solid Main Event to reclaim the championship he lost to CM Punk less a month prior. After the celebration ensued in the ring, something very different happened on Raw.

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour began to play. Normally, in the WWE, mainstream music does not make the air. However, anything involving CM Punk in 2011 seems to break all the preconceived "rules" the company has.

Punk came out to a massive pop from the crowd and stared eye to eye with John Cena. Both held up their respective WWE Championship belts, with CM Punk receiving a louder ovation than the WWE's top star. After the show went off the air, Punk spoke to the live audience.

"I'm back!", proclaimed Punk.

One could ask, what does this mean going forward? No doubt that an improbable SummerSlam match between Cena and Punk will take place to determine who the "real" champion is. The real question is, will the WWE continue allowing the talent to go in this direction?

So what of the real mainstream music, the live microphones with real life issues, and a sense of unpredictability that has been non-existent for quite some time?

CM Punk has literally changed the "game". Let's hope it continues.

Did Destination X create a real "Impact"?

2011-07-13T21:12:00.000-07:00


Austin Aries is now with TNA.

The funny part about professional wrestling sometimes is that the fans are always waiting for the next big thing to come a long.

The problem is that big moments sometimes go by without any acknowledgement from wrestling fans and media alike.

Total Non-Stop Action wrestling held it's annual Destination X Pay Per View on Sunday, July 10, 2011 and the show itself was incredibly hyped for weeks leading to the event.

Going back to the roots of the company, Destination X featured an exclusive show using all wrestlers that portray the "X" division style of wrestling. Many of the companies featured performers put on excellent bouts and the Pay Per View lived up to the hype in the eyes of many fans and industry insiders.

Unfortunately for TNA, even a card like this has a legitimate drawback in it's viewership. With an estimated 36,000 buys (the company's highest Pay Per View buy rate of the year), this is more than 100,000 fewer buys than the WWE's latest offering. (WWE: Capitol Punishment had 163,000 buys on June 19, 2011)

With match-ups that included Samoa Joe vs Kazarian, Ring of Honor standout Austin Aries winning a contract in a four-way match, and AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels stealing the show in the main event, this type of pure wrestling action could not be matched by most other wrestling companies on any given night.

However, even with their flagship show "IMPACT Wrestling" promoting why "Wrestling Matters", they continue to sit at a stand still. With television ratings averaging between a 1.1-1.3 cable rating, Pay Per View buy rates ranging from 15,000 to 36,000 buys this year, and small house show attendance, TNA always seems like the underdog that can't make the progress that they have envisioned.

What TNA does have that makes them relevant is exclusive Internet content, fan friendly events that allow fans to meet all performers, contracts that allow their wrestlers to appear at independent events (TNA collects a fee for "loaning" out their stars), and a small rabid fan base that has stuck with the company since it's inception.

While TNA may never be number one in the eyes of many fans, they can remain relevant by providing the fans cards like their latest Pay Per View offering.

Maybe "X" can mark the spot?

CM Punk in Hot water-Down under

2011-07-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Even though he has been the topic of the Internet for approximately a week now for his now infamous shoot promo on Monday Night Raw, CM Punk has now found himself in a new controversy.

While on a tour this past week in Australia, CM Punk became embroiled in an argument with a fan at ringside. During the argument, Punk began to berate a male fan and took it somewhere that the WWE is shying away from.

CM Punk made a homophobic remark towards the fan and continued to taunt him about being feminine.

While this may have been something the company would have ignored publicly in the past, they are unable to do so at this point. On April 29, 2011, the WWE along with the Creative Coalition launched the "Be a Star" program to put an end to bullying. This campaign also includes groups such a GLAAD and True Educator Inc.

GLAAD in particular would take a special interest in this, as a homophobic slur is exactly what they are trying to eliminate with youth, all over the world.

The WWE released the following statement to TMZ.com as soon as this story was picked up on their website:

"WWE does not condone this type of language or bias and we reinforce that with our talent who are independent contractors."

CM Punk responded with the following tweet on his twitter account (@CMPunk):

"I'm glad TMZ posted that video because everybody needs to be held accountable for their bullshit, me included. What I said was bullshit.

...I'm embarrassed. I own up to being a total douche in this situation and I offer a sincere apology to anybody I hurt with careless words."

You can watch this incident below:

MISSLE (Matt)

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Can Mark Henry "Be a Star" with the Anti-Bullying Campaign?

2011-07-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Whatever your opinion of Mark Henry may be, no one can deny that he has been a definitive "foot soldier" for the WWE. After being signed almost immediately after the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, the "Worlds Strongest Man" (named after his power lifting days), has had a roller coaster career.

Henry originally had the image of an "All-American" athlete upon his debut. He then became muscle for the militant Nation of Domination group. Not long thereafter, he had his most gimmicky moment ever in wrestling as he was christened, "Sexual Chocolate". The fun didn't stop there for Henry, as he also engaged in an on-screen romance with "Golden Era" female wrestler (and senior citizen) Mae Young. This on-screen pairing resulted in Mae Young being pregnant and giving birth to a hand.

Yes, you did read that correctly. If you were not watching the WWE during this era, you may want to view this moment via Youtube. (If you choose not to, we do not blame you)

Henry also proceeded to be sent down WWE's developmental territory to lose weight, as the company felt like he was too big to compete. However, later on they would ask him to put weight back on to perform his "feats of strength".

If you think this was it when it comes to gimmicks and story lines, you are in-correct.

Henry was also a part of a racist story line with "Thuggin' and Buggin' Enterprises, then asked to train to be a part of the Arnold Strongman Classic (which he won), and then put on the back burner by the company again.

Henry eventually did have a memorable run, being a heel World Champion on the revived ECW brand, as well as having his most memorable feud to date, facing the Undertaker at WrestleMania XXII.

It was back to the drawing board after he was moved off the ECW brand however, as he became a smiling face, teaming with MVP for a short run in the tag team division.

Currently, Mark Henry is back to his heel "ways" as he may be the biggest monster heel the WWE has at the moment. Showing tremendous feats of strength, he has slammed both the Big Show and Kane through announce tables and has taken on a roll of a monster heel bully.

Quote the last word in that sentence, "bully".

Mark Henry has been on a rampage, even violently attacking and berating a crew member on the July 1st edition of WWE Smackdown. In a very memorable (and well done scene), Henry "bullied" a crew member allegedly working a sound board that sounded the Big Show's music, costing him a match against World Heavyweight Champion, Randy Orton. This scene showed Henry grabbing him by the throat and tossing him over a table and off the set.

Now, while WWE has had many moments in it's history that would seem degrading to some (IE, Trish Stratus being forced to bark like a dog, the Big Boss Man torturing Big Show and family over his fathers passing, and various other wrestlers running stables telling their kin what to do and when to do it), the WWE seemingly has no problem running an anti-bullying campaign while they promote various "bully" characters on their programming.

The WWE has yet to have one of their "heel" characters really participate in this campaign, and even if they did, would this seem slightly hypocritical to the average viewer?

Here's hoping that Henry becomes that "Star" he's always worked hard to be, without someone calling hypocrisy on this angle. Even then, that may even be better than giving birth to a hand.

MISSLE (Matt)
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Canada Day - Celebrating Canada's greatest wrestlers

2011-07-01T20:47:00.001-07:00

One thing that is obvious to even a casual wrestling fan, is how a hometown can be important to a shows success. Certain wrestlers are more popular in certain markets than others, but wrestling in front of a home crowd can change the dynamics entirely.

Thus Canada's influence on professional wrestling.

The "Great White North" has always been a hotbed for wrestling, going back to the territorial days. Great American stars such as Lou Thez would regularly tour through Canada, defending the NWA Championship in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens and paving the way for many other great world champions to tour Canada.

Each territory in the world had it's own stars and unique following. Canada's territories were no different. "Whipper" Billy Watson became a cult icon in Toronto. Emile Dupree ran roughshod all over the Maritimes. The Rougeau's became cult icons in Montreal, and more talent was produced in Stampede Wrestling from Calgary than most promotions running anywhere in the world.

The list of wrestlers from Canada during the territory days are impressive. Ivan Koloff, Killer Kowalski, Gene Kiniski, "Mad Dog" Vachon, Paul "Butcher" Vachon, "Whipper" Billy Watson, Abdullah the Butcher and Stu Hart were not only great wrestlers for their day, but also influential to the generations that have followed.

Years later when the territorial system broke down, many Canadian wrestlers ended up in the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE). Rick Martel, Jacque and Raymond Rougeau, Dino Bravo, and Bret and Owen Hart ruled the ring during the 80's and 90's. Much different from their fore fathers, the regional experiences they gained helped them adapt to the bigger stage and also made them even more well known in their original territories.

Bret Hart in particular, made Canada wrestling a focal point and to this may be the most well known wrestler ever from Canada as well as being the top star in the WWF for much of the 1990's. Bret Hart is so popular in Canada that autograph signings and appearances regularly sell out

The popularity of Bret Hart and his stable the, "Hart Foundation" inspired a new crop of Canadian talent during the tale end of the 1990's, leading well into the new millennium. Stars such as Chris Jericho, Edge, Christian, Lance Storm, Val Venis, Vampiro, and others helped tremendously to build Canada into a serious wrestling hotbed.

To this day, more Canadian stars have entered the scene. The latest Hart family members of David Hart Smith, Natalya (Neidhart) and family friend Tyson Kidd have all been slowly carving their way into the WWE, just like their family before them. Santino Marella of Ontario has become one of the most popular wrestlers from Canada, as he plays the role of a comedic character from Italy. TNA has had it's fair share of Canadian stars as well, as Robert Roode and Eric Young have both been huge focal points for the company and are both seen as future superstars.

No one can ever accuse Canada of not producing the goods when it comes to this unique business. Let's all celebrate our Canadian wrestling heroes on this monumental occasion.

Canadian World Champions

Ivan Koloff - WWWF World Heavyweight Champion
"Whipper" Billy Watson - NWA World Heavyweight Champion
Gene Kiniski - AWA World Heavyweight Champion and NWA World Heavyweight Champion
"Mad Dog" Vachon - AWA World Heavyweight Champion
Edouard Carpentier - NWA World Heavyweight Champion
Stan Stasiak - WWWF World Heavyweight Champon
Bret "the Hitman" Hart - WWE Champion and WCW Champion
Chris Jericho - WWE, WCW and World Heavyweight Champion (WWE)
Christian - NWA World Heavyweight Champion and World Heavyweight Champion (WWE)

MISSLE (Matt)
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Who says WWE can't "shoot"? Orton blasts colleagues.

2011-06-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the trending WWE topics this week, it's no surprise that CM Punk is probably the hottest superstar in the world right now due to his now infamous promo on Monday Night Raw.

However, this may be the start of better (or worse) things to come.

In an interview recently conducted with World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton, the candid comments continue to flourish.

Whether this is a ploy by the company or employees being rebellious, this latest trend is proving to be an entertaining one from a fans perspective.

Orton spoke to a 98 KUPD based in Phoenix, Arizona and not only talked about past substance abuse, but also proceeded to rip into the Rock and WWE Divas Champion, Kelly Kelly.

The World Heavyweight Champion said the following about his drug abuse:

* Orton discussed his past issues with drug abuse, including an incident in 2006 where he overdosed, stopped breathing and his wife called an ambulance to save his life. Orton said he and his family discuss the bad choices he's made in WWE's upcoming DVD release, Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator

"I was ashamed of it for a long time, but now talking about it and getting it off my chest—when my in-laws and mom watches it, they're going to cry. My wife talks about when I stopped breathing and the ambulance came," Orton said.

Orton then spoke about an issue with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson:

* Orton shared a story of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson trying to get him in trouble prior to WrestleMania. Orton said he gave his opinion on The Rock during an interview with ESPN—that he wasn't buying his return speech about returning to WWE and never leaving again. Orton said Johnson called management and claimed the WWE Superstar slammed him and Triple H in the interview. Orton feels Rock mentioned Triple H to grab their attention even though he didn't criticize "The Game" in the interview.

Once the conversation moved towards WWE Divas Champion, Kelly Kelly, Orton proceeded to "shoot" incredibly hard on her:

-- Spurred on by the hosts, Orton levied some unflattering remarks towards WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly after saying he worked a brief romance storyline with her a few years ago.

"I would be a method actor, and actually sleep with her," joked host John Holmberg.

"I could name a few method actors in WWE," Orton replied. "Like, ten guys."

Randy also spoke candidly about the Santino Marella's humor, the Miz and Maryse as a couple, and even spoke about John Cena as an athlete and a wrestler.

Even though WWE is a PG Product, these recent "shoot" comments are startling. Will this be the focus going forward both on TV or off? Is the WWE allowing more free reign for it's performers? Time will tell.

source (quotes): www.pwtorch.com
source : www.randy-orton.com

Listen to the entire interview at the link below as Orton talks candidly about other WWE Superstars such as Santino Marella, The Miz, Maryse and others:

Randy Talks with 98 KUPD Arizona’s Real Rock

MISSLE (Matt)
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CM Punk - Blurring the Lines

2011-06-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

There are few times in the modern era of Professional Wrestling (or Sports Entertainment as Vince McMahon wants you to say) when you aren't quite sure what you are seeing.

Shoot? Scripted? Half-shoot?

If you happened to watch Monday Night Raw on June 27, 2011, you would have experienced one of those unique moments.

CM Punk by all accounts is one of the best all-around performers in the entire industry. A true throwback in professional wrestling, Punk is unique, gritty, realistic, and also has an unpredictable factor to him that makes you want to watch him and not the rest of the show. By industry standards, he is a true draw in an industry that has very few draws in this era.

When the camera rolled onto Punk during the latest edition of WWE's Monday Night Raw, you knew it was a special night right from the beginning. Anyone who has been watching Punk for sometime knows that even though WWE is a controlled environment, he still finds ways to improv lines that most WWE employees wouldn't even think about.

It all started when Shawn Michaels made his return to Monday Night Raw to promote his reality show. Once the promoting was done for the Shawn Michaels Macmillan River Adventures show, Punk made his way to the ring with the new Nexus and microphone in hand. Once in the ring, the usual back and forth microphone battle begun.

Even though we have all seen this exchange many times before, there was one exchange that stood out above all the rest:

Shawn Michaels: "You and I are not alike. Sure, we have similarities. We don't smoke, we don't drink, we don't do drugs…."

CM Punk: "….anymore."

Shawn Michaels: "Fair enough."

Dialogue like this just doesn't happen in the more family friendly, PG environment that the WWE has produced in recent years. Much of the content both in and out of the ring has been pretty tame as opposed to recent years. Drug and sexual references are normally a no-no. However, as previously stated, CM Punk doesn't necessarily abide by these restrictions.

Of course, it may not hurt that Punk has been rumoured to leave the company this Summer for quite some time. (A rumour that is also Punks latest storyline)

Looking at the facts now:

    •    Throwback wrestling personality
    •    Superb mic skills
    •    Disgruntled performer talking about leaving (both on camera and off)
    •    Free reign on a live microphone

What happened at the end of RAW is something that hasn't happened in wrestling in a very long time. With WWE Champion John Cena down in the ring, CM Punk grabbed a microphone, sat at the top of the stage, and began one of the very first "shoot" promos the company has seen in a very long time.

Here is the full CM Punk transcript below, courtesy of the Heyman Hustle (www.heymanhustle.com):

John Cena, while you lay there, hopefully as uncomfortable as you possibly can be, I want you to listen to me. I want you to digest this because before I leave in 3 weeks with your WWE Championship, I have a lot of things I want to get off my chest.

I don’t hate you, John. I don’t even dislike you. I do like you. I like you a hell of a lot more than I like most people in the back.

I hate this idea that you’re the best. Because you’re not. I’m the best. I’m the best in the world. There’s one thing you’re better at than I am and that’s kissing Vince McMahon’s ass.
You’re as good as kissing Vince McMahon’s ass as Hulk Hogan was. I don’t know if you’re as good as Dwayne though. He’s a pretty good ass kisser. Always was and still is.

Whoops! I’m breaking the fourth wall! (Punk waves to the camera)

I am the best wrestler in the world.

I’ve been the best since day one when I walked into this company. And I’ve been vilified and hated since that day because Paul Heyman saw something in me that nobody else wanted to admit. That’s right, I’m a Paul Heyman guy. You know who else was a Paul Heyman guy? Brock Lesnar. And he split just like I’m splitting. But the biggest difference between me and Brock is I’m going to leave with the WWE Championship.

I’ve grabbed so many of Vincent K. McMahon’s brass rings that it’s finally dawned on me that there just that, they’re completely imaginary. The only thing that’s real is me and the fact that day in and day out, for almost six years, I have proved to everybody in the world that I am the best on this microphone, in that ring, even in commentary! Nobody can touch me!

And yet no matter how many times I prove it, I’m not on your lovely little collector cups. I’m not on the cover of the program. I’m barely promoted. I don't get to be in movies. I’m certainly not on any crappy show on the USA Network. I’m not on the poster of WrestleMania. I’m not on the signature that’s produced at the start of the show. I’m not on Conan O’Brian. I’m not on Jimmy Fallon. But the fact of the matter is, I should be.

This isn’t sour grapes. But the fact that Dwayne is in the main event at WrestleMania next year and I’m not makes me sick!

Oh hey, let me get something straight. Those of you who are cheering me right now, you are just as big a part of me leaving as anything else. Because you’re the ones who are sipping on those collector cups right now. You’re the ones that buy those programs that my face isn’t on the cover of. And then at five in the morning at the airport, you try to shove it in my face and get an autograph and try to sell it on Ebay because you’re too lazy to go get a real job.

I’m leaving with the WWE Championship on July 17th. And hell, who knows, maybe I’ll go defend it in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Maybe…I’ll go back to Ring of Honor.

(Punk looks at the camera and waves)

Hey, Colt Cabana, how you doing?

The reason I’m leaving is you people. Because after I’m gone, you’re still going to pour money into this company. I’m just a spoke on the wheel. The wheel is going to keep turning and I understand that. Vince McMahon is going to make money despite himself. He’s a millionaire who should be a billionaire. You know why he’s not a billionaire? Because he surrounds himself with glad-handed, non-sensical, douchebag (censored) yes men, like John Laurinaitis, who’s going to tell him everything he wants to hear, and I’d like to think that maybe this company will better after Vince McMahon is dead. But the fact is, it’s going to be taken over by his idiotic daughter and his doofus son-in-law and the rest of his stupid family.

Let me tell you a personal story about Vince McMahon alright. We do this whole (anti) bully campaign

Mic cut off.

Work? Shoot?

Does it even really matter? Whether the heat from this promo is legit enough to keep Punk off of television or not, people will tune in just to see what happens next.
That's what wrestling (not sports entertainment) is about, isn't it?

MISSLE (Matt)
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Chyna may never sort it out - InfoBarrel

2011-06-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Chyna may never sort it out - InfoBarrel

Karma is Coming to Collect Update…

2011-06-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the full blog post of Warrior's "Karma is Coming to Collect" video project.

Karma is Coming to Collect Update…

Hogan vs Warrior - 2011

2011-06-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't been following this story, Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior have had a Twitter "war" as of late.

It's no secret that these two have had general animosity towards one another stemming back to the 1990's when Ultimate Warrior began his massive push towards the WWF Championship. These feelings have seemingly remained consistent for several years now.

Now it has moved into cyberspace, where both the Warrior and Hogan are hashing out their animosity towards one another. Is it a shoot? Is it a work? Only these two no for sure.

Regardless of realism or not, it has been more than entertaining. The latest Warrior tweet reads the following:

"They say I hate Hogan. Never did. Like a favorite loved pet who has come to the end of its useful life, time to put an end to his misery."

Hogan has also posted his fair share of banter:

"Warrior is just jealous and angry about the sad way it all ended for him... without a whimper."

Warrior has also proclaimed that he is shooting a "Karma is coming to collect video which should be available for viewing next week.

If you wish to following Hogan and the Warrior on Twitter, I have included their Twitter links below:

@hulkhogan4real
@UltimateWarrior

I'll keep an eye on this story as it is a rather interesting development.

MISSLE (Matt)
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Retro Article

2011-06-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, I had written an article about the "Devils Advocates" of Professional Wrestling. After a hiatus from writing, I looked back onto my work and to my surprise, this has almost amassed 10,000 views! I am re-posting this article to see if we can get it to 10,000 views!

Devils Advocate - Professional Wrestling Edition Part One - InfoBarrel

MISSLE (Matt)
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Welcome to WrestleRealm

2011-06-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hello all! (All two of you, that is!) Welcome to WrestleRealm. The purpose for this endeavour is very simple. This piece of blogging space is for the real and true wrestling fans out there. As you may know, there are various websites on the Internet dedicated to this great business/sport/brand/form of entertainment. I for one, am not interested in websites that post ridiculous and outright crude viewpoints on a personal passion of mine. Also, I am not interested in websites devoted to wrestling that portray themselves as "saviours" to Internet "marks" while being Anti-Semitic and perverted. What I truly love about wrestling is that the fans are what drives the business. The REAL fans who know what's going on and do not bury the business (and themselves) on every occasion. I hope you enjoy this site and feedback as always is appreciated.

If you're serious about pro-wrestling, I welcome you to aboard. As well, if you are serious and would like an ad on this site, feel free to contact me.

MISSLE (Matt)
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