Global Force Wrestling hasn’t yet staged a PPV. Or aired a television show. Or staged a house show. Or signed a wrestler.
What, Jeff Jarrett can’t agree to terms with himself or the missus? (Karen Smedley-Angle-Jarrett will be front and center. Heck, that’s a big reason for Jeff bothering to do this.)
But people are talking about GFW. Jim Ross did, indirectly.
Ross said he’d like to do play-by-play for a Tokyo Dome show. GFW is co-opting New Japan’s 1.4.15 Tokyo Dome show, ostensibly for PPV broadcast in the U.S. under the GFW banner.
Ross = EXPOSURE.
Add C.M. Punk to the equation as color commentator. MORE EXPOSURE. Darkly hint that Punk may wind up being even more involved.
Not sure about Punk’s interest in doing something like this. Not sure about the details of his WWE contract no-compete.
But Ross and Punk at the mic for GFW’s first PPV makes that show, at the very least, a curiosity buy for WWE fans. Those two have not been forgotten.
Signing up those two would cost righteous bucks. But signing up those two gives that PPV a chance. Without them, none exists. They come for the announcers. Maybe they’ll stay for the action.
DEL RIO + LUCHA UNDERGROUND = BAD MIX
Alberto Del Rio is rumored to be working for Lucha Underground at some point.
He shouldn’t.
Konnan’s involvement with Lucha Underground makes me hesitate before saying that. If anyone can Americanize Lucha, it’s Konnan. Konnan is a keen wrestling mind. But I’m not sure how much input Konnan has with Lucha Underground.
But Del Rio should just do AAA. Del Rio’s departure from WWE was not amicable, and he has set himself up as having been wronged by WWE because he’s Latino. As standing up for his Latino brethren, colleagues and culture. Whether that’s true or not, it sets him up for a hot babyface run in AAA.
Del Rio’s kayfabe nobility and integrity might appear compromised by doing a cheap Lucha knockoff for some gringo U.S. producer. Unless the money is overwhelming – which it won’t be – Del Rio should pass.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
