Welcome to the debut edition of what will be a regular feature going forward!
As you no doubt surmised from the title, in each edition I will be listing five things of various topics across the world of Professional Wrestling.
This week I take a look at five news items and events from this past week that caused genuine excitement and a good feeling I have about the future as the year progresses. Enjoy!!
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1. World Wrestling Entertainment's Global Expansion Initiative
After many years detailing the wish to establish various territories across the globe, WWE has finally begun to put the wheels in motion to do just that.
It didn't take very long for their focus on the United Kingdom wrestling scene to send a ripple effect that has effected various companies across the board.
The United Kingdom Championship Tournament was a rousing success which saw the inaugural champion Tyler Bate established as the picture perfect hero to build around and Pete Dunne being the textbook example of a villain you want on your roster.
However the goal of establishing a weekly television series featuring the sixteen competitors they signed to contracts will take some time to get off the ground; so the company has taken vital steps to strike while the iron is hot and they coincide with another project they have been gathering feedback for via surveys.
News came out that Scotland's Insane Championship Wrestling is very likely going to be added as content to the WWE Network. While no official announcement has been made regarding that as I write this, all signs point to one coming at some point in the next week or so.
I first became aware of ICW via their excellent documentary on Netflix which detailed the group's efforts to sell out their then-biggest venue used to date (which thanks to the efforts of owner Mark Dallas and his dedicated roster proved to be a success).
Upon viewing their product I instantly became a huge fan of the likes of Wolfgang, Noam Dar, Trent Seven, Grado, Lionheart, Nikki Storm, Tommy End (now NXT's Aliestar Black), Big Damo (now NXT's Killian Dain) and many others.
The action was high impact and there wasn't anything restricting the talent from going balls out. Their annual Fear and Loathing mega shows (their Wrestlemania) has become a much anticipated event by all who follow the company.
ICW however is just a step one in establishing further alternative programming choices for Network subscribers.
Potentially joining ICW are independent wrestling standouts Progress Wrestling and Over The Top Wrestling.
Progress and WWE have done a bit of work together previously.
Two qualifying matches that gave the Cruiserweight Classic Zack Sabre Jr and Jack Gallagher as participants were held while current Progress champions Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, and Tyler Bate took part part in the UK Championship tournament.
I see nothing but positives coming out of these deals should one or all of them come to fruition.
The companies and talent that find themselves airing on the Network will be given the biggest platform available in wrestling to bring further awareness to what they can offer those seeking something different from what is seen on Raw or Smackdown.
It also allows WWE to have Bate defend his title in three different promotions to keep their overall goal with the UK expansion fresh in people's minds. If his defenses air on the Network, fans could potentially become hooked on three separate sets of talent rosters leading to everyone getting a piece of the viewing pie. In theory, a WWE fan may decide they really enjoy ICW, OTT, and Progress and travel to see them live one day or simply help spread the word about their existence.
Some have viewed this as an attempted monopolization not unlike Vince McMahon Jr's long-term expansion goal when he purchased the World Wrestling Federation from his father.
While much too early to tell if that winds up being the case or not, I still feel confident in saying I think this will be an exciting time in wrestling as things begin to take shape.
Not only for WWE and whatever partnerships they officially form but those who seek to be separate competitive entities. Which brings me to..
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2. Takaai Kidani and the Anti-WWE Coalition
Bushiroad President and New Japan Pro Wrestling owner Takaai Kidani has long been known as an ambitious and often ruthless businessman who even at age 56 still has the drive and desire to weave his products into the fabric of not only Japan but the United States as well.
Ever since WWE shockingly purged the New Japan roster in January 2016, taking AJ Syles, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Shinsuke Nakamura, Kidani has been determined in every sense of the word to fire back. Once he restructured talent contracts to be multi-year deals with restrictions placed on negotiations with other companies, his next grand vision started to be unveiled.
Based off the strength of partnerships with Ring of Honor and the UK's Rev Pro, Kidani announced that New Japan will be venturing into California for the long haul.
Not only will G1 Climax specials be held in LA but the goal is to establish an American supplemental company and Dojo to operate as well.
Kidani has stated if things go as he plans for them to, the real expansion would begin in 2018.
This is a major undertaking but one that would pay off dividends if successful. American interest in New Japan has steadily increased since the company underwent a revitialiation period in 2013 built around the endless charisma and ability of current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.
The advent of the on-demand streaming service New Japan World was a stroke of genius as it raise awareness of the company's burgeoning comeback.
Enough American have become sustained subscribers that the announcement was made for the majority of the major PPV events this year would feature English alternate commentary courtesy of the ultra talented Kevin Kelly from ROH and Don Callis (best known as The Jackyl in WWF and Cyrus in ECW).
With all those steps taken inland, it is a natural progression of expansion not unlike what WWE itself is trying to do. Therein lies the excitement factor.
Competition breeds creativity and passion. Even as a diehard WWE fan until the day I die I readily admit that often the company can be lazy and careless about many of its stories and utilization of talent.
A great deal of that stems from not having a competitor breathing down its neck and forcing Vince McMahon outside his comfort zone. To date only Eric Bischoff was ever truly able to do that. I really hope Kidani becomes the second man to do so.
If New Japan is able to catch on in the US and cultivate following that brings in financial gains, everybody wins. All of a sudden WWE could tighten up its ship and we have ourselves as close to a Monday Night War era we can get in today's era.
Of course this is all optimistic speculation on my part. After all, I do look on the bright side every chance I get!
But the very idea that the man who has overseen New Japan's rise out of the ashes (their early 2000s collapse seemed impossible to dig out of to many observers) bringing it to the US and creating a new landscape has me salivating at the possibilities It's not out of the realm that New Japan could partner up with Cali's Pro Wrestling Guerilla to create a dream joint show on par with the ones produced with ROH and Rev Pro.
Fans of wrestling should want to see this all happen successfully in the worst way imaginable. I am a huge fan of every single company I've written about in this piece thus far and the more success each sees through the aforementioned competition, the better it is for everyone.
The key element in my mind is New Japan not going beyond their current capabilities of expansion.
the NWA's David Crockett Jr overreached when trying to play catch up to the WWF in the mid 80s and it cost him everything. Before he knew it, Ted Turner owned the re-branded WCW and he was nowhere around when the company did eventually reach its greatest heights.
Kidani seems to realize the areas he needs to progress slowly in though and as long as he listens to those on the wrestling side that know more than he does, I think he will be okay.
2016 saw many occurences nobody would have ever though possible. Kidani may do the impossible and provide even more that nobody realized they wanted until they had it.
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3. Kurt Angle announced as WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017's headliner
Many friends and I held several discussions about this year's inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame. Many names have been bandied about as being added to the illustrious group of talent already honored and enshrined but the topic that came up the most was who would headline?
Names like Undertaker and Bill Goldberg were thrown out there but the eventual answer that came was one of the most welcome surprises in recent memory.
Ever since he departed the company in 2006 Kurt Angle had been something of persona-non-grata . A rare reference came from various commentators but other than that, it seemed as if the door had been shut on a return ever happening.
The circumstances of his exit and subsequent arrival in Impact Wrestling made for fascinating headlines and reading material even years after the fact. Given the less than cordial discussions held with Vince McMahon prior to going, it wasn't much of a shock Angle spoke of the WWE with scorn while heaping praise on top f then TNA President Dixie Carter.
Kurt spent 11 years in TNA going full tilt as that's the only mode he's ever known and while he provided many classic matches during in that tenure, it came with a heavy price.
Not slowing down for even a hot minute between company changes took its toll on him. His demons and addictions lead to many traffic stops and arrests to the point even TNA had to remove him from television until he cleaned himself up.
Every time one of his contracts came up, many clamored for a WWE return but neither Vince McMahon or Triple H had any interest in bringing him back into the fold. Old wounds and fear of what baggage he'd bring back with him kept him re-signing with TNA each time.
The ice started to thaw in 2016 however. While another attempt to return was denied, Angle was more complimentary of WWE and his time spent there. As he cleaned up his life and got his head back on straight, a reflective Angle seemed to take as much of the responsibility for the paths he went down as it should have been attributed to bis employers.
Yet despite all this, a return still seemed like a pipe dream even after he departed TNA. He kept busy working select independent shows and doing the podcast circuit all the while leaving us fans hoping for a return home.
So when the news broke Kurt Angle was going to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, I was every bit of ecstatic as the rest of the wrestling community. For a guy who had no real desire to become a professional wrestler, Angle ascended to so many heights in record time, he was a first ballot Hall of Famer years before the ceremony was revived in 2004. Now, he is taking his rightful place in wrestling history.
Time will tell if this includes one more match but even if it doesn't, I will be content to just possibly see Kurt back on TV in any fashion. Whether if it's with American Alpha on Smackdown or having one more verbal confrontation with Paul Heyman on Raw, all things Angle would be magic in my view.
Most importantly, I want Angle happy and healthy. Everything else is a bonus. That's damn true.
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4. Mickie James makes official return to Smackdown Live
In keeping with the theme of unlikely but assuredly welcome returns to WWE, Mickie James resurfacing on the most recent edition of Smackdown Live definitely falls into that category.
Much like Angle, James' departure from WWE was less than ideal. After four years, multiple reigns as Women's Champion, a reign as Divas Champion, and a tasteless "Piggy James" story, the company released her shortly after Wrestlemania 26 in 2010.
Mickie didn't lose a step however. She ventured into country music and eventually brought Hardcore Country to TNA that same year. While there she racked up multiple reigns as Knockouts Champion while putting on clinics against the likes of Awesome Kong, ODB, Gail Kim, Tara to name a few.
Many had their interest piqued when she left the company in 2013 and wound up doing a guest trainer stint for WWE in Orlando but at the time it went no further.
After a stint in Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling and a brief return to TNA alongside husband Magnus, many wondered what would be her next step? She seemed content to compete as she felt inclined to while focusing on being a mother to her children.
Also like Angle's HOF announcement, the November 2016 news from NXT GM William Regal that James would challenge NXT Women's Champion Asuka at Takeover: Toronto was a much welcome surprise.
Mickie didn't miss a beat by the time the show rolled around. She competed as if she had never left and was the same elite athlete that had dethroned Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania 22 in one of the best women's matches in both show and company history.
Though she came up short, James gave Asuka her toughest challenge to date and proving she had plenty left in the tank. A full time return seemed like a no-brainer but it wasn't until the January 17 edition of Smackdown Live that she would reappear in shocking fashion.
After weeks of frustration and a burning desire to shut down Smackdown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss's arrogant rise to prominence, Becky Lynch had her rival literally in her grip with the Dis-arm-er when a previous nuisance turned into a nightmare.
The masked La Luchadora inserted herself into the fray but this time the mask came off after helping Bliss retain her title.
A stunned Lynch learned as we all did that Mickie James was back on the Blue Brand in a big way.
Bliss was already feeling unbeatable and now with Mickie at her side that may prove to be true.
What are Mickie's full intentions now that she's back where she belongs? It will be fun watching to find out.
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5. Glorious Strong Style And a Contract Signing
Contract signings in NXT are rightfully viewed as a breath of fresh air when compared to standard signings of similiar nature on a Raw or Smackdown.
While there has been the occasional physical confrontation (Asuka vs Nia Jax) the majority of them do not end in a wild brawl but rather allow two men to put on a display of charisma and the gift of gab.
The official signing for NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode at Takeover: San Antonio may have both been a shining example of that and my favorite to date.
These two were made to go head to head. Grand entrances and theme songs that will get stuck in your head instantly. Though perhaps it is their contrast in personalities that make for an intriquing can't miss main event.
Roode stating that while he kept tabs on Nakamura in Japan he didn't find him to be at all in his league or anywhere near as good as fans and pundits make him out to be was classic.
Nakamura responding as only he could that Roode reminded him of a dog and that his win over him at Takeover would be GLORIOUS was equally awesome.
It was an evenly matched verbal joust that didn't need a single punch to thrown. Body language and facial expressions were all I needed to be further sold on their impending encounter.
Simple is better almost every time.
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That wraps it up for this edition of Five Things. Until next time, keep looking at wrestling on the Bright Side!!
Awesome,u pick the great 5 feature things.
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