Your News, My Views 12.19.06
Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.19.2006
You can now vote for The 411 Wrestling Zone Writers Awards! If that doesn’t excite you, well then, I got news.
Introduction…and Things I want to talk about~!
Welcome to the weekly dose of news and views that you crave. I, as always am you host Larry Csonka. I hope you are all having a good week, and getting ready for what ever holiday that you are prepared to celebrate. I am getting ready for the trip Charlotte for the Christmas holidays, which I am excited for. Hana is really into Christmas this year, and it will be a good time for all I feel. Enough pleasantries, let's get to work!
The 411 Wrestling Zone Writers Awards!
I thought since the site, and this zone in particular, was working on the Year-End Awards, it would be fun to have YOU the 411-reader vote on The 411 Wrestling Zone Writers, in a little Year-End Awards deal! It is fun for everyone, and all that matters is YOUR opinion! You drive this site, and you should have some of the fun as well!
We will have you vote for the "BEST" in various categories, so whether you like them or not show them some respect, and then your "FAVORITE" in various categories, so vote for your favorites that you support all the time! Have fun kids and email those votes to me! Voting closes next Tuesday, and I will release the final awards in the January 2nd column!
Best Columnist:
Best "News Report" Columnist:
Best TV Recapper:
Best Video Reviewer:
Best Multi-Person Column:
Best "Pure Writer":
Best "Column":
Favorite "Column":
Favorite Columnist:
Favorite "News Report" Columnist:
Favorite TV Recapper:
Favorite Video Reviewer:
Favorite Multi-Person Column:
Favorite Overall Writer:
Wrestling Zone MVP:
Wrestling Zone Work Horse:
Back to the show!
Please send feedback for the WWE ARMAGEDDON PPV, rate it 1-10 and best and worst match. Thanks!
For a third straight week, fuck Charter Communications and their so-called "Updating."
I got to go golfing Saturday, for the first time since September. I went with my boy Hunter, one of the youth group kids from my church. Young Hunter tore his bicep back in September at the beginning of football season and was just cleared to go back to normal activity and I promised a golf outing. We went, and considering he came off the injury he did well, shooting a 54 for 9-holes. I golfed a 42, which is good I thought after not golfing for three months. We enjoyed some lunch afterwards and that was that.
My church had a live nativity on Saturday night, and I was in charge of making soup, coffee and hot chocolate for the people that would come. I had to prepare soup for 75 people, which can be a chore, but it all came out well. My soup rules.
I WILL RULE YOU!
We got our family photos in this week, Christmas themed of course. Hana's are great as always and the family shot came out very well. But the question is, will I or should I share them with you?
There are times when I hate everything in life, and then I watch Lucha. Those wacky bastards make everything ok. Also, I got to see the hotness that is Dark Angel this week. Hooray!
The Steelers RAPED the Panthers on Sunday. It was a glorious game.
I'll put you in the ground…I'm Barry FN Gibb!
41 and counting…the questions are being asked, but you'll have to wait…it will be a huge event I promise…it is coming soon…**Struts**
And now back to Gene Krupa's syncopated style…
WWE/ECW news, notes and happenings to the EXTREME:
Your News: During his visit to the United States, President of New Japan Pro Wrestling Antonio Inoki stopped by WWE World Headquarters in Stamford, Conn. to meet with Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis.
During the brief, cordial meeting, both sides discussed possible business ventures in the future between WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling - the largest wrestling promotion in Japan.
My Views: No one knows what it is about. It may have just been a meeting for tea and crumpets while Vince shows Inoki the Mr. McMahon's ass cartoon, in an attempt to syndicate it in Japan. Or maybe Vince is trying to get some footage for some DVD's. Who knows, but it is "news" I suppose. What I do know is that Johnny Ace asked Inoki if he could nail Mrs. Inoki, since he already did Mrs. Baba, and Stephanie had Inoki slap Little Aurora Rose, so she can achieve the sense of fighting spirit.
Your News: WWE has released Danny Doring. Doring was a key member of the original ECW, being one half of the final ECW Tag Team Champions when the promotion folded. However, he has had a small role with the new ECW.
My Views: He was doomed as soon as Roadkill got de-Amished in OVW. Plus the fact that he looked like Dumpy Doring with the weight gain, VIVA WELLNESS, the writing was on the wall. Back to the Indies with you and good day.
Your News: There is a lot of speculation going around that with Paul Heyman and Tommy Dreamer no longer having any power in the new ECW, many other older ECW names could be released or quit soon. WWE has made it clear that ECW is now one of their brands and thus they no longer need a lot of the older ECW names that they brought in just to give the brand credibility with the old fans.
My Views: First of all, WWE has made it clear that ECW is a DEVELOPMENTAL brand as they said so in the last conference call. As for the former ECW names, yeah, they are fucked. RVD will stay to the end of his contract because they will use him a bit and don't want him going anywhere. Sandman should be fine as he sells merchandize and they like his house show routine; plus he was smart and behaved himself for the good payday. Sabu is fucked, Balls will probably go, and pretty much anyone else. Dreamer maybe fucked due to giving up his office position, shit happens. Mamaluke and Guido I think they SHOULD keep, as they would be good for the tag or cruiser divisions, but since they don't give two shits about either, they are probably screwed as well.
Your News: WWE's See No Evil has already brought in over $7 million in rentals since being released on DVD. The film has proven to be successful for WWE.
My Views: Amazing. I guess that is why people still make horror movies, if you keep the budget low you can make profit. Congrats to Kane, I am sure he loves the extra cash.
Your News: Daniel Rodimer is already booked to team with Edge & Randy Orton against DX at house shows in a few weeks.
My Views: As I said last week, Steph is very high on him and by this booking he will get the annoying, down our throat push. He better be ready to pick his game up, because around those guys he will stick out like a sore thumb. Also, don't email me the first time he looks good in there, I could look great in the ring with DX and RKO.
Your News: WWE.com has posted that the company has come to terms on the release of Amy Zidian.
My Views: This is gold, the chick not only pissed off a bunch of Divas, but when Stephanie tried to give her advice, she had no clue who she was. How the hell do you not know who your bosses are? Damn youth of America.
Your News: Here is the match listing for the upcoming ECW Extreme Rules DVD.
Disc 1
Sandman vs. Cactus Jack 7/1/95
Gangstas vs. Eliminators in a cage weapons match 8/24/96
Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Lee scaffold match on 10/26/96 with Coachman & Dreamer doing new commentary on a second track
Sandman vs. Sabu stairway to hell from 1/10/98
Dudleys & Big Dick vs. Sandman & Dreamer & Spike Dudley in a street fight on 8/2/98
Sabu vs. Tazz in a death match on 3/21/99
Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka for the ECW title on 12/31/99
Tables, Ladders, Chairs & Canes with Steve Corino vs. Sandman vs. Credible on 1/7/01
Disc 2
Dudleys vs. Dreamer & Sandman from 6/12/05
Rey Mysterio vs. RVD from 6/7/06
Rey Mysterio vs. Sabu from 6/11/06
Mick Foley & Edge & Lita vs. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk & Beulah from 6/11/06
RVD vs. Big Show from 7/4/06
Big Show vs. Ric Flair from 7/11/06
Sabu vs. RVD in a ladder match from 8/16/06
Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs. Test & Mike Knox from 9/5/06
RVD vs. Hardcore Holly from 9/26/06
My Views: Disc one is a pretty good representation of the old ECW. Some senseless violence, some good matches but the lack of Franchise just hurts. Damn you Vince. Disc 2 is mostly good stuff from the "WWECW" era of ECW. The Dudz match from ONS I is good stuff, the two Rey matches are good, the Foley/Funk tag stuff was great and the rest is either fine or pretty damn good. Should make for a solid purchase overall.
Your News: The WWE Cyber Sunday DVD extras will include "Legends Partying With Divas," a Post-Match Interview with Umaga & Armando Alejandro Estrada, and the Roddy Piper & Ric Flair vs. Edge & Randy Orton match from the 6/11/06 RAW.
My Views: Yawn. That PPV blew.
Your News: Comparing WWE PPV buyrates:
Summerslam did 528,000 buys (down from 534,000 last year)
Unforgiven did 290,000 buys (up from 225,000 buys last year)
No Mercy did 195,000 buys (down from 219,000 buys last year).
My Views: Now we have to remember that last year all of these buys were DOMESTIC buys, and no International buys were there. International buys represent roughly 20% of the overall buys, so let's do some figuring and see how the numbers compare domestically.
-Summerslam: 105,600 would be International, so 422,400; which is down 111,000 buys.
-Unforgiven: 58,000 would be International, so 232,000; which is still a growth of 8,000 buys, so that is still good news there.
-No Mercy: 39,000 would be International, so 156,000; which is roughly down 63,000 buys.
In the end, this is just more evidence of how they are losing domestic buys. While they don't look bad when you add in the International buys, they are just stopping it from being noticed. I have talked about it before, but if they were able to support the same buys, they would be doing GREAT now with the International buys, now they are dreading water, and slowly losing buys. Maybe, I don't know, 16 FN PPV's is way too much!
Your News: Joey Mercury suffered a broken nose, swollen eye, and several lacerations from getting hit in the face with a ladder during a teeter-totter spot during the Ladder Match at the Armageddon PPV last night. Mercury will soon undergo a CT Scan to ensure that he didn't suffer any injuries to the brain during the match. An article on WWE.com quotes Dr. Ferdinand Rios as saying Mercury will be out for at least two months. Rios added that Mercury didn't suffer a concussion and was lucid after the injury.
My Views: It was probably more brutal than it sounds, if you didn't see it. He got FUCKED up. He also may require some plastic surgery due to the injury, but that isn't a certainty. I wish Joey a speedy recovery and thank him for busting his ass for our entertainment.
UPDATE: After examination, it was announced that Mercury had suffered a broken nose, which required four stitches to the inside and 14 on the outside of the nose. According to doctors, Mercury's nasal passage is clear and he should be okay.
Good to hear, that was a scary ass shot he took. I mean, I still cringe looking at it.
Your News: TNA Impact scored a 1.2 rating last night, its best ever. Word is that both TNA and SpikeTV are extremely happy with the number, especially considering that the live UFC Ultimate Fight Night special did just a 1.3 rating.
My Views: Some are quick to say that RUSSO is the savior of TNA and that the ratings are up because of him. But while there IS a chance of that, people are missing things. First of all they have the publicity coming off of the Baseball interaction at the PPV. That got a ton of press on CNN and other outlets. Also, I think that the jump of Angle may be slowly taking affect. I know a lot of people that love Angle, but still refused to watch TNA. Then they started to hear about the great matches and decided to watch. Now add to that they are in a time slot with a bigger share of viewers, and Spike was hoping that they would average a 1.0, when they started out at a 0.8. They did start to do the steady 1.0 for 2-weeks, and then the 1.2. Now if in 2 or 3 weeks, if they are STILL doing the 1.2 or higher, then I will say that people are liking the Vinnie Ru Crash TV stuff, but not after one week, you just can't make that assumption.
Your News: Samoa Joe tweaked his knee last night at the Impact tapings. He was looked over by TNA's medical staff, but there is no word on how serious the injury is. Joe is also working through some sciatic issues in his back.
My Views: Joe has been a warrior this year, battling through injuries. I do question this at times because I worry about his longevity and wish he would take some time, like Bryan Danielson, whose arm is about to fall off, but they keep delivering. I hope he recovers soon and is ok in the long run.
Your News: The AJ Pierzynski/David Eckstein TNA angle aired on ESPN's Sports Center and ESPN2's Cold Pizza last night/this morning. The angle was also included as part of a story on David Eckstein in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The story featured a picture of Eckstein being held back by Dale Torborg from the PPV as well.
My Views: Apparently this all helped as TNA got their highest rating ever, and I feel this had to have SOMETHING to do with that,
Your News: This will be the final month of TNA on the Wrestling Channel in the UK. They have apparently inked a deal with a bigger station and will begin airing on that station in 2007. Rumor has it that the station is Bravo, but no announcements have been made yet.
My Views: From what I hear TWC didn't have the best quality in the first place, so this sounds like a better deal for TNA. Bravo in the UK also shows UFC so it seems as if they are pulling a SPIKE TV thing and building the network around the two shows.
Your News: Konnan will be undergoing hip surgery today for his deteriorating hip.
My Views: I wish Konnan the best, the man looks like he is in constant pain and if he can get some relief I will be very happy for him.
Your News: TNA looks to have given up on the Naturals as a tag team after nearly 4-years.
My Views: Andy Douglas may not be used any longer and the Naturals aren't going to be used as a team at all after this week's Impact. The feeling is that management gave them chance after chance but they never showed any fire or personality, even with the introduction of Shane Douglas into the fold. The sad part is that there were times where they looked fucking great, but they could never sustain it and I have to agree with this decision. In the end this was a huge waste of TV time, time they can't get back. Over the last week TNA has disbanded AMW, their cornerstone tag team, and the Naturals are gone, who have been around almost as long.
Your News: TNA public relations has sent out a notice, confirming that the company does indeed have $1-Million Dollars set aside for the VKM challenge.
My Views: Wow…I mean, wow. I think this is all part of an elaborate plan where Kevin Nash ends up with the money, and truly becomes the smartest man in wrestling! I would like to think that this is just them playing up the story, but part of me thinks that Russo could actually talk them into setting the money aside. Fuck if I know, I'll just stick with my Nash theory.
Everything else that needs covering…
Your News: The trademark infringement lawsuit being brought against rap star Jay-Z by former wrestling star Diamond Dallas Page now is also targeting Jay-Z's clothing line, Roc-A-Wear. DDP claims that he owns the rights to the Diamond Cutter hand gesture that Jay-Z has been doing lately and has now put on certain items in his clothing line. The lawsuit is expected to remain in the discovery period until April 2007.
My Views: DDP was on Figure Four Daily and discussed the case. He claims he has footage of him doing the sign in I believe 1996, before there is footage of Jay-Z doing it. From the sounds of it he and his legal team have their shit together, and when he tried to have a meeting with Jay-Z, Jay-Z blew him off. DDP wanted to license the symbol to him cheap because he respects Jay-Z, but after the meeting was kyboshed, DDP decided legal action was the best course of action. It will be interesting to see what happens here.
Your News: Charlie Haas and Jackie Gayda announced that their first child was born this week.
My Views: Congrats to the Haas family on the birth of their Inter-promotional child.
Your News: Due to complications with a heart attack and leukemia, Don Jardine, known to wrestling fans as "The Spoiler" passed away at the age of 66. Jardine has been battling leukemia for over 4-years and had been in poor health for some time.
Jardine was widely respected for being an agile big man with great balance at 6-4, 275lbs. The Undertaker's "Old School" walk rope is a take off of a spot that Jardine did through out his career.
Jardine was best known to most fans for his heel work in Texas. In 1984 he held the National Heavyweight Championship for Georgia Championship Wrestling, the year Vince McMahon bought the promotion. He had a short WWF run, but then quit the business.
My Views: The Spoiler was a great big man, and the wrestling world mourns another loss today. Jardine was highly respected among the other wrestlers, so much so that when the Undertaker debuted in Texas, he was said to be a protégé of Jardine. He wasn't, but the fact that they said he was carried huge weight in Texas. Unfortunately he suffered through the last few years of his life as he battled leukemia. I hope he went in peace, and he will be missed.
Your News: The Heartbreak Express and Black Market are looking to reprise their match that set the FIP attendance record on Friday night for other promotions. The match consists of four wrestlers locked in a cage wrapped in barbed wire, with light tubes, thumb tacks, tables, garbage cans and any other weapons a promoter wants them to use. The four have a special package deal to do the match at a "very reasonable price considering the brutality involved." You can contract Sean Davis at medsources1@aol.com for more info.
My Views: And that is why I love the wrestling business, once a worker, always a worker.
Today in Wrestling History:
1969 - Carlos Elio Colisetti defeated Rey Mendoza for the EMLL NWA Light Heavyweight title
1985 - Dusty Rhodes defeated Buddy Landell for the Georgia National Heavyweight title
1994 - Tommy Rich defeated Brian Christopher for the USWA Southern Heavyweight title
1997 - Death & Destruction defeated The Legends for the SSW Tag Team title
1999 - Event - Starrcade '99, MCI Center, Washington, DC
1999 - Chris Benoit defeated Scott Hall for the WCW US Heavyweight title
1999 - Madusa defeated Evan Karagias for the WCW Cruiserweight title
2000 - Edge & Christian defeated Undertaker & the Rock for the WWF Tag Team title
Births and Deaths
None of note.
Reader Email Time:
Dan wants to discuss the WM Main Event -
I know WWE is creaming for Batista/Taker but that just doesn't add up. They should push that as a title feud for a mid level show to boost a buy rate, like either No Way Out or Judgment Day. The main event feud here for WrestleMania should be Batista vs. Cena. They have buddy-buddy for a while and yet they are different shows. I say, have one accidentally cost the other a pinfall loss in the tag main event at this ppv. We'll say Cena KO's Batista by accident. At NYR, Batista costs Cena the WWE Title to Umaga. Cena wins the Rumble and challenges Batista at WM...Umaga can fiddle with DX and with Cena going to SD, Taker can head to Raw and challenge Umaga for the title. We get to WrestleMania XXIII...Umaga vs. Taker for the WWE and Taker gets one last hurrah, and Cena battles Batista in the last big money match they have.
I can agree that Cena vs. Batista is a money match and they really should do it. But they didn't go that way at the PPV, so we may never know.
Dan returns to discuss a dream match!
I was at the New Yorker hotel in the third row to watch the greatest match I ever saw Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi. Now the Mitsuharu Misawa regained the GHC Title...BRING HIM OVER. ROH has a great working relationship with NOAH, and has worked with one of the legends already so why not Misawa. Joe/Misawa would be unreal and could rival the Kobashi match in terms of greatness. NOAH has allowed their World Title to be defended on American soil before...so I ask...WHY NOT? In your opinion, is there any chance of this happening? I'd pay to see it, and Joe is the Dream Match master.
Rock the hell on brother, I would pay to see it. I don't know if it will happen though, I highly doubt it actually.
From 411's Scotty Flamingo on the VKM -
While I agree with most of what you said about VKM, I disagree with you saying the angle doesn't make sense. IMO it makes perfect sense. You have two guys from DX that are pissed off because HBK and HHH have brought the group back without them, so they are using the same tactics on the WWE that DX originally used on WCW.
Now, that's not to say it is a good angle. I believe that all wrestling angles have to lead to some sort of match for people to pay to watch. In that, VKM fails miserably, but as far as the booking goes, it is logical from the characters standpoint.
Ok, last time and I will try to be nice since you are a fellow 411er, but I am really sick to death discussing the deal here. WHY DO THEY CARE ABOUT DX? They are not in WWE, they should not care about WWE. They should care about TNA and TNA tag teams, not WWE and or WWE tag teams. They should want WWE to continue to put on a poor product and stupid skits, not to do better since they are the competition. To me it is just stupid, makes no sense, is a waste of TV time, will go no where as far as pay off and will make them no money. They are using an angle from 1997-8 or what the hell ever, RUSSO-RIFFICLY, and it is pathetic. Shooting an angle on another company doesn't make business sense to me at all. Thanks for the email dude.
From Matt on Paul Heyman -
While I have just recently started watching wrestling again after a 2-year break, I do keep up with your column and enjoy it. The one thing I've noticed is all the ECW/ Paul Heyman thing has people very upset. I watched ECW back in what could be called its heyday and I enjoyed it and have watched the new version and it doesn't compare at all. If Paul Heyman created ECW, and then sold it or handed it over to Vince, why is everyone pitching a fit? It's like if you bought a car and the previous owner kept bugging you and telling you how to take care of it. I know wrestling fans are the last group of people who embrace change, but I see it this way, no one forced Heyman to turn over ECW to the WWE. Maybe Heyman should bear at least some of the heat for what ECW has become.
You are missing one very vital point. Paul did not sell or hand over ECW, it went belly up/bankrupt and closed down. Vince bought the vital asset for next to nothing since ECW and Heyman owed him money, he hired Paul and that is that. People are pissed because this "WWECW" is nothing like "EC fn W" that they knew and loved.
And finally Tobias has an idea for Chris Nowinski -
I just read the interview with Christopher Nowinski and I have to say that I have missed that snobby guy. I got an idea from the part where Nowinski talked about being a mgr, but there might not be something for him. Here's an idea: pair him with Matt Striker. What you have is a smaller guy claiming to be smarter than everyone else paired with a bigger guy claiming to be smarter and better than everyone else. If
Nowinski can take an occasional bump then team the two up. Think about this: Harvard grad and a New York school-teacher where both have exceptional mic skills. It's too bad that Chris cannot wrestle full-time anymore because the two could have a solid gold feud with Cryme Time.
Striker has been basically buried in ECW, and in all actuality has no upward movement. He will most likely be released around Wm time, when they always do some releases if not sooner since ECW is going down faster than Lita on an Indy worker. Nowinski would be fun as a manager I think, but I hope he just stays working behind the scenes. He is making money not wrestling and not putting up with the horse shit that is professional wrestling and more power too him.
