JCup's Blog

Good day to everyone, especially the New York Knicks, who are on the verge of winning their first NBA Finals Championship since 1973. One more to go.  I wanted to expand on my thoughts regarding the CM Punk rumors and how the professional wrestling industry is covered. Joe & Rich from Voices of Wrestling opened the Flagship with this discussion, and I felt they both genuinely understood my intent behind going public with an unverified rumor. I found myself responding out loud, so I figured I'd write my responses and post them on the shitty blog. Let's start with a question posed by Joe:  Should reporters/journalists/wrestling media acknowledge unverified rumors? The Wrestling Media should acknowledge unverified rumors if they come from credible sources .  I'll use myself and the infamous "Cody story" I've been alluding to since he departed from All Elite Wrestling. I know with great certainty that several media outlets heard a very specific version of ...

Yours truly made a ton of noise yesterday afternoon after hosting a Stage on my Discord server, during which I revealed a rumor about CM Punk that had been circulating in certain circles of the pro wrestling industry. I followed up with a Twitter thread and a post on the F4W Board for those who weren't able to hear the audio, and Wrestling Twitter quickly buzzed. I've been accused of fabricating a story out of thin air because of my strong dislike of WWE and CM Punk himself, and the typical Fedcels have come out in droves to Stand Up for WWE.  I knew going public with a saucy rumor would invite personal attacks, but I'm a big boy who's capable of taking the hits. I'd like to take this opportunity not only to expand on what I heard (and when) but also to explain what I was hoping to gain from this. Let's jump right into it: The WWE Pay Cut "Reporting" I'm still pretty angry about how this was handled, though I have to accept that "off the recor...

The current Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling World Champion is facing impending free agency. Mike Johnson of PW Insider reported on Monday that Mike Santana's contractual obligations with TNA Wrestling are set to expire later next month, and noted WWE's prior interest in the 35-year-old pro wrestler. The industry expectation is that Santana will make the jump to The Fed, and I think it would be a massive mistake for him.  I must make this note before continuing: we do not  know what matters most to Santana, and he must make the decision that's best for him and his family. This article is strictly coming from the "all things being equal" perspective, and should be read as such.  Santana departed AEW in March of 2024 after reports of massive tension with his former longtime tag team partner, Ortiz, and with great frustration over his usage. He decided to bet on himself, became a 2-time TNA World Champion, and will very likely receive an offer from WWE. His decision s...

All Elite Wrestling has once again solidified its well-earned reputation as being the best pay-per-view buy-in in the history  of professional wrestling. It may sound like hyperbole given AEW's relatively short existence, yet I genuinely cannot recall a promotion consistently offering high-quality wrestling, promos, and storytelling on a near-monthly basis.  The 7th installment of Double or Nothing  was not just another memorable pay-per-view but one of the very best in history. Let's jump right into it: Pre-Show I've been down on the quality and presentation of AEW pre-shows for quite a while, but this was exactly the type of formatting and purpose I've been expecting. It began with Renee Paquette introducing the newest member to the AEW family: Mick Foley . I was anticipating an MJF interruption from the jump, and I'm glad they waited toward the end of the broadcast. It was great to see a legitimate legend like Foley being embraced by his near-hometown faithful, a...

In an effort to further establish corporate synergy, World Wrestling Entertainment announced that several of its superstars would be meeting and greeting fellow pro-fascists at this summer's  UFC: Freedom  Fanfest. This is the event to be held outside of the White House, which is currently occupied by a fascist administration filled to the gills with lunatics, racists, rapists, abusers, and any other despicable trait normally associated with MAGA.  One of the eight names announced for this KlanFest was Chelsea Green, a particularly popular performer with the Disney Adults from Hell. Green has used her soapbox to gently advocate for the very same human rights that her employer and most of her colleagues consistently vote against and lobby to deny, so many of her fans were dismayed at her inclusion in this event. A tweet from Twitter user @margaretencinos would spark explosive discourse, particularly from yours truly:  guess the check cleared https://t.co/JQOhQbK8EO ...

"I'm a WWE Superstar!" World Wrestling Entertainment has rapidly lost the graciousness it never deserved.  The conversation surrounding the company immediately following WrestleMania 42  has been incredibly grim, and TKO's increasingly disruptive presence should make even the most hardened Fedcel admit the honeymoon phase has long passed. A wide array of talent, from raw youngsters to industry veterans, was unceremoniously released. Then, the shocking news broke that the New Day were departing the only place they'd called home for nearly two decades, reportedly after declining TKO's request to restructure their contracts for lesser pay. It was Mike Johnson of PWInsider who revealed the next domino to fall: "a pretty majorly pushed" WWE talent was asked - and ultimately  accepted - a 50% salary reduction, with supplemental reports from various outlets revealing multiple  talents were approached with the same request from TKO. I've been very critic...

Ricky Saints finally  made his WWE main roster debut on Friday Night Smackdown, appearing in its opening segment to confront close friend and mega superstar Cody Rhodes. Saints drew a timid reaction from the Disney Adults and children in attendance, and would go on to lose his first match on the main roster to the Codester. I was preparing to write a long-form piece on how WWE was about to enter its sink-or-swim era with Saints serving as the avatar for my premise, when the stunning news broke the following morning: The New Day and WWE had mutually agreed to part ways.  The immediate reaction amongst fans and those within the industry was a mix of shock, disappointment, and ultimately hopefulness that the duo would likely continue on with All Elite Wrestling. That's not all, though. I couldn't help but notice a tone of resignation from both a devoted fanbase and the typical grifters who have spent the past three or four years touting the brilliance of Paul Levesque and Nick Kh...

In an effort to maximize profit margins and further debilitate the professional wrestling industry, the World Wrestling Entertainment engaged in its annual post- WrestleMania  roster purge. It's another soulless corporation that is laser-focused on padding the wallets of the top 1% at the expense of its own workforce; worse, Paul Levesque was awarded an extension to remain the company's Chief Content Officer despite rapid declines across various metrics. Corporate culture in a nutshell, folks! It's been a few days since The Purge, and the dust is starting to settle around these soon-to-be Free Agents. I'll be curious to see whether TKO attempts to enforce a non-compete clause against their former employers for more than 90 days, particularly those likely to jump to All Elite Wrestling. If we jump 90 days forward, we'd land on July 27th, about a month before All In  at Wembley Stadium. Let's see if this becomes a factor, another thorn in a prickly saga.  I've...

I find it utterly fascinating  when someone fires up a #HotTake for  thousands  of people to consume without first taking a long look  in the mirror. Conrad Thompson, a notable figure in the professional wrestling bubble for all the wrong reasons, decided to take his hypocrisy to an entirely new level. I made sure to double and triple-check that these sentiments came from his legitimate account, as opposed to someone impersonating him (or getting hacked), but, sure enough, it's real. Here's how it began: Joey gets a bad rap. He’s helped so many guys in the biz. Brodie rules too. Such a great family. But why is NXT catching strays? I don’t think Dave realizes that when he says stuff like this, it hurts the people he’s trying to compliment. No upside to making these comparisons. https://t.co/wHhgkGvodq — Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) April 23, 2026 For anyone still in the dark, Conrad was responding to a clipped Dave Meltzer quote, wherein he said, "Joey...

I don't feel the need to review this particular  Dynamite episode  segment by segment; instead, I'd like to share specific thoughts that occurred to me throughout the broadcast. Let's get into it: The Rise of Kevin Knight I expressed a similar sentiment last week, but it bears repeating: we are incredibly fortunate to witness Kevin Knight's ascension as one of the best wrestlers consistently featured on American television. It's exciting to see a hyped prospect not just meet expectations, but exceed them. He's a 29-year-old stud with the TNT Championship around his waist, holding his own in a promo battle with MJF. I'm genuinely excited to see their title match next week, and it's one I think Knight should definitely win. I hope AEW figures out their next licensing deal for action figures, because this kid needs one ASAP. Knight is the type of talent that will be very over with children and adults alike. He's unquestionably a future AEW World Champio...

The  build-up and culmination of  WrestleMania 42  confirmed many beliefs and suspicions, but none  more important than this: World Wrestling Entertainment serves as a perfect reflection of modern times, particularly in the United States.  The company is an avatar for what this great country is all about: greed, contempt, and unwavering support and devotion from a cult-like fanbase, who are far too stupid and proud to admit they've been duped by a collection of selfish, predatory ghouls.  Sounds familiar, alright. WrestleMania 42 was a soulless cash grab, a two-night event filled with nonsensical drivel that would make Vince Russo blush with embarrassment. I took immense  delight in seeing it all unfold, and it only hardened my belief that this company should die an unceremonious death. It's extremely difficult to feel  sorry for  anyone  who supports this gutless company; in fact, I sincerely believe they deserve it  and more....

We all felt the tension. We read or listened to the #HotTakes from our favorite (and hated) commentators, all offering various opinions of what Tony Khan should do with his promotion's World Championship. We tossed around scenarios and debated how effective they would be if properly executed. Quite honestly, something is intoxicating about watching a professional wrestling program with the expectation that a beloved babyface will finally win the big one.  We all have memories of Mick Foley's first WWF Championship win on Monday Night RAW in 1999, or Lex Luger submitting Hollywood Hogan with his signature Torture Rack to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship just two years earlier. Would this edition of Dynamite end in the same vein?  And from my point of view: yes, it did, though not without its faults. I faced an interesting duality when watching the 4/15 edition of Dynamite : I thought I was watching a strong American-style pro wrestling episode, yet a few of my fellow ...

A few days ago, I posted my thoughts on WWE's baffling creative ahead of WrestleMania 42 , particularly the inclusion of Pat McAfee as a focal point of one of their Mania main events. This particular post is easily the most-viewed on this little shitty blog, and I greatly appreciate all the kind words and feedback I've received since then.  I did receive some pushback, which is always to be expected when anyone criticizes the Epstein Class's favorite sports-entertainment promotion. This particular tweet caught my attention:  Late to the party but, from one new blogger to another (plug!) I'm curious as to your logic here specifically. I get disliking WWE as a company/product but outright hating it's fans, or fans of anything you don't personally like, strikes me as outright misanthropy tbqh. pic.twitter.com/SGMETUkUFY — OhhhNoItsJames (@OhhhNoItsJames1) April 12, 2026 The line that caused pause for OhhNoItsJames: " And there are some of you who are defen...