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CRITIQUE: KEVIN STEEN’S LETTER
Kevin Steen aka Mr. Wrestling spoke out today in letter form against his recent expulsion from Ring of Honor promotion and James E. Cornette. For those of you who don’t know Mr. Steen came back to ROH last Sunday at “Best in the World” pay per view and wrecked havoc all over New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom where he flattened his idol Steve Corino with a packaged piledriver. He also hurt Jimmy Jacobs, Corino’s friend and partner.
Kevin raised some interesting points in his letter and I think they should be spoken about. But first here is the letter for those of you who haven’t read it yet or can’t read as good as me.
Courtesy to ROH World:
The second I heard it, I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I will never forget.
So many things went through my mind…how could I end up in this situation? What can I do to fix it? Is it too late to change things? And most of all…how could I live without Ring Of Honor?
I heard the sound that signified my career in ROH was over and my heart sank. Actually, it felt more like it started bleeding.
You have all figured out by now that the sound I’m talking about is the referee coutning to 3 as Generico is pinning me for the victory at Final Battle. But many people thought that feeling in the pit of my stomach was regret…but as I showed everyone at the iPPV, it wasn’t.
I spent 6 long months trying to get rid of that feeling…the feeling of undeniable rage and betrayal that festered inside of me ever since that phone call. Remember that call Jimmy? The one where you told me back in October that if Generico and I didn’t stop this war immediately, one of us would have to go? I told you there was no way you’d have the guts to get rid of one of us and the next week, I decided to call your bluff and lay out the challenge for Final Battle.
I expected you to lose your fucking mind after I did it and I was right. You did. What I wasn’t right about is the fact that you’d beg me to reconsider. I’ll admit it, on that one, I was way off. I realized pretty quickly that you weren’t going to be manipulated like everyone else I dealt with. You made the match official and it got quite clear quite quickly who you and every other ROH ”official” were rooting for.
The match was 2 months away and I could already see all of you plan for ROH without Kevin Steen. It made me sick. I knew there was no way I could win this thing. Regardless of how the match went you’d just screw me over if you had to. You couldn’t have me running around beating the shit out of everyone and licking people’s blood when you were negociating with that nice big corporation that wanted to buy the company, which would ensure that the almighty Jim Cornette would always have a job in ROH and still matter in the wrestling world.
I really tried to let go of that anger but nothing I did helped. The closest thing to relief was when I got to compete in a PWG ring. But even that was bittersweet because after every match, people would come up to me and say ”How are you not in ROH anymore?”
Then I saw what they made Steve do…and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Steve Corino is the best. My idol. He is an exemple for everyone that wants to leave a mark on this industry. He’s one of the guys I watched as an aspiring wrestler that made me say ”I want to be like that guy!”
Of course, that was before he sold his soul for that company. That was before Steve Corino made the decision to cut his own balls off so that he could stay in ROH.
Steve Corino is a fucking legend and instead of embracing that, he turned himself into a apologetic, self-deprecating, pathetic shell of what he really is.
Steve used to come to the ring and beat the shit out of people. He used to come to the ring, bleed buckets and make people bleed. Now he comes to the ring wearing hockey jerseys and says he’s sorry so that fans applaud him. He wants to help the younger generation. He tries to make buddy-buddy with a fucking lumberjack. What kind of bullshit is that?
Where’s the Steve Corino that would take a fork and cut people open? Where’s the Steve Corino who pushed me to get more sadistic and evil than I ever even knew I could? Where’s Steve Corino, King of Old School?
I don’t know whether he genuinely believes this shit or whether he’s doing it to kiss ROH’s ass but I’ll say this, FUCK him for demeaning himself and FUCK ROH for either LETTING him or FORCING him to do it! And as far as Jimmy Jacobs is concerned, I don’t know him as well as I know Steve but it seems to me he got brainwashed into ripping his own balls off too. The unfortunate part is Steve made the mistake of thinking that he could change me as well. I actually can’t believe that possibility even occured to him. Maybe Jacobs put that in his head?
All I know is this: Steve, you need to understand that I don’t hate you. It’s quite the opposite. You are still my idol. I still respect you more than anyone I’ve ever met in the wrestling business. I still think of you and Colby as family.
But I will never castrate myself in order to make ROH, Cary Silkin, Jim Cornette or you, happy. I am the monster I am and I will never change. My name is Kevin Steen and I am the Antichrist of pro wrestling. I don’t need to drink or do drugs to be who I am. I am here to beat the fuck out of people and create as much chaos, pain and mayhem as I can and that’s always going to be my purpose.
I waited for 6 months to get a chance to come out, stand in the middle of an ROH ring and scream to the world what I’ve been feeling and I finally got to do it at Best In The World. But I didn’t do it just for me. I did it for a lot of people. I did it for the guys that gave years of their careers to ROH and got discared with no explanation like Necro Butcher, Austin Aries and Jimmy Rave. I did it for Gabe Sapolsky. I did it for my buddy Adam Pearce who poured his soul into that company before being thrown out like grabage. But most of all I did for myself, my wife and son, and for the old Steve Corino… the one that died in December when I got kicked out of the company.
There’s so much more I want to write about here but I feel this has been long enough already so let me close this off with one last thing.
Jim Cornette, please remember this:
You cannot keep me out of ROH. You can swear on your mother’s grave all you want…your mother’s grave doesn’t mean shit to me.
I will show up in ROH again, sooner or later. And when I do, it’ll be with one goal in mind…
To bring the whole fucking company down, for good.
See you soon..
Love,
KevOk first and most importantly Kevin talks about Jim Cornette’s dead mother which is a sign of disrespect. I know this letter is “worked shoot” but I think involking the name of the dead is going too far, especially in the content of a wrestling story. Kevin ought to know better and if he doesn’t he is going to have hell to pay or high water will rise.
Next off, Kevin Steen has been barred by ROH officials including James to not come into any arena, and failure to do so will result in dear consequences. I think this is a good idea in my opinion. Steen showed Ring of Honor how much he hated them by saying “F*CK RING OF HONOR” on Sunday and its clear to me that he does not like it there and he would be much better served elsewhere. He should talk to Gabe Sapolsky about a job in New Jersey with Evolved. They put on good wrestling there. He would fit in.
He should also be cool when talking about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Calling himself “The AntiChrist or wrestling” is offensive by my standards and should be best left for the churches. Soon some day Kevin Steen will have to answer to God almighty and believe me, he will not like to conduct that meeting. I heard the big guy upstairs is a big fan of grappling which is why you hear so much about Owen Hart and the Blue Blazer and Test Albert being in Heaven while guys like Eddie Guerrero are in Hell. Randy Orton confirmed this on an episode of “Smack Down.”
Bringing in Colby Corino, Steve’s child, into this mess is disgusting and uncalled for Steen. I think it was very rude of you. How dare you. I think Kevin “Kev” should apologize and maybe work on his offensive words because someday they are going to hurt people more than his taped fists ever could or should. Overall I think Kevin is a good wrestler who is very entertaining but his actions here were rude and uncalled for. He should apologize and talk to Carey Silkin about a job (Carey owns Ring of Honor). He’d probably have to start small probably cleaning dishes or talking to the younger wrestlers and asking how they’re going but before long he could be back in the main events drawing money by the dollar full.
Kevin, please say sorry. I already sent this letter to The Miz “TMZ” (he has his own website on the internet) and I will let you know sometime what he has to say about this, but I’m sure he is none to please. OK, thanks guys and remember, this is just my take.
-WC
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REVIEW: BRIAN DANIELSON AND DERRICK BATEMAN VS. TITUS O’NEILL AND DARREN YOUNG
Match: Bryan Danielson and Derrick Bateman vs. Titus O’Neill and Darren Young
Event: NXT Season 5
Year: This year
Referee: Scott “Little Naitch” Armstrong
Rating: DUD (out of a possible 5)In Brief: First off and foremost, I love the tandem of the American Dragon and Derrick Batman. Both are great comedy wrestlers, especially Dragon. His facial expressions coupled with his high-flying style of “in your face” offense makes a smile appear on my face. I must also say I do not like Titus and Darren who seem to have been paired together because they are black guys and WWE thinks all black guys wrestle the same. This is not true unless your talking about the Nation of Domination. Also Titus wrestles a “strong style” and Young wrestles what’s called “sports entertainment.” There’s a difference.
Derrick Bateman looks rusty here. Danielson doesn’t get much moves in but when he does hit he soars. He hit a German Suplex and a sky-diving headbutt like the Wild Pegasus used to do but I thought that move was banned? No Labell Lock from Dragon this time around. Titus gets in some good solid moves and Darren looks like a buffoon in there! Serious this guy cannot wrestle - or as William Regal says “compete.” If he wins this “competition” I will be seriously so man.
Bateman picks up the W for his team with a sitout front face-locking DDT or it might have been a bulldog. It looked pretty cool but again, Bateman looked bad here and Danielson kept smiling? OK.
Plusses:
+ Titus did the dog bark
+ Bateman’s hair is funny
+ Referee Scott lives up to his name as “Little Naitch”
+ Crowd is quiet and respectful of these competitorsMinuses:
- Dragon looks tired
- Bad selling from all including Bateman
- No psychology what so ever (they need to go back to class)
- The referee counts like he’s trying on an invisible glove
- Titus and Darren have no theme song so they use the NXT song
- No Labell Lock (Daniel’s finish)
- Danielson thinks he’s Chris Benoit with his moves (offensive)
- Not enough high offense
- Everything is so racist (black against white, this isn’t checkers)
- Looks like Derrick messed up his own finisher move (sitout DDT slam)
- Dragon looks too happy
- Dragon points too much
- Bateman is not funny (William Regal says this)
- I was so bored with this one
- The match was too long
- Nobody in the crowd seemed to care
- The yellow ropes proved distractingFinal verdict:
What a lame match. Do not watch this match it will put you to sleep, it sure did me. Five minutes was too long for this one. Why was Danielson hanging out with three rookies? Doesn’t he have any better plans for his life right now? I think the referee called this one early because it was so stupid. Grade-A snoozer. Darren Young is boring.
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REVIEW: ALEX RILEY “A-RY” VS. MIKE “THE MIZ” — WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, 7-4-11
Match: Alex Rile “A-Ry” vs. “The Miz”
Event: Today’s Monday Night Raw (7-4-11)
Year: 2011
Location: Las Vegas
Referee: (Unknown)
Rating: * (out of a possible 5)In brief: Oh come on. This is the 30th time these two have squared off in the WWE squared circle (including house shows and dark matches) and I don’t think the fans really care anymore. WWE has been trying to get “A-Ry” over more and more as a babyface to play off Miz’s heel tweener character, but who is the most awesome of them all? Miz comes down to the ring wearing a baseball shirt on the Fourth of July and Riley struts to the ring wearing a leather vest. He is not carrying his metallic brief case this time though.
Decent contest I guess, lots of concussive blows being thrown between the two men. Riley gets the upper hand early and lands some stiff chips to Mike’s chest region. Miz counters back with a couple DDTs including one of the reverse variety. I like Miz, he is good at selling but Alex looks like a log out there, all stiff and full of bark but no bite. Which is funny to me because he looks of a dog who needs to be put to sleep. Miz does just that after Alex wins the match with a big boot in 14 minutes as the two brawl to the outside. Miz hits a lot of offense on Alex and sends him to the barricade and then the announcer table.
Plusses:
+ Alex is big over with the fans
+ Mike has some cool moves he puts on display tonight
+ Riley is fast
+ The referee made me believe with his counts
+ The brawl to the outside was fine
+ I love the guard rail spots
+ Good maneuvers between these guysMinuses:
- I feel like I’ve seen this contest a million times
- Alex Riley looks so green out there
- Alex can work on his selling
- Very little psychology between these two hosses
- The Miz looks generic
- The Miz looks so much like A-Ry
- I hate the nickname A-Ry
- The referee should’ve kept better control
- Too much outside action
- Selling could be better
- The fans weren’t too into this one (come on)
- This match needed a stipulation
- Alex should have lost to keep Miz’s steam going
- Michael Cole kept cheerleading for the Miz (bad comments)
- It was over too quickly
- Alex looks like The Miz and Vince VaughnFinal Verdict:
Another generic match between these two superstars. It bored me to tears and I normally don’t cry when watching wrestling. I think the Miz and Riley have OK chemistry and they might even be going places but not yet. Don’t watch this match it will put you to sleep like A-Ry should be.
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REVIEW: BRIAN DANIELSON VS. PAUL LONDON — ROH “THE EPIC ENCOUNTER 2001”
Match: Brian Danielson “The American Dragon” vs. Paul London
Event: Ring of Honor Epic Encounter
Year: 2001
Location: London?
Referee: Paul Turner
Rating: ** (out of a possible 5 stars)In brief: This was the third time these two faced off in this Ring of Honor promotion and I’m glad I didn’t have to see the other two match-ups, because this one wasn’t that good. The announcers sold it like it was good but it wasn’t that good. Lots of boring offense from these two with very little psychology between them. Danielson, for example, works London’s leg, even getting him to tap out at one point, but it’s OK, London still wins with the Shooting London Press while Dragon was under the ropes.
Lots of no-selling from each man. Neither of these two knows how to sell, which is probably why there weren’t so many fans in the stands. I liked the London Star move and the Cattle Mutilation submissions from Danielson. That was fine. Paul London threw too many head butts. Brian Dragon threw too many hard strikes. This isn’t a UFC fight, you guys, you should know this. Anyway, London gets the win at 40-something with his finishing maneuver which he calls the Shooting London because he does it the best of anybody.
Plusses:
+ This is a fun match for taking place over 10 years ago
+ No annoying guard rails, no annoying guard rail banging
+ London’s move is cool
+ Danielson wears Royal Blue instead of his trademark purple tights
+ The entrance music used by London was awesome (Kill Bill music)
+ The camera man reminds me of Eric Matthews from Boy Meets World
+ Filming quality is pretty good for 2001Minuses:
- Referee Paul Turner is too fat
- I could see Paul London’s testicles through his biker shorts
- The fans couldn’t make up their mind in this one (dueling chants, annoying)
- The match is too long
- Too many falls (three instead of the normal one)
- Not enough near falls
- Brian looks like Mark from Home Improvement
- I think Paul was high during this match (typical)
- Both men were out of shape (Daniels especially)
- The fans were out of shape
- The fans should’ve sat down more
- Too slow-paced and plodding
- The referee counted too fast all the time
- Poor selling; it looked like they were sleeping half the match
- The commentators kept talking about Necro Butcher (who?)
- The match stayed in the ring too long/not enough outside action
- Brian should have wonFinal Verdict:
Don’t watch this match. I want 40 minutes of my life back and I don’t think I will get them back. I could’ve cooked a home-cooked meal in the time it took to watch this match. I had macaroni and cheese on the brain, not no-selling and boring pale boys headbutting each other until it hurts.
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Mission Statement: Wrestle Critique’s mission
Hey guys,
As you can see I love wrestling and I love critiques, so this is a blog dedicated to that as well as the best wrestling journalism and reviews on the world wide web (WWW). Please follow me for the best reviews and some journalism you won’t even believe.
A little about me, I’m 23, I’ve been watching wrestling since I was a kid (14 or 15 or so) and I love it. I think what makes a good wrestling match is a good crowd, great psychology and great selling. My favorite wrestlers of all-time are “The Rocket” Owen Hart, Bob Holly, Chris Hero, Kane, Brian Danielson and the greatest of all-time, Shawn “Heartbreak Kid” Michaels. I also like MMA but I won’t be talking about them unless they’re part of wrestling, like Dan “Beast” Severn and Ken Shamrock.
I will be reviewing shows and matches, which I give stars out to (out of 5). A perfect match in my opinion is between two greats who hate each other, have a personal rivalry and psychology. I will be awarding bonus points for selling as that is important. I also look for hard work, well-placed high spots and hot crowds.
OK, thanks for reading and tell me about your friends.
-WC
