411 Fact or Fiction 7.29.10: Sheamus vs. Miz, Khali in Nexus, TNA Extreme Stable Name, More!

Welcome once again to 411 Wrestling Fact or Fiction! It’s the fourth week of July, and we’ve got Nexus developments, teased feuds, a new TNA stable name, Hardcore Justice news and more to discuss! Joining us on the panel this week is Ari Berenstein, the man behind our “Column of Honor” here in the Wrestling Zone. He’s taking the Movie Zone’s own Erik Luers! There’s a lot to get into here, so let’s get right down to it!

Questions were sent out Monday.

Participants were told to expect WWE & TNA-related questions.

1. If allowed, the Miz and Sheamus have all the tools to make for a great feud.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. WWE has gone full bore in pushing both Miz and Sheamus in the last few months and I believe they are proving that to be the right decision. Neither are the greatest of all-time inside the ring, but they are more than capable of holding their own in their performance. What has and will continue to make their burgeoning grudge shine is that both are great talkers. The Miz is cocky and proud of it, but can back it up. Sheamus is intimidating and actually makes you hang on to every word he says. Already, both have shown a lot of good dramatic tension in the brief verbal exchanges between them.Throw in the “x-factor” of Miz holding the Money in the Bank briefcase and being able to cash it in at any time and you have plenty of material to cover a feud, or at least continued hostilities between these two over the next few months. Both are heels, but I think they can make it work without either one having to turn face.

Erik Luers: FICTION. Well, they have the tools, but not the right predicament. Both are heels. Miz is much more charismatic than Sheamus, thus making the Irish-bred wrestler look bad in the process. I guess you could say that the feud might work because Miz talks alot and Sheamus just uses his strength to beat people up, but it may lack audience interest. The WWE would also have to be committed to staying with the feud over the course of two months so that people could get invested in it, and these days, any heel-heel feuds are usually nothing more than little side projects, never the main attraction. The last time we got a heel vs heel world title match on PPV was at the Royal Rumble (Sheamus VS Orton), a fine match but one that will most definitely be improved upon (thanks to face-heel dynamics) at Summerslam. So there’s that. Maybe Miz and Sheamus would be a good tag team, although I’m as sick of superstar-teaming-up-with-superstar tag teams as much as the next mark. I dunno. I’m just throwing stuff out there. Oh, and can the next WWE Film star Sheamus and Liam Neeson as crime fighters against the IRA? That would be amazing. Anyway, the Miz-Sheamus potential feud could work, but now now. And it’s a shame (a shame)…….

Score: 0 for 1

2. AJ Styles will elevate the Global Title by virtue of his title reign.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. Simply because after Rob Terry’s title run and the way the Global Title has been treated there is nowhere to go but up. Terry and the Global Title had disappeared from television in the past few months, so something needed to be done if anything was to be done with that belt. (SPOILERS AHEAD BEWARE) In fact, TNA has already made a positive change in terms of AJ Styles changing the name of the belt to a TV Title. The name “Global Title” was such a misnomer and an ill fit within the TNA product that just re-purposing the belt could resuscitate its value. AJ Styles has always been a “go-to” guy when TNA needs to get something over, so my guess is that he can and will do what is necessary to elevate its stock, defending the title every week on television and proving himself to be a champion. Now I have no faith in TNA whatsoever that they can maintain good booking around the title (SPOILER X2–it may be Angle vs. Styles next, which means Styles will have to job to move Ange’s storyline forward), but I have complete faith that AJ Styles will do his very best while he can to give this new title run a chance to succeed.

Erik Luers: FICTION. Sadly, I’m not sure if the Global Title can be elevated. To be honest, I forgot it was even a title (I thought they gave a plastic belt to Rob Terry as a way of saying “no more steroids as long as you’re wearing gold”) until reading the above statement. I like AJ Styles alot, but he doesn’t need the belt. His presence will elevate the title, but the booking of his reign will be what downgrades it. He is a former Legends champion, which is technically the same title (correct me I’m wrong, and I may be), and not many people cared then. Things will not change now unless TNA takes the gold seriously. I will say this, the company books their world champions well. AJ had a good reign as TNA champion, and RVD is doing fine work as the current title-holder. They also have something good going with the tag titles right now. Their X Division and Global title reigns are lackluster. This is the definition of using the belt as a prop. Sometimes the history of a championship can elevate whoever wins it, but the Global title doesn’t even have that on its side. Let AJ hold it a for a year, defending it at every PPV and barely squeaking by victoriously. It couldn’t hurt.

Score: 0 for 2

3. Putting the Great Khali within the Nexus would be a terrible booking move.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. Khali and Nexus doesn’t fit together at all. Khali is a very limited wrestler and it wouldn’t make sense to add him in with limited rookies in the Nexus stable. It would weigh down the group too much, even if he were booked as a total monster. That role should stay with Wade Barrett, who has done a phenomenal job as the leader of the group and its most powerful and intimidating member. My belief is that there really shouldn’t be any longstanding WWE wrestler added to the Nexus group–let it be completely composed of rookies who are looking to break through and make their names. If anyone is to be added, it should come from the Season 2 NXT rookies who have been or will be eliminated.

Erik Luers: FICTION. In my opinion, the Nexus as a whole has been a terrible booking move. They are a bunch of unestablished jobbers that the WWE is hoping the WWE “universe” will take seriously. How can we? Who are they as individuals? What individual talents do they possess? NXT was a show much lower-rated than Raw, so they should re-establish who these vicious men are. And their reason for being doesn’t make sense. They attack the GM and owners of the company and then get contracts? Well, that’s kind of backwards, isn’t it? And Wade Barrett had a guaranteed title shot and a WWE contract, and he gave it up for what? To join the NXT losers that couldn’t beat him in the main competition? They even attacked Vince McMahon, so shouldn’t they all be fired like Stone Cold used to be? Daniel Bryan was fired and then they never explain it! All this group needs now is Mike Enos. Remember Mike Enos? Why the fuck do you remember Mike Enos? The sad thing is that there are seven of them. Nexus members, that is, not Mike Enos. You know deep down that by next spring three or four of them will be future endeavored. And what becomes of NXT season 2 losers? Do they all plan to revolt as well? If they don’t, they will look like the biggest morons on the planet. But anyway, oh yeah, the Great Khali. It would make no difference to me, as long as the NXT angle does not drag on to a 20 on 20 elimination match at the Survivor Series. And whoevever created the Nexus t-shirts should be fired on the spot. Seriously, people get paid for that?

Score: 0 for 3

4. The WWE casting call for new Divas is just another example of how little the company thinks of their women’s division.

Ari Berenstein: FICTION. WWE shifted its hiring philosophy for its women’s division a long time ago, so the new model / actress casting call is just continuing that process.This says nothing about a new kind of “disrespect” they are paying the division, because to them, this is the right paradigm for bringing the girls in. The halcyon days of women wanting to be wrestlers first and getting into the business or at least WWE are over. Nowadays WWE will take the swimsuit models and the like, teach them the basics and go from there. Some will learn on the job and eventually become decent and others will stink up the television with their Botchamania-ready performances. At least they’ll look good while doing so.

Erik Luers: FICTION. Well, the first sign that you don’t care about your women employees is by labeling them Divas. The second is that instead of hiring actual wrestlers, you hire models and hope they learn how to wrestle (Finlay can’t always work miracles, ya know). Hell, twelve years ago somebody working backstage had to tell a group of ladies, “alright girls, tonight you will be playing the role of Godfather’s hos. Now get aboard the hooooooooo train! Choot! Choot!” This new casting call just seems pretty standard by now. What will be really offensive is when they start going around back-alleys looking for prostitutes to hire. Then I will admit that the WWE doesn’t give a shit. For now, they just can’t seem to realize that sometimes valets are best left as valets. For every Trish Stratus, you get a Torrie Wilson. Personally, I wouldn’t mind getting either, but you know what I mean. Where’s Beth Phoenix been? Why doesn’t Natalya wrestle much? Why do questions always seem to be more attractive to me than declarative statements?

Score: 1 for 4

SWITCH!

5. EV2.0 is a lackluster name for TNA’s ECW faction.

Erik Luers: FACT. Well, things are tough for TNA. They can’t call them the ECW Crew, and I’m pretty sure WWE has copywritten the term term “extremists” as well. I assume TNA didn’t want to go with “terrorists” or “anarchists” due to obvious reasons. Maybe call them “unabombers”. TNA should be politically correct and identify them as “People You Sometimes See In Chikara And Dragon Gate But Who Always Happen To Be Free When We Tape Our Show On Mondays and Tuesdays”, or simply, the P.Y.S.S.C.D.G.A…..ah, the joke’s killed. In all seriousness (not really but whatever), they should have just called them the Originals and left it at. If anyone asked what they were the Originals of, umm, give them an evenflow DDT and walk away. I will admit that EV2.0 is a bad name. It makes me think of Tron for some reason. Actually, that sequel is looking pretty cool. Sadly, EV2.0 still sounds shitty. If they can recruit Jeff Bridges, we’ll talk. Is Tron sponsored by Midway games? Is that the big twist? Me and my questions again.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. It sounds like a new name for a Dyson Vacuum. Or the acronym for “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”. I understand and even agree with the need to have a name that is similar to “ECW” or at least somehow evokes its memory. For me, this new name is way too clunky and vague to get that far.

Score: 2 for 5

6. Having the Big Show dominate the Straight Edge Society and unmask both CM Punk and Joey Mercury with ease has hurt the Society’s credibility.

Erik Luers: FICTION. The Big Show is a monster in size, so their credibility isn’t hurt by being bitched out by a monster. C’mon, it’s Joey Mercury for chrissakes! His credibility took a nose dive (pun intended) when he used to come out with that fur coat with the flashy, electronic scrolling letters that made him look like a human stock exchange. The Straight Edge society will do fine. They’re not drinking or doing drugs, remember? That’s the first key to success. Don’t ask me what the second key is. It was time for an unmasking, in my opinion, and if anything, it will do more to help their overall character progression than stunt it. You will see.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. The last few weeks have been some of the stupider booking decisions regarding the treatment of the Straight Edge Society. Punk couldn’t wrestle for a while after his shoulder injury, so instead of keeping him and his group hot through backstage promos or angles where they are attacking the good guys in preparation for future feuds, they book them to look weak. First they show cracks in the foundation with Serena’s relapse, and then Punk is repeatedly humiliated by The Big Show. While I would have wanted a “Mask vs. Title” match between Punk and Mysterio at Summerslam to reprise their feud from earlier in the year, there could have just as easily been a Mask match against Big Show. Joey Mercury needed to be unmasked at some point, so I don’t think Show unmasking him would have been so horrible so long as it built up to a match with Punk with the mask on the line. The real important thing with Mercury will be to see if WWE books a segment where he explains why he joined S.E.S. Otherwise he is just another goof on the team, whether he is covered up or not. All told, S.E.S. has been greatly hurt with this new program against Big Show, and I don’t see it getting any better.

Score: 2 for 6

7. Lance Storm did the right thing by sticking with his convictions and not signing on for Hardcore Justice.

Erik Luers: FACT. It is a proven fact that after you retire from in-ring competition, you must immediately turn on the computer that’s been sitting in your apartment for years on Off Mode and start up a blog. I’ve read this in the Barry Horowitz book, Tips On How to Stay Relevant Years After You Are No Longer Relevant (it’s not a real book…….yet). And yet, I think Storm did the right thing by keeping his word. That shows that he means what he types. He’s also past his prime, and it’s best to sit out any and all reunion shows. There’s been some rumors that New Jack may be at Hardcore Justice, which is even more reason for Storm to stay home. New Jack’s “fun times” are to blading as fisting is to foreplay. Can’t risk any more Mass Transit damage. We need Justin Credible to come back. I don’t know why, but we do. Just to hear that X-Factor theme song one more time, I guess. Oh, and bring back Cyrus! Jonah Hill plays him in a new bio-pic, I hear.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. Just because you were once a part of ECW doesn’t mean you have to show up for EVERY reunion show–hell, Paul Heyman isn’t going to be there (as far as we know right now), so Storm not showing up is fine by me. It shows a great amount of personal fortitude and conviction not to sell out his opinion by appearing on TNA’s version of the ECW reunion show. Storm has long been known for his criticisms of the booking direction (or lack of it) in TNA. He has tried several times to follow TNA, only to give up watching the show because of frustrations surround the logic behind the booking. There are plenty of times when wrestlers have complained about a promotion (on shoot interviews or the like), but have gone to work for that company anyway. Storm makes a comfortable living with his wrestling school, enough that he could turn this offer down without hearing anything about money. Now he did this in part because he didn’t actually want to be tempted by a good offer. Is there the possibility he would have gone for the right price? Of course. However, Storm didn’t let it get that far and in doing so strengthens any future opinion and criticism of TNA, because he didn’t ignore his complaints for the sake of the dollar.

Score: 3 for 7

8. Cody Rhodes deserves the push he’s getting due to his efforts in getting the “Dashing” gimmick over.

Erik Luers: FACT. That guy has some good line readings. He can say “Dashing Cody Rhodes” in more ways than Vivien Leigh could describe the “kindness of strangers”. There’s DASHING Cody Rhodes, or Dashing CODY Rhodes, or my personal favorite, DAShing COdy RHOdes (it’s best to try this pronunciation as your voice fluctuates while going through puberty). I think his new gimmick is very old school and that’s why I like it. It’s the arrogantly cocky heel. It’s further proof, after The A Team and live action GI Joe movie, that we are actually still living in 1985. What’s coming out on Blu Ray soon? WTF? Back To The Future? That’s it, I’m done. We are living in 1985, aren’t we? Rhodes, while slowly improving in the ring, is finally get a singles push, and I’m hoping for the best. It also helps that he’s on Smackdown. DiBiase is gonna have trouble breaking out on Raw, while Rhodes could be a future multiple-time IC champion. On a side note: what’s with the WWE, PG rated to a tee, and all their parental bashing as of late? Rhodes says that he’s better looking than his Dad, and Jack Swagger allows his “father” to get chokeslammed and says that he deserved it. This isn’t what we should be teaching our children! Honor thy parents and Cheat on thy Wellness Program our two commandments all WWE employees should live by.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. I don’t know why, but I touched some nerves when I wrote in my column last week that I hated the segment where Rhodes was giving grooming tips. My criticism was never about Cody, but rather about the over-the-top post-production being done for that segment. As far as Rhodes goes, I have no problem with the new gimmick or the push. He is working hard with this “dashing” personality. Its clear he has shown a willingness to be shameless in doing so. He has been shown talking to himself in the mirror, what many would consider embarrassing if caught by someone else. I dig his new entrance, where he poses in front of a digital mirror. It’s good stuff. I’d like more of that and less of stock footage of nose hair trimming, thank you. So yes, Cody deserves his push or at least a chance to work with it and elevate himself on the Smackdown roster.

Score: 3 for 7

And there you have it folks…Ari and Erik split the difference for an even 4 for 8! I’d like to thank both of them for their answers and you the readers for checking out their thoughts. For Ari Berenstein and Erik Luers, this is Jeremy Thomas saying join us next week for more Wrestling Fact or Fiction!

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