AS I SEE IT – Another Failed Campaign
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
http://pwbts.com

Well, $100 million later. Two election campaigns. After all that, Linda McMahon is still not the United States Senator from Connecticut.

Republican nominee Linda McMahon was beaten handily by Democrat Chris Murphy in this past Tuesday Connecticut Senate election, which helped the Democratic Party maintain its majority in the US Senate, as President Barack Obama was reelected in one of the most expensive, dirty, vicious elections in United States history.

What, if any, changes will the election FINALLY being over bring to WWE’s product? Will Vince and Stephanie McMahon finally loosen up on “PG-rated” wrestling. They have always claimed that the changes in the product were due to the wishes of advertisers…a claim believed by very few wrestling fans; who have seen it as an attempt to not give Democrats and critics in general any ammunition to throw at Linda McMahon. But there were years upon years of ammunition to throw…the entire Attitude Era, and the far more adult (and many of us would argue, more entertaining) product.

Here’s the thing. If Linda McMahon was going to use her experience running WWE to substantiate a campaign based on business expertise, then she had to deal with the flak that would come in with it. I have never understood why she didn’t take that issue on the FIRST campaign she ran; saying that her company ran a dramatic depiction of an entertainment based professional wrestling product. It was successful. Elements of it were controversial…yet it attracted eyeballs to its television, asses into seats, and dollars into WWE’s bank accounts. She could have easily said “If it’s not your cup of tea, don’t watch it, but it made money and that’s what I’m running on”. Instead McMahon spent more time trying to have it both ways, deflecting attention from the Attitude Era product, sending WWE lawyers after media sources and Democratic Party politicians who used controversial footage claiming copyright infringement…drawing even more attention to the footage.

Whatever you think of her, I’d be curious what readers think will happen in the coming year to WWE’s product as a result of her two failed campaigns.

November is nearly halfway through…and the Holiday season is only days away.

In keeping with the actual spirit of the season, the wrestling community will reach out to those in need. Independent promotions hold a wide variety of events to benefit various food pantries, shelters, Toys for Tots drives. Over the years, promotions ranging from the family-friendly United Wrestling Coalition to the hardcore themed Combat Zone Wrestling to indies of various sizes and types trough the United States and Canada. Even if you don’t have one in your own area this Holiday season, please take time to contribute to or volunteer with such organizations.

River City Wrestling is also supporting  the San Antonio Food Bank at their November 10 “Return to Glory 5” event. The San Antonio Food bank has a goal of raising one million pounds of food for needy families for the holidays and everyone is encouraged to bring non-perishable items to the show. RCW will also donate a portion of the show’s proceeds to SA Food Bank.

Pure Wrestling Association/Ontario presents: “Spirit of the Season” on December 7th, at the Alpine Club, 464 Maple Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario. Doors Open at 7:00pm/Bell Time at 7:30pm
Tickets are $15.00 in Advance $10 in Advance for Youths and can be purchased at Combinations Sports – 306 King St W in Kitchener or by calling 519-998-8799. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event for an extra $5
ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE TREE OF ANGELS!! HELPING KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY
PURE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
TURCAN CELIK VS. JOEY ALLEN -c- W/ LENNY LILAC
ELITE WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP
GABRIELLA VANDERPOOL VS. JEWELLS MALONE -c-
TAGTEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
SCREAMING EGOS VS. THRILLBILLIES-c-
ONTARIO CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHNNY WAVE VS. ANTHONY FIASCO-c-
PURE VIOLENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
HARDKORE HICK VS. BUCK GUNDERSON-c-
JIMMY KING VS. SGT. DICKSON
REGGIE MARLEY VS. REX ATKINS
DEREK PLATINUM VS. JUAN ORTIZ

ECWA will be holding a Toys for Tots event at its December 1 show in Newark, DE.

ECWA UNIFIED HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
“Heart Killer” Chris Wylde (c) vs. Josh Daniels w/ Joel Blackheart

ECWA MID-ATLANTIC TITLE MATCH
Mr. Ooh La La w/ Coach Jim Shorts (c) vs. Ricky “the Model” Martinez w/ Magnum & Gus Grand

RETURN GRUDGE MATCH
“Greek God” Papadon w/ Anthony Cicco vs. Tony Mamaluke
ECWA MID-ATLANTIC TITLE REMATCH
Mr. Ooh La La w/ Coach Jim Shorts (c) vs. Ricky “the Model” Martinez w/ Magnum & Gus Grand
PLUS…
ECWA UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS The Dream Team (Aden Chambers & Kekoa the Flyin’ Hawaiian)

The BOSS’S CHAIR with Mike Tartaglia and all the stars of the ECWA!

Combat Zone Wrestling, for the eighth consecutive year, will be holding a Toys for Tots collection at Cage of Death 14 on December 8. The Cage of Death event, CZW’s annual mega-show will again be part of a “deadly doubleheader”, this year with EVOLVE hosting the matinee show…all taking place at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. The Flyers Skate Zone also takes part in the annual Toys for Tots effort sponsored by Comcast.

Illnois’s AAW Pro Wrestling partners with US Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program for Windy City Classic VIII on November 24 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL.  Fans purchasing General Admission will receive $3 off at the door on November 24 with approved donation to Toys for Toys.

Chicago Style Wrestling holds its annual Toys for Tots show on November 23 in Addison, IL at the Pyramid Club.

Des Moines’s 3Xwrestling collects Toys for Tots donations as part of their annual November event in Des Moines on Black Friday, November 23 (the day after Thanksgiving).

Chaotic Wrestling will do a show benefitting Toys for Tots on Fan Appreciation night, which takes place December 14th in Lowell, MA.

California’s Apex Pro Wrestling has announced “Tag for Toys” show schedule for December 8th. Admission is a new/unwrapped toy (valued $10) to be donated to Toys for Tots. Show is highlighted with a Tag Team tournament to crown new Apex Pro Tag champs
Competitors to be named soon.

Incidentally, Toys for Tots collections have already begin in other parts of the United States. If you need information on the charity, go to Toys for Tots.com

Additionally, Brew City Wrestling will hold another event on December 9, when they return to their home base of Knights of Columbus, West Allis, WI with a benefit for Food for Families of Greater Milwaukee

As a reminder promotions (or their fans) can send information on scheduled Holiday charitable-themed (fund-raisers for clothes, food pantries or Toys for Toys, etc.) wrestling or MMA events to bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

Until next time….

— Bob Magee