The FlipSide Wrestling Report 01.21.2006
Posted by Ryan K. Boman on 01.21.2006
A News Report posted by Csonka’s favorite wrestling zone writer. That’s right... the man loves me, folks.
I continue to do a column and a news report on the same day. Yes, my friends, I was dropped on my head several times as a child, and I am a glutton for punishment. A tortured soul in need of your love and affection. Also, if you'd like to send money, that would be fine, too.
But enough about my horrific past.
Since we normally reserve this space to talk about the unusual and always interesting world of professional wrestling, I guess we should get the party started. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
From the 411 newswire:
Edge battles Ric Flair in a TLC Match on RAW: Some loved it, some hated it. I'm somewhere in the middle, to be honest. I applaud Flair for his efforts, and the man bled buckets. Edge took some great bumps, and he's starting to convince me that he was a good choice as champion. But I still question why Edge's first title defense on TV was a TLC match? And why against someone who already has a title belt of their own? I love Flair, and he is still able to make himself look like a threat to make another world title run, but come on. Did anyone watching really believe we would see him hoisting the two belts at the end of the show like the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania?
And speaking of Warrior... Warrior has now made Warrior his last name as well, meaning his name is now Warrior Warrior: Is there an echo in here? Who does something like this? Seriously, how nuts is this guy? And if you were a clerk at his local Wal-Mart, would you accept a check signed by "Warrior Warrior"? Questions to ponder, folks. Questions to ponder.
Warrior has also filed a lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon regarding the Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD: Apparently, he will act as his own attorney in the case. His opening statement will be a long diatribe filled with confusing analogies and ridiculous terminology. He will use words that no one knows the meaning of, and the case will be dismissed by the judge due to lack of sanity.
WWE is planning to remake Orlando Jordan and give him a bisexual character. Former TNA valet Trinity and Jordan's real life friend Erik are set to serve as his love interests/managers for the new gimmick. The three will have a love triangle of sorts: Whatever drugs are being smoked/injected/swallowed in the WWE Creative Meetings—I want some. Who on earth actually thinks that this will get over? I'm predicting that the angle is a flop, it goes nowhere, and Jordan is out of WWE within 6-8 months. These types of things have been done a lot lately to try to stir the pot and spark some interest, and once the novelty wears off, you're left with basically nothing. Also, a waste of a good talent in Trinity, as she will probably never recover from the angle, either. On a side note, WWE will also be introducing a transsexual midget and a rodeo clown in a bestiality angle sometime in the spring. Watch for it.
More details have become available on the release of John Heidenreich. He apparently checked himself into a hospital a few weeks back due to an ear infection. When WWEfinally came to get him, assuming he was fine by then, he told them he could no longer handle being on the road and flew himself home.
Word backstage is that Heidenreich was dealing with some family issues and WWE may have released him so that he could be free to take care of those things and could possibly return in the future: Never cared for Heidenreich and quite honestly don't mind if he doesn't come back. He is another of Vince's "monster big guys" that never did anything for me. (See: Crush, Sid, Diesel, etc.) It's so funny, the anti-workrate people will crush TNA for using the spot kateers in the X division, but have no problem with cheering their asses off for slow hosses with power. I, personally, can take or leave a big guy with no skill. Just my opinion, though.
The 1.14.06 edition of Impact scored a 0.8 rating, and 942,000 viewers, slightly down from last week.
The 1.16 (Monday Night) replay did a 0.9 cable rating, which is by far the highest number that they done in the Monday time slot. There was a big lead in for them with the live UFC Fight Night, which scored a 1.7 rating.
The 0.9 rating ties the highest rating TNA has scored thus far on SPIKE TV: I think this is, in large part, due to the fact that a lot of people go out on Saturday Nights and choose to watch the replay. Also, the UFC thing didn't hurt. I'm actually predicting that either this week or next week, Impact gets over the hump and actually posts it's first ever 1.0 rating. Remember that you read it here first, folks... And if I'm wrong, forget that I said anything about it.
The return of WWE Saturday Night Main Event is scheduled for March 18th at Detroit's Cobo Hall. Interestingly enough, TNA will be having their first house show ever on March 17th, also in Detroit: Hmmm... will TNA try to pull some funny business at Saturday Night's Main Event? As much as I doubt it, it would make me giggle my ass off. The old DX invasions of Nitro were hilarious, and the earlier "attack" on WWE by TNA at Universal Studios was pretty good as well. For the sake of jerks like me who write about this stuff, here's hoping TNA has something up their sleeves for Vince and Company in Detroit.
UPN President of Entertainment Dawn Ostroff commented on the future of Smackdown. She said, "We fully intend to have wrestling on our schedule." UPN is negotiating an extension with WWE, as Smackdown's contract ends in September: I am a little surprised by this, as I thought that UPN really wanted out as quickly as possible. Still, ratings talk, baby. And Vince does deliver ratings, no doubt about it. If something doesn't happen with UPN, I'm sure the folks at USA will give Smackdown a soft place to land over on their network.
TNA and SpikeTV were planning on having a live TNA primetime special Monday February 13th, the night after TNA's February PPV. TNA was really hoping to land the spot as RAW is not airing that night on USA Network. However, SpikeTV has decided not to go forward with the special due to logistical reasons. : Tough break for TNA, as I was looking forward to seeing them actually do a test run on live television. I still think they will get a shot sometime in the future, and do believe they'll be in prime time (maybe on Thursdays) before the start of 2007.
MTV will be producing and filming a pilot for a new wrestling promotion next month. Not much is known except that the show will be taped in Los Angeles and California's Big Vision Entertainment (distributors of the Hardcore Homecoming DVD) will be involved: Very interesting. If MTV is willing to pour enough money and hype into the thing, it could be a hit. They already are tapped into the young teen market, which is exactly the demographic that a properly-produced wrestling show could attract. Could we be headed to another era of three major federations? Time will tell, I guess.
Ring of Honor Update: A bunch of guys probably put on great matches that the fans loved. To find out more, read Ari's stuff. The man is the Mike Wallace of RoH.
The Made-Up News... Triple H to have vasectomy: The Game and wife Stephanie McMahon are currently expecting their first child, but apparently no more are to follow. In a shocking move, Trips has decided to give the little sledgehammer a snip. He announced that he wants no more children, because they will take too much of Stephanie's time away from him. He was quoted recently saying only, "There ain't going to be a youth movement in the WWE, and there sure as hell ain't going to be one in my house."
Stacy Keibler to leave wrestling for new career: With her success and popularity on the rise due to her appearances on "Dancing with the Stars", it appears Stacy is headed for sunnier futures. She has signed on with Schick to be spokesperson for the new Ladies' Ultimate Razor. In an upcoming Super Bowl ad, she will have her gorgeous 41-inch legs shaved on live TV. So far, 337,842 men have volunteered to do the shaving. Jeff Jarrett to play in celebrity golf tournament; Monty Brown to caddie: The King of the Mountain will be appearing in the annual Tom T. Hall Charity Golf Weekend, with the Aplha Male right there by his side. It's a natural fit, since apparently Brown already carries Jeff's bags to and from the Impact Zone.
Wrestling Geek Selection of the Week:
WCW Spring Stampede 1994. By all means, don't watch the whole show, because it is 75% atrocious. Watch the main event of Flair vs. Steamboat for the WCW World title. It is basically a rematch of five years earlier when the Dragon dethroned Flair—wrestled in the same city (Chicago), no less. Great sells by the announcers on the history between the two, and it's a very underappreciated contest in their series of battles. I think it gets overlooked because of their 1989 encounters. Be sure to check it out.
That's all, folks. Have a spectacular weekend, as always. I will be here in my little dojo, taking in a little something I like to call the AFC and NFC Championship Games. More than likely, I will also be drinking beer. A lot of beer. Unhealthy, abnormal... possibly even criminal, amounts of beer. So, someone e-mail me on Monday morning and let me know who won, because I'm sure that I won't remember.
Also, if it's not too much trouble, please read my other Saturday feature, The Pin is Mightier. Yes, it's eclectic and a little strange at times, but so is the world of pro wrestling. Until next week, have a great one.
Take Care.
