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Charlotte, Becky and Sasha join the Divas Revolution

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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For months fans have been waiting for an overhaul or at least an update in the WWE Divas division.  I think it's fair to say that's exactly what happened on the July 13 episode of Raw.  Three of the best from NXT appeared on the big stage as a part of Paige's Divas Revolution. As I write this Tuesday afternoon, Charlotte, Becky Lynch and NXT women's champion Sasha Banks remain on the NXT roster on WWE's website and are not listed as WWE Divas.

Putting these three young and talented women on the main roster is a breath of fresh air in a often forgotten division.  During the segment on Raw, Michael Cole said "take a look at the future of women's wrestling!"  That statement spoke volumes to me because rarely do you hear the words "women" (it's usually Divas) and "wrestling" (it's usually sports entertainment) on WWE programming.  I don't think the company is abandoning its trademarks, but it was nice to hear a brief break from the norm.

While the presumed transfer of these three women to the main roster is exciting for the division, I do have some concerns.  I hope the moves mean WWE Creative will put more thought into the Divas division, as it seems they focus on just the champion and a particular challenger most of the time.  I also hope that the likes of Natalya and Emma aren't lost in the shuffle.  

Finally, if Charlotte, Becky and Sasha are all leaving NXT, what's next for the few women left there?  Overall that group is so talented but the division is small on NXT.  I understand they're just doing an hour a week as opposed to the five hours the main roster does, plus specials on the WWE Network.  Will Sasha do double duty or drop the NXT Women's title and move on completely?  Time will tell.  I'm going to remain optimistic that it'll be a win-win for everyone involved and hopefully before the end of summer there's a new Divas champion.  Wooo!

Wrestling Gives Back

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Sometimes the men and women involved in professional wrestling are thought of as greedy and heartless.  There are cases of bad people in the business, but the WWE constantly gives back to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Special Olympics and Make-a-Wish among others.  That of course is a billion dollar corporation, but even smaller, independent companies give back too.  I've been a part of shows that have raised money for tornado and fire victims, cancer patients and children in need at Christmas.  

Sawyers & Diamond vs. Murdoch & Hills

Fans in southern Illinois, southeast Missouri and western Kentucky have a chance to help as wrestler "Farmer" Billy Hills puts together a benefit show for a boy named Danton.  Danton has autism and is losing his eyesight.  His family wants to purchase a service dog for the boy, but as you can imagine the dogs are expensive.  A night of wrestling is planned on Sunday, July 26 in Harrisburg, Illinois to help with those costs.

Hatton vs. Wyatt

Tickets are just $5 that night.  Doors open at 6 p.m. at Training Daze Gym (104 W. McHaney Street) in Harrisburg.  Bell time is 7 that night.  The card features a main event of Farmer and his partner former WWE tag team champion Trevor Murdoch against Dalton Diamond and Zakk Sawyers.  Heath Hatton (he was on Extreme Rule 2012 against Ryback) will take on Frank Wyatt.  The ladies will be in action too as Sarah Summers and "The Mississippi Queen" BeBe battle Keri Gold and Jennifer Justice.

Murdoch will also work with wrestlers before the show in a clinic for $25.  It'll be a great night of wrestling action, all in an effort to help a boy in need.  Learn more about the show in my podcast interview with "Farmer" Billy Hills.

Famer Friday: "Ravishing" Rick Rude

The Brain and The Ravishing One
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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New feature time on the My 1-2-3 Cents blog.  Each Friday I'll write about a wrestler, manager, announcer or referee who is not in the WWE Hall of Fame who I think should be.  The first selection is "Ravishing" Rick Rude.

As WCCW champion

My first memories of Rude came in the Apter magazines when he was wrestling in Florida.  Living in St. Louis, we didn't get Florida wrestling, but when he signed with World Class Championship Wrestling, he became a regular and one of the men I loved to hate.  He captured the company's championship and each week when he wrestled Kerry Von Erich, Lance Von Erich or Iceman King Parsons, I hoped for an end to his reign.  Rude's manager Percy Pringle usually helped him somehow walk out with the gold. "Gentleman" Chris Adams finally made that happen and Rude left and resurfaced in the NWA (Crockett Promotions).

Rude, Fernandez and Paul Jones

His run in the NWA was short, but highlighted with a tag team title reign with "The Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez.  I thought it was an odd pairing, but I liked them better than the popular Rock 'n Roll Express.  The heels didn't reign long though and Rude ended up in my favorite company the WWF by the summer 1987.  

By this time I wasn't cheering for just the good guys anymore.  I really enjoyed the character that "Ravishing" Rick Rude had become.  He hadn't really changed much from those early days, although I think it's fair to say he was more over the top.  Rick was even ruder than before and having Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in his corner definitely helped.  I loved his air brushed tights, his promos and his trademark finish "The Rude Awakening."

Rude wins the IC Title

Rude had a short run as the Intercontinental champion, beating the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania V.  I think the victory shocked a lot of fans in 1989 as the Warrior had been on a great role.  It was the smarts of "The Brain" that helped Rude get that victory, but unfortunately he dropped the belt back to Warrior a few months later at SummerSlam.  The two would feud again for the WWF Heavyweight championship a year later and I think if that match had happened in this generation, Rude would have no doubt had a run as champ.  

Sting vs. Rude

Rude headed back to WCW and was one of the company's top heels, feuding with Sting.  He held the U.S. championship and the NWA "world" heavyweight title, but never held the top prize in WCW.  After being injured and forced to retire from in-ring competition, Rude ended up briefly going back to WWF.  He was a bodyguard/mouthpiece for Triple H and Shawn Michaels in the original DX.   Through the years he had great matches with guys like Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Ric Flair to name a few.

DX & Rude

I know his quick departure back to Turner caused a stir in the wrestling world and I don't know if that's what's keeping Rude out of the Hall of Fame.  But as we've seen in the past, fences get mended and fans get to see their favorites inducted into the Hall of Fame (Bruno Sammartino, Warrior and Randy Savage).  Even though the honor would be posthumous, it's still something the Ravishing One deserves.

  

Tough Isn't Mean

The bottom 3
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

The new season of Tough Enough is still new enough that I haven’t learned all the contestant’s names. Doesn’t help that I missed the second episode. What I do know is there are only two contestants who have made an impression on me enough for me to remember them five minutes after the show ended. Unfortunately, both of those contestants were in the bottom three on this week’s episode. 

ZZ
Photo courtesy: WWE

On the guy side of the contest, as I mentioned on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page, if ZZ doesn’t walk out of the contest with a developmental contract, something’s wrong.  While he may not be the best athlete, ZZ has shown more personality in the first five minutes then the rest of the guys combined in two full episodes.  While he may never be a WWE Champion, ZZ could easily make a career out of being the comedy wrestler WWE seems to enjoy having on the roster. Given that ZZ is only 18, there is plenty of time for him to mature, get in shape and hone skills needed to be a serious competitor.

On the female side, one contestant stood out for me for the exact opposite reason why the judges condemned her. Paige has taken issue with Sara Lee for being too nice and not mean enough.  While I understand Paige’s criticism, I feel Paige is missing a bigger point. 

Sara Lee
Photo courtesy: WWE

By not being mean, Sara Lee is avoiding the trappings engulfing the other females. Granted, given the WWE main roster Divas only have two personalities, “crazy mean girl” or “crazier mean girl,” WWE creative won’t know what to do with Sara Lee should she win Tough Enough. 

However, when I watch Tough Enough and see the catty, petty fighting going on between South American girl, Blonde girl and the others, Sara Lee appeals to me as a human because she’s not a shallow mean girl. It’s a breath of fresh air to see someone who appears to be more concerned with trying to learn and do her best instead of engaging in social media insults.  

Sure, if Sara Lee has a huge smile on her face while getting a Horseman style beat down, that would be bad. However, being, for lack of better word, innocent could play into Sara Lee’s character.  Sara Lee could show up on NXT next week as Bayley’s BFF. Two happy go lucky girls trying to achieve their dream of being WWE Divas. Or, since Bayley is having a change of attitude lately, Sara Lee could try to convince Bayley to turn back to her loveable character which would ead to a feud between the two. 

So Paige, should you read this, don’t criticize Sara Lee for being nice, criticize the other girls for fostering the played out bitchy stereotype.  Sara Lee, if you’re reading this, continue to be you. Being tough and being mean don’t necessarily go together.

Tag Team Troubles... Again

The Usos
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Once again the tag team scene in the WWE is struggling to stay alive.  Three great teams have been sidelined recently due to injuries.  While I wish all three Superstars who are hurt the best in their recovery, I'm also concerned about how the absences will affect what seemed to be a rebounding division.

In April Jey Uso suffered a dislocated shoulder which required surgery.  Doctors say his road to recovery will be six months, which would put him back sometime October potentially.  

Kidd's surgically repaired neck
Courtesy @KiddWWE 

Tyson Kidd, who had recently formed what I consider the best team on the scene today with Cesaro, just underwent major neck surgery after suffering an injury in a match against Samoa Joe.  Kidd tweeted out a pic of his surgically repaired neck and explained the road to recovery will be long.  Speculation is that he'll be out for up to a year.   I feel bad for Kidd as I would argue he's one of the most underrated talents in the WWE.  Since forming the team with Cesaro, I felt like both men were finally getting some solid support from the team backstage.  It's a setback for sure, but I hope Kidd comes back stronger than before and ready to dominate again, hopefully with Cesaro.

Harper & Rowan
Photo courtesy: WWE

Erik Rowan and Luke Harper have finally reunited as a team.  The two were back together briefly before Rowan suffered a torn bicep and will likely be out until the end of 2015.  I really thought the reunion of the two would lead them to a run as tag team champions in the near future.  I hope when he returns, the opportunity to team with Harper again is there.

Ryder & Rawley
Photo courtesy: WWE

On NXT, a new duo has formed with Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley.  I like their spirit and energy and I wish the team nothing but success.  I really hope WWE focuses on developing a few more teams as it looks like three major ones on the roster will be on the sidelines for months to come.  Good luck to Uso, Kidd and Rowan on the road to recovery. You're already missed. The Prime Time Players, The New Day, LuchaDragons and Los Matadores need more competition.

Insane Inflatable 5K

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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My family recently headed to Evansville, Indiana for the Insane Incredible 5K.  Instead of writing all about it, I figured I'd let the video show you the fun.  The area with the giant beach balls was my family's favorite and my sons waited for me to arrive there before ambushing me.  This event is a great time and very family friendly.  Enjoy the show.

Are You Listening?

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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For 29 weeks now I've been doing a wrestling podcast on the Jittery Monkey Podcasting Network.  The show is also on iTunes, Stitcher and Poddirectory.  Each week I've had a new show drop (one week there were two shows) and people still seem surprised when I tell them I have a show.  That tells me that social media isn't as social as I thought, because like this blog I share my podcasts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and Reddit.

I'm slowly gaining listeners, but honestly the process is taking longer than I anticipated.  For example, I have a great interview up right now with WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend Mick Foley.  As of this post, less than 60 people have heard that show.  Maybe I shouldn't be admitting this, but I thought Episode 27: Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy would quickly outpace my most listened podcast featuring an interview with current WWE Superstar Sheamus.  That show by the way is just over 100 listens and is my most listened.  Indy star "Gentleman" Jervis Cottonbelly is a close second.

I'm writing about my podcast not to complain, but to hopefully drum up some interest.  I have several interviews available.  Besides Sheamus, Foley and Cottonbelly; I've done podcasts with Kamala, Jeff Jarrett and "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton.  Nigel McGuinness and other indy stars like Heath Hatton, Pokerface and "Golden Boy" Greg Anthony have all been on too.

I try to have an interview every week.  When I can't get a wrestler on the show, Chad and I provide some analysis.  We've talked about WWE Network shows, eulogized "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and handed out our annual Centy Awards.  

If you haven't listened and are a fan of wrestling, give it a try.  If you have listened and don't like it, let me know what I can do differently.  I'll be honest, this is a hobby that I'm hoping to take to the next level.  I would love to do more blogging, vlogging and podcasting.  Thanks for the support as always.