Category: Wrestling stuff

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Our final Tough Enough S1 review!

Tough Enough Pilot review
Episodes 2-3-4 review
Episodes 5-6-7 review
Episodes 8-9-10 review

To recap: After injuries, Al Snow’s Circle game, and visits with Team Xtreme and Mick Foley, Maven’s stepped into the forefront. Now that Greg and CK have bowed out, there will be no more cuts – we have our finalists: just 2 women (Nidia and Taylor) and 3 men (Nowinski, Maven and Josh).

EPISODE 11 “The Rules of the Road”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• The gang take a 3 day trip to Milwakee & Chicago for Backlash, RAW & Smackdown tapings.
• They help set up the ring, we get to see referee/ring crew Jimmy Corderas, Mike Chiota, announcer Tony Chimel.
• Without the support of her parents, Taylor gets shit-faced drunk and tries to wear Maven, who has none of it.
• The next morning, since they live close by, they go to Nowinski’s parents house for breakfast.
• Backstage, PAT PATTERSON! Brooklyn brawler (keeping kayfabe, not Steve Lombardi) has them cut 20-second promos backstage. Nidia’s promo is standard, Taylor’s was very poor. Josh is made to cut a promo as “the sponge”, calling out Rhyno, who walks by and they watch it back together. Great stuff! It’d odd to go back to an era where you had to fight for TV time, as opposed to the lumbering 25-minute opening promos on RAW each week. They continue to haze Chris like he’s already one of the boys. Maven does the best and gets a round of applause.
• Josh gets an Al Snow wig. It’s actually really funny, complete with makeshift fanny pack!
• They eat at catering around the wrestlers. Josh nonchalantly admits he’s 130 pounds.
• We get to see some WWF Metal Tapings, Jackie vs Molly and Al Snow vs Essa Rios. Next time they tape matches with Tough Enough trainers, watch for non-regular moves – the trainees are allowed ask them to put in moves, e.g. Maven asked for a Hammerlock suplex.
• Refreshed and optimistic, the gang start their training back at “Trax” (WWF’s training facility).
The promo segments, backstage at WWF events and Josh’s Al Snow impression is great, definite up in quality from the last few.

EPISODE 12 “No Hill Too Tall, Nor Water Too Deep” with AUSTIN & DEBRA, also IVORY[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• A limo pulls up, out pops feminine legs… Can’t be Steph… blonde hair… It’s Debra! And Austin! Oddly they filmed this right after Mania; and the stock footage is of heel Austin post-Mania.
• Stone Cold talks of starting wrestling school and spending his last money on tuna fish and eating raw potatoes. Oddly they splice a DVD extra where he tells the same story. Austin says he knows his career can’t last but would like to work in creative and merchandising.
• Josh asks about how long he spent in ECW – he circuitously admits to 8-9 weeks total. THAT PROMO ON BISCHOFF! And…THE PROMO! Austin immediately pegs Josh for high spots since he’s so small.
• Josh asks Al to learn how to do a moonsault. WWF turn this into a storyline, edited to show that everyone except Josh can do one.
• Swimming! Josh smokes everyone. Rock climbing! Maven squeaks a win. In both competition Nowinski does (relatively) poorly.
• IVORY shows up at Trax. Weird having two sets of guests in one episode. Her outlook & worth ethic is drastically different than Debra’s (which is ‘you’re there as eye candy & the men bring in the money’) She teaches forearm blows in the corner and back elbows.
• Nice to see them trying some more complicated moves & sequences e.g. hurricanrana, corner dodge and sunset flip. Moonsault without a mat – Chris nearly necks himself. Josh gets the moonsault in the end. I’m suspicious of that whole storyline, and the one-off girlfriend doesn’t want to be a wrestler’s wife, because he really hasn’t had any drama this season.
If you’ve heard Austin talk about his career it’s nothing new but it’s always great to see him talk, he has such star presence and you could easily tell the TE crew were in awe, as we’d be! Still a fun episode, and next up is the FINALE!

EPISODE 13/14 Finale: “That’s Not the Story” / “The Beginning” with Vince McMahon & Kevin Dunn![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• Live from WWF New York! Hosted by Coach and Trish. The finalists are at dinner tables with their families. Everyone gets a polite applause, Nowinski gets notable boos.
• The show is a lot of video packages that everyone in WWF NY must watch.
• Footage from the final week: the guys create a tough enough board game; mentioning Tori hip-tossing CK, but he causes her an injured hamstring and shoulder.
• OH SHIT IT’S VINCE! AND BUCKY BEAVER! Kevin Dunn. If you’re sensitive about your teeth then CLOSE YOUR ****ING MOUTH! Kevin marvels at what they’ve done in 10 weeks creating these guys from scratch.
• Another lengthy interspliced video package: the finalists are interviewed by Vince and Dunn at WWF HQ. Always great to see footage from inside the building. Josh has been a fan since Mania 2. Nowinski hasn’t gotten close to anyone as they’re not the type he associates with (Ach, condescending, should’ve said he’s there to win a contract, which is a reason he gave before for not socialising). He suggests the heel Harvard stereotype (which they do go with). No-one else has anything interesting to say.
• 23 minutes in we get to hear the proper Tough Enough theme. Lots of “this is from MTV’s Tough Enough Soundtrack” musical montages. Lots of faff like the trainers work quite stiff with them, Jackie delivers nasty clotheslines and wow, Maven’s XFL tee. I wonder if they make failed contestants sign Non Disclosure Agreements and pay them not to release results. Fairly sure this happened in a future season where a contestant started taking indie dates whilst the show was still airing.
• When they show the male 3 contestants’ faces in one shot, someone slaps Josh and he bats it away, inaudibly shouting “fuck off!”. Hilarious.
• JR announces the winners: FEMALE WINNER NIDIA! Taz interviews loser Taylor, she’s just another victim and prods her for a reaction. She says WWF don’t want her and Taz steers her to say she won’t quit. (Her final hype video questioned if wrestling is right for her, which is a huge sign that she wouldn’t last – she stuck with doing indies for 2 years)
• MALE WINNER MAVEN! Nowinski tries not to sneer. Maven’s got a proper grateful speech prepared, and the crowd lap it up, great job. He ends it with “mom this is for you, I love you”. Taz interviews Josh, he’s pretty sad and gets past his interview. Nowinski tries a face promo, saying it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Both male losers look genuinely upset.
A fun show, great idea to have a live finale (definitely aided by the WWF New York crowd) and interesting to see the finalists’ interviews afterwards.

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Screengrabs from the last 3 episodes:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_fade” interval=”10″ images=”2801,2802,2803,2804,2805,2806,2807,2808,2809,2810,2811,2812,2813,2814,2815,2816,2817,2818,2819,2820,2821,2822,2823,2824,2825,2826,2827,2828,2829,2830,2831,2832,2833,2834,2835,2836,2837,2838,2839,2840″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”full”]tricker[/vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEASON 1 CONTESTANTS?
Josh Matthews (Josh Lomberger) did the best out of everyone, getting a long-time gig in WWE as a backstage reporter & commentator on their C-shows, now the lead announcer for TNA.
Jason Dayberry quit early on due to the rough road schedule. He’s a pro bodybuilder now.
Bobbie Jo Anderson & Victoria Tabor quit together due to the physicality.
Maven Huffman Tough Enough S1 male winner, best known for eliminating the Undertaker at the 2002 Rumble (which was an amazing, shocking spot). He was D-Von’s best friend in the business and was released by WWE in 2005. He worked on the indies and was seen selling things on the Home Shopping Network. He’s a NY bouncer now.
Taylor Matheny married Brian Kendrick, works as Make Up Artist in Hollywood.
Chris Nowinski quit wrestling after suffering post-concussion syndrome, and now is the exec director at the Sports Legacy Institute, a concussion research group.
Shadrick McGee was cut due to poor in-ring performance.
Chris “CK” Nifong is now a graphic designer and screen printer.
Paulina Thomas was TNA’s bodyguard for Disco Inferno for a 2 shows in 2002 and is now a Product & Market Manager in NY.
Nidia Guenard, the female winner of Tough Enough S1, best known for her Smackdown gig as Jamie Noble’s trashy girlfriend. Now works in culinary arts.
Darryl Cross is now a web graphic designer in Iowa.
Greg Whitmoyer pulled out due to herniated discs in his back, but worked for hardcore indie company CZW and a few 3PW dates.

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• Royal Rumble 2015 & RAW review: OSWreview.com/rumble2015andraw
• Royal Rumble 2014 match review: OSWreview.com/rumble2014[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

RAW Feb 2nd Review
• Great idea to make Roman put his Rumble spot up for grabs in February (hopefully they don’t do this reguarly to make the Rumble mean much less) as his hand was forced; Bryan in the match gets some heat off Roman and gets Roman some sympy.
• Curtis Axel doing the mania point was amazing. The whiny promo wasn’t, but thanks for giving us this moment! Ambrose hoofs him out & starts talking about the IC belt, jaysus he’s setting his sights quite low but happy he’ll be on PPV with Barrett.
• Ascension vs Angel dust: Everyone has their face painted, and highly gimmicked – great! Goldust still moving and bumping like a boss. Ascension win in a short angle of a match; Stardust hisses and we have my least favourite angle, tag team dissension! Calling him Cody was actually a little shocking, good stuff.
• Blah Ryback & Harper.
• Cena cuts an in-ring promo and someone drew our Macho pic in the crowd! WOOT!
• Jimmy Uso vs Cesaro. Cole gets over some double date storyline that wasn’t on TV, why isn’t it on TV? Wouldn’t kill any of these guys to show off more character! Difficult to be heel when you’re talented, you get some cheers regardless. Maybe it’s white meat babyfaces and cool heel babyfaces.
• MIZDOW dissension! After Mizdow signs an autograph for a fan (a stagehand – they couldn’t get a fan or someone’s kid to do this segment?) Miz reads him the riot act and makes him his PA, no longer his stunt double; as Mizdow is itching to do it. Next chapter in the breakup, I don’t know where these two go after they split, their act is still great. Sin Cara wins with a banana peel, I wish he stuck Cara’s original the blue/yellow attire.
• Dear God, Cena’s blue merch is HIDEOUS. It’s blinding. He and the Vintner have a heart to heart, go away. Rowan gets destroyed by Rusev, great stuff. Also having the US title up for grabs against Cena kinda guarantees a win for Rusev, see you for a stipulation match at Mania!
• Bray beat Ziggler, glad Bray’s getting more focus but he’s far away from the level to wrestling Taker. His promos were better this week too!
• The Bellas commentate over Paige’s match. Nikki looks WHOPPER in her brown dress. Great job Cena! They spraypaint Paige’s tummy black and of course it gets nWo chants. I suppose they don’t want to use bronzer.
• Bryan vs Seth. This is the PPV match I wanted! They still have a stormer on TV. I’m thinking they should add the stip “loser has to wrestle big show” to make Bryan and Seth’s match even more urgent. The two deservingly get this is awesome chants and Bryan wins via Roman’s interference. (Roman again looks strong only doing his special moves!). I imagine this interference will be the in Seth needs to get the Fastlane match to be a three-way.
• Something I appreciate, they spend time in the ring with Bryan celebrating. It’s a small but effective thing.
Apart from the main event, it was a can-miss RAW. I’m sure Bryan & Rollins will get a PPV match one of these days.

Triple H on the Steve Austin Show
• Triple H came off quite well, I’m shocked we got such a candid interview. A couple of things Austin should’ve called him on, but on the whole I was impressed, they talked about all the important stuff. They absolutely smashed kayfabe! Stone Cold came across as basically the viewpoint of smart wrestling fans but non-confrontational, so he’d ask great questions with no follow up.
• As with every Aitch peace we get MSG Kliq reunion/getting buried for a year 6 minutes in, and mentions jobbing to Warrior at 2. No mention of losing to Henry O Godwinn in a pig pen match or letting Shelton get the surprise win, so…good?
• Austin (who fake-tanned his head) talks about weak finish of the rumble; Aitch agrees, whenever something bad is brought up about the current product he kinda throws Vince under the bus, saying it’s his vision and he’s got a great track record (well, prior to 2005 anyway)
• Aitch mentions the Attitude Era had a tight demographic; now WWE reaches every demographic. I wish Austin picked him up on this. Considering viewing figures are half of what they were in AE, eh, how is that a good thing? Also trying to reach every demographic inspires none, which is partly why the Network is 400,000 subscribers off breaking even.
• The conversation starts to circle about Reigns and H mentions how they listen to the fans, how Roman gets booed in heel towns and that’s that.
• H admits he wasn’t ready to win KOTR in 96, but was more ready in 97. So…apply that to Roman reigns and his ONE SINGLES PPV MATCH! We’re not talking about a heel midcarder winning a tournament either, we’re talking MAIN EVENT WRESTLEMANIA BABYFACE! And Roman isn’t even near H’s level in 96! But as Bill DeMott said in the Shield docu, Roman overcame not knowing.
• He admits coming to terms with having an asterix next to his accomplishments thanks to marrying Steph, something that is a real shame – he would’ve been a multi-time world champion thanks to his talent and dedication, but aul bicycle shorts had to use his clout to KILL RAW and many different talents throughout the 2000s.
• Sadly H says WWE believe there’s only one way to have a wrestling match; out fans like our play book (ie WWE’s style of wrestling). Austin lets that one go. Ever wonder why 3 hour RAWs are quite boring? Besides the obvious reason, it’s because everyone wrestles the same way. They couldn’t afford to ‘break’ wrestlers in the Attitude Era, which is a reason why it was so great, they had to take wrestlers as is (Radicalz, Jericho etc). He justifies it by saying it’s the #1 company in the world. That’s true but it’s maybe 4th most profitable with the massive network losses.
• Hilariously Austin says he loved that NXT didn’t start with a promo (as RAW did tonight!) He comes across as very in-tune with hardcore fans (knowing that’s who’s watching this interview, and says look at NXT; that’s for hardcores and more his style) and puts over the talent & it as a catch-all developmental system. It’s worth noting that NXT doesn’t do electric numbers and it’s intimite atmos is perfect for the show, and some things wouldn’t work on RAW, although RAW could take a lot of pointers from NXT. Where’s the midgets, Goddammit!
• He asks if Chyna should be in the HOF, which seemed to actually blindside Aitch. He diplomatically says he character, absolutely, but indirectly mentions her depressing porn career as the reason she’s not (‘what if an 8 year old googles her’) which is more than enough reason. I don’t think she should be in the HOF (her over-ness is a testament to WWF’s incredible booking and star-making ability – Terrible God-awful promos, terrible and un-coordinated, can’t wrestle, but great look = over massively) but that said, the hypocrisy is ridiculous, considering CONVICTED RAPIST Mike Tyson is in there, Jimmy Murderer Snuka and sure, Austin and his multiple domestic abuse charges. And also that X-Pac (who starred in the porn video with Chyna!) has signed a contract with WWE and appeared a few weeks ago on TV, and was on stage for Scott Hall’s HOF induction last year! Chyna did tweet a response saying she understands why not but would accept being inducted by herself or as part of DX.
• Wrapping up, they do word association: He’d love to wrestle Buddy Rogers (and tweeted look him up on the Network – he’s not there!) and his excuses for Punk was he was difficult to communicate and he doesn’t love the business. He breezed past the Summer of Punk (blaming Nash & McMahon) and of course firing Punk on his wedding day didn’t come up!
• Lastly, if he could change on thing about RAW, have it as 2 hours rather than 3. Good man, Aitch! He says because it’s so much harder to write and shoot a 3 hour show (as it is to watch it!).

Overall just catch the main event of RAW and the Aitch interview, it was surprisingly much more candid and engaging than I expected, obliterated kayfabe, great stuff! Next up, Stephanie?

Latest on OSW:
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• OSW latest episode updates: OSWreview.com/updatejan29
• Royal Rumble 2015 & RAW review: OSWreview.com/rumble2015andraw
• Royal Rumble 2014 match review: OSWreview.com/rumble2014

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Our 4th of 5 Tough Enough S1 reviews!

Pilot review: OSWreview.com/tough-enough-pilot
Episodes 2-3-4 review: OSWreview.com/tough-enough-s1e2-3-4
Episodes 5-6-7 review: OSWreview.com/tough-enough-s1e5-6-7

To recap: with Darryl gone, the show’s declined – even a Pat Patterson payday didn’t help, but Kurt Angle had a great speech. We’re down to 2 women (Nidia and Taylor) and 5 men (Maven, Nowinski, Josh Matthews, “Josh lookalike” Chris, and Greg.)

EPISODE 8 “Dropping Like Flies” with The Hardyz & Lita![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• This is the injury episode – The gang learn powerslams and Greg’s worried about the previously herniated disc in his back. I’m shocked that didn’t exclude him during the signup process. He tweaks it on an arm drag, and must stop and get X-Rayed.
• Josh picks up a bone bruise on his hip, which is a minor bone fracture that causes bleeding in or directly around the bone.
• With only two girls left, everyone’s aware it’s down to Taylor and Nidia. Nidia picks up a leg injury, and Taylor pulls ahead in training.
• It’s the HARDYZ! and Lita, who isn’t introduced for some reason. Jeff is wearing leopard print slacks. Yes.
• Their speech is mostly in the DVD extra. Matt does most of the talking going through how they were fans, dissecting and trying to figure out moves and getting signed at 19 and 16 respectively (Jeff was told just to say 18); that dedication will drive you to succeed. Lita dismissed wrestling going up until learning more about how wrestlers manipulate viewers emotions and thoughts. (She left out how she gained a notoriety of how she paid for wrestling school despite having no money! Spoiler, her mouth!)
• The show is left with Nidia getting used to the pain and recovering whilst Greg looks like he’ll have to quit.
• Oddly Taz is absent in this episode, even in the background.
Overall, blah. Aside from getting to hear Attitude-Era Hardyz talk I wouldn’t recommend.

EPISODE 9 “The Vicious Circle”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• Greg gets positive news that it’s just a sprain, and can continue unless the MRI says otherwise.
• They drop a “CK” reference for Chris and leave it at that. (It’s explained in the next episode)
• We learn of THE CIRCLE GAME: making a circle with your hand and holding it below your waist, and getting someone to view it. Al Snow, Maven and Nowinski have a bet (Al, the crafty veteran, showed him a picture of him of him with two circles). Nowinski loses and has to go around Yale dissing Harvard. It feels like they’re hazing a guy who’s already gotten a job in WWE.
• They’ve also dropped the “Nowinski is a dick” storyline. He finds it difficult to turn off ‘work mode’ when he gf visits for the weekend.
• Josh Matthews – he was made for the 90s, brah. Check out the metal bead necklace, frosted tips and surfer look. His girlfriend Jane visits and although initially happy, blows up at him, not wanting to be a WWF wrestler’s wife. They leave it on a rocky note. By the way, their shirts match. That can’t be a coincidence.
• Maven looks to have conjunctivitis (pink-eye). If true he shouldn’t be allowed wrestle anyone for 10 days!
• The MRI results are in. It turns out not only was Greg mis-diagnosed (he actually had 2 herniated discs) he now has a small third herniation, so he has to quit (he needs spinal surgery to continue) and says his goodbyes. Well done sir, you raised my hopes, and dashed them quite expertly!
• Taz is gone in this episode too. Hmm!
Wrestlers travel a lot and have tons of free time on their hands, the circle game is a perfect time-waster. Sadly another make-shift episode until we get to the final episodes.

EPISODE 10 “Timing is Everything” with Mick Foley[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• Chris’s nickname “CK” is explained: Career Killer, because of the mistakes he makes in the ring, ranging from blowing spots and inadvertantly knocking heads. He’s told his problem is he keeps “anticipating” ie telegraphing the moves ahead of physically doing them, messing the timing. Al loses his temper when a botched headlock takedown could’ve injured him. They don’t mention him injuring Tori until the finale.
• IT’S MICK FOLEY! Commissioner Foley . In a DVD extra, he reads from his Foley is Good biography, and playfully insults Al & Taz (recalling a casting call for a Seinfeld commercial, Taz wouldn’t go easy on him, saying “Seinfeld is taking his chances”. He reads Taz as 5’7″, 270 lbs. Come on, that’s bollocks. He’s Triple H’s weight?
• I could listen to Foley for hours, a really likeable guy. He admits it’s possible yet very difficult to have a family, but you’ll miss out on your child’s first words and steps. How you use moves is more important than knowing moves, but you need to know ’em as others do, so you don’t have an “all time four fingered stinker”.
• Maven (who’s been in the background in general) finally gets focus, his mom has bone marrow cancer and has gotten a little worse. He’s able to get some time off and see her. Maven’s complexion comes from having a white mom and black dad. He approaches this as he does his training, with his positive, calm and professional demeanour, it’s no wonder he got so far in this show. No drama. He has a quiet chat with Josh about his worries. Seeing this, it must be so difficult to pretend to be natural with multiple cameramen, boom mic and assistant filming you.
• Meanwhile, the rest of the gang have some zany fun rock-climbing. Josh kills it. They adjust to being without Maven’s positive influence and draw him some letters (like children do for astronauts).
• Despite doing really well, Josh says he’s thinking about quitting, which sounds like real TV garbage.
• The gang talk smack behind ‘big suck up’ Nowinski’s back, as he has a Tazz tee. Don’t knock it, it’s a great t-shirt!
• Chris says he’s lost something (while boom mic guy wanders into shot) and Al parlays him quitting into the show’s catchphrase “you’re saying you’re not tough enough”. Hey, fuuuuuuuuck you! Chris leaves and there’s barely any goodbyes; like everyone was secretly happy too see the back of him. Tell me a lieeeee! Say that you won’t go!
Same as the last two, best part is the interview. Maven sounds like a real lovely guy. Thankfully this lull is over and next time we’ve the last 3 episodes of TE!

That’s it! Thankfully after this we’re gearing towards the end so things heat up! Final episodes of Tough Enough S1 coming soon! Screengrabs from episodes 8-9-10:[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_fade” interval=”10″ images=”2766,2767,2768,2769,2770,2771,2772,2773,2774,2775,2776,2777,2778,2779,2780,2781,2782,2783,2784,2785,2786,2787,2788,2789,2790,2791,2792″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”full”]tricker[/vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

Latest on OSW:
• RAW & Triple H interview thoughts: OSWreview.com/raw-feb2-aitch-interview
• Wrestling News Packet (Feb 1st): OSWreview.com/2015feb1st
• OSW latest episode updates: OSWreview.com/updatejan29
• Royal Rumble 2015 & RAW review: OSWreview.com/rumble2015andraw
• Royal Rumble 2014 match review: OSWreview.com/rumble2014[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Only 4 days later but here’s my thoughts on the Rumble & RAW! And thanks to the super-brah on the hard camera with our shart! It’s January 15th, 2015 from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with 17,164 in attendance and about a million subscribers on the WWE Network, it’s the 2015 Royal Rumble!

Pre-Show MAAAAAIN event was The New Day vs Team CAT (Cesaro, Adam rose & Tyson kidd)

New Day depress me. They got “New! Day Sucks!” chants & boos by the end. However Team CAT need to be a thing. Tyson is wearing cat claw gloves, this gimmick has legs (4 of them!) They were also WAY more over in Philly (a renowned smark crowd) and Tyson picked up the win, making everyone very happy. Decent pre-show match, shame it wasn’t on the PPV.

Outlaws vs The Ascension

Whenever I see the Outlaws I think of how Triple H must love hiring his mates, even those that slammed him for years in TNA and shoot interviews. I bet Road Dogg just said we were trying to get heat and Aitch said ‘fair enough’. I don’t understand the backlash The Ascension got for cutting a kayfabe “we’re the best” promo (should they say they suck?) on their RAW debut but they’ve quickly turned into a jobber act in a matter of weeks, which is even faster than fellow NXT call-up Xavier Woods. To be honest, the Legion of Demolition would make great (intentional) comedy jobbers like Heath Slater. It was always a rib having two ‘decent’ sized newbs being booked like they’re the Road Warriors – they’ll have to learn their place, and they’re only large compared to some acts in NXT. In any case, the roster does need jobbers, these two can do those jobs, instead of making mid-carders lose to each other (like new IC champ Wade Barrett jobbing to NXT’s SIN CARA!)
Despite being trounced by old-timers on RAW, the Ascension controlled the majority of the match with coma-inducing headlocks that’d make Randy Orton proud. The Outlaws never really had a comeback and Conor & Viktor won with a kind of TOTAL ELIMINATION! Kronus aside, it was a bad match.

The Usos (c) vs. Miz and Mizdow

It’s come to my attention that Miz does not catch people who dive on the outside. What an asshole! That’s dangerous. Weirdly, Miz is actually the stunt-double of the team: Sandow fakes his bumps on the outside whilst Miz gets battered and actually takes bumps. Philly (and everyone else) loves Sandow so they held off his tags for a while but the Usos got the win, meaning Miz & Sandow should be out of the chase for hopefully more than a month. Fine but instantly forgettable, as PPV tag title matches generally are.

The Bellas vs. Paige and Natalya

LET ME HOLLA AT YA PLAYA! FOURTH TAG MATCH of the night. Nattie’s been on NXT as well tagging with Charlotte, and on RAW we have the similar ‘let’s team up out of respect’ angle with Paige. Also the two have been feeling the effects of LESBIAN POLLEN (mind games!) on Total Divas. The Bellas look nothing alike now, you can tell which one’s vegan, and which one eats meat (rarr!). Good job Cena. The Bellas do this rolling slam deeley to Nattie. V1 said The Hardyz used to do it, I said no, never. Is V1 or myself right? Similar to the Ascension match the heels were in control for the most part, couple of blown spots (although Nikki’s definitely improved), no hot tag, the heels just win after a nice Nigel forearm. Fart of a match.

WWE World Title Match: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins

It ended up being a fantastic idea to add Seth to the match. Himself and Brock work REALLY, REALLY WELL as sneaky heel Seth would bump like a madman and Brock would hulk-smash his way through with effortless rag-doll German Suplexes. I don’t think I’ve heard the “John Cena Suuuucks” singing to his theme song on TV before but we had it. No time for Cena doing his standard spots (there’s literally nothing fresh or inventive he can do for me) like double-AAing the stooges and his shit punches comeback. Seth looked incredible bumping and working his ass off, punctuating with two high spots, elbow-dropping Lesnar through the announce table and performing a beautiful Phoenix Splash to Cena. Captain Crossfit, what a boss! Brock looked like an indestructible beast and scored an F5 for the win to retain. Man, I’d love to see Lesnar/Rollins at Mania. Guaranteed to deliver. The match was excellent, highly recommend you watch it.

The Royal Rumble Match

• Who booked this shit? Not Pat Patterson, that’s who. #1 & #2 was The Awesome Truth, here you could see someone in an OSW t-shart!
• Bubba Ray Dudley was a surprise entrant (went down a treat in Philly). He looks to have put on a lot of the weight he lost in TNA. Without D-Von he did the Wazzup & 3D with Truth.
• Bray eliminated a good few (reports say they’re considering him as Undertaker’s Mania opponent) but his feud with Ambrose really hasn’t helped. We got to see The Boogeyman interact, such a strong gimmick I’m surprised WWE didn’t have a place for him. DDP made a surprise entrance as well, great to see him! Hit the Diamond cutter on a couple of mid-carders, awesome. Please bring wrestling gear next time!
• Daniel Bryan was #10 and got eliminated after #15. I watched this with the lads and that’s the point where we checked out of the match. Who cares now? December to Dismember booking; get the actual faces (RVD/Punk) out first so hopefully you’ll cheer for Vince’s babyface (Bobby Lashley), because that went down a treat. The crowd weren’t so angry/chanty as they were dismissive & apathetic I felt.
• Curtis Axel was attacked by the Vintner Erik Rowan and never entered the match. WHERE’S THE JUSTICE FOR CURTIS AXEL? (in kayfabe he never entered the match – you’d need to enter the match before it finishes, if that makes sense)
• Jaysus STATE OF YOUR ROSTER DEPTH MATE! The AMOUNT of jobbers in this match. It was like the 1997 Rumble where half of them were Mexicans. Expecting Latin Lover to come out.
• The crowd broke out of their funk for Mizdow, but of course WWE eliminate him in under 30 seconds and the crowd turn again.
• Kofi’s spot (he got a big cheer as we know he’ll do something amazing) was getting eliminated quickly and the rosebuds putting him back in. It was so weak we assumed there’d be another… but no, he just gets eliminated. Sigh!
• They didn’t book any big spots (just the aforementioned and Titus getting the Santino quick-elimination schtick which isn’t a thing) so it was a boring match, far inferior to even last year. Ok the crowd were far angrier last year, but that the match was decent enough until #30 Mysterio came out and told everyone Bryan’s not in the match.
• Further compounding things was that obvious winner Roman Reigns didn’t have a good match. Couple eliminations but nothing notable. I should mention the scenario in 2015 is NOWHERE similar to 2014, as in 2014, Shield member Roman was hidden & protected by Rollins & Ambrose, and was the last alternative to Boo-tista, whereas this year he’s the most-pushed babyface with awful comedy promos & delivery.
• Big Show and Kane were the slow, plodding dominant heels (to chants of Bullshit and We Want Refunds) who were the final four in 2000 as well. I’ve no interest in seeing them in 2015. It’s so demoralising seeing Show and Kane take out Ziggler, Ambrose & Bray. YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE! Things got so bad the crowd chanted for Rusev, the foreign heel (he was knocked out but not eliminated, we’d forgotten about him but the crowd could see him at the apron). Reigns wins it eliminating those 3 (a quick, non-interesting finish, he just turfed them out without a proper fight).
• WWE knew Reigns would be booed and trotted out the Rock to endorse him, because surely you can’t boo Reigns if the Rock’s there? Wrong. Wow. (Rock has a “what the fuck?” reaction to it, giffed below, it’s magic). They do have a post-PPV interview on the Network where they both fumble over their words.
All in all, one of the worst rumbles in years, not just because of the winner, but a poorly-constructed, boring match with little star power and an unappealing finish – WWE did Reigns no favours. No real iron man/lots-of-eliminations push, no 2-big babyfaces squaring off etc, and Bryan should’ve been there until the very end. The crowd could’ve been much more vicious. Bit of a disaster. I get Vince thinks the handsome superstar Reigns valiantly fought off the dominant corporate giants and gets the endorsement of his cousin & massive babyface superstar, but if he thinks that would work, he’s alarmingly out of touch.

#CancelWWENetwork

@OSWreview #CancelWWENetwork #1 Trend WORLDWIDE
Fuck
this
company pic.twitter.com/3ruXnXRVKS

— illixur (@illixur) January 26, 2015

Hilariously, #CancelWWENetwork was the #1 trend straight afterwards. I think it’s a great way to send your disapproval but I also think it’s hypocritical as maybe 1% of those tweeting it actually cancelled their subscription. Indirectly responding to it, WWE announced they cracked 1 million subscribers (which is legit as the free month, the Rumble hype and fallout did put them over the mark). They did lose subs but was far outweighed by what they gained. Probably worth noting that WWE will continue to do what WWE wants because it’s WWE’s company, despite doing what the fans want would make more business sense. It’s a really petty ego trip – a vain, selfish act, like continuing to make movies despite repeatedly losing millions on most films! That said the best thing to come out of wrestling are the snarky pictures that come out afterwards! Thanks for sending me your tweets, it’s awesome.

RAW AFTER THE RUMBLE

• With BLOODY JUNO (the snowstorm) cancelling RAW, they cobbled together a 3-hour show from WWE HQ, replaying the Rumble & title match from the prior night and doing sit-down interviews with their most prominent talents (Brock/Heyman, Seth, Bryan and also a skit with Dean). I didn’t mind them showing PPV matches on free TV because it’s a one-off and they were up against time getting an entirely new show together.
• It was a scrambling production, Michael Cole constantly tripping over his words (which is a rarity) and I’m assuming Vince, breathing heavily off-screen. Cole’s questions were really stupid (as all questions in WWE are, “when you hit the move, did you think you’d win?”)
• The crowd-less atmosphere gave promos the sense of gravitas. Reigns came off really well, quiet; absorbing the verbal jabs Heyman masterfully threw at him, admitting the crowd’s disapproval and wanting to fight Brock. This is probably Reigns at his best right now.
• Seth plays the loud-mouthed, cowardly dick heel to perfection. He decreed Brock will have to take his chair, and when confronted, swats it away and walks off. Amazing. I love how Brock was calm and polite (“excuse me, I believe you’re in my chair”), and thanked Cole for congratulating him on his title win. There’s no need to be angry, he is the best and it’s a fact.
• Bryan similarly addressed Reigns’ shortcomings (which was pretty much as shoot as you’ll get on WWE TV) but wasn’t incensed. It’s sad that he’ll be overlooked come Mania again, but he’s incredibly talented, so he’ll always be important. At Mania he’s pegged to wrestle either Ziggler (they were mentioning it on twitter) or V1’s favourite, vs Sheamus for a third time.
WWE lowered the boos in the Rumble repeat but I wouldn’t recommend re-watching it. But watch the title match again! The promos however were refreshingly candid and did wonders for the world title situation. A massive positive coming off a wave of online negativity over Reigns.

And now, your awesome tweets!

https://twitter.com/RBOSull/status/559978687098286081/

@OSWreview…honest opinions on that PPV? pic.twitter.com/62H2875nE1

— HeelHardman (@RossHardman1) January 26, 2015

@OSWreview too many characters to retweet, here's the pic. I had a big Fucking Laugh! #ReignsRover ROFL!!! LMAO!! pic.twitter.com/UQXhqK3dmD

— Gronk The CaveMan (@CaveManBro) January 26, 2015

@OSWreview #RoyalRumble #CancelWWENetwork pic.twitter.com/YB4xgHhGlk

— David Hilliard (@stygianftw) January 26, 2015

To the guys at @OSWreview I know you love your Simpsons. pic.twitter.com/4uy2X7jYaS

— Garth👨🏼‍🏭🎮🇺🇸💡🙏🏻 (@spongebelt) January 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/ChiefShredder/status/559739649258954753/

@OSWreview Tonight, with no #RAW, double-double-E air true classic! pic.twitter.com/e61prOPbNq

— Al Sciarretti 🇺🇸 (@AlSciarretti) January 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/ImJasonShanahan/status/559807173119983616/

Thanks to wrestling-giffer for the gifs! If you missed it, OSW update on our next episodes & the STATE of YouTube etc here: OSWreview.com/updatejan29

2 Questions: Do you know anyone that cancelled the Network, and what did you think of the Rumble match overall, was it as bad as I thought?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To set the scene, WWE fans rallied behind Daniel Bryan after losing his title in 8 seconds to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28. Since then, Bryan’s popularity soared into MEGA HOT territory, peaking coming into the Summer of 2013, where Bryan beat Cena (clean) for the WWE title. However Aitch immediately heel-turned on Bryan, allowing Randy Orton to cash in his MITB briefcase, therefore nullifying any great work Cena had done and placing the heat on themselves. They delayed giving Bryan his big run as champion and tried to quell the crowd rallying behind him, which only made things worse. “#HijackRAW” was a thing – fans destroyed segments by chanting “YES” and “Daniel Bryan” during any segment they saw fit, demanding Bryan be the top guy. Most hilariously during the go-home RAW for TLC (Orton vs Cena), Steph was praising Triple H and fans completely killed the segment chanting for Bryan. The WWE machine decided to not only delay Bryan’s run, but cancel it entirely, in favour of a returning Batista vs Orton main event of WrestleMania. Fast forward to the Rumble. They booked Bryan in a singles match with Bray Wyatt and said he’s definitely not competing in the Rumble. Although fans (including myself) knew this, we expected that to be an obvious swerve. They couldn’t really cast aside the freshest, most popular full-timer around, could they? Surely he’ll be #30, right?

Watched this last night, here’s my thoughts on it:
• Beforehand Flair (on the pre-show panel) predicts BATISTA (which gets boos). An incensed Flair shouts “learn to love it!” Ha!
• Punk (#1) was still with the company! Wears a Gracie Academy hoodie. Odd how he carved out a niche as the guy who does what he wants (ie nobody else, save Brock, could do that). He looks ABSOLUTELY KNACKERED (he’d walk out before RAW the next day, refusing plans to wrestle Aitch at Mania). His haircut and chops makes him look like SUCH a Pikey! Himself and Seth kick off, they’re great together, wish they had a singles PPV match.
• Cody (#4) pre-stardust with his cool woah-oh heel song. JBL’s got his cog notes and throws out “this guy won at this entry” facts every so often.
• Rusev’s main roster debut, pre-lana but has the song. Swagger goes right for him – i.e. they’ve been teasing Rusev Swagger since his first night out of NXT.
• Kofi (#8) gets big pop as the crowd know he’ll do something awesome. This time Rusev catches him on the outside and puts him on the barricade; Kofi does a running jump to the apron (awesome!) gets a huge cheer. He then hangs on by hooking both feet under the bottom rope, and twats Swagger with his own boot.
• Ambrose & Reigns enter via the regular entrance way, it’s weird.
• Kevin Nash’s dyed brown short hair & goatee show up to the nWo theme.
• Reigns murders everyone, people boo Ziggler’s exit, as he was well over in Pittsburgh. With 3 members (and Punk skulking in the corner), they dominate.
• WWE’s production truck allocated 10 seconds for Khali’s song (#16) but he was only halfway down the runway. He’s immediately thrown back out, his knees must’ve been really bad. Not complaining!
• Sheamo returns to take on the shield. Gets a loud cheer returning from a shoulder injury 5 months ago. I’ve been enjoying him not being on TV recently. Hopefully they do something different with him, “babyface bully” wasn’t great!
• #19 Fandango – fans immediately sing his song and do the finger dance. That’s what you get for being concussed Fandango, buried and repackaged with a new song people can’t hum.
• El Torito does a hold-the-midget-at-arm’s-length with Punk, he eliminated Fandango before being eliminated by Reigns – Fandango catches him on the outside and lays him down gently so he doesn’t take a bump. What a great guy.
• Cesaro swing: fans go out of time at the FORTH revolution and start cheering at 17.
• JBL at #24. Cole quips that this is the “JBL character’s first match” (as Bradshaw entered at least the 98 Rumble). I know he’s trying to make this a big deal but don’t call people characters. Otherwise they’d better count Isaac yankem and Fake Diesel amongst Kane’s appearances then too, ya bastards! JBL does a stupid “hold my coat” routine and gets eliminated immediately. I get he’s not wrestling but it just makes him look like a moron, JBL’s not an idiot character either. He gets “you still got it” chants, oh fuck off.
• During JBL’s entrance, Kane sneaking under the ring is caught on camera, a rare fuck up.
• Usos and Wyatts gets no crowd reaction, same with Big E. Ryback gets immediate Goldberg chants. When did those stop? I suppose he got de-pushed with Rybaxl so he stopped getting backlash from fans.
• Batista gets a pop and then a few seconds later, gets loud boos. The turnaround is ridiculous! Really funny.
• R-O-N Mastrio (#30) enters, Cole reams off his fact sheet (jaysus, he’s terrible for that) and immediately the fans cop Daniel Bryan’s not coming out. They loudy boo and chant for Bryan. I’ve never heard anything like it in a rumble. It’s relentless and gets louder for Rey’s spots, jeering him with a pop when he’s eliminated and back to hijacking the show.
• Reigns eliminates Seth, Dean and Cesaro for trying to eliminate him, breaking Kane’s record at 12.
• Kane does a run-in and takes out Punk to more boos. (Punk never gets praise for going 49:12 in this Rumble! He did Road Dogg in the corner for most of it though!). Pairing Punk and Kane. Now they’re pairing Bryan and Kane. Why can’t they pair someone shit with Kane?
• FINISH: Three guys left: Sheamus, reigns an Batista, as the crowd loudly boo. Anyone buy this on DVD – did they dub the audio? I’d forgotten how bad the boos were. They chant “no” instead of “brogue” to Sheamo beating his chest. Crowd eventually chant for Roman and Batista delivers a nasty stiff spear, OWW. Reigns is much softer. Fans boo Reigns’ elimination and BOOOOOOOOO, no! and daniel bryan chants. Besides Batista looking a little pissed, they still all did their spots (I imagine they thought they’d fix it in post.) I can’t recall any other WWE PPV quite like it. Batista/Big Show ECW Hammerstein they weren’t rallying behind anyone, just booing these lads. I watched it live in the Woolshed Pub first time around so I couldn’t hear much of the audio (beyond there were boos) and it wasn’t until 2nd viewing I heard just how vicious it was. It’s worse than I remember! That said, I’m so happy the crowd forced WWE’s hand to MAKE FANS HAPPY (why is this a fight?) but it tinged Bryan’s WM win with bitterness of how hard we had to work to get it.

Rumble 2015: Since Reigns is pegged to win it, and it’s in smark town Philly, he’ll get a bad reaction, but I think since Bryan’s in the Rumble, the pressure and focus is taken off him, so it won’t nearly be half as bad. Just brace yourself, tonight’s gonna be another #FuckyouBritain! I think we all gotta accept Cena and Reigns are gonna win, set those expectations low so we can’t be disappointed!

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbaUMX2UJtM”][vc_column_text]

If you missed it, here’s my new Tough Enough S1 Eps 5-6-7 review and OSW update![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We’re back with 3 more Tough Enough episodes!

Pilot review: OSWreview.com/tough-enough-pilot
Episodes 2-3-4 review: OSWreview.com/tough-enough-s1e2-3-4

To recap, Triple H’s speech causes Jason (the most ripped guy) to quit, Daryl’s clothes smell & he can’t wear his shorts with the big hole in it, Victoria & Bobbie Joe decide to quit together and Maven sandbags any house drama being positive and professional.

EPISODE 5 “Dispatching Darryl” featuring Pat Patterson[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• More bumping! They show the trainees worst bumps, it’s hilarious. Later Daryl struggles with basic drills, and flinches/half-bumps on a hip-toss landing on his ear. Nasty. He’s a huge dude though, said to be 325lbs.
• PAT PATTERSON! PAYDAY! Ach, it’s a gimmick episode, to buy & make dinner for Pat.
• Daryl is a cheap-ass and argues ponying up $8 for dinner. This guy’s gold.
• We get an extended DVD extra of Pat’s anecdotes. Unfortunately they have unlevelated lower echoey audio, it’s annoying – and so bad it needed subtitles.
• Daryl loses a darts game and has to do push-ups.
• DVD extra: Tori brings the group to do yoga. It’s death. Tori speaks without confidence.
• Oddly they push Taylor not quitting since she’s nothing to go back to, but later she quips that (Tough Enough) was “so what I needed”
• After all the dropouts, this is their first cut – Daryl. Contestants are informed via hanging in their locker, which is a bit of a bitch move. Surely a confrontational atmos with the trainers would be good TV?
The DVD extras made the episode it’s worst yet. The gang have a little fun at Daryl’s expense, he was the most interesting guy there. Wonder how the show’ll do without him.

EPISODE 6 “Tears Idle Tears”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• The gang visit a tranny restaurant/night club. Maven dresses up and that’s it.
• Josh HATES watching wrestling with others; was annoyed someone criticised a bump taken. Gosh he’d hate me!
• Shadrick and Chris Ni (the Josh look-a-like) are faring poorly with bumps and arm drags. The show barely features those doing well (Maven, Chris, Nidia).
• It’s cut time, and Shad gets fired. Jackie takes his failure hard, crying twice over it.
Boring episode. The worst episode of the season, made to fill time.

EPISODE 7 “A No-Win-Ski Situation” with Kurt Angle[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• Al Snow tells a trainee “You’re not impressing me by continuing to do these things when you’re actually injured”. Yeah, save it for the main roster!
• It’s KURT ANGLE! It’s hilarious to see Josh’s deer-in-headlights as he catches a glimpse of Kurt whilst doing jumping jacks.
• He gives a speech mostly as a DVD extra: He was told pro-wrestling was fake, a con to tarnish his gold medals. He mentioned being served & ripping up a 10-year multi-million dollar deal. (He did sign an 8-year deal). Angle’s very humble and talks about earning respect. He freely mentions not having paid the same dues as other superstars and rising quickly but the trainers say he paid his dues in other ways & still paid them. He doesn’t over-train; as not to wear yourself out before you get in the ring. He does half hour of intense cardio and an hour weight training almost every day; his training is geared for looks rather than strength.
• Pauline gets mailed a CT scan. Why I’ve no idea because she can’t interpret it. She looks like she’s reading a foreign treasure map.
• The gang go the Bahamas (real reality TV filler). Nowinski outs himself as a bit of a dick and a bully. He explains his annoyance at how goofy and unprofessional everyone else is outside the ring, especially Josh & his $1 wooden flute (which is quite hilarious hearing the noise from it)
• After visiting her doctor, Pauline is told she’s got a partially torn lateral ligament, partially broken the top of her femur and a knee sprain.
• The next day, Paulina withdraws. Lots of hugs and crying as she leaves, it’s a funny sight as she’s SO much taller than most of everyone.
Angle’s speech was a great listen but other than that, bust. Bring back Daryl!

That’s it! Tough Enough episodes 8-9-10 coming in a few days! Screengrabs from episodes 5-6-7:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_fade” interval=”10″ images=”2667,2668,2669,2670,2671,2672,2673,2674,2675,2676,2677,2678,2679,2680,2681,2682,2683,2684,2685,2686,2687,2688,2689,2690,2691,2692″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”full”]tricker[/vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The current STATE of OSW:
• Q&A video dropped earlier this week! 3 parts, 2.5 hours, 1 video! I wish we were able to get to more questions, there were way over 500 asked. Unsure how we can remedy this!
• Q&A is up on iTunes and Android aswell!
• WANNA MEET US? I dunno why you would but we’re introducing RIC FLAIR in London on May 30th (Emirates Stadium)! He’s doing a spoken word tour, check the details out here! If you go please say hi so we can chat and have a pint! WOOO!
• The GOLDEN NOGGERS were recorded, the episode’ll be about 30-35 minutes, should be out in the next two weeks, will update you when it’s almost done.
• Also recorded, our ROYAL RUMBLE 2001 review! I’m hoping to get it finished within 2 weeks as well but I’ll let you know when editing is further on. Got some amazing stuff lined up for it, including a new Acceptable in the 80s theme song remix!
• T-Sharts are almost out of stock, if they’ve your size please pick one up if you want one! tshart.OSWreview.com
• I’m still trying to repair our current YouTube channel, Google have really dug their heels in. It was demolished due to the UK/Ire Network launch but the main problem is I can’t upload new episodes there (15-minute limit, and they’d get insta-blocked too). So for the foreseeable future our stuff will just be on the site – everything’s at OSWreview.com/episode-guide 🙂
• If you’re experiencing any playback problems, turn off HD and Ad Block (it’d help us out too!). If you still can’t get it to play please note what device & browser you’re using and tweet Jay! (@OSWreview)

– Jay[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]WOOT! TOUGH ENOUGH will return in 2015! Vinnie Mac tweeted it out on Thursday. Hopefully whoever wins fares better than Angry Andy Levine. Remember him? Of course you don’t. He was shit-canned after Vince blew up at him for mis-selling a stunner & slap. As well as his only talent is being tall. He’s the cousin of Dan Spivey and still works for WWC in Puerto Rico.

So why not catch up on some 2001 Tough Enough!

Casting Pilot Review here! OSWreview.com/tough-enough-pilot

EPISODE 2 “Welcome to the Jungle”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• The first proper episode (the pilot was the casting session). The gang get start their training and their trainers, specifically drill sergeant Taz. Jason (the jakked guy) noted in an interview this year that during training, they all hated seeing Taz come to the house because he worked them so hard.
• Bump drills! Horrible horrible bump drills. Victoria keeps banging her head and her resolve to be a wrestler is bit shaken.
• Nowinski is best prepared being a fit ex-footballer with 3-6 months of wrestling training. Tori chastises him for explaining foot positions the non-WWF way.
• One of the guys has a Goldberg poster up, which Taz tears down saying “wrong company”.
• Bit of tussling in pig mud, where Jason and Paulina hurt her knee.
• Daryl’s already making excuses about being sick. Taz chews him out for being out of shape, it’s a little funny.
Decent, Taz &Daryl are the highlights of an easily digestible 22m.

EPISODE 3 “Jason Crumbles” with Triple H[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• Just like episode 2, Josh Matthews is always the first in the door to the training facility.
• Oh shit, it’s Triple H! More bumping drills: Aitch has to tell Daryl one of his nuts is hanging out as he’s got a big hole in his shorts. Died.
• This is the episode with THAT Triple H speech, it’s still excellent – heartfelt, stern and very real. About respecting the business; “you either want it or you don’t; and if you don’t, don’t waste our fuckin’ time.”
• In a DVD extra, we get quite the full speech, where H chews them out over that Goldberg poster; initially praising his athleticism but saying he can’t wrestle more than 4 minutes, had his fame handed to him and has no heart for wrestling (calling in sick when he can). The detraction is the obnoxious 90s freeform camerawork zooming and panning to get multiple shots in one swoop.
• Some fun 2001 technology – corded landlines and discmans. It might air in 2001 but the house was furnished in the 90s, brah!
• We get a lot of Nidia talking, it’s terrible – she ‘dissects’ her feelings towards Chris and gives us the idiot line “Big offered to take us out, so we had to suck it up and look pretty”. JAYSUS.
• It’s mentioned that Daryl is the oldest at 25. As a consequence of Triple H’s speech, Jason (the most ripped guy) quits.
This episode is a must-watch for the Triple H segment (and Daryl’s nut); nothing’s gonna top this episode.

EPISODE 4 “If You Can’t Stand the Heat” with Stephanie McMahon[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]• At Trax (The training facility), blonde Victoria looks dangerous in the ring, and Daryl’s clothes smell (he can’t wear his shorts with the big hole in it). Amazing. This guy makes for great TV.
• After the training session, everyone’s knees have nasty contusions.
• Victoria and Bobbie Jo decide to quit together. Wow, the women left have a 3 in 1 chance of winning. Tall Paulina keeps doubting her resolve, she’ll quit soon…So it’s really between Nidia and Taylor (whom we almost never see). Slam bloody dunk, Nidia!
• There’s a candle “fire” in the house which seemed like cheap heat. Ba dum tish!
• Stephanie McMahon takes the girls out for lunch. She gets over how important that everyone’s like family and how funny the roster is, especially Aitch. She’s really her father’s daughter! Steph came off very well here.
• Since Al Snow has a match on Smackdown, the team are treated to front row seats. Fucking stacked roster of 2001! Austin, Rock, Taker, Kane, HHH Benoit, Jericho (not to mention Angle, Hardyz etc).
• Maven responds to in-house drama in a very positive and professional manner, so the cameras don’t spend much time with him (i.e. you’ll go far in the show). If they focus on you, you’re gonna be out.
Apart from Daryl’s clothes smelling there wasn’t too much fun, it was a stop-gap to to weed out the quitters so now we can really begin.

That’s it! Tough Enough episodes 5-6-7 coming soon! Screengrabs from episodes 2-3-4:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_fade” interval=”10″ images=”2512,2513,2514,2515,2516,2517,2518,2519,2520,2521,2522,2523,2524,2525,2526,2527,2528,2529,2530,2531,2532,2533,2534,2535,2536,2537″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”full”]tricker[/vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4DWg8OHSo0″][vc_column_text]The current STATE of OSW:
• Q&A video coming next week!
• Write-up reviews of the rest of Tough Enough Season 1
• Recording Royal Rumble 2001 review next week!
• Got a few more OSW t-sharts in stock! tshart.OSWreview.com
• Due to the Network launch, WWE are mass-blocking YouTube vids, they’ll be back but it’ll take some time to sort out, until then everything’s at OSWreview.com/episode-guide :)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]