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July 23, 2013
July 22, 2013
Ring of Honor Two-Day Tryout Camp Details
Ring of Honor will hold a two-day tryout camp and seminar on August 31 and September 1 at the ROH wrestling dojo in Bristol, Pa. Delirious, Kevin Kelly, Truth Martini, Michael Bennett, Bob Evans, Todd Sinclair, and Maria Kanellis will be among the ROH personnel on hand. For more details, visit ROHWrestling.com
The two day camp is open to any pro wrestler with at least one year experience, and there is a $300 registration fee. The deadline to register is August 30.
Lutz's Blog: Daniel Bryan's push will test Triple H's influence on the WWE product
By Jeffrey Lutz
A power struggle is under way on WWE television featuring Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. It's a mostly pointless story line so far that apparently won't conclude until WrestleMania 30 in about seven months.
The angle has one redeeming quality, however. It's the remarks each participant has had about Daniel Bryan and the wisdom -- or lack thereof -- of pushing him to main-event level and handing him a match with John Cena at SummerSlam. It's interesting because it's probably real. Stephanie is stuck in the middle between her husband, Triple H, and her father, who of course thinks Bryan lacks the physical attributes and character makeup to be elevated to that level.
The only person sticking up for Bryan is Triple H. It's odd because Bryan is the type of performer Triple H's character -- and maybe even his real-life persona -- would make fun of and belittle for the same reasons Vince has had little positive to say about Bryan on television. I think Triple H's on-air opinions are real, too, because as a WWE executive he has plenty of incentive to help Bryan become as big of a star as possible. If Bryan has a significant run with the WWE Championship and stays at the top of the card for the foreseeable future, he'll likely have Triple H and his leadership toward new directions to thank.
That isn't to say, of course, that Triple H hasn't been involved in WWE booking in the past, because he definitely has. It's long been documented that he sat in on creative meetings when he was a full-time wrestler, and early in his career he was influenced by other members of "The Kliq" in encouraging his future father-in-law to push some wrestlers and pump the brakes on others. Ultimately, though, booking decisions weren't and aren't made unless Vince McMahon makes them. More people may have his ear now than in the past, but everything that happens on WWE television is approved by him.
McMahon, for all of the credit he deserves for attempting to capitalize on the popularity of Bryan that he probably doesn't understand, still seems determined to force Bryan to back his way into SummerSlam. Bryan accepted a WWE Championship match without having earned it. Some would call that opportunistic, but it doesn't line up with the values of a character who has cast himself as a "weak link" and been eager to prove to everyone that the description didn't fit. It's essentially a heel move to take a WWE Championship match without having earned it.
There is still plenty of time until SummerSlam, of course, but so far Bryan doesn't look strong. He failed to win the Money in the Bank All-Stars match, where he was taken out of by a mid-card wrestler, Curtis Axel in an angle that didn't feature a follow-up the next night on Raw, much less a payoff. McMahon may be testing Bryan's popularity to see if it is maintained through his character's difficulties, but it is of course more likely that he doesn't see money in Bryan and doesn't see a "larger-than-life" personality within a 5-foot-8 technical wrestler.
"Larger than life" is a term, at least within WWE, that has become passe. One reason for that is that wrestlers often use their real names, or at least names that could pass as real. "One Man Gang" or "Earthquake" sound a lot more intimidating than Mark Henry or Brodus Clay or Wade Barrett. Also, a wrestler's size has nothing to do with being larger than life.
The story featuring C.M. Punk, Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar includes three larger-than-life characters even though only Lesnar fits the traditional description. Punk and Heyman transcend their perceived limitations with quality, consistent performances. Doing great work and being unique is what makes a wrestler larger than life. Bryan does great work and is unique, so he's larger than life. That's all it takes.
Triple H, I believe, understands that. In his role as a WWE executive, he has scouted and signed talent of assorted physical attributes. For every ex-football player WWE has its eye on, Triple H has brought in a wrestler like Sin Cara or Sami Zayn who don't fit the conventional mold of true superstars. Getting away from the performance aspect of the business has likely opened Triple H's eyes to the numerous and varying qualities that make a wrestler popular and appreciated among fans.
Triple H also probably has something invested emotionally in Bryan, who was trained by Triple H's best friend, Shawn Michaels. Besides being educated by a legend in the business, like Triple H was by Killer Kowalski, I imagine Triple H identifies himself somewhat with Bryan, who appreciates and studies the history of the business and has a true passion for wrestling. On paper, Triple H and Bryan are nothing alike, but in that sense they share plenty of common ground.
The future of WWE is in great hands, it appears, with Triple H. His negotiations have helped bring past legends like Bruno Sammartino and Ultimate Warrior. His dedication toward finding the stars of tomorrow and refining the stars of today helped lead to the opening of the WWE Performance Center earlier this month. His enthusiasm for wrestling will attract talent toward WWE from all walks of life.
There is only one thing left for Triple H, the executive to do -- have the final say on a WWE booking decision. Daniel Bryan offers him that chance. The fans want it and Triple H seems to want it, too. Hopefully Vince McMahon is listening and he passes along that responsibility.
source: prowrestling.net
WWE PPV Name Change?
An international listing for WWE’s October pay-per-view, currently named Over the Limit, lists the show as Battle Ground. No idea if this in fact a name change or an error. WWE Over the Limit 2013 is scheduled for Sunday, October 6, 2013 from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.
Linda McMahon Remains Politically Active Despite Senate Loss
She insists she isn't running for anything, but Linda McMahon is once again taking her money, clout and star power onto the campaign trail.
The Republican from Greenwich who poured $100 million into a pair of unsuccessful runs for U.S. Senate has said repeatedly that her days as a candidate are over.
Yet nine months after losing the 2012 Senate race to Democrat Chris Murphy despite an omnipresent television and direct mail marketing blitz, McMahon has quietly begun her third act in politics: as a key benefactor to the state Republican party, and a trusted adviser to its chairman, Jerry Labriola Jr.
"She's had every reason, after the outcome of her two races, to disappear, but she's done just the opposite," Labriola said. "She's been active and helpful and I know she's dedicated to our party making a strong comeback in Connecticut."
McMahon has no formal title or clearly defined position; her new role is largely playing out in private -- and through the pictures and comments that she posts on Twitter.
"She wants to work behind the scenes to make Connecticut a better place," said Labriola, who added that he often turns to her for advice.
The former CEO of WWE, the Stamford-based wrestling entertainment company, declined requests for an interview.
But one measure of McMahon's enduring celebrity -- and her generosity to the state party -- was her prime seat at the annual Prescott Bush fundraising dinner in May: She sat on the dais with other dignitaries, listening to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the event's keynote speaker. Next month, she will co-host a $100-per-person fundraiser for Republican First Selectman Timothy M. Herbst of Trumbull.
"Linda is definitely going to be a player within the Republican party," said Gary L. Rose, chairman of the department of government and politics at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and the author of a soon-to-be published book, "No Holds Barred: The 2012 Connecticut Senate race."
"Somebody with those resources, they don't just disappear into the woodwork," Rose said. "She's tasted politics and, even though things didn't really break her way, she's interested in having a voice."...More?
source: huffingtonpost.com
July 21, 2013
Notable developmental talent left off the NXT taping, trainers frustrated by his recent approach
WWE developmental wrestler Kassius Ohno (aka Chris Hero) was noticeably absent from the most recent NXT television taping. Ohno was working out at the WWE Performance Center during the grand opening on Thursday, but he was did not work the tapings that night because the trainers are frustrated by his lack of commitment to the strength and conditioning program.
A number of people within developmental are said to be disappointed with Ohno, who was considered to be on the fast track to the main roster not all that long ago. Ohno, who worked as Chris Hero on the indy scene, is well liked within developmental and his in-ring ability isn't in question, but there is obviously a message being sent by keeping him off the television tapings. The story goes that when Triple H found out about Ohno's lack of dedication to cutting weight, he was removed from television and plans to bring him into the WWE were put on hold.
source: prowrestling.net
CHIKARA Update
Icarus from Chikara had posted on the Chikara forum that he planned to be at the Palmer enter in Easton PA on July 20th (Chikara had a show scheduled for the venue but cancelled it) at 7pm. I attended and here is what happened.
30-35 Chikara fans showed up and waited. Billy Kumohara a former employee of Chikara arrived with a cameraman and interviewed the fans about the recent turn of events. Icarus arrived a little after 7 sorting blond hair and delivered a speech indicating Chikara was his family and his home and basically that we needed to fight for our promotion and he would lead the charge. He also asked if any other wrestlers had shown up and seemed upset that they hadn't answered his call to action but again stated we did and that meant something.. Icarus passed us out a new "I am Chikara" t-shirt to all who attended and then quickly left after having us sign our names/email addresses/and twitter names to a guestbook of sorts.
My assumption is this is a continuation fo the angle or Icarus's way of saying goodbye. Again this Chikara storyline is pretty confusing as the company has been very quiet since the last show on June 2nd.
July 20, 2013
WWE Working To Take Developmental On The Road
Triple H was asked on Twitter about the possibility of taking NXT on the road outside of Florida and said, "Working on it". He made it clear that he was talking about house shows only and said that they would continue to only tape TV at Full Sail University.
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
