Glitter & Slam: Chained Heat

In this edition of Glitter and Slam we'll talk about the first women's Elimination Chamber and the aftermath.

Overall, the match was solid, even though it was sold on a lack of buildup or tension between the combatants beyond wanting the Raw women's title. Everyone stuck to what they did best and the veterans, mostly, carried the lion's share of the action.

(Mandy Rose got a chance to showcase some of her power before wisely booked out as the first elimination. Source: WWE.com)

Mandy Rose was utilized correctly, making the most of her willingness to take tough bumps and abilities as a striker. With the exception of a flapjack on Sasha Banks, her story was kept simple en route to her first elimination. I still question Rose getting in this match over the more technically reliable Alicia Fox, but Paige's career-ending injury necessitated someone getting in the cage who wasn't ready.

(A newly toughened Bayley gets some hang time on Sonya Deville. Source: WWE.com)

Deville fared better, although violent settings like the chamber don't give one a chance to show her grappling skills. Not surprisingly, she was eliminated next by Mickie James, whose time was far too short in the cage. James leaped from a pod getting some outstanding hang time and a big pop.

 I was surprised James made such a rapid exit after giving fans the most memorable high spots of the match. The best WWE creative could do with her was a flimsy ad hoc alliance with the champion, which was irrelevant as Bliss never entered the chamber until her seeming cohort was gone.

(James had the most memorable spots of the match before her elimination. Source: WWE.com)

In the end Sasha Banks and Bayley, working together in the short term, carried the load to the end with Bliss finally emerging from her pod, only to try to lock herself in it. The champ was every bit the sneaky, cowardly, but ultimately conniving opportunist.  In the end Bliss's major highlight was the best promo of her career once the match ended. Before the final bell, she was able to hang back and watch the ad hoc partnership between Bayley and the Boss abruptly end with a nasty little smile as Banks kicked Bayley in the face, knocking her off the pod as they followed Bliss upward onto the structure.

(Mere minutes before stabbing her bff in the back, Banks and Bayley close in on the champ. Source: WWE.com)

En route to a hit-or-miss style conclusion, in which Bliss made Banks pay for her high-risk style with a snap DDT off the top turnbuckle, this match served as some character rehab for Bayley. 

(With friends like this... Source: WWE Network)

(Source: WWE Network)

Hugger #1 carried herself as far tougher than the woman who couldn't even pick up a kendo stick en route to a character burial last summer. She took what she gave in the chains and steel, bowing out to Bliss in a surprise rollup after getting some payback on Banks with an avalanche Bayley-to-Belly off the top rope. This is one of the best matches of Bayley's turbulent main roster career.

(Bliss seizes the opportunity with a snap DDT off the top rope. Source: WWE Network)

Banks showed she's come a long way since the exciting but uneven Hell In A Cell match she had with Charlotte Flair in 2016. She was crisp, did her best to make the new jacks Rose and Deville look good before their eliminations.  Her abilities as a sports entertainer in this match were even more important. With the lame buildup to this spectacle, the audience needed hooked in at the opening bell and she proved again that with a smile or a tear, a kick to the face is so much more than a kick to the face. 

(What price glory? Source: WWE Network)

It's worth noting that the camera trained on her several times during Bliss' post-match promo, as if Alexa's smarmy admonishment of the crowd was indirectly aimed at Banks. The Boss hung her head, again bitterly wrestling with defeat after a compelling match. It sold Bliss's best mic spot of her career and brought great heat for Five Feet of Fury and opens up story possibilities for the title feud going into WrestleMania.

(Bliss comes under critical fire at times for being pushed as a 100% homegrown Performance Center talent, but her value is undeniable. Source: WWE.com)

So far WWE creative seems content with letting this play out on Twitter and relegating the women to huge ensemble tag matches. While tweens and some millennials readily embrace Twitter and Facebook as part of their WWE entertainment, the women will not continue to evolve if we're left with vague one-liners and one-off tag snubs. After this solidly entertaining match, that was not what any of the Team Red women needed on the post-chamber Raw.

(Bayley about to blow off the Boss. Source: WWE.com)

Fans hate to love Alexa Bliss as one of the top heels in WWE and we have great potential for a secondary feud to explode between Banks and best friend Bayley, but no real groundwork is laid, and even the most social media savvy aren't going to feel like they're getting the entertainment they want--in or out of the ring-- on Twitter.

(Be despised for fun and profit! Source: WWE.com)

This is certainly better than 2010, but WWE is leaving money and another potential surge of growth for women at the top level on the table. As of this writing the trending video at WWE.com about the whole Bayley/Banks thing asks "is trouble brewing?"  This should have degraded into a brawl and burned bridges to light the way to WrestleMania, but we're going to pretend there is a mystery. That's akin to saying The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a who-dun-it.

(Her victory was clear, but Asuka's direction for WrestleMania is not. Source: WWE.com)

In light of reigniting a slow burn for Raw's besties from last year, Asuka's story remains unclear. There is no clear contender beyond Fastlane for a Mania bout for the Smackdown championship, and Asuka vs. Charlotte has that match of the year feel. In light of Carmella's perpetual holding of the Money In The Bank case and the potential of Asuka vs. Rousey in the future, this is one decision that could be a real surprise either way. Beyond the story in the ring, however, WWE has lost their way in getting more good storylines for their main roster women, and that is not the position they should be in this close to the Show of Shows.

In the next Glitter and Slam, I will analyze the Mixed Match Challenge as indicated in my last column. There was simply too much going on with the Elimination Chamber and the post-ppv Raw to get it in this time.

Follow me on Twitter: @weskozalla #glitterandslam

Follow Ace and Wrestlementary: @WrestlementaryT

Glitter & Slam: Five Feet of Caged Fury

In this edition of Glitter and Slam, we'll look at the groundbreaking women's Elimination Chamber match, the buildup and the challenges each entrant faces, plus Asuka's match with Nia Jax.

Shortly before the first women's Royal Rumble, Stephanie McMahon announced another first for WWE's women: the RAW title would be defended in the Elimination Chamber. This milestone pits champion Alexa Bliss against three top names in veteran Mickie James, former champion Bayley and 4-time title holder Sasha Banks. Beyond that, an odd decision was made to plant both Absolution newcomers Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose in the remaining two slots.

(Either Deville or Rose took a spot vacated by Paige after their leader's in-ring career ended last month. Source: WWE.com)

Paige's wrestling career ended in January due to another injury to her recently healed neck, making her the Absolution stable's manager--and suddenly putting a spot in the chamber match up for grabs. Unlike the men's division, however, no one had to earn her championship opportunity in any matches on RAW leading up to this event.

How can fans believe the chamber match – for the women's title no less – is a major deal if no one has to show they are worthy of the match. A good opportunity to break out of the booking malaise that has plagued the women of RAW ever since last year’s WrestleMania was squandered.

(Had top stars like Banks fought to win a spot in the Chamber match, anticipation would build more easily. Source: WWE.com)

Fans get pumped up for fighting by seeing more fighting. There is more to a setup than that, but one has to start there. Had Deville won a convincing victory over Dana Brooke, for example, or Rose secured a win over Alicia Fox that would have solidified the newcomers for two slots that weren't as obvious to fill.

On top of that, having Jax, Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Bayley slug it out for their coveted opportunities would give a solid rub to the victors going into the most violent of WWE's structure matches.

Not doing so was inexplicable, considering the creative team has overused multi-threat bouts, six-woman tag matches, etc. to introduce the women en masse week after week to casual fans. A couple hot singles matches a night on RAW, in virtually any combination leading up to the final contest this Sunday would have done the job.

Compounding the creative issues in the buildup, we have to wonder if the best hands are on board for Showtime when the company's lone superheavyweight in Nia Jax and the breakout star of this new year, Asuka, are not even in the match.

(For the strongest and largest woman on the roster, Nia Jax sure can easily sneak up on the Empress of Tomorrow a lot. Source: WWE.com)

WWE chose to remedy this by simply announcing a match between Asuka and Jax at the Elimination Chamber PPV. Another opportunity was squandered to build up Jax for this challenge. Fans of NXT know that Jax has always been hard to bring down in previous matches with Asuka, but they insisted on just having her sneak up on the Empress occasionally and slam her off the canvas with a few power moves.

If Jax had lost her opportunity fair and square in a match and tried to take it out on Asuka and maybe even on the entire women's locker room, one could see Asuka demanding a one on one challenge-- and the stipulation could be a slot for Nia in the title match at WrestleMania, or Asuka could put her title shot at Mania on the line.

The opportunity for a great build was once again squandered. All they had to do was play to the personas and strengths of both women. The streak probably will not end, but Asuka brazenly holding her title shot up for grabs against a powerhouse who has grown more experienced and even meaner since their head-to-head matches in NXT makes it a tantalizing possibility. If this is indeed just a plot device to get Jax to Mania without being in the chamber, look for a count out or some kind of disqualification victory that leaves Asuka still unpinned and strong.

Hindsight shows us booking could have been better, but the card is set and there is enough talent in the chamber pods to make for an entertaining event. All the stars inside have challenges to work through, including my predicted winner, which I will save for last.

(Five Feet of Fury meets four fists of pain. Source: WWE.com)

We have already discussed the booking hurdles that weren't addressed in putting both members of Absolution into the match. Technically Deville has shown to be the more versatile and technically refined of the two. Rose, to her credit, has no problem working stiff and is a decent striker who manages to show flashes of her power and athletic ability. Beyond that her greenness was put out front in the go-home tag match on the most recent Raw. She flubbed a corner spot with Bayley and her timing was off during the most up-tempo moments of the contest. Her aforementioned striking ability and toughness should be enough as long as she's kept out of too many high spot scenarios and lets the experienced hands in the ring take over. I think she is the one who got in on the heels of Paige's in-ring retirement.

Neither will take the championship to WrestleMania.

(Source: WWE.com)

Bayley should have become the biggest female star in WWE in 2017. Instead she is in this booking limbo, mainly because she has to act like a big kid who gives hugs instead of being a grown up pro who burns for championship gold and also happens to love her connection with children.

She is just over enough along with her wrestling ability to make her slot a foregone conclusion. Aside from the new jacks in Absolution, she would have benefitted the most from having to earn her spot in a tough match.

Her title reign was too easy because she simply didn't face enough challenges. Giving her that challenge just to get inside pro wrestling's most violent structure would have been a major step toward rehabbing her persona-- way more than the social media suggestion she turn heel. In all likelihood she will not win the chamber match.

(Source: WWE.com)

Alexa Bliss is peaking at just the right time. She is the best mic worker among all the main roster women. Her theatrical skills and selling are among those of her best peers and she had the two best matches of her career against Mickie James and Charlotte Flair on the PPV stage within the last four months.

The easy prediction is that she plays her sneaky opportunist card and escapes the Chamber with a slimy victory. This is the safe bet, but with Mania on the horizon I don't predict a win here. If Nia Jax gets some kind of screwy victory over Asuka, however, I think she'll go down the ramp to Mania as champion. 

Look for her to get directly involved to secure a Jax triumph. Cracking her #teamrude best friend across the back with a chair is a great passive-aggressive and evil way to try and stack the card in her favor. If that comes to pass look for her to try and get Jax to throw the match or at least be Bliss' meat shield at WrestleMania.

(Source: WWE.com)

Mickie James will not win in the chamber. She has been woefully underutilized when her skills and crowd pleasing charisma benefit the women's division the most. One upside was her feud with Alexa Bliss where the champ showed some much needed technical growth. Thanks in part to James, the champ's footing is solidified.

Unfortunately for the smark world, the multiple time champion is sort of like the Dolph Ziggler of her niche. You know the match will be even better with her in it, but it is unclear how much she will directly benefit from turning in a consistently memorable performance.

(Source: WWE.com)

The only thing Sasha Banks did not get in 2017 was a noteworthy title reign. She's a house show workhorse, the crowds still love her and her image is used across nearly all WWE promotional campaigns. She's arguably a better wrestler now than during her groundbreaking feud with Charlotte Flair.

When she is immersed in her character and the stakes are high her matches are electric, even when flubs like Summerslam 2016 or vs. Asuka on Raw emerge. She still does not have the polish on her high energy style that James or Asuka do, but she can set the world on fire when the big match comes.

It is a long shot, but I'm rolling with it. Sasha Banks will win her fifth title to set up the full course meal equivalent in a mind blowing match with Asuka at WrestleMania. Maybe give her a clean title defense over Little Miss Bliss in the weeks leading up to the Show of Shows to help her shed that "no title defense" stigma before Mania.

That's of course... if Asuka even goes for the RAW title.

Overall, the build was clunky, but we do have the potential for a possible match of the year inside the unforgiving chamber. If anything WWE's women have all done the most to maximize their opportunities to entertain, and this match should be no different. Here are predictions for the rest of the card.

(Source: WWE.com)

Asuka vs. Nia Jax: I don't see Jax not getting a spot at Mania, but there will be better ways to end Asuka's streak. WINNER: Asuka, although a screwy finish without a pin or submission could get Jax a victory with intervention, setting the stage for a triple threat match.

John Cena vs. Braun Strowman vs. Elias vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins: The buildup for this was far better with a good mix of veterans, the stars of now and emerging talents. Still, I say Vince will have his superman. WINNER: Reigns

Raw Tag Team Championship: The Bar (C) vs. Titus Worldwide. Technically speaking I look forward to seeing Apollo (who now has no last name) in the ring with Cesaro. Two tough strong and athletic guys with mobility getting after it is too good to scoff at, even if we can see the end of this coming. WINNERS: The Bar

Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt: It's always fun to get the most unhinged guys in the ring together. If you're tired of watching Bray put people over, your respite won't happen now. WINNER: Matt Hardy

Anderson and Gallows vs. The Revival (kickoff show): With Scott Dawson continuing his comeback from injury, look for a shady win for the wild-eyed southern boys who ended the Ice Cream Dream. WINNERS: The Revival

In the next edition of Glitter and Slam we'll look at the interactive Mixed Match Challenge and who is benefitting and who isn't from the antics of WWE's most recent social media gimmick.

Follow me on Twitter and spread the word: @weskozalla #glitterandslam

Follow Ace and Wrestlementary: @WrestlementaryT

GLITTER & SLAM - AFTERSHOCK

In this edition of Glitter and Slam we'll examine some notable moments from the first women's Royal Rumble match and how quiet tears set the tone on the first steps toward Wrestlemania.

THE RUMBLE & RAW

 (In case it wasn't apparent, Rowdy Ronda pointed to the Wrestlemania sign several more times so fans wouldn't mistakenly think she was asking Stephanie McMahon to validate her parking. Or something.) (Source: ringsideintel.com)

A mix of the current stable, some NXT notables and many stars of the past did the job. As interest beyond hardcore fans begins to gain momentum, the Rumble introduced casual and new fans to the stars of now, some NXT stars of the future and brought in a heaping helping of female stars of the past. It was as fun to watch as many men's Rumble matches, even with some of the odd things that were the equivalent of biting into an unpopped kernel when enjoying theater popcorn.

(Lita got respect for her battle scars in the form of low-impact bumps, but she made the most of this trip down memory lane. Source: WWE.com)

For some reason Sasha Banks continuously went after opponents as they were eliminating other wrestlers. Sarah Logan, especially got pummeled as she first tried to eliminate Becky Lynch. The Riott Squad's muscle could have eliminated several women had Banks shown more strategic thinking. Corey Graves spotted this immediately and echoed fan sentiments that the Boss needed to get a clue. Banks wowed fans however with plenty to cheer about, as she lasted 54 minutes, Wonder Woman tights and all – including fan service in the form of a staredown with the 30th entrant, Trish Stratus.

Out of all the alumni and active stars that gave us tantalizing dream match moments, one former women's champ made the boldest physical statement. Molly Holly showed WWE that the women's revolution should have happened far sooner and unlike many of her peers of yesterday, she could still go. Quickness, stiff kicks and a hefty dose of chutzpah proved it.

(Molly's jog down the ramp warmed up the hammies for several kicks to opposing faces. Source: WWE.com)

Asuka's win was almost a foregone conclusion weeks ago, after Paige's in-ring career ended with a nasty stinger aggravating her recently healed neck, but the Empress did it in grand style at number 25, and showed at the end how much American crowds have embraced her. After an uneven 2017, her build is one thing being done correctly.

A complete breakdown in this column is superfluous and doesn't beat simply viewing the women's Rumble yourself. It was great fun, even with some of the headscratching moments. The wrap-up with Ronda Rousey's debut was questionable, though. Having the former UFC champ come out at the same time as Asuka reveled in her victory watered down both moments a bit and her crashing WWE's big party could have been reserved for Elimination Chamber to spread the big PR moments out. Oh, and she needed to chill on the sign-pointing after the second time.

(Source: WWE.com)

Asuka would, however get her chance on the following Raw to do her part in getting the train to the Show of Shows rolling with the Boss.

(Banks was at her eyecatching best as she donned her war camo. Source: WWE.com)

Sure, there were question marks about her physical narrative in the Rumble, but Sasha Banks was prominently featured and kept fans on edge during her near-hour in the fight, and she rode that momentum into Raw.

Immediately she got in Asuka's face as Stephanie opened the show to congratulate the Rumble winner. The Boss is at her best when she has a giant chip on her shoulder. It shines through in the ring as well as in her mic work.

Many fans across social media still wish for the snuffed-out heel turn from a year ago because Banks is at her absolute best when she is fueled by anger. She's so good that the slightest pursing of the lips, the random hip pop and even a single visible tear can blow the doors off. In these moments, she's so good botches can be forgotten, every move counts, and her matches radiate an intense energy.

(Only in pro wrestling can you do someone a favor by kicking them in the face. Asuka saves the botch. Source: WWE.com)

Asuka and Banks could have been a great Pay-Per-View event, and both women approached it like Mania was already here. It was a solid, fun and stiff match that compelled fans like nothing seen from Sasha Banks since her feud with Charlotte Flair in 2016.

It was a good thing Banks was on point mostly, otherwise her botched suicide dive would have killed the energy. Had she not rebounded to continue to the Asuka lock conclusion, even the Empress's master stroke to pass of the miscue as a result of a crisp kick to the face would not have been enough.

(Source: WWE.com)

The sublime ending, which was almost too good for the rest of the match, would not have been without Banks letting some of the real emotion creep to the surface. After finally tapping out to the Asuka lock – the first time she submitted since losing the title to Charlotte in the 2016 Ironman match at Roadblock: End of the Line – Banks lay flat on her back in the middle of the ring, eyes shut with the unmistakable shine of tears rolling down her temple as she bit her lip.

(After all the violence a single trail of tears sets the tone for what comes next. Source: WWE.com)

WWE creative may be wanting to revive the heel turn that was nixed a year ago in light of Bayley's failure to be the champion they hoped for. Except for championship gold, Banks has had the exposure, screentime and apparent treatment on television as someone integral to the big picture in the womens division and to a degree beyond.

If the sting of angry tears translates into fuel for more compelling storylines and moments going into Elimination Chamber and beyond, few will not be eclipsed by Sasha Banks. Of course, the emphasis should be on "if."

Glitter & Slam - 2017 Match of the Year and MOM'S SHOCKING CONFESSION

In this edition of Glitter and Slam, I'll talk about my mother's big personal revelation – that in her youth she was a big wrestling fan! Plus mother and son bonded for the first time as smarks as we go over the 2017 Glitter and Slam match of the year: the Last Woman Standing Match featuring Asuka vs. Nikki Cross.

MOM'S SHOCKING CONFESSION!

(Who knew? Mom joined the throngs to see the epitome of manliness when she was a teen – world champion Lou Thesz! Source: @SethHanson1982 twitter)

I was 11 when our family finally got cable, which gave us WTBS and the show World Championship Wrestling hosted by Gordon Solie every Saturday evening. I was enthralled watching Tommy Rich, Buzz Sawyer, National Heavyweight Champ Paul Orndorff, the Road Warriors, and scores of other greats, and of course the man with the ten pounds of gold that represented the NWA world championship, Ric Flair. Soon after, I found WWF programming on in the early afternoon. Amidst my awe at the crazy displays of power and occasional grace, my mom seemed to tolerate it.

(The wrestling I discovered in 1984 was certainly a departure from the norms of 1952. Gordon Solie Interviews the Road Warriors. Source: prowrestlingarchives.com)

She would often roll her eyes and say such things as "They're a bunch of sadomasochistic weirdoes" or mutter "Oh geez..." when I was glued to the screen. She still let me read the Bill Apter magazines, like The Wrestler and Pro Wrestling Illustrated. She even took me to see WWF shows twice at my local high school, where I got to see guys like Putski, Muraco, and the world champion Iron Sheik among others. I was always thankful that she indulged my interest, figuring it beat me blowing up the Dairy Queen or something, but I never thought she really thought much of the sport and business of pro wrestling. Then, we had an astonishing conversation Christmas evening that changed everything!

(Who knew? Mom and I smarking out together on Christmas. Source: personal archive)

Mom has always been hugely supportive of my writing, and always wanted to know when this column was posted. I told her that night about the match of the year I selected and that she should watch it with me, even though she didn't like wrestling.

(Mom didn't think much of Ric Flair's rhetoric, but she also revered the original Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers. Source: Pro Wrestling Illustrated/onlineworldofwrestling.com)

"I don't hate wrestling," she said. "When I was younger I watched on TV all the time with my brothers and we all read the magazines and everything." My jaw hit the floor. During wrestling's first golden age on TV, my own mom, the one who called the men I watched "sadomasochistic wierdoes." She elaborated that my grandparents got their first televsion in 1952 and it was in that first golden age she and her older brothers embraced the sport. They loved it! Every time pro wrestling came to town they and many of their neighbors out in farm country would load into pickup trucks to make the show – rain or shine – even in the winter.

(Mildred Burke was admired for her class, style and toughness in a man's world. Source: areaorion.blogspot.com)

She told me how, from that first television through high school, she cheered on the likes of Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers and then emerging western Pennsylvania hero Bruno Sammartino and booed with the masses at Gorgeous George. My curiosity led to the big question that's relevant to my beat as an analyst of women's wrestling: What were her thoughts about the female grapplers of that era?

(Another favorite who mingled the feminine ideal with socially odd athleticism in the 50's. Source: GCCWhistory.com)

She told me she never was able to see women wrestle on television and gleaned most of her knowledge of their work in print. Mom looked up to wrestlers like Nell Stewart and champion Mildred Burke.

"I looked up to them when I was a teenager because they were very classy and tough. And they did all that when it wasn't considered a good thing for women to be athletes," she said. I knew that she didn't really follow wrestling now, so I was curious what she thought of some of the women who wrestled now, during WWE's Women's Evolution.

(What would she think of today's stars? Sasha Banks and Bayley before their seminal Brooklyn match. Source: WWE Network)

I brought up the WWE network on the pc and watched the groundbreaking NXT championship match between Bayley and Sasha Banks at the first NXT Takeover. It was special watching this again, now knowing my mom actually appreciated the sport! She didn't say much during the match, but I gauged her reactions and she was especially amused at how Sasha and Bayley played for the camera as the latter kicked the Boss in the face to get out of the turnbuckle.

(In the stars of the 21st century, the classy power of Sasha Banks shined through, forging a direct line back to the first days of wrestling on televison for a fan of yesteryear. Source: GQ Magazine.)

"This is a lot different, but I can see they can definitely wrestle," said as we watched. She praised Banks' athleticism when she took to the air and both of them for exuding class reminiscent of the heroines she revered in her teen years, even in light of the more over-the-top nature of WWE's brand of sports entertainment. I asked her after that if she would be interested in watching the Glitter and Slam match of the year for 2017, something that, in her view, may have a more post-modern feel. I'll go into her reaction after the analysis of . . .

GLITTER AND SLAM WOMEN'S MATCH OF THE YEAR

ASUKA (C) VS. NIKKI CROSS FOR THE NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

After Wrestlemania in 2017, the women of WWE continued to get time to shine, but booking was often confused and there was a tendency to throw all the women on each show into the same story.

(Ring-a-ding-ding. Source: WWE.com)

At times it worked, as with the Money in the Bank buildup. But, then we had Bayley's burial after a five minute squash against Alexa Bliss, culminating in a creepy hug with Corey Graves as she basically told the world she was a wimp. On the blue side, a thin roster was evident as the only thing the creative team could think of, was to stick champ Naomi in three lame matches with the exceedingly green Lana.

(Truly five feet of fury. Cross shined and took her game to the next level in her first true 1 on 1 title match. Source: WWE.com)

Asuka and Nikki showed what it will take for 2018's Women's Evolution to continue when they squared off one-on-one. Their last woman standing match was 20-plus minutes that included crisp chain wrestling, stiff kicks, shameless pugilism, chairs, a trashcan and all sorts of improvised violence.

(Source: WWE Youtube)

Asuka shouldered the champion's burden and gave Cross the chance to shine, but she didn't have to carry the Dystopian Devil, who made the most of this opportunity to showcase her skill in her first one-on-one high profile match. It culminated in in a fitting end, after the Empress of tomorrow refused to stay down, with her suplexing Cross off a ladder into the the announce table to cinch the last second victory, barely getting up herself at the ten count.

In the end, fans got the best match from two of the game's elite in women's wrestling today, in WWE and the world at large. Fans also received a possible glimpse into how great women's wrestling in WWE can be. This match shows that 2018 can be a superior year in the women's division, especially now that Asuka brings her talents and presence to Raw. Will that happen? Time will tell.

(Source: WWE.com)

Finally, Mom was in awe of these women, but she didn't find the connection to her past heroines of wrestling in the 1950's. Cross was unlike anything she expected, with her constant up-tempo fighting style clashing with Asuka's powerful strikes and fluid grappling. She was, however, entertained by their zeal to go hard and put on the best show possible, working stiff to keep the butts in the seats. I know next time I want to keep up with my beat in the wrestling world, it won't be a surprise when Audrey Kozalla clicks on that link in her son's email to check out what the women of WWE and beyond are doing in the squared circle.

Next time in Glitter and Slam, we'll talk about the groundbreaking 30-woman Royal Rumble.

Follow me on Twitter: @weskozalla #glitterandslam

Follow Ace Masters and Wrestlementary: @WrestlementaryT

THE BEST WRESTLERS YOU (MAY) NEVER HAVE HEARD OF . . . JOHNNY SAOVI!!

HE’S COOL, HE’S COCKY, HE DABS!

HE IS LOADED WITH CHARISMA, AND CAN KILL YEA WITH A SMILE!

(Pronounced Suave)

If Chris Evans is my favorite wrestler on the planet, Mr. Saovi himself is #2.

I wrote in my Championship Wrestling from Arizona piece that my favorite thing about CWA having a TV Show is I get to watch Johnny Saovi on TV on a regular basis.

And this guy is ready built with the style, looks and charisma for Television.

He can go in-ring too.

The Zelda inspired Saovi is sweet and smooth in the ring, and can he dab! He has a fast paced, quick hit and highly athletic style that is hard for opponents to keep up with. If he isn’t kicking out someone’s legs, then he’s hitting them with a wicked enziguri.

He is so smooth and fast it almost seems like he does both at the same time.

When Johnny gets going in a match it is a sight to behold the holds and maneuvers he can string together.



An epic cruiserweight, he could fit right in with TNA’s X Division, or make half the guys in 205 look like they are standing still.

Personally, for me, the coolest thing about Johnny is that any event I attend that he wrestles at, he always makes time to hang and talk for a bit: Usually wrestling!

Johnny Saovi! He’s Cool, He’s Cocky – He NEEDS A WWE CONTRACT!

 - Ace Masters

THE BEST WRESTLERS YOU (MAY) NEVER HAVE HEARD OF . . . 'THE KING OF ARIZONA' CHRIS EVANS

As I mentioned in my STATE OF WRESTLEMENTARY last week, here is the first in my new series:

THE BEST WRESTLERS YOU (MAY) NEVER HAVE HEARD OF . . .

First up:

*** Disclaimer – I might be biased in this piece, as I do know Chris Evans. He may be my favorite wrestler on the planet today. No, scratch that. He IS my favorite wrester in the Planet today. ***


Chris Evans, proclaimed as the King of Arizona because . . . Well, he has proven it.

The first ever ARIZONA WRESTLING FEDERATION Heavyweight Champion. The longest reigning ROCKSTAR WRESTLING ALLIANCE Heavyweight Champion. Among others.

Based out of Tucson, Arizona ‘The King’ wrestles all over the state and the West Coast, beating everyone he can along the way. So far, no one has been able to dethrone ‘The King of Arizona.’

Oh, and one quick note, this is NOT the Actor Chris Evans. This Chris Evans is the real deal, no stunt men or doubles allowed. He hits hard, and loves to get hit back. NO SHIELD REQUIRED.

In-Ring Chris Evans is top-notch, all-around talent. A physical bruiser with a smash mouth style, who can go to the mat and the air with equal skill. ‘The King’ has the technical mat skills to go toe-to-toe with the best guys out there, and if that doesn’t work, he can hit them with a sweet missile dropkick.

And if that fails, there is my favorite Chris Evans move – Powerbombing his opponent into the steel emergency exits doors. Yes, ‘The King’ powerbombs poor peasants into emergency exit doors. Tell me who else does that?

Talent, skill, agility – Chris has it all, plus the passion. This is a guy who loves Pro Wrestling. A near ten year vet of the Ring Wars, Chris could, should, and hopefully one day will be in the big leagues. But that doesn’t drive him.

Love of Pro Wrestling Drives ‘The King.’

Chris goes 100% in the ring, even when injured (a blown out knee in 2017, and he finished the match). If you attend a card with Chris Evan on deck, odds are you’ll see the match of the night.

This is a guy that should be in Ring of Honor, TNA or the WWE. He would be an asset to any of them, and better than many already there. With his style, it is shocking Japan hasn’t come calling.

There is one other thing Chris has that many lack: the intangible IT factor.

It doesn’t matter if Chris Evans is the face of the day, or the heel of the night, when you see Chris Evans the Show is Over.

If you don’t know who Chris Evans is, Why the HELL not?

ALL HAIL THE KING, BABY

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/c/ChrisEvans66

 - Ace Masters

2018 State of Wrestlementary!

First, before I get into this, I want to make a brief statement on 2017 and Wrestlementary.

For me, Ace, writing for Wrestlementary in 2017 was about as rare as the Good Brothers appearing on RAW – almost never happened. I started the year off strong, then lost.

Wes Kozalla kept it going though, saving the day with the Monthly Glitter & Slam.
That’s it for 2017.

Now!

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2018!

Welcome back to Wrestlementary!

Okay, I had announced that Wrestlementary was on suspension and wouldn’t return until today, but it actually returned last week! And I actually wrote stuff. Personally for me that was good, getting back on track.

That is the plan this year: staying on Track. In the past my problem was trying to do too much – all at once basically. Not just for Wrestlementary, but other projects as well. That doesn’t really work. Right now, with the New Year I am revamping what MY writing schedule will be – which includes another new name for my WWE coverage.

As I plan right now, I will have regular weekly pieces, and hope to do some bi-weekly and monthly pieces as well.

The schedule I am going to use going forward pushes things back a little and allows me more freedom to write, and sometimes watch, the shows. I can’t always watch them when they air. Other people may get thoughts up before me, but that’s okay.

Okay – Ace’s Schedule – The Definitive Commentaries

I write Definitive because this is the stuff that WILL be done weekly, or monthly. As other stuff to be listed are ‘if-I-have-time’ writings.

FRIDAYS – MAIN ROSTER MANIA

Here will be my main WWE coverage, and as the name implies it will be coverage of the Main WWE Roster: RAW, SMACKDOWN LIVE and all the EVENTS. Every Friday I will post my thought on RAW and SMACKDOWN, and compare which show did better. The Big Events (Pay-Per-Views), will also be covered on the Friday after, allowing me to talk about the fallout at the same time.

Scheduling this piece for Fridays, allows me more leeway to watch and write about the shows: which are a minimum of 5 hours, up to 8 hours when there are Big Events.

SATURDAY – IMPACT STRESS TEST

The Impact Stress Test undergoes no changes, but will actually be written this year. It will be posted every Saturday, two days after the show airs.

SUNDAY/MONDAY – THOUGHTS ON CWA

Since Championship Wrestling From Arizona is broadcast across the state, I will start writing Brief Coverage of the shows. My thoughts on CWA will go up on Sundays or Mondays before RAW depending on when I watch the show and also depending on . . .

MONDAYS – AWF AWESOMENESS

 . . . What date the AWF Monthly shows fall on! This year I will return to commentating on EVERY Arizona Wrestling Federation show I attend. These thoughts will go up on the Monday’s following the show, just before RAW.

Ace’s Schedule – The Planned Commentaries and Thoughts

These are the ‘if-I-have-time’ writings.

10th & 20th of Each Month – THE BEST WRESTLERS YOU (MAY) NEVER HAVE HEARD OF

The idea behind THE BEST WRESTLERS YOU (MAY) NEVER HAVE HEARD OF is to write a brief piece twice a month on indie wrestlers most fans don’t know about – except maybe in their local area. Granted, many die hard Wrestling Fans may know some of the talent I will profile, but mainstream and WWE Fans only probably won’t.

30th of Each Month – FITE APP FIGHT

Once a month piece on the Fite App and what I do get around to watching.
MISC – Just what it is: miscellaneous pieces I will write and post with no set schedule or plan.

Also, I would like to announce the pending Return of CHRIS ROSE to Wrestlementary. He once did NXT Coverage – giving his thoughts on the weekly shows. He should start doing that again soon. Perhaps he will also cover 205, we will see.

Chris and I are also working on a Wrestlementary project we will announce soon when ready.

GLITTER & SLAM – Let us not forget the Wrestlementary’s Monthly Main Stay. Check back at the end of each Month to receive enlightenment on the women of wrestling from Wes Kozalla himself.

Also, around the time of the Royal Rumble I am planning on launching a New Facebook Page and New Twitter account. If that does happen I will announce them accordingly.

That’s it for now. The State of Wrestlementary is starting from scratch this New Year, and hopefully will stay good.

 - Ace