Five-Star Conversation 09.22.09: Batista's Impact on SmackDown!, Jeff Hardy's Situation, More

Posted by Geoff Eubanks on 09.22.2009

With Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio and Khali gone from the Friday night landscape, Edge still months from a return and Batista returning, where might we go next? Speaking of Jeff Hardy, I was asked for my two cents, so I offer a quarter. Of course, there's much more, too.

DID YOU KNOW? I can't be the only person to have nick-named the new Carl's Jr. hamburger the "Hot Carl", can I…?



I mean, the way it just plops down next to the Big Mac…never mind…

I have officially upset the holy baby Jesus. I've been sick since last Wednesday and, not an hour and a half before SmackDown! was to come on last Friday, I was dozing on the sofa, was roused by a POP!, and looked up to discover that the picture tube in my living room's television had gone to tube heaven. I now have no TV in the living room. I have no contingency plan. Hulu, YouTube, here I come! Say a prayer for me.

COMMENTPALOOZA!
I'm thinking Father Time is knocking on the Undertaker's door. The sheer amount of stalling and basic brawling that took up most the PPV match seemed to be a way to cover for 'Taker having slowed down. I'm not knocking the guy, I am and always have been a mark for 'Taker. In fact, he's the only wrestler whose autograph I own. The truth is it would be great to have Punk point out the effects of age and score a clean win and then show 'Taker having to overcome the odds to get another shot at the cocky young champ. I realize that would likely transition him back to Biker 'Taker but I don't think that would be a bad way to finish up, as a man rather than a slightly faded myth. I'd like to see 'Taker go out with dignity and still manage to put Punk over rather than rehash the Batista can't beat 'Taker feud.

Speaking of Batista, I know the IWC hates the guy but his book is a good read and he's very honest about his in ring strengths and weakness. He'd be another perfect guy to keep Punk a hot commodity. Go back and catch the Kennedy-Batista feud and imagine Punk in the role. We all know WWE loves to rehash and reuse and this could be a good one if handled properly.
Posted By: Pete

Eubanks, very astute theorizing, regarding the heel-chasing-face dynamic of the U.S. Title on Raw. Tip of the hat on that one.

Also, what do you think Batista's immediate role on Smackdown is gonna be, while he's waiting to take the strap from Punk once the Undertaker program is over?
Posted By: KanyonKreist

I never thought I would say this, but Smackdown doesn't need Undertaker. The show was humming along very nicely. But with Hardy gone and Mysterio out for 30 days, I'm sure the WWE feels it needs a top face in the shows line up. That's probably why Batista is moving from Raw. Hopefully he pulls a HHH and stays on until the next draft.

I do want to see Morrison and Punk retain on the Hell In The Cell ppv. I think longer feuds have much more potential than the ones that only last a few weeks. Look how great the Taker/Edge feud was.
Posted By: mogamer

Well, Pete, I'm not going to suggest that I know everything that's going on in The Undertaker's regard, but it is my understanding that he's returned a little before he was actually completely comfortable doing so, as the word's about that he's not healed up 100% from a recent surgery (that, apparently, WWE is trying to downplay as incidental, but was, in fact, quite major, possibly even a hip replacement), so let's not be too judgmental too soon.

This is also the very beginning of the program, one would assume, there's a whole lotta match left between these two, thus, they didn't want to give away the whole farm the first time out. Besides, having Taker return to the ring at Breaking Point, an all-submission gimmick PPV, it allows for a much more slower-paced match as opposed to, say, a HitC match. This, I would imagine, worked to Taker's benefit, in that he didn't have to go out there full-bore when/if he wasn't absolutely up for it. A regular one-on-one encourages a challenger to go for broke as long as the end result is a pinfall or a submission; a submission-only match requires a more focused plan of attack and myriad submission attempts.

Moving on from Breaking Point, the next WWE PPV is next month's Hell In A Cell, apparently, the second all-gimmicked PPV in as many months. Make your own comment. What this allows is greater time for Taker to chill back physically and continue to heal as the program is moved along and, one would hope/imagine, intensifies, so as to warrant The WT to be settled in The Cell.

This is why Taker needs to be utilizing mind games in the coming weeks until HITC, and stay away from any physicality, because the whole angle will be shot if he's not in top shape for HitC, no matter how you want to look at it –

kayfabe (Punk is at the top of his in-ring game and, more so, is bolstered by the facts that he believes wholeheartedly that he is better than everyone else, that he just retired Jeff Hardy and has already once successfully defended his title against Taker, and, thus, it would be to Taker's benefit to get inside of Punk's head to attempt to rattle that self-confidence)

or "reality" (if Taker is still a little tender following surgery and a slower match was worked at Breaking Point, it's time to step it up and really deliver in The Cell, especially as Taker, Triple H to the side, is synonymous with big-time Cell matches, and, therefore, a higher expectation is placed on a HitC match in which he's involved. Bear in mind, too, Taker is not necessarily adverse to lying down to put over another talent in The Cell, as evidenced by Shawn Michaels and Brock Lesnar. I'm just saying).

I, for one, believe he will, as he always seems to do. I know I don't show a lot of Taker love here, but I want to assure the tens and thousands of fans (check's in the mail, Mick) who read 5SC that I he is a favorite of mine, lest there be any mumblings to the contrary.

Furthermore, Pete, I don't see how the effects of age fits with Punk's MO, although I think it's interesting that you think Taker's unseating of Punk as champion would be an "against all odds" affair, rather than seeing this program as a means to give Punk the rub of the ages. Do you believe in Punk that much, has your faith in Taker wavered, or has McMahonagement really done that solid of a job building up Punk's dominance in your eyes? This can be answered by any and all, as I'm interested in whatever opinions people have on this subject!

I also don't see how your scenario leads to a transition back to Biker Taker. It seems to me that Taker has to go out as The Dead Man. Can you imagine the pomp & circumstance Taker will be afforded when he finally retires (which I don't think will be within the next year, just a hunch)?! Remember the spectacle at the Survivor Series when Yokozuna and his 72 henchmen managed to defeat Taker in the Casket Match and, as the coffin was rolled up the aisle by Paul Bearer, the video wall went all wonky and Taker cut a promo as his spirit journeyed to The Darkside, his spectral form levitating out if the arena? I have to think, that will be kumquats and guano compared to the show we'll get when those black boots finally hang. The Dead Man just allows for greater spectacle than does Biker Taker, is all I'm saying.





To answer Pete and Kanyon directly, and Mogamer somewhat indirectly, I took a look at the SmackDown! roster and broke it down into main-event, mid-card and in-danger-of-being-wished-his-future-endeavors, in both face and heels brackets and here's how it plays on Fridays at the moment:

MAIN EVENT
FACES – Batista, Rey Mysterio (S), The Undertaker
HEELS – Edge (I), Chris Jericho, CM Punk

MID-CARD
FACES – Finlay, Khali (I), R-Truth, Matt Hardy, John Morrison, Shad Gaspard, JTG
HEELS – Kane, Mike Knox, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Tyson Kydd, David Hart Smith

THE PROFESSOR & MARYANN
FACES – Funaki, Slam Masta J, Jimmy Wang Yang
HEELS – Charlie Haas, Curt Hawkins

That said, in brief, Mogamer, I understand what you're saying empirically, that SD! would be all right without Taker considering it's been chuggin along in fine fashion since The Draft without him, and I'd be inclined to agree, but, specifically, now, SD! most definitely needs Taker, even if Batista is headed over to pollute the waters. Granted, Matt Hardy and John Morrison have both displayed the ability to step up and step out quite successfully out of the mid-card and into the main event when asked to do so, but Morrison, being The ICC, as such, is a walking endorsement for the best the mid-card has to offer, therefore, he's kinda stuck in the middle, which is not a bad thing at all!

However, would you not arch a brow if 1) Batista jumped right back on SD! and, out of the chute, proclaimed in Triple H-circa. 2003 style, "Okay, fuckers, I'm back, let's have that belt!", or 2) if Finlay, Truth or Cryme Tyme were given the opportunity to challenge Punk? No, Taker returning is going to give Punk a hell of a lot of credit, I believe, and, as both are fans of mixed-martial arts, we potentially stand to see some great matches from these two, and in a specific fashion, as was that surprisingly amazing Taker/Batista series. Punk could very well not just up his credibility as a champion and a bankable, young main-eventer from a program with Taker, he stands to learn from one of the most experienced veterans still lacing boots today. Right now, all things being what they are, SD! needs Taker more than ever.

As far as the WT program is concerned, I can see the belt revolving around Punk/Taker, but, because of the whole Jeff Hardy retirement situation, I can see Matt being involved, as well, and, when the eventual tag matches roll around, featuring Matt and Taker on one side, it's child's play to get Chris Jericho on Punk's side of the apron for a night.

Sadly for Matt, although he stands to potentially get quite a rub from teaming with Taker and being involved in such a high-profile title chase behind a universally hated champion, especially when he's doing so, at least, in part, to defend the good name of the brother Punk "retired", I have a sinking feeling that Matt is going to ultimately reprise his role in the Taker/Lesnar build, sans Shannon Moore. Matt easily becomes, in this program, the opportunity to be the patsy, the scapegoat for any screwy finish where Taker needs to absorb a loss or some other such indignity along the road to the PPV without Taker actually having to suffer it personally and, thus, look weaker as a result (as if, but you know…), aside from what we've already said about the importance of Taker remaining as minimally physical as possible, if the rumors are true and he's not 100%.

As for The InterContinental Title, I think we all see John Morrison defending against Dolph Ziggler in what should be a fantastic series of matches, especially once former ICC Rey Mysterio returns from his 30-day suspension and, I assume, will get back in the mix in this regard. Mysterio and Ziggler had a very well-remarked upon couple of matches that really has people opening their eyes to Ziggler, although Mr. Ziggles never managed to score the belt off of Mysterio, so Ziggler has something to prove, especially now that he has a new challenge in current champion, Morrison. Morrison has a lot to prove, as this is the most important singles title he's ever held and he's on a corporate-mandated monster face push to the top. He needs to really perform to win the fans' hearts. Once Mysterio returns, he knows Ziggler will be gunning for him and he has to want to shut him up once and for all. Mysterio has to want that belt back, too, and Morrison said, "Any time, any place." I think Mysterio will oblige our new champ. All in all there, two rising stars get a rub from one of the most popular performers of the last decade, who also happens to be a universally respected veteran.

Upon returning to Fridays, I can see Batista squaring off against newly-available Kane (with his foil, Khali, headed for knee surgery). As Larry says so humorously and so truthfully, Kane is on his annual monster spree, and Big Dave is bound to want to make a big splash upon returning to his old digs, so, with Kane finding himself with the proverbially empty dance card, why not book a relatively short "Batista returns to slay the giant" story? Because Kane has to look good for when Khali returns? No problem. Let Kane and Batista go to big-man war against one another, unload the heavy artillery, as Gorilla Monsoon used to say. The program ends when Khali returns to attack Kane in some kind of No-DQ match, exacting revenge when it appears Kane is about to put le coup de gras on Batista, beats him down for a measure of payback, thereby allowing Batista to recover and pin Kane for the win. Batista has momentum, even though he barely eeked-out that win, and Kane has motivation to resume his war with Khali, while still looking good, in that, he almost polished off a former multi-time world champion. Batista then moves on to challenge Punk although, in true Batista fashion, fails to win the belt, or, if he does, ends up jobbing it right back at the next opportunity, owing to XXXXXX muscle melting off his bone like well-cooked veal.

I'm quite happy with the way Drew McIntyre is making his name known on Friday nights at R-Truth's expense. It's a shame for Truth, as I think he is a genuinely gifted performer capable of a lot more than simply being 2009's Koko B. Ware, but if this the way the cards are playing right now, that's what we got and it appears as if McIntyre will find his first foothold up the ladder by scoring the three-count on the former NWA Champion. I'm really liking the fire McIntyre is putting forth this time around, I just hope his ring-time will be as reflective of growth and experience.

Finlay versus Mike Knox. Really, why not? They wouldn't be doing fuck-all aside, and they have the ability to provide some truly ugly, memorable, stiff brawls. Plus, here again, do we have the opportunity to allow a young talent the chance to work with and learn from a solid veteran on-the-clock. As this angle unfurls, I'd love to see the predatory, diabolical psyche of Knox begin to really develop and unfurl. I think they really have something with him, and it should at least be given the chance to flourish or fail.

Meanwhile, there's no reason why Cryme Tyme and The Hart Dynasty can't have a solid series of matches based upon establishing a new #1 Contender for The UTTTs. CT is as over as they've ever been and their ring work is really coming on, as Gaspard gains more experience and JTG continues to evolve one of WWE's most creative offenses, and THD continue to strive to make proud the heritage they so proudly flaunt. I'd say, bring Eve Torres back to CT's corner, as I've never cared more about her than when she was doing that run of appearances with the team. They all worked well together and off of one another and it would also give the fantastic Natalya a reason to get involved, too.

JeriShow could be busy defending their belts on Raw, thus allowing Jericho to scale down his breakneck schedule of performing twice a week every week and ease off some physical trauma, simply by offering guest commentary, or by heading to the ring "to scout the competition", where he inevitably assists THD on the sly, keeping it real. Let's say it ends up being JeriShow versus THD at HITC (I know, it is to laugh, just roll with me here), would Show, considering the recent examples of disharmony existing between the champions, be concerned that his partner might have more allegiance to his fellow countrypeople and the descendants of those who trained him as his actual partner? Or might Jericho lure THD into believing he was going to take it easy on them, that it's his desire to have a strictly competitive match to decide the true champions, only to betray them? Or would they betray him? Might we even want to bring a team from Raw into this, too, MVP & Mark Henry? The dissolution between JeriShow and THD could be MVP & Henry's chance to slip right in and take advantage of a situation…? Just saying.

And , I'm pleased you went along with my views on how it seems we're seeing things evolve where The UST is shaping up on Raw. I'll take a tip of your hat to a wag of your finger any day!

I don't get Ziggler at all. He's decent in the ring and solid on the mic, but so is Swagger and he isn't sniffing a PPV nowadays. The guy leaves me cold the same way Sting does Geoff.

If there was ever a time to introduce the newly signed RoH guys, Taker v Punk in the Cell would be it. Have Nigel and Dragon pitch in so that Punk defeats Taker again. Then, you have a stable of two guys who can talk and three guys who can work (unlike Legacy or Steve's Stiffs). This let's you set up a little old school Survivor Series action with Punk, Nigel, Dragon, Jericho, Show v. Taker, Matt, Cryme Tyme, and Morrison.
Posted By: Iron Knee

Knee, I don't really have a big opinion of Ziggler just yet. He's certainly come a hell of a lot farther than I thought any member of THE SPIRIT SQUAD might, that's for damn sure, so kudos to him for that regardless. I see what you're saying, insofar as Ziggler doesn't knocking our socks off with spectacular maneuvers or an overwhelming personality or anything, but surely more than the guy who did nothing else but wander around backstage and introduce himself for months. Ziggler seems to be to me one of those guys like early Randy Orton, in that, he didn't really have a lot of flash in the beginning, but the longer he wrestled, the more he found himself, a comfortable rhythm and a move-set that really works for him. Time will tell in Ziggler's regard, but his star appears to be ascending.

With respect to how you'd like to bring in Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness, that sounds incredible! I'd be down! I can even se how an enraged Taker might sorta vertically choke slam Punk into the side of the cage, thus "tearing" it from the seams, and thus allowing Punk's new/old friends to enter The Cell and make a huge difference in the complexion of the match, beating down Taker until Punk managed to crawl back into the ring to cover Taker and successfully defend his belt. Maybe, after the fanfare of announcing Punk has retained and the fans are going nuts with vitriol, maybe Batista and Matt Hardy hit the ring to defend their fallen comrade, and the angle proceeds that way? In my above suggestion for where SD! might now go, all you really have to do is move Kane into the Finlay/Knox story, really.

The only reason I might shrink away from this is because that would mean WWE was actually, on one level, at least, acknowledging RoH and I don't necessarily know if they're ready for that. Remember, there are a lot of reasons why WWE has retreated into targeting children and one of them is because Uncle Vince wants to return to brainwashing a new generation that his circus is the only one in town, and if you see anything else, it's a sad imitation.





The words that need to come out of Punk's mouth are: I've already proved that I'm stronger than my inner demons, Undertaker, so I'm not afraid of you.

"Sly, I wish HBK had stood up for his other trainees, in terms of Brian Kendrick and Paul London before they were future-endeavored, because I'd much rather have them back and in main-eventing, but that's just me. Too, let's hope, if HBK really did stand up for Masters, that he does the same for another performer he's had a hand in training in Bryan Danielson when he debuts on WWE-TV!"

He may well have tried with London and Kendrick, but only succeeded with Masters. That's a more hopeful thought than Michaels' choosing to help the one he thought management would like.

I have no idea what to think about Brian Danielson's chances in the WWE. Part of me thinks that he feels like he has nothing to lose -- if he succeeds, he can finally get to be the big star that I'm sure was his drive through his years of training. If he becomes a WWE jobber, he gets a bigger paycheck for a while and can quit when he gets tired of it. If he's future endeavored, he knows he'll always have a home in the indies, where he's already an industry legend. I just can't figure out what WWE is thinking bringing him in. I know they're heard great things about him, but he's not a gimmick type of wrestler. Sure, he can be packaged, but what character will they give him? Didn't they try a shootfighter not that long ago with Brent Albright (Gunner something)? I don't know if Brian is big enough to pull that off. We'll see if WWE is serious this time, or if they just want a new toy to play with.
Posted By: Sly Reference

Actually, Sly, it seems to me that the line "I've already proven that I'm stronger than my inner demons" would be a line better-suited to Jeff Hardy, should he ever return (assuming he's clean, etc., save it, it's just an example). I think a better line for Punk might be "You know the best way to deal with demons, Taker? The best way to deal with demons is to not invoke them in the first place. I never invited drugs or alcohol into my temple [slaps chest] and so this temple is holy, no demons hiding in the corners. But sometimes demons just show up to try and steer you off your path, to challenge your right to live without them interfering in your life, to make you lose focus. But y'know, Taker, if you don't give the demons power, all they have left is a few empty scare tactics, and I'm not afraid of the dark." Something to that effect…? But I totally see where you're going with that, and agree.

I think there could be a correlation between all of the indy talent we've seen being let go from under the WWE umbrella and the fact that WWE has plucked a ripe pieces of fruit from the fertile orchards of Ring Of Honor. Mind you, this is going to be extremely cynical, so take this idea with an entire shaker of salt. We all know that there's the "WWE way" to work a match, which, for some reason, while not anti-wrestling altogether, decides to employ, indeed, favor a good deal of blatant show s opposed to actual wrestling, per se. If you want to go that far along those lines, look no farther than Paul Heyman's shoot on Vince McMahon just prior to the Survivor Series when the InVasion angle "paid-off" (and make no bones about it, friends, every word that exploded from Heyman's mouth was the absolute truth).

This is why McMahonagement tends to favor the more fantastic or the more gimmicky performer over the actual, real wrestler, preferring instead to use those who possess actual mat skills to pit against the hand-selected sports-entertainers who will roll right over them to the top. Honestly, if actual wrestling ability were the prime catalyst for the elevation of talent, Lance Storm and Sean Morely would be revered as wrestling gods and JBL would be remembered for his commentary. Sure outstanding wrestlers like Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit wore gold more often than they didn't, but it was usually mid-card gold, rarely, very in Benoit's case, was it the top prize.

Therefore, and I neither have a psychic link into how Titan Towers masterminds its' empire nor do I have some kind of "inside track" of any kind, this is just what I've come to believe to be true after a couple decades of observation, that if we can afford to buy off an indies' top two talents when it's limping, it forces that franchise to fight all the harder to survive. If it does, it can continue to search the indies to find our stars for us; if not, it wouldn't have survived anyway. And, if we can get these two top talents to play ball and end up making stars out of them, so the better. If they fail to really "connect with the fans" (notice I have that in quotes…), but still earn a nice pop when their name is announced, face or heel, keep them around as a reliable mechanic to help get over our more charismatic/less talented sports entertainers over. And, at the very worst, we consume them both into the WWE umbrella and, once their in-ring career is over, they become "producers", send them to ECW and/or the farm league and call it a career.

Now I don't know a damn thing about either of these guys outside of the ring. I don't know if they have some fierce code of honor about just how far he's willing to sell himself to the corporate infrastructure, if this is a "I'll hate myself in the morning" kind of thing in terms of signing that contract, or if they really are enterprising young gentlemen willing to expand and lend their talents to WWE in whatever vein seen fit by McMahonagement. Time will tell and that really is the only thing any of can say, whether we know the men as tight buds, or have never seen them in a ring before and know them solely from reputation.

I think that everybody wanted to see Morrison/Ziggler, but as mentioned the US Title needs some time.
The storyline with the IC title needs time to be flushed out too. Rey's suspension screwed up the time line. No build equals less drama, which doesn't help elevate Ziggler if he wins. When you are pushing somebody, their first title win needs to have some significance. By putting this to the next PPV - less than a month away - it marginally gives them time to build a feud. After all, belts should be worth chasing, but a feud makes it memorable.

I don't think the title is a downgrade for Morrison as some as stating. Rey, whom Morrison is replacing, was the second babyface behind Jeff. Jericho and Rey gave some shine back to the IC belt and Rey gave Morrison the rub on the way out. Given good matches and good booking, Morrison will be helped. Gold is gold, after all.

Morrison has been pushed hard too and the WWE doesn't need the backlash among fans. Better to let the anticipation build than to go back when fans reject a major push. With Undertaker being back, the fans would have felt it strange to have Punk/Morrison feud with the Undertaker on the sidelines. His return would have overshadowed the program and that doesn't help Punk or Morrison.

With Hell in a Cell coming out, Undertaker is the right way to go anyways. When that program is done, then we can have Punk/Morrison through the holidays. Undertaker will have a monster to feud with in Batista or some other storyline. Then Punk and Morrison can truly have the spotlight.

As for Pete's comment on Undertaker slowing down, the guy did just have hip surgery. Those things take some time to rehab. It may not be until next year when he seems right, if ever. I wonder if he was rushed back because of Hardy and Rey. It would be unfortunate if it is true, it could shorten what is left of Undertaker's career. A different roster shuffle, perhaps Michaels running scared from Legacy coming to Smackdown would have been better if that were the case.

I know that would never happen, HBK is RAW as much as Undertaker is Smackdown. But you have to maximize the use of and minimize the wear on these guys in end of their careers.
Posted By: Guest#4929

4929, are people saying Morrison as ICC is a downgrade?! Really? You know where I stand, as I already suggested that this is the most significant singles title possession in his career. I absolutely agree with you that Morrison has been turbo elevated to the role, if only temporarily until Mysterio returns, of #2 face on a brand, and behind The Undertaker, by the by. This is a HUGE opportunity for Morrison and, quite frankly, the chance of a lifetime. Too, it's nothing short of a corporate mandate that you, sir, have what it takes to pass unscathed through the glass ceiling someday if you stay healthy and mind yourself.

We see things progressing in a different way, though, as you seem to be convinced Taker will walk with Punk's title; I don't think so. Ever since Punk got his "bonus" title run, when Jeff chalked up Strike Two before WrestleMania, effectively putting himself out of the $itB match that Punk won by default, subsequently scoring world title gold off of Edge, it seemed to me that McMahonagement was giving Punk a trial run on top and, although The IWC decried the booking while Punk was champion, claiming he couldn't manage to win on his own, needed help/a distraction to score a clean pin to retain his belt, that wasn't the reason he had the belt. What McMahonagement was doing was booking him as an underdog that the fans increasingly wanted to see do well, but he became a victim to being outnumbered, distracted and injured, losing his title without ever having been beaten for it.

And then he was "depushed" to team with Kofi Kingston over The WTTTs. Everyone was screaming and crying back then, too, that this was a huge demotion for Punk. But I remained stalwart in my belief that McMahonagement now had a plan for Punk, that starting him "at the bottom" was part of a larger notion to build Punk in a different image now that he had the fans on his side, following a convincing, if ultimately disappointing, inaugural world title run. And look at him now, arguably the top heel on SD!, behind Chris Jericho, although I think Punk has managed to eclipse him. Hell, Punk could even be a more effective heel than Randy Orton, if for no other reason that Punk's turn, as well as his twisted heel insight, is a fresh character for fans to experience and explore, to say nothing of the fact that Punk, as a heel, now has a whole new roster of opponents, so that, too, is fresh.

All that to say, if this "depush" for Morrison ends up mirroring Punk's "depush", ladies and gentlemen, we gave a new star on our hands.

BTW, kudos to you for the Taker comments. We are of the same mind. I pity you…hahaha!

It bothers me that Kofi Kingston is holding on to the belt for so long, even though he's not really doing anything of importance. Seems like it would be a good time for some rapid fire title changes since they have no clear cut #1 guy to job to one of the top 4 in less than 6 minutes. When we got a champion we can care about, then he can hold onto the title for awhile.
Posted By: the dude

Well, dude, sadly, welcome to your typical mid-card/Women's/Diva's title situation. It seems as if McMahonagement plays hopscotch around the midcard or the women's division, realizing, "Hey, so-&-so hasn't had the belt in awhile, let's get him/her in against the current champion – who is it again…oh, right – and see how fans react." And so, plug in some formulaic situation A, B or C to lead to a passionless title switch because we simply weren't made to care about the chase or the champion, and things just hopscotch around in arbitrary fashion Until, of course, we finally get someone in who has an actual storyline attached to the belt and there's a brief glimmer of hope that they're finally getting serious about the title in question, but then we end up back like George Jetson walking Astro at the end of the closing credits, but Vince, at times, doesn't have time to politely ask Jane to "stop this crazy thing".



Rather than some rapid-fire title switches, though, I'd much rather that Creative invested a little time in the talent on that show not named Hornswoggle, John Cena, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels and Triple H, work with said talent and discover what about them as people makes them unique as people, amplify that aspect of their personality and introduce them to fans in that manner, give them a chance to actually get over, be featured consistently and allow the fans to make up their own minds about who they like and want to see reach the next level, but that's just me.

Geoff, Dick Vitale should have been in wrestling, but I'm still trying to decide, is he a face or heel? Now, with Smackdown, I had always wondered why it had such low ratings, when compared to RAW and 2 things really stick out for me. 1.People usually go out Friday night, but that wouldn't lower it THAT much. 2.It's taped. The show is already on Youtube by the time it comes on tv. Why watch on tv, when you can watch the whole show on Youtube and early? Maybe if the WWE had it live, people would have to watch on tv, or at least record it. I will admit to watching it on youtube if I hear that there is going to be something special on it. Morrison vs. Rey, for example.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth

It's also on some cruddy stations. In NYC, they frequently pre-empt it for other sporting events; not a USA once a year type thing, but frequently for pre-season NFL and regular season Yankee games.
Posted By: Iron Knee

Would Dick Vitale been a face or a heel announcer, Schmoove? I guarantee you, after two weeks,
The IWC would have branded him the unholy demonseed bastard offspring of Michael Cole and Don West.

With respect to the taped-versus-live issue allegedly separating Raw from SD! in the ratings, does the live issue really mean that much to folks? Does it really mean that much to fans? I don't want to behave as if I'm dragging out a soap box here, but if the fact that people rely on the fact that they can view it elsewhere at their leisure (most pointedly, via media that fails to track such views to Neilsen's, and, as such, doesn't allow for SD! to accumulate a true rating) makes me question such a fan's actual passion.

Before I'm indicted by implication, hear me out. When friends or colleagues learn that I'm an avid fan of professional wrestling, one of the top questions out of their mouths is, "It doesn't bother you that it's scripted?" Of course not! As a matter of fact, back when I used to order WWE PPVs religiously, I used to rely on the fact that the show was actually planned out to last the entire three hours for which I was paying, and not end up being over-mega-hyped for some heavyweight prizefight that lasts :46 before some fool's leaking teeth onto the canvas.

Look, you can road trip with friends to some amazing destination you all dig, be it the beach, camping, a tailgate party, the friggin mall, it doesn't matter, it's a given you'll have a blast once you get there, but if you discount the getting there, simply as a means to an end, then you're cutting yourself out of a big part of what makes road trips special and meaningful. So, too, is any form of episodic scripting. Sure, you can look on Wikipedia to find out who killed Laura Palmer and find out for yourself in a matter of seconds, but it won't matter to you unless you actually invest the time to watch "Twin Peaks", get into the lives and minds of the people in the town and the end pales in comparison to the amazing means you have to go through to actually have the killer revealed. Same with "Who shot JR" or "Who is Kaiser Soza".



That said, you can read a spoiler or a TV report and get an idea of what went down in a match, but unless you actually see it, witness it, then you've missed out on a huge part of the whole experience. I'm not looking to point any fingers at anyone or anything, but it's always been my opinion that even bad wrestling is better than no wrestling at all. Even if all you walk away from is a smug frustration (you know, because you know better, and don't we all? Hahaha!), I'd rather watch iMPACT! for its' athleticism and suffer though ODB/Cody Deaner stories than click on the spoilers, read through and then judge the worth of viewing the show from that description. But that's just me.

I totally dig the idea of the Mike Knox Hannibal Lectur-like character. Maybe he could get the Mankind-rub and go after the Taker. Physically, he probably sizes up well against UT but he needs to quit losing to Finley and start really fucking some people up. Hell, it would even set up my possible "hoss dream team" of Festus (under Knox's "mind/control" ala Lectur/Miggs) and Knox. Let them tie up UT and Kane (helps his bro) for a while and get UT out of the title picture. Let Punk go against Batista (the Homewrecker almost killed himself after Batista's announcement of moving to his beloved SD!)for a while. Batista will hurt himself again soon enough and all will return to how it should be.

Mr. Ziggles should be the name that Maria calls Dolph member.

Also, talking to the Homewrecker the other day brought up this question. Do you think the E's inability to get over their black wrestlers is due to the fact that they (probably) have no black writers? I know Michael Hayes likes to think of himself as black and the Rock doesn't count, so what's the deal. When was the last time, other than the Rock, that a black wrestler was over?

Have a few drinks this weekend!
Posted By: Angry Bear

Bear, I LOVE that idea. I say, start now. Start really throwing gas on the fire of Mike Knox getting his crazy on in that Hannibal Lecter-type role. Have not just defeat decisively, not just make submit, but just absolutely maul everyone he comes in contact with, and, when it's an actual match, be sure to feature one of those old school WWF picture-in-picture mini-promos where he details in sedate, self-assured and completely menacing fashion how he plans to do away with his current opponent, or likens him to something else that inevitably is squashed in some kind of ominous precognitive allegory or something.

Meanwhile, continue to allow Taker to do whatever he's meant to do. In fact, if I'm correct and Taker fails to unseat Punk for the belt, that's Knox' perfect opportunity to attack Taker, claiming he's past it, that he's lost it and isn't the monster he used to be, and that there's a new monster for a new age ready to ascend to Taker's spot as conscience of WWE. He intends to amend The Dead Man's failure as the conscience of WWE, rather, Knox intends to do away with conscience altogether. Depending upon how long this program goes with Punk, it might be able to stretch out and extend all the way through WrestleMania, where Taker would obviously extend The Streak. But still, losing to Taker at WrestleMania is no career-killer, I fact, it's likely the opposite. Just a thought.

I don't know about the race issue where the booking is involved. I don't know anything about anyone on any of the booking committees, unless they're performers or brass with whom I'm familiar by some other means, so I really couldn't comment, except to say that black performers have always had a curiously difficult time making it to the rarified air of the main event, not just in WWE, but other organizations, as well. It's sadly nothing new, but at least we're seeing performers of African descent being cast in roles with a little more diversity than rapper or pimp. Granted, in many cases, the characters are just updated and broadened stereotypes, but it seems that, at least, the performer has a certain ability to find a little control over how his character might be perceived, as opposed to simply playing a cartoon and perpetuating the cycle (MVP comes to mind here). Progress is slow in these areas, but hopefully, hey, let's dream big and ay a prayer for a full-blooded Japanese wrestler holding WWE world title gold…?!

Geoff. I am curious as to your thoughts on Jeff Hardy. I know you were of the same mind as I was of not condemning a man for past actions, but this arrest came out of left field for me. What do you think about the whole thing?
Posted By: Todd Vote

::Waits to start answer until Pink Floyd cd is done. "Animals". Starts up "Dark Side of the Moon". Takes a big breath. Proceeds::

Well, I'll admit to having been scooped on this story about 20:00 before it broke on the site here, so I had some time to it settle and sink in before I saw anyone else's reactions. Just the way my mind works, when I was first reading the news item, the first thing that struck me was that the county in which he was arrested is the same as his brother's middle name. Neither here nor there.

Beyond that, what can one really say? Look, I've been a huge fan of The Hardys since I first noticed them bumping like mannequins as Kane hurled them from the ring soon after having debuted. I thought, if a guy can bump like that, he's probably got an offense of really interesting moves, too. Turns out I was right there on both counts. I've always extended a pass to Jeff where his irregular/irresponsible behavior was concerned, because I'd rather see him perform than not. Too, I get his outsider gimmick and lived it myself when I was a teenager and I appreciate it. No matter what one feels about Jeff, what his overall consistent attendance may lack, he brings it in the ring and, somehow, has managed to connect with a whole new generation of fans, as well as maintain, to say nothing of having won over many former detractors and turn them into loyal fans. It's what all of us who believed back in the late ‘90s hoped we'd one day see out of him.

Now we balance that with his short-comings. I've written many times here about the fact that I wished I knew what it was, exactly that Jeff was doing such that I could better appropriate whether he was truly an addict, abusing a/some substance(s), or if he was just using irresponsibly, say, not needing to take something, but merely wanting to and doing so without thinking whether he'd be able to meet whatever commitments he had scheduled for the next day by doing so. I don't know if that makes a difference to anyone else, but it does to me.

Well, in true, human nature judgment mode, when I read the list of drugs seized from Jeff's place, my first thought was, "Oh, so that's what he's been doing…", which is awful and I'm not proud of that. If for no other reason that there's such a thing as due process in this country and there's another side to this story that we still have yet to hear, from Jeff himself.

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad one. One the one hand, it strikes me that, basically, he who speaks not in his own defense leaves the accusatory voices more room. Or something. However, the other part of my rationale suggests to me that perhaps he's just getting some good legal advice who's recommending that he not open his mouth unnecessarily to the media, for fear that even a perfectly innocent comment be turned into ammunition for the prosecution, and not taking every chance afforded him to get his face or his voice out to the public to proclaim what a saint he is the way Hulk Hogan seems content to do these days.

In the end, let's look at the list of charges facing Jeff Hardy:

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
Misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia

That's five felonies, although I think that third one there is bullshit. I'm not doubting the fact that it goes on, I'm sure some "residences" are maintained with the sole intention of being "the warehouse" or whatever, but there's a difference between that and someone who happens to keep their stash at their place. It seems to me that, for that law to stick, such an intention would have to be established as true, otherwise, it's just a case of sitting on too many pills, coke, steroids and sneak-a-tokes in your pad.

Reports imply that a fairly involved joint investigation (pardon that pun) in Moore County, plus an anonymous tip, led to the cops' swooping on Casa de Hardy, which is intriguing. I'm not even going there in terms of the tip. I have no assumptions, speculations, prognostications or any assurance that such a tip was wrestling-related, in fact, I'm willing to bet it was simple happenstance. What interests me is the investigation, because it seems a lot of what's hanging over Jeff's head is "intent to sell" and "trafficking", which is a whole lot different than simple possession, as far as I know. It's one thing to be on the low end of where the buck stops, it's quite another to be a cog working in the overall system, which will eventually lead to the business end of that buck stopping.

Is it possible that Jeff had that stuff stashed in his place and, after his last brush with Wellness, decided not to continue using? He was a pretty busy bee there for a good while, implying that he likely didn't end up at home too often, therefore, was unable to evacuate the "secret stash" before he got caught with it? I think that's certainly possible. And, having made the decision against re-signing with WWE, maybe he planned to take some time off and tune-in and drop-out for a bit, relax after a highly successful, highly satisfying and highly exhausting run?

I'd not be opposed to that, especially, since, should he ever return to WWE, ideally, he'd be signed to a new contract, and, thus, back to zero strikes where Wellness is concerned (although, after this, there may be a special caveat or two made custom for his contract), except for the fact that I am personally opposed to the recreational use of prescription pills. That shit is crazy addictive and can ruin your life as quickly as heroin or meth, just because it's prescribed doesn't mean it's "safe". There's use and abuse, but with prescription pills, one lends itself to the other with startling ease.

Still, if there was an investigation…doesn't that imply that there was at least reasonable doubt insofar as so much like-minded speculation led to the cops to busting Hardy? Here's a question – what if Jeff had stockpiled the pills and the steroids from when he used to use them, but has since stopped, and was simply looking to unload them on other wrestlers, etc., who would have bought them from someplace else anyway? Is it wrong for him to make back his buck as opposed to just dumping that stuff toilet? Or does he become as bad as Chris Benoit's doctor? It's not as if, in this scenario, Jeff was looking to set up shop, just to make back what he'd already foolishly invested for himself? Those of you in Ethics classes, I'm looking at you, especially.

All that to say, if Jeff can be absolved of having intent to sell/traffic these drugs, I think(…?) he may find himself in better shape. I honestly don't the law. I don't know the law here in West Hollywood (although I do know marijuana has been pretty well decriminalized), I don't know the laws in North Carolina. But I have to think possession would weigh in less compared with trafficking with intent to sell. If that can come top pass, I'd assume the third felony of maintaining the dwelling would be stricken, and, although charged with felony possession, it was reported that the amount of cocaine found at Jeff's place was "a residual amount".

All that to say, it strikes me that, should charges be downgraded to possession rather than trafficking and storing with intent to sell, if this is a first offense (no idea if Jeff has any kind of a record at all), the coke, given the apparent scant amount, could be minimized greatly, and, in comparison, the paraphernalia is a slap on the wrist, likely probation and/or community service. Again, I have no friggin idea, because I don't know the laws, but it sounds plausible to me, on some level…

Do I think he did it? I couldn't say. Not knowing for what and why he failed his previous two Wellness tests, if it was for painkillers, steroids and/or coke, I don't know what he was doing then and if it's the same thing for which he's been arrested. I think the real question that begs answering isn't Do I think he did it?, but rather, Does Jeff Hardy have a problem with illicit substances? Or, does he simply make poor choices and manage to find himself holding the bag each time at the worst possible time? If Jeff is 100% innocent, then egg on our faces for making a big deal out of a loudly trumped-up charge. If Jeff is found to be guilty, then perhaps those are questions he can explore, because, quite frankly, it seems to me that it will take a miracle to keep Jeff out of some sort of prison sentence here.

I want to believe in him and refuse to judge him before all the facts are on the table. I wish for him, as I do for anyone I like and admire, the best in all things. I'll leave it at that for now.

And now for a little levity:



That's all for this week! Thanks for reading…RESPECK!