Wednesday’s “Wrestling Reality with Justin LaBar” podcast on TribLIVE Radio is now available.
The show opens up talking about how it’s not too late for Jack Swagger in WWE:
I hope it’s a rebirth, a new chapter, revitalization, it is hope for one Jack Swagger. He jumped ship to SmackDown, in the real life dynamic it’s very appropriate. They could use the depth. He might be one of the most grossly under and misused talents ever in WWE. YEs, I understand I’m saying that about a guy who actually had a world title run. Yes, he has been involved in WrestleMania. But for what he’s capable of, WWE has missed a lot of boats with the University of Oklahoma graduate. Jack Swagger is only 34 years old. I say only because he’s been in WWE for so long, since like 2007. I thought he was older. Only 34, meaning right in that peak age.
I continue on to talk about how they could use Swagger and how tough he legit is. To see the entire opening thoughts on him, watch the video below.
The podcast continues…
5:30: My match at House of Hardcore in Pittsburgh and how to get tickets.
7:00 The Dean Ambrose I want to see and the promo with John Cena
13:00: Erick Rowan is back with Bray Wyatt, what I think the reason and plan might be:
Erick Rowan is back in The Wyatt Family. WWE creative seems to have a Taylor Swift like relationship with The Wyatt Family. On again, off again. Happy days, sad days. They did team Monday night at a live event in Virginia. I didn’t think much of that because sometimes what happens at those events doesn’t line up with what’s on TV, it’s just to fill spots for those shows. Having seen Rowan now back with Bray Wyatt, then that to me says that WWE realizes we don’t want to abandon The Wyatt Family after all, again. With reports of Luke Harper of at the Performance Center getting closer to TV, they want to put him maybe on SmackDown and they figured let’s keep the family around.
18:40: Vince McMahon injured himself:
I found it odd they were reporting this. Had they not, it might have gotten out but I guess they felt responsible to say here’s the Chairman and he got hurt. We heard he tore his quad doing squats. The best part of the report is WWE alerts us he’s hurt, going to have surgery but he’ll be back in the office by Wednesday. I can picture Vince making that a must. This is a guy who hates sleep. Hates missing work. Can you imagine the torture that someone if going to force him to go to sleep when operated on. Kevin Nash is right, the guys is an android. He’ll live forever, him and the cockroaches will be the last to survive.
21:45: WWEBloggerDiva, Isa joins the show to talk her thoughts in this week’s WWE.
30:40: CWC Finals tonight
32:20: How much do RAW ratings matter anymore?
40:50: Chat with Grandfather Jim who worked with pro wrestling shows in the 90s and allowed me access and really inspired me to want to work in anyway with the business:
LaBar: I think 1997 was the first show we did. Does that sound right?
Jim: That sounds right. Jake [the promoter] brought it down to Calvert County, Maryland at the schools and that’s when we started. I was just helping him out. Everybody chipped in and that’s what we did. I knew you had an interest in it. I figured you weren’t really skilled in anything so maybe I can get you a future in wrestling and some experience.
LaBar: I wasn’t real good in math, wasn’t going to make it elsewhere.
Jim: That’s right. I’d bring you to the locker room and you soaked up them planning their matches. Then we moved into picking them up to and from airport. I took you along because I didn’t have to hold the conversation. I learned you had some talent with you knew how to talk to them and eventually those talents will pay off for you. And look, they are paying off now.
LaBar: It was fun as a kid to peak behind the curtain and learn about them, like George The Animal Steel being a physical education teacher.
Jim: Yeah, you learn about the person and not just the character they are playing.
The conversation continues about Mable, not wanting to talk to The Headbangers, Bam Bam Bigelow yelling at me as a prank, women’s wrestling and more.
