Here are the results from the second night of Survival of the Fittest:
- Strong's an important player for ROH. I hope he's not too banged up.
- Will that title match be Elgin's last main event for ROH? He's reportedly still a free agent, although he'll be competing in ROH for the time being while he tests his options.
Update: Elgin is expected to get a shot at the ROH Championship on Jan. 4 in the Tokyo Dome. That would make sense.
Brooke Tessmacher is no longer part of TNA. Whether she's done with wrestling as a whole remains to be seen. I'd be fine with her getting another shot in WWE, although they're pretty crowded right now. She definitely improved while in TNA. As for her now-former home, I think they've still got enough Knockouts to have a competitive division. It wouldn't hurt to scout more in the months to come, though.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
WWE Hall of Famer and multiple-time AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel has passed away at the age of 80. He was a true legend in the pre-WM1 days.
Update: PWInsider took a look back at his career:
- It's cool he was on big TV shows in those days.
- Jericho picked up good things from the legend; that run was great.
- Bockwinkel's one of the top names I think of when I hear about the AWA. Of course, no one's topping Gagne given the founder's 10 title reigns.
- I wish we'd go back to being OK with seeing more older names who can still go. They have to be used in the right roles, of course, but the younger names can really benefit from working with people who are at the top of their games.
- Hulkamania definitely precedes WWE.
Overall, a great look at someone who's not as well known to today's fans.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I'm a fan of Gunn's, but I see why WWE had to bring the hammer down. He's there to set an example for the people working in NXT. Also, they didn't want it to look like they were playing favorites with one of HHH's buddies. I understand wanting to give him another chance, but they erred on the side of showing no one is above the rules.
2. I definitely think they'll do their best to make sure Taker wrestles at WM32 (and possibly beyond). Personally, I think it might help sell the show in Dallas if the Wyatts win so Taker has to get his revenge in Texas, but I think they'll go with the feel-good moment of Taker and Kane standing tall as a duo one last (?) time.
3. Undertaker's a dead guy controlled by an urn who can magically turn the lights in the arena on and off and cause lightning to strike. Was having him destroy Brad Maddox in a mainstream appearance really so silly? Vince sees WWE as a variety show, and is more than fine with doing that kind of thing.
4. WWE wants him to be the superhero guy who does the Red Arrow, not indie star Benjamin Satterly. That's about all I can tell you. They script characters as opposed to featuring wrestlers.
5. This is a mark post. Reigns won a contenders' match the next night on Raw to earn a title shot. Even if he hadn't, the argument can be made he could have won at WM31 or at MITB without the outside interference, so he's getting his fair shot now. As for outside of kayfabe reasons, Vince sees him as someone who can appeal to the audience as a whole, which includes soccer moms, families with kids, etc.. I do think he's improved in the ring in the last year, although he's not someone I'd want to build the company around just yet. People weren't sold on John Cena ten years ago, and he ended up being a hit. WWE is hoping the same thing happens with Reigns.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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