Shining a Spotlight 5.31.07: Memorial Day Mailbag

Posted by Michael Weyer on 05.31.2007

Due to the shortened holiday week, mailbag on DVDs and TNA's mistakes.

First of all, just caught word from Jim Ross' blogs that a Ricky Steamboat DVD is in the works for next year. To which, I can only reply YEEE and HAHHHH!

On a more serious note, I've made it clear my dislike for Jeff Jarrett in my columns but I do wish my heartfelt sympathies to him and his family for their recent tragedy. While I would prefer less Jarrett on TV, I didn't want it this way and hope he gets through this.



A shorter column this week due to my being out of town for Memorial Day weekend. Hope it was good for you all and figured it'd be best to clear out my mailbag for this due to shortness of time this week.


To kick things off, still have a few folks talking about DVDs that should be. First, Sean Buckelew gives good detail for two DVDs…

I may be off as far order go on a few of these, and I tried to be a little conservative with matches that have appeared on previous WWE DVDs

this one may never go down because of copyright and all that, but it would be an amzing set, especially if we got interviews from all the remaining Harts, famous promos, rib stories, and of course matches.
Owen Hart "King of Harts"
Disc 1:
The Story
Owen Vs. Dynamite from Stampede
Owen Vs. Liger (NJPW)
Blue Blazer Vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam)

Disc 2:
The New Foundation Vs. The Orient Express (RR92)
High Energy Vs Headshrinkers (Survivor Series)
Hart Family Vs. Shawn Michaels and company (Survivor Series)
Bret and Owen Vs. The Steiners
Bret and Owen Vs. The Quebecers (RR94)
Bret Vs. Owen (Wrestlemania X)
Owen Vs. Razor (KOTR)
Owen Vs. Bret (Ironman)
Owen Vs. Bret (Summerslam)

Disc 3:
Owen and Neidhart Vs. Bret and Daveyboy (pick one)
Owen and Daveyboy winning the tag titles
Owen Vs. Daveyboy (European Title RAw)
Owen Vs. Shawn Michaels (RAW)
Hart Foundation Vs. Team America (Canadian Stampede)
Owen and Bulldog Vs. Shawn and Austin (Raw)
Owen Vs. Austin (Summerslam)
Owen Vs. HHH (WM14)
Owen joins the nation
Owen Vs. Shamrock (dungeon match)
Owen and Jarret win the tag titles
Owen's last match

Lastly, a guy who deserves A LOT more than a 2 disc set, I would go so far as to say a 5 DISC COLLECTION. Showstopper Edition. You wait a few years, maybe add a few matches, maybe take some out. Get the click to be apart of the interviews. This would amazing.

Shawn Michaels (Showstopper)

Disc 1:
Michaels Story
Rockers Vs. Buddy Rose and (sorry can't remember the name) (AWA)
Rockers Vs. Rogeau Brothers (WWF)
Rockers Vs. Orient Express (RR91)

Disc 2:
Shawn vs. Marty (RAW)
Shawn Vs. Bulldog (IC title)
Shawn Vs. Bret (WWF title Survivor 92)
Shawn Vs. Razor (WM10)
Shawn Vs. Diesel (WM 11)
Shawn Vs. Razor (Summerslam)
Shawn Vs. Bret (WM12)

Disc 3
Shawn Vs. Jarret (IYH)
Shawn and Diesel Vs. Bulldog (Owen) and Yokozuna (WWF IYH 3)
Shawn Vs. Vader (SummerSlam)
Shawn Vs. Diesel (Good Friends Better Enemies)
Shawn Vs. Bret (Survivor Series)
Shawn Vs. Bulldog (European title)
Shawn Vs. Taker (Lumberjack)
Shawn and Austin vs. Owen and Bulldog (RAW)
Shawn Vs. Taker (RR)
Shawn Vs. Austin (WM14)

Disc 4
Shawn Vs. HHH (Summerslam)
Elimination Chamber #1
Shawn Vs. Jericho (WM)
Shawn Vs. HHH (RAW)
Shawn Vs. HHH (Three Stages of Hell)
Shawn Vs. Orton
Shawn Vs. HHH Vs. Benoit (Backlash)
Shawn Vs. Benjamin (Goldrush)
Shawn Vs. Edge (RR 2005)

Disc 5
Rockers Vs. La Resistance (RAW)
Shawn Vs. Benoit (Raw)
Shawn Vs. Angle (WM 21)
Shawn Vs. Angle Vs. Cena (Taboo Tuesday 2005)
Shawn Vs. Hogan (SummerSlam)
Shawn Vs. Chris Masters
Shawn Vs. Angle (Raw Homecoming)
Shawn Vs. Shane Mcmahon (Saturday)
DX Vs. Vince, Shane, and Big Show (Vengeance)
Shawn Vs. Cena (Raw 55 minute)

Good detail for matches for both. I'd like to see Owen but as I understand it, some of his footage, especially home and family stuff, is owned by his widow and naturally, she isn't at all eager to work with Vince again. Also, rumor is that Bret stirred up some bad blood in the family when his DVD and accompanying magazine talked about how he never blamed Vince for Owen's death and some of the family gave the indication he did. And there's the simple but sad fact that while popular, Owen never quite got the same level of success Bret did.
For Shawn, I do think a new DVD is in order and that's a pretty comprehensive list. Five discs may be pushing it a tad. I mean, even Hogan only got 3 (four, if you bought the Wal-Mart version) and you'd have to have tons of promos as extras. But a good selection nonetheless.


A short missive here from Chris Irvine:

Hey, nice...I didn't think I'd end up in the column! I would've tried to write a little better, heh...

Some great suggestions from the viewers. WWE is sitting on such a goldmine with all the footage they own, at least the thing to be grateful for is that they realise it and they've been putting out some tremendous DVDs over the last couple years. Just always easy to want more!

I was amazed at how many suggestions came from readers. It shows the wide fanbase and willingness to buy such DVDs, which WWE is recognizing. Given the wide range of subjects, it looks like WWE will be keeping fans happy on the DVD front for a while to come.


Pierre Castect-Tobias, aside from an interesting name, also had this interesting letter:

I like some of the DVDs people wants to see. If there was one I wanted to see as a kid, it would be a documentary of the WCW/ECW Alliance storyline. I remember in middle school how big it was... well, at first. I enjoyed the storyline, mainly due to not having the Internet yet (FYI, the internet didn't convince me to stop watching WWE; by 2006, I got fed up and figured my options are open to stop watching, everyone who still does are welcome to do so.)

Back to where I was, everyone knows what happens next. It wasn't until I watched The Monday Night Wars and The Rise and Fall of ECW that I truly realized why a lot of people were turned off from this storyline. Still, it would make a great DVD, even out of controversy. The idea would be to tell how this angle was put together, the hype for it, explain why Shane and Steph were leaders, why have Austin turned twice, and the result. Have other superstars and crew explain their thoughts on it and reaction from the experience.

I'd call it The Alliance: Rise and Fall. Details should focus on the entire experience explain decisions for booking, and fans reactions from King of the Ring to Survivor Series. Reason why I like to see this DVD: I wonder if WWE has balls to release something like this.

Extras should contain the "important" matches, skits/promos (including The Rock's and Y2J's insults on the "ECW Owner"), deleted scenes, and extra interviews.

The Invasion has been counted as the biggest blown opportunity in history and it's hard to argue with that. I agree, a DVD focusing on it would be fun, to show how the match-up everyone was dreaming of turned so bad so fast because Vince couldn't give WCW equal standing as WWF. They touched on it a bit on the "McMahon" DVD but, as with so much on that DVD, Vince wasn't willing to admit how he blew it big time. There's a chance for a DVD down the road possibly but it would involve Vince swallowing his pride and ego to admit how bad he bungled it and we know how unlikely that is. But it's a good idea nonetheless.


Jason Bieber has another interesting DVD idea:

You did a very good article on "dream dvds" of your own concepts and reader's inputs for us wrestling fans. One of these days I think we'll see a Rock dvd set, and probably also a Jericho set (if Y2J ever returns).

I would also like to see a Best of the Cruiserweights dvd for each the WWE, WCW, and ECW.
-WCW's would have Rey Mysterio, Juventud, Eddie, Jericho, Dean, Lieger, Ultimo, and Kidman (you could even throw in the Three Count/Jung Dragons feud). You'd also HAVE to have the Rey/Kevin Nash match on there. Heh.
-ECW's would have the early days of Luchadores like Rey, Juvi, etc., Dean/Eddie, the Super Crazy/Yoshihiro Tajiri feud (as well as their three way dances and tag title matches against the FBI), Kid Kash, and even Jerry Lynn and Lance Storm's stuff.
-WWE's would have the early TAKA Michinoku and Esse Rios stuff, the Dean/Scotty match, all their post WCW stuff with Rey, Matt Hardy's CW days, post ECW Tajiri stuff (especially his underrated feud with Sean Waltman), and the Hooliganz stuff of today.
I think that it'd be doable.......if, of course, the E would ever push their cruiserweights and not fear them taking the spotlight away from the heavyweights (like they'll make Mark Henry look any slower...)

I'd also love to see a TNA dvd set on America's Most Wanted, which is kinda suprising that they haven't put one out there (I know they have an old one, but it's not up to par), and a REAL Christopher Daniels dvd set.

A Cruiserweight DVD might be good but WWE would probably limit it to just the one disc. The various ECW discs have showed some luchadore stuff but a nicer focus might be good. I'm sure the upcoming Rey Mysterio DVD this fall will showcase plenty of light heavyweight stuff to make fans happy. If only they could give the cruiserweights such respect now…
I also agree on the TNA disc ideas as AMW were their best team and a big set on their rise and eventual split would be perfect. The Daniels DVD last year was a huge missed opportunity, only one disc with several matches clipped, a bad move considering how Daniels has been with TNA from the start and had lots to give. Hopefully, they can make up for that with another volume.


Moving on to my column about "following the leader," Daniel Norman has a good detailed message:

Hey man just writing to say how much I enjoyed your column comparing TNA at the moment to the mistakes made by WCW and AWA. I really couldn't add anything more to it as you hit every point on the head. TNA was once a must see product that revolved around fast, high-flying and generally exciting in-ring action. Now it is becoming more like WWE than even the WWE is... and yes I am referring the the shitty electrified steel cage tage team match and the last rights match. Just fucking awful. I am a WWE fan through and through but I do enjoy watching an alternative every now and then, which is why I loved what TNA used to produce. Now I find it frustrating and awkward to follow TNA.

The ironic thing is that some of the TNA fanbase seem to be as ignorant of TNA's problems as the TNA higher ups appear to be. Many comments on WWE vids on youtube have TNA fans making statements claiming that WWE is rapidly losing money and on the verge of going out of business, leaving TNA as the number one promotion. For all the is good in the wrestling world I hope that this ignorance ceases and that TNA stops trying to out WWE the WWE so that we get the once-great TNA of old.

Once upon a time I was excited to watch an X division match or watch Somoa Joe's rampage on route to the world title. Now the X division is joke filler and I won't really care when Joe gets the TNA title. Thank god that the WWE is in somewhat of a hot streak at the mo and that the best World champ in WWE history in Edge is wearing gold agen!

Daniel raises a good point on the TNA fanbase. At times, they do recognize the problems (note the Last Rites match with the massive "Fire Russo!" chant that Don West and Mike Tenay completely ignore). But as he mentioned, I've heard many TNA fans going way over the top on how awesome their promotion is and making that same ludicrous claim that WWE will be out of business soon. It was one thing when it was 2005 and TNA was putting on awesome shows with great workers but today, it's completely ridiculous.
Face it, WWE is just too powerful and too rich with too many connections to be put under any time soon, least of all by a company so much smaller. In this regard, TNA fans seem to be like ECW fans who'd boast of how their promotion was the best. I remember a great comment Raven once made on such "smart" fans: "These are the easiest fans to fool because they think they know so much and know what's coming." Looks like some fans are all too willing to live up to that idea.
I agree with a comment made by Scott Keith in his latest book, that TNA needs to start acting like a promotion that knows it's a small wrestling company and not try to be WWE's little brother. Focus on what you have instead of trying to go beyond your limits is a way for TNA to survive but on their present course, they might be lucky to make it to Slammiversary '08.


Also on the same subject comes this comment from Todd King:

Awesome column! I had not looked at the whole biz this way--you have a great way of standing outside of it all for a complete overlook.

I think another mistake by WCW was their use (or non-use) of Bret Hart. Bret would have been a great fit for the fans because of his in-ring ability and dream match-ups with Sting, Hogan, etc. But it's been said before, they just didn't know how to use him, when he could have been the hub of their success.

Good point on Bret, which has been mentioned many times before. The hottest free agent of all time, with a big fanbase in Canada, a country WCW had never been able to crack, he could have led them to new heights of success. Bischoff had such a golden opportunity on his hands but was too consumed with "NWO all the time" to give Bret the proper push. It's even more ridiculous considering they were paying him about $3 million a year. I think it boils down to Bischoff not really caring about Bret being WCW champ, he just wanted to take away a top WWF guy, thinking that would be enough to sink Vince once and for all, just another of his many mistakes that led to him losing.


Jess Osmond's comment is short but, hey, clearing out the mailbag, so…:

Hi there. I just finished reading "Following the Leader". It was truly one of the best things I've ever read on any wrestling website. Great job!!!


After a long absence, John Reid returns with one of his nicely detailed messages:

All I can say about that article Michael is: WOW! You nailed it so perfectly going into the history of the failures of the AWA, WCW and (possibly) TNA that it's impossible to even add on to that. Well done.

I'm a believer in TNA and that I think they are beginning to realize they're mistakes and simplify things in their most recent shows (although the mascot stuff is beyond dumb). I think Slammiversary will be the time to finally right the ship and all they need to do is three simple things:

1) Make Samoa Joe TNA World Champ. No better way to commemorate the 5th anniversary than by putting the belt on the company's best homegrown star. Waiting until October may be too late. A long running Samoa Joe-Christian-Kurt Angle feud for the belt will help (especially if they ever figure out what they want to do with Angle)

2) Give Lethal the X-Division belt. I know that many people sour on his new gimmick, but it does add personality to a very stale division. If they let him win it then you can have a group of feuds with him against people like Dutt, Senshi, Petey Williams, and they can play off that more serious role to really give a contrasts in their matches.

3) Continue to build the tag team title division. Ok, for old times sake let's have the Steiners-Team 3D matchup, but only once ok? No need to stretch it out over 3 PPVs, especially at the expense of newer tag teams such as the MCMG and of course LAX. Add in the Bashams and you have the makings of a solid division.

Pretty simple, no? Build feuds around the titles while putting the other minor feuds (Sting-Daniels, Roode-Young) in the background. I believe once they get that second hour a lot of new characters will have more of a chance to shine while the old veterans will fade.

I don't get the mascot thing either. Apparently, they've had that thing made for years but only now have been bringing it out for who knows what reason. Might as well have Shark Boy wandering around, at least he's over with the crowd.
Such good ideas for how to turn things around. I do have hope they'll smarten up and give Joe the belt. Of course, to do it, they had to have him and Sting face off for the first time ever in a qualifying match, yet another PPV-level encounter given away for free. But Joe's the guy fans want and can make that title more meaningful. I do think Lethal's been ready for the X title, I just hate the gimmick. Oh, we could only hope Team 3D/Steiners is once but knowing TNA, it won't be. But I agree, beefing up the tag division is needed and we can hope with Slammiversary, TNA can improve more.


Going to last week's column on world titles, while some of my 411 compatriots (like Ari) seemed to like it, some readers disagreed. Gareth Smith leads it off:

Why is it ridiculous for TNA to talk about their storied history and worldwide appeal? Just because it isn't true?
There's a little thing in the wrestling world called "Kayfabe". It means made up, not true, a lie. Its just promotion. The WWWF title wasn't really won in a tournament in South America. It was a lie. It's just another promotional tool at the disposal of the promoters.
I agree though, I really don't get this at all from the NWA's point of view. What they think they are gaining by breaking from TNA is beyond me.
Also, as I understood it Ric Flair didn't think he owned the title back in '91, at least that's not what he said. I thought he said that he was leaving because he couldn't work with Jim Herd, Herd told him fine and give us back our belt. Flair said I want my deposit money ($15,000) and Herd said he wasn't paying it and that Flair could keep the belt, WCW didn't it or Flair. All this proves that Jim Herd was an idiot of course.

Kayfabe is pretty much dead nowadays thanks to the Internet so TNA's declarations of how big the belt is come off as the spin it is. The NWA title had some significance but it's harder to get into a big match for a belt that didn't exist a month ago.
The Flair one is a bit difficult due to varying stories but I basically heard the tale that Flair was under the impression he owned the belt as it was given to him by Crockett in leiu of various bonuses owed. But I guess only Flair and Herd know for sure.


Andre Mills has this comment:

You have NO place to tell readers who or what is more prestige in the wrestling world! Unless you tell Dixie Carter (TNA president) in person or making changes to TNA behind-the-scenes, don't tell wrestling fans how to view TNA's equation to WWE; much less TNA. When a company (upstart or not) stops believing they are the best, they cease the opportunity to actually BE the best! One of the main reasons Paul Heyman never brought ECW to the prominence of WWE because he believed what you believe now, which is similar to saying ECW (or any other upstart promotion) could never compete with Vince. As far as TNA's world title, where do you get the idea that TNA is shoving its prestige down our throats?!

I'm not saying TNA should stop being confident; I'm saying they need, at least behind the scenes, to face the reality of their place in the wrestling world. I'm sorry but the fact is, ECW, even at its height, could not compete with WWF because it was a regional promotion with a violence factor that appealed to a narrow part of the fanbase, which was proven when Heyman tried to take it national. From the start, TNA thought they could be the number two promotion but they need to work further rather than accept they're at that level now and can be free to go wild with ideas.


It wasn't all bad as John Reid supplies another letter on his thoughts about that column:

Great points Michael. I think it's really more about "the man makes the title more than the title makes the man" these days. Back in the days the World Champion (regardless of affiliation) has that presence about him that made fans either decisively cheer or boo. The World Champ's matches drew large crowds because they were larger than life characters, especially when Hulk Hogan had the belt. The problem with today is that there is no real legitimacy to the World Champs of WWE. I'm sorry but Edge does not embody what a real World Champ is about. I'm not saying it because of his stature, but it's due to how he's won them. I understand being sneaky is part of his character and that means winning through nefarious means, but who can really take that seriously? Despite how he won it, if he has a long run with plenty of defenses I think it will make him worthy of the title. As for Cena, he does an ok job of representing the title despite a lack of true contenders. It's not about being a big musclehead monster, but about being someone who knows how to represent the title, like King Booker for example.

As for TNA, the solution is simple if they want to begin getting the fans to buy their product: make Samoa Joe the World Champ at Slammiversary. With his wrestling ability and intense promos he will get the fans to notice that TNA does have a World Champ they can get behind. Christian was great in the role, but he was still looked upon as a former WWE superstar.

A champion does make the title as often, if not more, than the other way around. I should have laid that point out better in my article. I still hold to the idea I wrote in a column last year, that I can buy Edge as a champion better than Christian both in ring skills and fan heat. I do hope they keep it on him for a while as he can be a good heel champ. I honestly think that years from now, Cena will be better appreciated as a champ as he does have heat, albeit often mixed. You made the same Joe point in the earlier message and I do agree again, it'd be a great way to sell the TNA belt.


Also around 411mania this week:

That Was Then compiles the Undertaker's Wrestlemania record.

Piledriver Report imagines the upcoming Draft Lottery.

On a related note, Evolution Schematic starts to examine the Draft Lottery history.

Ripple Effect examines the impact of the US title.

Keys to the Game looks at the impact of injuries on WWE's storylines.

Why I Love Wrestling offers a brilliant, insightful and must-read column on fellow wrestling writers. That I'm mentioned among them is pure coincidence.

The Shimmy does a report card for Shawn Michaels from his 2002 return on.

Fink's Payload start imagining ONS III.

Julian counts down the Top Diaz Latino wrestlers.

The Goodness does a great article talking about how wrestling needs young fans.

Don't forget Column of Honor, Triple Threat, 3 R's, Navigation Log, Ask 411, Fact or Fiction and the rest.


Thanks for putting up with this abbreviated column. Next week, I review an insightful new book on the history of the NWA. For now, the spotlight is off.