JR's Mailbag #4

Hello, and welcome to a bumper edition of JR's Mailbag! As I'm sure you're well aware by now, this is a bi-weekly feature here on EWA.com where I'll do my damnedest to answer any question from you, the EWA Universe! Whether factual or opinion-based, no subject is off-limits, so if you've got anything you want to know for future installments, just remember that there are two ways to go about submitting your questions. You can either get in touch via the EWA's official Twitter account or you can send a direct message to me right here on EWA.com.

With all that out of the way, let's see what's in today's mailbag:


There's so much to look forward to at this Sunday's Pay-Per-View, with every match on the card having the potential to steal the show. It goes without saying that the Sin City Survival Elimination Match could well shake things up in both the World Heavyweight and National Title scenes should either champion be pinned, whereas the four competitors in the National Title Number One Contenders Match will all have a major league opportunity to start moving up the EWA ranks. You can't discount either of the women's matches too, with Tessa Blanchard and Nia Jax each desperate to get back into title contention, while Dominatrix will face quite possibly her toughest challenge to date in Blue Pantaloons.

For my money though, I have a feeling the eagerly anticipated Two-Out-Of-Three-Falls Match for the Tag Team Championship could well be the one everyone's talking about when it's all said and done. Considering just how good "The Kings of Wrestling" have been this summer, as well as how motivated "The Vaudevillains" are to take the gold, I'm expecting big, big things from that one. As for the standout performer though, I'm going to go with a somewhat "out-of-left-field" pick and say "The Midnight Rider." The masked man obviously faces an uphill battle as he takes on both Braun Strowman and Santino Marella in an Unsanctioned Parking Lot Brawl, with few giving him much chance of victory. However, if "The Rider" can use all of his experience and wiles to find a way to overcome those odds, it would be a feat that would put even Hercules to shame.

Next question:


I'm not sure that "handsome" is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Al Snow. Instead, I'd say "wacky," "crazy," "ludicrous," sometimes "asinine," sometimes "jaw-dropping," but always "talented." Still, I suppose I can see why some might call Al "handsome," in a rugged sort of way.

Next question:


There's a lot to break down here so let's hop to it:

1. If my sources are correct, I believe Glacier has recently opened up an ice cream parlor somewhere in Siberia.
2. I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just one, but I'd say all six men in the Sin City Survival Elimination Match are right up there.
3. The only opponent I'd stand any chance against in the ring would be Kermit The Frog. Given how he eliminated 'Urrgan from the 2012 Civil War though, I'd still probably get my ass whooped!
4. Next question!
5. "Macho Man" Randy Savage was obviously an incredible performer who unfortunately had his issues outside of the ring. However, rapping certainly wasn't one of them. "Be A Man" is still a "banger," as I'm led to believe the kids are calling it these days.

Next question:


I couldn't agree more, Jack. Fit Finlay has rolled back the years with his recent performances in the EWA, and to take a heartbreaking personal situation as he has and turn it into something so positive is nothing short of inspirational. Could that one day lead to a match against Brock Lesnar for the World Heavyweight Championship? I think there's still some ways to go first, but yes, I truly believe that there's a hell of a story to be told with "The Fighting Irishman" chasing the biggest prize in the game. Having got to know Finlay off-and-on over the past 30 years, I'm sure just earning an opportunity wouldn't be enough though...actually winning the gold is the only way he'd feel like this amazing comeback tour was a success. And that kind of drive and determination can often lead to something special.

While we're on the subject, let's give it up for the "old-timers" who are still very much competing at such a high level here in the E-Wrestling Alliance. Rikishi is 52, Ken Shamrock is 54, Al Snow is 55, Marty Jannetty is 58, and Rick Martel is technically 62 (although with the cryogenic freezing, I believe his "physical" age is up for debate), yet they're all capable of tearing it up with today's "young guns" on any given night.

Next question:


I guess I'm somewhat bias here, as there's only one true "King" in professional wrestling as far as I'm concerned, and that's my old pal, Jerry Lawler.

However, you've got to give credit where it's due to our current reigning and defending Tag Team Champions. It might have seemed somewhat cocky of Chris Hero and Cesaro to brand themselves as "The Kings of Wrestling," but few could argue with the way they've lived up to that moniker over the past several months. Hero and Cesaro were both exceptional talents individually, but in my humble opinion, they help elevate one another to new heights each and every time they're in that ring together. From winning the Rock N' Wrestling Tag Team Tournament to being the duo to finally knock OVE from their perch, "The Kings" are quite possibly at the peak of their powers right now. But then, that just makes it all the more intriguing to see how "The Vaudevillains" will approach the task of defeating them this Sunday!

Next question:


Without knowing for sure who's going to be involved in this year's tournament, it's near impossible to say but I'll take a wild stab in the dark regardless. I suppose you'd have to include Gabriel, just based on how determined he seems to achieve King of the Ring glory. However, I do worry about him perhaps running himself ragged with all these high profile and hard-fought matches.

I'd also throw Fit Finlay into the mix as well. As discussed already, "The Fighting Irishman" has never been more motivated since this Cinderella story got underway, and the prospect of winning that crown could see him continue to defy expectations.

If Ken Shamrock doesn't find himself wrestling for the World Championship next month, something I feel is a distinct possibility, then I'd be surprised if he wasn't heavily involved in this year's tournament and continuing his winning ways.

And last but not least, it's hard to look past Chris Sabin considering the breakout year he's had so far. Still, after the last two King of the Rings saw National Champions lose their gold during the tournament, I'd advise him to keep any matches non-title!

Next question:


As 2018 heads into Super Brawl season, my best advice would be to get yourself noticed as much as possible. How one goes about doing so is entirely up to the EWA superstars, be it chasing championship gold or vanquishing a heated rival or even just putting together a hell of a run. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the best way to guarantee you'll be involved in that humungous Super Brawl Match, where every championship in the company will be on the line, is if you make sure that everyone knows you're here.

Obviously, there's only so many spots in that match, but nobody should take anything for granted. That's why I'd recommend each EWA superstar continually ask themselves this one simple question in the coming weeks and months...am I doing enough to deserve a place in "The Showcase of The Immortals?" If the answer is no, then what can you do to change that? And if the answer is yes, then what can you do to stop anyone else from coming along and taking your place?

And for our final question:


While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I think the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The EWA has always been the home of the best talent in the wrestling industry, but I'd honestly say our current roster of hungry superstars are as talented, if not more so, than any other we've seen before. The Tag Team division is thriving once again, the Women's division has seen a major upswing lately, while Brock Lesnar is on yet another history-making run as World Champion. And that's not even mentioning the unpredictable element that's been introduced with our rolling cast of Guest General Managers over the summer!

While any company operating as long as the EWA has (17 years and counting, folks) will inevitably have its ups and downs, there's no doubt in my mind that we're experiencing one of the most exciting periods in EWA history. Each and every SLAM! is "must see" television, anyone can beat anyone else, but perhaps most importantly of all, it feels like we're constantly building to something even bigger and better. And if we're still on the ascent of this ride, I can't wait to see just how high we can go!

Thanks for all the questions, folks! Don't forget, you can send in your questions for the next edition of JR's Mailbag either here or here and I'll do my best to provide an answer in two weeks time.

BOOMER SOONER!