Author: Pastor Ed Boston

Ed’s Perspective: Hogan To Finish Right Where He Belongs

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The news that was leaked and then later confirmed by the WWE, that Hulk Hogan will be making his WWE return this week has had the mainstream media abuzz. In my opinion, this is rightfully so.

In my mind, Hogan and his 24 inch pythons always belonged along side Vince McMahon and in the WWE. I remember when he moved to WCW, and it just never felt right to me – and it wasn’t just the heel turn that make me feel that way.

I was a huge WCW mark back then, and bringing the “Immortal” one into the Turner camp should have been amazing – and for many it was. For me however, it just never felt right. Hogan belonged in orange and yellow and not black and white.

Even more recently when the Hulkster was with TNA, my gut always felt that he was out of place. I mean Hogan helped put WWE a step above everyone else. Who could ever forget the night Hogan did the impossible and body slammed Andre the Giant?

When they started referring to the business as being sports entertainment, Hogan fit the definition perfectly. Why else would Fox News, CNN, TMZ, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and several others be covering the news of Hogan’s WWE return? It’s huge entertainment news.

Some things in life just need to happen. Many professional ball players sign a 1 day contract and retire with the team where they made their fame and spent most of their career. To me, this is what Vince and Hulk are doing here.

Doing it just before Wrestlemania 30, the Super Bowl of our business is a classy, and not to mention potentially hugely profitable, decision by all parties

And that is good for THE business and the fans.

Hogan’s Return Is Big Mainstream Media News

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Here are some links to the mainstream media’s reaction to the return of Hulk Hogan to the WWE.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1638479

http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/hulk-hogan-to-return-to-wwe-on-feb-24-022114

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/02/21/hulk-hogan-wwe/

Ed’s Perspective: Lita Is A Great Choice

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I want to dedicate this post to my good friends and fellow DTRT Wrestling News contributors Trevor and Vanessa – who both have loved Lita and her abilities for many years.

When I think of the name Lita, one simple thing comes to mind – Professional Wrestler. Notice what I didn’t say. I didn’t say women’s wrestler; I didn’t say Diva, and I didn’t say sports entertainer.

Lita was just a flat out professional wrestler. Man or woman she could hold her own with anyone in the ring, and she epitomizes what Hall of Fame members should be – a total professional.

Check out this tribute that was posted here on our site:
BEST LITA TRIBUTE ON YOUTUBE

You can also see Vanessa’s reaction to the announcement here:
VANESSA’S THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST INDUCTEE OF THE 2014 HOF

And finally the WWE official announcement video here:
LITA TO BE INDUCTED INTO WWE HALL OF FAME

The 2014 Hall of Fame inductions have turned in to a huge winner for the WWE. As great as The Ultimate Warrior and Jake “The Snake” Roberts were, there couldn’t be a better choice than Lita.

I started off with what came to mind when I think of Lita, and I’m gonna finish with the other thing that comes to mind. Class act!

Because Stone Cold Said So – Raw Suprise?

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From f4wononline:

Major name backstage at Raw

Steve Austin was reported to us as being at Raw today at the Staples Center.  He was scheduled to to a face-to-face inteview with Dutch Mantel (Zeb Colter) for his podcast.  Mantel was instrumental in the rookie year of Austin’s career when he worked for Jerry Jarrett.

Ed’s Perspective: Random Thoughts

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A few weeks into my return to DTRT Wrestling.com for the Wrestlemania season and I decided to just share some random thoughts on the business that I’ve loved for over 40 years now.

  • When I heard that the WWE Network was going to show NXT in the same time slot as Impact, I immediately flashed back to WWF vs WCW. Back when that was going on, I hated it because I wanted to watch both and I had to choose. I was a huge WCW fan, so they won out for me. Today with DVR’s that wouldn’t be a problem.
  • AJ Lee participated in a Q&A at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con earlier this week. Before she came out, the host told the crowd to please not ask any questions about a certain someone who may not be with the company. Read more at Wrestling Inc.com.
  • AJ Styles vs CM Punk. In my humble opinion, any Indy promotions willing to shell out the cash for that would more than recoup their investment if they held it in a place big enough to hold all the fans who want to see it. I even had a conversation with a couple of Indy performers who would love to see it happen.
  • Who is ready to see Roman Reigns turn babyface and get a huge singles push? Hint – this writer!!!
  • Is it just me or is MVP as the “Investor” a huge let down. Maybe it is just me, because the ratings the last two weeks have been very good.
  • Sting going to WWE after all these years – is it really going to happen or are they just messing with us?  If he comes in as the General Manager, will we see him in black with a ball bat???? Just sayin’.
  • Who would like to see Zeb Coulter pull out his bull whip and turn all Dirty Dutch Mantell on Jack Swagger? Talk about some Memphis old school.
  • Seeing The Great Muta at Lockdown would be worth the price of admission.
  • Please tell me that we are not stuck with Orton vs. Batista for the main event at Wrestlemania XXX. I’m hoping that since the Super Bowl of professional football sucked so badly that the WWE will do something for the fans of the Super Bowl of professional wrestling (H/T to Trevor for the Super Bowl of wrestling line. I’m gonna steal it every chance I get).
  • Just think if a new MAJOR promotion was in the works and would sign these Free Agents – Sting; AJ Styles; Jeff Hardy; CM Punk (yes I know he’s still under contract). Competition is good for the business, and it’s long been my hope that another major promotion would appear on the horizon.
  • Finally, who is ready to hear me “lay the smack down” on Vanessa’s “candy ass” when the new DTRT Wrestling format hits the air soon? IF YOU SMMMMEEEEELLLLLL What Ed is Cookin’. (See I know I’m already pissing her off with The Rock references).

Ed’s Perspective: Rumble, Punk, and the Fans

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So last weekend, I wrote about how much I love the Royal Rumble. Now, image my disappointment when the newly returned Batista wins and Daniel Bryan doesn’t even get into the match.

Then on Monday, we find out that CM Punk walked away from the remainder of his WWE contract (or did we based on this post).

To me, both situations tell me that when we are told it’s the fans that matter – well forgive me if I call BS.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the WWE is running a business, and I recently wrote thanking them for making the upcoming WWE Network affordable.

Maybe it’s the creative team that I should be calling out. It just seems like over and over that creatively they seem to fly the bird and give a big F. U. to the fans on so many occasions.

I can’t remember in the over 40 years I’ve been watching professional wrestling, ever hearing and reading more people upset than there was when Daniel Bryan wasn’t one of the 30 Rumble participants.

However, if the Punk situation isn’t a work, and he really is upset about the part-timers getting most of the attention for Mania, then the creative team has flipped us fans the ultimate bird. No Daniel Bryan or CM Punk being in a headline match at what Trevor refers to as the wrestling Super Bowl.

Seriously folks, who has received bigger pops in the last few months than either Bryan or Punk? And we get Orton vs. Batista to headline Wrestlemania 30????? I just don’t get it.

Should the fans always get what we want? No, that’s part of the way the wrestling business works.

However, continously giving the fans the big F . U. doesn’t seem to be what’s best for business, especially with the WWE Network about to debut.

Ed’s Perspective : It’s Time To Rumble

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Without a doubt, The Royal Rumble is my favorite match each year.

As I put together the information in this post, I did one thing very intentional, and that was not look at any of the so called experts and their predictions.

This is a DTRT exclusive article with most of the factual information coming from WWE.com.

Beginning in 1988, on national TV and not PPV, the brainchild of WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson had it’s debut.

Since then, 753 entrants have taken part in what this year will be the 27th annual event. An amazing 455,107 fans have attended the previous Rumbles.

I can’t speak for the other 455,106, but I had an awesome time watching Sheamus win the 2012 version live in St. Louis.

A couple of other interesting bits of Rumble history: HBK has a record 39 eliminations. That is followed closely by Kane with 37 eliminations in his 14 different Rumble matches, and an amazing 11 in 2001 match alone.

For the CM Punk fans who might be depressed by his #1 slot, Rey Mysterio lasted an astonishing 62 minutes and 12 seconds and HBK won the 1995 Rumble from the #1 position.

So, print your scorecard now , look at the following list, check out the predictions of the DTRT staff at the end, and

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!

As of the Jan. 20 edition of Raw, the following Superstars have been announced as official entrants in this year’s 30-Superstar Royal Rumble Match:

Batista
CM Punk (Director of Operations Kane declared Punk will enter the match at No. 1)
Alberto Del Rio
Big E Langston
The Miz
R-Truth
Xavier Woods
Kofi Kingston
Cody Rhodes
Goldust
Rey Mysterio
Fandango
Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins
Dean Ambrose
Erick Rowan
Luke Harper
Damien Sandow
Jimmy Uso
Jey Uso

Exclusive DTRT staff predictions:

John – Batista

Vanessa – CM Punk

I really hope Daniel Bryan pulls double duty cuz if so I’ll pull for him. If not I pick punk..

Trevor – Batista*

I say Batista only because of his current WWE deal puts him in a position to be in the spotlight. Do I think he deserves it? No, he came in last week and now most likely to main event Wrestlemania. This is one time I really hope my prediction is wrong.

Ed – Roman Reigns

All indications point to Batista, so I’m hoping that the creative minds go with someone who has earned the shot to headline Wrestlemania 30.

Taz: He Turned Me During This Match

Is a babyface turn in the works for TNA commentator, Taz?

During the Kurt Angle/Bobby Roode match, Taz made the following comments,

“I gotta say, going into this thing I wanted to see Bobby Roode win this match. I’ve gotta tell you I’ve turned, I want to see Kurt Angle win it – he deserves it.”

After Angle got the win, Taz said, “he turned me during this match”.

The remainder of the night, Taz called the matches down the middle and he was even pleasant to his partner Mike Tenay.

HPW Promoter Reacts To Jillian Hall Tweet

Wrestling Inc.com had the following story about Jillian Hall:

Former WWE Diva Jillian Hall says she is retiring from in-ring wrestling. She tweeted on Monday night:

“Sooooo…I’m thinking I’m pretty much retired from in ring wrestling. If I did 1 more, it’d be to face either @RealMelina or @MickieJames”

Jerry Wilson, promoter at Hoosier Pro Wrestling in Indiana, where Jillian broke in to the wrestling business, had this to say about Jillian’s tweet,

I hope that she is not done and was looking for her to be back at HPW a couple more times. She is a great talent that I am proud to call a friend and wish her nothing but the best if she does retire.

Ed’s Perspective: WWE Channel – Great for the Fans

13381511043949843807It has been several days now since the big announcement from the WWE about the Feb 24th debut of the WWE Network. If you missed it, you can watch the entire News Conference at this link.

What an awesome opportunity this is, and not just for fans of WWE. The thing that sticks out to me the most is the On Demand library that will include everything recorded from WCW and ECW.

The next big thing in my opinion and what makes this the biggest no-brainer purchase for a wrestling fan, ever! Every PPV,  starting with Wrestlemania 30, will be included in the $9.99 per month cost for WWE Network.

Add to that,  live and original programming, access on all devices including desktop and laptop computers, smart phones, and tablets, along with new reality shows, live action, and all Raw and Smackdown shows recorded and you have an amazing value.

I’m so excited to relive the different eras of the WWE, whether it be the early years, the Hogan era, the Attitude era, or the superstars from today. Add to that, I’m a huge fan of WCW, and I’m like a kid in a candy store, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t even digested some of the other things that included in this package.

I’m not sure how anyone, outside of maybe the cable companies, can have anything bad to say about this announcement. Thank you WWE for making this affordable for everyone, and I don’t know too many people – even poor folks, who don’t waste $9.99 on something every month.