Author: Jason McVeigh

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THE SYSTEM WORKS: PART TWO

ALISHA EDWARDS Talks Dream Opponents, The Intersection Between Real Life & Wrestling, And Lots More

PHOTO COURTESY TNA WRESTLING

Every opportunity that I’ve been given, I’m trying to show what I can do. And I think I’ve been able to show that I’m just not a pretty face and I’m just not a manager.

FOLLOWING ON FROM our last interview we did with Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards, PWI Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh recently caught up with another member of TNA Wrestling’s The System, Alisha Edwards.

McVEIGH: You’ve been with TNA for quite a while, but, in my opinion, you are doing the best work of your career right now. Tell us a little bit about The System and what it’s like to be involved with the group.

EDWARDS: I mean, it’s been great. I thought Hard to Kill was going to be the top of what we’re gonna do, but I think the momentum of The System has been great. We all have title belts. We’re already six months into a year. And, I mean, we’ve been dominating since day one. So, it’s been great. We have a special relationship, and I think it just organically works for all of us. I think we all bring something to the table.

McVEIGH: When I spoke with Brian and Eddie, they said a lot of the success of the group is actually about the real-life relationships that you guys have with each other. How important do you think that is to making the whole thing work?

EDWARDS: I think that’s the icing on the cake. You can throw a bunch of people together and expect them to do their job and they probably will excel. But I really think us having a personal relationship, and me and Eddie being a real-life couple, gives The System that organic and real feel … and kind of brings everything together at another level.

McVEIGH: Something else the boys spoke about was not just what you contribute onscreen, but you bring to things backstage, as well. Tell us a little bit just about your backstage role in TNA, either officially or unofficially.

EDWARDS: Yeah, so I’m kind of like … I’m still talent, so I’m not fully into the behind the scenes, but I’m slowly learning different departments like the marketing, promotion, how we can brand the Knockouts, and stuff like that. I do some of the holiday photo shoots. I’m mom of the locker room, I’m party mom on the fun nights (laughs) I’m kind of like the glue that holds the locker room together. But I’m very, I would say … I like to follow the rules and keep everyone else following what needs to be done. But I like to have fun, too. I’m kind of learning what I want to do when I’m done wrestling, I guess.

McVEIGH: What does it mean to you to be a TNA Knockout and to see the evolution of the division over the years and your part in that?

EDWARDS: The Knockouts were kind of what made me want to wrestle in the first place. At the time I came up in the business, it was like the bra and panties matches in WWE and all that stuff. The Knockouts were doing something totally different. And I still stand by that. I think we’re diverse and we bring a lot to the table in different aspects and in different styles. And I think we’re just getting started, to be honest. We have a lot of things coming up and we have a lot of new Knockouts in our division right now that are killing it, like Ash By Elegance, Xia Brookside, and Steph De Lander. It’s definitely different every year, but right now it’s very exciting for the Knockouts division.

McVEIGH: Something else that’s exciting is you’re one-half of the Knockouts tag team champions with Masha Slamovich. It’s maybe a little bit of an odd couple, but how’s it been for you?

EDWARDS: I keep it business and I needed another championship to bring to The System. At the same time, Masha needed a partner. So, I think the timing was perfect. And I think I bring the best out of her and vice versa, you know what I mean? She gets the job done and I’m more of the mouthpiece and knowing what needs to be done on that side of things. It’s just a perfect match.

PHOTO COURTESY TNA WRESTLING

McVEIGH: You’re quite a versatile performer. One moment you might be kicking butt in the Knockouts division, the next moment you might be dressed to the nines while accompanying The System. Then, the next moment you might be having your head chopped off in the Hardy Compound. What was it like filming those kind of scenes and doing something completely different (I imagine) from what you’re used to?

EDWARDS: When I first got to IMPACT, I wasn’t really in the Knockouts division. I wasn’t on TV a lot . I think just every opportunity that I’ve been given, I’m trying to show what I can do. And I think I’ve been able to show that I’m just not a pretty face and I’m just not a manager. And maybe I’m not giving those five-star matches that maybe the Knockouts champion is doing. But I think I bring a lot to the table. And, with all these extra things that we’re doing, the cinematic matches and the Hardy Compound stuff, it lets me show my versatility.

McVEIGH: And it’s been a ton of fun to watch. Speaking of the Hardys, though, can we expect you and Reby to be wrestling soon?

EDWARDS: I mean, I’m sure she’s not gonna like that I cost Matt his championship title match. So, I’m sure it’s not over between us. But I’m not scared of Reby, and I’m not scared of Matt, either … or the 18 million children they have. So, bring it on! I’m ready for it.

McVEIGH: Backtracking a little bit … I think one of the best things TNA has ever done was the Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan feud, which you were also involved with. To me, it was a modern version of the Raven and Tommy Dreamer feud, with you as the modern day Beulah McGillicutty almost. What’re your memories of that?

EDWARDS: It was very in depth. I mean that all came from the real accident with the baseball bat and Eddie getting his face smashed by Sami. It brought a lot of real emotions and kind of drove that storyline to that side of things, which was great. Thankfully, Eddie’s eye was still intact, but It could have been bad. But, it ended up being a pleasant surprise in term of what came out of it. It was a really good story to be involved with. It was one of my first stories with the top guys in the locker room. I learned a lot. Sami drives me nuts, just like Moose does, too, but they know what they’re doing in the business. Being able to like work with them has honestly been a blessing.



McVEIGH: What are some of your favorite matches, angles, or storylines you’ve done in TNA?

EDWARDS: I’ve gotten asked this question a lot lately. The Sami storyline was good. The stuff with Ace Austin, where he was trying to steal me away from Eddie … that storyline was a pretty good. I liked when I did the Monster Ball, that gave me a different direction just from being a babyface. The Wrestle House segments we did on IMPACT were really fun. I think that allowed me to show a little personality. Weirdly, COVID was definitely a blessing for me as a performer because t allowed me to do stuff like that. Besides that stuff, just being able to be in storylines with the top guys or getting to wrestle Naomi/Trinity when she was here. That was amazing. Also, being able to bring Traci Brooks out after being away forever and now the Reby and Matt stuff. It’s just been an ongoing ball that’s been continuously rolling, and I’m just kind of going with it and enjoying every moment.

McVEIGH: What’s next for Alisha Edwards?

EDWARDS: Honestly, I didn’t see me having a championship title in 2024, but I do. Why not go for the Knockouts [World singles] championship, as well? I think that’s definitely on my radar. Jordynne, or whoever it might be come the time, I’m coming for you.

McVEIGH: And tell us just a little bit about TNA in general and why TNA is the right place for you.

EDWARDS: It’s the total package. The schedule works for us because we have a little one to take care of, too. We don’t have to be on the road constantly. The freedom and the creativity to be able to bring what we want is also attractive. It’s a lot of collaboration at TNA creatively and in the ring. And I also think the locker room is a big reason. The locker room is very special to me. As a whole, we encourage and inspire each other. So, if I was pushed to say one thing, I think the locker room is definitely my top reason why I love TNA.


McVEIGH: Who would your dream opponent be?

EDWARDS: Are we talking out of who is active right now?

McVEIGH: Yeah. But I guess we can include people from NXT and everything else, now the way things have been going lately.

EDWARDS: I always love to say my best friend Gail Kim. I would love to bring her out of retirement and be able to wrestle her. I mean, come on, Lish versus Gale Kim at Bound For Glory? That would be insane. Aside from that, I would say whoever walks out of Slammiversary as champion. To face them at Bound for Glory, that’s my goal.

McVEIGH: And what would you like Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers to know about Alisha Edwards … and maybe about The System in general?

EDWARDS: That we’re the best and we’re the most dominant faction in pro wrestling. And I’m sorry to everybody that wants to hate us, but the only reason they hate us is ’cause they aint us. So, I mean, I love that they hate us, so stay tuned for the ride.


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THE SYSTEM WORKS

Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards In Conversation With Pro Wrestling Illustrated

The reigning TNA Wrestling World tag team champions reflect on their success to date and get real about their competition ahead of this weekend’s “Under Siege” event.

TNA Wrestling's The System: Eddie & Alisha Edwards with Brian Myers
TRUST THE SYSTEM: Eddie & Alisha Edwards talk shop with Brian Myers at a recent TNA Wrestling TV taping at South Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena. (PHOTO BY KEVIN McELVANEY)

FOR TWO VETERANS like Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards, spending your days basking in former glories could be a perfectly acceptable way to spend one’s career at this point. That’s not what motivates these men, however. Not content to ever phone it in, the accomplished duo are the current, reigning TNA World tag team champions. And Myers & Edwards spoke with PWI’s Jason McVeigh just days before competing at TNA’s Under Siege event. In the conversation below, they tell our readers how it feels to be on top of TNA Wrestling as part of the faction known as The System … and how they still strive to steal the show each and every night.

McVEIGH: So, Under Siege is coming up this Friday. You’re involved in a big six-man tag team match against Matt Hardy and Speedball Mountain. I guess I’ll ask Brian first, what can we expect from the match?

MYERS: I mean, it’s going to be very exciting, right? Six top-tier wrestlers in the main event, you know, anything’s possible in that situation. The System right now is really cooking … we’re out to prove a point, we’ve had some of the best six-man matches the past four months. Put them up against any other trios matches in the entire business. And this will be no exception. And if Matt Hardy thinks he’s going to rejuvenate his career at the expense of The System? He is very, very wrong.

PWI: Just on that one, Eddie, talk a little bit about Matt Hardy. This is Matt’s first match back in TNA, obviously. Is there anything you’re concerned about going against him?

EDWARDS: I’m not concerned. I think Matt, should be the one who’s a little concerned. You know, he’s been gone for quite a while now. Things have changed since he’s been gone. The System is at the top of the mountain right now. And it’s something that he has to understand, like Brian said: Matt’s not going to come in and get the buzz off of beating The System. And we already beat Speedball Mountain. Now, Matt’s back to get a taste of it, too. It’s going to be exciting because it is the first time Matt is back in a TNA ring in however many years. And that’s a cool thing, and it’s going to be cool to be a part of that. But it’ll be even better to put an end to it pretty quickly.

PWI: You guys are the TNA World tag team champions right now and you’ve spent a lot of weeks as a ranked team on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s web and print rankings. Why is this partnership working so well?

EDWARDS: It’s because there’s a lot that goes into it. It’s not just the stuff that happens in the ring. We are friends outside the ring. Me, Moose, Alisha … we’ve been best friends outside of the ring for a while now. So, this has been percolating for a while before The System formed. And me and Brian, when we get in the ring, we have that same trust and that same respect for each other in the ring that we do outside of it. I think that shows every time we’re in there. Because you can see that having fun, we’re kicking ass, we’re doing it together, and we get to have these great matches together.

MYERS: Yeah, it’s a mutual admiration for each other. We’ve always had that, and then we’ve become best friends. And that shows in the ring. Thenm there’s the professional side of it where you literally have two of the most accomplished tag team wrestlers of our generation, coming together to be a super team. So, all things have fallen into place.

PWI: You kind of touched on it there, Brian … you both are very accomplished tag team wrestlers. What is it that keeps tag team wrestling exciting for you both?

MYERS: I love tag team wrestling. Obviously, I love being a singles competitor, too. I just love wrestling in all shapes and sizes. But I think what we have going now is Eddie and I are out there to steal the show every single night and try to improve on our performance every time we go out there. And I feel like these past four months, we’ve really done that. Each time just gets a little bit better and a little more in sync. That’s what you look forward tom and that’s what keeps me heading into these TNA weekends where I’m like, Okay, sick, we can keep this frigging thing going.

PWI: The System has seen a lot of success in TNA this yearm and it’s been a lot of fun to watch you guys do what you’re doing. Can you speak a little bit on the dynamic of the group? You know, not just the two of you, but Alisha and Moosem as well?

EDWARDS: Yeah, I think it’s a family group. Like I said, we are best friends outside the ring and Alisha keeps us in line. She’s kept me in line for so many years. But also, she’s done that in the back for so many years at this point, that I think it comes across on screen and in the ring, as well. It’s tough to find a group where people aren’t selfish, and they’re not focused on themselves. But this group isn’t. And it’s because we do have this relationship outside of the business.

MYERS: The bottom line is: The System’s real, and that’s why it’s working. And that’s why it’s going to continue to work. It’s as real as it gets in whatm at times, is a very fake industry.

PWI: What can we expect from The System going forward?

MYERS: I see no end in sight, nor do I look forward to that. I want this to go on for as long as we can. I want to live in the moment and be present, knowing that this is a great time in my career. We’re all having a freaking blast being best friends, doing what we do best, and stealing the show, and having fun. That’s what my life and career is about right now.

EDWARDS: Yeah, it’s the same for me. We all realize that we’re doing something special, and it feels like a special time for our careers, but also for the company. We want to capitalize on that. We don’t want to sell ourselves short or do anything to dilute the group. We want to run with this as long as we can to continue to drag TNA up that mountain.

PWI: There’s been a lot of changes in the company recently, but both of you have been loyal to the promotion for a while. Why is TNA the right place for Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards?

EDWARDS: For me, I’ve been here for over 10 years at this point. And I have said all along that the company has always treated me with respect and treated me right. So, that’s the reason that I’ve stayed here all along. But, at this point, it’s about what I want to do with my career. I don’t want to be on the road all the time. I enjoy the schedule that we have. I have a family; I have a daughter at home that I love being home with. And I love our locker room. It’s a group that I can truly buy in on. I buy in to what we’re doing. And I feel that we all have that same sense backstage, where we all know what we’re doing, and that we are all trying to drive this company forward. We keep chugging away, I’ve been trying to learn for 10 years, but I like where we’re going. That’s why I’m still here. And that’s why I believe in TNA.

MYERS: TNA is one of the best things that ever happened to me in my career. It’s just been such a perfect fit for so many reasons. They allow me to be the best version of myself. It’s been a collaborative effort, and a fun creative thing.

PWI: We are still only a few months into this run that The System are having. But are there any moments that stand out?

EDWARDS: Winning the tag team title for sure. And just being in the ring together. The first time we hit our pose in front of the hard cam … that was cool and something that’s burned into my mind.

MYERS: I would say the debut of Nic Nemeth at Hard to Kill, also. Even though it didn’t exactly turn out great for The System on that night, the upside I saw was that it was going to get a lot of people talking about us and about TNA. So, to be a part of that and hear the reaction was a big deal.

PWI: Favorite TNA tag team of all time?

MYERS: I loved America’s Most Wanted. When Matt (Cardona) and I were breaking into the business and were clueless 18-year-olds trying to figure out wrestling, AMW were the best babyface tag team in wrestling, and we really tried to watch their stuff and see what they were doing right. Because they were really getting after it at the time.

EDWARDS: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin. They’re two of the absolute best on their own and as a team. What they’ve accomplished is next level. And also, a team that was in TNA and so many other places is the Hardys. I was lucky enough to be in there with them when I was a member of The Wolves. I was a big fan of Matt and Jeff growing up, and just everything they accomplished. So, I put them up there, as well.

PWI: What do you want PWI readers to know about Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers in 2024?

EDWARDS: That we’re not going to stop. We’re in it for the long haul, and this is just the beginning.

MYERS: Yeah, and that The System is the real deal and we’re out there trying to steal the show every night and bring more eyeballs to TNA. We’ve got the hardest-working locker room [at TNA], and we are a part of that.

MORE INFORMATION ON TNA UNDER SIEGE

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SUMMERSLAM 2023: IN REVIEW

With numerous major championships on the line and scores to settle (The Bloodline, Seth Rollins & Finn Balor, and more), SummerSlam 2023 was sure to be an eventful return to Detroit, Michigan for WWE.

TEXT BY JASON McVEIGH / PHOTOS BY JERRY VILLAGRANA

At SummerSlam 2023, Jey Uso is attacked by Solo Sikoa while attempting to lay out Roman Reigns in the stands.

THE LAST TIME WWE held a SummerSlam in the greater Detroit, Michigan, area was 1993, when Lex Luger rolled into town hoping to thwart the seemingly unstoppable World Wrestling Federation champion, Yokozuna. Luger had spent the summer trekking across the United States in a tour bus nicknamed “The Lex Express” in an attempt to drum up support for his championship collision against the supposed sumo superstar. The road to that year’s SummerSlam main event had started onboard the decommissioned warship, the USS Intrepid, where, on July 4, Luger had shocked the world by doing the seemingly unthinkable: bodyslamming the mammoth Yokozuna.

The main event of the 2023 iteration of SummerSlam came about thanks to a similarly shocking July scene—that of Jey Uso pinning the seemingly unpinnable WWE Undisputed champion, Roman Reigns, in a tag team match at Money in the Bank. With the main event of Reigns vs. Uso set for SummerSlam, fans packed Ford Field in Detroit to see if “Main Event Jey” could succeed where Luger had failed, by taking the title from a dominant champ.

Ricochet drops Logan Paul from the top rope with a swinging neckbreaker

Of course, that would be the night’s main event. SummerSlam 2023 opened with a fast-paced contest between veteran high-flyer, Ricochet, and social media maven-turned-WWE wrestler, Logan Paul. Given the natural athleticism of both competitors, it was no surprise that this contest quickly escalated into a dangerous game of high-risk one-upmanship.

After a series from Paul that included a flapjack and a frog splash for a near-fall—and Ricochet gaining the upper hand again, only to miss his patented 630 senton—a mysterious, hooded figure at ringside slipped Paul a set of brass knuckles with which to clobber Ricochet. To the chagrin of ring announcer (and Ricochet’s fiancee) Samantha Irvin, it was Paul who was announced victorious.

Brock Lesnar raises the hand of Cody Rhodes after their match at SummerSlam 2023

Next, the trilogy of matches between Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar offered up its final chapter, with Rhodes picking up the hard-fought win in the rubber match between the pair. In a rare post-match show of respect, Lesnar proved that “The Beast” might not be all bad, as he shook the hand of “The American Nightmare.” Though Lesnar’s gesture was a nice one, Rhodes had to earn it by surviving a barrage of suplexes, F5s, and Kimura Locks along the way.

Professional wrestling and Slim Jims go together like Randy Savage and, well, Slim Jims. These days, it appears that LA Knight is the new wrestling face of the brand—thanks to winning the meat sticks’ namesake battle royal at SummerSlam.

LA Knight competes in the Slim Jim battle royal at SummerSlam

Knight outlasted a field that included the Miz, Omos, Austin Theory, Santos Escobar, and others in order to have his hand raised at the end. The crowd in Detroit exploded with joy after seeing the increasingly popular Knight get the win.

Ronda Rousey had what, for now at least, seems to be her last hurrah in WWE. This was an MMA Rules match against former partner, Shayna Baszler. The hard-hitting affair between the two mixed martial arts veterans produced plenty of bruises. And, for Rousey, it offered an unsatisfactory ending to her WWE run, as she passed out while in Baszler’s Kirifuda Clutch submission hold. Still, for former NXT Women’s champ Baszler, this win should serve as a potential springboard to bigger things on the main roster.

Shayna Baszler takes Ronda Rousey down with the Kirifuda Clutch

The lengthy Intercontinental championship reign of Gunther continued next, as the Austrian brawler disposed of Drew McIntyre. Although McIntyre undoubtedly tested his opponent in the early going of the match—thanks to his arguable strength advantage—the Imperium general kept himself going. And, in the end, Gunther put the Scotsman away with a powerbomb. Gunther now stands on the edge of making history, as his title reign approaches that of the historic 454-day run of The Honky Tonk Man.

Both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor came Into their WWE World heavyweight championship bout with differing motivations. For incumbent champ, Rollins, it was about beating Balor for a second time on consecutive pay-per-view events and solidifying his status as champion. For Balor, it was about exorcising the demons (pardon the expression) of seven years earlier, when an injury sustained in a Universal championship tussle with Rollins ended Balor’s reign before it could properly start.

Finn Balor has Seth Rollins on the ropes, literally speaking

Despite how talented Balor is as a wrestler, he has continually leaned on his Judgment Day colleagues’ interference as of late. But, on this occasion, it proved to be his undoing. After Damian Priest slipped his Money in the Bank briefcase into the ring, seemingly so Balor could use it against Rollins, some miscommunication saw the plan backfire. In the end, Balor’s face collided with steel, as he was curb-stomped into the briefcase by Rollins (who picked up the win and remained champion).

Charlotte Flair with mist in her eyes

A choice triple-threat match for the WWE Women’s championship saw Asuka, Charlotte Flair, and Bianca Belair do battle for the belt … only for none of them to leave Detroit with the gold. After twenty minutes of action, Flair locked Belair in the “Figure-Eight” leglock to try and force a submission. Before that could happen, Asuka sprayed mist into the eyes of Flair.

Hoping this would be her opening to retain her title, Asuka tried to go for a pin on Belair, but found herself quickly rolled up by “The EST” for the three-count.

Any celebratory plans Belair may have had were quickly out on ice, as Iyo Sky marched to ringside and cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase for the title shot and, eight seconds later, the victory. While it’s another SummerSlam heartbreak for Belair, anyone who has followed Sky’s career couldn’t help but be happy for her as she celebrated her success with Damage CTRL teammates Bayley and Dakota Kai.

Iyo Sky smacks Bianca Belair in the face with the Money in the Bank briefcase

And what of Jey Uso? Could one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of all-time do what Lex Luger couldn’t do all those years previously? Could he dethrone the champion in the main event?

As it turned out, no.

Jey Uso leaps over Roman Reigns during their main-event match at SummerSlam

Uso put up a tremendous fight and even stood up to the interference of Bloodline enforcer Solo Sikoa. Yet, what Jey couldn’t have planned for was the interference of another one of his brothers … his twin brother, Jimmy.

Just as it appeared that Jey had Reigns put away thanks to a spear and Uso Splash combination, a masked man pulled him from the ring before the referee could count to three. In a shocking turn of events, the masked man revealed himself to be Jimmy Uso, who proceeded to lay his twin out with a superkick and help Roman Reigns to victory.

Maybe if Jey had procured his own tour bus, things would have been different.

BELOW, FIND OUR GALLERY OF ADDITIONAL SUMMERSLAM 2023 PHOTOS (ALL SHOT FOR PWI BY JERRY VILLAGRANA)

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Lights … Camera … Pandemonium!

Masha Slamovich vs. Johnny Hollywood (John Morrison/Hennigan) at Pandemonium Pro Wrestling

Pandemonium Pro Wrestling’s Exciting Evolution

TEXT BY JASON McVEIGH

“IT’S PANDEMONIUM!” THESE were the iconic words often uttered by the late, great Gorilla Monsoon when things on WWF television kicked up a notch. And while Gorilla, sadly, isn’t with us any longer, “Pandemonium” can still be found in the wrestling business. In particular, we see it on the West Coast, where a new promotion has adopted the moniker as a catch-all description for the action it offers.

Pandemonium Pro Wrestling is a Los Angeles-based wrestling promotion that debuted in 2021. In recent months, it has gotten increasingly serious about offering a product that captures the cinematic elements of Hollywood blockbuster films and merges them with professional wrestling. If you think of Lucha Underground and Wrestling Society X, then you are on the right track.

An earlier episode of Pandemonium TV. While still showcasing the stars of the L.A. independent scene, Pandemonium Pro Wrestling has since become more ambitious on the production side of things, taking inspiration from some interesting places.

The growing company features competitors from all over the world, from West Coast sensations like Kidd Bandit and the promotion’s current Gen Z champion, Wicked Wickett, to notable talent from major companies such as AEW’s Fuego Del Sol, IMPACT Wrestling’s Alan Angels, NJPW’s Yuya Uemura, and even former WWE Intercontinental champion John Hennigan (performing here as “Johnny Hollywood.”

The mission and vision, as laid out by the promotion itself, is for Pandemonium Pro Wrestling to showcase the talent of Los Angeles and the surrounding counties and place them into an environment with the cinematic feel of a Marvel film.

“Professional wrestling is one of the highest forms of performance art in the world,” noted PPW director/editor/wrestler, Kidd Bandit. “We wanted a company that departs from the sports-based presentation of pro wrestling and focuses on its parallels with a stage-play spectacle.”

This more theatrical approach can even be seen in the job titles given to the key people behind PPW. In addition to Bandit, the company lists Asan Washington as its CEO and Executive Producer and camera operator Hoby Lasko as its Cinematographer.

“We put a lot of emphasis on the larger-than-life personalities, the cinematography of the action, and the narrative of the stories,” said Bandit. And it’s this focus on production and visual elements that may help the promotion stand apart from the pack on a crowded indie scene.

Holiday in Hollywood marked the IWTV debut of PPW, and it was featured as our “Spotlight Card” in the January 30 edition of the PWI Weekly. The event, filmed on December 4, 2022, at the Jaxx Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, was a blend of everything that makes Pandemonium Pro Wrestling one of the hottest tickets in Tinseltown. From the high-impact fast-paced action of the opening lucha bout between Serpentico and Wicked Wickett to the impressive showcase of NJPW’s Young Lions, The DKC and Yuya Uemura, Holiday in Hollywood had a little something for most wrestling tastes.

The main event of that show was The Hollywood Classic: a hyper-competitive ten-person gauntlet match for the “Ticket To Hollywood” contract. Ishmael Vaughn won the contest, earning a future shot at either the dotTV championship or the Gen Z championship at any time.

With a broadcast deal that sees the product showcased on IWTV, Pandemonium Pro Wrestling is rolling ahead toward another big show on March 29.

“Our next event is called ‘dotTV Vol. 4: Best Damn Thing,'” revealed Kidd Bandit. “It will be headlined by the Rumble Riot Match for the Pandemonium Pro championship, as well as a dotTV title bout between Johnny Hollywood and Masha Slamovich. And the whole thing will be available for viewing on IWTV VOD.”

To paraphrase Horace Greeley, if you are looking for something a little different in the wrestling sphere right now, go West, young person! Because, in Hollywood, it’s Pandemonium out there.

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Is This What’s N(e)XT For ROH?

Chris Jericho wields a baseball bat and dons the ROH World heavyweight title belt

Is This What’s N(e)XT For ROH?

Chris Jericho wields a baseball bat and dons the ROH World heavyweight title belt
PHOTO BY JAYLEE MEDIA

TEXT BY JASON McVEIGH

ONCE UPON A time, the case could easily have been made that Ring of Honor was the legitimate number two wrestling promotion in the world after WWE. Indeed, such was the growth of the company from its inception in 2002—and such was the quality of the matches and wrestlers on display there—that by the 2010s, ROH had long cast off the label of just being a “Big Indie.”

As the next several years went by, and the promotion’s alliance with New Japan Pro Wrestling grew, so, too, did Ring of Honor’s footprint on the global wrestling scene.

Then, a funny thing happened: Some key ROH wrestlers became All Elite.

No matter what way you slice it, the formation of All Elite Wrestling harmed Ring of Honor’s standing in the pecking order of the wrestling business. Almost overnight, there was a new #2 promotion in the U.S. … one that had its sights ambitiously aimed at being #1.

On top of that (and more damaging for ROH) was the fact that many of the big names Ring of Honor had been using—The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, and Adam Page to name a few—had left and were part of the new upstart company. When AEW got up and running, ROH quickly lost its status as the cool brand for wrestling diehards. In a short period of time, things had changed dramatically. But worse things were still to come.

While no one in the industry could have foreseen COVID-19 and the subsequent changes it brought to the sport, it might be fair to say that no wrestling promotion was hurt more by the pandemic than Ring of Honor. Unlike WWE, AEW, and IMPACT Wrestling, ROH decided to cancel shows altogether rather than run without crowds (at least initially). The company’s decision to protect its workers and fans must be applauded. However, when ROH did return, it was to a much different wrestling landscape. For a company whose fans had been its lifeblood for years, not having them in attendance was catastrophic.

A fan, loosely sporting a protective mask, holds up a "Thank you, ROH" sign
Fans show their appreciation for ROH at Final Battle 2021. (PHOTO BY RICK HAMILTON)

Ring of Honor chugged along quietly until autumn 2021. By then, many were not feeling good about the long-term health of the promotion. Sure enough, on October 27 of that year, a formal announcement was made that ROH would go on hiatus after December’s Final Battle event—vaguely promising a return planned for the following April, with a “reimagined” Ring of Honor offering a “fan-focused product.” In the interim, almost all contracted talent were released.

Whether or not ROH could have returned and thrived as a “Big Indie”—which was reportedly the plan—we will never know, as on the March 2, 2022, episode of Dynamite, AEW boss Tony Khan announced that he had purchased Ring of Honor from Sinclair Broadcast Group. The purchase included its brand assets, intellectual property, and video library. In the end, the company that hastened ROH’s decline ended up saving it … but to what end?

Since March, Tony Khan has made it known his intentions were (and are) to relaunch Ring of Honor as a separate promotion. However, despite running some well-received shows like Supercard of Honor and integrating the title belts into AEW television, the re-launch of ROH as a full-fledged promotion is yet to come. And this writer wonders if it ever will.

Despite flip-flopping over the years on how it truly viewed NXT, WWE largely continues to groom talent for future success on the Raw and Smackdown brands. And, in my view, AEW would be wise to use ROH in the same manner.

Indeed, there may be those in Jacksonville who feel the same way, as the upcoming Final Battle show is being promoted as “AEW Presents: ROH Final Battle,” as opposed to just “ROH Final Battle.” Though this may only be a branding move, meant to boost awareness of the show among AEW diehards, there would be no shame in Khan and co. reimagining Ring of Honor as more of a developmental product—a proving ground through which would-be stars can sharpen their skills en route to becoming All Elite.

    Prince Nana accompanies Toa Liona and Jasper Kaun for a match on AEW Rampage (ROH ring announcer Bobby Cruise dons a neckbrace in the background)The longtime leader of The Embassy in Ring of Honor, Prince Nana now manages The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun), an up-and-coming tandem who are a perfect fit for an ROH that is more developmental in nature. (PHOTO BY JAYLEE MEDIA)

So, what could ROH as an AEW developmental “territory” look like? Well, AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation could become weekly ROH shows, with Dark being the storyline-driven show and Elevation more of a way to showcase new and upcoming talent (much like it does now). Of course, this is just fantasy booking. And, in the spirit of that, I’d like to see some additional steps taken until a firm direction for Ring of Honor is in place.

I would perhaps look at unifying the likes of the ROH Trios title with the AEW Trios title—and maybe some others while we are at it. I’m far from the only person who’s pointed out the overwhelming number of title belts floating around on Dynamite and Rampage.

This brings me to perhaps the most contentious suggestion I may have. If Ring of Honor is going to become developmental in nature, perhaps Pro Wrestling Illustrated ought to consider dropping the ROH title belt’s status from “World” to simply “Heavyweight.” Ditto for the Women’s and tag team straps. This is no reflection on what those belts have meant over the years but, rather, perhaps a fairer reflection of their current status. After all, ROH neither exists as its own promotion nor as a separate television property.

So, what say you, PWI readers? Is making ROH AEW’s version of NXT the way forward? Let us know your thoughts on social media, or by emailing pwi@kappapublishing.com.

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REMEMBERING SUMMERSLAM 1992

REMEMBERING SUMMERSLAM 1992
WWF’s Historic Wembley Stadium Event, 30 Years Later

Inside Wrestling's coverage of SummerSlam 1992

THE YEAR WAS 1992. Batman Returns was pulling people into movie theaters, Grunge superstars like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were all over the music charts. And, on The Simpsons, Homer’s half-brother Herb had just invented a machine that translated “baby-talk” and restored his fortune in the process.

In the wrestling world, the WWF was enjoying notably less success than some of its counterparts in the sports and entertainment industries. After the rip-roaring “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” era and the boom of the late-’80s, things had begun to slow down for the industry leader in the 1990s. With Hulk Hogan focusing time and energy on movie projects, the WWF lost its biggest star—at least, on a full-time basis—and the Ultimate Warrior, although popular, hadn’t been able to fill that void. Worse was to come, however, and the WWF would be forced to change the way it did business as a result.

Part of the attraction of the WWF in the 1980s was its colorful characters with their larger-than-life physiques. Of course, those physiques didn’t always come naturally. And the promotion, and Vince McMahon, soon became embroiled in a controversy regarding the alleged distribution of steroids to WWF performers. Enough has been reported about this subject elsewhere that it doesn’t need repeating here. But, in a nutshell, the WWF soon made the decision to (mostly) move away from wrestlers bulging with muscles and instead focus on “smaller,” more athletic performers like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. While this move may have improved the quality of the wrestling happening in the ring, it did little to improve things at the box office. WWF business saw a notable decline throughout 1992.

With SummerSlam scheduled for the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, WWF brass began to wonder what they could do to generate some interest for their summer pay-per-view—and at least make it appear that things weren’t all bad. As it turned out, things actually weren’t all that bad, at least not in every aspect of their business. In fact, one area of business was booming: the product’s popularity in the United Kingdom. The WWF began to wonder if that might be the answer to its SummerSlam problem.

SKY, the satellite television service, had arrived in the U.K. in 1989, and, with its arrival, brought previously unseen programming such as the aforementioned Simpsons to British audiences. Another early hit for the service was WWF wrestling, which became the most widely viewable wrestling product in the U.K. in many years. Indeed, the colorful and showy American brand of wrestling was a far cry from the often-drab stylings of the traditional British offerings. U.K. viewers couldn’t get enough.

Throughout 1990 and 1991, the WWF picked up steam and grew its presence in the British Isles, to the point where kids were turning up to school with WWF trading cards and stickers to swap with their friends. The fact that the WWF product had cooled down in the U.S. meant nothing across the Atlantic Ocean. To British viewers, the WWF was a new and vibrant form of entertainment. Whenever the company put on house shows across the pond, British fans turned out in droves.

Emboldened by this (and worried about poor ticket sales stateside), the WWF made the decision to move SummerSlam 1992 to London, England. Never one to aim small, however, Vince McMahon wanted to book the company’s first PPV outside of North America in a grand location. After briefly looking at arenas, the conclusion was drawn that maybe the promotion had the potential to fill a stadium. In the end, the most famous (and biggest) venue in England was chosen: Wembley Stadium.

Home to historic events like the 1966 World Cup final and the Live Aid concert in 1985, Wembley was an iconic venue that would provide an excellent visual presentation. Still, filling the vast stadium was an ambitious task. Much to WWF’s delight, however, their gamble paid off. Tickets sold like proverbial hot cross buns, with fans traveling from all over the U.K. and Europe to get a taste of big-time American pro wrestling.

Held on Saturday, August 29 (and airing on tape delay two days later) before a massive, reported crowd of 80,355 people, SummerSlam 1992 would pull in $3,650,000 through ticket sales and merchandise. This was a hugely successful day for the WWF … and a far cry from anything it was doing in the U.S. at the time. Even the notoriously fickle British weather cooperated, and the rain stayed away from the open-air venue for the duration of the show.

Alongside cool visuals like the Legion of Doom riding motorcycles to the ring for their match against Money Inc., and The Undertaker traveling atop a hearse to face off with Kamala, fans were treated to such clashes as The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage for the WWF championship and an underrated match-up between Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel. But the match everyone had truly come to see was Intercontinental champion Bret Hart defending his title against his real-life brother-in-law, “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith. Given the popularity of Smith in his native Britain, the WWF made the sensible decision to allow the Intercontinental match to go on last—an unheard-of prospect at a time when the main WWF belt was also being defended on the same show.

British Bulldog and Lennox Lewis at SummerSlam 1992
Davey Boy Smith, a local lad made good, greets a capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium in August 1992. For this special main event, Smith was accompanied to the ring by world-renowned pugilist Lennox Lewis, who would secure his own place in the history books that year by becoming WBC heavyweight champion. (Photo by M. Morris)

In a battle that would go on to be named PWI Match of the Year for 1992, Hart and Smith put on a clinic that had the 80,000+ in attendance hanging on every move. After 25 minutes, it was local lad Smith who got the win and sent the crowd in Wembley into a frenzy. His celebration brought to a close one of the most unique events the WWF had ever promoted.

“I had the opportunity to sit in the crowd, and I remember how big it was and how passionate it was,” Stephanie McMahon told Sports Illustrated in 2021. “I remember it was raining, and I remember how the rain stopped as soon as the first match started. I also remember how over the British Bulldog was with the crowd. It was a beautiful ride of emotions, a spectacle, and I loved being there.”

British Bulldog attempts a pinfall on Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1992.
Smith cradles Bret Hart with a crucifix pin, but the attempt at a fall is unsuccessful. Ultimately, a different pinning combination would net Smith the match and the WWF Intercontinental championship belt. (Photo by M. Morris)

I, too, have fond memories of this event. The VHS tape of SummerSlam 1992 was released on September 24 of that year, which happened to be my seventh birthday. I still remember the excitement I felt when my parents handed me the tape of the show that British wrestling fans had been buzzing about. SummerSlam 1992 was the first wrestling VHS tape I ever owned, and I must have watched it a half-dozen times that first week. While it’s not my favorite wrestling event of all time, it is still one of the most special to me. As SummerSlam 1992 celebrates its 30th anniversary, you’ll have to excuse me if, before I watch Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar throw down at a stadium in Nashville, I go and pop in that old VHS tape and watch Crush and Repo Man throw down in London.

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PWI’s Candace Cordelia To Present Network Championship Belt At Capital Championship Wrestling: Glory

PWI’S CANDACE CORDELIA TO PRESENT NETWORK CHAMPIONSHIP BELT AT CAPITAL CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING: GLORY

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, March 26, Capital Championship Wrestling returns with a huge night of action in Houston, Delaware, with a show called “Glory.” On a night full of huge women’s matches, all eyes will be on the CCW Network championship bout, where a new champion will be crowned in a Gauntlet match—and PWI’s own Candace Cordelia Smith will be there to present the winner with their new title belt.

CCW, a growing women’s wrestling promotion, has become increasingly visible even outside of the Mid-Atlantic region. And, with this show taking place during Women’s History Month, Glory is likely its most notable show yet. As it stands now, the card is as follows:

  • CCW Championship Match: Christina Marie vs. KiLynn King
  • NWA World Women’s Championship: Kamille vs. Allie Katch
  • Savanna Stone vs. Catalina Garcia
  • Gia Scott & Vita Von Starr vs. Willow Nightingale & Edith Surreal
FLYER ADVERTISING CANDACE CORDELIA SMITH’S APPEARANCE AT CCW: GLORY (COURTESY OF CAPITAL CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING)


But the focal point of the show, even with the NWA World Women’s title on the line, may very well be the CCW Network Championship Gauntlet Match.

Competitors announced for the gauntlet match include: Ashley D’Amboise, Kayla Sparks, Brittany Black, Scarlett, Rebecca Scott, Kat Spencer, Edith Surreal, and Devlyn Macabre.

“It’s truly an honor to present the CCW Network championship to the victor of the Gauntlet Match,” said PWI Contributing Writer Candace Cordelia Smith. “Each wrestler in this match is a force to behold, and I can’t wait to see which one of them takes the title.”

CCW: Glory takes place this Saturday, March 26, at 6 p.m. EST at 143 Broad Street, Houston, Delaware. The show will be available via Video On Demand on the Title Match Network shortly thereafter. For more information, check out Capital Championship Wrestling on Twitter @CCWAction and to get updates from Candace Cordelia Smith throughout the night, follow her @CandaceCordelia.

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The Mother of Chaos (And Reinvention)

The Mother of Chaos (And Reinvention)

Kasey Owens at Pro Wrestling: EVE, 2021. (PHOTO BY DALE BRODIE CREATIVE/EVE)

UNLESS YOU FOLLOW the U.K. and Irish wrestling scenes, chances are that the name Kasey Owens may not be on the tip of your tongue. But that all soon may be about to change. A contemporary of current WWE stars like Doudrop and Kay Lee Ray, Owens has worked her way up from the tiny Northern Irish wrestling scene to now find herself being showcased on the WWE Network through her regular appearances with Insane Championship Wrestling. Along the way, Owens has cast off labels and preconceived notions about who and what she could be—whether it was “The Girl” or “One Of The Twins”—and has consistently been able to reinvent herself, usually to great success.

“I had always been a fan of wrestling growing up,” said Owens. “I just didn’t really know how to get into the business. But, the more you want something, the more you will find a way to get that thing. And, when I heard about a school that was opening in Northern Ireland, I dove in, and, from there, it was a case of a lot of long car trips throughout Ireland, going to shows, just trying to learn and get better.”

Owens holds up the EVE International championship belt in the waning months of her two-year reign as champion. (PHOTO BY DALE BRODIE CREATIVE/EVE)

Owens hoped to step up her do by entering TNA’s British Boot Camp reality show in 2014, where, alongside her twin sister Leah, she had the chance to impress some of the most respected names in North American wrestling.

“It was mind-blowing,” she reflects. “Gail Kim was sitting right there, and she is one of my top five favorite female wrestlers of all time. So, there was a lot of fan-girling [on my part]. But, even though we got eliminated, it was such a great experience.”

After a stint in Japan, Owens moved to Glasgow, Scotland, and it was there that she really started working on her game (and herself), becoming a regular fixture of ICW. Being part of the promotion’s extraordinary growth is something that she is very proud to have experienced

“I started off helping with the ring crew, so I got an up-close look at the company going from smaller venues to bigger and bigger ones … and even just being a part of that was such a learning experience. I would say it was there, from 2016 onwards, that was really the growth of me as a wrestler with my storylines with Viper (Doudrop) and Kay Lee Ray. And I really focused on how I could stay relevant and keep growing as this company is growing. Then, last year, when I got the call to say we were going to be on the WWE Network, I was so excited. And it’s really changed how I approach wrestling, even in terms of being aware of cameras and ring positioning.”

Away from the WWE Network, Owens has become one of the main players in Pro Wrestling: EVE, where she is coming off a near two-year run as the promotion’s International champion—a title that she only lost due to an injury. When asked about what makes the all-women’s promotion so special, she pointed to it being not simply the quality wrestling but, rather, the entire ethos behind the endeavor.

“The Mother Of Chaos,” in full facepaint and at peak power, wears down Emersyn Jayne in the final round of a brutal gauntlet match. (PHOTO BY DALE BRODIE CREATIVE/EVE)

“They really get you involved in everything they do,” she said. “And the evolution of this KASEY character really started there. They treat every single woman as top-tier. No matter who you are in the ring with there, you are either teaching or learning. I feel like some companies don’t know what to do with women, and what I love about EVE is that they understand exactly what to do. It’s quite sad that outside of Japan, there aren’t more promotions like EVE. But you are unfortunately going to get that where some promoters still just aren’t fans of women’s wrestling.”

Whether or not some promoters care for women’s wrestling, Owens continues to hone her craft and make believers out of doubters. The transition from her early years to her current guise, dropping her surname and being known as “The Mother Of Chaos” KASEY, is a testament to her constant self-evaluation and knack for reinvention.

“My trip to Japan really made me realize I love that style,” she said. “I incorporated some of that into who I am now. But it’s taken me a good 11 years to get to this point. And, with the facepaint and my matches now, maybe I’m channeling some of the anger and frustration I had growing up.

I was bullied throughout school, so now I’m going to be the one to put a full stop on that. The buck stops with me. That’s what ‘The Mother Of Chaos’ is.”

With so much already behind her—and a career seemingly on the cusp of even bigger things—it’s fair to ask what’s next. Owens was reflective for a moment before answering.

“When I was sitting in the Ice Ribbon Dojo in Japan, my Father sent me a quote that said ‘Remember this life is not a practice’ … so I’ve taken that and just kept going,” said Owens. “There was a time when I thought about packing it all in, but I just can’t let this go. It’s not happening. The future is wide open, and I have friends in the U.S.A., so I know I always have somewhere to stay. But we will see how things go. The prognosis is that my broken ankle will be healed by April. So, watch this space … the future is wide open.”

Social Media plug:
Twitter - @Kaseyowens5
Patreon - patreon.com/KaseyOwens

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Putting Wrestling Comics In A Headlock

Headlocked Comics logo

Putting Wrestling Comics In A Headlock—An Interview With Writer/Creator Michael Kingston

Via Headlocked Comics Twitter

LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTERS? CHECK! A fantasy world where anything can happen? Check! Large men in spandex? Check and check! I could, of course, be talking about professional wrestling, but just as easily also be talking about certain genres of comic books. Quite frankly, these two worlds have so much in common that it’s amazing there hasn’t been more extensive overlap between the two.

Enter Michael Kingston, creator of Headlocked: the comic meshing these two worlds together so well that your favorite wrestling stars are lining up to get involved. With Headlocked and its spinoff series, Tales From The Road, Michael has collaborated with over 40 wrestlers who share his passion for telling stories through this unique art form. PWI recently caught up with Mike to discuss all things wrestling and comics.

PWI: Where did the idea for Headlocked come from?

MK: I was a wrestling fan since the very first Saturday Night’s Main Event. George “The Animal” Steele hooked me as I was flipping through the channels, and I had never seen anything like it. That was my entry point, and I’ve watched wrestling every day since. [Growing up] I loved wrestling, loved comics, and I’d buy all the wrestling comics but … I just felt that they weren’t written for wrestling fans. So, I always thought there would be a market for a book like Headlocked. I took my idea to comic book companies, and I got laughed out of every room I went into. Literally! One guy actually laughed in my face. So, I decided to make the book myself. I worked two jobs for a year to make enough money for my first print run. And then I took it on the road, selling it out of a backpack at wrestling shows. As I started going to bigger conventions, I would meet wrestlers who liked what I was doing, and they helped support it. From there, I hooked up with Jerry Lawler, who does the covers for my books, and it just sort of spiraled from there.

PWI: Do you think there are similarities between trying to make it in the wrestling business and trying to make it in the comic book business?

MK: There are so many similarities between both in terms of what they are as art forms and businesses. A lot of the support structure that surrounds wrestling and comic books comes from the fans. They’re both kind of dominated by a singular aesthetic. When you talk to people about wrestling, they tend to think of WWE. And, when they think of comics, it’s superheroes. Then, obviously, you have colorful characters, the battle between good and evil … the sort of joke is, comics are like 2-D wrestling, and that’s why I found it strange to meet so much resistance early on. But I think the themes of breaking into these businesses are there. The emotional rollercoaster I had breaking into the comic business is the same as an independent wrestler has breaking into wrestling. The physical part is different, is all. Hopefully, I don’t have to fall off a ladder to make a comic!

PWI: You have collaborated with a lot of wrestlers so far, and I think it’s clear this is what sets Headlocked apart from previous wrestling comics. How important was this element to the success of the series?

MK: It’s my favorite thing to do. And the stories we tell are entertaining, but they are also important to the talent. The story I did with The Hurricane for Volume 1 of Tales From The Road, [at the time] he was sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for an MRI on his neck, not knowing if his career was over. So, the story we ended up telling was very powerful, and it’s even more powerful when you understand the circumstances behind it. If you give people something they’re excited to work with, you can tell the difference. Everything we make is made with love and passion, and I want people to experience that.

PWI: Wrestlers are obviously creative people, but this is a different way for them to tell stories. What’s the creative process like for you putting a story together with them?

MK: It’s different for everybody. Mick Foley wrote me a prose story. The Iinspiration and I had a Zoom call, and we talked out the story and had an email chain providing input. But, once we get a concept and the story beats, I’ll write it and send it to the talent. And we’ll work on it until we have something we’re happy with. But it takes on many different forms.

PWI: Has anyone surprised you with their creativity?

MK: I keep talking about The Iinspiration story just because it’s fresh in my mind. But we had it a certain way, and they suggested a different type of character for the “Heavy” in the story. My initial thought was that it was never going to work, but then it did work, and it actually changed the story into something else entirely. There’s always that moment where everything clicks, and I never in a million years would have pushed it in that direction. But their suggestion was what made that story what it was. Wrestlers are all storytellers. It’s who they are at their core. The ones that really do surprise me are the artists. Obviously, Jerry Lawler does the covers, but we’ve had Fred Ottman, Sinn Bodhi, Ken Anderson. Tony Atlas did a piece of art for us. He does pointillism, which, to me, is amazing to imagine this giant dude hunched over a desk. It’s cool to me because Headlocked has always been about showcasing wrestling as an artform. So, to showcase wrestlers who are artists is the coolest thing to me.

PWI: Any dream collaborations?

MK: Xavier Woods, Paul Heyman, Carmella … I think Carmella is fascinating, creatively, because she makes every gimmick work but never loses sight of who she is. And that’s a real gift that she doesn’t get enough credit for. Zelina Vega … there’s so many. I always say that wherever there is a ring and a payday, there’s a story. I’d love to get to a point where we are big enough to tell stories from less well-known people, because some of the most famous people may not have as many interesting stories that people on the fringes might have to tell. The Boogeyman! I think he’s fascinating. He’s such a unique personality, and I’d love to collaborate with him.

PWI: What does the future hold for Headlocked?

MK: I’ve got Volume 5 of the main Headlocked series in production, and it’s the wildest one yet. I can’t wait for people to read it. Not one person is going to imagine [that it goes the way] it goes. We will still be putting out our Tales From The Road series. And, by June, I’ll have enough content for Volume 4. We are currently only on Volume 2, so we have a lot of stuff still to put out. I’m hoping to do more stuff with Brian Myers and Matt Cardona in the Fig Story vein. I have a million ideas for that. And, in the first volume of Tales From The Road, I collaborated with Gangrel on a story about a guy who trains Bigfoot to wrestle. We’d like to spin that out into a series. I don’t ever see a scenario where I will run out of things to write. So, as long as people keep supporting us, we’ll keep making stuff.

Follow Headlocked Comics on Twitter

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What, Exactly, Is Brian Johnson Doing?

Screenshot of Brian Johnson's empty Twitter profile

What, Exactly, Is Brian Johnson Planning? 

“I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.” – Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks

 I KNOW BRIAN Johnson.

 This isn’t Brian Johnson.

If you’ve ever bought a ticket to a show that he was on or ever watched him on television, then you, too, know Brian Johnson … and you know that this isn’t Brian Johnson.

Say what you will about him—and lord knows that many have—but the one thing you could never say about him is that Brian Johnson is a man who has nothing to say. That’s why all of this is more than a little unsettling. And why I had to dig a little deeper into finding out the answer to the question that has been bugging me for several days now: “Why has Brian Johnson gone quiet?”

In the wake of last week’s news that Ring of Honor would be going on hiatus following the December 11 Final Battle PPV and releasing all contracted performers, an outpouring of love and support went out to those affected by the news. Many current ROH wrestlers took to social media to thank the promotion for giving them an opportunity, but to also discuss their future. While it was a sad occasion, there was also some hope. Surely Brian Johnson, perhaps ROH’s most outspoken performer would have much to say about this, right?

Wrong!

Instead of the usual vitriolic Johnson we have grown accustomed to, all we got was a retweet of ROH’s announcement regarding going on hiatus, coupled with a quote from the man himself that said:

“Sometimes you can’t put the emotions and the feelings into the right words. I’m going to need a few days to gather my thoughts. When I do, you’ll hear from The Mecca.”

A screenshot of Brian Johnson's now-deleted tweet

Sensing something unusual was afoot, I took the above screenshot.

It’s now been more than a few days, and we have yet to hear from The Mecca. What’s more, his entire social media has gone dark, and even the above tweet has been deleted along with all pictures and posts. Johnson’s Instagram account is still active, but a tad unusual.

So, just what the hell is going on?

In short, I don’t know. I have exhausted all methods of trying to get hold of Johnson personally and have had no response from the man. One of the benefits of working with Pro Wrestling Illustrated is that you can normally be put in contact with almost anyone in the wrestling business, but absolutely no one I have spoken to has heard from or seen Johnson, either.

It’s not that anyone is being coy or secretive—they simply just don’t know what’s going on with “The Mecca.” Every person, however, has echoed similar sentiments to PWI Editor-In-Chief Kevin McElvaney, who said, “This guy never shuts up, so this is very unusual behavior.”

Brian Johnson is a loudmouth and a trash-talker. He’s angry and he’s opinionated. But he is also incredibly talented and has the chance to do big things in professional wrestling. So, you can be sure that whenever he does emerge, whatever he does next will be fascinating to watch. Until then, we wait with bated breath and wonder just what “The Mecca” has planned.