This year, 2018, saw the introduction and re-introduction of wrestling TV shows, new wrestling streaming services, and new crazy partnerships. 2018 will easily go down as a good year in pro-wrestling, and as we brace for 2019, what can we expect to get in the new year?
NEW ARRIVAL:
Ring Warriors: 2018 saw the arrival of a new wrestling show being brought to TV's and computer screens all over the world, a promotion called Ring Warriors. It's filled with top Indie stars and top stars from Impact Wrestling such as Austin Aries, Eli Drake and Wes Briscoe. While it's too early to give the company a proper review, here's hoping that 2019 see's this new promotion become a big hit.
BIG RETURNS:
NWA: While you can't exactly call it a return, The National Wrestling Alliance seems to have made more of an impact in 2018 than it has of the past few years. The Corgan era in the NWA in 2018, which saw the brand celebrate its 70th Anniversary show in Nashville, Tennessee, seems to rebooted the straggling company. By no means is this any knock to the champions and stars that have represented the NWA over the past decade, but it seemed more like an small Indie show, rather than the legendary brand it once was. 2019 looks to be another good year for the rebooted company.
WOS: Then across the pond, saw the revival of the World of Sport Wrestling in the form of a ten part series for ITV. The show was a roaring success, with millions of fans still tuning in on Saturday afternoons at 5pm to watch the wresslin! WOS also announced that in 2019, a UK-wide tour would take place with all the stars of the new era of World of Sport performing across the UK at the most legendary venues and halls that housed British pro wrestling for decades. The success of World of Sports revival may very well lead to a full time resurrection of the much loved and adored brand, or at least return for a second series next year.
GROWTH
MLW: Over this past year, we have seen monumental growth of the Major League Wrestling promotion ran by Court Bauer. With legend Tony Schiavone and Matt Striker on commentary, and the incredible line-ups that have been put together that include pro wrestler/MMA fighter Tom Lawlor against Jack Hager, Low-Ki vs. John Hennigan, and a War Games match featuring hardcore legends Sami Callihan, Abyss and Tommy Dreamer! 2019 looks set to be another year of growth for this rising promotion that has taken the world of wrestling by storm.
Impact Wrestling: Impact Wrestling has seen the biggest revamp and change in management that it's ever seen. We've had line-ups of wrestling greats, such as Jarrett, Mantell and Prichard take the helm of Impact, but the wildcard team of Nordholm, Callis and D'Amore have done more to help Impact's image problem than anyone else has ever done. Slowly but surely, 2018 started off slow with a quiet comeback to regaining the fan's trust again, but now, in late 2018, Impact is going all guns blazing with top notch matches every week on Impact, Amazing One Night Only events every month, and the return of more PPV's to the PPV schedule which was greatly reduced by the end of 2016 due to funding. What do we expect out of Impact in 2019? Probably a better TV Network than Pop, who have recently moved Impact from the 9pm Primetime slot to the later time slot. What else? A major boom of talent exchanges with it's newly found partnerships with AAA, Lucha Underground, BCW in Canada, and many more.
QUESTIONABLE
WWE: WWE are certainly in the mood and spirit for growth, with it's UK expansion coming into fruition these past few months, However, to rain on the good news, there is the Saudi Arabia controversy. It's bound to split their audience unlike many things they've ever done. Even top star John Cena has refused to work the Saudi show, which has led to him being replaced in the WWE World Cup tournament that is too take place at the Crown Jewel event in the Kingdom. Then there is the leaked real reasoning for the all-women Evolution event, so that Stephanie can brag about being a pioneer, and to take the heat off the Saudi event which forbids women from competing. WWE on the other hand, has it's new billion dollar deal with Fox to bring SmackDown to it's network. Either way, WWE are set for another controversial year in 2019, as this is unlikely to be the end of the controversies.
NJPW: Reports suggest that NJPW could be looking at bringing back some of it's stars that have ventured over to WWE in recent years, Namely Shinsuke Nakamura. New Japan are certainly in a strong position right now with it's roster featuring more and more western wrestlers, which is going to make the show more appealing to the fans of US or British fans. NJPW has also ventured into the American territory with a Dojo being built in Los Angeles this year. But the question is, what becomes of the company in 2019? The company has taken on new management, which in this case isn't good news. From reports that I've read, the new management aren't what you would call wrestling fans, which kind of puts the company in a similar position that TNA was in following the Panda Energy buyout of Jeff Jarrett in the early years of TNA's existence. In the first place, it didn't really effect the company as such, because of the talents and the wrestlers that assumed backstage roles, but it does and will take it's toll in some ways such a presentation and promotion, as pro wrestling events can't be promoted easily, as many in the past have learned and failed.
Lucha Underground: The Sci-fi wrestling show has suffered a budget cut for it's latest series, as can be seen in the programming. The illustrious Temple had been downgraded to the Ice House in series four, which was cleverly done through storyline, due to the death of Antonio Cueto. It was a very big mystery as to whether a series four would even happen, But it has, and as usual, the new temple provided many great surprises and big matches, which is really helping the cause for a fifth series.
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