Jey Uso talked with SLAM! Sports to promote the upcoming WWE event in Toronto and spoke about the unique crowd.

The WWE announcers often refer to Canada as “Bizarro World” because the crowd doesn’t always react the way you think they would. They’ll cheer for a Canadian wrestler and often boo wrestlers they feel aren’t true wrestlers, regardless of if they’re a face or a heel. “Those crowds are always really hot,” Jey said. “It’s definitely one of the best places to wrestle because of their reactions.” Jey said he and Jimmy are glad that the Canadian crowds haven’t turned on them yet.

Natalya Talks Farting Gimmick

Natalya also spoke with SLAM! Sports and commented on the famous time period of her uncontrollably farting.

No matter what I’m given, I’m going to make it great. I’m going to pass gas, maybe I had too many protein bars that morning. I’m sorry, but as a Diva, I’m going to eat a lot of protein, and if I’m going to do that, then I’m going to look like a rockstar doing that, dressed to the nines in vintage couture and I’m going to make it gold.

Luke Harper Singles Push

My Friday column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at Luke Harper’s singles push and how The Wyatt Family should breakup. The following is an excerpt:

If you haven’t figured it out by now, Luke Harper is going to be a star.

I knew this before he was in WWE. I didn’t realize it would be packaged like this, but I like it.

On the independents he was Brodie Lee. In WWE he’s Luke Harper. He went from being a truck stop trucker to a backwoods monster. He went from dirty jeans and shirt to even dirtier jeans and shirt. The beard is a little longer and the hair is a bit greasier looking.

Bray Wyatt has lived up to his expectations thus far. There’s always a lot of pressure on a new character, especially one who is booked as prominent as Wyatt has been as the leader of his own stable comprised of other new characters.

It doesn’t always work out well. Just ask Gangrel.

Wyatt has risen to the occasion and so has Harper standing right behind him. Harper has done a great job playing his role as a henchmen for Wyatt while creating his own positive identity with credentials.

Harper has shown great versatility in the ring. He can wrestle singles matches with other big guys and work a traditional big-man match. He can work singles matches with smaller guys and move at a faster pace. He can deliver big-man moves like big boots and elbows. He can jump through the ropes to the outside. He can work well and help put together really good tag team matches.

In addition to his in-ring skills, Harper can speak. He never says an unnecessary word. He doesn’t use 20 words when he can say it in 10. He communicates with the right amount of talking, tone, speed and facial expressions. Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn and WWE management loves good facial expressions to tell stories. Harper is a regular Mother Goose.

Harper has done all of this while playing second fiddle to Wyatt and letting Wyatt achieve what he has needed to up to this point. That’s not easy to do.

I think a WWE performer has to find some sort of balance between walking out because you're frustrated, CM Punk-style, and agreeing to do a farting gimmick, Natalya-style.