Wrestling Podcasts: Wrestlers Turned Podcasters Galore!

The very first time I listened to a podcast was five years ago. I was browsing through iTunes, looking up wrestling terms, and CM Punk popped up in the search results. But attached to CM Punk’s name was The Art of Wrestling with Colt Cabana. Curious, I clicked on it and saw a picture of Colt Cabana in a Ring of Honor black tee in front of a library background. [click here] So I clicked play expecting the traditional 30 second clip as it was customary with every song on iTunes. But much to my surprise, it continued well past the 30 second mark and went on for about an hour of audio. After listening to Punk, and remember, this was way before the infamous pipe-bomb, I wanted more. So I went back to the first episode (Punk’s was episode 2) and I listened to Sonjay Dutt. And before I knew it, I was subscribed and have listened to every episode since.

That was my first introduction into the now over-saturated world of pro wrestling podcasts. Colt’s was the first of its kind and still hold it with high regard. Listening to Punk before he became a megastar; to Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno), Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards while they still wrestled for Ring of Honor; to Samoa Joe while he was wrestling for TNA; to Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan) before being signed to WWE; to Sara Del Rey before she became the trainer for the women wrestlers over at the WWE Performance Center; and to Kevin Steen, listening to his insecurities about the wrestling business long before signing with WWE as Kevin Owens.

Colt Cabana always states at the intro that the Art of Wrestling Podcast is a life podcast, a personal journey into the hearts and souls of these wrestlers. Basically these stories have entertained me and made me feel a close bond with my favorite wrestlers. It has also helped me get to know new wrestlers that I wasn’t familiar with. Then I go back and think, where have I heard of this guy before? And after 5 years and counting, the answer is most likely from the Art of Wrestling Podcast.

One of my goals as a wrestling fan is to travel to Glasgow or Edinburg and attend a live Art of Wrestling Podcast among the Scotts. If you ever take the time to listen to the live shows, it sounds like so much fun and definitely an experience worth having.

But among my love of AOW, I have ventured out and accepted other podcasts. Some I’ve dropped, and others I continue to be faithful. ::Glass Shatters:: When I heard that Stone Cold Steve “Mutha F%@$” Austin was starting up his own can of audio whoopass known as The Steve Austin Show, how could you say no to the Rattlesnake? That’s not to say that there haven’t been some episodes that were chicken sh-t that he tried making into chicken salad, but sometimes it is what it is. I’ve loved his recent interviews with Razor Ramon, Diamond Dallas Page, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. I’ve also loved his series of episodes talking to Paul Heyman. And let’s not forget that his success on PodcastOne.com and his legendary status in WWE also launched the very first live video podcast on the WWE Network, with the first guest being none other than Vince McMahon. He’s gone on to have his WWE special with Triple H, Paul Heyman, Paige, Edge & Christian, and soon enough… Brock Lesnar.

I always get a kick out of those live Stone Cold Podcast episodes, but another wrestler turned podcaster who I thoroughly enjoy is Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho. What I love about TIJ is that Jericho is a natural entertainer and it translates beautifully on audio. Plus, he–like Colt–goes out of his way to have sit-down interviews with his guests. And it’s not just wrestling guests, it’s music guests, conspiracy and paranormal theorists, TV actors, movie directors, porn stars! (By the way, Stormy Daniels… awesome!) The list goes on and on with the diversity of the guests he has on his show. Talk is Jericho is not just another wrestling podcast, it’s an entertainment podcast diving into all walks of entertainment.

Those are my top three wrestling podcasts that I listen to religiously. But I do often lend an ear to The Ross Report with Jim Ross and WOOOOO! Nation with “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair for the sole reason that I respect the hell out of those two. I would listen to every episode, but I only have so many hours in a day. But give those guys a listen as well, great stuff.

And if by chance you don’t know how to listen to these great podcasts, subscribe and download them off iTunes if you have an iPhone, or if you are like me and have sided with the force known as Samsung Galaxy, the Podcast Addict app has been awesome with all episodes streaming seamlessly.

How about you? Which podcast do you love listening to? And it doesn’t have to be a podcast about wrestling. Just share your likes and dislikes in the comment section below!

Or if you just want to hit me up, you can do so on the twitter @WrestlingTimesX or follow my interests and journey to a healthier fit lifestyle on my instagram @losfriday!

Also, make sure to like this post and share it. The more people who like it and share it, the more likely I’ll continue to rant about wrestling!

State of Divas Division without AJ Lee?

Pretty soon after WrestleMania, the wrestling world was stunned when news broke that the former 3-time WWE Divas champion AJ Lee had decided to retire from the WWE. This, undoubtedly, has left a void in the Divas division, which poses the question, who will fill her boots?

Known as Miss April on the independent scene, AJ made her breakthrough in the WWE as a “rookie” on NXT. Although she lost the competition, AJ was bound for greatness with her charisma and her infectious skipping.

She would later capture our hearts as the crazy chick who would lip lock with the male talents. Surprisingly one of those guys turned out to be her future husband C.M. Punk (funny how storylines become reality).

AJ was also the RAW General Manager, which was very strange because we all wanted to see her compete in the ring. Although she did look cute in a suit… But then she got serious with a hint of crazy. She became very outspoken and even stood face to face with Stephanie McMahon. How did that never pay off into a main event on pay-per-view?

She was also very vocal about certain Divas, The Bellas, only coming into the business to jumpstart their modeling career, or to be famous. AJ may not have been friends with every Diva, but she was outspoken about those she respected: Paige, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Charlotte. When accepting her WWE Slammy for Diva of the Year, AJ had mentioned their names as the next Diva she would want to see winning the award. Simply put, she had the balls to say what nobody else had the balls to say.

AJ Lee left the company on top with a 2-0 win streak at WrestleMania, and a profound WrestleMania moment when she tapped out the Divas champion in the center of the ring. She had her Cinderella story come true as this nerd who wasn’t into the supermodel thing, but just a fan of pro wrestling. Hell, she cried when she met WWE Hall of Famer Lita when she was a kid. She got to live her dream as a wrestler, and now she’s living her new dream as a happily married woman.

Break the rules. Be a fighter. Any dream is possible if you are brave enough to do it YOUR way. Thank you all. pic.twitter.com/qu7bBOMFdu

— A.J. (@WWEAJLee) April 5, 2015

Thank you, AJ.

After the events of WrestleMania, I assumed that the focus would have shifted over to Paige as the next challenger for the Divas championship, but it appears that the attention has been placed on Naomi.

Naomi was a fellow graduate with AJ as a semi-finalist on NXT. Rightfully so, she has the beauty and the athleticism–plus she can do a flying butt-butt better than Colt Cabana (sorry Colt). So it is about time that Naomi gets some attention.

Now enter “Big Pimp Daddy” Kane on RAW with his HO Train of Divas putting their bid in for the Divas championship by requesting a Divas Battle Royal. So now all the Divas are involved. And while it may seem unfair to Naomi, it just may be the next challenge that she supersedes to get her championship opportunity.

However, Naomi isn’t the only Diva getting some attention: Natalya and Ashley had a great match of SmackDown with guest referee Cameron. In spite of Cameron’s ability as a wrestler (remember when she covered her opponent who was on her belly?), she justified her standings in the Divas Battle Royal by dropping both combatants with a pair of DDT’s at the conclusion of the match.

Then there’s The Miz (no he’s not a physical Diva, he just acts like one), who gave a Diva a chance by allowing Summer Rae to have a feature role in his movie. Even though Summer Rae is displayed on the cover of The Marine 4 as Miz’s equal–and the main reason why most guys will watch it–Miz does have a point. She may or may not be a co-star in the movie, but she damn well held her own on the mic against The Miz. Now that was Awesome.

The landscape of the current Divas Division is starting to get interesting, but the moment the NXT women’s wrestlers start getting called up to the main roster, that’s when things will get really interesting.

That’s it for the post, follow WTX on: YouTube / Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Finding Alternatives to WWE RAW

Finding Alternatives to WWE RAW

As Stone Cold Steve Austin pointed out on the LIVE Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network with guest Vince McMahon, it takes a good 20-30 minutes to set the hook in to start Monday Night RAW. Whether it’s The Authority, Seth Rollins, and John Cena on the mic, it should not take a half hour to start a wrestling show. Because as much as McMahon likes to say that pro wrestling is what his dad did, what the Superstars and Divas do in the “wrestling” ring isn’t ballet, it’s pro wrestling.

Monday Night RAW should start off with a wrestling match because that’s what gets the crowd pumped, not a 30-minute diatribe. Stone Cold isn’t the only wrestler with issues over the product, Colt Cabana of famed controversial 2-hour “tell-all” interview with former WWE champion CM Punk, has his own reasons for not tuning into Monday Night RAW anymore. With his friends Cesaro being bumped down the card, and–at the time–Daniel Bryan being off television, Colt really had no real reason to watch a show that has mostly talking. He then started mentioning alternatives to Monday Night RAW, alternatives that I myself have started venturing out towards.

Although NXT is contested underneath the WWE umbrella, the two are so polarizing in the way both shows carry themselves. Steve mentioned the intimate setting of a small crowd, and the low lights giving it that Indy feel. But what NXT does best is that it has simple storylines that is carried out in the squared circle. NXT R Evolution was a culmination of what a bunch of hungry talents can do when given the spotlight to entertain us–not by talking for 30 minutes–but by what they can do inside the ring. Just go back and watch the whole event and watch closely the NXT Women’s championship bout between (c) Charlotte and Sasha Banks, and the heavily spoken about main event for the NXT championship between (c) Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn. Once you do, you wouldn’t believe NXT was part of WWE.

Another alternative, which I started watching two weeks ago, is Lucha Underground on the El Rey network. Now, I stumbled across an advertisement for Lucha Underground on Twitter – follow me @WrestlingTimesX – and it looked bad ass. I believe it was a picture of Fenix with a plancha to the outside, and what was so interesting were the filters and outlines used to make the picture pop. Small things like that catch my attention because it tells me that the promotion takes the product seriously. The first show I stumbled upon was the crowning of the first Lucha Underground champion–talk about luck. Dario Cueto, the on-air Authority figure, declared that the championship would be decided in a revolutionary concept known as Aztec Warfare. Similar to the Royal Rumble set up, the match would begin with two luchas and every 90 seconds a new lucha would enter the fray. There would be 20 competitors in total, and contestants would be eliminated only via pinfall or submission.

I won’t spoil the outcome until my next post, which, by then, I except all of you to have seen it. You may not recognize any of the masked luchas on the show if you have never seen Mexican wrestling, but the matches are so entertaining that it will not matter. But to ease your transition into Lucha Underground, there are some familiar WWE talents featured on the card: the former WWE ECW champion, IC champion, and Tag Team champion John Morrison wrestles under the name Johnny Mundo; former WWE ECW champion, Cruiserweight champion, and Tag Team champion Chavo Guerrero, Jr. contends there, wielding a steel chair as his weapon of choice; former WWE ECW champion Ezekiel Jackson uses his 6’3 frame under the name Big Ryck (that’s right, Rick with a “Y”) to dominate the smaller luchas; Maxine if you recall from the “All-Divas” edition of NXT, she appears as Catrina, the girlfriend of Mil Muertes; and Ivelisse from the last season of WWE Tough Enough also competes there. Now, when I say compete, there’s only one other female competitor–Sexy Star–the women compete with the men. Oh, did I mention that Matt Striker is the English play-by-play commentator?

Bottom line: give Lucha Underground a shot, because I’ve certainly became a fan, especially with the latest news announced on Twitter – former WWE and WWE World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio will debut on Lucha Underground very soon. What more reason do you need to check out Lucha Underground?

I found out about New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 9 during an episode of the Steve Austin Show podcast, when Steve had “White-meat babyface, jumpin'” Jim Ross in the intro. JR was set to head over to Japan to call the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 event, what WrestleMania is to us but in Japan, for the American broadcast. Seeing as JR was calling the action, I knew I had to watch this event and thankfully I managed to get a copy of the event. But the damn thing is almost four hours long. I have not seen the full event, but I am in mid IWGP Tag Team championship bout pitting (c) The Bullet Club’s Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson – guests on a recent Art of Wrestling podcast, very hysterical – against the challengers Meiyu Tag’s Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata.

The matches are so different from the “Western style” because Japan competes in strong style, which is just that, strong, hard-hitting action. Wrestling is taken very seriously over there in the rising sun.

So those are just a few alternatives out there for you to consider. Not to say that you shouldn’t watch WWE, but just take into consideration that WWE isn’t the only game in town.

Question: The Royal Rumble is this Sunday, who’s going to win it? Roman Reigns? Daniel Bryan? Someone else? What are your thoughts, people!?

That’s it for the post, be sure to hit me up on the: Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr.

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Podcasting with CM Punk and Vince McMahon

In the mainstream world, Kim Kardashian posing nude broke the internet. But in the crazy world of pro wrestling/sports entertainment, the internet broke when CM Punk finally spoke up on the terms of leaving WWE on Colt Cabana’s podcast, and when Vince McMahon agreed to do a live Stone Cold podcast on the WWE Network.

Vince McMahon in 70-minute “hot seat” on a live Stone Cold Podcast

Both interviews were very insightful and ground breaking in there own ways: CM Punk used a number of expletives to describe his frustrations towards the WWE’s creative process, medical practices, and being terminated on his wedding day; and Vince McMahon sat in the hot seat for a live 70-minute sit down with Steve Austin, who promised that he wouldn’t hold anything back. And we did get a lot of answers from Vince; although some were answered with the greatest of corporate correctness, others were answered honestly.

It’s incredible how, as wrestling fans, we can sit down and listen to these guys talk for hours without getting tired. And yet, we constantly complain whenever they talk too much on television.  But as Vince explained, it’s all about getting people invested in these characters: They can’t just wrestle for the sake of wrestling, there has to be a reason.

We listened to these podcasts because we are invested in these people. CM Punk/Phil Brooks, call him what you may but we want to know what makes him tick. As for the “grand wizard”, Vince is seen as this powerful man but behind the curtains he’s just a man who loves to entertain people.

When Vince was asked about CM Punk, a topic that was considered taboo up to that point, he sincerely apologized for Punk being fired on his wedding day. He didn’t delve further because he didn’t want to “air dirty laundry”. Even though Punk held nothing back when he spoke to Colt for 2-hours, Vince pointed out that this situation is largely due to a lack of communication, but that he hopes that they can work together in the future.

After listening to CM Punk berate the WWE, the last thing I expected to hear from McMahon was that he would still want to work with Punk. But as he told Stone Cold, he listens to the audience, and he knows when to check his ego and do what’s best for business. He knows the WWE Universe wants CM Punk back, but that doesn’t mean that CM Punk wants to come back. It was pretty cut-and-dry on the Art of Wrestling that Punk has no desire to ever wrestle again. But that was the same song and dance heard from Steven Austin when he left; from Bret Hart when he left; from Ultimate Warrior when he left. And yet, one by one, Vince managed to mend fences and make amends with each of those men.

If CM Punk is truly content with never wrestling again, then it was great having him around to entertain us. But if there is still some passion left for the business, despite the transgressions with the poor medical physicians on staff, CM Punk owes it to himself to speak to McMahon and see if they can find some common ground.

By the way, how awesome was it to hear Vince adamantly confirm that “Macho Man” Randy Savage will one day be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame?

That’s it for the post, don’t forget to like it, share it, and subscribe! And don’t forget to check out our official video podcast on YouTube at YouTube.com/WrestlingTimesX

Also, follow me: Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

About the blogger: I’m an avid fan of pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why WrestlingTimesX will come across as different from anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Who is Antonio Cesaro?

Aksana, a beautiful Lithuanian fitness model, and former arm candy of Theodore Long, has now aligned herself with SmackDown’s new comer Antonio Cesaro. A 6 ft 5 Swiss pro wrestler, Antonio has made quite a name for himself in Florida Championship Wrestling. His most recent accomplishment has been wrestling Richie Steamboat, the FCW 15 Champion, to two title match draws. The last of the two–a special 20-minute title match–called upon the services of WWE Hall of Fame Jim Ross to call the action alongside William Regal. Antonio’s physique, stamina and endurance are what compelled John Laurinaitis to call him up to the main roster.

But who is Antonio Cesaro?

Outside the glamorous world of the WWE Universe, Antonio gained recognition wrestling under his real name — Claudio Castagnoli.

AY!!! He is Very European.

Having received training in his homeland from StigMasta Rappo, in England from Dave Taylor, and in the United States from both Mike Quackenbush and Chris Hero, Castagnoli has accustomed himself to different wrestling styles.

Teaming up with his former mentor, Castagnoli and Chris Hero formed The Kings of Wrestling in 2005 in Chikara. The two went on to become Chikara’s first-ever Campeonatos de Parejas tag team champions, met up again in Combat Zone Wrestling to win its World tag belts on two occasions, earned the tag titles in Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and have won the ROH World Tag Team championships twice. Their final tag team title run–of 364 days–is the longest in Ring of Honor Wrestling history.

Aside from being a tag team specialist, Castagnoli has earned considerable praise as a singles competitor. He made a serious run for the ROH World title against Takeshi Morishima and Nigel McGuinness. Yet it wasn’t until 2010 at Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s The Curse of Guerrilla Island that Castagnoli would win his first major singles title in the United States — the PWG World championship.

On September 16, 2011, Castagnoli signed with WWE and was sent to FCW under his new name – Antonio Cesaro. Armed with the Very European Uppercut, Gotch Style Neutralizer cradle piledriver, and, the move that defies gravity, UFO Spinning Argentine backbreaker rack (with no hands), Antonio Cesaro is a force to be reckoned with in the WWE.

Wish to learn more about SmackDown’s newest superstar? Check out Claudio Castagnoli’s interview with Colt Cabana on Art of Wrestling. [listen now]

That’s it for this post, feel free to check us out on YouTube – WTX Video Podcast. My buddies and I perform a wrestling video podcast where we talk wrestling, which then leads into crazy comedy sketches. Support us on YouTube, like us on Facebook, and follow me on the twitter @WrestlingTimesX.

Glamazon 2.0: Beth Phoenix the new Diva of Destruction?

Kelly-Kelly sat alongside Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, and the misogynist Michael Cole as a crop full of Divas from both Raw and SmackDown competed in a Battle Royal to determine the next challenger to the WWE Divas Title. Since winning the title on a monumental Raw Roulette, Kelly-Kelly has defended the title against previous champion Brie Bella, and has led her 3-6 Divas tag teams to victory, often taking down the most experienced Diva. Then it happened.

With Herculean strength, Beth Phoenix hoisted Brie and Nikki Bella (one on each shoulder) and eliminated both with relative ease making her the new number one contender.

As the champion, Kelly-Kelly entered the ring to congratulate her next challenger. Yet Kelly’s hug and pat on the back was not an affirmation of respect towards Beth Phoenix as a competitor, but as a friend. So when Beth Phoenix turned on Kelly and drove her to the barricades, the champion learned quickly: never underestimate The Glamazon.

The path of destruction that Beth Phoenix laid out on Monday Night seems reminiscent of recent “Diva” Kharma. Phoenix’s actions, and the statement she made on the microphone towards a cowering Kelly-Kelly, targets the entire Divas locker room, “your days as the perky cute blonde little bimbo are over.” Just as Kharma once attempted to destroy the cookie-cutter blonde Barbie dolls, Beth Phoenix looks to change the landscape of the Divas division with her first agenda being the ownership of the Divas Title.

So why now? Why turn heel? Would you believe that it was just time for a change?

On a special “season two” premiere of The Art of Wrestling podcast, Beth Phoenix revealed to host Colt Cabana that when the time came, she would reinvent herself. Similar to how Chris Jericho wants to change his gimmick upon his return after witnessing The Miz and Dolph Ziggler cut scathing promos in suits, Beth felt it was time for a change after seeing that the Divas’ wardrobes are now resembling her superhero theme.

When asked about a possible Glamazon 2.0, Beth responded, “Whenever I look at guys that have been around for a few years, and have been successful, they always reinvent themselves. You know, it’s the same but different. I like to — if I get a nice momentum behind me — to get a fresh start. I have an idea of revamping the [Glamazon] character a little bit, but still staying true to what I’ve built up. I’m putting a new spin on it, changing my costume up a little bit. And I have some fresh ideas for stuff in the ring.”

Beth’s opportunity to not only undergo a change in her character, but to also change the face of the Divas division necessitates in her becoming the title holder. And if what she told her former OVW classmate is any indication, this heel turn is only the beginning. Her wrestling gear, and her wrestling style may also occur some changes to fit her new persona — as the new Diva of Destruction?

Real or Worked, Who Cares: C.M. Punk is the Voice of the Voiceless

The C.M. Punk saga (as Michael Cole put it) continued last night on Monday Night Raw. Punk came down the entrance ramp at the top of the program, cutting off the WWE signature, holding a megaphone in case WWE attempted to cut him off again. He announced that Vince McMahon now wanted to sign him to a big lucrative contract. And while it only took six-years, an open mic, and one foot out the door to get McMahon to notice, Punk informed the Boston crowd that Raw would hold the first-ever live contract negotiation. But, as we come to find out, July 17, 2011, Punk will attempt to win the WWE Championship and walk out of WWE.

The cutting off the WWE signature might have been overlooked, or not appreciated. Punk’s Killswitch Engage song interrupted the signature right before John Cena’s “The Champ is Here!” could be heard. Obviously Punk has voiced his resentment on not being in the WWE signature two weeks ago, and cutting off Cena’s spot was ingenious on Punk’s part.

The words “The Champ is Here!” raised some pent-up frustration after Cena had nixed McMahon from re-signing Punk. While Cena always tries to play off that he’s the underdog in his encounters, that’s not how Cena’s booked. And Punk knows this. That’s why Punk had to cut him off, again, and remind him that he’s the one that lost sight. Because much like the sports teams in Boston, especially the Red Sox, John Cena has become a dynasty, while Punk is the true underdog.

Even throughout Punk’s three World Heavyweight title reigns, he was booked as the underdog. He held his first title in 2008 for 69 days. And during that time, he would defend it against the likes of JBL, Batista, and Kane, and WWE booked him to squeak by with DQ and Count-out victories. Many remarked, including JBL during a Raw promo, Punk was a transitional (paper) champion. He didn’t even lose the belt, he was hastily stripped of the title after being punted in the head by Randy Orton.

And when WWE (surprisingly) revisited that night the weeks leading up to this year’s WrestleMania, Punk (though heel) had the moral high ground. What did WWE do? They booked him to lose to Orton at WrestleMania, on Raw, and then again at Extreme Rules. How does the man who had the moral high ground lose to Orton 0-3? This is a great example of how WWE’s Anti-Bullying campaign is hypocritical.

C.M. Punk’s second go-ahead as the World Champ lasted a mere 49 days, losing it cleanly to Jeff Hardy — a guy that Mr. McMahon was bending over backwards to appease after realizing his worth in merchandise. Then when negotiations went south, Punk established his third reign defeating Hardy at SummerSlam. But before Punk could even digest the moment, he was chokeslammed by a returning Undertaker. And while a certain Mad Scientist believed UT’s return would spark off an incredible feud with Punk, WWE, in reality, didn’t fully believe that Punk could be the face of SmackDown. So in six-weeks, Punk’s third (and final) World title reign prematurely ended.

Now here we are, almost two years later, Mr. McMahon has come to realize Punk’s worth. It’s safe to assume Punk’s t-shirt being sold-out within minutes before Raw went on the air could be a money-attention grabber for McMahon.

Call it how you will – worked, scripted – most of what Punk got at from Mr. McMahon is real life animosity. C.M. Punk is tired of being undervalued and underutilized in the company. He trained to be a professional wrestler (not a superstar) and the fact that McMahon no longer has a clue of how to create superstars in 2011, by evidence of his friends Colt Cabana and Luke Gallows unceremoniously fired, is reason enough to leave.

When Punk straight-out demanded the apology from McMahon for firing his friends, his moral compass skyrocketed. He became a symbolic savior of sorts for all the talented wrestlers McMahon (and the glad-handed douchebags) failed to utilize because of their own ineptitude. Punk truly became the Voice for the Voiceless because they don’t have the opportunity to stand up to Mr. McMahon like he has.

This Sunday, Punk has vowed that he will walk out of his hometown of Chicago, IL, and the WWE company, with the WWE Title. Will he “bank” on that promise? Does he win the belt, and 2 seconds later lose it to Mr. Raw’s MITB? Or could he not only defeat Cena for the belt, but also defeat Mr. Raw’s MITB, and walk out of the company with the title in his possession?

ROH Best in the World: Eddie Edwards vs Davey Richards

Davey Richards pulled off an emotional victory when he finally won the ROH World Title from Eddie Edwards on June 26 at Best in the World. Emotional because wrestling consumed his life to fill the void of not having a family. At Final Battle, what was to be his final wrestling bout, became a waking call for Davey after he failed to ascertain the ROH World Title from Roderick Strong. Not only was he staying in Ring of Honor, but he made a promise to ROH officials and to the fans that the next time he challenged for the belt it would be his last. Then on March 19 at Manhattan Mayhem IV, Eddie Edwards defeated Strong for the belt. Many assumed Davey would be upset because Edwards managed to accomplish what he couldn’t, but he was genuinely happy for Eddie because he sees him as a brother.

Although Eddie Edwards was the World Champion, he couldn’t help but doubt himself. Wanting to prove that he was the best, Edwards challenged Davey Richards to a World Title match with the ultimatum, “If you don’t fight me for this World Championship, I quit.” For the first time in history, the champion challenged the challenger because Eddie felt that he may have been overlooked as part of The American Wolves since Davey is so sharp and focused on what he does in the ring. No one added these harsh stipulations, but themselves because they wanted to prove who indeed was the Best in the World.

When Eddie was caught in the ropes, he shouted at Davey who hesitated to follow-up with a strike. “Just do it!” Davey struck Eddie with a kick to the head. Eddie not only asked for this match, but he asked for Davey at his absolute best so that when it was all said and done, there would be no regrets. Eddie didn’t hold back either, having driven Davey through a ringside table with a double foot stomp. The two exchanged strikes and ankle lock submissions, but Davey overcame with a number of kicks, and before delivering the final blow told Eddie, “You asked for it.”

Mirroring what took place at Manhattan Mayhem, Eddie Edwards this time wrapped the ROH World Title around Davey Richards’s waist after a long embrace. Richards delivered a heart wrenching speech that left him his tears. He looked up and said, “Hey grandma, hey grandpa … I DID IT!”

Steve Corino has been on a road of redemption ever since costing Kevin Steen his Ring of Honor career back at Final Battle. Along with his sponsor Jimmy Jacobs, Corino advocated that Jim Cornette and ROH Officials grant Steen a second chance. The Hammerstein Ballroom erupted when they saw Steen up on the balcony. He was stopped by Cornette and crew from entering the ring and was then tossed out by security. After Corino lost his match to Michael Elgin, Truth Martini and Elgin continued by attacking both Corino and Jacobs until Kevin Steen made the save. Then after much deliberation on the part of Jim Cornette, Steen was able to talk and instead of asking for forgiveness, he cursed out Ring of Honor. “F–K ROH!” Steen turned on both Corino and Jacobs before finally being driven out of the Hammerstein Ballroom by security.

El Generico defeated “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels to earn his first singles title in Ring of Honor. Having scored a non-title victory over Daniels when ROH invaded Canada, El Generico battled for the honor of entering Ring of Honor’s new era as the new ROH World Television Champion. Christopher Daniels, despite ROH not having a television deal for several months, felt he was more qualified as the Television Champion because he was the only one still featured on television via SpikeTV. At a point in the match, The Fallen Angel felt so confident that Generico would not be able to answer the 20-count, he started strapping the belt around his waist. But when Generico broke the count, he hit the Yakuza kick and drove Daniels with a top rope Brainbuster to score the pinfall.

In other bouts at Best in the World, Tommaso Ciampa beat Colt Cabana … Jay Lethal pinned Mike Bennett with a diving elbow drop in respect to Randy Savage … Homicide beat Rhino in a No Holds Barred Street Fight … Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin last eliminated The Kings of Wrestling to retain the ROH World Tag Team Titles in a Four Way Elimination match also involving The All Night Express and Jay and Mark Briscoe.

The dark match, which will be available as a DVD exclusive, was a Dream Tag Team match between Generation Me (The Young Bucks) against the new up-and-comers Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly.

If WWE and TNA are ever in the market to learn how to compose a compelling storyline, they should watch Kevin Steen. His feud with El Generico, which spanned all of 2010, and this segment at Best in the World is entertainment and impeccable storytelling at its finest.

Until next time: Remember to subscribe to Wrestling Times X to receive new posts directly to your e-mail. Share this and all posts. And follow me on Twitter @WrestlingTimesX for quick rants.

History repeats itself: C.M. Punk threatens to leave

Whether C.M. Punk is toying with the internet fans, or it’s his way of telling them good-bye, his imminent departure from WWE is a retelling of his ROH departure storyline 6 years ago. Back in 2005, despite accepting a deal with WWE, C.M. Punk went on to defeat Austin Aries for the ROH World Championship on June 18, 2005 at Death Before Dishonor III. Once he had the championship in his grasp, Punk proceeded to threaten the ROH officials, ROH locker room, as well as ROH fans that he would bring the ROH World Title to WWE with him. He even went as far as to sign his WWE contract on the ROH World Title.

C.M. Punk this past Monday stated that his WWE contract would end the midnight leading to June 18, 2011, making his WWE Championship match against John Cena at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view his final match. He claimed that not only would that be his final match, but that he will win the WWE Championship and leave WWE with it.

C.M. Punk tweeted the following, “I knew I was gone at the beginning of the year. I just woke up one day and I knew. That’s the way I work a lot of the time. I think it’s creepy too, but it’s really helpful. I knew I’d be history by July. Come say goodbye on July 17th. I promise to go out with a bang. Trust me. XxX”

Now, check out his Live Journal post from 2005, as Punk was set to leave ROH: “Heart of the Devil” or “Goodbye Blue and White.“

The Live Journal entry was written two days before winning the ROH World Title, so could this be Punk’s way of letting the fans know that he will indeed become the WWE Champion?

Many fans have focused on this particular storyline from 2005, but there is a part two. It wasn’t until August 12, 2005 in Dayton, OH, when Punk lost the title to James Gibson (Jamie Noble) in a four corner elimination match consisting of also Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. On the following night, C.M. Punk wrestled his final scheduled ROH match against long-time friend Colt Cabana in a two out of three falls match, which he lost. That match took place in his hometown of Chicago Ridge, IL.

So while it is still possible that C.M. Punk will capture the WWE Championship, the name of the pay-per-view is Money in the Bank, which means that whoever holds the Raw briefcase can cash in and take the title away from him. And seeing as the event is taking place in Rosemont, IL, it’s safe to bet that this is what will transpire.

Harry Burkett, columnist for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, cites that Punk’s decision to leave WWE could be: creative frustration and burnout from the WWE grind.

Creatively, Punk has been underutilized since the ending of his third World Heavyweight Championship reign back at the end of 2009. His atrocious string of pay-per-view loses since 2009 can attest to that. And while many WWE fans have been hoping for a dream match-up at WrestleMania against Stone Cold Steve Austin — both have traded repartees on twitter and most recently on Raw — this may never come to pass.

As for the ROH hopefuls, a feud against Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) may never come to pass either. The closest to this would be the first five minutes of the Royal Rumble match from this year.

So whatever happens: In Punk, I trust.

Until next time: Remember to subscribe to Wrestling Times X to receive new posts directly to your e-mail. Share this and all posts. And follow me on Twitter @WrestlingTimesX for quick rants.

Ring of Honor Sold, Best in the World iPPV News

Welcome back to The Wrestling Times! Earlier in the week the news broke out that Ring of Honor Wrestling was sold to Sinclair Broadcast Company. Former ROH owner Cary Silkin had this to say, “We have been waiting for and working for this opportunity for quite some time, and of our 9 years in business, there has been no better roster of wrestlers than this one to expose the ROH product to the masses. With Sinclair’s resources and many avenues of distribution, we believe many new fans around the world will be as captivated as those who have followed Ring of Honor over the years.” So let’s discuss what this means to us, the wrestling fans.

First off, Cary Silkin, along with Jim Cornette, Delirious, Dave Prazak, and Kevin Kelly, will remain with ROH. They have promised that ROH will not convert to the Sport’s Entertainment format; and it will continue touring its usual venues, while adding new ones along the way. Whew! All good things to hear.

But that’s not all! This Fall, ROH is set to debut a weekly televised program. So for the fans that heavily petitioned for a television station to pick them up: Mission Accomplished.

So what does this all mean? Better exposure, better production value, and a better opportunity to reach new fans. But if you don’t happen to live in a market with a Sinclair station, don’t worry because Mr. Silkin stated, “Through our revamped website we will be able to make the TV show available to anyone in the world with internet access.” That sounds great to me, Cary.

Then depending on how successful the product is, ROH would be able to afford to keep their talents. And unlike the unruly spending tactics of TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor currently does not have to worry about any ego-driven, money-grubbing veterans of yesteryear to short change the rest of the roster. But, in order to get more people interested in the product, ROH probably, and will, resort to bringing in former WWE/TNA wrestlers.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s voting landscapes should experience some drastic changes now that ROH will be more widely available.

Many assume that WWE is the be-all end-all of professional wrestling, and the million or so fans that tune in every Thursday to catch Impact Wrestling in need of an alternative, can find it with Ring of Honor.

The first official step towards a bigger, badder, and better ROH will occur the afternoon of June 26th when Ring of Honor returns to NYC on iPPV – “Best in the World 2011.” On this day, all champions will defend their titles. This means ROH World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Edwards, ROH World TV Champion Christopher Daniels, and ROH World Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin will put their gold on the line.

And it’s not to say that ROH is the be-all end-all of pro wrestling’s alternative, it’s a prime example that there is more out there than the Top Two. After listening to Colt Cabana’s podcast with Excalibur, it sparked my interest in Pro Wrestling Guerrila, stationed out in Los Angeles. And when the funds are available, I’ll definitely check out some of their DVDs (available at HighSpots.com). Speaking of alternatives, NWA Hollywood episodes are available on its homepage (NWAHollywood.com), including the episode when Cabana won the NWA Heavyweight Championship.

There is just so much more out there in the world of professional wrestling, take the time to explore other companies, including (but not limited to) ROH, NWA Hollywood, PWG, SHIMMER Women’s Athletes, Women Superstars Uncensored, Chikara, Dragon Gate USA, and Evolve.

That’s it for this post. What does Ring of Honor Wrestling being bought by Sinclair Broadcast Company mean to you? What do you hope to gain from this? Please jot them down in the comment box, or send me a line on twitter. My twitter handler is WrestlingTimesX. There are also some nifty share buttons on the bottom: Spread the word!