WWE Network Roundup (Nov. 29-Dec. 5): Smoky Mountain, Mid-South, Stampede, GWF

We are now finally starting to see the full potential of what WWE Network could be. Granted, we were never gonna see it right out of the gate, but it would have been nice. While I'm eternally grateful for all the new content, the timing of it is a little suspicious. Just as suspicious: the lack of an announcement from... I dunno, you know, WWE. Hopefully they keep it coming, but as Lance Storm said on Twitter this past Thursday, the onus will pretty much be on the subscribers.

Don't want to harp on this too much, but if you like the Territory content that's being added to the @WWENetwork spread the word.... Cont.

— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) December 4, 2015

Cont.... Spread the word and watch the old shows. New subscriptions and views will send the message of what we want.

— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) December 4, 2015

This is the same company that is sending out surveys trying to gauge the reaction of main roster programming compared to NXT. I want to be positive and expect something good to come out of it, but my cynical smark brain knows better.

Enough chatter. On to the Network stuff.

The Usual Stuff

• The October 29 Smackdown, "Who Ya Gonna Call?" is... you guessed it, the Halloween episode. Roman Reigns fought Kevin Owens in a non-title match, the Wyatt Family is pretty fucking evil, and Natalya has a really bad night.
• The November 2 RAW, "Survive That", has a Survivor Series match—three weeks ahead of Survivor Series. Maybe they were on to something: this is the last in-ring appearance for Seth Rollins for the foreseeable future (he was injured during the European tour a few days after the show). Plus Bray Wyatt, eater of souls.
• A new NXT has a SUPERSTIFF Samoa Joe versus Tomasso Ciampa match, you guys (spoils: Ciampa was killed). Also, Blue Pants is back! (She also gets killed after a new version of her theme plays—spoils: it's awful) Also say a prayer for Emma. She gon die soon. Casual Asuka.
• An almost new Main Event features Naomi and Alicia Fox, Titus O'Neil taking on Heath Slater, and the Usos taking on Adam Rose and Brad Maddox.

Original Stuff

• A new Breaking Ground profiles Nia Jax, Tyler Breeze taking with some of the ladies of NXT, and another firing caught on film.
• Owen Hart's legacy has been wrangled with through the legal system for years, but finally, a new generation—and older fans, of course—will finally get to experience the career of the youngest of the Hart clan with the new DVD collection, Owen: Hart of Gold. Get a first look at it here.

Stuff from the Vault and...Stuff

You guys. There's a lot of stuff added. In fact, so much new content was added, I cannot list every episode individually. It's simply impossible. So... pick your poison, or your favorite territory, or something, and have fun.

• Like the NWA? See what WCW Saturday Night was before it was WCW Saturday Night when they conducted interviews from news desks (I feel like I should get a weather report or something with these shows) with NWA World Championship Wrestling from 1985 to 1987 here.
• Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a Jim Cornette outfit from the early 1990s and was a feeder system for the WWF's midcard during the early days of the New Generation Era. So... yeah. But SMW was not available to most of the country because of where they were situated (basically Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas and the Virginias) unless you knew a tape trader—until now. Check out some 1994 episodes here.
• Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling was seen as ahead of its time during its prime, but like Smoky Mountain, you couldn't see it unless you lived in or around Oklahome, Louisiana, or Mississippi or knew a tape trader. Now you can check out early Sting, early Junkyard Dog, and early Jim Ross in all its upscaled 720p HD glory here.
• Or maybe latter-day AWA is your thing, which featured the likes of Curt Hennig, Scott Hall, and Rick Martel. Possibly the Rockers too. Episodes from 1987 and 1988 are now available here.
• Or if you liked your never-ending adventures of the Von Erichs and Freebirds, World Class Championship Wrestling's what you're looking for. Episodes from 1986 and 1987 are new to the Network here.
• Based out of Dallas, Texas, the Global Wrestling Federation was the last wrestling company to get a show on ESPN. It launched the careers of the likes of The Patriot, Harlem Heat, Sean Waltman, Raven, and Jerry Lynn. And Barry Horowitz, non-jobber. Oh, and Cactus Jack was here too. Episodes from 1990 to 1992 (which includes some USWA stuff) are available here.
• Stampede Wrestling is probably the most celebrated independent in Canadian wrestling history. It launched the careers of the Harts (most of them), but also housed the Junkyard Dog, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and the British Bulldogs among countless others. A few episodes from the late 1970s are available here.