Tonight's main event! Simply genius. Armageddon, overall, was a solid show, few bad finishes, some really good wrestling. It wasn't worth the forty dollars they charged... however, split a few ways, spending 10$ doesn't feel like a ripoff.
The main event, however. Batista defending against Undertaker and Edge. This was fairly paint by numbers triple threat match for most of the match. And then... Taker has batista in a choke..takers shoulders are down...is he going to get pinned?!? Is Batista going to pass out?!? Is someone going to grab the rop that they were dangerously close to?!?
Now, while this is going on, we are discussing the match, the event, life in general really, when the bell rings!! Catches us completely off guard!! The match is over!! Who won?!? Did batista pass out? was taker pinned? where was edge? what happened?!?!
EDGE!!! He had grabbed the ringbell and rang the bell to break up the hold!! We all thought the match was over!! But that dastardly heel turned a new trick and I fell for it, hook line and sinker... I couldn't believe the match was over!! It was a very exciting turn...
We then had the old eric angle..angle. Only this new twist.. two edges!! Not including Edge himself. Again! We weren't sure what was happening. We see edge go in the ring and get taken out. We then see Edge crawling about the ring as we see another Edge wincing in pain on the ground. While we attempt to decipher where the real edge is, we then see that are actually two fake edges distracting both taker and batista!! Which all leads to the inevitable...
EDGE regains the title that he never lost!! and in a fashion that I have never quite seen before!! What a finish. It was new and fresh and inventive and different. It wasn't the same ol status quo we have come to expect from Vince and co. I went from being quite blah towards this PPV. Nothing bad, but nothing great either..untill that!
As for the rest of the ppv... decent match countout...decent big mans+cm punk match flash pin...decent match superkick out of nowhere....decent match underdog rollup...decent match dq finish from a retired wrestler...womens match....Great dog and pony show main event!! I'd go out of your way to see it, but hopefully you see it before you read this..otherwise, it probably won't come off nearly as dastardly...
Thank You, Edge!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Top 15 Moments in Raw History
In the spirit of the 15th Anniversary of the most successful wrestling program of all time, I figured I’d do a little ranking and I’d like to invite the other 3 members of Steel Cage Radio to do the same. Putting all current tastes and preferences aside, it’s nice to sit back and reflect on some of those moments, matches and mishaps that have kept us involved in sports entertainment. WWE managed to provide a tremendous 3 Hour Tribute this past Monday and I want SCR to take a crack at it.
15 years ago Vince McMahon decided it was time to get away from Prime Time Wrestling and move over to Monday nights with a program that was uncut, uncooked and uncensored. In its early stages, Raw was different than what we had been accustomed to. As it developed it hit a nice stride, only to be outdone by WCW’s Monday Nitro. When Vince decided to turn up the volume on his product, the WWE went head and shoulders above its competitor and no promotion has come close since.
With that being said, I think it’d be appropriate to do a Top 15. I know it isn’t the traditional Top 10 that we are used to, but I think it is okay in this situation. Besides, we don’t have Flair’s music to introduce it. On this list I took the following into consideration: Entertainment Value, Impact on the Business, Quality, Personal Enjoyment and its place in Raw’s Legacy. So I present to you my Top 15 Moments in the History of Monday Night Raw:
15: The Draft – This was the beginning of the Roster Split we are familiar with today. Some of the biggest names in the company’s history were chosen to either be a part of Vince’s Smackdown or Ric Flair’s Raw. The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Edge, Big Show and Kane were sent to either show and it led to some entertaining television.
14: DX impersonates The Nation of Domination – Hilarious skit. I think the guys in blackface really teetered on the edge of taste, but I still laughed.
13: Hogan’s Reception – After putting on one of the greatest matches of all time with The Rock at WM18, Hogan opened Raw the next night to receive on of the longest ovations any Superstar has ever received. It brought the Hulkster to tears and clearly demonstrated the impact he has had on the business.
12: RAW is OWEN – Sad, but memorable edition of Raw following the loss of a great wrestler and person.
11: The Rock’s runs his mouth on Toronto – I put this promo on the highest of pedestals. The Rock beats Hogan for a 2nd time, shows up on Raw in Toronto and verbally destroys everyone. Austin, Hogan, the fans. His delivery, timing and heat generated is something to marvel. Easily my favorite promo of all time.
10: Austin Crucified – Austin being raised on The Undertaker’s crucifix-like logo is an image that will forever be associated with Raw’s controversial reputation.
9: Foley introduces Socko – Great skit that really got Foley over as a babyface and showcased his personality. Vince’s reactions are priceless as well as the Austin attack the followed later in the episode.
8: ECW Invasion – The night ECW invaded the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York was a memorable one as the WWE gave us a taste of something different and gave us something unpredictable.
7: Kirk Angel vs. Some Guy in a Steel Cage – Probably the best Steel Cage Match of all time where the pill-popping guy who wears the mouthpiece, flaming singlet and white sneakers in TNA fought some other guy whose name we can’t mention. The Olympic Gold Medalist’s moonsault from the top of the cage is hard to watch, but amazing at the same time. He’s lucky he came out alive…
6: RAW is JERICHO – A great way to debut a great talent. Weeks of mysterious build-up with a millennium countdown led to verbal magic between Y2J Chris Jericho and The Rock. I loved every second of it.
5: HBK gauze Promo – an obnoxious Shawn Michaels shows up with his little biker shorts stuffed with gauze and proceeded to disrespect Jim Ross during the entire interview. Certainly one of the first tastes of the Attitude Era.
4: Foley Wins the Title – “Yeah, that’ll put butts in the seats”. Actually Schiavone it did. In fact, it was the night the ratings switched and WCW began its downward spiral. Very important evening to say the least. Can’t imagine what would have happened if JR ever said, “Our competition is having David Arquette win their World Title. Ha!”
3: Beer Truck – That was just fun. The Austin Era was in full effect and it gave the home and live audiences something to remember.
2: Rock: This Is Your Life – The highest rated segment in Raw History. You don’t cut The Rock off at 2nd base. Poontang your ass on outta here.
1: Raw/Nitro Simulcast – Uhhh… probably the single most important moment in Monday Night Wrestling history. Vince won the war and now they are alone at the top. Very nice.
Honorable Mention: Sable Topless (Lawler’s reaction = Priceless), Pillman pulls a gun, Lightning Kid pins Razor Ramon, HBK vs. Cena, Bischoff, Flair, Heyman and The Radicals (Saturn, Malenko, Guerrero and some guy) all showing up on Raw.
Vince Has No Shame Moments: Trish Barks Like a Dog, Katie Vick, Kiss My Ass Club, Choppy Choppy Yo PeePee, Mae Young’s Rubber Hand, Hawk’s Drunken Fall, “You’re illegitimate ya big nasty bastard!”, Tribute Show for that guy… ya know…, and last but not least, The Attitude Era.
-Winky
15 years ago Vince McMahon decided it was time to get away from Prime Time Wrestling and move over to Monday nights with a program that was uncut, uncooked and uncensored. In its early stages, Raw was different than what we had been accustomed to. As it developed it hit a nice stride, only to be outdone by WCW’s Monday Nitro. When Vince decided to turn up the volume on his product, the WWE went head and shoulders above its competitor and no promotion has come close since.
With that being said, I think it’d be appropriate to do a Top 15. I know it isn’t the traditional Top 10 that we are used to, but I think it is okay in this situation. Besides, we don’t have Flair’s music to introduce it. On this list I took the following into consideration: Entertainment Value, Impact on the Business, Quality, Personal Enjoyment and its place in Raw’s Legacy. So I present to you my Top 15 Moments in the History of Monday Night Raw:
15: The Draft – This was the beginning of the Roster Split we are familiar with today. Some of the biggest names in the company’s history were chosen to either be a part of Vince’s Smackdown or Ric Flair’s Raw. The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Edge, Big Show and Kane were sent to either show and it led to some entertaining television.
14: DX impersonates The Nation of Domination – Hilarious skit. I think the guys in blackface really teetered on the edge of taste, but I still laughed.
13: Hogan’s Reception – After putting on one of the greatest matches of all time with The Rock at WM18, Hogan opened Raw the next night to receive on of the longest ovations any Superstar has ever received. It brought the Hulkster to tears and clearly demonstrated the impact he has had on the business.
12: RAW is OWEN – Sad, but memorable edition of Raw following the loss of a great wrestler and person.
11: The Rock’s runs his mouth on Toronto – I put this promo on the highest of pedestals. The Rock beats Hogan for a 2nd time, shows up on Raw in Toronto and verbally destroys everyone. Austin, Hogan, the fans. His delivery, timing and heat generated is something to marvel. Easily my favorite promo of all time.
10: Austin Crucified – Austin being raised on The Undertaker’s crucifix-like logo is an image that will forever be associated with Raw’s controversial reputation.
9: Foley introduces Socko – Great skit that really got Foley over as a babyface and showcased his personality. Vince’s reactions are priceless as well as the Austin attack the followed later in the episode.
8: ECW Invasion – The night ECW invaded the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York was a memorable one as the WWE gave us a taste of something different and gave us something unpredictable.
7: Kirk Angel vs. Some Guy in a Steel Cage – Probably the best Steel Cage Match of all time where the pill-popping guy who wears the mouthpiece, flaming singlet and white sneakers in TNA fought some other guy whose name we can’t mention. The Olympic Gold Medalist’s moonsault from the top of the cage is hard to watch, but amazing at the same time. He’s lucky he came out alive…
6: RAW is JERICHO – A great way to debut a great talent. Weeks of mysterious build-up with a millennium countdown led to verbal magic between Y2J Chris Jericho and The Rock. I loved every second of it.
5: HBK gauze Promo – an obnoxious Shawn Michaels shows up with his little biker shorts stuffed with gauze and proceeded to disrespect Jim Ross during the entire interview. Certainly one of the first tastes of the Attitude Era.
4: Foley Wins the Title – “Yeah, that’ll put butts in the seats”. Actually Schiavone it did. In fact, it was the night the ratings switched and WCW began its downward spiral. Very important evening to say the least. Can’t imagine what would have happened if JR ever said, “Our competition is having David Arquette win their World Title. Ha!”
3: Beer Truck – That was just fun. The Austin Era was in full effect and it gave the home and live audiences something to remember.
2: Rock: This Is Your Life – The highest rated segment in Raw History. You don’t cut The Rock off at 2nd base. Poontang your ass on outta here.
1: Raw/Nitro Simulcast – Uhhh… probably the single most important moment in Monday Night Wrestling history. Vince won the war and now they are alone at the top. Very nice.
Honorable Mention: Sable Topless (Lawler’s reaction = Priceless), Pillman pulls a gun, Lightning Kid pins Razor Ramon, HBK vs. Cena, Bischoff, Flair, Heyman and The Radicals (Saturn, Malenko, Guerrero and some guy) all showing up on Raw.
Vince Has No Shame Moments: Trish Barks Like a Dog, Katie Vick, Kiss My Ass Club, Choppy Choppy Yo PeePee, Mae Young’s Rubber Hand, Hawk’s Drunken Fall, “You’re illegitimate ya big nasty bastard!”, Tribute Show for that guy… ya know…, and last but not least, The Attitude Era.
-Winky
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The Ultimate Fighter Finale
First, let me say I LOVE THE FIGHTING! That's why I brought the blog idea. Cause we all (well I think we all I can't speak for Brady who likes no one.) like each other. But have VASTLY different ideas especially on wrestling. But I'm gonna step away from the drama and the feigned athletic competition. I'm gonna head on over to the world of MMA and talk about the The Ultimate Fighter Finale.
The card started off slow with Ben Saunders who really did nothing remarkable on the show other than being a tall string bean who threw head kicks... against Dan Barrera who is one of the most disrespectful idiotic fighters I've ever seen. This was one of the most boring fights I ever had the displeasure of watching Saunders won a decision or something.
Billy Miles jobbed to George Stepanoplis (or some spelling close to that).
Then fucking cock sucker Richie Hightower took on RUDE BOY I really don't know his real name but Rude Boy works for me. Good fight. I'm actually really surprised Hightower can go I had no respect or hope for him on the show. But he showed alot then a JAB dropped him a few hammer fists later Rude Boy wins one for Hawaiian fighters everywhere.
So Hightower and Rude warmed things up. Then Warmachine and J-Rock did battle in a fight that really came from a childish prank. War Machine gave J-Rock's toilet an upper decker where you shit in the top part of the toilet so all subsequent flushes are shit instead of clean water. This upset J-Rock and now they do battle in the octagon. AND DID THEY EVER These two mixed it up alot of heavy hands were thrown some good take downs and J-Rock was really getting the better of the match but he could not finish. In almost a WWE-esque Hulk Up with the crowd chanting his name: War Machine quickly took the mount in the later moments of the third round and dropped BOMBS on J-Rock winning via stoppage after the ref saw J-Rock's head bounce off the mat. THIS WAS THE FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. Now I don't always need brawls but a nice one is good every now and then and this was a lot better than the previous brawl. A lot more technical.
Mac "Gigantic Whiny Douche Bag" Danzig beat Tom "Seriously He's a Farm Boy" Speer in really a forgone conclusion. Danzig was clearly the best fighter on the show. It's a shame that he never went in there with Matt Arroyo or George Stepanopolis the only two fighters remotely close to his skill. So Dana White gets another unmarketable fighter in the UFC Huzzah. Two words Dana CHEICK KONGO! This guy's a beast and has a cool name make somethin of him.
Matt Arroyo faced Jon Kolosci decent fight Arroyo was just waaaaaaaay too skilled for Jon. Arroyo may not be as skilled as Danzig but he's more marketable and is close to his level as a fighter. Arroyo has a nice array of submission and he's only a BJJ brown belt. Hopefully Dana signs Arroyo to go along with War Machine and J-Rock. And I guess Stepanopolis who was just annoying.
Ya know that match of the night thing? It may be up in the air. The Main Event Roger Huerta vs Clay Guida... Who is known as the Carpenter. Right. This match was fucking awesome. I guess Huerta's whole thing is he's the first ever MMA'er to hold the cover of SI. That didn't stop Guida from using his face like a punching bag. You hardly ever see the Rocky defense work in anything other than Rocky. But after dominating the second round Guida got ROCKED in the third round and gave up his back after attempting a submission and Huerta won. What a fucking rally what a great fight. Two fighter I knew very little about shocked me and really delivered at the main event level.
UFC should wish their PPVs delivered like their free TV does. Much like TNA. But that's another story for another day.
Plus I just found out Roger Heurta's nick name is EL MATADOR... OLAY!
-Hack
The card started off slow with Ben Saunders who really did nothing remarkable on the show other than being a tall string bean who threw head kicks... against Dan Barrera who is one of the most disrespectful idiotic fighters I've ever seen. This was one of the most boring fights I ever had the displeasure of watching Saunders won a decision or something.
Billy Miles jobbed to George Stepanoplis (or some spelling close to that).
Then fucking cock sucker Richie Hightower took on RUDE BOY I really don't know his real name but Rude Boy works for me. Good fight. I'm actually really surprised Hightower can go I had no respect or hope for him on the show. But he showed alot then a JAB dropped him a few hammer fists later Rude Boy wins one for Hawaiian fighters everywhere.
So Hightower and Rude warmed things up. Then Warmachine and J-Rock did battle in a fight that really came from a childish prank. War Machine gave J-Rock's toilet an upper decker where you shit in the top part of the toilet so all subsequent flushes are shit instead of clean water. This upset J-Rock and now they do battle in the octagon. AND DID THEY EVER These two mixed it up alot of heavy hands were thrown some good take downs and J-Rock was really getting the better of the match but he could not finish. In almost a WWE-esque Hulk Up with the crowd chanting his name: War Machine quickly took the mount in the later moments of the third round and dropped BOMBS on J-Rock winning via stoppage after the ref saw J-Rock's head bounce off the mat. THIS WAS THE FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. Now I don't always need brawls but a nice one is good every now and then and this was a lot better than the previous brawl. A lot more technical.
Mac "Gigantic Whiny Douche Bag" Danzig beat Tom "Seriously He's a Farm Boy" Speer in really a forgone conclusion. Danzig was clearly the best fighter on the show. It's a shame that he never went in there with Matt Arroyo or George Stepanopolis the only two fighters remotely close to his skill. So Dana White gets another unmarketable fighter in the UFC Huzzah. Two words Dana CHEICK KONGO! This guy's a beast and has a cool name make somethin of him.
Matt Arroyo faced Jon Kolosci decent fight Arroyo was just waaaaaaaay too skilled for Jon. Arroyo may not be as skilled as Danzig but he's more marketable and is close to his level as a fighter. Arroyo has a nice array of submission and he's only a BJJ brown belt. Hopefully Dana signs Arroyo to go along with War Machine and J-Rock. And I guess Stepanopolis who was just annoying.
Ya know that match of the night thing? It may be up in the air. The Main Event Roger Huerta vs Clay Guida... Who is known as the Carpenter. Right. This match was fucking awesome. I guess Huerta's whole thing is he's the first ever MMA'er to hold the cover of SI. That didn't stop Guida from using his face like a punching bag. You hardly ever see the Rocky defense work in anything other than Rocky. But after dominating the second round Guida got ROCKED in the third round and gave up his back after attempting a submission and Huerta won. What a fucking rally what a great fight. Two fighter I knew very little about shocked me and really delivered at the main event level.
UFC should wish their PPVs delivered like their free TV does. Much like TNA. But that's another story for another day.
Plus I just found out Roger Heurta's nick name is EL MATADOR... OLAY!
-Hack
Sunday, December 2, 2007
I like TNA, you should too.
Yes, Virginia, there IS actual women's WRESTLING in major American promotions.
Sure, If you want the best of the ladies in the squared circle you should check out ROH's little sister, SHIMMER. But, if you're not into tape trading (who really is anymore) and you need a fix of Women's wrestling that is more than just gratuitous TnA then you need only tune in to, well, TNA actually. Ironic, I know.
Ever since TNA introduced the Knockout division (yea, I know the name sucks) they have consistently impressed with the in ring product. This should come as a surprise to no one given the talent they've imported, much of it alumni of the aforementioned SHIMMER promotion. Gail Kim is an impressive in ring talent with a gift for ring psychology. This is an especially impressive feat as I doubt the majority of the WWE ladies can spell psychology, let alone put it to practice. Roxie Leveoux is former SHIMMER champion Nikki Roxx under an awful gimmick she was saddled with by virtue of her teaming with the Voodoo Kin Mafia (you may remember them as the New Age Outlaws who neither practice Voodoo nor are a part of any organized crime family). But the centerpiece of the division is the 6 foot monster, Awesome Kong. Kong is a monster talent in Japan in the same vain as Monster Ripper and Aja Kong. This is simply put, a woman who can easily wrestle with the men. TNA put her over the top for me at the Turning Point PPV when I realized they book her better than WWE books Umaga. At the core they are the same character, a wild animal bent on destroying everything in their path en route to a title run. The difference is that TNA actually allows Kong to be an animal. She shrieks and roars while decimating the champ, the run in assistance and the officials. You believe in her as a dangerous beast that will not be stopped. She may be the best booked gimmick on cable television.
The only thing better than a worked shoot is a shoot shoot.
The other big highlight from the TNA PPV come courtesy of the Samoan Submission Machine, but for once, it isn't his in-ring performance that grabbed my attention. Instead, Joe grabbed a live mic and cut a sharp swath of hatred and respect through the TNA roster. As of this writing (its 1:30am) I'm not 100% sure what the story is. The crux of the angle is that Scott Hall no showed the event on the night he was scheduled to main event. This is somewhere in the area of 800% believable. I think I would have been more surprised had Scott actually showed up and performed clean and sober. Joe's promo was biting and unprofessional, even going so far as to dare an off screen agent to fire him. But this IS still wrestling and the cynic in me has to examine a few facts of the evening.
FACT: Moments before the match there was a backstage angle featuring Joe and Nash arguing over the possibility of a Hall no-show. Were this legit, I can't imagine TNA creative being quick enough to work out the details and shoot the angle.
FACT: Early in the night, Team Angle hatched a plan to break down Team Joe by planting a seed of doubt in the ole SSM's ear. Basically, Kurt explained how The Outsiders have screwed everyone they've ever worked with etc.
FACT: This is the big one. Joe's mic stayed live throughout his rant. Lets face it. If the guys in the truck are seriously worried about a shoot on live TV, they'd simply cut the audio feed. Instead Joe was allowed to complete his passionate tirade against the "Superstars" who come to TNA and reap the benefits of the hard work done by the REAL TNA lifers. It should also be noted that Joe neglected to mention AJ Styles in his list of TNA lifers that built the company even though AJ was standing only feet away from him. Obviously, this could be because Joe is feuding with Team Angle and wouldn't, in the context of the story, put over his sworn enemies.
The true facts of the angle will likely be out there by the time you read this but, I'm really into the story and need to vent about it while the ink is still wet. As I said before though, I love a good worked shoot almost as much as a real one. Either way, this is entertaining. Tune in to Impact on Thursday and, like me, check out the fallout from Turning Point.
(I am not an employee of TNA or any of its subsidiaries and am in no way obligated to put over the product, I'm just a fan of it.)
"HKB"
Sure, If you want the best of the ladies in the squared circle you should check out ROH's little sister, SHIMMER. But, if you're not into tape trading (who really is anymore) and you need a fix of Women's wrestling that is more than just gratuitous TnA then you need only tune in to, well, TNA actually. Ironic, I know.
Ever since TNA introduced the Knockout division (yea, I know the name sucks) they have consistently impressed with the in ring product. This should come as a surprise to no one given the talent they've imported, much of it alumni of the aforementioned SHIMMER promotion. Gail Kim is an impressive in ring talent with a gift for ring psychology. This is an especially impressive feat as I doubt the majority of the WWE ladies can spell psychology, let alone put it to practice. Roxie Leveoux is former SHIMMER champion Nikki Roxx under an awful gimmick she was saddled with by virtue of her teaming with the Voodoo Kin Mafia (you may remember them as the New Age Outlaws who neither practice Voodoo nor are a part of any organized crime family). But the centerpiece of the division is the 6 foot monster, Awesome Kong. Kong is a monster talent in Japan in the same vain as Monster Ripper and Aja Kong. This is simply put, a woman who can easily wrestle with the men. TNA put her over the top for me at the Turning Point PPV when I realized they book her better than WWE books Umaga. At the core they are the same character, a wild animal bent on destroying everything in their path en route to a title run. The difference is that TNA actually allows Kong to be an animal. She shrieks and roars while decimating the champ, the run in assistance and the officials. You believe in her as a dangerous beast that will not be stopped. She may be the best booked gimmick on cable television.
The only thing better than a worked shoot is a shoot shoot.
The other big highlight from the TNA PPV come courtesy of the Samoan Submission Machine, but for once, it isn't his in-ring performance that grabbed my attention. Instead, Joe grabbed a live mic and cut a sharp swath of hatred and respect through the TNA roster. As of this writing (its 1:30am) I'm not 100% sure what the story is. The crux of the angle is that Scott Hall no showed the event on the night he was scheduled to main event. This is somewhere in the area of 800% believable. I think I would have been more surprised had Scott actually showed up and performed clean and sober. Joe's promo was biting and unprofessional, even going so far as to dare an off screen agent to fire him. But this IS still wrestling and the cynic in me has to examine a few facts of the evening.
FACT: Moments before the match there was a backstage angle featuring Joe and Nash arguing over the possibility of a Hall no-show. Were this legit, I can't imagine TNA creative being quick enough to work out the details and shoot the angle.
FACT: Early in the night, Team Angle hatched a plan to break down Team Joe by planting a seed of doubt in the ole SSM's ear. Basically, Kurt explained how The Outsiders have screwed everyone they've ever worked with etc.
FACT: This is the big one. Joe's mic stayed live throughout his rant. Lets face it. If the guys in the truck are seriously worried about a shoot on live TV, they'd simply cut the audio feed. Instead Joe was allowed to complete his passionate tirade against the "Superstars" who come to TNA and reap the benefits of the hard work done by the REAL TNA lifers. It should also be noted that Joe neglected to mention AJ Styles in his list of TNA lifers that built the company even though AJ was standing only feet away from him. Obviously, this could be because Joe is feuding with Team Angle and wouldn't, in the context of the story, put over his sworn enemies.
The true facts of the angle will likely be out there by the time you read this but, I'm really into the story and need to vent about it while the ink is still wet. As I said before though, I love a good worked shoot almost as much as a real one. Either way, this is entertaining. Tune in to Impact on Thursday and, like me, check out the fallout from Turning Point.
(I am not an employee of TNA or any of its subsidiaries and am in no way obligated to put over the product, I'm just a fan of it.)
"HKB"
Saturday, December 1, 2007
I'm the only one without a blog
So I might as well get on the ball.
TiVo is the greatest invention ever. It has saved my wrestling fandom. I work second shift so I'm not always home when the shows are going on but I just TiVo it and BAM I have instant wrestling gratification.
The best part about TiVo is you can judge how quality a show is by seeing exactly how long it takes you to watch it.
For example SmackDown takes me 0 minutes to watch 2 hours. Because I don't TiVo it because it's terrible.
ECW takes 20 minutes for 1 hour worth of "entertainment" and it's teetering awfully close to the edge of not being TiVoed. But I enjoy Elijah Burke and now that Shelton Benjamin is there it gives me more reason to watch.
RAW takes around an hour or 40 minutes to watch a two hour show. Most of it is spent in fast forward only pausing when I see HBK, HHH, Y2J or some tag team action because the RAW tag teams aren't that horrible.
TNA usually takes around the full 2 hours. Why you ask? Because they make every match mean something. They keep their storylines going. They have SUPLEXES IN MATCHES! One of the worst things WWE ever did was ban all forms of suplex not known as VERTICAL. The matches are boring and lack a certain reality that a crisp belly to belly or german suplex brings to the table. TNA can take a fun little angle like a beer drinking contest and turn it into a bloody feud in a matter of seconds. It's better written. Now I'm not a full blown TNA mark though I am on my way.
I still hate the six sided ring and they have the worst announce team on TV presently. But in a marketplace that is so thin for good wrestling entertainment. TNA is definitely head and shoulders above the competition.
But I never would have known that if it wasn't for my TiVo.
TiVo is the greatest invention ever. It has saved my wrestling fandom. I work second shift so I'm not always home when the shows are going on but I just TiVo it and BAM I have instant wrestling gratification.
The best part about TiVo is you can judge how quality a show is by seeing exactly how long it takes you to watch it.
For example SmackDown takes me 0 minutes to watch 2 hours. Because I don't TiVo it because it's terrible.
ECW takes 20 minutes for 1 hour worth of "entertainment" and it's teetering awfully close to the edge of not being TiVoed. But I enjoy Elijah Burke and now that Shelton Benjamin is there it gives me more reason to watch.
RAW takes around an hour or 40 minutes to watch a two hour show. Most of it is spent in fast forward only pausing when I see HBK, HHH, Y2J or some tag team action because the RAW tag teams aren't that horrible.
TNA usually takes around the full 2 hours. Why you ask? Because they make every match mean something. They keep their storylines going. They have SUPLEXES IN MATCHES! One of the worst things WWE ever did was ban all forms of suplex not known as VERTICAL. The matches are boring and lack a certain reality that a crisp belly to belly or german suplex brings to the table. TNA can take a fun little angle like a beer drinking contest and turn it into a bloody feud in a matter of seconds. It's better written. Now I'm not a full blown TNA mark though I am on my way.
I still hate the six sided ring and they have the worst announce team on TV presently. But in a marketplace that is so thin for good wrestling entertainment. TNA is definitely head and shoulders above the competition.
But I never would have known that if it wasn't for my TiVo.
Friday, November 30, 2007
KYJ kinda sorta Saves_Us, the only Italian I like and a Widow.
Jericho is back. Notice that I didn’t follow that sentence with an exclamation point. There’s a reason for that. Now I’m not saying that I’m not full of joy for the return of one of the all-time greats. However, it was the presentation of this return that left a bad taste in my mouth. As The Merchandise previously mentioned, we were treated to months and months of teasers telling us that someone would Save_Us.222. Everyone’s initial reaction was “Jericho”. However, as time slowly passed that element of surprise was still there. There was that feeling that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t Jericho.
Rumors floated around that it was a way to debut The New Hart Foundation (then Teddy got fired, Harry did his dad’s gimmick and Nattie is just Nattie) or it could have been the debut of a brand new talent or the repackaging of a current talent. My personal favorite theory was that it was hyping the return of Bobby Lashley as a computer repair guy. That’s another story for another time though.
Eventually certain events coincided with Jericho’s eminent return. The “code” began to reveal more clues and Jericho’s book tour schedule left us wondering exactly when he’d return. In the end, Philly was left high and dry (ya know, something different) and Jericho’s return was more expected than surprising. Damn you WWE Magazine. Anyway, the delivery of his return was kind of disappointing. Jericho clotheslining the Torch Bearer ruined the anticipation for me. It also received no pop what-so-ever. Once his video hit, the fans got what they wanted. He was also thrown into an instant feud with WWE Champion Randy Orton for funsies.
All in all, I’m happy that Jericho is back, but curious as to where it’s going. He’s in a feud with a Champion that is receiving X-Pac Heat and he almost seems like a fish out of water. Chris Jericho in a wrestling ring should be a natural fit, but watching him work Santino on Monday night seemed a little awkward. Maybe it was the fans sitting on their hands or maybe it was how different Jericho looks with short hair. Can’t put my finger on it. I’m just very anxious to see how it all plays out. His mic skills have not missed a beat which I’m psyched about and it’s great to have a new veteran back in the locker room to help bring along a lot of talented young performers such as Santino Marella.
Speaking of Santino; How great is he?! This version of the Italian Wrestler leaves the FBI in the dust. I know I’ll probably get my head chewed off by ECW faithful for saying that, but oh well. I'll have to steal a l ine from James Guttman here and agree that Santino Marella is what Vince McMahon sees when he closes his eyes and thinks "Italian". I personally think he’s awesome and the guys mic work is the highlight of my Monday nights. I was skeptical of him as a babyface at first because let’s be honest, who likes Italians? The second they turned him heel, I knew there was a purpose for Santino’s existence. There have been many guys over the years who have been compared to The Rock when it comes to mic work, with John Cena (who I’m also a big fan of) being the closest, but I think Santino has what it takes to be a mentioned in the same breath. Maybe not just yet, but he’s certainly making the progress to have some longevity. Just as long as he doesn’t piss off the wrong people, order pharmaceuticals from the internet or die. With dead wrestlers being such a trend these past few years (a lot of which I may or may not have had something to do with), it brings me to the final topic…
Vickie Guerrero. Vickie, Vickie, Vickie. Like, I get it that Edge is the biggest man-whore the company has ever seen, but Jesus. Is nothing sacred anymore? I agree with a lot of the things that HKB said in his post. The only thing that I can put up a valid argument is the fact that apparently Eddie left his family with a tremendous amount of debt after he passed. I also like the idea of an Eddie Guerrero Memorial Tournament. They should do it before some indy promotion that Eddie never worked for has one. (Side Note: I dare any indy promotion to host a Chris Benoit Memorial Cup. Mark my words I’ll be the FIRST person calling about a booking if it happens. I don’t care where it is.) I guess I’m not surprised by the angle. Not that I watch Smackdown or anything, but if they recreate the Live Sex Show starring Edge and Vickie, I’ll be the first to tune in. It’s like they say, “Anything can happen in the WWE.”
- Winky Lexington
Rumors floated around that it was a way to debut The New Hart Foundation (then Teddy got fired, Harry did his dad’s gimmick and Nattie is just Nattie) or it could have been the debut of a brand new talent or the repackaging of a current talent. My personal favorite theory was that it was hyping the return of Bobby Lashley as a computer repair guy. That’s another story for another time though.
Eventually certain events coincided with Jericho’s eminent return. The “code” began to reveal more clues and Jericho’s book tour schedule left us wondering exactly when he’d return. In the end, Philly was left high and dry (ya know, something different) and Jericho’s return was more expected than surprising. Damn you WWE Magazine. Anyway, the delivery of his return was kind of disappointing. Jericho clotheslining the Torch Bearer ruined the anticipation for me. It also received no pop what-so-ever. Once his video hit, the fans got what they wanted. He was also thrown into an instant feud with WWE Champion Randy Orton for funsies.
All in all, I’m happy that Jericho is back, but curious as to where it’s going. He’s in a feud with a Champion that is receiving X-Pac Heat and he almost seems like a fish out of water. Chris Jericho in a wrestling ring should be a natural fit, but watching him work Santino on Monday night seemed a little awkward. Maybe it was the fans sitting on their hands or maybe it was how different Jericho looks with short hair. Can’t put my finger on it. I’m just very anxious to see how it all plays out. His mic skills have not missed a beat which I’m psyched about and it’s great to have a new veteran back in the locker room to help bring along a lot of talented young performers such as Santino Marella.
Speaking of Santino; How great is he?! This version of the Italian Wrestler leaves the FBI in the dust. I know I’ll probably get my head chewed off by ECW faithful for saying that, but oh well. I'll have to steal a l ine from James Guttman here and agree that Santino Marella is what Vince McMahon sees when he closes his eyes and thinks "Italian". I personally think he’s awesome and the guys mic work is the highlight of my Monday nights. I was skeptical of him as a babyface at first because let’s be honest, who likes Italians? The second they turned him heel, I knew there was a purpose for Santino’s existence. There have been many guys over the years who have been compared to The Rock when it comes to mic work, with John Cena (who I’m also a big fan of) being the closest, but I think Santino has what it takes to be a mentioned in the same breath. Maybe not just yet, but he’s certainly making the progress to have some longevity. Just as long as he doesn’t piss off the wrong people, order pharmaceuticals from the internet or die. With dead wrestlers being such a trend these past few years (a lot of which I may or may not have had something to do with), it brings me to the final topic…
Vickie Guerrero. Vickie, Vickie, Vickie. Like, I get it that Edge is the biggest man-whore the company has ever seen, but Jesus. Is nothing sacred anymore? I agree with a lot of the things that HKB said in his post. The only thing that I can put up a valid argument is the fact that apparently Eddie left his family with a tremendous amount of debt after he passed. I also like the idea of an Eddie Guerrero Memorial Tournament. They should do it before some indy promotion that Eddie never worked for has one. (Side Note: I dare any indy promotion to host a Chris Benoit Memorial Cup. Mark my words I’ll be the FIRST person calling about a booking if it happens. I don’t care where it is.) I guess I’m not surprised by the angle. Not that I watch Smackdown or anything, but if they recreate the Live Sex Show starring Edge and Vickie, I’ll be the first to tune in. It’s like they say, “Anything can happen in the WWE.”
- Winky Lexington
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Obligatory Vickie Guerrero post.
Vickie Guerrero.
What can I say on this subject that hasn't already been said? Truth be told, I'm not 100% sure where I come down on the issue. Let’s step back for a second and examine the situation.
Eddie is dead. There's no getting around this fact. Now I for one, feel it is appropriate for WWE to honor his memory to an extent. Think about it like those indy tournaments that spring up to honor other dead wrestlers. The prime example would be the Brian Pillman show that goes down every year. Why not an annual King of the Ring style tournament dubbed the Eddie Guerrero invitational something or other? That seems like an appropriate way to honor a man who, by all medical accounts, died of natural causes on the eve of his reclaiming the company's biggest title. But then again, isn't that exploitation? Aren't they just playing on the recognition of Eddie's name to sell tickets, concessions and PPV?
But then we look at the ACTUAL reaction to Eddie's death. First we get the feud between Mysterio and Chavo as to who loved Eddie more (or something ridiculously absurd). This all coming off the heels of the Eddie vs. Mysterio feud as to who was the real father of Rey's son. Then Vickie gets involved in the feud, eventually turning heel against Rey. NOW, Vickie Guerrero is the GM of Smackdown, making out with Edge on TV, screwing the Undertaker and Batista in favor of her new lover. Seriously? This is how WWE sees fit to honor the memory of a former World Champion? By whoring his widow all over national television?
Here is where it gets sticky for me though. Firstly, it’s not like Vickie is being forced into this angle. She can walk away anytime she wants to. If she is offended by the angle or feels cheapened by it, I'm sure Eddie left her more than enough money to get by on. Not to mention his family, that I'm sure would be willing to help her out. Vickie is obviously onboard with the angle and, while I find it tasteless and disrespectful, she doesn't see a problem with sucking face with the Rated R Superstar.
The second reason I have a hard time trashing Vince and company over this one is simply the fact that she's gainfully employed. If I died tomorrow, would my crappy job offer a position to my widow? Would yours? WWE stepped up and gave this woman a steady paycheck and an outlet to surround herself with family and friends (namely Chavo and Rey) in an industry she has no right to be in. Her skill set is far from that of a WWE performer. She isn't a trained wrestler, she isn't a convincing actress, and she's a frumpy middle aged woman with zero sex appeal. How can I criticize them for that? Sure the angle blows, but that’s just the nature of Smackdown. Everything on that show is awful. Hell, everything in the WWE not involving Chris Jericho or Triple H is almost completely unwatchable.
I guess what it comes down to is, as long as Edge doesn't do a repeat of the live sex show with this used up old whore, we've got no reason to get upset about it. But I swear to god, if I accidentally stumble onto WWE programming and see her sloppy tits flop out during some simulated orgy in the ring, I'm done with the company forever.
"HKB"
What can I say on this subject that hasn't already been said? Truth be told, I'm not 100% sure where I come down on the issue. Let’s step back for a second and examine the situation.
Eddie is dead. There's no getting around this fact. Now I for one, feel it is appropriate for WWE to honor his memory to an extent. Think about it like those indy tournaments that spring up to honor other dead wrestlers. The prime example would be the Brian Pillman show that goes down every year. Why not an annual King of the Ring style tournament dubbed the Eddie Guerrero invitational something or other? That seems like an appropriate way to honor a man who, by all medical accounts, died of natural causes on the eve of his reclaiming the company's biggest title. But then again, isn't that exploitation? Aren't they just playing on the recognition of Eddie's name to sell tickets, concessions and PPV?
But then we look at the ACTUAL reaction to Eddie's death. First we get the feud between Mysterio and Chavo as to who loved Eddie more (or something ridiculously absurd). This all coming off the heels of the Eddie vs. Mysterio feud as to who was the real father of Rey's son. Then Vickie gets involved in the feud, eventually turning heel against Rey. NOW, Vickie Guerrero is the GM of Smackdown, making out with Edge on TV, screwing the Undertaker and Batista in favor of her new lover. Seriously? This is how WWE sees fit to honor the memory of a former World Champion? By whoring his widow all over national television?
Here is where it gets sticky for me though. Firstly, it’s not like Vickie is being forced into this angle. She can walk away anytime she wants to. If she is offended by the angle or feels cheapened by it, I'm sure Eddie left her more than enough money to get by on. Not to mention his family, that I'm sure would be willing to help her out. Vickie is obviously onboard with the angle and, while I find it tasteless and disrespectful, she doesn't see a problem with sucking face with the Rated R Superstar.
The second reason I have a hard time trashing Vince and company over this one is simply the fact that she's gainfully employed. If I died tomorrow, would my crappy job offer a position to my widow? Would yours? WWE stepped up and gave this woman a steady paycheck and an outlet to surround herself with family and friends (namely Chavo and Rey) in an industry she has no right to be in. Her skill set is far from that of a WWE performer. She isn't a trained wrestler, she isn't a convincing actress, and she's a frumpy middle aged woman with zero sex appeal. How can I criticize them for that? Sure the angle blows, but that’s just the nature of Smackdown. Everything on that show is awful. Hell, everything in the WWE not involving Chris Jericho or Triple H is almost completely unwatchable.
I guess what it comes down to is, as long as Edge doesn't do a repeat of the live sex show with this used up old whore, we've got no reason to get upset about it. But I swear to god, if I accidentally stumble onto WWE programming and see her sloppy tits flop out during some simulated orgy in the ring, I'm done with the company forever.
"HKB"
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
My Dissapointing Raw Adventure
So.. Welcome.. About a month ago...to the day... My friends invited me to WWE Raw. Now, while I don't watch regularly, I continue to follow closely online. Nevertheless, I agreed to go. For one reason and one reason only. I was sure that Chris Jericho was to be returning. We even went so far as to order the Cyber Sunday PPV the night before. Ensuring my initial feelings that Y2J would be making his return there, if he didn't later that night. He had a book signing in Philadelphia that afternoon, mere hours before Raw. I was sure! Beyond a shadow of a doubt. I was going to witness the return of one my top ten favorite wrestlers of all time!!
Monday afternoon rolls around. And I go to do what any normal fan would do before any wrestling event (or baseball event, or football, youth league soccer, etc). We get to the beer distributor..and it is closed!! (Surely, a sign of things to come) Luckily, there is a liquor store right next to it, which is still open. Now, we all can drink the same beer and have a good time. However, the group that went had vastly different tastes in liquor. So rather than compromising, to each went his own. And, in a liquor store, you cant get the little personal bottle...for the money it's just not worth it. I planned on bringing home whatever it was that I didn't drink.
Beautiful FDR park. We meet the rest of our group and proceed to not only park for free but tailgate for the two hours we have left before raw starts. So, before you know it, my bottle of rum is somehow empty. And it is time for us to go. Not before a brief visit to the trunk of a car to partake in more activities in an effort to enhance what was sure to be, Jericho notwithstanding, a lackluster show.
So we get inside and go to our seats, which were actually closer to the ceiling than the rafters of which Owen Hart eventually fell to his death from. We sat through Heat, which featured Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and us repeatedly yelling, "Hoooo." And several other meaningless garbage matches, some of which may or may not have involved Snitsky. After another beer or two, which somehow found its way to me instead of the food I so desperately craved. There it was!! On the Titan Tron. Less than halfway through Raw(I think). The SAVEUS.222 Video!! It was about to happen!! Y2J! Y2J! Y2J! But then..it ended. And some wrestler who wasn't Y2J came out to his regular music and the show went on. Now, at this point, I lost it. This is where the story suffers slightly, as there is no real way to document the exact series of events.
Not having a real grip on reality at the time anway. I decided not to sit through the rest of the, sure to be god awful, show. Rather than sit with my friends and watch another hour plus of WWE Superstars, I simply got up and left. Surely, muttering under and over my breath a mix of incoherent curse words and the letters Y2J. I eventually found myself back at FDR park. It was a chilly fall night. I (read: my body) decided to take a little nap (read: pass out next to my buddy's car).
About an hour or so later. My friends returned. Sure enough, I did not miss a thing. A midget wrestled a real person. Another Diva's costume match (Post Script. The night before, I believe Torrie was wearing a Sean Taylor Jersey at the PPV in DC. Ironic, simply because I would love to shoot her in the crotch...) Mick Foley came out of retirement. DX agreed to reform (Next week), Stone Cold announced he was returning to raw (Next week), and we were basically left with very little in the way of action or storyline.
So, I left, cold, defeated, hungry, with some strange substance resembling vomit on my shoes and jacket. In the ultimate ending to this story, I decided to sleep at a friends house rather than attempt driving home. I left my keys in his car and he left early the next morning for work. I was for all essential purposes stranded. Which wouldnt have been awful, except for the only thing in his fridge was a year old box of saltwater taffys and an empty pepsi box...
This is what happens when you mix me taking wrestling too seriously and being a supermark at times with my raging alcohol abuse. I reccomend neither.
So, the moral of the story, everybody.
Support your local Indy wrestling!!!
-The Merchandise
Monday afternoon rolls around. And I go to do what any normal fan would do before any wrestling event (or baseball event, or football, youth league soccer, etc). We get to the beer distributor..and it is closed!! (Surely, a sign of things to come) Luckily, there is a liquor store right next to it, which is still open. Now, we all can drink the same beer and have a good time. However, the group that went had vastly different tastes in liquor. So rather than compromising, to each went his own. And, in a liquor store, you cant get the little personal bottle...for the money it's just not worth it. I planned on bringing home whatever it was that I didn't drink.
Beautiful FDR park. We meet the rest of our group and proceed to not only park for free but tailgate for the two hours we have left before raw starts. So, before you know it, my bottle of rum is somehow empty. And it is time for us to go. Not before a brief visit to the trunk of a car to partake in more activities in an effort to enhance what was sure to be, Jericho notwithstanding, a lackluster show.
So we get inside and go to our seats, which were actually closer to the ceiling than the rafters of which Owen Hart eventually fell to his death from. We sat through Heat, which featured Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and us repeatedly yelling, "Hoooo." And several other meaningless garbage matches, some of which may or may not have involved Snitsky. After another beer or two, which somehow found its way to me instead of the food I so desperately craved. There it was!! On the Titan Tron. Less than halfway through Raw(I think). The SAVEUS.222 Video!! It was about to happen!! Y2J! Y2J! Y2J! But then..it ended. And some wrestler who wasn't Y2J came out to his regular music and the show went on. Now, at this point, I lost it. This is where the story suffers slightly, as there is no real way to document the exact series of events.
Not having a real grip on reality at the time anway. I decided not to sit through the rest of the, sure to be god awful, show. Rather than sit with my friends and watch another hour plus of WWE Superstars, I simply got up and left. Surely, muttering under and over my breath a mix of incoherent curse words and the letters Y2J. I eventually found myself back at FDR park. It was a chilly fall night. I (read: my body) decided to take a little nap (read: pass out next to my buddy's car).
About an hour or so later. My friends returned. Sure enough, I did not miss a thing. A midget wrestled a real person. Another Diva's costume match (Post Script. The night before, I believe Torrie was wearing a Sean Taylor Jersey at the PPV in DC. Ironic, simply because I would love to shoot her in the crotch...) Mick Foley came out of retirement. DX agreed to reform (Next week), Stone Cold announced he was returning to raw (Next week), and we were basically left with very little in the way of action or storyline.
So, I left, cold, defeated, hungry, with some strange substance resembling vomit on my shoes and jacket. In the ultimate ending to this story, I decided to sleep at a friends house rather than attempt driving home. I left my keys in his car and he left early the next morning for work. I was for all essential purposes stranded. Which wouldnt have been awful, except for the only thing in his fridge was a year old box of saltwater taffys and an empty pepsi box...
This is what happens when you mix me taking wrestling too seriously and being a supermark at times with my raging alcohol abuse. I reccomend neither.
So, the moral of the story, everybody.
Support your local Indy wrestling!!!
-The Merchandise
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