When Raymond Rowe called out Shane Taylor at Ring of Honor’s August 2016 Death Before Dishonor in Las Vegas, this challenge was certainly no coincidence. See, Rowe’s miraculous recovery and inspiring story was anything but ordinary. And his recognizance of Shane Taylor’s journey to this point likewise far from happenstance. Simply put: these are two […]
Author: The Intercontinental Belt
Always looking for a kendo stick to turn the tide, I re-discovered professional wresting after a nearly 20 year hiatus.
SPOTLIGHTS: Where Have All the Managers Gone?
As I introduced Huracanrana to a childhood fave in Greg Valentine, something peculiar occurred to me: what the heck happened to all the great managers in professional wrestling? Sure, there are the occasional valets, but when’s the last time a truly great manager…other than perhaps Truth Martini…was expected to play a prominent role in every […]
ATHLETE APPRECIATION: Matt Taven
Long on the road to recovery and often overshadowed by highest profile tag team partners, it’s easy to under-appreciate Matt Taven. New Hampshire’s Michael Marinelli remains a core figure in the upper tier, independent wrestling scene, the man of a million moves and throwback 80’s hair. It’s natural to take Matt Taven for granted as […]
WRESTLING 101: The (Anti-) Social Media World of Pro Wrestling
Arguably no professional sport allows for the extensive interaction between athletes and its fans than pro wrestling. Even more so in independent wrestling, where fan loyalty can be the singular determination between promotion survival and disappearance. This becomes evident in the aforementioned merchandise table, where fans are encouraged to interact – via dollars, handshakes, and […]
WRESTLING 101: The Less Obvious Experience Discrepancy of In-Person versus TV Events
Huracanrana and I are fortunate peeps, both because we live in a hub of independent wrestling (Tampa, FL), likewise within walking distance to a terrific venue well suited for bigger stage offerings. Thus, we had little excuse not to attend WWE’s Monday Night Raw earlier in the week. Disclaimer: if you’re looking for a piece […]
LIVE EVENTS: Why ‘Money in the Bank’ May be the Best PPV Format of All
While this site deliberately tries to stick to independent wrestling discussion, there’s no shame in occasionally bringing up big brother WWE. Truth be told, Huracanrana and I wrote a fair number of pieces on the shortcomings of the world’s most famous professional wrestling promotion. Critiques on body type, gender presentation, financials, and the ‘jobbing’ concept […]
WHAT PRO WRESTLING MEANS TO ME: Tom Filsinger
No conversation about independent wrestling is complete sans reference to Tom Filsinger (aka former manager ‘Dark Menace’). Arguably few champion the cause of small to mid-size promotions and their athletes/talent better than his Filsinger Games. The ‘Legends of Wrestling’ tabletop game – via original art and custom cards – remains a mainstay among indy wrestling […]
ATHLETE APPRECATION: Jonny Vandal
The thing about Jonny Vandal is he’s been so good…for so long…and in so many ways…one almost takes it for granted. I did a double take in realizing there wasn’t already an ‘Athlete Appreciation’ on WrestlingInFlorida.com dedicated to this terrific talent. We first spoke of Vandal last August as one of five indy wrestlers you […]
SPOTLIGHTS: What are the Limits of Product Placement?
A core tenet of this site is too avoid excessive critique. Still when the WWE employed Epico and Primo (formerly of ‘Los Matadores’) as part of a new ‘Visit Puerto Rico’ ad campaign, an uncomfortable line was crossed. Specifically, ‘The Shining Stars’ – as their new tag team configuration is termed – is the product of […]
WRESTLING 101: Re-falling in Love with Stables
An incredible thing happened in the past 12 months of pro wrestling. Where there was once only a handful of true ‘stables’ (3+ members of a named faction, with a clear babyface/heel designation), there stands a lifeblood of both WWE and independent wrestling promotions. When speaking of stables, of course the New Day and Bullet […]
WRESTLING IN FLORIDA: An Insider Look at Professional Wrestling 