PWI Weekly for November 25, 2024
Giving Thanks For Turkeys, Tackles, And Thursday Traditions
With Matt Brock prepping the bird, Liz Hunter gathering in the yams, and Kevin McElvaney making his infamous cranberry from a can, the PWI staff is getting ready for a feast on Thursday. And with food on our minds, we’ve served up this special Thanksgiving-themed edition of the PWI Weekly for you to devour.
As always, we are incredibly thankful for your continued readership.
TURKEY OF THE WEEK
When you are the son of a legend like Rey Mysterio, you have the opportunity to learn from someone who has consistently spent his career doing the right thing, inspiring others, and serving as a real-life superhero. How is it then that Dominik Mysterio seems to have avoided learning any of that; and instead, has managed to disappoint, anger, and frustrate wrestling fans worldwide?
While his lineage may have granted him a golden ticket to the wrestling world, “Dirty Dom” seems anything but thankful for it. In his still young career, Mysterio has managed to make enemies of his family, colleagues, (former) friends, and “Mami” Rhea Ripley. Although his current gal Liv Morgan seems infatuated with the young Mysterio, is it just a matter of time before she, too, grows tired of his antics?
Despite everything, Dominik Mysterio doesn’t lack in talent or charisma. At times, he is more than a tad reminiscent of a young Eddie Guerrero. Tellingly, Guerrero was once one of the most despised heels in Mexico and the United States. Whether or not Mysterio can mirror the career of “Latino Heat” and transition into becoming a beloved babyface remains to be seen.
Until then, Mysterio will continue to be the subject of boos wherever he goes … not that he cares. A true Turkey of the Week.
GRATEFUL FOR THE GRIDIRON
As much as turkey and all the trimmings are a part of Thanksgiving, so, too, is football. And whether your team is currently flying high—or, well, from New York—we can all agree that the sport of professional wrestling owes much to the gridiron. In a previous edition of the PWI Weekly, we touched on some former football stars who made the transition to grappling greatness. No doubt: some of the potential stars of tomorrow could do the same.
Thanks to WWE’s NIL (Next In Line) program, many collegiate football players are being drafted to the WWE Performance Center rather than the NFL. And while the chances of all of these athletes becoming the next Big E, Ron Simmons, or Roman Reigns seems like a mammoth task, the truth is that football has always been an excellent pathway to wrestling—and we’re thankful for the dozens of talented performers it has given us.
SPOTLIGHT CARD
Held on November 22, 1984, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, Starrcade ’84 saw Jim Crockett Promotions hold its second installment of what was, for a time, a Thanksgiving tradition. The night’s main dish was an epic clash between Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World heavyweight championship—one that saw both men compete at the peak of their in-ring and charismatic prowess.
Beyond the main event, Wahoo McDaniel retained his United States championship over “Superstar” Billy Graham; and super-heel Tully Blanchard bested the beloved Ricky Steamboat to walk out with his Television title belt still in tow.
Starrcade 1984 was a watershed moment for JCP. It continued to showcase the promotion’s ability to produce world-class wrestling events and remain a major player in the wrestling industry (despite the WWF’s exploding popularity). Before long, the WWF would copy JCP’s idea for a Thanksgiving show, staging Survivor Series on Turkey Day. That tradition would also peter out after a few years. However, for many wrestling fans, Thanksgiving will always be remembered as the night of Starrcade.
FROM THE VAULT
At the post-Bound for Glory 2023 IMPACT tapings, Gisele Shaw compels Jai Vidal to don the dreaded TNA turkey suit. Savannah Evans stands guard, prepared to chase Vidal if he once again attempts to run from the ring.
Today, Evans continues to ply her trade for TNA Wrestling, while both Shaw and Vidal are showcasing their considerable talents as free agents.