AEW Champion Kenny Omega and ‘The Invisible Hand’ Don Callis recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast. The duo discussed a number of topics during the podcast, including Omega’s recent match in AAA, Don Callis’ ‘megaplan’ and the NJPW match between Jericho/Omega that ‘changed the wrestling industry.’
When discussing his Wrestle Kingdom 12 match against Kenny Omega; Chris Jericho would reveal that he was concerned about leaving the WWE bubble and heading to another promotion where he believes he may have not been ‘remembered.’
Chris Jericho on WWE versus New Japan
“There’s a certain atmosphere in WWE” Chris Jericho would begin. “It is what it is and I enjoyed it there for my time there. But this (New Japan) was a whole different level of…star positioning, shall we say. Positioning me in the main event of the Tokyo Dome with Kenny who is a proven huge star in New Japan.”
“Me? I’d not been there since 1997 when I was doing jobs for Kanemoto, whoever the hell it was…El Samurai?” Jericho would continue. “So for me to go there? People kind of knew who I was, but not really, unless you were a fan from 20 years prior. So I had to start from scratch. They might know the idea of what Chris Jericho is, maybe heard the name or seen some matches, when WWE came to Japan to do Sumo Arena? But this was a chance for me to prove myself on a completely different level.”
It’s almost baffling to believe that a veteran the stature of Jericho would think that the Japanese fans wouldn’t know who he is. Given that the former Y2J had been in almost every major promotion before 2018 and had won most of the biggest titles in the world? It’s fair to say that he would’ve always been welcomed by the Japanese fans with open arms.
Are you amazed that Chris Jericho was worried about this prior to re-joining New Japan? Let us know in the comments
AEW Champion Kenny Omega and ‘The Invisible Hand’ Don Callis recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast. The duo discussed a number of topics during the podcast, including Omega’s recent match in AAA, Don Callis’ ‘megaplan’ and the NJPW match between Jericho/Omega that ‘changed the wrestling industry.’
One of the most common comparisons Omega/Callis have had is that of Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan. Don Callis would start the interview by addressing that notion and saying that he and Omega are completely different beasts.
Don Callis on Comparisons To Greats
“I actually never said it, but people are saying that” the IMPACT Wrestling EVP would begin on the podcast. “I think it’s great. Nick Bockwinkel? He’s one of the greatest of all time. I think Bobby Heenan is a great wrestling manager. I am not a manager, I’m not a wrestling character, I’m making history Chris (Jericho), just like you.”
“I’m not out there performing, I’m not Bobby Heenan” Don Callis would continue. “I’m a revolutionary, I’m Winston Churchill. I don’t care what people say about me on the internet, I don’t care what the ratings are. Because guess what? When we get a rating? The next week, we forget about the week before and we’re on to the next thing.”
Don Callis would then reveal that his ambition goes far beyond the now in pro wrestling. “I don’t care what people say about me now. I care about what people say about Kenny Omega and Don Callis 50 years from now. When people are saying ‘we thought Eddie Graham, Bill Watts, Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon were smart?’ Don Callis and Kenny Omega are on a totally different level.”
‘The Invisible Hand’ would finish by again rubbishing the comparisons to Bockwinkel and Heenan. “That’s just the reality. So Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan? Great, great, wrestlers. Kenny Omega is not a wrestler, Kenny Omega is a God among insects. That’s how much better Kenny Omega is than everybody else.”
Do you agree with Don Callis? Do you think that he and Kenny Omega are carving out a path that will put them in the history books? Let us know in the comments
AEW Champion Kenny Omega and ‘The Invisible Hand’ Don Callis recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast. The duo discussed a number of topics during the podcast, including Omega’s recent match in AAA, Don Callis’ ‘megaplan’ and the NJPW match between Jericho/Omega that ‘changed the wrestling industry.’
Jericho would begin the interview by asking Kenny Omega how he felt about finally getting the AEW Championship. Much had been made of the AEW EVPs (The Young Bucks and Omega in particular) not being ‘the same’ performers they were in Japan before creating All Elite. Omega would state that he was ready to be the ‘Best Bout Machine’ again.
Kenny Omega on Becoming AEW Champion
“I felt that it was time” Kenny Omega began on the podcast. “I felt that I’d waited long enough kind of trying to help everyone else out. It was time to help myself, and when I had sort of made that decision? I thought, who better to do it with than one of my family members, you know?”
Omega would then discuss how the pairing with him and Don Callis would align on AEW and IMPACT programming. “Even though he was involved with a different company had other business to attend to? He made himself available. I think you can really tell when you’re comfortable with someone in a ring, comfortable with someone in a professional environment. Don and I working together? It just goes hand in hand.”
“I think that’s why people enjoy it (Kenny Omega and Callis)” Kenny Omega would continue. “Because they see that, they see the chemistry there. They also see one of the greatest managers, one of the greatest wrestling personalities of all time with, arguably, I would say; the greatest wrestler currently active in today’s world.”
Are you enjoying the start of Kenny Omega’s run as AEW Champion? Do you think that he’ll appear in more promotions? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE agent and AEW on-screen coach Arn Anderson recently discussed WWE’s booking style over the past 5 years. The Enforcer was discussing the TLC 2015 PPV on this week’s episode of the ARN podcast.
“We were starting to feel the changing of the guard around this time” Arn Anderson would begin on the podcast. Anderson would then state that the landscape of WWE and professional wrestling has changed to the point that no one person can ‘draw the house’ by themselves anymore.
Arn Anderson on ‘Drawing a House’
“No one person is going to be responsible for drawing a house and hasn’t for some time” Anderson claimed. “Now that used to not be the case. I mean when Hulk Hogan was on the card? That would do it. But when you’re saying in 2015 [and beyond]? If you’ve got eight matches on a card? You better have five that matter.”
Interestingly, John Cena was brought up by co-host Conrad Thompson, but Anderson didn’t address if he was/is still a major draw. It’s fair to say that over the last 10-15 years he has been possibly the one name that could’ve drawn the biggest ‘houses.’
Anderson would then discuss the importance of creating value for money on a PPV card in modern times. “People are tight with a buck these days and how they’ve got to spend their money. They pick and choose where they spend their money. One person hasn’t drawn a house in a long long time. You’ve got to have several things that the audience is interested in.”
Do you agree with Arn Anderson on the principal of ‘drawing the house’ and PPV buys in modern wrestling? Who to you was the last person to be ahead of the pack? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently discussed WWE RAW and the ongoing tanking of the show’s weekly ratings.
The viewership for Monday’s Raw hit an all-time low, averaging at 1.527 million viewers over the 3 hour broadcast.
There are many factors as to why the viewership for the show has been trending downwards over the past year years. This week’s episode was up against a highly competitive and enthralling NFL game, but Bully Ray states that if WWE’s content was strong enough, people would still be tuning in to watch RAW.
“You can talk to me until you’re blue in the face about how people watch TV differently or it’s a different time, blah, blah, blah” Bully Ray began on Busted Open. “If you build it? They will come.”
“If you build your roster and people are over? They’re going to tune in” Bully Ray would continue. “I don’t care what you have to do to get eyes on your product. If you have something that the people want to see? They’re gonna tune in, no matter what.”
“I just don’t see any depth today”
Bully finished by comparing the creative and roster today to that of 20 years ago. “When I compare the characters of those in ’98 to what I see today? I just don’t see any depth today. Yeah, there might be depth to one or two people, a small handful?”
He continued, “But man I liked a bunch of talent from ’98. And not because I know these people or I worked with these people or this was my generation. No, I’m looking at it from the fans point of view. I’m looking at guys that had a multitude of personality aspects. We don’t get that today.”
Do you agree with Bully Ray? How do you think that WWE can start to claw back some of the viewership that have left over the past few years? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar EC3 recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast. The ‘One Percenter’ discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the fight club concept he pitched to WWE and how the Covid-19 pandemic prevented him from requesting his release.
“I was going to force her hand,” EC3 began, explaining how he was close to leaving WWE before the COVID-19 pandemic. “The only thing that kept me there? It was the fact that I’m like ‘Oh man there is a pandemic. My parents have a small business, my family might need it. I can’t pass up that money, they might need it.'”
EC3 later discussed pitching a a new character idea as he was preparing to return from a bad concussion.
“Around WrestleMania time I was coming back from a pretty serious concussion that cost me about five or six months. That really changed my life and really made me think about this character.”
“I pitched this idea,” he continued. “I’m a decent writer, I was typing it up, this real great thing, and I included a promo with it. I send it in on a Wednesday, and two hours later I got fired!”
He finished by saying how he was ‘ready to leave’ when the news was presented to him. “The day I sent in some magnificent pitch, I’m fired! The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh, I’m actually okay with this, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll be okay.’ Then I just posted the [same] promo to the world [on YouTube]. The only thing I didn’t want was people to think I sat around and did nothing.”
Do you think that EC3 could’ve been a much bigger star in WWE? Let us know in the comments
Former WCW, NWA, WWF and Smoky Mountain Wrestling personality Jim Cornette recently discussed Brandon Cutler’s remarks aimed at AEW commentator Jim Ross.
JR recently talked about the ‘overused’ spot where multiple performers wait outside the ring for a tope suicida. Cutler would respond on Twitter by writing the following:
“THIS WEDNESDAY on #AEWDynamite 7 vs 7 We’re gonna go outside, cluster up like coils, stand there in a huddle, friends and foes together, side-by-side to catch some leaping idiot going over the top.”
Jim Cornette on Brandon Cutler
Jim Cornette would completely rip into Cutler for making these remarks. “He’s gonna find out that he just the first time he gets a chance to show his little f*cking white ass on television? He’s just pissed off the announcer that might have actually managed to get him over.”
“JR’s the greatest announcer in wrestling, but he’s not Merlin/Magician” Jim Cornette would continue. “You couldn’t get this guy over with a f*cking 10,000 pound tank of helium. But these little f*cking jack offs and their little tree house school boy clique that they’ve got going? When people that obviously know more about the business that they’re in than they do? Whether they want to admit it or not? Whether they can grasp it in their little brains?”
Jim Cornette would finish by lambasting the team at AEW in general. “These people tell them: A) you dumb sh*t, this is what most people think. Yet they’re doing cartwheels and blowing kisses in the air whenever they get a million viewers!”
Do you agree with Jim Cornette? Do you think that AEW talent are not listening enough to the critique of more ‘old school’ types? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently discussed Keith Lee and the reports that he has been sent back to the WWE Performance Center; appaerntly for more ‘seasoning’ by Vince McMahon himself.
“As the owner of the company and as the boss?” Bully Ray would begin on Busted Open. “If he’s not happy with somebody’s performance? He’s well within his rights to try to get them some help and get them up to working specs.”
Bully Ray on Keith Lee
There were a number of performers supposedly sent back to the PC to work on their skills. These included Otis, Dabba-Kato, Omos and RETRIBUTION member Mace. “Keith Lee is the one that everybody’s been talking about” Bully Ray would continue. “Keith Lee is the one that has everybody scratching their head as to why. I guess there was no specifics given? As to why he wanted him to get some extra help? Some extra work? Some extra polish?”
Bully Ray would finish by comparing Lee’s current situation to that of Drew McIntyre. Early on in his WWE career Drew McIntyre was dubbed ‘The Chosen One;’ but it wasn’t until he left WWE that he was able to become a main event player and then return. Keith Lee defeated Randy Orton in only his second ever main roster match, leading Bully Ray to make the comparison. “I thought about this, remember when Drew McIntyre wasn’t getting the job done in Vince’s eyes? What did Vince do with Drew McIntyre? He let him go and said ‘come back when you get more polished and you think you’re ready.’ That’s exactly what Drew did.”
“Vince is not enamoured with Keith Lee, with his work or his promo, whatever. Vince has every option contractually, or right contractually, to sit out Keith Lee and not do anything with Keith Lee.”
Do you think that Vince McMahon is ‘investing’ in Keith Lee by getting him to work more on aspects of his WWE work? Do you think that Bully Ray is right in his Drew McIntyre comparison? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar EC3 recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast. The one percenter would discuss a number of topics during his time on the show. These would include his ‘fight club’ character he pitched to WWE and how the pandemic stopped him from handing in his release request.
“I think leaving IMPACT? I like change” EC3 would begin, discussing his move from IMPACT to WWE’s NXT brand. “So I don’t like to rest on my laurels and coming from IMPACT and going to NXT? Although I already had a brand and identity, it was a little different to what I wanted.”
EC3 on The Reboot
EC3 would then discuss how he saw the chance to join WWE as a way to ‘reboot’ the EC3 character for a new audience. “I would call the character [in NXT] a reboot, a little bit. Because obviously some of the intangibles with the character would have to change, being in the WWE Universe.”
“But also at the same time? It’s [the EC3 brand] known” the former Derrick Bateman would continue. “It’s a popular brand/identity that I could expand out within the WWE realm, so it would be cool.”
EC3 would finish by revealing that he pitched a Tyler Durden in Fight Club type character when he was in NXT. Before the character could be fleshed out EC3 was brought up to the main roster, which EC3 would describe as ‘rebooting a reboot.’
“But then again? I’m just rehashing the best of it. It never felt right and comfortable. I had this idea that I wanted to do as kind of a psycho boy. A sort of ‘Durden-esque,’ culty kind of leader? Talking about evidence of truth and your purpose and finding yourself within the realms of combat and fighting. So I pitched that, but instead of that? I got called up, and then now we’re rebooting a reboot, that nobody has a vested interest in. The rest is mediocre history.”
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently discussed Kenny Omega’s storyline between AEW, IMPACT and AAA. The Big Guy would discuss how Omega and the other EVPs in AEW had to ‘make’ other talent before giving themselves the top titles in the company.
Kenny Omega is of course the AEW Champion and The Young Bucks are the AEW Tag Team Champions. Whilst Cody was previously the TNT Champion? This is the first time in the company’s short history that the Executive Vice Presidents are holding arguably the two main titles in the company.
Ryback on Kenny Omega
“I’m very intrigued, Kenny Omega has got a whole lot more interesting really quickly” Ryback would begin on the Shooting Blanks Wrestling podcast. “Everything they’re [AEW] doing is working in terms of long term. The Young Bucks, Kenny, Cody, how they they were booked early on? People kind of thought didn’t understand it. I can look at it and see that they needed to kind of help ‘make’ other people first.”
“They’re still doing it” The Big Guy Ryback would continue. “It’s the coolest thing to watch, as everyone’s getting elevated in the TV game and becoming bigger bigger stars. But Kenny now can really turn it up, and I think he’s more comfortable? Just from what I’ve seen on AEW.”
Ryback would finish by saying how he feels Omega is far better in the heel role on AEW programming. “I’m more interested in the heel Kenny Omega, I wasn’t into the babyface Kenny Omega, just from as a viewer watching that product solely. I feel like he’s more comfortable being heel.”
Do you agree with Ryback? Do you think that Kenny Omega is working better as a heel in AEW? Let us know in the comments
Jim Cornette can’t understand why AEW President Tony Khan has not made a strong play to sign CM Punk.
CM Punk spoke to Renee Paquette last week on the Oral Sessions podcast. Punk discussed what would take to bring him back to wrestling. These elements would essentially boil down to: a lot of money and an intriguing storyline. Punk emphasized that it was less about the money and more about wanting an exciting storyline to be involved with.
Cornette asks how on earth AEW has not scooped up the former WWE Champion. He said Punk is at the perfect level of stardom: he hasn’t been buried on television and he’s not a dinosaur from 25 years ago.
Jim Cornette on CM Punk
“It wasn’t a revelatory statement” Jim Cornette began on The Experience, discussing what CM Punk said on the podcast. “Nor a big shocking occurrence. He said he would basically, boiling it down, he would take a sh*tload of money and something new that he was interested in doing as well.”
Jim Cornette would then lambast AEW owner Tony Khan for not getting CM Punk under contract. “The son of a billionaire with a national cable television show just got in the wrestling business. He made a bunch of indie guys that never had it and never will as happy as school girls with shiny new vibrators. But he can’t get CM Punk!? He can’t make CM Punk happy!? Nobody can think of an idea that CM Punk would be interested in, that would intrigue him enough to get involved in this!?”
Credentials
Cornette would finish by stating Punk’s credentials and why he believes he is the biggest free agent right now. “If there’s a fish out there that has the Goldilocks and the Three Bears combination; not too hot, not too cold, just right in-between? [as in] They’ve been on TV recently and not been beaten into powder or been portrayed in a negative light that we are now trying to take the guy and make him into a top star?
“Or is he the icon from 30 years ago that they bring back and make all the current guys look bad? Because even though the icon can’t get in the ring and can’t go anymore he’s still more over as a bigger star than the rest of their roster? CM Punk doesn’t fit any of them. He’s the right combination. He was a huge star in the biggest company in the world just several years ago, not 30.”
Do you agree with Jim Cornette? Do you think that CM Punk could make a huge impact in AEW? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW commentator Jim Ross recently discussed the WWE Armageddon 2000 PPV on his Grilling JR podcast. As is usual, Ross and Conrad Thompson would go through topics from that time frame, although sometimes conversations may be broader.
Jim Ross was previously the Head of Talent Relations in WWE/then WWF. Ross had a hand in bringing in some of the biggest names in WWE history. Sometimes, WWE writers would have their vision of what/who they wanted to work with, or, what they perceived Vince McMahon wanted to see on his television programme.
Jim Ross on WWE Recruitment
“Bill Parcells said one time to Bob Kraft in New England that ‘if you expect me to cook the meals? You got to let me buy some groceries'” Jim Ross would begin on the show; using one of his many NFL and College Football analogies.
“I think that’s kind of what their theory was” Ross continued, discussing the WWE writers who struggled to come up with storyline ideas for the likes of Jerry Lynn, someone Ross mentioned on the podcast. “‘We [the writers] need to have a say in who we bring in. [That’s] in terms of the size all that stuff, and what they are gonna do.'”
“Well this is not gonna shock you” JR continued. “They’re (the writers) gonna kiss Vince’s ass even more by bringing guys in that pass Vince’s ‘eye test.’ They may have a sh*t character? They might not be reliable? We’re not gonna get any [crowd] reaction from them but we know he’s (McMahon) gonna like the 6’3, 6’4 bodybuilder tattooed up with wet hair. It is same sh*t as nowadays.”
Do you agree with Jim Ross? Can you think of any wet hair look, six foot something WWE Superstars with tattoos…..? Let us know in the comments
IMPACT Wrestling EVP and the ‘Invisible Hand’ behind the AEW Champion Don Callis recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. Callis discussed a number of topics during his time on the show, these included the buzz he and Kenny Omega have created and how his ‘family’ member is the best professional wrestler on the planet.
Callis would begin by discussing how the situation now is different for Omega, compared to when he was the ‘top guy’ in New Japan Pro Wrestling. “If you think about it? I don’t want to speak for Kenny, we haven’t spoken about this…but being the top guy in Japan? It is a very different proposition than coming in and being the face of a brand new wrestling promotion that everybody’s talking about.”
Throughout Omega’s initial run in AEW he has been portrayed as a babyface character. Don Callis would say that the rejuvenated ‘Cleaner’ esque style we’re now seeing is Omega being ‘comfortable’ in AEW.
Don Callis on Kenny Omega
“I think Kenny, just for the last year, didn’t feel totally comfortable and totally like he could be himself. One of the nice things about family? We feel comfortable, we feel we can be ourselves. And I think because of the bond that Kenny and I have that goes back two and a half decades? I think Kenny feels that he can be himself when I’m there.”
Callis would also discuss the dynamic that he and Omega have on screen. “I think that we feed off each other. Dave Meltzer has described it over and over again as a Heenan/Bockwinkel type of dynamic; where both parties feed off the other one and it’s made to be a superior tandem. And I think that’s what we’ve seen, Kenny’s just comfortable and he’s comfortable being himself. I think Kenny would probably tell you that he’s just so much better at this than everybody else, and he really is. I mean, Kenny is the top wrestler on the planet, and number two is not close.”
Do you agree with Don Callis? Do you think that Kenny Omega is the best wrestler on the planet? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar Mike Bennett/Kanellis recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The former WWE 24/7 Champion discussed a number of topics during his time on the show, including the ‘whirlwind’ of being in WWE.
Mike Bennett will also be returning to Ring of Honor next weekend at Final Battle 2020. This will be his first appearance for the Sinclair Broadcasting brand since he left at Final Battle 5 years ago to join NJPW, IMPACT and then WWE.
Mike Bennett on ROH and WWE
“I’ve done a lot of reflecting lately, just because of the situation we’re in and where I’m at in my life” Mike Bennett began on Busted Open. “And it’s really crazy to me, to think that five years ago I left Ring of Honor? Within those five years, I essentially lived an entire lifetime.”
Bennett would elaborate further, saying “I went and I did New Japan. I did IMPACT and I did WWE. Which, if you’ve spent even a year at WWE? You know the weight, the toll, and then just the learning experience. This isn’t a negative at all, it’s just the goal, the whirlwind of WWE always feels like a lifetime, because of everything that’s going on there.”
Then Mike Bennett would address how he felt his run in WWE went. Bennett has stated in the past that he didn’t enjoy his creative in WWE, but he feels as though he has grown ‘as a man’ over the past 3 years; dealing with drug addiction and raising a family.
“I’ve grown so much in my career. The last three years might have been a little shoddy and a little kind of not the direction I hoped it would go? But as a human? As a man, as a dad and as a husband? Through these past five years I’ve grown up an insane amount. I had two kids, I bought a house, my relationship with my wife is the best it’s ever been. That is what I’m most proud of.”
Are you looking forward to seeing Mike Bennett back in ROH? Do you think that he could return to WWE at some point? Let us know in the comments
IMPACT Wrestling EVP and the ‘Invisible Hand’ behind the AEW Champion Don Callis recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. Callis discussed a number of topics during his time on the show, these included the buzz he and Kenny Omega have created and how his ‘family’ member is the best professional wrestler on the planet.
“I’ve said it on IMPACT” Don Callis would begin on Busted Open. “I didn’t get back in this business [just] to do the Killing The Town podcast. I certainly didn’t get back in it to be a commentator, there was always a plan. And it was? It was playing the long game.”
With Don Callis and Kenny Omega transitioning between both IMPACT and AEW over the past week, it has created some massive intrigue across the wrestling landscape. Callis would discuss how he and Omega have created a ‘buzz’ in wrestling, something that has been somewhat lacking over the past year or so with the pandemic.
Don Callis on ‘Buzz’
“One of the side benefits of that has been buzz” Callis would continue. “Buzz is one of the things that I think is difficult to create. If everyone could create it? Then everyone would have it, and everyone doesn’t have it. I don’t set out to try to make buzz or those sorts of things? But I do set out with a grand plan. I’ve always been big plan motivated.”
“I care about what happens in history, and they say the winners get to write the history” Callis stated. “Kenny Omega and I right now are in a position where we are writing the history. Two guys from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, are the talk of the wrestling business. We have not once, but twice, changed the entire wrestling business.”
Are you excited about the ongoing Kenny Omega and Don Callis storyline? Who do you want to see Kenny Omega face in IMPACT and elsewhere? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and AfterBuzz TV podcast star Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman recently discussed NXT War Games and in particular NXT Superstar Raquel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez gained the pinfall at the War Games match, taking the win for Candice LeRae’s team.
Waltman would describe how Gonzalez has changed her look since she first debuted, even before she appeared on NXT television. “The first time I saw her? She wasn’t on TV yet” Waltman began on the 1-2-360 podcast. “She was just on what they call the ‘coconut’ shows, which is like the Florida house show run for NXT.”
Waltman would describe how Gonzalez had a Stan Hansen type character and look. “They kind of put this gimmick on her, like she was like a female Stan Hanson. She came out using the Lariat and wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and short, jean shorts, something like that. And it was, I guess it was just fine. But, you know, I didn’t know what happened to her [after that].”
X-Pac would finish by saying that the next time he saw Raquel Gonzalez her look had completely changed. “One of the next times I was down there in Florida? Your Lordship William Regal and I were having sushi. Braun Strowman comes into the sushi joint and he’s got this woman with him. She’s a big girl and she’s pretty buff, it was Raquel Gonzales, and I didn’t recognize her. She had done a complete makeover, changed the way she looked, changed the way she dressed. So she has came a long way, she’s definitely star material.”
Former WWE Superstar James Ellsworth recently appeared on the Chris Van Vliet podcast. The performer known for the ‘No Chin Music’ superkick and “any man with two hands” promo discussed a number of topics during his time on the show.
One of the topics discussed focused on Ellsworth’s two releases from WWE. When asked if he was shocked by his initial release, Ellsworth replied “yeah, because I felt like I got over as a baby face when I needed to, and I got over as a heel when I needed to.”
James Ellsworth on Getting Over in WWE
“The crowd was always making noise when I was out there” Ellsworth would continue. “Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be right? Like even the week before I got released, I wrestled Becky [Lynch] on SmackDown. I watch that back and all these chants were directed towards me, they were chanting ‘where’s your chin? Becky’s gonna kill you, Ellsworth sucks!’ These were big reactions, you know?”
James Ellsworth would then discuss how he felt being released from the company for the first time in 2017. Ellsworth was released from WWE following the aforementioned Becky Lynch match on the November 7th episode of SmackDown Live. “So when they released me? I was upset, I was crying” Ellsworth revealed. “I mean, you lose your dream job and I’m questioning why? But then I go ‘maybe it’s because Carmela has the [Money In The Bank] briefcase right now?’ That’s where heat is, the briefcase.”
“They [WWE] brought me back seven months later” James Ellsworth continued. “That’s all it was, seven months later they brought me back. I came back at Money In The Bank [2018] and helped Carmela beat Asuka. Then they used me for a couple of months there.”
Do you think that James Ellsworth will end up back in WWE at some point? Do you want to see him back on television? Let us know in the comments
AEW on screen coach and former WWE agent Arn Anderson recently discussed IMPACT Wrestling and other promotions outside of AEW.
AEW and IMPACT have now developed a working relationship that has seen AEW Champion Kenny Omega already appear on the AXS TV IMPACT programme. Anderson would however reveal on the ARN podcast this week that he doesn’t watch wrestling outside of what happens in AEW.
Arn Anderson on AEW ‘Being Different’
“I don’t watch a lot of wrestling” Arn Anderson began. “When I’m off? I try to concentrate on just our [AEW] product, on our product alone, without getting so many outside influences. Because we want to be different in AEW, we want to be different than everybody else.”
Anderson would elaborate further, saying how he wants to impart knowledge to talent but not in a way that belies their own personality. “I want to hand my stuff to the right guy, to where it enhances his character. I don’t want it to be ‘well, all that’s Arn Anderson’s influence on the guy’ you know? It should be things that help them without being so obvious that is something that I showed him.”
Anderson would finish by re-iterating that he doesn’t watch much pro wrestling outside of the AEW bubble. However Arn would state that he believes IMPACT have some really talented individuals. “So, I don’t watch a lot of wrestling I’m sorry to say. I’m sure they’ve [IMPACT] got some tremendous talent working there.”
Are there any IMPACT talents you’d like to see Arn Anderson’s talent Cody Rhodes face? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and AfterBuzz TV podcast star Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman recently discussed the AEW debut of Sting.
The Icon Sting of course made his AEW debut this past week at the ‘Winter Is Coming’ episode of Dynamite. Whilst the appearance of Sting was shocking, fans are now wondering how the WCW legend will be used in All Elite Wrestling.
Sting’s last match took place in 2015, where he lost to Seth Rollins at WWE’s Night of Champions event. Sting suffered an injury during that match that meant his in-ring career was over…seemingly.
Sean Waltman on Sting
“We’re in the situation right now where there’s really not big crowds” Sean Waltman began on the 1-2-360 podcast. “Although it was kind of cool, they did have a bit of a crowd there. You could see the reaction on some of their faces when the Stinger came out, it was a big deal. It came off like a big deal.”
Waltman would then praise Sting personally, saying “it totally was a big deal for me. It made me happy. He’s [Sting] a great guy, he’s just the nicest classiest guy.”
X-Pac would finish by saying that Sting was never going to get the right treatment during his past WWE run. “The thing is, is he was never going to get the treatment from WWE that his fans thought he deserved. And that he did deserve. He’s not a WWE icon.”
Do you agree with Sean Waltman? Do you think that Sting will get better treatment back on TNT with All Elite Wrestling? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently discussed the working partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and AEW. Henry would say that he is a fan of the two brands working together.
“I do think it will work” Mark Henry began on Busted Open Radio. “I think that is something that for a long, long time? Fans have wanted. They’ve wanted to see fantasy booking. They wanted to see who was the best from WWE versus the best at WCW, and they got that. Look how successful that ended up being!”
Mark Henry on WWE ‘Invasion’
Henry would then address a rumor that was originally being discussed amongst the likes the of Vince Russo. “Just a few months ago there was a rumor, and it was just a rumor, because if it had any legs? It would have happened. An invasion from WWE to AEW, and I was like, ‘oh, man. That would be cool.'”
It seemed odd for Henry to address this rumor as it appeared to be fairly baseless from the get go.
“AEW made [the partnership], they made it a reality with IMPACT” Mark Henry continued. “There’s some good, really outstanding talent on Tuesday nights, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that’s gonna happen.”
Mark Henry would finish by mentioning how the relationship with NWA has helped AEW. Specifically, with the National Wrestling Alliance allowing the likes of Thunder Rosa to appear on All Elite programming and PPV. “I mean you see Thunder Rosa is coming in and wrestling the women at AEW, and she’s adding a lot to their women’s division. So it’s good relationship for both and it’s good for every company involved.”
AEW Champion Kenny Omega will be appearing on IMPACT this week. The newly crowned Champion took the belt last week with help from IMPACT’s Don Callis.
Will you be watching IMPACT this week? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently discussed the working partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and AEW. With those two names working together for the time being, Henry would discuss WWE and the potential for them to work with outside brands.
Triple H recently stated that WWE are “open for business” is it is the “right opportunity,” saying that there’s an incorrect perception that WWE won’t work with outside companies. WWE seemingly has working relationships with British promotions PROGRESS, ICW, Irish promotion OTT and Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan.
Mark Henry on WWE Partnerships
“The right opportunity” Mark Henry began on Busted Open Radio, discussing what Triple H revealed. “Not every opportunity. He didn’t say ‘we’re gonna jump in the bed with anybody and everybody.’ Because if you sleep with dogs? You’re gonna get fleas.”
Henry would then reveal the company he believes WWE should be working with. “I think that the biggest one would be MLW, because you got family and lineage already. The Von Erichs, you’ve got Brian Pillman, Jr, although I have seen him at AEW. So, the guys or girls ‘moving’ around right now? They are allowed to [within MLW], so they are, they got to go where they can make money.”
Mark Henry would finish by saying that Jacob Fatu is also a name he wants to see in WWE. With the ongoing Samoan Family storyline with Roman Reigns and Jey Uso, Henry believes that Fatu would be a major asset for WWE as part of that feud.
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently discussed the passing of Pat Patterson. The first ever Intercontinental Champion was a massively important member of WWE’s backstage personnel before he passed, and Bully Ray would celebrate the achievements one of Vince McMahon’s right hand men.
Patterson passed away last week at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy of greatness not just in-ring, but also having created the likes of the Royal Rumble match.
“That’s what Pat Patterson was…I referred to him as a genius, on my social media, when it came to finishes” Bully Ray began on Busted Open. “He understood psychology and you know sometimes the older you get in the wrestling business? Maybe you can get a little out of touch.”
“What’s the one complaint that we hear about Vince McMahon sometimes? He’s out of touch” Bully Ray would continue. “Pat Patterson was never out of touch. Pat was able to apply everything that he knew to any talents, especially the younger ones.”
Fans and critics alike have been vocal about Vince McMahon being ‘out of touch.’ One of the more egregious acts of this was when Roman Reigns proclaimed “suffering succotash!” This took place during his feud with Seth Rollins in 2015.
Bully would also discuss how Patterson was able to help ‘mold’ some of the up and coming talents in WWE. “It’s the younger up and coming talent that became big stars that Pat was helping to mold. So I have nothing but great things to say about Pat.”
Patterson was of course also a minor but ever present part of the Attitude Era. As one of Mr McMahon’s ‘stooges,’ Patterson and Gerald Brisco would help (hilariously) to foil some of WWE’s biggest babyfaces.
AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently discussed his retirement plans on the Grilling Jr podcast. JR had made it clear recently that AEW will likely be his ‘last gig’ in professional wrestling.
Jim Ross doubled down on those comments on his podcast this week. “I got a lot of comments online about a remark where I mentioned that; as far as I’m concerned? At this point in my life? AEW is my last gig, and I met that.”
Jim Ross on Tony Khan
JR would then compare working for All Elite Wrestling to WWE, saying that not everything is solely based on the owner’s whim. “I love working for Tony Khan, he’s a whole different ballgame. People just don’t understand, that the culture of WWE? It is what it is. It is all Vince [McMahon] related and oriented. When you get on the Vince’s good list? It’s a wonderful thing. If you’re not? It’s not so great.”
“Tony Khan’s about the same every time you see him” Jim Ross continued. “And he’s still a fan. He still loves the business, he loves talking about the business, telling stories and asking questions. He has an innate knowledge of things that went on before he was even born. So it’s really a fun experience.”
JR would finish by once again saying that this will indeed be his last job in pro wrestling. “I think at my age? I need to be realistic. As long as my work holds up to acceptable levels, hopefully better than that, but at least acceptable levels? I don’t see any reason to go anywhere else.”
Can you see Jim Ross ever returning to WWE or NJPW? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar and IMPACT wrestler Heath Slater recently appeared on The Ryback Show podcast. The former Nexus member discussed a number of topics during his time on the show, including what it is like to work for IMPACT.
Heath was let go from WWE earlier this year due to budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Slater was one of the more shocking releases, seeing as he was a much beloved member of the roster and has a ton of experience in the WWE style.
Heath on the IMPACT Locker Room
“It’s really a chilled locker, people are very cool, they’re laid back” Heath began on the show. “But the best thing? There’s communication, you know? Like, if I text or call or email? I can expect a response.”
A number of former WWE talent have talked about the lack of communication from WWE management. Ryback himself has been very vocal about the higher ups in WWE not making instructions clear and creating a land of confusion.
“So, there’s communication. And they actually listen to your ideas to where like, I’m not really used to this!” The former Heath Slater would continue. “Like, what sucks? Is this damn pandemic man.”
Heath would then finish by saying how he misses the feel of a live crowd when he is performing. “Feeding off the people? All of that? I miss the people so much. It’s not just me, it’s everyone. Me, actors, Broadway performers, like we miss the damn people so much. It kind of feels like a practice match when you walk out there sometimes you know?”
“Except you’re in full gimmick now and people are going to see it, so you got to get moving. But my goodness, the energy from the people? I missed the sh*t out of it.”
Have you enjoyed seeing Heath’s run in IMPACT? Do you think that he’ll be part of the proposed tie-in with AEW? Who would you like to see him in the ring with if that is the case? Let us know in the comments
WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently recalled incidents backstage whilst he was in the then WWF.
Although no particular names where mentioned, Henry would recall several ‘cliques’ backstage in WWE/WWF. The timeline for the incidents appeared to be during the mid to late 90’s, and Henry would mention how Bret Hart was instrumental in helping him keep his career on track.
“The WWE has had success with me” Mark Henry would begin on Busted Open. “But they also made some mistakes, throwing me to the wolves. It ended up with me making threats against ‘top guys’ and then those ‘top guys’ going ‘look it’s me or him.'”
“There was a lot of cliques and individual mafias” Mark Henry would continue. “Where guys…they all stood up for their own group of guys. When I had trouble with one? I had trouble with all of them. And I didn’t mind, I was like ‘bring it outside.’ And they’re like, ‘man, are you crazy!?’ ‘Yeah that’s right, I am crazy!’ and it didn’t help me.”
Mark Henry would then discuss how he went to Bret Hart’s school in Calgary and he worked with The Hitman. “So, Bret was opening up a school in Calgary, and Vince knew about that. Vince talked to Bret about having me come there for a while and letting the smoke clear, because at that time? I had dropped a nuclear bomb.”
“I got to Canada” Henry continued. “Bret was like ‘hey man, you seem like a good dude. I know what happened to you, let’s fix it, because I think that it’s over for you, if I can’t fix you.’ It was just that.” Obviously whatever Bret did to help worked Henry in the end.
Who do you think that Mark Henry argued with backstage? Any particular Kliqs spring to mind? Let us know in the comments