Kenny Omega appreciates the knowledge and work of two legends that have came before him and one of those names is Triple H.

Speaking on his Twitch stream, Kenny Omega was asked about Triple H the wrestler and Paul Levesque the booker. Omega said he couldn’t really comment on him as a booker because he doesn’t specifically know what Triple H inputs creatively, but does like him in particular for his physique. He then compares Levesque to another WWE Hall Of Famer.

“I really like Ravishing Rick Rude. He’s one of my favorites, actually, from the yesteryear era and I think he was a very underrated wrestler. He always had Bobby, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan so already his promos would be taken care of whether he said much or not, didn’t matter. He had Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.”

“For Triple H, I kind of look at him in the same light … I liked Triple H as a body guy.” 

• Bryan Danielson Names Kenny Omega The Greatest Canadian Wrestler Of All Time

Omega mentioned how Triple H was influential in his promos and some talent try to replicate that, but Omega knew that he wasn’t able to do that. He and Triple H have different voices.

“I can’t tell you one promo that really hit me off the top of my head, but I’m sure it was effect and his matches, he’s got some great ones.”

Omega notes of Triple H’s memorable matches including his Royal Rumble 2000 match and the triple threat match against Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX.

Please h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

On the latest Edition of The Steve Austin Show Unleashed, Stone Cold gives his take on the state of promos in the wrestling business.

Austin is known for his intense interview style, which he credits to his time working with Brian Pillman in WCW, and his brief stint in ECW.

“I was forced to keep up with him or get left behind,” Austin said. “Through my stop in ECW, everyone in that dressing room could cut a promo, so it was sink or swim.”

Austin feels that that intensity, and a certain authenticity is missing from today’s mainstream wrestling product.

“I think there’s some micromanaging on WWE on the main roster,” Austin said. “Before I had my neck injury, a promo was you go out there with some bullet points.”

Austin pinpoints a shift in WWE’s philosophy right around the time he returned from that neck injury in 2000.

“When I came back from my neck surgery, that’s when they started doing this scripted type thing,” he said. “I was able to pull that off, but I never quite felt the same about what I was doing.”

“Sometimes less is more. And I can see in someone’s eyes when they’re trying to remember something,” Austin said. “One promo sells tickets. The other one’s kinda like, eh.”

Austin also tells a funny story about rooming with Rick Rude, and discusses his favorite country music artists.

You can listen to the full Steve Austin Show Unleashed episode below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S2r52IXisE]

Do you agree with Austin’s take on promos?

The WWE has posted a new video of 2017 Hall of Famers Teddy Long, Beth Phoenix, Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Diamond Dallas Page and Kurt Angle receiving their rings from Triple H and Vince McMahon. Rick Rude’s family also received a Hall of Fame ring.

The WWE also uploaded a new 360 interview with Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle. Bryan and Angle debated what would happen if a dream match were to take place between the two.

Bayley posted a photo of her and Scott Hall earlier today. Bayley was wearing a classic Razor Ramon jacket.

So excited to meet everyone at the Orlando Eye today! But first….#Wrestlemania pic.twitter.com/497hpiol5G

— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) March 31, 2017

It was announced on Monday afternoon that the late “Ravishing” Rick Rude will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. Rude will be inducted by Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.

Rude held several Heavyweight Championships during his career, and is a co-founding member of D-Generation-X. Rude died in April of 1999 after leaving WCW and training to make a return to the ring. He retired from in-ring competition in 1994 after suffering a back injury in a match against Sting for NJPW.

This year’s WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs live on Friday, March 31st, at 8 PM ET on the WWE Network.

As first reported by @BleacherReport, #RickRude will be inducted into the #WWEHOF Class of 2017 by @REALSteamboat! https://t.co/3nmNkHmd0t pic.twitter.com/Kvu7ebekai

— WWE (@WWE) March 6, 2017

Rick Rude is rumored to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

Rude passed away in 1999 and was forced to retire from the ring due to a back injury in 1994. Rude has been one of the glaring omissions from the WWE HOF so it’s about time he takes his rightful place in history.

We noted earlier this week that WWE is also planning on inducting Diamond Dallas Page this year. There are rumors of a current WWE employee also going into the Hall this year but we haven’t been able to confirm that name yet.

The 2017 WWE HOF ceremony takes place on 4/1 during WrestleMania Weekend in Orlando.

– In addition to the previously reported Chris Jericho vs. Finn Balor match scheduled for an upcoming WWE live event, Jericho is also officially booked to work a match against “King” Bad News Barrett at the San Diego live event on Friday, July 31st.

– Tommy Dreamer, who worked the NXT live events in Philadelphia and Albany this weekend, losing to Baron Corbin at both shows, acknowledged the fact that he appeared on a NXT show and a TNA show (Impact Wrestling) on the same night this past Friday. Dreamer compared it to Rick Rude appearing on RAW and Nitro on the same night during the Monday Night Wars. He tweeted the following:

I appeared on @IMPACTWRESTLING & @WWENXT last night. I'm just like Rick Rude minus the muscles & abs. What I'd like to have right now is..

— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) May 16, 2015

– Speaking of the NXT Albany event on Saturday night, Triple H tweeted the following photo of Kevin Owens making his entrance for the triple-threat main event with Finn Balor and Tyler Breeze, which he went on to win via pinfall.

The old expression starts "To be the man…" @FightOwensFight @WWENXT #NXTAlbany pic.twitter.com/6osgYSqOgl

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 17, 2015

• CM PUNK Says He Got MMA Advice From Batista — WILL Fight This Year

A lot of the factors in pro wrestling are subjective. Some people enjoy this, some people enjoy that. Some fans prefer a better in-ring technician, some like a strong promo guy and others enjoy a great character. No one is wrong, because it’s all personal preference.

Generally speaking, when an editorial features a list, it’s “the best of” or “the worst of.” Today, we are going to switch gears a bit.

In keeping with the subjective theme, today we are going to look at who I personally consider to be the five best factions in the history of the business. Not the five best, my five favorite. And I’ll explain why, starting with …

#5. The Varsity Club

Many of the current generation of wrestling fans may have never even heard of The Varsity Club. Growing up, they were one of my favorite wrestling stables.

The original group consisted of Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda and Rick Steiner, all of which wore their amateur wrestling letterman jackets. The guys were among the most legitimate tough guys in the business at the time, and the group had the perception of being the baddest son of a bitches on the planet.

As is the case with any wrestling stable, as time went on the group was watered down. Members such as “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and “Dangerous” Dan Spivey were added to the mix, and before too long, the group ceased to exist. While they were around though, in my opinion, they were pretty damn cool.

#4. The Fabulous Freebirds

As far as I’m concerned any writer who doesn’t include The Fabulous Freebirds on their “top stables” or “top factions” lists should have their head examined. The Freebirds were as cool as it got when I was a youngster.

The group was led by Michael “P.S.” Hayes, a current WWE creative team member who is credited with introducing theme music to the ring-walk portion of the professional wrestling presentation. The group consisted of Hayes, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and Buddy Roberts. Roberts was considered a great in-ring technician, and prior to the Birds, had a lengthy career worthy of Hall Of Fame status. In fact, Roberts was part of the original “Hollywood Blondes” tag-team, a name that was later used for the team of “Stunning” Steve Austin and “Flyin'” Brian Pillman. Gordy was a legend in Japan and portrayed the “enforcer” role in the group. Hayes was a rock star and easily one of the most charismatic wrestlers of his time, if not of all-time.

Later on, Hayes and Jimmy “Jam” Garvin would bring back The Fabulous Freebirds as a straight tag-team act. How this group has yet to receive an induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame confuses me to this very day.

#3. D-Generation X

I’m of the belief that there is not a fan of North American professional wrestling that has not heard of D-Generation X. That would mean they did their jobs and left a lasting legacy in the business.

D-X consisted of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna and Rick Rude. When the group officially formed, you could make the argument that along with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, they officially ushered in the infamous “Attitude Era” in WWE. They did things for shock value at a time when Howard Stern, The Jerry Springer Show and many other shock-television style shows reigned supreme. It was a natural fit, and the group really cemented Triple H as a main event performer in WWE.

Later on, as is the case with every faction or stable in history, an attempt was made to get the gang back together, only this time — it worked. You could argue that the second version of D-X was actually more successful than the first. The second group featured Triple H as the leader instead of Michaels, and his group consisted of Chyna, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn and “The Road Dogg” Jesse James. Anyone who saw WWE RAW the night that D-X “invaded” WCW will never forget that moment. It was amazing entertainment and really symbolized the “Monday Night War” going on at the time between WWE and WCW.

D-X was brought back again in the 2000s as a straight tag-team act that featured the two original members — Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Personally, I didn’t enjoy that run nearly as much as their first run, but it was still a cool thing to see the two back together having fun.

Continued on page two …

The following are highlights of a new City Pages interview with Curtis Axel:

On the state of Minnesota producing many quality pro wrestlers: “If you look at the guys who have come out of our state — my dad, Rick Rude, the Road Warriors, and the whole AWA, really — we produce tough guys. We’ve got a good stock in Minnesota.”

On being a third-generation wrestler: “It’s always tough to live up to having a famous father and grandfather, but I’m not trying to be the next Mr. Perfect or Larry the Ax; I’m trying to be the first Joe Hennig. With a lot of third generation guys, their fathers are still around to give them advice. Unfortunately, my dad isn’t around anymore. I wish he was, and I still get good advice from my grandfather, but I think the fact that my dad isn’t around drives me even more to get out there and do it for myself.”

Check out the complete interview at CityPages.com.

On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, the professional wrestling world lost another one of the greats. The Ultimate Warrior, who for millions of fans who jumped on the pro wrestling bandwagon during the late 1980s boom period, was among the biggest and most recognizable Superstars in history. Today, we are going to look back at five matches that helped establish Warrior as the undeniable legend that he became.

It’s no secret that Ultimate Warrior wasn’t what one would call a “catch-as-catch-can” classic type of in-ring performer, but if you look back at his career from an unbiased point of view, there were certainly some diamonds in the rough. He had some great moments in the ring, and at times was absolutely more than just “a cool ring entrance.”

WWE SummerSlam 1988 (vs. The Honky Tonk Man)

On August 29, 1988 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, The Ultimate Warrior captured his first WWE Championship. In just 31 seconds, Warrior ended The Honky Tonk Man’s legendary 454-day reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Going into the show, which was actually the inaugural edition of what became WWE’s annual summer tradition, Honky Tonk Man was originally supposed to square-off with Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Beefcake ended up on the sidelines, however, and it was announced, live during the show, that Honky Tonk Man would still have an opponent and would still be defending his title.

To make a long story short, the infamous guitar riff hit the big speakers, thousands of fans in MSG exploded, and 31 seconds later, Warrior’s first WWE title reign began. History was made.

WWE SummerSlam 1989 (vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude)

Nearly a year later to the day, Ultimate Warrior found himself capturing WWE Intercontinental gold once again at WWE’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. Several months prior, Warrior suffered his first official defeat in WWE at the hands of “Ravishing” Rick Rude, who was arguably Warrior’s best in-ring opponent.

This was the rematch.

The bout took place on August 28, 1989 at The Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was the second annual WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event.

In what turned out to be a pretty good little contest, Warrior prevailed and in the end, managed to get his hand raised and once again become the WWE Intercontinental Champion.