Professional Wrestling is in a Good State

By Jim Biringer

When people look at the landscape of professional wrestling in 2023, they will see it in a good place. There are many healthy companies from WWE and AEW to Impact Wrestling, New Japan, AAA, ROH, and GCW. Despite all the hate on the Internet and the tribalism between WWE fans and AEW fans, the wrestling business is actually thriving. 

Now nothing will beat the mid to late 1990s Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE, but in this day and age, it reminds many people of the old territory wrestling days. Except it is on a bigger scale. Remember during the territory days, only the major champions traveled to the old territories. For the most part, they worked in their region.


Vince McMahon Sr and the WWF ruled the Northeast. Jim Crockett and the NWA ruled the Carolinas and down into Georgia. There were promotions up and down the midwest from Minnesota and the AWA to WCCW in Texas. Even Florida and Memphis had good promotions. 
Once Vince McMahon Jr took the WWF national with Hulk Hogan a lot of things changed. The territories went away and WCW was on the rise behind Eric Bischoff. It really picked up with the nWo and the Monday Night Wars. And nothing will beat that time. Ask anyone who grew up during that time period, Mondays were the most watched television and the numbers showed it. 
Once WCW was bought by WWE, there was not much competition and fans were looking for another outlet. TNA was good for a while from 2004-2010. However, they could not compete with WWE in terms of a national stage. They tried and failed, but their brand is back to doing what it did during that time period. 


Obviously, fans tuned in to NJPW and ROH when Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks worked those promotions with the Bullet Club. Cody Rhodes going on the independent scene helped too. But the inception of AEW has been a game changer for the business. 


AEW has really given new life to the business of professional wrestling. President and CEO Tony Khan has allowed his wrestlers to work other promotions. The company started because of the Wrestle Kingdom match between Omega and Chris Jericho. From there things took off. The company is doing well and is going to have its biggest gate ever with All-In at Wembley Stadium. 


The addition of two hours of Collision on Saturday nights has really helped showcase the other wrestlers in the company. AEW was being innovative during the pandemic and now they are finding their groove again. Because of AEW, WWE raised its level with the Bloodline Storyline. Not to mention Triple H taking over and the rise of NXT during that time period before AEW came about really helped the business. 

More people were watching NXT when Triple H ran it than WWE. It just felt that an old-school show and he is bringing that to the main roster. WWE still has work to do cultivating new stars for the future but they are doing well. And that is a good thing. 


Just because you like one does not mean you have to hate the other. There are other wrestling companies out there for everyone. If you just like one fine. If you like them all that’s cool too. While the numbers may never reach the level of the attitude era and the Monday Night Wars, fans have more to choose from than they did back then.


There is so much more to choose from and that is what makes it so good. Just take this past Saturday night, there were great matches on Impact Slammiversary PPV, AEW Collision, and AAA TripleMania. It was a loaded Saturday night. You did not have that back in the 1990s and 2000s. 


One thing is for sure professional wrestling is in good shape regardless of the fans. The fans are the reason there is so much hate It is not the promotions. Like what you like and don’t compare other companies to each other. The companies sure don’t. 


People are talking about professional wrestling because of what is going on because there is so much of it. Again just enjoy it and have fun. Like what you like and let others like what they like. There is so much to choose from and support.


Now is truly the Golden Age of Professional Wrestling. 

The Steve Harvey Show (1996-2002)

By Miguel Mike Medina

The Steve Harvey Show is one of those sitcoms that’s known but at the same time feels underappreciated. The show ran for six seasons on ‘The WB Network’ which at the time was one of my favorite TV networks growing up. I miss the WB. So many great shows and animated series. The Steve Harvey Show had so many fun cast of characters. The show had great storylines and on-screen chemistry duos: Steve and Regina, Lovita and Cedric, Romeo and Bullethead, and Steve and Cedric.
The chemistry between Steve and Cedric is natural because they are real-life friends. They both became household names when they were part of Def Comedy Jam. Steve and Regina’s love story has been so many ups and downs but they finally got together in Season Five during the show. 
The show went through changes during Seasons 1 and 2, but they got better as the seasons went by. Adding Lovita Jenkins (Cedric’s love interest and then wife) was a genius move on the production team. When she came in Season Two, it changed the culture of the show. 
Overall, the legacy of The Steve Harvey Show should forever be remembered. I can speak about the show and break down some of my favorite episodes but I’ll save that when I make a video about it on The MMM Journal YouTube channel. 

1982 MLB All-Star Game

By Miguel Mike Medina

The 1982 MLB All-Star Game took place at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the first All-Star Game ever played outside the United States. Five Montreal Expos players participated in the All-Star Game. One of the coolest moments happened when the crowd gave Gary Carter a standing ovation. As a baseball fan, it gives you chills. 

Photo Credit: TSN


The game was televised on ABC and what an incredible broadcasting team ABC had for this event. The broadcasting team consists of: Al Michaels, Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Don Drysdale, and Bob Uecker. Yogi Berra, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Duke Snider, Bobby Thomson, and more former players threw out the ceremonial first pitch. 
Billy Martin was the manager of the American League team. Tommy Lasorda was the manager of the National League team. Both teams were stacked with great talented players and Hall of Famers. 

American League Roster: Rickey Henderson, George Brett, Reggie Jackson, Robin Yount, Carlton Fisk, Rod Carew, Eddie Murray, Carl Yastrzemski, Dave Winfield, Rich Gossage, and Ron Guidry.


National League Roster: Tim Raines, Pete Rose, Andre Dawson, Mike Schmidt, Gary Carter, Dale Murphy, Dave Concepcion, Ray Knight, Ozzie Smith, Dusty Baker, Steve Carlton, and Fernando Valenzuela. 

The National League defeated the American League 4-1. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion hit a two-run home run off Dennis Eckersley. Concepcion took home the ASG MVP honors. 

Marlins’ Offensive Explosion on the 4th of July

By Miguel Mike Medina

The Miami Marlins offense was in total control against the St Louis Cardinals on the Fourth of July. Jesus Sanchez and Garrett Cooper led Marlins offense and the team finished the game with 15 runs. The Marlins scored three runs in the first inning, three runs in the fourth, and four runs in the seventh and eighth inning. Those are the innings they did the most damage.

Jesus Sanchez got the offense started when he hit one out of the ballpark in the first inning. Sanchez went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs. First baseman Garrett Cooper went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo had a good outing. He finished the game with eight strikeouts and zero earned runs through six innings.

Marlins won 15-2. They are playing exceptionally well. The team from South Florida improved to 50-37 in the season. 

LSU Must Vacate Wins

By Miguel Mike Medina

The NCAA Independent Accountability Resolution Panel has dropped the hammer on LSU Football. LSU will have to vacate all the wins they accumulated from 2012 through 2015. 

Photo Credit to: Crescent City Sports Staff


As a person who has been watching sports for 24 years, It never made sense to me that you are making teams vacate their wins and championships. I don’t think you gain anything from it because the games were already played. The only person I see this affecting is LSU head coach Les Miles. The current LSU football players shouldn’t suffer for something that happened a decade ago. I’m saying this just in case if NCAA wants to take things into deeper measures.

Photo Credit to: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


With that being said, coach Les Miles will probably not make it to the College Football Hall of Fame and won’t be eligible. In those four years, the Tigers will have to erase 37 wins including two bowl games. Mike’s’ head coaching winning record will drop from 145 wins to wins. 

Is Hockeytown in… Seattle?

by Avry Jones

Seattle, Washington, has been a great sports town for several years. Before the Supersonics left Seattle to become the Oklahoma City Thunder, Gary Payton electrified crowds for 13 years. The Seattle Seahawks brought a Super Bowl Championship and numerous winning seasons in the mid-2010s, led by Coach Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, and the Legion of “Boom.” The Seattle Mariners joined the American League of Major League Baseball in 1977. The Mariners best years involved a young man named Ken Griffey, Jr. and a Japanese import named Ichiro Suzuki. But currently, the wave of sports fever that has enveloped Seattle grew in 2021 with the newest expansion hockey team, the Kraken. Seattle was the first U.S. city in 1919 to win the Stanley Cup under the nickname the Metropolitans (NHL, 2023).

The start of Seattle Hockeytown’s dream began in March 2018 when early season ticket deposit exceeded the minimum requirements in 12 minutes and crushing all previous expansion team records (NHL, 2023). Over the next two years, the new Seattle hockey ownership group conducted focus groups, naming sessions, and confidential internal reviews to finalize the name of the NHL’s newest franchise. On July 23, 2020, CEO Tod Leiweke announced the team’s name at the Climate Pledge Arena to the men and women building it at the time. The Seattle Kraken was released to the world and immediately embraced by Seattle (NHL, 2023).A logo on the water Description automatically generated with low confidence

Credit: NHL

In 2021, the Seattle Kraken hired Dave Hakstol as their inaugural head coach, and their team’s first captain was Mark Giordano. Their first regular season game was on October 12, 2021, against the last NHL expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights. However, the Kraken lost 4-3, but Ryan Donato scored the team’s first goal (NHL, 2023). The Kraken’s first win was in their second regular season game on October 14 when they defeated the Nashville Predators 4-3. The Seattle Kraken first their inaugural season in last place in the Pacific Division with a record of 27-49-6 and 60 points (NHL, 2023). Although the Vegas Golden Knights broke the mold of what an expansion team should be, the first season for the Seattle Kraken could be considered a great success due to the fan base of the packed Climate Pledge Arena, where the Kraken play their home games. The fan base of the Seattle Kraken is what has fueled the excitement for hockey in Seattle.A picture containing graphics, font, symbol, logo Description automatically generated

Credit: NHL

In 2022, the Kraken finished their second season on a very high note. The Kraken clinched their first playoff berth in the Western Conference with a record of 46-28-8 (ESPN, 2023). During their first playoff series, the Kraken won and defeated the defending 2021 Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in the opening round in seven games. AlthoughA picture containing screenshot, art Description automatically generated

Credit: NHL

the magic did not continue in the second round with a seven games loss to the Dallas Stars; pride continued to flow through the Seattle Kraken organization. A person in a suit and tie Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Credit: NHL (Dave Hakstol, Head Coach Seattle Kraken)

The Jack Adams Award is recognized for being the NHL Coach of the Year, and Dave Hakstol was voted as one of the three finalists. This should be no surprise considering Kraken’s vast turn-around from their first to their second season under his leadership (NHL, 2023).

The Seattle Kraken has a unique outlook on the ice, and the organization continues to innovate throughout the NHL. Everett Fitzhugh serves as the team’s primary radio play-by-play announcer. Fitzhugh had previously play-by-play experience with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Fitzhugh is the first full-time play-by-play announcer of African-American heritage in NHL history (ESPN, 2023). Fitzhugh grew up a massive hockey fan in Detroit, Michigan (Hockeytown, USA to many), which inspired him throughout his childhood (NHL, 2023).

Credit: NHL (Everett Fitzhugh pictured on the right)A couple of men wearing headsets and looking at a computer Description automatically generated with low confidence

Moreover, during this writing, the inaugural Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate team, went to the Calder Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 (NHL, 2023).Hockey players on ice Description automatically generated with low confidence

Credit: NHL (Coachella Valley Firebird Captain Max McCormick)

Moreover, the General Manager of the Seattle Kraken Stanley Cup Champion, Ron Francis, signed a 4-year extension to helm the leadership of the Seattle Kraken until the 2026-2027 season.A person in a grey jacket Description automatically generated with low confidence

Credit: NHL (Ron Francis, GM Seattle Kraken)

The goals of the Seattle Kraken are abundant, and many NHL teams are looking to the Kraken’s winning formula to see how their teams can succeed. Overall, success starts within the group, however small, and grows with each small victory as those become more significant and outstanding achievements. Afterward, the fanbase continues to support the team, and the team organization should listen to the fans to help their organization grow for the team’s and city’s growth.A collage of a crowd of people Description automatically generated with low confidence

Credit: NHL

Data and Statistics were provided by NHL.com and ESPN.com

Kevin Costner, A24’s ‘Priscilla’ Teaser

By Miguel Mike Medina

Kevin Costner’s marriage story continues to get messy. Christine, Costner’s estranged wife, is not happy. She’s not happy with the way things were handled about their kids finding out about their split. Christine is taking deeper measures by requesting $248k a month in child support. First, Kevin Costner leaves the hit show ‘Yellowstone’ and now he’s dealing with this nightmare. Are marriages worth any more? Why does it have to come down to money, especially from Rich public figures? 

Money is not everything. It’s important but it doesn’t bring you happiness. Things are getting out of hand in this Costner family. We hope they can come to an understanding at some point because there are kids involved. 

A24 just released the first teaser for Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ film.

https://youtu.be/gxbZyvCJc6U

It is based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir ‘Elvis and Me.” The movie is set to be released on October 2023. This is Sofia’s first directed and written project since her 2020 comedy-drama film, On the Rocks, which is on Apple TV+. 

Miguel’s Top Christian Music to Listen in 2023

By Miguel Mike Medina

Christian music brings a lot of joy and heals the soul. What would life be without Christian and Worship music? I’m so glad that I began listening to Christian music since last Summer, when I became more of a spiritual person.

In this video that’s on “The MMM Journal,” I mention several Christian songs to listen for 2023. Hit the link to see the FULL video:

Subway Series Recap

By Miguel Mike Medina

The two-game Subway Series is over. Yankees won the first game. The Mets won the second game. This Subway Series felt like a playoff atmosphere. Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso were not in the lineup due to them being in the injury list.

I collaborated with a passionate Mets fan twice this week to talk about the Subway Series. His name is Anthony Rivera. He’s the creator and host of ‘Subway to Shea’ Podcast.

Listen and watch the Subway Series recap video with special guest Anthony Rivera on our YouTube channel. The video premieres at 7pm.

FIITG Affliate Marketing: Gear Up With Stars And Stripes

By Miguel Mike Medina

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