COLUMBUS, OH—When all is said and done, the wrestling industry will be hard-pressed to top this month.
We’re only halfway through it, but January of 2016 has proven to be a crazy, crazy month indeed. The world’s biggest wrestling companies are reshuffling thanks to the WWE’s preying, and what was once a glacially-paced status quo is now experiencing major tectonic shifts. We’re excited—perhaps even too excited to know how to be wary—and we have all reasons to be.
WWE acquires another major star
Buried under the fiery buzz of the NJPW Exodus coming in was a pretty quick and sly acquisition of another big wrestling star on the outside. This past week saw rumors of and the eventual signing of TNA’s Austin Aries, a highly-skilled performer of the same pedigree as CM Punk and Daniel Bryan.
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Aries’ WWE debut is even more special than the NJPW Four if only because it was a signing we totally weren’t expecting. Aries, who left TNA last year, has been backstage at Full Sail after his departure, but those dreams were dashed when he reappeared in their World Title Series. If James Storm won’t come to play with the WWE, then we’ll take Aries. He’s just as good, if not better.
The Royal Rumble is this Sunday
It’s arguably the biggest Rumble match in recent history, but we can’t blame you if you’re not super-hyped up for it.
Yes, there is finally a measure of unpredictability as to who’s gonna win the whole thing, but you can’t deny that this could have been so much more if the WWE treated everyone as serious contenders to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Even if you know most people don’t even have a single shot. As it stands, they’ve pretty much admitted that only 4 or 5 wrestlers on the roster really matter (see video below)—if that’s the case, then why didn’t we just go for a 5-man over-the-top battle royal?
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It’s the neglect of little details like these that make 3 hours of RAW hell to sit through. Remember, urgency is the best way to create drama. It’s nice that they’ve managed to up the stakes for Roman Reigns, but what about the others? He’s not the only one on the show, and if you need to fill up 3 hours, you’re going to have to really shine the spotlight on every other guy as well. Just so everything matters, and people have more reasons to care.
(Granted, they might do that in the actual match, but why wait?)
TNA’s sourgraping
Despite going the right way and having a double turn between Matt Hardy and Ethan Carter III that people can get behind, TNA manages to ruin whatever momentum its got going by releasing an ill-advised press statement describing how AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson were apparently going to sign with the company before ghosting them and suddenly going to the competition.
Seriously, this whole thing is bizarre:
“In the last few weeks, rumors have swirled about AJ Styles, his future and TNA Wrestling. Fans have asked for the status and wrestling media have made numerous inquiries.
For the past several months, AJ and TNA were involved in serious discussions to bring him back home to TNA. Creative discussions escalated and two additional wrestlers, Drew Hankinson and Chad Allegra, were enthusiastically added.
These discussions culminated on December 14th in Nashville, Tenn., where all attended a meeting at Dixie Carter's home. A handshake and written deal between AJ, Drew, Chad and TNA was agreed upon and signed by all. Start dates were determined, creative decided, merchandise designed and plane tickets purchased.”
This was apparently just a last-ditch salvo not to sway the minds of any of the 4 guys involved, but to at least assure TNA fans that they didn’t let Styles and Gallows go without trying. There really was no justifiable reason to put this out; if TNA really wanted to inspire faith in its fanbase, it would keep making do with the talent they do have.
The return of the Underground
Lucha Underground returns next week! If you want to watch an awesome wrestling show, don’t miss it! I’ll also be covering season 2 right here!
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Smark Gilas-Pilipinas and PWR are teaming up once again this year to present a live Royal Rumble viewing party! It will be at Skinny Mike's Sports Bar once again on the morning of Monday, Jan. 25—and of course, admission is free! The event page is right here!
Do you listen to podcasts? Would you want to listen to a local podcast about pro wrestling? If the answers to those questions – especially that last one – are yes, then you should check out the cleverly-named Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, featuring Mellow 94.7 DJ and PWR General Manager Stan Sy, wrestling writer Romeo Moran, and all-around multimedia person and former voice of PWR Raf Camus! On their latest episode, they predict the Royal Rumble! Listen to it here! – Rappler.com