SUMMERSLAM IS NXT

FINN BALOR VS. SETH ROLLINS

On August 21, 2016, wrestling history will be made when  Seth Rollins faces Finn Balor to crown the first WWE Universal Champion at Summerslam. In many ways this is the culmination of something that started in 2012 when NXT, WWE's developmental program began. 

Seth Rollins and Finn Balor are both former NXT champions and in fact Rollins was the first champion of the promotion. The late, great, Dusty Rhodes and Triple H  declared him one of the future superstars of the business. Rollins had been wrestling on the independent scene for a few years including wrestling for ROH (Ring of Honor)  before being brought into WWE in 2010. 

Finn Balor is an international superstar who has wrestled in the US, UK, Ireland, and Japan. He has had his greatest success in Japan where he wrestled in IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) where he was a 3-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag-Team Champion. Balor arrived in NXT in 2014 and defeated Kevin Owens on July 4, 2015 to win his first NXT Championship. He would hold the title for 292 days and become the longest reigning champion in the company's history. 

This match at Summerslam could set off one of the best feuds in wrestling history. Longtime fans may talk about Seth Rollins and Finn Balor in the same breath as Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat one day. Not to mention WWE will have events Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the Barclays Center with stars from NXT and WWE being featured. 

I'm sure that when WWE started the NXT program in 2012  they knew that the stars they created would main event a pay-per-view but I don't think they thought it would happen this soon. NXT's motto has always been, "The Future is Now". I think that expression will be proven true when Rollins and Balor meet at Summerslam. 

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. GARRY MARSHALL

Garry Marshall passed away at the age of 81 this past week. Mr. Marshall produced many hit movies and TV shows including Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, and Pretty Woman. Mr. Marshall helped launch the careers of many including Henry Winkler, Julia Roberts, and the late, great Robin Williams. 

Many other sites will cover the death of Mr. Marshall with more depth and eloquence than I can write here. As someone who aspires to work in TV, I can only hope to have a career in TV that has half of the influence that Mr. Marshall's has had. I remember watching a documentary on PBS entitled, Make'em Laugh where Garry Marshall talked about how he was influenced by comedians such as Jack Benny and Phil Silvers. Mr. Marshall has certainly influenced countless generations with his work.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Marshall. Your contributions will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR