RVD Update
RVD is scheduled to return to the 4/7 edition of RAW to start a several month run with the company.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Notes From Recent WWE Tryout Camp
Roderick Strong was described as the standout of the most recent tryout camp, with his physical and speaking abilities. Kevin Steen was also described as standing out for being in better shape. Other names in the camp included ACH, Michael Elgin, Rocky Romero, Willie Mack, and Arya Daivari, the brother of former WWE wrestler Shawn Daivari.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Former Announcer Returning to the WWE?
Reportedly, the WWE is close to reaching a deal with Jonathan Coachman. They ideally would want him to host in-studio wrap-up shows and possibly even a talk show. On Twitter a few days ago, Coachman tweeted out that he had a "cool" announcement for WWE fans next month in regards to something happening this Summer. He will still work for ESPN if this happens as the WWE gig is a part-time deal.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
AJ Styles Update
AJ will have a major push when he begins wrestling for New Japan in that he will be wrestling all of the top heavyweights, including a title match with current champion Kazuchika Okada coming "sooner than later." Also, AJ's current asking price on the U.S. Independent scene is $2,500 per booking.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
RVD is scheduled to return to the 4/7 edition of RAW to start a several month run with the company.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Notes From Recent WWE Tryout Camp
Roderick Strong was described as the standout of the most recent tryout camp, with his physical and speaking abilities. Kevin Steen was also described as standing out for being in better shape. Other names in the camp included ACH, Michael Elgin, Rocky Romero, Willie Mack, and Arya Daivari, the brother of former WWE wrestler Shawn Daivari.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Former Announcer Returning to the WWE?
Reportedly, the WWE is close to reaching a deal with Jonathan Coachman. They ideally would want him to host in-studio wrap-up shows and possibly even a talk show. On Twitter a few days ago, Coachman tweeted out that he had a "cool" announcement for WWE fans next month in regards to something happening this Summer. He will still work for ESPN if this happens as the WWE gig is a part-time deal.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
AJ Styles Update
AJ will have a major push when he begins wrestling for New Japan in that he will be wrestling all of the top heavyweights, including a title match with current champion Kazuchika Okada coming "sooner than later." Also, AJ's current asking price on the U.S. Independent scene is $2,500 per booking.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
I get bored quickly with RVD, so I have no problem with the part time thing. I have no problem with ANY wrestler being part time actually. Keeps them from becoming stale.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the Coach!! Incredibly underrated, and I feel he got a lot of backlash during his WWE tenure due to the fact that he is not Jim Ross.
As posted in the ECW review: Chamber PPV is up on the Network.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Coach coming back, one thing about the Network is how many more announcers both NWA/WCW and WWF would have, and it just allowed for a greater variety which is only a good thing.
ReplyDeleteLove the Coach as well. One of my favorites and hope he finds his way back.
ReplyDeleteSo is Coach leaving ESPN or is he able to work both companies? I always thought it was cool that whenever Rock is making his media rounds for a movie and stops at ESPN that he and Coach ALWAYS do a quick, wrestling style bit. Always awesome
ReplyDeleteHe comes across really well and natural on ESPN Radio. When you see/hear guys like Cole and himself unrestrained and not as Vince's mouthpiece, their talents shine.
ReplyDeleteWorking for both. The WWE thing would be a part-time gig.
ReplyDelete"Kevin Steen was also described as standing out for being in better shape."
ReplyDeleteHe can walk ALL the way to the ring now without breaking a sweat?? I'm impressed
I really want to see a RVD/Bryan title match. It isn't big enough for PPV, but that would be a great Raw main event.
ReplyDeleteHe only half waddles to the ring now.
ReplyDeleteHe beat out his fellow UPS workers in the conditioning drills.
ReplyDeleteStraight Coach is fine. It's when he started being a gimmick that he got annoying.
ReplyDeleteCoach was at the Trenton house show I went to on Sunday. Did a guest ring announcement.
ReplyDeleteReally? I fucking hated him by the end of his run.
ReplyDeleteI kind of want Coach as a GM again. It's how I first known him when I got back into wrestling.
ReplyDelete"I kind of want Coach as a GM again."
ReplyDeleteIsn't that Phil Jackson?
I always found that Byron Saxton NXT guy to be a cross between the Coach and the Rock. I hope they team up in some way.
ReplyDeleteIf the Real Americans hopefully breaking up soon, can we get a tag team with RVD Swagger and Ricardo?
ReplyDeleteRVD was dull as shit his last run. Maybe its because it was RVD vs Del Rio, I don't know. But hopefully he seems more motivated this time.
ReplyDeleteCoach was great on ESPN radio. Coach and Co. was a good show and it was great when he would tie his wrestling background into sports. It won't be the same with him back and not having the Rock make him dance the Charleston.
How can that be a title match if HHH is going over at Mania? (ok, ok, joke is dead. )
ReplyDeleteIt's ok, we still don't know.
ReplyDeleteOr having him sing some Barry Manilow.
ReplyDeleteKind of surprised at the Coach news...he's been moving up the ladder on SportsCenter. Not that he's leaving ESPN but ESPN tends to frown on its people working with other companies that are not owned by Disney.
ReplyDeleteTJ: was watching some old WM 14 build Raws last night and it got me thinking...
ReplyDeleteWas the original plan had Bret stayed to build to Austin/Bret at WM 14 with Austin FINALLY going over there? Would Austin going over his rival have meant more? Would they even have brought in Tyson...im not so sure a Tyson/Bret dynamic would have that good
I found Bret and Shawn to be 100% interchangeable here. Either way, Austin would go over a multiple time champ who was a "New Generation mainstay". So the torch would have been passed either way. About the Tyson stuff though, no idea.
ReplyDeleteYep, an unmotivated RVD isn't a pretty sight. I loved how the ECW fans at One Night Stand 2006 chanted "Same old $#!T" at Cena... While RVD just sleepwalked through the exact same 7-8 spots in every single match for the previous 4 years.
ReplyDeleteIt would have meant more because they had so much history. IIRC, the plan was for Bret to babyface afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI think the build would have been TOTALLY different, but as long as Austin was getting the belt I'm not sure alot changes.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder tho if that was their original plan Pre Montreal
Nobody talking about the AJ news so I'll get us started. I do wonder about his health and whether it's where it needs to be to work the NJPW style. I guess we'll find out. Wish him luck. He's the one true superstar that TNA created.
ReplyDeleteIf ACH doesn't get signed I'll have lost all faith
ReplyDeleteIt would have meant more, yes.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't compete in ROH prior?
ReplyDeleteIt was.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree.
ReplyDeleteThe Tyson/DX build was great but yea, the build was more Austin/Tyson hoopla as opposed to HBK/Austin.
RVD/Jericho was great last year. One of the best TV matches for 2013. I think they went like 28 minutes.
ReplyDeleteECW fans see what they want to see.
ReplyDeleteWe have different definitions of the word "superstar."
ReplyDeleteHe may have, I'd have to check, but he made his bones in TNA.
ReplyDeleteWhat does ACH stand for?
ReplyDeleteSuperstar in terms of the TNA world, which admittedly is a much smaller sphere than WWE. But he is the face of that company and was their equivalent to John Cena in that world.
ReplyDeleteI think he'd also be a perfect guy to work a program with Daniel Bryan.
ReplyDelete21:35 according to Cage Match.com, but still the same thing.
ReplyDelete"Roderick Strong was described as the standout of the most recent tryout camp, with his physical and _speaking_ abilities."
ReplyDeleteYou know you haven't watched Ring of Honor in a long time when...
I couldn't disagree more. This coming from a VERY casual TNA viewer, but I never got the impression he was their franchise guy while watching him. They never really portrayed him as that on tv, in my eyes
ReplyDeleteDidn't they refer to him as "The Franchise" at some point?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure really.
ReplyDeleteYah he has been pretty good on the stick lately, especially since The Decade faction started up.
ReplyDeleteHe's fine in small doses. I just never saw the appeal. Terrible on the stick. His matches are cool for a minute but it's typically spot spot spot. Comes off as unrealistic to me.
ReplyDeleteNever been a huge fan
They can make it for the new WWE Y Division title. Because we need to have more titles not defended on PPV!!!
ReplyDeleteYep, agreed. If the biggest "Superstar" in TNA history isn't even deemed worthy of a developmental deal in WWE... Then that doesn't bode well for him or TNA in general.
ReplyDeleteGuess moving furniture is a decent way to burn some calories. The Kevin Steen workout plan!!
ReplyDeleteStill #BetterThanBatista
ReplyDeleteSame exact thing went through my head. I always enjoyed Roddy's in ring work but from what I remember, he was hideous on the mic. Good for him though if he's actually improved.
ReplyDeleteSo we can add Disney to the list of potential WWE buyers?
ReplyDeleteHas his health been an issue in the past? I know he's not a young fella anymore (despite TNA's booking), and I admittedly am less up on the indy scene than I was six years ago, but I don't remember hearing/reading that AJ was exceptionally banged up.
ReplyDeleteIf Shawn hadn't borked his back, wasn't the plan to turn him babyface afterwards and feud with HHH?
ReplyDeleteI do think that the plan was for Bret to turn babyface and basically ride off into the sunset and begin working in the office. I think he was supposed to start working a part time schedule. He was 40 at the time, so that would make sense, even though he was still more than capable of having great matches. I think he knew his time in the WWF was up with the company's new direction and that he really didn't have the long term sustainability there as a top guy, especially as a babyface.
It's a Groundskeeper Willie gimmick.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not sure they even bring Tyson in if Bret stayed. I don't know how long that was in the works, but it seems like something that came up after Montreal and Vince was desperate and knew he needed to make a splash in order to fight back.
ReplyDeleteI had been watching WCW for most of 1997 and kept up with the WWF mostly through Livewire. I didn't even get pay-per-view until Bash at the Beach 97 so I wasn't watching any of those until I could rent the tapes from Blockbuster. That said, even as a casual viewer, I thought the Bret/Austin feud was GREAT and would have been totally into a proper blowoff match at WrestleMania. The feud definitely wasn't stale and they totally would have captured the audience if they resumed the feud after the 98 Royal Rumble. Whether or not it would have had the same mainstream impact as Tyson/Austin, I guess we'll never know (I lean towards probably not), but it still would have been a great, albeit very different, build and probably a great match.
Agreed, although it seems like ESPN actually values WWE experience and might be alright with Coach sliding back into the WWE-verse. I think that ESPN's prime audience at this point is probably college kids who have a lot of free time during random day parts and might feel like Coach being back in WWE could increase ESPN's appeal.
ReplyDeleteNot saying I agree with that, but that might be ESPN's perspective.
He's only about 10 years from looking like the Danny Devito penguin character
ReplyDeleteDead on. A persecution complex, encouragement of the "us vs. them" mentality and nostalgia have joined forces to make ECW diehards remember Danny Doring and Roadkill vs. the FBI as a MOTYC and not completely forgettable horseshit.
ReplyDeleteHe sucks. I never really saw what they saw in him. He's in Heath Slater league
ReplyDeleteThey should make the E division title, where it's never defended, just traded through skits and promos.
ReplyDeleteNow let's not be giving Vinnie any ideas. Besides it would be called the hashtag title and traded via twitter feuds!
ReplyDeleteI still think the WWE Network title would be a great idea, like a TV champ that defends the belt on every Main Event.
ReplyDeleteIt's Attitude, Charisma, something. I could google it, but yeah.
ReplyDeleteHeart
ReplyDeleteI guess that would depend on what would have happenend to Shawn Michaels. him and DX were clearly the second hottest thing in the company at that time period. if that part of history would stay the same it would make very little sense to not have the WrestleMania between your most interesting acts.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I really don't want to see rvd anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to a AJ/Tanahasi match.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I recall it is not a year round schedule so he'd be OK. I think he'd fit in well over there.
ReplyDeleteHe was like a "Surfer" Sting: athletic and exciting in the ring but not the greatest mic work.
ReplyDeleteSide note: That is why the "Crow" gimmick was good for Sting because he didn't have to talk.
I don't attend a lot of Indy wrestling shows, but I've never been to one where I thought the gate would have amounted to $2,500. Who is paying him that?
ReplyDeleteFun match. Maybe their best... Always had hit or miss chemistry.
ReplyDelete"Roderick Strong was described as the standout of the most recent tryout camp, with his... speaking abilities."
ReplyDelete...are we sure this is the same roderick strong from roh?
he sounds like yokel, and this is coming from someone who's from the south
farva is the aj styles of the BoD
ReplyDelete(i keed, i keed)
can't wait till hhh goes over mickey when minnie turns on him. stephanie will turn face and align with either goofy or donald
ReplyDeleteyou can only choose 1 for the rest of your life: punk hate or steen hate
ReplyDelete....aaaaaand go!
"
ReplyDelete-
At this time, there looks to be talk that Christian's career as an in
ring performer for WWE could be over. Christian won a four way match on
RAW this week and was set to challenge for the IC Title on Main Event,
but had to be pulled after suffering a "slight concussion".
Word is that Christian could retire as an in ring performer when his
current contract expires. There have reportedly been talks of retirement
prior to this week, due to Christian being 40, creative not really
having much for him and also due to his injury history over the last few
years. The concussion on Monday was the second one he suffered this
year.
There is talk that if he does retire that he would make a great trainer down in NXT, if he is interested in that position.
Read more at http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/317666/Injury-Update-on-Christian-%E2%80%93-Whats-His-Future-With-WWE?.htm#qTTwpr15oULGVtLJ.99"
You spelled "Steve Austin" wrong
ReplyDeleteRVD is coming back to get a check but I don't understand why the WWE would bring him back. They didn't seem to want him there last time.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how the tryout camp works? Is it invite or is it pretty open?
That would be like picking between my children.
ReplyDeleteso you admit that you did hit her...
ReplyDeleteIf Steens doing well, I'd bet it's fairly open. It's probably right across from a Weight Watchers and people can just waddle in
ReplyDeleteStyles in NJPW will be pretty cool. He's only had a couple matches there as part of TNA, so seeing him on the actual roster will be unique.
ReplyDeleteBringing in RVD seems like a waste of money to me. Other than the MITB return and the Jericho match the next night on Raw, he totally was defined down as a midcard act that whole run. The ADR feud was shit, he never won any matches, had any real storylines or even cut any promos. He was just there, standing up on the stage getting dressed down by The Authority like the rest of the midcard goons. He's a white old version of Kofi Kingston.
ReplyDeleteDude's a waste of time.
It's kind of funny that his career seems to go up since leaving TNA. Nox maybe we will see Bad Influence in NJPW too in a few month
ReplyDeleteHope he will remember not to tuck his head in during the Style Clash
ReplyDeleteNJPW has been awesome for the past couple of years and adding Styles and possibly Bad Influence would make it even greater. It seems like NJPW is getting all the great guys that TNA is not re-signing.
ReplyDelete