The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: 09.18.09
Posted by John Meehan on 09.18.2009
Bad news for Jeff Hardy, and big news for The Nature Boy.
Greetings, all. And welcome back to another edition of your regularly scheduled week-end dose of intrawebz' optimism. In case you're new to the column, here's the skinny: we recap the big news stories of the week, and try to shine a more optimistic light on them wherever possible in order to provide a much-needed break from the normal negative spin that so often consumes much of the discussion on these world wide intranetz.
Sound like a plan?
Rock & Roll.
Plenty of news this week both while the cameras were rolling and once they stopped, so let's cut to the chase!
The SELL of the week goes to JTG, who took a HUGE right hand to the skull from the Big Show while skinning the cat and spun a full 180 degrees before eating a pinfall immediately thereafter. Big Show and Chris Jericho's history with Cryme Tyme is well-documented, but the Brooklyn boys proved this week that they are still very much in the hunt for the tag team gold. Sadly for poor JTG, Show's knockout punch underscored just how dangerous the tag champs can be, which keeps Cryme Tyme on the outside of the tag team championship picture looking in.
The TELL of the week goes to Shawn Michaels. Look, I'm as big an HBK mark as you're likely to find, and I applaud the man tremendously for his efforts on Sunday night and again on RAW just 24 hours later. In fact, the whole "sell the back" approach to Monday night's contest really went a long way in making Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase's Breaking Point victory look all the more impressive. But once DiBiase turned his attention to HBK's eye? MIRACLE OF MIRACLES, Michaels' previously injured lower back was completely restored to full health, and HBK's subsequent choice of offensive manuevers proved it. A flying burrito, a kip-up, a Thez press, and two atomic drops? Look Shawn, I get it that a man can only be expected to sell one injury at a time -- but surely you've got MORE than enough of an arsenal to bust out attacks that use other muscles in your body than those surrounding your recently "injured" spine, right?
None - No new talent made their official debuts with either major North American wrestling promotion this week.
Matthew Lowry - Aspiring professional wrestler Matthew Lowry passed away this week at the age of 21. Lowry is believed to have suffered a brain hemorrhage which may have been suffered before or during a routine workout sesson at the Combat Zone Wrestling Arena in Philadelphia. 411mania.com extends its condolences to the Lowry family, friends and loved ones.
BG James - Longtime TNA performer BG James (a.k.a. "The Road Dogg") was handed his walking papers by TNA management this week. BG James had not appeared on TNA programming for several months, and had spent the better part of the last year employed solely in a backstage capacity as a trainer and road agent. His release comes as a result of his longstanding offscreen friendship with TNA's persona non grata and Founder Jeff Jarrett, as recent moves have been made to eliminate all of those employees closest to the TNA Founder in an effort to undermine (and/or ultimately revoke) his backstage duties.
As an onscreen performer, it's really hard to get upset over the loss of BG James. The erstwhile "Road Dogg" has been all but irrelevant in the TNA landscape since the dissolution of the 3 Live Kru (and yes, that includes the Voodoo Kin Mafia), and his best days as an in-ring competitor were virtually all but exhausted from the moment he was issued his walking papers from The World Wrestling Federation (yes, "Federation") in 2001.
Jim Cornette - TNA authority figure Jim Cornette was likewise released from his contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling this week in a move similar to the aforementioned release of BG James. Cornette joins fellow booking committee members and backstage hands James, Savio Vega, and Dutch Mantell among the ranks of the recently released TNA employees with close and longstanding ties to TNA Founder Jeff Jarrett -- lending further credence to the notion that his release was issued in an effort to wrest any remaining backstage clout away from Jeff Jarrett if and when he invariably makes his return to TNA Wrestling.
Cornette's release is a mixed bag. Were he to be kept on in a strictly offscreen role, MeeThinks the guy has TONS of wrestling knowledge and wherewithall to provide, and as such he will leave a sizable gap in the TNA creative process upon his departure. Onscreen, Cornette is (and always has been) a natural behind a microphone, which can likewise be seen as a loss simply because he was just so damned good at putting over new matches, angles, cards and concepts once the cameras were rolling.
That said, Cornette had recently fallen victim to the "too many cooks" syndrome that has plagued much of TNA's programming over the past several months. As an onscreen authority figure, Cornette found himself alongside Jeff Jarrett, Mick Foley, and Traci Brooks (until recently) in being given the (kayfabe) power to book matches on TNA programming. Throw in the recent elevation of the TNA referees (who have been given the onscreen authority to book matches and enforce stiffer rules at their own discretion) -- and suddenly, TNA was looking at anywhere between three and six "onscreen authority figures" at any given point in time.
(And that's to say nothing of The Main Event Mafia's seemingly unchecked ability to book matches of their choosing, as well).
In the end -- TNA needed to trim the fat, and Jim Cornette was the first onscreen character (after Traci Brooks, at least) to get the creative axe. With Jeff Jarrett on indefinite hiatus, Mick Foley remains the sole onscreen authority figure with the all-encompasing ability to dictate the course of the program (though the referees do retain the ability to book and enforce new rules in matches on a case-by-case basis). And as a result, TNA viewers are left with a much more streamlined product as a result.
ONE "boss" (Foley) to call the shots, and ONE team of officials to enforce them.
For new viewers especially, this makes for a MUCH simpler (and much more rewarding) viewing experience. No longer are TNA's in-ring matches subject to countless iterations of backstage squabbling. Instead, the Executive Shareholder makes the call, the participants are issued their challenges and/or marching orders, and the referees enforce the law. So in the end -- as tough as it is to lose Cornette on an individual level, the company's programs will probably end up looking all the more streamlined and engaging as a result of his departure.
Mickie James - WWE Divas Champion Mickie James is reportedly working in a non-wrestling role on WWE programming until she heals from a recent surgery to correct a ruptured breast implant. Mickie suffered this injury at a non-televised show last week, and underwent the necessary surgery to fix the rupture accordingly. At this time, it does not appear that Mickie James will miss any extended amount of time as a result of this injury -- which is good news for the WWE Divas Championship, whose last titleholder (Maryse) was abruptly forced out of action due to injury just several weeks ago.
Even if Mickie can't actually wrestle for the immediate time being, the mere fact that she will continue to remain on WWE television as the resident "face of the Divas Championship" will certainly go a long way in making this second women's title seem like a relevant and worthwhile prize. And in a WWE roster that is almost inordinantly populated with female performers who are relative newcomers to the actual "WRESTLING" end of the professional wrestling business, Mickie's continued presence as a member of the RAW roster is a much-needed sign of credibility for the larger state of WWE women's wrestling on the whole.
... now if only she could learn how to cut a coherent promo when seated at ringside.
In this segment, I'll be firing off a handful of micro-commentaries at some of the industry's biggest stars and stories. For those of y'all who aren't familiar with Twitter-style posting, the format is simple:
@Recipient's Name - 140 character message goes here. #MessageTopic
And before you ask: No, these aren't actual tweets.
FAKE TWEETS OF THE WEEK
@Sting - Solid promo, @Sting. But @Sting, why must you say your opponent's name so often, huh @Sting? #Redundant #Redundant
@Dr. Stevie - Wait, you're a wrestler again now, too? I thought you were a analyst / therapist? #WrestlingAnalRapist
@CM Punk - "Choice of a New Generation," eh there, Pepsi tattoo? #ohIseeWhatYouDidThere
@Michelle McCool @Layla - Way to frame Mr. Ziggles with those pics, ladies. Good thing Maria doesn't watch Smackdown! #Worst.Plan.Ever.
@John Morrison - "Mr. Ziggles" BURN!!! Remember when Jeff Hardy said your promos were like watching paint dry? #DejaVuAllOverAgain #WorstPromoOfTheWeek
@Pat Patterson - Remember when I said Morrison's was the worst promo of the week? #SpokeTooSoon #EnglishMuthaFuckaDoYouSpeakIt
@Linda McMahon - US Senate... ya' don't say. Hey, stranger things have happened. #NoChanceInHell
@Batista - Wait, wait, wait -- talent can just up an leave brands whenever they want? #Lame #KayfabeIsDead
@Trish Stratus - Never met Beth Phoenix, you say? This video disagrees. #YouLie! #StrikeOne
@Beth Phoenix - Trish is afraid to face you, eh? This video disagrees, too. #YouLie! #StrikeTwo
@Chris Jericho - So *you* dumped Trish, huh? Funny, that's not how I remember it. #YouLie! #ThreeStrikesInOneSegment
Chris Benoit - Last week, Vince McMahon spoke candidly about WWE's treatment of Chris Benoit footage following the superstar's tragic and heinous acts of some two years ago. Speaking on the issue in a special edition of WWE magazine titled "The Untold History of The WWE," McMahon said:
"It's not right to pretend he didn't exist. It's one thing to include him as part of a historical perspective, which I believe is OK, and it's another thing to promote him, which is not OK. The situation is very similar to that of O.J. Simpson - despite his controversy, O.J. was still a part of the NFL scene. You can't deny that he existed."
Immediately, this sent internet fans and critics into a tizzy. "FINALLY! VINCE WAS ADMITTING HE WAS WRONG! THE LONG REIGN OF REVISIONIST HISTORY TERROR HAS ENDED! THE RABID WOLVERINE IS BACK!"
Not so fast.
This doesn't mean that we'll be seeing Chris Benoit footage added back onto WWE programming, merchandise, DVDs, and online broadcasts any time soon. What Vince is saying is that he has no problem acknowleding the man's existence, but he has zero intent of using the man's image, likeness and calatog of matches in order to attract new or returning fans. In other words -- Benoit might receive passing mentions on commentary and in "historical" accounts of certain shows, but he won't soon be receiving any spotlight beyond that.
Why's that?
McMahon's point is clear: acknowledging that Benoit most certainly existed *as it is pertinent to a given conversation* is perfectly acceptable matter of historical fact. And WWE plans on giving such history its due attention on a case-by-case basis. Accordingly, should the discussion arise as to who won the main event at WrestleMania, for example, WWE would be remiss in not mentioning Benoit's name in that conversation. They probably won't dwell on the matter, mind you -- but they will mention the historical fact regardless.
But as far as Vince is concerned, that's where it ends.
Going out of his way to bring Benoit's name into other conversations, flaunt the man's "contributions to the business" or herald his in-ring accomplishments is a separate matter altogether. Because by finding new excuses to bring the guy *BACK* into "the picture" (or "the discussion" or even "newly released archival footage" and the like), Vince would effectively be putting the guy's name and image out there for all to see. Or, in layman's terms...
WWE would be *PROMOTING* Chris Benoit.
It's one thing for a website, announcer, or archival encyclopedia to quietly acknowledge the fact that the man once held a championship or a most prominent position within their organization. But it's quite another thing to "relase from the archives" a brand new assortment of Chris Benoit matches in order to attract drive up subscriptions to WWE's Classics on Demand service by luring in new viewers by promising the Benoit name. Same goes for churning out a new DVD set (say, for Chris Jericho) and slapping a "Wrestler X versus Chris Benoit!" match listing on the case provides fans with the incentive to buy the thing on the basis of Benoit's inclusion.
That, friends, is the very definition of "PROMOTING" -- and so long as Vince McMahon is running the show, it ain't gonna happen.
Jeff Hardy - Last Friday, the recently released WWE superstar was arrested in North Carolina for possession of anabolic steroids, cocaine, and a number of pills. A search of Hardy's residence yielded 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine and various other items of drug paraphernalia. The estimated street value of the drugs was $2,500.
Hardy was charged with felony trafficking in opium, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on bail shortly after his arrest, and his court date is set for Sept. 30.
Well -- now we know what "other projects" Jeff Hardy was looking to pursue outside of a WWE ring, eh?
In all seriousness...
Hardy is facing some serious charges in this matter. His bail, court costs, and legal fees alone could run him well into the six-figure range by the time all is said and done. And if convicted, he may face up to 14 years behind bars (Though I hear that Hardy's trademark hankerchief is actually quite a hit in prisons).
Certainly a tough road ahead for Jeff Hardy -- arguably the toughest battle of his life. And that's saying something when you consider the fact that the guy's mom died when he was just a kid, and his house burnt down and claimed all of his worldly posessions (not to mention his dog) just a little under two years ago. But when it comes right down to it, things could have been a hell of a lot worse.
Why's that?
Jeff Hardy isn't only "no longer the WWE champion" -- he isn't even with the company any more. As such, the mainstream media could care less, because the guy is OLD NEWS. Sure, he may have made a headline in The Sun (UK) and on TMZ -- but this is nothing compared to the scads of media attention that was levied at current "wrestlers busted with drugs" like Rob Van Dam, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and The Iron Sheik, and Jimmy Snuka before them.
Let's face it...
A month ago, Jeff Hardy was the veritable face of WWE programming. And if he was busted for such a charge just a few weeks earlier (when he was still the WWE World Champion), the story of his fall from grace would have been plastered all over EVERY MAJOR NEWS OUTLET in the United States and beyond. When struggling with "personal" demons, this is something that Jeff Hardy can ill afford. His legal battles will be serious and difficult enough without the added strain of a national spotlight shining squarely in his face at every turn.
Heck, the guy can't even issue a proper statement or maintain a simple Twitter account the way it is. Does he really need the added pressure of letting his fans, his employers, and his coworkers suffer on a national stage as a result of his actions?
Jeff: Get as far away from the spotlight as you can. Get your legal issues sorted out, and get the help you need.
Ric Flair - The Nature Boy has agreed to return to the ring for a series of dates this fall against Hulk Hogan as a part of the upcoming Hulkamania tour of Australia. The tour will be promoted by Eric Bischoff, and will feature appearances from other wrestlers of today and yesteryear including Diamond Dallas Page and Ken (Kennedy) Anderson.
Obviously, announcement of Flair's decision to return to the ring after his "last match ever" at WrestleMania XXIV comes as something of a bitter pill to swallow for many of Flair's most ardent supporters. The basic gist of their gripe? Flair should take a cue from the song that so famously underscored his career retrospective videos and "leave the memories alone." In the eyes of Flair's critics, stepping back into the ring after such a fitting and high-profile sendoff does nothing but tarnish his legacy.
MeeThinks?
In the world of professional wrestling, a "legacy" is just something somebody talks about when they can no longer earn a paycheck. For the better part of three decades, Flair was the best wrestler alive -- and no amount of false-start comebacks or half-hearted in-ring performances well into his fifties and sixties are going to change what all he managed to accomplish during his heyday. Hour-long brawls with Ricky Steamboat, bloodbaths against Dusty Rhodes, the sheer domination of The Four Horsemen -- THIS is the meat and potatoes of Ric Flair's "legacy," and it will almost assuredly remain so long after this latest stint off of the bench and back into the wrestling ring has come and gone.
If Ric's decision to un-retire "cheapens" anything, it is merely the enduring "legacy" of his WrestleMania XXIV match against Shawn Michaels. But coming from the perspective of a fan who actually had the privelege of watching that match in live attendance? I can tell you point blank that -- in that moment -- the match was the absolute perfect way to wrap up the guy's tenure as a regular performer on an international stage.
Bottom line:
Events after the fact can (and often DO) change the way in which an event is viewed by later generations, but in the one fleeting moment in which a particular match or event takes place, it was pretty hard to beat the sheer emotional punch that was packed by that contest. And even though it may not age well in light of new developments -- for my money, it remains the best wrestling match I've ever had the privelege of seeing in live attendance, and no amount of money-making un-retirement showdowns on an upstart Australian circuit are going to change that.
Kurt Angle - On Tuesday, a Pittsburgh District Court Judge dropped all charges against TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle stemming from his August 15 arrest on charges of harassment, driving with a suspended license, and unlawful possession of human growth hormone. A separate trial will be held at a later date for the assault and PFA charge brought against him by his ex-girlfriend Trenesha Biggers (TNA's Rhaka Khan).
Now then --
Angle's story is hardly glamorous or inspiring, but it does present some small degree of solace and hope for those fans and critics of other professional wrestlers (i.e. Jeff Hardy) who automatically assume the worst from the moment a performer finds him or herself on the wrong side of the law.
True, Hardy's case is tremendously different than Angle's -- but both men are certainly entitled to their respective day in court. And likewise, both men are innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty, which means that a lot can happen between the moment of their arrest and the actual day of their trial.
In Angle's case, he claimed that he could produce a doctor's perscription for the HGH vials found in his vehicle. Whether the case actually came down to him presenting such evidence is really quite irrelevant (though the fact that the judge dropped ALL of the charges in one fell swoop is pretty much a courtroom indicator that they've got bigger fish to fry) -- simply because Jeff Hardy faces much the same situation when he faces a North Carolina judge in just a few short weeks. Should Hardy be able to produce a legitimate doctor's perscription for the Vicodin and Soma pills found in his house (along with the anabolic steroids), his drug trafficking and unlawful possession charges will likewise be thrown out as a result.
The cocaine, on the other hand... well, that's Hardy's problem all unto himself.
Now is it a longshot for Jeff Hardy? Certainly a longer one than Kurt Angle had to face, that's for sure -- but the fact remains that Angle's case proves that everything is not necessarily as bad as it initially seems from the moment the word of a performer's arrest first hits the tabloids and the mainstream media.
"Bitch and complain and ye' shall receive"
So last week, I compiled a season-long guide to the Monday Night Football matchups and attempted to venture an educated guess as to how WWE's ratings would likely fare against each game accordingly. Now sure, there are a LOT of things that can change between weeks one and seventeen -- but the goal of the piece was to size up the relative strength of WWE's Monday Night Football competition, and to set a reasonable slate of expectations for each contest accordingly. That way, when RAW's ratings inevitably dropped in a given week, we'd have a solid frame of reference as to WHY this happened, and that it was, indeed, a perfectly forseeable "bump in the road."
Now I'll admit, the list contained a few errors here and there (turns out Denver ain't a Pacific Time Zone city. My bad). But on the whole, readers gripes were actually more opinionated than fact-driven (that's blind fanboy support of your local NFL team for ya')... and so I felt the need to respond.
(Translation: "The need to reiterate that the list is indeed valid.")
(Translation: "The need to rub it in that I was right. As usual.")
LAST WEEK'S PREDICTION:
WEEK 1 (Sept. 14): Buffalo at New England (7 p.m.) | San Diego at Oakland (10 p.m.)
It's opening week, AND the NFL has scheduled a double-header. As such, RAW's in for some serious competition -- particularly from the first of the two NFL showdowns (I mean seriously now -- Oakland?). RAW's rating will take a hit, but the second half of the show will probably draw bigger numbers than the first half thanks to the Buffalo/New England game wrapping at 10 p.m.
ACTUAL RESULT:
WWE Monday Night Raw scored a 3.4 cable rating, down from last week's 3.8. The show did hours of 3.27 and 3.51. Monday Night Football debuted big as the Bills vs. Patriots game scored a 10.4 rating, while the Raiders vs. Chargers game that followed right after scored a 8.9 rating.
BOTTOM LINE:
Much to the haters chagrin, things went exactly as I'd expected this week. Yes, I heard "the experts" predicting big things for Da' Bears and The Vikings, but I stand by my statement (duh-duh-duh-duh-Don't believe the hype!) and feel that this week's ratings results across the board prove that I have -- at the very least -- *some* small idea of what, exactly, I'm talking about.
As predicted, RAW's overall rating dipped substantially from the previous week, but rebounded gradually as the show went on due to the declining appeal of the second NFL broadcast (and the Jay Leno show). For a one-week indicator, this bodes well for WWE's flagship broadcast, as close to 30 MILLION viewers were busy watching Leno or the opening games of Monday Night Football this week, and RAW *still* managed to retain the lion's share of their core audience. Never great to lose viewers, but it is very good to see that a solid chunk of 'em stayed faithful to RAW in spite of some serious competition.
THIS WEEK'S PREDICTION: (Cut-and-pasted from last week's column)
WEEK 2 (Sept. 21): Indianapolis at Miami: Will it be a "great" week for RAW? Not a chance. But will it be a "good" one? You betcha. The previous week's doubleheader will have taken the rating down substantially, but a week removed from the NFL kickoff should give WWE enough breathing room for an uptick here.
Batista Makes the Jump to Smackdown! The Animal Returns to WWE with an Immediate Impact
This Monday on RAW, Batista returned from his recent arm injury and announced that he would be moving to compete exclusively as a member of the Smackdown! brand. While no kayfabe reason for this departure was given (high-profile trade? contract expiration? machniations of a newly evil General Manager?) -- the obvious offscreen reason for Big Dave's reshuffling on over to the blue brand is for him to help fill the top-level babyface void that was recently left thanks to the suspension of Rey Mysterio and the departure (and ensuing legal troubles) of Jeff Hardy.
Immediately, critics were quick to pounce on the notion that "The Animal" would soon be polluting their beloved wrestling-driven landscape of Friday Night Smackdown!, which has -- of late -- served as a veritable breeding ground for some of WWE's fastest rising new talent including CM Punk, John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, and yes, even Drew McIntyre and Mike Knox. Their argument, from what all I can gather, is that Batista will immediately vault to the main event of the Friday night roster, which will prevent new stars from challenging for main-event-level honors, and knock each of these new superstars one link further down the proverbial food chain as a result.
MeeThinks?
CM Punk is holding his own as the resident big dog on Friday nights, but it is still WAAAAY too early in the man's career to expect him to carry the main burden of the brand's weight on his shoulders alone. His latest feud with The Undertaker probably has anywhere from three weeks to two months left in it, tops, and beyond the Phenom? There really isn't another credible top-level challenger anywhere in sight. Three weeks from now, Rey Mysterio will just barely be returning from suspension, John Morrison will likely just then be getting his hands on Dolph Ziggler, and undercarders like McIntyre and Knox will probably be at just about the same level of credibility and relevance as they are today.
In other words...
Smackdown! needs a certifiable main eventer. And even though he may not be the greatest "wrestler" of the bunch, The Animal most certainly fits the bill when it comes to a main event talent that people have proven that they are willing to pay good money to see.
When paired with the proper opponent (Triple H, The Undertaker, heck even JBL), Batista has proven time and again that he is MORE than capable of carrying his end of a high-profile feud. And by throwing him back onto Friday nights, WWE has suddenly freed up a fresh (or "semi-fresh") batch of main event programs for a number of their most well-recognized blue brand performers as a result.
Batista has a long history with Rey Mysterio, and either man can be plugged into a program with the other at the drop of a hat in order to keep fans' attention for an upper-midcard feud (a "respect" match? A pair of allies to battle Chris Jericho and The Big Show for the Unified Tag Team Championship?) Failing that, we've even got Batista versus The Undertaker. Sure it might not be entirely original -- but it most certainly put the asses in the seats the last time we saw it.
This frees up CM Punk to go one-on-one with Rey Mysterio. And if the straight-talking CM Punk can maintain his red-hot heel credibility when slagging on the "smoke and mirrors" of The Undertaker, it seems like a logical outgrowth that he would likewise find a way to elicit some equally inflammatory fan reaction out of a guy fresh off of a highly publicized (and extremely controversial) Wellness-related suspension that hides behind a mask.
(Not saying that WWE would actually admit that Rey Rey was busted for a doping violation, mind you. But a worked-shoot storyline where he tells "his side of the story" and is made to look like a flawed hero against the straightedge antagonist could go a long way in giving fans a reason to watch an onscreen battle between these two men unfold).
I stumbled upon this week's random 'rasslin reference while making the long weekend drive down Interstate 95 on Sunday night just a few short days ago. You see, after heading home to compete in the fourth annual county-wide "Bring The Heat" chili cookoff in my New Jersey hometown (more on that in a sec), I spent the better part of Sunday evening cruising the open road of I-95 as I made my way back down to my regular digs in Washington, D.C.
So there I was -- breezing down the highways and scanning for NFL coverage on my handy dandy SiriusXM radio dial, and what to my wandering ears should appear?
But the "Wrestling Observer Live" broadcast, which airs 6-8 p.m. Eastern time every Sunday night on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 122.
Hey, that's kind of cool.
Sadly, the show will be airing in a truncated fashion over the next three months or so thanks to Sunday Night NFL coverage -- but fear not. The show can be heard each week in its entirety at this live streaming link. So if you're dying for a nightly dose of 'rasslin news to wrap up your weekend but not so much a fan of football (for shame!), give the link a click and tune in for next week's broadcast, eh?
Ooh yeah -- as for the chili contest? We're talking two hundred-plus diners sampling recipes from competitors including personal chefs, culinary school graduates, professional caterers, and full-blown restaurants. Plus a handful of "private entries" like yours truly, some of whom were cooking all sorts of stuff ranging from elk chili to beer-battered bowls of red and everything in between.
So how'd we fare?
"People's Choice: Best Chili in Hunterdon County"
Read 'em and weep, suckaz.
And With That, I'm Outta' Here
And so ends another week of the Friday FreeThinks. TNA No Surrender is this weekend, and I'll be back in seven. Have a great weekend, fill those gaps in your defense (the Jets?! Damn.), and always stay positive.
I sense a JeriShow vs. DX feud in the upcoming months while Legacy implodes, and from there, DX transitions the belts to the Hart Dynasty, just in time for the 'big names' (Jericho, Show, HBK and HHH) to get into 'real feuds' for WrestleMania season.
Posted By: JUSTINW (Guest) on September 17, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Wrestlemania 26 World Title- CM Punk d. Batista via Anaconda Vice
Posted By: Guest#6539 (Guest) on September 17, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Damn Meehan, I love the "fake Tweets" but sometimes they are just too smarty. Don't become the Woody Allen of 411. Humor that's so inside and highbrow the regular readers cant follow.
Yeah it sucks to keep it dumb but use the dumb (read: lowest common denominator) approach to slip the smart comments in.
In a wrestling sense, sometimes a punch in the face is what is called for, in that situation use a punch in the face, NOT a ranhei.
Posted By: Don't forget the entertainment (Guest) on September 17, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I'm a Ric Flair fan and a wrestling fan. I really hope other fans like me will understnd that wrestling is a business first and foremost.
The majority of wrestlers want to be WWE champ, not because of some scripted historical significnce, but because the top spot pays the top money.
Ric Flair and any other person for that matter has every right to take a job and earn money. If when I retire from my job and the office has a retirement party and a few months later decide to take a consulting job somewhere else, is that insulting a memory? I think not.
Ric Flair has every reason to continue wrestling and fans have the choice granted by their power to purchase. If the Shawn Michaels match holds special meaning for you, then you can choose not to watch Ric Flair ever again.
The Ric Flair I was a fan of ceased to exist a year before the demise of WCW. The fact that he continued on does not diminish the many fond memories I have in any way.
I hope instead of bemoaning his return, his fans choose to remember that which made him so very special to them...WHOOOO!
Posted By: Ronny (Guest) on September 17, 2009 at 11:47 PM
I'd think it'd be a decent move if the E ended up throwing the straps at Batista/Rey, but the thing about having heels be in the position of "defending across the brands" is that they can be instigators, whereas faces aren't as natural in the role that I'd expect the TT champs to be playing, if they go with the same. However, a few things that have been good of this JeriShow reign is that 1) keeps Show busy without having to slow down the main event or have him just beat up midcarders (still kinda does that) 2) gives Jericho an easier schedule now before he launches back into a full-on feud. I just hope that they somehow book their way out of this tag team eventually w/o having them end up feuding eachother.
Posted By: Guest#6687 (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Maybe I was too subtle last week so i'll say it again, much plainer:
FAKE TWEETS SUCK ASS
Posted By: Jim the Honkey (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 02:44 AM
Ric Flairs "legacy" is a pathetic old man trying to perform. That is what he will always be remembered as, even if he wasn't coming back again.
Seriously, the guy was way past his use by date even back in the nineties. I don't think coming out of retirement is going to tarnish his legacy, theres nothing left to tarnish.
Hogan vs Flair sucked ten years ago, and its going to be fucking painful to watch it now.
Posted By: joe blow (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 03:19 AM
Don't forget the entertainment,
An Arrested Development reference is too high-brow?
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 06:36 AM
Great column, however the Fake Tweets just aren't good....to the guy who said they were too inside,uh how exactly are they "too" inside?
Posted By: *sigh* (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 08:46 AM
McMahon is full of shit. We all know he will "promote" Benoit if it makes him a buck(which, right now, he is afraid will get him more of a backlash from people who are still upset over Benoit's actions), don't forget that this is the same man that continued a PPV after Owen Hart fell to his death. McMahon will produce his "Self-Destruction of Chris Benoit" when the time is right, because in the end, its all about the bottom line for Vinnie Mac.
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 09:28 AM
I'm still shocked Vince gave such an uncanny and reasonable assessment of the Benoit situation (albeit about 2 years late). It's right on, and I wish he had that much sense when it came to.......well, everything else.
Posted By: Crippen (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Mickie ruptured her tit!!!
Posted By: Matt Dawson (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 10:31 AM
'Jeff Hardy - Last Friday, the recently released WWE superstar was arrested in North Carolina'
Since when was he released? He left when his contract expired
Posted By: tired (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Wrestlemania 26 World Title- CM Punk d. Batista via Anaconda Vice
Posted By: Guest#6539 (Guest) on September 17, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Punk will be back on the mid card by then
Posted By: truth (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 01:34 PM
An arrested development referance got you points, but the Public Enemy lyric knocked it out of the park!
CM Punk to job at hell in the cell setting up six months of Taker v. Batista, sounds like a winner!!!!
Posted By: Guest#4009 (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Analrapist reference! It's not the pronunciation I was worried about...
But, god, do I hate twitter.
I agree with Vince's stance on Benoit. I'm even fine with cutting out his matches from On Demand's Nitro broadcasts. I wouldn't, but I understand it. What I don't like, and I hope is corrected, is cutting off even the slightest mention of him. One of the said Nitro broadcasts went to silence and I eventually figured out the announcers were referencing his match from the previous weekend's Souled Out PPV. That's overkill and would never be construed as promoting the man.
Posted By: neverAcquiesce (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Don't use terms like "sell" when you don't know what they mean
Posted By: Guest#2848 (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Who gives a shit if they 'promote' the *wrestler* Chris Benoit by showing his matches, talent and title wins? So long as they haven't got JR referring to the familicide as "a barn-storming slobberknocker", I really can't muster up the vaginal fortitude to get so sensitve about it.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Even at his age Ric Flair can still cut a better promo than anyone in the business. So he ain't quite as good as 15 years ago. Who cares!! He can still out perform most today and can for sure draw more than ANYONE. I guarantee the Hogan/Flair matchup will sellout the venues in Australia. Hell it would sell out most venues in the US. He is still the man...WHOOOOOOOO!
Posted By: Fan Of The Man (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 10:24 PM
I don't blame HBK's "poor" selling, he was probably just thinking.
"What the fuck is wrong with Ted's ear? Is it contagious? Did he catch Jillian's gross-mole-causing-STD? I told him not to tap that skank. I mean who would want to take advise from The Showstopper, The Headliner, The Main Event, The Icon, The Heart Break...... Oh shit! I got 2 minutes till Cody trips me. What was I? Oh f### it."
Posted By: The Dutch (Guest) on September 18, 2009 at 11:35 PM
what??? Were the Chili Judges BLIND????
Kiss my white chili azz and stay in Mary land where all youse ol'bay biters belong!!We will get you and youre brothr next yearr. Semper Falcone!
Posted By: The Rock (Guest) on September 19, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Regarding the Monday Night War, I only have to say that when a team with no acknowledged chance in hell of beating what's considered to be the best team in football, doesn't trail until the final minute of the game? Gonna have a bit of trouble beating that no matter WHAT match you try to put up against it.
Posted By: MadmanJack (Registered) on September 19, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Twitter = Death of Language
Posted By: Guest#7804 (Guest) on September 19, 2009 at 11:24 PM
