NWA coverage

So it appears that Pro Wrestling Torch is no longer going to cover the NWA.  They have dropped the NWA World Title from their Titles they will be covering this year.  So I hope to pick up some of that slack.  So come back here for definitive NWA coverage.  After all, it is still often the best wrestling in the country today.  And the NWA World Title is the only real World Title.

You may have heard that NWA World champ Rob Conway had emergency appendectomy surgery.  So he is going to be on the shelf for a bit. 

The big news so far this year in the NWA is Seth Allen unified his NWA Sports Entertainment Wrestling Heavyweight championship with Nitro's NWA Mid West title, which is left over from the now defunct NWA Championship International Wrestling.  It will be interesting to see where Nitro goes from here. 

Tonight January 17th the new NWA Western States Champion is going to be crowned in the tournament held by Pro Wrestling Vendetta.  The tournament includes Chris Masters, Matt Rivera (my pick to win), Brian Kendrick, and Ricardo Rodriguiz. 

Personally I am looking forward to the big card from Branded Outlaw Wrestling of February 21st.  That card will include Barbi Hayden defending her Women's World Title.  Raymond Rowe vs. Dirty Andy Dalton, Charlie Haas vs. Mike Dell, Jax Dane vs. Luke Gallows, Houston Carson vs. Lance Hoyt, and World Champ Rob Conway vs. James Claxton, who I believe is the Branded Outlaw champ.  Great card. 

That same day will see Tim Storm defend his North American Heavyweight title at NWA Main Event against Big Daddy Yum Yum Brian Wilcott.  The Main Event show will have Teddy Hart in action.  Hart is one half of the tag champs in Main Event (his partner is Big Daddy Yum Yum). 

So some great action in the NWA coming up.

Big Change in NWA to start the new year!

Last night at the Finale, a NWA Smoky Mountain event, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Conway turned heel on NWA Smoky Mountain champ, Jason Kincaid.

This really opens up a few new possibilities for Conway, or it could spell the end of his run.  It is too early to tell if the new NWA is going with the top guy being a face with heels chasing or a heel with faces trying to overcome.  Conway was a face during his first run (although probably was technically a heel in Japan when he dropped the belt), but Kahagas was probably a heel when he won the belt.  Kojima is hard to categorize, and really only had it in America briefly.

It is probably necessary for Conway to turn because in his two combined runs, he has pretty much gone through all the heels.  He had Bryan Wilcott as a heel, and has finished his feud with Chris Richards, and it was Kahagas he beat for the belt.  He has beaten Golden Boy Greg Anthony (SEW), Tyson Dean (ATL), Lance Hoyt (Texoma), and even Pretty Boy Stan Lee (Appalachia).  He really has fought them all. 

The turning of Conway allows him to start going through some of the faces of the NWA.  Kevin Driscoll has a title shot in hand and is a face for NWA Next Level already.  And Conway books Next Level (from what I understand), so that could be a place to watch.  And yes it allows a rematch with Kincaid.  But one has to think the two big doors it opens are Houston Carson, current champ of NWA 360 not to mention very popular wrestler all over Texas, and Jax Dane.  Dane has traveled the NWA and has traveled with Conway.  The spurned friend angle would be good.  The fallout with Dane will be interesting to watch.  Those two are the two best bets for feuds and maybe guys to be the next champ.

Some other possibilities now open include Nitro, former National Champ (although he appears to have re-appeared in SEW as a heel after being the face in his feud with Marconi), a belt often billed as a stepping stone to the World Title.  Jeremiah Plunkett and Arick Andrews of NWA SAW would be two real candidates.  Plunkett has been the NWA Australia champ and Andrews is the current NWA Southern Champ.  Plunkett put on a great match against Kojima.  I am not sure if Wes Brisco is a face in Signature Pro, but he too could be a possible future match.  And as Kojima will let you know, he has never gotten his rematch with Conway.  Maybe now he will.

However, it ends up, it provides a new feel for 2015 in the NWA. 

WWE's booking is getting worse

WWE does have to take a little blame for what is going on.  They simply do not understand that the fans do not want to see the hulking giants anymore.  They want to see the "everyman" the "speak truth to power" and the "all-in" type wrestlers as their title holders.  Daniel Bryan moved the ratings and had people doing "Yes" chants on ESPN.  Instead of building on this WWE tried to force Bautista down the throats of the people.  They bring back Lesnar, and see the recent reactions to Roman Reigns.  He is not going to get over anytime soon.  And worse yet they are going back to a Cena-Lesnar rematch.  Bad call. 

I personally would have not put the belt on Lesnar.  I would have built up Lesnar's mercenary angle and had Lesnar work Cena over so bad that he was half dead.  I would have had Lesnar DQed for failing to heed a ref's warning over and over and after multiple F5's, Seth Rollins walks out, cashes in the brief case and Lesnar stops Ambrose, and new champ is Rollins. 

Still, if putting the belt on Lesnar is good for business, fine.  You cannot go back to the well with Cena-Lesnar.  Since Lesnar has to defend at night of champions, he needs someone.  But again, Reigns is not the guy.  Reigns should feud now with Rollins.  He should be furious after what Rollins did Monday to Ambrose, and they should start fighting with a match at Night of Champions.  It makes good logical sense and is a nice progression for both men.  Orton could easily turn face with a feud against the Authority that is already been hinted.  Kane vs. Orton then makes sense too.  Since Wyatt won against Jericho, it makes since to have a third match, so Jericho vs. Lesnar is out.  There is really no one on the roster ready for Lesnar.  You might could do Orton vs. Lesnar, but I don't think people are going to be too excited about that match up.  Orton needs some serious rehabilitation before people care about him as a baby face, and he just lost his last feud. 

In a world where money was no object and neither was pride, the choice that would create buzz and probably some PPV buys would be Goldberg.  I am not a fan of Goldberg, but he did beat Lesnar in their last match.  If Lesnar sent out an open challenge to anyone man enough to face the Beast, and Goldberg walked out the place would probably erupt.  Lesnar has to win that match in my opinion, so I doubt Goldberg comes back for that, but maybe he would sign a contract for two PPV's if he was promised a win over HHH at the next one and a screw job lose to Lesnar at Night of Champs.  Maybe.   But this would be expensive and I don't think that is what WWE wants right now.

If they do the rematch, I don't see how Cena should win, but it is also hard to see the reason for doing it again unless Cena wins.    So, I guess the best option would be for Lesnar to not defend, but that defeats the purpose of Night of Champs.  Perhaps a returning Kurt Angle would draw interest.  Or Sting, but Sting should be protected for the Undertaker.  Perhaps now would be the time to get Bautista back on the phone.  No one on the roster right now makes good sense or good business.  Which does leave one the option of giving the NXT champ a title shot.  You would need other things to carry the show, but at least you could make a story out of NXT getting a title shot.  Or you could do the unthinkable and bring KENTA right to the top.  KENTA would generate buzz and might sell tickets.  KENTA would need to win that match.  There is no way WWE does that, but I would rather see WWE take a chance on KENTA than another rematch PPV.    

The 15 Greatest Feuds you Never Heard About

Here are a sampling of some great feuds that took place out of the main stream spotlight, but are really worth examining.  Here are the first five.

Jason Kincaid vs. Chase Owens

These two men feuded over the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship as well as the Smoky Mtn. Heavyweight Championship.  Owens lost the Junior Heavyweight belt in a title vs. title match, but regained it at NWA Invasion, where many people say the match stole the show.  Owens would lose the belt to Ricky Morton partly because of interference from Kincaid.  Kincaid beat Owens for the NWA SAW Title.  Kincaid won the Crockett Cup by pinning Owens, and the NWA Smoky Mtn. Title was on the line in that one.  However, Owens beat Kincaid in a ladder match for a NWA Junior Heavyweight Title shot, and Owens ended up reclaiming the belt.  And that is just a taste.  The feud is on-going.  One can hardly wait to see where it goes next.

 Freebirds vs. Junk Yard Dog

JYD was a hero in Mid South Wrestling, but the Freebirds made their name in that territory by beating the stuffing out of JYD.  In fact, they blinded JYD with hair cream and had a dog collar match with him while he was blind.  This was so good that they did it in multiple territories one of which had JYD unable to see his new born baby.  Got to love those Freebirds.

Al Snow and the Unabomb vs. The Rock-N-Roll Express

This Smoky Mountain Wrestling feud featured crowd favorites and helped start the career of the Unabomb who would go on to be Kane in the WWE.  Al Snow was magic in promos, and Rock-n-Roll were veterans in the ring.  No one could make the crowd angrier than Snow when he was just on the ring apron.  This feud includes the forbidden piledriver, single and tag team matches, championships, and a scaffold match.  Great stuff.

Chris Hero vs. Mike Quakenbush

This feud started off as the Super Friends Tag Team, and went two years before ending with the invention of the Chickara Special and Hero tapping out.  The feud went from tag team feud to personal feud to great finish.  All you could want.  Time off for an injury helped make it longer, but it still holds up.

Thugz vs. The Gangstas

Another SMW feud that was under the radar.  In fact, no belts were involved, but it was the most natural rivalry.  It went from a six man feud, to a four man feud to a two man feud.  It included some great Street fights (which sometimes literally went outside), and I think at least one stretcher match.  The Dirty White Boy and Tracy Smothers fought the Gangstas: New Jack, Mustafa, and D-Lo Brown and it was a great feud all the way around.  

The 15 Greatest Feuds you Never Heard Of part 2

Mr. Wrestling II vs. Magnum TA

These two former partners lost to the Midnight Express and during a title match, Mr. Wrestling II turned on Magnum igniting the feud.  The two brawled multiple times and the pay off match was the top draw for the show which pulled in 30,000 people.  

 Barry Horowtiz vs. Bodyadona Skip

Horowitz was a jobber and one that everyone remembered because of his patting himself on the back.  Yet, I can still hear Jim Ross yelling "Horowitz wins", and he won the rematch.  Skip would get revenge when his team beat Horowtiz's team in the 1995 Survivor Series.  Anytime you care about two low on the totem pole guys, the feud has to be good or at least feel good.

 Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine

This feud was intense as only Piper can do.  Valentine was a warrior and slugged it out in the ring, but Piper's promos helped make it great.  Then it ended with an epic dog collar match at the first Starcade.  It was brutal and bloody, and what a blow off match ought to be.

 Adam Pearce vs. Colt Cabana

Cabana is usually a comedy guy, but with Pearce the two could have believable matches.  They traded the NWA World Title several times and ended their feud with Seven Levels of Hate (Best of 7 matches with different stipulations).  Cabana won, but because of outside the ring politics neither walked away with the title.

 Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff

        Orndorff was another Bobby Hennan guy, but Orndorff was one who could actually hold his own in the ring and on the mic.  Orndorff was probably the best opponent Hogan actually did not duck (as he did Piper).  The two had some great matches that lacked a clear winner, and the feud was a huge money maker for the WWE.  Hogan kept the belt, but Orndorff proved he could draw money as a top heel.  Orndorff would have made a great champ, and this feud would have been even better if they had allowed Orndorff to walk away from one of these matches with the title, but that was not how Hogan did business, and that is why this is a feud no one has ever heard about.

WWE about to make some big mistakes

So it was not long ago that the Atlantic had an article about race in the WWE.  A good article except for the incredibly stupid line about expecting racism to be worse in southern wrestling.  Talk about stereotypes.  But at least he saw that the NWA has a list of African American champs going back decades.  It pointed out the lack of African American champs, explained why Samoans don't count in that list, and looked at the 12 african american "jobbers" in the company right now.

WWE seems to be running a new business model right now.  Read the internet and follow the buzz.  Well, the Atlantic article got buzz, was talked about on Cheap Heat podcast, and is now being acted upon.  R-Truth abruptly ended Bo Dallas's streak.  And Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E appear to be some sort of faction now.  While responding to the buzz sometimes gives us Daniel Bryan as champ, this time it is going to go badly.

And here is why.  Does anyone think Kofi, Big E, or Xavier is going to win the WWE Title?  Make no mistake about it, that is the main complaint in the article.  Stereotypes and lack of WWE champs.  The article is mostly a complaint that Booker T did not win when he should have so many years ago.  WWE ran the same story line that the NWA ran with Vader vs. Ron Simmons, but Ron Simmons won, ending the lack of diversity.  The WWE went a different direction and now deserve this criticism.  But without that WWE Title, this criticism is not going to end.  Unless the company wants to hand that title to Kofi or Big E, then this ends with someone like Cena defeating them.  How does that fix this perceived problem?  How does it help Cena to stop a group trying to end racism in the WWE?

This is not a quick fix for WWE.  They have spent years ruining good wrestlers like R-Truth and Kofi, and never had the patience to stay with so-so wrestlers like Big E.  They ran off Bobby Lashley (current TNA world champ), and chose to put over HHH rather than Booker T, which were to the two best African American wrestlers in WWE in recent memory.  Both would have made great WWE champs.  Getting someone whose WWE Title reign is going to be profitable and something other than a simple nod to ending the blight, but not fixing the problem.

The guys on Cheap Heat are excited about it.  But there is no way this ends well.  It either ends with Xavier Woods as your champ, or the attempt to end racism fails.  Neither proposition is really good.  Why not wait until TNA goes off the air and bring back Lashley or hire Jay Lethal and take the time to build him up.  Taking guys who have been mid card or lower and just making them WWE champ is not a good idea.

Booking 101: When the top guys are gone

I think independent wrestling is difficult to book.  It provides challenges you don’t have in the WWE.  Smoky Mtn. Wrestling run by Tony Givins just pulled off an amazing card overcoming the biggest problem in independent wrestling, traveling talent.

Smoky Mtn. was facing booking and promoting an event where their top stars were gone.  Jason Kincaid, the Heavyweight champ and top face was gone.  Chase Owens, the NWA World Junior Heavyweight champ and companies top heel, was touring Canada.  And then just to make matters worse Sigsmund, a second tier heel and one half of the Tag champs, was touring Europe.  So how do you build a show without your top heel, top face, no heavyweight champion or tag team champions? 

You can start with the easy stuff.  You have a secondary title and a tertiary title.  Both need to be on the line, but that really only gets you some opening act stuff.  That is not what you put on a poster.  Smoky Mtn. happens to be in the midst of an invasion angle, so that angle needs to move forward.  Yet, how do you really move it forward when the top face is missing?  Tony answered that with a four man tag event.  Apparently you take your second best face and team him with your top face tag team and another face from the company and let the guys go at it.  The outcome is a little predictable.  Your invading force cannot lose to a second tier face group without destroying the angle, but it does serve to continue the threat, it is something you can advertise, and gets an important match on the card.  However, since the outcome is predictable, it cannot be the main event. 

In the NWA then the answer is book the NWA World Heavyweight champion.  This match had a little bit of build up too as before Conway won the title, he lost to Chris Richards, a second level monster heel in SMW.  There is the main event.  It has a little build up, it is a major belt, and with Conway a man who can draw.  But there is more!  Givins also booked the NWA National Title in an open challenge format.  So now you can advertise the NWA World Champ, a proven draw, the National champ, an up and coming draw, and the big four man tag promoting the invasion story line.  There is your poster and with the two minor belts on the line the card is good. 

Givins fleshed it out even more with a battle royal to determine who would get a shot at one of the secondary titles.  People love battle royals.  And then he also added in Jax Dane, a traveling buddy of the NWA World Champ and former NWA World Tag Team champ, and put him in a match and set up future involvement with his help at the end in warding off the Invasion.  One thing is for sure, Smoky Mtn. put on a great show without its best local talent.  No easy task, but it was well done Saturday night.