Cincinnati Reds Iron Man Bobblehad Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds bobblehead of Iron Man.

Lost in Translation

Why can’t WWE translate success in NXT to success on the main roster? It seems that most of the gimmicks that are considered over in NXT either lose a lot of momentum when called up to the main roster or they simply bomb and fizzle into obscurity. As a wrestling fan, it is frustrating to see wrestlers get over in NXT with a unique gimmick only to see them essentially wasted once they are called up to Raw and Smackdown.

The Ascension is a prime example of this. In NXT, they were a dominant tag team that owned the division. Once they were called up to the main roster, they were squashed and have since been demoted to jobbers. Another example of this would be Bo Dallas. The guy was a former NXT champion and looked poise to make a splash on Raw and SmackDown. Unfortunately, he was presented as a joke and is rarely seen on television now.

Not all wrestlers are demoted to jobbers or vanish from television. Some just seemingly lose momentum. Bayley was the most popular woman in NXT. Fans loved her and routinely cheered for her with the “Hey Bayley” chant. Since coming up to the main roster, her momentum has come to a halt, and the pops from the crowd are now being filled with a few boos from time to time. Enzo and Cass are also a victim of lost momentum. When they debuted on the main roster, crowds would blow the roof off the arena. They would cut great promos, get the crowd involved, and were easily one of the most over acts in the company. Since then, the promos have gotten weaker, Enzo constantly eats pins, and their credibility as a tag team has been dented as they have never won the tag team titles since being called up the main roster.

While this does not happen to every former NXT star, it does happen quite a bit. It is understandable that not all NXT success will translate to WWE success, but it is odd how often former NXT wrestlers have a hard time adjusting to the main roster. It doesn’t matter if you blame it on the creative team, the booking, or the wrestlers themselves, the fact of the matter is that something is being lost in translation during the transition from NXT to WWE.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #14forever pic.twitter.com/AoapW8TJdm

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 27, 2017

Oh What A Night!

Wednesday, June 15, 2017, is a date that will go down as nothing short of legendary in the history of FC Cincinnati. The young upstart franchise that started play a little more than a year ago faced instate rival and Major League Soccer member Columbus Crew SC in the fourth round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It was a David vs. Goliath matchup as the United Soccer League's FCC attempted to pull off the improbable upset over the 2002 Open Cup champs in front of a record setting crowd of over 30,000 people at Nippert Stadium. To date, this was single biggest game in the history of the franchise as they were playing one of the founding members of MLS, the very league FCC is trying to join. Add to that the 30,000 plus fans in attendance and the fact that this was the first time the two Ohio soccer teams ever played each other, and you had the makings of an electric atmosphere perfect for a soccer match.

After a scoreless first half, FCC finally broke through as Djiby Fall's header floated into the goal to send the crowd into complete pandemonium. The roar was deafening as an explosion of cheers pierced the warm humid air of Nippert Stadium. Chants of "FCC" broke out as the MLS expansion hopeful was on the verge of upsetting the Crew, a team that was established twenty years earlier than FCC. After an offensive onslaught from the Crew and six minutes of stoppage time that seemed like an eternity, the final whistle blew. FC Cincinnati had defeated Columbus Crew SC 1-0.

A second round of thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd as the lads in blue and orange celebrated the biggest victory in franchise history. The team walked around the pitch, thanking fans for attending, and the fans in turn gave them a raucous standing ovation. The victory even garnered national exposure from ESPN as Djiby's goal and head coach Alan Koch's interview were featured on Sports Center. For a team looking to join MLS, the top professional soccer league in the country, the night could not have been any better.

I am one of the 30,000 plus fans that packed Nippert Stadium to watch the first ever Ohio Derby, which is known to fans as "Hell is Real." That match is easily in my top five of greatest sporting events that I have ever attended. There was a buzz and electricity in the air the entire night that was unlike anything else I had ever experienced at a sporting event. The victory over instate rival Columbus Crew SC, the eruption of the crowd, and the fantastic atmosphere resulted in the perfect storm that clearly displayed Cincinnati as a city where professional soccer is more than welcome. I hope MLS was paying attention.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #CINvsTB pic.twitter.com/Cq8JGasg8v

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 20, 2017

Photo Page Update

Photo page update @ https://t.co/BpNFc1Sowh with #reds and #FCCincy pics#MLS2Cincy #14forever #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #MLS #MLB #USL pic.twitter.com/kIHSfjbgZc

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 20, 2017

WWE Money in the Bank 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Money in the Bank 2017. 

Adam Duvall Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Adam Duvall bobblehead.

Who Dey Draft 2017

The NFL Draft has come and gone and for the most part, the Cincinnati Bengals did a pretty good job with who they selected from the college game to join their team. In this post, I will list who the Bengals drafted and share my thoughts on the role each pick will have with the team.

The first pick was Washington wide receiver John Ross. The guy has electrifying speed and along side A.J. Green, the Bengals passing attack should be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Second was running back Joe Mixon out of the University of Oklahoma. On the field, Mixon could be one of the best running backs in the league and should help the ground game immensely. Off the field is another story. His incident in which he punched a woman in the face has followed him from college to the NFL, and it will be up to him to change how people perceive him.

Third was defensive end Jordan Willis. He played college football for Kansas State. Hopefully Willis can complement Carlos Dunlap and boost the pass rich for the defense.

The fourth pick was Carl Lawson out of Auburn. Like Willis, Lawson is a defensive end. I could see Lawson and Willis being used in a platoon like system on the defensive line to give them both some playing time and experience.

Fifth was wide receiver Josh Malone. The former Tennessee Volunteer should help bolster the offense as he has a combination of both size and speed. With Green now entering his seventh season in the league, Malone and Ross along with Tyler Boyd could be considered the next generation of bengals receivers.

Sixth was Ryan Glasgow, a defensive tackle out of Michigan. Glasgow is a key building block for the defensive line as he can both rush the passer and stop the run. Like Lawson and Willis, I can see Glasgow being rotated in and out of the defensive line.

Seventh was Memphis kicker Jake Elliott. Last year the Bengals had Mike Nugent. Need I say more?

The eighth pick of the draft was J.J. Dielman. He is a center out of Utah. The offensive line sucked last year and with both Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler departing the team via free agency, Dielman could see a lot of playing time on the line outside of the center position.

Ninth was Jordan Evans. He was a linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. With Rey Maulauga being released by Bengals in the offseason, Evans could be groomed to take his spot.

Brandon Wilson was selected tenth by the Bengals. He played cornerback at Houston. With Adam Jones in legal trouble and William Jackson III and Darqueze Dennard having a history of injuries, Wilson might get to showcase his coverage abilities this season.

The last pick for the Bengals was tight end Mason Schreck out of Buffalo. Tyler Eifert is notorious for his battles with the injury bug so Schreck might be able to compete for a backup tight end spot should Eifert get hurt again.

Those are the 2017 Cincinnati Bengals draft picks. Hopefully they can help the Bengals have a bounce back year in 2017 after the disappointing 2016 campaign. Maybe some of these players are the key pieces needed to finally give the Be gals a playoff win.

Who Dey!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #marvel pic.twitter.com/sJKX85UjS1

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 13, 2017

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #mlb pic.twitter.com/Ix3SJqVXyK

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 6, 2017

The Stadium Plan

A few weeks ago, FC Cincinnati made it known that they are indeed looking to build a soccer specific stadium for the franchise. FC Cincinnati has said multiple times that having a soccer specific stadium or a plan to build a soccer specific is necessary in order for the MLS bid to be successful. So where could the stadium be built?

FC Cincinnati has announced three potential sites. Over-the-Rhine, Oakley, and Newport are all the running to be the host area for a soccer specific stadium. All are viable options for the franchise as they are relatively close to the downtown area and the heart of Cincinnati.

How the stadium will be funded is another topic of discussion as the general consensus is that the city does not want to raise taxes or issue another tax that will go toward the stadium. According to FC Cincinnati, the franchise is investing 250 million dollars of its own money into the MLS process, which includes the stadium. 150 millions dollars would go to the MLS expansion fee and the other 100 million would go toward building the stadium. The stadium could cost more than the 100 million FC Cincinnati plans to set aside for it, but the team has been steadfast in saying they are not seeking to increase taxes to help build the stadium.

That is all we know of the FC Cincinnati Stadium plan. They have three sites in mind for the stadium and 100 million dollars set aside to build it. Personally, I am all for the stadium. Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati is fine for now, but MLS requires a soccer specific stadium and I want to see FC Cincinnati elevated to MLS. While I would love to see Newport be selected, I would be fine with any of the three locations just as long as they are selected to join MLS.

WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Extreme Rules 2017.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows Tsubakuro Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Tokyo Yakult Swallows Tsubakuro bobblehead.

Triple Bobble Weekend

 Do you like the Cincinnati Reds? Do you like Marvel super heroes? Do you like bobbleheads? Well then this Saturday is the day for you as you can attain not one, not two, but three bobbleheads for your sports memorabilia collection. Here’s how.

The Reds will be hosting the Atlanta Braves for a three game series on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It also happens to be the second and final Marvel super hero weekend of the year, meaning you can receive a bobblehead of Iron Man if you purchase a special ticket package. These ticket packages cost more than regular tickets, and it is only through these packages that you receive the Iron Man bobblehead.

The day you want to purchase your ticket package for is Saturday as it is also Anthony DeSclafani  bobblehead day. Should you get to the game early enough, you will get one of 20,000 Anthony DeSclafani  bobbleheads the Reds are giving to fans. It is a pretty sweet deal that can net you two new bobbleheads. But wait, there’s more!

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will also be giving away a bobblehead that weekend. The bobblehead will be of the “Hit King” and Cincinnati native and Reds legend Pete Rose. Only 6,000 Reds Hall of Fame bobbleheads are made, and Rose will only be given away during the month of June.

So what are your plans for this Saturday? Hopefully after reading this post, you will be heading to Great American Ball Park for some Reds baseball and bobbleheads. I am planning on getting both Iron Man and DeSclafani, but I am still on the fence about the Rose bobble. I am a huge fan of Charlie Hustle, but I already have three Rose bobbles so this one will have to be significantly different in order for me to add it to my collection. If you do not have a Rose bobblehead however, this is your chance to add a bobblehead of not only him but of Iron Man and Anthony DeSclafani  to your collection as well.

Go Redlegs!

Too Formulaic?

Is WWE too formulaic? I think it is. Every week Raw and SmackDown follow a pattern that map out how the show will progress on television. Don’t believe me? When was the last time Raw or SmackDown started with a match? I honestly cannot remember as a promo is what usually kicks off the show. A wrestler will call out another wrestler, and they will have a war of words. Usually an authority figure appears and sets up a match between the two jawing wrestlers. It happens on a near weekly basis, and the formula is not restricted to just the opening segment.

Contract signings are very formulaic. A table will be set up in the middle of the ring with the contract and a pen on top. There are usually chairs as well, but the wrestlers rarely sit in them. Occasionally there is a moderator such as a WWE authority figure or a commentator to oversee the signing. One wrestler will cut a promo and sign the contract while the other wrestler will respond with a promo of their own before singing the contract themselves. The promos will escalate and before you know it, both wrestlers will be swinging fists at each other. Contract signings don’t always end in a fight, but nine times out of ten the wrestlers will end up going after each other.

Another formulaic approach WWE has is how it books wrestlers leading up to a pay-per-view bout. The wrestler who usually wins at the pay-per-view is usually beat down by their opponent on the show before the event. For example, the last Raw before Wrestlemania 29 featured the Rock and John Cena face to face in the ring. The segment ended with the Rock taking out Cena. What happened at Wrestlemania 29? Cena defeated the Rock. Before Wrestlemania 30, the Undertaker choke slammed Brock Lesnar on the final Raw of Wrestlemania season. At Wrestlemania 30, Lesnar defeated the Undertaker. This 50/50 style of booking is not a guarantee, but it happens a lot in WWE.

Those are just a few examples of WWE’s formulaic approach. While there are more examples of how WWE is set in a pattern of how it presents its shows, those are just a few I could think of off the top of my head. Can the formula result in some lackluster shows? Absolutely. Could WWE think outside the box and throw some more surprises at fans? Without a doubt. However, the formula has proven successful as they are still the undisputed champion in the professional wrestling industry.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Baseball Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #tokyoswallows #mlb pic.twitter.com/yNRYpQrYgL

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 23, 2017

WWE Backlash 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Backlash 2017.

Minnesota Twins T. C. Bear Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Minnesota Twins bobblehead of T.C. Bear.

MLS or NCAA?

Decisions, decisions. Will Cincinnati furnish an soccer specific stadium or pay to renovate U.S. Bank Arena? That is the question that the city could potentially face as FC Cincinnati seeks to move up to Major League Soccer and U.S. Bank Arena tries to uphold its end of the bargain with the NCAA to host the first two rounds of March Madness in 2022 in exchange for remodeling the arena. Odds are both of these projects will need to be funded by tax dollars, but which project will the city be willing to fund?

Let’s start with U.S. Bank Arena. It currently serves as the home to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and also hosts various events such as the circus, concerts and WWE events. While not a physically attractive building, it does manage to house a decent amount of people. The inside of the arena could definitely use an upgrade, as the jumbotron is quite dated and the seats could be swapped out for nicer ones.

Now let’s discuss FC Cincinnati. The soccer team currently plays at Nippert Stadium and manages to draw in impressive crowds of 10,000 or more for nearly every home match. They are currently in the running to move up from the USL to MLS and become the third major professional sports team in the Queen City. A major requirement that MLS has for its teams is a soccer specific stadium. With FC Cincinnati playing on UC’s campus, Nippert probably will not cut the mustard for MLS. Should they move up, a stadium will need to be built.

So which project should the city fund? In my opinion, I think the soccer specific stadium is more important. Don’t get me wrong. U.S. Bank Arena needs to be renovated, and I would love to see the NCAA Tournament come back to Cincinnati. However, the possibility of FC Cincinnati moving up to MLS is very real, and I would rather have new major professional team to root for than one weekend of college basketball. If the NHL or the NBA were knocking on the door and saying that they would establish a new franchise in Cincinnati in exchange for the renovations of U.S. Bank Arena, then I might consider switching my vote. That is not happening though, and I already have a deep love for FC Cincinnati. Hopefully the city can find a way to finance both projects should FC Cincinnati be promoted to MLS, and the Queen City can be the home to three professional sports team and the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament.