Brady Hicks sent this recap in:
This week, Pro Wrestling Illustrated contributing writer Brady Hicks, plus DJ and Anthony Sarlo, are joined IN THE ROOM by a very special guest: former WWE and ECW star AL SNOW! Take it all in as the former WWE star (and current TNA agent) plugs his upcoming Mondo Wrestling A Go Go show at the Danny Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, 6/24 and 6/25. Plus, check out Al’s thoughts on WWE and TNA renaming their product, what wrestling needs to be big once again, and how the developmental system could be and should be fixed. A must listen for fans of any wrestling promotion! Check it out at thebradyhicks.com.
For a direct link to the show:
http://thebradyhicks.com/podpress_trac/web/4162/0/2011-06-21%20al%20snow.mp3
How TNA is Positioned For the Future:
I can tell you this … I have been impressed with just how hard everybody seems to work there. It’s just impressive. From the talent down, everybody really busts their hump and really puts in the time and the effort and the passion when it comes to those TV shows and pay-per-views … Sitting in those meetings, nobody ever says “Let’s just do this.” Everything is agonized over. Every single person works really hard, I couldn’t single one out.
On WWE and Impact Wrestling’s Recent Name Changes:
WWE taking it out? I don’t care. They can call it whatever they want. They can call it farming. At the end of the day, it’s professional wrestling. That’s what they’re selling. Tell me one completely brand new thing that is now fake that is different or unique from TNA, from Mexico, from All Japan Pro Wrestling, from New Japan Pro Wrestling, wherever.
The Difference Between Setting Up Independent Shows and Doing Similar Work for TNA:
How is [anything] different than TNA? Not really. Different perspectives or ideas, different talent, and that’s a BIG thing … Wrestling as a whole is and should always be entertainment. The reclassification that it’s no longer wrestling and that it’s entertainment is really just an attempt to say they reinvented the wheel and made something different. But I was there for 13, 14 years … and when the pyro stops, the music ended, and the bell rings, I’m really curious about what is done different in the one place than in the other.
Why Wrestling Has Become Less Popular:
Everybody has played other sports growing up. You connect to it. That’s why hockey has got a bigger following in Canada, more people have played it. That’s why soccer is more popular in the rest of the world, everybody has played it. That’s why it’s going to continue to grow in the US, more kids play it. That’s why more men like sports than women. What happens with wrestling is that people are attracted to the characters and to the personalities. The only thing that has changed between 1911 and 2011 is that the crowd has gotten more sophistocated.
On His Mondo Wrestling A Go Go Show:
It’s an adult circus, that’s the best way to describe it. It’s a combination of burlesque, aerial acts, circus acts, fire dancers … drag queens, drag KINGS – the lesbian equivalent of women that dress up as men – …, got a guy who has a fire whip … very intriguing, and then wrestling matches, the way I can best describe it is very old-ECW-like where the referees are just there to count the fall.
All that, plus Al Snow compares wrestling to the UFC, his thoughts on Tough Enough (and compared to The Ultimate Fighter), Brock Lesnar, the future of Impact Wrestling as it continues to grow, and recreating territories.
Also on the site: Brady’s thoughts on Austin Aries on Impact, and Ratboy’s undefeated prediction streak continues with WWE Capitol Punishment. Weekly Show Schedule:
Monday – Wrasslin’ Roundup with The Wrestling Press’ Matt Roberts
Tuesday – IN THE ROOM
Wednesday – Minding The Business with “Dr. Wrestling” Rich Jones
Thursday – VOC Wrestling Nation (formerly 1Wrestling Radio)
Friday – What’s Wrong With Wrestling with Harry Barnett
Saturday – Completely Damaged TV
Saturday – Saturday Night Akbaz with Mr. Akbaz
Sunday – WrestleDope Radio LIVE
Sunday – Carny Knowledge with Matt “Doink” Borne
Thanks for supporting the IN THE ROOM podcast on thebradyhicks.com. To leave a message for the show, you can e-mail us at intheroompodcast@gmail.com or call (206) 337-1031. And while you’re at the site, be sure to check out great interviews with AJ Styles (8/9/10), Kurt Angle (10/8/10), Sunny (3/21/11), Don West (12/13/10), Serena Deeb (11/8/10), Madison Rayne (6/8/10), and Kevin Thorn (10/25/10).
Brady Hicks has been writing about wrestling for more than 15 years, for Web sites, newspapers, and magazines. He is a contributing writer for Pro Wrestling Illustrated and is also the host of his acclaimed weekly podcast – IN THE ROOM.