Bleacher Report - Articles by jason savage

The 10 Future SuperStars of the WWE

jason savage — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:34:15 -0400

In wrestling, just like everything else, eras come and go. The 80's Hogan Era, The Early 90's Bret Hart era, the LATE 90's "Attitude" era... Soon the current era and it's superstars will end (if the WWE will let it go). The following slide show looks at the current WWE roster and who will be the superstars of the next era. It's time for the WWE to embrace it's future and let go of it's past.

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Why WrestleMania XXV Missed the Mark

jason savage — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:16:47 -0400

I am going to keep this article short and sweet.

Sunday night's WrestleMania began with a great build and ended with a thud, one that could have been avoided with two simple switches in the order of events:

1. Kid Rock's performance should have been at the mid-point of the show, like a half time show at the Super Bowl.

It would have been a nice intermission between the first half and the second half of the show. I realize the last song he performed was used as the entrance theme for the divas, but I think leaving the divas match second without such an introduction would have been fine.

2. HBK vs. The Undertaker should have closed the night, it certainly stole the show and left the last two matches feeling less intense and exciting.

The sell-out crowd of 72,744 in Houston',s Reliant Stadium just didn't seem as into those final matches, which had a lot to live up to.

Imagine, if you would, WresteMania XXV taking place in this order:

1. "Money In The Bank" Ladder Match

2. Divas Ms. WrestleMania Battle Royal

3. Jericho vs. Piper/Snuka/Steamboat

4. Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy

5. Kid Rock's "half-time" performance

6. JBL vs. Mysterio

7. Edge vs. Cena vs Big Show

8. HHH vs. Orton

9. Undertaker vs. HBK

In my opinion, just by switching those two events, it would have made the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania one of the best shows in years!

2009 WWE Hall Of Fame Inductees Disrespected!

jason savage — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:43:15 -0400

Ricky Steamboat and Stone Cold Steve Austin aside, and no ill will towards them whatsoever, but the other members of the WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2009 have been disrespected, in my opinion, by not being given ANY TV time last night on USA network. (Well, except for a pathetic two minute package with highlights of their inductions.)

I am talking two minutes TOTAL for The Funks, Koko B Ware, The Von Erichs, and Howard Finkel, that's 30 seconds each!

With all the commercial breaks they took and promos for WrestleMania they ran the WWE could have easily made more time for the others. I don't know, how about giving them each one minute at least for crying out loud!

Better yet, the show aired late night on a Saturday Night (not exactly a ratings boom period), so why not make it a two hour special and give everyone the respect they deserve?

As a wrestling fan in my 30's (the audience I am assuming the WWE is expecting to tune in for a Hall of Fame ceremony) I was looking forward to seeing Austin and Steamboat of course, but more importantly to me The Von Erichs induction.

What that family accomplished in the business was special, and all the tragedy they experienced, incredible. Kevin Von Erich (the only living member of the Von Erich dynasty) deserved some airtime!

I am sure many in my age group and older, especially the ones in Texas, tuned in to see that special and emotional moment.

Fans of The Funks, Koko B.Ware, Bill Watts, and Howard Finkel?!?! (does he have fans), feel the same way about their inductions.

The WWE Hall of Fame is there to pay respect to those who paved the way for today's wrestlers, but I think last night's broadcast did anything but.

25 Years Ago Today It All Began...WrestleMania!

jason savage — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:14:32 -0400

Sunday afternoon March 31, 1985 Madison Square Garden, New York City the very first WrestleMania!

19,121 pack the Garden and over 1 million more around the country watch in arenas, theatres, and other venues across the country on closed circuit TV (making this the biggest closed circuit event in history at that time) to see what has now become the "Super Bowl" of pro-wrestling.

By today's standards this event has less spectacle than a current WWE house show!

No pyro, special lighting, banners, etc. but what it did have was the magical spark that has ignited 24 more in the years since.

The celebrities were there in abundance! Everyone from Ali, to Liberace, and of course the pop queen of the time Cyndi Lauper and TV hero of the day Mr.T!

So what made this event so special and turned it into what it is today?

Three things really, all revolving around the best bad guy perhaps of all time, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper!

His feuds with Cyndi Lauper, Hulk Hogan and Mr.T is really what made it all happen.

Roddy Piper began speaking out against the recent "rock n wrestling" connection between the WWF and MTV which started in 1983/1984 with a friendship between Lauper and wrestling manager Capt. Lou Albano.

Albano appeared in many of Lauper's music videos and then Lauper began showing up at wrestling events and eventually began managing female wrestler Wendi Richter.

Eventually Piper would attack Albano (live on MTV) leading to Hulk Hogan seeking revenge for his friends, also live on MTV, during an event labeled "The War To Settle The Score" on 2/18/85.

Hogan was already somewhat of a celebrity outside of the wrestling world thanks to his role in Rocky III where he befriended Mr.T.

For his match with Piper, Hogan came to the ring accompanied by Lauper, Albano and Mr.T.

Piper brought along Cowboy Bob Orton and Paul Orndorf. Hulk Hogan won the match by DQ but he, Lauper, and Mr.T were attacked in the ring after the match with Piper going so far as to kick Lauper in the head!

The build for WrestleMania was unlike anything pro wrestling had ever seen! Hulk Hogan and Mr. T's mainstream popularity put them all over TV in the weeks prior to the event, even hosting Saturday Night Live the night before!

All this lead of course to the main event of the inaugural WrestleMania, Hulk Hogan teaming with Mr.T to face Piper and Orndorf.

Hogan and T won, and the rest of course is history, and it all happened 25 years ago today!

WWE: Bring Back Money as an Incentive

jason savage — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:15:40 -0400

It's been a while since I have written anything and that's because I decided only to write when I feel I have something to contribute.

This time out, I am asking the WWE to bring back money as an incentive in storylines.

Throughout wrestling history, money has always played a big role in storylines and, in turn, ratings.

In recent years however, money seems to have fallen by the wayside.

I say bring back the bounties, the cash challenges, and the big money Battle Royals and tournaments!

The Cash Challenge

The first WrestleMania featured a $15,000 body slam challenge between Andre The Giant and Big John Studd.

Studd claimed he couldn't be slammed and offered $15 grand to anyone who would take the chance.

After many attempts from different wrestlers, Andre finally slammed Studd at WrestleMania and threw the money out to the crowd at Madison Square Garden until Studd's manager, Bobby Heenan, snatched the bag of money away from the big man.

Big Money Battle Royals and Tournaments

Battle Royal's once had a cash incentive: win the Battle Royal and win $10,000, $25,000, maybe even $50,000.

To me, that makes the Battle Royal more "realistic." Now there is a reason 20 men or more are in the ring, tossing each other over the top rope.

They want to win the money!

Same goes for tournaments. Not only could you crown a new "King Of The Ring" each year, but give the winner $100,000 or something.

It helps build interest in my opinion.

The Bounty

I remember when a bad guy—or "heel"—would openly put a $10,000 cash bounty on his rival's head. Anyone who could put said rival on the shelf would collect the money.

It made you wonder who was going to try next to collect the bounty. Sometimes, it even lead to a friend becoming a foe, all in the name of the almighty dollar.

Bounties are also a great way to introduce a new or returning wrestler to the roster.

It's just one more way to keep the storylines going, and since it hasn't been used much lately, it would certainly freshen things up.

With that said, who would like to collect a $50 bounty to put Joe Burgett out of the B/R? (kidding, kidding...)

The Real Mr. WrestleMania

jason savage — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:34:55 -0500

Let's face it boys and girls, as we make our way toward WrestleMania XXV on April 5 in Houston, the real Mr. WrestleMania is Hulk Hogan, not Shawn Michaels.

Hogan not only put WrestleMania on the map, he brought pro wrestling back to the mainstream!

Hogan's connections with Cyndi Lauper, Roddy Piper, Mr. T, and MTV in 1984/85 are what led to the first WrestleMania to begin with. His star power is what propelled it each year that followed and made it into an annual event for the ages.

While Hogan was headlining his fifth WrestleMania, Michaels was appearing there for the first time as a part of "The Rockers."

Hogan was the headliner of seven of the first nine WrestleManias, and played a key role in the endings of the other two, including winning the WWE title from Yokozuna at the conclusion of WrestleMania IX in 1993.

Of the top-10 largest crowds in WrestleMania history, Hogan was involved in seven of them, and headlined five—including WrestleMania III in front of 93,173 at the peak of Hulkamania in 1987!

I have nothing against Michaels. He is a far better wrestler than Hogan.

Hogan simply has "it." Whatever "it" is, you can't really describe it—charisma perhaps? but whatever "it" is, Hogan has it 10 times over!

In conclusion, there would be no WrestleMania if it weren't for the "Hulkster," brother!

The 10 Largest WrestleMania Crowds of All Time

jason savage — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:12:10 -0500

As we head down the road to WrestleMania's 25th anniversary I think it would be fitting to look back at the 10 largest crowds in WrestleMania history (so far)! This years WrestleMania on April 5 at Relient Stadium in Houston will end up somewhere in the top 10 next year with over 60,000 tickets already sold but here are the top 10 crowds as it stands today.

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WrestleMania XXVI Location Confirmed!

jason savage — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:49 -0500

It has been rumored for over a year now, but it is finally official, next years WrestleMania (WrestleMania XXVI or possibly billed as WrestleMania 2010) will be held at the University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The stadium is new, opening in 2006, and has a retractable roof!

The stadium can accommodate 73,000 for football. Expect 75-80,000 seats to be available for the WWE event since they can utilize the football field for seating.

WrestleMania XXVI will be the fourth consecutive stadium WrestleMania, with XXIII held at Ford Field in Detroit in front of over 80,000 in '07, XXIV being held outdoors last year in front of over 74,000 in Orlando's Citrus Bowl, and this years event coming April 5 to Reliant Stadium in Houston with over 70,000 expected to attend.

Vote For Randy Savage Now At WWE.com

jason savage — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:32:01 -0500

In conjunction with the upcoming release of the "Legends Of WrestleMania" video game on March 24th and of course the upcoming 25th anniversary of "WrestleMania" on April 5th WWE.com is doing a weekly "Greatest Legend of WrestleMania" vote.

Each week you can choose one of five Superstars as the "Greatest Legend Of WrestleMania". You are limited to one vote per day.

Believe it or not this week Randy Savage is one of the wrestlers you can vote for!

I encourage everyone to show the WWE how much the "Macho Man" is loved in the eyes of the fans.

Perhaps this could lead to a future induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame.

In fact the winner of the "Legends of WrestleMania" voting will be announced at this years WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony on April 4th.

So you ask, why does Randy Savage deserve it?

Please read my previous article by clicking here.

With the WWE putting Savage as a candidate for the "Greatest Legend of WrestleMania" and the recent announcement of a WWE DVD on the "Macho Man" this June perhaps the ice is finally breaking between the McMahons and Randy, let's hope!

Now get over the WWE.com and vote "DIG IT!"

NEW "NWA WRESTLING SHOWCASE" AIRING ON COLOURS TV!

jason savage — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:41:27 -0500

In January of 2008 the NWA returned to national TV via Dish Network and the Colours TV network.

The TV show ran new weekly episodes until about mid-March '08 and then suddenly (due to financial reasons) ran only reruns of the first 10 episodes the remainder of the year.

That is until just recently when new episodes began airing again at the end of January 2009.

This time, the show is taped at a Hollywood TV studio in front of a small audience. It reminds me alot of the old "studio wrestling" of the '70s and early '80s (remember the old Saturday night NWA shows on WTBS?).

The players this time out include...

Blue Demon Jr., the current NWA champion

The Skull Krushers, the NWA tag team champions

Mike DiBiase, the NWA North American Champion

The Young Bucks (a young team who definitely have a chance to make it to the WWE one day if they ever resurrect their sickly tag team division.)

and The Border Patrol (three men who don't like anyone that isn't from the U.S.A.).

Other familiar names include Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade (formerly of the WWE) and King V (formerly Mabel/Big Daddy V in the WWE.)

Check it out if you get the chance, the show airs Friday nights at 6 p.m. on Colours TV, Dish Network channel 9407.

My Royal Rumble 2009 Prediction

jason savage — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:10:40 -0500

Not much of an article here, just a prediction...and I am probably going to be way off in my prediction, two of them actually. I personally hope I am wrong about one of them, but here goes.

I don't see HHH or the Undertaker winning this year and we know that Cena and Hardy won't win because they aren't in, so I see one of two scenarios taking place this Sunday:

1. Christian returns and wins the Rumble!

Unlikely because I think his role will be more limited to the Edge vs. Jeff Hardy match.

-OR-

2. Batista returns and wins the Rumble!

I know he is supposed to be out until after WrestleMania XXV with his injury, but if you remember John Cena was supposed to be out longer last year and made a surprise return to win the Rumble.

This is the one I hope does not happen because I am not much of a Batista fan. He should be a mid-card star at best, in my opinion.

It certainly would be a surprise for him to return and win, but not one I would enjoy.

Why the Von Erich's Deserve to Be in the WWE Hall of Fame

jason savage — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:40:11 -0500

Just like last year's Hall of Fame had a Florida flavor in its inductees with WrestleMania XXIV held in Orlando and inducting Gordon Solie, Eddie Graham, and the Brisco Bros, this year's event in Houston seems to have a Texas flavor with Stone Cold Steve Austin and a rumored Cowboy Bill Watts going in. Other Texans rumored to be Hall of Fame-bound this year are the Funks.

Now, following on that theme, how could you have a "Texas" Hall of Fame induction without the Von Erichs—the most famous family in Texas wrestling?

For those who are unfamiliar with the Von Erichs, I suggest you watch the World Wrestling Entertainment's released Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling DVD, or the independent documentary Heroes of World Class DVD and get a wrestling history lesson as well as a lesson on the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and fame at a young age.

In a brief career recap, Fritz was the father of the Von Erich boys, and was a very successful wrestler himself in the 1960s and 1970s.

He went on to become the owner of the WCCW in Texas and, with the help of his sons, turned the promotion into one of the biggest of the 1980s.

WCCW really changed how wrestling was presented on TV, and was very influential towards today's wrestling product. Fritz died of cancer in 1997.

David Von Erich was the first son to gain popularity, and was scheduled to win the National Wrestling Association title from Ric Flair, but died months before the match was to occur. He died in Japan of acute enteritis according to the official report, though some say drugs were involved.

Kevin Von Erich is the only living brother of the Von Erichs, was also hugely popular in the '80s, and held many titles with his brothers.

Mike Von Erich wrestled until 1985, when he had to undergo shoulder surgery. During the surgery he contracted toxic shock syndrome and nearly died. He never fully recovered from the infection and suffered some brain damage from the high fever that accompanied it. Mike committed suicide in 1987.

Chris Von Erich tried to follow in his brothers' footsteps, but was much smaller and never achieved much success. He committed suicide in 1991.

Kerry Von Erich was probably the most successful of the brothers as he won the NWA title from Ric Flair at the first David Von Erich memorial event at Texas Stadium in front of over 40,000 in 1984.

He also won the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental title in 1990, now the WWE, during his brief time there. A little known fact on Kerry is that he wrestled with an artificial foot after a motorcycle accident in 1986. Kerry also committed suicide in 1993.

This family deserves to be in the Hall of Fame due to their sheer popularity in the 1980s.

Before wrestling went national, and then global with the WWF, the Von Erichs were selling out arenas around the world, including events in Japan and Israel, and drawing crowds of 30,000 and 40,000 at home in Texas.

WCCW TV ratings were huge wherever the show was broadcast, and the Von Erich brothers had endorsement deals with businesses all over the Dallas area. They were well ahead of their time in that area.

If Fritz had decided to take the WCCW national in the early '80s like many suggested he do, WCCW may be standing where the WWE stands today.

Dish Network & WWE Road to WrestleMania 25 Package

jason savage — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:15:35 -0500

For those of you with Dish Network here in the good ole USA, I wanted to let you know that Dish Network and the WWE are offering a "Road To WrestleMania 25" pay-per-view package.

You get the Royal Rumble on 1/25, No Way Out on 2/15, and WrestleMania 25 on 4/5 for $115 (SD) or $149 (HD).

That works out to about $38 each (SD) and $49 each (HD).

Perhaps Direct TV and the cable systems are offering something similar?

Not much of an article I know but in these rough economic times, I thought I would share the news.

The Latest On WWE PG: The F.U. Renamed The "Throwback" !

jason savage — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:38:52 -0500

According to the latest blog from Jim Ross the WWE has renamed John Cena's "F.U." get this

"The Throwback".

Much more PG and PC (politically correct) don't you think?

With the recent WWE decision to go PG many things have changed or have been toned down. (We all miss the bra and panties matches...sniffle.)

I'm not sure if this has to do with the PG change or not, but the WWE even frowns upon referring to their talent as "wrestlers" instead preferring "sports entertainers".

With that in mind the 25th anniversary of "WrestleMania" may be the last year for the event under that name.

"SportsEntertainmentMania I" will likely replace it in April of 2010.

WWE PG: What It Means

jason savage — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:07:15 -0500

I have been reading a lot of people griping about WWE's decision to take its programming PG, so I thought I would take it upon myself to define TVPG and TV14 (the old rating given to WWE programming).

These are the official definitions.

TVPG = This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program may contain one or more of the following: some suggestive dialogue (D), infrequent coarse language (L), some sexual situations (S), or moderate violence (V).

TV14 = This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program may contain one or more of the following: intensely suggestive dialogue (D), strong coarse language (L), intense sexual situations (S), or intense violence (V).

According to these definitions the main difference between the two is the amount of suggestive dialogue and coarse language, and the intensity of the sexual situations and violence.

It doesn't mean there won't be any bad language or sexual content, but it will be toned down and less frequent to make the show more family friendly.

I thought with all the bellyaching lately I would put it down in black and white for everyone to understand. It is more of a subtle change and not as drastic as some may fear.

WWE PG is here to stay folks, we need to get used to it.

With the PG rating, I see the future of the WWE being somewhere between the "cartoonish Hulkamania era" and the "over the top Stone Cold era".

WWE RAW To End in 2009?

jason savage — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:39:45 -0500

It's been on for over 15 years. It has had over 800 shows. It is the longest-running weekly episodic TV show in history, and it is time for it to end!

The WWE needs to shake things up, just like it did back in 1993 when RAW replaced the pre-recorded Prime Time Wrestling on USA!

Originally airing live from the Manhattan Center in New York City (a small venue that held only several hundred people) the show was different because it was live, held in an intimate setting, and the storylines unfolded right in front of us.

As time went on and the Monday Night Wars began with WCW, the WWE moved RAW to bigger arenas etc. and that is basically still what we have today, a live weekly TV show from a 15-18,000 seat arena with usually a sell out or near-sell-out crowd on hand, though lately attendance has been down.

To me, WWE RAW seems stale.

Other than a new high tech backdrop/video screen added several months ago the show hasn't changed much over the last several years.

That is why I call for RAW to end and for the WWE to shake things up again with something new, bold, and different. A brand new show with a whole new look and a new name.

Just what exactly I am not sure, just something to start a buzz and get some interest in the WWE again.

Maybe returning to smaller venues with a more intimate setting? Perhaps not as small as the Manhattan Center. but maybe some "second tier" arenas that hold 3,000 to 6,000 to make the show more interactive and to get the crowd more involved with the show.

Plus a smaller venue would weed out the less diehard fans. Is it just me or do these 15-18,000 plus crowds seem not very into the action as of late?

Look, that may not be the answer at all, maybe something so different I can't even imagine what it would be, but something.

When RAW began their slogan was "Uncensored, Uncut, and Uncooked" and it truly was! Today, not so much.

I would love to read your comments on what the WWE could do to turn Monday nights into "must see TV" again.

Former WWE Star Chyna Hospitalized

jason savage — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:50:35 -0500

According to TMZ.com, former WWE star Chyna was rushed to the hospital early Saturday, on her birthday.

She was so drunk when she was admitted, the shrinks at the hospital couldn't even do a psych evaluation.

She was celebrating her birthday with a few friends and had way too many drinks—which didn't mix well with her prescriptions. Friends found her passed out with cuts on her arms and called 911.

Chyna, whose real name is Joan Marie Laurer, worked for the WWE from 1997 to 2001, she was a member of DX and a former Intercontinental champion (the only woman to hold that belt).

Chyna was the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble, qualify for the King of the Ring tournament, and be the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. She also appeared in Playboy twice.

RCA/Hoosier Dome, Site of WrestleMania VIII, Has Imploded!

jason savage — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:07:59 -0500

The site of WrestleMania VIII is no more!

Saturday Dec. 20, 2008, the RCA Dome (previously known as the Hoosier Dome) imploded and a new stadium has taken its place.

On April 5, 1992 some 62,167 fans packed the stadium for WrestleMania VIII (only the third ever WrestleMania stadium show).

Highlights from the event include...

Randy Savage defeating Ric Flair for his second WWF title; this was Flair's first WrestleMania!

Bret Hart beat Rowdy Roddy Piper for the Intercontinental title in a rare (at the time) good guy vs. good guy match.

Hulk Hogan's "farewell match" with Sid Justice. He returned a year later.

The return of the Legion of Doom and the Ultimate Warrior.

This would be the last WrestleMania to be held in a stadium until WrestleMania XVII in 2001!

Just a little piece of history I thought I would pass along.

WWE/Pro Wrestling Has Only One of The Top 10 PPV's of '08!

jason savage — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:35:32 -0500

It was not a banner year for the WWE or pro wrestling in general on pay-per-view in 2008!

Only one event (WrestleMania XXIV) made it into the top 10 (No. 3), and that event featured a boxer (Floyd Mayweather) in it's featured bout!

Seven of the top 10 were UFC, and the other two were boxing.

Although WrestleMania XXIV did get over 1 million buys worldwide, it only had 670,000 buys in the U.S., down from the 760,000 in the U.S. of WrestleMania XXIII.

That's almost 100,000 fewer homes from one year to the next!

Overall the WWE is expected to gross between 125 and 130 million dollars in pay-per-view revenue in 2008, about half of the all-time record for pay-per-view revenue set by any organization during a calendar year. World Wrestling Entertainment, did approximately $260 million on pay-per-view during its heyday in 2001.

The WWE also cut the number of pay per views from 16 to 14, and in my opinion they should cut them even more. I think it would increase the number of buys, perhaps leading to more events in the top 10, and make for better storylines and fueds helping build interest and the number of viewers.

See my previous article for more information on that...

Of course, wrestling is cyclical and right now it's popularity is down, partially because there really is no break out/crossover star that appeals to the masses like Hulk Hogan did in the '80s and Stone Cold and The Rock did in the late '90s.

I am not willing to put a nail in the wrestling coffin yet; however, if things don't improve and UFC keeps rising pro-wrestlings worst days may still be ahead.

2008 Pro Wrestlers Who Have Passed Away

jason savage — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:11:33 -0500

Luckily 2008 was a year where we didn't have any major wrestling tragedies and deaths.

However, a few well known wrestlers of years gone by did pass away to the big squared circle in the sky.

Here are a few of the better known wrestlers who left us this year...

Killer Kawolski, 81, 10/13/26-8/30/08, heart attack

Gary Hart, 66, 1/24/42-3/16/08, heart attack

S.D. Jones, 63, 3/30/45-10/26/08, stroke

Killer Kawolski was before my time but he is responsible for many of today's top stars thanks to his wrestling school, including 12 time champ Triple H!

I do remember Gary Hart from his days in the Von Erich territory in the 80's (WCCW). He can be seen giving his thoughts on WCCW on both the WWE released WCCW DVD and the independantly produced "Heroes of World Class" DVD.

S.D. Jones was with the WWF/E from the mid '70s thru the mid '80s, the latter of those years he was mostly a "jobber," losing to the top stars of the '80s including a loss in just nine seconds at the first WrestleMania in 1985 to King Kong Bundy.

WWE: Bad Economy = Less Pay Per Views?

jason savage — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:27:27 -0500

I have thought for a long time the WWE has too many PPV's. One a month at $40 a pop!

Now with the economy in a downturn, I think it would be a great time to cut out some of the "less desirable" ones and go back to the big names!

I'm sure the WWE won't do it, but not only would it help WWE fans in their wallets, it would also help story lines from being so rushed and also make the PPV events seem "BIGGER" and more important, which would lead to more PPV buys and that would help the WWE. Seems beneficial to all.

"Back in the day" the then WWF had 4 big shows a year, and WCW had a few as well including Starrcade, Great American Bash, SuperBrawl, and Halloween Havoc.

It was "must see TV" and each of these events had the importance of an NFL playoff game and a certain buzz about them. Wouldn't it be nice to get that buzz back?

I propose six PPV's a year, something like this...

Jan = Royal Rumble

March = WrestleMania

May = Great American Bash

July = Summer Slam

Sept = Cyber Sunday

Nov = either Survivor Series or the return of Starrcade!

These shows could be huge and perhaps more than just WrestleMania could be held in a stadium!

Imagine The Great American Bash at the Georgia Dome or Summer Slam at the new Yankee Stadium, each in front over over 60,000 fans!

I am sure I am just dreaming, but there is no better time than the present to give this a shot in my opinion.

In the past dropping the number of pay per views in a year may have seemed like some sort of failure by the WWE. Right now however, it just makes good economic sense and I think the result will be a better WWE product!

WWE RAW's Intercontinental No. 1 Contender Tournament

jason savage — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:11:59 -0500

First, let me start by saying I like the concept.

Find a new No. 1 contender for William Regal to face, but the whole thing seems so rushed together to me.

There was no "teasing" of the event beforehand, it was just BOOM! here is a tournament starting tonight on RAW!

Wouldn't it have been a better idea to have Stephanie McMahon announce the tournament and then have it begin the following week?

Then, there were no brackets or visuals...it would be nice to know who the eight men are in the tournament and who would be facing who in the opening round.

Plus, Santino Marella isn't in the tournament? The former I.C. champ and inventor of the "Honk-A-Meter" doesn't deserve a first-round entry?

As a former radio station Program Director, I was always told when it came to events or contests to follow 3 simple rules...

1. Tell people you are going to do something (preview what is coming up/tease it/include all the details)

2. Do it (have the event or contest)

3. Tell people you did it (recap after the event make sure everyone knows it has been done and how great it was).

To me this is just another good idea that was thrown together at the last minute and wasn't properly planned and introduced to the fans.

Why Randy Savage Deserves to Be in the WWE Hall of Fame

jason savage — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:59:14 -0500

If you have read any of my articles you know that I am "old school", grew up on the WWF of the 80's, and that Hogan and Savage were two of my favorites.

The latter of the two has been extremely underrated and out of the spotlight until recently when he voiced a character in the new Disney movie "Bolt" and showed up at a red carpet event for the movie premiere.

He is looking much older and greyer, (to see use the link below) as he is 56 years old now.

http://www.tmz.com/2008/11/19/what-a-savage/

Savage's resurfacing makes me wonder if he will ever get a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame, an honor he richly deserves.

Unfortunately some sort of issue between him and the McMahons has caused the "Macho Man" to be off the list, and not even up for discussion.

I am not going to go into all the rumors as to why Savage has been blacklisted but trust me he has.

Proof?

Recent plans for a DVD were nixed, and a Savage "Legends" action figure scrapped just to name a few.

In this article I want to focus on the positive and write about why he deserves to be inducted, so here I go.

1. He is a two-time WWF champion, four-time WCW champion, and WWF Intercontinental champion are some of his accolades.

2. He wrestled in eight of the first 10 Wrestle Manias and participated in nine of the first 10, helping establish the event as "a global phenomenon." Savage and Hogan carried most of those events.

Now, of the 8 he participated in, he main evented or co-main evented in four (IV,V,VII,VIII). Even though it was not considered a main event his match with Ricky Steamboat at Wrestle Mania III in front of 93,173 in the Pontiac Silverdome, it stole the show and is still considered one of the greatest matches in Wrestle Mania history!

What two of the first 10 did he not make?

Well he wasn't in the WWF for the first one and didn't wrestle but was an announcer at IX. That's a pretty outstanding record.

3. Outside of the wrestling world he is one of the most recognizable wrestlers in history.

People who don't watch wrestling know who his is or remember him from his Slim Jim commercials or his role in the first Spiderman movie.

4. Finally, no one, past or present, does the flying elbow drop better, sorry Shawn Michaels and Black Machismo (the TNA Savage impersonator).

That's my two cents. Please participate in the poll on whether or not Macho Madness has a place in the WWE Hall of Fame!

WWE Survivor Series: Same S**t, Same Flies!

jason savage — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:49:24 -0500

When I was a kid growing up watching WWF wrestling on the "Big TV" in the living room my dad would be in the recliner reading the newspaper and occasionally glancing over to see what I was so interested in.

This was during "Hulkamania," and after a while it was pretty predictable.

Hogan squares off with a different "bad guy" about every four to six months. The "bad guy" would beat him up badly and then go for the win, that's when Hogan would start "Hulking up", shake his finger, drop the leg, and it was over! This was the mold that was set for all of his matches of the decade.

My dad would call it "Same s**t, Different flies", meaning same story, different opponent.

With the WWE today we get "Same s**t, SAME flies", meaning same story with the same six to eight people circulating through the main event cycle over and over again!

Edge and John Cena are champs again? Yawn. At least Jericho and C.M. Punk were different flies.

Am I the only one who is tired of the top-tier wrestlers being HHH, Undertaker, Cena, Edge, Batista, HBK, Big Show, and JBL for that last five years at least?

How about bringing some new stars up the ladder to the title (i.e. Hardy, Punk, etc.) and establish them there with a significant title run against several different contenders along the way, or if Cena and Edge are gonna be the champs for a while then bring in some new contenders for them to face.

Start fresh! Let some new people get a title shot!

In the 80's Hogan went from the Iron Shiek, to Piper, to Bundy, to Orndorff, to Andre, to Dibiase, to Savage, etc.

Can we get the same out of the WWE title picture today? PLEASE?

I am just asking for some different flies!

My Weekly Top Five Raw and Smackdown

jason savage — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:22:39 -0400

Hey! If college football can have a BCS ranking poll why can't I?

Below are what I believe are the top 5 contenders on RAW and the top five contenders on SMACKDOWN.

Being the IC champ on RAW and the U.S. champ on SMACKDOWN entitles you to be placed somewhere in the top five whether or not you may be in line for a title shot.

This is a list strictly based on the storylines etc. from each brand and who looks to be in line for a title shot in the near future.

RAW

Champion = Batista

1. Chris Jericho
2. JBL
3. Shawn Michaels
4. John Cena
5. IC champ = Santino Marella

SMACKDOWN

Champion = Triple H

1. Vladimir Kozlov
2. Jeff Hardy
3. Undertaker
4. U.S champ = Shelton Benjamin
5. Big Show

Agree or disagree? Using the criteria above how would you rank them?

WWE Divas Wrestling Attire Less Sexy

jason savage — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:48:51 -0400

Call me a pervert or a dirty old man but have you noticed that starting about a year ago the divas have quit wrestling in short skirts (with the exception of Jillian occasionally) and all wear long pants in the ring now (at least on national TV)? Surely I am not the only man who has observed this.

I miss Mickie James and Melina's old ring gear! Especially during Melina's split before entering the ring...BAD WRITER, BAD, BAD!

I know I am being extremely sexist here and the divas want to be taken seriously as wrestlers. I think many of the divas are great wrestlers, I also think they are very attractive and would like to see them in more provocative attire! A peek up the skirt won't hurt the ratings, just my opinion. BAD! BAD!

This probably has alot to do with the WWE going PG, which I don't get. How can something that revolves around violence be PG?

Anyway, I say to the WWE if you wanna get some male viewers back bring back the mini skirt as ring attire!

Oh! and the bra and panties match wouldn't be a bad idea either!

Legends Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXV?

jason savage — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:27:34 -0400

I have seen a few articles with "dream card" and "predictions" for the upcoming 25th anniversary of WrestleMania. so i thought i would throw in my two cents.

To honor those who have made it to the "Grand Daddy of them all" over the years, and to get them a nice payday, why not a "Legends of WrestleMania" Battle Royal?

Make it a 25 man Battle Royal, what the heck!

Now I am talking REAL legends here, not Doink the Clown or Haku or D-Lo Brown.

How about Hogan, Piper, Savage, Flair, Steamboat, Austin, The Rock, Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall, Ultimate Warrior, Sgt. Slaughter, Sid, Brock Lesnar, and that would just be half the participants!

I know for various reasons many of these guys couldn't or wouldn't (or wouldn't be asked to) perform but could you imagine if they did?

What a way to kick off the silver anniversary of WrestleMania!

Who would you like to see in a "Legends of Wrestlemania" Battle Royal?

The Lost Art of Storytelling in Wrestling

jason savage — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:23:19 -0400

The writers of pro-wrestling apparently believe that today's fast food and internet society doesn't have time to watch plots develop and storylines grow in order to gain interest, therefore, in most cases, they give us the beginning, middle, and end in less than a month.

A perfect example is The Miz and John Morrison versus DX.

On Oct. 20, Miz and Morrison make comments on RAW about DX being old.

On Oct. 27, Miz and Morrison announce a match has been signed for Monday, Nov. 3 between with DX.

On Oct. 28, Miz and Morrison beat up 2 DX impersonators on ECW.

Chances are the match on Monday will end a feud that has lasted all of three weeks and will feature one match. Hopefully, I am wrong, but based on past programming, probably not.

This could be a good angle if given the right build and allowed to play out over several weeks or even months. I'm going to take a stab at being a WWE writer, and this is how I would build it.

Miz and Morrison take verbal jabs at DX.

DX hears about it but chooses to laugh it off and ignore it, because one of the men is a WWE champ on Smackdown while the other is a champ on RAW.

Miz and Morrison turn up the heat with more jabs and the beating of the DX impersonators.

DX appears on RAW dressed as Miz and Morrison and starts jabbing back.

Miz and Morrison challenge DX to a match at Survivor Series.

If the fans find this feud interesting, the angle will continue. If not, it would end right there.

The scenario above builds interest in the feud and it lasts at least six weeks.

One issue bothers me about this feud, however. Why DX?

They will team as a special attraction from time to time but they are no longer a team.

We currently have a feud right that involves all three brands. Shawn is on RAW, HHH is on Smackdown, and Miz and Morrison are on ECW. I have already written an article titled, "Why three WWE Brands" that addresses this, but if you aren't going to keep the brands separate then why have them?

Back to the theme.

Wouldn't Miz and Morrison versus DX be more interesting if there were more chapters in the book?

WWE is too concerned with ratings right now and not with good storytelling, however, if you tell good stories, the ratings will come. If you have a good show, people will watch.

What Happened To The NWA Showcase On Colours TV?

jason savage — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:09:52 -0400

If you read the wrestling related websites about a year ago there was alot of talk about the legendary NWA returning to national TV (albeit in a small way via Colours TV available nationally only thru Dish Network) in January of 2008.

Being a Dish Network subscriber I was happy to hear the news and began tuning in to see what they had to offer. The show itself was pretty low budget, showing matches recorded at various recent live events mostly in the southwest (Texas, Nevada, California) with the promise of the show coming to us weekly very soon from the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Similar to what the AWA did in the '80s at the no longer existing Showboat there.

The talent was pretty good and a feud between the Real American Heroes (Karl Anderson/Joey Ryan) and Los Luchas (Phoenix Star/Zokre) was very entertaining, battling back and forth for the NWA tag team titles, even in a cage match one week!

Other stars of the show included a few familiar faces from days gone by in the WWE like "Eugene", Rob Conway, and Sean "X-Pac" Waltman. "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce was the NWA champion.

Unfortunately by mid March the last new weekly episode aired and ever since each weeks timeslot is filled with reruns of one the first 10 episodes.

My question is what happened? The show was just beginning to build storylines and interest and then it went into reruns. Repeated e-mails to the NWA have gone unanswered.

Does anyone here in the B/R wrestling community know what caused the quick demise of the return of the NWA?

Top 2 Worst Wrestling "Articles"

jason savage — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:34:31 -0400

Both by Jason Payne...Top 20 Favorite Wrestlers and Top 10 Most Hated Wrestlers.

I figured if he could make those into articles then I could make this into one as well.

Those are simply lists based on your personal opinion.

Please people don't just write for the sake of seeing it posted!

Take some time and write something interesting, insightful, and accurate!