tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post2686273676798832234..comments2024-03-23T09:22:57.541-05:00Comments on The Cave: Commentary: The Rise and Fall of RHWAlexMiller72http://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-74716860323527915052016-02-24T18:20:19.605-06:002016-02-24T18:20:19.605-06:00Thanks for the update! Hopefully they're being...Thanks for the update! Hopefully they're being honest. March is right around the corner. Of course having a new match is only one issue. The other is the quality of the action and talent in the new matches.<br /><br />I can't say it bugs me too much at this point. I mean, it's not costing me anything and with a hot new BGE catalog, Thunders' constant releases and having unwatched matches from CameronWrestler, UCW and Movimus on my iPad, I'm not really missing RHW at the moment.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-9721563588541046252016-02-24T17:33:54.044-06:002016-02-24T17:33:54.044-06:00Another Encore match posted today. I wrote to them...Another Encore match posted today. I wrote to them and actually got a reply. They claim that they have new matches planned for this year, beginning in March. I guess we'll see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-80475638122406729782016-02-10T14:49:27.299-06:002016-02-10T14:49:27.299-06:00It's a good idea. I recommend a positive appro...It's a good idea. I recommend a positive approach that focuses on the passion for their brand and the desire people have to help and see it thrive. Obviously I'm a big fan of transparency, so it would be great if they were upfront with their situation.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-19405425233120493422016-02-10T10:57:54.413-06:002016-02-10T10:57:54.413-06:00RHW will not take their fans seriously unless we l...RHW will not take their fans seriously unless we let our opinions be known to them. I really want people to tell them through Facebook, Twitter, and Email how much of a slap in the face they've given us.!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12345617464754143801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-43511063856323650832016-02-03T04:55:17.079-06:002016-02-03T04:55:17.079-06:00Thanks for the news. Good to hear they're work...Thanks for the news. Good to hear they're working on matches. Hopefully they'll be good ones. If anything, I think this post has shown how much passion exists for RHW among fans. They have a great niche, so no one wants to see things like encore presentations and sub-par videos from them.<br /><br />Hopefully one day soon I can write a new entry about the rise of RHW from the ashes.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-12230692161642028042016-02-02T21:46:10.029-06:002016-02-02T21:46:10.029-06:00It's funny because I warned them about this an...It's funny because I warned them about this and all they did was talk down like as if I didn't know what I was talking about. I LOVE RHW and I've e-mailed them dozens of time in regards to how I much I love RHW and how he could make it better, heck I'm the reason they even made a twitter and an instagram. But it pisses me off that they have the gull to present "encores" no one asked for and not even give an explanation for their dormancy.<br /><br />I'm happy to have come across your article talking about this because this proves that I'm not the only person who feels RHW is slipping.<br /><br />FYI, they confirmed on Twitter that they're working on matches.!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12345617464754143801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-36191298548481729932016-01-29T10:23:32.232-06:002016-01-29T10:23:32.232-06:00Thanks hoochiemoochie! I'm glad I posted this ...Thanks hoochiemoochie! I'm glad I posted this topic, too. There's obviously a lot of interest in it. The only producers that I know are aware of this blog are Thunders and Movimus. No other producer has acknowledged it in any way that I'm aware of. If they find it valuable, maybe someone like Jose will let them know how much everyone wants them to succeed.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-36957176235299008882016-01-29T10:00:01.376-06:002016-01-29T10:00:01.376-06:00So very glad that you brought this topic up! I als...So very glad that you brought this topic up! I also found the "encore" matches thing they've started to be a MAJOR slap in the face to the fans after an already long list of face slaps by the company.<br /><br />It would be one thing if they had been unreleased until now or they hadn't been available for a while, but just putting a new cover on them and releasing one every two weeks like they do with their new matches is really ridiculous and very frustrating. <br /><br />For a while now I have felt that RHW has been increasingly heading towards obsolescence. It's lost almost all of its stars after it shifted to 2.0. Sure, it added three pretty boy hotties but they've all been led like a lamb to the slaughter against skilled veterans. For example, there is no way Tanner is going to be any kind of a challenge for Coop who has easily been in well over a hundred matches between Can-Am, RHW, Thunders Arena, BGeast, CameronWrestler, and Jonny Firestorm...not to mention he's monstrous in comparison. His arms are easily bigger than Tanner's thighs...and while that was probably my favorite match post 2.0, it would have been considered mid-tier back in 2014...which, btw, had some of the hottest wrestling action I've seen (KotR 2 alone STILL takes my breath away).<br /><br />I've contended that they need Dash and Alex back...losing both of them (well, at least, them being on hiatus) dealt a huge blow to the company. When you only have so many in your roster that are exclusive to your roster you can't lose your top talent!<br /><br />Also, as I've said for the longest time, STOP forcing the guys to wear squarecuts and knee pads and boots for every...single...match. I understand that it's partly b/c it's ring and not mat rasslin', but you can have them wearing skimpy outfits wrestling in a ring...we even saw Dash wear a tres, tres hot speedo in his match against Colt Stevens...why has Bruce with his PHENOMENAL legs and glutes not been squeezed into something like that?? Honestly, that's a crime against humanity!<br /><br />In addition to all this are a few more problems: Eli Black still actively wrestles but he disappeared from RHW long ago...why?? On top of that you had talent like Brodie Fisher, Cody Nelson, Jake Jenkins, Lucas Payne, and Will Stanley all gone w/o a trace. I understand it's impossible to keep everyone around forever: people move, get older, lose the thrill of wrestling, etc., but it's just odd to me that RHW has lost so much of its talent while Thunders Arena, for example, has a phenomenal roster. RHW, on the other hand, has gotten down to six...SIX...two of whom wrestle for other companies and three of whom that can barely wrestle their way out of a paper bag!<br /><br />Woo! Well, I have more to say, I'm sure but this is plenty for now...hopefully RHW will take notice and change course...FAST!<br /><br />Cheers!hoochiemoochienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-6234819513439947862016-01-29T08:10:57.640-06:002016-01-29T08:10:57.640-06:00BGEast is really good at that, but I think you nee...BGEast is really good at that, but I think you need a big roster and backlog of matches to manage it.<br /><br />Thunders seems to flood the market with their guys in a "strike when the iron's hot mentality", but that's a huge risk unless you know you've got someone new and great coming.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-66736898822413464942016-01-29T07:20:21.353-06:002016-01-29T07:20:21.353-06:00Yeah, I had some trouble posting. Sorry. My 2nd ...Yeah, I had some trouble posting. Sorry. My 2nd point, was to not have wrestlers appear on consecutive catalog's. That way, there's a longer period of time before we see them wrestle again, and we don't get fatigued of seeing the same wrestlers over and over again.AHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526055952582845050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-33567542508810349562016-01-28T21:32:46.009-06:002016-01-28T21:32:46.009-06:00Thanks for the comment AH. Loading up on matches i...Thanks for the comment AH. Loading up on matches is a great idea, although they might have done that and run out.<br /><br />Your second point seems to have dropped off ... I only see the one.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-24304690257332885562016-01-28T21:30:54.156-06:002016-01-28T21:30:54.156-06:00Great thoughts, Mikey. Thanks for taking the time ...Great thoughts, Mikey. Thanks for taking the time to share them.<br /><br />RHW clearly has passionate fans, so it's a shame to see what it has become. My fingers are crossed for a resurgence, too.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-53726124256246907732016-01-28T20:50:44.399-06:002016-01-28T20:50:44.399-06:00Alex your post today was almost exactly what I'...Alex your post today was almost exactly what I've been thinking about RHW. I have been a fan of the company since it came on the scene. But I too have had some problems with their productions as of late; and I think the "Encore Presentation" of the old, fully available matches is absurd.<br /><br />On the quality of matches themselves, I will say this: the fundamental problem is the law of diminishing returns. Yes, they do still have hot bodies put on display. But the wrestling is often amateurish, and worse still, predictable. There is never any excitement over how the match will go. I can't remember the last time I was surprised by a match outcome. Also, I think they don't do story arcs very well. The heels aren't mean and the faces just lose. They haven't established multi-match storylines, of humilation and redemption, suffering and surprise. At least not in a long while. They need better scripting, and better direction to make the matches seem like fights. COMPELLING MATCHES MAKE IT SEXY. Sexy bodies can help, but action, chemistry, and not quite knowing what to expect are what make me want to watch a match for RHW or anybody else. And for God's sake: let a guy suffer in a submission hold for a little while before having him tap out. Or better yet, have the heel refuse to break the hold!<br /><br />As for the "Encore Presentation" matches, I am a little befuddled. Other studios sometimes will put an old match on sale and on the front page so as to interest you in an old match, or a digitally remastered one, or one that wasn't available for awhile but now is, etc. But a full priced match, always available, to be billed as an encore presentation doesn't seem notable at all, except that it reeks of leftovers. Specifically, the Engel vs. Waters match wasn't even particularly memorable (I own it; see paragraph above). A better route might have been to post something along the lines of: "We're going to be taking a break for a few weeks. In the meantime please enjoy the chance to catch up on a few of our favorites you might have missed..."<br /><br />I have no idea if RHW is in any trouble or perhaps just taking a little breather (which is understandable; I know these companies don't exactly have large staffs to help make and distribute their products). But a few things are slightly alarming: they are now offering a pair of Jake Jenkins' shorts up for sale; you can now rent their ring for your own use; and I think their recent products are not recently produced. Note: Austin Cooper is now significantly bulkier in appearances for other companies. Since he has been in several recent releases, I wonder when the last time they shot new matches was?<br /><br />I have liked RHW, and I REALLY liked some of their wrestlers (including several who have not made appearances elsewhere). I hope they stay active, but I also hope they can satisfy an old fan's continued hunger for great, hot action by mixing it up a bit and keeping things fresh, in the pairings and on the mat. Better scripting, innovative pairings, and higher quality pro-style wrestling would keep my interest a whole lot longer. I would love their matches to do more than just confirm my suspicions. They have done a great job with the technicals (camerawork, lighting, etc). But right now it is often a boring play performed on an amazing set. Fingers crossed.MikeySBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164324384583372847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-68963891490560619492016-01-28T20:48:20.428-06:002016-01-28T20:48:20.428-06:00Alex your post today was almost exactly what I'...Alex your post today was almost exactly what I've been thinking about RHW. I have been a fan of the company since it came on the scene. But I too have had some problems with their productions as of late; and I think the "Encore Presentation" of the old, fully available matches is absurd.<br /><br />On the quality of matches themselves, I will say this: the fundamental problem is the law of diminishing returns. Yes, they do still have hot bodies put on display. But the wrestling is often amateurish, and worse still, predictable. There is never any excitement over how the match will go. I can't remember the last time I was surprised by a match outcome. Also, I think they don't do story arcs very well. The heels aren't mean and the faces just lose. They haven't established multi-match storylines, of humilation and redemption, suffering and surprise. At least not in a long while. They need better scripting, and better direction to make the matches seem like fights. COMPELLING MATCHES MAKE IT SEXY. Sexy bodies can help, but action, chemistry, and not quite knowing what to expect are what make me want to watch a match for RHW or anybody else. And for God's sake: let a guy suffer in a submission hold for a little while before having him tap out. Or better yet, have the heel refuse to break the hold!<br /><br />As for the "Encore Presentation" matches, I am a little befuddled. Other studios sometimes will put an old match on sale and on the front page so as to interest you in an old match, or a digitally remastered one, or one that wasn't available for awhile but now is, etc. But a full priced match, always available, to be billed as an encore presentation doesn't seem notable at all, except that it reeks of leftovers. Specifically, the Engel vs. Waters match wasn't even particularly memorable (I own it; see paragraph above). A better route might have been to post something along the lines of: "We're going to be taking a break for a few weeks. In the meantime please enjoy the chance to catch up on a few of our favorites you might have missed..."<br /><br />I have no idea if RHW is in any trouble or perhaps just taking a little breather (which is understandable; I know these companies don't exactly have large staffs to help make and distribute their products). But a few things are slightly alarming: they are now offering a pair of Jake Jenkins' shorts up for sale; you can now rent their ring for your own use; and I think their recent products are not recently produced. Note: Austin Cooper is now significantly bulkier in appearances for other companies. Since he has been in several recent releases, I wonder when the last time they shot new matches was?<br /><br />I have liked RHW, and I REALLY liked some of their wrestlers (including several who have not made appearances elsewhere). I hope they stay active, but I also hope they can satisfy an old fan's continued hunger for great, hot action by mixing it up a bit and keeping things fresh, in the pairings and on the mat. Better scripting, innovative pairings, and higher quality pro-style wrestling would keep my interest a whole lot longer. I would love their matches to do more than just confirm my suspicions. They have done a great job with the technicals (camerawork, lighting, etc). But right now it is often a boring play performed on an amazing set. Fingers crossed.MikeySBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164324384583372847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-14363308065744101522016-01-28T20:38:38.288-06:002016-01-28T20:38:38.288-06:00Hindsight being 20/20, I wish that RHW had done tw...Hindsight being 20/20, I wish that RHW had done two things:<br />1.When they had specific talent (Dash and Alex being great examples) taped multiple matches at the same time. AHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526055952582845050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-76619144341947643282016-01-28T19:25:19.978-06:002016-01-28T19:25:19.978-06:00Thanks Austin!
If you haven't seen it, Alex/J...Thanks Austin!<br /><br />If you haven't seen it, Alex/Jake/Josh was a really good three-way match. And some of the matches have a bit of storyline, depending on how much you're looking for.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-82783247174482795382016-01-28T19:21:11.756-06:002016-01-28T19:21:11.756-06:00I don't know about that ... in football, there...I don't know about that ... in football, there's a saying, "If you listen to the fans, you'll find yourself sitting with them." I know it's the same in comics, where the fans have lots of ideas, but it's usually a bad policy to follow them.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-14590269761059883332016-01-28T18:15:03.849-06:002016-01-28T18:15:03.849-06:00Good analysis...I agree with a lot your points. Mo...Good analysis...I agree with a lot your points. More than the lack of diversification of their looks, I would like to see 2 on 1 matches, some of the guys that wrestle barefoot, wrestling in jeans, some story lines, etc. AUSTINhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372941350348440531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-27846239066969303432016-01-28T16:08:06.576-06:002016-01-28T16:08:06.576-06:00Alex R:
I also have to say that I understand your...Alex R:<br /><br />I also have to say that I understand your frustration. If I were at RHW I would listen closely to what you say because you are what is considered a Superfan, the base, the continuous buyer and talker. Your critique is meant not to hurt but to point out a potential deathly flaw in RHW. Which is that in wrestling just like in your stories people invest time to read and learn about a character. We want to see them again and again. Some we don't care about but others we do. In their case they also collect $$$ so it's even more important. You have been a fan of various of their guys but I can see your frustration with them... Poof... Disappearing. Perhaps they should hire you as their storyteller! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-70817331655982846562016-01-28T15:59:12.816-06:002016-01-28T15:59:12.816-06:00Alex R:
Hahaha that's funny . I probably woul...Alex R:<br /><br />Hahaha that's funny . I probably would. No problem with that. I'll be "Ben" for them!!! That sounds awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-57497741052696622262016-01-28T15:15:22.911-06:002016-01-28T15:15:22.911-06:00Appreciate the comment! Maybe RHW should pay you t...Appreciate the comment! Maybe RHW should pay you to recruit. ;)AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-83204322272061049192016-01-28T15:13:48.637-06:002016-01-28T15:13:48.637-06:00Thanks for the comment! I appreciate the counterpo...Thanks for the comment! I appreciate the counterpoint and respect your take.<br /><br />I will say that Coop as Frey in Thunders Arena is not a jobber. I think he wins a lot and is competitive when he doesn't. BGE has him in both roles, so you have to hunt to see him as a heel. The Can-Am and Jonny Firestorm matches I have with Coop do use him as a jobber. Not sure about Cameron Matthews. Is that all? Just six producers for Austin Cooper? LOL.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-35553498126526737892016-01-28T14:28:13.128-06:002016-01-28T14:28:13.128-06:00Alex R:
Did anyone say...."let's get rea...Alex R:<br /><br />Did anyone say...."let's get ready to rumble!!!!" Lol. They will do anything for cash. Those supplements do cost a lot of $$$$. They get the cash and then disappear. Or they don't focus on developing skills. The thing is that some might have dreams of becoming a star fast...that's not how the world turns. Or they want to have a regular life but still be some sort of celebrity. A couple of the guys you mentioned got married or had kids. Yep you read that right. So I doubt you'll ever see them again on RHW. That's the problem with talent. They are unreliable. That's why they keep Austin because he is reliable and they can count on him. Perhaps RHW could put motivate newbies to interact online with the bloggers and fans so we can put pressure on them to not be wusses and flame out. In the mean time I guess let's enjoy the hot bodies and hope that RHW can figure things out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-58724863184065139622016-01-28T14:23:24.209-06:002016-01-28T14:23:24.209-06:00I am too alarmed by the "encore presentations...I am too alarmed by the "encore presentations." I do want to give them the benefit of the doubt that they don't want to rush new releases, if they have any. But as it stands, sounds alarming.<br /><br />But I have to disagree with your recent assessment of the new products. I find their recent products, since category 20 or so, have vastly improved in terms of quality - the presentation, the wrestling itself, characters, trash talk, storyline, and so forth. My only qualm with them is that they do tend to overuse guys that appear in other companies, like Austin Cooper and Ethan Andrews. However, I do really like that they make them heels. Take Coop for example, most other companies tend to have him wrestler as a jobber. It's in RHW that I really got to see what he's capable of as a wrestler, and he's a damn good heel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010475850020053525.post-42162163994851743132016-01-28T13:52:06.964-06:002016-01-28T13:52:06.964-06:00You're welcome. If they don't have any new...You're welcome. If they don't have any new guys, it won't make a difference, but I think it's just logical that you need to build guys up to make us fans of them.AlexMiller72https://www.blogger.com/profile/04342817979573894992noreply@blogger.com