Stepping Away for a Bit

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all having a safe, healthy, and happy New Year. 2024 hasn’t been kind, which is unusual for even-numbered years that are typically fantastic!

I have been in and out of the hospital since New Year’s Day. Along the way, I simultaneously got COVID-19 and the flu.

I’m taking some time off to focus on my health as I feel exhausted and unable to think clearly at times.

Surgery is scheduled for the end of March, but the doctor says the flare-ups I’ve been experiencing will continue until the procedure.

I love writing and it’s the one thing I wanted to keep on my plate. However, that not thinking clearly thing answered that question for me.

There are a few blog posts already in the can that I will either publish during my absence or hold off until I’m back into the swing of things.

Ringside Logic will return. Until then, be well and be excellent to each other.

PS:

Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble was perfect. I loved the finish where CM Punk shouted, “I’m not losing to Dusty’s kid,” only for Cody to reply, “I’m not that kid anymore,” before throwing him out for the win.

The Iron Claw is Masterful Storytelling

The words tragedy and triumph famously encompass the story of the legendary Von Erich family within pro wrestling circles. Sean Durkin wrote and directed the latest A24 release, The Iron Claw, which chronicles the life and times of the Texas-born and Texas-proud Von Erich brothers and their overbearing father.

Will Okada Leave New Japan?

Perhaps the greatest Japanese wrestler in history could find himself stateside in 2024. Kazuchika Okada is reportedly “seriously entertaining,” leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and signing with another promotion.

Sports Illustrated broke the news that Okada’s contract expires at the end of January 2024. WWE or AEW are the two likely landing spots for the 36-year-old star. SI’s Justin Barrasso believes AEW would allow Okada to continue living in Japan with occasional matches in NJPW, while WWE is the biggest stage and can offer more opportunities.

For the uninitiated, Okada is the leading man in New Japan, the exact role Roman Reigns occupies in WWE. “The Rainmaker” is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. His fourth reign as champion is the longest in NJPW history at 720 days.

CM Punk Signs w/ Raw and Declares for WWE Royal Rumble

After a weeklong trek across WWE’s three brands, CM Punk has officially planted his flag on Monday Night Raw. Punk signed the contract in the ring, presented by general manager Adam Pearce. Punk stated despite reasonable offers from Nick Aldis (SmackDown) and Shawn Micheals (NXT), the offer from RAW was head and shoulders above the rest.

Punk exclusively on Raw could significantly impact the pro wrestling landscape. Many Television deals expire next year, and everyone wants to extend their current deal or find a new network to call home. Punk could be the key for WWE.

Bret Hart & Dungeon Wrestling Set for Starrcast Downunder

Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW) and GLO Sports are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated arrival of Starrcast, the world-renowned wrestling convention, to Australian shores for the very first time.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of regional Victoria, Ballarat will play host to this unparalleled event featuring none other than the legendary WWE Hall of Famer, Bret “The Hitman” Hart.

Scheduled just one week after WrestleMania 40, Starrcast Downunder, in partnership with OPW, promises four days of electrifying fan engagement and top-tier wrestling action from Wednesday, 10th April, to Sunday, 15th April, across various venues in Ballarat. 

Joining Bret Hart on the marquee is female wrestling trailblazer six-time WWE Women’s Champion and five-time TNA Knockouts Champion Mickie James. 

Approximately 12 wrestling legends and 30 talented Australian and international wrestlers will make Starrcast Downunder a must-attend event.

Complementing the event will be a second international wrestling supershow led by Bret Hart and Dungeon Wrestling.

The wrestling events, set to stream domestically and internationally with a diverse mix of wrestling genres, represent a groundbreaking move for Starrcast.

Quotes attributable to Bret Hart:

“It is extremely exciting to be coming back to Australia for the first time in 20 years, in an event showcasing other legends and wrestling talent from around the world and from Australia. The Australian fans have always been so great to me, and I look forward to being a part of this event, along with the best from Dungeon Wrestling.”

Quotes attributable to Mickie James:

“I cannot express how excited I am to return to Australia for the first time in six years. There couldn’t be a more perfect time, place, and opportunity to host a second all-female wrestling event with a whole new feel in Australia and the City of Ballarat. I poured my heart and soul into the 1st one in 2021 and wasn’t sure it would happen again.”

Quotes attributable to Conrad Thompson, Starrcast:

“I am excited to finally announce that Starrcast is coming to Ballarat in Australia. This is my first trip Downunder, the first time Starrcast has been held outside the USA, and there will be many other firsts announced in the coming weeks”.

Ticket information will be released on Monday, 18th December, with fans encouraged to subscribe through oceaniaprowrestling.com to keep updated with all the latest information and special offers.

For media inquiries, contact Cam Vale through cam@glosports.com.au

CM Punk Cuts Return Promo on WWE Raw

CM Punk made his first appearance on Monday Night Raw in almost ten years (1/20/14) and cut a highly anticipated promo to close out the show. The first hour of Raw was commercial-free as WWE pushed Punk’s promo hard throughout the show.

Thanks to timing issues in the Randy Orton/Dominick Mysterio match, Punk didn’t appear until two hours and fifty-two minutes into the three-hour broadcast. Depending on who you talk to, some felt his words hit the mark, while others believe the transition to “PG Punk” is complete.

“Looks like hell froze over,” proclaimed Punk, saying he’s felt more like himself since his return at Survivor Series on Saturday and everyone is happy to see him back.

CM Punk Returns to WWE at Survivor Series

In one fell swoop, WWE took Chicago from AEW. CM Punk made his earth-shattering return to WWE at Survivor Series on Saturday in Chicago. Rumors of Punk’s arrival started from the moment AEW fired him in August due to a backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In.

WWE trolled the audience all evening with whether Randy Orton would show up for his team in the WarGames main event. Some wondered if Orton would not show up due to teaming up with the man who injured him in Jey Uso.

After a brief delay, Orton arrived for his team, disappointing those who thought Punk would be the surprise partner.

Orton’s Team celebrated their victory as the show was about to go off the air. The copyright graphic appears on the screen, signaling an inevitable fade to black. After all, there is no way WWE would overshadow Orton’s return…It was all a ruse.

Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! (Review)

It’s time to gear up for another Scooby-Doo adventure with Mystery Inc. as they join forces with Krypto, the Superdog, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Justice League.

Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! is the latest collaboration between Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics.

It’s part spiritual successor and another part straight-up sequel to the famed ensemble cartoon of the 70s and 80s, Superfriends.

There’s plenty of Easter eggs to gawk at for old-school fans.

WWE: 10 Greatest Survivor Series Teams

The loaded gun Vince McMahon used to scare cable networks out of airing rival NWA’s Starrcade pay-per-view is called Survivor Series. Originating in 1987, the show’s theme consisted of multi-person teams battling it out in one of WWE’s “Big Four” events.

What became known as the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches have fallen by the wayside in recent years. The inclusion of WarGames, two connected rings surrounded by a steel cage, has replaced the original concept.

The elimination matches made for some of the best teams ever assembled. It was Marvel Team Up in a wrestling ring. Superstar wrestlers who don’t usually cross paths join forces to right a wrong and reign victorious.

Nostalgia is strong in professional wrestling. Many fans miss the elimination matches when looking back at some of the great teams of yesteryear. Champions, legends, and future superstars made for some classic matches and memorable moments.

Some teams made sense, while others worked well despite their atypical pairing. Over thirty-five years, there have been 181 traditional teams since 2021. Here are the best of the best. The 10 Greatest Survivor Series Teams.

Who Is the Devil of AEW?

“No one is on the level of the Devil,” declared AEW World Championship MJF when he returned last year under the guise of a white face, black-horned devil. In recent months, someone allegedly stole MJF’s mask and has attacked wrestlers who are either feuding with or are close to the champion.

MJF says it’s not him, but history makes it hard to believe. It’s the big mystery heading into Saturday’s Full Gear pay-per-view event.