MONSTER FACTORY Season One (APPLE TV+)

Welcome to a special edition of Blogs Count Anywhere, the pro wrestling companion blog to the ODPH podcast & 607 TWS: The Wrestling Show Podcast.

For this entry, we are reviewing a brand new documentary series debuting on Apple TV+ on March 17th showcasing one of the premier pro wrestling schools in the world.

If you have a deeper knowledge of the pro wrestling business (other than watching your favorite promotions on cable TV or streaming), you know the importance of wrestling schools. This is where those with aspirations of learning the ins and outs of professional wrestling go to hone their craft. Often during televised/streaming shows, fans will hear commentators mention such places as the WWE Performance Center, New Japan Wrestling Dojo, and Nightmare Factory where tomorrow’s superstars improve their skills today. One of the best wrestling schools you will hear in those types of conversations is the MONSTER FACTORY, based out of Paulsboro, New Jersey.

The school is featured in a 6 episode series giving viewers an all access view inside the lives of trainees (Amelia Herr aka Notorious Mimi, Hurley A. Jones Jr. aka Bobby Buffet, Lucas DiSangro aka Twitch, David Goldschmidt aka Goldy and Gabriella Belpre aka Gabby Ortiz) along with their head trainer & Monster Factory owner Danny Cage en route to a showcase show at the legendary 2300 arena in Philadelhpia.

Rich from 3FN and I had the chance to catch up with the cast before the show hits streaming on a special 607 TWS, but lets take a closer look at how this series fared overall now that its’ debuted.

MONSTER FACTORY Season One Promo Art

Credit: Apple TV+

If you’re unfamiliar with the Monster Factory, it was founded in 1983 by Larry Sharpe. One of its’ first students to go on and have superstar success was “Bam Bam” Bigelow. From there, the school had grown with successful students moving on to the WWE, WCW and ECW respectfully. In 2010, Danny Cage purchased the school and rebranded as “The World Famous Monster Factory”. The school hasn’t stopped turning out success story after success story over those years (12 signees in 11 years as mentioned on the show). Currently, QT Marshall (AEW), Damien Priest (WWE) and Steve Maclin (WWE, now Impact Wrestling) are a few notable students and all featured wrestlers in major promotions. Success is never guaranteed but looking at the track record of alumni over the years, it can’t be denied the Monster Factory can give an aspiring wrestler the tools to begin that journey to the big stage.

Episode 5. Danny Cage in “Monster Factory,” premiering on Friday, March 17 on Apple TV+.

Credit: Apple TV+

The six episode series doesn’t disguise the grind in training and how dangerous the business can be from a physical aspect. From the initial episode, viewers see a prime example of how serious training needs to be to avoid someone being devastatingly hurt or worse. During training on how to perform a suplex, two students experience a slip-up and nearly drop someone right on their head. Immediately Danny Cage jumps in and coaches these two (along with the rest of the class) about what they did wrong, what to do next time and why it’s important to take it seriously. Cage bluntly puts “When you screw up in wrestling, I know it’s natural to laugh…Don’t do that…..You don’t know what that means, you could have just crippled someone.” Another moment is later in the series when a chair spot (where one person hits someone with a steel chair) goes wrong and the wrestler suffered an elbow injury. These types of events do happen. It’s one element of the business that is known and hopefully never seen due to great coaching & training.

Gabriella Belpre (aka Gabby Ortiz) in “Monster Factory,” premiering on Friday, March 17 on Apple TV+.

Credit: Apple TV+

If viewers are not familiar to all the aspects of pro-wrestling’s business side, Danny Cage does an exceptional job showing the true side of the ring. Cage is very open, blunt and honest with what is involved in learning the ropes. Cage may rub some people the wrong way, but at the end of the day, his job isn’t to make everyone happy, but make them the best pro wrestler they can be. Viewers will see his personal journey & see his passion pour out for pro wrestling. His career might not have taken off but his legacy is what his students take with them as they move on and in some cases, skyrocketing upward. The prime example of this is Herr aka Notorious Mimi. Early in the show, Herr is given an opportunity that not many get: a tryout from a big promotion. There is no bigger accomplishment that a coach can have than seeing a student work extremely hard to get chances and take full advantage of them. Even while brief on the series, Herr shines with how much she’s put int her craft and where she is going from here. Herr’s story shows why students sacrifice so much to chase their dreams. With hard work, they just might get it.

Episode 2. Amelia Herr (aka Notorious Mimi) in “Monster Factory,” premiering on Friday, March 17 on Apple TV+.

Credit: Apple TV+

Even with the success story with Herr, this show’s strength is not what the students do in the ring, but how vulnerable they were with their lives outside. Each featured student deeply open up about their personal lives and their struggles on top of chasing their dreams. The series captures the raw emotions involving the students and readers can’t help but to cheer them on to win. That said, the episode that most viewers will arguably be talking about the most is episode 3: “Thank You CM Punk” featuring Lucas DiSangro aka Twitch. Seeing what he has overcome to get to this level simply can’t be ignored. That said, nobody has a story that is forgettable by any means. Viewers will be blown away by the honesty and emotional testimonials from other cast members like Ortiz, Buffet and Goldy as well, which each getting time to have their moment to talk of their experiences that mold them into who they are.

Lucas DiSangro (aka Twitch) in “Monster Factory,” premiering on Friday, March 17 on Apple TV+.

Credit: Apple TV+

The students are not the only ones showing the world their daily challenges. This especially rings true for Danny Cage himself. The exposure he gives to the audience about the business and all that it encompasses is one thing, but his personal life outside the ring with his family is a whole captivating story as well. Cage balances both with strength and poise during some of the most difficult times anyone unfortunately has to endure, moving forward concerning the showcase without missing a beat. Knowing Cage is dealing with this on top of setting up one of, if not their biggest show ever, is something the audience watching at home has to respect and will empathize with.

Episode 6. Hurley A. Jones Jr. (aka Bobby Buffet) and David Goldschmidt (aka Goldy) in “Monster Factory,” premiering on Friday, March 17 on Apple TV+.

Credit: Apple TV+

Overall, Monster Factory for Apple Tv+ is a must-watch show for not only pro wrestling fans, but viewers who have ever had a dream worth chasing. It pays homage to the legendary school but shows that its success is not based solely on the art of wrestling but rather what makes the wrestler. Watching ringside (or streamside) and seeing these individuals will give you new perspective and admiration for those willing to take a chance and leaving it all in the ring after the 1, 2 and 3 counts.

Make sure to check this series out when it drops on March 17th on Apple TV+

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Monster Factory. Thanks again to Apple TV and Nerd Initiative to allow us to interview and early screen the series. Till next time, thanks for reading.

AEW ALL OUT FINAL PREDICTIONS

Welcome to a special edition of Blogs Count Anywhere, the complementary pro wrestling blog to the ODPH podcast and 607TWS: the Wrestling Show. It’s a HUGE weekend of wrestling going on with GCW’s Second City Summit & WWE’s Clash at the Castle along with NXT Worlds Collide. On this week’s 607TWS, the whole 607podcasts family gave their previews for those events. However, the show that everyone will have their eyes on is AEW’s “All Out” hailing from Chicago 8pm EST (available on BR Live). The card has been evolving since the go-home show on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. Let’s take a final preview and give the last predictions until Sunday, shall we?

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

AEW ALL OUT BUY-IN SHOW (7PM EST)

Angelo Parker vs. HOOK (FTW Championship)

This match has come together pretty quickly, but let’s face it: The AEW Faithful LOVE Hook. There was no way he’s missing the show and there’s no way he’s losing in this one. Winner: HOOK

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Eddie Kingston

This is a “replacement” match from the first match announced for this card: Sammy Guevara vs. Kingston. This is definitely in Sammy’s best interest considering the drama backstage with him and Kingston. Ishii is a solid replacement but I don’t see Kingston taking the L here. Winner: Eddie Kingston

Kip Sabian vs. PAC (All-Atlantic Championship)

The forgotten title on AEW is getting defended against a forgotten wrestler. Sabian has fallen thru the cracks with all the new signings and disappeared to the point he started wearing a paper bag mask to shows. FINALLY, the powers that be are using one of their original signees in profile match. Unfortunately, Sabian’s return will be empty handed. PAC just won the belt at Forbidden Door in June. He’s not dropping it here. Winner: #ANDSTILL PAC

Oritz and Ruby Soho vs. Tay Melo & Sammy Geuvara (AAA mixed tag team championship)

This literally was added as I’m typing this blog. Sammy is back on the card after all the drama after all. Ruby and Ortiz got the win on AEW Rampage. Unfortunately, they’re not going back to back with the wins. Winners: #ANDSTILL Tay and Sammy

FTR & Wardlow

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

AEW ALL OUT MAIN CARD 8pm EST (BR Live)

Jay Lethal & The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. FTR & Wardlow

This is a very puzzling match as the TNT Champion and ROH Tag Team Champs are NOT defending their titles. Instead, it feels like a filler match but with 6 over-talented people in that ring. Wardlow has a feud going on with Team lethal and FTR isn’t getting an AEW title shot regardless of being no. 1 contenders for 8 months now. Super happy to see MCMG in AEW and hopefully this isn’t the last time. That said, The Pinnacle will rise to get the victory here. Winners: FTR/Wardlow

Powerhouse Hobbs Vs. Ricky Starks

One of AEW’s best storylines, Team Taz’s final goodbye happens here. Starks is prime for a bigger role on the card and ending feud with Hobbs here makes perfect sense. This will be a sleeper mach on the card but we are about to bear witness to the start of the Starks Era. Winner: Ricky Starks

Miro, Sting, & Darby Allin vs House Of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews)

In the “Why” moment of the night, Miro is teaming with Sting and Darby Allin to take on the House Of Black. “Why” because Miro has been thrown in this storyline and it doesn’t feel organic. House of Black has been an after thought on the roster (IMO). I’m hoping for an upset here cause if the House loses another big profile match, this would be a major blow to one of the more hyped factions in AEW. For argument sake, I’m going against what I think will happen. In the House We Trust. Winners: House Of Black via REASONS

Bryan Danielson

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho

This match has two first ballot hall of famers going at it on the big stage. Jericho has been borrowing from the Book of Mick Foley lately by tapping back into “former” personas. For this match, Jericho is going back to the “LionHeart” time. Danielson has just returned from injury and become wrapped up into a battle for Daniel Garcia, the Jericho Appreciation Society member whos earned Danielson’s respect and looks to be flipping sides. While that would make a great flip (esp. sending Wheeler Yuta to the JAS), I’m calling Garcia causes Danielson to take the pin and reunite the JAS. Winner: Chris Jericho

Jungle Boy vs Christian Cage

If the promos are any indication, this will be another sleeper match. Cage went from advisor to Jurassic Express to super villain to the AEW faithful. All signs point to Luchasaurus turning on Jungle Boy and become Cage’s muscle ala the days with Tomko in Impact Wrestling. Winner: Christian Cage.

Casino Ladder Match: Wheeler Yuta vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rey Fenix vs. Penta vs. Andrade El Idolo vs. Rush vs. Dante Martin vs. “The Joker”

A ladder match to determine a future championship opportunity? Nothing earth shattering here, but the field is very solid. It will be a great match, but unless there’s a big tie swerve, history has shown to bet on the Joker during these matches. Nothing new there. As for who’s the Joker? Some will say MJF, but I’m going with Winner: ADAM COLE (BAY BAY)

Athena vs. Jade Cargill (TBS Championship)

Cargill is undefeated and on a roll. Athena is the next contender and has been trying to make the most from this storyline. This will be a great test to see how far Cargill has progressed (remember she’s only been doing this for a year years now). All signs point to Cargill winning but I’m going a different rout that I;ll explain a bit later. Winner: #ANDNEW Athena

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Hangman Adam Page/Dark order (AEW Trios Tag Championship)

What a long, strange trip this has been. When this tourney was announced, most fans saw Hangman Adam Page joining the Bucks for the tourney. That didn’t happen but fans saw Kenny Omega return from nearly 9 months off from injury to help the Bucks get to the finals. Page was still part of this tourney as a late replacement for 10 with the Dark order to help get them to the finals.

This should be an excellent match. The Bucks show out for the PPV’s. Silver and Reynolds are very slept on for how good they are as a team. Omega and Page have a lengthy history ranging from being partners to rivals resulting in Page taking the World Title from Omega. That all said, the safe money is bet on the Elite, but what happens if someone interferes and costs the Bucks the titles? How bout an Adam Cole (Bay Bay). This becomes an even safe bet if he’s not the joker in the ladder match. Winners: Hangman/Dark Order.

Britt Baker vs. Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida (AEW Interim Women’s Championship)

Thunder Rosa is out due to injury so Toni Storm needed a new opponent. She got 3 instead. Baker and Shida are former champs. Hayter is a BIG X Factor as she’s been Baker’s muscle for months now. With everything going on, this was a great call to make. If we’re doing this Locks & leaps style, Winner: the Lock is Toni Storm. Regardless if this was vs. Rosa or everyone else, she’s becoming champ.

Why this makes even more sense. Remember when I said Jade Cargill might drop the TBS title, the only reason I see that happening is so she would be on a path vs. the Women’s champion if it’s Storm or Rosa at “Full Gear”. How fast we get there is another question, but Lock is Storm, Leap is Hayter.

Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee (C) vs. The Acclaimed (AEW world tag team titles)

First and foremost, FTR should be in this match. Secondly, this match had very little build to feel “pay Per View” level. Swerve and Lee have been a great team, but if rankings matter, they should have different opponents. The Acclaimed seem to have come out of nowhere to get the shot. Granted, they are over with the AEW faithful but is that enough here? This will be a great match but without a noteworthy build, it’s reading like this will be an easy #ANDSTILL for Swerve and Lee.

CM Punk

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley

Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling

CM PUNK VS. JON MOXLEY (C) - AEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

A few questions answered, a few more raised. That’s the general reaction to this match. After 7 years away, CM Punk returns to wrestling and defeats Adam Page at “Double Or Nothing”to win the World title. Punk gets injured shortly there after and is out of action for a few months with a foot injury. In the meantime, an interim world champ was decided with Moxley taking on a battle royal winner (Kyle O’Reilley), winning at “AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door” to become interim champ, and has been defending it left and right since. Punk returns a few weeks ago, and fans get the main event of All out on free TV for all of 3:11 as Punk appears to re-injure his foot and Moxley squashes him. This past week’s AEW Dynamite showed Ace Steel, longtime friend of Punk giving him a “Rocky-esque” speech to help him find his smile and sign the open challenge for All OUT.

The first question that comes to mind is why do this match on Dynamite if it’s going to be a squash. What’s the incentive to see another match? Sure, there was a great speech by Steel, but what does that mean for a match where the opponent ran right thru Punk? Can one speech wipe away that memory from fans so they shell out $49.99 on PPV to watch? The answer to that will be shown in the buys for the PPV. If the buys are low, then the fans tuned out. If they are huge, then the fans bought in.

The second question is what is the true status of Punk? Is he able to go at the high level expected for this spotlight? The answer is: He has to be. Running it back so quickly after a squash, Punk has to go an easy 20 mins + to get this match over. I feel he will. Knowing it’s in Chicago and what this means for his legacy, there is no alternative.

The last one: Moxley is on fire right now with his AEW run. Does he drop the belt? That one is a bit more easy to decipher. Since his return last year, everything AEW has been building centers around CM Punk. Love it or hate it, he’s the franchise guy since Cody Rhodes left. By forcing a story to be had, squash match, inspirational speech and all interview points in between, all signs point to CM PUNK #ANDNEW.

Overall, AEW All Out is a very loaded card that will be generating some buzz whenever it gets over (banking this might be a 4+ hour show). In the meantime, hit me up on Twitter and let me know your picks and thoughts for AEW’s big sunday night.

For more pro-wrestling content, Listen to the latest 607TWS this week. Thanks for reading.