MeeThinks 11.07.06: Positivity Pays
Posted by John Meehan on 11.07.2006
MeeThinks celebrates a year of eliminating 'netgativity!
Welcome back to the weekly break from the Internet Wrestling Community whinefest, folks. I'm John Meehan, and this is a big day for MeeThinks!
Yup, this week marks the one year anniversary of this column. That means we've been tackling some of the IWC's biggest whipping boys, punching bags, scapegoats and fallguys for the past 365 days! Along the way, we've aimed to eliminate 'netgativity one column at a time and to give good old fashioned fans of professional wrestling - fans like you and Mee - something to smile about and take heart in in this wierd, wild, whacky and wonderful world of "wrasslin."
So rather than look towards the future just yet... MeeThinks that this week would be a great chance to look to the past year's worth of columns and see just what positives we've been able to discover in a full calendar year's worth of writing happy thoughts on the world wide intrawebs (heaven knows it could use 'em, no?)
Sound like a plan?
Rock & roll.
We're going back in time, folks - in a top ten style recap of just a few of the "hidden highlights" of staying positive for a year's worth of wrestling fandom! Let's see how our predictions held up...
If (and when) TNA does sign Jay Reso, all they need to do is give the guy a mic and have him go off about how he chose TNA when he could have easily stayed with their competition, because he believes that the TNA company isn't about politicking, goofy-ass-gimmicks, or roided-up pet projects – it's about wrestling, and that he voluntarily picked it over WWE because of that (think early-ECW Shane Douglas, if you will).
This kind of approach is money, as it is both revolutionary and exciting. It puts over the newly-arrived talent, it opens the door for any other WWE-defectors that might follow (and oh yes, given time, rest assured that some will follow!), and it totally helps to establish the legitimacy of the promotion as a "viable alternative" to the WWE product on the whole.
In turn (and in time), the "alternative" promotion can continue to make a name for themselves with homegrown stars and WWE-defectors (as well as the WWE "rejects," if they're careful), which means that increased national exposure, fan attention (and hopefully) ensured financial stability should follow.
Best part is?
TNA signed Jay "Christian Cage" Reso just two weeks later! And lookie here - now Kurt Angle's been brought into the TNA fold, and *whaddayaknow* a prime time national television debut is on the horizon.
Positivity Pays, Point 2: Don't Cry For Me, Smackdown Midcard!
On November 15 of last year, I said that fans shouldn't be so quick to write off Smackdown! just because Batista went down with injury. More to the point, I said:
Smackdown! is just brimming with potential World Title contenders, and you can already see that WWE is (wisely) planting the seeds for breakout stars down the road. Guys like The Undertaker are perpetual threats to any World Title picture. Likewise, former champions like Bradshaw, Beniot and Orton shouldn't ever be taken lightly, either. Meanwhile, performers such as Rey Mysterio, Ken Kennedy (…Kennedy!), Bobby Lashley, and (yes, even) Booker T are building steam as fans clamor to see them "step up" and go toe-to-toe with the proverbial "Big Dogs."
...
Give Rey Rey time to prove that you don't need to be over 6' tall to be a contender.
Allow Booker to develop into a full-fledged, power-hungry MacBeth-type heel (as a Shakespeare buff, btw, I'm LOVING this Booker/Sharmell angle).
Let Kennedy (…Kennedy!) hone his in-ring prowess as he stretches his vocal chords.
And for crying out loud, be patient with Bobby Lashley, will ya?!
Now, just one year later - look how our positive outlook paid off:
Bobby Lashley? U.S. Champion in 2006 (some months after my column was written), and eventual sub-main-eventer who's still slow-burning for a shot at the top. Well played, WWE.
Ken Kennedy? U.S. Champion in 2006 (again, almost a year after the column). Clearcut breakout star for Smackdown!, and currently one of the most entertaining performers on a WWE roster today.
Rey Mysterio? World Champion in 2006 (some five months after my column was written urging WWE to give him a chance). Now sure he didn't fare too well as champ, but at least he had a shot.
Bokker T? World Champion in 2006 (some eight months after the column). Currently DOMINATING Smackdown! and reigning on high as "The King of The Wuhhhld" and, most recently, as "The Champion of Champions." Take THAT, Batista.
Meehan, 2 - Net'gativity 0.
Positivity Pays, Point 4: Long Live Latino Heat
With the tragic passing of Eddie Guerrero last fall, the IWC and the wrestling world at large was shellshocked into fear that pro wrestling as we know it might well have died with Latino Heat. But even in this dark hour, MeeThought fans should stay positive for the future of WWE, saying:
Eddie Guerrero's death left served as a stark reminder of just how precious life is and how serious drug and alcohol addiction can be – even years after they are beaten – to the entire wrestling community at large. His death has also left an undeniable void in the Smackdown! roster and in the hearts of Eddie's co-workers, friends, and fans. But we must take solace in the fact not only that Eddie Guerrero is in a better place, but also in the fact that with time and perseverance, his passing will have opened new doors for the friends, fans and future of the company that he loved so well.
Though it will take some patience and hard work for the Smackdown! roster (and their booking team), rest assured that the Smackdown! brand, the WWE brand extension, and the World Wrestling Entertainment corporation will survive.
Incidentally, in that column, I also noted that Rey Mysterio would likely see a "sympathy push" in 2006 as a result of his close friendship with Eddie).
But now a year removed from Eddie's passing?
It looks like keeping that smile and appreciation for the craft like Latino Heat would have wanted us to is paying off for Smackdown!, and with the Chavo/Rey feud finally out of the picture (for now, at least) many fans will concur that the blue brand just so happens to be the best weekly offering of North American pro wrestling in the country. A solid mix of veterans and newcomers, a TREMENDOUS focus on in-ring product (compared to the often-soap-opera-y RAW), and a great and fertile crop of midcarders just waiting for their time to shine.
So thank you, Eddie. We know you would have wanted us to keep smiling.
Positivity Pays, Point 5: It's ALL About The Game
Since we'd tackled some of the biggest IWC stumbling blocks to date, MeeThought it was only fair to go to bat for Triple H on this one. So, on December 20, 2005 - we tackled Triple H, saying:
But if you look at Trips' win/loss record SINCE the McMahon/Helmsley era & the infancy of Evolution, it certainly looks like even he is learning that every power has limits.
And even though Trip continues to score big wins and stay strong to this day... you'll note that *most* of his 2006 PPV contests NOT against a guy named "McMahon" have seen him on the losing end of the battle. Cena, Edge, Orton... yup, Triple H is *definitely* refusing to job, alright.
Or not.
Positivity Pays, Point 6: High Hopes for RVD
Going back through the MeeThinks archives, I also noticed that the December 20 column from last year applauded WWE for showing restraint and *not* hotshotting a title around RVD's waist. Interestingly, here we are a year later and once again there are fans clamoring to see "Mr. PPV" get another run with the gold. Well let's see what MeeThought back at the end of last year, deal? Perhaps the past will be a great indicator of future positives to come, no?
When looking at the [HHH] squash-ees, RVD might warrant a mention, as well. But then again, with his spotty (read: at times, sloppy) ringwork and his *ahem* "less than exemplary" choice of off-screenrecreational lifestyle, there's probably a certain amount of liability that would come with giving RVD the company's top prize, and there's probably just as many who'd argue against having RVD as champ out there as there are fans, MeeThinks. I personally love the guy, but I can totally see why people might second-guess the decision to make him the champ.
Again, what a difference a year makes, no?
Last December, I cautioned against giving RVD a belt because his lifestyle choices made him a liability. In the year that followed, Mr. Monday Night went on to claim his first WWE (ECW) World Championship... interestingly, only to be forced to drop it less than a month later thanks to an ill-timed drug bust.
So what have we learned from this?
Being positive doesn't mean being stupid, folks. And even the most optimistic of IWC'ers could have told you way back in December of last year that WWE was smart for holding RVD out of their title scene for the immediate future. Now that ECW is right back in the same spot (with rumors of a Big Show retirement coming in early 2007), there are still a TON of fans pushing for Van Dam to be made the brand's champion.
But WAIT -
If we simply go back to the history books, we can see that RVD's first run as champion (one MeeThought might prove disasterous) was as short-lived as even the most optimistic of fans might have expected. As a result of Van Dam's "real life" issues, he's proven nothing if unreliable as the company's go-to-guy, and that means that ECW would be smart to look elsewhere if they're planning to take their title off of the Big Show by the end of '06. Rather than repeat mistakes of the past and just shuttle the belt onto their most established "ECW Original," it would appear that WWE is once again hesitant to put the ball in RVD's court for fear that he might fold (or, roll and smoke it) under the pressure.
So RVD's loss is the ECW roster's gain... and we've got ourselves an EXTREME Elimination Chamber lined up for December. This keeps RVD in the hunt, but it helps build new ECW stars (both veteran and newcomer) along the way. And in the end? All the more reason to stay positive because when viable new stars are created (CM Punk, for one), EVERYBODY wins no matter who walks out as champion.
Positivity Pays, Point 7: The Edge of Greatness
Earlier this year as we crept towards WrestleMania 22 - Edge was in a tough spot as the underappreciated "transition champion" who was on the risk of fading back into midcard obscurity. So when his "Hardcore" match against Mick Foley was announced for WrestleMania, there were more than a few haters who were sooner to bemoan the guy's spot on the card than to applaud the angle's potential for giving the man some much-needed upward mobility.
Positivity to the rescue, MeeThinks said:
If Edge hopes to be taken seriously as a main-event heel with staying power – he's going to need more than his wits and the ability to think on his feet in order to convince fans that he's for real and that he's around for the long haul. Beating up on a beloved legend like Mick Foley will do wonders to help convince the casual fan of the guy's ass-kickin' "street cred" – something that a guy like Cena is really hurting for now that the main event spotlight is exposing his lack of depth, and something that can really go a long way in establishing a credible top-level threat for years to come.
So yeah, it sucks that Edge isn't main-eventing this year's ‘Mania – but if Foley does his best to sell for the guy and make him look like an all-out badass at this year's show (as I fully suspect he will) – then I think it's a safe bet that the ‘E is setting the wheels in motion for The Rated R Superstar to main-event plenty of WrestleManias in the future.
Well glory be!
Thanks to a KILLER performance by BOTH men at this year's WrestleMania - Edge immediately transitioned from "lucky punk" transitional champion to full-fledged, brand-carrying heel. While the McMahons busied themselves with Shawn and Hunter - the "Rated R Superstar" did his best to give Cena a run for his money at the top of the RAW card for the better part of six months solid.
No longer just "the guy who makes the angry Ralph Wiggum faces" - Edge cemented himself as a top-level heel with some *serious* staying power after trading wins back and forth with The Doctor of Thuganomics throughout the summer of '06. Though he ultimately came out of the feud on the losing end of things (and really, what heel other than - say - Triple H ever REALLY comes out of a feud the victor?), Edge's full-on heel heat has propelled him right into a program against WWE big dogs in Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Not a bad spot for the guy who once made his heel name by donning oversized cowboy hats and ragging on local sports teams.
You might even say that people take him seriously!
... thanks in no small part to the guts he proved in a certain Hardcore match, if I'm not mistaken.
Positivity Pays, Point 8: A Primetime Letdown
On March 21 of this year, wrestling fans across the globe were bummed to hear that TNA's "huge" new timeslot put them in the unenviable broadcast hour of 11pm on a Thursday night. Many fans were hoping for primetime television, and so the morale was low across the board.
Enter MeeThinks, which said:
Don't let the trend towards "shortened time frames" throw you into a panic. TNA has survived the test of time through a prolonged (and deliberate) period of self re-evaluation and a natural "evolution" (ever so gradual though it may seem). Demanding a prime-time slot for a company that spent most of it's history not even on national television is just about as unlikely as seeing another Vatican Council any time in the near future "just because we think things really need a good shaking up."
These things take time, folks – and if history is any precedent of future behavior, the organization has made it clear (by stubbornness or by force) that their evolution process is not a rapid one. The first step took QUITE a long time, and the second (and third, and…) steps – while somewhat closer in proximity – were still by no means "rapid" in their succession.
So –
If you're honestly doubting that TNA can recover from such a "major setback" as this recent misstep – take a deep breath for a minute here, and rest assured:
1) They've survived much worse.
2) Sometimes, gradual evolution is just as good – if not better than – a sudden popularity explosion.
3) They've come a long way thus far – and given time, there's no reason to believe they won't continue to grow and succeed in a similar manner in the future.
Sure, TNA calls its flagship broadcast "Impact" –
But if they're really set on making a lasting "Impact" on the wrestling business for generations to come… patience will be crucial.
So where are we today?
Patience is a virtue, folks - and TNA is right back in the thick of things after proving their mettle in the late-night Thursday timeslot. With Angle onboard and Sting as the company's champion, TNA is literally just days away from stepping into the realm of primetime television.
Toldja patience would pay off.
That said - fans should stay patient. Just because TNA has "arrived" on primetime doesnt automatically translate into the company becoming a full-out "competition" for rival WWE. TNA still has a LONG way to go before our next go-round of the Monday Night Wars... and TNA fans looking forward to the day when "AJ Styles" is said in the same breath of familiarity among casual fans as "Triple H" will most definitely require more than a healthy dose of patience.
But again, it's a great step in the right direction, no?!
Positivity Pays, Point 9: A Hartbreaking WrestleMania Moment
Just after WrestleMania 23 was in the books, plenty of critics felt it necessary to tear into The Hitman for his decision to no-show at the WrestleMania 23 Hall of Fame segment. Being a lifelong HBK fan, it was pretty hard for Mee to disagree with them... (lousy Canuck!)
But after checking my bias at the door, MeeThinks was able to churn out a pretty decent summation to this final chapter of the longstanding fallout of Montreal (if I do say so myself), and along the way we found MORE than enough reason to stay "positive" about The Hitman, Bret Hart:
But really – why should he even bother? Why show up at the event and get fans' hopes up that "he's TOTALLY going to run in later on" when he had absolutely no intention of doing so? Sure, the conspiracy theorists came out during the show and said that Bret's no-show as part of the Hall segment was "a dead giveaway" that The Hitman would be showing up during the HBK/Vince match, but the simple fact of the matter is that Hart's decision to excuse himself from the event was his final way of telling the fans that he'd accomplished what he'd set out to do, that he appreciated all of their years of support, and that he simply wanted them to respect his decision to step away with his legacy intact the way it was.
Bret made it clear that he was coming back to do the Hall of Fame thing because he wanted a chance to thank the fans and to say goodbye on his own terms. Anybody who caught the Hall of Fame Ceremony (and Bret's induction speech) the night before WrestleMania 22 knows that the guy did just that. He didn't do it for the money, he didn't do it for the contract – heck, he didn't even do it to "stick it" to Shawn that he'd beaten him into the annals of history.
Bret simply wanted the chance to say his peace, thank the fans for their support, and ensure that he could finally close the book on his rightfully-decorated professional wrestling career. As he said in the induction speech:
"Thank you again for all of your years of support… for all of your prayers [following the stroke]. And don't worry about me… The Hitman will be alright.."
And just like that, The Hitman proved – even to a lifelong Shawn Michaels fan like Mee – that he really was "The Excellence of Execution" after all.
Nothing more to say here, really... except that it appears that Hitman's class act swansong has pretty well put an end to much of the rumor and innuendo of a Montreal Screwjob Revenge.
Bravo, Hitman. This sharpshooter's for you.
Positivity Pays, Point 10: What Dreams May Come
Not just to cop out, but simply as a means to leave the door open for any future positive hopes to pull through -- I'm leaving this section blank on purpose so that you, the readers, can chime in.
I wanna know -
Exactly what ONE aspect, angle, character, storyline or swerve we're currently seeing unfold before us (perhaps even one that's getting some flack these days) will wind up being the biggest pleasant surprise of the next year.
Last year, if you'd have said "keep an eye on Booker T," you would have won big. ;)
So have at it, folks - and shoot Mee YourThinks today!
Because THAT, my friends, is "proof positive."
YouThinks Reader Mail
Before we start, a BIG MeeThanks to Simon, James Hatton, Matt Adamson, Rod Burns, Colin Roscoe and Gamester C for pointing out that Shockmaster's WCW debut was in 1993 and *not* in '87, as I'd so hastily jotted down in last week's column. Funny part is, I had the date in front of Mee too... just got a bit carried away with all of the StormTrooping goodness that is Fred Ottmann, I suppose. So again - "thanks" fellas!
One of our Halloween-awardwinning costume kids simply HAD to chime in on last week's column. So take it away, Mark Satrang:
Meehan--
HAHAHAHAHA...I did not expect that coming from you Meehan. That was a nice little surprise to open up your column and see myself and my dumbass friends plasterd all over the Intra-Web~. I immediately e-mailed the article to the other four guys, who are all casual fans at best, although the bearded guy loves himself some good old late '80s, early '90s WWF rasslin'. It's true, it was conspired during a moment of profound inebriation, only it wasn't me who decided it. It was another one of the guys. I figured there was no way in hell any of them would want to spend the money and make the half hour trek, let alone dress like complete buffoons. By the time I got home from work that Monday my two roommates had down an entire bottle of Jagermeister mixed with Red Bull. Needless to say they had the spirit. Overall the whole trip was a blast. There really isn't anything like having 8000 people in an arena boo you in unison. I can see why those guys get the adrenaline rush. About half the crowd "got it" and thought it was funny and the other half threatened to kick our ass. We got pretty good in-ring reactions from the Squad when they came out and Shawn Michaels thought it was pretty hilarious too.
Here's a little a verbal exchange at RAW between a kid and a drunken Jag filled Squad member after the show:
Kid- "Spirit Squad sucks dick!"
Chuck- "Yeah, just like your mother taught me!"
Even though he thought he was really zinging the kid, he was still admitting he sucked dick. I knew it all along.
We donned the costumes again for Halloween bar hopping festivities last Saturday night and came in second in a group costume contest to a bunch of guys we know who dressed as the Golden Girls. Hmmm...a fight between the Squad and the Golden Girls...probably a pretty even match these days the way Kenny and the boys have been booked. Very few people got who we were, although a couple hot chicks did, which surprised me greatly.
Good times, keep up the goods...
Mark Satrang
PS-Wrestling related thesis is coming along nicely, can't believe my thesis advisor went along with it.
Glad you enjoyed the column, Mark, and double-glad to hear that y'all had the balls to go out dressed as the 'Squad yet again for this Halloween! Here's hoping your "Kenny" didn't stick the rest of y'all with the bar tab, eh?
I for one am and always have been a HUUUGE fan of going to wrestling shows simply for the purpose of egging the crowd on. So watch out, Verizon Center... RAW is MEEHAN come December!!!
Thanks again for writing, man.
Speaking of wrasslin' costumes... RDTyrrel had this to say:
While it may not have been at Halloween time, Andre the Giant as a masked japanese wrestler with Bobby the Brain Heenan on the mic saying how that had to be Andre is one of my all time favorite goofy moments.
- Bob
Right on, Bob! I'd also throw in Hulk Hogan as one of the Killer Bees to that goofy-mark-out fun list. I distinctly remember one episode of Superstars where the Hulkster rolled into the ring in a Killer Bees mask (taking the place of Brunzell, I believe) - and the ref didn't know it was him IN SPITE of the fact that he was a good foot and a half taller than Brunzell, not to mention five times as jacked (plus the orange suntan)!
Man, the '80's ruled. Just so crappy, yet so much fun, no?
Oh, and speaking of crap...
BOB1318821342002, Andrew Critchell, Matt Adamson, Brett Davidson, Shane Viars (from 411 music!), Lebowski, and Arnaud Splendore correctly identified last week's mystery man!
Yes, that's right folks...
This guy:
Is actually...
THE MONSTER ABYSS!!
Bravo, gentlemen... and a job well done!
And With That, I'm Outta' Here...
Thanks again for reading, all. Too bad the Pats dropped one to Indy this weekend, but we've got the J-E-T-S on deck for this week, so there's reason to stay positive if I ever heard it, right? Good deal. In the meantime - enjoy the fall-turning-winter, get those fireplaces ready for a cold stretch, and always stay postive!
