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One of the advantages of using a streaming service such as the WWE Network or The Highspots Wrestling Network (which launched a few weeks back) is that when you are paying the monthly subscription price, you are entitled to a huge bundle of material that you can watch and digest at your own speed. Want to watch every episode of NWA from 1986? You can do it in a day, a week or a year.
With this in mind, I've been going through the Highspots Wrestling Network, checking out a number of the titles they have released on DVD is recent years that I just haven't gotten around to buying or watching. Streaming makes it easy to bring the material up and have it in the background as I'm working (or need a distraction from working) and one of the best gems I've discovered thus far is the "Developmentally Speaking" series of interviews.
Utilizing the former Curt Hawkins, Brian Myers as the host of the series, "Developmentally Speaking" brings together a panel of three former WWE talents to discuss their unique experiences in the WWE developmental system as they discuss life experiences of what happens once you sign the dotted line, uproot yourself, move and attempt to find your way to the company's main roster.
Myers was a great choice for the hosting role as he's worked OVW, Deep South, FCW, NXT and has trained and worked in the WWE Performance Center in Florida. With the exception of the HWA, which was gone before he was ever signed to the company, Myers ran the gamut of every phase of developmental and brings a good eye and ear as to the different nuances between the eras, the different systems, the Coaches involved, etc. He's also excellent at making sure the conversations flow and keeps things on a conversational level that helps bring out the personalities involved. Hosting absolutely brings a different side of him out and it's one that he was never really able to utilize in WWE
One of the conversations that seems to run through all of the "Developmentally Speaking" titles is talents doing "extra work" for WWE and what their experiences at that role - whether it be enhancement talents, working as on screen security for in-ring angles, backstage vignettes and more. In many cases, talents are tossed into the WWE TV backstage scene with no understanding of the unique etiquette and rules of the world they have entered, which leads to some pretty funny stories. In many cases, just dressing in the same room as the stars leads to some silliness and also shows how different the landscape backstage has changed in just the last 5-10 years for WWE talents.
By having talents who worked in different eras of developmental, it also makes every title in the series unique and fresh. In one release, Kenny Omega and Kevin Matthews go deep into their experiences, good and bad, while under contract and assigned to Deep South but since they are joined by the former Solomon Crowe, Sami Callihan, the conversation also flows into the NXT and Performance Center era as all three compare notes on the differences of getting signed, life in the system, Coaches, departures, etc.
Some of the releases are just a bunch of wrestlers drinking and having fun (the trio of Luke Gallows, Brad Attitude and Camacho shines) while another is more of a more serious discussion (Shelton Benjamin, Matt Striker and Karina). While some are just happy to vent and tell their tales (Kevin Matthews has no filter whatsoever) and others are just talking about this chapter of their career, all of the conversations are excellent and unique to each other. The release with Colt Cabana and Chris Hero brings into account what it meant to be an independent wrestling name when you entered that system, something that was far less prized when they signed compared to today's signings of Austin Aries and Samoa Joe.
There are tales of sneaking into locker rooms trying to get signed, John Laurinaitis taking talents to task in Deep South, Steve "Dr. Death" Williams giving out quizzes on his autobiography, Cabana going for a private tryout to showcase himself that WWE talents pushed for only to have no one from management appear, The Bill DeMott stories that led to his WWE resignation, how things changed as developmental management changed, Mike Bucci, WWE legends who would come in to watch talents and seemingly do nothing, what happens when WWE tells you to move but never reimburses you for the moving expenses, legends who would add another four hours to a day with lectures, what it was like waiting for others to be fired so you could inherit their furniture for your own apartment, injuries and trying to overcome them dating within the system and more.
Beneath all of the aforementioned, what runs through all of the discussions is a real understanding of the frustrations of what developmental was truly like - signing a deal that you think is getting you to the land of Oz, but instead, you are walking the same section of the yellow brick road in a demented "Groundhog Day" parody hoping that your work is getting you somewhere but in most cases, clueless as to how or why you are being judged and whether you are moving upwards or downwards.
Most importantly, the "Developmentally Speaking" series shines a light on the mentality of pro wrestlers when they are young and full of piss and vinegar and ready to take on the world - and details, good and bad, what happens when the world calls and says, "Let's go." It's funny and it's frustrating at times, to the point the viewer wants to shake his head, but it's never not entertaining. Highspots has a hit on their hands and I can only hope that at some point, they do a panel with those who were in developmental management - Billy Gunn, Mike Bucci, Les Thatcher, etc. What an interesting insight and companion piece THAT would be!
Highspots has a hit on their hands with this run and I hope it continues for a long time to come. They are available now on DVD at www.highspots.com and via the Highspots Wrestling Network.
For more on the Highspots Wrestling Network streaming service, you can try the service for seven days free right now and can check it out by clicking here.
TITLES IN THE DEVELOPMENTALLY SPEAKING SERIES:
-Colt Cabana & Chris Hero & Tomasso Ciampa
-Kenny Omega & Sami Callihan & Kevin Matthews
-Maxine & Matt Striker & Shelton Benjamin
-Brad Attitude & Camacho & Luke Gallows
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