WWE SummerSlam 2015: Results and Match Reviews
WWE SummerSlam 2015 promised to be the biggest and best SummerSlam of all time. Almost four hours of action and 10 matches with two main events, including the long-anticipated rematch between Undertaker and Brock Lesnar. The show had Jon Stewart as host, a match with Arrow's Stephen Amell, and a guest appearance by Mic Foley.
But let's face it, SummerSlam 2015 was a stinker.
If Monday Night Raw is three hours that should be cut to two, SummerSlam 2015 is four hours that should be cut to about two and change. Too many inconsequential matches, screwy finishes, and just bad writing and booking. NXT: TakeOver, which took place the night before SummerSlam 2015, was just over two hours, and a reminder of why quality is more important than quantity. Hell, indie promotion Ring of Honor's Field of Honor show in Coney Island over the weekend was far better than SummerSlam 2015 too.
I feel bad for anyone who paid for SummerSlam on actual pay-per-view.
Let's go through the weekend of wrestling in Brooklyn and then consider the results, the highs, and the lows of SummerSlam 2015.
Hulkamania Has Finally Run Dry
"Train, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, be true to yourself, true to your country - be a real American," Hulk Hogan used to say. What happens when your hero turns out to be everything he stood up against?
Throughout the '80s and '90s, Terry Bollea, better known as the larger-than-life Hulk Hogan, was pushed as the face of World Wrestling Federation (as World Wrestling Entertainment was known as back then) at a pivotal time when wrestling was universally praised and reaching a new height in its popularity. During this time, Hogan essentially became the face of American pop culture as Hulkamania ran wild on magazine covers, TV shows, shirts, toys, cartoons, and more.
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However, The National Enquirer, in collaboration with Radar Online, recently got wind of Hogan's racist tirade during "pillow talk" on a sex tape that was recorded several years before clips and images were leaked by Gawker back in 2012. During a conversation about Hogan's daughter, Brooke, the wrestler aired his grievances to his partner, Heather Clem, about her failing career:
I don't know if Brooke was fucking the black guy's son. [...] I mean, I don't have double standards. I mean, I am a racist, to a point, fucking n****s. But then when it comes to nice people and shit, and whatever. [...] I mean, I'd rather if she was going to fuck some n*****, I'd rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n***** worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!
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In a surprising response, the WWE has fired Hogan from his contract, removed him from their iconic Hall of Fame, ceased production and sale of his merchandise, and have practically wiped away all mention of him on their website. Removal of other Hulk Hogan, like documentaries and matches housed on the WWE Network, the company's On Demand subscription service, may soon follow. The company released a statement concerning Hogan's firing:
WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.
However, this isn't the first time Hogan has been publicly exposed as a racist. Despite a Shade 45 interview that took place in 2012 in which Hogan very openly and comfortably used the n-word to describe his friendships with various rappers like Birdman and Lil' Wayne and former WWE wrestler Booker T, WWE never went to this level to distance themselves from the very person that helped them achieve success.
For all intents and purposes, this is the end of Hulk Hogan as we know it, especially considering he was essentially the face of American culture at the height of his popularity. There's no turning back from racist tirades, as evidenced in recent years by Donald Sterling, Michael Richards, and Donald Trump, as it ought to be.
And yet, given the landscape of modern American sociology that has been focused on combating racism and other forms of inequality over the past several years, the Hulkster's theme song's claims of him being "a real American" carries with them a sense of irony following the revelation. 30+ years after he transcended wrestling and became an American cultural icon, has Hogan indirectly come to represent the modern white American male in the spotlight?
For his part, Hogan has issued an exclusive apology to People Magazine following the allegations:
Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.
This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise.
I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.
If Hulk Hogan ever returns to the ring, with his hand to his ear in one of his many iconic poses, he should be met with total and complete silence. Hulkamania has finally run dry.
WWE Battleground 2015: Results and Match Reviews
WWE Battleground 2015 will probably be notable as a SummerSlam set-up rather than its own decent PPV event. The card was pretty solid overall, yet I couldn't help but feel a strange middling quality to Battleground. Looking at the main event, the John Cena vs. Kevin Owens rematch match, and the debut of NXT women's talent on the main roster, I felt like I'd watched good work but know everyone involved is capable of much better. They're probably all saving it for SummerSlam next month, which is the #2 show of the year. That's fine. Besides, it's just Battleground, and the next few weeks of TV should be interesting.
As you probably know by now, The Undertaker is back, and he's got his eyes on Brock Lesnar. Also, The Undertaker is looking his age, and a bit like Rip Torn, for that matter. As Normal Mailer learned while making Madstone, Rip Torn fights dirty. Truly, Rip Torn is just the type of crazy son of a bitch who'd run in during the main event of Battleground 2015. If Rip Torn runs in during SummerSlam 2015, it will be one of the best pay per views of all time. (Sorry, WrestleMania X7.)
Let's go through the Battleground 2015 card match by match.
Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone Team Up in Trailer for Rocky Sequel, Creed
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Director Ryan Coogler is reuniting with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan for the upcoming Rocky spin-off sequel, Creed, and if this trailer is any indication, we're in for a promising new entry in the Rocky legacy.
Jordan stars as Adonis Creed, son of the late Apollo Creed. Despite never knowing his father, he has the drive of a true fighter coursing through his veins. After relocating to Philadelphia to pursue a boxing career, he reaches out to Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in hopes his father's famous rival and best friend can train him to be the best boxer he can be.
The duo of Coogler and Jordan showed how amazing they could be in Fruitvale Station, and the tone in this Creed trailer is so incredibly on point. It treats the subject material with reverence, sends a quick nod and shiver to long-time Rocky fans with Rocky's transition as Adonis's trainer, yet holds its focus on Adonis's journey. As I said yesterday about Chiwetel Ejiofor being set for a breakout year, so too is Jordan with both Creed and Fantastic Four set for 2015 releases, ensuring he covers a wide spectrum of films that will get both casual and dedicated film audiences talking about the young actor.
Funny enough, Creed is scheduled to hit theaters on November 25th, 40 years to the day of Rocky's opening scene.
WWE Payback 2015: Results and Match Reviews
A day later than intended, but we're doing it—we're looking at WWE Payback 2015, AKA a decent but forgettable episode of Monday Night Raw or Smackdown. This didn't even feel like a $9.99 network commitment. Payback 2015 should have come with your basic cable package, and woe to anyone who shelled out the coin to buy this on actual pay per view.
Yes, Payback is the latest in a string of inconsequential pay per views on the road to SummerSlam, which may explain why the entire event was lackluster overall. The thin roster, repeated matches, and lack of decent storylines means that everyone was wrestling tonight for everyone's favorite reason: because wrestling.
The two bright spots in all this: The New Day and the Spanish announce table es muy fuerte!
Let's go through this flimsy card and hope for something better when Elimination Chamber closes out May and Money in the Bank starts to make the next few months interesting.
But for now, Payback 2015.
[Tribeca] Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana! Shows Why Some Wrestling Gimmicks Succeed and Others Fail
In the documentary Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana, directors Ryan Harvie and John Paul Horstmann follow the bizarre story of Seattle Semi-Pro (SSP), an independent wrestling promotion whose existence is put in danger by an outsider who becomes part of their roster.
SSP is different from other indie wrestling promotions. There's no ring, for one, just a stage and some mats. Gone is the illusion of athletic competition. SSP is also a comedy wrestling promotion, but it's not a witty meta-wrestling cartoon like Chikara Pro. In Chikara, wrestlers will lob invisible hand grenades at one another, or sometimes wrestlers (and the crowd and the commentary team) will spontaneously perform in slow motion. At SSP, one of the headliners is a drunken clown named Ronald McFondle, and another is a guy in a banana costume who dances to The Buckwheat Boyz's "Peanut Butter Jelly Time," recreating a 13-year-old internet meme.
Even though SSP is not my taste in terms of wrestling, it's an irreverent family and there's nothing wrong people coming together and building that sort of kinship.
A lot of drama in Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana hinges on the clash of personalities both inside and outside the ring (or, in this case, on and off the stage at a dive bar). What the film illustrates in an oblique way is why some wrestling characters succeed and fail, and what makes a good hero (babyface) and a good villain (heel).
The Windy City Avengers: Chicago's Mightiest Athletes
This post was originally posted on our affiliate site, City on the Take.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is in theaters worldwide, and needless to say I am filled with unbridled excitement. I had the wonderful opportunity to see the midnight premier late last night. Everyone, comic book fans or not, should go see this movie.
With everything going on in the Chicago sports world, I couldn't help but make correlations between the Avengers super heroes and Chicago's super athletes. The Blackhawks have made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Bears are going to select the 7th overall pick in their own city, the Bulls just stomped the Bucks out of the NBA Playoffs and the Cubs and White Sox are in full swing for their respective seasons.
I know a lot of people who dig comic books, but aren't so much into the sport scene. On the contrary I also know loads of people who are quite into sports, but don't care much for the comic books and comic book movies/tv shows. I'm hoping to marry the two. It's time that both worlds meet each other, and no better time to do it during than what will be the biggest box-office opening since the last Avengers movie.
To those looking to kill some time between periods, innings, quarters, or draft picks I urge you to read this. For those that are bored out of their mind waiting in line for the midnight premier of the Avengers, check this out and open up your mind to the world of sports. The sports and comic book world are full of so much joy, life and entertainment. If you're not into one, try the other. If you're into both, well we may very well be best friends already.
I know you all can't wait to dig in, so I present to you The Windy City Avengers: Chicago's Mightiest Athletes on City on the Take.
[Tribeca] GORED's Reckless Bravery Offers Lessons for Creatives
Ido Mizhary's GORED provokes an innate morbidity. We're told that Antonio Barrera is not the most graceful of bullfighters. He's been gored a staggering 23 times. The documentary is framed by Barrera's final bullfight before retirement. Given all the cliches about death during a last job, it's unclear if he'll make it out unscathed.
We're also told that bullfighting at its best is like a dance. (If you can get past the animal cruelty and view this practice anthropologically, it makes sense on a metaphorical level.) Archival footage of famous Spanish matadors show off the grace that crowds expect. Slow movements, pure anticipation, no perspiration, and the illusion that the bull is a willing accomplice in its own demise. The struggle between man and nature is presented as a hypermasculine tango.
If you don't have grace as a bullfighter, you can at least be recklessly brave, which is what makes Barrera popular in Mexico. (Is this the bullfighter's version of being big in Japan?) There are lessons in Barrera's approach that go beyond bullfighting, and it applies to various artistic endeavors. Maybe there's a certain method that joins physical exertion and creative endeavors, or a common disposition that athletes and creatives sometimes share. Or maybe it's just the way that people define themselves and their philosophy of life by the work they do and the things they create, and the exterior form is a way of understanding the interior life.