Author: Marc Madison (Editor in Chief)

On July 23rd, 2010, at EVOLVE 4: Bryan Danielson vs. Bobby Fish, a match took place between two notable individuals long before they were battling for the NXT championship. When a young, clean-cut Adam Cole faced a long-haired rocker named Johnny Gargano, their encounter was unlike anything fans had seen and certainly unlike what we would see now. These were well before the days of #DIY and the Undisputed Era as well. In EVOLVE, wins and losses were counted and mattered (does that sound familiar today?), and Cole was walking in winless with a record of 0-1 as he squared…

After only a few years in the industry, the top talent Christian Casanova went from being on the cusp of breaking out to becoming HIM, Carmelo Hayes. From Framingham, Massachusetts, USA, Hayes had initially been active on the New England area’s independent scene. However, as the years have passed, Hayes’s popularity has risen as well. His success in various promotions is an example of just how much he’s grown and developed upon getting his career right off the bat needed to find an outlet an in need of a character. The King of Pop initially inspired his first character. Carmelo…

On March 28th, 2010, the WWE presented the 26th annual WrestleMania. One match from this event stood out above all others: Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker battled in a match pitting career vs. streak. It was the second consecutive year they faced each other; however, the stakes couldn’t be any higher. Fans of The Undertaker were aware of his streak. A win here would put the Undertaker’s streak to 18-0. On the other side was the Heartbreak Kid and someone often referred to as Mr. WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels. It would be the second consecutive year where the two would face…

An apex is best described as the tip, the point, the summit, a climax, or a peak. The best definition of combat is ‘to oppose vigorously’. Put these two words together, and you have the nickname for Lee Moriarty, but it is evident that this isn’t merely a nickname. Lee Moriarty carries himself with a sense of calm that erupts upon the battlefield. The earliest influence on his ring style was AJ Styles. But he has shown growth over his time in the industry due to his exposure to Chris Hero and Tiger Mask 1. They, along with contemporaries such as…

Kevin Kesar has had various names throughout his brief career. One name that has long remained with him has been a winner. Known early in his career as Killer Kross has competed for several promotions during that time. His character often has had layers to it and a great deal of complexity often described by Kross himself, now as Karrion Kross. Karrion Kross: His Character Origins …And a lot of what I was inspired by getting into this was films like Bronson, American Psycho, Dark City, Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier… in Tim Burton’s film Batman, and then I kind…

Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly. On one side of the ring, we have a former WWE Universal, Two-time NXT, and Intercontinental champion. On the other side, a former multi-time NXT tag team champion as part of the Undisputed Era. While both men engaged in a six-man tag team match with one another nearly a year ago, they never have, at any point in their careers, faced each other in singles action. On October 4th, 2020, as part of NXT TakeOver, that will change. Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly would go face to face against one another for the NXT Championship.…

The build for this pay per view and the opening video package focused on how at the time anyone who cashed in on the opportunity won in the Money in the Bank 2012 match had a 100% success rate. This was also the first opportunity for John Cena to compete for the Money In the Bank 2012 contract. Who will be the next winner and the next champion? On Sunday, July 15, 2012, from the U.S Airways Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, the show begins with the first 2012 Money in the Bank Ladder contract match for the World Championship, which…

Wrestling has more than one wrestling dynasty are the words ushered in from a theme song of a second-generation talent. But in the case of the Rougeau family, their wrestling lineage dates back nearly six decades. For Jacques Rougeau, in particular, his wrestling career spanned more than 40 years. He’s liked, hated but ultimately respected by those in the industry. Jacques’ uncle, brothers, and father were all promotors at one point and time in the industry. Not to mention his sister Johanne who also promoted wrestling in the families home of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. But the challenges of living up…

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada native Kira Forster is known as Taya Valkyrie, has worked hard and grown since she started in the wrestling industry eleven years ago. Prior to beginning her journey in wrestling, she was a formally trained ballet dancer. This, along with her background in gymnastics, competitive fitness, and modeling, demonstrates that she has never put all her eggs in one basket. While wrestling is clearly her passion, she has always demonstrated her commitment to being well-versed in all things entertainment and performance. She re-emerged as Franky Monet in WWE NXT’s Women’s division. ___________________ The wrestling career of…

On June 27th, 2011, CM Punk came out and laid down the Pipebomb promo. It was a promo unlike any in recent memory. After suffering a loss, a wounded John Cena began to slowly make his way to his feet. While battered and bruised, Cena laid there until CM Punk came out. Dressed in his ring gear and a very fitting Stone Cold Steve Austin T-Shit, Punk crossed his legs and sat on the stage at the top of the rampway. What followed was CM Punk and the infamous Pipebomb promo, which is as follows. The Pipebomb John Cena, while…