Memphis Mark

ROH has done a good advance for this show , almost 1,000 tickets sold so far ... Even with McMahon trying to sabotage the show , ROH will still draw over 2,000 for this show. This could end up being the largest ROH crowd ever.Also it is a sold show, so running the show is not moronic . ROH will make money. However it is sad that the WWE is trying to bury ROH . I guess the WWE is paranoid about Sinclair Broadcasting buying ROH . They is really nothing the WWE can do about ROH . Sure they can run head to head and steal some talent. In the end ROH is still of Sinclair . a much larger and wealthier company than the WWE .

How is working for Vince McMahon validation for anyone ?

I get what you're saying, but I disagree with a lot from this first paragraph anyway. I may be wrong in assuming that other people have enjoyed Storm as much as I have in recent years, but I certainly have pimped & raved about some of his performances - particularly the singles run from 2011 to late 2013. The matches with Gunner were incredibly fun brawls. The bad acting and terrible TV segments aside... they delivered when it came to in-ring action. And the praise isn't exclusive to Storm there either. Gunner more than held up his end. Didn't feel at all like a carry job. Both guys went out, busted their asses, shed blood, threw bombs, and even cooked up some slightly innovative stuff with their utilization of the weaponry. It wasn't just a string of run-of-the-mill garbage matches. Same could be said for Storm versus Roode - both the Street Fight and the Lockdown Cage match - although I'd admittedly rank both of those higher than the Gunner series. The intensity *MIGHT* have been greater with Gunner in spurts, but the story... the drama... the heat... and the atmosphere was exceptionally higher in the Roode feud, and that's something you rarely got from TNA rivalries. I've seen Shaw in other promotions outside of TNA. Have yet to feel like he's had anything noteworthy anywhere, to be honest. I could be wrong, but you're almost making it out to sound like ROH is the promised land that these guys should be aiming for. I don't think that's necessarily the case for any of them to be honest, nor do I really think it should be that cut & dry. And now with the rumored Evolve/WWN stuff being tied to NXT deals, well... there's a ton of options out there. PWG, LU, So-Cal indies, Southern indies, Northeast Indies, Japan, you name it... The door's wide open with opportunities if they pursue them and - as you kind of alluded to - if they're simply talented enough to warrant getting booked for their work. Some of them certainly are. But it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if a handful of them are just content & comfortable with what they're doing. They might keep on trucking with TNA dates, supplemented by a couple of dates with indies here & there. Well I did not mean that ROH is the promised land for these guys . The promised land would get on the WWE main roster , main event PPV's and make a few million . Most of these guys will not get there , mainly due to size and age. The next best thing would be an AJ Styles deal . Styles is under contract to to NJPW , is an attraction in ROH , still is on American Television , gets to work overseas dates and cherry picks select indie dates. AJ has one of the best deals in wrestling. That deal would be the promised land for Austin Aries or Low Ki . PWG and all these indies really don't pay a lot of money compared to what AJ is earning with his NJPW / ROH deal. The NXT deals required wrestlers to move to Florida and , in some cases , accept lower pay . ROH offered the Briscoe's more money than the NXT deal . Plus the Briscoes , Young Bucks and others do not want to move to Orlando . These guys are grow men with families and are really just concerned with making money. They are not marks for the WWE , l.. There lies a major flaw in the NXT deal. I was not referring to my own opinions about this group of wrestlers. I like James Storm's work . He was great in AMW and I loved the Beer Money / MCMG series. Outside of Aries and Storm ,I really don't know much about the other guys. However I would watch their work with an open mind. I was referring to so called smart fans in the ROH / PWG / Indie crowd . These people would not even give a guy like James Storm a chance to prove himself , simply because he worked for TNA. They would pre -determine in their minds that he cannot work . They have closed minds. I saw it when Cornette bought in some young OVW guys to work opening matches. These OVW were not given a fair shot by the ROH fans. I think guys like Storm , Aldis and Gunner would get rejected by a segment of the fans due to their TNA roots.

The deal is that fans know that Aries and Low Ki can work wrestling matches at a high level. No one really knows what James Storm , Nick Aldis, Gunner/ Phil Shatter and even Samuel Shaw can do in the ring because they have been working in the Russo booked/ inspired TNA for years . . Storm had some great matches in AMW , but that was years ago . Fans just assume these guys cannot work because they have been forced to participate in these idiotic story lines in TNA. The collapse of TNA and the struggle of GFW to even get off the ground have created a buyer's market for talent.. Recent WWE releases like Brian Myers , CJ Parker and PJ Black are not yet getting looks from ROH or NJPW . Harry Smith has gotten a total of one ROH booking. Recently , ROH had a try out camp and they had 50 campers. There must be over a 100 indy workers trying to get a few ROH spots . The WWE continues to sign non - wrestlers for NXT program . That just take spots away from legitimate pro wrestling talents. It will be interesting to see where all these guys land. I will guess and say Aries and Low Ki will get some ROH dates , but the others might find it tough out there. I bet that Styles , Joe , Lethal , Daniels , Kaz , Shelly and Sabin are glad they got the hell out of TNA and got jobs elsewhere before all the fall of TNA . It Will be interesting to see how it all plays out

I don't think GFW is actually signing any talent to a contract . All the GFW talent are free agents that are being paid per appearance . I don't think a start up like GFW can afford to burdened by a large amount of fixed cost this early in the game. I sure that the WWE , NJPW and ROH will look at all the former TNA talent . they will pick up whoever can draw money.

I don't know much about AAA and how they operated their promotion . I would think AAA would want their talent booked strong, So might we see a whole bunch of AAA vs. AAA match ups in BOLA , so the guys can eliminate each other from the event .. I could be wrong, but AAA might want to protect their talent , similar to Styles last year .

I watched one DVD from Beyond Wrestling " When Satan Rules His World " . I must admit that I am kind of on the fence with Beyond. I like watch new talent work and develop , but the match quality was all over the map . If anyone has watched much Beyond , please give me your views on the promotion . I am interesting to see what others think about this group. Thanks .

I think Low Ki hands are clean of this deal. TNA is not running house shows and late on pay. Who in their right mind would want to be under contract to TNA at this point in the game.?Right Low Ki , James Storm , Austin Aries and Nick Aldis have left the company. I suspect there will be many more. I don't know how the WWE will offer out of this group , but I suspect that NJPW , AAA and ROH will have some interesting talent decisions in the near future.

I have watched a couple of Tracy Williams matc I have watched several Tracy Williams matches over the past couple of weeks. If I understand correctly Williams is very young and has only been wrestling about a year . This guy is a strong mat wrestler and he all of the physical tools to make it in wrestling. Williams has height and a frame that couple pack on about 20 pounds of muscle without really losing a step . Williams should be one of the next break out stars . Any body else seen Tracy Williams and have any thoughts of his potential ?

ROH is running in Atlanta the same weekend as BOLA. I know that ROH was pulled all contracted talent from PWG , . I guess all the other ROH guys will be in Atlanta. Which is good for PWG . The ROH vs. WWN Live matches have about run their course .Now PWG is being forced to bring in fresh talent , which is good for the business. Now they can book the TNA talent , bring in some UK talent , some Japan talent , AAA talent and some up and comers from the indies. It is a win / win for everone. The fans get to see new talent , some new guys get a break and the ROH guys get a full time job in wrestling.

ROH does not have to get rid of Cheeseburger. He can came still come and throw t-shirts to fans, he could become a manager or he could work a behind the curtain . Cheeseburger just does not need to be wrestling for ROH. I really don't understand the appeal of Cheeseburger.

I don't know if ROH made a mistake not pandering to the WWE. Sure the WWE is by far the biggest wrestling company in the world. However the Sinclair Corporation is worth three times more than the WWE . I don't think the CEO and board of Sinclair Broadcasting are sweating Vince McMahon . Most of them have never even heard of McMahon . Sinclair operates ROH as low cost programming for their own network . I don't think Sinclair really cares or worries about the WWE . There will plenty of quality guys that will want to work for ROH . Remember wanting to work for McMahon and actually working for him are two different things. McMahon is a nut case. How many guys will never work for him again . Johnny Mundo , Alberto Del Rio , Justin Gabriel , Kenny Omega , Trent Barratta and countless others . ROH will be fine. Aside from Alberto and maybe Omega, none of those guys are wrestlers I could see WWE being actually interested in again anyway. It does not matter if the WWE is interested in those particular group of names. My point was that there is plenty of talent in the marketplace for ROH to book . The WWE is a horrible place to wrestlers to work . Wrestlers last about 3 to 5 years and are either fired or run for the nearest exit. How long before guys like Steen , Generico , Black , Moxley and Callihan become available for ROH or NJPW ? Odds are Steen will be back in ROH in a couple of years. McMahon will decide he is too fat , too French or whatever and just fire Steen. The other point was that Sinclair is an overall more powerful and richer company than the WWE . It is not even close., just google both companies stock prices for proof . Sinclair just does not invest major capital into their wrestling company. McMahon would have to be a complete fool to try and provoke Sinclair I know he is crazy , but he cannot that stupid.

I don't know if ROH made a mistake not pandering to the WWE. Sure the WWE is by far the biggest wrestling company in the world. However the Sinclair Corporation is worth three times more than the WWE . I don't think the CEO and board of Sinclair Broadcasting are sweating Vince McMahon . Most of them have never even heard of McMahon . Sinclair operates ROH as low cost programming for their own network . I don't think Sinclair really cares or worries about the WWE . There will plenty of quality guys that will want to work for ROH . Remember wanting to work for McMahon and actually working for him are two different things. McMahon is a nut case. How many guys will never work for him again . Johnny Mundo , Alberto Del Rio , Justin Gabriel , Kenny Omega , Trent Barratta and countless others . ROH will be fine.

You cannot holding working for TNA against Daniels . He has got two kids he needed the money. Daniels was the cornerstone for some of the best matches of the 2000's. I really have a lot of respect for his in ring work.

I got nothing against Cheeseburger . I am sure he is a good kid . You got to understand I drove from Memphis to see this card. So ROH trots not one , not two , but 12 really , really tiny guys in the first half of the show. They went cheap and filled out this card with green kids that were all under 5' 10 " and 170 pounds. So I guess I feel ripped off by ROH . The same ROH that I have been supporting with my hard earned money for the last 9 years. I expected a much stronger talent lineup from ROH. Hell half of their roster was not even in Nashville.

I went to the Nashville show. Cheeseburger worked a 4 way with Whitmer, Young and Moose. The kid is really small. It looks really bad for Delirious to book this kid. Cheeseburger walked by me at intermission. I would say he is a legimate 5 ' 6 " and 160 lbs. He looks like a small child. Yes , the three others had to sell for Cheeseburger . The kid Will Ferrara is even smaller. Adam Page worked with Will . It was a epic stuggle that Page just barely pulled out. There were at least 10 other really small wrestlers in the dark matches. A dark match with six students, Mike Posey and Corey Hollis and 2 Elgin students jobbed to Taven and Bennett . 12 really small dudes used used to fill out this house show. The whole night was a homage to their fallen comrade , Grizzly Redwood. Cornette was right when stopped Delirious from booking Redwood and all of these tiny wrestlers. Now that ROH is covering the whole nation they really need to stop booking these guys. The real problem is that are both small and devoid of talent. These guys are not Sydal or ACH , Also , I agree that having Evans and Cheeseburger on TV is really not smart if you want to impress new viewers I think that Joe Koff might need a new booker . They should give to Daniels and Kaz , let them see if they can take ROH to the next level.

Tommy Rich vs. Bill Dundee on Memphis TV around 1980. Rich just return from GCW . Tommy and and Bill were two faces having a clean match . Rich hits the low blow and gets the cheap win on Dundee. Lawler has a broken leg , so he is on commentary with Lance . Rich goes to the desk completes his turn by pushing Lawler out his his chair and cuts a heel promo on the fallen King. Get moment in Memphis wrestling.

USA was sold to David Woods by Fuller. The Stud sold him both the Continental and USA promotions. Woods bought USA and just merged into CWF , which really does not make a whole of business sense. CWF did run East Tennessee . I know that the USWA TV ran in Knoxville after CWF closed down. I don't think that Jarrett and Lawler every ran live shows in Knoxville.

Joe Koff has been in TV since the 80's. In fact is he been in sales the whole time. Koff spoke the language DA wanted to hear , that is language of money . Koff knows how to make money with a minimum cost . Sinclair is about making money for their shareholders , not losing millions like TNA.. I don't work in TV , but I would guess that it is a small circle of players and Koff knew the DA people from his years in business. Koff and Sinclair have been slowly destroying Dixie Carter's TNA since 2011. She is so stupid she never saw it coming until it was too late. Poor Dixie was chasing the WWE , while Sinclair was slowly overtaking TNA. She deserves this just for being so stupid . . ROH is now on the Sinclair network , syndicated in Atlanta , DC . Dallas and Cleveland , on the NESN and now Destination America. ROH has the relationship with NJPW . ROH has an active touring business fans where actually pay real money for tickets. ROH has PPV and IPPV . Now ROH has access to Styles , Lethal , Kazarian , Joe , Young Bucks and Matt Sydal . ROH has kept most of it's talent , with Steen being the exception . ROH has an active VOD business. ROH draws money for TV ad sales. Now they even have a toy line. ROH checks every box. TNA is pretty much dead in the water . The only thing they had over ROH was the DA deal , now that is gone. Yet some people still think TNA is the number two promotion. I wonder how old Double J is feeling today ?

I wished I listened to the Spanish commentary , too . I don't even speak Spanish , but anything would be an upgrade over Vampiro .

Well , Samoa Joe is returning to ROH on June 20 . A TV taping in NYC . Apparrently Joe can work wherever he wants .including ROH and NJPW . I cannot recall when the WWE booked a free agent but I guess there is a first time for everything.

I watch the show . I enjoyed the event. I like the LU/ ROH vs. Team AAA match . Cage is really getting a push . I though ACH and Moose did fine. The other match that stood out was the Rest of the World vs. LU/TNA. I do not watch the WWE , so I did not know much about Drew Galloway . I will say that Galloway is a big time talent . He is a big man the can chain wrestle , strike , brawl and leave his feet . He can do it all That is very rare . Galloway is wasting his time in TNA and Evolve , he should be in NJPW . Morrison/ Nitro or Mundo worked well with Galloway they made the match . Vampiro is really terrible . This guy did no show prep . He knew nothing about the other promotions. In fact he buried the ROH guys for no good reason . Vamp spend most of the time shilling for LU . He seemed not the grasp that his job was to put the wreslers over not himself or one particular brand . Vampiro is not very likeable . At least Matt Striker is fair to all the wrestlers and seems to love the business . Also Jeff Jarrett was did commentary during the semi- finals . He spend most of the time doing a commerical for GFW . A waste of time. I wonder if the TNA and ROH people knew Jarrett was going to be at this show? Jarrett and His wife even came out with the TNA and ROH wrestlers. Jarrett said he was scouting talent . How the in hell do you scout talent that is under contract to other promotions .? Ken Anderson is not very good at wrestling . Angelico , Brian Cage , Moose and El Hijo Fantasma all have bigger things in their futures. AAA should have found a way to fit Octagon Jr and Jack Evans into this event. All in all a good show. The commentary was the major flaw.

I know you are joking , but it is the other way around . I think ROH will have the last laugh . I would not be shocked if ROH buys the remains of TNA at a fire sale. People tend to forget that Sinclair has more money than anyone in the business, they just chose not to spend because they are risk averse .. SBC bought ROH on the cheap , they might just end up with the TNA library . The reality of the situtation is that the TNA dream of overtaking the WWE was pure fantasy . Also TNA 's position as the number two company ended when Sinclair bought ROH and the company was vertically intergrated into a muti- billion dollar broadcasting empire. The Carter's should have sold to Viacom when they had the chance , it looks like TNA is doomed .

Is Kevin Dunn far from retirement age ? He hates wrestling and would try and kill a work rate promotion . Dunn helped ruined the WCW Invasion program . The NXT project will always be in danger with VInce and Dunn still working in the company.. The they leave the company has a shot to improve. Until then I would not be shocked to see more indy guys released and more actors/ body builders and football players hired by the WWE. I hate to say but a lot of these indie wrestlers will be released in the next year ot two , if things hold to form. Vince just hates wrestling. I might be wrong , we shall see.

Josh Matthews is now claiming that Samoa Joe is a TNA creation . I though Joe was created by his parents. Also all the ROH matches with Punk , Homicide , Danielson and Kobayashi do not matter. Joe owns his everything to TNA , not his hard work. I don't know much about Matthews , but he must be just pushing the party line. No way he could have worked in wrestling for years and believe all of the crap that comes out of his mouth .