The Steel Cage

WWE Survivor Series preview and predictions

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:19:38 -0500

I have to say, the Undertaker shoving Eddie Guerrero's widow into a casket three years almost to the day after his death was one of the most classless displays I've ever seen on WWE programming. Say what you want -- I'm being overly sensitive, it was just a storyline, whatever -- but it's garbage like this that blurs the line to the point where it makes a tragic death seem more in line with a title switch or a heel turn. A guy DIED. You claim to be a "creative" team. Surely there's a different way to promote a Casket Match. Say what you want about "If Vickie was OK with it, then so am I," or "Eddie would have been fine with it." I have HUGE issues with both of those statements (both of which are bull), which I'll get into at some point. But that's a rant for another time. This is a Survivor Series preview. You know, Survivor Series is in Boston this year, and at one point I was thinking about driving over and enjoying the show in person. But when I read this SmackDown spoiler the other week, it killed any interest I might have even had in the show. That's not a good thing. Storylines are supposed to draw money, not make me want to hold onto mine. Anyway, here's some thoughts on what's actually a pretty lackluster Survivor Series card:

"The Wrestler" Movie Trailer

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:22:13 -0500

Sorry for the infrequent posts this week. It's been a nutty few days on the transportation beat. I was thrilled to finally the trailer for Darren Arnovsky's upcoming flick, "The Wrestler," which is already being talked about as an Oscar favorite - especially for Mickey Rourke's performance as Randy "The Ram" Robinson. You can check out the trailer here. After years of suffering through wrestling movies like "No Holds Barred," and "Ready to Rumble," it's so satisfying to have a movie that - apparently - does justice to the uniquely compelling story of the life of a pro wrestler. It may not be an overstatement to say that "The Wrestler" may do more for mainstream acceptance of pro wrestling than anything Vince McMahon or any other promoter has ever done. I've kicked myself for missing the showing of the film at the NY Film Festival, and later at the Hamptons FF. If anybody has any line on how to watch the movie, please let me know.

Video Interview With Chris Jericho

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:40:41 -0500

I already posted the entire transcript of my recent interviw with Chris Jericho, but here are some video excerpts from the same interview. Here, Chris talks a little about his reality show on the Fuse network, "Redemption Song," as well as his return to the ring after a two year hiatus, and his amazing feud with Shawn Michaels. A couple notes: . Yes, I framed the shot incredibly poorly. I'm sure you're all dying to see the entirety of my handsomeness, but you'll have to settle for the left half. At least I had the microphone on this time. . To maximize hits, my editors suggested a thumbnail featuring the lovely ladies of Redemption Song rather than one of Jericho. We both agreed that a photo of me would totally overload our servers and shut down Newsday.com, so we decided against it. Enjoy.

Brock Lesnar wins the UFC Championship

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:36:49 -0500

Here's the wire story for ya: LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brock Lesnar stopped heavyweight champion Randy Couture in the second round of their fight at UFC 91 on Saturday night, earning a technical knockout when the referee stepped in as he kept punching after Couture went to the ground. Lesnar, a former NCAA wrestling champion and WWE star, overwhelmed the 45-year-old Couture in just his fourth pro fight. Lesnar sent him to the canvas in the second round with a glancing blow that landed behind the ear and wasted no time in landing numerous hammer fists. Couture was never able to recover and the fight was stopped at 3:07. “It sounds really good,” Lesnar said after being introduced as the new heavyweight champion. “I can’t believe it. I just believe in hard work and it pays off.” The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Couture was at a decided physical disadvantage against the 6-3, 275-pound Lesnar (3-1), who is 31 and at the start of his pro career. Couture (16-9) also had hadn’t fought for 15 months, stepping away when he became fed up with contract squabbles and his inability to land the big fights he really craved. Couture wasn’t sure about his future after the bout. “I still feel like I’m getting better as a fighter so we’ll see,” said Couture, who has two fights remaining on his contract. In the co-main event, Kenny Florian moved one step closer to a title shot when he forced Joe Stevenson to submit in the first round. “This is exactly what I wanted,” Florian said. “I wanted to come out and make a statement.” Florian almost immediately shifted his focus to lightweight champion B.J Penn. “I want B.J.’s belt,” he said. “I consider you a master and now it’s time to kill the master.” Also on the card, Dustin Hazelett defeated Tamdan McCrory via arm-bar at 3:59 of the first round. Gabriel Gonzaga, the last man to face Couture, earned a TKO over Josh Hendricks, dropping him with a hard right before the referee stopped the fight at 1:01 of the first round. Demian Maia made short work of Nate Quarry to remain undefeated, getting him to submit at 2:13 of the first round. In the preliminary bouts, Aaron Riley beat Jorge Gurgel in an unanimous decision. Jeremy Stephens knocked out UFC newcomer Rafael dos Anjos 39 seconds into the third round. Mark Bocek got Alvin Robinson to submit in the third and Matt Brown forced Ryan Thomas to tap with an arm-bar 57 seconds into the second round.

Memo to ROH: Enough Already

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:16:33 -0500

So I just plunked down $15 for what I am sure will be another solid pay per view offering from Ring of Honor tonight. And, as "Driven" came on the air, I naively hoped against hope that I would not be once again blinded by the glowing white skin of poorly filmed wrestlers. Alas, I was wrong. And so, I say this: Enough is enough, Ring of Honor. Your product looks like absolute crap. I would not hire your production team to film my wedding, much less put them on pay per view available in millions of homes. As a matter of fact - quite literally - the majority of wedding videos I've seen over the years look considerably better than what is on my TV right now. It's inexcusable in 2008 for a national wrestling product to look as low rent as ROH does. By not investing the necessary money and attention into its production, ROH is becoming its own worst enemy. And it's simply absurd that Cary Silkin, worried about ROH's financial struggles, would take the drastic step of firing a more-than-capable booker in the form of Gabe Sapolsky before he would pump a few thousand dollars into some real cameras and audio that doesn't sound like its coming through a tin can. And before I drive home my next point, let me emphasize that I hate, hate, hate when people use all caps and exclamation points to make their point. That said: ROH, GET SOME DECENT LIGHTING! My God, some of the most rinky dink of independents don't look this bad. Their faces are so washed out in light that you can't see details in wrestlers' faces. You know, little things like their noses. Add to that cheap-looking graphics, sloppy editing, and a bush league ringside set up, and I just can't believe that Cary doesn't notice how bad his product looks nor realize the perception of so many fans. ROH is the woman with the thick mustache that either doesn't realize how bad she looks, or is too lazy to do something about it. As for the die-hard ROH-bots who say, "We don't care about production quality. All we care about is the wrestling!." To them I say this: Get real. The fact is, ROH's sub-par production is one of the major obstacles keeping the company from growing. And if ROH doesn't reverse its fortunes relatively soon, it could conceivably go out of business. It won't matter how talented the wrestlers are if you won't be able to see them anymore. So, ROH, I implore you. Address this problem as soon as possible, whatever it takes. If it means running fewer shows, raising prices on merchandise, or even cutting some talent - do it. I've bashed WWE, WCW and TNA a lot over the years. But I've never said this: In the age of high definition televised wrestling, ROH is becoming, quite literally, unwatchable.

Wrestling's Best Entrance Music

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:50:17 -0500

While watching TNA iMPACT! last night and bobbing my head to A.J. Styles theme song, I got to thinking about one small, but significant, area where TNA has been competitive with WWE – ring entrance music. For me, a good entrance song isn’t necessarily radio-friendly, as WWE too often tries to accomplish, but rather captures the essence of a wrestler, immediately grabs the attention of fans, and gets them on their feet. That’s why Steve Austin’s “glass breaking” entrance was one of the best. That said, there are plenty of songs that fit a performer well (The Undertaker’s, Kane’s ) but don’t really do much for me. Again, WWE is too concerned with trying to appear hip and featuring music that sounds similar to Top 40 modern rock songs. But, too often, the end result is bland, familiar sounding songs that are interchangable among most wrestlers (Jeff Hardy’s, Randy Orton’s, etc.) By not abiding by copyright laws, Ring of Honor should have a unique advantage in being able to showcase commercial music. But there are only a couple that I think really get the fans out of their seats. Here’s a sampling of some of my favorites. Feel free to offer your picks for best and worst: 1. A.J. Styles Seemingly inspired by P.O.D's "Alive," the song builds slowly as “The Phenomenal One” makes his way down the aisle with his face obscured by a hood. Just as the music really kicks in, the hood comes off and Styles poses for the crowd. It’s youthful, energetic, and exciting and fits Styles to a T.

Equally Quick Survivor Series Thoughts

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:02:29 -0500

. I'm glad WWE has announced a couple "Classic Survivor Series" tag team elimination matches for the upcoming show. After WrestleMania, Survivor Series is WWE's longest running pay per view show, and it's worth honoring the event's history, if only with a couple matches. It's also a good way to get some talent on the show that would otherwise be left off. But more than that, WWE has actually provided some terrific drama in recent years with the elimination matches, including last year's unlikely duo of Triple H and Jeff Hardy standing victorious. I'm looking forward to this year's show. . But, of course, Survivor Series will be all about one match, and really, one man - John Cena. With WWE's ratings falling to ten year lows, its clear they're banking on Cena to carry this company on his back like never before. Frankly, I think it's a solid strategy. More than anybody in WWE, Cena has broken through as a top star and one half of most any "dream match." The women and kids adore him. The guys love to boo him. And, perhaps most importantly, he's developed into a fine worker, more than capable of putting on a solid main event. WWE writers need to be doubly careful not to stall his momentum with promos and angles that make him look like a dork. And for his own part, Cena needs to be careful in the ring so as not to suffer yet another injury that will sideline him when WWE can least afford it.

Quick TNA Thoughts

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:43:25 -0500

. If TNA got a little bit of press for inviting Sarah Palin to its next pay per view show, then that's fine. Obviously, a $50,000 donation to a youth hockey league shouldn't be enough for Palin to further damage her already shaky image. I don't have a problem with publicity stunts, as long as they don't interfere with the actual wrestling product (see McMahon's Million Dollar Mania) but I hope TNA realizes the answer to growing its audience isn't headline-grabbing gimmickry. . While on the subject of TNA, the company deserves a little bit of praise for taking some important steps in recent weeks. The new HD-friendly Impact Zone set looks terrific, and really makes the most of a small space. And I have to admit to being intrigued by the company's main storyline between the Main Event Mafia and the Young Lions - especially if it is a legitimate vehicle toward pushing some of the younger talent. Of course, we've seen this feud before in the form of the New Blood vs. The Millionaire's Club during the dying days of WCW, but at least they've got the roles right this time with the old, rich guys playing the heels and the young, hungry guys playing babyface.

Thoughts on Recent Cuts in WWE and TNA

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:09:09 -0500

Aah, future endeavors. In wrestling vernacular, they are best defined as wrestling matches in front of 250 fans at the Podunk Community Center, where you'll do your best to come up with a name that kinda, sorta, not really resembles your WWE moniker without infringing on any copyrights (Super-Duper Crazy?) Sadly, several WWE talents have been wished well on such endeavors over the last week - as have been a couple TNA agents. Here are my thoughts on the recent cuts: Paul London: For me, London's is the biggest shame of all the names that have surfaced on the chopping block. I've long thought that London was the very most underutilized performer in all of wrestling. He had a good look, could do some innovative high spots, could wrestle a believable "heavyweight style," could bump like a mad man, and had an untapped charisma behind the mic. If you want a taste of what London could have done had WWE got behind him, look no further than his 2004 feud with Billy Kidman, which climaxed in their fantastic match at that year's No Mercy. I've heard some rumblings that London may have had some personality issues that limited his push, and, honestly, I hope they are true. Otherwise, what we're left with is another immensely talented performer held back because of his size. Of all of the recent cuts, he's the one I most hope lands on his feet, although his options are few. I'm sure ROH would love to have him back for a show here or there, but it sounds like they’re not exactly in the position to go on a spending spree these days. Elijah Burke: This one's also very disappointing. A year ago, Burke was on course to be one of the breakout stars of ECW, where he delivered some of the best heel promos in the whole brand. I remember being tremendously impressed by his crowd work at a fan event in Detroit over WrestleMania weekend. His ring work was only OK, but he definitely had some star power that WWE chose not to tap into. Too bad. Lena "Yada-Yada" Yada: Good riddance. I couldn't pick her out of a line up. Yada represented the very worst in WWE's hiring practices when it comes to women. She was absolutely nothing more than a pretty face and brought zero to the table other than good looks, which have become a dime a dozen in WWE. Super Crazy: If published reports are right, Crazy's departure was by his own request. Crazy was a good enough worker, but for what he brought to the table - namely daredevil high spots - there are wrestlers far younger, more relevant and capable of more innovative offense. No big loss. My favorite memories of Super Crazy will be sitting near him at this year's Hall of Fame banquet, and watching him be overwhelmed by his two pre-teen kids acting up. He finally got up and left the ceremony. Kenny Dykstra: I was never blown away by Dykstra's work, but there were definitely some redeeming qualities there. Like every other member of the Spirit Squad, his high profile, highly goofy first WWE gimmick may have done irreparable damage. His "repackaging" was about as creatively bankrupt as any gimmick I've ever seen, although he did show some sparks of solid heel arrogance behind the mic in recent weeks. I always thought WWE missed the boat on the perfect gimmick for him - the 1980's teen movie bully, ala Billy Zabka's "Johnny" in the Karate Kid. Chuck Palumbo: I've got mixed feelings on Palumbo. I've always found him to be one of the least charismatic performers in all of wrestling, with an awful name and equally awful look. But Palumbo definitely showed some glimpses of something more in his feud with Jamie Nobel and subsequent heel turn. Overall, though, I won't miss him. And in TNA. Pat "Simon Diamond" Kenny: It was kind of sad seeing the former darling of the independents (1998's Super 8 tournament winner) relegated to taking fans' money for in-ring photos with Kurt Angle. I know his duties as an agent were far more important than that, but that's all many fans got to see in recent years. If you want to know how fickle the wrestling business could be, look no further than the story of wrestling's former power couple Kenny and Dawn Marie, who was canned from WWE for being pregnant. Glenn "Disco Inferno" Gilbertti: With all due respect for Gilbertti, who I've never met, his employment in TNA reeked of the worst of wrestling nepotism. With all the great wrestling minds standing on the unemployment line these days, I can't believe Disco Inferno, of all people, was tapped for an office job in a national wrestling company. Buh-bye. And so what lesson is there to be learned from all these releases? Val Venis must know something horrific about the McMahon family.

WWE's Last "Surviving" Dream Matches

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:22:17 -0500

In a panic to boost ratings and buyrates, WWE has squandered a few of its last remaining so-called "dream matches" in recent months. At SummerSlam, the WrestleMania-main event worthy first-time showdown between John Cena and Batista was relegated to mid-card fair. Then, just a few weeks ago, WWE astoundingly gave away the first match in more than seven years between Triple H and the Undertaker as a Smackdown main event. Other big money matches have been thrown together with little fanfare in recent weeks, including the second-only battle among the world champions of all three brands. So what's left? With Survivor Series just around the corner, I thought I'd examine what so-called "dream matches" have survived WWE's shortsighted matchmaking in recent months. I'd like to hear some of your picks too. Keep in mind, I am only including matches possible with WWE's current active roster (including those on the DL) and not including matches involving retired stars like Hulk Hogan, the Rock and Steve Austin. 1. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels: It's been more than ten years since HBK and the Deadman last mixed it up at 1998's Royal Rumble. Since then, the legend of both superstars has only grown - as has each's in-ring ability. Fans got a taste of how amazing a match between the two icons could be when battled it out as the last two men in 2007's Royal Rumble match. In a recent interview, Michaels suggested that the long-awaited showdown could happen at WrestleMania 25 - and it could be HBK's retirement match. The WrestleMania streak vs. Mr. WrestleMania. I can hardly wait. Hopefully, WWE will have the common sense to keep this match on ice at least until the big show in Texas - the home state of both competitors. 2. John Cena vs. The Undertaker: Not surprisingly, there is quite a drop off from what I consider WWE's hottest dream match above, to this distant second place. As is the case with nearly every match on this list, we've seen it before. But a lot has changed since a mid-card heel Cena feuded with 'Taker back in 2003. Cena has grown to become the company's biggest star, while Taker has cemented his place as one of the company's resident legends. Thanks to the brand split, these two have been mostly kept apart, except for some tag team matches leading up to WrestleMania 23. I think these two would mesh well together in the ring, and be capable of a WrestleMania main-event worthy match. 3. John Cena vs. Jeff Hardy Again, this is not so much a "dream match" as it is a fairy big money match for WWE. I'm fairly certain these two's paths have crossed on Raw over the last couple of years. But never have Cena and Hardy - arguably the number one and number two "hot" acts in the company - had a meaningful match together. Just listening to the crowd reaction in this one would be a blast. 4. Randy Orton vs. Batista Here's one match that WWE has been fairly disciplined about keeping special, despite having a lot of interplay between the two men in recent years. The backstory is compelling. After the collapse of Evolution in 2005, Batista got the WrestleMania main event feud with Triple H and subsequent babyface world title run that was originally reserved for Orton. Since then, both men have achieved similar heights, but the question remains: Who really represented the future of wrestling in Evolution? 5. Shawn Michaels vs. Jeff Hardy These two actually went at it in a spectacular match on a taped edition of Raw in February of this year. Hardy got the clean pin in that one. While WWE may have blown being able to bill it as a "first time ever" match up, I think there's still intrigue in seeing these two battle it out on a meaningful show. For years observers have remarked about the similarities in the careers of Michaels and Hardy. Both were the standout members of highflying tag teams. Both found tremendous success and fan support in their later singles careers. And both, at times, have been their own worst enemies thanks to their behavior outside the ring. It's right out of a movie. 6. Shawn Michaels vs. Rey Mysterio Here's one that I don't think we've ever seen before, although I may be wrong. Quite simply, this would be WWE's two most exciting in-ring performers going at it. Athletically, they should be capable of a classic. 7. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio WWE has done a very nice job over the years in establishing the friendship between Batista and his little buddy Rey Mysterio. That will pay off in dividends when Batista one day blindsides Mysterio (or, theoretically, vice versa) setting up a battle of former friends. Take note TNA: Turns work best when you establish a friendship over more than just one night. 8. John Cena vs. Rey Mysterio Two of WWE's most popular babyfaces (at least with kids) going at it.

What Will Pres. Obama Mean For Wrestling Fans?

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:13:50 -0500

Now that America has chosen its new president, what, if any impact, could Barack Obama have our pro wrestling? Here are a few thoughts on how Obama's ideas could trickle down into the ring: The economy: Obama says he'll spark the economy by offering tax cuts that will help low and middle income families. WWE says that 86 percent of its fans are male, with the mean age being 24. It's a good bet that a lot of WWE's fans and their families could benefit from Obama's tax cuts, perhaps meaning more money to buy pay per views, wrestling tickets, and T-shirts. But, by raising taxes on the wealthy, large corporations like WWE and Panda Energy (TNA's corporate backer) could take a hit, and look to cover their losses by cutting jobs. If it means Vince McMahon will no longer be able to afford "McMahon's Million Dollar Mania," then I'm all for it. The War: Obama has opposed the war on Iraq and says he is committed to ending it. However, he also says he would refocus America's efforts in fighting terrorism in Afghanistan. What does that mean for wrestling fans? For one, we can count on having more WWE Christmas with the Troops specials in the foreseeable future - perhaps hosted in Afghanistan rather than Iraq. But whether we are in Iraq or Afghanistan, as long as we're at war in the Middle East, I guess we'll keep getting stereotypical Arab heels, ala Muhammad Hassan and Sheik Abdul Bashir. Education: Obama is in favor of pumping money into early childhood education, as well as making college more affordable by giving aid to students who commit to providing community service after graduating. With WWE's core audience being the college age crowd, that could mean more educated wrestling fans. In turn, that could mean stronger demand for more sophisticated storylines instead of toilet humor. And maybe fans will start spelling better on the signs they take to live shows. Also, with Obama supporting better wages for quality teachers, maybe Matt Striker goes back to his old job. Healthcare: Obama says he'll provide accessible, affordable healthcare for all Americans and reduce healthcare costs $2,500 for a typical family by investing in health information technology, prevention and care coordination. That could mean that uninsured pro wrestlers may be able to take better care of themselves and their families - thereby increasing morale in locker rooms. Also, with Obama saying that a key to reducing the country's healthcare costs if fighting obesity fans may be more comfortable at arenas. And maybe the Manu gets in better shape. Race: Obama's presidency may do more to bridge racial divides than any other singular event in recent history. Broader tolerance in the country as a whole could lead to fewer racial gimmicks (Bye bye Cryme Tyme.) Fortunately, there are few "firsts" left in wrestling, as long before Obama broke the color barrier in the White House, Ron Simmons, wrestling's first black world champion, did so in the wrestling ring. Women's rights: Obama supports a woman’s right to choose, equal pay for equal work, expanding the childcare tax credit and paid sick leave for parents. That could make for a better workplace for WWE's Divas and TNA's Knockouts. It could discourage employers from firing women once they get pregnant, as WWE did to Dawn Marie. It could also encourage promoters to pay their female wrestlers the same as their male ones, perhaps preventing a situation like TNA had when Gail Kim refused their low-ball contract renewal offer last summer. Labor: Obama says he believes that workers should have the freedom to join a union without harassment or intimidation from their employers. Uh oh, Vince.

Interview With Chris Jericho

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:43:29 -0500

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Manhasset's own Chris Jericho in New York City - just hours before the premiere of his reality show, "Redemption Song," which airs Wednesday nights at 11 p.m. on the Fuse network. Check your local listings. You can read more about the show here. While I should disclose that Fuse and Newsday are both owned by Cablevision, I can honestly give "Redemption Song" a confident thumbs up. While the formula may be familiar (a group of 11 women competing for a recording contract with one contestant being eliminated each week) the show has enough unique twists - including the full-out beligerant tyrades of a few young ladies who would likely be clinically diagnosed as alcoholics - to make it an entertaining watch. And, as host, Jericho brings his usual wit and charm. But I'd be lying if I said I was most interested in talking to Chris Jericho - the reality show host. In a time when WWE seems as stale as it has in recent memory, one of the few conistent nright spots has been the work of Jericho, who for my money, is the very best thing in WWE today. In this interview, Jericho discusses his historic feud with Shawn Michaels, the truth about WWE writers' involvement in it, why it stood out from everything else on WWE, what it meant to win a world title at this stage in his career, and how he got his smile back - literally - after his particularly violent ladder match with HBK. AC: Explain a little about your new show, “Redemption Song,” and how you were intrigued by the concept. CJ: It was an interesting concept when it was first brought to me, because it's different from the typical reality show fare. You have 11 girls who are all singers, but they’ve all had checkered pasts, troubled pasts, whether it be addictions to different chemicals or sexual issues, or bad relationships or bad decisions that they've made. So this is their chance to kind of redeem themselves, and in some cases, the last chance to really use this talent and try to make it in the music business. The winner of the show gets a contract with Geffen, which is one of the biggest record companies in the world. So there was real prize at stake. It wasn’t just a matter of 11 girls fighting it out to win a date with Jericho. This was not “Jericho of Love.” It was more than that. And even more than that, there was a real heart to the show in the fact that these girls were getting a chance to pull themselves out of this hole they found themselves in and to change their lives and do more positive things. I think that, to me, was the secret to it. There was a real heart behind it and I was really attracted to that.

Ah, memories -- Cena, HHH, Undertaker, and more ...

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:09:47 -0500

So it was six years ago -- on the Halloween episode of SmackDown in 2002 -- that this happened. (Yes, that's me dressed as Dudley Do-Right sitting next to Cena as Stephanie's talking). I've blogged before about my role in John Cena's first appearance as the white-boy rapper that ultimately led to his rise to superstardom. But given the day's festivities, I thought I'd retell the story -- along with some other fun backstage tidbits and thoughts inspired by recent events. Enjoy ...

Sapolsky On His Firing

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:48:08 -0500

I corresponded with former ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky about his firing before I put up my last post, but waited until I had his OK to release the following comment he gave me. Asked for his side of the story, Sapolsky told me, "There really isn't a side to my story. There was no fight or hard feelings. I understand Cary's decision . I love ROH and hopefully everyone will give the new direction a chance." Short and simple. If what Sapolsky is saying is true, it's even more puzzling why the decision was made to let him go. I'd have an easier time accepting that there was some kind of personal falling out between he and Silkin. But it sounds like it's as simple as Silkin not being happy with the job Sapolsky was doing.

My Thoughts on ROH's Creative Shake-Up

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:08:03 -0500

For me, the biggest – and most shocking – wrestling story coming out of last weekend was Gabe Sapolsky being fired as booker of Ring of Honor. Sapolski had long been heralded by many wrestling insiders as the very best wrestling booker in the country, and it’s surprising that ROH President Cary Silkin would decide to go in a different direction. I’m not exactly sure what ROH’s financial situation has been of late, but I can imagine that the overall drop in business for pro wrestling (Monday Night Raw is now settling into the high 2’s for its ratings) has got to affect ROH. The impact may be even more significant for ROH, which – with no weekly TV– relies solely on fans reaching into their pockets to see the company’s product live in person, on DVD or on pay per view. In this economy, good luck with that. So, not knowing much about the back story to Sapolsky’s firing, it’s conceivable Silkin may be looking for a major shake-up to reverse the company’s fortunes. I can’t help but question that logic, since it would seem to me that ROH’s booking was the least of the company’s problems. Whether Sapolsky was doing a terrific job, or a lousy one, it doesn’t really matter if nobody’s watching. It’s the proverbial tree falling in the woods.