By: Jason the Ace

The wrestling industry used to use the summer as a head start on the rest of their television competition. All the broadcast channels had re-runs, football wouldn’t be back until September and kids were home from school. Now with every American household having 100 + channels, technology making other forms of entertainment more desirable and out of town sports in general becoming more accessible, it is becoming harder and harder to corner the market. Wrestling has made some bold attempts to snag viewers in the time between Memorial Day to Labor Day. Some attempts have been more successful than others, but all have been memorable.

The Mega Powers vs. The Mega Bucks, 1988. The story arc was perfect. Ted DiBiase pays Andre the Giant to take the title from Hulk Hogan. Andre does but under questionable circumstances and gets stripped of the title. Randy Savage wins the vacated title in a tournament. During that summer, a vengeful DiBiase and Andre set their sights on Savage, who is ultimately aided by Hogan. The set-up for the main event of the first Summer Slam couldn’t have been written better. The actual match left a little to be desired, but the build-up for the four biggest stars in the company to compete in one match was electric.

The Lex Express, 1993. With Hogan officially out, the WWE turned to what they thought would be the face of the new generation. With the biggest non-Hogan push since 1984, there was no doubt Lex Luger would be taking the torch. A body slam of Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid, a country wide promotional tour and even a brand new inspirational song, Luger was poised rake in the cash. Pitted against Yokozuna in a red white and blue themed Summer Slam, all the stars seemed to be aligned for Luger.  It was a fool proof plan … until Luger left Summer Slam without the title. Whether it was Vince getting cold feet about Luger being champion, or some other unknown factors, the Lex Express Tour has a spot in history as one of the biggest missed opportunities ever.

The NWO, 1996. By far the most successful summer angle ever. Scott Hall emerging from the crowd on Memorial Day to start an invasion changed the entire industry for good. His formation of the NWO, led by Hulk Hogan gave wrestling that rough edge it lacked for such a long time. Finally there was an anti-hero the hardened fans could hang their hat on. The first few months of attacks on WCW left an overwhelming feeling of excitement and anxiety for every wrestling fan. While there is much controversy regarding how the angle went on too long, it certainly did its part of keeping fans through the Fall of 1996.

The Invasion, 2001. As successful as the NWO invasion was, the 2001 version attempted by the WWE seems to be taking up real estate in the basement. Botched from the very beginning, the summer long feud consisted of the premiere stars of the WWE battling WCW and ECW mid-card defectors. However, it wasn’t until Steve Austin, a WWE guy, joined the Alliance, did the invaders ever pose a threat. No one ever believed that the WWE would be ousted from Raw, plus people were switching sides so frequently fans could hardly keep track who was on who’s side.

 Vince McMahon’s Illegitimate Child, 2007. What was supposed to be “Who Killed Vince McMahon” before the Benoit incident, turned into a paternity soap opera when it was revealed that Vince had fathered another child who happened to be a WWE Superstar. The speculation of who it could be ran wild all summer. It would have been nice if the payoff led to a huge money making feud. Rumor has it the idea was to have it be Mr. Kennedy before an injury took him down earlier in the summer. The result was that Hornswoggle turned out to be his son, and the main event angle was turned into a comedy routine.

 McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania, 2008. The most blatant attempt at just getting viewers to simply watch Raw came when Vince McMahon announced he would be giving away a million dollars to a Raw viewer on every episode. The buzz generated was great at first, but as expected, it didn’t have the staying power. After a few weeks, McMahon was put in the hospital when a piece of the Raw set fell on top of him, effectively ending the mega millions campaign. Sadly, the Mega Millions theme song and video of Vince’s face plastered on one hundred dollar bills ended with it.

The Guest GM, 2009. Just like the NWO, this is an angle that worked well at first, but went on way too long. The concept was that Donald Trump bought Raw from Vince McMahon, then sold it back to him for double the money and with a few additions. The contract said there would be a revolving door of guest GMs who would take over the show every week. Some were really good, like Bob Barker and Shaquille O’Neill. Others were less than comfortable, like Al Sharpton and Jeremy Piven. The personality of each GM gave each episode character, but the formula got old. It was also clear which celebs actually knew the product and which didn’t. SummerFest anyone?

Nexus, 2010. The concept that sent the wrestling world in a frenzy in June of 2010. In what seemed like a regular Raw, the eight rookies who just competed against each other for one WWE contract for months on NXT, attacked the WWE’s top dogs John Cena and C.M. Punk during their main event match on Raw. The winner of NXT and leader of Nexus Wade Barrett claimed he and his group felt degraded for having to compete against each other, and felt they all deserved contracts. The subsequent attacks on a group of WWE legends and ultimately Vince McMahon led to a much hyped 10 man tag at SummerSlam. The seemingly simple concept fell victim to the perfect storm of disaster from the beginning, including the termination of Daniel Bryan, the injury of Skip Sheffield and they ability of the lesser skilled members of Nexus. In what could have been another success ended up being a missed opportunity.

C.M. Punk’s pipe bombs, 2011. Real life imitating art is always the most intriguing television, especially when it comes to professional wrestling. It is hard to tell how much is genuine and how much was show, but that was the beauty of this angle’s success. It made C.M. Punk a big star through his “shoot” style rants against the WWE, and brought to light the pettiness of contract negotiations. The build-up led to the match of the year between Punk and Cena is Punk’s hometown of Chicago, and undoubtedly solidified the legacy of this hot summer angle.

Hulk Hogan. The twelve year run of Hulkamania was brought to a screeching halt with one leg drop. What seemed like a life time of saying prayers, taking vitamins and believing in yourself disappeared the moment Hulk Hogan joined the NWO. How could the man who body slammed Andre, saved us from Slaughter and made a living off the admiration of children turn his back on all his Hulkamaniacs? Easy, it was time for a change. The fact that Hogan was so extremely popular made him such a villainous heel. Nobody brought more popularity to professional wrestling than Hogan. He was the singular face of a company in their most profitable era. Erasing that memory sparked hatred that would last for a long time. People all over the world felt bamboozled. They were “had” for twelve years and weren’t happy. He really didn’t have to put any effort into getting people to hate him. The heel turn alone could have carried him had he not even said a word. But then came the feather boas, the air guitar, the alliance with Eric Bischoff. All built on the foundation of a man who used to be wrestling’s American Hero. The worst part of it was, WCW capitalized on the heel turn WWE was too scared to pull. But despite all the underhanded in and out of the ring tactics, the fans still wanted to cheer Hogan. So for his unparalleled run at the top from 1984-1996, then his return to the red and yellow in 2002, Hogan should be forever classified as a hero. Decision – Hero.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage. The Macho Man nickname falls along the same line as Mr. Perfect, Mr. Wonderful, Ravishing Rick Rude, Beautiful Bobby Eaton … they are heel nicknames. What better way to get the audience to hate you than to call yourself “Macho Man” and have a beautiful girlfriend that you treat like dirt? From the treatment of Elizabeth, the cracking of Steamboat’s windpipe with the ring bell, the turn on Hogan, the spray painting of Kimberly, Randy Savage has committed some of the most devious deeds in the last 30 years. He reigned as Macho King for almost two years, and helped Sgt Slaughter win the WWF title in the middle of the Iraqi War. Sounds like a hands down heel to me. Not so fast. How could you not root for him to avenge his wife’s reputation against Ric Flair? What about his friend Crush turning his back on him, and aligning with Mr. Fuji? Don’t forget the time Jake forced his King Cobra to bite him on the arm. It would be really hard to find someone who would cheer against Savage’s multiple quests for revenge. There has been no other wrestler in the world that has been as good on both sides of the law. For this Randy Savage gets the only split decision on the list. Decision – Hero and Villain.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin. It is easy to say Steve Austin a natural heel because of his bad attitude. But just as anything in pop culture, the audiences’ attitude changes too. The late 90s were a time when the general public felt they all had a chip on their shoulder. Uprising against corporate big wigs, drinking on the job, foul mouths and reckless intent were no longer frowned upon in society. The more Austin broke the rules, the more people loved him. Austin’s natural charisma and intensity made him undoubtedly the most popular wrestler of the attitude ear. Sure the Rock was great, but nobody dominated like Austin. The tricky part of figuring him out is this – He was extremely underrated as a mid-card heel in WCW. His stint as Ringmaster and as the leader of the Alliance was okay, but nowhere near as great as his feuds with the McMahons and Rock. Is Austin brash, stubborn, obstinate and difficult to work with? Yes. Is he naturally likeable? Oh hell yeah. Decision – Hero.

Randy Orton. The third generation superstar falls into the same category as Steve Austin. He started being cheered because he was so devilish. His reign as “the Legend Killer” early his career propelled him to top heel status at the age of 23. He spit in the face of Mick Foley, RKO’d Fabulous Moohlah, insulted Harley Race and burnt the Undertaker alive. While Austin was given the nickname “the Texas Rattlesnake”, Orton was dubbed “the Viper”. Orton’s later offenses included a long list of superstars and personalities who were put on the shelf following his vicious punts to the head. He laid his lips on a unconscious Stephanie McMahon, formed Legacy (with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase) which wreaked havoc on Raw, and tricked Kelly Kelly into “dating” him only to dump her immediately after. However, despite all the horrific deeds associated with Orton, there seems to be a likability surrounding him. The fans respond to his aggressive attitude in a positive way. For a long time, he was the legitimate number 2 draw in the company. In fact, arguments can still be made that behind Cena, Randy Orton is the most consistent box office attraction in the past 7 years. After his break-up with Legacy, he has been a consistent fan favorite. With Steve Austin, it only seemed natural for him to evolve as a fan favorite. For Orton, it is similar. No matter what he does, people can’t help but to cheer for Randy Orton. It is certainly a benefit to have a top superstar who can succeed in whatever role he is given. However , unlike Austin, the money is in Orton as a heel. He was a perfect foil for Cena (too many times), Triple H, Batista and the Undertaker. The feuds always seem to work better when the Viper is the hunted. Decision – Villain.

The Rock. The millions and millions of Rock’s fans would find it hard to believe that The Rock could even be classified as a villain but it was his role as a member of the Nation of Domination that propelled him to the main event status he has enjoyed since 1999. When the fans jeered his “apple pie” image after his debut, Rocky let the true Dwayne Johnson shine through his mic skills as a formidable foil for the likes of Ken Shamrock, Mankind and Triple H. His most famous and arguably most profitable feud came as a member of the Corporation against Steve Austin. The legendary feud sparked two Wrestlemania main events where Rock worked heel, and led to numerous battles through the year. And shouldn’t the smack talking be done primarily by the antagonist in the story? When it comes to verbal dressing downs, nobody is better than the Rock. However, with all the catch phrases, the eye brow raises, the baby face offense, the Rock owns the audience from the minute he enters the arena. He has an uncanny ability to manipulate a crowd, possibility even better than Hogan and Austin. His popularity has sky rocketed from his roles in Hollywood and his newest endeavors in the WWE. Now, it is almost impossible for the Rock to work heel no matter what he does. He could slap Betty White in the face and get the biggest pop of the night. Decision – Hero.

Shawn Michaels. From the time he put Marty Jannetty through the Barber Shop window, the Heartbreak Kid’s character has not really changed. He’s cocky, arrogant, a showoff and does not lose. He might not win all the time, but it seemed like Shawn Michaels held the I-C title for all of 1993 without winning a match. It was after that time Michaels wandered out of Flair territory and into Hogan territory. The reason Flair was such an effective heel was because he was a scum bag who was champion for a long time. However, fans didn’t want to be him at the time because he was portrayed as a coward. Hogan built a strong fan base because he won all the time. Little kids especially want to be associated with winners. The more Michaels won, the more popular he became. The fact that he is one of the best in ring workers of all time helped his popularity. Guys like the Honky Tonk Man were never cheered because they had no desirable qualities. It seemed like Michaels had so many it was not possible for him to be a villain anymore. His reign as champion in 1996 was the height of his popularity in the first part of his career. His reign as DX drifted from hero to villain, but when you get down to the brass tacks, it was a heel role in 1997. When Michaels came back in 2002, he remained a face until his retirement in 2010. He enjoyed much success as a member of the extremely popular DX, and led the company with hot programs against Randy Orton, Kane, Edge and other devious foes. But where does Shawn Michaels really excel? A few years ago when everyone breaking into wrestling said they wanted to be like Shawn Michaels, most of them were not talking about the Shawn who prays on his way to the ring. Decision – Villain.

Gorilla Monsoon frequently used an expression about going to the well “one too many times.” In regards to the Big Show’s run as a main eventer, it is like they have gone to the well, came back empty the past three times, but for some reason continue to drop that bucket expecting water.
The Big Show hasn’t been a legitimate box office draw since WCW. He was a monster in 1995-96. He flourished as the feared heavy hitter for the NWO, and then as their bitter rival. His jump to WWE in the Attitude Era made noise, but couldn’t possibly have made too much of an impact on ticket sales. From there, the character took a turn for the worst. He floundered in the mid-card with feuds with the Big Boss Man, failed to gain any interest in a program with Brock Lesnar, took up space during the brand extension and finally took a leave of absence after an ECW title run. When he returned he made a big punch in the start of a program with Floyd Mayweather, but the intensity of the kickoff didn’t translate all the way to Wrestlemania.

In 2009 and 2010 he won back some respect with his successful tag team title runs with Chris Jericho and The Miz. At this point, all options have been exhausted.
There are three very big related problems with putting The Big Show in a main event program.

1. He is not seen as a legitimate threat. Sources who maintain win/loss records have the Big Show suffering 163 televised pinfall loses in his career. Think about that. The man billed as the World’s Largest Athlete has had his shoulders pinned to the mat for a three count on 163 occasions. The same source has Vader suffering 43 pinfall defeats and Andre the Giant at an impressively low 18 pinfall defeats. True there is more television and pay-per view in this era, but the concept could still be executed. Andre and Vader were protected by the company. Even in defeats, they never seemed vulnerable.

2. He isn’t marketable. In a continuation of the issue above, if you are no longer “the monster” of the company, you have to attract fans in some other way. Fans don’t really want to be the Big Show. He’s not “cool”. CM Punk is cool. Randy Orton is cool. Big Show is … oafish. He doesn’t do anything remarkable in the ring. He doesn’t endear himself to fans. Andre had the personality that made him likeable. Big Show is known for lumbering down the ring and spitting all over when he talks.

3. He is overshadowed by his colleagues. Weird to think Show could be overshadowed by anyone, but this is metaphorically. The feud with Cena wouldn’t work without Cena and John Laurinaitis. When he was a team with Miz and Jericho, they outshined him by far. Remember his feuds with Eddie Guerrero and Triple H? If you don’t, don’t feel bad because they didn’t do anything but fill a spot on the card.
Now he is being asked to carry a main event program with John Cena. There is only one problem. The Big Show no longer seems like a legitimate threat to beat anyone.

By: Jason the Ace

Since June is the most popular month of the year for weddings, it is only be fitting to look back at the best (and worst) nuptials to take place in and around the squared circle. Even though some were done for drama and some for comedy, all were done out of pure fun. There is something about a wrestling wedding that makes everyone take notice.

Randy Savage and Elizabeth – August 26, 1991. When Randy Savage finally tied the knot with his long time manager Elizabeth at Summer Slam 1991, it was the final chapter to the WWF’s most popular romance angle ever. What sets it apart from every other wedding was that it was used as a main event to attract pay-per view buys, and did not feature an angle at the actual event. Instead, it was the happy ending the Madison Square Garden crowd was looking for. Even though they taped a portion of the reception which started a feud with Jake Roberts, it was as straight forward as weddings get. In reality, the wrestling wedding without a swerve at the end winds up being the most popular of all time. Whether it was the event or the individuals that contribute to its popularity cannot really be determined, but it should be mentioned the spectacle has never been duplicated.

Test and Stephanie McMahon – November 29, 1999. The only other wedding that can be mentioned in the same breath as Savage and Elizabeth is the extremely captivating ceremony between the Vince’s daughter Stephanie and her wrestler boyfriend Test. The result was an interruption by Triple H, who was desperate to take out his company frustrations with Vince through his daughter. The story included a kidnapping plot, little white chapel and some over the top fun. This was the angle that really got the ball rolling on the outlandish aspects of the attitude era. The final segment of Raw that night launched an era of McMahon family drama on Raw, which would not cease until late 2003, right before Stephanie married Triple H for real.                  

Uncle Elmer and Joyce – October 5, 1985. The first wrestling wedding that got national publicity was a comedy sketch set for the WWF’s popular Saturday Night’s Main Event. All the major stars were involved, including the best man Hillbilly Jim. The segments did seem a bit odd because the red neck groom and dowdy bride were really supporting characters used in the background to fuel the feud between Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. The most important aspect of this segment that changed wrestling television was the emergence of Jesse Ventura in the role of heel commentator. Ventura, who was recently forced into early retirement due to injury, served as the antagonist to Vince McMahon’s straight man. It was the success of Ventura’s comic timing and thoughtful insight that started a new broadcasting formula.

Uncle Elmer’s Wedding by TSteck160

Billy and Chuck – September 12, 2002. You have to give Billy and Chuck credit. They executed the segment as well as anyone could have asked. It was an attempt at shock television that attracted viewers, but didn’t necessarily maintain them. In a time when the WWE was trying to out-do itself with outlandish angles, the thought of two tag team partners falling in love and getting married was a little ahead of its time even in 2002. I am not even sure it would be successful if executed properly in 2012. But on the other hand, what was the event supposed to do besides attract viewers? It certainly didn’t enhance Billy or Chuck. Three Minute Warning didn’t come off as monsters for destroying two men who were just exchanging vows. There was the twist in the middle of the ceremony that was a true swerve. I would venture to guess 99% of fans watching had no idea of the identity of the preacher until he revealed himself.

Edge and Vickie Guerrero – July 14 2008. In a time when Smackdown wasn’t doing much innovative television, the cougar in power gimmick was an exciting blend of fun and intensity. It was implied that Edge was only marrying Vickie because she was the General Manager. The heat this power couple drew, although mostly Vickie, catapulted them to main event status on Smackdown for the entire year. Their wedding, which took place through the entire episode of Smackdown, was slightly comical and pretty unmemorable in comparison to other wrestling weddings.

By: Paul Heyman

I look at some of these pics, and I realize how blessed I was in my career. Some guys have to wait forever for a lucky break. I managed @AustinIdolLive and Tommy Rich at the age of 21. Also The Orig Midnights, which I got to do on @ESPN. Got to book Windy City at 22 years old. Eddie Gilbert’s assistant booker at same age. Got to debut in WCW on TBS at 23 years old. So I was @JRsBBQ color commentator at 23 years old. NO ONE IS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT! I will admit, with all modesty, I #Hustled my ass off, and GOT MYSELF the opportunity with ambition, politics, and pure assertiveness.

Even “down periods” would give me the chance 2 work w/ people like Mean Mark. U know him as “The Undertaker”. At 26, I managed @SteveAustinBSR, Rick Rude,Arn,Eaton, Zbyszko … The Dangerous Alliance (didn’t forget @Madusa_Rocks). I’m working with these legends, these giants of the industry, these absolute top guys in my 20s. In today’s system, most super talented people spend a great portion of their 20′s just trying to make it onto the main roster. … and yes, that has to change. I got to take over the creative of #ECW a week after my 28th birthday. By the time I became @JRsBBQ commentator on @WWE #Raw in 2001, I was 35 years old. STILL a “kid”… … but I was already a veteran with decades in the business, and yet a 35 year old today would just be getting that chance. … and working with @JRsBBQ on #RAW allowed me to commentate Wmania 17 and @SteveAustinBSR vs @TheRock … By the time I worked with Brock Lesnar, which has become my best known managerial role, I was 36 years old … I look at some of these pics and videos #HustleTweeters send me, and I realize what an amazingly blessed career I’ve had …

I’ve had more lucky breaks, more open doors, more perfect-storm-timing-opportunities than anyone else I’ve known. These pics don’t just remind me of “accomplishments,” they remind me of what a lucky bastard I’ve been to be able to work with these magnificent people, and play these roles, under these various circumstances. I’ve hit the lottery so many times, it’s easy to just “expect” the next opportunity, or get a sense of entitlement. But I’ve never felt entitled. Always blessed. Privileged. Lucky as all Hell. And yet, I know how much hard work goes into it, and how you have to SCORE with your opportunities.

The next generation in this (or any other business) doesn’t just need to “Step Up,” they need to “Stand Up” and “Get Noticed!” Think it was easy for @CMpunk? Think it was easy for @WWEDanielBryan? They had to scratch and claw and fight for every inch of turf they could pry away from the previous generation, who made them fuckin’ earn it!!! It’s not about backstabbing. It’s not about kissing ass. It’s not about pulling a hot stunt and getting momentary publicity. It’s about creating your own opportunity (like @SteveAustinBSR did with “Stone Cold”) and working harder than every1 else looking for the big break, the next chance, the golden opportunity.

This isn’t a pep talk. It’s the lay of the land as I see it in today’s sports entertainment industry. I would have written a blog, but who knows if anyone will click on the link? And while this may be a “stream of consciousness” diatribe, it’s a message to those who may be getting frustrated, a message to those who may be wondering “will I ever get that chance? that break? that opportunity?” DON’T WAIT FOR IT TO COME TO YOU! RELY ON YOURSELF!!!

Do you think @SteveAustinBSR relied on anyone? Did HHH? Did @TheRock? Did Hulk Hogan? Did @CMpunk? With great humility, I ask you, did I? FUCK NO. If there was no opportunity, I created my own, pushed my way in manipulated the circumstances to beg, borrow, plead, blackmail, bribe, cajole, threaten, bullshit and/or manufacture. All I wanted was a mic in my hand and a time frame in which I had to deliver my message. I knew I would score. I’ve seen it in this business for ages. I saw @ShawnMichaels go from tag team wrestler to greatest all around in-ring performer ever. Think it was easy for him? I remember when Shawn and Marty were blackballed in the business, and could only work in Ala-fuckin-bama. Think it didn’t take @ShawnMichaels everything “and then some” to break out of The Rockers and get a chance as “HBK”?

AMBITION. ASSERTIVENESS … and the ABILITY TO BACK IT UP is what it takes to create the next generation of main eventers. The talent is there. The opportunity has never been more widespread. The need for new main eventers is readily apparent. “DOCILE” and “COMPLACENT” and “HUMBLE TO A FAULT” won’t cut it. While a dose of humility is always needed, that “main event confidence” is just as important. And it’s time for the next group of superstars to stake their claim and create their own generation for others to follow. Period. Excla-fuckin-mation point. The lecture is over. Pontification has ended. Hope I’ve been of help 2 ANYONE who follows this acct and maybe even to someone who doesn’t! We now return to our regularly scheduled nonsense, #HustleBootyTempTats, and shameless @HeymanHustle website links!

By: John ‘Bradshaw” Layfield
Chris did what most old heels would have done, he reacted and a decade ago it would have been loved for the heat. However, times change and we have to as well-Chris acknowledged this and apologized. Chris is a wonderful person and one of all time great entertainers-there was no malice here from what I see and know about Chris. A mistake was made and is being dealt with.

As far as being illegal, please, if done in an entertaining arena it is considered as such. Like saying you can prosecute Anthony Hopkins for cannibalism because of his role in ‘Silence of the Lambs’. I understand the arguments, I went through same thing in Germany and it was never considered a problem in Germany-only over the Internet and the Internet reporters. Chris’ intent was to entertain not insult anyone in Brazil or the great Brazilian fans.

Times change and for the better. Chris did what a ton of older heels would have done and he reacted. He is being punished and he apologized. He is one of all time greats and a great friend, old habits are hard to change but we must.

Times change and we have to change with it, and we all will.

As far a similar incident in Germany:

‘Back in the day’ wrestlers flipped off crowds, spit at them got into fights with them, etc-was a different era. Me doing a goose step years ago, in Germany to make the fans mad was something everyone did (in fact so much that it had quit getting heat years before), was it right-no, it was just cheap heat from a different era same as yelling crude names at crowd. The night I did it that became famous there were several other guys who had done it, I had been on tours and I lived in Germany for two years and had seen when every match would do it. It had become a real cheap heat getter-that no longer worked because everyone was doing it. Fritz Von Erich and Barron Von Ratszche had made a living off of it-but like trying to make a living off of Vietnam or Civil War references it’s time had passed.

It’s been pointed out that I wasn’t even the only guy in the match that night who had done it. It got zero heat that night, wasn’t even worth doing. Again, right or wrong-everyone did it-and it’s time had passed and it was time to be smarter about getting heat just like flipping off the crowd’s time had passed as well.

Problem came when a reporter (from my understanding) who had a vendetta against Vince sent an email to the network I had just signed a deal with-they didn’t want any controversy and fired me. Best thing that ever happened to my wrestling career as I got tons of media and real heat off of it-in the corporate world of today it would be all negative and I would probably be suspended or fired-and rightfully so, it wasn’t that long ago but was a different era. Vince explained to the network that it was just part of a fictional show like Sgt Shultz in Hogan’s Heroes, but the folks there at the time didn’t get it.

This event helped make the JBL character as it got me so much main stream media, which also had a negative side as some never got that it was part of a fictional show.

There were Internet reports that I was being deported and charged, all ridiculous charges. That was never brought up. It was no big deal in Germany as it happened every wrestling match and no one there complained-it was so common in German wrestling that no one there even noticed. I let those charges go unanswered as it was getting me massive heat. I even suggested a shirt “You got fired” but WWE felt like it would die quickly and by the time shirt came out no one would care, which was true.

I gave Eddie’s mom a heart attack on Mother’s Day and tried to run over Cena with a car-personally I think that was worse, ha, but somehow folks realize that’s a work but some things aren’t-nature of the beast.

It still gets brought up every once in a while, good to be remembered:)

If ever there was a time to bring back Cyber Sunday/Taboo Tuesday, this would be it. Imagine the hype – Pint sized diva AJ is torn between C.M. Punk, Daniel Bryan and Kane. She is so distraught about having to choose, she asks the fans to pick for her. The AJ story line is the most intriguing thing going on Raw right now. The natural progression of the story tells us the decision should have been made already. It seems there are two reasons it is still going. The first is because it is generating a lot of buzz. The second is probably more logical. They don’t know where to go from here. The entire company knows this has the potential to go really well, but it can also end really bad. All three choices could work if executed properly. Here are just a few thoughts on how to make the decision.

C.M. Punk. – AJ reveals her love for Punk, but over the weeks her love starts turning to worship. She throws herself in front of opponents to save Punk, offers to carry his bags, maybe a segment where someone disrespects Punk and AJ starts challenging them to a fight. Suddenly AJ is no longer seen with Punk and she refuses to talk about it. Rumors run rampant over Twitter and WWE.com. After a couple weeks, Punk begrudgingly addresses the issue in the middle of the ring. He claims AJ was great but she became addicted to him and broke up with her because it wasn’t a healthy relationship for either of them. Towards the end of the year, AJ starts hanging around with Cody Rhodes. She starts worshiping Rhodes, but he likes it. Cody takes advantage of AJ and treats her like his slave. At the Royal Rumble, AJ and Punk run into each other for the first time since their split. Punk shows compassion, but AJ is timid. AJ helps Cody win the elimination chamber, but suddenly the sparks between Punk and AJ return. This builds to a Wrestlemania match for the WWE title where AJ’s loyalty to Rhodes is tested.

Daniel Bryan – AJ goes to Punk with a black eye saying Bryan struck her. Punk demands to face Bryan, but Bryan says he will only do so with the title on the line. AJ helps Bryan win the title, and wipes away the black eye to show it was make-up. The next week, AJ and Bryan are gloating in the ring when the GM comes out. It would work really well if it was Stephanie McMahon returning for the night, but anyone will do. Stephanie mentions how she used to pull tricks like that all the time, and she admires her savvy. However, now she is an executive and does not appreciate them messing with her title. Stephanie tells AJ she can keep her job as long as Daniel Bryan is champion. “That means, if and when Daniel Bryan loses the WWE title …AJ – you’re fired!”. AJ has anxiety for every title match, and does everything in her power to make sure Bryan keeps the title. That includes getting disqualified to keep the title, forcing Bryan to walk away and get counted out etc. When Bryan finally loses the title, AJ is escorted out by security. Bryan begs whoever the GM is at the time to reinstate her. After a few weeks of begging, the GM is willing to make a deal with Bryan. The audience is not made aware of the deal until the Royal Rumble. During the Rumble, Bryan comes in and eliminates Randy Orton as a favor to the GM. The GM does not like the attitude of Orton and considers Daniel Bryan to be the superior athlete he should model himself after. AJ is promptly reinstated and joins Bryan in his feud against Orton leading to Wrestlemania.

Kane – During a match between Punk, Bryan and Kane, AJ gets knocked unconscious. Kane is livid and destroys the ring side area, tombstones security, referees and anyone in his way. Two weeks later, the GM tells Kane they cannot afford having Kane on the roster because he is too much of a liability. Kane begins to throw things around again, and AJ comes in to calm him down. The GM sees AJ is the only calming force in Kane’s life, and says he can stay if AJ agrees to act as his handler. AJ agrees because she feels guilty for the destruction at Kane’s hands. AJ handles Kane well for a while. In a backstage segment, Jack Swagger offends AJ. Later in the show, Kane storms to the ring and destroys Swagger. AJ smiles devilishly, realizing she is in control of a monster. AJ sends Kane on a path of destruction all the way to the whoever Kane’s Wrestlemania program will be against.

His success is essentially character enhancement. The more he wins, the more he is hated. The majority of interest in his recent feud with R-Truth was to see the Miz get “got”. In what other industry is business driven so much by hatred?  If you are a Red Sox fan, would you pay to see the Yankees lose to anyone but your home team? Do people watch Two & a Half Men because they hate Ashton Kutcher? You have to evoke some kind of passion in your audience. This isn’t a tangible element, but something the Miz undoubtedly has. There is a buzz around everything he does. He’s seems to be getting less and -less television time each week, but every weekly Raw re-caps talk about how he is not being used properly.  Behind John Cena and C.M. Punk, Miz is probably the WWE superstar least likely to leave the fans feeling indifferent. Everyone seems to have an opinion about Cena and Punk, and Miz is certainly in that ball park as well. There are superstars like Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan that everyone seems to like, but those who don’t like them typically don’t “hate” them.

So what is the plan with Miz? He could be serving a long term punishment for sloppy ring work, but surely everyone has forgotten about that by now. I suspect they are burying him now, so when he is finally back on top, he will have even more heat. You don’t send a guy you have no faith in to represent your brand at the USA Network Upfronts, or to Brazil to promote a huge international tour. If I had a company, I’d be thankful to have a reliable resource like the Miz who can be used in so many different ways. You can build a main event feud around his character, have him enhance mid-level talent or even be the face of your company. And to think it all comes from having a big mouth.

Pro wrestling is pretty f*cked up.

I know, I’m not exactly breaking new ground here. Anyone who has followed the industry even somewhat casually over the past 25 years has seen the staggering amount of wrestlers under the age of 50 that have died. The percentage far dwarfs deaths in rock music, movies, and sports, yet for the most part is generally overlooked by the mainstream media, outside of the occasional HBO Sports piece, or newspaper column. The NFL is currently withstanding a firestorm of news regarding safety and concussions in the NFL, after future NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau committed suicide at the age of 43, and several other similar deaths in part attributed to the effect of a career’s worth of brain injuries. Still, the overwhelming feeling of, “Well, it’s just a wrestling, who cares?” is taken by most of the viewing public, as the sad body count continues to pile up. Even sadder, with many deaths in wrestling these days, they are taken with a sympathetic nod and an “RIP” post on a wrestling newsboard. If the newly deceased wrestler is lucky, they might even get a five second graphic with their picture on it to start RAW or Impact. But for the most part, deaths are so frequent, so regular in wrestling, that most don’t even register as a blip on the news radar.

This was almost a sad piece to even research. It’s tough to view a person’s death as not as important as someone else’s. Still, with the overwhelming number of tragedies in wrestling over the past 25 years, it sadly comes with the territory. The following is a compiled list of the 10 Most Impactful Deaths in pro wrestling, and why their death had such an impact on the wrestling industry and the general public.

AND NOW FOR PART#2

5) “Macho Man” Randy Savage – Heart attack, age 58. May 20, 2011

Despite being largely out of the public eye by the time of his death in May of 2011, Randy Savage’s death touched off a wave of emotion from current and former wrestling fans, as well as a great amount of mainstream media coverage. One of the biggest stars and best performers of the modern era, Savage was one of the few pro wrestlers to make his way into mainstream pop culture. His signature flamboyant costumes and raspy voice led him to be the spokesman for Slim Jim, as well as landed him a role as Bonesaw McGraw in the box office megahit, Spiderman.

Savage’s death is unique on this list, as he was mostly out of the wrestling industry by the time of his death, and his passing didn’t mark any changes in trend, booking, or regulations. What made Randy Savage’s death so impactful was the combination of sadness that it brought to the wrestling industry, as well as the respect and admiration he received from the general public. His death was front page news on ESPN’s website, and feature columnist Bill Simmons dedicated his weekly column that day to the legacy of Randy Savage. ESPN prime time shows Pardon the Interuption and SportsCenter both mentioned Savage’s death, as well as memories they had of him as a performer. CNN covered his death that day as well, and many people who were admittedly not fans of wrestling in general still commented on Facebook and Twitter about the life and times of the Macho Man. He was truly one of a handful of wrestlers who the world outside of the WWE Universe bubble
recognized and remembered, and his placement as one of the all time greats is well cemented.

4) Owen Hart – Injuries from falling from the rafters to the ring, age 34. May 23, 1999

One of the greatest tragedies in the history of the industry, Owen Hart’s horrifying death at WWE’s Over the Edge PPV in 1999 has long been regarded as one of the darkest days in wrestling. Long heralded for his ability in the ring and his family man values outside of it, Owen had performed all over the globe in his 20′s, before settling in the then World Wrestling Federation in the early 90′s. A heel turn against older brother Bret set the stage for one of the greatest matches in WWF history at Wrestlemania X, and Owen had since turned out a solid six years as an upper mid carder. By 1999, his WWF career appeared to be winding down, and Owen had confided to friends that he was strongly considering retirement after his contract was up in two years.

He never made it.

Two years of legal ramifications between Owen’s wife Martha and the WWF ended in a $18 million settlement, which legal experts claimed was the highest settlement amount ever awarded at that time from a wrongful death lawsuit. Martha used this money to start the Owen Hart Foundation, which was perhaps the lone bright spot to come out of this terrible situation. Hart’s death was seen by many as a sign that in the quest for ratings supremacy in the “Monday Night Wars”, perhaps the big bumps and crazy stunts were being taken too far. The next decade slowly brought a safer style to the industry, as softer rings, fewer head chair shots, and a ban on blading became commonplace. Sadly, despite Owen’s lengthy history as a fantastic performer will always be overshadowed by the circumstances of his tragic public death.

3) Eddie Guerrero – Heart attack, age 38. November 13, 2005.

Eddie Guerrero’s 2005 death marks the fourth performer on this list under the age of 60 to die of a heart condition. See a pattern here? Guerrero’s career was marked with a mix of incredible performances and personal demons. Bursting on to the North American scene at the now legendary “When Worlds Collide” PPV in November of 1994, Guerrero soon made a name for himself in ECW and WCW as one of the premier technicians of wrestling. His jump to the WWF in 2000 saw him get himself over as a main event player based on a combination of his in ring ability and goofy charisma. Eddie’s drug and alcohol abuse had gotten him released from the WWF in 2002, but he returned a year later with a renewed resolve, and his career was highlighted by a WWE World Title win over Brock Lesnar in February of 2004. At age 38, he was thought to have reached his peak as an all around performer and personality, and was hailed by many as the ultimate comeback story, an example of a
guy with demons who had battled through them and survived in one piece.

His sudden passing sent shockwaves through the WWE, and Vince McMahon was again left to field questions about how a seemingly healthy 38 year old man would die of a heart attack, and why this condition seemed to be so common in professional wrestling. Shortly after Guerrero’s death, the WWE instituted a new drug testing policy, called “The Wellness Policy” for its performers. This program was not just intended for drug testing, but for cardiovascular and other physical tests to increase safety amongst WWE talent. Six years into the policy, the jury is out with regards to the overall credibility of the program, however it did appear(and was rumored) that several big name talents had stopped taking steroids because of it, a substance that was credited as a factor in Guerrero’s death.

2) Vince McMahon Sr. – Pancreatic cancer, age 69. May 24, 1984.

A second generation promoter, Vince McMahon, Sr. is widely regarded as the founder of the WWE. While learning the business from his father Jess, McMahon Sr. saw the explosion of television into American society in the early 1950′s as a golden opportunity to expand his wrestling promotion. After a profitable decade of promoting in the Northeast, most notably at the world famous Madison Square Garden, McMahon, Sr. broke his Capitol Wrestling Corporation away from the NWA in 1963, and formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation, with Buddy Rogers as his first champion. (WWWF, later called the WWF and WWE) For the next twenty years, the WWWF flourished in the biggest markets in the Northeast, selling out Madison Square Garden over 200 times during that stretch.

McMahon, Sr.’s health had begun to decline in the early 80s, and in 1982 he sold the WWF to his son Vince McMahon and his backing company, Titan Sports, Inc. His selling and subsequent death less than two years later marked the greatest change the wrestling industry had ever seen, as his son soon set out on a path of conquering across the United States and Canada, airing his WWF shows in markets all over the company and taking the WWF from a Northeast staple to a worldwide powerhouse. Like McMahon Sr. himself had seen the advent of the television industry as a strength for wrestling programming, his son had bought the company from him with the vision of using newly used cable television to reach regions all across the company. Vince McMahon, Sr. is highly regarded amongst wrestling historians and past performers as a brilliant promoter and a man of integrity, and his death marked a severe change in the way that wrestling was promoted and televised across the country.

1) Chris Benoit – Suicide by hanging, age 40. June 24, 2007.

Pretty much everything that can be said has been said about the Chris Benoit ordeal. Widely known as one of the greatest in-ring talents in the history of wrestling, it was thought that the legacy of Chris Benoit would be of his talent and drive as a performer and the respect he held among his peers. While no one even today can question his talent as a performer, his respect as a man that was once so high within the industry came crashing down in a way that no one could have ever predicted. On June 25, 2007, after tips from people within WWE, police made a welfare check on Benoit’s suburban Georgia home, only to find the horrifying scene of Benoit, his wife Nancy, and seven year old son Daniel all dead. This happened on a Monday, and without all of the facts and reports made public yet, WWE dedicated that evening’s Monday Night Raw show to Chris Benoit. As the show was being broadcast, it was soon made apparent that this case was beyond the worst possible scenario thought of by the company. The next afternoon, police made public with the fact that Chris Benoit, wrestling icon and former WWE World Champion, had murdered his wife and son before hanging himself from a piece of his gym equipment.

The media reaction to this was swift and devastating. It was soon revealed that Benoit had purchased a large amount of steroids and testosterone in the last two years of his life, which seemingly went against the WWE Wellness Policy, which Benoit had never failed a test for. For the next several weeks, the wrestling industry came under fire in a way it had never faced before. Countless talk shows, CNN programs, and other news pieces discussed drugs in wrestling, the safety of the industry, and thought provoking questions about the lack of benefits, unions, and general decency of the way talent was treated. WWE quickly went on the defensive, quickly writing on their website that of course there was no way that steroids could have played a part in Benoit’s actions. Benoit’s brain was sent to Dr. Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, who concluded that Benoit had the brain of an 85 year old Alzheimer’s patient, the result of years of suplexes, headbutts, and chairshots.

Benoit was quickly erased from WWE history in a manner not seen before. He has not been mentioned or seen in any highlights package on WWE television since the murders became public, and is regarded as a taboo topic within the industry. Even worse, his actions ended the lives of two innocent people in as horrific a manner as one can imagine, and this is widely regarded as the worst incident in the history of professional wrestling. the policy, the jury is out with regards to the overall credibility of the program, however it did appear(and was rumored) that several big name talents had stopped taking steroids because of it, a substance that was credited as a factor in Guerrero’s death.

10 Most Impactful Deaths in Pro Wrestling

By: J.P.

A two part article by BTM columnist JP, check back for part two next week on 5/23.

Pro wrestling is pretty f*cked up.

I know, I’m not exactly breaking new ground here. Anyone who has followed the industry even somewhat casually over the past 25 years has seen the staggering amount of wrestlers under the age of 50 that have died. The percentage far dwarfs deaths in rock music, movies, and sports, yet for the most part is generally overlooked by the mainstream media, outside of the occasional HBO Sports piece, or newspaper column. The NFL is currently withstanding a firestorm of news regarding safety and concussions in the NFL, after future NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau committed suicide at the age of 43, and several other similar deaths in part attributed to the effect of a career’s worth of brain injuries. Still, the overwhelming feeling of, “Well, it’s just a wrestling, who cares?” is taken by most of the viewing public, as the sad body count continues to pile up. Even sadder, with many deaths in wrestling these days, they are taken with a sympathetic nod and an “RIP” post on a wrestling newsboard. If the newly deceased wrestler is lucky, they might even get a five second graphic with their picture on it to start RAW or Impact. But for the most part, deaths are so frequent, so regular in wrestling, that most don’t even register as a blip on the news radar.

This was almost a sad piece to even research. It’s tough to view a person’s death as not as important as someone else’s. Still, with the overwhelming number of tragedies in wrestling over the past 25 years, it sadly comes with the territory. The following is a compiled list of the 10 Most Impactful Deaths in pro wrestling, and why their death had such an impact on the wrestling industry and the general public.

10) Ernie Roth, the “Grand Wizard”. Heart attack, age 53. October 12, 1983.

A longtime mainstay in the 1970′s era of the WWF, Roth managed Stan Stasiak and Superstar Billy Graham to WWF Heavyweight Championship reigns. Known for sunglasses, sequins, and a colorful turban, Roth was a prototypical heel manager in an era where most top level guys had managers who could talk for them and bump for the faces. Roth also managed Pat Patterson during his reign as the inaugural intercontinental champion in 1979.

So what made Roth’s dead so impactful? Like many situations in professional wrestling in 1983, Roth’s death signaled a symbolic changing of the guard. For over ten years, the WWF heel manager stable had been ruled by Classy Freddie Blassie, Captain Lou Albano, and Roth himself. Together, the three were known as the “Three Wise Men of the East”, and were known for bonding together in and outside of the ring. Roth’s passing was the beginning of a new golden era of wrestling managers. Albano and Blassie would be phased out within the next few years, opening the door for AWA mainstay Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, longtime Memphis mouthpiece Jimmy Hart, tag team veteran turned manager Mr. Fuji, as well as relative newcomer Slick. Just as Roth and company had ruled the heel manager portion of the roster in the seventies, this new wave of managing talent would rule the WWF for the next decade, paving the way for the Rock N Wrestling Connection, and the Wrestlemania era.

The Grand Wizard doing what he did best:

9) Brian Pillman. Heart failure, age 35. October 5, 1997.

A very sad death for modern wrestling fans who had watched Pillman evolve as a performer for over ten years. Starting out as a high flying cruiserweight with the nickname “Flyin’ Brian”, Pillman over the years had taken on a more edgy character, and was the talk of the wrestling industry in 1996 with his brilliant “Loose Cannon” gimmick, one that few seemed to know how or where it ended at. An admitted steroid user early in his career, a serious car accident had shattered Pillman’s ankle, and with it, his ability to perform at a high level. Pillman was allegedly well known to use alcohol and prescription drugs at a dangerous level, and while his death was attributed to an undetected heart condition, doctors who performed the autopsy concluded that his prolonged use of drugs and alcohol had contributed to his early passing.

Pillman’s death was at the time, a nightmare for Vince McMahon. While many professional wrestlers had passed away, this was the first time that a regular Pay Per View performer had died while currently under contract to the WWF, on the day he was supposed to wrestle on a Pay Per View, no less. While many hoped Pillman’s death would serve as a wakeup call to many wrestlers, it didn’t appear to be the case. This was also the first time the WWF had gathered their entire roster for a ten bell salute in the ring, and dedicated the entire show to a wrestler’s memory. Sadly, it would not be the last.

Brian Pillman tribute from RAW:

8.) David Von Erich – enteritis of the intestine(or, as popular theory states, a drug overdose) Age 25, February 10, 1984. 

7) Bruiser Brody – Murder, age 42. July 17, 1988

While many things make the professional wrestling a unique one, of the main characteristics of this strange industry is the strange relationship between promoters and wrestlers. In a profession with no union, no benefits, and performers all regarded as independent contractors, promoters and wrestlers alike have waged war over the years over money and creative issues. A standard distrust and dislike permeates this relationship, and many wrestlers often have horror stories of being stiffed on money or promises made. Tales of the old territory days of wrestling often sound like a Wild West show. The one general rule in wrestling amongst the talent is that a wrestler himself has to be the one to look out for themselves first, because no one else will.

Take Bruiser Brody, for instance. During his legendary 15 year career, Brody was regarded as one of the greatest brawlers in the history of wrestling, as well as being a general pain in the ass for promoters to deal with. While widely regarded as a nice guy and family man, Brody was also a calculating shark when it came to business. He often would refuse to job, and was well known as having tumultuous relationships with most promoters he worked with. In July of 1988, while on a tour of Puerto Rico for Capitol Sports Promotions, Brody was stabbed to death in a locker room stall by wrestler/promoter Jose Gonzalez, following a brief scuffle. The actual stabbing was not witnessed by anyone, but several American wrestlers witnessed the aftermath. No one would testify on’s Brody behalf for fear of their life, and Gonzalez was acquitted of the murder in January of 1989. This would lead to many American wrestlers not returning to work in Puerto Rico, remembering Brody’s cold blooded killing. During the infamous locker room confrontation between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon after Survivor Series 97, Davey Boy Smith warned other Hart allies to remain in the room, urging them to remember what happened to Bruiser Brody. A sad chapter to Bruiser Brody’s legacy no doubt, but an impactful reminder to fellow wrestlers to keep their guard up.

Brody wrestling against the man that murdered him:

6) Mitsuhara Misawa – Cardiac arrest following a back suplex, age 47. June 13, 2009.

While not well known by North American wrestling fans, Mitsuhara Misawa was regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and one of the biggest stars of All Japan Pro Wrestling for twenty years. Starting his career as the second coming of the Tiger Mask gimmick, Misawa unmasked in 1990 and wrestled under his real name. He went on to pattern a career destined for the Japanese record books. A five time All Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and three time winner of the Wrestler of the Year Award by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Misawa’s legend among Japanese fans was as highly regarded as any performer in the history of puroesu. Misawa was well known for his stiff and physical style of performing, and as he got older he continued to perform in the same manner, even with the toll it was taking on his body.

Tragically, this toll would wind up costing him his life. In a tag team match in June of 2009, Misawa took a back suplex from wrester Akitoshi Saito and never got up. While certainly a stiff bump, it was no different than many Misawa had taken over the years. What wasn’t well known was that Misawa already had spine and neck issues from years of hard bumping, and this suplex was the one that finally was his limit. He suffered a paralyzing cervical spine injury from the suplex, and went into a cardiac arrest he would not recover from. His death sent shockwaves and sadness throughout the wrestling world, and added speculation as to the safety that the stiff Japanese style afforded its performers. Following Misawa’s death, several promotions in Japan made strides towards regulating professional wrestling in Japan, for the benefit and health of everyone involved.
A fan’s Misawa tribute:

Part #2 of The Top 10 Most Impactful will be published on May 23rd .