Southern Joe Vs 2024. A Look Back On 2024
Southern Joe Vs 2024.
As we hurtle madly towards the turn of the new year, many pundits of different genres of endeavours record their thoughts recapping the year that was. For pro wrestling, I thought I’d join that tradition that some look forward to, while others see it as trite. Either way, I’m going to share my thoughts on what has been a tumultuous year for pro wrestling.
Firstly, I would like to get my own gratuitous self promotion out of the way. As some of you may know, I have a YouTube show called” If You See Kayfabe” . It started the year under its original name, ”The Southern Joe Wrestling Show” , but I love the new name. The new name came about from necessity after acquiring a media pass to Starcast Down Under in Ballarat all the way back in April. When I got there to get my media pass, me telling them that I was ”The Southern Joe Wrestling Show” was met with blank faces. Not that If You See Kayfabe is that much more well known, but the name at least gets a smile from those that know.
I have been very happy with my progress. I have interviewed Aussie legend Ken The Dazzler Dunlop twice, I did Vox pop interviews with Jab of Mayhem Pro & with Erika Reid & Syd Parker all at Starcast. My crowning jewel of that event was turning my meet & greet with Bret The Hitman Hart into a mini interview. I have also interviewed Kris Pisarek, who started Northern Championship Wrestling in the Lismore arean(which is Northern NSW), as well as interviewing magician turned wrestler, Matty Wild. Another crowning glory was being able to interview the legendary Harley Race’s only son, Justin Race, and share the behind the scenes stories of his late, great father. One of wrestling’s greatest writers, Bill Apter, even took time out to leave me a personalised voice message explaining why he couldn’t do an interview with me. I have made some great wrestling mates with a bunch of wonderful workers at Alpha Pro Wrestling, a start up promotion here in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
But enough about me. There’s a big, wonderful world of wrestling out there.
WWE has become hotter & hotter. They have been selling out houses across the US & have done successful overseas shows, including Elimination Chamber in Perth, Backlash in France, & their now yearly paid show in Saudi Arabia. AEW’s overseas business mainly consisted of their 2nd visit to Wembley Stadium in London. While it wasn’t the record breaking event that last year’s milestone event was, it still drew a healthy attendance of over 46,000 people. This could have been seen as encouraging for a company who have dipped in popularity this past year. I believe the hangover from the CM Punk firing is still having a ripple effect across AEW. Their TV ratings have at times been in freefall. At least now they are plateauing out. I would like to see them create demand by selling out smaller buildings rather than partially fill cavernous NBA size arenas.
The wrestling business is hitting a boom here in Australia as well. The success of Aussies such as WWE sensations Rhea Ripley, Bronson Reed & Grayson Waller, along with AEW stars Buddy Matthews, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Toni Storm ( although technically she is a Kiwi) have seen a resurgence of local talent upping their game in 2024. Even local legends like Adam Brooks & Robbie Eagles got to face off with some of the best in the business. Robbie Eagles even appeared on AEW Collision.
WWE’s biggest shows certainly delivered. Loved Grayson Waller coming out to the ring in the Royal Rumble with a tribute outfit to my favourite sports team, basketball champs, The Sydney Kings. Wrestlemania this year(the 40th edition)was one of the greatest with a superb main event night 2 where Cody Rhodes survived every run in possible to complete his father’s dream of a world title win in the WWE.
The wrestling world mourned the passing of a great number of their brethren in 2024. I’ll mainly pay tribute to the main ones, but God rest the soul of all the workers who have passed away & thank you for putting your bodies, your hearts & souls on the line so we may enjoy this event we call pro wrestling.
February 2024 rounded out with 3 legendary figures passing away within a day or so of each other. Former NWA booker & tag team legend Ole Anderson was 81 when he passed on & was soon followed by Mike Jones, better known to the world as Virgil( then Vincent when he went from WWE to WCW). February 29 saw Butcher Vachon ( original given name Paul) lose his battle with long term illness.
The Wild Samoans, Sika & Afa, who were the patriarchs of what is called The Bloodline, sadly died within 2 months of each other. Sika was also the father of Roman Reigns. The Wild Samoans paved the way for many talented and charismatic Polynesian wrestlers whose work we still enjoy today.
We also lost Sid Eudy, who wrestled as Sid Vicious in WCW & Sid Justice in WWE, as well as Ice Train, a WCW mid carder in the 1990s. The Taskmaster Kevin Sullivan also passed away after a long battle with ill health.
The battle lines between various combatants outside of the ring and behind the scenes continued to rage on. Dave Meltzer can be seen on X on a regular basis sparring with various people on a variety of topics. Jim Cornette & Eric Bischoff feed off of this.
As 2024 turns its calendar over to make way for 2025, the biggest behind the scenes story is Ryan Nemeth’s complaint to AEW over their handling of his concerns he had with CM Punk.
For those of you that don’t know, Ryan is the younger brother of current TNA star Nic Nemeth, who was a famous WWE worker for many years under the ring name Dolph Ziggler.
I feel like there is a ploy for either relevancy, compensation or both with this one. I will state my reasons for this later.
This has been an exciting year, 2025 looks like escalating our levels of fun. I plan to have more fun in and around whatever happens within my purview.
Have a great Christmas,& a wonderful 2025. Above all else, please put this tribalism away for good. If there is a product you don’t like, wish for them to get better with what they do. Don’t hold bitterness in your heart.
Be a wrestling fan first and foremost.
