The Triple Threat 3.07.10: The 179th Edition – NXT, TNA To Monday, Traci Brooks, More

Posted by David Martell on 03.07.2010

This week we give our impressions on WWE NXT, talk about TNA moving to Monday nights, who we would want to have the axe by the WWE, Charlie Haas getting released and Traci Brooks being gone from TNA. Chris Jericho is our Superstar Highlight. Please Enjoy!





Topic # 1 What are your impressions on WWE NXT so far?

David Martell: I have to say, this is the freshest wrestling program on TV right now. RAW hasn't been great, Impact has been awful and even though Smackdown is good, it hasn't excited me as much as NXT. I really like the format of the show and how you get to learn about the new wrestlers and about there gimmick and past. WWE is trying to make you care about the person and that's cool. This show will make or break each one of them and it is already showing who is worth while and who isn't. The people I am most impressed with so far is Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, and Wade Barrett. Daniel Bryan is obviously the most talented on the show and he seems to be the focal point as well. I am completely fine with this since I have been following him for years. The only problem is that he hasn't won a match yet but he kind of doesn't need to quite yet. Justin Gabriel definitely has a career in the WWE. He is definitely going to end up popular and right now the WWE kind of needs more "high fliers." I am still surprised they let him use the 450 splash but that is completely fine with me. Wade Barrett is showing that he can talk on the mic quite well but I am not quite impressed with his in ring work yet. He is huge though, I was quite surprised at how tall this guy was. I am confident that all three of those guys will be stars in their own right. The only rookie on NXT that I completely hate is Skip Sheffield. This guys is awful in and out of the ring. He is just a meat head and for some reason WWE still likes guys like this. I hope he goes no where. He is just completely roided out. We already have one Batista, we don't need another one. Overall, NXT is a lot of fun and if you haven't checked it out you definitely need to. NXT is a breath of fresh air.

Jacob San Antonio: All things considered, NXT has been a pretty awesome show. You have some talented rookies, mix them up with some of the biggest heels and faces of the WWE, and let the stories write themselves each week. I've been having a great time watching NXT these past two weeks, thanks to some great matches and even better commentary. I may be the only person who sees it that way, but listening to a distinctly heel Michael Cole has been a treat. Daniel Bryan gets his fair share of the spotlight, dealing with the Miz and whatever WWE pro dislikes his lack of respect, yet so many of the other rookies have come up and made an impact. David Otunga and Skip Sheffield are two new faces who I've immediately taken a liking to. Otunga looks to me like he could be a solid heel in any sort of capacity, so I'm hoping he cleans up his ring work a bit. Sheffield just has charisma, and if you've seen any of the guy's entries on Twitter you'd know the guy has a great attitude to go with it. Out of all the superstars on NXT, it would be the trio of Byan, Otunga and Sheffield who have my immediate attention. I'm seriously looking forward to the next show.

Zach Brown: I am really impressed with NXT thus far. It's a pretty good format. None of the rookies are bad in my opinion, and it's a pretty entertaining show to watch. So far, I like how Daniel Bryan is one of the main focuses of the show. That's how it should be in my opinion. And the video packages giving each wrestler's back story are really entertaining and a great way to get you to become a fan of each guy. Hell, even after David Otunga botched his spinebuster in the first week, I was still a fan of him from the video package. All in all, I've really enjoyed NXT. It's just too bad that the ratings suck.


Topic # 2 TNA Impact is permanently on Monday night starting this Monday. What do you think we are in store for?

David Martell: Lets hope that they up their game because TNA lately has been lackluster at best. Supposedly something big is going to be happening in the first five minutes of the show this week. It will most likely be RVD which I guess is pretty cool but I doubt he is going to make TNA worth watching. TNA seems to be all about the entertainment and not about the wrestling and I am pretty sure that the majority of the TNA audience was more into the wrestling instead of the backstage happenings. TNA use to be wrestling and it is sad that that slogan can no longer be used. TNA was suppose to be the alternative to the WWE but it reminds me of WCW in its dying days and that is not the kind of alternative I want. I hope the best for TNA, I hope they can pick it up and make it something special that I would actually want to watch. Lets hope Hogan can actually get things together and give us a good wrestling program to watch.

Jacob San Antonio: It all depends on what they're aiming for. If TNA is aiming for ratings comparable to the WWE, then success will not happen. I think the only success TNA might see is just a small jump in ratings, like a consistent 1.6. Their last Monday experiment left management pretty satisfied, so I think aiming for a rating around the same area would be the best thing for the company. The thing that TNA has to stress is that they're giving WWE fans an option. I don't think I need to mention how bad some of these guest hosts have been, and it seems you can't always leave the WWE to working their show around the hosts in order to keep the bad promos down. So if TNA just delivers solid shows every Monday night, I'd expect to see a constant rise in ratings until maybe they reach a 2.0. Wrestling fans want to see wrestling, and even if one show delivers a bad match that's still better than the other show's offering of Cheech and Chong eating "Lucky Charms". The best thing for both companies at this point is competition, so I'd seriously like to see the two of them compete on Mondays.

Zach Brown: Well according to Hulk and crew, we "have to watch the first five minutes!" That might be all I watch. Honestly, I don't know what to think of this. Both Raw and Impact have been flat out terrible for a while now. Maybe forcing them to compete will bring out the best in both shows. Then again, maybe not. Saying that TNA will "succeed" is kind of a loose term. Will they beat WWE in the ratings? No. WWE just has an element of production value that TNA is years away from achieving. I do think TNA will build and keep an audience on Monday nights that will average at maybe a 1.7 or a 1.8 every Monday. As long as they consider that successful, I think they will achieve it with no problem. TNA is a good company that has a lot of good things going for it. This move to Monday nights is an exciting time, and it can only mean good things, at least for right now.


Topic # 3 With all the recent WWE releases, who would you like to see get the axe?

David Martell: Is Tyler Reks still around? Yeah, I would like him to be gone forever. Skip Sheffield needs to get nixed from the NXT. I am still an avid non fan of Kane. I get that he is a company guy but I just hate when he gets any kind of push. He lost all his mystique when he lost his mask and now he is just bland and boring. I think he would work much better as a road agent or something along those lines. Other than that, I cant think of anyone else I truly dislike or who I would want to get fired. I am surprised people like Jimmy Wang Yang and Slam Master J still have jobs but that might not last that long. Maybe Jillian Hall? The roster is actually looking half decent right now and the added addition of the NXT stars will be welcomed when their season comes to an end. The WWE seems to be getting smarter with the wrestlers they are hiring and it is definitely starting to show.

Jacob San Antonio: In a perfect world, Michelle McCool. These last two months have really highlighted who I find to be the worst in the WWE Divas, and that's really saying something. I realize she has her connections to rather important people in the WWE, but whenever she takes to the ring she makes a bad match even worse. If she tries to wrestle, I find something to pass the time. If she cuts a promo, I listen to my mp3 player. If she walks away as the champ again, I laugh. I don't expect a lot of people to take the Divas division seriously, but it gets pretty damned hard to when you allow this terrible act to continuously hold the gold. I'm not saying that firing McCool would suddenly make the Divas matches watchable, but I do think we'd only see good things happen as a result. In all seriousness, the fact that Natalya and Beth Phoenix aren't both champions is an embarrassment.

Zach Brown: Well, to say that I want people to lose their jobs is a somewhat cruel thing. That being said, there are people that I don't want to see on TV, and there are also people that I am shocked are still employed by WWE. It doesn't mean I want them fired, but I just wish they were off my TV. However WWE decides to go about that is their business. First of all, I can't stand Hornswoggle. But WWE would never fire him because they are obsessed with this guy for some reason. He just takes up too much screen time on Raw, and is always involved with the worst storylines and interactions. Also, I see no discernable talent in Croft and Baretta. At least not yet. Slam Master J is a guy that I was ready to support when he left the Jesse character behind. And then I saw him have a match. And I think WWE thought what everyone else was thinking because he just didn't get over and was left off TV. If you repackage yourself and then instantly earn jobber status again, there's just no hope left. Again, I don't wish ill on any of these people. I just don't find myself entertained by them. This is actually a good time in WWE where the vast majority of the WWE talent are at least decent in the ring or on the mic. Now if only they could build better shows around these guys.


Topic # 4 WWE recently released Charlie Haas. How do you feel about this?

David Martell: This isn't a big surprise at all. He was basically just collecting a check from home. I still would of liked to see a reunion between the World's Greatest Tag Team but we never really got that. Unfortunately Charlie has didn't have a great personality to go with his great in ring skills. He is kind of like a Lance Storm just with less success. The WWE tried to give him personality by pairing him with Rico and making him act like other wrestlers but in the end it just didn't work out. I wouldn't be surprised if he came back in a year or two when the WWE needs an enhancement talent. I am sure he will get booked somewhere. It would be interesting if he ended up in RoH some how but who knows.

Jacob San Antonio: Ah, that's no good. I can't say I'm surprised, but it's just too bad WWE Creative gave up on him. He was a solid wrestler, and if given more of a chance I think he could have been a decent midcarder. I enjoy his gimmick last year of coming out as various different wrestlers, Bret the Hitman Haas and Stone Cold Steve Hasstin for examples, and I thought maybe the crowd reaction would be enough to get his career going again. I was wrong, as usual, and it seems like he was just left to stagnate in the locker rooms despite the occasional match with Mike Knox or Jimmy Wang Yang. It sucks to see him go, but I figure this is the best time to state that Creative had better do something with Wang Yang soon or I'll be terribly upset. His gimmick is so ridiculous it seriously needs to flourish. Please.

Zach Brown: I think it's funny that Charlie Haas wanted his release a few months ago, and was given a raise instead. All that only to be released a short time later! Someone could have saved money just by giving Haas what he originally wanted. I've always liked Charlie Haas, but the guy just could not get over as himself. You know something is weird when the guy starts getting over just by doing parodies on other wrestlers. Clearly he had a good sense of humor and a good personality, but he just didn't know how to channel that into his ring charisma or on the mic. I've always thought Charlie Haas was a talented wrestler. And it always sucks to see a talented guy like Haas not get his due. But this release was just a matter of time. Could the guy get over in TNA? Who knows? I could definitely see him going to TNA because I think he has a few good years left in him. But as for making it to the top level of the company, I highly doubt it. I could see him getting used about the same way that Sean Morley was being used. Then again, Morley did beat Daniels. But I digress. I'd rather see Charlie Haas in a company like ROH. In ROH, guys don't need to have good mic skills to be the face of the company. For example, Tyler Black is their champion. And hell, if Charlie Haas could have as good of a run in ROH as D'Lo Brown did, I think things could go well for him.


Topic # 5 Traci Brooks got released from TNA this past week. How do you feel about this?

David Martell: Eh, I don't really care that much. It seems that TNA just didn't have a place for her now. They used her for Playboy and now she's done, it happens to a lot of WWE divas why not the TNA ones. I never thought she was that attractive anyways. She just had a huge rack but her face looked a tad on the man side. I am sure she will have a place somewhere in wrestling somewhere out there. I doubt she will end up in the WWE though. Either way, I wish the best for her and hopefully she can continue having a successful career.

Jacob San Antonio: Releasing a seven year talent is always big news, and this is no different. This came as a complete surprise, and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. TNA has always had a decent sized Knockouts roster, and with the recent departure of Awesome Kong it doesn't quite make sense that TNA would simply not have anything for Brooks. If it were me, I'd throw the spotlight on a brand veteran after losing someone like Kong, and see if I couldn't make up for the loss by going with a familiar face. It's upsetting to see a person like Brooks go, and I hope she'll keep wrestling.

Zach Brown: Aww poor Traci. All of CM Punk's former girlfriends seem to be losing their jobs nowadays. Coincidence? I think not! Seriously though, Traci was an entertaining knockout that had been there since the beginning. For some reason, I think her best stuff was when she managed Robert Roode. But it seemed like TNA didn't have a very good spot for her. With a stable like The Beautiful People, I can imagine that it could be hard for the other Knockouts to get TV time. Also, I find it a little odd that TNA would just up and release Kazarian's wife like that. I mean they couldn't just keep her employed for decency's sake? I realize that this is a rough business and all, but I'm sure she could have been some sort of agent for them or a Knockouts trainer or something like that. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember TNA ever capitalizing on Traci Brooks posing for Playboy. I mean when WWE Divas pose for Playboy, they make it a big deal. TNA could only have profited by mentioning that about Traci, but I don't ever remember it happening. Again, if they did call attention to it, please remind me. Either way, I hope Traci finds some other way to work in the wrestling world, because I've always liked her.





Chris Jericho


Our thoughts on Chris Jericho.

David Martell: Chris Jericho has probably been the best wrestler in the past few years all around. He is a damn good wrestler, the BEST on the mic, and he is usually the most entertaining part of the show. I really think his match with Edge will be phenomenal and I have no idea why people aren't talking about this more. Yeah, it isn't the biggest storyline going on but the match quality could be amazing. Jericho doesn't disappoint at Mania. He gave us a decent match with three over the hill wrestlers last year. How many people can do that? Lets not forget that he has given us some of the best fueds the past few years. His feud with HBK was fantastic and gave us a ladder match that we have been wanting to see for years. Last year him and Rey gave us several four star matches. He might not be the best of all time but he is definitely in the top ten. If the WWE ever loses Jericho, he will be extremely hard to replace.

Jacob San Antonio: Having grown up watching WCW, I can say that Chris Jericho has always been one of my favorites. Face, heel, whatever you want him to be he can do. He'll do it well, too. He could take a midcard match against a random luchadore and turn that match into the match of the night on many Mondays. His feuds with Rey Mysterio were always exciting to watch, and if you weren't a fan of his wrestling then maybe his longstanding "feud" with Bill Goldberg was enough to change your opinion of him. When it was announced he was headed to the WWE I was apprehensive at the time. "Can Jericho be just as great a talent on the other brand?" The answer was a very large yes. I didn't know what to expect as far as how his debut would go, but I can't say I ever expected his debut to come in the middle of a Rock promo. From that first entrance, Jericho was made. Playing the annoying fop for a great while, Jericho had some awesome matches with pretty much everyone. He skyrocketed as far as being the very first Undisputed Champion, beating both Stone Cold and the Rock on the same night, something I still have a hard time believing. Jericho was quite honestly the best. He may have been the crowd favorite, like Austin or the Rock, but he still managed to get the audience going when he needed to. From past to present, Chris Jericho has been the best in the world at what he does. Well, to me at least.

Zach Brown: I think the only way to not like Chris Jericho right now is either if you're a die hard 100% TNA fan, or if you live and die by kayfabe. Jericho is just great TV. He is one of the hardest working guys in the wrestling business altogether, he puts on great matches, and he is stellar on the mic. I am very glad that he won the title because he has deserved it for several months now. I know that they only gave it to Jericho to set up his match with Edge at Mania, but I'm still satisfied with Jericho being in the main event scene. And even though he won the title by HBK interfering in the chamber, putting the belt on Jericho in any capacity is a great decision in my eyes. Ever since the guy turned heel, he has had great program after great program after great program. Lately, it seems like the guy can party a little hard, but who really cares? There are so many worse things that he could be doing. All in all, Jericho is one of my favorite wrestlers in WWE, and I'd be happy to watch him wrestle for another 10 years.


That's all for this week. Please feel free to comment at the bottom of the page and have a great week in wrestling. CYA!