Goldberg returns to WWE
For the first time in over 12 years, Goldberg appeared on a WWE show and on first thought, it appeared to have been a rousing success in every way possible.
The reaction that the former WWE World champion and WCW champion received left him misty-eyed.
The crowd was loud, but was it 鈥渢oo鈥� loud?
WCW was known for piping in 鈥淕oldberg鈥� chants and it has been said that the WWE did the same during Goldberg蘑菇视频 run in 2003 and 2004.
The reaction that Denver gave Goldberg was amazing, but a few fans shared their respective skepticism.
鈥淚 saw where it was reported that Raw in Denver only drew 6,500 fans,鈥� Fred from Uniontown said. 鈥淚s it possible for such a loud ovation from a half-filled arena to produce such a loud reaction?鈥�
While I am not an expert on sound nor can the attendance be officially confirmed, Fred makes a valid point.
If the show did draw 6,500 fans, as reported, then it would be hard to believe that arena that size, with so many empty seats, could produce that kind of sound.
However, I am sure fans will always remember the return of Goldberg as they see fit.
And while Goldberg蘑菇视频 return in Denver did not fill the arena, his appearance sure helped the ratings.
Despite going head-to-head against Monday Night Football and the Major League Baseball playoff game between Cleveland and Toronto, Raw蘑菇视频 numbers were up 14 percent from the prior week.
Goldberg appeared at the end of the third hour and into the Raw overrun, and last Monday蘑菇视频 show was the first in a long time that saw the TV audience rise from the second hour to the third.
The first hour drew 3.17 million viewers, the second hour had 3.11 million, and the third hour had 3.12 million.
While Goldberg is still penciled in for only one match, seeing the buzz that his return provided, I would be surprised if Goldberg does not wrestle at WrestleMania.
Ellsworth蘑菇视频 dream run
James Ellsworth is now 2-0 against WWE champion AJ Styles, and I sense we have not seen the last of him.
When I interviewed Ellsworth last month for a piece that ran on September 25 (http://www.heraldstandard.com/sports/columnists/bill_hughes/clash-of-champions-tonight/article_c35ca21f-f7bd-5898-b86e-6cd716fcdef2.html), he mentioned how grateful and appreciative he has been with the experience.
Well now, the WWE has released its own Ellsworth shirt at www.wweshop.com and is capitalizing off of this rare phenomenon that is his run.
Ellsworth received an amazing reaction from the crowd Tuesday night on Smackdown Live, although some fans questioned it.
鈥淭he Ellsworth chant on Smackdown had to be piped in,鈥� Ronnie from Elizabeth said. 鈥淭here is no way he was receiving the same type of reaction as Goldberg did on Raw.鈥�
Regardless, the story of Ellsworth as an underdog can carry over into real life for any person.
Ellsworth has anything but the prototypical look for a star, and that makes this even more special for his friends and fans alike.
How long will it last? No one knows for sure, but let me be the first to predict that he appears in the Royal Rumble at the 70,000-seat Alamo Dome in January!
Someone create a hashtag!
Styles vs. Shawn Michaels?
Earlier this week, a fan tweeted out a graphic of a shot of AJ Styles and Shawn Michaels teasing that they will face off at the Royal Rumble in Michaels鈥� hometown of San Antonio.
While the match would be incredible, I don鈥檛 know that the WWE would putt the string on the match on that show. While possible, I would think that a Michaels return to the ring would be saved for a WrestleMania.
Bischoff documentary
The WWE will release a new documentary on WCW head Eric Bischoff this coming Monday on the WWE Network after Raw ends.
These pieces are usually pretty good, but I would really like to see a piece about Bischoff蘑菇视频 time in WCW done by someone other than the WWE as it always slants things to put the WWE in a favorable light.
Bischoff had the WWE on the ropes in the mid-1990s, prior to the Attitude Era, but since WWE owns all of the WCW footage and materials, a third-party piece is next to impossible.
Update of Corgan, TNA suit
The lawsuit between Billy Corgan and TNA has been pushed back until this coming Wednesday. More on the story as news develops.
Paige has surgery
WWE wrestler Paige has been in the news a lot lately, but not for good reasons. However, she went through successful neck surgery Wednesday and is in good spirits.
Leading into the surgery, Paige asked Alberto Del Rio to marry her at a show last weekend.