2024 Pro Wrestling Thread

Kudos! Handful of years ago, a promotion run by Nick Patrick (the WCW ref) came through town and we sent a summer intern over to get some photos and a story. Don't think the kid was a big wrestling guy, but I think he had fun.

Lots of familiar names (some more washed up than others): Buff, Scott Steiner, Hurricane Helms, Teddy Long, Steamboat, Johnny Swinger.

 

Man you really outed that poor purple trunk guy as a leg slapper on that super kick

in all seriousness tho that’s awesome stuff and so cool to see

 

Being a wrestling fan, one of the fun things about this job is when some promotion or other runs through here and I get to write a wrestling story as an entertainment/sports feature. Right around the time TNA was trying to rekindle the Monday Night Wars and go head-to-head with Raw they also started running house shows and our town was on their list, so I got to interview a few of their folks a few times.
Another time, Jerry Lawler was running some small indy card here and I did a 30-minute phone interview with him that just breezed by.
Those always seemed to be on Friday nights during football season, though, so I'd never gotten to cover the actual card until these guys came around. The first time I was terrified of getting in the way of a spot and messing them up. By the third time I was almost too comfortable around ringside and did find myself almost getting in the way a couple of times.
The set-up at this venue is really tight, too. As close as I was, the fans were just as close. To the point I was worried about blocking their view when I was shooting. It amazed me how much situational awareness the wrestlers had when they started fighting outside the ring, not to go too hard and accidentally bump into someone.

 

Great pics.

I’ve been to a couple small charity independent shows at the town next over from mine, that drew a couple hundred people. They held them in this old armory where the WWWF had some shows in the 1970s. The first one, I took my now-wife to. She seemed to enjoy herself, that is, until the “street fight” when “Wildman”Sal Bellomo, started kicking down and throwing empty chairs behind us. That got her nervous.

Second one I went to, I took my father, who never had been to a wrestling show in his 70+ years. It was a pretty basic show with nobody prominent, mostly mat-based with character work with the crowd, but a fun night. The best spot was when a babyface was brawling with the heel around ringside, then brought the heel over to a group of children in the front row. He had the kids hold the heel’s arms before giving him a big chop on the chest. My Dad got a big kick out of that one.

 

Our paper has featured Cody Rhodes three times so far (when he broke in and was tag champs with Bob Holly -- also interviewed Dusty), when he left and he was with ROH and his first ATL homecoming with AEW).

I got the chance to do the last story as a lead-in feature, which was one of my rare stories since I'm typically paginating and editing. Went down to State Farm Arena for a media availability with him and Brandi before a Hawks game, and also got some insight from his sister and Schiavone (also a local).

Story turned out really good I felt, even if I got the one random email from a guy who complained about pro wrestling being on the sports page. Cody was very kind and said he'd do anything for our paper. That's something he's said since his high school wrestling days when we covered the sport much better with a much larger staff -- Cody even name-dropped the old sports editor on Jericho's podcast a long time ago during a joint interview with Cody and Woods, the former high school rivals.

We're even trying to work out a way to "string" WrestleMania this year, which is kind of a wild concept when you think about it.

 

The E did a documentary on Windham Rotunda. Should be good.
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This isn’t really topical at all, but I caught the movie “Another Version of You” on Tubi the other day. It’s the indie movie that Lana and Miro were in a few years back.

The movie was decent, but CJ Perry is a really good and engaging actress. I was shocked. She always seemed so wooden on WWE television.

 

The trailer:

Looks like they have Bo and JoJo involved, so that's definitely going to be emotional.

 

Great staredown between the Usos -- and the "Call Rikishi" sign in the background.

Also, it's just weird that on SD, the tag teams are in a little mini-tournament to decide who goes to the Mania ladder match. On Raw, the winner of the tag matches are just straight up qualifiers.

 

DIY going to Mania -- you love to see it. Love the Creeds, but they'll have their chance.

That was an AMAZING tag match.

DIY is in, New Day and Amazing Truth will probably follow. Guessing we'll have Butch/Bate and Waller/Theory on the other side from SD.

 

Great fiery promo work by Cody.

 

OK, that was great camerawork following Sami stomping away from Gunther backstage into Awesome Truth/DIY/Jinder’s Guys interaction and then following Awesome Truth all the way through their entrance.

That’s innovative camerawork, Kevin Dunn, wherever the fuck you are. Not ten million camera cuts that make me carsick in my living room.