The 2023 Global Citizen Festival campaign has culminated in the largest commitment from any government this year to the International Fund for Agricultural Development to address the global hunger crisis, announced by Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
An unforgettable day of advocacy and action in Central Park saw landmark commitments from world leaders, philanthropists and the business community, alongside powerful performances and appearances from the biggest names in music and entertainment to advance Global Citizen’s mission to End Extreme Poverty Now, and hold to account leaders from around the world gathered in New York City for the Un General Assembly.
The flagship event from Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization, generated a record-shattering 3.3 million actions taken by global citizens around the world, calling on governments to address the major systemic issues our world is facing, including the global hunger crisis, the climate crisis, and equity for women and girls.
An unforgettable day of advocacy and action in Central Park saw landmark commitments from world leaders, philanthropists and the business community, alongside powerful performances and appearances from the biggest names in music and entertainment to advance Global Citizen’s mission to End Extreme Poverty Now, and hold to account leaders from around the world gathered in New York City for the Un General Assembly.
The flagship event from Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization, generated a record-shattering 3.3 million actions taken by global citizens around the world, calling on governments to address the major systemic issues our world is facing, including the global hunger crisis, the climate crisis, and equity for women and girls.
- 9/27/2023
- Look to the Stars
WWE 2K18 is about to be added to the Nintendo Switch library! Now give me a hell yeah!
Oooooh! Nintendo Switch! Don't You Dare Be Sour, Clap For Your World Famous WWE 2K Game And Feel The Powaaah!
The New Day and the rest of the WWE locker room will be joining the Nintendo Switch family when 2K Games releases WWE 2K18 this Wednesday for Nintendo's mobile console. WWE 2K18, previously released in October, is the next in the growing number of 3rd party games getting a delayed release for the up-and-coming console.
Despite its delayed release on Nintendo Switch, 2K is still releasing WWE 2K18 at full value with all the same content and prices as if it were October 17, with both physical and digital copies. What's different, though, is that they are making the Cena (Nuff) version exclusively digital at $89.99. Here is everything that comes with the Deluxe...
Oooooh! Nintendo Switch! Don't You Dare Be Sour, Clap For Your World Famous WWE 2K Game And Feel The Powaaah!
The New Day and the rest of the WWE locker room will be joining the Nintendo Switch family when 2K Games releases WWE 2K18 this Wednesday for Nintendo's mobile console. WWE 2K18, previously released in October, is the next in the growing number of 3rd party games getting a delayed release for the up-and-coming console.
Despite its delayed release on Nintendo Switch, 2K is still releasing WWE 2K18 at full value with all the same content and prices as if it were October 17, with both physical and digital copies. What's different, though, is that they are making the Cena (Nuff) version exclusively digital at $89.99. Here is everything that comes with the Deluxe...
- 12/5/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Matt Malliaros)
- Cinelinx
This November former WWE and Ecw World Champion, and current Impact Wrestling star, John Hennigan is back in action in Never Leave Alive, alongside Banshee and Game of Thrones star Joseph Gatt. Wrestling superstar Hennigan (Boone: The Bounty Hunter) finds himself trapped on a deserted island where he’s forced to take down a sociopathic ex-kgb agent and his brutally violent partner in the film released next month.
Rick Rainsford is trapped on a deserted island with his reluctant companion, Anna. While attempting to save another gravely injured survivor they find themselves hunted by Zaroff, a sociopathic ex-kgb Agent long with his partner Ivan. In spite of their differences Rick and Anna must work together to disarm Zaroff’s deadly traps, survive his assistant’s brutal attacks, and escape the island alive.
Directed by Steven Lamorte, Never Leave Alive is out on VOD on November 7th from Wild Eye Releasing.
Rick Rainsford is trapped on a deserted island with his reluctant companion, Anna. While attempting to save another gravely injured survivor they find themselves hunted by Zaroff, a sociopathic ex-kgb Agent long with his partner Ivan. In spite of their differences Rick and Anna must work together to disarm Zaroff’s deadly traps, survive his assistant’s brutal attacks, and escape the island alive.
Directed by Steven Lamorte, Never Leave Alive is out on VOD on November 7th from Wild Eye Releasing.
- 10/27/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
To celebrate the release of WWE: SummerSlam 2017 on DVD and Blu-ray we are giving away a copy on Blu-ray!
WWE’s second biggest show of the year and the biggest party of the summer…. It’s SummerSlam! Coming from the Barclays Center, the main event shakes the foundations of Brooklyn when Brock Lesnar defends the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe in a Fatal 4-Way Match. And “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura gets his first chance at WWE gold when he faces “The Modern-Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship. Plus much more!
Second only to WrestleMania, SummerSlam is one of the most exciting and hotly anticipated events in the WWE calendar – and this year’s edition was earth shattering!
The Universal Championship Fatal 4-Way is simply electric, with four of WWE’s most powerful Superstars demolishing each other for a chance to...
WWE’s second biggest show of the year and the biggest party of the summer…. It’s SummerSlam! Coming from the Barclays Center, the main event shakes the foundations of Brooklyn when Brock Lesnar defends the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe in a Fatal 4-Way Match. And “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura gets his first chance at WWE gold when he faces “The Modern-Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship. Plus much more!
Second only to WrestleMania, SummerSlam is one of the most exciting and hotly anticipated events in the WWE calendar – and this year’s edition was earth shattering!
The Universal Championship Fatal 4-Way is simply electric, with four of WWE’s most powerful Superstars demolishing each other for a chance to...
- 10/9/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
With Sharknado 5 making a splash on TV screens across the globe these past few weeks, what better time to visit the world of The Asylum? With a myriad of films under their belt, from their beginnings as king of the mockbuster to their foray into original film making, it’s no secret we’re big fans of these bastions of the direct to DVD market and have reviewed a Lot of their output! With that in mind, here’s my pick of the Top 5 (because it’s Sharknado Five… geddit?!?) movies from The Asylum in – shock, horror – order of preference…
5) Avengers Grimm
An off-the-wall mix of Grimm Fairy tale characters and superhero team-up movies which, frankly, should have been obvious given the title, Avengers Grimm’s plot is relatively simple: when Rumpelstiltskin uses the Magic Mirror to escapes to the modern world taking Snow White with him and destroying the mirror in the process,...
5) Avengers Grimm
An off-the-wall mix of Grimm Fairy tale characters and superhero team-up movies which, frankly, should have been obvious given the title, Avengers Grimm’s plot is relatively simple: when Rumpelstiltskin uses the Magic Mirror to escapes to the modern world taking Snow White with him and destroying the mirror in the process,...
- 8/22/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
2K have announce, in celebration of the 15-year career of WWE Superstar John Cena, plans for the Cena (Nuff) Edition of WWE 2K18, the forthcoming release in the flagship WWE video game franchise.
Limited to 30,000 copies worldwide and packed with an impressive collection of exclusive memorabilia and digital content, the offering will pay homage to his distinct position as WWE’s most frequently cheered – and frequently booed – personality. The WWE 2K18 Cena (Nuff) Edition will include:
Copy of WWE 2K18 Deluxe Edition video game, which includes the following items: WWE 2K18 Season Pass digital content (details announced this fall) Playable WWE Legends and John Cena Rivals: Batista and Rob Van Dam Playable John Cena Characters: Ecw® One Night Stand (2006) and WrestleMania® 26 (2010) Kurt Angle Pack: Access to WWE “Olympic Hero” (2001) and Ecw “Wrestling Machine” (2006) playable characters Exclusive premium packaging, including a unique cover sleeve Exclusive Mattel John Cena / Cena Nuff action...
Limited to 30,000 copies worldwide and packed with an impressive collection of exclusive memorabilia and digital content, the offering will pay homage to his distinct position as WWE’s most frequently cheered – and frequently booed – personality. The WWE 2K18 Cena (Nuff) Edition will include:
Copy of WWE 2K18 Deluxe Edition video game, which includes the following items: WWE 2K18 Season Pass digital content (details announced this fall) Playable WWE Legends and John Cena Rivals: Batista and Rob Van Dam Playable John Cena Characters: Ecw® One Night Stand (2006) and WrestleMania® 26 (2010) Kurt Angle Pack: Access to WWE “Olympic Hero” (2001) and Ecw “Wrestling Machine” (2006) playable characters Exclusive premium packaging, including a unique cover sleeve Exclusive Mattel John Cena / Cena Nuff action...
- 8/1/2017
- by Kat Wheat
- Nerdly
You can't see him, but now you can see a special edition for all the collectors out there of WWE 2K18! With all of it's John Cena goodness!
Professional Wrestling has had it's iconic performers over the years. From Hulk Hogan, to Ric Flair, to The Rock. One of the most iconic to go down in history will be the Dr. Thugganomics, Mr. Never Give Up himself, John Cena! As we celebrate 15 years of watching John Cena wow us in the ring, WWE is announcing the Cena (Nuff) Collectors Edition of WWE 2K18. If you didn't catch that, its the "Seen Enough" Edition.
With only 30,000 copies the Cena (Nuff) edition packed with an impressive collection of exclusive memorabilia and digital content. The Collectors Edition will pay homage to his distinct position as WWE’s most frequently cheered and booed personality. The WWE 2K18 Cena (Nuff) Edition will be available exclusively...
Professional Wrestling has had it's iconic performers over the years. From Hulk Hogan, to Ric Flair, to The Rock. One of the most iconic to go down in history will be the Dr. Thugganomics, Mr. Never Give Up himself, John Cena! As we celebrate 15 years of watching John Cena wow us in the ring, WWE is announcing the Cena (Nuff) Collectors Edition of WWE 2K18. If you didn't catch that, its the "Seen Enough" Edition.
With only 30,000 copies the Cena (Nuff) edition packed with an impressive collection of exclusive memorabilia and digital content. The Collectors Edition will pay homage to his distinct position as WWE’s most frequently cheered and booed personality. The WWE 2K18 Cena (Nuff) Edition will be available exclusively...
- 7/27/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (B.C.)
- Cinelinx
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs The Rock- Wrestlemania 17
“Shaking hands with Satan himself.”
Wrestlemania 17, hands down, is the best Wrestlemania booked to date. Apart from a horribly short Women’s Championship match with Chyna facing off against Ivory, from the opening match to the main event, every match was great.
The main event of the show was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs The Rock. The previous year, Austin had been recovering from long needed neck surgery sustained at the hands of Owen Hart at Summerslam 1997. During his time away, superstars like The Rock and Triple H stepped up their game and became main event players in their own right. When you are out of action for close to a year, there is a very real fear that by the time you get back in the ring you would have lost a step or two. Or worse, that the fans would...
“Shaking hands with Satan himself.”
Wrestlemania 17, hands down, is the best Wrestlemania booked to date. Apart from a horribly short Women’s Championship match with Chyna facing off against Ivory, from the opening match to the main event, every match was great.
The main event of the show was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs The Rock. The previous year, Austin had been recovering from long needed neck surgery sustained at the hands of Owen Hart at Summerslam 1997. During his time away, superstars like The Rock and Triple H stepped up their game and became main event players in their own right. When you are out of action for close to a year, there is a very real fear that by the time you get back in the ring you would have lost a step or two. Or worse, that the fans would...
- 3/31/2017
- by Tim Jousma
- LRMonline.com
Ladies and Gentlemen: His name is Paul Heyman, and he’s partnering with Yahoo again. Every day for the week leading up to April 2’s “WrestleMania 33,” the popular Heyman Hustle website will drop an original blog post and a new video directly on Yahoo Sports’ Turnstiles page, TheWrap has learned exclusively. The WWE promoter and former Ecw owner did something similar in March last year leading up to ‘Mania. Production on the new deal’s video assets has been underway for a little while now, including the awesome and terrifying clip above featuring Heyman’s top client, WWE Superstar (and...
- 3/22/2017
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Featured in today's Horror Highlights, we have Splathouse podcast's discussion of the 2001 movie The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, DVD release details for The Abduction of Jennifer Grayson, the SXSW Film Festival poster for Atomic Blonde, details on The Mason Brothers' upcoming theatrical run, a Q&A with Fashionista director Simon Rumley, and a look at the short film Nightmare.
Splathouse Podcast Discusses The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: From Splathouse: "Sleepy skeletons, spirited space aliens, and super-scientists are the focus of this week's show! That's right, we're profiling Larry Blamire's excellent comedy "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra".
Two of the film's featured performers, Brian Howe ("Westworld") and Fay Masterson ("50 Shades Darker"), stop by to talk about their careers and their work on "Lost Skeleton..."
Our good friend Sarah Jane (aka @fookthis on Twitter and Letterboxed, and she of the Talk Film Society) stops by with her cinematic picks for fans of “Lost Skeleton.
Splathouse Podcast Discusses The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: From Splathouse: "Sleepy skeletons, spirited space aliens, and super-scientists are the focus of this week's show! That's right, we're profiling Larry Blamire's excellent comedy "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra".
Two of the film's featured performers, Brian Howe ("Westworld") and Fay Masterson ("50 Shades Darker"), stop by to talk about their careers and their work on "Lost Skeleton..."
Our good friend Sarah Jane (aka @fookthis on Twitter and Letterboxed, and she of the Talk Film Society) stops by with her cinematic picks for fans of “Lost Skeleton.
- 2/28/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
If you’ve been a WWE fan for long enough, you’ll know both the good and the bad side of the Hardcore Title. For the most part though you’ll have fond memories of the title that started as a joke, but slowly gained credibility. Now the The History of the WWE Hardcore Championship 24/7 has been released we get to relive it all.
The best discovery when watching the set is that it is presented by Mick Foley, Raven, and Rvd. Talking candidly about the matches they reveal how the title was seen backstage. For the fans it turned into memorable “hardcore” matches, and for the lower card wrestlers it turned into a division where they could finally be noticed.
Some of the best part of The History of the WWE Hardcore Championship 24/7 is when the three wrestlers are talking about the title and offering their thoughts. In terms...
The best discovery when watching the set is that it is presented by Mick Foley, Raven, and Rvd. Talking candidly about the matches they reveal how the title was seen backstage. For the fans it turned into memorable “hardcore” matches, and for the lower card wrestlers it turned into a division where they could finally be noticed.
Some of the best part of The History of the WWE Hardcore Championship 24/7 is when the three wrestlers are talking about the title and offering their thoughts. In terms...
- 9/26/2016
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
I’ve often said that I find the history WWE Blu-Ray releases the best, so when one was released celebrating the Us Championship I was obviously looking forward to it. Although we often see people like John Cena dominating the belt these days it has one of the more interesting histories of any of the belts. WWE – The Us Championship: A Legacy of Greatness reveals just how varied this history is.
The fact that WWE now has a huge library of footage from all kinds of wrestling federations from the past allows them to pull out some real gems. These include matches that aren’t even complete, and don’t feature commentary. This is the case of Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat with Andre the Giant as guest referee. Filmed in 1978 in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling it is a nice addition for the history loving wrestling fan, especially those who love Andre.
The fact that WWE now has a huge library of footage from all kinds of wrestling federations from the past allows them to pull out some real gems. These include matches that aren’t even complete, and don’t feature commentary. This is the case of Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat with Andre the Giant as guest referee. Filmed in 1978 in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling it is a nice addition for the history loving wrestling fan, especially those who love Andre.
- 5/16/2016
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Balls Mahoney, a professional wrestler whose real name was Jonathan Rechner, died Tuesday. He was 44. His death was confirmed by Johnny Candido, the brother of the late Chris Candido, who simply said: “he died suddenly.” Mahoney was an original Ecw (Extreme Championship Wrestling) personality and wrestled in the company until it folded after being bought by the WWE. He has been wrestling independently since being released by the WWE in 2008. Also Read: WWE 'Monday Night Raw': 9 Things You Didn't See on TV He is best known for his appearances with Ecw during the late 1990s and early 2000s,...
- 4/13/2016
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
If you are an old school fan of Ecw there are certain factions and stars that tend to stand out. For me the Dudley Boyz were one such faction. In Ecw, WWE, and beyond they created a pathway to destruction that has made them one of the best tag teams in history. Straight Outta Dudleyville: The Legacy of the Dudley Boyz gives the WWE version of this history.
As is usual in these types of sets, we get a short documentary about Bubba Ray and D-Von looking at how they got into wrestling, all the way up to their return to the WWE. The documentary is fun, and even gives part of the history that some fans may be unaware of. While the documentary may feel a little short, it pays respect not only to their Ecw years, but even dares to mention Bubba’s success in Tna.
The matches...
As is usual in these types of sets, we get a short documentary about Bubba Ray and D-Von looking at how they got into wrestling, all the way up to their return to the WWE. The documentary is fun, and even gives part of the history that some fans may be unaware of. While the documentary may feel a little short, it pays respect not only to their Ecw years, but even dares to mention Bubba’s success in Tna.
The matches...
- 4/12/2016
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
The WWE is experiencing something of a resurgence in its tag team divisions at the moment, and while teams like The Usos, Los Matadores and the fabulous The New Day are very impressive and entertaining, there was a time in the WWE just over a decade ago, that the tag team division was something truly phenomenal and a large part of this was due to the Dudley Boyz.
Initially part of the larger Dudley Brothers stable at Ecw, Bubba-Ray and D-Von Dudley soon broke away to become their own two man wrecking machine and in the process laid the foundations for the tag team that is still a dominating force in the WWE today.
Straight Outta Dudleyville is a celebration of the first twenty years of this epic partnership and as is their way these days, WWE has once again assembled a fascinating, informative and entertaining documentary to accompany it.
Initially part of the larger Dudley Brothers stable at Ecw, Bubba-Ray and D-Von Dudley soon broke away to become their own two man wrecking machine and in the process laid the foundations for the tag team that is still a dominating force in the WWE today.
Straight Outta Dudleyville is a celebration of the first twenty years of this epic partnership and as is their way these days, WWE has once again assembled a fascinating, informative and entertaining documentary to accompany it.
- 4/4/2016
- Shadowlocked
WWE.com
Tommy Dreamer and Baron Corbin could be surprise entrants in tonight’s third annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32.
Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer noted today that there’s at least one surprise entrant expected in the match tonight and those two names were rumoured the strongest.
Former Ecw favourite Dreamer last appeared for WWE several months ago during The Dudley Boyz’s hardcore-style feud with the Wyatt family where he competed in a couple of matches in the last few weeks of 2015.
Corbin, who lost to a debuting Austin Aries at Friday night’s Nxt Dallas: Takeover show, has long been touted as a strong candidate for the main roster and perhaps an appearance in the Battle Royal tonight will be the beginning of a permanent switch to Raw and SmackDown.
Meanwhile, it has also been noted that Mark Henry has been pulled...
Tommy Dreamer and Baron Corbin could be surprise entrants in tonight’s third annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32.
Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer noted today that there’s at least one surprise entrant expected in the match tonight and those two names were rumoured the strongest.
Former Ecw favourite Dreamer last appeared for WWE several months ago during The Dudley Boyz’s hardcore-style feud with the Wyatt family where he competed in a couple of matches in the last few weeks of 2015.
Corbin, who lost to a debuting Austin Aries at Friday night’s Nxt Dallas: Takeover show, has long been touted as a strong candidate for the main roster and perhaps an appearance in the Battle Royal tonight will be the beginning of a permanent switch to Raw and SmackDown.
Meanwhile, it has also been noted that Mark Henry has been pulled...
- 4/3/2016
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
History is written by the winners. We know this thanks to centuries of winners that have told us as such.
In professional wrestling, the winner was WWE. Whether or not they were your favorite company growing up – or if they are your favorite company now – of the many organizations over the years that have tried their hand at fame and fortune within the wrestling business, it is the McMahon family empire that outlasted them all and made it to the top. As such, you can expect that they will from time to time do a bit of history writing themselves.
Even still, WWE is often fairly heavy handed when applying the Wite-Out to the big book of wrestling history. While many of WWE’s historical changes are more changes of perspective than they are complete alterations, what’s particularly fascinating about them is that many make changes to...
History is written by the winners. We know this thanks to centuries of winners that have told us as such.
In professional wrestling, the winner was WWE. Whether or not they were your favorite company growing up – or if they are your favorite company now – of the many organizations over the years that have tried their hand at fame and fortune within the wrestling business, it is the McMahon family empire that outlasted them all and made it to the top. As such, you can expect that they will from time to time do a bit of history writing themselves.
Even still, WWE is often fairly heavy handed when applying the Wite-Out to the big book of wrestling history. While many of WWE’s historical changes are more changes of perspective than they are complete alterations, what’s particularly fascinating about them is that many make changes to...
- 3/31/2016
- by Matthew Byrd
- Obsessed with Film
Nxt is meant to be WWE’s breeding ground, where they build up rookie wrestlers and get them ready for the main show. What they ended up with instead is the start of something that mixes the Indy spirit with WWE money, and threatens to steal the show from the Superstars. With Nxt Greatest Matches Vol. 1 we get a taste of this phenomenon.
All you have to do is to look at the stars of WWE today to realise what an effect Nxt is having on the product. Some of the biggest stars such as Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns made the first steps into the company through this “development fed”. With Nxt Greatest Matches Vol. 1 we are shown how Fcw was transformed into the product we see today and how it has grown to stand tall against the main WWE product.
The matches have been selected to show how Nxt has evolved.
All you have to do is to look at the stars of WWE today to realise what an effect Nxt is having on the product. Some of the biggest stars such as Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns made the first steps into the company through this “development fed”. With Nxt Greatest Matches Vol. 1 we are shown how Fcw was transformed into the product we see today and how it has grown to stand tall against the main WWE product.
The matches have been selected to show how Nxt has evolved.
- 3/17/2016
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
WWE.com
Standing there adorned in his cape and crown, the 1995 King Of The Ring winner soaked up boos from the World Wrestling Federation’s fans. ‘King’ Mabel had been crowned, defeating the likes of The Undertaker and Savio Vega on his way to becoming only the third ‘King’ in the history of the event on pay-per-view. There was only one major problem, fans weren’t booing because they detested Mabel as a top heel, they were jeering because they hated the idea of him being in main events.
People recoiled instantly at the mere thought of seeing Mabel vs. Diesel at that year’s SummerSlam. Previous King Of The Ring winners like Bret Hart and Owen Hart had seemed deserved, due to their incredible skill inside the ring. Mabel was simply an extremely large man, a physical attribute Vince McMahon seemed to think would be enough to explain why he was headlining.
Standing there adorned in his cape and crown, the 1995 King Of The Ring winner soaked up boos from the World Wrestling Federation’s fans. ‘King’ Mabel had been crowned, defeating the likes of The Undertaker and Savio Vega on his way to becoming only the third ‘King’ in the history of the event on pay-per-view. There was only one major problem, fans weren’t booing because they detested Mabel as a top heel, they were jeering because they hated the idea of him being in main events.
People recoiled instantly at the mere thought of seeing Mabel vs. Diesel at that year’s SummerSlam. Previous King Of The Ring winners like Bret Hart and Owen Hart had seemed deserved, due to their incredible skill inside the ring. Mabel was simply an extremely large man, a physical attribute Vince McMahon seemed to think would be enough to explain why he was headlining.
- 3/17/2016
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Failure is not always the most objective of terms. Depending on the subject, it can range from a minor misstep that caused but a momentary hiccup to a gross oversight costing one’s career or more.
Cm Punk, for example, considered his wrestling career a failure because he never achieved his primary goal of main-eventing a WrestleMania. While most people would argue against Punk’s opinion (and even Punk himself may feel differently now that more time has passed since he originally made those comments), it doesn’t change the fact that failure is something that even the very best have to deal with.
Vince McMahon, by all accounts, is the most successful person in the history of professional wrestling, yet even he has failed numerous times, most notably with the Xfl and World Bodybuilding Federation (Wbf).
So to equate failure with losers would be a foolish conclusion.
Failure is not always the most objective of terms. Depending on the subject, it can range from a minor misstep that caused but a momentary hiccup to a gross oversight costing one’s career or more.
Cm Punk, for example, considered his wrestling career a failure because he never achieved his primary goal of main-eventing a WrestleMania. While most people would argue against Punk’s opinion (and even Punk himself may feel differently now that more time has passed since he originally made those comments), it doesn’t change the fact that failure is something that even the very best have to deal with.
Vince McMahon, by all accounts, is the most successful person in the history of professional wrestling, yet even he has failed numerous times, most notably with the Xfl and World Bodybuilding Federation (Wbf).
So to equate failure with losers would be a foolish conclusion.
- 3/8/2016
- by Matt Davis
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Ah, the 1990s. What a glorious time to be a wrestling fan, and what an even more glorious time to be a professional wrestler. Despite a blip in the early-to-mid 90s, there were never really any shortage of places to work, at least not for those with genuine talent and drawing power.
It may not been as good as the heyday of the territories, but you still had WWE, WCW, Ecw, Japan, Mexico and the indies to work, and business was, at times, red hot. Many performers hopped around from company to company, turning up in all of the ‘big three’ while also plying their trade in Tijuana, Tokyo and beyond.
Despite the nomadic nature of the business, there were still a few guys and gals that never quite made it to WWE.
Sure, they may have had one or two matches for Vince McMahon here and there.
Ah, the 1990s. What a glorious time to be a wrestling fan, and what an even more glorious time to be a professional wrestler. Despite a blip in the early-to-mid 90s, there were never really any shortage of places to work, at least not for those with genuine talent and drawing power.
It may not been as good as the heyday of the territories, but you still had WWE, WCW, Ecw, Japan, Mexico and the indies to work, and business was, at times, red hot. Many performers hopped around from company to company, turning up in all of the ‘big three’ while also plying their trade in Tijuana, Tokyo and beyond.
Despite the nomadic nature of the business, there were still a few guys and gals that never quite made it to WWE.
Sure, they may have had one or two matches for Vince McMahon here and there.
- 3/7/2016
- by Lewis Howse
- Obsessed with Film
2K Games
WWE games aren’t marketed as just being wrestling games these days, they need to have a hook to reel the customers in.
The way 2K do this is by centering their games around a featured Showcase Mode. 2K14 had The Streak, 2K15 had a few shorter versions including Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, and 2K16 had a Stone Cold Steve Austin mode.
What about 2K17?
2K’s decision to move away from a cluster of shorter storylines and back to one feature length film of sorts has been one of the best moves they’ve made in recent times. This was showcased, pardon the pun, during 2K16’s Austin mode as quite literally every single period of the Texas Rattlesnake’s career was covered – right the way from his WCW days, through Ecw and to his main event days as a part of WWE.
You would have...
WWE games aren’t marketed as just being wrestling games these days, they need to have a hook to reel the customers in.
The way 2K do this is by centering their games around a featured Showcase Mode. 2K14 had The Streak, 2K15 had a few shorter versions including Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, and 2K16 had a Stone Cold Steve Austin mode.
What about 2K17?
2K’s decision to move away from a cluster of shorter storylines and back to one feature length film of sorts has been one of the best moves they’ve made in recent times. This was showcased, pardon the pun, during 2K16’s Austin mode as quite literally every single period of the Texas Rattlesnake’s career was covered – right the way from his WCW days, through Ecw and to his main event days as a part of WWE.
You would have...
- 3/3/2016
- by Ross Tweddell
- Obsessed with Film
Jonathan Bachman/AP
The modern professional wrestling fan may take them for granted somewhat, but three way matches were once extremely innovative. There is a lot of debate around where the concept started in North American pro-wrestling, with some claiming Ecw popularised the match with the infamous Terry Funk v Shane Douglas v Sabu bout in 1994. Regardless of where it came from, in the 1990s it was still new and fresh.
Due to the fairly modern creation of the match, there wasn’t a single triple threat match (as it is known in WWE) at WrestleMania until WrestleMania Xv in 1999. If you can guess who was involved in the match before clicking through the answers, your WWE trivia is on point to say the least.
Since the very first one, there has been a total of 15 triple threats on the Grandest Stage of Them All. All except one has seen a championship on the line,...
The modern professional wrestling fan may take them for granted somewhat, but three way matches were once extremely innovative. There is a lot of debate around where the concept started in North American pro-wrestling, with some claiming Ecw popularised the match with the infamous Terry Funk v Shane Douglas v Sabu bout in 1994. Regardless of where it came from, in the 1990s it was still new and fresh.
Due to the fairly modern creation of the match, there wasn’t a single triple threat match (as it is known in WWE) at WrestleMania until WrestleMania Xv in 1999. If you can guess who was involved in the match before clicking through the answers, your WWE trivia is on point to say the least.
Since the very first one, there has been a total of 15 triple threats on the Grandest Stage of Them All. All except one has seen a championship on the line,...
- 3/1/2016
- by John Bills
- Obsessed with Film
When you think about the Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches of the past, they have been about human wreckage and high spots. When the name was taken for the PPV event it lessened the appeal somewhat. Is WWE: TLC – Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2015 something different though? Surprisingly yes it is.
Starting with the Tag Team Championship Ladder Match, The New Day vs. The Lucha Dragons vs The Usos was as expected. The Usos may feel bland at times, but they know how to be a part of a high fliying match. I’d say that in terms of daredevil moves though The Lucha Dragons stole this one, with New Day typically being as entertaining as ever.
Then we had the forgettable match of the night, Rusev vs. Ryback. For me this battle of the brutes was ruined by the “when will Lana fake a fall again” angle that was obviously the aim of the fight.
Starting with the Tag Team Championship Ladder Match, The New Day vs. The Lucha Dragons vs The Usos was as expected. The Usos may feel bland at times, but they know how to be a part of a high fliying match. I’d say that in terms of daredevil moves though The Lucha Dragons stole this one, with New Day typically being as entertaining as ever.
Then we had the forgettable match of the night, Rusev vs. Ryback. For me this battle of the brutes was ruined by the “when will Lana fake a fall again” angle that was obviously the aim of the fight.
- 2/29/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
WWE.com
Following Shane McMahon’s carefully-worded demand for control of “Monday Night Raw,” rumors have surfaced that WWE is once again considering implementing a brand extension.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson is reporting that WWE has been hosting internal discussions regarding the reinstitution of the extension over the past few weeks. If Shane were to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania and win control of Raw, that would leave Smackdown! open to being run by The Authority. The next logical step might be a division of talent.
There’s little concrete evidence to support the plan, save for a notice on Ticketmaster.com that the May 23 Raw in Baltimore, MD is being billed as “Monday Night Raw vs. WWE.” This could be indicative of an upcoming storyline, though not necessarily – for years after the WCW/Ecw Invasion angle ended, similar information would pop up advertising “WCW” tapings, only to change in time.
Following Shane McMahon’s carefully-worded demand for control of “Monday Night Raw,” rumors have surfaced that WWE is once again considering implementing a brand extension.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson is reporting that WWE has been hosting internal discussions regarding the reinstitution of the extension over the past few weeks. If Shane were to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania and win control of Raw, that would leave Smackdown! open to being run by The Authority. The next logical step might be a division of talent.
There’s little concrete evidence to support the plan, save for a notice on Ticketmaster.com that the May 23 Raw in Baltimore, MD is being billed as “Monday Night Raw vs. WWE.” This could be indicative of an upcoming storyline, though not necessarily – for years after the WCW/Ecw Invasion angle ended, similar information would pop up advertising “WCW” tapings, only to change in time.
- 2/24/2016
- by Scott Fried
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
When World Wrestling Entertainment revealed that the new name for their February pay-per-view would be Fastlane in 2015, a fair few fans were left scratching their heads. Gone was the lengthy association between that month and the Elimination Chamber bouts, and No Way Out was an even more distant memory. Instead, WWE focused on the literal, citing Fastlane as part of the ‘Road To WrestleMania’.
This year, the main event saw a Triple Threat encounter which promised to solidify who would face Triple H at the promotion’s biggest annual showcase. Dean Ambrose, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were the combatants, and it would end up being the latter who scored the match-winning pinfall. Before the event, many people could see this coming, as much as some hated to admit it.
Massive table bumps, a first one-on-one WWE pay-per-view match for a relative newcomer, and even references to former Ecw,...
When World Wrestling Entertainment revealed that the new name for their February pay-per-view would be Fastlane in 2015, a fair few fans were left scratching their heads. Gone was the lengthy association between that month and the Elimination Chamber bouts, and No Way Out was an even more distant memory. Instead, WWE focused on the literal, citing Fastlane as part of the ‘Road To WrestleMania’.
This year, the main event saw a Triple Threat encounter which promised to solidify who would face Triple H at the promotion’s biggest annual showcase. Dean Ambrose, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were the combatants, and it would end up being the latter who scored the match-winning pinfall. Before the event, many people could see this coming, as much as some hated to admit it.
Massive table bumps, a first one-on-one WWE pay-per-view match for a relative newcomer, and even references to former Ecw,...
- 2/22/2016
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
© George Napolitano/Retna Ltd./Corbis
As we have seen from previous installments, sometimes the biggest stories in WWF/E happen off screen rather than on screen. Last time, in 1991, we learned about the identity of the mysterious Mariner, Typhoon and Shawn Michaels continued to wrestle as babyfaces after their heel turns, the Hart Foundation briefly reunited in Madison Square Garden, and Andre The Giant was scheduled to make an in-ring return, among other tidbits.
In this installment, we take a look at 1990, the beginning of a pivotal decade in WWE’s history. The Rock N Wrestling era of the 1980s, led by Hulk Hogan, was in the process of being phased out, giving rise to a new generation of wrestlers. Hogan himself began to start taking sabbaticals to film movies. Andre The Giant wrestled his last match, and The Undertaker wrestled his first. It was a period of great transition for the WWF.
As we have seen from previous installments, sometimes the biggest stories in WWF/E happen off screen rather than on screen. Last time, in 1991, we learned about the identity of the mysterious Mariner, Typhoon and Shawn Michaels continued to wrestle as babyfaces after their heel turns, the Hart Foundation briefly reunited in Madison Square Garden, and Andre The Giant was scheduled to make an in-ring return, among other tidbits.
In this installment, we take a look at 1990, the beginning of a pivotal decade in WWE’s history. The Rock N Wrestling era of the 1980s, led by Hulk Hogan, was in the process of being phased out, giving rise to a new generation of wrestlers. Hogan himself began to start taking sabbaticals to film movies. Andre The Giant wrestled his last match, and The Undertaker wrestled his first. It was a period of great transition for the WWF.
- 2/19/2016
- by Justin Seagull
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com/Pwi
Most fans of the original Extreme Championship Wrestling agree that matches between Taz and Sabu on pay-per-view failed to live up to the hype. Ironically, the pair would have some decent bouts on television, but those were mainly tag-team scraps featuring others. At both the Barely Legal 1997 and Living Dangerously 1999 pay-per-view events, many fans were left disappointed by the disjointed action served up by both men.
It was baffling to most why Taz and Sabu didn’t gel despite their lengthy rivalry. With others, such as Shane Douglas and Rob Van Dam, both guys had excellent matches. Indeed, one such bout between Taz and Douglas from Guilty As Charged 1999 should be considered under-rated. That’s exactly what is analysed and assessed here, 10 different Ecw pay-per-view matches that aren’t often given the credit they deserve.
It’s important to note that all 10 of these bouts come from the original incarnation of Ecw,...
Most fans of the original Extreme Championship Wrestling agree that matches between Taz and Sabu on pay-per-view failed to live up to the hype. Ironically, the pair would have some decent bouts on television, but those were mainly tag-team scraps featuring others. At both the Barely Legal 1997 and Living Dangerously 1999 pay-per-view events, many fans were left disappointed by the disjointed action served up by both men.
It was baffling to most why Taz and Sabu didn’t gel despite their lengthy rivalry. With others, such as Shane Douglas and Rob Van Dam, both guys had excellent matches. Indeed, one such bout between Taz and Douglas from Guilty As Charged 1999 should be considered under-rated. That’s exactly what is analysed and assessed here, 10 different Ecw pay-per-view matches that aren’t often given the credit they deserve.
It’s important to note that all 10 of these bouts come from the original incarnation of Ecw,...
- 2/18/2016
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
This week’s guest on the Stone Cold Show is certainly larger than life – in more ways than one. We all know that Big Show is physically massive, but those unfamiliar with the giant’s jocular backstage persona will enjoy watching the his easygoing, entertaining chat with Austin.
If anyone in the business has plenty of stories to tell, it’s surely Big Show. He popped up on both sides of the Monday Night Wars, and has held major championships in both WWE and WCW (as well as an infamous run with the Ecw Heavyweight Championship in 2006.
He’s feuded with figures as diverse and influential as Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, and Brock Lesnar, and remains an active member of the WWE roster today – and yes, he does address those ‘Please retire!’ chants on the show.
There were plenty of laughs (and even a few tears...
This week’s guest on the Stone Cold Show is certainly larger than life – in more ways than one. We all know that Big Show is physically massive, but those unfamiliar with the giant’s jocular backstage persona will enjoy watching the his easygoing, entertaining chat with Austin.
If anyone in the business has plenty of stories to tell, it’s surely Big Show. He popped up on both sides of the Monday Night Wars, and has held major championships in both WWE and WCW (as well as an infamous run with the Ecw Heavyweight Championship in 2006.
He’s feuded with figures as diverse and influential as Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, and Brock Lesnar, and remains an active member of the WWE roster today – and yes, he does address those ‘Please retire!’ chants on the show.
There were plenty of laughs (and even a few tears...
- 2/17/2016
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Wrestling is possibly the most testosterone-fuelled form of sport or entertainment in the world, with a plethora of oiled-up chunks of muscle looking to prove who is the best at wrestling other grown men in spandex underwear. Somewhere in between the head bashing and bicep lathering, there’s still room in the world of giants for human nature’s greatest virtue, love.
If you think the scripted world of professional wrestling is going to have it’s superstars sail into the sunset with a woman in their arms and recreate The Notebook, you’re gonna have a bad time. While some love dramas result in the fairy tale finish, most love driven affairs in the landscape of sports entertainment tend not to end so well.
Being the affair-having, money grabbing not-quite-right-in-the-head man that he is, Vince McMahon loves to throw his wrestlers (sorry, Superstars) into any situation he can earn a buck from,...
Wrestling is possibly the most testosterone-fuelled form of sport or entertainment in the world, with a plethora of oiled-up chunks of muscle looking to prove who is the best at wrestling other grown men in spandex underwear. Somewhere in between the head bashing and bicep lathering, there’s still room in the world of giants for human nature’s greatest virtue, love.
If you think the scripted world of professional wrestling is going to have it’s superstars sail into the sunset with a woman in their arms and recreate The Notebook, you’re gonna have a bad time. While some love dramas result in the fairy tale finish, most love driven affairs in the landscape of sports entertainment tend not to end so well.
Being the affair-having, money grabbing not-quite-right-in-the-head man that he is, Vince McMahon loves to throw his wrestlers (sorry, Superstars) into any situation he can earn a buck from,...
- 2/16/2016
- by Connor Bennett
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
In the span of a few months, Roman Reigns has already become a two-time WWE World Heavyweight champion, and likely by WrestleMania 32, he will have won the prestigious prize a total of three times. But just about anyone can see that WWE is high on Reigns and his potential be to be a franchise player for the organization for years to come.
The fact of the matter is, he has been heavily protected since his arrival on the scene in late 2012 and will continued to be groomed to be “the next guy” for as long as Vince McMahon is behind him, despite what fans might think of him.
Unfortunately, not every Superstar has that kind of luxury, and if they do, officials aren’t high on them for very long. It has long been a fact of WWE that it is a land of the giants, dating back...
In the span of a few months, Roman Reigns has already become a two-time WWE World Heavyweight champion, and likely by WrestleMania 32, he will have won the prestigious prize a total of three times. But just about anyone can see that WWE is high on Reigns and his potential be to be a franchise player for the organization for years to come.
The fact of the matter is, he has been heavily protected since his arrival on the scene in late 2012 and will continued to be groomed to be “the next guy” for as long as Vince McMahon is behind him, despite what fans might think of him.
Unfortunately, not every Superstar has that kind of luxury, and if they do, officials aren’t high on them for very long. It has long been a fact of WWE that it is a land of the giants, dating back...
- 2/14/2016
- by Graham GSM Matthews
- Obsessed with Film
WWE
To celebrate the release of last year’s TLC pay per view on Blu-ray and DVD, we’ve teamed up with WWE to offer you the chance to win one of three DVD copies.
“WWE’s top Superstars tool up for this annual celebration of everyone’s favourite foreign object combo – tables, ladders and chairs! Roman Reigns seeks revenge on Sheamus, the man who robbed Reigns of his dream to become WWE Champion, while Dean Ambrose challenges Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental title and the Wyatt Family takes on a posse of Ecw Originals!”
On top of the three marquee matches mentioned above, this was the event that saw the Lucha Dragons’ Kalisto steal the show with arguably the greatest move seen throughout all of 2015 in the triple threat Ladder Match with The New Day and The Usos.
On top of that, Jack Swagger challenged United States Champion Alberto Del Rio...
To celebrate the release of last year’s TLC pay per view on Blu-ray and DVD, we’ve teamed up with WWE to offer you the chance to win one of three DVD copies.
“WWE’s top Superstars tool up for this annual celebration of everyone’s favourite foreign object combo – tables, ladders and chairs! Roman Reigns seeks revenge on Sheamus, the man who robbed Reigns of his dream to become WWE Champion, while Dean Ambrose challenges Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental title and the Wyatt Family takes on a posse of Ecw Originals!”
On top of the three marquee matches mentioned above, this was the event that saw the Lucha Dragons’ Kalisto steal the show with arguably the greatest move seen throughout all of 2015 in the triple threat Ladder Match with The New Day and The Usos.
On top of that, Jack Swagger challenged United States Champion Alberto Del Rio...
- 2/11/2016
- by Ross Tweddell
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
One topic that divides wrestling fans in 2016 is whether WWE should go back to a brand split or keep the roster together.
The first WWE brand split occurred in 2002 when WWF had hired a bunch of ex-wcw & Ecw stars along with the contracts they adopted from the 2001 WCW purchase.
Initially, the two rosters were positively stacked as Raw had Steve Austin, Booker T, The Undertaker and the nWo while SmackDown had Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Chris Benoit, Edge and Kurt Angle. The idea was for both shows to stay separate, except during pay-per-view events where there would be Raw matches and SmackDown matches and, in time, they could have inter-promotional ‘dream matches’.
Sadly, in the end it didn’t quite work out and the rules of the brand split were adhered to less and less as the years went by. Eventually in 2012, the two brands merged and the...
One topic that divides wrestling fans in 2016 is whether WWE should go back to a brand split or keep the roster together.
The first WWE brand split occurred in 2002 when WWF had hired a bunch of ex-wcw & Ecw stars along with the contracts they adopted from the 2001 WCW purchase.
Initially, the two rosters were positively stacked as Raw had Steve Austin, Booker T, The Undertaker and the nWo while SmackDown had Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Chris Benoit, Edge and Kurt Angle. The idea was for both shows to stay separate, except during pay-per-view events where there would be Raw matches and SmackDown matches and, in time, they could have inter-promotional ‘dream matches’.
Sadly, in the end it didn’t quite work out and the rules of the brand split were adhered to less and less as the years went by. Eventually in 2012, the two brands merged and the...
- 2/11/2016
- by Kenny McIntosh
- Obsessed with Film
Ring of Honor’s Adam Cole was one of many within the pro wrestling industry inspired by Daniel Bryan. So when the 26-year-old watched the beloved superstar’s retirement announcement, it got him thinking about his own success and the impact the “American Dragon” had in making it possible. “I became a bigger wrestling fan because of guys like Daniel Bryan and Cm Punk,” Cole said. “When I first started wrestling, all I really watched was WWE. I caught on late to WCW and Ecw. Then, when I got the internet, I found out about guys like Cm Punk and Daniel Bryan. Two … Continue reading →
The post Adam Cole on Daniel Bryan’s impact on him and Ring of Honor’s Anniversary Show appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
The post Adam Cole on Daniel Bryan’s impact on him and Ring of Honor’s Anniversary Show appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
- 2/10/2016
- by Scott Fishman
- ChannelGuideMag
Tna
“I have been hounded for the past ten years to put my outrageous life in book form. I have no knowledge of how to get published. My book and story involves child abuse, drug addiction, recovery, homelessness, paralysis, and losing a contract with WWE. It’s a story that needs to be told but I need someone to do it interview style over the phone. When I tell the stories you get the full picture. I firmly believe with the way pro wrestling books sell this will be a hit. I have NY Times Best Sellers Mick Foley and Chris Jericho on board to write a forward for this project. My working title is Wrestling with Heroin – Axl Rotten’s Struggle to Survive Pro Wrestling.
Thanks,
Brian Knighton aka Axl Rotten”
That email above was the first contact I had with Brian Knighton, sent exactly three months to the day before he died.
“I have been hounded for the past ten years to put my outrageous life in book form. I have no knowledge of how to get published. My book and story involves child abuse, drug addiction, recovery, homelessness, paralysis, and losing a contract with WWE. It’s a story that needs to be told but I need someone to do it interview style over the phone. When I tell the stories you get the full picture. I firmly believe with the way pro wrestling books sell this will be a hit. I have NY Times Best Sellers Mick Foley and Chris Jericho on board to write a forward for this project. My working title is Wrestling with Heroin – Axl Rotten’s Struggle to Survive Pro Wrestling.
Thanks,
Brian Knighton aka Axl Rotten”
That email above was the first contact I had with Brian Knighton, sent exactly three months to the day before he died.
- 2/9/2016
- by James Dixon
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
It should be no surprise that one story dominates this week’s best internet responses to Raw – Daniel Bryan’s retirement. The former WWE Champion hasn’t taken part in any in-ring action since April 14th 2015, and finally confirmed all our fears on this week’s show, announcing his retirement in an incredibly emotional last segment.
We’ve got all the fallout from the shocking news – including tweets from fans and fellow wrestlers alike, and one particularly crude Photoshop.
If you’re not a Daniel Bryan fan (although, in fairness, who isn’t?), rest assured. We also have the best moments involving wrestlers from elsewhere on the card, including Aj Styles, The Dudley Boyz, Sasha Banks, and Kevin Owens.
10. Rob Van Dam Has No Concept Of Age
I grew up watching him wrestle. https://t.co/Bg7eTPsRJw
— Rob Van Dam (@TherealRVD) February 9, 2016
Rob Van Dam is no stranger to…...
It should be no surprise that one story dominates this week’s best internet responses to Raw – Daniel Bryan’s retirement. The former WWE Champion hasn’t taken part in any in-ring action since April 14th 2015, and finally confirmed all our fears on this week’s show, announcing his retirement in an incredibly emotional last segment.
We’ve got all the fallout from the shocking news – including tweets from fans and fellow wrestlers alike, and one particularly crude Photoshop.
If you’re not a Daniel Bryan fan (although, in fairness, who isn’t?), rest assured. We also have the best moments involving wrestlers from elsewhere on the card, including Aj Styles, The Dudley Boyz, Sasha Banks, and Kevin Owens.
10. Rob Van Dam Has No Concept Of Age
I grew up watching him wrestle. https://t.co/Bg7eTPsRJw
— Rob Van Dam (@TherealRVD) February 9, 2016
Rob Van Dam is no stranger to…...
- 2/9/2016
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Paul Heyman liked the idea of taking pro wrestling’s misfits and turning them into success stories. If there’s one thing that appealed to wrestling’s ‘mad scientist’, it was putting a friendly arm around those who otherwise would have been shunned by companies like the WWF and WCW.
This is largely how Heyman built the Ecw roster during the 1990s.
The original Extreme Championship Wrestling (not the watered-down WWE version of the group) was a barmy place. It was home to some of the most wacky characters in the entire industry, and that was something Heyman and his crew were incredibly proud of. Ecw was a diverse place, there were no strict rules governing how performers managed to get themselves over with the fervent fan base.
All of the characters profiled here could accurately be described as ridiculous. However, that doesn’t mean some weren’t...
Paul Heyman liked the idea of taking pro wrestling’s misfits and turning them into success stories. If there’s one thing that appealed to wrestling’s ‘mad scientist’, it was putting a friendly arm around those who otherwise would have been shunned by companies like the WWF and WCW.
This is largely how Heyman built the Ecw roster during the 1990s.
The original Extreme Championship Wrestling (not the watered-down WWE version of the group) was a barmy place. It was home to some of the most wacky characters in the entire industry, and that was something Heyman and his crew were incredibly proud of. Ecw was a diverse place, there were no strict rules governing how performers managed to get themselves over with the fervent fan base.
All of the characters profiled here could accurately be described as ridiculous. However, that doesn’t mean some weren’t...
- 2/9/2016
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Ecw Original Axl Rotten has tragically passed away, according to a report from PWInsider.
The 44 year old, real name Brian Knighton, was found yesterday in a McDonald’s, next to a Baltimore motel in which he was believed to have been staying.
Knighton was active on Twitter some 10 hours before he was found – implying that his death was sudden. His last post read:
‘The way I do things may not be the way you do things but you will find out there is only 1 way. My away! #AxlsTruth’
Knighton made his professional wrestling debut in 1988, and was best known for his time in Ecw, a period which spanned six years from 1993 to 1999. In 1995, he enjoyed an intense feud with brother Ian, a rivalry Pwi named ‘Feud of the Year’. He also briefly appeared in WWE, brawling with the Blue World Order at the inaugural One Night Stand pay...
Ecw Original Axl Rotten has tragically passed away, according to a report from PWInsider.
The 44 year old, real name Brian Knighton, was found yesterday in a McDonald’s, next to a Baltimore motel in which he was believed to have been staying.
Knighton was active on Twitter some 10 hours before he was found – implying that his death was sudden. His last post read:
‘The way I do things may not be the way you do things but you will find out there is only 1 way. My away! #AxlsTruth’
Knighton made his professional wrestling debut in 1988, and was best known for his time in Ecw, a period which spanned six years from 1993 to 1999. In 1995, he enjoyed an intense feud with brother Ian, a rivalry Pwi named ‘Feud of the Year’. He also briefly appeared in WWE, brawling with the Blue World Order at the inaugural One Night Stand pay...
- 2/5/2016
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Ric Flair’s grab and kiss on Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble has been edited out of the WWE Network replay. WWE likely took the step after a swathe of criticism from fans who felt the move was sexist and inappropriate.
Instead of seeing the kiss, the camera just cuts to Flair wooing in Becky’s face. At the event he actually forcibly grabbed her, then pressed his lips hard against hers. The distraction was key to the match, allowing Charlotte to get back some control.
Whether WWE originally booked the kiss, or if it was just Flair’s idea on the fly, isn’t known. However, it is a spot that’s happened a lot in wrestling history, it isn’t like it is an unusual way for a heel to get heat. Indeed, Flair’s character is the “kiss stealing” bad guy; he made a...
Ric Flair’s grab and kiss on Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble has been edited out of the WWE Network replay. WWE likely took the step after a swathe of criticism from fans who felt the move was sexist and inappropriate.
Instead of seeing the kiss, the camera just cuts to Flair wooing in Becky’s face. At the event he actually forcibly grabbed her, then pressed his lips hard against hers. The distraction was key to the match, allowing Charlotte to get back some control.
Whether WWE originally booked the kiss, or if it was just Flair’s idea on the fly, isn’t known. However, it is a spot that’s happened a lot in wrestling history, it isn’t like it is an unusual way for a heel to get heat. Indeed, Flair’s character is the “kiss stealing” bad guy; he made a...
- 2/1/2016
- by Grahame Herbert
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
“Austin wants Tyson! Tyson wants Austin!” yelled Jim Ross at the close of last week’s show, implying that all hell was about to break loose in the world of pro-wrestling.
What on earth would happen next week? Would Tyson storm into the arena and punch Stone Cold out? Would the Rattlesnake drop ‘Iron’ Mike with the world’s most shocking Stunner? Probably not, but surely there’d be some sort of continuation to the hostilities, right?
Well, erm, not exactly. This week’s Raw sees absolutely no sign of Tyson – not even a sniff of a pre-recorded promo – and even Austin puts in a very low-key (for him) performance.
Thankfully, we’ve got an absolutely ridiculous undercard to make up for it, featuring all manner of botches, squashes and swerves. There’s even a title change, potentially one of the weakest (or at least most controversial) in...
“Austin wants Tyson! Tyson wants Austin!” yelled Jim Ross at the close of last week’s show, implying that all hell was about to break loose in the world of pro-wrestling.
What on earth would happen next week? Would Tyson storm into the arena and punch Stone Cold out? Would the Rattlesnake drop ‘Iron’ Mike with the world’s most shocking Stunner? Probably not, but surely there’d be some sort of continuation to the hostilities, right?
Well, erm, not exactly. This week’s Raw sees absolutely no sign of Tyson – not even a sniff of a pre-recorded promo – and even Austin puts in a very low-key (for him) performance.
Thankfully, we’ve got an absolutely ridiculous undercard to make up for it, featuring all manner of botches, squashes and swerves. There’s even a title change, potentially one of the weakest (or at least most controversial) in...
- 1/31/2016
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
2K
The featured Stone Cold Steve Austin mode has arguably been the biggest selling point of WWE 2K16.
When 2K announced the news of the Texas Rattlesnake being the headline feature of the new game, expectations were rightfully low due to how incomplete the Showcase Modes in 2015 felt.
While the old game skimmed over a few major rivalries, 2K16’s choice to focus on one subject paid dividends. We got everything we could have hoped for and more as Austin’s days as part of WCW, Ecw, and all the major talking points of his WWE run were covered.
The video packages put together for the opening of each chapter were fantastic, they felt like feature length films in their own right. The cut scenes that saw you replicate certain memorable spots during each of Stone Cold’s main event run matches were epic. The way 2K recreated the spot...
The featured Stone Cold Steve Austin mode has arguably been the biggest selling point of WWE 2K16.
When 2K announced the news of the Texas Rattlesnake being the headline feature of the new game, expectations were rightfully low due to how incomplete the Showcase Modes in 2015 felt.
While the old game skimmed over a few major rivalries, 2K16’s choice to focus on one subject paid dividends. We got everything we could have hoped for and more as Austin’s days as part of WCW, Ecw, and all the major talking points of his WWE run were covered.
The video packages put together for the opening of each chapter were fantastic, they felt like feature length films in their own right. The cut scenes that saw you replicate certain memorable spots during each of Stone Cold’s main event run matches were epic. The way 2K recreated the spot...
- 1/30/2016
- by Ross Tweddell
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
One of the most-talked about storylines in WWF/WWE history is the ‘Invasion’ angle that dominated 2001. In March of that year, the entire pro wrestling landscape in North America changed in just a few weeks. World Championship Wrestling had been in the doldrums for a while, but people were shocked when Vince McMahon swooped in and purchased the company for a paltry $2.5 million on March 26. Around the same time, the original Extreme Championship Wrestling folded.
This meant that McMahon had what he had always craved, a wrestling monopoly. Better yet, the patriarch of the WWF had the means to create something wrestling fans had always wanted to see. That WWF vs. WCW rivalry was his to play with, and would surely pocket him millions of dollars. There was just one problem, the WWF had trouble signing many top WCW names, who were more than content to sit at...
One of the most-talked about storylines in WWF/WWE history is the ‘Invasion’ angle that dominated 2001. In March of that year, the entire pro wrestling landscape in North America changed in just a few weeks. World Championship Wrestling had been in the doldrums for a while, but people were shocked when Vince McMahon swooped in and purchased the company for a paltry $2.5 million on March 26. Around the same time, the original Extreme Championship Wrestling folded.
This meant that McMahon had what he had always craved, a wrestling monopoly. Better yet, the patriarch of the WWF had the means to create something wrestling fans had always wanted to see. That WWF vs. WCW rivalry was his to play with, and would surely pocket him millions of dollars. There was just one problem, the WWF had trouble signing many top WCW names, who were more than content to sit at...
- 1/9/2016
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Over the course of four years, the Hardcore Championship changed hands 240 different times. That should tell you everything you need to know about the quality of this division.
To be fair, there were some legitimately terrific hardcore matches, and a few guys carried the title like pros. But for the most part, it was just a haphazard, silly little distraction from the real competition happening in the WWE. Maybe if they’d kept guys like Mick Foley involved (he was the first one to be awarded the belt, but only held it once before quickly ascending to main event status), the division would have stood a chance at legitimacy.
As it happened, the division was sometimes fun to watch in a “Why are they still allowing this ridiculousness to be televised?” sort of way, but that was about the extent of it. Most diehard fans viewed it as a gimmick title,...
Over the course of four years, the Hardcore Championship changed hands 240 different times. That should tell you everything you need to know about the quality of this division.
To be fair, there were some legitimately terrific hardcore matches, and a few guys carried the title like pros. But for the most part, it was just a haphazard, silly little distraction from the real competition happening in the WWE. Maybe if they’d kept guys like Mick Foley involved (he was the first one to be awarded the belt, but only held it once before quickly ascending to main event status), the division would have stood a chance at legitimacy.
As it happened, the division was sometimes fun to watch in a “Why are they still allowing this ridiculousness to be televised?” sort of way, but that was about the extent of it. Most diehard fans viewed it as a gimmick title,...
- 1/5/2016
- by Jacob Trowbridge
- Obsessed with Film
wwe.com
WWE starts 2016 with a renewed sense of optimism, having established Roman Reigns as an over champion, and with the always hot Royal Rumble to WrestleMania season getting underway.
However, short term gains can’t cover up longer term problems.
The company is still afflicted by a range of dilemmas and obstacles, in addition to facing new problems that are undoubtedly going to arise in 2016.
Will Vince McMahon and co be up to the task of overcoming the major issues that face pro wrestling? Or, like in 2015, will more malaise and decline set in?
This feature will analyse the big problems for WWE…
11. A Faltering Nxt Product WWE.com
Nxt is going to be a victim of its own success, and that will become more apparent as 2016 progresses. The biggest issue is the fact that all of Nxt’s best wrestlers (Finn Balor, Bayley) are going to be moved up to Raw soon.
WWE starts 2016 with a renewed sense of optimism, having established Roman Reigns as an over champion, and with the always hot Royal Rumble to WrestleMania season getting underway.
However, short term gains can’t cover up longer term problems.
The company is still afflicted by a range of dilemmas and obstacles, in addition to facing new problems that are undoubtedly going to arise in 2016.
Will Vince McMahon and co be up to the task of overcoming the major issues that face pro wrestling? Or, like in 2015, will more malaise and decline set in?
This feature will analyse the big problems for WWE…
11. A Faltering Nxt Product WWE.com
Nxt is going to be a victim of its own success, and that will become more apparent as 2016 progresses. The biggest issue is the fact that all of Nxt’s best wrestlers (Finn Balor, Bayley) are going to be moved up to Raw soon.
- 1/4/2016
- by Grahame Herbert
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
After charting the fashion crimes by The Undertaker and Vince McMahon in previous articles, it seemed only natural that next on the catwalk would be the COO of WWE himself, Triple H. Paul Levesque has wrestled since the early 1990’s and since his debut in the World Wrestling Federation in 1995, he’s gone through a lot of drastic transformations.
Triple H has had some horrendous looks over the years so it’s been hard to narrow it down to just 10. There’s been a lot more leather and latex involved in his performance that you should see on most pro wrestlers but most of the time, The Game manages to pull it off.
Please note WhatCulture.com does not endorses any of the outfits that Mr Helmsley decided would be a good idea to wear in public…
10. The Blueblood Look WWE.com
In the mid 1990’s, everything was changing – music,...
After charting the fashion crimes by The Undertaker and Vince McMahon in previous articles, it seemed only natural that next on the catwalk would be the COO of WWE himself, Triple H. Paul Levesque has wrestled since the early 1990’s and since his debut in the World Wrestling Federation in 1995, he’s gone through a lot of drastic transformations.
Triple H has had some horrendous looks over the years so it’s been hard to narrow it down to just 10. There’s been a lot more leather and latex involved in his performance that you should see on most pro wrestlers but most of the time, The Game manages to pull it off.
Please note WhatCulture.com does not endorses any of the outfits that Mr Helmsley decided would be a good idea to wear in public…
10. The Blueblood Look WWE.com
In the mid 1990’s, everything was changing – music,...
- 1/2/2016
- by Kenny McIntosh
- Obsessed with Film
Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches haven’t really been the same since the Attitude heyday of Edge & Christian and The Hardy Boys but still the WWE perserve with the pay per view each and every year. 2015 looks set to be an interesting PPV with – at least on paper – a few matches that could really make their mark on fans: the triple threat match featuring three high-flying tag teams; the Intercontinental Championship match between Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose (definitely a crowd-pleaser) and then there’s the main event… Sheamus versus Roman Reigns; and we all know how fans react to Reigns getting anywhere close to the title!
As always Spoilers if you haven’t seen the PPV yet…
TLC 2015 opens with a video package hyping the matches for the night before The New Day heading out to the ring to their usual mixed reception. After some trash talking from the...
As always Spoilers if you haven’t seen the PPV yet…
TLC 2015 opens with a video package hyping the matches for the night before The New Day heading out to the ring to their usual mixed reception. After some trash talking from the...
- 12/14/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
WWE.com
The TLC go home show. How quickly are WWE pay per views coming round these days?
This week’s episode looked set to be a bumper edition after a couple of new factions were established last week. Sheamus ‘recruited’ King Barrett, Rusev and Alberto Del Rio to form the League of Nations, while Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose joined forces with The Usos to form a family, of sorts. The powers that be have a lot of explaining to do as to why the factions are together now which would be sure to take up a very boring opening 20 minutes of the show.
The other main talking point heading into this week’s Raw was who would be the fourth man? Last week’s episode saw the shock return of Tommy Dreamer to a WWE ring, as the Ecw Original assisted The Dudley Boyz against the Wyatt Family.
The TLC go home show. How quickly are WWE pay per views coming round these days?
This week’s episode looked set to be a bumper edition after a couple of new factions were established last week. Sheamus ‘recruited’ King Barrett, Rusev and Alberto Del Rio to form the League of Nations, while Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose joined forces with The Usos to form a family, of sorts. The powers that be have a lot of explaining to do as to why the factions are together now which would be sure to take up a very boring opening 20 minutes of the show.
The other main talking point heading into this week’s Raw was who would be the fourth man? Last week’s episode saw the shock return of Tommy Dreamer to a WWE ring, as the Ecw Original assisted The Dudley Boyz against the Wyatt Family.
- 12/8/2015
- by Ross Tweddell
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Two further matches were added to WWE’s TLC card on last night’s Raw. This Sunday’s pay per view will now feature an eight-man elimination tables match between the Wyatt Family and the Ecw originals, a team made up of the Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer, and last night’s returner, Rhyno.
Additionally, a title match has been announced for Alberto Del Rio’s Us Championship. The Mexican champion will take on Jack Swagger, with whom he’s built a rivalry over the past few weeks, in a chair match.
This is not necessarily Sunday’s final card, and WWE could well attempt to fit some more superstars onto the bill. Current glaring omissions include Rusev and Wade Barrett (the remainder of Sheamus ‘League of Nations’ posse), Tyler Breeze and Dolph Ziggler.
The updated card reads as follows:
WWE World Heavyweight Title – TLC Match
Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns...
Two further matches were added to WWE’s TLC card on last night’s Raw. This Sunday’s pay per view will now feature an eight-man elimination tables match between the Wyatt Family and the Ecw originals, a team made up of the Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer, and last night’s returner, Rhyno.
Additionally, a title match has been announced for Alberto Del Rio’s Us Championship. The Mexican champion will take on Jack Swagger, with whom he’s built a rivalry over the past few weeks, in a chair match.
This is not necessarily Sunday’s final card, and WWE could well attempt to fit some more superstars onto the bill. Current glaring omissions include Rusev and Wade Barrett (the remainder of Sheamus ‘League of Nations’ posse), Tyler Breeze and Dolph Ziggler.
The updated card reads as follows:
WWE World Heavyweight Title – TLC Match
Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns...
- 12/8/2015
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Bubba Ray Dudley has sparked rumours of a fourth Ecw original returning to WWE television tonight, after a tweet stating:
‘Just got to #WWECharlotte. Also, just got off phone with an Extreme Brother!! Do Not Miss @WWE #Raw tomorrow night!!’
With the upcoming TLC pay per view only a week away, the possibility of a eight-man match seems high – although the identity of the fourth man remains a mystery. WWE have remained tight-lipped over the return, although a number of ex-superstars can be considered favourites.
Rhyno must be high on the list of suspects, currently working under an Nxt contract, while Sandman has previously tagged with Tommy Dreamer in WWE. Another potential candidate could be former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam, who has a history of working sporadic short-term contracts for Vince McMahon since leaving the company in 2007.
Even before Bubba’s tweet, talk of WWE calling upon...
Bubba Ray Dudley has sparked rumours of a fourth Ecw original returning to WWE television tonight, after a tweet stating:
‘Just got to #WWECharlotte. Also, just got off phone with an Extreme Brother!! Do Not Miss @WWE #Raw tomorrow night!!’
With the upcoming TLC pay per view only a week away, the possibility of a eight-man match seems high – although the identity of the fourth man remains a mystery. WWE have remained tight-lipped over the return, although a number of ex-superstars can be considered favourites.
Rhyno must be high on the list of suspects, currently working under an Nxt contract, while Sandman has previously tagged with Tommy Dreamer in WWE. Another potential candidate could be former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam, who has a history of working sporadic short-term contracts for Vince McMahon since leaving the company in 2007.
Even before Bubba’s tweet, talk of WWE calling upon...
- 12/7/2015
- by Jack G King
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Chances are high that Joey Ryan and his extremely unorthodox test of strength have flooded your social media over the past week. While that was a move that deservedly received mainstream press coverage, it wasn’t the only spot worth highlighting from the previous week.
A table war has been heating up between The Wyatt Family and a trio of Ecw originals in WWE. In Ring of Honor, Dalton Castle has been his usual creative self by putting more reversals on a piledriver than previously thought possible. In Mexico’s Cmll, Kamaitachi and Dragon Lee competed in a can’t miss matchup that was chock full of moments that were can’t miss.
Joey Ryan and his domestic object will get their moment in the spotlight, but so will the rest of the insane spots alongside it.
15. Bum Rush By Bubba WWE.com
A six-man tag team match...
Chances are high that Joey Ryan and his extremely unorthodox test of strength have flooded your social media over the past week. While that was a move that deservedly received mainstream press coverage, it wasn’t the only spot worth highlighting from the previous week.
A table war has been heating up between The Wyatt Family and a trio of Ecw originals in WWE. In Ring of Honor, Dalton Castle has been his usual creative self by putting more reversals on a piledriver than previously thought possible. In Mexico’s Cmll, Kamaitachi and Dragon Lee competed in a can’t miss matchup that was chock full of moments that were can’t miss.
Joey Ryan and his domestic object will get their moment in the spotlight, but so will the rest of the insane spots alongside it.
15. Bum Rush By Bubba WWE.com
A six-man tag team match...
- 12/6/2015
- by Mitch Nickelson
- Obsessed with Film
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