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.

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!

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