The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: 07.03.09
Posted by John Meehan on 07.03.2009
Fifteen WWE Superstars celebrate their independence by joining a new roster. But how will they fare?
Hey folks, and welcome back to the regularly scheduled Friday FreeThinks. I'd like to start this week's column off a bit differently than usual, because -- in a monumental and exclusive story -- I have the honor of announcing one of the biggest news items EVER in the history of 411mania.
It's no secret that this "little 'rasslin site that could" has grown by leaps and bounds in the past several years. In recent weeks, 411mania has been mentioned BY NAME by former WWE and TNA Heavyweight Champion Mick Foley, linked to by Unk (one of Hollywood's most influential screenwriting bloggers), and has even received mainstream attention thanks to "The King of All Media" himself, Howard Stern.
As such, we've been able to parlay this crossover mainstream attention into a great deal of success and notoriety within our limited sphere of these world wide webs. And as a result, due to a blockbuster agreement instigated last week by none other than 411 site owner Ashish Pabari himself, fifteen of your favorite web personalities will be leaving this site and/or joining the elite family of 411 writers starting with next Monday's issue of the Wrestling News Experience.
The trades include:
John Haley - former writer of "The Little Things" for 411mania and InsidePulse wrestling.com. Fresh off of a four-year retirement, Haley returns to the 411mania family and will assume future writing duties for the immensely popular Hidden Highlights column he helped to inspire.
Bill Simmons - Longtime sports columnist on ESPN Page 2. Simmons is one of the most widely read and oft-quoted sports journalists in the industry today. He steps in for Steven Randle starting with Monday's Wrestling News Experience.
Dave Meltzer - Wrestling Observer know-it-all. Ever polarizing though his opinions may be, Meltzer has established himself as a pioneer in internet wrestling journalism. Meltzer will bring his ***** wrestling knowledge to the role formerly held by Matt Sforcina at the helm of Ask 411Wrestling.
Jim Cramer - CNBC finance guru. This excitable and animated host of "Mad Money" has changed the way that Americans think about news with a financial twist. Cramer will henceforth be replacing JP prag as the author of The Hamilton Avenue Journal here on 411mania.com
Perez Hilton - Hollywood blogger. Loud, proud and flamboyant as they come, Hilton's "gossip rag" style has made a splash in the world of internet journalism. He will take the reigns from Jeff Small and bring his celebrity-obsessed insight to the Tuesday Small-for-All.
On behalf of the 411mania.com staff, I welcome my new colleagues and look forward to working with them in the days to come. As for those who are outbound, I wish them nothing but my personal best, and I look forward to reading more of their continued success in their future endeavors.
Except for Small.
That guy's a total douche.
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WHAMMY!
Oh right, wrestling news --
The SELL of the week goes to Mark Henry, who practically managed to demonstrate more personality with one big smile and a wag of the finger in the main event of Monday night's RAW than he has in the 13 or so years since he first signed with the company. Henry had a tall task ahead of him in winning the RAW crowd on over to his newly debuting babyface act, and his simple teased walkout on Monday night's broadcast was a tremendously effective way to get the fans to forget that we'd been booing the holy hell out of the poor guy for well over a decade. So good work to the big man. And major kudos on a job well done.
The TELL of the week goes to Triple H, who intermittently seemed to have forgotten that his knee was supposed to be "seriously injured" during his Three Stages of Hell Match against Randy Orton at The Bash this past Sunday night. That's the second week in a row that The Game has failed to sell the injury that was supposed to be the one thing standing between himself and the WWE Heavyweight Championship (well, that and those pesky Legacy hangers-on, of course). You think that he might remember such a thing.
The Debuts New and/or newly returning performers or events of the past week.
Oliver John - local talent Oliver John made his ECW debut this week in a losing effort to fellow ECW newcomer Sheamus. John's appearance was a one-time deal, and he is not believed to have signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Tyler Reks - this dreadlocked Californian made his debut in a backstage skit with Zack Ryder on Tuesday night's ECW broadcast, and wrestled the Lond Island loudmouth on WWE Superstars later in the week. Reks (a.k.a. Gabriel Tuft) has only been wrestling since 2007, but was signed to a WWE developmental contract less than one year after his professional debut (make of that what you will).
Yoshi Tatsu - former New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Yoshi Tatsu (a.k.a. Naofumi Yamamoto) made his debut on ECW programming this week in a winning effort against Shelton Benjamin. Yoshi has been working in Florida Championship Wrestling since last year, and was signed by World Wrestling Entertainment with much fanfare (it was even mentioned in an AP article!) due to the fact that WWE is looking to expand its global horizons by acquiring a wrestler from Japan.
Sheamus - fellow ECW newcomer Sheamus (a.k.a. Sheamus O'Shaunessy, a.k.a. Stephen Farrelly) made his debut on Tuesday night, picking up a win against local talent Oliver John. Sheamus has likwise been working for WWE's developmental program in Florida Championship Wrestling, where he spent some time as the promotion's champion. And in an interesting aside, the man he beat to win that title was none other than recent ECW breakout star Jake Hagar (a.k.a Jack Swagger).
Abraham Washington - ECW viewers were "treated" to the main roster debut of "The Abraham Washington Show" on Tuesday night, featuring the first WWE appearance of Abraham Washington. Washington (a.k.a. Brian Josie) had attracted a fair amount of publicity late in 2008, when he was signed to a WWE developmental contract by John Laurinaitis. He had previously wrestled under the names "Abraham Saddam Washington" and "Abraham Obama Washington" using a Barack Obama-like gimmick, calling himself "The First Black President of Professional Wrestling."
The Departures Obituaries, retirements, and/or performers whose contracts have ended this week.
None - In a welcome development, there are no obituaries, retirements, or contract terminations to report in the past seven days' time.
The Disabled List Performers injured or suspended in the past week.
None - In further good news, there are no new injuries to report this week (though Chris Jericho and Edge are both believed to be nursing some nagging injuries, respectively, which could help to explain their recent move to the tag team ranks).
The Doghouse Performers that have landed in hot water over the past week.
None - Good news appears to come in threes (not unlike celebrity obituaries, really), as no performers have landed in the doghouse this week.
The Drama Developing scandals, scuttlebutt, and budding backstage rumors.
None - Aside from an uncredited report that several WWE performers were reportedly upset when they learned of the per-appearance pay rate that WWE had been providing to Vicki Guerrero prior to her departure from the company last month (a staggeringly low $500 per show -- though this number was unconfirmed, and additional reports noted that WWE did cover all final expenses for Eddie Guerreroand may also have set up some sort of trust fund for his children), there have been no major scandals over the past seven days.
The Developments Recaps and thoughts on the major onscreen happenings of the past week.
Obviously the biggest story of the past week was the "blockbuster announcement" that fifteen WWE stars would be finding themselves on a new roster thanks to a three-branded trade instigated (in kayfabe terms) by former RAW owner Donald Trump. Here's the skinny on each of the performers, and MeeThinks on why each of these moves could turn out to be a great decision in the long haul:
RAW Evan Bourne - Let's face it: Evan Bourne is immensely talented in the ring, and undeniably lacking behind the microphone. Though he's not "actively BAD" by any means, he still hasn't done anything to distinguish himself from every other "generic babyface promo" that a WWE audience has been seeing since the heyday of Saturday Night's Main Event (but then again, he's only been on the main roster for 13 months, and five of those were spent on the injured reserve list). Still, the fact remains that "generic babyface who jumps around a lot" probably won't be enough to sustain him, as RAW has *always* been more "character"-driven than wrestling-driven (see: Steve Austin, dX, The Rock, The Ministry of Darkness, etc.), and it is just as fondly remembered for performers *out of ring* gimmicks as it is for the bouts that actually happen to be contested inside of the confines of the squared circle. The "larger than life" RAW atmosphere will challenge Evan Bourne to broaden his appeal to extend beyond that of a sensational (if perhaps one-dimensional) high flyer. He is a great professional wrestler, without question -- but RAW has the opportunity to make him into a great all-around performer to boot.
Jack Swagger - Unquestionably, the breakout star of ECW in 2008 was The All American American, Jack Swagger. Funny thing is? The guy didn't even make his debut for the company until September! Since arriving in the ECW ranks, Swagger has become a veritable mainstay in the title contention ranks, and his move to RAW gives him the chance to showcase his skills on WWE's biggest weekly stage. While the move will undoubtedly slide him farther away from the main event picture than he was otherwise accustomed to in the Land of Extreme, Swagger really seems to have all of the tools necessary for a tremendously lengthy and bright future in the years to come. As such, it's hardly the worst thing in the world to see a guy with ONLY TEN MONTHS worth of main roster experience cycled a bit lower down the card for a bit in order to ensure his staying power before throwing him back into the title "Flagship" roster's hunt.
Mark Henry - By all accounts, Mark Henry is a big, lovable baby outside of the ring -- he reads novels, he writes poetry, and cries openly when fellow competitors retire or pass away. In the ring, however, Henry has been saddled with a no-nonsense wig splittin' badass persona, which while incredibly believable (the guy IS like 400 pounds, ya' know), is still quite a different side of Mark Henry than the one the guy seems to be most comfortable in displaying on an everyday basis.
After a 13 year stint where he's almost *always* been forced to work a "big nasty heel" role to the best of his (admittedly limited) ability, it seems like a great idea to mix up the Monday night dynamic by letting The World's Strongest Man try his hand at a more familiar "loveable giant" role instead. He might not be Andre the Giant, but he could definitely serve as a solid upper-midcard babyface roadblock in order to help the red brand's up-and-coming heels (Big Show, Miz) look like they're actually earning it as they make their way up the ranks.
Alicia Fox - Alicia Fox has pretty much been relegated to second-tier Diva status over on Smackdown!, and so a move to RAW really seems to be in her best interest. She's by no means a ring genaral, of course. But plenty of the red brand's new (and familiar) faces are hurting for onscreen female companionship (heck, I don't think that there's a single RAW performer who actually comes to the ring with a Diva by his side on a regular basis). As a result, Alicia could easily be paired off with a midcard superstar on either end of the heel or babyface spectrum in order to give the RAW audience something they haven't regularly seen since the ill-fated pairing of William Regal and Layla. Alicia won't be a title threat any time soon, of course (if ever), but she could prove to be a strong ringside addition to the roster nonetheless.
Gail Kim - There is really nothing bad that could possibly come of WWE moving Gail Kim from Smackdown! (where she has done absolutely ZERO since returning) on over to RAW (where she stands to make an immediate impact). It's been a poorly kept secret ever since Gail's (re)debut that WWE only hired her away from TNA to hurt the competition instead of bolster their own ranks by using her in any real or meaningful fashion, and now is the company's best opportunity to right the wrongs of the past five months' time by throwing a "new and improved" Gail Kim right back into the thick of the brand with what is clearly shaping up to be the stronger of their two female rosters. Even on paper alone, Gail versus Maryce, and Gail versus Mickie James are infinitely more appealing than Gail versus (dull-as-dishwater babyface) Melina and Gail versus (guaranteed-to-win) Michelle McCool.
ECW Shelton Benjamin - Thanks to a slew of great matches with The Undertaker, John Morrison, and (yes) R-Truth, The Gold Standard has most definitely been living up to his name on Friday nights. Unfortunately for Shelton, he has also ended up on the LOSING end of each of these skirmishes more often than not. A move to ECW puts him in a strong position to change all of that, as he now finds himself on a roster that's replete with young talent where his (real and kayfabe) "seniority" should provide him with a sudden and distinct advantage.
What's more, Shelton's character has recently taken on an even more pronouncedly smug and self-important approach (his burial promo of R-Truth on last week's Smackdown would have been flat out racism had he been a white performer), and there's really no denying that the blue brand has already filled its quota for "condescending asshole" bad guys in the person of Chris Jericho. Shelton's career has stutter-stepped along for years now, but his latest gimmick has clicked to the point where he is easily AS good in the ring (if not *better*) AND on the mic as any of the performers that ECW might have lost in this fifteen star shakeup. Now's his chance to prove it.
Goldust - the bizzare one is kind of a harmless acquisition no matter how you slice it. Regardless of which brand he's assigned to, Goldust isn't really the type of guy that folks are going to pay to see because he's a great "wrestler." What he DOES bring to the table, however, is an out-and-out willingness to take whatever gimmick he's been given and run with it to the fullest extent of his abilities -- even if it's something as whacked-out as a midget-friendly Hollywood-obsessed pseudo-flamer with intermittent bouts of Tourettes (yes, this really is Goldy's gimmick). As a result, he can really help teach the ECW newcomers a heck of a lot when it comes to developing a unique and marketable character unto themselves. In short, he's pretty much the "gimmick 101" equivalent of an in-ring Finlay or William Regal.
William Regal - speaking of William Regal, WWE's resident Englishman now finds himself as the latest in a long line of "old hand" performers to pass through the ECW ranks in the role of a player-coach like veteran instructor (think Finlay and Benoit before him). Heck, some might even argue that William Regal is even a *better* choice to teach young performers than either of his predecessors (but that's an argument for another day).
Regardless, Regal is a great hand in the ring, and he has done tremendous work with young talent to help them find their way around a WWE ring in the past. Plus he's learned the consequences of WWE's Wellness Initiative the hard way, and his first-hand experience of substance abuse could really prove invaluable in teaching the next generation of performers about a lot more than a wristlock. What's more, Regal has never once worn a top belt while in WWE, and the relative dearth of credible top-level challengers for the ECW Championship has got to lead one to believe that a title run with the big gold silver belt could well be in his future. In short, he is as good or BETTER than *any* of the performers that were traded away from ECW in this latest shakeup, and he should have no trouble fitting in nicely at the top of the card as a result.
Brie and Nikki Bella - The greatest appeal of the Bella twins is also the girls' biggest inherent problem; the whole "twins" gimmick is really all that the ladies have going for them. As a result? They become interchangable in a hurry, and fans have little reason to care about either one independent of the other. But were they to split up, the one-dimensional nature of their gimmick would be exposed almost immediately, and fans would have even LESS reason to care about "nameless brunette number one" so long as she really wasn't all that much different from "nameless brunette number two."
A classic Catch 22. As such, they're always going to be stuck on the same roster.
That said, the Bella twins were all but wasted on Monday night RAW, and so on paper it's pretty hard to deny that their move to ECW seems pretty lateral, at best. But then again, ECW isn't exactly known for its teeming hordes of female talent, and so moving the girls to The Land of Extreme could be a great way to give them each the chance to shine as the resident "big fish" in the smallest of WWE's three main ponds. It's not the biggest move of the trade, of course, but it's easily in the best interest of all parties involves.
Smackdown! Matt Hardy - Matt Hardy may not die, but he also can't seem to catch much of a break when it comes to staying healthy these days. First a busted up hand and now a second major injury to his abdomen, Hardy's once meteoric rise toward main-event heeldom (on the heels of WrestleMania 25) has quickly reverted to "just another bad guy" face in the crowd status as he struggles to keep his face on television. This latest trade gives WWE (and Matt Hardy) a chance to push the reset button and change all of that in an instant. With Shelton now on ECW and the blue brand's other two top-level-heels currently tied up with the unified tag team titles, the timing seems to be right for Matt Hardy to take his place as a serious threat to the upper main-event picture, which could result in a feud with Rey Mysterio and a chance to claim the Intercontinental Championship before all is said and done. For Matt Hardy and for fans who are still looking to see the conclusion of the Matt and Jeff saga, this is a GREAT move.
Finlay - Many folks are upset that Finlay has been moved away from ECW simply because he seemed so very close to FINALLY picking up his first ever run with one of WWE's "top" titles (even if it was only the ECW Championship). To them, I'd ask the following question: "should a company's top title be awarded to a performer simply because he's been around for a really, really long amount of time?" My gut tells me "no," because this is precisely the same crop of people who whined when Kane (ever the company man) won ECW gold, as did Chavo Guerrero (el jobberito for life) before him and Mark Henry ("Affirmative Action" my ass!) shortly thereafter.
In other words -- you shouldn't "earn" a belt simply by sticking around long enough to try the thing on for a while. You EARN a belt by being a quality performer with a compelling storyline that fans will be willing to PAY GOOD MONEY to see come to fruition. That's why Tommy Dreamer's current stint as ECW Champion is actually kind of intriguing, really -- because he's the lifelong jobber who finally got a chance to fulfill the dream of wearing the gold of the company he had (nominally) helped to found in the first place.
Look, I like Finlay. As a professional wrestler, he's one of my favorites, actually. But the bottom line is that as a CHARACTER, WWE management hasn't really had any clear direction for the guy since WrestleMania 24. This does not a World Champion make. One week he's an ass-kicker, and the next he's a sideshow comedy act. He rarely (if ever!) wins a PPV match, and he comes to the ring to cartoonish lepruchaun music no matter which end of the "friendly or fighter" role he's supposed to be playing.
If Finlay is to stand any chance of success, then WWE will need to pick a direction with him and run with it. Hopefully, his move to Smackdown! will be enough to leave all of that wishy-washy baggage of his in the background (seriously now, he's had more "what's my motivation?" changes than Kane!), which is his best shot of reinventing his character and moving in one clear direction before it is too late.
"The Hart Dynasty" (David Hart Smith, Tyson Kidd and Natalya Neidhart) - The Hart kids are headed to Smackdown!, and most fans couldn't be happier. I'm hard-pressed to disagree with this perspective, really -- as a stable that consists of so much as THREE members is pretty much an insurmountable power block when you've got them stranded on a roster that barely contains a dozen regular performers the way it is.
The biggest gripe that many have expressed about the Hart Dynasty moving to Smackdown!, however (as was the case with Jack Swagger and Evan Bourne) is that the ECW roster "was raped once again" as it lost virtually all of it's top-level stars and received very little in return.
Here's the problem with that line of reasoning --
These five "top level stars" of ECW share between them a combined THREE YEARS (yes, just three years) worth of main roster experience. Don't believe Mee? Take a look:
Evan Bourne - debut 6/3/08. injured 10/28/08, redebuted 3/17/09.
Total ACTIVE main roster experience: SEVEN months.
Jack Swagger - debut 9/9/08.
Total active main roster experience: NINE months.
Tyson Kidd - debut 2/10/09
Total active main roster experience: FIVE months.
Natalya Neidhart: debut 4/4/08
Total active main roster experience: FIFTEEN MONTHS.
DH Smith: (re)debut 5/12/09 *
Total active main roster experience: TWO MONTHS.
*(Smith was previously part of RAW and SD! rosters, but was kept mostly in dark matches through 2008)
Total active main roster experience (as regular characters, minus injury/suspension): THREE YEARS and TWO MONTHS.
While ECW certainly lost a number of high profile talents, there is absolutely no arguing that they did not lose anywhere NEAR the level of experience that they gained in this latest round of roster reshufflings. What's even more important is that these "raped" and stolen stars each had barely so much as a year's worth of experience to their respective credit. As a result, it's kind of hard to argue that ECW hasn't been successful in churning out credible main-event caliber performers in short order over the past 365 days.
In other words?
ECW's not being raped, it's being used PRECISELY for the purpose that WWE has intended for it all along. Namely? It's not designed to be a boffo ratings machine unto itself (notice that WWE saves all the big stunts for RAW? There you go) -- it's a "developmental territory with a television deal" (as Linda McMahon has said in not so many words in past conference calls) -- a breeding ground for new stars.
The fact that people are complaining that ECW was "raped" of its star power despite the fact that these quote-unquote "stars" have barely 38 months of main roster experience between them tells us that ECW is DOING IT's JOB: it's churning out new stars and sending them off to ply their trade on grander stages than the Land of Extreme. In short? This is a great sign that the brand will continue to make all sorts of new stars in the coming year's time.
So get over it, alright?
And With That, I'm Outta' Here
That does it for Mee this week. Enjoy the fireworks and barbeque this weekend if you're a proud resident of these Great United States like myself. But even if you're not livin' in America, have a great weekend and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday in whatever way you care to observe it no matter where you are (Brits: be happy that we split off. With our economy being what it is, you're much better off without us). 'Till next time, have a great weekend, and always stay positive!
Me thinks the trades are good, and that Benoit was criminally left off of the WCW DVD.
Me thinks WWE needs to start acknowledging him.
Posted By: Trades are good (Guest) on July 02, 2009 at 11:36 PM
What a surprise Meehan loves the trades. Why don't you just post one sentence "I love everything the WWE does" and call it a day.
The only one who benefits on RAW from the trade is Swagger, and that is only if he gets treated as a serious threat. Mark Henry has lost consistently for years, how is he supposed to be treated seriously. The Hart Dynasty is no where near ready to be on the main two shows. They jobbed out to Cryme Time this week! You talk about wastes of space. The rest is just jobbers switching brands.
What WWE needs to do is unify all the titles like the tag straps and have those be the only performers who can go from show to show. That way maybe the trades and draft will actually matter.
The real loser in the trades...Christian
Posted By: Willie D (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 12:11 AM
"Perez Hilton - Hollywood blogger. Loud, proud and flamboyant as they come, Hilton's "gossip rag" style has made a splash in the world of internet journalism. He will take the reigns from Jeff Small and bring his celebrity-obsessed insight to the Tuesday Small-for-All."
Ha! Oh man, when I first read that I actually thought you were serious.
You......you are joking, right?
Posted By: Thay guy (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Bill Simmons? That guy isn't fit to carry my suitcase.
Posted By: Stephen Randle (Registered) on July 03, 2009 at 12:47 AM
all those "celebrities" are only going to make this site crappy. Sorry, but i actually enjoy hearing the opinions of regular people, not some prick from msnbc.
Are you saying those who got replaced just got kicked and just for those who wanted to take their spots? Sorry, not buying it and not happy with it at all.
Posted By: Guest#3976 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 12:56 AM
I don't think the lack of main roster experience will hinder the quality of matches you will see on Raw or Smackdown. Most of the "developing" ECW stars are much better and definitely more entertaining than the "marketable" main event wrestlers eg. Orton, Legacy, Khali, and even HHH.
Posted By: Juan (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:02 AM
Me thinks WWE needs to start acknowledging him.
SERIOUSLY--- in an ocean of talented wrestlers... let's all lobby for the child-killing douche to be recognized, sure he was always talented & introverted, sure he had people to talk to, sure, he beat his wife, sure, he strangled his child but let's all "acknowledge" him... left off a fuckin' DVD--- THAT'S CRIMINAL!!!--
Listen up, Fuck-nut... you could see him bein left off the DVD because he dumped the title in the trash on his way out the door to the WWE...whatever soothes your goth, emo, anti-establishment justification for actually bitchin that piece of shit isn't around for generations to come...
my kids will be fine bein fans of wrestling & never knowin that loser's name... why you think it's important he be celebrated is utter stupidity.
Posted By: BlueOyster (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:49 AM
What WWE needs to do is unify all the titles like the tag straps and have those be the only performers who can go from show to show. That way maybe the trades and draft will actually matter.
The real loser in the trades...Christian
by WILLIE D!!!
so you want 30 minute HHH promos on all WWE shows... check
so you want recaps of HHH's beef with heel of the month... build to PPV....check...
Christian, a silly goof in a t-shirt that struts like he has muscles is the real loser in all this.. check...
Hart Dynasty not ready for Smackdown,... Mark Henry "supposed to be taken seriously"... the rest jobbers...
WOW, wrestling shows must suck on your planet, huh?
Posted By: BlueOyster (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:56 AM
i forgot chavo was a former ecw champ.is said they jobbed the hell outta him.would of thought he would at least be an ic or us champ by now.
Posted By: Guest#2371 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:57 AM
Mark Henry looked beastly on Monday. Dude is huge and scary. The Big Show is huge too, but Mark Henry is even scarier because he looks like he could destroy a tank, literally. I think you're on to something with him being a face. To be honest though I'm surprised he is still with the WWE, I can't believe he has never been cut all this time.
Swagger could be in title contention even sooner than you think. Vince loves big men, and he loves wrestlers. Swagger has the look, size and wrestling style Vince loves, so he very well might get pushed to the moon. And I think on RAW, he might as well. All the other main eventers on RAW have been pretty bad thus far. Cena-Swagger could be a good feud.
Posted By: Guest#8304 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 02:09 AM
all those "celebrities" are only going to make this site crappy. Sorry, but i actually enjoy hearing the opinions of regular people, not some prick from msnbc.
Are you saying those who got replaced just got kicked and just for those who wanted to take their spots? Sorry, not buying it and not happy with it at all.
Posted By: Guest#3976 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Wow, I didnt think anyone would be so stupid to believe the obvious joke in the beginning of this article.
Posted By: William (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 02:26 AM
all those "celebrities" are only going to make this site crappy. Sorry, but i actually enjoy hearing the opinions of regular people, not some prick from msnbc.
Are you saying those who got replaced just got kicked and just for those who wanted to take their spots? Sorry, not buying it and not happy with it at all.
Posted By: Guest#3976 (Guest)
I'm in total agreement here. Jim Cramer is Jon Stewarts bitch. Perez Hilton is a fucking joke.
Posted By: paco smith (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 03:37 AM
from a PR standpoint why would WWE mention Benoit? There is no popular support for him. Nobody is going to buy the DVD because they include him (or if extra people will the bad PR will nullify those purchases). They are a publicly traded company focusing on a younger demographic. Why would they want to promote a murderer? Get a grip!
Posted By: cpbasil (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 03:49 AM
Bill Simmons? That guy isn't fit to carry my suitcase.
Posted By: Stephen Randle (Registered) on July 03, 2009 at 12:47 AM
Are you serious??? No offense, I enjoy reading your stuff, but his list of accomplishments/achievements is MUCH longer than yours.
Posted By: Guest#4047 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 08:51 AM
I was really hoping for Sean Shannon joining 411mania to be mentioned in the trade.
Posted By: stevethegoose (Registered) on July 03, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Meehan, your work as of late has been great.
Your points are well thought out and you have obviously done research.
And to think that you actually fooled some of these goobers cracks me up.
Well done sir!
Posted By: Polish Post (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 11:09 AM
"Unquestionably, the breakout star of ECW in 2008 was The All American American, Jack Swagger."
No, Evan Bourne was the breakout star of ECW in 2008 as he was over on arrival. Swagger has surpassed Bourne in this year so far by winning the ECW title, but for last year Bourne was the breakout star.
"There is really nothing bad that could possibly come of WWE moving Gail Kim from Smackdown!"
Wrong, Gail could be very easily buried on RAW just like she was on Smackdown making it even worse. I don't want it to happen, I just see it happening. Gail should have stayed on Smackdown to get a few wins back against McCool and won the women's belt which actually means something and doesn't look like total crap, but now instead of that she's leaving the show looking weak.
"now is the company's best opportunity to right the wrongs of the past five months' time by throwing a "new and improved" Gail Kim right back into the thick of the brand with what is clearly shaping up to be the stronger of their two female rosters. Even on paper alone, Gail versus Maryce, and Gail versus Mickie James are infinitely more appealing than Gail versus (dull-as-dishwater babyface) Melina and Gail versus (guaranteed-to-win) Michelle McCool."
Both women's rosters are in a terrible state, both with two dreadful champions and not enough decent women between them for a full roster. Gail's trade makes this worse, not better. The WWE should have traded Mickie, Beth, Natalya, and Katie Lea to Smackdown to create a show with a credible women's division while leaving RAW and ECW as the dumping ground for divas like Maria, Maryse and Layla. As for your comparisons Smackdown would be better as while Gail vs Mickie and Gail vs Melina would be equally as good Gail vs Michelle McCool would be just a little bit better than Gail vs Maryse as McCool is average in the ring and Maryse is flat-out terrible. As for Melina, she is a lot more interesting as a babyface then Gail and a thousand times more interesting than McCool or Maryse in their poor attempt at being heels.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Am I the only one who does'nt like the move of the Hart Dynasty to Smackdown? Who will they fued with? I think they would have been much better served on Raw, and Evan Bourne on Smackdown. Who is Bourne going to wrestle on Raw? Batista?
Posted By: Common Sense (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Forget to mention this, but Maryse and Michelle McCool steal from money charities and mock little children.
Also, if I saw them flap their arms and fly, my response would be to criticize them for being too lazy to walk.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:43 PM
You made a great point about ECW being a develpmental territory with a TV deal. I know a lot of pepole expected Christian to make the big move but I think he will carry ECW for at least til Survivor Series. Good article.
Posted By: THE GET SOME KID (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 02:09 PM
i totally agree with you about the ecw thing ecw is a chance to see how much the fcw crew learned, if you think a guy is ready bring him up give him a few matches and see what happened, if he/she fails send them back repackage and try agian, best case you get Jack Swagger worst case you get someone who is'nt Jack Swagger and when they get good move them up and out it works.
Posted By: O (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Great Article, but please, a crack at Small? His article is 10 times what yours will ever be man.
Posted By: Matthew M (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 03:54 PM
"Forget to mention this, but Maryse and Michelle McCool steal from money charities and mock little children.
Also, if I saw them flap their arms and fly, my response would be to criticize them for being too lazy to walk.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:43 PM"
How incredibly mature of you. Congratulations on proving you have no argument by just writing something in my name.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Christian should be on one of the main rosters, IMHO it's too soon for Bourne on RAW and he'll be jobberified pretty quickly. A good series with Finlay, Regal or whoever would do him wonders - losing in 25 seconds to Big Show will most decidely not.
Posted By: chris.crowing (Registered) on July 03, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Wow...i was stupid. But i am thankful that nothings changing :) i sure didnt get that draft reference. **slaps head**
Posted By: Guest#8960 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 06:27 PM
I was refering to the writer trades, not WWE trades. Also, best of WCW DVD should include Benoit. Period. Deal with it. People should be able to seperate the in-ring aspect of his life from the outside ring aspect of his life.
Posted By: Trades are good (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I was refering to the writer trades, not WWE trades. Also, best of WCW DVD should include Benoit. Period. Deal with it. People should be able to seperate the in-ring aspect of his life from the outside ring aspect of his life.
Posted By: Trades are good (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Haha, nice work Meehan
Posted By: Big Poo Johnson (Guest) on July 04, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Actually, WCW has a lot to offer w/o including Benoit. I really don't care to see his 'BEST OF' matches. Why should I have to deal with it? If Micheal Jackson molested my son 10 years ago should I celebrate his entire collection and remember him as 'THEE greatest performer EVER!' because he is now dead? No.
Not saying he killed my wife and kid, and to be sure there is plenty people can find wrong with my comparison but I think I agree with the 'WE don't need him' group on this one.
To say 'OH, You need to deal with it, BLAH!' is kind of strange. To offer an intelligent reason why could help me see your side. With the talent WCW had and the great matches they could put on a DVD, why should we (not only the IWC who debates this all the time, but the average fan in general) have to 'DEAL with IT' as "Trades are good" and others on this site demand we do? He was a great wrestler but kind of bored me as a character and I know plenty of people who felt the same way before he died and feel the same now after he murdered his wife and child two years later.
I'm not trying to be rude or put down anyone's opinion, I would llike an intelligent reason why it is important to include Chris Benoit, over other great matches by non-family murdering wrestlers, into a best of DVD of WCW. I can't see myself telling my kids or my new girlfriend "Hey, look at his greatness in the ring! Never mind the family murder/suicide thing, just look at the match!" They are new fans, so I don't think that would go over well and myself, I'm an old school fan and could think of plenty more ring-techs I would rather watch w/o seeing the charisma sponge featured on a best of WCW DVD. Thank you :-)
Posted By: Jobber#Horrowitz (Guest) on July 04, 2009 at 07:23 PM
"How incredibly mature of you. Congratulations on proving you have no argument by just writing something in my name."
Accusations about a lack of maturity from you? Who hates Maryse to such a sad degree that you tried to defend Mickie James aganist a 411 commenter claiming that Mickie did a bad job on commentary (during a recent Divas match) by saying that it was, somehow, Maryse's fault that Mickie didn't do well at the desk? That's classic.
Your "I don't like (a wrestler), therefore he/she can't do anything worthwhile, ever" stance is pathetic, and so is your need to respond to any positive comments from 411 columnists about your non-favorite wrestlers with tired reminders about how you don't them.
Posted By: Guest#3000 (Guest) on July 05, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I just realized I got fired twice in the trades...
Posted By: JP Prag (Registered) on July 08, 2009 at 10:52 PM
