Week in Review for 08/19/18 (Pro Wrestling Post)

By
Mark Blake

Lots to discuss this week, as always in the crazy world of pro wrestling. From Hogan basically becoming a parody of himself, to Randy Orton’s “special” way of introducing himself to new people. These are among the topics in this week’s edition of the Pro Wrestling Post Week in Review for 08/19/18.

But first, we start with the tragic passing of a bonafide Hall of Fame candidate…..

Jim Neidhart Passing

In most possibly the saddest news of the week, former multi-time WWE Tag Team Champion and Legend Jim Neidhart passed away last Monday (13th).

The Pasco County Sheriffs Office confirmed that Jim had suffered a fall at his home, hit his head and had succumbed to his injuries

Tributes from around the world, wrestling and non-wrestling alike poured in, including one from all of us here at Pro Wrestling Post.

Below are a select few that I thought were some of the most heartfelt

RIP Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

Pro Wrestling Post Week in Review for 08/19/18

Dave Meltzer Backlash

People that know me know that there’s one thing I don’t like about Mr. Meltzer – his star ratings for wrestling matches. Wrestling is art and art is subjective, so to use one man’s opinions as the be-all and end-all of how good/bad matches are really grinds my gears.

But now you can add a second reason to the list.

While recording a podcast for his site The Wrestling Observer with Bryan Alvarez, he made a very disparaging comment about Peyton Royce. He commented that Royce had appeared “lighter” when she wrestled in NXT and that her appearance now may be the focal reason that she and Billie Kay (The IIconics) have not proved more successful on the main roster

It was picked up on quickly by social media users who called him out over it, and it wasn’t long before other wrestlers and Peyton herself commented.

The news was so big that over here in the UK, the BBC News website even ran a story on it!  To read it in its entirety click here.

To be fair to Meltzer, he did own up to his mistake and took full responsibility, not blaming it on others or some “brotherhood” (I’m looking at you brother!), but still, you don’t say things like that in this day and age. Peyton put it best herself when she said comments like his are how nightmares start for young women.

Pro Wrestling Post Week in Review for 08/19/18

Hulk Hogan Does It Again

OK, so where do I start with this story? I’m sure you don’t need any backstory about what Hulk said to get to this point, but I’ll quickly summarize what happened backstage at Extreme Rules last month to set the table…

Hogan was brought back by the WWE on the day of Extreme Rules last month, and Uncle Vince decreed that ALL talent were to be there to hear Hogan publicly apologize to them all for the racist remarks he said in the years prior, but many including The New Day and Titus O’Neil thought his apology lacked sincerity and was just lip service.

He was a guest on The Bill Apter podcast Apter Chat where he dropped these comments. Below is what he said:

“A lot of people accepted my apology, and a lot of people heard what they wanted to hear and a lot of the narrative that came out of the meeting was on point. A lot of the narrative was really different. I was surprised to hear some people interpreted what I said that I was just sorry I got caught. I’m on camera, whatever they interpreted, but I never said that.

I just hope the brotherhood can get back to the way it was,” Hogan continued. “Outside the ring, you’re supposed to protect your brother. In this case, it’s a situation where 75, 80, 90 percent of the wrestlers are protecting me and they’re giving me another chance to move forward. There’s just a few wrestlers that don’t understand the bond and the brotherhood of wrestling. If someone makes a mistake, you need to forgive them and move on and try to let them prove themselves”

OK, rant time – Let me start with this “Brotherhood” quote. Hogan is the epitome of looking after number one, so let’s put that to rest right now huh?

And that the odd 10% that aren’t giving Hogan a chance to move forward are probably the ones that said the apology was insincere and were waiting on him to show and PROVE he actually was sincere after all. These recent comments have done nothing but prove that “minority” as he calls it, right.

Thanks to Fightful.com for the transcript.

Pro Wrestling Post Week in Review for 08/19/18

Randy Orton’s Special Greeting

According to comments made by former WWE writer Court Bauer in an old MLW podcast, Orton would greet new writers into the company by basically getting his penis out of his pants, touch it, and then go to shake the new writer’s hand while cutting a kind of shoot promo at them.

The news has been picked up in the mainstream media with The NY Times, Fox News, and Forbes running the story among many other such luminaries. To read the entire article click here.

The story was “kinda” confirmed when comments made by former WWE Superstar Ken Anderson in a YouShoot interview from a few years ago re-surfaced this week too.

In the interview, Anderson talked about how Orton had come out of the shower butt naked, and decided to “dip” his genitals into Anderson’s wrestling boots, while he looked on.

WWE officials have said that they are looking into the matter as it’s garnered such mainstream attention, but I don’t think anything will happen to Orton. And it seems he was playing up to these reports at the most recent Smackdown TV tapings dark match main event.

Apparently, he was approaching WWE crew around ringside with handshakes and everyone around laughed when the handshakes were accepted.

It’s not like he doesn’t have previous for sophomoric instances like this over his WWE tenure and as I said above I don’t think anything will happen to Orton over this.

Been a very eventful week in the world of pro wrestling. But never fear I shall return next Sunday for more bitesize portions of the best of the week’s news. So until then…..

Adios!!!

To read last week’s Pro Wrestling Post Week in Review please click here.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR