In 1997, the world was introduced to Chyna. She was the woman accompanying Triple H to the ring on his rise to the top. Most people know Triple H's story of being sent to the bottom after the 1996 Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call." In 1997, Triple H won the King of the Ring and had one of the most underrated feuds during that time with Mick Foley. Chyna proved in this feud she didn't care how scary, big or intimidating the opponent she would interject herself if necessary. She was by Triple H's side when he won the Intercontinental Championship in 1998 and his first WWE Championship in 1999. Chyna was no stranger to the championships. She was the Women's Champion, the first female Intercontinental Champion and first female entrance into the Royal Rumble. She had many highlights and history making moments on the camera but behind the scenes was a different story.
Chyna was let go from WWE in 2001 with the major reasoning being the personal issues of Chyna's former boyfriend Triple H dating Stephanie McMahon. Chyna has always maintained that this was the reason for her release. After her brief run in New Japan in 2002 things got worse for Laurer in life. She was starting to get involved with pornography, drugs and alcohol. She appeared n Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew where her life demons came to life. I remember watching an interview she had with Vince Russo awhile back and she seemed like she was at peace and wanted to bury the hatchet with WWE. She attempted many times with the most recent time being at Roddy Piper's funeral last year.
On April 20th, 2016 Joanie Laurer was found dead in her apartment. A lot of tributes were posted from many the in the wrestling wold including The Rock, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Vince Russo, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Rob Van Dam, Hulk Hogan and many others. There were two people tweeted out that I found very inappropriate. I really feel that Stephanie McMahon and Triple H shouldn't have said anything because it was their relationship that destroyed Chyna personally and professionally. I know Triple H and Stephanie are good people but they never once reached out to her, never once tried to mend the fences, and they never offered to make things right with her. I also find it very hypocritical that the WWE let Sean Waltman(X-Pac) back into the company when they said they didn't want people googling Chyna and seeing all the porno she did. Last I check Sean Waltman did porno with her so how is that any different?
I also find it distasteful that the WWE decides all of a sudden to highlight Chyna's greatest moments in WWE when in the last 15 years they barely even mentioned her. I truly believe if someone in WWE or the McMahon family would have reached out to Chyna I think things would have been much different for her. It's a very sad ending to what should have been a remarkable life in career. My thoughts and prayers go out to Joanie Laurer's family and friends. Her achievements and her in-ring presence will never be forgotten.
On April 9th, João Carvalho fought against Charlie Ward as part of Total Extreme Fighting in Dublin, Ireland. He suffered a 3rd round loss by T.K.O. but unfortunately he lost much more then that. After the fight he was rushed to the hospital for surgery due to major brain injuries. Sadly he passed away two days later. A little over a week later Conor McGregor announces that he's retiring on Twitter. This tweet left Dana White with no decision but to pull McGregor from UFC 200. A lot of people are saying that McGregor's decision to not fight is over money, marketing, and other various disagreements with UFC President Dana White. I think some of that could be true but McGregor was in Charlie Ward's corner during that fight. He witnessed the beating that Carvalho took in person. It horrified him, it scarred him and it probably made him question his own life and his own future.
If McGregor has seriously retired permanently then can you honestly blame him? I wouldn't if I saw something that horrific. Another question that has to be asked is could this have been prevented? I ask this question with utmost respect towards the people involved in the tragedy but was their a full fledged physical before the fight? Is it possible that Carvalho had previous health issues that no one was aware about? It worries me that a lot of these MMA promotions aren't looking out for their fighters and not making them go through physicals like the UFC does. Look at Bellator and what happen at Bellator 149 in February 2016. They allowed Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 to fight each other Dada 5000 almost died because of heart failure. I hate to burst everyone's bubble but you just don't get heart failure from just one fight. If Bellator would have done complete physicals on both fighters they would have clearly seen that Dada 5000 was is in no shape to fight in a 3 round mixed martial arts. I remember watching this fight thinking that I hope MMA promotions would step up and take care of their fighters like every other sport,
I've seen unforeseeable tragedy in just about every sport. I watched Dale Earnhardt die doing what he loved, Hank Gathers at the peak of his College career, and Owen Hart trying to entertain the fans. Just like Carvalho they all could have been prevented. The difference is that all of these sports have made progress in safety, and protecting their athletes. The very sad part about this situation is both Charlie Ward and João Carvalho were both are very young into the careers. Ward had four fight prior to this event and Carvalho had five. I am sure both men had incredible careers ahead of them. Unfortunately for the Carvalho family they have suffered a tremendous loss. For Charlie Ward it doesn't matter where is career takes him this will haunt him for the rest of his life even though it wasn't his fault. I hope in the future that all MMA promotions will require their fighters to undergo a physical before they get into cage and fight.
Here is the Kimbo Slice-Dada 5000 fight I was using as an example of. You tell me if they should have been fighting in the cage.
It has been two weeks since the biggest show of the year and there was a lot of mixed emotions about how Wrestlemania went down. I agree that there was some questionable moments but overall I think it was a great show for what they had. Even though Wrestlemania let some fans down I find it really hard to complain about the last two weeks worth of TV. It started the night of Wrestlemania in terms of main roster debuts. I think it was a brilliant move to have Baron Corbin win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal because no one saw it coming. Since then he started feud with Dolph Ziggler and beat up on Zack Ryder. Not a bad way to start for your first two week on the main roster.
The night after Wrestlemania we saw the debuts of Apollo Crews and the team Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Apollo is one special athlete and really can do it all. He has the power, the speed and more importantly the look. As far as Enzo and Cass go, the sky is the limit for them. They are the most entertaining duo in the company right now and have a ton of charisma. Speaking of tag teams I really do enjoy the number one contenders tournament for tag team titles. It shows the depth and talent of the tag team division. The the other two tag teams that have made their way to the main roster are the The Vaudevillians and team of Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson. Rumors have been running for weeks on when the members of New Japans "Bullet Club" would make their way to the WWE. Well they are and I will be curious to see what kind of impact that they will have.
There were to big surprises to me on Monday Night Raw the night after Wrestlemania. The return of Cesaro and the fact that AJ Styles is now the number one contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Anyone that knows me personally knows that I am a huge Cesaro fan and hopefully his return is a sign that his time has finally come to do great things in the company. As far as Styles is concerned, that threw me way off. Even though Shane McMahon is just a character I really do think he represent a potential change of direction in the company. Look at some of the matches we have seen in recent weeks. We have seen Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn vs. AJ Styles, Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho, Cesaro/AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens/Chris Jericho, and Charlotte vs. Natalya.
A friend once told me that he thought this is the most talented roster that the WWE has ever had. I replied with the statement that they are the most talented but the worst booked. Maybe the times are changing in the WWE. Sometimes it takes time, take ratings being bad and it takes fans responding the right way. I believe complaining about on the internet and stuff doesn't do a darn thing. Either buy a ticket and cheer for who you want pushed, and boo who don't want to be pushed. If you don't like the product don't watch it and don't spend money on it. Money and ratings talk and that's the best way to make change happen. I believe that these last two weeks have been positive for WWE and hope they continue to put the right guys in the spotlight. WWE Payback is May 1st and I hope this wave of quality matches, good stories and fun surprises continues. I think Payback will really show the fans what the direction of WWE really is.
When I I think or hear of Josh Burgess I think of a devout Christian, a brother in Christ and from the brief conversations I had with him a genuine nice guy. Josh trained under UFC Hall of Famer Dan "the beast" Severn and began wrestling regularly at Price of Glory. I first met Josh in 2006 when he debuted in Price of Glory Wrestling as Christian Abel. As Christin Able he proved to be a formidable opponent that tons of talent and charisma. On February 10, 2008 Christin Able captured the POG Heavyweight Championship from Josh Raymond. He went on to defend the title against the likes of Eddie Venom, Bryan Skyline, Money Mike, and BAM. I was in attendance for his title defense against BAM and it was a beautiful match between the two. It was the main event of a card I will never forget. He also captured the 2007 Glory Cup by defeating Johnny Dynamo.
The last time I saw Christian was a few years back when I was doing commentary for Championship Wrestling of Michigan. He was becoming a well known worker in the Midwest wrestling for AAW, IWA-Midsouth and at one point Ring of Honor. These are just a few out of many wrestling promotions he worked for. He captured the AAW Tag Team championships on two occasions with his good friend Josh Raymond. Christian got to work with some pretty great people during his time in the ring Some of those names include The Young Bucks, Truth Martini, Davey Richards, Roderick Strong, Austin Aries, All Night Xpress, The Briscoes, Mike Bennett, Tyler Black(Seth Rollins), Jimmy Jacobs, Colt Cabana, Sami Callihan(Solomon Crowe), Kevin Steen, El Generico(Sami Zayn), and Christopher Daniels. With all of those great names most people would have an ego, but he thanked God for all of those opportunities. He gave it all to God and was not ashamed to use his following to praise God when the occasion presented itself. Abel made his presence known in the ring. Whether or not if he was a singles competitor, team with Caden Ames as Absolute Answer, teaming with Josh Raymond or being apart of House of Truth he brought his best every single night. Christian Abel is a brother in Christ but I alone cannot do his memory justice. Josh Burgess went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 14, 2016. He will be missed by his family, friends and those who shared a ring with him. Here are the thoughts and memories of those who worked with him and shared a locker-room with him.
BAM: "Josh was always pleasant and humble. I always enjoyed sharing a locker room with him."
Mark Pennington: "It's hard to sum up in words what a tremendous impact he made on people when they interacted with him. Always positive, always fun, always professional."
Fabuzio: "I'm really saddened to hear about this loss. I remember him always being funny and having a lot of charisma even in the locker-room with everyone he was just a real cool dude sad to hear." Nate Mattson: "Christian Abel was a friend to many in the Michigan wrestling scene, and he will be missed dearly. I had the pleasure of working with him only on a few occasions, but I noticed how quickly he picked things up and adapted to any situation. Josh was funny, outgoing, kind and respectful to everyone in the business. We had conversations about God, and I remember at one point he had considered going into youth ministry full-time. By our talks I'm confident that he is with the Lord. I pray for those closest to him that they will be comforted at this time. Abel definitely left his mark here on Earth."
Noah Lott: "R.I.P Christian Able. Josh was a great wrestler and friend. You will be truly missed. I keep reading everyone's stories about you and how you were. I remember countless shows we were on together, and jokes that were played. All the boys lost someone who meant a lot to them. I know you were very close to God and now you are with him. Miss ya brother...."
Leonard Brand: "My friend Christian Abel or Josh to most of us is gone now and as I sit here with tears in my eyes I am truly at a loss for words. Josh wasn't just any wrestler. He was someone I truly thought would make it big in the business until back injuries held him back. Josh was always good to me regardless how busy he was. Josh always had time for photos and always seemed to be genuinely pleased to see me. I saw him cut a promo one time up in Kalkaska that gave me chills that was intertwined with the wrestling part of it but also with some Christian believe in it too. It was a surreal moment and I realized this guy is going to be a star one day. A few years ago I would hang out with the Raymond family and take family photos with them. One particular time Josh showed up and it was like old times. This just happened to be the day I had the deal with the woman beater at the rest stop on 131 and when Josh heard the story from Josh Raymond he was so happy I had defended this woman's honor. That is the Josh I will always remember. A truly good guy who I liked very much and was more than just another Michigan wrestler. Josh cared about his friends and I feel a incredible loss this afternoon. I last saw Josh last summer at the HPW show in Paw Paw and to sit and talk with Josh before and after the show was just like old times. He had been away from the ring for a while but he was so happy to be in the ring again. I will remember when Josh and Caden Ames would hang out at World One in Bay City helping with ring set up and anything else that needed to be done and they were not even booked on the card and had drove all the way across the state to hope to get a spot. I was so proud when Josh and Josh Raymond starting working for ROH. So many good memories where do I stop? I don't know what to think or how to even process this? I know my heart goes out to the Burgess family and the Raymond family and so many others. I am mad. I am hurt. I am sad. I am crushed. I don't know what else to say but Josh thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for being my friend and a class act. I love you bro..."
Truth Martini: "He will always have a special place in my heart because Christian Abel and Josh Raymond were the first tag team I managed in Ring of Honor. I knew him on a personal level and on a professional level. Christian Abel was the guy that brightens up your day. I'm going to miss him."
Christian Abel with Roderick Strong, Truth Martini and Josh Raymond as the House of Truth in Ring of Honor Wrestling
Christian Abel and Caden Ames as Absolute Truth we once EWF Tag Team Champions
Pictured Left to Right: Jack Thriller, Louis Lyndon, Johnny Dynamo, Josh Raymond, Christin Abel, CJ Otis, Jimmy Jacobs, Jack Verville
The Golden State Warriors have had an incredible 2015-16 season and made a lot of history. It's history and records that we will not see for a very long time. As cool as it is to see history and records broken I am absolutely sick to death of comparisons. Many people are saying that 2015-16 Golden State Warriors are better then the 1995-96 Bulls. The game is played a lot differently now then it was 20 years ago and there also a lot more star power in the league. I've said it time and time again that there is no competition in the NBA anymore. It's three or four teams that dominate everything and the rest struggle all year long. To prove what I've been saying about competition, star power and how the game was played here are the starting five of every team in the 1995-96 season. By the time you're doing reading this you will be shocked just how loaded a lot of teams were. Here are the lineups for each team:
Atlanta Hawks
Mookie Blaylock
Steve Smith
Stacey Augmon
Grant Long
Christian Laettner
Boston Celtics
David Wesley
Greg Minor
Rick Fox
Dino Radja
Eric Montross
Charlotte Hornets
Dell Curry
Larry Johnson
Glen Rice
Robert Parrish
Matt Geiger
Chicago Bulls
Ron Harper
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Luc Longley
Cleveland Cavaliers
Terrell Brandon
Bobby Phills
Chris Mills
Danny Ferry
Michael Cage
Dallas Mavericks
Jason Kidd
Jim Jackson
George McCloud
Popeye Jones
Lorenzo Wright
Denver Nuggets
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Bryan Stith
Dale Ellis
Antonio McDyess
Dikembe Mutombo
Detroit Pistons
Joe Dumars
Allan Houston
Grant Hill
Otis Thorpe
Mark West
Golden State Warriors
B.J. Armstrong
Latrell Sprewell
Jerome Kersey
Joe Smith
Ron Seikaly
Houston Rockets
Kenny Smith
Clyde Drexler
Chucky Brown
Robert Horry
Hakeem Olajuwon
Indiana Pacers
Mark Jackson
Reggie Miller
Derrick Mckey
Dale Davis
Rik Smits
Los Angeles Clippers
Pooh Richardson
Malik Sealy
Rodney Rogers
Loy Vaught
Bison Dele
Los Angeles Lakers
Nick Van Exel
Eddie Jones
Cedric Ceballos
Elden Campbell
Vlade Divac
Miami Heat
Tim Hardaway
Rex Chapman
Walt Williams
Kurt Thomas
Alonzo Mourning
Milwaukee Bucks
Lee Mayberry
Johnny Newman
Glenn Robinson
Vin Baker
Terry Cummings
Minnesota Timberwolves
Terry Porter
J.R. Rider
Sam Mitchell
Tom Gugliotta
Kevin Garnett
New Jersey Nets
Chris Childs
Kevin Edwards
Armen Gilliam
P.J. Brown
Ed O'Bannon
New York Knicks
Derek Harper
John Starks
Anthony Mason
Charles Oakley
Patrick Ewing
Orlando Magic
Penny Hardaway
Nick Anderson
Dennis Scott
Horace Grant
Shaquille O'Neal
Philadelphia 76ers
Trevor Ruffin
Vernon Maxwell
Jerry Stackhouse
Clarence Witherspoon
Derrick Alston
Phoenix Suns
Kevin Johnson
Wesley Person
Charles Barkley
A.C. Green
Hot Rod Willliams
Portland Trailblazers
Rod Strickland
Aaron Mckie
Harvey Grant
Cliff Robinson
Arvydas Sabonis
Sacramento Kings
Tyus Edney
Mitch Richmond
Billy Owens
Brian Grant
Olden Polynice
San Antonio Spurs
Avery Johnson
Vinny Del Negro
Sean Elliott
Charles Smith
David Robinson
Seattle SuperSonics
Gary Payton
Hersey Hawkins
Detlef Schrempf
Shawn Kemp
Ervin Johnson
Toronto Raptors
Damon Stoudamire
Alvin Robertson
Tracey Murray
Oliver Miller
Zan Tabak
Utah Jazz
John Stockton
Jeff Hornacek
Chris Morris
Karl Malone
Felton Spencer
Vancouver Grizzlies
Greg Anthony
Blue Edwards
Andrew Amaya
Chris King
Bryant Reeves
Washington Bullets
Robert Pack
Tim Legler
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
George Muresan
As you can see there was a lot of talent back then and every team had atleast one quality player. You anywhere from 6-10 teams that were absolutely loaded. There were many different websites that I went through to locate everyone but the best one that puts it into perspective is http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/depth-charts/1996 You put the Warriors up against the 10 best teams of 1995-96 they would get beat nine times out of ten. What really bothers me is that Steve Kerr is the Head Coach of the Golden State Warrior and has remained silent about the comparisons. He should know out of anyone that there shouldn't be any comparisons because was on that 95-96 Chicago Bulls team.
I applaud the Warriors and what they have done but enough with the comparisons. You can't compare today what happened twenty years ago but if people want to I will support it with how deep the league was compared to how it is now. Golden State is in the record books no matter what but I will always remember the Chicago Bulls for how great they were during a time when the NBA had a lot of star power and talent.
At Wrestlemania 32, the WWE did away with the WWE Diva's Title and replaced with the new WWE Women's Championship. For many years in the WWE the female matches were second rate matches used as bathroom breaks during the shows. I also remember when they were used as the match before the main event of pay-per-views to get the crowd to calm down before the last match. Over the last two years women like Paige, Emma, Becky Lynch, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Bayley have revolutionized women's wrestling and has gotten it noticed. I also have to put Natalya Neidhardt in that category as well. She was a great women's wrestler before great women's wrestling started showing itself again. When I first saw this championship belt I immediately thought to myself that looks amazing. That looks like the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The WWE made the Women's Belt look equal to the Men's Belt.
There are so many cases of women not getting the recognition that the men do. I feel like the WNBA doesn't get the attention the NBA does. The LPGA doesn't have get the coverage that the PGA does. How often do you see Women's baseball, hockey or football on national television? You don't but they all exist and the athletes who compete in them are just as athletic as the men are. In the UFC, all the belts in all the weight-classes are the same whether it be male or female. The only issue I have with the UFC is that they pay the men more then they do the women. That sad part is the women's fights are better then the men's fights most of the time. I believe that since it''s all the same company then the pay should equal.
My hope with this new Women's Title is that the pay, the royalties and the spotlight becomes as equal as the men. The women of WWE have put on some incredible matches within the last couple of years. There have been times during the NXT specials that the Women's match has been better the men's matches. I think Wrestlemania 32 showed that as well. Many people believe that the women's match was the match of the night on the grandest stage of them all. With the new championship belt and some of them women coming up the ranks I am excited for the future of women's wrestling. Women's wrestling is back and it's truly here to stay. A famous man once said, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Well be careful for what you wish for because the fury of women's wrestling is now upon us.
Before I begin writing I want to clarify that I am in no way, shape or form a racist. My opinions are based off what I observed growing up and what I watched during this TV series. Typically I do not write about TV shows outside of sports and wrestling but considering it's about one of the greatest football players I felt compelled. I was just a kid when the OJ trial was going on but wasn't old enough to understand what was going on. Later on I knew of the major players like Marcia Clark, Johnny Cochran, Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashian. All of them became famous after this trial. I said going into this show that the show was either going to make him look guilty or completely innocent. Honestly the show didn't make me change my mind about how what I think and how I feel. It's because of the cast and how well they did their roles is what made me really feel the way I do now. Everyone on the show did a marvelous job and should be applauded on their work.
If you were to ask me the question if I think OJ Simpson is guilty or innocent I would without a doubt tell you I think he's guilty. There was too much evidence proving his guilt. I understand that there was a racist police officer involved but I don't think that one man could plant that much evidence against someone to set the up. OJ seems like a down to earth, soft spoken and polite man from what was presented on the TV show. Is it possible that OJ had some sort of mental disorder from playing football or something that relates to it? I have to wonder because he was reported eight times as having abused Nicole during their marriage. Then lets fast forward to 2007 in Las Vegas. He was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping. It was then that my mind was really made up about what he did in 1994. If the man was willing to kill someone for his merchandise then what would keep him from killing his ex-wife and her lover? I was a huge of fan of OJ's movies appearances and learning about what he did on the football field. OJ was a larger then life athlete before this trial and I don't think anyone during that time will ever forget him or the trial.
The aftermath left the Goldman's and Brown's with broken hearts and no other answers. They were awarded 33.5 million dollars in the civil suit but only received a half a million dollars. To this day there was no further investigation into the murders. Since then Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003, and Johnnie Cochran passed away in 2005. Both men became very well known and ultimately were celebrities. Marcia Clark, Robert Shapiro, and Mark Furhman are still alive. Their lives were brought to light in this show and I am sure they will be remembered now more then ever. I truly enjoyed watching this series and it really made me interested our legal system, civil rights, and crime scene investigation. If you did not watch this show then I would highly suggest you do watch it. It's very intense, emotional, and passionate. I can honestly say that this show captured and captivated my attention and it's going to be a long time before I get into a show like this. Please share your thoughts on whether you think OJ is innocent or guilty and if this show made you feel differently.
Tonight was the 32nd annual running of the biggest sports entertainment show of the year. For 32 years WWE has held Wrestlemania and tonight history was made. A Wrestlemania attendance record was set and there was over 101,000 people in attendance. That's just one part of history that was made tonight. A lot of fans said this was the worst card and worst built up Wrestlemania in history. Those people couldn't be more wrong. There are so many great things that happened this week like NXT TakeOver Dallas, the Hall of Fame and all the media coverage that WWE has gotten this week. It was all capped off by this wonderful night that I will never forget. Before I begin to dive in here are the results of Wrestlemania 32:
-Preshow: Kalisto defeated Ryback to retain the WWE United States Championship
-Preshow: Team Total Divas defeated Team B.A.D. and BLONDE
-Preshow: The Uso's defeated The Dudley Boyz
-Zack Ryder wins the 7 man Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship.
-Chris Jericho defeated AJ Styles -The League of Nations defeated The New Day
-Brock Lesnar defeated Dean Ambrose
-Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch to retain the WWE Women's Title
-The Undertaker defeated Shane McMahon inside the Hell in a Cell
-Baron Corbin won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
-The Rock defeated Erick Rowan
-Roman Reigns defeated Triple H to win the WWE World Heavyweight Title
The intro to Wrestlemania was pretty sweet. I got goosebumps watching the intro and so was the opening match for the Intercontinental Championship. I am so happy for Zack Ryder and for him to finally get his moment is amazing. All seven men put on one hell of a show and I certainly loved the tribute to Dusty Rhodes from Stardust. I think this really showed that all seven men can go and that all of them deserve to be in the spotlight at any given time. Speaking of stars that can go I am also very happy that AJ Styles has finally made it to Wrestlemania. Even though Styles lost and people will complain about it until they are blue in the face he really shined on the grandest stage of them all.
Speaking of shining on the grandest stage I believe the New Day shined with that intriguing entrance that they had. I was really digging the White Ranger look but I also was glad to see all four members of the League of the Nations get a spot on Wrestlemania. The League of Nations got their ultimate Wrestlemania moment when Stone Cold, Shawn Michaels and Cactus came out to the confront them and hit their finishers on them. This will be a Wrestlemania moment that will be talked about for a very long time and it should be. Guys like Shawn Michaels, Cactus Jack and Stone Cold were as tough as they come and they deserved that moment. When it comes to toughness these days I have to say that Dean Ambrose is the toughest guy in the lockerroom these days. Dean Ambrose is tough but his toughness was not shown in his match against Brock Lesnar. This was the most disappointing match of the night.
I really love the fact that the new WWE Women's Title looks like the WWE World Heavyweight Title. It shows that they are as equal as the men are and at this point they are. All three divas are incredibly gifted. These three had a match that stole the show and proved why they should be highlighted every night they are on TV. When it comes to highlights there is no bigger then The Undertaker's grand entrance every year. He is Wrestlemania, he is what makes the show and it doesn't matter what his record is now because he's had so many great moments like tonight inside Hell in a Cell. I am so glad that Shane McMahon came back to the WWE because he has always been the best performer in the McMahon family and he's a great businessman. I really enjoyed the Hell in a Cell match because for two men out of their prime they put on a great show. I can't believe the guts of Shane McMahon and the heart of The Undertaker. Undertaker may have won but I believe this is not the last of Shane McMahon.
The one thing I am so happy about is that the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal got moved to the main show. We had some surprises like Tatanka Baron Corbin, Diamond Dallas Page,and Shaquille O'Neal. I think it was great to see the funny spots between Shaq and Big Show but glad neither one of them won it. I am however so happy to see a newcomer win the Battle Royal and make a name for himself. I was surprised Bray Wyatt wasn't in the Battle Royal but he did make an appearance an confront The Rock. He and the rest of the Wyatt Family tried beating him down but it turned into a 6 second match against Erick Rowan. After that John Cena returned to help the Rock take out The Wyatt Family. Another great Wrestlemania moment for two legendary superstars. One legendary superstar who has always been a main part of Wrestlemania is Triple H, I don't care what anyone says about Triple H or Roman Reigns. Both are great competitors and both were perfect for the main event given all the circumstances in WWE right now. Despite the boo's, the internet wrestling fans and the fact that Triple H is a suit now, the main event was actually really good. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know pro wrestling.
I thought Wrestlemania was spectacular and honestly the only complaint I had was the Lesnar-Ambrose match absolutely did not live up to the hype. The overall show did live up to the hype and had some great surprises, great matches and moments that will be talked about for a long time. Anyone who complains about this show need to quit taking it seriously, or just needs to stop watching all together. I will give Wrestlemania 32 at solid 8 out of 10 because it was great from bottom to top. There a few moments that made it drop a few notches but as I said it was an overall great show. I hope you enjoyed Wrestlemania 32 and I hope WWE can capitalize on it for months to come.
Tonight was latest NXT TakeOver special and it took place in Dallas, Texas the city that's hosting Wrestlemania. Last time NXT was on the same weekend as a major pay-per-view was Summerslam 2015. That hands down was one of the best Takeover show's in the early history of NXT on WWE Network. I had a feeling going into this NXT Takeover that iw was going to be something special. I had a feeling with it being Wrestlemania weekend that Triple H and his brand were going to look to set the pace, raise the bar and get people talking heading to Wrestlemania. In my opinion he accomplished just that. Before I really dive in with my thoughts here are the results of TakeOver Dallas.
-American Alpha defeated The Revival to win the NXT Tag Team Championships
-Austin Aries defeated Baron Corbin
-Shinsuske Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn
-Asuka defeated Bayley to win the NXT Women's Championship
-Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe to retain the NXT Championship
From the beginning the crowd was on fire and as they should have been. They got treated to an awesome show. I love the reaction the crowd gave for everyone involved. I love that the Tag Team division is on fire again. There are so many tag teams between NXT and the main roster it's great to see. American Alpha is going to go places and be very successful. Speaking of success, it was great to see the debut of the Austin Aries and the experience he's going to bring to NXT.
There were two additional championship matches at TakeOver. Asuka and Bayley had a great match that lived up to the standards of what the Women's Division has become. I really see Bayley coming up to the main roster now. She has nothing left to prove and she made her mark in NXT. Speaking of making their mark, Finn Balor surely made his mark on Samoa Joe in the NXT Title Match. Joe was busted open early on and it changed the entire complexion of the match. I really think they had to change the match as it went because of Joe's eye being cut open. It still ended up being a good match and the blood made it more interesting to watch.
Looking back on this even I am going to say that Sami Zayn and Shinsuske Nakamura had the best match on the card. This match was brutal, epic, and an instant classic. I dare say this might be the greatest match in NXT history to date. I have never seen a match this great on WWE television in a long time. If you're a fan of pro wrestling in general how can you not love this match? It combined everything WWE, Ring of Honor and New Japan does. This match put NXT TakeOver Dallas over the top. The rest of the card was good but this match alone made it great. I also thought it was interesting to see Kota Ibushi and Bobby Roode in the crowd. I think that's a huge sign of things to come. I got to give NXT TakeOver Dallas a 9.5 out of 10. Tonight NXT did indeed take over the city of Dallas.
