The Best Of The Rest 9.05.07: Volume 12
Posted by Alex Mattis on 09.05.2007
CZW fading, a recap of the titles won this past weekend, No Surrender this Sunday, and it's Champion Vs. Champion baby! Right here on the "Best Of The Rest."
Welcome back one and all to the Best Of The Rest. After quite the news week in both wrestling and MMA, suspensions, firings, titles won, and battles lost. I'm back with recaps, previews, and my thoughts on the goings-ons in these two world. This past weekend was one of champions, and this upcoming is one of Champion Vs. Champion. On this edition of BOTR I take a look at all the huge victories of this past weekend, a preview of TNAngle's PPV, the coffin lid shutting on CZW (it looks that not even the urn can save them at this point), and in "The Stoppage" a look at Babalu's firing and a UFC 75 preview!
Losing In Combat:
Well it seems that CZW just keeps drifting further and further into that bright light. Their champion, Ruckus, recently made a surprise debut for ROH and joined forces with Jack Evans. Their CHAMPION came into a mid-card program that alone should say something about comparing ROH to the rest of the Indy's. Moving on. Now I have been spouting off to anyone who would listen for the past 9 months or so, that CZW is a sinking ship. When they lost to war to ROH they lost big. The amazing feud did help both companies in the short term, but really elevated ROH in the long run. They would ultimately secure Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, CZW stars. And more recently former CZW talents Jigsaw, Larry Sweeney, and Mike Quackenbush have starting working relationships with ROH and especially in the case of Sweeney, they have become main players within the company. During the DBD weekend this year, Cheech & Cloudy returned to ROH as did "The King Of Diamonds" Eddie Kingston. Some predict King to be the next member of The Vulture Squad. And the ROH tag division is always open, so there is a chance former Special K member's Cheech and Cloudy could make a return to the main card. What does this mean for CZW? They may lose some of the stars they have, or have tried to make. They have been trying to put new faces out there like Drake and they have been giving Joker a huge push, but the product just isn't what it once was. The audience is swelled enough to capitalize and make new stars. The easiest way to see this is to compare former "Best Of The Best" tournament's to this years. Look back at BOTB 4. There was Homicide, Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams, Jack Evans, Roderick Strong, Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelley, and more. It was an absolutely stacked show. Then look at this year's. With all due respect to those on the card this year, none of the guys involved are a draw. They were just mostly, with the exception of B-Boy and Human Tornado, local guys who CZW fans see in Philly a lot. I think a lot of this downfall can be pointed at the "ultra violent" aspect of the company. It was the foundation of CZW. They put a lot of time and effort into the "hardcore" style they came to be known for, and that has appeared to be detrimental to the company. That style of wrestling appeals to a very, very small percentage of the crowd and it's the same thing over and over. I think the "death matches" in CZW were a flavor of the month type of deal and now some CZW fans want something more, and unfortunately it's not there. As always the "no-selling spot fests" CZW had also come to be known for are still around, but people seem to be growing tired of those as well. And to make matters worse, that egomaniac that is Zandig doesn't help anything. The stunt he pulled earlier this year when he publicly fired King and then "called out" some fans was absurd and surely soured me on the current state of the company. Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass but as a CZW fan watching from the outside, as someone who has seen where the company has been, it would appear to me that The Arena may need a new company to fill it monthly.
To The Victor's Go The Spoils:
This past weekend was one of wars waged and titles won. Chuck Taylor won the IWA-MS light heavyweight championship from Brandon Thomaselli to become a double champ, only to lose the LHW strap the next night to Mike Quackenbush. Quack swept the title away from Taylor lightning quick. YAY! Pun! "Scrap Daddy" Adam Pearce cemented his spot in the history of professional wrestling when he filled in for the injured Bryan Danielson and pinned Brent Albright 1-2-3 and won the vacated NWA World Title. At one time, the most coveted title in all of the industry is now around the waist of Pearce. But not to worry AmDrag fans, he will be back and better than ever and WILL be crowned the NWA champion. And in the much-anticipated BOLA tournament, after making it to the finals in '06 only to lose to Davey Richards, CIMA came back and won the tourney. CIMA is a very decorated wrestle, but even so this is a huge feather in his cap, especially here in the US. So raise your glasses to these four men who added more accomplishments onto their resume, and in one case has been written into the history books of professional wrestling.
Mommy's alright, daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird...No Surrender...This Sunday...
There will be no surrender this Sunday, as badly as you may want to. TNA will look to deliver a solid event coming off a string of PPV's that have been below average to say the least. The name of the Pay Per View might as well be "Conditioning" because that's what is going to be on display when Kurt Angle defends all three of his titles in three very different kinds of matches. I don't like the fact that TNA has been all about Angle lately, but no one can deny that Kurt is one of the best in the business, his conditioning and worth as a wrestler will be in question this Sunday. He has three very different styles of matches on his plate. He will take on Jay Lethal, Abyss, and team with Sting to face the reprehensible Team Pacman. I look forward to the match with "Black Machismo" the most. This is the first case of "Veteran Vs. Newcomer" in quite a while in TNA. It will be interesting to see how Angle adapts to the "X Division" style of wrestling and what a Jay Lethal-Kurt Angle match turns out like. Moving along the tag match will more than likely happen in the middle of the event and will more or less be a resting period for Kurt. There won't be much time for resting however, as the team of Angle and Sting will most likely have to do some heavy lifting in this match. I don't know what to expect from anything involving "Team Pacman." On to the main event for the TNA World Heavyweight Title. Kurt Angle Vs. Abyss. These two had an excellent match on iMpact almost a year ago, and I expect the same here. Although knowing the current state of TNA, what we are most likely to get is an overbooked mess of things. Well see what happens here. Finally, it hasn't be confirmed yet but it looks like we may see a Joe-Christian match this Sunday. These two had what has been the TNA MOTY, so far, at Destination X in March and I would love to see a rematch between these two. TNA needs a home run here if they want Bound For Glory to be a success, the ball is in their court? What will they do?
The Stoppage:
-My goodness is it time for another UFC already? It would seem so. UFC 75 is this Saturday night, and my o' my what a card we have! An absolutely stacked card, and the best part is that it's on free TV! Know what that means? It means I don't have to go to Hooter's and watch the PPV. Now I won't have to have the annoying waitress come up and interrupt my fight watching experience, nor will I have to listen to drunken frat idiots talk about things they know nothing about. No Alex Mattis will be able to be an uber UFC nerd in the comfort of his living room.
Now since I was so terrible with my predictions last time, I figure I'll just preview the event this time around and give my ego a chance to heal.
*Houston Alexander steps back into the octagon with hopes of knocking someone else the fuck out. Alexander absolutely destroyed Keith Jardine in his octagon debut and if he can have another highlight reel performance here, Dana and the powers at be may look to some time and stock into this guy. Now I don't know too much about Alexander's opponent, Alessio Sakara, but if I were a betting man I would assume he would try to take Houston to the ground and not stand and bang with him. Now like I said I'm not too familiar with Sakara so I'm not sure what he is capable of on his feet. But I have seen Houston Alexander knock Keith Jardine out cold. Jardine knocked out Forrest Griffin, a man with a documented tough chin, so it is safe to say he hits hard. Well Alexander took a shot from Jardine, bounced back and knocked Keith in the fucking stratosphere with some vicious uppercuts, so obvious Houston Alexander has an amount of power that should be feared.
*Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Cheick Kongo. Wow. This one should be something. It's no secret that both of these men like to stand. From what I understand, Cro Cop has been doing more training on the ground but the fact remains that he wants to take that left leg and imprint it on Kongo's head. I don't remember a fight where Cro Cop was put up against an equally as dangerous kick boxer style fight. Mirko has been put up against dangerous men, but not too many or none that want to fight the same fight he does. That guy who does the dramatic voice for the UFC commercials was right when he said "fists and feet will fly" as I expect this one to be a fucking war. My roommate sarcastically predicted a submission victory in this one. It doesn't take an odd's maker to predict a KO or TKO in this one. I'm genuinely frightened for Kongo as Cro Cop is now in a different state of mind after the Gonzaga KO and is looking to kill someone. Mirko still has a lot to prove, but Kongo could really make a star of himself in this one, be sure you're in front of the tube for this one.
*It's billed as "the Ultimate Fighter finale" we didn't see. Matt Hamill will do battle with one of my fav's Michael Bisping. This fight is pretty simple, if they stand Hamill is gonna get his face bashed in. If Matt can take down "The Count" and mount him, it's going to be a bad night for Bisping. Michael likes to end some fights from the mounted position but I'm not sure if he is going to want to get on the mat with Hamill, who is a great wrestler. Expect the typical one guy wants to stand, one guy wants to take it to the ground type of fight. Nevertheless this should be an excellent fight, explosive would be the right word for it.
*History in the making. UFC Vs. PRIDE. Champion Vs. Champion. Quinton Jackson Vs. Dan Henderson. These two should put on an incredible fight and I can't wait for it. Both men have great, or in Henderson's case world-class level, wrestling. But both men like to stand and KO. It isn't hard to see that Dana and the powers at be wanted this fight to be Chuck Vs. Wandy, but both of their asses got KTFO. As bad as I want to see Liddell-Silva I think the window of opportunity where that fight would have been amazing has past, that is why I'm happy we have Rampage Vs. Henderson. Both men are as hungry as ever and sure as shit are going to want to make history and be able to say that they are the undisputed best 205 lb. fighter in the world. This has all the makings to rival or surpass Gomi-Diaz for fight of the year. I have no idea who to put money on in this fight, but I expect an awesome fight, and I can't wait.
-Ending this week, I'll touch on what has been a hot topic this week. Renato Sobral is no longer employed but the Ultimate Fighting Championship for unprofessional conduct. Well I saw the tape and I must say that while something needed to be done, I think firing the man may have been a bit harsh. Now I absolutely hate when fighters will do things like this, like when Gomi ignored the ref and continued his beating, or like when Royce would never let go of submission back in the old days. But if they're not going to fire Penn for hold the choke on Jens, why is Babalu getting the boot. Part of me understand, the other half doesn't. Now this sport doesn't need this bullshit right now while it's booming and trying to get legitimized, but Babalu doesn't have a history of showing disrespect and not obeying the rules. At the same time, the veteran of the octagon should have known better, but he went with his primal instincts and has paid the price.
*This Week's YouTube Sendoff*
Well that's it for me this week. Despite the review it was given on this website, Halloween was fuckin' awesome so go check it out. Be sure to tune into Spike TV this Saturday night for UFC 75 and don't miss out on TNAngle's No Surrender PPV Sunday night.
Reader feedback and or questions are always welcome at slash_632@hotmail.com
Everyone have a good week, and I'll see you right back here next week.
