To the general public, Vince McMahon’s WWE is professional wrestling, and professional wrestling is the demented love child of NASCAR and Days Of Our Lives. Both assumptions are wrong, though. There is something silly about would-be juggernauts wearing next to nothing and dishing out choreographed offense to each other, but couldn’t the same be said for so many other things?
Based out of Philadelphia, independent wrestling federation Chikara is the anti-WWE. Chikara doesn’t hide from the surface-level goofiness—rather, the federation embraces it while retaining a fast-paced artfulness that sweeps the floor with the competition. The A.V. Club asked founder and frequent grappler Mike Quackenbush why Chikara is wrestling for skeptics.
The A.V. Club: What was your inspiration in creating Chikara?
Mike Quackenbush: To irritate wrestling traditionalists that still think we’re still hustling marks for a buck at a carnival. To make pro wrestling more like the live-action comic book I always thought it was, and less like a commercial for GNC supplements. Also, to ensure I’d have the best stories at my high school reunion...More?
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June 24, 2011
Interview with Chikara’s Mike Quackenbush
Al Gore Reveals his Love of Pro Wrestling
The one constant criticism of Gore, be it as Vice President, then as the Democratic Presidential Nominee, and finally as an environmental advocate, has been his "wooden" persona. For some, Gore seemed too cold and intellectual to connect to the masses. Perhaps this has all changed with his new Rolling Stone article entitled "Climate of Change".
Describing his disagreements with how the media has been reporting about climate change, he has turned to the metaphor of professional wrestling to help piledrive his point home.
Unlike other politicians who sometimes use pro wrestling in a negative context, as Hilary Clinton did in a recent speech slamming wrestling [U.S. Secretary of State Clinton slams pro wrestling for being anti-American], Gore reveals with heartfelt passion the awe and wonder he felt at watching pro wrestling live as as child in Elmswood, Tennessee...More?
source: slam wrestling
WWE's Big DVD Project
Jim Ross announced that he interviewed Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart for several hours today in Stamford, CT for a DVD project that will be released this October. Pwinsider is reporting that the DVD is on the Montreal Screwjob and the issues between Bret and Michaels.
This Day in Wrestling History
Wahoo McDaniel defeated Ricky Steamboat for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight title.
June 24, 1984
TBS aired the final episode of WCW Saturday Night after 27 consecutive years.
June 24, 2000
Bret Hart suffers a bicycle accident and a crippling stroke.
June 24, 2002
June 23, 2011
Daniel Bryan Promoting the Vegan Lifestyle
“As a WWE Superstar, staying healthy and having a lot of energy helps me succeed in the ring—that’s why I choose to be a vegan,” says Daniel Bryan in his brand-new pro-vegan ad for peta2, PETA’s youth division. At 198 muscular pounds, Bryan is in the best shape of life—and he says it’s all because of his plant-based diet.
In an exclusive Q&A with peta2, Bryan explained that chronic health problems since childhood led his doctor to suggest that Bryan go vegan. Now, a year later, Bryan says, “[T]his whole year, my energy levels have been great. … I’m stronger right now than I’ve ever been … I’m dead-lifting more than I ever have before.”
Yokozuna Memorial II This October
Rodney Anoa’i, better known to the wrestling world as The Mighty Yokozuna, was one of the greatest Superstars in WWE history. Heralded as one of the best big men EVER in the sport, he possessed unmatched agility for a man of his size.
Inside the ring he dominated the ranks of the WWE defeating the likes of Lex Luger, Bret The Hitman Hart, Hulk Hogan and countless others during his reign as Champion. Outside of the ring he was one of the most likable personalities in the eyes of his peers and fans alike. The wrestling world mourned the loss of Yokozuna in 2000. In 2001 WXW and the Anoa’i family held The Yokozuna Memorial Show in Allentown Pa.
The show was attended by hundreds of fans & wrestlers who wished to show their support, as well as WWE Superstars, The Undertaker, Kane, JBL and Ron Simmons to name a few. It was a great night celebrating the life and career of Rodney Anoa’i.
This October 1st, come help us celebrate what would have been the 45th birthday of this gentle giant and show his children & family while he may be gone, he’ll never be forgotten.
The Secret World of WWE Figure Collecting
Fans around the world couldn't wait get their hands on toy company LJN's first line of WWE action figures. Sure, these tiny wrestlers were made of hard plastic and had zero moveable joints, but these were WWE action figures. Children wanted to play with the heroes and villains they saw on TV each week.
"I can remember asking my mom and dad for LJN figures straight off the shelves when I was about 8 or so," said Daniel Epps, a 34-year old, decades-long fan of WWE figures from Gloversville, New York.
Fast forward 27 years and Mattel's collection of WWE figures is light years away from LJN's stiff Hulk Hogan figures. Today, Mattel's Randy Orton figure has 27 points of articulation, highly detailed tattoos and real fabric clothing that makes it the spitting image of the 6-foot-4, 245-pound superstar. The improvements are irresistible for fans.
"Now I collect as a hobby. I tried to quit buying last year when Mattel took over the WWE license, but the figures are so incredible I just couldn't stop," Epps said...More?
source: cnn.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Bronko Nagurski defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA Heavyweight Wrestling title.
June 23, 1939
Ted DiBiase defeated Junkyard Dog for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight title.
June 23, 1982
Stone Cold Steve Austin wins the King of The Ring tournament. The win marks the beginning of Austin's push. Triple H was scheduled to win this tournament, but that angle was scrapped due to his participation in the "MSG Curtain Call" incident and subsequent punishment.
June 23, 1996
Molly Holly defeated Trish Stratus for the WWE Women's title.
June 23, 2002
Billy Red Lyons passes away.
June 23, 2009Bronko Nagurski defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA Heavyweight Wrestling title.
June 23, 1939
Ted DiBiase defeated Junkyard Dog for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight title.
June 23, 1982
Stone Cold Steve Austin wins the King of The Ring tournament. The win marks the beginning of Austin's push. Triple H was scheduled to win this tournament, but that angle was scrapped due to his participation in the "MSG Curtain Call" incident and subsequent punishment.
June 23, 1996
Molly Holly defeated Trish Stratus for the WWE Women's title.
June 23, 2002
Billy Red Lyons passes away.
June 23, 2009
