TNA IMPACT GETS CANCELLED BY SPIKE TV

WRESTLEZONE is reporting that TNA Wrestling's flagship show, IMPACT has been cancelled by SPIKETV (read the article here).

IMPACT has been trying to rebuild its fanbase since losing stars like A.J. Styles, Matt Morgan, Jeff Jarrett, and especially Sting in 2013. With the loss of those stars TNA didn't seem like it was ever quite the same show.

TNA did get good buzz with the NYC tapings that it did at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the last few weeks. (Those shows are airing now on SpikeTV).

Spike's contract with TNA expires in October so that gives them a few months to find a deal. The question is will they find a deal that is as good or better than the one they had with Spike? Spike put a lot of money into TNA to help them get stars like Sting and Hulk Hogan.

Spike didn't market the product well and so it's audience never really grew to a point where TNA received mainstream attention.

Hopefully, the company can get a new TV deal with good marketing but I don't think they'll be able to recapture the momentum that they had in 2005 when they debuted on SpikeTV.

THE PROFESSOR

GAL GADOT AS WONDER WOMAN

GAL GADOT AS WONDER WOMAN



Just this past weekend at Comic-Con, Zack Snyder released the first image of Gal Gadot ( Fast and Furious, Fast 5 and Fast and Furious 6) as Wonder Woman. The costume seems to be an armored one with no red, white, and blue colors in it.

As a fan, I didn't have any expectations but Gadot certainly looks like the Amazon warrior.

Batman VS. Superman: Dawn of Justice opens in June 2016. So far the movie looks to be building some great buzz.

Only time will tell on how big of an impact it will make when it debuts.

THE PROFESSOR

RIP JAMES GARNER

JAMES GARNER

 

James Garner passed away on Saturday. He was 86. Mr. Garner was known for a variety of movies including "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen, "Victor/Victoria", and most recently "The Notebook".

 

Garner was known for playing really cool, tough, guys who were reluctant heroes such as Bret Maverick on "Maverick" (1957-1962)  and Jim Rockford on "The Rockford Files"(1974-1980). Mr. Garner won an Emmy for the Rockford Files during its run.

 

James Garner represented the everyman on television because he was just a regular guy doing a great job. Mr. Garner was a reluctant hero.

The NY TIMES has a beautiful piece on his career and life. You can read it here.
 

Rest In Peace, Mr. Garner. You will never be forgotten.

 

THE PROFESSOR

 

THANK YOU PUNK

This past week CM PUNK sent out a tweet thanking the fans for their many years of support (read the article on Wrestlezone here). CM Punk's contract with WWE expired with this week and it looks like he won't be returning anytime soon if at all.

The first time that I remember hearing the name of CM Punk was after the untimely passing of Chris Candido. There was a picture of him, Chris, Tammy Sytch and some other wrestlers on Chris' website. In the picture he was blond and I don't think he had a moustache and a beard. I just remember that the name "CM Punk" stood out to me because it was so different.

As years passed I bought some Ring of Honor(ROH) DVD's featuring his matches with Raven and Samoa Joe. I was impressed with his skills and hoped that he would make it to WWE on day.

From 2005-2011 while in WWE, Punk had some amazing feuds with Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker, William Regal, Rey Mysterio, and The Big Show. Things would change in 20112 when he cut his famous  "Pipebomb" promo in 2011 that brought him to the attention of the mainstream and changed his position in WWE as a main eventer.

Punk would go onto have a great feud with John Cena through 2011 and hold the title for a record-setting 434 days in 2012-2013. Punk had a great match at WrestleMania 29 with the Undertaker and had a great feud with Paul Heyman in 2013. Punk would leave WWE in January of 2014.

As a fan I  just wanted to say thank you to CM Punk for his many years of wrestling and especially the great 434-day title reign that showed how incredible a performer he truly was. His alliance with Paul Heyman reminded me so much of the Bobby Heenan-Mr. Perfect combination of the early 90's.

Thank you again Punk and I hope whatever the next chapter is, that you enjoy it.

THE PROFESSOR

BRANDON ROUTH CAST AS THE ATOM IN SEASON 3 OF ARROW ON THE CW

BRANDON ROUTH

 

TV LINE is reporting that Brandon Routh has been cast as DC Comics Superhero, "The Atom" aka Ray Palmer in Season 3 of the CW's hit TV show, Arrow (read the article here).

THE ATOM

 

Ray Palmer or "The Atom" is a character that can alter his body mass and other objects to shrink to the size of an atom.

 

Brandon may be best known for playing Clark Kent/Superman in Superman Returns in 2006. He has also guest starred in Chuck and in other series like, Partners and Enlisted.

 

I've always liked Brandon Routh. I thought he was great in Superman Returns even though the plotline left a lot to be desired.

 

On Chuck he may have done his best work to date going from good "agent Shaw" to rogue "agent Shaw" who wanted to destroy Chuck and Sarah. It's tough to make someone who is tailor-made for the "good-guy" role into a bad guy but Chuck pulled it off.

 

I think Brandon will be an excellent addition to Arrow.

 

THE PROFESSOR

A BLACK SUPERMAN-SHUT YOUR MOUTH! PART 2

VAL-ZOD IN EARTH 2

This week there's a new Superman in town and his name is Val-Zod. Val is a black Kryptonian and he's been a character in the EARTH 2 books by DC Comics for a few months now.

The story in Earth 2 is that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman were all killed when Apokolips invaded. Now new heroes have emerged. Heroes such as Flash, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, and others including a new Batman.

Just as things were getting back to normal, Apokolips invaded again with an evil Superman leading the way and destroying everything in his path.

Now Val-Zod must confront the former protector of earth and stop him (read the solicitation at this link).

DC is trying to add diversity to its comic book titles. It changed the ethnic origins of Wally West and Helena Bertinelli making them African Americans.

HELENA BERTINELLI IN DC'S NEW 52

As an African-American male, I don't have an issue with these changes. When Phil Morris, a black actor, debuted as Martian Manhunter on Smallville I was very happy because it gave Clark Kent an equal in power and a mentor. Martian Manhunter had historically in the comics been a white man but Smallville changed that and it didn't matter about color because the character was so great.

 

Phil Morris (Martian Manhunter) and Tom Welling (Clark Kent)  in Smallville

I just hope that DC tells interesting stories and uses the characters well.

 THE PROFESSOR