In the 1990s, the WWF was built around steroids, er, rather large wrestlers. Quite often you would see Superstars like Hulk Hogan or the Ultimate Warrior in the main-event of every single WWF Program. Just as often as you would see the “Big Wrestlers†in the main-event, you would find the “Little Wrestlers†scrapping for TV Time. Now don’t get me wrong, it was definitely entertaining to watch Hulk Hogan cut a promo on Andre the Giant, but I wanted to see some fresh faces in the mix. I wanted a change of pace from the “Main-Event Regularsâ€Â. I got what I wanted, and it was the best thing that could have happened to wrestling EVER. That thing would just so happen to be Bret “The Hitman†Hart. When he won the WWF Title from Ric Flair in early 1992 (in a non-televised event), that ushered in a new era for WWF. Slowly but surely, we saw wrestlers like The Ultimate Warrior fade out the picture, and we saw stars like Shawn Michaels just starting to blossom. By 1994, the Bret Hart Era had begun.
Whenever Bret Hart wrestled a match on WWF TV, I remember always making sure I saw it. His style of wrestling was so different from what everyone else had been used to circa 1980-early 1990s wrestling. The style he wrestled wasn’t only technical, but Hart could also get down and dirty to fight hardcore. He was such a diverse wrestler, which was something we’ve never seen before. It’s sad to see what WWE Programming has resorted to now. They seem to spend a lot less of their air-time on concentrating on wrestling, and just emphasize the fact that they can make you laugh. I think they need to do the opposite. I think they need to do what they did what Bret Hart in 1994. What they need to do is bring in Bryan Danielson.
In a recent interview with Bret Hart on WWE.com, he stated that fans believed in him more than Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior.
“I think I was the most basic wrestler; I wasn’t the big guy, the most flamboyant and certainly not the most charismatic; but I was the most real. My wrestling was real, my personality was real and my interaction with the fans was real.”– Bret Hart in a recent interview with WWE.
After reading that quote, I knew what this week’s Opening Segment would be about. Looking back and thinking about what Bret Hart stated in that quote, I see a lot of the young Bret Hart in Bryan Danielson. Just like Hart back in the day, Danielson is no Roddy Piper on the microphone, and no Ultimate Warrior in the ring. With the talents and wrestling skills that Danielson has, you don’t need Ultimate Warrior charisma. He has the ability to wow the crowd and tell a story in every single match without Warrior Charisma. Much like John Cena has the ability to entertain us (and John Cena is a damn good Sport Entertainer, don’t get me wrong ) but with a lot more wrestling skill. Bryan Danielson has an ability to mix his style up depending on the match he is in. Danielson would leave behind his usual routine of suplexes and contorting submission holds whenever he faces Takeshi Morishima. Instead, his moveset consists of strikes, a couple slams and the Cattle Mutilation and I’ve never seen a better match live than their encounter at Manhattan Mayhem 2007.
I’m not saying that the WWE Product isn’t entertaining at all. Of course I like watching Triple H and Shawn Michaels make rooster jokes with Vince McMahon. But just like with Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in 1992, things need to be shaken up. WWE needs to revolutionize their product.
1) Chris Masters finally got fired from World Wrestling Entertainment.
NEWS
1) All new matches have been added to all of CHIKARA’s Season Finale coming up next weekend. Check them out, there are some big things going down.
2) CHIKARA’s first commercially released DVD is now available at your local FYE store. Over on the Amazon Website, it was ranked the #7 highest selling DVD in the Sports DVD section! That means that it outsold all of the TNA DVDs, and WWE’s recently released DVDs.
3) CHIKARA’s “Bruised†and “New Star Navigation†DVDs are available now at Smart Mark Video. Go and buy them now, you won’t be disappointed.
Upcoming CHIKARA Events
November 16, 2007 in Reading, PA: “Battle of Who Could Care Lessâ€Â.
1. MIYAWAKI vs. Ultramantis Black
2. Portia Perez vs. Sara Del Rey
3. Shane Storm vs. Chuck Taylor
4. Jigsaw and Los Ice Creams vs. Mitch Ryder, Robbie Ellis and Larry Sweeney
5. Claudio Castagnoli and Equinox vs. Chris Hero and Shayne Hawke
6. Helios © vs. Hydra for the Young Lions Cup Trophy
7. Delirious, Hallowicked and Tim Donst vs. Sabian, Joker and Eddie Kingston
(ADDED THIS WEEK)
8. Passion Hasegawa vs. Brodie Lee
9. Lince Dorado and Pantera vs. The Olsen Twins
10. Mike Quackenbush and The Colony vs. Team FIST and The Osirian Portal
November 17, 2007 in Helltertown, PA: “The Sordid Perils of Everyday Existenceâ€Â.
1. Lince Dorado and Pantera vs. The Osirian Portal
2. Chuck Taylor vs. Passion Hasegawa
3. Soldier Ant vs. Shayne Hawke
4. Gran Akuma, Icarus, Robbie Ellis and Mitch Ryder vs. Mike Quackenbush, Tim Donst, Stupefy and Player Uno
5. Chris Hero vs. Equinox
6. Incoherence © vs. Up In Smoke for the Campeanatos de Parejas.
(ADDED THIS WEEK)
7. Claudio Castagnoli vs. MIYAWAKI
November 18, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA: “Chapter 11â€Â.
1. Robbie Ellis vs. Hydra
2. Larry Sweeney vs. Bryan Alvarez (ICW-ICWA Tex Arcana TV Title Match)
3. The Colony vs. Shane Storm, Stupefy and Player Uno
4. Hallowicked vs. Eddie Kingston in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
5. Lince Dorado vs. Mitch Ryder in a Mask vs. Hair Match
(ADDED THIS WEEK)
6. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chris Hero
7. Cheech, Cloudy and Delirious vs. MIYAWAKI, Passion Hasegawa and Pantera
8. Mike Quackenbush, Helios and Jigsaw vs. Shayne Hawke and The Osirian Portal
9. Los Ice Creams and Tim Donst vs. Team FIST and Chuck Taylor
NEWS
1) If you pre-ordered PWG’s BOLA 2007, they start shipping November 17th. From what I’m told, it’s worth the wait.
2) The Human Tornado/??? Vs. Chris Hero/??? Match this weekend may mark the debut for Chuck Taylor. I haven’t heard any of this from anyone, but just assuming. With most of the normal PWG Talent being used for this show, there is a good chance Taylor is one of the mystery partners.
Upcoming PWG Events
November 11, 2007 in Burbank, CA: “High Cost of Doing Businessâ€Â.
1. Bryan Danielson © vs. Jack Evans for the PWG World Title
2. Super Dragon & Davey Richards © vs. Joey Ryan & Scott Lost for the PWG World Tag Team Titles
3. Human Tornado and ??? vs. Chris Hero and ???
4. El Generico vs. Roderick Strong
5. Scorpio Sky & The Young Bucks vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Rocky Romero & TJ Perkins
6. Ronin vs. Karl Anderson.
1) Full Impact Pro signed a main event for 11/9’s show. Claudio Castagnoli will go up against Roderick Strong in a 2/3 Falls match for the FIP Heavyweight Title.
2) National Wrestling Alliance signed a television deal with Dish Network. 12/26 will mark their premier episode on the “Colours†channel. More Wrestling on TV is always a good thing.
11/9: FIP in Crystal River
1. Roderick Strong © vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the FIP Heavyweight Title
2. Black Market vs. The Heartbreak Express
3. Jay & Mark Briscoe © vs. ??? for the FIP Tag Team Titles
4. Erick Stevens © vs. ??? for the Florida Heritage Title
5. Jack Evans vs. Davey Richards
11/10 : Combat Zone Wrestling “Night of Infamy” in Philadelphia, PA
1. Drake Younger and ??? (Replacement for JC Bailey) vs. Dustin Lee and Scotty Vortekz in a “4 Corners of Pain†Match
2. Ruckus vs. Any ECW Arena Champion
3. Brain Damage © vs. Necro Butcher for the Ultraviolent Underground Title
4. DJ Hyde © vs. Joker for the CZW Iron Man Title
5. Niles Young and Derek Fraizer © vs. Jon Dahmer and Danny Demanto for the CZW Tag Team Titles
(ADDED THIS WEEK)
6. Team AnDrew vs. Cheech and Brodie Lee
11/24: IWA Mid-South “Strong Style Revolution Tournament” in Midlothian, IL
1. Amazing Kong vs. Mickie Knuckles for the NWA World Women’s Title
12/1 – IWA-Deep South “Carnage Cup Tournament†Confirmed Tournament Participants: Drake Younger, Insane Lane, Danny Havoc, Sexxy Eddy, Tank, Ian Rotten, Freak Show, Viking, Whacks, Ultramantis Black. JC Bailey was originally supposed to partake in this tournament, but he got arrested and may not be able to make the show
12/7: IWA-MS Show
1. Ian Rotten vs. Mickie Knuckles in Ian Rotten’s Last Match
2. Mike Quackenbush vs. Eddie Kingston vs. Chris Hero vs. Chuck Taylor
1) CHIKARA Fans‘ is a spectacular website to go to for up to the minute updates on CHIKARA in their forums.
2) Or you could check out CHIKARA‘s official website. Keep track of live results, roster and their schedule. Brand new website format check it out.
3) Check out ITunes’ #1 Wrestling Podcast “Smart Wrestling Fan†here for live CHIKARA Results in podcast form, or for televised wrestling results. These guys are all that is wrestling. And video games!
4) Head over to Smart Mark Video to purchase the latest and hottest independent wrestling shows. Lots of good stuff came out this weekend. Support the Wrestling! Buy stuff!
5) If you want PWG DVDs, head over to the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Official Website by clicking here. They’re FANTASTIC!
Feel free to send me any news you have with indy updates or a lineup for your local indy wrestling promotion. Also, if you any questions you want to see answered in the opening segment, please send them to me. My e-mail is futureisyoung@yahoo.com, or you can send me an IM at OcopacabanaO.
