The Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns will be on Friday Night Smackdown tonight on FOX for the Royal Rumble aftermath.
Reigns was smashed with a chair on the back courtesy of Sami Zayn but Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa beat the living crap out of Zayn while Jey Uso walked away. The Head of the Table will also address Cody Rhodes, his opponent at WrestleMania 39.
Three matches have been announced as well for tonight. Charlotte Flair will defend the Smackdown Women’s title against Sonya Neville, Braun Strowman and Ricochet take on Imperium in a Smackdown Tag Team title contender’s tournament finals, and a fatal four-way women’s Elimination Chamber match featuring Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Zelina Vega, and Natalya.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Nick Khan put over Vince McMahon during the conference call with investors yesterday afternoon, at least putting a united front between the top brass in WWE in front of their investors.
Triple H, who took over creative this past Summer after Vince left, said he was “excited” and “having fun” in his new role as Chief Content Officer and made it a point to mention that having McMahon around “has been great.”
“I will tell you this, it has allowed me – and allow me to speak for our entire creative team – but we’re standing on the shoulders of giants. So having him back and involved, even at just the board level, comes with his incredible insight,” Triple H said.
He called Vince a “tremendous asset to the company” and this was the best time of the year with WrestleMania just around the corner.
WWE Chief Executive Officer Nick Khan said, without hesitation, that Vince McMahon is ready to depart the company once and for all if there’s a sale and if it gives shareholders the most value.
“Yes, without question,” Khan said replying to a question asking if McMahon was ready to quit after a potential sale considering his insistence to remain in power.
Khan said that McMahon has repeated the fact that he’s back to maximize the potential of this strategic alternative and wouldn’t do anything to harm.
“He’s declared it to the Board. He’s declared it to us in management. It’s all about shareholder value. He’s obviously a shareholder so it’s not about what role he’ll have. It’s about maximizing that value opportunity,” he said.
The WWE CEO also said that the company is looking for a strategic partner who is ideally in the media business and understands WWE and their intellectual property and not someone who only has a lot of money.
“But, with having 2 kids, the Pandemic, and multiple times being fired I just didn’t have the time to really focus on it,” she continued.
Kanellis said that doctors advised her that if she doesn’t take care of it now, the abnormal cells she has could turn cancerous and a possibility of causing afib, a heart condition.
She thanked AEW, Tony Khan, and her family for the support she received.
“Recovery is supposed to be about two weeks for the incision and about a year for the hormones to balance. I can work after two weeks with no restrictions. I will keep you all posted,” she concluded.
Sports are essential activities that can help improve physical and mental health, but you might always be indoors.
Virtual reality gaming offers a unique way to experience outdoor environments without leaving home.
Golf simulators use special sensors and software to track a golfer’s swing and generate accurate results.
Studies have shown that outdoor physical activity can reduce stress and improve mental health.
Backyard sports provide an enjoyable and safe environment for children to learn teamwork and communication skills while having fun outdoors.
Sports are an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, helping to keep individuals physically and mentally fit. Outdoor sports offer even more benefits than indoor activities, as they provide access to natural environments and encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. Outdoor sports also help strengthen interpersonal relationships, build confidence, and boost creativity.
Studies have shown that outdoor physical activity can significantly reduce stress and improve mental health. One study found that those who exercised outdoors had lower cortisol levels (a hormone associated with stress) than those who did not exercise outdoors. Another study found that people who spent time in nature-based environments had shorter recovery times from mental fatigue than those who spent time in urban areas. Additionally, research has linked green spaces with reduced levels of anxiety and depression, improved self-esteem, and greater life satisfaction.
Unfortunately, not everyone can access outdoor sports due to safety, convenience, or accessibility concerns. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and engaging indoor sports to enjoy in the comfort of your home, and some of them stimulate an outdoor experience.
Golf Simulator
Among the many sports that people enjoy outdoors, golf is probably the most popular. It can provide plenty of benefits, such as improved hand-eye coordination, increased focus, and strengthen core muscles. Unfortunately, it is also a sport that is difficult to play indoors. Golf requires a massive space, and indoor golf has limited options.
Luckily, with the help of technology, it is now possible to simulate an outdoor golf experience at home. Golf simulators use special sensors and software to track a golfer’s swing and generate accurate results accurately. This allows you to practice your golfing skills in the comfort of your own home and provides a great way to relax and have fun with family or friends. You can purchase a launch monitor golf to bring the fun and excitement of outdoor golf indoors.
Virtual Reality Gaming
Virtual reality gaming offers a unique way to experience an outdoor environment without ever leaving your home. This immersive technology is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to enjoy sports inside. Here are a few popular sports that you can experience with virtual reality:
Archery
Archery often requires a few trips to the range, and you can now experience it in your living room. Virtual reality archery simulators provide an authentic and immersive experience similar to outdoor fields, allowing you to practice your technique without ever leaving home.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing may be the perfect indoor sport for you if you’re looking for a way to get your adrenaline pumping indoors. With virtual reality rock-climbing simulators, you can choose from various environments, from accessible beginner routes to challenging expert levels.
Boxing
Boxing is a great way to get a full-body workout, improve coordination and flexibility, and burn serious calories. With virtual reality boxing simulators, you can experience the thrill of the ring without having to leave your home or even put on gloves.
Shooting Games
Shooting games are a great way to practice your precision, accuracy, and targeting skills. With virtual reality shooting simulators, you can compete in simulated environments that mimic outdoor shooting ranges without ever having to leave home.
This technology is constantly evolving, so there are plenty of options for enjoying sports indoors. With advances in technology and innovation, it has become easier to bring outdoor experiences into the comfort of your home. Whether you are looking for a way to relax and have fun or you are looking to improve your athletic performance, virtual reality sports can offer a fantastic experience that is sure to be enjoyable for everyone.
Backyard Games
People can utilize the backyard for sports activities as well. Popular backyard sports games include basketball, volleyball, badminton, and cornhole. Backyard games are a great way for families to bond over physical activity and have fun outdoors. Furthermore, these activities allow children to learn teamwork and communication in a safe environment.
These outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round by investing in high-quality weatherproof gear and equipment such as nets, hoops, balls, rackets, etc. Additionally, many sports require minimal setup and offer endless hours of fun without traveling far away or paying expensive fees.
Final Thoughts
Sports are essential activities that can help improve physical and mental health. Outdoor sports offer a unique experience, allowing people to interact with nature and strengthen interpersonal relationships. However, if outdoor sports cannot be accessed due to safety or convenience concerns, the ultimate indoor sports features for your home are the perfect solution. With virtual reality gaming simulators and backyard games, you can enjoy outdoor experiences without leaving your home. So grab some friends and family, get active indoors, and have a blast!
Dynamite this week drew 901,000 viewers, down 102,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast which featured the tribute to Jay Briscoe. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite did a 0.31, down 0.01 from the prior week and placed #2 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
In an article on Bloomberg which profiled Tony Khan and AEW, it was revealed that AEW is considering starting its own streaming service, “likely through a deal with its broadcast partner, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.”
There were rumors in the past that AEW would be added to HBO MAX but that never transpired and now HBO MAX is merging with Discovery+. A stand alone service similar to the original WWE Network would give AEW control over its content but it would obviously be limited when it comes to the service.
The WWE Network as a stand alone was never profitable for WWE even with an average of 1.5 million subscribers so it’s safe to say that an AEW streaming service on its own would likely suffer big time.
With its introduction in late 2019, AEW now has enough hours to be on a streaming service, especially when you take into consideration that they can also add the Ring of Honor tape library as well.
AEW President Tony Khan said he would have to consider talking to Kota Ibushi now that Ibushi is no longer under a contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Ibushi’s deal expired on January 31 and NJPW issued a short press release saying, “With the conclusion of his contract period on January 31 2023, Kota Ibushi has departed New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Ibushi had been recovering from injury since October 2021. We apologise to Ibushi’s fans for the abrupt announcement, and join them in wishing Ibushi the very best in all his future endeavours.”
“There’s a lot of great free agents in the world of pro wrestling, but certainly Kota Ibushi is a great talent,” Khan said on Busted Open Radio. “When you have a name like that, that is certainly somebody everybody in the world of pro wrestling would be very fortunate to have in their promotion.”
Khan noted that they wanted to work with him in the past so it’s certainly something they have to consider now.
Ibushi, on his part, told Dark Puroresu Flowsion that he has a lot of friends in AEW but he doesn’t want to go to AEW immediately.
“I want to have a school in Japan. Once that’s been worked out, I think I’ll talk with AEW,” Ibushi said.
Variety.com is reporting that Amazon’s Prime Video has purchased the worldwide rights for John Cena’s newest movie titled Ricky Staticky.
Cena will star alongside with Zac Efron in the movie from Peter Farrelly, the man behind Something About Mary and Hall Pass.
The synopsis for the movie reads, “Ricky Stanicky is the name of an imaginary character invented and perpetuated by three friends over several years so that they have someone to blame for their misbehavior. When their partners become suspicious, they’re forced to hire a washed-up actor to bring Stanicky to life.”
Cena will play the role of Stanicky in the film.
The movie is filming in Melbourne, Australia over the next two months and both main stars are already in the country. Melbourne will double for Providence, Rhode Island.
What this means for Cena’s role at WrestleMania remains to be seen as production will go into March as well.
The wrestling world paid tribute to Lanny Poffo after his death was announced yesterday afternoon.
“WWE is saddened to learn that Lanny Poffo, best known to sports-entertainment fans as The Genius, passed away at 68 years of age,” read a post on WWE.COM. “The son of Angelo Poffo and younger brother of WWE Hall of Famer “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Lanny Poffo had a style all his own. Arriving in WWE in 1985 alongside his brother, “Leaping” Lanny Poffo was one of the first high-flyers in WWE. While he achieved some success as a fan favorite reading his own poetry and throwing Frisbees to the crowd, he reached new heights as The Genius while managing Mr. Perfect. WWE extends its condolences to Poffo’s family, friends and fans.”
The NWA, where Poffo spent several years wrestling earlier in his career, tweeted, “The National Wrestling Alliance is saddened to hear about the passing of Lanny Poffo. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and fans.”
AEW wrote, “AEW joins the wrestling world in mourning the passing of Lanny Poffo. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans.”
The Cauliflower Alley Club added, “We are deeply saddened to hear that Leaping Lanny Poffo has passed away at age 68. We send our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans throughout the world over as the Man known as The Genius and the poet laureate of the WWE rests in peace. Thanks for the memories.”
Several wrestlers from Poffo’s era, including The Iron Sheik, Virgil, the family of Paul Orndorff, and many others also tweeted their thoughts about the passing of their friend.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s mother Ata survived a horrific car crash in Los Angeles, with Johnson saying that “angels of mercy” where watching over her late last night.
“She’ll survive and continue to get evaluated. This woman has survived lung cancer, tough marriage, head on collision with a drunk driver and attempted suicide,” Johnson wrote in a post on Instagram along with a photo of the car smashed.
“She’s a survivor, in ways that make angels and miracles real,” he continued, before thanking the LAPD and LAFD for being so caring, focused, and for staying on phone and talking to him through it all.
“I got one parent left, so if you still got your mom and dad make sure you hug ‘em hard, cos you never know when you’ll get that 3am call we never want to get,” Johnson wrote.
Ata was at the Royal Rumble this past weekend supporting her family at the show.
WWE today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.
“2022 was another strong year for WWE. We generated record financial results and our business continued to perform well due to the strength of our content and brand, which drove audience engagement and monetization across multiple platforms,” said Nick Khan, WWE Chief Executive Officer. “In 2023, we’re focused on continuing to execute on our key operational initiatives, such as the domestic licensing of our flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown, as well as the international licensing of our content in key markets. At the same time, we’re focused on the review of strategic alternatives that we announced earlier this year, with the goal of maximizing value for all shareholders.”
Frank Riddick, WWE President & Chief Financial Officer, added “For the year, we achieved record revenue and Adjusted OIBDA, which was at the very high end of our upwardly revised guidance range. In 2022, Adjusted OIBDA increased 19% reflecting 18% revenue growth. Our financial performance was primarily driven by the return to a full year of ticketed live events, including the staging of two large-scale international events, as well as the contractual escalation of rights fees for our flagship weekly programming and premium live events. In 2023, we anticipate Adjusted OIBDA of $395 to $410 million, reflecting continued revenue growth and relatively flat operating expenses.”
Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights:
Revenue was $325.3 million, an increase of 5%; Operating income was $62.7 million, a decrease of 22%; and Adjusted OIBDA1 was $90.2 million, a decrease of 4%
Returned $8.9 million of capital to shareholders through dividend payments
Crown Jewel was the most viewed international event in WWE’s history. Domestic unique viewership on Peacock increased 70% over the prior year event
Each WWE domestic premium live event (Extreme Rules and Survivor Series) was the most viewed event in its history with year-over-year increases of 36% and 46%, respectively, in domestic unique viewership
WWE announced a multi-year extension of its partnership with MultiChoice to expand the distribution of the Company’s content in Sub-Saharan Africa
In January 2023, WWE held Royal Rumble at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. The event was the most viewed Royal Rumble in WWE’s history, with a 52% year-over-year increase in domestic unique viewership, and generated the highest gate in the event’s history
Full Year 2022 Highlights:
Revenue increased 18% to $1.3 billion, the highest in the Company’s history
Operating income increased 11% to a record $283.3 million; Adjusted OIBDA increased 19% to a record $384.6 million
Returned $75.7 million of capital to shareholders, including share repurchases and dividends paid.
The Company is targeting Adjusted OIBDA of $395 to $410 million for the full year 2023, which would be an all-time record. The Company also expects to generate an all-time record for revenue in 2023.
The full press release and financial results can be read here.
Former NXT Women’s champion Mandy Rose has opened up her FanTime page for free for a week, allowing new fans who never subscribed to her page to enjoy her content for a month for free.
The offer, at https://www.fantime.com/fitmandyinfo, expires in six days. Current subscribers also have the option to subscribe for $10 for one month, a discount from the usual $30 a month price.
Rose was fired from WWE because of the content she was posting on her FanTime page. It was a bitter sweet decision though as Rose became a millionaire in a few weeks, with FanTime announcing that in the month of December, the former champ sold enough subscriptions on her site to reach over $1 million.
Wrestling has been around for decades, developing from one level to another. Today, a ticket to a match is more valuable than most ball games. However, WWE fans are undermined and dismissed by their counterparts in other sports. The main concern is that the outcomes of the matches are often scripted. All these allegations are false because everyone may be inspired to watch a game or two based on its unique attributes. Even a staunch football or boxing fan will find time to watch a WWE encounter. Below are various reasons why wrestling is the greatest sport.
Colorful Characters
In other sports competitions, there are strict rules against immature behavior, attention-hogging, and other controversial actions. In football, for instance, a player can be penalized for taking off a shirt during celebrations. When it comes to wrestling, all these kinds of behavior are expected. Even those wrestlers with magnetic behavior will express it in the full glare of cameras and visiting spectators. You will not find the fighters performing a robotic, rehearsed interview. They will say anything, whether it offends the journalist, fans, or opponent. This attribute brings life to the sport, as you will be thrilled by every real and uncensored moment.
Entertainment Galore
Wrestling is a blend of many elements. It combines humor, theater, athleticism, pageantry, and violence. It is even more exciting for gamblers who can bet on multiple daily events. If you love betting, identify top matches with major wrestlers whom you can predict their win, then check the available odds at betting sites that cover wrestling.
But how is wrestling different from other sports? Unlike other sports, wrestling organizers can manage the storyline to achieve the desired outcome. For this reason, the matches are designed like a soap opera, so you won’t have dull moments. You will not anticipate any letdowns like is the case with other sports.
Special Guest Referees
WWE allows celebrities and older stars of the sport to attend a match as special guest referees. In other disciplines like football, referees are considered sources of evil and are despised, especially when they make shady calls. It is a different case in wrestling because guest referees add unpredictability, tension, and star power to the match. Fans here do not have a reason to curse referees because the latter adds some energy to the match to improve the product.
Longer Careers
In the NFL, football, and many other sports, participants always slow down in their 30s and eventually bow out to be replaced by younger players. It is highly unlikely that a retired player will make a comeback in these sports. WWE has taken drastic measures, including an anti-drug wellness policy to help wrestlers live a healthy lifestyle. Today, most of them fight into their 40s and 50s. For example, Ric Flair displayed fine wrestling prowess for three decades, making him one of the oldest yet most skillful wrestlers.
Best Ticket Value
Fortunately for WWE, fans are not limited to one game when they buy tickets. After the purchase, you are treated to multiple spectacles apart from the real fight. For instance, you will experience dramatic confrontations and backstage drama. You are free to cheer your favorite fighter and boo the opponent simultaneously. Fans are not limited because they can also talk about the twists in the match, costumes, variations, booking choices, and more. Generally, the tickets are reasonably priced.
The Vengeance Day go-home episode of NXT drew just 587,000 viewers, down 20,000 viewers from the prior week and the least-watched episode so far of 2023. The show drew a 0.13 rating in 18-49 demo, up 0.01 from the prior week and was #20 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
ROH TV champion Samoa Joe became a two-time TNT champion yesterday on Dynamite after he beat Darby Allin in the main event of the show.
The no holds barred match finish saw Joe hit the Muscle Buster from the top turnbuckle, with Darby Allin landing on the exposed wood panels of the ring.
The celebration for Joe was short-lived though as Wardlow made his return and attacked Joe. Last time Wardlow was in the ring, Joe beat him and then cut off his ponytail. That prompted the arrival of Darby Allin who came in to save the day and later beat Joe for the title.
Allin’s latest run with the TNT title lasted just 28 days. Joe held the title for 46 days prior to losing it on the January 4 episode of Dynamite.
Lanny Poffo, the brother of Macho Man Randy Savage and the former WWE Superstar known as The Genius, has passed away at age 68.
His death was announced by “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in a tweet who wrote, “With a very, very heavy heart, I’ve been asked to let everyone know about the passing of our friend and colleague Lanny Poffo, The Genius.”
Details surrounding his death remain unknown at this point.
Poffo started his professional wrestling career in 1974 and wrestled for the NWA for several years before landing in the WWF in 1985. He came to the WWF as Leaping Lanny Poffo, bringing frisbees to the ring and reading short poems.
Eventually he morphed into The Genius gimmick in 1989 after he turned heel. His biggest match in his WWF career came in November 1989 where he headlined Saturday Night’s Main Event against Hulk Hogan for the title. The Genius went on to have partnerships with Mr. Perfect and The Beverly Brothers. He was released from the company in late 1992 and his last appearance was at the Survivor Series that year.
Poffo had a very short stint with WCW although he signed a five-year deal with the company but only wrestled once while he was still getting paid to stay at home.
He inducted his brother into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
WWE Senior VP and Head of Global Sales and Partnerships Craig Stimmel told The Hollywood Reporter that sponsorship revenue for WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium is already 43% higher than it was for the whole of WrestleMania 38.
Quoting a source, THR says that sponsorship revenue currently stands at between $14 million to $15 million, which will be a new record for the event.
“We’re tracking exactly where we want to be going into the events,” Stimmel told THR. “We’ve also got a diverse set of sponsorships coming in…we’ve got snacks, we have beverages, among others. So it’s a really nice diverse portfolio of brands that are joining in a myriad of ways.”
Stimmel also said that the WrestleMania post-show press conference will have a sponsor as well while also name dropping their new sponsor, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, as having a “surprise” at WrestleMania.
“I don’t want to give away too much, but it’ll be around a match, and the sponsorship of that match, and what they’ll be able to bring to that match,” he says. “So we’re going to do things that fit inside of our storyline as well.”
Pepsi, Take Two, and Mars/Snickers are also part of the sponsorships so far for WrestleMania 39.
Wrestling public service announcements tell the crowd to not attempt the moves at home. Regardless of these messages being significant and significant, nobody focuses on them, since each expert wrestling fan wants to superkick their loved ones — in the computer game world. The worldwide ubiquity of brands, for example, WWE and NJPW have guaranteed that wrestling computer games are fundamentally important for game engineers and distributing organizations. As per The-Magicbox, the “WWF warzone” sold over 2.2 million units in the U.S. alone. This is just the marketing projection for one solitary title, demonstrating this is a gaming type that can’t be gotten over or disregarded.
With such a committed and vocal fanbase, there’s a steady scramble to make the best wrestling computer game ever. Luckily, there have been numerous uncommon endeavors that have astonished various ages consistently. There’s a contention to be made that wrestling fans have been ruined by the sheer number of games accessible across numerous stages.
Wrestle Kingdom
It is the year 2005. The WWE leads the wrestling world, thanks to Vince McMahon’s annihilation of any competitors. In terms of video games, it’s similar to how “WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw” gets the most attention throughout the world. “Wrestle Kingdom,” a Japan-exclusive title launched for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2, had wrestling aficionados buzzing and imploring their overseas friends to send it to them.
Working with Yuke’s, who had previously handled WWE games, this was a back-to-basics pure wrestling game that focused on training and refining their chosen wrestler via hard-fought contests.
Luchadora
Thunderkick introduced this pokie in 2017, and despite the advent of competitors, it has maintained its appeal. Luchadora is a 5-reel, 40-pay line slot game featuring four fighters: Bull, Panther, Ray, & Snake. They would display as symbols on the reels. As a bonus, there are several free spins. The combatants are triggered by Lucha Bonus icons in these real online pokies. Punters have the opportunity to win upwards of 15 bonus spins. The Lucha Smackdown symbol appears exclusively on reel 5 and awards the players with 15 bonus spins or a 15X multiplier.
WWE SmackDown! versus Raw 2011
For an era of gamers, the SmackDown v / s Raw” franchise is synonymous with EA Sports’ “FIFA.” It gave hours, months, and years of amusement as the yearly release became something to look forward to, with gamers laughing, crying, and cherishing every Swanton bomb from the summit of the ladder. More significantly, the creators worked hard to enhance the games rather than simply slapping a fresh coat of paint on previous versions and duping fans.
The release of WWE SmackDown! vs Raw 2011 in 2010 was bittersweet since it signaled the conclusion of an era. Luckily, it went out with a boom, much as Shawn Michaels had done earlier that year at WrestleMania.
The PlayStation 3 version of the title received an eight out of ten rating from Game Informer. The reviewer commended the realistic-looking visuals and replayability, as well as the novel grapple mechanism, which he said made more sense than earlier attempts.
The Arcade Game of WWF WrestleMania
In the mid-’90s, Midway’s digitized approach to “Mortal Kombat” and “NBA Jam” received a lot of attention. The creator was altering the terrain of what was possible, and gamers had never seen such a realistic approach to computer games before. So imagine Midway’s amazement when it took inspiration from the WWF’s new generation and turned it into a combat game called “WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game.”
With its quick blows and combinations, this game played more like “Mortal Kombat” than pro wrestling. The wrestlers looked fantastic and highly lifelike, but their actions were considerably more extravagant than what fans are used to seeing on television every week. Furthermore, there were no DQs because Doink the Clown could break a noggin with a hammer and nothing would happen — just like in every bout that Rick Knox referees. GamePro couldn’t get enough of it, with reviewer Bruised Lee writing, “The combo of furious gameplayer, well-balanced wrestlers, and outrageous maneuvers will leave you as sweaty as any character you play.”
WWE AllStars
For most of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the emphasis of wrestling games switched to accurate reconstructions of ring action. There was a race to make the finest wrestling sim of all time, whether it was AKI’s, Yuke’s, or any other developer’s. At the same time, in the drive for perfection, the casual player was overlooked. Some gamers want a simpler title that they could pick up and play with their pals. “WWE All-Stars” is an arcade-inspired button-masher that combines current and former wrestlers for a true slobber knocker.
“WWE All-Stars” embraced a cartoonish aesthetic for the wrestlers and enhanced their assaults to showcase how electric they truly were, playing more like a fighting game than many of its contemporaries. It took all of the appropriate components from “WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game,” but added some complexity. Fans and reviewers alike loved it and demanded more of Five Knuckle Shuffle. It’s “an exhilarating game that’s engaging in a manner that no wrestling game has been for a generation or more,” according to Giant Bomb.
WWF WrestleFest
How much money did gamers spend on “WWF WrestleFest”? The answer is inadequate. The arcade game must have had some sort of sorcery or catnip for players because there was usually a crowd surrounding the units. Even if they weren’t playing, they’d want to see Doom’s interview with Mean during an iconic cut scene. Regardless, in 1991, the game felt bigger than life. It not only lets players choose between celebrities like The Ultimate Warrior, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, but it also included trademark and double team moves.
Sinclair User scored it an 88%, stating how the diversity of wrestlers and special maneuvers increased the game’s replayability. Considering how “WWF WrestleFest” is still being debated three decades after its debut, there’s no denying that this game has endured the test of time and is still a banger today.
WWE 2K22 from 2K Sports
To call “WWE 2K20” a fiasco is an understatement. The game came with so many bugs that The Boogeyman emerged from the shadows to attempt to devour them all. As a consequence, “WWE 2K21” was canceled so that the developers could devote more time to developing a better game that would not be panned by both fans and reviewers. Surprisingly, “WWE 2K22” turned out to be a welcome return to form for the franchise. The extra time paid off, as the developer streamlined the gameplay, fixed all of the previous bugs, and brought back several much-missed elements, such as the GM mode. The problems from “WWE 2K20” were suddenly forgiven, as they only existed as memes among some of the Internet Wrestling Community.
Hardcore Gamer rated it four out of five stars, saying that taking a year off was the wisest decision for everyone. Furthermore, the review praised the aesthetics and simpler gameplay mechanics, which made it a far more accessible and fun video game.
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006
While every SmackDown vs. Raw game tried new things, none was as daring as WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006.
Rather than maintaining the previous frenzied action, Yuke’s decided to make the gameplay reflect the goods on screen. The addition of stamina and momentum bars made the action more like what fans are used to. A wrestler is unlikely to perform 20 superplexes in a row in any match since they would be weary by the fifth. Similarly, the game required the player to plan carefully and try to preserve some energy in the tank.
The World vs. the WCW
Tony Khan may well have opened the Sacred Door for major inter-promotional crossovers, but “WCW vs. the World” was the first. This championship offered a roster of 60 — yes, 60 — professional wrestlers to pick from. All of the WCW favorites were there, including Tornado, Hulk Hogan, Dean Ambrose, and Lex Luger, as well as some bogus foreign stars with different names but the same appearance and move set as the genuine wrestlers. This implies that gamers might stage fantasy fights like Dean Malenko vs. Ray Misterio to see who could tap out first.
“WCW vs. the World” lacked the bells and whistles, as well as the unique grappling system that would transform future WCW games. However, the others would not be conceivable without this title, thus it had to learn to walk before the others could moonsault. AllGame awarded it a thumbs up: “You’ll be hooked once you and a buddy, or foe, fire up the PlayStation and start fighting. This is a fantastic party game that paved the way for many subsequent wrestling titles.”
WrestleMania 2000 (WWF)
WrestleMania 2000 may have been a dud, but the video game of the same name made the Nintendo 64 the hottest system for wrestling enthusiasts (sure, the game was also published on Game Boy Color, but let’s not get into that). The AKI Corporation-created game basically took everything that made “WCW/NWO Revenge” famous and altered it to fit the WWF. Furthermore, the story mode kept players engaged with a hard and intriguing quest to greatness as the chosen wrestler advanced through the ranks to capture championship gold.
The feuds added a little more heat to the mode as well, as opponents would intervene in matches if there was any beef amongst wrestlers, making it feel like an accurate duplicate of an episode of “Monday Night Raw.”
“WWF WrestleMania 2000” received an eight out of ten rating from Nintendo Power, which stated that the game “will give limitless hours of pleasure no matter how many people join in.” The magazine also took the opportunity to praise the grappling mechanism and its inherent intuitiveness.
AEW announced in a press release that they are kicking off their live event series which will take place on select weekends in markets across the country.
The first non-televised live event, promoted under the AEW House Rules names, will take place on Saturday, March 18 in Troy, Ohio, at the Hobart Arena. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Dr. Britt Baker, Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, and many more are scheduled to appear.
Tickets for all AEW House Rules shows start at $20 plus fees and can be purchased at AEWTIX.com starting tomorrow, Friday, February 3 at 10AM ET. Further show dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
“As a lifelong fan of professional wrestling who grew up attending house shows, AEW House Rules is an exciting next step in our journey, giving fans a new level of access to top-tier professional wrestling,” said Tony Khan. “We’re always looking for meaningful ways to engage with our fans, and AEW House Rules will be a great way for them to connect with our incredible talent and experience AEW in an intimate setting.”
“The extraordinary success of AEW changed the landscape of professional wrestling as a whole, not only by providing a fresh new product, but also by raising the bar in a manner that many deemed impossible a few years ago,” said Jeff Jarrett, AEW’s Director of Business Development. “Now as we expand to live house shows, fans can expect an innovative approach and get up close with the best talent in professional wrestling. In addition to satisfying the passions of diehard fans, we’re excited about creating new fans of all ages through these entertaining events.”
“I’m looking forward to teaming with Jeff Jarrett to oversee the expansion and growth of our live event touring schedule,” said Rafael Morffi, AEW’s VP of Live Events. “AEW House Rules ramps up our commitment to creating positive, memorable experiences for fans at our shows, and we’re thrilled to kick off the initiative on March 18 in Troy, Ohio.”
