PWI Weekly for July 6, 2026
America, Heck Yeah!: Rhodes, Santana, Nieves, A Word From Matt Brock
WE HOPE YOU enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend! If all went to plan, then PWI Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh (and noted lover of all things Americana) made it from his home in the U.K. to the U.S. to spend his first-ever Independence Day stateside. And, since last week’s edition of the PWI Weekly celebrated international wrestling, this one is a tribute to those plying their trade in the good ol’ U.S. of A. We think Jason would approve.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Truthfully, for a few years now, no one has done it quite like Cody Rhodes. Multiple World championships, a slew of PWI Awards, and back-to-back #1 rankings in the “PWI 500” are just a handful of the top-flight credentials “The American Nightmare” has brandished during that time. Central to it all is Rhodes’ pride in his country of birth. Rather than simply adopting “America” as part of his nickname, he literally wears his patriotism on his sleeve … his tights … and even on his tattooed skin.
For Rhodes, none of this is about gimmicks, politics, or flag-waving; the gestures are meant to thoughtfully honor his familial debt to the American Dream (and we don’t just mean Dusty). Although he’s an ambitious, globetrotting superstar, Cody Rhodes remains the embodiment of everything good about American values—and, yes, American wrestling.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
Mike Santana’s journey to wrestling stardom was a much different one than that of Cody Rhodes. The success, however, is no less of an American Dream.
Whereas Rhodes has his tailored suits and bus, Santana is the epitome of the American underdog. From the streets of The Bronx, Santana has embraced the gritty, blue-collar hustle that is the hallmark of New York. In doing so, he has overcome personal and professional obstacles to reach the pinnacle of TNA Wrestling.
A man of profound faith and pride in his Puerto Rican heritage, Santana has made a career (and a life) out of being true to himself, working hard, and trying to be a good man. The results speak for themselves.
SPOTLIGHT ON …
Someone else very proud of their Puerto Rican heritage is the NWA World Women’s champ, Tiffany Nieves. “La Princesa” has skyrocketed through the ranks of independent wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance to where she is today—the esteemed holder of “The Burke.”
With her sparkling attire and ubiquitous aura, Nieves cuts an alluring and charismatic figure on NWA Powerrr, and anywhere else she goes. Don’t be distracted by the tiara and the glamor, though: Nieves is as tough as the New York City streets that raised her and brought her to the dance. And her hometown is still a place that she represents proudly.
MUSINGS, WITH MATT BROCK
I know I preach pretty often about how pro wrestling was better years ago. For the most part, I believe it to be true. However, that isn’t always the case.
Here’s something that isn’t acknowledged often enough: Back in the territory days, promoters were lazy. If they wanted a quick buck, they found a guy with a thick accent—or, in the absence of that, at least somebody who could put one on—slapped another country’s flag in his hand, and told him to insult America. Typically, a good-looking, star-spangled young babyface would take exception to this and defend his country with his fists. More often than not, this was paint-by-numbers nonsense, and the “foreign menaces” usually hailed from such far-flung corners of the planet as Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minnesota.
For a long time, though, crowds ate it up. The world was a different place.
For the most part, those times have changed … and largely for the better. Take a look at the wrestling landscape today. We’ve got genuine international talent dominating the industry, and, by and large, fans aren’t booing or cheering someone based on the color of their passport. When Gunther chops a man’s chest, it hurts in any language. Iyo Sky and Kazuchika Okada don’t need perfect English to have the adoration of American fans—their superior athleticism does the talking.
Today’s wrestling audiences are smarter than they’ve ever been. And, no, I don’t mean that in the wry, dismissive way that you might expect from an old-timer like myself. Fans today want nuanced, layered presentations. Cartoonish Cold War reruns no longer cut it. That’s a good thing.
I usually hate change as much as anybody (arguably, more so). However, this is a good one. Somewhere along the way, pro wrestling grew up. For my money, there’s nothing more American than that.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put on my stars-and-stripes pants and board the Lex Express. (Kidding. Can you imagine?)
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
Hot Dogs. Baseball. Apple pie. PN News rapping. Some things just go together. Looking back, the 1991 Great American Bash was a bit of a disappointment. The “Bash Rap,” however, was anything but. Enjoy.