Breaking News: Cody Rhodes Fired by Triple H!

Last night on RAW (9-2-2013), Cody Rhodes was placed in a "Career Threatening Match" against Randy Orton by Triple H for speaking out against Triple H's treatment of Daniel Bryan. Cody Rhodes narrowly lost to Orton despite at one point hitting his 'Cross Rhodes' finisher. After the match, Triple H came out on the entrance ramp and fired Cody Rhodes. As Rhodes was being escorted out by security, WWE interviewer Josh Matthews questioned Cody on what happened. Cody commented that the McMahons have never liked the Rhodes. He says that's why Dusty Rhodes was the hottest wrestler in the Florida Territory until he signed with WWF and Vince had him wrestling in polka dots. He said that's why his brother went from being the Natural to being put in gold paint. We certainly hope Cody returns to the WWE soon. 

Wrestler's Way presents... The Irish Whip - July 20, 2013

wrestlersway.blogspot.com

by Brian Phelps

NEWS: Chris Sabin wins the TNA World Title from Bully Ray at Destination X.

The Irish Whip: Congratulations to Chris Sabin. He certainly is deserving, and I for one never thought he would become a World Champion. I knew he had the wrestling skills, but he's a fair mic worker and very small. I'm amazed for him. This was something new and different. For all the naysayers that say that TNA only puts over old guys after putting the world title on Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, James Storm, and Chris Sabin over the last 2 years, you're delusional and obviously don't watch the product.

NEWS: Former WCW Employee and Wrestlezone writer Mark Madden says Hogan never passed the torch.

The Irish Whip: Sorry Mark, but you're wrong. Hogan passed the torch to The Ultimate Warrior in a title vs title match at Wrestlemania 6. Hogan shattered ppv records as he passed the torch to Sting at Starrcade 97 at the pinnacle of the WCW/nWo war. Hogan passed the torch and the WCW World Title to Goldberg in front of 40,000 fans in the biggest WCW Nitro main event of all-time. Hogan passed the torch to The Rock at Wrestlemania 18. Hogan passed the torch to Brock Lesnar in arguably the biggest Smackdown main event of all-time. The idea that Hogan never passed the torch is one of the biggest lies and misconceptions in the wrestling industry. You could say he "rarely" passed the torch, but to say he never even tried is simply just not true.

NEWS: TNA releases Tara.

The Irish Whip: This is a sad day for TNA. TNA took former WWE diva Victoria's career to an all-time high as TNA knockout Tara. They allowed her to be herself, and let her really work. Now released, where does she go from here? WWE is financially wise, but you risk ruining your legacy and suffering the "Gail Kim Effect". The "Gail Kim Effect" is a term I coined to describe a diva who leaves WWE to go to TNA and becomes a bigger star in TNA, but when they try to return to WWE with a higher stock thinking they could be the biggest star on the highest stage the WWE dupes them and makes them a jobber or hardly uses them at all. The Gail Kim Effect typically leads to resentful feelings towards WWE. Interesting decision for Tara because the WWE will have no interest in making her a bigger star. More than likely WWE would just have her go back to being the joke of the divas division.

Wrestler's Way presents... The Irish Whip - July 6, 2013

The Irish Whip is a new column similar in style to ESPN's First Take in which I give my rapid fire analysis of the week's biggest news in wrestling every Saturday. You might not agree with it, but it needs to be said.

NEWS: WWE suspends Ricardo Rodriguez for his first violation of the Wellness Policy

THE IRISH WHIP: We all know it's been a little while since anyone has violated the Wellness Policy. I'm not surprised that it's Ricardo Rodriguez. Funny how you only hear about mid-carders (people that don't draw) like an Evan Bourne or Ricardo Rodriguez getting tested/suspended while freakishly large men like Triple H, John Cena are invisible somehow. WWE doesn't test/suspend Triple H or John Cena because to have stars like that off of tv means it hurts ratings and hurt ratings equals a hurt pocketbook so to save face the WWE suspends jobbers every once in awhile to appease the mainstream media who are too ignorant (when it comes to pro wrestling) to know the difference between a clothesline and a count out let alone between Evan Bourne and John Cena.

NEWS: WWE Reportedly Confident That TNA Star Sting Will Be Joining Their Roster Soon.

THE IRISH WHIP: I can't wait to see Sting in WWE horn tooting with Santino, getting tadpole splashed by Hornswoggle, and then triple powerbombed by The Shield and buried by John Cena... then shaving all his hair off and only working one date a year before completely changing his gimmick and joining Tensai and Brodus Clay where he will change his name to the "Stingasaurus" and dance with the Funkadactyls until he is released and then he'll post angry twitter comments about how John Cena had it out for him and led to his release.


NEWS: TNA Wrestling Signs South-East Asia Distribution Deal.

THE IRISH WHIP: I think this is a great move for TNA Wrestling. Asia obviously is one of the big wrestling markets along with North America, and for TNA to expand further into this market is huge for them. I hope it gives them some much needed new revenue streams. We should all be rooting for TNA's success even if you are not a fan because competition brings out the best in rivals. Monopolies kill the marketplace and WWE has proved it over the last decade with the overall degradation of their product consistent with the lack of competitors in the market.

NEWS: TNA Releases Crimson, Christian York, Madison Rayne, Taeler Hendrix, and Joey Ryan due to cost cutting measures.

THE IRISH WHIP: I understand the concept of "trimming the fat" to save money. BUT. Why would you cut younger promising up-and-coming beasts like Crimson and Christian York, but keep dead weight like Knux (aka Mike Knox) who to my knowledge still has yet to wrestle a one-on-one match in nearly a year with the company? Why would you cut a beast like Crimson over Garett Bischoff and D'Lo Brown? Madison Rayne hadn't been used in a long time so you could get away with cutting her and not hurting any feelings. 

I would cut guys like Garett Bischoff, Knux, D'Lo Brown, ODB. These guys right now are just dead weight. They don't really add anything to the show, the crowd isn't into them (other than ODB), they're just 3 goons and a wasted talent in ODB. So why keep them? Crimson shows a lot of promise, and Christian York clearly had the look and solid wrestling skills. These were all very talented wrestlers, and I hope they either go to the WWE or return to TNA soon. This is like if WWE had to choose between Roman Reigns and Curt Hawkins... and chose Curt Hawkins. I get the reason for the cuts, but who they cut is mind boggling and makes no sense. 

TNA Releases Crimson, Joey Ryan, Christian York, Madison Rayne, and Taeler Hendrix

WWE Releases Talented Up-and-Coming Commentator Matt Striker

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

A couple of days ago, the WWE released long time wrestler, commentator, interviewer Matt Striker. Matt Striker is one of the most underrated commentators of all-time. Striker was a throwback to the realistic commentators of yesteryear like Sean Mooney, Lord Alfred Hayes, and Tony Shiavone. I'll never forget when watching a boring episode of WWE's Tuesday night ECW that as Yoshi Tatsu won the #1 contendership for the ECW Title Matt Striker yelling "Yoshi Tatsu has done it. And they're celebrating on the streets of Tokyo!". Was it over-the-top and cheesy? Yes. But this sort of commentating is what pro wrestling is sorely missing. Matt Striker was able to make a boring match on WWECW seem like the most important match of all-time. I haven't seen a commentator really sell such a low brow match since Tony Shiavone was selling Disco Inferno vs La Parka on WCW Saturday Night as the "Greatest night in the history of our great sport". Striker, much like Shiavone, is able to make even the most low brow matches seem important. 

I know Striker is going to bounce back. TNA desperately needs a guy like Matt Striker to modernize the announcing booth and relieve us of the poor lackluster commentating of Taz. No offense to Taz, but he was never a good commentator. He just adds credibility to the TNA Booth from all his Smackdown years. Tenay needs Striker because he's been carrying the announcing booth since the company started, and now the company has grown to where it's just time for a fresh voice. They tried Todd Kennely but the chemistry just wasn't there, and he was more expendable then Tenay or Taz. 

Striker was far better than Michael Cole or Jerry Lawler. Striker would actually call the match at hand rather than blabbering on about the latest Cena storyline during the undercard matches. I'm going to miss Matt Striker, but I hope that TNA signs Striker. They desperately need a fresh voice at the commentating table to join Tenay. 

Is Chavo Guerrero Going to TNA?

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




Chavo Guerrero was granted his release by the WWE recently after being with the company for almost a decade. To the new generation of wrestling fans, Chavo Guerrero was nothing but a joke because of the WWE. He's been a jobber for years now. From being embarrassed in a several month long losing end of a feud with Hornswoggle, to being Edge and Vickie Guerrero's "gopher". Chavo Guerrero has been being squashed, buried, and embarrassed by WWE for years. It wasn't always this way though. At one time, Chavo Guerrero was one of the premier cruiserweights in the world, and was one half of arguably the last legitimately great tag team in WWE History-- Los Guerreros (which spawned Eddie Guerrero's legendary "Lie, Cheat, Steal" gimmick). After Eddie Guerrero died, they teased a Chavo push, but then depushed him in favor of using Rey Mysterio for the famous "Divine Intervention" story line where Eddie Guerrero was spiritually carrying Rey to the top of the company from the heavens in what was WWE's version of 'Angels in the Outfield'. After Rey was chosen over him Chavo has gone nowhere but down hill as a serious contender.

So now the question is Chavo Guerrero going to TNA? It would be a fresh start, not to mention his uncle Hector Guerrero works there on Spanish commentary. Chavo could restore his honor, and add a lot to either the X-Division or Television Title divisions. I could imagine the fantastic match-ups he could have against guys like Kaz or AJ Styles. He could also be a familiar face to help Hernandez get over more. Chavo has family, friends, and better opportunities there. I'm pretty confident that Chavo will go to TNA at some point.

Did CM Punk Go Off Script?

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




On RAW earlier tonight, CM Punk changed the course of wrestling history. He created a defining game changer in professional wrestling. It was beyond controversial. It was beyond edgy. Not since 'Razor Ramon' jumped the guard rail on WCW Nitro and implied he was sent by the WWF to take over has a moment rocked wrestling like this and had fans asking themselves if it was real or not. CM Punk has been proclaiming for weeks that his contract is coming up and he is not going to renew it, which is unusual in itself. During the John Cena/R-Truth tables match, he ran out and costed Cena the match... but then oddly grabbed a microphone and walked up the entrance ramp and sat down. Then... he opened his mouth.

CM Punk committed every cardinal sin a wrestler can make. He came out wearing another wrestlers shirt. He mentioned other promotions (a big no no in WWE) when he proclaimed that he would walk out of the company as the World Champion and maybe go defend the belt in New Japan Pro Wrestling or maybe go back to Ring of Honor. He shouted out a non-WWE employee... ROH wrestler Colt Cabana, waving at the camera and saying "Hey Colt Cabana, how you doing?" He told John Cena that he actually liked John Cena, that he didn't hate him. He told Cena he was really great at kissing Vince McMahons ass... as good as Hulk Hogan was and almost as good as Dwayne (The Rock). He broke the fourth wall by looking at the people at home and waving. He then talks about how he is sick of the idea that John Cena is the best wrestler. Punk says he is the best WRESTLER and has been since day one. He told us that The Rock headlining Wrestlemania 28 makes him sick. The icing on the cake is when he says that maybe the company would be better off if Vince McMahon were dead, but it won't because it will be ran by his idiot daughter (Stephanie) and doofus son-in-law (Triple H). He even credited Paul Heyman for giving him a chance "Yes, I'm a Paul Heyman guy". CM Punk committed probably every no no that you could do in the business. Now, everyone has been asking if it was real or scripted after his microphone was cut off and the show was cut off during his anti-WWE rant. It was said that after RAW went off the air Michael Cole stated that Punk was suspended indefinitely, but were the WWE just trying to save face by trying to cover up Punk's off script antics? Whether it was scripted, real, imaginary... it doesn't matter. The world is talking about it. CM Punks shoot promo just joined the hostile take over of WCW, Austins 3:16 speech, and Shane McMahons purchase of WCW as the most shocking moments in professional wrestling history.