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In the absence of better supervision, PWI has allowed me, Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh, to helm this edition of the Weekly. And given the time of year, it only seems right that we indulge in the more gruesome side of the grappling game with a special Halloween-themed edition.
While there is no confusing wrestling with cinemaâdespite what some on social media may sayâIâve decided to tie in some spooky movies to whatâs been catching my eye in the wrestling biz as of late.
Happy Halloween, readers!
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD
With IMPACT Wrestlingâs Bound for Glory event emanating from the windy city of Chicago, many a fan talked themselves into believing that a surprise might be in store for the show. Possibly a very âPunkâ surprise.
Though that particular theory didnât quite pan out, there certainly was a big, newsworthy surprise to be had.
The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw a video package air that showed Frankie Kazarian retrieving a mysterious box from a lake as other members of the IMPACT roster made their way to meet him. The assembled wrestlers spoke of a need for change in the wrestling business and that âthisâ was the change needed. When the box was opened, highlights of memorable moments in the promotionâs history were shown. Afterwards, IMPACT President Scott DâAmore appeared live in the ring in Chicago to let the world know that the promotion was reverting back to its TNA moniker, effective January 2024.
So far, the news has been greeted positively by both fans of the promotion and the performers who work there. As a long-time fan of TNA/IMPACT, I am excited by the move. Apparently, TNA really is Hard to Kill.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
If there happens to be an Elm Street anywhere near WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, then you can best believe that it is being stalked by Rhea Ripley.
âMamiâ has been haunting the nightmares of the WWE womenâs division for the better part of 2023. If her presence on Raw thus far hasnât been enough to cement her status as WWEâs resident boogeyman, then last Monday night clinched it.
Not content to have merely the womenâs division in the grip of fear, Ripley has been interjecting herself in the ongoing issues between The Bloodline, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins. And, just like Freddy Krueger, this monster is making everyone question whatâs real and what isnât.
With the #1 spot on the PWI âWomenâs 250â to her credit and a championship reign that shows no sign of ending anytime soon, âThe Nightmareâ might just be the (scream) queen of WWE.
THE DEVIL INSIDE
MJF has been called a lot of things by a lot of people. One of the things he always seems to take great pleasure in is referring to himself as the âdevil,â even going so far as to don a spooky, horned mask from time to time to play up to the nickname.
When a mysterious gang, led by someone wearing that same mask, attacked Jay White on an episode of Dynamite, countless fingers began to point to one Maxwell Jacob Friedman. And really, why wouldnât they?
After all, MJF has been embroiled in a feud with Jay White for some time now. And thereâs certainly no question about whether heâs okay with sneak attacks. Credit where itâs due, thoughâMJF has at least appeared to have turned over a new leaf lately, thanks in no small part to his friendship with Adam Cole
But come on, itâs MJF!
Or maybe ⊠maybe we have it all wrong. Maybe, as MJF has claimed, he really is innocent and someone has carried out the attack on White, setting up the AEW World champion as the fall guy. Jay White isnât so sure. And, as of right now, we have no concrete evidence.
With a clash between Friedman and White set for Full Gear, AEW fans are thinking that just maybe, they might get some answers. Iâm hoping so, too.
HALLOWEEN (HAVOC)
If you couldnât already tell, Iâm a sucker for Halloween. Something else Iâm a sucker for is nostalgia ⊠especially if done right. And I think NXTâs annual Halloween Havoc specials contain just the right number of nods and winks to the WCW super-shows that bore the same name.
While there are serious matches on displayâsuch as last weekâs tilt between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Womenâs championshipâthere is also a campy, fun atmosphere that permeates the show. Real-life horror fanatics, Shotzi and Scarlett, were the perfect choices to host this yearâs proceedings. These two superstars offered a nice reminder that as seriously as we all take wrestling (and some of us take it far too seriously), the sport began life on the carnival circuit and has long been willing to indulge in some wacky turns. Given that, Iâm all for wrestlingâs modern carnival having a little horror show every once in a while.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT
As you may or may not know, we offer a wide range of back issues for sale over on our website. In the spirit of âSpooky Season,â why not pick up a copy of the November 2022 edition of PWI, which includes a feature story about Killer Kellyâs long road back to the ring at IMPACT Wrestling? Itâs a frightfully good read about a determined performer who bet on herself andâbased on her current success as one-half of Knockouts tag champs MK Ultraâappears to have hit the jackpot.
Donât worry: Despite the horror-movie imagery, Kellyâs story is much more inspiring than it is scary. Indeed, the only ones who need to be afraid are her opponents.