Pro Wrestling Illustrated November 2021

IF OUR ANNUAL Readers’ Poll is any indication, a vast majority of wrestling fans have yet to witness a live grappling event since the onset of the pandemic. Until recently, I counted myself among them. On March 8, 2020, I attended WWE’s Elimination Chamber event in Philadelphia. At the time, our collective understanding was that COVID-19 hadn’t yet made its way to the East Coast. (Of course, it certainly had arrived by then.) Though a little uneasy, I opted to soak in what would be my last wrestling event for about 16 months—something I had no way of knowing at the time. In this space, I’ve previously mentioned my wife Megan’s cancer diagnosis. She’s continued to show improvement with her chemotherapy. And, fortunately, her oncologist quickly realized it would be safe for…

MEDIA REVIEWS THE COMPLETE LIST OF JERICHO The Complete List of Jericho is probably the best example of truth in advertising in the recent past. As the title suggests, the arc of the work is Chris Jericho’s personal journal, which details every match in his career up to the point of publication. That’s 2,722 bouts, spanning three decades, multiple continents, and a plethora of wrestling promotions, from undercards in gymnasiums and bingo parlors to the top of the card in productions staged by the biggest corporate entities in sports entertainment. The Complete List is replete with exciting and interesting material. Along with rare photographs and archival materials, Jericho provides supplemental lists, like rundowns of his favorite indie opponents and his most unusual pieces of merch. The book also includes contributions by big names…

BEST IN THE World marked the return of Ring of Honor as it should be: action-packed, raucous, and in front of the ROH faithful. Held on July 11 at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena (formerly the UMBC Event Center) near Baltimore, the pent-up energy of the fans created an electric atmosphere for what turned out to be a consequential pay-per-view. Bandido upset Rush for the ROH World title, ending “El Toro Blanco’s” 498-day reign, made unusually long by the relative inactivity caused by the pandemic. Bandido went extremely high-risk by setting up a table next to the timekeeper’s table, getting a running start, and executing a blockbuster on Rush through the tables! He also took down Rush with a moonsault slam off the top turnbuckle. Bandido was, understandably, nearly as dazed…

COUNT ME AMONG the 60-million Americans who struggle with insomnia each year. I’ve tried everything from medications to dietary changes, to relaxation techniques, and nothing has worked. It may be time for the last resort: watching all three hours of Monday Night Raw. If that can’t put me to sleep, nothing will. Now, close your eyes and enjoy this sleep-inspired edition of “Quick Count.” SNOOZEFEST Seriously: Could Raw be any more boring these days? While not as actively bad as a year ago, when Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio were literally trying to pluck each other’s eyeballs out, there’s just not a lot to get excited over on WWE’s Monday night flagship. Sure, Bobby Lashley has impressed in his role as a dominant powerhouse World champion, but he’s lacked the breadth of interesting challengers…

UNLIKE A LOT of people who are heavy into old-school wrestling, I also happen to love and follow today’s professional wrestling very closely. (I wouldn’t be writing for this magazine if I didn’t.) I try not to get too lost in nostalgia and fall into that trap of, “Things were better way back when,” because, often, that’s just not true. Wrestling has always been in a state of flux, even “way back when.” In fact, people are often surprised when I tell them my most “must-see” weekly wrestling these days is AEW Dynamite. After all, AEW seems to drive a lot of old-school purists nuts. And it definitely represents a new and, in many ways, non-traditional approach to wrestling. I find it fresh, interesting, and compelling for a lot of…

THE SOUND OF breaking glass. An orchestral organ spewing fire and brimstone. “Ride Of The Valkyries” prompting “Yes” chants. “Can you dig it, sucka?” Whether you’re Steve Austin, Kane, Daniel Bryan, or Booker T, it’s pure magic when a capacity crowd responds on cue to the opening notes or spoken intro of your entrance music—fans rising to their feet before you’ve even appeared on the entrance ramp. Entrance music is an essential aspect of a wrestler’s persona and brand. It’s not an enhancement; it’s part of the show. Gone are the days when wrestlers would pop in a cassette of a random FM radio hit. The best entrance themes are now custom-made for those they represent. “Cashed a lot of checks … Gotta face the facts … Gotta take the axe … Moving…