My Thoughts On The Rock Coming Out of Retirement to Face Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania XL

Credit: Cultaholic

It's been awhile since I posted anything on here. Wrestlemania is WWE's flagship PPV of the calendar year. As an avid wrestling fan since grade school, it's a pro wrestling event that I have looked forward to every spring. With the season fast approaching, one particular match in particular I was stoked for was the anticipated rematch between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

At Wrestlemania 39, The American Nightmare fought the Tribal Chief in a hard fought contest. Things were going really well with Cody getting the upper hand, laying out Roman with multiple Cross Rhodes. Just when it appeared he had him beat, Cody failed to finish the story when Solo Sakoa, despite being barred from ringside earlier, interfered in the match to cost him the match. The crowd was left stunned and somewhat baffled by the result. In the months that passed, there have been mixed opinions in the online wrestling community whether it was the right decision not to put the belt on Cody. Fast forward into 2024, he would go on to win the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row, solidifying himself as the number one contender for the top prize of his choosing: Raw's World Heavyweight Title or Smackdown's Universal WWE Title. As the PPV ended, Cody turned his attention to Roman from the sky box indicating to be the one he would be challenging for the belt. Optimism was in the air after that night. By the end of the week, however, that joyful fan in me began to witness the football deflating in front of my eyes.

After making a surprised appearance on the first Raw of the New Year, The Rock popped back on Smackdown aka The Rock show aka the show he helped built nearly 25 years ago. While Cody came out to confront Roman, rather than challenging him to a Universal Title rematch at the Showcase of the Immortals, he opted NOT to use his title clause. Instead, the Rock came out to the arena to confront Roman, teasing a marquee match that will take place at Wrestlemania XL. Like many of the passionate folks in the wrestling fandom, I'm heartbroken.

What in the world is WWE thinking? In 2022, Cody made his return at Wrestlemania 38 after a brief stint in AEW. They've been crafting a character arc for him to rise to the cream of the crop by winning the big gold belt that his family members never got to hold. His performance against Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell was infamously remembered for his performance despite working injured. When he won the first of 2 Royal Rumble matches, Cody went on to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Title at Wrestlemania 39 in a losing effort; Not just losing clean in the ring but under shady circumstances that screwed him out of the title. Despite a bump in the road, Cody spent a majority of 2023 feuding with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, & the entire Judgment Day faction. So you're telling me that he spent a whole year rebuilding his momentum that even though he won the Rumble twice, he's just going to sacrifice that opportunity to a Hollywood action star who hadn't wrestled a match in over a decade? Not surprising yet very disappointing. 

Don't get me wrong. I loved watching the Rock. He was one of my favorite wrestlers growing up at a time when wrestling became white hot again in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Along with Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan, they were the gateway in regards to my interest in the "sport." It reminded me of a time before Social Media where I'd get together with my sister and my late father every Monday and Thursday night watching Raw Is War and Smackdown respectively. Rock's charisma, physique, and his ability to cut savage promos on his rivals were what had me invested in him as a character. Then Hollywood came calling. Overtime, he started to appear on TV less and less. By 2005, WWE cut ties with the Rock as he ventured forward into the world of acting.

When he returned in 2011, the fan in me cried with joy. His initial match with John Cena at Wrestlemania 28 was phenomenal. The one year build and the promos they cut along the way really had me invested in their program. The year after that, they attempted to capitalize on that success with a rematch, this time with the WWE Championship on the line. However, it didn't go well with the audience in attendance. That same night, Rock tore his abdomen by the end of the match. As Cena celebrated with the WWE Title back around his waist, many fans believed to be The Rock's final match as a competitor (I don't count the squash match he had with Erik Rowan at Wrestlemania 32 BTW). After making countless one off appearances in the years since, the Brahma Bull has come out of retirement AGAIN to take on his blood cousin in a match to determine the undisputed Head of the Table.  

I am disappointed by the news. Cody spent two years clawing his way to the top. When he returned to the Rumble in 2023 from a tear in his pectoral muscle, I was stoked. Seeing him embrace the fans with his cadence and his blue collar outlook, it made me respect him for the guy. The American Nightmare being the potential conquering hero to put an end to Roman Reigns's two and a half year title run. Wrestlemania 39 rolled around, and just when Cody had him beat, interference from Solo played a role in costing Cody the match. I was one of those folks that was unsatisfied by the end result. Part of me wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that somewhere down the line, they'll run a title rematch where, after overcoming adversity, Cody would finally be the knight that slays the unstoppable dragon once and for all.

Or so we thought...

After winning the Rumble a second time, Cody had to make a decision on which championship belt he'll choose. It was either the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on Raw or the Universal WWE Champion Roman Reigns. After all of that anticipation, you'd think he would finally announce the rematch to settle the score. This past Friday night on Smackdown, after a confrontation with the Tribal Chief, he agreed to challenge him for the championship (wait for it)........but NOT at Wrestlemania. It was that moment I knew what had to come after.

The Rock makes his startling appearance to close out the show, hugging while whispering to Cody Rhodes. He had one of the most insincere smiles I've seen. The crowd in attendance may have been cheering for the Great One. I realized the wheels started to fall off.

I respect him for all the good he's done inside and outside the ring. Just recently, he was appointed as the head of the Board of Directors with TKO, a conglomerative company that owns the UFC and WWE. However, I do not agree with the creative direction they went with. It's no secret pro wrestling is staged; Match outcomes, and storylines are predetermined or planned in advance. How is it that after all of these years of whether or not he was going to get back into wrestling one more match, it came at the worst time? Imagine if Stone Cold earned a World Title shot at Wrestlemania XIV only to call an audible and pass up on that opportunity only to have a returning legend to take his spot as the number one contender instead? There may have been no Attitude Era, and therefore, the wrestling landscape would be very different.

Roman Reigns versus The Rock had been a dream encounter that had been thought about as far back as when Roman ventured off as a singles competitor following the Shield's breakup. He returned to help his cousin win the 2015 Royal Rumble to a negative reception. As we approached into the new decade, it was originally announced that Wrestlemania 37 would take place at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. With LA being the home to the glitz and glamor that is Hollywood, rumors began to circulate that Roman and Rock could possibly face off at the Grand Daddy of Them All. Then the pandemic happened. Everything was either shut down or were confined to a limited capacity audience. Scheduled events had to be postponed or canceled indefinitely. So a possibility of that star studded match was off the table.

It was also during the pandemic in which started a generational run. Roman Reigns, after taking time off throughout a good portion of 2020, returned as he formed an alliance with Paul Heyman. Under his influence, he would go on to win the Universal Championship, a title in which he still holds to this day. For the next three years, he would rack up wins against every elite WWE superstar of the past two decades - the likes of Daniel Bryan, Edge, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. You talk about an overpowered created superstar from the 2K WWE games with a 99 overall as they plow through the competition. That is Roman's title reign in a nutshell. Not only that, but he would also add more gold to his collection in the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 38. Along with his Samoan family in Jimmy & Jey as well as the late addition of Solo Sakoa, the Bloodline dominated WWE TV for nearly four years (they have surpassed the nWo's time on top in WCW in the late 90s). 

As of this post, it's February 2024. Long ago, I would have been all in for supporting this match. Roman was the Big Dog struggling to win over fans in his all around good guy persona, and a guy like the Rock was generally well liked by the audience. Granted this may sound like a potential rehash of his feud with Cena in the early 2010s. During the beginning stages of Roman's Tribal Chief run, perhaps Wrestlemania 37 (had the pandemic not happened) or Wrestlemania 39 would have been the ideal time to do just that. 

Roman's time on top has started to wind down. After feuding with his now ex-Bloodline teammate in Jey Uso, he began to disappear from television at the tail end of 2023. Although he came back to defend the title in a 4 Way with LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton, it was only a matter of time before someone would put Roman in his place. Even despite Cody's Rumble victory and his intended target to go after the wrestler that beat him unfairly, all of that may be put on hold. I had to ask myself, "How long can this go?" He didn't win it at 39, he didn't get a shot at Summerslam later that year, and just when it seemed clear that it would all come down to the grand finale at Wrestlemania 40, alluding to CM Punk's promo to Cody, there's something in the distance stopping him from getting that title opportunity. All of a sudden, Rock storms his way out of retirement, pushing the hot commodity aside to show him what "real" star power is like. Imagine if an employee who spent an extended period of time performing their job position to the best of their ability; Just when it seemed like they're on the verge of receiving a promotion, the boss hires back a former employee and takes over their spot like they never left the company. 

Throughout Social Media, there have been mixed opinions regarding who should main event Roman. Some favor Cody, others favor Rock. Even if WWE has good intentions and decide to pivot, the last thing I want to see is a Triple Threat match or Roman pulling double duty on both nights. In a few years time, how are people going to wonder as to how Rock got into the title picture only to find out he got there without doing the work? As for the possibility of Roman performing double duty and potentially losing the belt, he'll downplay it as though he was screwed. These are complex scenarios that have a catch to them. 

I am exhausted for words. I know it's a TV show I invest every week and I certainly have taken the liberty to get off the internet and do what I can to enjoy my day. It's what happens no matter which fandom we support. Bottom line is we can agree to disagree regarding the ideal route WWE should take. I wish it didn't have to resort to this. 

-JimmytheTVFanatic

A Random List of Underrated or Forgotten Pop Songs From the 2000s

So I came across a video on YouTube that contained a hodgepodge of forgotten pop songs since the dawn of the millennium. While watching, I realized that a majority of the songs on the list were contemporary hits that remain extremely popular to this day. Some forgotten songs I agreed with (i.e. Stacy Orrico's Stuck, Melanie C's Never Be The Same Again) while others have stood the test of time enough to not qualify (i.e. Alicia Keys's Girl on Fire, Carly Rae Jepson's Call Me Maybe). It got me inspired to come up with a compilation of pop songs that were huge that don't seem to get any radio airplay or brought up in the discussion nowadays. Since this will cover songs from the 2000s decade (I fell out of love for 2010s pop music so I'm a bit under the rock in that regard), I will go ahead and list my reasonings for why I feel they're underappreciated or forgotten about, including information on how successful each song performed when they first hit radio waves.

BBMak - Back Here

This song was released internationally in the United Kingdom in 1999 but it wasn't until a year later in the spring of 2000 when the song made it huge, reaching #13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the US Adult Contemporary charts. 

Unless you were of the audience that grew up listening to music from this era, it's a song that doesn't get brought up enough in the discussion. Teen pop and the boy band craze was all the rage at the time thanks in part to acts like the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees to solo acts like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. BBMak came in at the right place at the right time. Unlike most boy bands, the trio composed their music and played their own instruments. The band disbanded in 2003 only to reunite a decade later in 2018, coinciding with a comeback album the following year with Powerstation. You'd be lucky if you hear this track playing in the intercom from your local retail store.

Darren Hayes - Insatiable

Not long after the breakup of Savage Garden, Darren Hayes continued on as a solo artist with his debut album Spin released in 2002. Its first single "Insatiable" reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100, #16 on the Adult Contemporary/Easy Listening, and #33 on the US Adult Top 40 charts respectively. 

I remember stumbling into this song on my local pop station and was amazed to hear the familiar octane voice from Darren. I had no idea Savage Garden had disbanded at this time, and I was enthralled the first time I heard it. It's ashamed it underperformed compared to his past work, and quickly flew under the radar. 

Spin received mixed reviews at the time of its release. Though he had continued to churn out albums in the years since, I feel his solo career could've been much bigger than it turned out. Yet at the same time, he's making the type of music he loves which I deeply respect. 

David Cook - Light On

David Cook won the 2008 American Idol season, coinciding with his then smash hit "Time of My Life." That same year, Cook would go on to release his major label debut album, featuring the aforementioned ballad along with the follow up single "Light On." Written by the late Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, this song cracked the Top 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 (#17 to be exact), #27 on the Canadian Hot 100 Chart, and #8 in Finland.

David was one of my favorite contestants on American Idol. Much like Chris Daughtry, they were avid rock fans that brought an extra flare to that scene, especially at a time when R&B and Pop were the dominant music genres. Given Cornell's involvement in the song process, I can easily indicate the parts where Cook screeches in his verses which explains the influences he inherited it from. 

This song received mixed reviews at the time of its release. A majority of original songs affiliated with American Idol have been known for their simplistic, radio friendly sound. Cook was an amazing vocalist but there wasn't much about this ballad that stood out from his playlist. He's managed to have a steady career in the years since with his most recent LP album released as late as 2015 (or 2021 if you count his EP work). His stories about his brother is very touching and I can't imagine what it's like to lose a sibling so young. He even composed a heartfelt ballad (Permanent) as a tribute to him. Nevertheless, it's great to hear he is doing well these days.

Chris Cornell featuring Timbaland - Part of Me

Speaking of Cornell, there was a period in his career where he churned out a string of solo records. In 1999, he debuted with a CD entitled "Euphoria Morning" followed up by his 2007 album "Carry On." He released his third record "Scream" which would be a departure from his traditional rock roots, vying for a more pop and electronica approach to his sound. It featured the single "Part of Me" produced by R&B artist Timbaland who had collaborated with pop acts such as Missy Elliott, Nelly Furtado, One Republic, and Justin Timberlake. While the song didn't chart the US's Billboard Hot 100, the song reached #22 in the Billboard Hot Single Sales, #9 in the Hot Dance Single Sales, and it fared considerably well internationally in Germany, Hungary, Finnish, and Austria. 

I have very vague memories of this song being huge here in America. It wasn't until sometime after Cornell's death when I looked back at his song catalogs from his time in Soundgarden and Audioslave. Since I wasn't familiar with his solo work, I typed in the search engine on YouTube and this song was the first video that popped up in the results. In my honest opinion, it was a weird creative direction. Going from heavy hitters like "Rusty Cage" and "Outshined" to a radio friendly smash "Part of Me" felt like I was listening to a whole different artist. While it may have been a case of this being an experimental album, I do commend Chris's versatility even if I didn't necessarily agree with the music he churned out at this time.

Soul Decision - Faded

At the height of the boy band craze, this Canadian trio made it into the scene with their biggest single "Faded." The song reached #22 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canada RPM and Canada's Nielsen Sound Scan charts. 

As a kid who grew up listening to teen pop from this era, I have no memories of this band. A few years back, a former YouTuber uploaded an archive of episodes of Casey Kasem's countdown throughout the years (channel ended up terminated in 2020). While listening to an aircheck from 2000, I stumbled across a track that I don't remember from this timeframe. It was a catchy pop tune that drew influences from Wham especially when it came to its vocalist George Michael. While the band as a whole did moderately well with their follow up singles in Canada, this turned out to be their only big hit in the states. After their record label filed for bankruptcy, the group disbanded in 2005 as band members went on to pursue solo projects. 

Lillix - It's About Time

Fast forward a few years later, a Canadian girl group made their major label debut album in 2003 with "Falling Uphill". Lillix (previously known as Tigerlily) came on board to the scene with their lead single "It's About Time", a pop rock driven sound in the veins of Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, and Michelle Branch. The Matrix which had been responsible for producing Avril's music also contributed to the making of their smash hit. The song reached at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on MTV's TRL Countdown, and #32 on the Top 50 CHR/Top Pop Radio & Records Charts.

I remember hearing this tune on TRL in the spring of 2003. This was a song that discusses about the ups and downs of two mates in a complex relationship. By this time, the late 90s Teen Pop fad had died down and eventually mutated into a more rock orientated sound. Lillix were garnering exposure on TV and even contributed to the cover of the Romantics hit "What I Like About You" featured in the soundtrack to the Freaky Friday remake, as well as the theme song of The WB sitcom starring Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth.

When Maverick Records merged with Warner Group, Lillix would be dropped from their record label. They released two more albums before ultimately disbanding in 2010. 

Orianthi - According To You

Australian guitarist Orianthi emerged into the scene as a result of her contribution in the rehearsal to Michael Jackson's "This Is It" tour in 2009. After his untimely death put a permanent halt to the tour, Geffen Records released her sophomore album Believe which contained her first and biggest single to date "According to You." The song reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on American Top 40, and #1 on Australia's ARIA charts.

While the song is not my favorite out of the bunch, I really dug the amazing guitar solo in-between the chorus and final verses. I wouldn't have discovered her if not for her breakout hit, so take it as a gateway into her music. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with established guitarists such as Joe Satriani, Carlos Santana, and Steve Vai. I adore Orianthi as I always wanted to learn about playing a musical instrument (only played the guitar but even my skills are limited). I recommend checking out her music discography to have a great demonstration of her performance. 

Eden's Crush - Get Over Yourself

As the teen pop craze began to wind down, a girl group in the veins of the Spice Girls, All Saints, and B*witched emerged onto the scene. Consisting of Anna, Ivette, Rosanna, Maile, and a then unknown in Nicole Scherzinger, Eden's Crush made their presence known, debuting with their single "Get Over Yourself." The song charted at #8 and #92 in the Billboard Hot 100's weekly and year end charts respectively. Over in Canada, the song reached #1 and #27 in the Nielsen Soundscan's weekly and year end charts. 

Of all the pop groups from the late 90s and early 2000s, I completely forgot all about Eden's Crush. It wasn't until I was binge watching Sabrina when I rediscovered the girl group that so happened to guest star in the show's season 5 finale. At the time, a U.S version of Popstars premiered on the WB Network, predating the more successful music competition American Idol by a year. Add in the fact that along with Sabrina aired on the same nights, the network decided to do a cross promotion of the two shows in hopes of allowing the group to garner exposure to the masses. Unfortunately, due to the folding of their record label, their tenure did not last as they would end up disbanding in 2002.

Shifty Shellshock - Slide Along Side

During Crazy Town's hiatus, Shifty tried his hands on a solo album Happy Love Sick which was released in 2004. Its lead single "Slide Along Side" reached #38 on the US Top 40 chart, and made it to the top 20 in Italy. 

I remember hearing this song in the summer of that year. Just a feel good, laid back rap song you would crank up at a house party. It's unfortunate "Slide Along Side" failed to chart in the Billboard Hot 100. I know Shifty tends to get a bad rep in the music community (and understandably so).  I have to admit this along with "Butterfly" when he was with Crazy Town were admittedly catchy tunes growing up. Happy Love Sick would be his first and only album he has churned out to date.

Nick Carter - Help Me

During the Backstreet Boys' hiatus in 2002, Nick Carter released his debut solo album Now or Never. Its lead single "Help Me" reached #36 on the US Mainstream Top 40 chart and even cracked the top 10 in Canada and Italy.

This was a a transitional period of pop music. Boy Bands began to fall out of favor with groups either disbanding or went on hiatus indefinitely. Some members of their respective bands wound up venturing into their own. I remember hearing this song on the radio a few times when it came out but quickly fell off the radar. It took me twenty years later to rediscover it once again and I thought it was a very solid single. There was a little essence of that Backstreet Boys style of tune carried into this song while spinning it off into his own thing with more emphasis on guitar work. Interesting enough, Now or Never was released a week apart from Justin Timberlake's Justified album.

"Help Me" failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100. He released two more singles from his debut record before reuniting with BSB shortly thereafter. 

What If WWE's King of The Ring Tournament Continued As A Tradition After 2002?

It's been awhile since I've posted but since it's June, this got me into thinking about a past PPV event that WWE used to hold once a year. Before Money in the Bank took over that mantle, the King of the Ring event was named after a tournament comprising of multiple superstars competing in an elimination bracket to determine that year's winner. From 1993 to 2002, the PPV saw 10 competitors competing and winning the KOTR tournament. In some cases, the winner would qualify for a World Title shot at Summerslam (i.e. Owen Hart in 1994, Mabel in 1995, and Brock Lesnar in 2002). With the brand extension in full effect, poor buy rates, not to mention the inclusion of brand exclusive PPVs, WWE made a decision to retire the King of the Ring event from their yearly calendar.  Although they would bring the tournament back every few years since, it has since been largely discontinued. It got me pondering what if the King of the Ring continued as an annual tradition? 

Over on Re-Edit, I posted a series of tournament brackets using superstars that were on the active roster based on the timeline. This will mainly cover the years in which a KOTR did not take place (though I made an exception by rebooking 2006 including Raw superstars). It will start from 2003 and onto present day (as of this posting here in 2023). I will provide the links down below for the full brackets including the winners of their respective years. Enjoy:

2003: John Cena

2004: JBL

2005: Eddie Guerrero

2006*: Shelton Benjamin

2007: CM Punk

2009: The Miz

2011: R-Truth

2012: Dolph Ziggler

2013: Daniel Bryan

2014: Seth Rollins

2016: AJ Styles

2017: Samoa Joe

2018: Bobby Lashley

2020: Cesaro

2022: Finn Balor

2023: Dominik Mysterio

JimmytheTVFanatic

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Once & Always TV Special Review

Just recently, Netflix released a 55 minute reunion special paying tribute to the Power Rangers season that started it all. Twenty five years after the events of Countdown to Destruction, Rita Repulsa's dark side returns as she creates a time portal to prevent Zordon from recruiting five teenagers with attitude to become the first team of Power Rangers. When Rita uses her staff to kill (not destroy) the Yellow Ranger in Trini, her daughter Minh vows to avenge her mother's death by continuing on the legacy she left behind. 

Where do I begin? This was one that I, like many Power Rangers fans, had been looking forward to for over a year. When the announcement came that we would see the MMPR team reunite, I was thrilled. It was the chance to see some of our beloved characters, some of which we haven't seen in decades, in action for what could be their last hurrah; Billy and Zack, the original Blue and Black Rangers respectively make their first appearance in over twenty five years. Now as adults, they coped with the death of their teammate and friend while having to nurture a teenager determined to exact revenge by taking out the villain responsible for Trini's murder.

Although two of the original characters made their returns, Tommy, Jason, Trini, and Kimberly's actors were absent from the special. In a story twist, Rita has captured a majority of Power Rangers spanning from different teams including the latter three characters. Prior to his death, Jason David Frank declined as he announced the retirement of his portrayal as Tommy Oliver. Meanwhile, Amy Jo Johnson was offered to make a return but opted not to due to contract disagreements combined with promoting her latest Power Rangers comic. Austin St. John's legal troubles have prevented him from traveling outside the United States which meant he would be unable to participate in shooting for the episode (the show's film location moved to New Zealand from California since Ninja Storm). Lastly, Thuy Trang who portrayed Trini passed away in 2001 from a car accident, as this special was created to pay tribute to her actress and character. In their place, Steve Cardenas and Catherine Sutherland make their first appearance in nearly 5 years as Rocky and Katherine, the second Red and Pink Rangers respectively.

I understand the criticism in regards to Hollywood's fixation on nostalgia and the negative stigma that tends to rub lifelong fans of beloved IPs the wrong way. The recent anniversary team ups have treated their past Power Rangers like action figures in the background. For instance, in Super Megaforce, the season that celebrated its 20th anniversary, had some of the retro rangers return; Aside from Tommy, the rest of the other characters have minimal screen time, some didn't even have lines at all. Hell, we don't even know what they have been up to since the end of their respective seasons. For its 25th anniversary, Dimensions in Danger, while a tad bit better, suffers the same issue with returning Power Rangers in the background with no impact on the story whatsoever. 

For me personally though, I didn't get the sense of that as far as Once & Always is concerned. The special started with a traditional fight between the team and Rita's putties, which leads into the movie's plot. This was effective in a way that grabs the viewers' attention and on the edge of your seat. Barbera Goodson did a fabulous job having reprised her role as the main villain. Though we had our share of dramatic and somewhat darker seasons of Power Rangers, the fact that Rita goes as far as murdering Trini was surreal. When I first learned of the plot surrounding her death, I was a bit concerned how they would handle her death. I thought the writers found a way to incorporate it in a tasteful manner, setting the story one year after and how the rangers including Minh manage to cope with grief. 

How does Rita get revived? While her counterpart, Mystic Mother from Mystic Force remains present, it instead resurrects Rita's evil doppelganger, this time in her robotic form. It would be revealed that Billy conducted an incantation to revive Zordon after sacrificing himself to eradicate the United Alliance of Evil once and for all. That backfired and his failed resurrection came with a price. Admittedly, I oppose Zordon being revived in any capacity. Without him doing what he did, the United Alliance would have gone on to triumph over the Power Rangers in their path to conquer not only Earth, but the entire universe that was out there. It would've been a different timeline and this decision would've irked me as a fan. On the bright side, I'm glad that didn't happen.

It was very nice to see Rocky and Kat back in action. While we last saw them in Dimensions in Danger in 2018, we barely had any screen time with the two. Unlike their previous appearance, we actually get to see them do something and actually take part in the special. It turns out Rocky has become a firefighter whereas Kat is a stay at home mother raising a son alongside Tommy (retconning the flash forward scene of them as grandparents in Zeo) Though they didn't have much of an arc throughout, they did a fine job in their roles and did what they needed to do.

They weren't the only other favorites to return. We do see Adam and Aisha back on screen as they have since become space cadets traveling across the universe. According to executive showrunner Simon Bennett, it's an intergalactic organization which serves as a prelude to Space Patrol Delta. While it's great to see the former Black and Yellow Rangers, I wish we got to see them interact with our heroes more. I'm curious as to what made them decide on traveling the galaxy, and how SPA came to be (as of this blog, there is no acronym to what it stands for). Last time we saw Aisha, she stayed behind in Africa to help raise animals during the middle of a time paradox that saw the Power Rangers turned into kids. I would love to see a sequel for Once & Always down the road that expands on that. Given how convoluted of a mess the Alien Rangers arc was, I can't blame the writers for not touching on that subject. 

The production team did a wonderful job recreating Ernie's Juice Bar from the Youth Center. We never got to see a wide range shot so when I looked at a behind the scenes screenshot, I was amazed. I suppose it was replaced with the Surf Spot hangout from In Space but it appears it's still around after all of these years. We did have a brief fight scene with Rocky and Zack (the first time we get to see them interact) which, although passable I wasn't feeling it with Rocky's performance. It plays out like a standard unmorphed fight  that made Power Rangers, well, Power Rangers.

After failed attempts to morph, Minh carries on the mantle passed down by her mother and becomes the Yellow Ranger. I'll got to be honest. At first, I couldn't stand her attitude. I get she misses Trini and she had good intentions to chase after Rita and her goons. She came across entitled and somewhat of a brat towards Billy and Zack. Not only losing her mother but where was her father in all of this mess? Maybe Trini met someone during the Peace Conference, got married, had a baby, but their relationship grew sour overtime? While there are some questions I have that are lingering over my head, I think her actress Charlie Kirsch did a fine job in the role. 

As for the final showdown, the Dino Megazord makes a comeback since the beginning of season 2. I'll admit the design was pretty cool although the zord fight on the moon falls short compared to Mighty Morphin's heyday. We do get to see our main heroes go up against Robo Rita on the Moon Palace. Surprisingly, she gets impaled by Billy's Power Lance which is something you wouldn't see in a regular Power Rangers episode. To be fair, the rest of his teammates contributed to Rita's destruction using their respective signature weapons (Zack's Axe, Kat's Bow, and Rocky's Sword). I wish we got to see her palace getting destroyed by having Rita initiate a bomb sequence that if she failed, she could take the rangers down with her; This trope may have been done before, but something to the effect of which the penultimate battle feels more urgent. 

The ending was sweet yet melancholy in a way. Billy, Zack, and Minh are back at the juice bar reminiscing on the good times they shared with Trini. There was a reused clip from a season two MMPR episode where Kimberly and Zack are performing a song which, at the time, was dedicated to Tommy and his uncertain fate as a Power Ranger. While JDF and Thuy Trang are no longer with us, this clip serves as a reminding tribute to the cast members that helped shape the franchise. Had Amy Jo returned, I could easily imagine her actually singing another rendition of that performance alongside Zack. Regardless, I thought they handled it brilliantly.

Overall, I had a blast watching this special. Granted it had its share of problems and I was disappointed we didn't get to see a full reunion with all of the original cast members available. David Yost and Walter Jones did phenomenal in their roles, acting like adult versions of their characters. It was surreal to hear Katherine shouting out pterodactyl; By the time she came onboard, the dino coins were destroyed and they resorted to using ninja powers. It would also mark the first time Zack got to interact with the second set of rangers with Adam, Aisha, Rocky, and Kat. Even with the shoddy CGI effects during battle scenes, the crew made the most of the budget they were given. It may sound ideal but I'd really want the special to succeed that will warrant more reunion team ups of this magnitude. I know Rotten Tomatoes isn't a reliable source, but considering how high of a review percentage it's gotten (very uncommon with Power Rangers), perhaps this could be a sign of things to come? Some things may sound too good to be true but man did I enjoy it.

JimmytheTVFanatic

If The Last of Us Cordyceps Outbreak Happened in 2003...

So I've been following the TV adaptation of the Last of Us on HBO Max, and it's been receiving overwhelming praise by gaming fans and TV viewers alike. While the show doesn't completely deviate itself from its source material, there are a number of key differences between that and the video game. One example would be that the program dates back to 2003 as opposed to 2013 when the Cordyceps outbreak unfolds. It's amazing to think how different events would've played out had civilization as we know it had ended twenty years before. Can you imagine how different the timeline would be in a world where we would miss out on some milestone accomplishments in society? What about the kinds of technological inventions that would never see the light of day due to the mass exodus of the human population? It's surreal to think about, and one that I'm glad we did not have to witness. But here is a list of things that may not even happen had the outbreak occurred:

• Shrek 2 wouldn't have been released to theaters, as production would have halted
• Britney Spears's fourth album "In the Zone" is never released despite being on the verge of completion (Outbreak Day was 9/26 whereas the album's launch date was 11/1)
• America's war against Iraq would've lasted a few months rather than spanning a good chunk of the decade
• Same sex/gay marriage would never have been legalized in the United States
• Social Media outlets such as Face Book, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram wouldn't have existed. It's something to note about because Face Book is mentioned in the Last of Us DLC Left Behind when Ellie and Riley were taking pictures inside of a photo booth .
• The first iPhone project never happens therefore the iPhone is never released. In retrospect, it has revolutionized the way we utilize our phones. The lack of a transmission feed makes over the air communication inaccessible. 
• Representing the AFC division in the NFL, the New England Patriots would not have had the dynasty they ended up having. This meant winning multiple AFC Titles and Super Bowl rings than any team in the league in history
• Kevin Feige, Hollywood movie director who contributed to the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), catapults Marvel superheroes into pop culture relevance.
• Digital downloading for music never truly evolves pass the CDs and mixed tapes (though devices such as Napster, Limewire, and the iPod were around, it took awhile for the music industry to fully embrace the idea. In reality, the advent of music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and SiriusXM really helped bring exposure to local artists in the scene)
• The Last of Us video game is never developed therefore this adaptation would never be made (LOL but seriously though)

These are just some scenarios that came up from the top of my head. Hell, I wouldn't even be typing this blog up since there would be no electricity to charge my laptop or any electronics. What other events would not have happened had civilization ended in 2003? 

JimmytheTVFanatic

Celebrity Crush: Gracie Dzienny

This is the first of many new entries posting some random photoshoots of attractive celebrities throughout the years.

In the early 2010s, actress Gracie Dzienny made her breakout TV hit on Nickelodeon called Supah Ninjas, a martial arts comedy co-starring alongside Star Trek alumni George Tekei as well as one of Ryan Potter's earlier roles before going on to play Beast Boy in Titans. Her character Amanda McKay was a high school cheerleader who gets abducted as Mike and Owen attempted to rescue her in their first mission as ninjas. After returning the favor by aiding them in battle, Amanda would be recruited by the two teens, thus giving birth to their team name.  

Following Supah Ninjas' cancellation in 2013, Gracie would develop a niche following in the LGTBQ community with recurring roles in shows such as Chasing Life and The Sex Lives of College Girls. In addition, her credits comprise of main roles including the 3rd season of Zoo and more recently, the vampire romance series First Kill. Her only motion picture role to date would be a cameo appearance in the Transformers spinoff film, Bumblebee starring Hailee Steinfeld and WWE superstar John Cena.

Trivia: In preparation for her role on Supah Ninjas, Gracie Dzienny performed as an XMA student, a Martial Arts school run by Mike Chat (Chad Lee the Blue Ranger) from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. What's even more interesting about that connection is that Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam Park from MMPR/Zeo/Turbo) guest starred on an episode of the Nick series. 

As both an actress and a model, she's developed a portfolio of photoshoots. Of the bunch, these stills happen to be my favorite.

2022 has been a remarkable year for her, almost like a career renaissance of sorts. Who knows what 2023 will have in store for the Toledo born actress? Only time will tell.

JimmytheTVFanatic

A Casual Fan's Opinion: The Super Mario Bros Movie

Yep you've read the title. For the first time in 30 years, the Mario franchise returns to the big screen with their upcoming animated film produced by Illumination. The film is stacked with a star studded cast. Chris Pratt stars as the titular character Mario whereas the likes of Luigi, Peach, and Toad will be portrayed by Charlie Day, Anna Taylor Joy, and Keegan Michael Key respectively. The film's main villain Bowser will be played by none other than Jack Black.

Where do I begin? So I've been a lifelong fan of the Mario games tracing back to the days of the Super Nintendo playing Super Mario All Stars. It exposed me to some of the earlier Mario Bros games from the NES days, all remastered into a 16 bit console. Lucky for me, I happen to own the 1994 reissue version that includes Super Mario World that had been released three years prior. Best of both worlds I tell ya.

It is very bizarre to think how long it's been since we had a non video game adaptation of the franchise. We had the Super Mario Bros Super Show in the 80s starring the late Captain Lou Albano followed by a string of other TV iterations including the Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World. It wasn't until 1993 when a live action version of the Mario Bros would be released to theaters. Unfortunately, the film received negative reviews with its depiction straying too far from the source material. For instance, why is the Mushroom Kingdom a post-apocalyptic version of New York City (basically the main setting as seen in the movie)? Secondly, the design of the existing villains did not resemble their game's counterparts such as the Goombas and King Koopa/Bowser (played by the late Dennis Hopper). Despite being a commercial failure, I did have a soft spot for the film's campiness (I enjoyed the chemistry of the late Bob Hoskins and John Leuguizamo as Mario and Luigi respectively).

As a result of the film underperforming in the box office, not only was there not a sequel. It was there that Nintendo decided to cut their losses and steer away from making future television or film adaptations of their properties…

Until Detective Pikachu in 2019 came out that the perception of video games into film adaptation could in fact work (Unless we count Mortal Kombat in 1995).

Some folks seem to have very mixed feelings based on the trailer alone. To start off with the positives, I am really fond of the animation design as far as how colorful and vibrant it's presented that demonstrates what the tone of the film will be. At a time when it feels like every kid property leans towards a dark and gritty approach, I appreciate the fact they're embracing the lighthearted campiness that the game series evokes. Just by watching the snippets from the film feels like a spectacle with an ensemble cast of characters established in the Mario and Nintendo universe. When you have a film with that type of quality, you're likely bound to have a potential box office smash. Of all the voice actors casted, I’m really digging Jack Black’s Bowser impression.

Now as far as the negatives go, I am not feeling some of the voice actors. Chris Pratt's voice of Mario is still not sinking in with me. Charles Martinet really brought life to that character even with minimal dialogue he provided in the games. At the end of the day, you believed he was a happy-go lucky Italian plumber willing to protect his friends and the kingdom he resides in. Pratt's dialect feels very off when he shouts out "let's go" in that fight scene with Donkey Kong. Hopefully there are more scenes of his that best demonstrate his version of the titular character. 

In addition, it appears from the trailer that the gang are journeying through the Mushroom Kingdom to stop Bowser from conquering their land. I'd figured it would stay close to the first game in which Peach and the Toads are kidnapped; Therefore, Mario and Luigi must go through a series of obstacles before reaching his castle to save them. 

Okay, so it's not completely straying far from the premise. 

With the inclusion of the Kong Family (Donkey & Cranky being the notable ones) combined with a hodgepodge of Nintendo characters during the Mario Kart scene, I'm very skeptical how they'll be presented in the film. Only time will tell until the day of its release.

Despite some of my peeves (or nitpicks for that matter), the movie has a lot of potential to be something special. Who knows with the success of the Mario film will pave the way for more Nintendo properties to be adapted down the road. They notice what Sega and Paramount have been doing with the Sonic franchise and now they're looking into creating a live action Streets of Rage film. It's a huge investment Illumination is making with the mindset that the Mario Bros Movie does indeed turn a profit. March 2023 is only months away and this flick will determine if the Nintendo Cinematic Universe becomes a reality. Fingers crossed.

JimmytheTVFanatic

Remembering Jason David Frank and his Power Rangers Tenure

This past week was quite the emotional one. Folks that have followed me through Social Media whether it's Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram would know how huge of a Power Rangers fan I am. Recently, Jason David Frank best known for his role as Tommy Oliver had passed away at the age of 49. What started out as a rumor on a late Saturday night became a reality I did not want to imagine. The very next morning, I looked up at my Instagram feed and saw Walter Jones posting an image of him along with his ranger co-stars including JDF. The R.I.P acronym as listed in the caption just left me speechless in terms of my reaction. It really caught me off guard in a way. 

Growing up, Tommy was one of my favorite Power Rangers. Just to admire his fortitude and his ability to hold his own when times were tough was what solidified my appreciation of the character. When he debuted in the 5 part miniseries Green With Evil, this would mark the Power Rangers' first of many challenges they had to overcome. Before that, the core five would manage to plow through any creature Rita sends out to cause havoc in their city. The Green Ranger's introduction would be a turning point for the upstarting franchise. Throughout the saga, Tommy under Rita's possession would resort to infiltrating the Command Center, home of the Power Rangers' headquarters. He'd be destroying console boards and cutting off any communication with their mentor Zordon; It didn't help that the rangers would be unable to teleport as a result of the excessive wreckage scattered throughout their headquarters. For the next few episodes, Tommy and the rangers fought on and off again while figuring out ways to undermine the strength of the Green Ranger. In the end, they managed to do just that, and with the Sword of Darkness dispelled, the rangers would free Tommy from Rita's spell.

From this point forward, Tommy would align with the Power Rangers to defend the Earth from a revolving door of villains that have come and gone. There would be multiple occasions when he would be stripped away of his powers only for Zordon to transfer a bit of energy needed to morph into ranger form. Eventually, Tommy would acquire new powers as he became the White Ranger in seasons two and three, the Red Ranger in Zeo and Turbo, and the Black Ranger in Dino Thunder. He would continue to return in a series of one-off comebacks in the anniversary team up specials, the most recent being "Dimensions in Danger" to commemorate the franchise's 25th anniversary. 

I was heartbroken by the news of his passing. While I never knew JDF personally, I've seen the occasional panels he would attend discussing about his experiences working on the show. Forty-nine is such a young age to die. I can't imagine what it must be for his family members and colleagues that have collaborated with him over the years. I watched Amy Jo Johnson's Instagram live feed and it was very touching knowing how close she was to him; She even performed a handful of songs to pay tribute to Jason. I don't get into much detail about my personal life but my father died in his 60s after a battle with lung cancer. Take it from me, I know what it's like to lose a loved one. Grief is not easy to overcome. The best thing to do is to cherish any memory or experience you may have of them. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends that have supported him throughout the years. 

To quote Austin St. John, "Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger."

Thank you for the memories Jason David Frank. May you rest in peace. 

JimmytheTVFanatic

Ideal Fantasy Card for AEW Full Gear 2022

The past couple of months have been crazy in the world of professional wrestling. Whether if it involved the recent sex scandal of Vince McMahon that led to him abdicating his position as chairman of the WWE, or the recent All Out media scrum that saw CM Punk sabotaging his employer in AEW, 2022 is a very newsworthy year in the business as we know it. An altercation ensued backstage between the Best in the World and the Elite members Kenny Omega, Nick, & Matt Jackson (the latter two brothers being the Young Bucks) that has been the buzz throughout the wrestling community. As a result of their actions, both parties have been suspended from the company and have been off television for the foreseeable future.

With Punk not only sidelined but on the verge of his contract being bought out and terminated, the company has since been in a healing process that will determine fan perception behind the company's new direction. This brings me to discuss in today's blog in regards to All Elite Wrestling's upcoming PPV, Full Gear.

What is the purpose of this proposed fantasy card?

Referring to the title of this post, Full Gear is AEW's annual November PPV with its inaugural event dates back to 2019, the year that the company had launched. As the event is just around the corner, I've been taking a look at some of the matches announced so far; To be honest, it's a little meh aside from the main event of Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW World Title. It's a shame because they've had quite a track record when it comes to structuring a card from top to bottom.

Full Gear also holds their annual Eliminators tournament in a sense where the winner would receive a World Championship opportunity at a later date. It hadn't been long ago they did a tournament to crown a new AEW Champion - that was in light of CM Punk being stripped of the belt due to a torn triceps injury that will leave him sidelined until the summertime. Given the situation, I feel it's too soon to book another tournament bracket when they should be rebuilding their under-card as a demonstration to showcase the best that AEW's talent pool has to offer. Like I addressed about the company undergoing a healing process, they've had a knack of cramming so many matches onto their PPVs (this past year's All Out had about close to 15 or 16 matches) which can potentially lead to crowd fatigue. When WWF had over ten matches on a Wrestlemania or Summerslam card even then they were short, sweet, and to the point. Not every match has to be a marathon unless it involves a title on the line or if it's meant to put an end to a feud. Therefore, I'd do away with the Eliminators tournament and look to revive the concept for the following year's Full Gear.

As we transition over to the ongoing feuds and storylines, they're definitely going through the motions in terms of consistent storytelling. For instance, why are the Blackpool Combat Club still going after the Jericho Appreciation Society when they should be joining the fight with their leader Jon Moxley against the Firm? How come they didn't fight back when the latter group laid out the World Champion from the previous week's Dynamite?

The BCC have been showing signs of dissension between Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta. Last night on Rampage announced that there would be a 4 Way Dance for the ROH World Championship between Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Sammy Guevara, & the reigning champion Chris Jericho.  Where is Yuta in the picture and is he even booked for the show? How is that conflict not being emphasized or followed up on? I know I've rambled but those were my grievances with the feud that started off hot (it stemmed from Jericho's program with Eddie Kingston) but now has gotten to a point where it has run its course. 

In this topic, I'll be cooking up my take on this year's event. The alteration of this booking goes into effect after the events of All Out. I'll run down my proposed match card with a brief explanation of how some of these matches came to be. Some may have little buildup while others will be more in-depth as to how we got here in the first place. Enjoy.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Season 2 Morph Sequence Remastered

 

I've been customizing and enhancing screen caps as of late. Awhile back, an Instagram user named ListenAnyway posted some rendered images of Power Rangers characters, including closeups and re-digitized versions of blurry quality photos. This inspired me to do the same. As you can see below is a series of headshots of the Mighty Morphin' team circa season two. I would continue to post them on IG, but given the likely chances of potential shadow banning (meaning posted photos won't appear on your listed hashtags, thus preventing followers from discovering), I figured it wouldn't be worth the risk. It was quite a load of fun with an photo app I was using, and I am happy with how they turned out:

Just a sample of what I've cooked up. I may post more like these down the road so be on the look out. Have a good day.

Were the Early 2000s A Dramatic Shift in Entertainment/Society?

This month marks 20 years since the World Wildlife Fund won the lawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation, therefore dropping the "F" from their acronym. In turn, the company shook things up by rechristening themselves as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE as we've come to know since). This milestone anniversary got me thinking just how significant of a shift it was when it comes to all things pop culture related.

If you think about it, what was going on during that time frame? Obviously, the 9/11 attacks impacted our society in the U.S. American citizens from all around the country, no matter what race or ethnicity you were, banned together as they grieved over their loved ones whose lives were lost due from the destruction of the Twin Towers to any folks injured from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Let's also not neglect the flight attendants and passengers that were in those planes at the time of the incident. Airport security became extremely tight, ensuring every passenger's luggage is secured and free from anything that may seem suspicious (and harmful). I'm not sure if this speaks for all airports; The days when visitors can ride along the boarding train (can't remember what it's called) to another sector in an airport, as well as to see your folks board on an airplane became a no no. Concerns over the safety of their well ones were at an all time high; What happens when you step outside your home not knowing it may be your last? The thought of that mindset seemed terrifying yet unpredictable. 

As far as how that affected entertainment, several television shows and movies had to be postponed or canceled in the wake of the tragedy. Some material had to exclude any references to terrorism or scenes that closely resemble to buildings being destroyed. Even in music, several songs were banned from the radio in the wake of the attacks. Granted I'm not an expert when it comes to making discussions on politics, as it's quite a touchy subject. Popular songs such as Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "Free Fallin" by Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door" were the notable ones on that list. Though many of those mentioned were among those tracks banned, they would eventually be put back into rotation in the coming years. However you feel about this, the impact 9/11 had in the states not only impacted the media , but even society had to adapt with the change in scenery.

In videogames, the sixth generation era in home consoling was hitting full swing. After Sega retired from the home console market as a result of the Dreamcast's failure, Microsoft stepped up and produced a little gaming system called the X-Box. 2002 rolls around competing with Sony (Playstation 2) and Nintendo (Gamecube) as they did battle for the next few years, providing some of the most top quality games exclusive to their respective consoles. The Nintendo 64 had been discontinued at this point with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 the last game released in North America. It's also to note the 6th generation era was an earlier glimpse at online gaming, a move that would change the landscape of video gaming forever; The days of playing co-op with your friends in the basement would no longer be the only way of sharing the experience. When the 2010s arrived, we have to factor the inclusion of Downloadable content (DLC) or microtransactions that require people to pay in order to gain access to additional features in a video game. Overall, the sixth generation era helped lay the foundation when it came to the technological advancements of gaming.

Though I'm not much of a sports fan, during the 2001-2002 season, ABC won bidding rights to the NBA coverage that had been airing on NBC for over a decade at that point. With this move, the network would also lose its license to the NBA Inside Stuff as it would also be packaged with the coverage. Its tenure on NBC brought some of its biggest ratings thanks in large to showcasing marquee matchups involving the Chicago Bulls at their zenith. As the new millennium rolled around, not only did NBC dropped the NFL (though it returned in 2006 on Sunday nights), but they lost rights to continue airing NBA coverage any further. Some longtime TV fanatics consider this as a dork period NBC went through, coupled with the ending of Friends and Frasier in 2004 that marked the decline and extinction of multi camera sitcoms on the station. Then again opinions can be subjective so take it what you will.

Teen pop also went through a dramatic shift as well. The 2000s kicked off with the boy band/pop group craze with notable acts such as the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees, Westlife, and even mid tier artists like O-Town, BBMak, SClub 7, A-Teens, & the parody boy band 2ge+her. As 2001 winded down and 2002 kicked in, many of those aforementioned groups either disbanded, underwent a hiatus, or just so happened to evolve their sound in music. In fact, there was a brief period when certain band members from their respective entity pursued solo careers as side projects. Nick Carter released Now or Never in 2002 as did the likes of Nick Lachey with SoulO the following year and JC Chasez in 2004 with Schizophrenic. Of all the solos, only Justin Timberlake managed to break through thanks in part to the marketing promotion of his debut album Justified; He would continue to ride on that momentum with Futuresex Love Sounds in 2006, the 20/20 Experience in 2013, and Man of the Woods in 2018. As the boy band craze fizzled out by 2003, pop punk & pop rock acts like Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne, Maroon 5, & Simple Plan took over that mantle while established artists like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera continued to ride waves throughout the decade. 

As a lifelong wrestling fan, the Monday Night Wars reached its endgame when, after nearly six years in a head-to-head contest between Nitro and Raw, Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling for $2.5 million. This gave way to an influx of talent from their respective organizations as the WWF became the only mainstream wrestling company in North America. Coupled along with the purchase of ECW, such a massive roster of that caliber played a factor in the creation of what we now know as the brand extension. In this scenario, the roster would be divided into two shows (Raw & Smackdown) with each wrestler competing on that specific show alone. While the initial brand split lasted from 2002 to 2011, the company would reinstate the brand extension in 2016 and has remained in effect since. Speaking of 2002, talk about a dramatic difference the first half and the remaining half of the year it was. The top superstars headed into Wrestlemania X8 comprised of Attitude Era favorites such as The Rock & Stone Cold Steve Austin along with the returning icon Hulk Hogan dominating WWF programming. By that time, the three superstars were off TV for the duration of 2002 (though they'd make sporadic appearances in the years to come). Fast forward to Summerslam, Brock Lesnar won the (Undisputed) WWE Championship within a few months after his debut, cementing him as the top superstar of the company; This new talent initiative paved the way for several athletes such as Batista, Randy Orton, & John Cena to lead the charge into the next phase in wrestling (or in WWE terms "Sports Entertainment").  Following the premature breakup of the nWo, HBK comes out of retirement and begins wrestling on a regular basis. Did I need to get started about the company's name change from World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment? 

All in all, the more I think about it, that 2001/2002 time period was a very interesting transition phase. For better or worse, it demonstrated the cultural shift that transpired during the first few years of the 2000s. It may not seem like an elaborate essay but rather just the aura coming from a young tween at the time who lived through it. For folks that lived through that timeframe, how was your experience adapting to the post 9/11 landscape in the United States?