Expecting too much from Heel Turns...

It's been a couple of weeks since Ryback 'turned heel' or became a 'bad guy' to those of you that need the term simplified! Something about it still doesn't sit well with me, though. Maybe I am expecting too much but the last two major heel turns that I can think of weren't that obvious when they occurred. I'm of the opinion that a heel turn should be shocking and you should know, there and then, that that individual has become a villain.

Let's go back to Raw 1000 last year and the CM Punk 'heel turn'. As I watched him Clothesline and then perform a GTS (Go To Sleep) on The Rock, it didn't instantly scream HEEL TURN! to me. If anything, The Rock had come back, staked his claim at the WWE Championship, mocked the champion and received a physical warning from that Champion: he wasn't going to sit back and be disrespected the way The Rock had done earlier in the show.

CM Punk stands over a fallen Rock - Raw 1000, 2012

If Jerry Lawler had not have confirmed to us, the TV audience, that 'CM Punk has turned his back on the WWE universe', then I don't think we'd have been none the wiser until the next week on Raw. On the following Raw and beyond it became very apparent that Punk had indeed turned to the dark side. Until then it only appeared that the popular, cool-heel-face CM Punk had simply sent a message to a challenger to his title.

Fast forward to the night after Wrestlemania 29 - Raw, Monday 8th April - where, at the end of the show, Ryback had seemingly saved John Cena from Mark Henry, before Clotheslining the Champ and delivering his finishing maneuver Shellshocked. Again, this didn't scream HEEL TURN! to me; it simply said that John Cena - as new WWE Champion - had a large target on him; heels and faces alike could make a statement at the expense of the new Champion if they chose to do so. For me it was fair game that Ryback would show that he is in the hunt for that title.

Ryback stakes his claim to the WWE Championship - Raw, 2013

I was genuinely confused all week when I started to read reports that that was perceived as an actual heel turn. Then, on Raw the Ryback pre-recorded promo was aired - explaining his actions - showing that Ryback had turned heel. Again, this was not clear until that admission from Ryback and the subsequent references from Michael Cole that Ryback sounded like he was 'just making excuses'. Ok, so heel turns are a whole lot easier in execution than I remember! You simply need a finishing maneuver followed by a Commentator's disapproval = newly turned heel.

I think what may have added to the confusion was that he turned on John Cena - the guy who has such a mixed reaction wherever he goes that I've stated before that it is virtually impossible to turn someone heel against him.

Steve Austin and Vince McMahon did the unthinkable in 2001

All the major heel turns that I can think of over the years have been very obvious and straight to the point. The two Steve Austin turns in 2001 - first, at Wrestlemania; aligning with Vince Mcmahon and secondly, turning on Team WWF at Invasion later that year - instantly told the viewer that he had become a villain. There was no doubt whatsoever. Even the last heel turn before the CM Punk one last year - Big Show - was obvious straight away; punching out Cena and aligning with Evil General Manager John Laurinaitis.

Maybe WWE only know how to turn someone by aligning them with other heels, and have forgotten how to turn someone properly; or maybe the new approach is the forcing-it-down-our-throats approach a la Miz and Alberto Del Rio's face turns at the end of last year. Them guys were turning face whether we liked it or not!

As is the title of this piece; maybe I am expecting too much from heel turns these days. Or maybe I'm just looking for a more shocking turn here and there that'll keep my attention and keep me excited for a product that doesn't seem to make the effort to keep me on the edge of my seat anymore?

@jimmosangle

Chris Jericho: Building for the Future

I was going to wait until Chris Jericho had finished his stint in WWE this time around before beginning this piece, but I can't quite work out when he is going again! I think he will probably be at Extreme Rules (vs Fandango) before quietly disappearing from our screens again. It'll be sad to see him go; a different sadness to when, say, The Rock leaves us.

Clearly, they have different jobs and responsibilities when they come back these days - usually for Wrestlemania season - but I feel Jericho's is much more worthwhile and important. It is undoubtedly obvious that The Rock's (and Brock, Triple H and Undertaker's) role is to attract attention from a wider audience and to draw as much money in that quarter of the year. Therefore, maybe there isn't as much reliance on the rest of the years Pay-Per-Views - I genuinely feel that as long as Wrestlemania does well then they [WWE] aren't really that committed to putting on a stand-out show for the rest of the year.

Jericho vs Daniel Bryan - Raw, Monday 11th February 2013

As great as it is that these 'legends' and future Hall of Famers bring in an outrageous amount of money, it makes Jericho's job even more important, and maybe even harder. But why?

Well, in the first quarter of this year The Rock ONLY worked with John Cena and CM Punk - these were by far the biggest matches that could've been put on - by doing this it elevated (if that's even possible) Cena and Punk further, and widened the gap in superstardom between the two and the other guys on the roster trying to make a name for themselves. It also holds these youngsters back for three months. Surely this is a bad thing all for the benefit of making a quick buck?

If Cena and Punk are raised any further, and your next guys down have to wait three months for their opportunities, then it makes these future threats seem less, almost non-existent - it makes it harder for a Mark Henry or a Ryback to be seen in the same 'league' as a John Cena.

That's where Jericho steps in to bridge that gap. In the last four months, there hasn't been many of the mid to upper-mid card that he hasn't worked with - and improved. He came back and went forty minutes alongside Dolph Ziggler in the Royal Rumble match before giving Ziggler the honour of eliminating him. He had Match-of-the-Year contenders against CM Punk and Daniel Bryan in the first few weeks of returning to Raw. At Elimination Chamber he put in a great effort and everyone benefited from being in the match with him, and at Wrestlemania he took on the challenge of working with debutant Fandango; with both coming out the other end smelling of roses.

Jericho vs Fandango - Wrestlemania 29

Jericho has even crossed paths with The Shield and became another statistic on their unbeaten run. Momentum continued for them and credit where credit is (most definitely) due to Jericho; all of this in just one encounter.

As I read back through my notes of Jericho's 2013 run and his body of work this time around, I am in complete awe of the contribution the man has made. He came back at Royal Rumble and gave 1000% straight away.

So, although The Rock and company bring in huge sums of money to help towards the future, it all counts for nothing if there are no stars being made to carry the business forward. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times - when The Undertaker and Triple H finally hang up their boots; when Brock is done with coming back for a quick and easy paycheck; and when Rock realises that movie directors don't want to risk him getting injured - pressuring him to retire for good - and he decides to come back in a mainly non-physical role; who is going to top the card at Wrestlemania then?

Jericho was the first Undisputed Champion in WWF/E

With any luck, Chris Jericho will have had enough of an input that the next generation of 'Superstar' will have risen by then. If not, then maybe it might have been a wiser idea to use Rock, Brock and other part timers to contribute to the future the way that Jericho has attempted to.

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 8

Saturday 20th April 2013 - Brackley Leisure Centre, Brackley, Oxfordshire

Saturday afternoon saw me attend another show put on by Alan Ravenhill and James Mason in association with Welsh Wrestling. Previously, I attended their shows in Kidlington and Abingdon (both Oxfordshire) as they made their way through the South of England. Again, I was not disappointed.

I arrived at the venue and was lucky enough to meet James Mason, who thanked me for the previous write-ups of the past shows that I'd been to - just a quick note to James: I'm very happy to endorse your shows when they are as good as the ones that I've attended so far! It was very nice to be appreciated and, as always, I hope that people manage to find these posts, see the good work that James and his crew do, and attend future shows.

As with the previous shows, I was grinning throughout the show as what I saw was simple, but very entertaining - they truly put on a great family show that appeals to all. You cannot go wrong attending one of these shows!

Lee Bamber announced the evening's event and again I have nothing but good things to say about the enthusiasm and information that he provides - proving that a Ring Announcer's job is a very important one when putting a wrestling show on.

Hometown Hero -AD Driscoll

Alongside Lee, was a talented group of wrestlers with a few outside additions; adding something new to the shows that I'd previously seen. These were in the form of 'The Filth' Chris Walker and AD Driscoll - both of whose work I'm familiar with, and both who always put on a decent showing.

Results

• 'Mean' Tommy Dean defeated James Mason
• A D Driscoll defeated 'The Filth' Chris Walker
• Stevie Starr defeated Big Dog
• Japan's Tagori defeated Josh Faulkner
• Brackley Rumble winner: James Mason

'The Filth' Chris Walker (right) - one half of The Magnums (courtesy of Superkick.co.uk)

As always, everybody put in a good shift - standout performances from youngster Josh Faulkner and Stevie Starr showing great strength by slamming 400-pound Big Dog to gain the win.

Breaking the rules a little here; I'd just like to thank Tommy Dean and Big Dog for being very welcoming after the show - I found out the Tommy's football team are doomed before next season's even started, so I wish them luck!

'Mean' Tommy Dean

I urge you to check out Welsh Wrestling's website and check the 'Live Events' tab to see if there is a show in your area soon - these guys are a great bunch and it's a great family show!

Support British Wrestling!

@jimmosangle

WWE: Is The Balance Of Power About To Shift?

After Monday Night Raw, I got thinking that things concerning the two main World Titles could be set for a change in the near future.

All of 2013 has seen the WWE title contested by three main contenders - CM Punk, The Rock and new champion John Cena. The only problem going forward here is that The Rock has now disappeared again leaving Punk and Cena as the two main guys competing for the WWE's biggest prize. It needs to be noted that these two are head, shoulders, and the majority of their bodies, above everyone else.

The obvious answer to this is to have these two square off. The trouble with this situation is that we have seen this match far too often in the last couple of years. We need something fresh. For the sake of the WWE and the WWE title, we need new contenders. The wheels to this were set in motion on Raw this week.

Raw started with Mark Henry challenging Cena for his newly won championship - a challenge Cena gladly accepted. By the end of the night, we had a second contender throwing his name in the hat in the form of Ryback. These are two promising 'newbies' in the WWE title picture. But something needs to change - massively - if these guys are to be seen as credible challengers that CAN take the belt from Cena.

John Cena is the most discussed WWE superstar, and hottest topic on every wrestling fan's lips in recent history. He is loved by kids and hated by adults - this is because we see through the crap that we are fed on a weekly basis. Don't get me wrong, Cena deserves his position of 'face of the company' - he is heavily involved in WWE ventures outside of the ring and makes the WWE tonnes of money. For these reasons it is difficult for the WWE to turn him heel (bad guy) and anyway, why would they want to?

My argument isn't based on a John Cena heel turn, though. He gets such a mixed and confusing reaction from the fans that I think it's virtually impossible for WWE to turn him anyway. My argument is that his 'superman' booking needs to be drastically toned down and this needs to happen as soon as possible. This will not only help his future opponents - making them appear a genuine threat to Cena and his title - but, if done correctly, will also help the new World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler.

Monday night on Raw saw Ziggler finally cash his Money in the Bank contract in and successfully defeat a wounded Alberto Del Rio. This was welcomed by the awesomely over-the-top (out of town?) Monday Night Raw crowd, as well as the IWC, as they finally got something that they wanted (I should note that I agree with an article I read, by Kevin Kelly (@realkevinkelly), about Ziggler's win and booking prior to the cash in, where he says that despite the win WWE still haven't shown 100% faith in Ziggler).

WWE now need to keep our attention; not by continuing to give us what we want, but by presenting us with a leveller playing field. What I mean by this is that WWE has a chance to make their World Champion as important as their WWE Champion. I know this is a crazy notion as the World Title has been seen as a secondary title for so long now that we've forgotten how prestigious it used to be, but with Ziggler - a popular and talented future of the company - being given the ball, why not really go with something that will benefit the majority instead of the few?

This 'level playing field' could start with the new World Champion confronting the new WWE Champion, cockily outclassing him not only on the mic but also in the ring. They could play off Ziggler's win over Cena from TLC and where they both are now. This could be followed up by Ziggler getting some credible wins (as well as a few cheat wins thrown in). Ultimately, they need to give Ziggler a win over Cena - maybe even a clean win - without Cena kicking out of Ziggler's best moves as was the case at the start of the year.

Along with this, a few beatdowns by Henry and/or Ryback wouldn't go amiss either, thus building credible, title-threatening contenders and bouts in the coming months. Basically, we need to see a more beatable, mortal John Cena.

I know this is crazy, blasphemous talk amongst Cena lovers, but a change along these lines NEEDS to happen going forward otherwise the only credible opponent Cena will have is CM Punk, and Dolph Ziggler will just be another guy given the World Title that isn't quite good enough for the 'big one'.

@jimmosangle

My Weekend of (British) Wrestling 7 (Wrestlemania weekend)

It's been more of a 'Week of Wrestling', than just a weekend. Along with my usual viewing of WWE Raw, Smackdown, Main Event, NXT and ROH TV, there was also a Pay-Per-View offering of a little show called Wrestlemania on Sunday night - anyone heard of that? I also had an enjoyable evening on Thursday watching some old ROH matches, as well as some old BAWA (British Allstar Wrestling Alliance) - a defunct local, Banbury-based wrestling promotion.

Saturday 6th April 2013 - Pro EVW - The Capital Venue, Gloucester 

In a lot of respects my Saturday night of wrestling was more important than all of it. I attended a Pro EVW show in Gloucester with some friends that were working on it. This show was a special one as it was a tribute show in honour of Kamil Ciemniewski - a young trainee of Pro EVW wrestling that sadly passed away a few weeks ago.

I would hazard a guess that around 300 people were in attendance - including many of Kamil's family and friends - to support this night and to raise as much money towards charity as they could. I should point out here that all proceeds - whether it be ticket sales, backstage passes, merchandise sales - would go towards a charity of Kamil's family's choice. Huge credit to those at Pro EVW for doing this. Credit is also due to the wrestlers that took part on this show as they all donated their fees to charity, too.

The Pro EVW crew stand in tribute to Kamil as British Wrestling veteran Roy Harley conducted the 10-bell-salute

I can't claim to have known Kamil, but after hearing the tragic news I thought back to the one time that I did meet Kamil. It was the first Pro EVW show that I had attended and I was sat watching the set-up through the day. Kamil approached me, which at first surprised me as we'd never met, but Kamil knew that at least we had wrestling in common to talk about. He seemed very excited about the evening ahead and that he was able to be around guys that he saw as idols. He reminded me of me when I was his age - a fan that was excited about wrestling. I think of this encounter fondly.

The night was a success, with the audience getting into the action and being very noisy at times. This was helped by MC Hank McCoy's enthusiasm, as well as all the wrestlers putting in great showings to get everyone either on their side or firmly hating them!

Results

• Pro EVW Heavyweight Championship: 'The Shark' Chris Andrews (c) defeated 'Big Bad' Dave Mastiff
• T-Bone (w/ Gilligan Gordon) defeated JD Knight (T-Bone became last entrant in Rumble match; Knight became 1st entrant as a result of loss)
• Iestyn Rees, Sam Andrews & Zak Garrett defeated Pro EVW Tag Team Champions The Magnums (Walker & Riley) & Jules Lambrini
• UK Dominator defeated Dan Splash
• Tyler Hawke defeated Kidd Lycos
• Rumble match; winner - JD Knight 

By the end of the night, Kamil's favourite wrestler came through and won the 25+ man Rumble match to end the show in the right way.

Other highlights of the show included a great opening match from Pro EVW Heavyweight Champion Chris Andrews beating Dave Mastiff. Some really impressive strength was shown by Andrews as well as getting the audience excited and 'into' what they were seeing. I said to a friend that Andrews has a kind of Batista look to him, which instantly impresses you when he comes through the curtain - you know that this guy is a wrestler - and his intensity and enthusiasm makes it easy for you to back him and want him to come out on top.

The Pro EVW Tag Team Champions The Magnums - 'Dirty' Dick Riley and 'Filthy' Chris Walker - were also in fine form again. They have the right amount of comedy and sleaziness on the way to the ring mixed in with the right amount of aggression when the bell rings - ultimately, an entertaining showing as always. Their opponents put on a great babyface showing with Zak Garrett, Sam Andrews and Iestyn Rees picking up the victory before making their way through the crowd to give thanks to everyone for coming.

As always, I'm pleased to see UK Dominator at his rulebreaking best; this time defeating Dan Splash. Dom is possibly my favourite heel as he is what I look for in a heel - he's an aggressive, imposing, nasty bully. He's not a 'cool' heel, he's simply someone that you can easily hate. What more do you need?

Rumble winner JD Knight; Kamil's favourite wrestler (with Kamil in the photograph)

I really enjoyed this show and I think everyone in attendance did, too. It was for a great cause and I tip my hat to everyone at Pro EVW for putting the event on - I personally think they did Kamil proud. I hope his family and friends felt the same and had a great evening.

If you haven't been to a Pro EVW show yet then you should treat yourself to the next show - Cinderford, Gloucestershire on Saturday 27th April 2013 - check the Pro EVW Facebook page out for further details.

Support British Wrestling!

@jimmosangle

WWE 'Invades' NXT: Why?

As I wait for this weeks (4/4) NXT to download, I thought I'd give my view on last weeks abomination of a show. By that I mean it was the complete opposite of what I expect from watching NXT on a weekly basis.

In the last few months, I have started to watch more and more wrestling; most notably the offerings that the WWE give us - Raw, Smackdown, Main Event and NXT. The latter is a show that I found hard to get into to start with as I wasn't too familiar with the roster. As the weeks have gone on it has slowly crept up the list of 'favourites' that I have. This is probably due to it being something fresh and new - it is the breeding ground for future WWE stars. By watching it each week, I'd like to think I can spot the 'next big thing' that is in development. It excites me that I get to see that unfold.

It is also a welcome break away from the crap that is presented to us on the main shows - Raw and Smackdown. For a long time now, we have been fed sloppy, unimaginative feuds and matches, with the occasional five-star match/promo happening every blue moon - Cena vs Punk from a few weeks ago on Raw.

Therefore, NXT is something that I have enjoyed watching as I can turn off my anger and stop shaking my head at god-awful 'filler' segments. Last weeks NXT had me fuming, though...

It started with The Fink announcing. Ok, that's different for starters... why is he there? This was followed by a Diva's Championship match between Kaitlyn (c) and Natalya. This was a great little match as far as Divas bouts go, but why was it on NXT? Why am I to believe that this title will switch on a 'lesser' show such as NXT? Why aren't these two battling it out for the title on Raw/Smackdown/Pay-Per-View??

I was baffled further as the show went on; World Champion Alberto Del Rio had a backstage interview; Brodus Clay defeated El Local (Rodriguez); and the main event was Randy Orton defeating Damien Sandow. About the only NXT guy that I remembered seeing was Kassius Ohno, who attacked William Regal - luckily, Jim Ross was already on commentary so that there was still a two-man commentary team for the rest of the show. What was he even doing there??

This was an awful use of this TV show; and I don't care if it is Wrestlemania season - there is absolutely no reason why the WWE main roster should take over all of NXT. They have SEVEN hours of TV time on their own shows to showcase WWE talent. If they need to show more of the main roster, how about they have main roster guys against NXT guys - surely this gives the WWE guys even more exposure (like they need it!) and it also gives them particular NXT guys a rub against the best.

I've said before that I don't mind the main WWE roster being on NXT but it should be ONE guy making a special appearance every once in a while; maybe getting into a verbal confrontation, or maybe even a match, with a young up-and-comer? That would be good for the NXT guy and for the WWE talent. This situation kind of reminds me of the WWE as a whole just lately: the main show being taken over by part-timers and not benefiting the youngsters trying to make a name for themselves.

If I want to see Randy Orton getting ANOTHER win over the likes of Damien Sandow I'll watch Raw or Smackdown, thanks!

Anyway, I'm going to watch the latest episode of NXT in the hope that normality has been restored...

@jimmosangle