The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: 12.11.09
Posted by John Meehan on 12.11.2009
The Wrestling World says goodbye to Umaga and hello to the "new Monday Night War."
Seasons greetings, wrestling fans! And thanks for tuning in for your regularly scheduled dose of intrawebz' rasslin optimism. Yup, it's the MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: your weekly wrap-up of all things pro wrestling, with a positive twist wherever possible.
After two weeks of road bumps (literal and figurative), we're back to our regularly scheduled format for this week's column. Where appropriate, you'll notice that we're shedding a few of our less popular features this time around. And since this frees up a bunch of space throughout: I guess now is as good a time as any to try out a few new tricks while we're at it (which will be included starting with next week's column).
Like so...
ASK MEE ANYTHING It's like real-time reader feedback on steroids
Last week, I pulled the old "slow news week special" and busted out the trusty YouThinks Reader Mailbag. In it, I posted a selection of reader comments, and I did my best to crack a few jokes and tackle each of the latest discussions surrounding this pseudo sport of kings. Lots of folks seemed to enjoy this change of pace, so I figured I'd keep the conversation going and include it in future issues of the FreeThinks. Hence the brandy new feature:
Seriously, ask away. It's totally anonymous (unless you're feeling particularly brazen), and I'm always up for some quality discussion on topics we might not have had the chance to cover in our regularly scheduled column (wrestling, pop-culture, general outlook on life, you name it).
Example:
Q: Hey John. Who do you think The Undertaker will fight at WrestleMania 26? A: If he's eyeing retirement, John Cena. If he's sticking around? Sheamus.
Keep 'em short, topical, and classy, and I'll fire off micro-feedbacks and post the best of 'em in next week's column.
(Minus the SELL and TELL of the week. Sadly, I'm still catching up on the past seven days of pro wrestling adventures thanks to an impromptu work-mandated adventure through sunny Newark, New Jersey. Fear not: SELL and TELL will be back next week as scheduled!)
Mark Franks and Danny Vaughn - local wrestlers Mark Franks and Danny Vaughn made their one-off debut on this week's ECW broadcast against the fellow newcomer tandem of Trent Baretta and Caylen Croft. Franks and Vaughn were defeated in a short contest as the "lifelong best friends" continued their winning ways, and neither man is believed to have signed a WWE contract at this time.
Umaga - former WWE superstar Eki "Eddie" Fatu passed away suddenly last Friday afternoon after suffering two massive heart attacks at the age of 36.
Fatu had just finished taking part in the "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" tour of Australia, and had returned home to his family's residence in Spring, Texas several days earlier. On Friday, his wife discovered him unconscious and with blood coming out of his nose, and the former Samoan Bulldozer was rushed to the nearest hospital and immediately placed on life support in the intensive care unit. Shortly thereafter, doctors determined that Fatu was brain dead with no reasonable chance of recovery, and his family made the decision to remove him from life support.
Obviously this is a tough loss for the wrestling community, both because of Umaga's age, his connectedness within the industry, and the fact that he was recently getting looks from both major North American wrestling promotions and discussing the possibility of (re-)signing within the coming months. On behalf of the entire 411 community, I hope you'll join me in extending your thoughts and prayers to the friends and loved ones of Umaga and the entire Anoa'i wrestling family. Regardless of the circumstances that surrounded his death, 36 is way too young for an otherwise healthy young man who was arguably in the prime of his career to be taken from this world.
Since it is virtually impossible to discuss this story *without* making mention of those aforementioned circumstances, however...
It's pretty obvious that Umaga's death has become something of a hot-button issue among wrestling fans and critical circles (need further proof? WWE didn't so much as mention it this week on RAW). Rather than dabble in pure assumption or idle speculation, however -- let's focus on the facts and allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
1) Umaga was Samoan (as the tattoo across his abdomen so proudly displayed). Worldwide research indicates that "Pacific Island nations have a serious problem with certain types of heart disease," and in some islands, such as Samoa, "the recorded prevalence is among the highest in the world."
2) Umaga was billed at a weight of 350 pounds (and a kayfabe height of 6'4"). Even if you knock a few kayfabe pounds or inches off here and there, the point remains: Umaga was -- by all reliable metrics -- clinically obese, which results in an exponential increase in his odds of suffering from congestive heart failure, heart attack, and a slew of other equally serious medical issues.
3) In 2007, a number of major publications named Umaga as one of several WWE superstars reported to have purchased pharmaceuticals from an online pharmacy. Umaga had reportedly received somatropin, a growth hormone, and was suspended from World Wrestling Entertainment for 30 days in accordance with the company's Wellness Initiative as a result.
In 2009, Umaga was once again suspended by WWE in accordance with their controlled substance policy. And when he refused to seek company-sponsored rehabilitiation as a result of his second strike under the WWE Wellness Initiative, Umaga's contract was terminated.
Bottom line?
While we don't know just yet exactly which of these warning signs ultimately lead to Umaga's death -- we do know that each of them were well documented long before the tragic events of this past Friday afternoon. Umaga's passing is undoubtedly a sad addition to the ever-expanding catalog of performers who've been struck down well before their time, but it is also a clear-cut tale of caution and a classic case of the price that can be paid when warning signs go unheeded.
None - In a welcome development, there are no new injuries to report in the past seven days' time.
After a bunch of reader mail and a few weeks of sabbatical, I've decided to suspend this feature indefinitely. Fun fact: only 15% or so of all web users are currently using Twitter, and -- regrettably -- the other 85% of y'all weren't all that entertained by/keen on/etc. a Tweet-inspired sidebar on a weekly basis.
Ya' win some, ya' lose some.
(Now as to *why*, exactly, the non-fans couldn't just scroll past these few lines is completely beyond Mee -- but hey, gotta' break a few eggs, right?)
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a replacement feature to pick up where the Tweeting left off. Kinda like Ask Mee Anything. Case in point:
Q: Is it just me, or does that new bad guy from the trailers for Disney's "The Princess and The Frog" look AWFULLY familiar? A: What, you mean THIS dude...
Hmm.... "A black dude who dabbles in voodoo magic, paints his face like a skull, and wears a big, black top hat with a bright red feather" eh?
I think you're onto something here. And if Pluto starts oozing black goo, we riot.
None - There was plenty of drama this week, alright -- but it was mostly kept to TNA's onscreen announcement (and thus will be handled in the corresponding section below).
At the start of the NFL season, I compiled a 17-week 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. Sure, things can change as the season wears on. But basically, I tried to size up the relative appeal of each Monday Night Football offering and anticipate what sort of effect it might have on WWE's audience as a result.
As we round down the final weeks of the NFL's regular season, I think that the point has been proven here. The start-of-season predictions were pretty much dead-on across the board, and wrestling fans can take relative comfort in seeing that our most reasonable (and "uninformed") expectations actually managed to play out on a weekly basis pretty much as expected. In the end, some weeks were up and some were down, but the WWE flagship broadcast actually managed to fare quite well against the NFL schedule throughout the season -- losing a few points (but still maintaining the bulk of their audience) against the stronger MNF matchups, and winning back fans when competition was light.
Long story short?
The purpose has been served, so we're putting this feature back on the shelf 'till next year as well.
TNA to Air LIVE and Directly Opposite RAW on Jan. 4 Upstart Company Teases "First Shot" in New Monday Night War
On last week's finale of The Ultimate Fighter, TNA's newest poster boy ("poster man?") in Hulk Hogan announced that the company would be airing a LIVE special on Monday, January 4 -- putting them in direct competition with WWE's flagship broadcast in Monday Night RAW. In the days that followed, TNA backstage personalities and onscreen talent immediately set out in earnest to capitalize on this newfound surge in momentum -- promising everything from a "major shakeup" in the landscape of professional wrestling to a "guaranteed 3.0 rating" and "the first shot" in what many have already begun to call "the NEW Monday Night War."
Let's cut to the chase --
"The first shot in the NEW Monday Night War," this ain't.
For all intents and purposes, a war necessitates plenty of reinforcements (read: $$$ to compete with Vince's $$$$$$$$$), a continued offensive (and defensive) strategy (read: national and international visibility, and the ability to sell out arenas across the country and beyond), or -- at the very least -- a rapid deployment of an occupying force (read: a weekly television slot on Monday nights). At this stage of the game, TNA is certainly making headway in each of these areas -- but they've still got a long way to go.
In other words: if it were an actual all-out "WAR" between the two promotions, it would be a short and decisive one. WWE decimates TNA in global recognition and nationwide touring ability. WWE has the brand identity and the built-in fanbase to maintain an audience two and three times TNA's best even when their "flagship" program is at its worse (see: Katie Vick), and Vinny Mac and company could buy and sell TNA's biggest stars three and four times over apiece and then pay them to do NOTHING upon their defection (just ask Gail Kim).
In short --
At this stage of their young existence, TNA simply can't be expected to fight an all-out "war" with WWE on an even playing field or in any fashion resembling the conventional sense.
Or they will lose.
Badly.
What TNA *DOES* have working in their favor, however -- is that all-important element of "surprise." Namely? Fans' curiosity has been piqued, word is making the rounds that The Hulkster will be arriving any day now, and all logic points to the first televised show of 2010 being one of the biggest landmarks in TNA's young history.
So if this *isn't* a first shot in a new Monday night war, then what is it?
Wrestling's answer to a Boston Tea Party.
What we're looking at here is a well-calculated publicity stunt to help TNA attract some nationwide attention (and ideally, more than a handfull of casual viewers to boot). Coming from the perspective of a younger, smaller, less-well-known and less-financially secure company like TNA, they really have nothing to lose by programming a "one-off" event in direct competition with the WWE big boys.
Is it likely to be a permanent move?
Hardly. TNA would be fool to think that they can just show up overnight and compete with the big dogs as if they'd been doing it all along. Sure, Eric Bischoff and WCW did it once before -- but Ted Turner's pockets (and television networks, and...) are a heckuvalot deeper than Dixie Carter's. Instead, TNA will take this opportunity to snipe a few rounds from the fringe, keep their opponents guessing, and continue to grow their fanbase while biding their time with their regularly scheduled programming and PPV events.
As an outsider with (quite literally) nothing to lose: it's a win/win.
If TNA manages to steal a few fans away from Monday Night RAW? All the better. Giving fans an alternative to the usual fare of Monday night wrestling can only benefit the company, the fans, the performers, and the business on the whole in the long run. We all know WWE has a well-documented history of stepping up their game when competition is at its fiercest -- and there is every reason to believe that TNA will likely do the same, and thus the overall quality of BOTH products will likewise improve accordingly.
(That's a "win" no matter how you slice it.)
But even if TNA gets CRUSHED in the head-to-head ratings? The company is certainly none the worse. Nobody in their right mind would ever peg a petulant young upstart promotion like TNA to be able to hang in WWE's league for any real amount of time -- and frankly (despite what Hulkster or Dixie Carter may tell you), any rating even CLOSE to 1.1 (which is the typical rating for a Thursday night iMPACT!) means that the company's fanbase is not only ridiculously loyal, but willing to travel AND willing to support the TNA brand even when they have a perfectly viable (and better-known) option just a few short channels away.
(Again, a "win" for TNA -- maybe not in the overall ratings, but certainly a good litmus test to see just how strong your fanbase can be when push comes to shove).
All in all?
No matter WHICH promotion you're watching, that makes it a great time to sit back and enjoy the show, and a GREAT time to enjoy being a wrestling fan regardless of where your allegiances lie.
This week's random 'rasslin reference comes from the wide world of Dunder Mifflin, where Scranton's favorite sycophant recently made passing mention of his lifelong wrestling fandom.
That's right, Dunderheads -- Dwight K. Shrute is a professional wrestling fan!
I don't do well with partners. I almost never figure skate in pairs. At camp, my swim buddy drowned (not my fault he couldn't keep up with me). I once got a great deal on a bicycle built for two, took off a seat modifying it into a bicycle built for one. I prefer to take people down single handedly, like Rambo or John McClane, but with a Samurai sword. However, today a co-worker learned of my diabolical plans, backing me into a corner and forcing me to conspire with him against my foe. Now, this solitary predator will have to learn to hunt with another. Ah-woooooo (that's the sound of me howling like a wolf, the prototypical pack hunter - it's a metaphorical howl)!
Having a co-conspirator may work to my advantage. Among the plethora of valuable life lessons I've learned from the WWE, is that a tag team always defeats a single wrestler (unless that wrestler is The Undertaker, I've seen him easily defeat two fighters - but Jim is no Undertaker). Alone, I was unable to topple Jim Halpert with a bugged wooden mallard, a dozen Jewish pastries, and an Employee of the Month scheme so sinister even my grandfather would approve. So perhaps a partner is what I needed all along. Co-conspirators to take down a Co-Manager - it's poetic...well, almost, if you say co-conspirator and co-manager fast enough they sort of rhyme.
First Greg House, then Cartman and company and the Gang from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and now Dwight himself? Wrestling fans, rejoice -- the best characters on television stand proudly beside you.
Now if only I could convince Sue Sylvester to step into the ring as a manager...
"Get ready for for the ride of your life. You are about to board the Sue Sylvester Express. Destination: Horror!"
And With That, I'm Outta' Here
That'll do it for this week's FreeThinks. Big weekend for football, especially if you're a fan of the NFC East (not to mention my beloved New England Patriots -- who are in serious need of a wake-up call!). 'Till next time, enjoy Sunday's TLC pay-per-view, get those finals done and that holiday shopping all wrapped up (har har har), and always stay positive.
Posted By: dude (Guest) on December 10, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Great stuff, John.
Once again, it's the Monday NOW War.
The 1990's, was then, THIS, is N.ow W.orld. O.rder.
Hogan, regardless of what anyone "thinks", brings not only one of the most recognizable brand on-the-planet,
he brings an extremely valuable "intangible". Dewayne? a one-shot(big)-deal. No more, no less.
Again, without question: This is EXACTLY what "the business", the Boys, and the fans, NEEDED. With the PROPER mix of Mic semi-shoots, REALITY-based
controversy (Jarret, Sting, Samoa),
and SWERVE, SWERVE, internet-smark SWERVE? The potential, is UNLIMITED.
Bischoff, Taylor, PROVEN back-stage
success. Russo? Monitor CLOSELY.
Boys, make IT happen!
Posted By: HisPrinceMichael (Registered) on December 10, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Good points about the TNA monday night show. I should also note that in addition to the deep pockets of Turner, WCW also had another thing going for it: name recognition. While the WWF was the big dog in pro wrestling, WCW was fairly close, having been a top competitor for at least a decade prior to the Nitro debut, going back to the NWA days. It was a matter of good fortune, a top star, and some underhanded tactics by Vince McMahon in the early PPV era that allowed the WWF to take off in the mid 80's and not look back for a decade. On the other hand, WCW was a direct descendant of the NWA, and had a long history of tradition, combined with some well-established names, and some WWF transplants. Let us also not forget that the WWF product had gotten ridiculously bad in the mid 90's, with the exception of Bret Hart and anything the Kliq touched. WCW wasn't that much better in 1995, having reverted to the Hogan cartoon era, but even then it showed signs of life on the undercard.
I'm not sure where TNA stands right now, but it is definitely the underdog, with a handful of recognizable WWF transplants, including two from the attitude era (Angle & Foley), along with a number TNA homegrown talents. Hogan alone won't make them competitive, but if TNA could capture lightning in a bottle and bring in some surprises, along with a good top angle (that is not another version of the NWO), they could make the wrestling landscape interesting again. I'd like to see them chuck Russo and bring in Heyman, as we know he's a talented booker, who simply had problems with money (and getting along with others). Heyman could help the product right now more than Russo--and the stories of the backstage spats between Bischoff and Heyman would be fun to follow. But that's just wishful thinking.
Posted By: Michael L (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:05 AM
American Gladiators, anyone?
Hogan Knows Best?
Barely anyone outside the IWC gives a shit.
Posted By: Guest#0007 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Damn... tweeting with the stars was GREAT.
F*ck Mee... bring it back.
Posted By: Guest#2491 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Shawn and Gus from Psych are also huge wrestling fans. They've made several wrestling references, and one episode began with their yearly ritual of watching the Royal Rumble.
Posted By: SeanAltly (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 01:14 AM
Thank you for the ending the joke that was Tweeting with the stars, and then to place the blame on 'us' for not being able to scroll past it for your poor writing is just a 'cop-out'.
Posted By: Jimmy Beans (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 02:40 AM
Great stuff, John.
Once again, it's the Monday NOW War.
The 1990's, was then, THIS, is N.ow W.orld. O.rder.
Hogan, regardless of what anyone "thinks", brings not only one of the most recognizable brand on-the-planet,
he brings an extremely valuable "intangible". Dewayne? a one-shot(big)-deal. No more, no less.
Again, without question: This is EXACTLY what "the business", the Boys, and the fans, NEEDED. With the PROPER mix of Mic semi-shoots, REALITY-based
controversy (Jarret, Sting, Samoa),
and SWERVE, SWERVE, internet-smark SWERVE? The potential, is UNLIMITED.
Bischoff, Taylor, PROVEN back-stage
success. Russo? Monitor CLOSELY.
Boys, make IT happen!
Posted By: HisPrinceMichael (Registered) on December 10, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Is something mentally wrong with this guy?
Posted By: ? (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 02:51 AM
Great stuff, John.
Once again, it's the Monday NOW War.
The 1990's, was then, THIS, is N.ow W.orld. O.rder.
Hogan, regardless of what anyone "thinks", brings not only one of the most recognizable brand on-the-planet,
he brings an extremely valuable "intangible". Dewayne? a one-shot(big)-deal. No more, no less.
Again, without question: This is EXACTLY what "the business", the Boys, and the fans, NEEDED. With the PROPER mix of Mic semi-shoots, REALITY-based
controversy (Jarret, Sting, Samoa),
and SWERVE, SWERVE, internet-smark SWERVE? The potential, is UNLIMITED.
Bischoff, Taylor, PROVEN back-stage
success. Russo? Monitor CLOSELY.
Boys, make IT happen!
Posted By: HisPrinceMichael (Registered) on December 10, 2009 at 11:32 PM
_______________________________
lol...what the hell did you just say? Did you just say the business and the boys (gotta love when a fan refers to wrestlers as "the boys") NEED reality based controvery, semi-shoots, and internet swerves? Did you then go on to demand that Vince Russo be monitored closely? The things you said the business "needs" could be classified as Russonomics 101, yet you seem to want him handcuffed. Alrighty then.
And I have no clue where you were going with the whole Monday NOW Wars/NWO thing. Maybe you were trying to be clever and messed up your acronyms.
Posted By: MasterShake (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 03:19 AM
John Meehan,
You're dumb as hell!
Posted By: DoubleADaGreat (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 08:16 AM
(read: $$$ to compete with Vince's $$$$$$$$$) I don't know how you can be a more wrong. I guess you don't know who owns TNA so I will tell you PANDA ENERGY. Now maybe you ate paint chips as a child sorry mommy and daddy left you at the zoo as well its not the forgot its the wanted you to be with your kind again. TNA has more disposable income because of their parent company than WWE could imagine. And since obviously you are slow I will make this real simple so your brain will comprehend fully. Energy co.everybody uses, Wrestling co.not everybody cares. Everybody use makes more money. There understand now go drink you milk and go to bed sport.
Posted By: hateman (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Sorry, the real Twitter annoys the ever-loving hell out of me, so a comedy version has the same effect.
Glad it's gone.
Posted By: Taxi Driver (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Meehan, do you see the Fiesta Bowl (Boise State/TCU, 8:00 PM Eastern, January 4th) taking a chunk of the WWE or TNA audience, or both?
Maybe TNA should have waited for the 11th?
There's no NFL game that final Monday night, at least.
Posted By: The S-Man (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 08:47 AM
MeeThinks this column needs more Tweeting to the stars :(
Posted By: Guest#2988 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Daniel Tosh has made a few wrestling references in his show Tosh.0, including a fantastic bit on Arn Anderson.
Posted By: Guest#0564 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 10:21 AM
@Jimmy Beans (Guest)
I know what you mean man. Its so friggin inconvenient to scroll past that tiny section of the column every week. Sometimes it takes a full 1/2 of a second to get to the next section.
Oh, and I probably could have just scrolled right past your comment too, or could I have?
See what I did there? Oh who am I kidding? You didn't get that joke!
Posted By: Polish Post (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 10:57 AM
The reader feedback is a worthy successor to "tweeting with the stars"
That feature could have been more interesting with REAL tweets instead of fake tweets designed to amuse.
Just sayin...
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Meehan's a Gleek?
Seriously though, it would be awesome if wrestling had a character like Sue Sylvester.
Posted By: Guest#9906 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Bring back tweeting with the stars!!! Also, why are you only answering one or two questions on this "Ask Mee" column???
Posted By: dogpound7382 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM
More Twitter goodness!!
Posted By: Huh? (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM
No Tweeting with the stars?
No Sell or Tell?
Me no read. Seeya next week Mr. Meehan
Posted By: Likes those 2 features (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 12:34 PM
The real interesting speculation is if Energy Panda thinks that throwing money at TNA to insure that they pass WWE (or at least become a close second) is really worth it in the long haul or not. Vince took Turner down, not so much with money (even though that played a role), as he did with improving the product and putting on a better show. TNA, and Panda energy can throw tons of cash into their product but if their product remains the same they will not, nor can they, truly become competitive.
Posted By: magicguy (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 01:21 PM
@hateman -
Well, you're an idiot. As you said yourself, "I don't know how you can be (sic) a more wrong."
But what the hell, I'll bite --
Panda energy is owned by Robert Carter, Dixie's father. TNA Wrestling -- while purchased and funded in part by assets made available through the parent company -- is currently owned and operated as a separate entity from the parent company altogether. It is, for all practical purposes, a subsidary, an offshoot, or a "toy" company (if you will) -- which Dixie's dear old dad has entrusted into her keeping and allowance to see just how business savvy she can be.
Subsidary companies hardly have unlimited access to their parent corporation's deep financial pockets. As such, they can (and do) go bankrupt all the time. Just ask Panda Ethanol, as a matter of fact (a subsidary of -- wait for it... PANDA ENERGY!), which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May of 2009.
(... the more you know.)
Posted By: The Rock (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 02:19 PM
(read: $$$ to compete with Vince's $$$$$$$$$) I don't know how you can be a more wrong. I guess you don't know who owns TNA so I will tell you PANDA ENERGY. Now maybe you ate paint chips as a child sorry mommy and daddy left you at the zoo as well its not the forgot its the wanted you to be with your kind again. TNA has more disposable income because of their parent company than WWE could imagine. And since obviously you are slow I will make this real simple so your brain will comprehend fully. Energy co.everybody uses, Wrestling co.not everybody cares. Everybody use makes more money. There understand now go drink you milk and go to bed sport.
Posted By: hateman (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 08:29 AM
______________________________
With geniuses like this floating around, how in the hell is our economy in the dumps? This guy obviously has sound knowledge of finances.
Posted By: MasterShake (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Ask Me Anything - no questions
The Debuts- 2 dudes no one will ever see again
The Disabled List- empty
Tweeting With the Stars- canceled
The Drama- none
The New Monday Night War- canceled
Congratulations all comment bitchers, the Freethinks is now empty and no one can complain about it!
Posted By: Just Saying (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 03:55 PM
I like the fact that Meehan stated that TNA does have the curiousity factor going for it that the WWE lost a long time ago.
As of now TNA does have the more entertaining show, whereas RAW has become very stale to the point when even they try to build up new stars (Sheamus) it doesn't come off as entertaining television.
Perhaps what happens on Jan 4 will be a wakeup call to WWE that they need to seriously build up their up and coming stars in meaningful feuds the way TNA does. The Kofi buildup is a great start and I hope the WWE goes through with it.
Posted By: JR (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 03:59 PM
i bet WWE has got THE ROCK to host 4th januiary just to make sure TNA is crushed in the ratings
Posted By: ian (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Um Rock I believe you forget one thing since its a toy that means it for fun. Just like WCW was to Turner. Look what happend when Turner decided to throw money at it everything went up. If Panda Energy decides to do the same thing the same result can happen. Turners pockets were bigger than Mcmahons and so are Panda Energys. Thank you for using copy/paste from wikipedia for your info and for correcting my grammar error as well. I do tend to make them. If I need a secratary someday I will look for you. And Mastershake there are 10000 comedians out of work right now and you want to join them? I am only stating the truth WWE doesn't stand a chance against a motivated Panda Energy
Posted By: hateman (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 06:08 PM
Since you finally got rid of those God awful Tweets, why not ressurect the "Hot Asian and Latina Bitches" from the old Truth B Told column?
Posted By: thepsychedelia (Registered) on December 11, 2009 at 08:44 PM
wrong hate man, you are dead wrong. wwe is bigger than panda energy from a financial standpoint.
wwe took in 527 million in revenue last year while panda energy took in 200 something million.
wwe is bigger than panda energy and know they can combat any war from tna.
tna is a joke and they are losing money which is why most of their ppvs and all of tehit tv shows are from the impact zone.
tna is taking a shot at wwe because they have has been hogan on the team but he is old and won't last long.
Posted By: Guest#2353 (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Bring back the fake tweets.
Posted By: The DaGreene (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 09:30 PM
Umaga is basically the 00's version of Yokozuna.
Posted By: Ryan Haseldine (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Um Rock I believe you forget one thing since its a toy that means it for fun. Just like WCW was to Turner. Look what happend when Turner decided to throw money at it everything went up. If Panda Energy decides to do the same thing the same result can happen. Turners pockets were bigger than Mcmahons and so are Panda Energys. Thank you for using copy/paste from wikipedia for your info and for correcting my grammar error as well. I do tend to make them. If I need a secratary someday I will look for you. And Mastershake there are 10000 comedians out of work right now and you want to join them? I am only stating the truth WWE doesn't stand a chance against a motivated Panda Energy
Posted By: hateman (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 06:08 PM
__________________________
Your obvious TNA-fandom aside, let's look at some actual numbers. In 2008, Panda Energy's revenue was 14.2 million dollars (courtesy of Yahoo Business http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/60/60388.html). That hardly sounds like Billionaire Ted money to me. The WWE's trailing twelve months revenue is 483.26 million (again courtesy of Yahoo Business http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=WWE). You're right, hateman...it's very clear who has the deeper pockets of the two.
And the line about 10000 comedians being out of work and me wanting to join them? I don't even know what you were trying to say there. Are you saying you're going to fire me from the internet? You might want to get your "secratary" to gather the proper forms. You know, the secretary you're about to hire.
Posted By: MasterShake (Guest) on December 11, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Meehan! Glee is awesome!! Glad to see you like it as well...
Posted By: Smo (Guest) on December 12, 2009 at 12:34 AM
I am not a TNA fanboy nor WWE. I am a wrestling fan and the biz sucks ass. Vince and his writers have already ruined it for the past 8 yrs and I am sick off the same bullshit. Now kiddys its common sense. Engery everyone needs everyone doesn't need wrestling. Now those figures were really cute from 08 I am pround you guys don't have job but have time to look up the numbers. In 08 the economy was better than 09 so look at the numbers again this year because my jobless bitches you'll see a difference. Also as the economy continues to drop which it will because of our goverments incompadence you will see more drop off for WWE but not as much for Panda energy for unlike the way you E-boys sound who would rather have no power/heat depending on your geographic location than miss out on buyin your new Cena shirts. And Mastershake its appernt to me that you are better at copy/paste than reading I never said I wanted you to join them I asked you if you wanted to join them that's you choice cartoon boy.
Posted By: hateman (Guest) on December 12, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Meehan,
You do realize that the Baron Samedi mythos & look is what Papa Shango is based on, right?
--TTK
Posted By: The Tomahawk Kid (Guest) on December 12, 2009 at 03:46 PM
I loved the twitter section!
Posted By: Guest#7416 (Guest) on December 12, 2009 at 03:49 PM
The fake tweets were awesome.. bring em back!
Posted By: Blackbird 13 (Guest) on December 12, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Since you finally got rid of those God awful Tweets, why not ressurect the "Hot Asian and Latina Bitches" from the old Truth B Told column?
Posted By: thepsychedelia (Registered) on December 11, 2009 at 08:44 PM
This man speaks the truth.
Posted By: The S-Man (Guest) on December 13, 2009 at 09:51 AM
never.......neverrrrr.....succumb to the will of the unlightened masses. bring back what you got rid of and make the column whole again!!! If they don't like it... well, they get their just desserts!!
Posted By: dart vader (Guest) on December 14, 2009 at 08:17 AM
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