FROM CODY TO CANADA DAY, DEREK HARMSWORTH SMASHES THROUGH THE PAST SEVEN DAYS IN THIS WEEKS FRIDAY FIFTEEN!
1) For the first time in over three decades, a Rhodes is World Champion. Cody Rhodes takes his rightful and well deserved place atop Ring Of Honor after dethroning Christopher Daniels last week. I’ve gushed about it before, but his work post-WWE has been phenomenal. There’s something special about seeing someone bet on themselves, call their shot, and make it happen.
2) Sometimes if there’s enough pure talent, a performer can overcome a few flat gimmicks or multiple changes to their character. I think Emma fits the bill, here. She has all the talent in the world, and if she can stay healthy, will carve out her mark on WWE RAW.
When you make a monumental deal with @HotTopic. pic.twitter.com/Xp1vjrleKA
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) April 27, 2017
3) The Young Bucks and Bullet Club getting their shirts in Hot Topic locations across North America is a major victory for them. But it’s also a huge W for pro wrestling in general. Picked mine up last week, and it likely won’t be my last purchase of wrestling clothes from the retailer.
4) It’s exciting to see Drago and El Hijo del Fantasma set to appear at Slammiversary XV. With a talent sharing agreement in place between Impact Wrestling and AAA Lucha Libre, the former has a real shot at creating a niche for themselves as a true alternative. After years of trying to emulate WWE, Impact Wrestling is finally figuring out their own path.
5) Speaking of Impact Wrestling, Matt Sydal is doing great work there. Then again, his work since leaving WWE in general has been very solid.
6) WrestleCircus is fun as hell. That is all.
7) If Monday’s promo and extra-curricular activity is a harbinger of things to come, both Big Cass and Enzo will be just fine on their own.
8) Not sure how it will look when all is said and done, but WWE is doing a great job elevating Samoa Joe in his current program with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.
9) WWE Network showed Beach Blast ’92 recently. It’s an event worth seeking out for the “Iron Man Challenge” match between Ricky Steamboat and Rick Rude. Rude, in my opinion, absolutely had it all. One of the very best.
10) Don’t know where they are in the process, but if NXT brings in Bobby Fish (and possibly Kyle O’Reilly) it would be a tremendous bit of business. Two fantastic in-ring performers.
11) So long as Daniel Bryan can get medical clearance, i’ll be first in line to buy the tickets to his return. Make no mistake, his health comes first for me (and surely for him and his family, as well). But if he’s good to go? I want in.
12) Roman Reigns gets nuclear heat and you could make a convincing argument that he has helped make Braun Strowman what he is. Like it or not he’s doing his job, and doing it very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZqDO6cTYVY
13) “GLOW“, which premiered on Netflix just just this week, is worth a watch. It’s definitely a drama that happens to have pro wrestling in it moreso than it is a show about wrestling. However, I still think most fans will enjoy.
14) Rumours of Tyson Kidd preparing for a new, non-wrestling role with WWE have me very happy. One of my favourite wrestlers, and a seemingly well liked guy.
15) Happy Canada Day to any fellow Canadian readers. Very proud to call this place my home, and also proud of some of the amazing Canadian content we’ve provided to pro wrestling: The Hart family, Tyler Breeze, Cyrus, Lance Storm, Edge and Christian, Cody Deaner, Tye Dillinger, Leah Vaughn, Tyson Dux, Michael Elgin, Natalya, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Jinder Mahal, Rick Martel, Santino, Kenny Omega, Kyle O’Reilly, Sami Zayn, Pat Patterson, Roddy Piper, Bobby Roode, The Rougeau Brothers, Earthquake.
And that’s literally just to name a few. Oh, Canada!