The Destination Game

A while ago, I would take to this forum to riff, free form, with my takes on goings ons in a few different companies. This was not a sustainable path to follow, unweildy and almost impossible to stay on point. Things shifted to more conventional reviews of my favorite organizations' shows. That has had to go on the back burner as well. And while taking stock of the various promotions out there is no easier a task, events of this past week make it a good time to weigh in on a couple things.

One thing that my rants almost always included, which cannot continue to be, is a complaint about the scope of Ring of Honor's television show being limited to areas receiving Sinclair broadcasts with online viewing opportunities 1 week behind. I suppose I should pat myself on the back for my campaign of frustration paying off because last week, ROH and Destination America announced the unlikely alliance that has ROH's show, now syndicated, appearing on the more widely accessible cable channel Wednesday nights right before TNA Impact. While I may be exaggerating my role in this game changing turn of events, I'm celebrating all the same.

The most notable aspect of the announcement was how soon things would go into effect. Just 1 week from the announcement, tomorrow night! This is especially awesome timing coming from the point of view of a proponent of New Japan Pro Wrestling like myself, as the ROH/NJPW joint shows happened a scant few weeks ago - I am still shaking off the effects of a trip to Philadelphia to see War Of The Worlds night 2 (I hope to put together some kind of account of it soon) - and the final day, presented as Global Wars night 2, was a TV taping. In the near future, Destination America could very well be bringing us a dream match like Roderick Strong  (who had an extremely impressionable match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at War of the Worlds night 2) VS Shinsuke Nakamura, a one of a kind curiosity like Jushin 'Thunder' Liger VS buzz worthy Dalton Castle, and maybe even a match straight off of a typical Korakuen Hall card like Bullet Club members AJ Styles and the New Bucks taking on CHAOS' Kazuchika Okada and RPG Vice. It's a match that plays directly into the upcoming Dominion Show with a main event pitting Styles against Okada with the IWGP Heavyweight title on the line (available to overseas viewers via the NJWP World streaming service). ROH's continued connection to New Japan is, to me, a serious sign of the US upstart company's legitimacy. NJPW has come to be known as a symbol of wrestling excellence internationally, and the ROH talent keeps up, the exchanges going both ways. While this deal is great, it brings up questions over whether it will lead to wrestlers in the ROH camp that have already featured prominently in the Destination America campaign, like Styles, the Bucks, Rocky Romero, and reDRagon will be asked to spend more time stateside to double down on their Ring of Honor presence and diminish NJPW's star a bit. There is,  after all, have a program on another cable channel AXS, showing somewhat older recorded NJPW matches, and another cable network is kinda the competition....

On the other hand, they may let things play out naturally. The popularity of the Bullet Club has certainly flourished organically, and has been benefiting both ROH and NJPW by letting the talents involved in the name do their thing so to speak, not by trying to bottle it and shove it down people's throats. Letting that continue seems logical, and hey, if that generous spirit adds a little luster to Jeff Jarret's somewhat underwhelming Global Force Wrestling venture, by way its inclusion of Anderson and Gallows on some of the tapings they have scheduled, then what's the harm?

Having looked at the positive potential of Ring of Honor's relocation to Destination America, let's talk about the other side of the coin: the curious case of the other company who's been crashing on the Destination America floor, if not moving all the way into the master suite, TNA. It's a strange turn of events to say the least, if for nothing else, the way it went down with most if not all at TNA seemingly in the dark til the rest of us were. Even though some would like to look at as nothing but roses at their favorite hanger on of a promotion (TNA fans, I tell you, they seem to me as blindly devoted as the most toxic doomsday cult's followers). Here's a few things to keep in mind, though...

There is a reason we have rarely, if ever, seen two wrestling promotions share the same broadcast network as their primary outlet: such companies are competition. While some mutual gain can sometimes be achieved, as in the aforementioned case of ROH and NJPW, being on the widely received platform of television is where brands try to establish themselves, and when they do that, they are asking for your time and resources, and that is time and resources that other brands by their nature are asking for the same.

Sure, Destination America is trying to play the mutual gain card, let's all get along and make lots of money, and promoting Wednesday as pro wrestling night in their neck of the television woods. And while it makes a bit of sense that people who already check out one company would stick around to see a bit of the other, there are some things about the companies' past crossing of paths that may suggest a bit of a less sunny disposition on the part of all parties. For instance, and I should say my source for this were the excellent MLW and Bauer and Pollock podcasts, there was a time when TNA had decided to abandon all code of honor, and legal business conduct, and pursue business with contracted TNA talent. There is also the fact that these promotions would seem to be on polar opposite trajectories. Ring of Honor is clearly on the rise, while TNA is well... It stands to reason that ROH is going to approach the new move with a bit of swagger, while the Impact Zone is likely to be riddled with insecurities. Already the reactions among those on the TNA roster have ranged from criticizing their leadership and taking other bookings to welcoming the new addition to the 'family' and engaging the other company in in-character banter. Meanwhile, on the ROH side there has been a united front, a singular focus on acknowledging only themselves and their new opportunity.

Any manner of excuses could be made, but when it comes down to it, for team TNA to not know about this move beforehand is a pretty crappy way to treat a friend, if that's what you want to consider what they are to the network that welcomed them so heartily some months ago. A heads up could've easily been given. I suppose this could've left a liability of details getting out too early because well, when it comes to TNA, discretion and shrewd business moves haven't really been part of the vocabulary.   While people can cast aspersions on those who have a reputation for reporting professionally for years and years, or write things off as rumor, I don't think you can reasonably ignore the general lack of harmony between Destination America and TNA that's been hinted at throughout the bulk of them. Basically, it's a bit reactionary to think that the Discovery subsidiary made the move to bring in ROH purely as a 'suck it' gesture to Dixie Carter and her show, but their way of handling it certainly suggests a bit more than passive aggression. It does not seem all that implausible that TNA's days could be numbered.

I suppose it could sound as though there is some negativity being expressed here toward TNA. Maybe just a bit. Watching fumble after fumble from this company, I am a bit mystified by its ability to stumble forward. I find it difficult to look away completely, with its almost car crash like cringeworthy embodiment of disaster. The company has shown a lack of ability to properly promote events or talent, it's put together shoddy matches that fail to showcase its' talent roster's talent, and has dropped the ball on so many of its impact players...many of whom Ring of Honor or New Japan have gladly scooped up. The only thing I find more incredible is the way a dedicated segment of TNA viewers just continue to pump their support into the product, at least vocally, while in lockstep, bashing whatever comes on WWE programming. In fact these same wrestling fans seem to take to ROH, looking forward to some synergy on Wednesday nights. I suppose that's a plus, but I just don't get it and feel a need to challenge it. If anything TNA seems like WWE, or at least trying to be, with long drawn out stories and dissatisfying inconclusive match finishes. To me, TNA and ROH have nearly diametrically opposed philosophies on presenting pro wrestling. It is hard for me to imagine someone thrilling to the in ring storytelling presented by those ROH and NJPW stars mentioned above and then taking the 4-5 minute rush jobs on TNA seriously. Sure there are exceptions, but it seems like that is the wrestlers, whom i acknowledge in many cases are very good, getting themselves over in spite of the creative and booking agents' direction, not as a result of it.

Only a few things are certain in the realm of pro wrestling, and I'd assert that here too. One of them is it will be very interesting to tune into Destination America Wednesday nights to see how this rocky relationship starts off. The other is that there will be 'F-ck TNA' chants. I wasn't at the taping, but I almost 100 percent guarantee it. With shows that could on any given episode include excellent wrestlers like Franky Kazarian and Christpher Daniels (as The Addiction), AJ Styles, and Samoa Joe (though his recent signing with WWE may put the kybosh on his tv time), all of which TNA unceremoniously dropped the ball on or undervalued, fans in attendance  of the strong brand's shows will more than likely shout out their show of solidarity. It will be interesting to see if the chants grow louder and more frequent due to shared telivision stage.

twitter: @mondocurrymark

A week in wrestling 2.22 - 3.1 MMM (Make Matches Matter)

OK then, the dust has settled from Fastlane. For about a week. I think there was some disappointment about the straight up loss of Bryan and the move forward with Reigns vs Lesnar. But not as much. Perhaps WWE has been plotting a strategic course to get fans accustomed to disappointment and able to rebound more quickly. If so, job well done. As I have mentioned, I am not that opposed to a Reigns vs Lesnar match; it’s definitely a more credible physical competition.  To me, the outcome of the match is more important. Do they force Reigns through the door despite lack of experience and a need to further develop his charisma and in-ring arsenal? Or do they keep Lesnar, the more interesting and dynamic performer, dominant either as an unbeatable heel or a turning face? This would require a Reigns heel turn, which the WWE looks very unlikely to pull the trigger on because they seem to so desperately want to market him as the next big thing. This is ignoring some basic pro wrestling logic of the recent and not so recent past: Heels get over. Look at when Reigns was most over, as a member of the ruthless heel group, The Shield. Making him truly kick ass as a villain will make him ease into the baby face role down the line that much easier.

Of course the decision of who wins is probably largely dependent on Brock Lesnar’s future with WWE, one that is increasingly questionable considering his walk out of a scheduled appearance on the last episode of RAW and a reportedly heated argument with Vince McMahon. The card of Wrestlemania and the future course of the WWE wouldn’t be so frustratingly up in the air if they would get to doing one simple thing well: consistently make both faces and heels appear impressive. One of the key words there is consistently. Had WWE been doing this over the past few years, a Dolph Ziggler or Cesaro or even a Wade Barrett may have been able to step up to the main event plate by now.

RAW had some terribly confusing storytelling when it came to the Randy Orton/Authority story, resulting in an angle that could’ve potentially charged things up coming off as very lackluster. It went something like this…Randy Orton comes out mad as hell at Seth Rollins, telling Steph and Triple H they can take their plan for reconciliation and shove it, and then basically saying, ‘ok, sure, let’s talk.’ And then basically getting back together for a run of the mill tag team match, with tease of Orton going on crazy on Rollins when…We already KNOW he is going to go crazy on Rollins. It wasn’t even a plan on Orton’s part to infiltrate the group and then hit Rollins when his guard was down. It was an illogical way to drag a story out longer, making Orton look lame, when they could’ve easily carried a program between them to Wrestlemania out by having them cut menacing promos and win matches against up and coming talent.

While I love NXT, this week was one in which I found some serious missteps. Better said, there were some good ideas carried out with what I felt was some shoddy execution. It’s a good move bringing in familiar faces like Brian Kendrick (as well as Rhyno last week) to give the new faces some seasoned work style to bounce off of. But having Kendrick suddenly face Finn Balor was a rushed program, and ended up being a wasted match. NXT would’ve been wise to bring Kendrick in for at least 1 match a week earlier, maybe more, to reestablish who he is and what he does. For many younger fans, it would be the first time to meet this character. That would give the audience something to react to, as NXT’s raucous audience has come to be regarded as a huge bright spot on the show. Instead, they mostly sat on their hands, and meanwhile on tv, the match was distracted from by this confrontation being set up by Kevin Owens and Alex Reilly. It was so painfully obvious what was happening, Reilly is not a very natural actor, and at the end, you could see the commentators, who kept going unnaturally silent to make room for this thing to happen, moving to set up for the attack by Owens to happen. I feel that having these shows taped is a tool that NXT should use to its advantage and edit bumps like this out.

NXT is still winning first place for its treatment of female wrestling. Becky Lynch fought Bailey and looked extremely impressive. Meanwhile, Sasha Banks and Flair are set to have a match that is sure to be excellent. Instead of outing them in outlandish in-ring stories, like in Lucha Underground, here they face each other in matches that showcase their skills and tenacity.

Meanwhile, I want to take a few moments to mention how great New Japan Pro Wrestling’s English weekly tv program on AXS. With a retro feel that brings to mind grittier and less flashy days of Saturday afternoon wrestling watching, the show has been introducing a modest cast of characters with backgrounds free of complexity. Though watching old broadcasts of matches on a monitor, the energy brought to the commentary by Mauro Ranallo makes it seem like he is right there with Josh Barnett calling the match in person and seeing it for the first time. It makes a huge difference in selling the action in the ring, which is already very good. The decision to go back to 2013 and show pivotal matches and rivalries has potential to bring the show up to the current day. A nice situation ripe for cross promotion could occur, in which the tv show stays a few months behind the up to date NJPW program. Then, the events shown on  NJPW World or on PPV, which will reportedly be arranged to happen again later in the year, can be promoted even better.

What does NJPW do so well, allowing the company to garner so much praise and support in recent days? A few crucial elements stand in direct contrast to what WWE is doing. One is the way the talent makes the matter of winning or losing seem extremely consequential. Victories are always made to appear hard fought, as though an extreme amount of effort was expended in overcoming the opponent, even when the outcome was none too unpredictable. This speaks to another stark difference in NJPW and WWE booking: New Japan matches end and lose in decisive fashion. Even if there is cheating, and with heel factions like the Bullet Club and Suzuki Gun there almost always is, the matches still have a clear winner and loser. The winner is triumphant, the loser is despondent.

That leads me to a major disappointment with much of the WWE Fastlane special: there were so many matches with endings that were trivial. Roll ups, disqualifications, and basically a bunch of calculated maneuvers that set up rematches at Wrestlemania. Watching Fastlane was almost entirely like an infomercial for the conflicts that might happen at Wrestlemania 31.

Finally, Ring of Honor is sitting on a goldmine of potential greatness, with Alberto El Patron (fka Del Rio) joining their ranks, NJPW’s Bullet Club members AJ Styles and the Young Bucks appearing often, and most recently Samoa Joe signing with them. If Eric Bishoff were booking ROH, we might get Joe and Alberto throwing on Bullet Club t-shirts and joining with the popular team. But it seems more likely the company will realize the potential rivalries that could be developed between the Bullet Club and these recent acquisitions.

I feel that ROH has some serious momentum. But some of its distribution practices are counterintuitive. Its TV product, for example, is not available to me and let’s just say, my being located in a major metropolis, that is a lot of potential viewers not getting to see their show on TV. One can watch episodes on their website, and I often do, but the ones available to the public are from the week before. That means if I were to, say, mention the great match between ACH and Alberto El Patron, I would be talking about something that happened a week earlier. That also means the episode that is supposed to promote tonight’s PPV event will appear online after the event happens(!?).

Content is well protected, rarely if ever appearing on youtube or daily motion. Yet, when Lucha Underground becomes readily available on such sites on a regular basis, it allows many more eyes to be on the show, giving it a buzz and a bigger following than its home station’s limited cable carrier access allows. While Ring of Honor does allow and encourage fans to subscribe to a service that unlocks all episodes of the tv show, I and I’m sure others like me are not drawn in when the viewing platform is just an in-site player. This does not put the company up to speed with services like that of NJPW and WWE, who make PPV events available as well as a huge array of archives and live streaming content. I know ROH is restricted by a limited budget in comparison so I am not suggesting they go into the streaming service game. But lifting the curtain a little and allowing access to the product on a timely weekly basis would no doubt get more people interested in the program, willing to order the PPV’s and do other things to bolster their business.

Twitter: @mondocurrymark