WRESTLING LOVE

One of the more common ways to meet your significant other, is within the work place. Now most pro wrestlers/sports entertainers will joke about how they don't have a "real job". Which is somewhat true being they are similar to "rock stars" (especially in the 80's), but they are on "tour" 300 days a years. Add the fact that each show could consist of the equivalent to stage diving without an audience. And every day they get up, possibly hit the gym, and do it all over again. Not a "real" job, but damn.
Back to the point, relationships develop in all lines of work. Wrestling included. A group of buff guys around a group of modelesque women, things are going to happen. Listed below are a those that have worked, or at least things seem to be working, and a list of those that didn't last. And this isn't a "complete" list either, as there many others I have forgotten about, or haven't heard about yet.

Success (Thus Far):

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
-The industries true power couple (behind Vince and Linda, of course). And sure enough it happened at work. And yes there is the whole Chyna side of things at the beginning. But, let's not get into that.

Undertaker & Michelle McCool
-Why do you think McCool started rocking the crosses that looked similar to that of the Deadman. Marriage can cause similarities in style. Which can be a good or horrible thing. Luckily these 2 seemed to have a nice balance between light and dark.

The Miz & Maryse
-Ya, The Miz not only landed a hotty, he married her. For him it is definitely, "Awesome!", for her it is more of a "Really?"

Booker T & Sharmell
-While many look back on their WCW tenures with displeasure, but Booker T and Sharmell can at least look back at their days and remember when they met. Still together after all of these years, so it must be fond memories in that sense.

Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella
-There is the other ways to tell the Bella's apart, but one can simply look at their move sets. Brie has clearly developed a style close to that of her hubby.

Jimmy Uso & Naomi
-Hopefully got the right Uso twin. Now can't help but wonder if Naomi has ever gotten them wrong. If only once for a moment. Nothing dirty...well.

CM Punk & AJ Lee
-Possibly were the most talented couples in WWE and wrestling in general. But, both are gone for now. Hopefully not forever.

Bram & Charlotte
-Don't know too much about Bram past a few viewings of TNA's product when it was still on Spike. But, one thing is for sure something about him caught the eye of future WWE Divas Champion (you know it will happen at least once), Charlotte. Also known as Ric Flair's daughter, and genetics didn't skip anything this round.

John Cena & Nikki Bella
-Not married yet, but basically same thing said about Daniel and Brie applies here. With Nikki developing a power based game similar to John.

Tyson Kidd & Natalya
-Thanks to "Total Divas", it is hard at times to picture them happy. However, since it is not only a reality show, it is a WWE reality show it quickly changes the picture to a happy marriage. Here's hoping Tyson is able to make a comeback from his neck surgery.

Matt Hardy & Reby Sky
-We'll just say that they recently had a baby. Matt's been a tad nutty so we'll see how fatherhood affects him.

Jeff Jarrett & Karen Jarrett (formerly Angle)
-We'll see how GFW does before we give them "power couple" status, but they are one of the bigger names, and the situation is almost similar to that of Triple H and Stephanie, except this one made for a great feud between Jeff and Kurt Angle.

Chris Candido & Sunny (despite Sunny Days)
-Perhaps Chris was simply okay with it. Given that he stayed with Sunny (Tammy Lynn) until his death. That or he was blind to it, and in a state of utter and pure denial. We move on.

Edge & Beth Phoenix
-Wasn't even aware of this for the longest time to be honest. Happily married with a new baby. Showing that there is life after wrestling.

Brock Lesner & Sable
-Is it still considered "robbing the cradle" if the cradle contains a beast incarnate? Regardless of the age gap, the size difference makes the mind wonder of the fun. Again, we move on.


Failed:

Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth
-Stories will almost always point to Randy being over-protective and "controlling" Elizabeth's life. However, it isn't hard to wonder if perhaps her tragic death wouldn't have been different if she had been able to work things out with Savage.

Steve Austin & Debra
-This one didn't end well. The story hit the airwaves. The end result though, was the Austin beer bath in the early 2000's. What?

DDP & Kimberly
-Unlike above, this ended pretty well. Even today they get along, and Kimberly helped DDP get into yoga, which obviously led to his DDP Yoga. BANG!

Triple H & Chyna
-Will we ever see this resolved? Or will we see another melt down from Chyna? Either during or after her documentary. It is hard to really tell fact from fiction given who tells the stories.

X-Pac & Chyna
-This one will however live on in film. Locate if you must, you are warned. X-rated, and well, Chyna and X-Pac. But, One Night In Chyna. *shudders* You can't un-see it.

Goldust & Terri
- They remain on good terms, mainly for their daughter, Dakota. Goldie has remarried, Terri....search the net. You'll likely come across some stories.

Matt Hardy & Lita
-This was the Attitude Era's "Randy and Elizabeth". Even more of a fit given styles of wrestling, and that they both wrestled. The end led to the next couple, but made for an amazing storyline between Matt and Edge.

Edge & Lita
-Lita cheated on Matt with Edge. His inring rival. It was almost made for a wrestling storyline. Except it was real. And again, made for a great time in wrestling.

CM Punk & Lita
-No b.s. came from this. Just happened. Ended well it seems.

CM Punk & Beth Phoenix
-Given the "degrees of Kevin Bacon" (Edge/Lita/CM Punk/Beth Phoenix) here if you've paid attention, nothing negative came from any of this. Although there was once a time where it was possible. As everyone involved are now gone, Edge for good in the ring.

Kurt Angle & Karen Angle (now Jarrett)
-Just like Matt Hardy and Lita. Except Jeff Jarrett had more stroke (pun intended) around TNA which led to some negative ramifications for him. 

Marc Mero & Sable
-Initially thought this had ended right after Sable's rise, and Mero's departure from WWE. However, they were together until 2003, and divorced in 2004. Which Sable quickly began her relationship with Lesner.

Billy Kidman & Torrie Wilson
-At least when Torrie was with Kidman she was with someone with talent and no real need for the juice. Yes, that was a jab at A-Rod.

That is all for now. Pretty sure that there are many more from the past, and present. As you can already see, WWE isn't an exception to love in the workplace. Okay, not all is "love", but you get the idea. If we focused on just hook-ups, we'd have entire articles for people like Sunny and Terri. Even then it is hard to tell from fact or fiction.


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WWE BATTLEGROUND MATCHES & PREDICTIONS

Sunday, July 19th, 2015 WWE brings us WWE Battleground. A decently booked card, with outcomes difficult to get a full read on. Which is both frustrating, and very refreshing given WWE's habit of predictability at times. Here are the matches and NGN's predictions...

R-Truth V King Barrett
Prediction: King Barrett
-Truth has been entertaining, but I'm afraid I've got some bad news (couldn't resist). Truth is likely not getting a WWE push of any kind. So, best for someone who has a shot at getting a push to win this one. Not a knock on R-Truth, it is just that much like Santino Marella, Truth can "go" in the ring and has more character range than WWE allows audiences to see.

Randy Orton V Sheamus
Prediction: Randy Orton
-It is kind of a "been there, done that" type of feud. Orton coming back, after Sheamus took him out can only be squashed with an Orton win. If this feud continues on, hopefully it will be with the Money In The Bank briefcase on the line. With Orton taking Sheamus out of the picture.

Roman Reigns V Bray Wyatt
Prediction: Roman Reigns
-Bray always seems willing to put over others and does it well. And WWE still wants to make Roman Reigns the top dog, so his winning wouldn't be surprising. Depends how long WWE wants to drag out the creepy storyline involving Reigns family.

WWE Tag Team Championships
The New Day V The Prime Time Players (C)
Prediction: The Prime Time Players
-It was hard to pick a winner. The tag team titles have been bouncing around a lot, but it would be nice to see them be retained a bit longer this time via The Prime Time Players. If The New Day Does win, it may be possible it is due to their ranks shockingly growing by one.

(this next match isn't happening due to an injury to Ryback, whether they still proceed with The Miz V Big Show remains to be seen, but here's the prediction regardless)
  WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Miz V Big Show V Ryback (C)
Prediction: The Miz
-Ryback seems over with the crowds, however, can never tell most times when WWE is filling the airwaves with "fake" cheers. Personally, The Big Guy is a tad stale already, and should have been built up to facing Big Show one-on-one for the Intercontinental title. Having to go through series with guys like Mark Henry before facing Show for the strap. Went with The Miz as his lack of physicality leading into this seems to trigger the "dark horse" vibe.

WWE United States Championship
Kevin Owens V John Cena (C)
Predictions: John Cena
-Wishful thinking surprisingly. The John Cena Open Challenge for the WWE United States Championship each week has been impressive, why end that now? To possibly help Owens maintain "status" have a returning Sami Zayn do a run in "failing" after KO is able to continue on, followed by a successful run in by Cesaro. Which leads to a feud between the two given Cesaro's recent performance. If he can maintain this run, he faces Cena for the title successfully down the road.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Brock Lesner V Seth Rollins (C)
Prediction: Brock Lesner
-This one was truly hard to pick. Seth Rollins is a great champion, but his current is starting to feel stale. Sure, a storyline change could fix that. But, another title run by Brock Lesner could be a new spin on a repeat of last year. If anything, it leaves the door open for two things; Sheamus getting squashed in a cash-in attempt and a reformation of The S.H.I.E.L.D. There is also room for Sting to thwart any Authority involvement, thus leading into a long build-up to something at Summerslam.

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WRESTLING WHAT IF's VOL. II

Another installment of "Wrestling What If's..." (you can find Volume I...HERE ). Another chance to think of what could or might have been. In early installments we will be trying to avoid direct  focus on either the "Attitude Era"/"Monday Night Wars" or deaths. Some things will lead into those, but in the beginning it is other stuff that could have reshaped the industry.

What If...Bret "Hitman" Hart Hadn't Been Kicked By Goldberg?
Yes, it is a bit weird to wonder that, but watching him on WWE Network makes it hard to not wonder. It was the concussion from the kick that initially ended Bret's career, the stroke made it concrete. Sure, he had the match with Vince, and has done some spots of physicality, but not the Hitman he'd be if not for that kick. Question are aplenty, would he have been able to "save" WCW? Not likely. Would he have ever been open to returning to WWE? Would something have still triggered Bret wanting to make peace in his life? If not, would we have seen a true Sharpshooter in TNA Wrestling? If so, how much better would his match against Vince would have been. And lets not forget a match between Bret and Shawn Michaels. At Wrestlemania. Ya. Ooooh or even Bret being a part of the former Streak held by Undertaker?


What If...Andre The Giant Was Never "Discovered"?
Another slightly weird one, but Andre's existence in professional wrestling/sports entertainment was more crucial than it appears. Wrestlemania III is a massive part of WWE's history and success. Big John Studd, One Man Gang, and other big men would have loved to fill Andre's spot, but as great as they may be, they would've failed. Andre was massive during his "undefeated" good guy days, both in size as well as in fans hearts during the 70's and very early 80's. His heel turn and sheer girth was even bigger leading up to the showdown with Hogan. Take away Andre, you take away that pivotal moment when Hogan body slammed him. All the others it would not have been as impressive and nor as big of impact. It sent Hogan's star power through the roof. So, no Andre where would the WWE and Hulk Hogan be? As successful? Less? And lets not forget about Big Show. The questions with him are would he have been a much bigger attraction, or would he have never even gotten into wrestling?


What If...Triple H Hadn't Torn His Quad In 2001?
A few things come to mind. First, how would he have played into the "Invasion" storyline? It is hard to say which side he would have chosen, given both his involvement with The Two-Man Power Trip with Stone Cold and his real life relationship with Stephanie McMahon. Would he have joined his wife while Austin stayed with WWE? Austin "wanted" to be a heel at that time (despite fans not allowing it. "What?" began at that time) so would he have turned on WWE and Triple H before jumping ship, or would Triple H have made the turn and Austin stayed with WWE. What would've happened with Angle? And even flashing forward to when he made his return there are questions. Would he have been built up to win the Rumble and then the WWE Undisputed Championship at Mania X-8? Would he have been in the mix when the first Undisputed Champion was crowned? Orrrr would he have some how been involved with the n.W.o. sooner than later (right before it "dissolved" after ironically Kevin Nash tearing his quad) as either a member or an opponent?


What If...The Steroid Scandal Never Happened?
Initially you are probably thinking, "Wouldn't What If Vince Lost? Be Better?". You would be both right and wrong at the same time. Initially I think Vince would just have paid a large sum and carried on, or if incarcerated it would have been Linda running things while Vince planned things out in jail while having meetings every week. But, what if it hadn't happened at all? Roid Rage is debatable, but the damage that steroids can cause when abused is pretty solid (injury recovery uses smaller doses, for shorter periods). If this trial hadn't happened there is a chance that there would not only be a lot more of the traditional "Vince Guys" (jacked up), but there's a chance there would be a lot more deaths. That list is already way too long. Would Hulk Hogan still be alive today if he hadn't stopped juicing back then (lost a lot of mass quickly, hoping the bulk now is natural), or others who have already passed have died much earlier? Yes, there may be some guys on the roster who are on the juice, but they are at least forced to try and hide it now. Not saying 'roids is what has killed so many wrestlers, but hard to say if it wasn't a factor in some.

That's it for now, again you can find previous installment(s)...HERE . Keep your eyes peeled for future installments of "Wrestling What If's...".


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WRESTLING WHAT IF's VOL.I

"What If...?" was a favorite Marvel Comics title in my youth, and watching the WWE Network non-stop has forced me to apply this to the world of wrestling and sports entertainment. From outcomes, signings, to behind the scenes, backstage stuff there are almost endless possibilities in regards to what could have been or might have been if something was done different. Large to very small, the decisions and occurrences throughout the years have made impact.

What If...Vince McMahon Had Picked Turner Over USA Network?
Immediately you think of the Monday Night Wars. Rightfully so. There might not have been a war if Vince and Ted had continued to work together. Of course things could have soured later on and the two parted ways, but would there still have been a war? What would it have been like? And what would have become of Jim Crockett Promotions if this hadn't of happened? Someone else could have bought the company, then again, who's to say that something else wouldn't have happened that made for better business for Crockett? Would Eric Bischoff have been involved in this at all? The Butterfly Effect on this one decision (that was forced by Ted Turner) is pretty massive to say the least.


What If...Triple H Hadn't Married Stephanie?
This one is almost cliche. It doesn't mean things wouldn't have been effected. Triple H would have still been the icon he is. Zero argument here. The questions that arise are would Trips be in the position he is in now? Would Vince have seen the drive, knowledge, and work ethic Paul Levesque brings to the table? It is possible. It is also just as unlikely. So, how would the WWE look at the top of corporate? A simple answer would be that Stephanie simply took on more of the work load and filled her fathers shoes alone. She is a McMahon, and constantly referred to being just like her dad. The other options raise some questions though as well. Would Shane be involved in some fashion? It is his families company, and if Steph needed help he is likely the first name to pop into your head. Linda would be next possibly. Would she have left the company and pursued her political goals? Or would she have possibly stayed on to help with the transition (not that Vinnie Mac is going anywhere right now).


What If...Jeff Hadn't "Stolen" Karen From Kurt?
Almost as cliche as Triple H and Stephanie's  addition to all of this, but given the current state of things it belongs here. Why? First, would we have witnessed the great matches between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle? Would they have been as good it they still happened? Possibly, but also possibly not. There is a good chance the real life situation is what made the matches that much more. Then of course there was the "repercussions" from the real life aspect of all of this. It was the true downfall of Jarrett in TNA. Most importantly, behind the scenes. There were almost legal ramifications from all of this. Sure, they are now married and even Kurt has moved on, but it did effect business. Would Dixie have been "more involved" if Jarrett wasn't in good with management, or was that inevitable? The "WWE" talent that TNA aquired during the time Double J was making most if not all the calls was done properly. Christian (Christian Cage) had a really good run in TNA, The Dudleys (Team 3D), Gail Kim, and Tara Vachon. Can't believe Dixie is allowing Jarrett back in, although only a "talent", in full GFW promotion mode. Even a "crossover" or "invasion" seems only to be smart on Jarrett's side. Dixie's not so much.


What If...Hulk Hogan Versus Ric Flair Happened At Wrestlemania?
An off the wall "what if...?", but curious as to what could have been with this one. There is always speculation as to why. Most likely of them being that the two sides couldn't come to an agreement on who should be put over. Regardless, what would have happened if they did? Would it have drawn massive numbers? If it did, then it would be safe to wonder this would have changed McMahon's outlook on how he approached the "youth movement. Which seems to be the reason Flair returned to WCW, and Hogan (amongst others) eventually followed suit. Would we have seen more of a mix of old and new? Instead of Macho Man Randy Savage behind the announce table, or Hogan being allowed out of his contract. Would we have possibly seen some epic showdowns between Savage and HBK? Come to think of it, the Butterfly Effect is pretty big here. Would this have meant WCW alum turned WWE legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Chris Jericho, amongst others, not have come over? More room to grow without Hogan and others atop the glass ceiling. What if it had bombed? Would WCW have acquired Hogan later on, or would they have possibly seen Hogan with less drawing power?

The list is truly endless, and we hadn't even touched anything that happened "during" the Monday Night Wars and the Attitude Era. Or even if a wrestlers life hadn't ended so early. Those will eventually make their way into the mix, but best to leave the deaths for when drawing a blank much later on.

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CURRENTLY BACK ON THE BAND WAGON

For who or what? Shockingly, it is John Cena.


After dropping his original "Doctor Of Thuganomics" gimmick, and going with a more "real yet Hogan-esque" route, Cena had lost a large amount of his original fan base. The older crowds had grown tired of his current character, with only the children and ladies remaining. A heel turn would turn opinions around, however, Cena's reasons are as legit as they get. The work he does with children healthy and ill make it totally understandable. Until someone is there to "replace" him, why should he turn? We eventually grew tired of Hollywood Hogan if you remember. Although that could of been blamed on WCW booking.
So, why jump back on John Cena's bandwagon? His current run with the WWE United States Championship. The John Cena Open Challenge has been almost flawless. Why is this "shocking"? The flawlessness has come from the inring work of both the weekly opponents, and Cena himself. Even if your fandom of Cena has never wavered, it was likely nothing to do with him being a great wrestler. Sure, he had great matches against the likes of Jericho or Shawn Michaels but how were we to know that simply wasn't due to those wrestlers being as great as they are. Cena was "more" than Hogan in the ring, but was more known for his "3 Moves Of Doom". Which usually meant limited inring ability. The John Cena Open Challenge has shown us that Cena really can wrestle. Almost against anyone. Sure, he isn't "flawless" but he is a hell of a lot better than most would have thought.
It has been so good, that personally hoping Kevin Owens loses and Cena retains the WWE United States Championship at the upcoming special event, WWE Battle Ground. This way he can continue on and possibly have great matches every week and against a variety of people.

Even if you don't share the opinion of John Cena's current inring work, you have to agree that him holding the WWE United States Championship slightly hinders him from being WWE World Heavyweight Champion for a 16th, and 17th time.

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