THREE REASONS WHY I LOVE SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE

In December 1978, Superman: The Movie debuted in theaters and changed the way people looked at superheroes. Directed by Richard Donner it grossed 300 million worldwide. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this great film, here are three reasons why I love this movie:

1. CHRISTOPHER REEVE AS CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN


When Richard Donner was casting for Superman, he wanted an unknown actor. He felt like the audience would believe in the story and the character more if the actor playing Superman was an unknown. Over 200 unknown actors auditioned for the role of Superman but Christopher Reeve won it because of his commitment and attitude toward the role. Reeve played Clark Kent very differently from how he played Superman. His Clark Kent was shy, humble, and nice while his Superman was confident, powerful, and determined. This dichotomy of Clark Kent and Superman remains one of the most memorable parts of the movie and has become ingrained in pop culture as the definitive way to portray Superman.

2. SUPERMAN AND LOIS LANE


Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder as Superman and Lois Lane

One of the best parts of the movie in my opinion is the relationship between Lois Lane and Superman. From the first time when Superman saves Lois Lane you see the chemistry between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. During the balcony scene where Lois interviews Superman, Tom Mackienwicz, creative consultant on the movie has said that he wanted this to feel like two kids on a first date. The relationship between Lois and Superman drives the plot for Superman: The Movie and Superman II.

3. GENE HACKMAN AS LEX LUTHOR



Every great hero needs a great villain. For Superman that villain is Lex Luthor. Gene Hackman played Lex Luthor as an intelligent, confident, charismatic, and funny person who sees himself as doing the right thing despite the destruction his schemes may cause. 

For 40 years, Superman: The Movie has been the template for the superhero origin story. Its influence can be seen in films such as Batman Begins, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. It is the definitive Superman movie and one of my favorite films. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

MY FAVORITE STAN LEE CREATIONS

STAN LEE

Stan Lee, the legendary creator of many of Marvel's most prolific characters passed away on Monday November 12th at the age of 95. Lee with characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and The X-Men left a legacy in entertainment that will never be forgotten. In this blog post I'd like to list four of my favorite characters that were created by Stan Lee and others such as Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby.

1. THE X-MEN



In 1963 Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby created the X-Men who were people who were born with powers. The original X-Men were Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Angel, and Iceman. The first issue of X-Men also introduced Magneto and his brotherhood of mutants as enemies of the X-Men. The comic book did not do well in the 1960's and was discontinued by 1969. In 1975 the X-Men were brought back with an updated cast of characters. Cyclops and Jean Grey returned but new characters were added such as Colossus, Storm, and Wolverine. Writers such as Len Wein, John Byrne, and Chris Claremont infused the book with action, drama, and made it into a superhero soap opera which brought in a new audience. In 1993, an Animated Series aired on Fox and that's where I was introduced to the X-Men. The animated series had a cast that included X-Men from different eras including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, and Jubilee. 25 years later and X-Men is one of Marvel's best properties spawning movies, video games, and TV shows.

2. SPIDER-MAN



In August 1962, Spider-Man debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 and changed the world of comics forever. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spider-Man became successful because of the man under the mask, Peter Parker and how his alter ego affects his life and the lives of those around him. Stan Lee has said on numerous documentaries that he hated teenage sidekicks so he wanted to create a hero that was a teenager and had to deal with teen angst. In 1994, Fox Kids' debuted a Spider-Man cartoon that ran until 1998 and that's when I learned about the character and his sensational supporting cast. In the last five decades since his debut Spider-Man has appeared in movies, cartoons, and video games becoming one of the most recognizable characters in the world. 


3. THE FANTASTIC FOUR



In 1961, DC Comics was having success with its newly launched Justice League title and Stan Lee's publisher asked him to create a comic with a team of superheroes. Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby created The Fantastic Four who stand as the first family of Marvel. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm were a complete family filled with happiness and turmoil. In 1994, Genesis Entertainment created Fantastic Four: The Animated Series which is where I first encountered the characters. The animated series featured other Marvel heroes including Iron Man, Daredevil, Thor, The Hulk, and Ghost Rider.  In 2005, The Fantastic Four were featured in a big budget film with Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis.

4. THOR



Thor was created in 1962 by Stan lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby first appearing in Journey Into Mystery # 83. Jack Kirby loved the Norse mythology and influenced much of what themes were introduced in Thor. Stan's contribution to the comic included having the spirit of a Norse god tied to a a human. Currently, Thor is one of the most recognizable characters thanks to his part in Avengers.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Lee. Your contributions to the entertainment industry will never be forgotten.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

ROMAN REIGNS VACATES WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE

ROMAN REIGNS

On Monday Night Raw last night, Roman Reigns vacated the WWE Universal Championship according to CNN. The professional wrestler whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa'i, revealed that he has been battling Leukemia for 11 years and that the disease has returned. Reigns said that he can no longer fulfill his obligations as Champion and he must vacate the title. As a fan I was shocked. I had never heard about Reigns and any type of Cancer diagnosis when I researched his career. I was so happy that the fans showed him respect and started a chant saying, "Thank You Roman" and I think fans have finally seen Roman as a person. As a fan I've always enjoyed Roman Reigns as a performer. I hope he has a speedy recovery and that one day he can return to the ring.  

Best Wishes Mr. Anoai. My prayers and thoughts are with you. 

Class Dismissed,
THE PROFESSOR

MANNY PACQUIAO SIGNS DEAL WITH PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao has signed a deal with Al Haymon and Premier Boxing Champions according to Boxing Insider. This announcement comes just weeks after HBO announced it will no longer broadcast boxing after this year. For over a decade Pacquiao was previously promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank. With this new deal, Al Haymon and Premier Boxing Champions will promote all of Pacquiao's fights along with Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions. 

Manny Pacquiao is one of the biggest stars in boxing and gives Premier Boxing Champions a lot of credibility. Pacquiao is currently the WBO Welterweight champion after defeating Lucas Matthysse and he is an eight-division champion. He has victories over such stars as Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Moseley, Miguel Cotto, and Juan Manuel Marquez. ESPN reports that Manny Pacquiao will defend his Welterweight title against Adrien Broner on Pay Per View in January 2019. 

As HBO steps away from broadcasting boxing, the landscape of boxing has changed. Along with Manny Pacquiao signing a new deal, Canelo Alvarez has signed a deal with DAZN, a subscription service. According to ESPN, Alvarez's deal is for 11 fights over five years and he will be paid 365 million dollars. This is the richest contract in sports history and shows how much of an investment DAZN is making in Canelo Alvarez and his star power.

Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to return to the ring in January 2019 to defend his Welterweight Championship against Adrien Broner. Canelo is planning to fight again in December at Super Middleweight. It will be interesting to see how these new developments will affect boxing. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV DEFEATS CONOR MCGREGOR AT UFC 229

Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov

On Saturday, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor to retain his Light Heavyweight championship. Nurmagomedov gained a submission victory over McGregor with a rear naked choke. After the fight, stood over Conor and spit on him. Nurmagomedov jumped over the cage and got into a brawl with one of Conor's friends in the crowd. Three members of Khabib's entourage entered the cage and attacked Conor. As a result of the brawl, Khabib's purse for the fight was held by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the men who attacked Conor were arrested. 

Now we have to wait and see what happens with both fighters. McGregor has already said that he wants a rematch. Khabib will probably be fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and he may be stripped of his light heavyweight championship. If so, Tony Ferguson could fight Conor McGregor for the vacant title. If Conor wins, that could be the reason for a rematch with Khabib. That scenario was suggested by Shayna Baszler on Twitter. 

Whatever happens I know that we will see Conor McGregor fight again. McGregor is a major attraction for the UFC. This loss to Khabib won't change that. Conor is a star and a household name because of his fight with Floyd Mayweather. 

The UFC is on its way to becoming one of the biggest brands in combat sports with stars like Conor McGregor, the return Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, and Brock Lesnar. 2019 could be a huge year for UFC when it moves to ESPN. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

HBO LEAVES THE BOXING GAME AFTER 2018

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao

After 45 years and over 1,000 fights, HBO will stop broadcasting boxing after 2018 according to the New York Times. Peter Nelson, the Executive V.P. of HBO Sports made the announcement last week at a press conference. With declining ratings with boxing, HBO finds it can get higher ratings with network dramas like Game of Thrones. Mr. Nelson said, "Because of our association with boxing, people forget we're not a sports network.We're a storytelling platform." This comes as a surprise after four decades of HBO broadcasting boxing. 

The network began broadcasting boxing in 1973 when George Foreman knocked out Joe Frazier to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Over the next four decades HBO would become the premier destination for boxing featuring some of the biggest stars in the sport including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao.

Over the last decade Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao were the biggest stars in boxing and on HBO. In 2013, Maywweather left HBO for a more lucrative deal with Showtime. In 2016, HBO declined to carry Manny Pacquiao's fight against Jessie Vargas, Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter and the owner of Top Rank promotions began to look for another network. In 2017, Arum and ESPN reached a very lucrative agreement with Manny Pacquiao as its top star.

After Mayweather's departure, HBO began to feature new stars including Canelo Alvarez, Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, and Andre Ward. Despite the great skills of all of these fighters, HBO never reached the same heights in the mainstream media as when they had Mayweather. Also competition from the UFC with stars like Conor McGregor have hurt the boxing industry. 

Boxing will survive. ESPN and Top Rank have a lucrative deal and Showtime who produced 22 fights in 2018 plans to do more in 2019. With an emerging star like Deontay Wilder the future looks bright for Showtime. Fox Sports has also signed a deal with Al Haymon for Premier Boxing Championships so boxing will be available to the masses on broadcast and cable TV.

In October, HBO will broadcast its last fight, a middleweight bout between Daniel Jacobs and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. That fight will close the book on over four decades of boxing. The network will still broadcast boxing related programming as they plan to air a two part documentary on Muhammad Ali. The sport needs someone like Muhammad Ali right now but I don't know how long it will be until we get one.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. BURT REYNOLDS

Burt Reynolds in Smokey and The Bandit

Burt Reynolds, one of Hollywood's most iconic actors passed away at age 82 after suffering a heart attack. For over two decades, Reynolds was one of the most prominent stars during the 70's and 80's. Reynolds started his career in the 60's starring in the greatest TV shows of that era including The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Gunsmoke. In 1966 Reynolds was given his own cop show in Hawk which only lasted for 17 episodes. By the 1970's Reynolds would move on to movies.

In 1972 Reynolds would come to prominence as Lewis Medlock in Deliverance. Hollywood executives in the 70's liked Reynolds image as a southern boy that outsmarts the law and several of his movies reflected that including White Lightning, The Longest Yard, and Gator. By 1977, Burt Reynolds and his friend Hal Needham did a road trip movie that was Smokey and The Bandit. 

Reynolds teamed up with Sally Field, Jerry Reed, and Jackie Gleason and Smokey and The Bandit was very popular with audiences making 100 million dollars at the box office. Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham's partnership would continue in Smokey and The Bandit 2, Cannonball Run, Stroker Ace, and Cannonball Run 2. From 1977 to 1982, Burt Reynolds was the King of the Box Office. 

AMC theaters will honor Burt Reynolds by playing Smokey and The Bandit from Sept. 12th to Sept. 20th according to VARIETY.

Thank you Mr. Reynolds. You were a true Hollywood icon and your legacy will never be forgotten.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

DANIEL CORMIER WINS UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AT UFC 226

DANIEL CORMIER

At UFC 226 on Saturday night, Daniel Cormier defeated Stipe Miocic to become the new UFC Heavyweight champion. Cormier is also the UFC Light Heavyweight champion and joins Connor McGregor as one of the only two fighters that have won a championship while holding another championship. Cormier has accomplished something that his rival Jon Jones could not.




After Cormier won the championship, he called out Brock Lesnar who was in attendance to see the fight between Cormier and Miocic. Brock entered the cage, made negative comments about the heavyweight division, and challenged Cormier. UFC announced that Brock Lesnar has started the process to join the USADA drug testing pool and should be available to compete in the UFC in six months. Cormier and Lesnar should fight sometime in 2019. 

Daniel Cormier is living proof that hard work pays off. His historic win at UFC 226 proves that he is one of the best fighters in the world and his upcoming fight with Brock Lesnar will be one of the most anticipated superfights of the last decade. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. BIG VAN VADER

BIG VAN VADER

Leon White, known to pro wrestling fans as Big Van Vader passed away on Monday June 18th according to CBSSports. He was 63 years old. At 6'4 450 pounds, Big Van Vader was one of the most intimidating and athletic personas in wrestling. Big Van Vader won 11 championships in a career that spanned over three decades. He worked in every major promotion in the world including the AWA, WCW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and WWE.

Big Van Vader best run came in the late 80's and early 90's. From 1987 to 1992 Vader worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling where he was the IWGP Heavyweight champion and worked with such legends as Antonio Inoki and The Great Muta. 

In 1992 he went to WCW (World Championship Wrestling) where he began a feud with Sting. Vader would win the World title on three different occasions. He would have great feuds with Sting, Rick Rude, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan.

By 1996 Vader had moved onto the WWE but due to injuries he was not the same athlete he had been. He feuded with Yokozuna, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker, but he would never reach the top of WWE like he did in WCW. 

Vader was a true superstar that redefined what a super heavyweight could do in the ring. He made fans and wrestlers tremble with fear at the mention of his name. 

Thank you Mr. White. Your legacy in this business will never be forgotten. 

Class Dismissed, 

THE PROFESSOR

WWE SMACKDOWN MOVING TO FOX IN 2019

Fox is bringing Smackdown back to broadcast television after nearly eight years. According to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Fox and WWE are close to making a deal that would bring Smackdown to Fox in the Fall of 2019.  Fox will reportedly pay WWE one billion dollars over five years. Fox is looking to move away from urbane programming and is looking to bring in broad programming that will appeal to middle america. Currently Fox is paying 3 billion for five seasons of Thursday Night Football and spends 1 billion annually for their Sunday Night Football package. WWE Raw currently averages about 3 million viewers each week on USA while WWE Smackdown currently averages 2.59 million viewers.

With this new deal in place, USA Network and Fox will split programming rights. NBCUniversal has owned the rights to Smackdown since the show began airing on Syfy in 2010. In 2016 Smackdown began airing on Tuesday nights on USA. NBC Universal will most likely keep WWE RAW on the USA Network. 

Once this deal is complete Smackdown should begin airing on Fox in October 2019. Currently Smackdown airs on Tuesday nights on USA Network, but it was reported by The Wrap that Fox will move it to Friday nights. Whether that's true or not will be one of the many questions that Fox and WWE will need to answer next year. 

As a wrestling fan of nearly 30 years this is very exciting. WWE now has a major deal on a broadcast network that will be able to bring its programming to millions of people. Smackdown could even get higher ratings than RAW. The Fall of 2019 is shaping up to be very interesting. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. MARGOT KIDDER

Margot Kidder

Margot Kidder, the actress that played Lois Lane in Superman: The Movie and three subsequent sequels died on May 13th. She was 69 years old. As a child, I remember watching the Superman movies on WPIX and Ms. Kidder's performance always stood out as she captured the tenacity, honesty, and sense of humor of Lois Lane. Her chemistry with Christopher Reeve was great on-screen as the interview scene at Lois' apartment in Superman: The Movie is fondly remembered by all Superman fans. 

Thank you Ms. Kidder, your contributions to TV and movies will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR

THE MOST RELEVANT AND ICONIC VERSIONS OF SUPERMAN IN FILM AND TV

On April 18,1938 Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 and in the 80 years since then he has become an American icon. To celebrate this amazing milestone I would like to rank the most relevant and iconic Superman appearances in film and television. 

CHRISTOPHER REEVE IN SUPERMAN:THE MOVIE


Christopher Reeve as Superman

In 1978, Christopher Reeve made you believe a man could fly. Reeve with his great acting ability made Superman and Clark Kent two distinct personalities. His Clark Kent was shy, quiet, and unassuming while his Superman was strong, confident, and personable. Christopher Reeve's Superman is the most iconic interpretation of the character since he was created in 1938. 

GEORGE REEVES IN THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN

George Reeves as Superman

Before there was Christopher Reeve, George Reeves portrayed Superman in The Adventures of Superman from 1951 to 1957. In the 1950's comic books and superhero popularity were on the decline after World War II ended in 1945. When The Adventures of Superman debuted in 1951 kids loved it because of the action and adventure. Superman fought gangsters, scientists, and rescued Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen from peril. The Adventures of Superman became one of the most popular shows of its time along with I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners. It also cemented Superman as "The Big Blue Boy Scout" and paved the way for other superheroes on TV like Batman in 1966 and The Incredible Hulk in the 70's. 

TOM WELLING IN SMALLVILLE


Tom Welling as Superman

In 2001, Smallville debuted on the WB Network (now the CW Network) and focused on Clark Kent in his teens and young adulthood. Smallville was a teen soap opera mixed with science fiction and action adventure that defined Superman for a new generation of fans. The teen soap opera element was the focal point of the show as Clark dealt with love, puberty, and superpowers. Clark had to deal with his feelings for Lana Lang and he had to stop the machinations of his friend, Lex Luthor. In the 17 years since its debut, Smallville was the precursor to the cultural explosion of superheroes that we see today.

In the eight decades since his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman has appeared in every major medium in the world from newspapers to radio,TV, and movies. Superman is the most iconic and beloved superheroes in the world because of his never-ending battle for truth and justice. Here's to another 80 years.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. BRUNO SAMMARTINO

Bruno Sammartino, a legendary star in pro wrestling during the 60's and 70's died on Wednesday. He was 82 years old. He came to prominence in 1963 when he became the World Champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation, the precursor to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). The World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was owned by Vincent J. McMahon, the father of current owner and WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon. Due to his muscular physique, Vincent J. McMahon marketed Bruno to the New York audience as a superhero. 

McMahon made the fans believe that Bruno could conquer all the different villains that were in wrestling at that time including foreign menaces like Ivan Koloff and giants such as Ernie Ladd and Bill Watts. Bruno Sammartino's first title reign lasted from 1963 to 1971 and for over seven years fans came by the thousands to see Bruno defend his championship in Madison Square Garden. Bruno Sammartino appealed to everyone no matter their race or social status.  In 1971 Bruno would lose the title to Ivan Koloff  in front of a shocked MSG crowd. He would regain the title in 1973 and hold it until 1977 when he lost it to Superstar Billy Graham. 

During the 1960''s and 1970's pro wrestling was built on regional territories and the WWWF was the powerhouse in the Northeast with New York and Madison Square Garden being the mecca of it all. Bruno Sammartino was the biggest star of that era. He paved the way for stars such as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock to take the WWE to even greater heights. Bruno Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.

Thank you Mr. Sammartino. Your contributions to pro wrestling will never be forgotten.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR 

R.I.P. STEVEN BOCHCO

STEVEN BOCHCO

Steven Bochco, one of Hollywood's most prolific writers and producers passed away on April 1st. He was 74 years old according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Steven Bochco changed the way we look at television drama with shows that featured ensemble casts and gritty realism that focused on hot-button social issues including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue. With this formula he won 10 Primetime Emmy Awards and became one of the most influential figures in television during the 80's and 90's. 

His career started in 1960's working at Universal where he worked on such classic shows like Columbo and MacMillan and Wife. By 1976 he moved to MTM Enterprises. 

Besides introducing gritty realism and ensemble casts to drama, Bochco was also known for making his own rules and not bending to TV executives. When he created NYPD Blue in the 90's he asked network executives at ABC to give him freedom on the show's use of  language and nudity. Bochco knew that in order to compete with cable television he had to up the ante on network television. Despite protests from the religious right, NYPD Blue debuted in 1993 and ran for 12 seasons winning a total of 20 Emmys during its run on ABC. 

When we look at television today with shows like Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Game of Thrones, Grey's Anatomy, all of them owe a debt to Steven Bochco. He was a visionary that raised the bar in dramatic television. His contributions will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR

ROSEANNE REBOOT HITS 25 MILLION VIEWERS

After two decades off the air, the Roseanne Show returned to ABC last Tuesday with over 18 million viewers tuning in according to DEADLINE. The show had the best ratings for any sitcom in over four years and it has been renewed for another season. Now, The Hollywood Reporter is saying that with time shift technology with Nielsen that added over six million additional viewers giving the hit show 25 million viewers. The Roseanne Show was always known for tackling tough subjects such as domestic violence and now they are looking at a middle class family divided by the election of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has a strong connection to The Roseanne Show. When Donald Trump won the Presidency in 2016 the executives at ABC began to look at how they can better serve their audience according to The New York Times. ABC realized that their was an audience that was being under served and they brought back Roseanne to appeal to the middle class working family that Trump appealed to win the presidency. 

With the ratings success of Roseanne other networks are looking at bringing back past shows that viewers loved. CBS is already planning on airing a Murphy Brown reboot. It will be interesting to see if that show will reach the same heights as Roseanne. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

CONAN THE BARBARIAN TV SERIES BEING DEVELOPED AT AMAZON

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan The Barbarian

Its been 20 years since Conan appeared on television but now Amazon is developing a new drama series based on the cimmerian warrior according to TVLine. Conan was created in the 1930's by Robert E. Howard but he was made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1982 film, Conan The Barbarian and its sequel in 1984, Conan The Destroyer. Amazon is making great strides in improving its programming slate. 

In January, Variety reported that Amazon cancelled I Love Dick, One Mississippi, and Jean Claude Van Johnson in order to find series that are bigger and broader that may perform well internationally like Game of Thrones. In fact Miguel Sapochnik who has directed several Game of Thrones episodes will direct this adaptation of Conan. It seems that Amazon thinks that this Conan series could fill the gap that Game of Thrones leaves after its final season in 2019. 

Netflix is also looking to capitalize on the Game of Thrones void with The Witcher, a TV series based on books by Andrzej Sapkowski according to Forbes. It will be interesting to see which of the two adaptations has the biggest appeal to mainstream audiences. Conan might have the edge due to its established brand identity.

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

RONDA ROUSEY JOINS WWE

RONDA ROUSEY

Following weeks of rumors, Ronda Rousey made her official debut for the WWE last Sunday at the Royal Rumble as reported by Sports Illustrated. Rousey came out to the ring and pointed at the Wrestlemania sign as Stephanie McMahon and Asuka stood in the ring. 

Ronda Rousey is a former UFC and Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion. Her win-loss record stands at 12-2 with her last two fights ending in losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Since her departure from MMA, the UFC  has been searching for the next mainstream star of the Women's division.

WWE looks to capitalize on Ronda Rousey's mainstream appeal in order to increase their brand awareness and audience size. With the mainstream press they have received since her debut, it seems to be working. It will be interesting to see how WWE markets Rousey in the current state of the WWE Women's Division. Personally, I would like to see Ronda as a  brash, cocky villain similar to her idol Rowdy Roddy Piper when he was in  the WWE in the mid 1980's fighting Hulk Hogan.

Ronda Rousey is a great addition to WWE and should supply some very memorable moments if she is showcased in the proper light. Only time will tell. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

THE DUDLEY BOYZ WILL BE INDUCTED IN THE WWE HALL OF FAME 2018

THE DUDLEY BOYZ

This past Monday night on WWE RAW, it was announced that The Dudley Boyz would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018 as Cageside Seats reported. The Dudley Boyz hve won titles in every wrestling promotion they have been in including WWE, ECW, IWGP, and Impact Wrestling. 

The Dudley Boyz started in ECW where Paul Heyman put them together in 1996. The Dudley Boyz rose to become the longest tenured and best tag team in ECW defeating The Gangstas, The Eliminators, and legends like Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman. After winning the tag team titles 8 times in ECW, The Dudley Boyz moved onto the WWE.

In 1999, The Dudley Boyz debuted in WWE. This is where they would have their greatest success with feuds against The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian. Their TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) matches at Summerslam 2000 and Wrestlemania 17 in 2001 revolutionized the tag team division and made the participants legends. 

The Dudley Boyz are legends in this business and deserve to be in the WWE Hall of Fame. They have given legions of fans memories that will last a lifetime. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR

GOLDBERG: WWE HALL OF FAME BOUND

BILL GOLDBERG AS WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION

Bill Goldberg will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018 according to ESPN. Goldberg is one of the most recognized names in wrestling. He was a top attraction for WCW in the late 90's during the Monday Night Wars. Goldberg's career started in WCW (World Championship Wrestling) in 1997 where he began a winning streak that lasted for a over a year. Goldberg won many titles in WCW including the U.S. and Tag Team titles. Goldberg's biggest moment in WCW occurred when he defeated Hulk Hogan for the WCW World title in the summer of 1998.

When WWE bought WCW in 2001, many fans waited for the day when Goldberg would enter WWE. Goldberg debuted in WWE in 2003 and had feuds with The Rock and Chris Jericho. Goldberg would defeat Triple H for the World title. Goldberg's run with WWE would culminate in 2004 with a feud with Brock Lesnar, with Goldberg beating Lesnar at Wrestlemania 20. This would be Goldberg's last match for over a decade.

In 2016, Goldberg returned to WWE and feuded with Brock Lesnar. He defeated Lesnar at Survivor Series in one minute and 26 seconds reminiscent of his WCW win streak. Goldberg would go on to defeat Kevin Owens for the WWE Universal title at WWE Fastlane. Brock Lesnar would defeat Goldberg at Wrestlemania 33 and win the WWE Universal title. 

Goldberg has had an incredible career and has given fans many exciting memories. The WWE Hall of Fame has gained an amazing superstar and it will be interesting to see who joins Goldberg in the 2018 Hall of Fame class. 

Class Dismissed, 

The Professor

THREE REASONS WHY SAMOA JOE SHOULD WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE

SAMOA JOE

On Monday Night Raw this week Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns engaged in an intense battle over the Intercontinental Championship. In the end Reigns came away with the victory after he speared Samoa Joe. As a fan I was disappointed. I was hoping Joe would win the title and continue his feud with Roman Reigns. Then I thought of an interesting idea: What if Samoa Joe wins the Royal Rumble?

1. SAMOA JOE WOULD FACE BROCK LESNAR AGAIN


Brock Lesnar

Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar have faced off before and Brock beat him. If Joe wins the Royal Rumble then he will face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Brock and Joe have a great chemistry as both can use MMA in their wrestling match. At Wrestlemania someone like Kane or Braun Strowman could interfere and cost Brock the title. Samoa Joe would be Universal champion and could continue his feud with Roman Reigns. 

2. ROMAN REIGNS NEEDS SAMOA JOE AS A RIVAL


Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is currently the Intercontinental Champion. Just this past Monday he defeated Samoa Joe in a title match. Joe and Reigns always have intense matches and you believe that they despise each other. If Reigns is eliminated from the Rumble by someone like John Cena and Joe wins the Rumble and the Universal title at Wrestlemania then he would have an advantage over Reigns. Reigns chasing Joe for the Universal title could be very interesting. 

3. SAMOA JOE VS BRAUN STROWMAN WOULD BE EPIC

Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman has become one of the most popular attractions in WWE. Strowman uses his power to destroy opponents in minutes much like Goldberg did in WCW. With Samoa Joe's knowledge of MMA he could easily make fans believe that he could beat Braun. If Joe was the Universal Champion and Strowman chased him for the title and won it then it would be a great moment in WWE history. 

Samoa Joe is one of the most unique wrestlers in history. He is a hybrid wrestler that uses MMA techniques in his matches. If Joe were to win the Royal Rumble and then the Universal title at Wrestlemania, WWE would create a new star. This is just some fantasy booking but I would love to see it happen. Only time will tell. 

Class Dismissed, 
THE PROFESSOR