The Best Announce Team in Pro Wrestling Today

by Brian Phelps
http://www.wrestlersway.blogspot.com

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler. Tony Shiavone and "Iron" Mike Tenay. Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Vince McMahon. In the world of professional wrestling, the commentating booth at one time held legendary status. The 1980's and 1990's were a golden age for pro wrestling commentating with a who's who of legends and hall of fame announcers. 

Currently, the climate for commentating in pro wrestling is at an all-time low. As of late, we've seen 3-man booths in WWE with Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, and Michael Cole with an occasional splash of Booker T. Or, Josh Matthews and Don Callis over on Impact Wrestling (or Josh and "Pope" D'Angelo Dinero at one point). The one bright spot has been Jim Ross and Josh Barnett doing the commentary for NJPW on AXSTV (though they're not commentating live so often times Jim Ross sounds more like he's doing commentary on a video game then an actual broadcast). Prior to that, we even saw Michael Cole wrestling at WrestleMania. 

However, a brand new announce team was put together and this is already the best announce team in all of pro wrestling right now. WWE? Nope. NJPW? Nope. Impact Wrestling? Nope. ROH? Nope. Major League Wrestling now has the best commentating booth in the business. MLW with their Battle Riot episode introduced Matt Striker to team with the legendary Tony Shiavone to call the action for Major League Wrestling. Upon listening to them on commentary, you can already tell the difference between how Shiavone and Striker call matches versus other teams like Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. They actually do what I've been imploring wrestling commentators to return to doing what made commentators great:

1) Actually calling the match at hand - Too many times in recent years, the commentators spend more time talking about the top star of the brand in the middle of other wrestler's matches. I don't want to hear about Roman Reigns during a Dolph Ziggler versus Seth Rollins match for example. Commentators are supposed to be helping to tell the story of the match happening in the ring. 

2) Calling the match like a real sport - It seems like nowadays, commentators don't spend enough time talking about the wrestling moves themselves and how the pain they inflict with these moves changes the complexion of the match. They spend more time talking about someone's attitude or demeanor. Already, Striker and Shiavone were discussing during a Sami Callihan vs Shane Strickland match how Callihan was working the leg of Shane Strickland. They even noted how at certain times how it was a mistake for Strickland to be using his "bad" leg to kick Callihan noting that the risk may not be worth it. They also noted how at one point Callihan was working the other "healthy" leg of Strickland. And earlier in the night during a Jimmy Havoc match, Jimmy had his arm bandaged from a previous cut on his bicep he sustained during a hardcore match a couple of weeks before. Striker astutely noted how if the other wrestler took the bandage off or opened that wound up that Jimmy Havoc could bleed out. It's little details like this that are missing from other broadcast teams, and something that has really been missing since the Monday Night Wars.

3) Giving us more intimate details about the wrestler's personas - One thing that Tony Shiavone and Matt Striker too have always been really good at was explaining little details about a wrestler's background and how it plays into the match at hand. They were noting on the show how one wrestler had recently trained in Jiu Jitsu, but also noted that how even though that is impressive that this is wrestling. They noted how wrestling was different from boxing and mma. These little comments add so much more realism to the match and credibility to the commentating booth versus the cartoony back and forth exchanges you'll hear on WWE programming between Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. 

We need more commentating styles like Tony Shiavone, Matt Striker, and WWE's Mauro Ranallo (who is a legit sports commentator in his own right outside of pro wrestling). How Mauro Ranallo is not the lead commentator for RAW or Smackdown is baffling to me. He's the most talented announcer in all of WWE. I mean, the guy called the Mayweather vs McGregor fight for crying out loud and yet he's only on NXT? 

MLW Fusion Episode 16: Sami Callihan vs. Shane Strickland

Official ALL IN Theme Song

The official theme song for the much anticipated All In pro wrestling event is by Downstait "All In"

Major League Wrestling: Battle Riot (Full Episode)

The Reality of Contract Negotiations in Pro Wrestling

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

Kaz and Daniels contracts allegedly expire in April, which means that TNA's negotiating is coming down to the wire.

I was on the dirt sites and came across a user who posted the following ridiculous statement. "TNA suck at contracts. They allow a lot to run down into the final weeks and even let them expire before resigning". This is a typical statement from a member of the IWC who criticizes a wrestling company without having any actual idea of how contract negotiations work. They believe that letting contracts expire or get down to the wire means that the company is lazy or disorganized. That's just simply not true. Allow me to explain.

I was baffled at why this member of the IWC would take the time to criticize TNA's negotiating tactics. At least they don't have wrestlers allegedly breaching their contracts like the WWE (see Austin, Punk). That's not a slight against Austin or Punk. They had their reasons, but facts are facts. I have yet to see TNA stars breaching contracts because they're unhappy with TNA.

And here's the elephant in the room that criticizing IWC fans don't want to see. Letting contract negotiations go down to the wire is a NORMAL and time honored practice in sports. Sometimes in sports, a team is not sure whether they want to re-sign an athlete due to a multitude of possible reasons (creative differences in team direction, financial conundrums regarding cap space, etc). As a result, teams will let the athlete's contract expire in order to allow the player to "test the free agent market". Sometimes,  that same player will come back to the team if they can't get a better deal elsewhere. Other times, another team will offer the player a more lucrative or attractive deal. That's how the sports business works.

In pro wrestling, TNA has a distinct advantage over other American sports organizations. There are really only four other financially viable options for the professional wrestler to make a somewhat decent living -- WWE, ROH, Mexico and Japan. From a wrestler's perspective, it's not like the NBA or NFL where you have 30 different teams to field offers from. Basically for TNA, if the WWE doesn't lay down an offer the wrestler will most likely re-sign with TNA since it's not likely that they will get a better financial offer from Ring of Honor or overseas promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling.

It's sad, but wrestlers have very few options out there. That's why we should all be rooting for Jeff Jarrett's new promotion. More wrestling companies means more options and more power to the wrestlers when negotiating deals. Letting contracts expire is a company's read between the lines way of saying "Good luck getting paid somewhere else. You'll be back". That is the reality of contract negotiations in pro wrestling.

TNA Plot Hole: Why was Austin Aries in the Feast or Fired Match?

On the 12-12-13 edition of Impact Wrestling featured the Feast or Fired Match. Feast or Fired is a match where 4 briefcases are put above each turnbuckle. Each briefcase features either an X-Division Title Match, World Heavyweight Title Match, Tag Team Title Match, or a Pink Slip. Austin Aries earlier in the show defeated Chris Sabin for the X-Division Championship. Aries then later on competed in the Feast or Fired Match.

What doesn't make sense: Why was Austin Aries allowed to compete in the Feast or Fired match even though he was already X-Division Champion? In theory, what would TNA have done if Austin Aries pulled down the briefcase containing the X-Division Title Shot while he was X-Division Champion? He obviously can't fight himself so it made absolutely no sense why he was allowed in the match. This is what is wrong with wrestling today. There's no thought given to common sense logic. 

TNA Plot Hole: Why Didn't Rockstar Spud Use GPS to Find Gainesville, Georgia?

On the 12-12-2013 edition of Impact Wrestling, Rockstar Spud was sent by Dixie Carter to Gainesville, Georgia to find AJ Styles and retrieve the TNA World Title. As Rockstar Spud is driving he is holding a map and claiming to be lost and unable to find Gainesville, Georgia.

What doesn't make sense: Why doesn't Rockstar Spud just use a GPS? What's even more stupid is that at one point he is talking to Dixie Carter while he is on his way. I'm assuming he was using smartphone which should have GPS (pretty much all smartphones do now) since he works for a multi-million dollar wrestling company with an internationally televised tv show. Even if his phone didn't have GPS are you telling me that TNA can't afford a 75 dollar GPS? This is the year 2013. Everyone has a GPS. So why is Rockstar Spud acting like it's 1994? This segment was a complete insult to the viewer's intelligence. 

FAQ: Who is EGO in TNA?

Answer: EGO (The Extraordinary Gentlemen's Organization) is a faction formed in 2013 in TNA and consists of Bobby Roode, Kazarian, and Christopher Daniels.

Preview of Tonight's TNA Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

No DQ Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Title
AJ Styles vs. Bully Ray

AJ styles vs Bully Ray is a tough one for me. I like Bully Ray as a heel. I like AJ Styles, but I feel like TNA has kind of pooped on this match-up. AJ Styles won the BFG Series (which is absolutely fine), but why did they drop his "No One" gimmick? For once, the AJ Styles character was compelling and different. It wasn't just his wrestling that was cool. With the "No One" gimmick, AJ Styles finally appeared to have the total package of gimmick and wrestling skills. For some reason, they just dropped his "No One" gimmick with kind of a haphazard explanation... AJ suddenly came out and cut a promo where he decided he was "ok" with being under appreciated and as a result he is back to the classic AJ Styles. He even went back to the Get Ready to Fly theme song. I think the one problem with AJ Styles legacy is that his character never fully evolves. Even the Hulkster evolved into Hollywood in the '90s. Styles always starts to evolve, but then suddenly devolves back into generic AJ Styles. He reverted back to old AJ after he took on some Ric Flair characteristics. Now, he reverts back to the generic AJ Styles after finally evolving into a compelling and entertaining character with his "No One" gimmick. Oh well, AJ Styles became the total package for about 5 months and then decided to revert back to generic AJ. As for Bully Ray, I'm happy for him that he is finally main eventing the biggest PPV in TNA as the champion. I do think it's time for Bully to drop what's left of the Aces and Eights and just keep Brooke Tessmacher. Knux and Bischoff at this point are just dragging his star power down. Time to cut bait with those jobbers. On a lighter note, what ever happened Tito Ortiz being in Aces and Eights? Or, Rampage in MEM? Boy... they just kind of forgot about them didn't they? lol. And what happened to Mr. Anderson? Why would you leave a 2-time TNA World Champion off the PPV? 

Ultimate X for the TNA X Division Title
Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Sabin vs. Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe vs. Manik

I think this Ultimate X match will be the show stealer tonight. Anytime you put Hardy, Aries, Joe, Sabin, and Manik in a match together good things are going to happen. If you buy this pay-per-view, than this is the match that will make it worth the money. Weirdly, it kind of seems like a waste of several main eventers. You're wasting Hardy/Aries/Joe all in one match for a mid-card belt? The two biggest superstars in TNA who headlined last years Bound For Glory over the heavyweight title are now just tossed into an X-Division match. Don't get me started on Samoa Joe. It seems like TNA hasn't known what to do with Joe for the last 5 years. He just sort of floats around as nothing more than PPV filler nowadays. I am intrigued to see what Hardy will pull out for Ultimate X. It's kind of strange to think that Hardy has never participated in an Ultimate X match before this given his risk taking background. This is an awkwardly awesome match. Hey, does anyone else wonder why Chris Sabin never invoked his rematch clause? Or, why Sabin never exacted revenge on Tito Ortiz for costing him the TNA Title? lol. 

TNA Knockouts Title Match
Brooke vs. Gail Kim vs. ODB

TNA seemed to tease that Lady Tei'pa (or however you spell her name) would get involved. I don't expect a lot from this match. The Knockouts division has kind of fizzled in the last couple of months after a wild start to the year. Speaking of which, what ever happened to Taryn Terrell? I mean, weren't they raving about her ladder match a few months ago? And where is Mickie James? Why hasn't Velvet Sky wrestled lately? Weird.

TNA Tag Team Title Match
Winners of pre-show vs. Gunner and James Storm

This tag team title match feels like TNA's creative team really had nothing to do for Gunner and Storm, so they just threw this together real fast. It's kind of odd considering how important TNA's tag team division used to be. I used to rave about how great TNA's tag team division once was, but now it's really no better than WWE's. In fact, lately... dare I say the WWE Tag Team Division has been better. Wow, I never thought I'd say that. 

Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode

Angle/Roode at BFG is yet another sloppily thrown together at the last minute match. This storyline is sort of stupid. Kaz and Daniels decide to induct Bobby Roode into some made up Hall of Fame of theirs, and for some reason Kurt Angle is angry at Bobby Roode and not Kaz and Daniels? Wow... that makes a lot of sense. What makes this worse is that they already fought at Bound For Glory 2011, and it doesn't feel like all that long ago. Here's another question... is Kurt Angle still in the Main Event Mafia? Because since he returned they haven't really mentioned him as being a member. 

Sting vs. Magnus

Sting vs Magnus is a match-up that could've been much more intriguing. Magnus held a large lead in the BFG Series only to suddenly start getting screwed every week until he ultimately lost. Lately, it seems TNA is teasing a heel turn for Magnus as he is starting to turn into a whiner. A real "woe is me" character. This match-up with Sting was kind of thrown together, and honestly seems somewhat random. Their was really wasn't much build-up to this match. Two and a half weeks ago, Sting claims he will put Magnus on the map after Magnus whines for weeks about losing all the time. Dixie Carter randomly tries to sabotage the Sting/Magnus match at Bound For glory for some reason... but fails. Then this past week, Magnus fights Bully Ray and loses and whines some more. This match just seems rushed, awkward, and forced... but if any two men can make this work... it's these two. 

An appearance by Ethan Carter III

TNA has done absolutely nothing to interest me in Ethan Carter III. The video packages seemed really low budget and second rate. Let's hope he makes a splash. 

Pre-show Gauntlet Match
Daniels & Kazarian vs. Joseph Park & Eric Young vs. Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez vs. Robbie E and Jessie Godderz

This Pre-Show Gauntlet match to decide who faces Gunner and James Storm for the tag team titles seems like it was just lazily thrown in for filler. It's interesting to see TNA now taking a page from WWE's playbook and having a pre-show to shore up last minute PPV buys. 

TNA Plot Holes: Why didn't Chris Sabin Invoke his Rematch Clause?

By Brian Phelps

Http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

After Bully Ray lost the TNA world title to Chris Sabin, Bully Ray invoked his rematch clause and defeated Sabin to regain the belt. Since Chris Sabin lost the world title, why didn't Sabin invoke his rematch clause? Sabin never got a rematch, which is odd especially considering that Sabin got hit with a hammer in an extremely controversial finish. It also makes no sense that babyface General Manager Hulk Hogan granted the heel Bully Ray a title rematch, but not the babyface Chris Sabin. Why Sabin never got a rematch was never explained.

Complete List Of TNA Bound For Glory Series Winners

2013: AJ Styles
2012: Jeff Hardy
2011: Bobby Roode

Magnus Joins the Main Event Mafia

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

Last night on the 7-5-2013 edition of Impact Wrestling, Magnus was revealed as the newest member of the new Main Event Mafia. He joins Sting, Kurt Angle, and Samoa Joe in the new incarnation. 

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

Upset Alert: Magnus defeats Bobby Roode - Impact Wrestling June 27, 2013

This past Thursday on Impact Wrestling (June 27, 2013), Magnus successfully upset former TNA World Champion the "It Factor" Bobby Roode. I believe we may finally be witnessing the long awaited rise of Magnus. This was a pretty major upset given that Magnus has never defeated a wrestler this high up in the company. Sure, it wasn't on Pay-Per-View, but it was still a huge step for Magnus. It wasn't as shocking as The Usos and Christian upsetting The Shield on Smackdown, but it was still shocking. 

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. 

Should Christy Hemme Sue TNA For Sexual Harassment?

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

On Impact Wrestling this past Thursday, Christy Hemme botched the introduction of Bobby Roode and Austin Aries. Austin Aries cornered Christy Hemme basically demanding she get it right. She does it over, and Austin Aries climbs the turnbuckle in front of Christy Hemme and his crotch is near her face.

It's been said that this was NOT a work. That what Aries did should be considered sexual harassment, and you got Mark Madden calling on Hemme to sue Dixie Carter and TNA. You got the IWC in an uproar saying he should be suspended.

Let's assume it's not a work. What Austin Aries did was wrong. No question about it. He should be reprimanded, make a public apology to Christy Hemme, possibly suspended for a month without pay, and take a sexual harassment class.

If Christy Hemme wants to sue TNA, then by all means sue TNA. BUT She'll never win in court and I'll tell you why. All Austin Aries has to tell the court is that he was just "acting in character" and Hemme will lose. Whether or not he really was in character or not is irrelevant. Once his entrance music hit and he walked out from behind the curtain in front of the cameras he was considered to be "In Character". That is a fact. Austin Aries character is that of an arrogant bad guy. That is a fact. Austin Aries grabbed the mic and cut a promo on her in character before climbing the turnbuckle. That is a fact which further adds credibility to the perception that Austin Aries climbing the turnbuckle with his groin in her face was just him acting in character.

Now, here's the thing that everyone overlooks that adds credibility to Austin Aries. He NEVER grabbed her, put his hands on her, or touched her with any private parts of his body. In fact right before he climbed the turnbuckle, Christy Hemme put her hand on his shoulder. After he climbed the turnbuckle she put her hand on his right thigh and pushed him at the same time he jumped off the turnbuckle. She put her hands on him twice. That is a fact. Also Bobby Roode went with him to the corner that she was in so it just made it seem like they were acting like heels.

Do I think Austin Aries took it too far? Yes. But do I think she would win a lawsuit over it? Absolutely not. Once his music hits he is considered to be in character. He cut a HEEL promo right before climbing the turnbuckle. He never grabbed her, physically forced her, or put his private parts on her.

On top of all this, her credibility takes a hit automatically because you can make a case that she has a long track record of presenting herself in a way that is "asking" for that kind of attention. People forget Hemme made a bunch of money by posing nude for Playboy so a bunch of perverts can look at her naked. She wears risque and scantily clad clothing on the Knockouts website, and participates in sexually provocative TNAShop.com commercials. This type of public perception can hurt your credibility in a sexual harassment case of any kind.

And here's the elephant in the room that no one wants to see. Christy Hemme could have climbed out of the ring, but she didn't. James Storm could've stopped Aries, but didn't. James Storm was a babyface so it would not have seemed weird for him to get on to Aries, especially being the guest referee. Bobby Roode could have stopped Aries, but he didn't either. All of this is pretty much the icing on the cake that in the court of law, Aries would win by just claiming he was acting "in character". I feel bad for Christy Hemme, and I do think Aries should get reprimanded. I just don't think her case has a chance in court. 

TNA Plot Holes: Why Did TNA Deny That Chavo Guerrero Was a World Champion?

This past Thursday on Impact Wrestling, the contract signing took place over the tag team championships. Austin Aries and Bobby Roode vs Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez. The segment was rather entertaining, but I laughed at one major plot hole in this storyline. During the contract signing, Aries claimed that the difference between the two teams is that Aries/Roode have been world champions while Chavo and Hernandez have never been world champion. Aries asked both Chavo and Hernandez if either have been world champion and both men said no.

The plot hole is that Chavo Guerrero in fact is a former world champion. In 2008, Chavo Guerrero defeated CM Punk for the ECW World Title in a no disqualification match. What makes this plot hole even funnier is that Chavo Guerrero actually defended his world title at the grandest stage of them all... Wrestlemania.

(Chavo as ECW Champion at Wrestlemania 24)

Now, some may claim that the reason they denied that he was World Champion is because he won it while in the WWE. If you think that's why, you would be very wrong and I'll tell you why. TNA has no problem acknowledging accolades from other wrestling companies. When Jeff Hardy returned to TNA in 2010, TNA acknowledged his WWE title reigns. TNA has publicly acknowledged on-air Hulk Hogan's WWE Hall of Fame ring. Team 3D has acknowledged WWE, WCW, and ECW tag belts (even showing those belts) live on Impact. So it makes absolutely no sense that TNA would not acknowledge that Chavo Guerrero is a former world champion. They acknowledge everyone else's accolades from other wrestling companies.

I just found that humorous and baffling. Why did Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, and Chavo Guerrero deny that Chavo Guerrero was ever a world champion? Why would TNA deny such a career defining accolade? Why have they acknowledged every other wrestler's accolades from other companies but not Chavo's?

Humor: Hulk Hogan Drinks Anti-Freeze

Humor: Hulk Hogan Skateboarding (sort of)

Humor: Hulk Hogan Skateboard Fail