One champion (CM Punk) and five challengers (JBL, Batista, Cena, Kane, Jericho).
If it weren't for the fact that they've already had two of them this year, I'd say we've got the makings of an Elimination Chamber on our hands.
Better judgment says they won't go for it, but you never know.
UPDATE: On second thought, I just learned that there's going to be a Hell In A Cell match at Summerslam. Given that both structures would have to hang over the ring, it's logistically impossible for both to happen on the same night.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Brian Kendrick's New Fashion Statement
Hell yes. Look at that sweet jacket. You know you want one just like it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Lack of veterans may hurt DiBiase and Rhodes
I probably wasn't the only one who saw Cody Rhodes' betrayal of Hardcore Holly coming, but thus far it seems to have been the spark he needed to start shining. He and Ted DiBiase (the new one) are custom made for the roles they now have: cocky sons of well-established and successful veterans of yesteryear ready to make their impact, but not really interested in putting the build-up work in. That's a great angle for them.
But there's a problem here. For the "cut in the pecking order line" upstart gimmick to work, you need some established "paid their dues" veterans to offend, and hopefully ones that can afford a loss or two to build the new talent, yet with enough push to make it matter. Hardcore Holly was the perfect choice to start this thing, and if he comes back to take his revenge, you've got the start of something good. Unfortunately, past Holly, the Raw brand (and the entire WWE, for that matter) is lacking on mid-carders with any momentum that could challenge.
The Raw veterans that could believably feud (and lose) to Rhodes and Holly consist of Holly, Val Venis, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and William Regal. Val Venis has lacked any kind of push since his days as Chief Morley back during the Bischoff administration, Hacksaw Jim Duggan is a nostalgic gimmick machine and William Regal is out on drug-suspension and might end up on a different show when he returns (remember, he was fired from Raw by Mr. Kennedy who is now on Smackdown). None of these have any clout to push Rhodes and DiBiase up a level. The other veterans, like Chris Jericho, JBL, Shawn Michaels and Kane are too high up on the card to have a feud with the two in such a way - and are already involved in their own feuds.
Stretching out to the entire roster, candidates for such a feud would include Smackdown's Big Daddy V and Funaki and ECW's Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, Mark Henry, Nunzio and Stevie Richards, Super Crazy and Tommy Dreamer. In that list, the only ones freed up for such a push would be Super Crazy and Nunzio, and if you beat either of them, so what? Everyone else does too.
Perhaps Rhodes and DiBiase will continue their push, but unless someone comes along that can help elevate them, they'll start to fizzle and end up on Heat with no one but Hacksaw and Pez Whatley tributes to beat.
Wait, there is no Heat anymore?
But there's a problem here. For the "cut in the pecking order line" upstart gimmick to work, you need some established "paid their dues" veterans to offend, and hopefully ones that can afford a loss or two to build the new talent, yet with enough push to make it matter. Hardcore Holly was the perfect choice to start this thing, and if he comes back to take his revenge, you've got the start of something good. Unfortunately, past Holly, the Raw brand (and the entire WWE, for that matter) is lacking on mid-carders with any momentum that could challenge.
The Raw veterans that could believably feud (and lose) to Rhodes and Holly consist of Holly, Val Venis, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and William Regal. Val Venis has lacked any kind of push since his days as Chief Morley back during the Bischoff administration, Hacksaw Jim Duggan is a nostalgic gimmick machine and William Regal is out on drug-suspension and might end up on a different show when he returns (remember, he was fired from Raw by Mr. Kennedy who is now on Smackdown). None of these have any clout to push Rhodes and DiBiase up a level. The other veterans, like Chris Jericho, JBL, Shawn Michaels and Kane are too high up on the card to have a feud with the two in such a way - and are already involved in their own feuds.
Stretching out to the entire roster, candidates for such a feud would include Smackdown's Big Daddy V and Funaki and ECW's Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, Mark Henry, Nunzio and Stevie Richards, Super Crazy and Tommy Dreamer. In that list, the only ones freed up for such a push would be Super Crazy and Nunzio, and if you beat either of them, so what? Everyone else does too.
Perhaps Rhodes and DiBiase will continue their push, but unless someone comes along that can help elevate them, they'll start to fizzle and end up on Heat with no one but Hacksaw and Pez Whatley tributes to beat.
Wait, there is no Heat anymore?
Bret Hart hates writers, loves self
Bret Hart was a victim of wrestling - there is no doubt about that. Having been unceremoniously booted from the WWF, to losing his brother to a tragic in-ring accident, to having his storied career ended by a boot to the face by the likes of Goldberg (I really need to go into the symbolism there), to finally being released by WCW, a company that was wasting money on the likes of Norman Smiley and Brian Knobbs - Bret Hart had good reason to be bitter. But if time heals all wounds, someone obviously forgot to tell Bret, because bitter is all he seems to be these days.
I can't say I often catch what Bret Hart says or writes, but this first came to my attention when he refused to show up at WrestleMania XXII with the other Hall of Fame inductees of 2006. It obviously was what the fans wanted - and eight years after the infamous Montreal Incident, surely one more appearance couldn't have hurt anything. But no, it was not to be. Eventually (about a day later) I forgot about it and moved on.
Today, I caught wind of Hart's induction speech into a Hall of Fame (doesn't say which one) in which he lashes out at a wrestling book writer and decides to take his ball and go home when the writer refuses to leave. Really - he did that.
I loved Bret Hart in his heyday. I could watch his matches all day. Unfortunately, since his departure from the industry, he has seemed to become a mound of self-pity - and that's a real shame. Instead of doing his all to help improve the industry he gave so much for (and in turn, trying to prevent repeats of all the ills that occurred to him) he sits and grumbles. Now, perhaps I'm wrong and I have this way off-base...but that's what it seems to me.
Of course, Bret's comments are completely off-base, they're just badly aimed. If you're going to complain about outsiders writing about wrestling, then don't target the one's who spend great amounts of time researching to produce a well-thought out book. Aim more for the "news sites" who spread rumors, gossip, speculate and complain without a shred of presented evidence - all the meanwhile thinking of themselves as "experts". If that doesn't work for you, hit up the bloggers (like the two here) who have nothing better to do than occasionally share thoughts on something that is obviously enjoyable enough to write about.
But pick better battles, Bret. All you look like now is a pouting has-been - and that's not what you deserve at all.
I can't say I often catch what Bret Hart says or writes, but this first came to my attention when he refused to show up at WrestleMania XXII with the other Hall of Fame inductees of 2006. It obviously was what the fans wanted - and eight years after the infamous Montreal Incident, surely one more appearance couldn't have hurt anything. But no, it was not to be. Eventually (about a day later) I forgot about it and moved on.
Today, I caught wind of Hart's induction speech into a Hall of Fame (doesn't say which one) in which he lashes out at a wrestling book writer and decides to take his ball and go home when the writer refuses to leave. Really - he did that.
I loved Bret Hart in his heyday. I could watch his matches all day. Unfortunately, since his departure from the industry, he has seemed to become a mound of self-pity - and that's a real shame. Instead of doing his all to help improve the industry he gave so much for (and in turn, trying to prevent repeats of all the ills that occurred to him) he sits and grumbles. Now, perhaps I'm wrong and I have this way off-base...but that's what it seems to me.
Of course, Bret's comments are completely off-base, they're just badly aimed. If you're going to complain about outsiders writing about wrestling, then don't target the one's who spend great amounts of time researching to produce a well-thought out book. Aim more for the "news sites" who spread rumors, gossip, speculate and complain without a shred of presented evidence - all the meanwhile thinking of themselves as "experts". If that doesn't work for you, hit up the bloggers (like the two here) who have nothing better to do than occasionally share thoughts on something that is obviously enjoyable enough to write about.
But pick better battles, Bret. All you look like now is a pouting has-been - and that's not what you deserve at all.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
On the Bubble
With Trevor Murdoch, being released on Thursday (who was on the list I compiled for this article before that, just so you know) after getting drafted to Smackdown, it seems WWE is beginning the bit of house cleaning that seems to happen after every draft. If you recall 2007, just among the 25 superstars who changed shows in the draft nine of them are no longer with the company. So here's a list of guys (and one girl) I think are on the bubble and could be getting "wished the best of luck in their future endeavors" in the near future.
The Highlanders – The Highlanders made a small impression when they debuted on Raw then quickly faded away to Heat. Then they turned heel for no good reason and didn’t even get a storyline to go with it. Rory’s been injured since late last year and Robbie’s been pretty much off the radar since then.
At one point, Billy Gunn, Scotty 2 Hotty, Val Venis, Funaki, and Hardcore Holly compromised what I liked to call the "Never Gonna Get Fired" Club. These guys had been around for years and never got much further than the midcard. For whatever reason, although in some cases these guys remained pretty popular, they never went anywhere. Gunn got the axe in 2004, followed by Scotty in 2007. I wouldn't think Hardcore Holly would get released anytime soon, as he was Tag Team champion only a week ago, but Venis and Funaki have nothing going for them and, frankly, haven't for years. So, never say never.
On the Fence
These are a few guys I see as at a turning point in their careers. With the right opportunity they could be huge stars. If they stay in the rut they've been in they don't have much of a future ahead of them.
Well, there you have it. 23 names who's days with the WWE might be numbered. I guess only time will tell.
Injuries, Steroids, & Suspensions, Oh My!
Since the Benoit tragedy last year, the WWE has really stepped up its enforcement of the wellness policy. Management doesn't play around with those who violate it. And being injured for an excessive amount of time doesn't help either.
Ashley Massaro – Since winning the Diva Search in 2005, Ashley hasn’t done much of anything. In fact, I’d wager that she’s spent more time injured than active. She’s been with the company for three years and still doesn’t know how to wrestle. And even if she learned, she’s far too injury prone to push.
Boogeyman – Injured for at least six months now, already fired once and just not good in the ring. The guy has an interesting presence and is weird as hell, so he could kept around for backstage segments. But there’s only so many times that The Boogeyman can show up, do something bat-shit crazy, and fade away.
Jimmy Wang Yang – Suspended since June 9, Jimmy Wang Yang was a very unlikely violation of the wellness policy. But with that on his record and no more cruiserweight division, Yang’s prospects don’t look good.William Regal & Jeff Hardy – With two strikes against the Wellness policy on them, you’d think these guys would not be so stupid as to get a third. But most people thought they’d be smart enough to avoid a second strike. That obviously wasn’t the case.
Tag Team Turmoil
With Cryme Tyme and Jesse & Festus being the only real tag teams currently active in the WWE at the moment (and by that I mean introduced and pushed as a tag team) it doesn't look good for the only other real tag team left. And what happens to the teams that have split thanks to the draft?The Highlanders – The Highlanders made a small impression when they debuted on Raw then quickly faded away to Heat. Then they turned heel for no good reason and didn’t even get a storyline to go with it. Rory’s been injured since late last year and Robbie’s been pretty much off the radar since then.
Brian Kendrick – I can’t for the life of me figure out why they split up Paul London & Brian Kendrick. Kendrick got shipped off to Smackdown and I just don’t see what’s there for him to do. There’s no more Cruiserweight title to go after, I honestly think Kendrick’s too small to be considered a threat to anyone on his own.
Domino – The lesser half of Deuce & Domino, here’s another guy that got left out in the cold thanks to the draft. The tag team had broken up the week before the draft, but now Domino doesn’t have the opportunity to feud with his former partner. The greaser gimmick only really worked as part of a team and now that Domino’s all by his lonesome I don’t see a bright future for him.
At one point, Billy Gunn, Scotty 2 Hotty, Val Venis, Funaki, and Hardcore Holly compromised what I liked to call the "Never Gonna Get Fired" Club. These guys had been around for years and never got much further than the midcard. For whatever reason, although in some cases these guys remained pretty popular, they never went anywhere. Gunn got the axe in 2004, followed by Scotty in 2007. I wouldn't think Hardcore Holly would get released anytime soon, as he was Tag Team champion only a week ago, but Venis and Funaki have nothing going for them and, frankly, haven't for years. So, never say never.
On the Fence
These are a few guys I see as at a turning point in their careers. With the right opportunity they could be huge stars. If they stay in the rut they've been in they don't have much of a future ahead of them.
Chuck Palumbo - Already released once before, Palumbo came back to a bit of success on Smackdown recently. The move to Raw in the draft could mean big things for him, but it could be bad news if he gets lost in the shuffle.
Deuce - As the adopted son of Jimmy Snuka, Deuce is a natural fit to join Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes. But if he's left alone with his greaser gimmick, I don't think he'll be around for too long.
Kenny Dykstra - Most people know Kenny Dykstra as a former male cheerleader or "that guy with the headband." If you saw any of his work in OVW as a heel, you know Kenny has the potential to be big. He just needs an opportunity.
Carlito - Another second generation star, Carlito's been pushed in fits and starts since his debut. They'll put him in a high profile feud, even give him a title, then back off for a while. He's capable of having a great match on any give night, he just needs a push that isn't going to dissolve after a month or so.
Paul London - Something should be done with Paul London. He's too talented and too fun to watch to let him go to waste. He could be placed in the current program with Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. Like Lance Cade, London is a product of Michaels Texas wrestling Academy. Chris Jericho & Lance Cade vs. Shawn Michaels & Paul London...I'd pay to see that. A solo London probably wouldn't be much more than a jobber, and I can see a guy as talented as he is asking for his release to head to TNA or back to Ring of Honor.
DH Smith - Son of the legendary Davey Boy Smith, DH got derailed very early on with he was suspended for a Wellness Policy violation less than two weeks after his WWE television debut. He seemed destined to join up with Ted DiBiase Jr. on Raw, but got sent over to Smackdown in the draft. I don't know what he'll do over there, but this one's kind of iffy as we haven't seen much of DH Smith.
Well, there you have it. 23 names who's days with the WWE might be numbered. I guess only time will tell.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Masked Marvel vs. the Internet
Wrestling is doomed. What, hadn't you heard? The product is so awful, the backstage management is so bad, the talent is so misused, that professional wrestling will cease to exist quite likely within the next year.
Okay, I don't really buy it either.
If you're a fan of wrestling "news" sites online, however, you're quite likely ready for the apocalypse in the world of sports entertainment. They've been preaching it ever since the fall of WCW in 2001. Books have been written about it. Yet, somehow, the product still moves forward and is still seemingly quite successful.
Congratulations, you have just learned one of my many issues with wrestling "analysts", "reporters" and their websites. Over the course of the future (how's that for broad?) I will be taking a look at the things I hear yelled over and over again and make a passioned plea to just shut up and enjoy the show. As a preview, I will give three points that will soon be covered:
Okay, I don't really buy it either.
If you're a fan of wrestling "news" sites online, however, you're quite likely ready for the apocalypse in the world of sports entertainment. They've been preaching it ever since the fall of WCW in 2001. Books have been written about it. Yet, somehow, the product still moves forward and is still seemingly quite successful.
Congratulations, you have just learned one of my many issues with wrestling "analysts", "reporters" and their websites. Over the course of the future (how's that for broad?) I will be taking a look at the things I hear yelled over and over again and make a passioned plea to just shut up and enjoy the show. As a preview, I will give three points that will soon be covered:
- So-called "experts" are just ordinary fans with fancy titles they gave themselves. The people who are ruining the business are the people they personally would boo at shows, and the people who are being held back are the ones they would cheer. It's just a mix of the common crowd reaction and a unyielding urge to bitch to as many people will listen.
- Triple H is the ultimate scapegoat for everything, period. If something happens that doesn't go over, it's because Triple H did it. If something is well received, then someone finally went over Triple H's head. Give Trips some credit for how good he really is - not what you assume he's doing backstage.
- When talent sabotage themselves (Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam) it's not a glass ceiling holding them down - it's the worry that a similar mistake will happen again. Or it's Triple H.
So sit back and enjoy as I fight off the Internet in a fight so massive that I wear a mask to keep my actual life separate from it.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
CM Punk and the Case of the Mysterious Backstage Heat
Ever since CM Punk signed his WWE contract way back in 2005 there have veritable cornucopia of ever so reliable internet rumors going around that Punk had some "heat" backstage. For those of you who might not know, saying someone has heat on them is a fancy way of saying that people don't like them. In Punk's case it was the higher ups like Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Michael Hayes, Raw head writer Brian Gerwitz, and even the lord almighty himself, Triple H. Rumors were swirling that Punk had a bad attitude and rubbed people the wrong way.
As with anything read on a wrestling "news" site, I took it with a grain of salt. But was there any truth to it? Let's take a look back at CM Punk's WWE career and see what effect, if any, this backstage heat has had...
September 26, 2005: CM Punk makes his OVW debut.
November 9, 2005: Punk defeats Ken Doane for the OVW Television championship
April 2, 2006: Punk makes his WrestleMania debut as one of the old timey gangsters during John Cena's entrance.
May 3, 2006: CM Punk defeats Brent Albright in a strap match for the OVW Heavyweight championship.
July 28, 2006: OVW Champion CM Punk teams with Seth Skyfire to defeat Shad Gaspard & The Neighborhoodie (better known today as Cryme Tyme) for the OVW Southern Tag Team championships. This makes Punk one of only four men in the company's history to capture the OVW Triple Crown (Heavyweight, Television, and Tag titles).
August 1, 2006: Punk defeats former ECW champion Justin Credible in his WWE television debut on ECW. He would go on to be undefeated in singles competition for more than six months until losing to Hardcore Holly on January 9, 2007.
November 26, 2006: At the Survivor Series, Punk teams with Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Matt & Jeff Hardy to take on the team of Edge, Randy Orton, Johnny Nitro, Mike Knox, and Gregory Helms. During Triple H's usual DX introduction the crowd is chanting so loudly for Punk that even he has to stop and acknowledge it. Punk's team went on to win the match without losing any falls. It was the first 5 on 5 match won with a clean sweep in the history of the Survivor Series.
Summer, 2007: With ECW champion Bobby Lashley over on Raw feuding with Vince McMahon, CM Punk is made the focal point of ECW. He is simultaneously courted by rival factions The ECW Originals and The New Breed.
September 1, 2007: CM Punk defeats John Morrison to for the ECW championship. Punk would hold the title for five months before losing it to Chavo Guerrero.
March 30, 2008: Punk defeats six other superstars to win the Money In the Bank match at WrestleMania XXIV. One of the most high profile matches of the year, it entitles Punk to a shot at any of the three world championships at any time during the next year.
April 21, 2008: CM Punk competes in the 2008 King of the Ring tournament. Punk defeats Matt Hardy in round one and Chris Jericho in round two but ultimately loses to William Regal in the final.
June 30, 2008: CM punk cashes in his Money In the Bank title shot and defeats Edge for the World Heavyweight championship.
And that just about catches us up. Seems Punk's made out pretty well since he came to WWE. Even ignoring all the other accomplishments, winning two world championships inside of two years pretty damn impressive. It took Triple H more than four years to win his first. There are guys who've been with the company for over a decade who haven't accomplished half of what Punk has. If Punk got backstage heat for simply rubbing people the wrong way and still had the career he's had, Val Venis must've raped someone's mother.
Despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are still conspiracy theorists who believe that the people who run WWE have it out for Punk. These people have let it so invade their thought process that they can't enjoy when something good happens to CM Punk because they're sure something bad will soon follow. "Yeah, Punk won Money In the Bank, but I'm sure he'll be the first guy to cash it in and lose." "It's great that Punk won the World title, but he'll just lose it soon." With that attitude, it's impossible to enjoy anything. To paraphrase the late Mitch Hedberg, it's like refusing to eat an apple because you know eventually it will be just a core.
Reading internet rumors is fine. Believing them also fine, just as long as you know not everything can be taken at face value. But when what you're reading on a news site goes directly against what you're seeing on WWE television, it's time to give it up.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)