http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Sun, 20 Sep 2015 01:35:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1

http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-iv/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-iv/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2015 22:36:56 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Hulk Hogan Macho Man Pro Wrestling Ted DiBiase Vince McMahon Wrestlemania wrestling WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=14240 Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of Them All," the "Super Bowl of Wrestling," and of course "Showcase of the Immortals." We are just 32-weeks away from the biggest WrestleMania in WWE History; WrestleMania XXXII will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on April 3rd […]

Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of Them All," the "Super Bowl of Wrestling," and of course "Showcase of the Immortals." We are just 32-weeks away from the biggest WrestleMania in WWE History; WrestleMania XXXII will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on April 3 ^rd 2016. While there's always been some concern as to the legitimacy of WWE's attendance figures in the past, this event is almost guaranteed to break all pre-existing records. Join Mark Adam Haggerty of Daily Wrestling News and Gary Mastriano of Cheap-Heat for this one-of-a-kind podcast series featuring guests from all walks of life including comedians, musicians, and most importantly— professional wrestlers! We'll be back every Friday with an in depth look at each and every WrestleMania from the action in the ring, to the stories behind the scenes.

Could WrestleMania IV be the WORST WrestleMania of all time? Mark Haggerty and Gary Mastriano are back on the fourth installment of �Brocase,' and ready to dissect this spellbindingly bad broadcast. This event featured not fourteen, not fifteen, but SIXTEEN matches! The WWE title is vacant, and a 14-man tournament has been scheduled to declare an undisputed champion. In addition, Bobby Heenan is stepping inside the squared-circle for the first time in �Mania history, the Honky Tonk Man is defending his intercontinental championship, and Bret "The Hitman" Hart proves that nice guys actually do finish last. All that and more on another clip-clad, action-packed edition of "BroCase of the Immortals" on B+ Player Radio and Cheap-Heat.com!


B+ Player Radio is a network of professional wrestling podcasts produced by writers, comedians, musicians, and most importantly— professional wrestlers! Listen to hours of exclusive content available every week on:
iTunes – TuneIn Radio – SoundCloud and Cheap-Heat !

Questions or Comments? Follow the B+ Players on Social Media!

В В В В В В В В В В В В В Mark Adam Haggerty – @TapeTraderz
В В В В В В В В В В В В В  Gary Mastriano – @BPlayerPodcast
"PG" Matt S – @theMattSloyan
James Thorpey – @jamesthorpey

Please SUBSCRIBE and REVIEW us on iTunes – CLICK HERE !

Remember to LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook for new episodes of the B+ Players; constant coverage courtesy of DailyWrestlingNews.com ; and lots of laughs thanks to GutBusterWrestling.com !

http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-iii/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-iii/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2015 16:07:50 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Andre the Giant Bob Ueker Hulk Hogan Roddy Piper Vince McMahon Wrestlemania wrestling WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=14131 Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of Them All," the "Super Bowl of Wrestling," and of course "Showcase of the Immortals." We are just 32-weeks away from the biggest WrestleMania in WWE History; WrestleMania XXXII will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on April 3rd […]

Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of Them All," the "Super Bowl of Wrestling," and of course "Showcase of the Immortals." We are just 32-weeks away from the biggest WrestleMania in WWE History; WrestleMania XXXII will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on April 3 ^rd 2016. While there's always been some concern as to the legitimacy of WWE's attendance figures in the past, this event is almost guaranteed to break all pre-existing records. Join Mark Adam Haggerty of Daily Wrestling News and Gary Mastriano of Cheap-Heat for this one-of-a-kind podcast series featuring guests from all walks of life including comedians, musicians, and most importantly— professional wrestlers! We'll be back every Friday with an in depth look at each and every WrestleMania from the action in the ring, to the stories behind the scenes.

Wrestlemania III is perhaps the most iconic wrestling event in the history of the sport. Taking place on March 29, 1987 before a reported 93,173 fans, this was the first ‘Mania to be available on pay-per-view. The main event features Hulk Hogan defending the world title against the then-undefeated Andre the Giant. In addition, this is the event wherein Ricky the Dragon Steamboat defeated Macho Man Randy Savage, Brutus Beefcake was christened “the Barber,” and Bob Ueker remained on the hunt for the Fabulous Moolah. Enjoy clips and behind the scenes stories from one of the biggest wrestling events of all time!

B+ Player Radio is a network of professional wrestling podcasts produced by writers, comedians, musicians, and most importantly— professional wrestlers! Listen to hours of exclusive content available every single week on iTunes – TuneIn Radio – SoundCloud – Stitcher – YourListen – or RIGHT HERE at Cheap-Heat.com !

Questions or Comments? Follow the B+ Players on Social Media!

В В В В В В В В В В В В В Mark Adam Haggerty – @TapeTraderz
В В В В В В В В В В В В В  Gary Mastriano – @BPlayerPodcast
"PG" Matt S – @theMattSloyan
James Thorpey – @jamesthorpey

Please SUBSCRIBE and REVIEW us on iTunes – CLICK HERE !

Remember to LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook for new episodes of the B+ Players; constant coverage courtesy of DailyWrestlingNews.com ; and lots of laughs thanks to GutBusterWrestling.com !

http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-2/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/brocase-of-the-immortals-wrestlemania-2/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:29:55 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Hulk Hogan Roddy Piper Vince McMahon World Wrestling Federation Wrestlemania wrestling WWE WWE Network WWE Universe WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=14020 Listen to this week's episode on all of your favorite Podcast Apps & Websites: iTunes – TuneIn Radio – SoundCloud   We don't recommend the media player on mobile devices as it tends to drop and/or restart the show.   Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of […]

Listen to this week's episode on all of your favorite Podcast Apps & Websites:
iTunes – TuneIn Radio – SoundCloud

We don't recommend the media player on mobile devices as it tends to drop and/or restart the show.

Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has gone by many nicknames including the "Granddaddy of Them All," the "Super Bowl of Wrestling," and of course "Showcase of the Immortals." We are just 32-weeks away from the biggest WrestleMania in WWE History; WrestleMania XXXII will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on April 3 ^rd 2016. While there's always been some concern as to the legitimacy of WWE's attendance figures in the past, this event is almost guaranteed to break all pre-existing records. Join Mark Adam Haggerty of Daily Wrestling News and Gary Mastriano of Cheap-Heat for this one-of-a-kind podcast series featuring guests from all walks of life including comedians, musicians, and most importantly— professional wrestlers! We'll be back every Friday with an in depth look at each and every WrestleMania from the action in the ring, to the stories behind the scenes.

This week we're coming to you from one single location as we chit-chat about a show broadcast from THREE SEPARATE CITIES! WrestleMania 2 took place in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles—and was the only �Mania to air on a Monday. Gary isn't fond of this event, and goes on record calling it the "worst WWE event in history." Mark thoroughly enjoyed it however, and is hopped up on caffeine, ready to tell you why! This is also the most star-studded wrestling event in history with dozens upon dozens of comedians, actors, football players, and fast food spokespeople! Enjoy this week's episode of "BroCase of the Immortals" —a little late, but chock full of the nonsensical humor you've come to expect from B+ Player Radio.

Questions or Comments? Follow the B+ Players on Social Media!

В В В В В В В В В В В В В Mark Adam Haggerty – @TapeTraderz
В В В В В В В В В В В В В  Gary Mastriano – @BPlayerPodcast
"PG" Matt S – @theMattSloyan
James Thorpey – @jamesthorpey

Please SUBSCRIBE and REVIEW us on iTunes – CLICK HERE !

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-outsiders-edge-qa-session/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-outsiders-edge-qa-session/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2015 17:00:01 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Humor John Cena Jokes Laughter Movies Music Pro Wrestling TNA Undertaker Wrestlemania wrestling WWE WWE Network WWE Podcast WWE Universe http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13885 If you have trouble with the media player – CLICK HERE – We’re also available on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, and YourListen! If you’re using an iPhone, copy the following text into Safari and it’ll redirect you to our home at iTunes: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:145952091/sounds.rss The Outsider’s Edge is BACK! Mark Haggerty of DailyWrestlingNews.com, James Thorpey of “It’s […]

If you have trouble with the media player – CLICK HERE – We’re also available on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, and YourListen!

If you’re using an iPhone, copy the following text into Safari and it’ll redirect you to our home at iTunes:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:145952091/sounds.rss

The Outsider’s Edge is BACK! Mark Haggerty of DailyWrestlingNews.com, James Thorpey of “It’s Still REEL to Me,” and pop culture savant “PG” Matt S are responding to YOUR questions and comments! We asked fans across all forms of social media for assistance, and were blown away by the response. Remember to follow the B+ Players on Facebook at Facebook.com/BPlusPlayers, subscribe on iTunes, and catch up on our back catalog at Cheap-Heat.com!

You can follow all of the B+ Players on Twitter!

В В В В В В В В В В В В В Mark Adam Haggerty – @TapeTraderz
В В В В В В В В В В В В В  Gary Mastriano – @BPlayerPodcast
"PG" Matt S – @theMattSloyan
James Thorpey – @jamesthorpey

Remember to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes and share us with your friends! Please LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook for new episodes of the B+ Players; constant coverage courtesy of DailyWrestlingNews.com, and lots of laughs thanks to Gutbusterwrestling.com!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/7-must-see-roddy-piper-matches/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/7-must-see-roddy-piper-matches/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2015 14:36:09 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists Roddy Piper Rowdy Roddy Piper Wrestlemania wrestling WWE WWE Hall of Fame WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13250 The passing of Roddy Piper has been especially hard on those of us who grew up in the Northeast during the late 1980s and �90s. Roddy was truly larger than life, and it's hard to express just what he meant to me as a wrestling fan. I'm planning to write a retrospective piece on the […]

The passing of Roddy Piper has been especially hard on those of us who grew up in the Northeast during the late 1980s and �90s. Roddy was truly larger than life, and it's hard to express just what he meant to me as a wrestling fan. I'm planning to write a retrospective piece on the "Hot Rod" within the next few days, and in preparation I began watching all the Roddy tapes I could find. Of course "tapes" means "internet" in 2015, so I figured I might as well share my findings with the good people at Cheap-Heat.com. Roddy Piper was more than just a man in a kilt who cracked coconuts and told jokes—he was an outstanding professional wrestler. I've combed through YouTube and Dailymotion to find seven stellar Roddy Piper matches I think everybody has to see. The majority of these matches are shown in their entirety, but there are a couple you'll need to click "Part 2" to continue. I think it's a small inconvenience considering the man we're honoring today. We can all take solace that Roddy will be in good company when he walks through the ropes of that big ring in the sky.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. WrestleMania VIII – Intercontinental Championship (1992)
Roddy Piper (c) vs. Bret Hart
Nobody retired more than Roddy Piper. In 1992, "Hot Rod" won the coveted Intercontinental Championship from the Mountie. He put the strap on the line against Bret "The Hitman" Hart at Wrestlemania VIII in what some believe to be the match of the night.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Roddy's children and grandchildren, as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper will remain in our hearts until the end of time. Just when we thought we had the answers, he changed the questions. Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook, and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-wwe-battleground-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-wwe-battleground-2015/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2015 09:11:22 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs AJ Styles Battleground Bobby Fish Brock Lesnar Daniel Bryan Dragon Gate ECW John Cena Lucha Underground New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW NXT RAW Ring of Honor ROH Smackdown TNA Triple H Wrestlemania WWE WWE Network http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13020 It’s been more than a month since the WWE Network has featured a Sunday night live event, but the wait is over because tonight is BATTLEGROUND! As of this writing—3:30 AM EST—there are only SIX matches announced for the card. The Miz and Big Show might still go head-to-head, but without the Intercontinental title on […]

It’s been more than a month since the WWE Network has featured a Sunday night live event, but the wait is over because tonight is BATTLEGROUND! As of this writing—3:30 AM EST—there are only SIX matches announced for the card. The Miz and Big Show might still go head-to-head, but without the Intercontinental title on the line, as Ryback is temporarily sidelined with an injury. There’ve also been rumblings about a possible Divas match—with Sasha Banks and Charlotte headed to St. Louis, we could very well see them inside the Scottrade Center. Enough about the matches we might see and let’s focus on what’s been announced. My name is Mark Haggerty, and when everybody else is offering up picks or predictions, I’m delivering my “Educated Guess.”

WWE King of the RingВ
King Barrett (K) vs. R Truth
This is the 12th time King Barrett and R Truth have wrestled on television since the start of the Intercontinental Keystone Cops Program began back in March. This is the second pay per view in a row featuring Truth and Barrett competing over what was once a coveted artifact—the King of the Ring crown. In fact, aside from one, every Mountain Dew sponsored Kick Off since Wrestlemania has featured either King Barrett or R Truth. A winner? Certainly not the fans. Here’s my question: will the WWE bump this match up to the main show now that they’re down a triple threat? Or will they make up the time with something else. Let’s get a chant going guys: “Something Else! Something else!” I take issue with the idea of the KOTR crown being traded superfluously on the pre show to a C-rate ‘Network Special. I assume Truth is going to win; Wade Barrett should go to Japan.
Educated Guess: R Truth

Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
I like Sheamus. I like Randy Orton. I do not like Sheamus versus Randy Orton. Baby face Orton makes me sick, and “Are You Not Entertained” Sheamus is not entertaining. For the record, I do not think he looks stupid. I like his music, I like his look, I think he’s a good worker, but his goofy catchphrases are too much. Especially when they’re flagrantly lifted from Oscar winning movies like Gladiator . I have absolutely no emotional investment in this match whatsoever. Not one iota of interest and I’ll more than likely be assembling a sandwich while it’s on. My educated guess? Pepper ham, roast turkey breast, provolone cheese.
Educated Guess: Randy Orton

Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt
If Bray doesn’t win this match, he needs to take some time away from the roster. Bray Wyatt is one of my favorite characters in the WWE, and I’m not as hard on his work in the ring as some other critics tend to be. But I do find it bizarre that Bray Wyatt has seemingly zero wins under his belt. None that matter, at least. It doesn’t matter how many times he beats Dean Ambrose on Raw or Smackdown, the last time he came out on the winning end of a storyline was against Chris Jericho. That was Summerslam 2014—eleven months ago. He’s been caught in a perpetual downward spiral since then and I’m just not sure how I’m suppose to feel about him. A diabolical heel should perhaps rack up a couple of tallies in the “W Column,” but that’s not the case with the “New Face of Fear.” What’s to fear about a guy who only appears on television and never delivers on what he promises? I think this entire thing should end with Roman Reigns tossing a hammer into the Titan Tron as Bray Wyatt is telling the masses: “We shall prevail!” Does anybody get that reference? It would be a nice advertising tie-in for Apple. That’s all I’ll say. Given the WWE and their erratic and almost neurotically balance booking, I’m willing to bet Roman Reigns pulls this one out.
Educated Guess: Roman Reigns

WWE World Tag Team Championship
The Primetime Players (c) vs. The New Day
The “Not Quite Ready for Primetime Players” was the nickname given to the inaugural cast of Saturday Night Live. Did you know that? I like to toss together some random tidbits whenever I can—whenever they APPLY I should say. Unlike the WWE announcers; Jerry Lawler has 6 interchangeable jokes for everybody on the roster, and JBL name drops every pop culture reference whenever he’s given time to talk. Let’s talk about this match though: the Primetime Players are defending their world tag team titles against the proprietors of positivity themselves, the New Day. Big E and Kofi Kingston took on the Lucha Dragons this past week on Smackdown, and it would be assumed that same tandem will represent the clique once more. I’ve said before—I think running with the Primetime Players as tag team champions was the WWE’s way of saying “Thank You” for everything Darren and Titus do. I think it’s probably time for the New Day to regain the straps, but with Summerslam just mere weeks away, I guess I shouldn’t be so sure. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Primetime Players retain their titles, and live to fight another day.
Educated Guess: The Primetime Players

WWE U.S. Championship
John Cena (c) vs. Kevin Owens
The match that most people are more than likely waiting to see is the rubber match between two of the most popular and—yes I’m going to say it— POLARIZING members of the WWE roster. John Cena has offered to put his United States Championship on the line in the past, but Owens has always declined. Until weeks ago, when the man Rusev called a “French American” made it very clear: he wants that US Title, because Cena has it. I feel like there’s a lot of hype going into this match; can their third and potentially final (for a while) battle possibly meet expectation? I’m most certainly optimistic. Given the unlimited potential of Owens and the unstoppable determination of Cena, I think it’s same to say we haven’t seen anything yet. In terms of picking a winner, we need to look a few weeks ahead. I’ll be attending both Summerslam and NXT Brooklyn, both of which are poised to be much bigger shows than BATTLEGROUND . Owens is set to challenge Finn Balor in a rematch for the NXT Championship; is the WWE really going to have the United States champion from the main roster lose to the NXT Champion? I don’t think so—but I also didn’t think Jushin “Thunder” Liger would be on this show. While I can’t predict the future for Owens, I’m having an equally hard time figuring out where Cena might be in a matter of months. Will John Cena MD – Pediatric Thuganomics decide to enter the world title scene any time soon? So many questions, and to answer the one right in front of me: I think John Cena is walking out of St. Louis with the U.S. Championship.
Educated Guess: John Cena

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipВ
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Brock Lesnar
The Undertaker will be appearing on Raw tomorrow night, and rumors are running rampant that he could be wrestling at this year’s “Biggest Party of the Summer.” While I don’t personally ever want to see ‘Taker again, I get his appeal and I’d rather they use him at Summerslam than just shoehorn him into Wrestlemania during the first week of March. So why am I talking about the Undertaker? Well let me first say, I do not think Brock Lesnar is going to win this match. I’ll speak to my point from earlier—Battleground just isn’t a big enough show. So how could Seth possibly retain his title, especially now that J&J Security are out, Kane is crippled, and Stephanie McMahon is the new face of the Diva’s Division? Well I mentioned the Undertaker. Not only did I mention the Undertaker, but Seth Rollins mentions the Undertaker on a seemingly regular basis while berating Kane. Now that the Demon is out, might the Phenom step up to defend “his baby brother?” There’s talk that the ‘Taker might finally retire in 2016, and if so I think a Seth Rollins program with the title in contention could be a fun way to sail off into Wrestlemania Season. Whether something like that happens remains to be seen, but I definitely think the match will end in a disqualification.
Educated Guess: Brock Lesnar via DQ

Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News !

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-july-5th-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-july-5th-2015/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2015 15:12:23 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast AJ Styles Beast in the East Brock Lesnar John Cena Kazuchika Okada Kevin Owens Shinsuke Nakamura Slammiversary Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12801 LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S EPISODE NOW! It’s another episode of the B+ Players Podcast! The boys are back and visiting their hometown, recording in Mark’s parents garage! This is the first official flagship show in about a month, so there’s plenty to discuss! Mark and Gary welcome “PG” Matt S back to the show, as […]

LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S EPISODE NOW!

It’s another episode of the B+ Players Podcast! The boys are back and visiting their hometown, recording in Mark’s parents garage! This is the first official flagship show in about a month, so there’s plenty to discuss! Mark and Gary welcome “PG” Matt S back to the show, as he prepares to take the reigns on the weekly newscast, “The Outsiders’ Edge.” We’ve also got James Thorpey, the host of the brand new “It’s Still REEL to Me” Podcast on Cheap-Heat.com!

The guys are sitting in a circle talking about TNA Slammiversary, WWE Beast in the East, NJPW Dominion, and the top matches from the week. This was an INSANE week for pro wrestling; John Cena wrestled Cesaro, Finn Balor won the NXT title from Kevin Owens, and AJ Styles lost his IWGP Heavyweight Championship to the “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!

We’re also answering your questions! We’ve got questions from our loyal listeners Javier Marquez, Chris Malazdra, and Michael Frank!

Stay tuned for this week’s episode of the Last Cast where Mark and Gary will be talking about their next “Doubleshot: 2-in-1 Wrestling Review,” the Backyard Superheroes and their upcoming tour, and the latest episode of BALLERS! Then get set for the new and improved “Outsiders’ Edge” featuring a more condensed format featuring “PG” Matt S with Mark serving as producer. All that plus the debut episode of “It’s Still REEL to Me,” exclusively available at Cheap-Heat.com!

LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S EPISODE NOW!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-payback-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-payback-2015/#comments Wed, 13 May 2015 20:55:50 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Adrian Neville Axelmania Bad News Barrett Bray Wyatt Cesaro Curtis Axel Damian Sandow Dean Ambrose Dolph Ziggler Elimination Chamber Hulk Hogan John Cena King of the Ring Lana Macho Man Macho Mandow Money in the Bank Neville Payback Professional Wrestling Randy Orton Roman Reigns Rusev Ryback Seth Rollins Sheamus The Ascension The New Day Tyson Kidd World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestlemania WWE WWE Network WWE Payback http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11717 It feels as though I was just writing a predication piece for "Extreme Rules," and yet here we are again for another WWE Network Special. And if that's not crazy enough, take a look at this schedule: this weekend is PAYBACK, followed two weeks later by ELIMINATION CHAMBER, and MONEY IN THE BANK exactly two […]

It feels as though I was just writing a predication piece for "Extreme Rules," and yet here we are again for another WWE Network Special . And if that's not crazy enough, take a look at this schedule: this weekend is PAYBACK , followed two weeks later by ELIMINATION CHAMBER , and MONEY IN THE BANK exactly two weeks after that! We've got THREE pay-per-views set within six weeks of one another, and unfortunately, Payback is the least intriguing of the lot. The �Chamber will feature the first-ever tag team elimination match inside the "Devil's Playground," while MITB will crown the next heir apparent to the WWE title. But Payback?

I like to write my predictions by mid-week and the WWE is still adding to the event as of this posting. Just now I got word that Bray Wyatt will be taking on Ryback, bringing the total number of matches on the card to SEVEN. There's certainly the chance that we might see a Diva's match of some kind, perhaps a tag team bout between the Bella's and Naomi and Tamina. As for the matches that have officially been announced…

The Payback Kick-Off
Macho Mandow & Axelmania vs. The Ascension
The Kick-Off matches have been particularly exciting in recent months; the tag team title match and battle royal at Wrestlemania, King Barrett versus Neville at Extreme Rules—this tag team contest will open the show and will set the precedent for what's to come. I don't know what to make of the "Macho Mandow and Axelmania" shtick. I really enjoyed Curtis Axel's delusional tirades about "never being eliminated from the Royal Rumble," and I've at least chuckled at his subsequent attempts at making "Axelmania Run Wild." I think Curtis Axel is doing a fine job, and I hope that when this program has run its course, he's able to rebound to a more reasonable place on the roster. When Damian Sandow ceased to be the Miz's stunt-double, I think we all hoped to see a more serious side of the former "Savior of the Masses." But instead we're getting the same masquerading hijinks that Sandow APOLOGIZED FOR just two weeks ago on Raw. So my initial qualm with Sandow is what an absolute joke he is becoming, and I can only hope that Curtis Axel isn't affected in the long term. My second nagging gripe with this gimmick is the Macho Man impression in general. Look—Jay Lethal already did this shit. And he did it while the dude was still alive. And he did a far better job than Damian Sandow. Everyone can do a Macho Man impression, why not pick one of Hogan's other partners? I would have much preferred to see Damian the Barber Beefcake. I pray to the wrestling gods—Vince McMahon Sr., Jim Barnett, Jim Crockett, etc—that this is a one-time deal, and that the "Minor Powers," as David Otunga named them, never "explode." I think the ship has absolutely set sail for Konnor and Viktor, and given my hopeless optimism for the future of the WWE, I'm inclined to give my prediction to Macho Mandow and Axelmania. I hope they beat the Ascension, they "Hulk Up" and pose down for a few minutes, and then go their separate ways forever. Is that what's going to happen? Of course not. These guys will be together until Wrestlemania 35.
Educated Guess: Macho Mandow & Axel Mania

King Barrett vs. Adrian Neville
This Sunday we'll be doing our monthly pay-per-view recap show at the "B+ Players Podcast." Last month I gave Barrett and Neville's Kick Off show performance a star rating of three and three quarters. Their match two nights later at the King of the Ring earned a solid four. These two Englishmen are in no way strangers to one another, after mixing it up for the better part of the last month. I'm interested to see what they can accomplish now that their feud has legs to stand on, and is being promoted to the main card of a pay-per-view. I've got to stop calling them that. It's a "WWE Network Special," and not only that—it's FREE again this month! What the fuck man? I've been paying ten bucks a month for 15 months—that's $150 invested in a product that you continue to give away to CASUAL FANS for free on a monthly mother fucking basis. Back to the match. Adrian Neville—because I refuse to call him "Neville"—has been gifted two nicknames since debuting with the WWE. Not only is he being billed as "The Man that Gravity Forgot," but he's also being called "The New Sensation." I can't remember this much hype going into an individual debut since we found out that his name is Finlay—"AND HE LOVES TO FIGHT!" Neville has had some awesome matches in recent weeks with former WWE world champions such as Sheamus and even John Cena. I don't think there's any ceiling set for how successful this guy could potentially be, but I think it's safe to assume defeat is on the agenda for young Adrian Neville this Sunday. Wade Barrett has made the transition from "Bad News" to "King" almost seamlessly, and it's hard to predict a loss for someone just over two weeks removed from winning the King of the Ring.
Educated Guess: King Barrett

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
It's a pretty good sign that the show will be good when the match I'm least looking forward to is a one-on-one bout between Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus. I've really been loving the new "Celtic Warrior" dynamic since Sheamus returned to the WWE. He shocked the world when he manhandled Daniel Bryan just days after his intercontinental title win at Wrestlemania, and went on to make life for Dolph Ziggler a living nightmare. Last month was the infamous "Kiss Me Arse" match, where Sheamus refused to live up to his own stipulation, instead forcing Dolph to kiss HIS arse. Two nights later, live on the WWE Network, Dolph Ziggler delivered a receipt in the form of a punishing assault that left the 2-time WWE Champion spewing DNA from his forehead. Their feud hasn't quieted down in any way, and has only served to elevate Dolph Ziggler and further intensify Sheamus. I'm quick to pick Sheamus as the victor in this unpredictable contest, but start to slow my roll after running down the rest of the card. This would appear to be a "Heel-Heavy" night, wherein most matches will end with "Bad Guys" reigning supreme. If there's to be any babyface victory during the event, I would probably have to pick Dolph Ziggler. That being said, we DO have another "WWE Network Special" in two weeks—and another in one month. Maybe we WILL see a night where only evil can prevail?
Educated Guess: Sheamus

WWE Tag Team Championship – 2/3 Falls Match
Kidd & Cesaro vs. The New Day (c)
Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that this will be the match of the night? These teams have produced some of the absolute best matches the WWE has seen—IN YEARS! That's not hyperbole, that's reality. I have trouble investing myself in WWE Superstars because their in-ring ability is oftentimes inhibited by the parameters placed on them by producers. You might see a stellar performance on Raw, and then an embarrassing display on Smackdown, simply because individuals weren't allotted the same time, or "freedom," that they were on the previous show. My point is that these five men could be the exception to the rule, having faced each other in any number of combinations during an assortment of various matches. They appeared during the Kick Off for the Royal Rumble and blew the tag team title match later in the show out of the water; they opened Wrestlemania 31 during another Kick Off appearance as two-fourths of a multi-team championship match; and last month they stole the show in a bona fied 4-Star Match. They've been a consummate part of Raw and Smackdown, and continue to put on "Match of the Night" performances, despite however long or short the encounter might be. I'm completely confident that they'll deliver, especially in this 2-out-of-3 falls match, and will be incredibly surprised if the action falls short. Tune in to our special Payback Reaction Show exclusively at Cheap-Heat where podcaster and sports analyst Dario Rivera has requested to review this particular match.
Educated Guess: The New Day

Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt
The most recent match added to the card is the bizarre brawl bound to take place when Bray Wyatt comes face-to-face with Ryback. Wyatt has been issuing an ominous challenge since losing to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, but nobody seemed to know to whom he was speaking. I suggested that it could be Roman Reigns, given the clues in Bray's weekly monologue, and was slightly disappointed to discover instead—that it was Ryback. Nothing against the talent and charisma of Ryan Reeves, I just don't see him as a player on the same level as Bray Wyatt. Ryback challenged for the WWE title back when CM PUNK was the champion, and has since played more of an enforcer role in the upper-mid card. Bray Wyatt however, has squared off with both the Undertaker and John Cena at Wrestlemania, and appears to be a far more visible face across the entirety of WWE programming. I also think Bray Wyatt desperately needs a win, and I don't believe it should be at the detriment of ANOTHER WWE Superstar, who ALSO can't afford to keep losing. I think it's a foregone conclusion that Bray Wyatt will walk out with his hand held high, and I'll take it a step further: Rowan and Harper will appear to help the "Eater of Worlds" defeat the "Big Guy." The Wyatt Family will return.
Educated Guess: Bray Wyatt

WWE United States Championship – "I Quit" Mach
John Cena (c) vs. Rusev
This will be the FOURTH TIME IN A ROW that John Cena has gone to war with Rusev, which could quite possibly be a record for WWE in terms of booking. John Cena is currently 2-1 over the "Bulgarian Brute" and "Pride of the Russian Federation." The big story going into this match is Lana; "WHOSE SIDE IS (S)HE ON?!" Remember that? ANOTHER Bobby Heenan reference. Word going around the internet is that Lana will soon lose her Russian accent, and become the "Female Face" of the WWE. While that's certainly possible, I don't think it's time—and I don't think the WWE thinks it's time either. My Educated Guess for this match is a bit more detailed, so please indulge me for a moment: Lana will slip with the American accent during the Kick Off, making us all wonder what's going to happen. She'll continue to smile John Cena's way, and he'll keep making comments to Rusev and the audience about how popular she is. This is all—wait for it—A SWERVE! John Cena won't quit, not because he's in pain and can't continue! Rusev will be out of options, and will grab Lana as though she is his hostage. He'll trap her in the Accolade, while Cena is—for some reason, handcuffs maybe—unable to stop him. Cena will have no choice but to say "I Quit" to save the woman he thinks is starting to see the light of day. Unfortunately, as Admiral Ackbar would say: "IT'S A TRAP!" Do you think Admiral Ackbar will be in Star Wars Episode 7? How long do Mon Calamari live? I think John Cena is dropping his United States strap to the former champion, and I think Lana will reveal herself to be a "Double Agent." That will give her a reason to drop the Russian accent on Raw, while maintaining her evil character for the time being. In fact, it could generate even more heat; a blonde haired, blue eyed American supermodel siding with the SOVIET UNION? I know that's not what they're called anymore. It's all about alliteration with me. That will also put their series at 2 wins a piece, creating all the more reason for a fifth and final battle at either Elimination Chamber or Money in the Bank.
Educated Guess: Rusev

WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Fatal Four-way
Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (c) vs. Roman Reigns
Who cares? With so much going on in the undercard, I couldn't care less about how Seth Rollins retains his title. There's no question as to who is walking away the winner, but how is it going to go down? Actually, that's just as predictable. Let's see what we're working with here: Seth Rollins is definitely winning, right? Okay, that's settled. And Dean Ambrose is only in this match to catch the pinfall, right? Nice, now we're cooking with gas! So the question now pertains to how Randy Orton and Roman Reigns will make their presence felt. I GOT IT! Dean and Randy are wrestling in the ring while everyone else is off somewhere waiting for their cue. Roman appears and attempts to Spear Randy Orton, but hits his former Shield brother instead. After Roman pops up from the impact, he's met with an RKO—OUT OF NOWHERE—from Randy Orton, who immediately goes for the pin, but is robbed by Seth Rollins, who only wins matches when he steals the victory. Which is totally okay with me, it's just mildly predictable at this point. It wasn't right to say who cares, because I do care about this match. But given the fact that Seth Rollins has been given the ball for the foreseeable future, and Dean Ambrose has never been in such a high profile position, it's easy to narrow the field down to declare a winner. Seth Rollins is winning, which means Kane is FIRED!
Educated Guess: Seth Rollins

I said earlier that this show is the least intriguing event of the three we'll be getting in the next six weeks. While that's true, it certainly seems as though this card has what it takes to deliver. I still expect a Diva's match of some kind to be announced, in which case I'll edit this entry. Maybe. Probably not. Remember to check out the "B+ Players Podcast: Payback Reactions" featuring our musical guests Milan Martin and Dave Sloyan, as well as "The Wrestling Broad" Brianne Marie. We're hitting the air immediately after the show ends, and will be featured exclusively at Cheap-Heat.com. Until next time my name is Mark Adam Haggerty, you can follow me in social media on Twitter @TapeTraderz and on Facebook at "The B+ Players."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/whats-cookin-what-doesnt-matter/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/whats-cookin-what-doesnt-matter/#comments Tue, 12 May 2015 20:47:30 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Other Reviews Reviews John Cena Professional Wrestling Smackdown Stephanie McMahon TNA TNA Impact Triple H Vince McMahon Wrestlemania Wrestlemania 31 WWE Wwe Smackdown WWE Wrestlemania http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11685 How's it going wrestling fans? IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT'S GOING! Just kidding of course. I haven't earned the right to berate my audience like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has. Speaking of the Rock, it's Thursday, which means it's time for the 16-year old tradition named in his honor. Of course I'm talking about the […]

How's it going wrestling fans? IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT'S GOING! Just kidding of course. I haven't earned the right to berate my audience like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has. Speaking of the Rock, it's Thursday, which means it's time for the 16-year old tradition named in his honor. Of course I'm talking about the show that began on UPN, can currently be seen on SyFy, and will appear on the USA Network in 2016—it's SMACKDOWN! My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, and while you don't care who I am, you'll be happy to know that I'm with you each and every week for a quick take on the Thursday Night Delight. When you don't have time to tune in, you can count on me to tell you WHAT'S COOKIN' and WHAT DOESN'T MATTER!

The show began with Jerry "The King" Lawler standing inside the ring, awaiting the entrance of the newly crowned King of the Ring, Bad News Barrett. Once Barrett appeared, he immediately began to battle the King in a "War of Worlds." Barrett said that HE was the only King in the WWE, and that Jerry Lawler is nothing more than a "commoner." He even went so far as to say: "Forgive me if I'm wrong Jerry, but the trailer parks of Memphis don't have any castles, do they?" He insists that Jerry say the same four words, that all of the fans will be forced to say: "All Hail King Barrett." Dolph Ziggler shows up for his match against Bad News Barrett, and takes exception to the way he speaks to Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler. Their match is quickly underway, and features the same sort of WWE Big Guy vs. Little Guy spots; Dolph Ziggler goes up high, but Barrett cuts him off low, and so on until Bad News Barrett is in firm control. The contest continues until the "Celtic Warrior" Sheamus interjects, attacking Dolph Ziggler and costing Barrett the bout by disqualification. Sheamus is seeking retribution for the stitches he suffered at the hands of Ziggler at the King of the Ring last week. Bad News Barrett is less concerned with the loss—because why would any WWE Superstar give a shit about wins and losses—and proceeds to put the boots to Ziggler alongside Sheamus. Just then, the "Man That Gravity Forgot" showed up to even the odds against the imposing combination of current and former Kings of the Ring. Neville brought the fight to Barrett, dishing out the onslaught right into a commercial break. Was this COOKIN'? Find out in the NEXT segment.

When the action resumed, all four competitors were still around the ring, preparing for an impromptu tag team match up. Neville and Ziggler would seek to depose the diabolical duo of Bad News Barrett and Sheamus. This was a continuation of the first segment, but brought with it a whole new feel thanks to the aerial mechanics of Adrian Neville and the relentless brutality of the former WWE champion, Sheamus. Although the smaller-statured team had their share of difficulty battling back from the brink of defeat, it was the unlikely Irish and English allies that were ultimately slain thanks to the underdog forces of Ziggler and Neville. Neville's "Red Arrow" didn't come into play, but he certainly had his chance to soar through the clouds and onto his unsuspecting opponents on the outside, which gave Dolph Ziggler the leverage he needed to finalize things with the Zig Zag. Dolph earned the 1-2-3 for a hard-fought victory after two matches with Bad News Barrett. I really like it when Raw or Smackdown begin with a MATCH, and it never seems to happen anymore. The best we can ever hope for, is a short monologue about the opening match. And that's what we got here, and included therein were some hilarious bits from Barrett. Might we see a future feud between the King of the Ring and the King of the Announce Desk? Dare I say—at Wrestlemania 32 in Dallas, Texas? I expect a JAM-PACKED CARD, with all the bells and whistles. What better place to give Jerry Lawler his REAL Wrestlemania Moment? This segment and the preceding match were both highly enjoyable, they kicked Smackdown off in a positive way, and they were without a doubt COOKIN'!

The night begins to slow down with Lana in the ring who's receiving an insanely positive reaction. I'm not a fan of the Lana face turn, and I know most other critics aren't keen on it either. So who are these idiots in the crowd showering her with adulation when they should be feeding her heat? It's very strange. Tonight's show emanated from Ottawa, a city in Ontario just over the American border, that doesn't get as many live events as the New York or Chicago markets. The crowd was hot all night, which could have attributed to the overall positive feel of the program. Once Lana was at her peak of babyface support, Rusev made his arrival and ordered her to leave the ring, much the same as Marvelous Marc Mero back before the Attitude Era. Rusev then proceeded to deliver an impassioned speech about how he's stronger than John Cena, paying special attention not to mention America while wrestling in Canada. He spliced sentences together incorporating both English dialogue and what I perceived to be Russian, although Rusev is of course Bulgarian. At the end of the night, this segment really DOESN'T MATTER, because it was just Rusev talking and Lana walking, the latter was far more interesting than the former.

Fandango has become one of those performers who nobody ever expects to win, at least in my eyes. His music hits and while people still dance and do the "Fandango," there's never any question as to who's going to win. The answer is almost always: "Not Fandango." Which is a shame! This is the guy who beat Chris Jericho in his WWE debut, wrestling on the grandest stage of them all—WRESTLEMANIA—at Met Life Stadium in the shadow of New York City. And now his music hits and people think: "Well, no matter who he's wrestling—his opponent is going to win." Tonight was no different, when Fandango went up against one of the most peculiar entities in WWE in recent years, Luke Harper. Harper made quick work of Fandango within just a matter of moments. Do you know how I know this match was really short? I stepped onto my balcony to feed my house plants while Harper's entrance music was playing, and when I came back inside, his music was playing again. Following the match was a strange turn of events between former partners, when Erick Rowan appeared and seemed as though he had his sights set on Harper. He walked down to ringside with his sheep mask, and shocked the audience by attacking Fandango. Neither man said a word, and Erick Rowan returned from whence he came, leaving Harper alone in the ring, bewildered as he stared into the eyes of the plastic sheep mask.

The tag team championship hunt has fast become one of the most entertaining aspects of the WWE since Kidd and Cesaro captured the titles before Wrestlemania. Since then, the New Day have won the belts, and are still mixing it up with the former tag team champions. Tonight is a six-man tag team match, pitting all three members of the New Day against Kidd and Cesaro, as well as a mystery partner of their choosing. Smackdown is weird because there are never any surprises, unless you're inside the arena. But even then, you know nothing substantial is happening at a Tuesday night TV taping. I had no idea who Kidd and Cesaro would choose, though in hindsight their decision to pick RYBACK rather predictable. This wasn't in any way the classic confrontation that their earlier matches have been, partially due to the inclusion of Ryback, but also as all three members of the New Day are forced to work simultaneously, without Xavier on the outside as a manager. There were some insane spots in this match, including a number of aerial innovations, and a DDT from the barricade by Cesaro. When the end came, the New Day won it just as they have before—with Kofi Kingston grabbing a handful of tights for the one, two, three. It was COOKIN'!

Naomi and Tamina were next, and lead off with a searing promo aimed at whomever may have "Forgotten" various nuances of either woman's repertoire. This was a standard effort by Naomi against Emma. Naomi is an above average professional wrestler by WWE Diva standards, while Emma is still learning. I think it better serves Naomi to spend time with more seasoned Divas at this stage, so that when Emma is ready to sit at the learning tree, Naomi has knowledge to pass along. Naomi won the match, and following the bell, Tamina clocked Emma in the jaw with an absolutely beautiful Super Kick. It was interesting, was it entertaining? Eh—I didn't LOVE it. In the interest of never copping out and giving you one of two responses, I'm afraid I'd have to say this segment and match therein just DIDN'T MATTER!

I'll tell you right now that this match between the Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores didn't matter. At all. The Mexican Team wrestled the Puerto Rican team that pretends to be a Mexican team. This was a clash of styles that proceeded to make the Matadores look like a joke. Granted, they are a joke team that wanders around with a miniature bull, I'm just not keen on how the WWE feels the only way to build new Superstars is at the detriment of pre-established performers. The Lucha Dragons won and Los Matadores took out their frustrations on El Torito. It DOESN'T MATTER!

Tonight's main event was a contract signing, unlike any other we've seen before. First off, rather than the standard two men at a table, this was a four person set-up, featuring Kane presiding over the entire ordeal. Second, Seth Rollins refused to participate! Once the Lunatic Fringe, the Viper, and the uh—Roman Reigns, were seated inside the ring, Seth Rollins emerged from the backstage area with J&J Security in tow. He informed the audience that as champion, he reserves the right to have the Director of Operations sign his contracts for him. Kane says that might be true—in theory. Earlier in the evening, Seth Rollins called Kane "irrelevant," which the "Big Red Machine" brought to light when explaining to Seth why he WASN'T going to sign his contact for him. Seth eventually made his way to ringside, but did so with a plan; he used his close relationships with Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and even Randy Orton to his advantage, in an attempt to turn the three against one another before he even entered the ring. The challengers didn't buy in to his trickery, and soon Seth was standing in the center of the squared circle, surrounding by the three number one contenders, and J&J Security. While tensions heat, Dean Ambrose slowly began to assemble a table in the corner of the ring. Nobody realized what he was doing as he sought to start the war right then and there. He grabbed the microphone and said, "Look, we all know how this is going to turn out. I call the table." With that, he tossed Joey Mercury toward the table, but it didn't break. All four Payback participants were engaged in battle inside the ring, along with Noble and Mercury, as well as the Operations Director Kane. This was an interesting way to end Smackdown; we've seen contract signings in the past, but this was different and well worth a watch if you've already made it this far into the show. I'm going to certify the main event as COOKIN'!

This was a fantastic week for World Wrestling Entertainment in terms of cable television programming. NXT is always on point, and the �Network shows offer something for everybody, but Monday Night Raw and Thursday Night Smackdown have a tendency to UNDER deliver. This week's episode of Raw received unanimous praise, minus some polarizing viewpoints on the Sami Zayn appearance, and Smackdown continued to produce quality in-ring entertainment. Until next time, keep checking out Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News for all of my latest work; follow me through social media via TapeTraderz and on Facebook at “The B+ Players” ; and be sure to catch my tri-weekly podcasts available exclusively at Cheap-Heat.com!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/wrestlemania-22-my-anniversary-i-built-around-it/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/wrestlemania-22-my-anniversary-i-built-around-it/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2015 05:23:10 +0000 Gregory Iron Blogs Wrestler Blogs Gregory Iron Wrestlemania http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10845 WrestleMania 22 was a pretty average ‘Mania, eh? Triple H dressed up like Conan The Barbarian. John Cena dressed as a gangster, accompanied by a young C.M. Punk. Mickie James and Trish Stratus had arguably the greatest Divas match in the history of ‘Mania. We got our second ever Money In The Bank Ladder Match. […]

WrestleMania 22 was a pretty average ‘Mania, eh? Triple H dressed up like Conan The Barbarian. John Cena dressed as a gangster, accompanied by a young C.M. Punk. Mickie James and Trish Stratus had arguably the greatest Divas match in the history of ‘Mania. We got our second ever Money In The Bank Ladder Match. The highlight of the card ended up being Shawn Michaels versus Vince McMahon, proving that HBK just may be the only guy that could actually carry a broomstick to a Match of Year Candidate.

April 2nd marked nine years since that event took place in Chicago, Illinois. All in all, average WrestleMania. When I think about the 22nd annual edition of WWE’s grand event, I don’t really think of the show itself. Rather, I think about the goal I set for myself following it.

In early 2006, after a lot of contemplating, I decided that I wanted to train to be a professional wrestler. I wasn’t sure I was going to be successful at my attempt. In fact, I’d never done a really athletic thing in my life. I was unsure of myself, to say the least, but I needed to give it a try.

Honestly, I was terrified to try– not just at wrestling, but at anything. Always a somewhat shy and quiet kid, I wouldn’t consider myself a risk taker. For a decently educated kid that was 5′ 4″ and 110 pounds with cerebral palsy with no athletic background, venturing into a wrestling ring was definitely a huge risk. I loved wrestling, and the majority of my life centered around it. If I failed at being a wrestler, I was unsure as to whether I’d ever be able to view it the same again.

I contemplated my choices heavily. At the time, I was 19 years old, living on my own, and struggling to juggle my crappy retail job and my college school work. Before the second semester of college, my car broke down on me. I took it as a sign. I could take a break from school if I chose, because it’d be there to fall back on. If I was going to try to be a professional wrestler, I figured that I had to do it while I was young. I’d work more hours ato work to afford a car. Meanwhile, the wrestling school was in biking distance from my buddy Ron’s home.

**Note: I do not recommend ditching college for pro wrestling… but it’s your life**

I made the decision to move in with Ron and his family, who charged me very little rent. I picked up more hours at my crappy job, and decided I was going to start wrestling school. The school, Cleveland All Pro Wrestling, ran classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So that I’d always remember the date, I decided to start the week after ‘Mania 22, so that I’d always remember the date (so that nearly a decade later, I could write a blog about it).

On April 4th, 2006, I walked into the CAPW school for my “tryout,” which essentially meant you paid $50 to get your ass kicked. If you’re into that sort of thing, no matter how good you are, you keep paying and keep returning until they decide you suck so bad that they won’t take your money any longer. That day, I fell on my back and head hundreds of time, to the point that I was dizzy, seeing stars, and muscles were sore in my back that I didn’t previously know existed. I hit the ropes dozens and dozens of time, which left welts across my back. I hit the turnbuckles hard, but with enough care so as not to hurt myself. I had read stories about guys hitting turnbuckles so hard that they damaged their kidneys, forcing them to piss blood. I didn’t want that to be me.

That day, I sucked. In fact, I sucked for a lot of weeks and months after. Every Tuesday and Thursday in training, I did what I feared most– I failed. There was always something that I’d screwed up each week, and it felt terrible. Ya know what, though? Even though I failed, I never ever quit.

Through pro wrestling, I learn to accept that failure is a part of life. When you fail, you appreciate it more when you finally succeed. If there was something I struggled to do in training, whether it was because of my disability or a lack of athleticism, I found a way. You find excuses– or you find a way.

My point to all of this is simple: The hardest step towards anything is the first one, especially when it comes to pursuing a dream that most feel is impossible. Taking that first step into the Cleveland All Pro Wrestling school was one of the toughest decisions I ever made. Nine years later, I look back on that knowing that I’m not financially rich. Mentally, however, I’m overly wealthy.В I don’t have a huge bank account, but because of one big risk, I’ve been able to experience things that I would never have otherwise. Setting foot into the dark eerie basement of Turner’s Hall not only shaped me into the man that I’ve become, but it helped make my dreams a reality.

Today, I leave you with this:

In life, you can take two paths. One path is the familiar road, the one that you’ve heard about from your family and friends. You graduate, go to college, get a job, settle down, maybe have some kids. It’s the safe path. That’s cool and all, but for those that dream big, we’d rather take the second path.

The second path is one you need to map out yourself, slicing and dicing the bushes in your way. It’s the road less traveled. As you move forward, there will be people in the distance, screaming for you to turn around because what you’re doing is too risky. They’ll say that you can’t do it. Tune out the self-doubt. I am telling you to be brave and keep going. The people that are telling you to stop had dreams that died long ago. Don’t look back. You just may lose sight of the dream.

I can’t promise that you’ll succeed. I will promise you this though. When you do look back, it won’t be in regret.

Buy a shirt at www.prowrestlingtees.com/GregoryIron.

-Greg