Your News, My Views 4.24.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 04.24.2007
The feel good column of 2007. Well not really, but it sounded damn catchy!
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. How are we all doing today children? I really only have one question for you…
WHAT'S CAUSIN' ALL THIS? WOOOOOOOOO~!
Yeah, still on a high from the Horsemen DVD, Speaking of DVD's finally got the AWA DVD, so I'll have to check that bad boy out. Another great collection I got was "The Wrestling Observer Match of the Year Collection – (1980-2005.) I can't wait to review that beast. I worked a lot this past week, made way too many Pizza's, Calzones, Salads, Gyros and anything else we sell. The after Easter Church season is always busy, and trying to keep a 5-year old wrangled in takes its toll. Well, let's hit some talking points and get to work!
411 on MySpace? Yeah baby, the rumors are true! Go and check it out @ www.myspace.com/411mania
My wife broke her arm, so I spent the weekend trying to work and do all of the house shit.
New Skills Learned This Week: I learned how to put rollers in my wife's hair.
Mirko got knocked the FUCK OUT at UFC 70. To read all about it, check out my UFC 70 Report as well as my latest edition of My Take on MMA, which is a follow up article on the event.
My boss has EXCELLENT taste in the ladies he hires. Nice ass all over this place, I love going to work.
Yes my wife reads this column. Yeah, she may get pissed. The broken arm is the right one, she's right handed. I'm safe for now.
ON NOTICE~!
And now back to Gene Krupa's syncopated style…
Today in Wrestling History:
1936 - Ali Baba defeated Dick Shikat for the NWA Heavyweight Wrestling title
1989 - Big Van Vader defeated Shinya Hashimoto in a tournament final for the IWGP Heavyweight title
1995 - Colorado Kid defeated Cactus Jack for the Music City North American Heavyweight Title
2000 - Diamond Dallas Page defeated Jeff Jarrett for the WCW Heavyweight title
2000 - Matt Hardy defeated Crash Holly for the WWF Hardcore title
2001 - Matt Hardy defeated Eddie Guerrero for the WWF European Heavyweight title
2001 - Steve Corino defeated Mike Rapada (The Colorado Kid) for the NWA Heavyweight Wrestling title
Births and Deaths:
2001 - Died - Johnny Valentine at 72
TNA stories, scuttlebutt and rumors:
Your News: Jeff Jarrett's appearances for the next two episodes of Impact were taped out of order at the taping this week so that he could quickly get back to Nashville to deal with a serious family illness. Jarrett has been going back and forth heavily in the last few weeks, trying to attend TNA events and be with his family.
My Views: The serious family illness as most know is that his wife is very ill and battling cancer I believe. Jarrett took the initial time off to spend time with her. The bad part is that she reportedly isn't getting any better, and is in bad shape. Reportedly Jarrett decided to come back to work for a "distraction" of sorts, as he is having a difficult time with these personal issues. That sucks for him and his family, and in the end I can only hope the best for them.
Your News: The plan for TNA Bound for Glory is to have the show take place in Chicago in October. It will be TNA's third PPV this year to be on the road. Lockdown was in St. Louis and Slammiversary will take place in Nashville.
My Views: Yeah, I discussed this a few months ago. Chicago is the perfect place as they are just a HOT wrestling town. Going back to last year's Bound for Glory, that will be 4 PPVs out of Orlando, which is a great thing. Hopefully they get it closer to 8 in the next year.
Your News: Austin Starr has been sent home and suspended for 90 days by TNA management. The main reason being that management was unhappy with his attitude. There seems to be no one instance, but more of things over time adding up. Starr is said to be a pretty blunt and brutally honest person, which may have hurt him in the eyes of management. Starr was scheduled to continue his storyline with Bob Backlund after Lockdown and Backlund was at TNA's Impact taping Monday but wasn't used. Backlund will be remaining with the company. Starr was suspended last year along with Roderick Strong due to not following management's wishes to leave a Ring of Honor show during a blizzard scare. They both made the show, but their push was ended and both suspended. Strong left the company when his contract was up and Starr returned to the company at this past year's Bound for Glory PPV.
My Views: All right, there are a few ways to look at this. #1 is that Starr is a dick. Yeah, we can't rule this out. Bottom line, when in a "business environment" you have to have some tact. Sure I would understand him being upset with his position, but the fact is that there is a way to go about things and a way not to go about things, and apparently he took the wrong road. Now this has sent the ROH Loving TNA Haters into a frenzy, TNA is the devil, they suck, they will never use him right anyway. That's all well and good. But TNA is also giving him his biggest exposure and biggest payday, so they aren't all bad. But I think at the end of the day that this is similar to the first suspension, and what I mean by that is that they are robbing Peter to pay Paul, cutting off the nose to spite the face. Even if Starr was being a total dick, I can't believe that it was much worse that Billy Gunn's crap. But then again, he's a former WWE star so he could kill someone and still have a job.
Your News: There are plans to push Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin as a tag team, coming off of their impressive performance at the Lockdown PPV.
My Views: I said in my PPV edition of the 3R's that they should, they looked great at the PPV and could be a great addition to the tag division. They have been tagging in PWG and ZERO-ONE, and will be debuting as a team in ROH. So they aren't new to teaming, as they have been going as "Motor City Machine Guns". I think they could easily step from the X-Division and do the tag deal for a good while, allowing the X-Division to open up, and maybe add a fresh face or two. Also, the tag division REALLY needs them since the demise of AMW, Daniels and AJ and the basic tossing of the Naturals.
Your News: Abyss was busted open at one point during the Impact taping last night and required 60 stitches. Details on what happened are in the TNA Impact taping report.
My Views: Sweet Jesus that was a NASTY beat down. Did you check out that arm of his with the SICK gash? I mean, that was sick as hell. He's a company man for sure, and reportedly will be gone for a few weeks to sell the beat down and injuries, which will be a refreshing change for wrestling these days. SELL THE DAMN INJURY~!
Your News: TNA star Shark Boy recently settled his lawsuit against Dimension Films and several other entities over the infringement of his copyrighted and trademarked name "Shark Boy" in the Robert Rodriguez film "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D". The case was closed this past Friday 4/20 by the Southern District Court of Ohio with Judge Susan J. Dlott noting that the case can be reopened by 6/19 if agreed settlement terms are not completed.
My Views: Well I hope the dude got some cash out of it. He's worked hard for a long time, and if he can get a little extra coin after all the years of obscurity then so be it.
WWE/ECW news, notes and happenings to the EXTREME:
Your News: Randy Orton caught a stomach virus while in Europe. Orton didn't work the Munich show last night…or so they wanted us to believe.
My Views: Yes, young Randall was sent home NOT because he was sick, but because he decided to be a rock star and trash his hotel room. This is yet another bad episode in the life of young Randall Orton. Going AWOL, shitting in bags and so on and so forth. This is the reason he hasn't had the title put back on him. But the sad fact is that he'll probably get another chance. He won't be on Raw this week, and may be pulled from Backlash, if not he'll certainly do the JIZZOB. From all accounts it looks as if there will be yet another suspension or him. WWE is of the mind frame that he 1) Still has a ton of upside and 2) that they can only give so much talent to TNA before it eventually helps them. Some say that Orton has major depression issues and doesn't handle the hectic lifestyle of a wrestler well, while others feel that he is nothing but am immature asshole who has been groomed from day one for the spot due to look, size, the name he has and feels he can get away with everything. WWE as a company also is light on main event guys, so basically they will probably keep him until they feel they need him. But as a company you have to draw the line somewhere, as it may just be a matter of time until his exploits cause a major public relations nightmare.
Your News: World Wrestling Entertainment has ended its relationship with Deep South Wrestling. For the past two years, DSW has served as one of WWE's developmental territories. Check back here as more information becomes available.
-WWE severed all ties with their other developmental territory Deep South Wrestling. The decision was made after Bruce Prichard visited the developmental territory last week and brought back a negative report. That was said to be the final straw as WWE hasn't been happy with the territory. Mike Bucci was sent to Deep South to oversee the split from WWE.
-No word on how the talent will be handled or redistributed. Some will obviously head to OVW, while others are expected to be released from their contracts. Right now, there is talk of Booker's PWA in Houston and/or Steve Keirn's school in Tampa, Florida replacing Deep South as a WWE developmental territory, but no decision has been made yet. On the heels of WWE pulling out of the association with Deep South Wrestling, Jody Hamilton will be shutting down the promotion and the school. They needed WWE's financial support to stay operational. It looks as if Steve Keirn's school would be the leading candidate to replace DSW. Jody Hamilton will be retiring from the business.
My Views: Well, there were rumors that WWE was never happy with Deep South from the beginning. They thought they didn't run enough shows, they fired Bill DeMott as they weren't happy with him and basically treated it as lower than OVW. Overall this is a BAD move as I have said for the past few years that they way to help developmental is to INCREASE the size of the system, creating their own small territory system to get the guys more work and exposure. Also another problem is that having constant matches of developmental vs. developmental doesn't help the guys. Back when OVW thrived they did so because lots of WWE guys from the main roster were sent there for a week or two at a time to work these guys, and that helped dramatically. But that isn't the deal right now. Also Vince apparently threw a gasket and was "THIS" close to axing all of developmental, but cooler heads prevailed. As of the weekend, all WWE Contracted Talent that was assigned to DSW, that isn't being shifted to OVW are being given 3-months to relocate to Florida as it appears as if Steve Keirn's school is almost a definite replacement for DSW.
-Jody Hamilton was on Wrestling Observer Live and stated that he got a call saying Johnny Ace was coming for a meeting, but he actually heard that second hand. Mike Bucci and Ace walked into Deep South, had a meeting with the talent that Hamilton wasn't invited too and then he was told in a separate meeting. He had a show scheduled for Saturday, which he had to cancel as they had a truck with them and took the rings right then. He was never given an official reason for pulling the plug. He never had any major issues with the WWE office, the only one was when Bill DeMott was fired, but he understood it was a management call. Also, it is not definite that he is shutting down Deep South, he may reorganize it and keep it as a small independent.
Your News: WWE's chartered plane blew an engine on the runway yesterday following RAW. According to WWE.com, "the plane was taxing on the runway and the engine was revved too high, causing the engine fumes to heat up to more than 900 degrees — roughly two-and-a-half times the normal temperature the engine should operate at. At that point, a rod may have snapped, causing the engine to blow." Obviously WWE is lucky that the incident didn't happen in the air.
My Views: Well that's a pretty damn scary situation. Thankfully it happened on the ground and no one got hurt.
Your News: The plan right now is for the next installment of Saturday Night's Main Event to be taped on May 29 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. The show will air on June 2nd on NBC, which is the night before the One Night Stand PPV. The plan is to also tape Smackdown that evening from the same building, with ECW being taped the week before.
My Views: Damn it, this sucks. The night before the One Night Stand PPV AND the next ELITE XC show is on Showtime that night. Someone is trying to kill me.
Your News: Super Crazy tore his MCL on the recent European Tour.
My Views: Well that sucks for him. They seemed to like Crazy well enough to keep him around and on TV. One thing though is that he has been putting on extra weight, and with the style he works it was pretty much just a matter of time before he got some form of injury. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for the Crazy one.
Your News: Ric Flair apparently suffered an ankle injury during WWE's European tour. Flair did not work the show in Munich.
My Views: Well, if you didn't see this one coming, you're blind. I am actually surprised that Flair hasn't been injured before now. Sure he is working a very limited style most matches, but at his age I would have expected an injury earlier. I hope it's a minor deal and that he will recover soon. I am typing this a lot lately.
Everything else that needs covering in wrestling…and maybe some MMA
Your News: The Memphis Wrestling show on Friday, headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Wight, will be broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio's Howard Stern Channel 101. Bubba the Love Sponge, whose show airs on Sirius, will be appearing on the show as well.
My Views: Well, that's something I suppose that went right there.
Your News: Hulk Hogan called in to the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show yesterday. Some highlights are below, my thoughts in bold.
- Bubba said he has been asked to appear at the Hulk Hogan/Paul Wight Memphis Wrestling event as a wrestler, and that he has agreed to that deal.
Sucks for those fans.
- Bubba said he was asked to be at the arena by 3PM the day of the show, but said he won't show up until Hogan shows up.
Great attitude, you're nothing.
- Hogan again mentioned that his match with Paul Wight should have happened at WrestleMania 23.
In a perfect world sure for the nostalgia pop, but you asked for too much coin there Hulkster.
- Hogan said that Vince knew he would not back out of the show, which is why he went after Lawler.
Well, Vince played his hand perfectly, now didn't he?
- Hogan said that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were behind the Jillian Hall/Brooke Hogan parody gimmick.
BWAHAHAHAHHA…it is STILL funny.
- Hogan put over Sharpton and Jackson as men who fought for fairness, but then said they railroaded Don Imus.
Boo hoo, and I don't give 2 shits about Don Imus.
- Hogan said Paul Wight is frustrated with Vince McMahon and is excited to be wrestling on his own.
Yeah, I am sure he was frustrated by all of that money being tossed his way.
- Hogan said that TNA "could be" one of the three companies actively pursuing him "as a brand."
And so it begins, again.
- Hogan said that Jeff Jarrett and TNA are trying to help out Cory Macklin in Memphis.
If they are smart, sure, get the guys more work.
- Hogan and Bubba talked about how awesome it will be to see Bubba wrestle. Hogan said that Bubba should have a shoot fight with the Honkytonk Man.
My God that would suck.
- Hogan didn't know if his 4/27 show was a Friday or Saturday (it's a Friday).
That Hogan, what a promoter.
Your News: As of today the 4/27 Memphis show with Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Wight had sold 1,500 tickets for $70,875. Also, the Memphis TV show rating dropped to a 1.8 rating, the lowest of this year. The show lost viewers every quarter, and is way down from the regular rating of 2.8.
My Views: Funny thing, all these Hogan fans emailed me and said, "He'll sell 15,000 tickets, no doubt." Maybe they added an extra zero by accident. Also, even with a Hogan appearance, the rating dropped a WHOLE POINT, presumably due to the lack of the King. Man, that ego is taking a bashing this week. I wonder how the knee is feeling?
Your News: A&E will begin filming a reality series about Mick Foley soon. The show will focus on Foley himself and not his family. Foley told the following to hobotrashcan.com.
"You know, the people at A&E really sold me on what the show could be. I watched some of their shows specifically and I think that in the same way I was really proud of being in Beyond the Mat, I could be proud of a reality show, especially if it allows me to cover some of my interests outside of wrestling and may draw people into supporting some causes that I do."
My Views: Sounds cool to me. I am a Foley fan, so I'll watch; and recap yes, you knew it was coming.
Reader Feedback and Rants!
From Chris on Brock Lesnar -
He blames the promoters for not caring???? The promoters were NOT IN THE RING TELLING THEM TO SUCK!!! What a damn idiot that was the worst excuse for a crap match that I have heard of. They can give you a bad storyline, but they also gave you BOTH a going away match at Wrestlefreakin-mania, and they had the chance to go out with a damn bang, and blew it. It is no one's fault but there own. Brock is a freakin idiot, I liked the guy, I really did, but after this interview I flat out hope he fails completely and turns into a has-been-bum down in Minnesota.
It takes two to tango, he and Goldberg both sucked in that match.
From Leland on Runt and Snitsky -
Great column as usual...just had a couple comments. You wondered if Runt really took the tazer show. I noticed when LAX were holding Runt's arms behind his back, he leaned back and you could tell he had some sort of protective vest under his shirt. I thought it was obvious and was wondering if you would comment on it. I guess it wasn't that obvious as one of my friends didn't notice either.
I laugh every week with you Snitsky comment. Even though you've re-posted the same paragraphs for weeks now, I still read it because it's so funny. I agree with you 100%. I don't give a shit about him and never will.
I didn't notice the jacket, good call man. And yeah, I just don't dig Snitsky.
From RC regarding my ideas for the new IC Champion -
I gotta say that this is one of your lousiest ideas. I don't think YOU would even like that storyline had it been used by the E. First of all, you get a new IC-champ that nobody knows nothing about. And then ppl have to wait 1 month for his first title defense, against a jobber no less? That woulda been one shitty angle I think because people would lose interest pretty quickly by just seeing him train every week and then face off against Funaki - it would be kinda heelish also. I don't know what they should do now, or how they should do it. Perhaps just push him to the moon or something, who knows. But I do now that using the 30 days of training angle most likely would be a bad choice.
I disagree, I think if done properly it would get interest and give him more time to improve, because he isn't ready for live TV.
From Aaron on the Horsemen DVD -
Hey Larry, did you notice that, during the chapter on Jarrett, it was the only time during the whole thing that Arn and Flair didn't express their opinions? I mean, Arn talked in kayfabe about Jarrett wanting to be a member of the horsemen but that was it. Arn, Flair, Benoit, none of them made the DVD, most likely because they wouldn't burry Jarrett I assume. It was just Bischoff and Austin who's still all pissy about not winning the USWA title over Jarrett.
I did notice that. I knew JJ would be buried, it is just business. He could have been the greatest Horsemen ever and would have been.
And finally from Todd Vote on ECW and Punk -
The Right:
Punk and The New Breed - It's interesting how they are playing Punk in his first week in the New Breed. Basically he and Elijah have the same domineering personalities and they are already clashing, with Elijah proclaiming that he is the leader and that Punk should fall in line. RVD came out during the celebration so to speak and told Punk he made the wrong choice and that the Originals would make his life hell. RVD challenged Burke and he hesitated, but then took the match. Later on Burke and Punk had a talk, and said he thought Burke was afraid of RVD. This all continued later as Punk and Matt Striker had a talk, where Punk told Striker that the New Breed needs independent thinkers and integrity. He seemed to win Striker over with this. The next step was giving Thorn and Cor Von a pep talk after their loss. They seemed to appreciate this, but Elijah didn't. He told Punk that he can give all the pep talks he wants, but he is the leader and Punk needed to fall inline. Punk agreed and then said he would have Elijah's back tonight. Elijah and RVD had their match, it was fine and then Punk slid a chair into the ring, but past Elijah, RVD uses it and then wins the match. Is there collusion a foot? Is Punk a mole for the Originals? Is he trying to take over the New Breed? Or is he setting them all up for a fall to debut HIS new group? I am not sure, but it's very interesting and I am actually enjoying it right now
Larry, I could not agree more, this is quickly becoming my favorite storyline in the E, but just since the past episode. I can't remember a time when a face joined a heel faction with what looks like the intentions of tearing it apart. I like your theory on Punk starting his own group to stick it to both sides, effectively making him a tweener. That would certainly spice up the matches, by adding another element.
Good to hear from you Todd. Yeah, I am digging it right now, I hope they can keep it up.
