The Highlight Reel presents This Week's (Belated) Recap for August 12th

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Thanks to internet problems beyond my control, I was without the internet for the better part of three days. I missed TNA’s Hardcore Justice pay-per-view, the breaking news of Mitt Romney’s VP announcement, the rise and fall of Chad Johnson in Miami, the end of the 2012 Olympics online, Rory McIlroy’s dominant PGA Championship victory, and so many other tremendous stories over the weekend. In addition, it led to a delay with this week’s recap. However, I am back online (hopefully to stay) and ready to write. Here is the weekly recap of the best and worst according to me.

Superstar of the Week: Team USA including members Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells, Ashton Eaton, Trey Hardee, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Jennifer Kessy, April Ross, Aly Raisman, Claressa Shields, Jordan Burroughs, Jake Varner, Team USA men’s basketball team, Team USA women’s basketball team, Team USA women’s soccer team, and the Team USA women’s water polo team

The Games of the XXX Olympiad in London have concluded. For this sports fan, one of the great joys of being a sports fan is watching the fortnight in which the greatest athletes in the world display their talents in battles with patriotism and national pride fueling them as much as the individual glory of gold, silver, and bronze medals. I love the Olympics. Any sports fan who does not love the Olympics is lying to you when he or she refers to himself or herself as a sports fan. The 2012 Olympic Games were nothing short of outstanding. Even with NBC showing a majority of the events on a tape delay, the drama and the excitement remained. Plus, on a personal note, it was so cool to watch Michelle Beadle crush life on the biggest stage of her career as an Olympic host for NBC and NBC Sports Network.

I love Michelle Beadle. Fact.

I love her. But, I digress…

Despite trailing China at the end of the first week, the United States ended the Olympics with the most total medals. Team USA ended the games with 104 medals - 46 gold, 29 silver, and 29 bronze. China ended with 88 medals (38 gold) and Russia finished third in the total medal count with 82 medals (24 gold). Host nation Great Britain finished fourth in the total medal count with 65 medals (29 gold).

US Track & Field star Allyson Felix

In the second week of the 2012 Olympics, Team USA was outstanding in track and field, dominant on the basketball court, achieved legendary success on the beach, and obtained redemption on the pitch. While the world watched in awe as Jamaican Usain Bolt shattered world records, Sanya Richards-Ross and Allyson Felix both won multiple gold medals for Team USA. Richards-Ross won gold in the 400m and women’s 4 x 400m relay while Felix took home gold in the 200m, women’s 4 x 100m relay, and women’s 4 x 400m relay. Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin both left with silver in the men’s 4 x 100m relay while Gatlin also earned a bronze in the 100m. Despite tons of hype for her, Team USA poster-child Lolo Jones failed miserably with a fourth in the 100m hurdles. Instead, Dawn Harper brought home silver and Kellie Wells took bronze in the same event. Among, the other big winners in track and field, Ashton Eaton won gold and Trey Hardee took silver in the men’s decathlon. The legendary beach volleyball careers of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings ended with a third consecutive gold medal after they defeated fellow Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross in the gold medal match. In gymnastics, Aly Raisman won the women’s individual floor exercises while Team USA was successful in combative sports with Claressa Shields winning gold in middleweight boxing, Jordan Burroughs winning gold in 74kg freestyle wrestling, and Jake Varner winning gold in 96kg freestyle wrestling.

US Soccer star Alex Morgan

Team USA continued their legendary domination on the basketball court with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams winning gold. LeBron James had the first triple-double in Olympic history while Kevin Durant’s star grew on an international level for the men while Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi all won their third gold medals for the women. Hope Solo had a handful of incredible saves while Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd scored huge goals on the US Women’s Team’s way to winning gold in London. In the finals, the US women defeated Japan, 2-1, to not only earn the gold but also gain a semblance of redemption after their loss to Japan in the 2011 World Cup. In addition, the women’s water polo team won gold for the US in London.

US Soccer star Hope Solo

While the Games of the XXX Olympiad are now over, many great moments in American sports took place over the last two weeks. For all of the records shattered, medals won, triumphs celebrated, and defeats mourned, one thing remained true throughout the games: there is no bigger sporting event in the world that unifies us as a people than the Olympics. I cannot wait until the winter games of Sochi, Russia in 2014.

Jerk of the Week: Kevin Nash

I met Kevin Nash in April 2003 in Roanoke, Virginia at a gas station. He was a wonderful guy. He chatted for a few minutes and was very friendly despite being in a hurry to get to the Roanoke Civic Center for a show. I say all of this because the wrestling world normally looks at Kevin Nash as one of the most egotistical jerks in the history of the business. Last week, Nash gave wrestling fans Exhibit 9,203 in the case of Fans vs. Kevin Nash with controversial remarks made in an interview with Grantland.com. While I met a nice guy in Roanoke nine years ago, I have to call the dude making these remarks a major league tool.

Kevin Nash said that the late Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero were responsible for the death of the wrestling business as part of a rant on “vanilla midgets” coming from the mouth of a bitter has-been. “When (Chris) Benoit and (Eddie) Guerrero hugged (at the end of WrestleMania XX), that was the end of the business,” Nash told Grantland.com. “Has business been the same since that WrestleMania? Has it come close to the Austin era? Has it come close to the NWO or the Hogan era? You put two guys that were great workers that were the same height as the referees, and I’m sorry, man.” Nash addressed two of WWE’s current main event stars - CM Punk and Daniel Bryan - by calling them “internet heroes.” Nash added, “They are not bigger than life. I bet they could both walk through airports and not be noticed unless they have a gimmick shirt on and the belt.”

When Kevin Nash booked WCW in the late 1990s, Nash referred to small technically sound wrestlers as “vanilla midgets.” Legends like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, and Dean Malenko were among those who were “vanilla midgets” in Kevin Nash’s eyes. The reality is that Nash looks at everyone who is not 6’8” and 295 pounds as a “vanilla midget.” Nash would also say this about his friend Shawn Michaels and about legends like Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Curt Hennig, Roddy Piper, and practically every other performer in the business that outdrew Nash in terms of revenue while outperforming Nash in terms of in-ring performance. Kevin Nash is a sad, petty man who bashes everyone smaller than him because Nash realizes that size is not everything and the smaller wrestlers all tend to have something Nash did not: talent. Kevin Nash’s time has come and gone. He now seems to live on bit roles in movies and the desire for the spotlight that he never truly deserved in 1995 thrust upon him again. While he helped Triple H kill CM Punk’s momentum and then feuded with The Game in 2011, the truth is that Kevin Nash’s mouth and jealous nature are the only things getting him a reaction in the wrestling business in 2012.

Babe of the Week: Taylor Swift

Red. October 22nd. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Available now on iTunes. Good times are here again!

A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Ron Palillo, 63 - American actor best known as Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter (August 14th)
- Johnny Pesky, 92 - Legendary Boston Red Sox player/manager/front office worker and namesake of Pesky’s Pole at Fenway Park (August 13th)
- Red Bastien, 81 - Professional wrestler and legendary trainer who discovered Sting and the Ultimate Warrior (August 11th)
- Marvin Hamlisch, 68 - American composer (The Way We Were) and arranger (The Sting) (August 6th)

The High Cost for Succeeding - TNA Wrestling's Recent Contract Disputes

Wrestling Wednesday…

TNA Wrestling - The High Cost for Succeeding

 

Shakespeare time kids. “To stay or not to stay, that is the question.” Let’s hear YOUR opinion. #BULLYNATION - Bully Ray @REALBully5150 via Twitter

TNA Wrestling is the premiere professional wrestling organization in the United States today. I did not say sports entertainment organization; I said professional wrestling organization. There is a major distinction between the two even though a majority of viewers cannot tell the difference. That is why it is nothing to go online to a wrestling website and find thousands of Vince McMahon worshipers bashing everything about TNA Wrestling despite having never watched a minute of TNA Wrestling in their lives. They see TNA Wrestling as competition to the sports entertainment juggernaut WWE and must tear TNA down as a result.

While TNA Wrestling has the stature of being the premiere professional wrestling organization in the country, that spot also comes with the responsibility of paying the talents who have earned you this prestigious spot in the industry. TNA and WWE differ in what they do. However, both companies take workers from the same profession. WWE pays talents a lot more to waste their careers under the World Wrestling Entertainment sports entertainment umbrella than TNA Wrestling can pay talents to apply their talents towards making the best possible in-ring product. Despite being unable to match the offers made by WWE, TNA can make offers that are not insulting to the stars they have to retain them. Right? Apparently not. 2012 looks like the year TNA finally crumbles from within.

TNA President Dixie Carter has announced TNA Wrestling resigned three talents to long-term deals in 2012: TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries, TNA Knockout Tag Team Champion ODB, and Hernandez. Meanwhile, the TNA roster has lost “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Matt Morgan, former multiple-time X-Division and Tag Team Champion Alex Shelley, former Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky and former five-time Knockouts Champion Angelina Love in the last five months. Rumors are circulating that the best heel in the business today, Bully Ray, and current TV Champion Devon are leaving after failed contract negotiations. In addition, former two-time Knockouts Champion Winter is on her way out of the company too. These moves, as a whole, make for one giant red flag for TNA Wrestling.



While the resigning of Aries was a tremendous move, the other two signings are garbage. I have never been a fan of ODB or her work. The resigning of ODB while allowing Velvet Sky, Angelina Love, and Winter to walk is a major mistake. It damages the Knockouts roster immensely. Hernandez appears to be the TNA version of Mark Henry in WWE. He is going to continue to get a paycheck and pushed by the company despite being unable to draw a dime until he backs into a major push because of company seniority. Hernandez is worthless. Yet, TNA resigned him while the company will allow Bully Ray to walk despite being one of the biggest stars in the company today. Devon is going to walk despite currently holding the TV title. Alex Shelley and Matt Morgan both left without TNA putting up a fight. However, the resigning of Hernandez is a major deal?!?

It costs a lot of money to keep talent rosters stocked and happy. It is the high cost for succeeding. TNA Wrestling has succeeded in 2012 as they never have before in ten years. Sadly for TNA, this success means that talent want compensation, fair compensation, for their roles in the success of the company. Vince McMahon has made billions on the blood, sweat, and broken bodies of wrestlers over 30 years and cast each one aside after getting the flavor from the proverbial piece of chewing gum. TNA President Dixie Carter made it a point to say she did not conduct business like that years ago when asked about some of her questionable signings. Now, it appears that Dixie is conducting business from the Vince McMahon Book of Shady Business Dealings. Instead of keeping the talent fans want, resign the talents who will work cheap and let the hard workers walk. World Wrestling Entertainment has millions of mindless sheep in their WWE Universe so this business practice does not harm their bottom line. On the other hand, TNA Wrestling has a small, devout following who appreciate the work of these talents being allowed to walk. Losing Bully Ray, Devon, Velvet Sky, Angelina Love, Alex Shelley, and Matt Morgan hurts the TNA product. All of the former WWE talents signed to debut as Aces & Eights in the world cannot replace the talents lost. Resigning Hernandez damn sure does not replace the talents you lost.

There is a high cost for succeeding. TNA Wrestling may very well pay the price for not paying the talents.

The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for August 5th

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar of the Week: Team USA including members Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt, Dana Vollmer, Elizabeth Beisel, Rebecca Soni, Katie Ledecky, Gabby Douglas, Venus Williams, Serena Williams



Through the first week of competition at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London, the United States has firmly established itself as one of two nations to beat alongside China. Through Sunday, China has the most medals, 61, followed closely by the United States, 60, with host nation Great Britain in third with 37 medals.

The biggest success for the American thus far has come in the pool. The Olympic career of Michael Phelps has ended with six more total medals. Phelps won four gold and two silver medals, bringing his career total to 22 medals - more than any other Olympic athlete in the history of the Games has. His 18 gold medals are double that of any other athlete in Olympic history. Phelps won gold in the Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay, Men’s 200m individual medley, Men’s 100m butterfly, and Men’s 4 x 100m medley relay. Ryan Lochte, the future of US Men’s swimming, took gold in the Men’s 400m individual medley, Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay, silver (along with Phelps) in the Men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay and Men’s 200m individual medley, and a bronze in the Men’s 200m backstroke.



Perhaps the new face of US swimming, 17-year-old Missy Franklin captured the imaginations of the country with her gold in the Women’s 100m backstroke. Franklin also won gold in the Women’s 200m backstroke, Women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay, Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay, and a bronze in the Women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay. Allison Schmitt, Dana Vollmer, Elizabeth Beisel, Rebecca Soni, and Katie Ledecky were among the other US Women to earn gold over the week in the pool.



Gabby Douglas won gold in the Women’s individual all-around in gymnastics. Her gold medal performance puts her in the same company as American darlings Mary Lou Retton (1984), Carly Patterson (2004), and Nastia Liukin (2008). Douglas was also a part of the US Women’s team who won the gold in the team all-around competition. Venus and Serena Williams won gold in women’s doubles tennis and Serena won the women’s singles gold while Bob and Mike Bryan won gold in men’s doubles tennis. Kayla Harrison became the first American, male or female, to medal in Judo when she won gold in the Women’s 78kg division.

Those are just a handful of the stories to come from the first week of the 2012 Olympics. With a week remaining, Team USA has a great chance to bring home more medals as track and field kick off while both our men and women’s basketball teams look poised for gold. I am positive that next week will have another wave of patriotism in the Superstars of the Week.

Jerk of the Week: The Liberal Agenda fighting Chick-fil-A

The biggest divider among the American public currently is whether you support Chick-fil-A as the absurdly overrated issue that is gay marriage has claimed the fast food chicken franchise has its latest victim. As the Liberal Agenda continues to use gay marriage as their primary objective (ahead of unemployment, immigration, drugs, crime, gas prices, economic growth, or one of the other 72,000 issues more important to the health of our nation), it has came out that a local Chick-fil-A franchisee co-sponsored a marriage conference alongside the Pennsylvania Family Institute. The PFI is an organization strongly opposed to same-sex marriage. In addition, another organization with connections to Chick-fil-A, the WinShape Foundation, stated their opposition to same-sex marriage in 2010. Using these as straws to grasp on, Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy stated his opinion on same-sex marriage on the syndicated radio show The Ken Coleman Show on June 16th after being asked about those previous links to opposing same-sex marriage. Cathy’s opposition to same-sex marriage led to a major backlash from the liberal agenda.

On August 1st, Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country were host to Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day as supports of the restaurant visited. It was the most successful day in Chick-fil-A history. On August 3rd, same-sex marriage supporters countered this with a Kiss Off event that saw admitted “smaller than hoped for” numbers of same-sex couples entering Chick-fil-A restaurants to kiss in open.

The thing that bothers me the most about this whole story is that the liberals of our nation are using the gay and lesbian community as pawns in their game. The liberal agenda threw all of Chick-fil-A under the bus - every employee, customer, stockholder, etc. - as a hate-filled homophobe in order to push their own agenda when the reality is that Chick-fil-A did nothing to warrant this attention. COO Dan Cathy and CEO S. Truett Cathy quietly donated to causes they believed in. The deeply devout Southern Baptists, who do not even open their restaurants on Sundays, shockingly enough do not support same-sex marriage. Shocking, right? These men did not make a spectacle of their beliefs or donations. The liberal agenda did as they vilified Chick-fil-A when putting a corporate face on their hatred. The Cathy men did not post anti-gay messages or literature on the wrappers. Chick-fil-A did not run ads saying “Eat more Chicken & Marriage is between a Man and Woman.” The Cathy men quietly made donations that people in the opposing agenda decided to turn into a major spectacle for their own gain.

I do not care about same-sex marriage. I do not believe it should be an issue at all in our nation. If people want to get married, that is fine. It should not be a national story. However, I do care about hypocrisy. I find it hypocritical that people crying for equality and pleading for people not to hate them because of their lifestyles are… HATING others who have different beliefs and a different lifestyle. Treat others as you want to be treated. That is a golden rule that even the biggest anti-religious heathen can support. So, why can’t the liberals slandering Chick-fil-A understand that?

Babe of the Week: Carrie Underwood



A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Gore Vidal, 86 - American playwright, novelist, and political commentator (July 31st)

August 2nd, 1992 - An Important Day in Wrestling History

August 2nd, 1992 - The Night Ron Simmons Broke the World Championship Color Barrier

In professional wrestling, many great African-American athletes have captured the imaginations of audiences throughout the history of the business. Bobo Brazil was a top draw for decades while winning many regional championships in an illustrious career. The Junkyard Dog was one of the most popular men of all-time while selling out arenas around the world. “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson won regional championships and electrified audiences while “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas amazed crowds with his spectacular strength for decades. “The Big Cat” Ernie Ladd dominated and terrorizes territories as one of the most ruthless heels of his generation. “Bearcat” Wright was the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling as he won regional championships while pushing for desegregation in cards and crowds in the business. However, in the annals of professional wrestling history, none ever reached the pinnacle of the sport. Nobody won a World Championship until August 2nd, 1992.

On August 2nd, 1992 in Baltimore, Maryland, Ron Simmons won an eight-man raffle to determine who would replace the injured Sting in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match that night against Vader. Then, after ten minutes of heavy-handed wrestling between two of the strongest men in the business, Simmons escaped a power bomb attempt and caught Vader with a scoop power slam. Three seconds later, history occurred. Ron Simmons became the first African-American world champion in the history of the business. His victory broke the proverbial glass ceiling that held down many wrestlers of color when promoters refused to push an African-American as the face of their promotion. For five months, Simmons held the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with pride.

Since his victory, many African-Americans have reached the top of the mountain in the wrestling business. Despite being half-Samoan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the greatest African-American champions in WWE history with nine World Championships. Booker T is a six-time World Champion (five in WCW and one in WWE), Ron Killings is a three-time NWA World Champion, and Mark Henry most recently won the World Heavyweight Championship in the WWE for the first time in 2011. While Simmons never won another World Championship, his title win 20 years ago paved the way for many others.

Enjoy this historic match and remember a time when the crowd was always on fire, Jim Ross’ passionate play-by-play made every match special, and Ron Simmons was more than just a catchphrase. Damn! August 2nd, 1992 was a glorious day in wrestling history.

Wrestling's Future Superstars Currently in Ring of Honor

Wrestling Wednesday…

Ring of Honor Wrestling - The Biggest Stars of Tomorrow Currently in ROH

The two premiere champions in the two biggest American wrestling/sports entertainment companies today are WWE Champion CM Punk and TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries. Sorry Sheamus, nobody really cares about you or your Triple H-influenced World Heavyweight Championship reign. Punk and Aries both have a lot in common. Management labeled both men “too small to be main event talent” at times in their careers. Both men have overcome hatred from management to earn respect and favor from those same management figures. Both men have loyal fan bases, especially fan bases based in the Internet Wrestling Community. Both can argue for the label “Best in the World.” In addition, both men’s careers really took off during their time in Ring of Honor Wrestling.

While it is debatable about whether World Wrestling Entertainment or TNA Wrestling is the premiere wrestling company in America based on what you measure success by (on-screen product or TV ratings), I think it is safe to say that Ring of Honor Wrestling offers the best in-ring product in the country today. However, because of their small company, limited finances, and minute exposure through a small syndicated TV deal, Ring of Honor Wrestling will never achieve the same recognition as WWE or TNA. While Ring of Honor does not get the respect it deserves, their talent sure does.

In looking at both WWE and TNA, both rosters feature Ring of Honor alumni among the elite talent of their respective rosters.  Besides WWE Champion CM Punk, WWE boasts Ring of Honor alumni Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) among their main event stars. Main roster members Evan Bourne (Matt Sydal), Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli), and Beth Phoenix all have Ring of Honor ties while WWE developmental plays host to Seth Rollins (former ROH World Champion Tyler Black), Kassius Ohno (Chris Hero), and Corey Graves (Sterling James Keenan). Rumors flourish that another Ring of Honor star, Sara Del Rey, is on her way to WWE developmental hell any time now. Alongside TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries, the TNA roster includes former ROH World Champion Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Abyss, Douglas Williams, Kenny King, Chris Sabin, Joey Ryan, and Mickie James (Alexis Laree). All have spent considerable time in Ring of Honor while Jeff Hardy, Gunner (Phil Splatter), Hernandez, Madison Rayne (Ashley Lane), and Sarita (Sarah Stock) enjoyed brief appearances in ROH.

Despite many fans of professional wrestling refusing to give Ring of Honor the respect it deserves, they enjoy many of the talents that have came through the doors of the best little company in the business today. I feel that this trend will continue. Just last month, Kenny King jumped to TNA despite being one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Championships as the opportunity for bigger exposure called to King. While few stay in Ring of Honor for the majority of their career, it is safe to say the best in the business have a stop in Ring of Honor at some point on their resume.

The following are five men who I believe have big things in their future. While at various levels in their Ring of Honor careers now, I believe all will be major players within TNA Wrestling or wasting away in World Wrestling Entertainment five years from now. They have the “IT” factors that spell success outside of the Ring of Honor ring. These men are the future of professional wrestling.



“The Prodigy” Mike Bennett - It amazes me that WWE does not already have Bennett under contract. Mike Bennett is one of those guys who appear to have been created in a lab under specific orders from Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Standing over six-foot tall and 220 pounds of chiseled muscle with movie star good looks, Bennett has the image of a WWE Superstar. His former WWE Diva girlfriend Maria Kanellis does not hurt the image either. One important thing though about Bennett is that image is not everything with this man. Bennett has shown repeatedly that he can go in the ring with the best. His trilogy with the legendary Lance Storm this year helped solidify Bennett as a major talent while outstanding efforts against Jay Lethal and Eddie Edwards have helped “The Prodigy” rise the ranks in ROH. Bennett still has a lot of room to grow as an in-ring performer but I believe he has unlimited potential.



Adam Cole - Good-looking, high-flying, and tremendously athletic, 23-year old Adam Cole already has four years of in-ring experience under his belt. Cole debuted in Ring of Honor in 2010. For the last year, Cole has emerged as one of the premiere young athletes in the company. Cole scored a pinfall victory in a tag match over then ROH World Champion Davey Richards at the 10th Anniversary Show in March. His feud with former Future Shock tag team partner Kyle O’Reilly led to a bloody and brutal match at Best in the World 2012 on June 24th that made both men stars in ROH. Currently the ROH TV Champion after defeating Roderick Strong, Cole’s stock continues to soar in 2012. I believe that, barring an injury, Cole will be a top face in ROH for a long time to come. Outside of ROH, I can see Cole becoming a fixture of the X-Division if TNA signed him.



“Die Hard” Eddie Edwards - Edwards is a 10-year veteran who debuted in Ring of Honor in December 2006 against the man currently holding the TNA World heavyweight Championship, Austin Aries. In his ROH career, Edwards has done it all. After a highly successful partnership with Davey Richards as The American Wolves, Edwards has branched out on his own with one of the most successful careers in ROH history. Edwards won the inaugural TV Championship in 2010 and was the first man to win ROH’s Triple Crown (World, TV, and Tag Team titles). Blending a hard-hitting strong style with punishing submission moves along with a high-flying aerial arsenal, Eddie Edwards is one of the best complete in-ring workers in professional wrestling today. I watch Edwards and see a young Chris Benoit in action. If Edwards has any faults that would hurt his chances in WWE, it is his size as he is only around six feet tall. That is a WWE problem. Edwards is too talented of a worker to have something like height stop him from succeeding in a major promotion. Edwards would fit in perfectly in TNA, both in the X-Division and main event picture. I believe wholeheartedly that “Die Hard” could be a World Champion in TNA Wrestling.



“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin - After brief appearances in 2007 and 2008, Michael Elgin debuted full-time with Ring of Honor in late 2010. As the muscle in Truth Martini’s House of Truth faction, Elgin quietly developed into one of the top young stars in the business behind the charismatic leadership of Martini and the top star Roderick Strong. In the last eight months, the powerhouse from Toronto has emerged as one of the breakout stars of Ring of Honor with big wins at the 2011 Survival of the Fittest tournament and a Match of the Year candidate at Day Two of Showdown in the Sun against then-ROH World Champion Davey Richards. When I look at Elgin, I immediately think of fellow House of Truth member Rhino. Elgin, like Rhino, is powerful and built like a brick house. If Elgin has any drawback, it is his height. However, I could see Elgin succeeding in TNA easily as his strength and aggressive nature would fit in nicely. If WWE management could see past the height issue, Elgin would fit in nicely with Vince McMahon’s fascination with powerful men.



Roderick Strong - When I look at Roderick Strong, I see Austin Aries. While both men have differences in appearance and in-ring style, Strong and Aries both have a mutual career path thus far. Strong, like Aries, already was a part of the TNA roster in the mid 2000s. While Aries achieved a minimal amount of success during his first run with TNA, Strong achieved no success at all. It is in Ring of Honor where the "Messiah of the Backbreaker" developed his brutal in-ring style and cocky persona destined for bigger things. Strong joined ROH in 2003 and quickly found success. Strong is the second man to ever win the ROH Triple Crown (World, TV, and Tag Team titles) while rivalries with Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, and Bryan Danielson have defined one of the most prolific careers in ROH History. I believe that Strong would fit into TNA Wrestling wonderfully, as both an X-Division competitor and a main event player. While Strong’s weakest trait is his microphone skills (something that would kill him in the WWE), TNA would overlook this in favor of his undeniable charisma and in-ring ability second to none. I personally believe that Roderick Strong is a World Champion waiting to happen.