A list of the top 50 greatest male wrestlers of all time circulated the internet this week and caused quite the debate. Not only were certain superstars absent from the list, but the author clearly didn’t decipher between the greatest characters and the best wrestlers. Indeed, throughout pro-wrestling history, there have been amazing, larger than life characters who won’t be remembered for their wrestling abilities as much they will for the stories they told. And, on the other hand, some of the most celebrated technical wrestlers didn’t have memorable gimmicks but rather performed in unforgettable bouts. In this episode of Coming to the Ring, journalist Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris (on Twitter: @floodthedrummer) and author Richard Taylor (on Twitter: @TrulyTaylorMade) take a look at both groups and compile lists of their own. ©2019. All Rights Reserved.

Coming to The Ring

Wrestling’s Best Characters and Workers

8.10.19: (Sports): WWE has always been in the business of recycling, whether it be entrance music, gimmicks or finishing moves. Indeed, what’s old is, somehow, always presented as new. That’s certainly true in 2019, where the finishing moves from the superstars of yesteryear, such as the Stone Cold Stunner and the Mandible claw, are being adopted by today’s current roster of talent. Even a major storyline on the television in the past weeks seems eerily familiar to that of one which dominated the screen late in the year 2000. Not to mention that the Robert Roode gimmick is a throw-back to the great Ravishing Rick Rude. In this episode of Coming to the Ring, journalist Flood the Drummer (@floodthedrummer) and author Richard Taylor (@TrulyTaylorMade), two life-long wrestling fans, analyze this cyclical pro-wrestling trend and its impact on the television product and viewers’ perceptions. ©2019

Gimmick Infringement

7.31.19 – (Sports): WWE announced in June that it had hired Mr. Paul Heyman, the on-screen advocate for Brock Lesnar and the mastermind behind the long-defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling, to serve as the Executive Director for Monday Night Raw, the longest-running episodic show in television history. The July 1st Raw episode is said to have had Mr. Heyman’s fingerprints all over it, from Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley crashing through the LED entrance set, to a color-commentator responding to the carnage by saying “Oh shit.” But the critically-acclaimed Raw that kicked off July has nothing on the show that closed out this month. A number of outlets and countless fans have said Monday’s Raw was the best the company put forth in a while. And according to F4W Online, Monday’s episode of Raw, which featured not only solid wrestling matches but also a gory beatdown of Seth Rollins at the hands of Lesnar, was “the heaviest Paul Heyman influenced red-brand episode to date.” In one month, on Raw, we’ve heard profanity, seen blood, and viewed tremendous matches, all the things that garnered ECW, the South Philadelphia based wrestling promotion which Heyman led throughout the 90s, a cult following. So, is Heyman pulling from the ECW playbook? Is he, indeed, taking Monday Night Raw to the Extreme? And if so, what does that mean for the show’s PG rating? In this episode, Flood the Drummer and Richard Taylor answer those questions and offer predictions about what the month of August could bring under the Paul Heyman Administration. ©2019. All Rights Reserved

The Paul Heyman Administration

5.23.19: Lifelong wrestling fans Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris and Richard Taylor review and analyze the state of WWE and offer the Connecticut-based company some free advice on how to evolve WWE Heavyweight Champion Kofi Kingston’s character and book a more fluid and engaging fluid Monday Night Raw. Follow the guys on Twitter: @floodthedrummer / @TrulyTaylorMade ©2019

Episode 5: Free Advice for WWE

5.16.19: Journalist Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris and author Richard Taylor react to the Lars Sullivan controversy and discuss whether his $100,000 fine for past remarks was appropriate or a manifestation of white privilege. Tweet your thoughts to: @floodthedrummer & @TrulyTaylorMade. Or send commentary to ComingtotheRing@gmail.com ©2019.

Episode 4: Lars Sullivan in Trouble

4.19.19: Journalist Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris and author Richard Taylor review the 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup and identify which talent on the company’s payroll are in needed of a gimmick redo. PLUS: The duo reviews this week’s Raw & Smackdown! Follow @floothedrummer across all social media platforms! Follow Richard Taylor on Twitter @TrulyTaylorMade! ©2019. All Rights Reserved

Epi. 3: Gimmick Shakeups

Donald Trump may not have colluded with Russia, but did the U.S President, who is a devout Fox News viewer, call in a favor to help out his buddy Vince McMahon, who signed a billion-dollar deal with Fox to air SmackDown Live and whose wife will be working on the WWE Hall of Famer’s re-election campaign? Journalist Flood the Drummer and author Richard Taylor, Jr., mega wrestling fans, explore the conspiracy theory. PLUS, the duo reviews this week’s Raw and Smackdown, weigh in on Luke Harper’s status, discuss Jim Ross’ lucrative deal with All Elite Wrestling and provide WrestleMania predictions. Follow Flood the Drummer across social media @floodthedrummer! Follow Richard Taylor on Twitter at @TrulyTaylorMade and on Instagram at richard.taylorjr ©2019. All Rights Reserved.

Did Donald Trump Collude with WWE’s Vince McMahon?

3.28.19: Journalist Flood the Drummer and author Richard Taylor analyze the Daniel Bryan v Kofi Kingston storyline, debate whether Kofi is WWE Champion material and discuss how black wrestlers have been booked by the Connecticut based company. PLUS: The duo reviews this week’s Raw and SmackDown! Follow Flood the Drummer across social media at @floodthedrummer! Follow Richard Taylor on Twitter at @TrulyTaylorMade and on Instagram on Richard.TaylorJr!

Is Kofi Kingston Ready to be WWE Champion?

Journalist Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris and author Richard Taylor are lifelong wrestling fans who enjoy talking every week about the good, the bad, and the brand new in professional wrestling.

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Coming to The Ring

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