So Matt Hardy finally won the race with his brother Jeff to get fired from TNA. He was finally fired (after being on an indeterminate suspension from the promotions, reportedly for refusal to go to rehabilitation) when he was arrested for a DUI on Saturday afternoon after smashing his Corvette into a tree.
Sunset Flip Presents: The Order of Wrestling
By Jerrod Sullivan
When wrestling fans examine the landscape of wrestling, you’ll quickly understand WWE is the top wrestling company. You can look at other promotions, but the global reach of WWE is overwhelming and sometimes exhausting. Knowing WWE is the top promotion, you’ll become familiar with their superstars and how they develop through the years. Also, with superstar development, there are various storylines that help to evaluate a specific superstar or superstars. With that said, you will think they are be able to create new superstars, and stories that help make a wrestler get over or not. Granted, the wrestling fans have their say, but it’s also depends on how someone or something is presented to the audience. As one of those fans, I can say, the presentation of some stories and wrestlers have been not well received. On the other hand, the presentation a story and wrestler could be, but the ending could be underwhelming. Exactly, what stories and wrestlers are we talking about.
James Haase, better known as J.T. Lightning, who was an independent wrestler and promoter of Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling for several years, died on August 4 at age 41 after a long battle with cancer. Hasse ran Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling shows for some 17 years.
Sunset Flip Presents Did They Peak?
By Jerrod Sullivan
Has the C.M. Punk and John Cena feud reach their peak? After the promo heard around the world, the match dubbed a classic, and a semi-conclusion in Chicago, can this feud truly continue? I personally believed it had the potential, but that was quickly dismissed after the August 1, 2011 edition of Monday Night Raw. Before I question Raw, let us rewind to mid June.
The Undertaker: Dead Man Walking
Originally published on March 7, 2005
Written by Kirsty Quested
Author of The Best There Is, Was, and Ever Will Be, The King of Harts, and HBK Going the Distance
On November 23rd 1990, at Survivor Series, the collective intake of breath was audible throughout the arena, throughout living rooms across the world. Chills ran down spines as the gong sounded, followed by the mournful but sinister sound of the funeral dirge. Out of the shadows came a fearful presence – huge, brooding, and implacable. As the behemoth took his first measured steps towards the ring, fans worldwide caught a glimpse of the deathly pale face, the dark eyes shadowed by the brim of his hat. This was no colorful cartoon-like gimmick. As he reached the ring, the world was introduced to a man who would leave his indelible imprint on the world of professional wrestling in ways no other performer has, or ever will. The man from the dark side – The Undertaker.
Manager’s Corner: “Classy” Freddie Blassie
Originally published on September 16, 2003
Written by Kenneth Coker
He was a man who kept giving. He was a man despised by many fans in the United States and overseas for his “Classy” Freddie Blassie character. Yet, when the curtain went down, Freddie Blassie, real name, Fred Blassman, was one of the most charitable men to ever step into a wrestling arena.
Freddie Blassie began his wrestling career at the ripe age of 17. Blassie, the son of blue collar working class parents, worked two jobs at this point in his life, serving as a butcher, while feeding his wrestling obsession during the evening.
During World War II, Blassie made the ultimate sacrifice, and gave of himself. Putting his life on the line, as part of what Tom Brokaw has called “The Greatest Generation” during that conflict.
The Short Bus: Second Chance
By Jerrod Sullivan
What happens to someone when that individual commits a work violation? A couple of results, they are warned about the issue or the individual involved is dismissed from their duties. If the individual is warned about the issue, they have the opportunity to resolve the problem. Other the hand, if their dismissed, the employer may be losing a valued employee. Also, remember the employer choice is determined by the degree of issues that brought on the violation.
My First Student of Professional Wrestling
By Dory Funk Jr.
Jumbo Tsuruta is the only wrestler ever outside the family to master the spinning toe hold, and is the only one who can throw the same fore arm smash every bit as hard as I do. His moves were so perfect that we did a special slow motion production of his three best suplexes, belly to belly, German suplex, and double arm suplex to use as an open for the television show in the Amarillo Territory.
Jumbo Tsuruta was sent to Amarillo by All Japan Pro-Wrestling President Giant Baba to train for professional wrestling. Jumbo was my first student. Even though his time in Amarillo was short, Tsuruta made many friends who never forgot his kindness.. He learned everything by just doing it. He told me his English was not so good and he really didn’t want to do interviews. I told him, you must do interviews, you are going to be interviewed and the announcer is going to ask you about your opponent, “You must say something.”
Dear TNA Wrestling
Back in 2004, I witnessed one of your Wednesday night pay-per-view promo after a pay-per-view. While watching the promo, I saw several familiar faces from Sting, Jeff Jarrett, and numerous others. Curious about the event, I pleaded with my parents, so I may order the next pay-per-view. April 28, 2004, I saw a decent show with some interesting established characters, and a strong direction for the talent. Once upon time ago, I didn’t have a capable understand of wrestling terminology, but I knew what I liked. After that pay-per-view, I ordered every TNA Wednesday pay-per-view. It was costly ordering those events, but $10 a pay-per-view wasn’t a erroneous deal. In the next few months, the direction of the company changed from the world title, to the X-division title. The X-division was young, gifted, and had highlight worthy talent.
The Top 20 Heels of All-Time
Originally published on April 15, 2004
Written by Darby Gatorade
In my humble opinion, heels are the hardest workers of all in wrestling. Any shmuck can go out as a babyface and get cheered, but in order to get the crowd to REALLY hate you, and have them wishing that the babyface shmuck would tear your head off, you have to understand the ins-and-outs of wrestling and the psychology from start to end. I’m just a fan, but I recognise that it’s not as easy as it looks. The reaction a heel gets is often refered to as “heat” and in many cases, you either have it — or you don’t have it. These are some of the wrestlers and factions that exemplify that definition.
