That Wrestling Podcast Episode 50

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 50 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Thought the first episode of That Wrestling Podcast after WrestleMania XXX would be all about the big show and the following night’s RAW? Think again.

For this episode we take a trip down memory lane. No, not WrestleMania XXIX. Or XXVIII. No WrestleMania at all. In fact the topic isn’t even WWE related. No, in this episode we discuss World Championship Wrestling.

This didn't help.

Specifically we talk about what caused WCW to spiral out of control and ultimately go out of business. Everything from the booking to the huge guaranteed contracts to the overreliance on the New World Order angle is discussed. And, naturally, the fact that it ended up being owned by a company that didn’t want anything to do with the wrestling business.

This is a topic I’ve wanted to write about before. It’s one I’m sure I’ll cover one day but not anytime soon. There’s so much to cover that it needs to be done right. This podcast episode will have to suffice for now.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 49

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 49 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

I’m not going to write loads about this episode. Basically, I think it’s one of our better episodes and it functions as a nice jump-on point to what we do.

Can this be improved on?

The opening natter covers a variety of topics. Included are niche manga available in Japan, the recent series of BBC crime drama Jonathan Creek, and an idea Michael’s had for months for a detective wrestler gimmick. So if you’re into Jonathan Creek, or the career of tousley-haired, large-chinned comedian-cum-actor Alan Davies, this is something you may find interesting.

Yes, it’s still a wrestling podcast.

The main topic is our second Three Improvements instalment. Last time we discussed tweaks that could be made to WWE tag teams. This time we discuss the more sombre matter of three TNA performers. Specifically we look at Rockstar Spud, a talented wrestler who doesn’t wrestle; Samoa Joe, a once great wrestler who’s let himself go a bit due to the indifference that TNA instils in everyone; and TNA world champion Magnus, a man Michael and I have very different views on.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 46

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 46 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Last Monday’s RAW saw Triple H forced into agreeing to face Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. There was an additional stipulation added that will see D-Bry added to the WWE championship match between champ Randy Orton and Royal Rumble winner Batista. Someone feeling generous could say this is the culmination of months of storyline development that began with ‘The Game’ costing Bryan the championship at SummerSlam.

Personally I think that’s a bit tenuous. Bryan has been at odds with The Authority only on-and-off since last August and has spent less than a month petitioning for a ‘Mania showdown with ‘The King of Kings’. Not only that but his request for a title match came from nowhere. It’s promising that WWE are doing Bryan v Triple H, and more than likely Bryan v Batista v Orton, and indicates that Bryan’s going to be an important part of the company after WrestleMania XXX but you have to overlook a fair bit to see this as something that’s been built to for months.

Magnus is checking a cage, not hanging around in a school playground

The night before RAW TNA presented their first pay-per-view of 2014, the all cage extravaganza that is Lockdown. The most significant things to happen on that show were Magnus retaining his world championship and Bobby Lashley returning to the company. Why TNA have re-signed Lashers is anybody’s guess. He’s never been popular, has very little crossover appeal, and doesn’t seem dedicated to wrestling in general or TNA in particular. It comes across as a company clutching at straws and a wrestler making a return to make some cash.

These subjects form the bulk of this episode of That Wrestling Podcast, but they’re not all we discuss. There’s also some Buff Bagwell news to kick things off. Specifically we discuss what he’s up to these days, how he could help TNA, and his views on two WWE superstars.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 45

That Wrestling Podcast Epsode 45 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

So. Jim Cornette. As you’ll find out while listening to this episode I’m mostly against the concept of him. I understand that he’s accomplished booker and manager, and that he’s respected within the wrestling business. None of that matters to me.

 

His apoplectic outbursts towards anyone and everyone that’s ever fired him, for completely justifiable reasons, make him a hard character to warm to. As does his opinion that wrestling has had very little to offer since the dawn of the nineties. Everyone has their favourite eras of wrestling but to disregard everything as inferior, especially when you’re continuing to work in and contribute to the business is foolish, childish and irritating.

 

The Cornette shout-and-point. A classic

His approach to booking Ring of Honor is what really turned me against him. Seeing a company that was more about athletic ability and pure, technical wrestling than storylines Cornette decided that ROH would be the perfect promotion to try and revive the dated style and approach he loves. ROH, a promotion that had built its reputation on being ahead of trends, was not the right place for Cornette’s usual booking style, but he employed it anyway.

 

Not only that but he’s stated he saw nothing in Kevin Steen and El Generico. Despite this Steen was the most popular wrestler on the roster while Cornette was in charge and remains so today. Generico, on the other hand, was signed by WWE and is one of the most popular men in NXT. This, to me, proves Cornette does not have a good eye for picking out talent.

 

This argument is presented more coherently in the accompanying podcast. So give it a listen if you’re at all interested in what’s been said so far.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 44

That Wresling Podcast Episode 44 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

On April 25 2011 Mark Henry tuned heel. It wasn’t the first turn of his career and it wouldn’t be the last, but it would be the most significant. It instigated the push that finally saw him accepted as a main event act after years of half-hearted and incomplete attempts by WWE. ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ started mentioning his Hall of Pain, produced the best promo work of his career and cultivated a monster aura.

At Night of Champions, five months after he’d gone bad and been rocketed to the top, Henry defeated Randy Orton to capture the World Heavyweight championship. That result, and the fact that it was clean, amazed me. I’d been convinced that Henners had been built up in order to be fed to a valiant babyface, which ‘The Viper’ then was. I hadn’t expected him to capture what was WWE’s second most prestigious title.

I was shocked by the reign but he did look good with the gold

It took me quite a while to warm to Henry. His promos and look upon turning were positive points but his matches remained as ponderous and uninspiring as ever. It probably didn’t help that I’ve never been that big a fan of big men in wrestling, particularly those who work the sort of slow, powerful style Henry does.

For most of 2011 the character was there but the match quality wasn’t. But towards the end of the year I began to be won over. Henry had some great interactions with Daniel Bryan (doesn’t everybody?) on episodes of SmackDown and at the 2012 Royal Rumble. He had a trio of matches with CM Punk on the April 2, April 9 and April 16 episodes of RAW which were, in hindsight, pretty fun.

Shortly after that Henry disappeared from TV to undergo surgery. He would return nine months later and continue to benefit from strong booking. This was another surprise. Previously breaks from TV had been one of the most common reasons for his pushes faltering. When he returned Henry not only qualified for a spot in the Elimination Chamber but was protected in his inevitable exit from the structure. A month later he cleanly defeated the previously unstoppable Ryback at WrestleMania XXIX.

Since then Henry has continued to be presented as a top act, most notably in his solid swerve turn on John Cena prior to Money in the Bank 2013. While my initial reasons for disliking the push, specifically that WWE could have given a younger member of the roster with a longer future and a less disappointing past such as Brodus Clay to spot in Henry’s place, remain I can’t deny that Henry hasn’t grown into the role and been accepted in it by fans. I wouldn’t claim to be the biggest Mark Henry fan, and I’d still argue that his matches often come closer to being boring than exciting, but when he’s on form against the right opponent Henry can and does shine. If WWE could get more people over to the same extent they'd have far fewer problems.

I just wish Henry hadn’t shaved his head bald. The dreads look was wonderful.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 43

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 43 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Remember when JBL was a main event wrestler? We do. And it’s one of the things we discuss in this episode. When he was first given the promotion I wasn’t a fan of the decision. I was used to him as a tag wrestler in the APA and didn’t feel he looked or wrestled like someone who belonged at the top. It didn’t help that he beat Eddie Guerrero for the championship.

By the end of his title reign I’d warmed to him. He still feels like an anomaly on the list of WWE champions but he did produce some enjoyable brawls in the role. What really won me over was his character. The glad-handing phoney inspired by politicians and JR Ewing was gauged just right. Had they not gone far enough, or gone too far, it would have flopped or become incredibly irritating. It ended up a highlight of the often dodgy mid-decade’s WWE output.

The big question is whether Tozawa would keep the mouth guard in NXT

Also discussed are cage matches. Specifically we talk about types of cage matches, our favourite cage matches, and whether the gimmick’s had its day. I also voice my displeasure at wrestlers being able to win cage matches by pin.

The main portion of the episode is given over to a Breaking In segment. Need to be reminded of what that is? We talk about the chances of three wrestlers from another company making it through the WWE system. This episode’s outsiders come from Dragon Gate USA: AR Fox, Akira Tozawa and Chuck Taylor. Want to know if we think they could make it in WWE as well as our general feeling on them? Then you’d better hit that play button, bro!

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 42

That Wrestling Podcast Epiode 42 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

How important are world titles in wrestling? Should a company always be built around a championship billed as a “world” title or can a case be made for Intercontinental championships or some other wording being more important? On a similar note does being given a world title reign really signify a wrestler as someone important these days? The same can be asked of long title reigns?

These are questions we attempt to answer in today’s episode of That Wrestling Podcast. Personally I think that the most tenured title in a promotion, no matter what it’s called or whether it’s a singles, tag or some sort of gimmick championship, is generally its most important. Having been in existence the longest it will almost certainly have been held by the most important people to pass through the company.

Would another title reign for D-Bry mean anything?

As for wrestlers winning world championships (something which obviously pertains to Daniel Bryan), I think it does matter. It can be a sign that the promotion the wrestler’s working for appreciates and recognises their work and popularity. It can also be used to enhance a wrestler, if the championship means enough.

And long titles reigns? I’ll always be a fan of those. The rarer championship changes are the more they mean. I think I feel this way because I started watching wrestling at a time when title changes were an almost weekly occurrence. The titles didn’t mean a huge amount because they weren’t presented as particularly meaningful. Over the years I’ve realised how much titles can mean to a wrestler’s standing form companies where they’re presented as more than trinkets. And, in fairness to WWE, they’ve improved a great deal with regards to title change frequency in the last fifteen years.

For more on this subject the obvious thing to do is press play.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 41

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 41 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Entrances are one of the most important parts of wrestling. Done right they can be one of the most entertaining aspects of a show, add layers to a character, or create a career highlight. Done wrong they can be horrific, ruining shows, dampening audience enthusiasm, and ruining careers. Many wrestlers, notably (but not necessarily interestingly) Daniel Bryan, have said that having a good entrance is the most important aspect of succeeding in WWE.

This is nothing new, of course. You can go back decades to find examples of wrestlers enjoying lavish entrances on bigger shows. As time’s gone on and technology and budgets have improved the quality of these entrances has grown. WrestleMania III saw wrestlers ferried to the ring on a truck, with a shot of Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan becoming a recurring clip in WWE video packages. WrestleMania IX saw The Undertaker pulled to the ring on what was described as a “funereal chariot”. Three years later Shawn Michaels ziplined into ‘Mania before dethroning Bret Hart for his first WWF championship.

There are non-WWE examples too, of course. The Sandman’s entrances for his match in ECW were usually better than the matches that followed. Meanwhile WCW used the simple idea of having static and black and white featured in the nWo’s entrance video to make it seem as though they really were hijacking episodes of Nitro. And they had Sting dropping in from the rafters too.

And this isn't even the entrance!

Right now New Japan are the undisputed market leaders when it comes to wrestling entrances. Instead of having a set routine their wrestlers are given special entrances on bigger shows, ones that fit their personalities and position on the card. Everything from giant anime swords to strip clubs to comic book-inspired body paint daubing to Japanese rock stars to full size animatronic dinosaurs have been incorporated into entrances for their top stars. It’s an approach that enhances both the wrestlers and the shows.

It’s also an approach that knocks WWE’s tacky firework displays into a cocked hat. If comparing WWE entrances to NJPW’s seems unfair think again. WWE has a long history, longer than New Japan, of giving its top players memorable entrances on big shows. Not only that but they have more money than NJPW, meaning that if they had a mind to they could produce something far more lavish. That they don’t is disappointing.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 40

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 40 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

A subject I’ve wanted to write about for quite a while now is whether or not a large scale (or larger than the current scale) British wrestling promotion could succeed. There are enough talented wrestlers based in Britain to put together a worthwhile roster but that’s only part of what would be required. Regular shows available for viewing on TV or online, ongoing storylines, and an identity beyond being just another company using the same guys to put on good matches would all be necessary too.

This is not an image I'm happy with. For various reasons

It’s a subject that would take thousands of words to do justice, and that sort of thing takes time to write. It doesn’t take long to say them though. So the topic seemed liked a good one for That Wrestling Podcast to cover.

As part of the topic Michael and I talk about guys we’d like to see in a leading British promotion, what sort of style we think would work, the scale on which the company could operate and platforms that could be used to get it seen. It’s not as comprehensive as the subject warrants but it’s close enough. Maybe we’ll come back to it at some point. It is, as I say, something I’ll write about at some point in the future.

Also discussed (for the bulk of the episode in fact) are names synonymous with Extreme Championship Wrestling. Michael and I each pick four guys to go on to a (completely fictional) Mount Rushmore celebrating the talents of ECW. Among the names discussed are Taz, Raven, Sabu, the Dudleys, Rob Van Dam, Paul Heyman, Rhino, Joey Styles and, of course, Jerry Lynn. It proves a far more interesting discussion than a WCW Mount Rushmore because there are so many more men and women linked to ECW than there are to WCW. The reason? Most of WCW's big names worked for the WWF before and WWE after their stints in World Championship Wrestling. Plus, y'know, WCW was really defined by Goldberg's winning streak and the invasion of a outsider faction. Beyond that there was little identity to WCW, and that makes it hard to link guy's to the promotion.

Anyway, how about you press play?

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 39

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 39 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

He made it to Impact, but could he get to RAW?

If you’ve not listened to an episode of That Wrestling Podcast recently, or ever, then I’d suggest this is a good jumping on point. The first minute is amongst the best opening minutes we’ve ever done. It’s true that’s not something I’ve sat and analysed and made comparisons over but it leapt out at me as being more enjoyable than our normal openings are and that’s got to count for something. Right?

The topic is Breaking In. For those who aren’t aware (and that will be most of you) that’s where we discuss how well three wrestlers from outside WWE would fare if they were to enter the WWE system. They’d be “breaking in” to WWE, you see. This is not to be confused with our Breaking Out topic. That’s where we discuss how far wrestlers already in the company can progress, so called because they’re “breaking out” of the pack. It’s all done with the magic of words!

The three men we discuss in this episode are all men currently working on the British indy scene. Kris Travis, ‘The Human Fridge’ Dave Mastiff, and ‘Party’ Marty Scurll. Any of them could improve WWE in some way, because most wrestlers have something to offer WWE, but would they realistically get the chance to? Press play and find out.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 38

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 38 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

This episode is about Sunday’s Royal Rumble. We discuss what was good and what was bad about the show. That means covering Batista’s victory, Sheamus’s return, Bray Wyatt’s attack on John Cena, the WWE championship match, and, of course, the treatment of Daniel Bryan. But which category, good stuff and bad stuff, will these things fall into.

Since the Rumble CM Punk has apparently left WWE. I wouldn’t acknowledge that here (yet) but we discuss him during this podcast too. We both agreed he would wrestle Kane at Elimination Chamber. Technically, technically, that could still happen. Both men are under contract and physically capable of wrestling but, well, it’s not likely.

Batista's going to WrestleMania. And he's going there in his invisible car

Basically grin and bear any bits with CM Punk. There’s as much interest to be found in them as there is in anything else in any of these podcasts, and it may become relevant again.

Also discussed are WWE’s long term plans for Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania. We covers the matches and storylines we expect to see on both as well as what we see as the rights and wrongs of pushing the likes of Batista, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns. We even briefly discuss Ryback v Goldberg.

For a more extensive report on what actually happened at the Rumble and on the following night’s RAW you can read my reviews here and here.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 37

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 37 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

I know the Royal Rumble’s tonight but we discussed that in last Sunday’s episode. There’s only so much that can be said about it in a podcast before it happens.

Talk to the hand, TNA!

As a change from all the Rumble hype Michael and I turn our attention to TNA and the various news and rumours surrounding the company and its staff. Such as Jeff Jarrett leaving and allegedly talking about forming another new company. He’s got the experience to pull that off but I don’t think there are enough guys out there that he could sign to exclusive contracts for it to be a real possibility. He could probably do something on the level of EVOLVE or Ring of Honor, but I get the feeling ‘Double J’ would like to be affiliated with something on a grander scale.

Then there’s the signing of Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards, the American Wolves. They’re not guys who are going to turn things around for TNA but they could help improve the tag division and perhaps the X Division too. Ultimately they talented fresh names. That, along with a strong creative vision, is what TNA needs the most.

The final subject discussed is a wonderful conspiracy theory that, in fact, tie in to the Royal Rumble. But it’s so ridiculous that I don’t think it falls under the umbrella of serious Rumble talk. Have Kane and Daniel Bryan been in cahoots since they stopped teaming? That’s the question, apparently…

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 36

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 36 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

I’ve already posted my thoughts on the WWE Network. They can be found here. In this episode we discuss the Network again but talk a bit more about what could come from it in the future.

To get a bit specific before you press play I think if the Network’s around in five years (and it almost certainly will be) I think WWE will be making original dramas for the Network, unrelated to wrestling. Netflix and other internet-based television services (are they television services if you’re not watching on a television?) are already doing this. WWE will want to do it in order to compete and, perhaps more importantly, to show that they can. It’s the WWE way to show that the company is incredibly versatile even though it isn’t.



You'll be able to watch this happen on the Network, should you want to

Something about the Network that isn’t discussed in this episode is Chris Benoit. WWE has stated that footage of him will be shown unedited but will be preceded by warnings. I think this is the best way for them to approach the issue. With the reputation they have and the market they target they can’t just show footage of a murderer without some form of disclaimer.

At the same time he was such an important part of WCW and WWE for so long that it would make editing him out of storylines a lengthy process, and one that would ruin large chunks of shows he wasn’t directly featured on due to the nature of how wrestling programmes are put together. What they’ve chosen to do allows people to opt out of watching Benoit if they wish while not depriving people of the complete viewing experience they’ll be paying for.

For the record I’m most looking forward to watching ECW footage when the Network gets launched. It is, for me, the most interesting part of WWE’s extensive library. I mention this mainly so that this post can end on a positive note. Now press play!

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 35

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 35 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

The Royal Rumble is a week away. It is arguably the most important show of the year for WWE. It’s the one that sets the tone for the months leading up to WrestleMania. It’s also the one that features the most intricate match of the year (the Rumble itself, obvs) and the one that launches the various feuds and plot developments for ‘Mania. A bad Royal Rumble doesn’t ensure a bad ‘Mania but it creates a lot more work.

A potential Rumble winner

Over the years the big questions regarding the Rumble have stacked up. It’s no longer just about who’ll win but also about who’ll enter first, who’ll enter last, who’ll survive the longest and who’ll eliminate the most men. There’s even the incredibly niche question of what stunt Kofi Kingston will perform to avoid elimination.

In addition to discussing the above we also talk about what we might be in store for with Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania XXX. That includes discussing potential WWE title reigns for Brock Lesnar and Batista, who’ll leave WrestleMania with the championship, and the reliance of WWE on part-timers to make WrestleMania feel like something special.

There will of course be a full written preview posted during the week. Some of my predictions may changes. But maybe not. Not that anyone should be paying that much attention to what’s said here.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 34

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 34 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

This is an episode we promised a while ago. It’s a discussion of what WWE will be doing in five years’ time.

The launch of the WWE Network is obviously going to have had its effect by then. With it not having even been launched yet it’s impossible to say how much sway it will have on how the company operates but it could potentially be huge. WWE will be giving away all monthly pay-per-views to subscribers.

That alone could affect the number and quality of pay-per-views produced. That WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual show which routinely attracts over a million buys worldwide, will be given away for free to subscribers will almost certainly be a big deal. Anything that affects numbers alters the way WWE operates.

Muscles never go out of fashion

We’ve focused more on creative aspects in this episode. One of the central topics is who’ll be in headline positions. CM Punk, for example, will likely be retired or wrestling part time. I think, although Michael didn’t agree, that Cena will just be going part time and either turning heel or coming to the end of a heel run. Beyond that there are no firm predictions, just a general chat about who’ll have made it to the top.

Miz is not someone who will, for the record.

I should note that this was recorded in December, before it was announced that Batista was returning. As such there is a rather odd moment (add it to the collection, yeah?) in which I predict ‘The Animal’ will have returned to the company. Michael seemed less than enthused. The announcement only made him less so.

We also talk about whether WWE will ever promote a pay-per-view from Britain. The time difference has put them off until now, but I think the Network could change that. It would allow anyone wanting to watch live to do so and WWE could show it on pay-per-view on a delay of a few hours. Another SummerSlam from Wembley? I’d be all over that.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 33

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 33 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Somewhere during the last ten years The undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak became an important part of that show. It’s easy to understand why. The number of appearances ‘Taker has made in the WrestleMania series is remarkable. That he’s one every one of his matches (the first by DQ, which I always think tarnishes his accomplishment a little) is even more impressive.

 

Leather around flames? Brave fella

It’s difficult to imagine anyone else ever managing to rack up the number of appearances he’s made. It’s impossible to imagine an undefeated record on ‘The Dead Man’s’ level ever being achieved again. Like Bruno Sammartino’s eight year WWWF world championship reign it’s something that will never be equalled. It’s something that was designed to happen, it came about naturally. That’s often how things gain longevity in wrestling.

 

It’s The Streak that’s the topic of today’s episode. Amongst the things we touch on are potential opponents, how much longer we think ‘The Phenom’ will wrestle, and, of course, whether or not anyone will ever end the thing, with the natural accompanying question of whether they should.

 

Also discussed is the strained relationship between commentators and wrestlers’ monikers. The natural accompanying topic to that is the strained relationship between Michael Cole’s brain and Michael Cole’s mouth. That gets discussed too. At some point we’ll probably do an entire episode on Cole. He’s a fascinatingly banal and contradictory figure.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 32

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 32 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Lovely blue trunks there

In a break from our usual ramblings about WWE this episode focuses on Ring of Honor. It’s not the AJ Styles signing chat your might expect, mainly because it was recorded weeks before ‘The Phenomenal One’s’ return to the promotion that helped make him famous was announced. That’s something I imagine we’ll cover in the next few weeks. There’s not much point talking about it until AJ’s made his comeback is there?

This episode’s topic is Breaking Out. We discuss how far up the ROH card three existing members of the roster could make it. The men in question are high-flyer extraordinaire ACH, wafer thin underdog Cheeseburger, and one half of reDRagon Kyle O’Reilly. Do any of them have what it takes to help ROH grow into a larger operation than it currently is or have they all gone as high as they can already?

Also discussed are drop kicks. Specifically who has the nicest drop kick in wrestling. I’m sticking with my pick of Lance Storm, but Dolph Ziggler and Hardcore Holly bother deserve a mention.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 31

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 31 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

It's like this picture was taken just for this episode!

Anyone who listens to every episode of That Wrestling Podcast (which is probably none of you) will be familiar with episodes that cover how far three guys in WWE can make it up the card. This episode is a twist on that theme: we look at three guys from New Japan (Pro Wrestling (a wrestling company)) and discuss how far they could make it in WWE.

The three men in question are Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Prince Devitt and former six time IWGP heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. You can probably guess some of our reactions to the chances of these three succeeding in the WWE system but that shouldn’t stop you having a listen. Should it?

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 30

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 30 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

I’m quite a fan of Batista. He’s not my favourite wrestler or anything like that but I appreciate the things he does well and feel the things he’s bad at are minor enough to be easily overlooked. Michael is not a fan of Batista. He can’t overlook any of the things he’s bad at and doesn’t feel the things he’s good at warrant any special praise. We did the natural thing in this situation and recorded a podcast episode arguing for and against ‘The Animal’.

This picture represents an underrated time to be a wrestling fan

And then a week later WWE announced that Batista’s returning.

Needless to say if we’d known he was coming back we would have devoted a lot more time to the topic of Batista. We probably would have altered the approach we took too, discussing who he could feud with and what he’s likely to do when he turns back up on RAW. Unfortunately we’re (again) victims of poor timing.

I remain a Batista fan. I imagine I’ll write something about his upcoming return at some point. For now you’ll have to make do with me arguing in favour of his matches with The Undertaker and Eddie Guerrero.

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 29

That Wrestling Podcast Episode 29 by Dave Hatton on Mixcloud

Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, collectively known as The Shield, are all very talented men. Not since the formation of the nWo in 1996 have three wrestlers with such individual star power worked together as a single act. But where Hogan, Nash and Hall for the most part had the best in-ring days of their careers behind them when they came together in WCW the best days are yet to come for ‘The Hounds of Justice’.

 



The future

As a wrestling fan you can never state with absolutely certainty that someone will become a huge star. There are too many unpredictable aspects to the sport. But with the three men of The Shield we can about as close as is possible. All three will go on to work as singles acts once the group disbands. All three will get their shot at standing alone as a star.

 

But who’s going to do the best? Inexhaustible bleach fan Seth Rollins? Oddball frontman Dean Ambrose? Hulking, silent brute Roman Reigns? That’s the subject for today’s podcast. We chat about which member of The Shield will go the furthest and what their individual strengths are.

 

With a breakup for the gang likely next year, this seemed like the perfect time to discuss it.