It’s that time of year again.
Our gear is full, a series of survivors is on the horizon, the leaves fall, and the first frost of the year coats the ground. What’s truly important this time of year is what we’re thankful for in the world of wrestling.
Zack Heydorn
When you think about it, it’s been a wild year for pro wrestling. A wild year and still a month to go. I’m thankful for a lot in this business, but five things stand out above the rest.
5. Women’s Wrestling
As a Dad to two daughters, I find it so enjoyable watching women across the industry vault into various opportunities, main events, and impactful positions on cards around the world. Rhea Ripley, Mercedes Mone, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Guilia, Stephanie Vaquer, Mariah May, Toni Storm, Roxanne Perez, and countless others have stepped up their game to become synonymous with the promotions they work for. Not so long ago, a vision like what we’re seeing play out today was faint.
4. The AEW TV Deal
The TV deal that AEW signed with Warner Brothers Discovery this year is important for the pro wrestling industry. Yes, we debated the pros and cons of the deal, but the bottom line is, AEW is going to be around for a while, and that’s good for pro wrestling. More competition levels up everyone’s game and allows for talent to make more, while fans are enjoying more.
3. WWE On Netflix
WWE running their Raw television product on Netflix is a coup for both companies. Netflix gets regular programming at what will inevitably look like a cheap rate in 10 years and WWE gets in front of a massive amount of new eyeballs. Streaming is the way of the future and WWE has locked down the biggest distributor in that space. This means more fans and a big time product.
2. Damian Priest
I love watching stars do star things. I really love watching stars, who weren’t necessarily primed to be stars, do star things. The latter is what happened to Damian Priest this year. In April, Priest won the world championship and turned what could have simply been a transitional run as champion into a star making run that today nets him some of the strongest babyface pops in pro wrestling. At one time, Priest was firing fake arrows at a screen and watching the screen display fire during his entrance. Now, he’s wrestling in main events, title matches, and helping carry Raw on his shoulders.
1. The Bloodline
I mean, what else is there to say about The Bloodline story in WWE? It’s the best story WWE has told in the last 20 years and arguably the best storyline in company history. It’s pro wrestling mixed with family mixed with soap opera and it features the biggest stars that WWE has to offer. The story makes WWE appointment viewing and is directly responsible for the uptick in WWE momentum in 2024.
Tyler Sage
My evergreen item is — and always will be — that we have two vibrant and healthy (financially) companies in North America. While I may not love everything, or sometimes even most of what either WWE or AEW do on the small screen, I will always be thankful that they are both with us for the foreseeable future.
On that same note, I’m thankful for being able to watch at least two hours of wrestling, five nights of the week, and more when PLE/PPV shows appear on Saturdays or Sundays. While I’m not thankful for three hour shows, I am thankful that I can record and fast forward through parts I’m not vibing with.
Another thing I am thankful for is the emergence of Swerve Strickland and Damian Priest as legit World Champion acts that are just a step below Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes in the minds of wrestling fans. If we’re being honest, that is the only group that matters, since Swerve, Priest, Roman and Cody all have about as much pop culture cache as each other.
Finally and most importantly, I am thankful for you. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. You decide to read, listen and watch Zack and I do our thing in the wrestling space. For that, I will be forever grateful.
What are you most thankful for in the wrestling industry? Let us know in the comments!
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