I held Anakin Skywalker in my hands, and I felt nothing.

For the first time in my life, an action figure wasn’t anything more than a piece of cheap plastic. His poorly molded head stared up at me, devoid of magic. His unarticulated arm was stiff so that a lightsaber would go in and out the hilt extending from his hand, making it appear as though the blade could be turned on and off; the kind of gimmick I always hated even as a little kid. Toys with “Chop action!” buttons, bells, and whistles assumed I didn’t have an imagination. His fixed pose felt like an insult to my intelligence.

My mom sat next to me in the car, watching me open two more figures inspired by Attack of the Clones: a similarly stiff Obi-Wan Kenobi and a tiny Padme Amidala. We were in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, our custom during these sacred action figure openings.

What Summer Slam Taught Us: A 3-Point Plan For WWE

Once cooler heads prevail and feelings aren't so hurt on all sides, there are a lot of positive lessons WWE can learn from this year's SummerSlam.

And I do not mean that in the condescending “Here’s what I’m going to teach you!” kind of way (I'm an advocate for the WWE being exactly what it really wants to be without making concessions to an audience that it simply isn't designed for). I mean it in the way that any reaction to any creative endeavor yields a lot of incredibly useful data.

The Art Of Sasha Banks

A true star in entertainment is very rare.

Much like the celestial bodies they're named for, a star's talent, charisma, ingenuity, or personality burns so brightly and distinctly that they're impossible to ignore. They shine through the impenetrable dark of sameness that defines the vast majority of our existence. Their reach is seemingly infinite, easily comprehend and appreciated upon first glance.

WRESTLING HEROES:ON WHY WE NEED SASHA BANKS & BAYLEY

EDITORIALS, MOST VIEWEDTim KailOctober 1, 2015sasha banks, bayley, nxt take over, nxt taker over respect, iron woman match, professional wrestling blog, wwe nxt, wwe network, womens wrestling, #WomensWrestling

THE NXT REPORT

NXT REPORTSTim KailMay 30, 2015samoa joe, kevin steen, kevin owens, pro wrestling blogs, professional wrestling, pro wrestling podcast, wwe nxt, nxt, nxt blogs, nxt take over, triple h, wwe, wwe network

THE NXT REPORT

NXT REPORTSTim KailMay 23, 2015nxt take over, nxt take over unstoppable, becky lynch, sasha banks, sami zayn, sami zayn vs kevin owens, kevin owens, kevin steen, samoa joe, professional wrestling, pro wrestling blog, pro wrestling podcast, wrestling, wwe blogs, wwe network

THE TROUBLE WITH "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT"

“Sports Entertainment” is a much-maligned term among professional wrestling purist.

Growing up, I never thought much about the significance of the term.

It just seemed like the WWE’s way of distinguishing its brand of professional wrestling from others. I wasn’t aware of any malice behind the phrase or that “Sports Entertainment” presented itself as superior to the territory “wrasslin business” of old. I didn’t know that it was designed as a means of distancing the WWE from negative public perceptions, steroids scandals, and the like.

THE NXT REPORT

The latest episode of NXT started off with a quick match between Baron Corbin and Solomon Crowe. Baron went over and then got involved in some fisticuffs with Rhyno.

Interestingly, it seems the crowd has finally turned against Baron.

While the incredibly smarky and increasingly obnoxious NXT crowd can be unnecessarily vicious and demanding, the chant “Baron’s Gonna Bore You!” is indicative of the way the character hasn't been permitted to evolve much since his debut many months ago.

THE NXT REPORT

I’ve often thought the best compliment I can give a work of art is that it transports me back to a childlike place of magic and wonder.

We strive to achieve that “kid-again” feeling less because we’re terrified of our own mortality and more because we recognize the purity of a child’s experiences. The untainted mind seems to more fully appreciate and experience life. Art (a book, a film, a painting, a song, a wrestling match) that essentially wipes your insignificant, adult preoccupations away and restores you to that nirvana-like place of purity and joy could be considered a public service; that’s how important that cleansing process is to our lives and why we’ve built our culture around pleasant, inspiring, uplifting fictions. We need these brief excursions into a place where magic exists, where all conflicts inevitably resolve themselves, where love conquers all, and where human beings overcome the psychological traumas and the petty jealousies that plague them daily.

THE NXT REPORT

It’s only been two weeks since NXT Take Over: Rival, but Sami Zayn’s absence is starting to take on tangible significance - the episodes feel less important, less emotionally driven without him.

This wouldn’t be anything approaching a problem if the in-ring action was consistent, the theatrics populated with interesting characters. But the past few weeks have felt almost experimental - trying out new stars and featuring untested talents in prominent places on the card at a time when the brand was eliciting consistent praise for the proven roster that got it so much attention in the first place.

THE WORK OF WRESTLING - EP9 - GRANNY FRANNY

THE PODCASTTim KailFebruary 23, 2015wwe fastlane, wwe nxt, nxt, sami zayn, kevin owens, kevin steen, nxt take over, loneliness, depression, family, professional wrestling, sports entertainment

WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF WWE'S NXT?

NXT is loosely defined as the WWE’s farm-league, a home-grown developmental territory of sorts broadcasting out of Full Sail University in Florida. Every Wednesday at 8pm, pre-taped, one-hour episodes play on the WWE Network, and every two months the promotion has a live, two-hour special.

The Writings