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Articles by Ryan Dilbert
Blood, Brevity, and Beverages: Jeff Cannonball Sips His Way to Glory
“It’s like an old friend,” Jeff Cannonball says after sipping a bottle of Sprecher Cherry Cola. In a video filmed in front of a TV and a framed photo of a cat in a spacesuit, the burly wrestler gives his 85th succinct soda review. Not counting the intro, it’s just five words and a smile. The whole thing lasts only 10 seconds.
Luke Harper Shows Off Top-Tier Potential in Bray Wyatt's Shadow
It's easy to be mystified by Bray Wyatt—he is a cult leader after all—but Monday's Raw was also a showcase of Luke Harper's potential. Harper's surprising ability to infuse a smaller man's moves into his brawl-heavy arsenal and the power of his unsettling aura make him The Wyatt Family's marquee star in the making. He won't get many of the headlines coming out of WWE's latest trip to London, but he deserves our attention.
Exploring the Strange History of Pro Wrestlers Battling Bears
JAMIE-ANDREA YANAK/Associated Press With muzzles over their mouths, their claws removed and their front teeth taken out, surrounded by the ring ropes and a curious crowd, bears once found themselves in the thick of pro wrestling promoters' drives to increase ticket sales. It's a story that played out again and again from as early as the 1800s.
The Year of Years: Looking Back at Io Shirai’s Spectacular 2016
The first time I saw Io Shirai in the ring, I thought the video was playing at the wrong speed. She ran the ropes like she was Sonic the freaking Hedgehog. She was a blur, a dynamo, something leaping out of a comic-book panel. It only took a matter of seconds of seeing her springboard at her foe to get hooked. Shirai regularly uses her speed and artistry in the air to create stirring action.
The Year of Years: Reliving Kurt Angle’s Awesome 2003
It’s only fitting that Kurt Angle wrestled his greatest in-ring year with a broken neck. His story is one of a man achieving the remarkable while suffering unimaginable pain. Angle famously suffered two cracked vertebrae in his neck during the 1996 Olympics, yet still went on to win the gold medal in freestyle wrestling. In 2003 ahead of WrestleMania XIX, his neck was in such wretched shape that doctors urged him to undergo fusion surgery.
The Year of Years: Looking Back at Daniel Bryan’s Masterful 2008
Travel backward in time to before Daniel Bryan famously stood triumphant with two championship belts hoisted above his head amid falling confetti inside the Superdome. Travel back to a time before his Yes! catchphrase existed, before he hugged it out with Kane, before the Nexus choking incident, before he battled Chris Jericho on the first episode of NXT, before his real life first name became his kayfabe surname. You’ve arrived in 2008, when he was still Bryan Danielson in and out of the ring.
The Year of Years: Looking Back at Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Untouchable 2013
Hiroshi Tanahashi Credit: NJPW In 2013, Peyton Manning threw an NFL-leading 55 touchdowns en route to his fifth MVP award. It was a record-breaking year for the quarterback as he moved into the top spot in both TDs and passing yards for a single season. Manning rewrote the history books of his sport with that performance. That same year, Hiroshi Tanahashi had his own historic stretch in the pro wrestling realm.
The Year of Years: Revisiting Manami Toyota’s Magical 1995
A quarter-century ago, when R&B group TLC dominated the airwaves and Tiger Woods was but an amateur golfer, Manami Toyota put together one of the finest bell-to-bell years in pro wrestling history. Toyota was 24 at the time, and already a star, already a master of her craft. The shrieking, long-haired warrior with a dropkick like a battering ram had twice held the WWWA Tag Team Championship alongside Toshiyo Yamada. She reigned as IWA world champ for All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling for three years.
The Undertaker's 7 Best Entrances of All Time
0 of 8 Few WWE experiences are as haunting as Undertaker's entrances. Smoke, fire, chilling music and a slow, menacing gait have all been his trademarks for years. Before his biggest matches, before he faced his own brother or any number of other monsters, Undertaker has delivered phenomenal entertainment before the opening bell even rang. His standard entrance is thrilling on its own, but these are bigger, creepier and more moving.
Ryan Dilbert's 10-Count: WWE's Heel-Face Inconsistencies Holding Product Back
1. WWE Forgetting Wrestling Basics In neglecting a key element of the pro wrestling format, WWE is making it harder to emotionally invest. Characters too often flip-flop between exhibiting babyface tendencies and heel traits. The company sends the audience mixed messages about who to root for. Villains urge fans to donate to charity. A ruthless authority figure makes sure to keep things fair. It's frustrating to see unfold.
Vince McMahon's Failed Attempt to Take over Bodybuilding
RICHARD DREW/Associated Press Vince McMahon, already the sultan of the squared circle, wanted to expand his empire to bodybuilding. He looked to do to bodybuilding what he did to pro wrestling: amplify its spectacle, make it larger than life and have it grow from niche sport to entertainment phenomenon. In 1990, the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) owner created the World Bodybuilding Federation, his second company built around oiled-down, muscular men.
Part-Time Powerhouse: Brock Lesnar's Evolution into WWE's Anti-Workhorse
Brock Lesnar's classic Iron Man match against Kurt Angle on SmackDown in 2003 is the kind of bout one shows a non-fan of pro wrestling in an attempt to convert them. It was a stunning display of athleticism and violence, a flurry of suplexes and lariats, an NCAA wrestling national champion and Olympian pushing each other to their physical limits. An hour-long seesaw battle this good had to delight the wrestling gods. The Lesnar who walked away with the WWE Championship that night no longer exists.
Who Are WWE's Next Megastars? Non-Wrestling Fans Predict the Future
My mother-in-law tells the same Hulk Hogan story anytime the topic of pro wrestling comes up. A line of giddy fans waited to meet The Hulkster at a Toys R Us in Kingwood, Texas, sometime in the '80s. When she neared him, she was star-struck despite being the most casual of fans. She reached out and touched his boulder of a biceps. As they exchanged small talk, she grinned through every word. Even now, decades later, the sparkle hasn't faded from that brief meeting.
WWE Classics: Remembering Edge vs. Mick Foley at WrestleMania 22
Two legendary performers forced much of WrestleMania 22's focus onto themselves with seared flesh, open wounds and a succession of weapons. Rey Mysterio's unlikely championship win is well remembered, but much of that talk after that night in the Allstate Arena was about the wondrously violent show Edge and Mick Foley put on. Edge vs. Mick Foley is the type of match you can pop in for a non-wrestling fan, a way to get them intrigued by the strange, macabre world of WWE.
Already a WWE Icon, Charlotte Flair's Queendom Stretches Well Beyond the Ring
If you want to see the artistry of a moonsault, a lean athlete flipping in the air in a blend of grace and violence, check out Charlotte Flair in action on WWE SmackDown Live any Tuesday night. More and more, though, sightings of The Queen aren't limited to the ring. As her star grows, one can see Flair's peacock swagger, her hearty smile, her larger-than-life aura in a number of other arenas. The ring ropes can't contain her; she's bound to make an impact beyond suplexing her foes onto the mat.
Braun Strowman's Wild Path of Destruction Is the Best Thing Going in WWE
It may be a family sedan or an apple, an upright bass or a man's pride, but you can count on Braun Strowman destroying something on just about every WWE show. Thanks in large part to that steady stream of wreckage, The Monster Among Men remains WWE's most intriguing star. His eye-catching shtick is without equal, wonderfully absurd and befitting of a larger-than-life beast like him.
Burning Questions to Address After Daniel Bryan and Kane Reunite as Team Hell No
It may take a moment to process how Tuesday's SmackDown ended. Daniel Bryan and Kane hugging each other in the center of the ring isn't not exactly an image one expected to see in 2018. In a surprising turn of events, Team Hell No reformed to push back against SmackDown tag team champs The Bludgeon Brothers. Six years after Bryan and Kane first aligned during anger management classes, the duo was reborn in front of a rowdy crowd in Ontario, California.
Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Rumors, Preview for WWE SmackDown June 26
Shinsuke Nakamura has a new target in his sights after failing to capture the WWE Championship. The King of Strong Style will look to kick, knee and club his way to the United States Championship when he faces Jeff Hardy on Tuesday's WWE SmackDown. Can Hardy stave off Nakamura or will the Kinshasa put an end to his reign? Raw spotlighted its own midcard title on Monday as Seth Rollins challenged Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 25
The chase for the Intercontinental Championship was Monday's WWE Raw's keystone. As has been the case for much of 2018, the battle for that midcard title has been a boon for the red brand. That was true once more as Seth Rollins tried to reclaim his crown against Dolph Ziggler in San Diego. The Universal Championship, on the other hand, remains M.I.A. Brock Lesnar's only contribution to the show was the terms of his contract apparently preventing a No. 1 contender's match.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins; Latest Rumors and Preview for WWE Raw June 25
The Intercontinental Championship will again serve as WWE Raw's de facto top title as Dolph Ziggler collides with Seth Rollins in San Diego. Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship haven't been around for months. In his absence, the red brand has leaned on a red-hot Rollins and the thrillers he has composed as champ. As of last Monday, though, Rollins no longer holds that crown. Ziggler answered his open challenge and defeated him in a surprise result to claim the IC title for himself.
Examining Rey Mysterio's Value Ahead of Potential WWE Return
In his absence from WWE, it's been clear—there is no replacing Rey Mysterio. WWE has showcased a number of other luchadors after him, but none have made the deep connection that he has with fans. Not either version of Sin Cara. Not Kalisto. Not Gran Metalik. Even now, past his athletic prime, he's a huge get for any company. And after spending time in Mexico, Japan and elsewhere, it looks as if the masked underdog is headed back to Vince McMahon's circus.
Comparing Charlotte Flair's WWE Career so Far to Ric Flair's Early Years
Fresh off powerbombing folks onto ladders at the WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Charlotte Flair lengthened her list of history-making accomplishments. ESPN the Magazine revealed on Tuesday that the second-generation pro wrestler would appear in its upcoming "Body Issue." She is the first WWE Superstar to do so. This kind of news isn't a surprise at this point. She has made a habit of trailblazing.
Is Rusev a Stopgap Rival for AJ Styles or Legit WWE Championship Contender?
Rusev may soon have reason to celebrate. Not just because he is commemorating the self-created holiday that bears his name, either. The WWE Championship is suddenly within Rusev's reach as he prepares to collide with AJ Styles. On Tuesday's SmackDown, The Lion of Bulgaria outlasted Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Rusev, Big E and The Miz to triumph in a Gauntlet match and become No. 1 contender. He left The Miz woozy with kicks to the head before wrenching his body backward in the Accolade for the win.
Why Big Cass Never Reached Full Potential with WWE
You don't normally describe someone as large and imposing as Big Cass as average, but that's what he was in WWE. His former tag team partner Enzo Amore famously used to introduce Big Cass by saying that he was seven feet tall, noting "You can't teach that." Yes, the former Colin Cassady has the size WWE has so long coveted, but it wasn't enough to guarantee success in the squared circle. The rest of his game underwhelmed.
WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 19
Tuesday's WWE SmackDown taught us that two days after Money in the Bank is Rusev Day. The show spent a good amount of time figuring out who will challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules. It looked as if Daniel Bryan or Samoa Joe might earn that opportunity, but it was Rusev in the end who was the last man standing in Toledo, Ohio. In a surprising move, The Lion of Bulgaria won a Gauntlet match on Tuesday to claim his right to face the champ at the next pay-per-view.
Latest Rumors, Preview for 1st WWE SmackDown After Money in the Bank 2018
AJ Styles won't have to wait long to find out who will next come after his WWE Championship. Tuesday's WWE SmackDown will crown a new No. 1 contender. Styles endured a hell of a test from Shinsuke Nakamura at Sunday's Money in the Bank pay-per-view. He will have to shift from celebrating to scouting in a hurry, though. SmackDown Superstars will meet in a Gauntlet match to determine who will face him at Extreme Rules.
WWE Extreme Rules 2018: Full Match Card Predictions After Money in the Bank
The ambushes and cheap shots that shaped Money in the Bank will serve as catalysts for what unfolds at WWE Extreme Rules 2018. Asuka barreled toward victory at Sunday's pay-per-view, closing in on the SmackDown Women's Championship. A surprise return, though, undercut her title dreams. It doesn't take a fortune teller to foresee where she will head next. Controversy in the Intercontinental Championship match and a Money in the Bank cash-in will lead to collisions at Extreme Rules on July 15, too.
Latest Rumors, Preview for 1st WWE Raw After Money in the Bank 2018
Monday's WWE Raw has plenty to address after an eventful Money in the Bank event. Sunday's pay-per-view crowned two Money in the Bank briefcase winners and a new champion. It seemingly put an end to one intense rivalry and stoked the flames of another. Grand Rapids, Michigan, will play host as the red brand follows up on it all. Alexa Bliss will step into the building with the Raw Women's Championship around her waist thanks to a crafty Money in the Bank cash-in.
WWE Money in the Bank 2018 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights
Change and chaos are coming to Chicago at WWE Money in the Bank 2018. Ronda Rousey is on the verge of seizing the Raw Women's Championship early in her WWE career. Is the Rousey Era set to begin in earnest with a win over Nia Jax? One could ask a similar question about Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style will look to low blow his way to WWE Championship glory at Money in the Bank.
WWE Money in the Bank 2018: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More
That familiar sound of the crack of flesh against ladders is coming as WWE Money in the Bank delivers a double dose of its trademark match. On Sunday's pay-per-view, Braun Strowman will look to continue his domination and wipe out the field in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, meanwhile, are set to compete in a loaded ladder match of their own.
Making the Case for The Miz to Win WWE Money in the Bank 2018
The briefcase set to hang above the ring at WWE Money in the Bank 2018 would be a mighty weapon in The Miz's hands. And it would be a joy to watch him wield it in the weeks and months following Sunday's pay-per-view. When Raw and SmackDown Superstars collide in the men's ladder match in Chicago, WWE will have a number of appealing options to chose from as the next Mr. Money in the Bank.
Latest Rumors and Preview for Final WWE SmackDown Before Money in the Bank 2018
WWE SmackDown's Superstars are poised to do some fine-tuning in the ring before Money in the Bank arrives. Both Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura have tough matchups in front of them before Sunday's pay-per-view. Bryan will mix it up with Shelton Benjamin in a battle of former United States champions. As for Nakamura, he will collide with the United States titleholder. Memphis will host those bouts plus a Money in the Bank summit.
WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 11
WWE Raw delivered a hit-and-miss go-home show ahead of Money in the Bank. The Superstars set to collide in ladder matches on Sunday's pay-per-view shone in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ember Moon, Sasha Banks and the Raw women were electric. The battle to keep Braun Strowman down was a thrilling precursor to the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Not every bout benefited from that kind of build, however. Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax's sit-down meeting limped along.
Latest Rumors, Preview for Final WWE Raw Before Money in the Bank 2018
With the countdown to Money in the Bank nearly over, Monday's WWE Raw has one last shot to generate buzz for the big event. The red brand will attempt to do just that by offering glimpses of Sunday's pay-per-view. That will include Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks and others taking on their Money in the Bank foes sans ladders as they look gain momentum before their ladder bouts at the PPV. Ronda Rousey will share the ring with Raw women's champ Nia Jax.
Dream Bouts That Could Have Been If CM Punk Never Left WWE
A number of new predators have emerged in the WWE ecosystem since CM Punk's divorce from the company following Royal Rumble 2014. The ever-shifting roster has welcomed former Ring of Honor world champions, showmen who made their name in Japan and a well-traveled prizefighter. Punk would have created magic in the ring against all of them. The Best in the World, though, was not around for their debuts or rises to the top. Frustrated and burnt out, Punk put WWE behind him.
Rock, Wrestling and Cruises: The Many Faces of Renaissance Man Chris Jericho
Some men are the acrobats. Some men are the clowns. Chris Jericho is the whole damn circus. It's hard enough to master all the elements of pro wrestling. One has to be an athlete, a showman and a self-promoter all rolled into one. Jericho has long gone beyond that realm, venturing out of the ring to seek success elsewhere. He's done that several times over. The former WWE world champion has celebrated victories in the ring, in print, on screen and on stage. His resume is as diverse as it gets.
Mapping Brock Lesnar's Road to Losing WWE Universal Championship
It won't just be the newly crowned champion who celebrates when Brock Lesnar loses the Universal Championship. WWE fans will have reason to rejoice. The Beast Incarnate has essentially held the title hostage. His constant absenteeism has sucked the life out of the Universal Championship scene and left Raw without a rudder. The leadup to The Conqueror's fall, though, could reenergize the red brand. WWE can turn the dethroning process into a stage on which several Superstars can shine.
5 Dream WWE Opponents for Shawn Michaels' Possible 'One-Off' Match
The fans chanting "One more match!" at Shawn Michaels may get their wish. The Hall of Famer cracked the door open on the possibility of a one-off return and visions of him mixing it up with the likes of AJ Styles and Seth Rollins have to be swirling in the WWE Universe's minds. The topic of returning to the ring came up when Michaels spoke with Jefferson Lake of Sky Sports recently.
WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 5
The Money in the Bank hype train churned along on Tuesday's WWE SmackDown. In Corpus Christi, Texas, the blue brand zeroed in on the June 17 pay-per-view. Every segment may not have been a hit, but it had a clear purpose related to the event. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura signed the contract for their WWE Championship. Asuka took on two foes to warm up for her SmackDown Women's Championship bout.
AJ Styles MITB Contract Signing: Latest Rumors, Preview for WWE SmackDown June 5
WWE SmackDown will zero in on Money in the Bank when it heads to Corpus Christi, Texas. The ladder matches fields are set. The card is complete. Now it's time for AJ Styles and the rest of the blue brand to get the audience invested ahead of the event. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will sign the contract for their WWE Championship match at the June 17 pay-per-view. Charlotte Flair and Lana will each have opportunities to soften up their Money in the Bank opponents.
Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens: Latest Rumors and Preview for WWE Raw June 4
Glimpses of the battles set for Money in the Bank are on their way on Monday's WWE Raw. Before Finn Balor and Kevin Owens trade blows at the June 17 pay-per-view in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match, they will do so in Houston, renewing an old rivalry. Nia Jax and Braun Strowman have opportunities to prep for the PPV, as well. Raw has spent several weeks constructing the Money in the Bank card and figuring out the ladder-match field. That side of things is mostly done.
WWE Doing It All Wrong with Sami Zayn on Raw...Here's How to Fix It
Sami Zayn's real rival on WWE Raw is the writing team. The former NXT champ has been saddled with a terrible feud, awful scripts and WWE's misguided interpretation of his character. He's doing the best he can, but he's in an impossible situation. Zayn is forced to bring a plastic toothpick sword to a fencing duel each week. Zayn vs. Bobby Lashley only started a few weeks back but has already reached all-time bad territory.
Win or Lose at Money in the Bank, Braun Strowman Poised to Be Star of the Summer
Braun Strowman will emerge from the wreckage he creates at WWE Money in the Bank surging with momentum. The chaos and carnage of the pay-per-view's signature ladder match will be his stage. And Strowman will flourish there. Whether he is the one to pull down the Money in the Bank briefcase or not, the behemoth is sure to create memorable moments of destruction that will make him the talk of the event. That's what he does best. Strowman's feats of strength force the audience to take notice.
Kevin Owens and the Top WWE Superstars Who Would Make Great Future Commentators
Kevin Owens is as skilled at cracking an opponent on the chin with a superkick as he is firing off zingers from the announce desk. The former universal champion isn't walking away from the ring anytime soon. He's in his prime at 34 years old and is one of the best all-around performers on Raw. When he's done wrestling, though, a second career awaits him. KO's appearances on commentary show glimpses of how good he would be in that spot on a full-time basis.
Daniel Bryan vs. Samoa Joe: Latest Rumors and Preview for WWE SmackDown May 29
Tuesday's WWE SmackDown won't just deliver the final Money in the Bank qualifier, it will give fans a dream match. Daniel Bryan will clash with Samoa Joe for the first time since 2006 when the blue brand heads to Raleigh, North Carolina. The beloved Bryan has one final shot to make the Money in the Bank ladder match field. He fell short against Rusev in his first try. Another big bruiser now stands in his way.
Meet the Unapologetic Fanbase of Roman Reigns: WWE's Biggest and Most Hated Star
Beneath the boos, you can hear them if you listen closely—Roman Reigns' ardent, loyal fans. They are graphic designers and college students. They are in the medical field and in accounting. They are in their 20s, 30s, 40s. They are men and women, kids and longtime fans. It's easy to forget they exist. No one gets a more visceral negative reaction at WWE events than Reigns. When he hits the entrance ramp anywhere from Newark to Montreal, boos rumble in the arena.
WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 28
Sasha Banks was the last woman standing on an uneven edition of WWE Raw. The Gauntlet match she won to earn a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match didn't get nearly enough space to spread its wings. This was nothing like the two-hour epic WWE put on earlier this year. Raw instead opted to cram the bout in the show's final moments after a night of slapstick, one-liners and sneak attacks. Seth Rollins defended the Intercontinental Championship again.
Last Chance Gauntlet Match: Latest Rumors and Preview for WWE Raw May 28
A fight for the final spot in the women's Money in the Bank ladder match is on its way on Monday's WWE Raw. Seven wrestlers, including Sasha Banks and The Riott Squad, will battle in a Gauntlet match. Whoever emerges from that grueling test will earn a place at the table at the June 17 Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Raw's last Gauntlet match was a thriller that stretched on for two hours. Anything close to as good as that would be a welcome sight.
Haters and Doubt Are Fueling the CM Punk UFC Circus as WWE Fans Patiently Wait
CM Punk doesn't have to be in the Octagon, or even in training, to take one on the chin. The shots come at him on a regular basis. UFC fighters mock him. Experts dismiss his chances. Fans envision embarrassing beatdowns. It's a continuous cycle, a guarantee that one won't have to wait long in between Punk talk. The latest jab at the former WWE star came from the man who interviewed him after his UFC debut.
Is Lana Set to Get a Bigger Push Than Rusev on WWE SmackDown Live?
The celebration lasted longer than the in-ring action when Lana defeated Billie Kay to earn her spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. A minute's worth of wrestling, Aiden English waving around a Lana Day sign and a Massachusetts crowd buzzing all added up to a sudden shift in momentum for The Ravishing Russian. The little-seen Lana now looks poised to saunter into the spotlight again, perhaps outshining her husband Rusev in the process.
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