A Look At My TNA Article From Last Year

A Look At My TNA Article From Last Year
December 15, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

It was a year ago Impact Wrestling made the announcement they were returning to their old "TNA" name. Around this time last year, I wrote an article on things I would like to see TNA do in 2024 that I felt would improve the product. 2024 was a big year and a very successful year for TNA. Many changes were made on and off camera while the promotion intends to enter 2025 guns blazing. I figured with a year having passed, I look back on my article from a year ago and see what TNA did and didn't do in 2024.

Note: I don't own the graphic. Credit to TNA.

NXT Arrival: Where Are They Now?

NXT Arrival: Where Are They Now?

December 11, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

Many promotions have popped up this century from big ones like AEW, TNA, ROH, and MLW to popular indie promotions like PWG, SHIMMER, SHINE, GCW, among others. One of the bigger and popular ones would be NXT. Originally starting in 2010 as a goofy reality show type concept, NXT eventually settled into becoming WWE's developmental territory in 2012. Mostly operating out of Florida, the promotion has grown from cult like status on the WWE Network to occasionally being considered a third brand alongside RAW and Smackdown on national TV. Many of WWE's current stars had runs in NXT at one point before moving up to the main roster. However, despite NXT beginning in 2012, it wouldn't be until 2014 when they began running big PPV like cards. The first one would be called NXT Arrival and took place at Full Sail University on February 27, 2014. It's now been over ten years since that event so I figured it be fun to do one of my favorite type of articles which is a "Where Are They Now?" In this article, we'll take a look at some of the early stars of NXT and see where they ended up. Who went to big success? Who fell to obscurity? Let's find out.

Note: I don't own any photos. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them.

Saturday Night's Main Event XII Review

Saturday Night's Main Event XII Review
July 13, 2013 (edited November 21, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XII
Tagline: None
Date: October 3, 1987
Location: Hershey Park, Pennsylvania
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped on September 23, 1987)
Arena: Hershey Park Arena
Attendance: 9,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Broadcast: NBC

NWA Great American Bash 1987 Review

NWA Great American Bash 1987 Review
June 1, 2012 (edited October 31, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Great American Bash 1987
Tagline: None
Date: Various
Location: Various
Live or Tape: Tape
Arena: Various
Attendance: Various
Announcers: Various
Interviewers: None
Other: None
Broadcast: Home Video

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XI Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XI Review
October 23, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XI
Tagline: None
Date: May 2, 1987
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped April 28, 1987)
Arena: Edmund P. Joyce Center
Attendance: 9,345
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

WWE Managers That Didn't Work Out

WWE Managers That Didn't Work Out

October 7, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

Professional Wrestling is known for their share of colorful and larger than life characters. However, not all these characters are wrestlers. Rather, some are managers. For decades, professional wrestling managers have played important parts in getting certain talent over whether it be cutting promos for them or getting involved in matches to get more heat from the crowd. The WWE has had their share of managers going back decades from "Wild" Red Berry in the 1960s to the Three Wise Men of the East ("Classy" Freddie Blassie, The Grand Wizard of Wrestling and "Captain" Lou Albano) of the 1970s to early 1980s to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart in the 1980s to early 1990s to Paul Heyman in present day. However, for all the legendary managers that have come through the WWE, there are those that for whatever reason or another, it didn't work out with some even being long forgotten. In this article, we'll look at managers that appeared for the WWF/WWE but for some reason, would fizzle out with some fading into obscurity.

Note: I don't own any pictures. I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whomever owns.

Interesting Facts about Kevin "Diesel" Nash

Interesting Facts about Kevin "Diesel" Nash

September 30, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

One of wrestling's most entertaining characters has been Kevin Nash. A seven foot tall giant who oozed charisma, swagger, and a cool factor, Nash was major name in the wrestling business throughout the 1990s and 2000s achieving legendary status for his times in the WWF/WWE, WCW, and TNA. He would leave his mark both on and off camera from being a founding father of the nWo to his meteoric rise in the WWF as "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel to his behind the scenes antics by himself and as a part of the backstage group called the Kliq. Many love him, many don't. Many would consider him an all time great while others would consider him a locker room cancer. Regardless, Nash has left behind a huge legacy that many couldn't come close to achieving. With his 65th birthday this past July 9th, it's time to look at some interesting fact about one of wrestling's greatest big men.

Note: I don't own the pictures. I found them on Google. Credit to WWE, TNA, the US Army, and/or whomever are their owners.

Interesting Facts about Sycho Sid

Interesting Facts about Sycho Sid

September 13, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

One of wrestling's biggest and most interesting names figuratively and literally was Sycho Sid. A combination of size, power, charisma, and intensity, Sid was one of wrestling's most unique names as well as one of their most successful from the late 1980s to early 2000s. During his career, the man who considered himself the master and ruler of the world did just about everything he could from multiple world title reigns between the two top American promotions to main eventing the premiere events of those promotions to feuding and facing the biggest names of his time. Sadly, I didn't anticipate doing an "Interesting Facts" on Sid, at least not now, but with his recent passing, I figured I do one. As a tribute to one of wrestling's greatest and most charismatic big men, we'll look at some interesting facts regarding Sycho Sid.

Note: I don't own any of the photos. I found them on Google. Credit to WWE, Youtube thumbnails, or whomever they belong to. I apologize for not knowing who exactly owns it.

NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament 1987 Review

NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament 1987 Review
August 25, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

VHS Cover

Event: Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament 1987
Tagline: None
Date: April 10, 1987 and April 11, 1987
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Live or Tape: Live
Arena(s): Baltimore Arena
Attendance: 9,300 (April 10th) and 13,000 (April 11th)
Announcers: None
Interviewers: None
Other: None
Broadcast: Home Video

Interesting Facts about Mitsuharu Misawa

Interesting Facts about Mitsuharu Misawa

July 29, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

If you talk to many hardcore wrestling fans and ask them who the greatest professional wrestler of all time is, many will say one name: Mitsuharu Misawa. After originally paying his dues and improving his craft during the 1980s as the second incarnation of Tiger Mask, he eventually would shine throughout the 1990s as the top star of All Japan Pro Wrestling where he engaged in one legendary match after another to the point where many would argue he was absolute best wrestler of the entire decade. During the later part of his career, he would also become known as a promoter as he founded Pro Wrestling NOAH. Sadly, despite his achievements, Misawa also became known for tragedy. The brutal King's Road style of wrestling he participated in which it along with bad luck and the pressure to press on in the ring at a time when he shouldn't have been even wrestling anymore would lead to his sad early death due to a cervical spinal cord injury he suffered during a match in 2009 at only 46 years old. This past June marked the fifteenth anniversary of Misawa's passing and I decided to pay tribute by looking back at some interesting facts.

Note: I don't own the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to the owners.

WWF Wrestlemania III Review

WWF Wrestlemania III Review
March 7, 2012 (edited July 17, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Wrestlemania III
Tagline: Bigger! Better! Badder!
Date: March 29, 1987
Location: Pontiac, Michigan
Liveor Tape: Live
Arena: Pontiac Silverdome
Attendance: 93,173
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean”Gene Okerlund, Vince McMahon, and Mary Hart
Other: Aretha Franklin (America the Beautiful) Bob Uecker (Guest Ring Announcer & Commentator), Mary Hart (Guest Timekeeper, Commentator, & Interviewer), Alice Cooper (Cornerman), and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan (Guest Commentator)
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View

Too Little Too Late. A Look At Wrestlers WWE Got Too Late

Too Little Too Late. A Look At Wrestlers WWE Got Too Late
July 8, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

Like everything in life, timing is everything in the world of professional wrestling and perhaps no one knows that more than Vince McMahon and the WWF/WWE. McMahon would have amazing timing throughout his promoting career whether it be the WWE's expansion to getting the right talent at the right time or even early. Unfortunately, McMahon and the WWE weren't perfect and for every Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin they got at the right time or even others like The Rock, who they got early, there are those wrestlers that came to the WWE too late for one reason or another be it age, personal issues, wear and tear, not fitting in with promotion at the time, etc. Here now, we'll look at various wrestlers and legends that WWE got too late to do much with.

Note: I don't own the pictures. I got them on Google. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them

Interesting Facts about The Ultimate Warrior

Interesting Facts about The Ultimate Warrior

June 16, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

One of wrestling's most colorful, charismatic, and controversial personalities is The Ultimate Warrior. During the late 1980s to early 1990s, few were as big and larger than life as Warrior. With his colorful face paint and tassels as well as his bombastic entrances, he was almost a superhero come to life. At his peak, he achieved many things most could only dream of. Unfortunately, as many fans as he had, he certainly had his detractors including hardcore wrestling fans who argue he lacked any talent or his own colleagues who he didn't always make friends with. Regardless of where you stand, it's hard to deny that The Warrior was a unique and special talent in the business and while his star burned brightly for a short time before issues backstage saw him usually disappear into the night, he'll always be remembered for his contributions. In the end, his journey and legacy is rocky but the final chapter would see redemption before his untimely passing in 2014. With this month marking what would've been his 65th birthday, I'll take a look at facts at a star who everyone had an opinion of: The Ultimate Warrior.

Note: I don't own the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE and whomever are the owners.

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event X Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event X Review
February 15, 2013 (Edited: June 7, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event X
Tagline: None
Date: March 14, 1987
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Live or Tape: Taped (February 21, 1987)
Arena: Joe Louis Arena
Attendance: 21,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Other: “Macho Man” Randy Savage (Guest Commentator)
Broadcast: NBC

WWF Brawl For All: Where Are They Now?

WWF Brawl For All: Where Are They Now?

May 27, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

The Brawl For All. If you are a long time wrestling fan or at least an Attitude Era fan, you're well aware of this infamous concept. Created in the summer of 1998, the Brawl For All was a sixteen man tournament. However, instead of being a scripted wrestling tournament that you would expect from the WWF, it was actually a legit toughman contest where wrestlers would put on boxing gloves and attempt to legit knock out their opponents. To say the Brawl For All was a disaster would be an understatement. Just about every way you can think of to make something like this a disaster: injuries, lack of audience interest, wrestlers losing credibility, failing to produce stars, and the man the promotion wanted to win not only did not but saw his reputation go down the toilet just as he was starting, this tournament had it. The BFA was a disaster. However, there were some silver linings as it did produce good ratings especially with talent most fans didn't care about and the eventual winner found doors opened for opportunities in Japan when the WWF had no further use of him. This summer will mark 26 years since the infamous tournament took place and since I didn't think of this idea a year ago, I'll do it now as we'll take a look at the participants, their backgrounds, and what became of them.

Note: I don't own the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whoever the owners are. I apologize for not knowing who owns what.

NWA Super Towns On The Superstation Review

NWA Super Towns On The Superstation Review
May 17, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Super Towns On The Superstation
Tagline: None
Date: February 7, 1987
Location: Various
Live or Tape: Tape (Various)
Arena: Various
Attendance: Unknown
Announcers: Tony Schiavone and David Crockett
Interviewers: Tony Schiavone
Other: Tony Schiavone (host) and David Crockett (host)
Broadcast: TBS

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event IX Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event IX Review
April 12, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event IX
Tagline: None
Date: January 3, 1987
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped December 14, 1986)
Arena: Hartford Civic Center
Attendance: 10,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

Interesting Facts about Sting

Interesting Facts about Sting

March 21, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

Whether you love him or hate him, it's hard not to respect the man called Sting. For 39 years, Sting has entertained wrestling fans and created an amazing and enduring legacy. Few are as loved and respected as him. He was able to reinvent himself at times when it looked like he was getting stale and enjoyed comebacks when it looked like his career was down for the count. With his 65th birthday coming this month and with his recent retirement, I figured it be a nice time to look at some interesting facts you may or may not have known about The Stinger.

Note: I don't own the pictures. I found them on Google. Credit to WWE, AEW, or whoever owns them. I apologize for not knowing the exact owners.

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event VIII Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event VIII Review

December 17, 2012 (edited March 19, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event VIII
Tagline: None
Date: November 29, 1986
Location: Los Angeles, California
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped November 15, 1986)
Arena: Los Angeles Sports Arena
Attendance: 16,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

NWA Starrcade 1986 Review

NWA Starrcade 1986 Review
May 17, 2012 (edited February 23, 2024)
By Ryan Porzl

Starrcade 1986 VHS Cover

Event: Starrcade 1986
Tagline: The Night of the Skywalkers
Date: November 27, 1986
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina & Atlanta, Georgia
Live or Tape: Live
Arena: Greensboro Coliseum & The Omni
Attendance: 16,000 (Greensboro) & 14,000 (Atlanta)
Announcers: Bob Caudle & Johnny Weaver (Greensboro) and Tony Schiavone & Rick Stewart (Atlanta)
Interviewers: Johnny Weaver (Greensboro) and Rick Stewart (Atlanta)
Other: Bob Taylor (Starrcade Control Room)
Broadcast: Closed Circuit Television

Legends That Are Long Overdue For The WWE Hall of Fame

Legends That Are Long Overdue For The WWE Hall of Fame
February 9, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

It's that time again, with the dawn of a new year marks the WWE's first major event of the year which is The Royal Rumble which, for many years, has been billed as where the Road to Wrestlemania begins. During the road trip to the Showcase of the Immortals, the WWE also starts announcing who will be the next entries into the WWE Hall of Fame which usually takes place the night before the extravaganza. Everyone has their opinion of who should go in and I'm no different. Despite the HOF having been around on and off for 31 years, there's plenty of names shockingly still not in. In this article, we'll take a look at the legends that are long overdue for a Hall of Fame induction. For the record, I'm not including Owen Hart for obvious reasons. I know I'll obviously miss some names as I can't put everyone on the list.

Note: I don't own the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whoever the owners are. I apologize for not knowing who exactly owns what.

Interesting Facts about Giant Baba

Interesting Facts about Giant Baba
February 7, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

The professional wrestling world is filled with wrestlers and legends that can be considered "larger than life". Some wrestlers were even known not only universally in the wrestling industry but also in pop culture and mainstream. One man who checks those boxes is Shohei "Giant" Baba. Baba is one of wrestling's biggest names and one of the few to enjoy massive success as both a wrestler and promoter as the owner of All Japan Pro Wrestling. During his near 40 year career, Baba became the third biggest name in all of Japanese wrestling behind only his mentor Rikidozan and fellow Rikidozan trainee Antonio Inoki. By the time of his passing in 1999, he was a pop culture icon in all of Japan to the point where not only did the business mourn him but so did the entirety of the country. With Baba's 86th birthday having come on January 23rd and the 25th anniversary of his passing on January 31st, I'll take a look at one of wrestling's biggest names both figuratively and literally.

Note: I don't own any of the pictures as I found them on Google. Credit to their owners and I apologize for not knowing their names.

Interesting Facts about Jim Duggan

Interesting Facts about Jim Duggan
January 27, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

Whenever you think of some of wrestling's more popular talents, especially during the golden age of the 80s, one name that comes to mind must be "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Duggan would originally achieve fame and success in Bill Watts' Mid South Wrestling/Universal Wrestling Federation before working the national scene first for the WWF and later for WCW. Though he wasn't a main event player in the nationals nor did he ever hold a world championship, Duggan had a Hall of Fame worthy career with plenty of highlights. With his 70th birthday having recently came and went, I decided why not do my interesting facts on 'Ol Hacksaw.

Note: I don't own the pictures as I got them on Google. Credit to WWE or whoever owns them. I apologize for not knowing the exact owners.

Interesting Facts about Ted Dibiase

Interesting Facts about Ted Dibiase

January 25, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

One thing that's certain is in the 1980s, wrestling had it's share of talented wrestlers and colorful characters. One of the men to check both boxes is Ted Dibiase. Dibiase was one of wrestling's best technicians during the 1970s to 1990s while also being one of the most memorable characters during the 80s wrestling boom period as the greedy and obnoxious Million Dollar Man. Few were as good as Dibiase at his best during his era. This past January 18th marked The Million Dollar Man's 70th Birthday so I'll celebrate with a look at some interesting facts regarding the man who believed everyone had a price.

Notes: I don't own any of the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whoever the owners are. I apologize for not knowing.

AEW Has A Potentially Serious Issue Regarding Star Power

AEW Has A Potentially Serious Issue Regarding Star Power

January 23, 2024
By Ryan Porzl

On New Years Day 2024, AEW celebrated their fifth year anniversary. Since it's launch in 2019, it has exceeded expectations in many ways and has had their share of success. Like any promotion, they've had their ups and downs. Perhaps, the promotion's biggest downs is their inability to build new stars to eventually replace the guys who have been on top the last five years and are getting older. Now, we're five years into AEW and despite that along with having nearly 200 wrestlers on the roster with Tony Khan having no plans to slow down anytime soon, the clock is ticking for AEW to build new stars and while the promotion won't go under anytime soon, it can affect their bottom line big time. Not to mention, it creates an atmosphere where young wrestlers will feel AEW isn't the place to become a star. Here, we'll take a look at AEW's roster both young and old and why AEW's issues regarding star power in becoming a big problem.