MikeO Care Package Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a care package from MikeO.

Give MikeO a sub: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0lnxZxSIPRJ-88XUu4g05w

Holiday Autographs

If you are a Cincinnati sports fan, then the holidays are a prime time for you to snag some autographs from some of your favorite Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals players. Most people take time off from work during the holidays and if you are one of those lucky people that get a holiday break and would love to meet some of the best athletes on the diamond or the gridiron during your holiday vacation, keep reading as I will discuss the various sports shows that take place in Cincinnati which allow you to meet players from both the Reds and the Bengals.

On Mondays, ESPN 1530 broadcasts “Bengals Line,” a Bengals radio talk show that takes place at the Holy Grail bar in Cincinnati from 6 to 9pm. Lance McAlister and former Bengals player Dave Lapham are the hosts, and during the first two hours of the three hour show, they will interview two current Bengals players. The show typically features one player from the offense and one from the defense, and fans are allowed to get autographs from the players during commercial breaks. I have been multiple times and have gotten the autographs of A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, and Carlos Dunlap among others.

The Holy Grail is also the site for Reds Hot Stove League on Tuesdays from 6 to 7pm. This is a Cincinnati Reds talk show in which Reds broadcasters such as Marty Brennaman and Jim Kelch will interview a Reds player. Guests have included Devin Mesoraco and Michael Lorenzen among other past and current Reds players.

On Tuesdays at the Moerlein Lager House from 7 to 8pm, the Cincinnati Enquirer broadcasts their web show called “Beyond the Stripes.” This is my favorite Bengals show to go to as it features a funny panel of Bengals reporters who really interact well with the guest player. Unlike the other Bengals shows in Cincinnati, “Beyond the Stripes” supplies fans with pictures of the guest player that the guest player will sign. The pictures look really nice and are a fantastic addition to any Bengals fan memorabilia collection. Guests this season have included Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, and Tyler Eifert.

On Wednesdays, Bengals fans can head back to the Holy Grail for the taping of “Bengals Nation.” This is a Bengals show that is made by CBS affiliate Local 12, and it is aired on Saturday nights. The show features question and answer sessions, a trivia game, and the opportunity for autographs from a guest player. Since this is a taped TV show, it is filmed in segments and doesn’t really give a talk show like feel. It is still a fun way to meet Bengals players though, and I have gotten the autographs from multiple Bengals players and personnel such as Marvin Lewis, Chris Carter, and Paul Guenther.

On Fridays, the Bengals radio talk show called “Bengals Pep Rally” is broadcasted from various Greater Cincinnati area Buffalo Wings and Rings restaurants usually from 3 to 6pm. Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham host this show and during the last hour of the broadcast, they will interview a Bengals player who will sign autographs during commercial breaks. I have gotten the autographs of players such as Mohammed Sanu, Ryan Hewitt, and Will Clarke from “Bengals Pep Rally.”

Those are all the Reds and Bengals shows in Cincinnati that give fans the opportunity to attain autographs from some of their favorite players. They are a lot of fun to attend and if you have time off during the holidays, I recommend you go. You will be able to eat some good food, meet players from the Reds and the Bengals, and be engrossed in the Cincinnati sports culture.

Who Dey and go Redlegs!

Photo Page Update

PIC PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS PICS #BeyondTheStripes #WhoDey #LetsRoar #BALvsCIN #NFL #NBA pic.twitter.com/rOAwf1R31r

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 30, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Break Update

I will be taking a little break during the week of Christmas, so to make up for the lack of a post and a video next week, I have uploaded two posts and two videos this week. Scroll down the page to check them out or click on the links provided!

Induction Injustice

Dalton Debilitated

WWE TLC 2015 Thoughts

Bengal Graphs 2015 Part 3

Autograph Page Update

#AUOTGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsDEN #NFL #WWE pic.twitter.com/LMquj7jkN1

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 23, 2015

Photo Page Update

PIC PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS PICS #BeyondTheStripes #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsDen #NFL #WWE pic.twitter.com/BB0ujfgUBq

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 23, 2015

Bengal Graphs 2015 Part 3

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the different Cincinnati Bengals autographs he has gotten.

Dalton Debilitated

What a horrible two days for Cincinnati sports fans. On Sunday, my beloved Cincinnati Bengals not only lost to their AFC North division rival the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they also lost quarterback Andy Dalton for a few weeks due to a fractured thumb. As if that was not bad enough, Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Monday that he would not lift the ban from baseball on Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose thus essentially nullifying any hope that the “Hit King” might one day take his rightful place in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. So why am I talking about these two topics?

With next week being the week of Christmas, I will be uploading two blog posts this week. Each will discuss either the Dalton injury or the continuation of Rose’s ban from baseball. Not jovial topics for Cincinnati sports fans during the “most wonderful time of the year,” but topics important enough to warrant discussion from me. This post is about the injury to Andy Dalton and how it affects my beloved Cincinnati Bengals.

Unless you are not a Bengals fan or have been living under a rock, then odds are you already know that Dalton fractured his thumb on Sunday when attempting to make a tackle after an interception. It was a freak play that had me go from anger over the pick in the red zone to anguish after seeing Dalton walking back to the locker room. When he returned to the field, he was no longer in his football gear and had a big cast on his right arm. The injury was later reported to be a fractured thumb that thankfully will not require surgery. According to reports, Dalton’s status is week to week and if all goes well, he could play again as early as the regular season finale against the Baltimore Ravens

What does this mean for the Bengals until then? It means that AJ McCarron will be the starting quarterback until Dalton recovers. McCarron had a prolific college career as the starting quarterback for the University of Alabama. He led the Crimson Tide to multiple national championships and had it not been for uncertainty about his NFL career due to a shoulder injury, he could have been drafted higher than he was by the Bengals and might have been on a different team. Thankfully he is a member of the Bengals, and despite looking like a true rookie quarterback when he entered the game against the Steelers, he still made some really good throws and appears to have the potential to help hold the team over until Dalton returns.

While Dalton’s injury is a devastating blow to what is a great Bengals team, it is not the end of the world. Dalton was having a career year before the injury, and should he return in time for the playoffs, I would expect him to continue playing at the new level he has reached this season. McCarron has looked good during the limited times he has seen actual NFL action, and I believe that he will help lead the Bengals to a division clinching win and a berth in the postseason. Who Dey Nation has to keep the faith and get off the ledge. The season is far from over, and I still believe in my Bengals.

Who Dey!

Induction Injustice

What a horrible two days for Cincinnati sports fans. On Sunday, my beloved Cincinnati Bengals not only lost to their AFC North division rival the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they also lost quarterback Andy Dalton for a few weeks due to a fractured thumb. As if that was not bad enough, Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Monday that he would not lift the ban from baseball on Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose thus essentially nullifying any hope that the “Hit King” might one day take his rightful place in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. So why am I talking about these two topics?

With next week being the week of Christmas, I will be uploading two blog posts this week. Each will discuss either the Dalton injury or the continuation of Rose’s ban from baseball. Not jovial topics for Cincinnati sports fans during the “most wonderful time of the year,” but topics important enough to warrant discussion from me. This post is about Pete Rose’s continued banishment from Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame.

I want to start this post by saying that I am a diehard fan of the Cincinnati Reds and believe that Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He had a career that many dream about and few actually achieve, and his accomplishments on the field are nothing short of legendary. I understand that Rose broke the rules established by Major League Baseball in regards to gambling. I understand that Rose agreed to and accepted the banishment from baseball and lied about his gambling for years. I understand that Rose has apparently not learned from his banishment as he continues to gamble on sports including baseball. What I cannot accept is the hypocritical nature of Major League Baseball.

MLB promotes fantasy sports gambling companies such as FanDeul and Draft Kings. They are fantasy sports sites in which users can gamble on baseball. This is clearly the pot calling the kettle black. MLB has a firm stance on being against gambling yet it promotes fantasy sports gambling companies and in turn receives revenue from these promotions.

Also, former big league stars such as Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire used performance-enhancing drugs during their playing days. This tainted the sport of baseball much like the Black Sox Scandal did in 1919. The outcomes of baseball games during the “steroid era” were in doubt not because of gambling like what the 1919 Chicago White Sox did, but because these “sluggers” were helping their teams win by cheating and not by talent. However, these cheaters are not banned from MLB and are still eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame while Rose, whose accomplishments on the field were due to pure baseball talent, is not.

In conclusion, I think it is completely ridiculous that Rose does not have the chance to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. While I understand MLB’s rule on gambling, I do not understand how it promotes fantasy sports gambling and allows former players who used performance-enhancing drugs to still have the opportunity for Hall of Fame induction. In my opinion, Rose does not even have to be let back into MLB. He should just have the opportunity to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I believe that the commissioner could have asked to have Rose placed on the ballot. If he receives the necessary amount of votes to get in, great. If he does not, at least he was given the opportunity. The decision by the commissioner to uphold the ban pretty much guarantees that the “Hit King” will never be enshrined in Cooperstown and proves that MLB is a hypocritical baseball entity.

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsSF #NFL #sports pic.twitter.com/8qtniYfUOk

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 16, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsSF #NFL #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/O5TsAeR4iP

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 16, 2015

WWE TLC 2015 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE TLC 2015.

Redsfest 2015

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone vlogs about his experience at Redsfest 2015.

My Redsfest 2015 Experience

Redsfest 2015 came and went this past weekend and like last year, I loaded up my Cincinnati Reds back sack with baseballs and spent my entire Saturday at the Duke Energy Center meeting former, current, and future stars of the Redlegs while soaking up everything that the annual December event had to offer. If you are a Reds fan and have not yet attended a Redsfest, then you are missing out on a fantastic experience. I have been multiple times and each year I have a blast. The event is a Cincinnati Reds fan version of paradise as it features awesome exhibits, opportunities to meet some of your favorite players, and pick up some sweet Reds memorabilia. The event takes place usually during the first Friday and Saturday in December. I was only able to attend on Saturday and even though I was only there for one day, I still had a great time. In this post, I will discuss some of my favorite elements of the 2015 edition of Redsfest.

My absolute favorite part of Redsfest is getting autographs. Despite only going on Saturday, I still came away with a pretty good haul by obtaining 13 autographs from 13 different former, current, and future Reds players on 13 different baseballs. I love getting to meet them and talk to them for a little bit while they kindly write their name on one of my baseballs. I was most excited to get the autograph of Joe Oliver. He was the catcher for the 1990 wire-to-wire World Series Championship Reds. You can see his autograph as well as the other autographs I obtained at Redsfest on the “Autograph” page.

Another cool element of Redsfest I enjoy is all the exhibits. There are a ton of things to see such as the World Series trophies, game used equipment and memorabilia, and interviews with past, current, and future Reds players. There is a lot to soak in and in order to get the full Redsfest experience, I recommend going both days. My favorite exhibit is the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum section as it features a massive amount of Reds history and chronicles the careers of some of the all-time greats to have ever put on a Reds uniform.

The atmosphere of the event is another fantastic feature of Redsfest as it seems that nearly everybody there is in a great mood. Everybody I talked to and interacted with was very pleasant, and the players I met genuinely seemed happy to be there. It is really cool to see a huge amount of people gathered in one place to celebrate Reds fandom, and it is even cooler that the players actually seem like they want to be there.

In conclusion, my experience at Redsfest 2015 was amazing. I always have a great time and this year was no different. Getting autographs, checking out the exhibits, and being immersed in a world in which Redlegs culture is abundant is always fun, and I cannot wait to go back. Hopefully I can go for both days next year and once again get lost in the world of the Cincinnati Reds.

Go Redlegs!

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #BENGALS SIGNATURE #PITvsCIN #WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #NBA pic.twitter.com/Jrzk5VJK9Z

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 9, 2015

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #REDS SIGNATURE #Redsfest #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar #MLB pic.twitter.com/x9lUU6Gi33

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 9, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDS & #BENGALS PICS #BeyondTheStripes #WhoDey #LetsRoar #PITvsCIN pic.twitter.com/eRE4dUOaVL

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 9, 2015

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH 13 NEW #REDS SIGNATURES #Redsfest #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/OAfa6sENLK

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 6, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDSFEST PICS #Reds #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsCLE #NFL #WWE pic.twitter.com/ULP5vZZeVy

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 6, 2015

Bengal Graphs 2015 Part 2

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the Cincinnati Bengals autographs he has gotten over the course of the season.

Bengals Across the Pond

For the past few years, the National Football League has been attempting to expand the game of American football from a sport contested primarily in the United States into a worldwide attraction. There have been reports that the NFL is looking to expand the league by adding international teams to the mix with London, England, being a prime candidate as a potential host city for a new franchise. While a London-based NFL team has not come to fruition yet, London has been the host city for a number of regular season NFL games. Many teams have boarded planes and taken the spectacle that is the NFL to American football fans who live “across the pond.” Next season, my beloved Cincinnati Bengals will be one of the teams who call London “home” for a Sunday, as they will be the home team in a game against the Washington Redskins on October 30, 2016, at Wembley Stadium.

While it is cool that Bengals fans in London will get to see the team play live and in person, I am personally not a fan of it. I probably sound selfish, but I do not like the situation for two main reasons. One of these reasons is that since the Bengals have been named as the home team, they will only play seven games at Paul Brown Stadium during the 2016 regular season as opposed to the normal eight games. This means that Bengals fans in Cincinnati will have one less chance to see their Bengals play live and in person unless they plan a trip to London. Also, Wembley Stadium is not Paul Brown Stadium and as a result, there will be no home field advantage for the

Bengals as they will essentially play at a neutral site. I do not like this at all as home field advantage is a very cherished element of NFL games and the fact that Bengals will be robbed of that does not sit well with me.

Those are the two main reasons why I do not like that the Bengals will be playing a home game next year in London. I have never been a fan of NFL games being played in London, and the fact that the Bengals are playing in London next year has only fueled my dislike for it even more. However, I am happy for the Bengals fans that live in London, as they will get to see their favorite team play in person. While I was at work last week, I was listening to a sports talk show on the radio, and the host of the show interviewed a Bengals fan who was born, raised, and still lives in London. The fan was thrilled about the Bengals game in London next season and the more I listened to him, the less bitter I was about the situation. The fan was genuinely excited about getting to watch the Bengals play at Wembley Stadium. If there are more fans like that in London, than I guess I can deal with not getting to watch the Bengals play at Paul Brown Stadium on October 30, 2016.

In conclusion, I do not like that the Bengals will host the Redskins in London next season. There will only be seven games played at Paul Brown Stadium during the 2016 regular season instead of eight, and Wembley Stadium will not provide home field advantage for the Bengals. However, I am happy for all the Bengals fans who live in London and hope they enjoy the game. I will just have to set my alarm for the early morning hours on Sunday, October 30, so that I can cheer on my Bengals as they play at Wembley Stadium.

Who Dey!

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH #BENGALS SIGNATURE #BeyondTheStripes #WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL pic.twitter.com/KG1ld8oM1C

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 2, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #STLvsCIN & #BEYONDTHESTRIPES PICS #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL pic.twitter.com/275DnqU7zg

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) December 2, 2015

Wrestlemania 25 3-Disc DVD Set Review

Wrestlemania is the biggest wrestling event of all time. It features high profile matches, celebrity involvement, and showcases World Wrestling Entertainment’s product on a global stage. An event this big only happens once a year, but that does not mean you only have to watch it once every 365 days. WWE has released every Wrestlemania on some sort of home video format whether it be on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will review the different home video editions of Wrestlemania that I own.

The Wrestlemania 25 3-Disc DVD set is the subject of this week’s review. This Wrestlemania was shot in high definition and was released on both Blu-Ray and on DVD. The Blu-Ray version obviously has better sound and picture quality than the DVD version, but both have are able to be presented in either a 4:3 aspect ratio or a 16:9 aspect ratio. I prefer the 16:9 aspect ratio as the picture is wider, and you are able to see more things on screen as opposed to the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Disc 1 contains the first few hours of the Wrestlemania 25 pay-per-view on it. It starts with the traditional singing of “America the Beautiful” by Nicole Scherzinger and continues up to the Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Edge, John Cena, and the Big Show.

Disc 2 starts with the continuation of Wrestlemania 25, which includes the introduction of the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame Inductees and the WWE Championship Match between Randy Orton and Triple H. Also on disc 2 is the preWrestlemania 25 Lumberjack Match for the Unified Tag Team Championship in which the team of Carlito and Primo took on the Miz and John Morrison. The other special features are highlights from Wrestlemanias 1-24. The highlights are fun to watch as you get to speed through the first 24 Wrestlemania events.

The third disc of the set contains the entire 2009 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and features the inductions of the Funks, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. This was a good class with the biggest name on the list of inductees being Austin. Even if you do not enjoy watching the induction ceremonies, every wrestling fan needs to at least watch the induction of Stone Cold, one of the biggest if not the biggest icon in the professional wrestling industry.

The packaging for this Wrestlemania is fantastic, and I think it is the best-looking Wrestlemania packaging that WWE has ever done. The front of the packaging has the Wrestlemania 25 logo and a variety of wrestlers who were in the WWE at that time surrounding it. The inside of the packaging features pictures from the event with the two most prominent being of both world title matches. The DVD discs even look good as the first two discs have a similar look to the front of the packaging. The look of the third disc mirrors that of the first two with the difference being that instead of the Wrestlemania 25 logo and the wrestlers from WWE’s 2009 roster, it features the WWE Hall of Fame logo and the 2009 inductees.

Overall, the Wrestlemania 25 3-Disc DVD set is a great home video version of the pay-per-view. The packaging looks great, there are a lot of bonus features, and the event itself was really good. Highlights that make this Wrestlemania worth a watch are the Extreme Rules Match between Matt and Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho taking on Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, and Ricky Steamboat in a match in which Steamboat showed the world that, despite his age, he can still perform in the ring, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, the Triple Threat Match for World Heavyweight Title, and the show stealing battle between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, which is one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time. This was a really good Wrestlemania and one that needs to be in every wrestling fan’s collection.

Keep an eye out for the Wrestlemania 26 3-Disc DVD set review!

Survivor Series 2015 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on Survivor Series 2015.

Bengal Graphs 2015

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the Cincinnati Bengals autographs he has gotten through the first four weeks of the 2015 NFL season.

Wrestlemania 24 3-Disc DVD Set Review

Wrestlemania is the biggest wrestling event of all time. It features high profile matches, celebrity involvement, and showcases World Wrestling Entertainment’s product on a global stage. An event this big only happens once a year, but that does not mean you only have to watch it once every 365 days. WWE has released every Wrestlemania on some sort of home video format whether it be on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will review the different home video editions of Wrestlemania that I own.

For this weeks post, I am going to review the 3-disc DVD set of Wrestlemania 24. This is a unique DVD set in that this was the first Wrestlemania that was broadcast in high definition by the WWE. What this means is that the aspect ratio the event is presented in will change based on the television on which you are watching Wrestlemania 24. For example, if you are watching on an older “box” television with a square screen, you will see the event in a 4:3 aspect ratio. If you watch it on a television with a rectangular shaped screen like most modern flat screen TVs, then you will see the event presented in a 16:9 aspect ratio. In my opinion, this is the best way to view it, as you will see a wider picture and things you will not be able to see if you were viewing it in a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The action kicks off on the first disc as it contains the first few hours of the Wrestlemania 24 pay-per-view. It starts off with John Legend signing the traditional “America the Beautiful” before ending with the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship between John Cena, Triple H, and Randy Orton. There are no bonus features on this disc so when you are finished with it, move on to disc 2.

The second disc picks up where the first disc left off by starting with the rest of Wrestlemania 24 with Big Show taking on Floyd “Money” Mayweather in a match that was called “the Biggest vs. the Best.” Aside from the rest of the pay-per-view, disc 2 also has the start of the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Disc 3 has the rest of the induction ceremony on it as well as the 24-Man Battle Royal that took place at Wrestlemania 24 before the event went live. The wrestlers inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame included Mae Young, the Brisco brothers, and Ric Flair. One of the coolest moments from the 2008 ceremony was the Rock cutting an “electrifying” promo before inducting his father and grandfather into the hall of fame.

The packaging for Wrestlemania 24 looks good and has the wrestlers involved in the event’s biggest matches on the front. The inside of the packaging has pictures from the event with the two most prominent pictures featuring Mayweather punching Big Show and Ric Flair making his way to the ring.

In conclusion, the Wrestlemania 24 DVD set is a good home video version of the event. It is packaged very nicely and includes a really good Wrestlemania event. Matches like the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, the world championship matches, and the retirement match make this Wrestlemania stand out as one of the best Wrestlemanias I have ever seen. The only complaint I have with the DVD set is the lack of bonus content. With previous home versions of Wrestlemania having a ton of extra features, the fact that the Wrestlemania 24 DVD set has only one extra feature is pretty poor. Aside from that lone complaint, it still a good DVD set and you should definitely pick it up for your collection. If you have a BluRay player, I recommend you get the BluRay edition of Wrestlemania 24 as it offers better sound and picture.

Keep an eye out for the Wrestlemania 25 DVD set review!

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsAZ #NFL #Football pic.twitter.com/P9PlXOIfLT

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 18, 2015

Photo Page Update

PIC PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #BeyondTheStripes #NFL #CINvsAZ #WWE pic.twitter.com/yT8ZmjI5On

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 18, 2015

RD Cards Care Package Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a care package from RD Cards. 

Give RD Cards a sub:  https://www.youtube.com/user/junkie4football

The Atlanta Screwjob - Take 2

Please note that this was written immediately after news broke that Seth Rollins injured his knee. Therefore, the results of Monday Night Raw were not taken into account in the writing of this post.

Attempting to predict anything is often difficult as there are always things outside the predictor’s control that will ultimately influence the outcome. A prime example of this happening is the knee injury that Seth Rollins suffered in a wrestling match. Last Wednesday night, it was reported that Rollins had hurt his right knee while attempting a top rope sunset flip.  I saw the video, and it was obvious that the prognosis for his knee would not be good. The next day, minutes after I posted “The Atlanta Screwjob” to this website, it was reported that Rollins suffered ACL/MCL/medial meniscus tears in his right knee and will be out for 6-9 months. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and Rollins was cancelled and a tournament was announced that would be held at Survivor Series 2015 to determine the new champ. While the belt will be up for grabs in a new format than what was originally advertised, I still believe that a screwjob will take place with Dean Ambrose being screwed by his former Shield brother, Roman Reigns.

In my new prediction, I believe that Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns will battle it out in the finals of the tournament for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Before the final match, the Authority heads to the ring saying that they will present the belt to the winner of the match. Cue the entrances of Reigns and Ambrose.

After a prematch sign of respect through their trademark fist bump, the bout begins. It is a back and forth brawl with neither man being able to get the decisive fall. Reigns later begins to take control of the match but Ambrose repeatedly kicks out of pins, and Reigns becomes more visibly frustrated. This is when the screwjob goes into motion.

Ambrose begins to mount a comeback and nails Reigns with the dirty deeds before going for the pin. The Authority then makes their move as Stephanie McMahon jumps on the ring apron and distracts the referee. Ambrose gets up and tires to get the referee’s attention but Triple H enters the ring and hits Ambrose with the pedigree. The Game then leaves the ring as Stephanie lets the referee get back to the match. Reigns gets up and goes to one corner of the ring while Ambrose staggers to his feet in the opposite corner. Ambrose turns around, Reigns spears and pins him, and the referee counts to three. Your winner and new WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns. The Authority then enters the ring and celebrates with their new champion and face of the company while standing over Ambrose as the show goes off the air.

To me, this makes perfect sense as this scenario allows WWE to push both Ambrose and Reigns while Rollins is injured. With Rollins out, WWE is in major need of a new top heel, and Reigns is a prime candidate. While he is being cheered as of late, his reaction from the crowd in the past was negative. It is also well known that Vince McMahon is grooming Reigns to be the next face of the company. With the past negative reactions he received along with the obvious want of WWE to make him the biggest star in the company, it makes perfect sense to have Reigns be a monster heel. He could say he was tired of the negative crowd reactions and that he deserves to be the face of the WWE nay, the Authority. WWE should capitalize on this and use it as the reason why he joined the Authority.

Ambrose on the other hand is the perfect guy to challenge the Authority. He has challenged them in the past such as when he battled Rollins throughout the summer, and his character has taken on the trait of being a resilient brawler. He endures a ton of pain and can never seem to be put away in a match. Matches such as his bout against Rollins at Money in the Bank 2015 and most recently the 5 on 5 Survivor Series Elimination match on last week’s Raw showcase this characteristic. He also has that intangible “it” factor that causes audiences to naturally gravitate towards him. He radiates charisma and routinely garners fantastic reactions from the crowd. He got over with the fans without a massive push from WWE, which is the total opposite of Reigns. He is the perfect hero to battle a villain Reigns.

That is what I think WWE should do at Survivor Series 2015. It would be an exciting twist and an excellent way to push Reigns and Ambrose in a massive way. Reigns’ character would be refreshed as a dominating heel, and Ambrose would be the perfect choice to serve as the biggest threat to Reigns and the Authority. Make this happen WWE. The reaction will be nothing short of amazing, and it will be a twist that is talked about for years to come.

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH NEW #BENGALS PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #HOUvsCIN #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/X0jnV0GgU7

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 12, 2015

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #HOUvsCIN #NFL #NBA #NHL pic.twitter.com/TdwDpamGdn

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 11, 2015

Autograph Page Update

AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH FORMER #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #HOUvsCIN #NFL #NBA pic.twitter.com/YcZqgCJQ0s

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 11, 2015

Collection Additions

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows what he added to his sports memorabilia collection.

The Atlanta Screwjob

Please note that this was written and published before WWE announced that Seth Rollins would vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship due to injury.

Survivor Series is one of WWE’s signature events of the year. It is considered to be part of the “Big Four” pay-per-views along with the Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, and SummerSlam, and it has a long and rich history in the professional wrestling world. It is also a notorious scene for controversy and swerves. Infamous incidents such as the “Montreal Screwjob” at Survivor Series 1997 and the way that the Rock won the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 1998 are arguably two of the most well known examples of the chaotic nature of the event. With the 2015 edition of Survivor Series marking the 25^th anniversary of the debut of the Undertaker, I would expect a huge surprise that will leave the jaws of the Atlanta crowd on the floor. The surprise has nothing to do with the Undertaker though, as I believe it will involve Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and the Authority. I predict that the Authority will turn on Rollins and align themselves with Reigns in route to helping Reigns win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

It’s a bold prediction as Reigns has been touted as the next face of the company. That is what makes it such a huge and shocking twist as it is something that nobody will see coming. A heel Reigns would be awesome in my opinion. He will no longer have to go through the typical good guy act and can instead be a monstrous and dominant heel much like he was in the Shield. Rollins on the other hand has been heel for a long time and is starting to get stale. While he is one of the best in ring talents WWE has to offer, his bad guy antics of constantly worming his way to victory through underhanded tactics are getting old. Having the Authority screw Rollins would breathe fresh life into his character as well as that of Reigns, and it would definitely make Raw must see television.

If I were in charge of booking the match, here is what I would do. I would have the Authority come to the ring first and ban every wrestler backstage from interfering in the match. They could say they have invested a lot in Rollins and do not want guys like Dean Ambrose, the guy Reigns had been teaming up with all summer, to get involved with the outcome of the bout. The Authority then remains at ringside for the match as Reigns makes his way to the ring. He walks by the Authority, has a stare down with them, and enters the ring and waits for Rollins. The champ then makes his entrance, gives a prematch hug to the Authority, and gets in the ring to face Reigns. The referee signals for the bell, and the bout begins.

Towards the end of the match, Rollins reverses a move by Reigns and shoves Reigns into the referee knocking out both the referee and Reigns. This allows the Authority makes their move. Triple H enters the ring acting as if he will assist Rollins but betrays his former pupil by delivering a pedigree to him. Reigns gets up and sees what Triple H has done and smiles. The Game smiles back, lifts up the body of Rollins, and holds him so that Reigns can spear the champ. Reigns hits the spear and pins Rollins while Stephanie revives the referee who then makes the 3-count. Your winner and new WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns. The show ends with Reigns standing above Rollins with the championship belt held above his head and the Authority next to him as the “Atlanta Screwjob” is etched into Survivor Series lore.

That is how I would book Survivor Series 2015. Reigns would be the new face of the Authority and Rollins would go from villain to hero. This would allow these two wrestlers to continue feuding while at the same time shaking up the WWE landscape. This could also lead to a potential triple threat main event WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestlemania 32 between all three former members of the Shield. That is something I would love to see, and it would all start with the “Atlanta Screwjob.”

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS PICS #CLEvsCIN #WhoDey #LetsRoar #TNF #NFL #NBA #NHL #WWE pic.twitter.com/Iw49G8RmNN

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 5, 2015

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CLEvsCIN #NFL #TNF pic.twitter.com/zTUjIU3Dfb

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) November 4, 2015

All-Star Festivities

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone vlogs about his experience at the 2015 MLB All-Star FanFest and the All-Star Game Block Party.

Rise of the Roman Empire...Again?

Roman Reigns has become a very interesting character in the professional wrestling world. After his victory on Monday Night Raw in a fatal 4-way match to become the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, it appears that WWE is once again trying to give Reigns another big push. As I said in my WWE Hell in a Cell 2015 Thoughts video, the crowd reaction to Reigns will ultimately decide if this push is fueled or derailed. After a negative reaction to Reigns destroyed WWE’s plans to have Reigns officially become the face of the company at Wrestlemania 31, will this push succeed or once again force WWE to make a last second change? Allow me to explain.

Let’s start with the initial crowd reaction to Reigns when he debuted with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins as a member of the Shield in 2012. During his time with the Shield, the faction, which was originally “heel” or villainous, started to get over with the fans, and they began receiving cheers from the crowd that rivaled those of some of the top “faces” or good guys in WWE. Reigns amassed a sizeable fan base as the quiet but deadly force of the Shield, and during the 2014 Royal Rumble match, he was heavily cheered by the Pittsburgh crowd as he and Batista locked horns as the final two combatants before he was eliminated. After the split of the Shield in the summer of 2014, fan reaction toward Reigns began to turn for the worse as small pockets of boos hidden in the WWE crowds turned into a sea of anger and disdain that culminated at the 2015 Royal Rumble.

In what was supposed to be the starting point for Reigns to be the next face of the company, the Philadelphia crowd unmercifully booed Reigns out of the building after he won the match. Not even the Rock, who made an appearance to give a symbolic nod to Reigns, could turn the boos into cheers. At the next pay-per-view, Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan to retain his number one contendership for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that he earned by winning the Royal Rumble. After the match, Bryan, a wrestler that wrestling crowds love and adore, gave Reigns his stamp of approval, but Reigns continued to receive bad reactions and at Wrestlemania 31, in what had been reported to be a last minute decision by WWE, Seth Rollins entered the main event by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. He then pinned Reigns and walked out of Wrestlemania 31 as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Since then, Reigns has been put on the backburner as WWE seemingly attempted to figure out a way to turn the boos he received into cheers. They had him team up with fan favorite and former Shield member Dean Ambrose over the summer, and they had him do battle with one of WWE’s best heel acts in Bray Wyatt. The Reigns versus Wyatt saga concluded at Hell in a Cell 2015 with Reigns picking up a huge Hell in a Cell match win. That win is apparently another launch point for another Reigns push as he became the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship the following night on Raw. So how will this push be received by fans?

Based on the reaction from the crowd on Monday Night Raw, the crowd has been receptive to the idea of Reigns being the next championship challenger. While there were a few boos directed at Reigns during the match, there were resounding cheers and chants for Reigns during his post match stare down with Rollins. It is still way too early to see if WWE fully commits to its latest push for Reigns, but based on what happened on Raw, I think that the rise of the Roman Empire is coming to fruition. My prediction for the upcoming Survivor Series event next month is that Reigns will defeat Rollins to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Believe that.

How he will win the title is up for debate. Is a heel turn for Reigns out of the question? To see what I think, come back next week as I attempt to book Survivor Series 2015.

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @http://cincyfanzone.blogspot.com/p/autographs.html WITH #BENGALS SIGNATURE #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/xmE8R8Hs1i

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) October 28, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS SHOWS PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsPIT #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/4Z8CLpVt3O

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) October 28, 2015

WWE Hell in a Cell 2015 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Hell in a Cell 2015.

When The Saints Go Marching Out

A few months ago, I wrote a post about FC Cincinnati and how excited I was to have another professional team to cheer for in Cincinnati. While discussing the newly arrived soccer team, I mentioned how I thought it would be cool if FC Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Saints, the other local soccer team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League, would play each other in some sort of scrimmage that would bring together Cincinnati soccer fans as well as promote both soccer teams. That will not happen though because the Cincinnati Saints announced last week that they will be ceasing operations in Cincinnati to look for a new city to call home.

The Saints have been in Cincinnati since 2009 and have really helped foster the growing love of soccer in the Queen City. They hosted World Cup watch parties at Fountain Square, and, in my opinion, their success is what ultimately led to FC Cincinnati being established. However, the founding of FC Cincinnati is what ultimately led the Saints to seek a new home city.

In an interview with Fox 19, Saints owner David Satterwhite said that the arrival of FC Cincinnati was too much to compete with and after speaking to supporters, sponsors, and players, the money to fund the team in Cincinnati was no longer there. As a result, the Saints are seeking a new place to call home with Dayton being mentioned as a possibility.

I am not a fan of the Saints leaving Cincinnati, but I understand why they are. FC Cincinnati is owned by wealthy businessman Carl Lindner III, and he has made it known that he plans on taking FC Cincinnati from the United Soccer League up to the highest ranked and most well known professional soccer league in America, Major League Soccer, in three to five years. With such ambitious goals already being set by FC Cincinnati before they have even taken the field for their first ever franchise game, the Saints would most likely get lost in FC Cincinnati’s wake if they do not relocate.

While I did not get to go to any of their games, I did have a good experience with the Saints when I got to meet a few of the Saints players at an episode of “Beyond the Stripes.” They had a soccer ball juggling contest with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. It was a very entertaining segment of the show, and it showcased the skills of the Saints players. They were also really nice and signed a few autographs for me. I was hoping to see them again at an episode of “Beyond the Stripes” this year, but with the announcement of relocation, that will no longer happen.

While I am not happy the Saints will no longer be in Cincinnati, I do understand why they decided to relocate, and I wish them nothing but the best of luck in finding a new place to call home. From now on, all my Cincinnati soccer support is with FC Cincinnati. They will continue what the Saints started, and hopefully it is not too long before FC Cincinnati brings an MLS Cup to the Queen City.

Autograph Page Update

#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW #BENGALS SIGNATURES #WhoDey #LetsRoar #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/m21r22vfmT

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) October 21, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS SHOWS PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #BeyondTheStripes #MLB pic.twitter.com/lO5qA6ksWb

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) October 21, 2015

Frazier and the Mustache

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps a Todd Frazier autograph signing and a Cincinnati Reds shirt giveaway game.

2016 Cincinnati Reds Bobbleheads Predictions Part 2

Now that the 2015 season has come to a close for my beloved Cincinnati Reds, I think that now would be an appropriate time for some 2016 predictions. I am not predicting how the Reds will do next season but rather what bobbleheads I think the team will give out to fans. There will be two parts to this post. First will be the bobbleheads that I believe the team will give out, and second will be the bobbleheads that I believe the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will give during the regular season.

For the most part, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum tries to incorporate some sort of theme into their bobblehead giveaways. For example, last season was the 25^th anniversary of the 1990 wire-to-wire Cincinnati Reds world championship season and as a result, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out bobbleheads of players from that team. As far as I know, 2016 is not an anniversary year for the Reds so I have no idea what theme the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will have with their bobbleheads. Therefore, this list of predictions will have no theme and instead be a hodgepodge of legendary Reds figures.

I predict that the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will once again give out five different bobbleheads, and the first one to be distributed will be of 1990 Cincinnati Reds manger, Lou Piniella. “Sweet” Lou was one of the most popular managers in Reds history because of his fiery attitude and his guidance of the Reds to the 1990 World Series crown. I could not believe that he was not featured as a bobblehead this past year, and I think that the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will make up for that by featuring him as a bobblehead in 2016. Hopefully it will incorporate Piniella throwing a base!

Bobblehead number two will be of Johnny Vander Meer. Vander Meer is the only pitcher in history to throw back-to-back no-hitters and was part of the 1940 Cincinnati Reds World Series Championship team. He is without a doubt worthy of a bobblehead.

The third bobblehead will be of Fred Hutchinson. He was one of the most prolific managers in the history of the Reds as he helped usher in a period of winning baseball during a time in which getting into the playoffs was impossible when compared to today’s game, and he set the stage for the glory days of the Big Red Machine. He took the Reds to the 1961 World Series and had his number, 1, retired permanently by the team.

Fourth will be Jose Rijo. He was the MVP of the 1990 World Series, and his dominance on the pitching mound helped secure the fifth World Series crown in franchise history for the Reds. While he was not featured as a bobblehead last year, I believe that the Reds hall of Fame and Museum will make up for that in 2016.

The fifth and final bobblehead of 2016 for the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be of Ted Kluszewski. He was one of the most popular players in Reds history and was known for cutting the sleeves off his jersey because his arms were so big. He was a coach under Sparky Anderson during the Big Red Machine era in the 1970’s during which he earned two World Series Championship rings, and his number, 18, was retired permanently by the Reds in 1998. I am shocked that “Big Klu” has never been featured as a nodder, and hopefully the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum rights this wrong in 2016.

Those are my Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead predictions for 2016. If my predictions are correct, then I will definitely try to head to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum to pick up every single bobblehead. Even if the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum goes with other Reds figures to immortalize as nodders, hopefully the people they choose will be fresh faces who have never been featured as a bobblehead. As a collector, I always hope for new people to be featured as bobbleheads as it makes collecting much more fun, and with an endless supply of Reds legends, the possibilities for great Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobbleheads are mindboggling!