411 Fact or Fiction 11.08.07: TNA Not Announcing Sting’s Mystery Opponent, WWE Caving to USA, TNA’s Genesis Main Event and More

Welcome back to another week of 411 Fact or Fiction: Wrestling Edition! This week, two 411 writers go to battle as John Meehan enters the 411 arena, to do battle with Geoff Eubanks!

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Let’s get to it!

1. WWE bringing back DX, Mick Foley and Stone Cold to RAW over the last two weeks is a sign that WWE is caving to the demands of the USA Network.

John Meehan: FICTION. Though it’s pretty obvious that WWE has gone to the proverbial “1997 Bag-O-Tricks” for a few of their segments over the past few weeks, I think they’re still a LONG ways away from “caving” to the demands of the USA Network or anybody else, for that matter. Let’s face it — WWE (and many other shows, for that matter) pretty much makes it an annual tradition around the November sweeps to trot out “nostalgia acts,” “surprise cameos,” and “familiar faces” in order to set advertising rates as high as they can. The RAW Homecoming from a few years back is a perfect example of this sort of thing — and that came about WELL before Bonnie Hammer started pushing for an “attitude redux.” As for the “flashback” acts in question, DX was a “one-night-only” special event, and a perfectly logical payoff to the injury-ended dX reunion from last year at that (namely: Shawn & Hunter are both faces, still buds, AND both healthy — so why WOULDN’T they team up?). Austin was also (as always) a part-time deal, and WWE has been hyping his DVD (to recoup their in-theatre losses) for months. And Mick Foley? With zero build, zero hype, and ZERO chance of being voted into the Cyber Sunday PPV — it’s pretty clear that the ‘E was just trotting him out for his semi-annual “face time.” None of these prospects reflect any serious or long-term investment, and EACH of them were billed as “special attractions” for one or two shows apiece, tops. Same as always. If WWE were actually “caving” to USA’s requests to turn back the clocks — they’d be making acts like these (plus Undertaker and the rest of the “old gang”) a permanent fixture. But they’re NOT, which pretty much tells you where their priorities are at.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. I have to agree with John, in that, everyone always busts out their respective “bag of tricks” for the November sweeps, and that the timing was simply right to have DX reunite (as they’re both back and healthy) and to have Steve Austin return to hype the DVD release of The Condemned, as John said, to recoup their losses from the disastrous theatrical release. And I must add, too, that both scenarios were well-planned and executed, especially the series of promos set up for Austin’s return, as it gave Santino Barella, awful in the ring but stellar on the mic (stomp some mud pie…? Are you KIDDING?! BWAHAHAHA!), purpose.

However, it also seems to me that Raw’s rating was dipping a month or so ago, so Vince just did what he always does when Raw needs a shot in the arm, that being, trot out the familiar faces. It just seems to me that if our favorite creative genius still had it, the necessity to take us all on a walk down memory lane (as thoroughly amusing as it may be) would be a moot one, because there would already be pressing, current matters for viewers to tune in to enjoy, with new, fresh, captivating characters and scenarios, not Austin pulling out still another beer truck.

Score: 1 for 1

2. JBL will return to the ring at WrestleMania to battle Batista.

John Meehan : FACT. While JBL has been fantastic in his commentator-turned-instigator role on the sidelines for the past two years, the relative dearth of “fresh” and available opponents for Batista leading up to the Big Dance pretty well seems to indicate that we’re in store for another Bradshaw/Animal showdown before all is said and done. Batista/’Taker has been done to death, as has Batista/Edge — and with Cena out for ‘Mania, there really doesn’t seem to be a more logical (and marketable) opponent for The Animal (because nobody’s going to buy a Dave/Rey ‘Mania showdown) than The Wrestling God. True, these two clashed repeatedly through the summer and fall months of 2005, but fans haven’t seen JBL in action in just about two whole calendar years — and the guy is (arguably) as popular and “over” as he ever was during even the highest point of his regular in-ring career. Though a lot can happen in five months’ time, my gut tells me we’ll be seeing JBL back in a WWE ring by March of 2008. And if he *does* come back, there’s really no better opponent for him than Batista.

Geoff Eubanks : FICTION. Although John makes a great argument, the one fact that truly makes me lean against a ring return is that I don’t think JBL’s body is up to it. And while I certainly doubt JBL ever would have faced a Wellness-oriented suspension (clarified: The guy’s got tits), even he jokes about having not been in anything close to ring shape since having retired. However, the Citrus Bowl is still a ways in the future and, if diligent, JBL could conceivably get himself fit enough to work a match, again, provided, his back allows for such.

However, I’d actually lean more to the possibility of JBL leading someone like Big Daddy V against Big Dave in April, especially considering the new unity existing between WWECW and SmackDown!. There’s plenty of time for V to prove himself as a main event threat by way of a WWECW title run, plus the continuation of the Monster Mash whatever-it-is we’ve been seeing involving V, Kane, Khali and Mark Henry. A feud with each of those guys wherein V eventually goes over them all makes him THE company monster. JBL, meanwhile, hires a litany of opponents to oppose Batista (think Heenan versus Hogan), but they all come up short…until finally he scores the services of V. That way, Big Dave has to overcome V in the ring, plus the duel presences of JBL and Matt Striker at ringside. Hmm. I actually really like that! BOOK IT!

Score: 1 for 2

3. The “Wellness Suspension” of Harry Smith surprised you.

John Meehan : FICTION. Absolutely not. While you’d think that a kid who lost his dad to doping would “know better” than to go down the same destructive path, the simple truth to the matter is that a LOT of children of addicts (of all types) simply can’t help but find themselves falling victim to the exact same vices that plagued their parents. Look at the statistics across the board — kids of divorce who likewise end up divorced; kids who see daddy hit mommy and go on to repeat the pattern with their own spouse years later; kids with alcoholic parents who subsequently become alcoholics (or violently embittered straightedge professional wrestlers); kids whose parents committed suicide who go on to commit suicide themselves, etc. Fact is — “addiction” comes in many forms, and psychological, GENERATIONAL weakness toward all sorts of vices can be a tough, tough habit to break. Couple that with the fact that Smith is young AND surrounded by all sorts of access to the same substances that once enticed his father — and it’s really no surprise to see him make a mistake of this nature. The hope, of course, is that he can *learn* from the mistake (both his father’s and his own) before it is too late.

Geoff Eubanks : FACT. Well thank you, Dr. Meehan. LOL. I know, I’m just too trusting. Aside from John’s astute facts above, because he’s staunchly correct, we can look to another such example in WWE right now in Chavo Guerrero, who is coming off Wellness violation #2, when the Wellness Policy was implemented in honor of his late uncle Eddie (who, actually, was more like a brother to him, considering their close proximity in age). Sad.

I think what surprised me so much about Harry Smith’s Wellness violation wasn’t so much that he was following his dad’s path of self-destruction (he still has to prove he has no will of his own, turn a cold shoulder on the much-more-talented tag partner who got him into the business in the first place then use him for publicity when he’s too injured to compete, and ride the coattails of his wife’s much more talented family members before he really fits snugly into his dad’s shoes), what surprised me so much was the fact that he’d been on WWE-TV for a whopping TWO WEEKS before he got busted. One can speculate why he decided to start playing with the fire that is steroids. Perhaps with the HART FOUNDATON 2.0 gimmick being shelved, he panicked thinking he really needs to make it on his own. Maybe he felt really physically small once he got into the Raw locker room and felt the need to make a Masterpiece of himself. Maybe someone just got in his ear and convinced the kid despite the whole Wellness hoohah, that it’s just a media smokescreen and if he wants to compete, he’d better juice up. Whatever the case, I hope he manages to smooth things out from here and can honor his family by becoming the legend everyone seems convinced that he could be.

Score: 1 for 3

—SWITCH~!—

4. TNA is making the right call by NOT announcing Sting’s mystery partner for Genesis.

Geoff Eubanks : FICTION. While mystery stimulates speculation, speculation will not always translate into PPV buys, which is the real name of the game here. I mean, hell, I’M interested, but not enough to pick up the phone and order the PPV, and that’s even considering Rob…Van…Dam is one of the top four most likely candidates to partner with Sting. And anyway, WWE really has the market cornered in terms of the big “mystery” debut in Chris Jericho. Maybe if TNA had thought to do the same kind of marketing I’d be more interested, but as it stands now, I can wait till the DVD release if it’s a good match.

John Meehan : FACT. Face it, TNA has fallen into a pretty depressing pattern over the past two years. Step one? Sign the latest WWE release. Step two? Immediately shoot the guy to the top of your card for the next three months. Step three? Realize that your ratings and buyrates are EXACTLY where they were before you signed the latest WWE-ject, and immediately set out to sign the next performer to receive a pink slip from Stamford. Rinse and repeat.

Though all signs with the “mystery” partner are looking to be nothing more than ANOTHER former WWE talent (smart money is on Booker T), TNA would be pretty stupid to admit as much prior to the PPV. Simply put, announcing (yet again!) that your “next big thing” is really no more than the other guy’s “last old thing” ain’t gonna’ put any new asses in the seats… and so you might as well milk the mystery approach as long as you possibly can. It’s hardly “good business,” but given TNA’s boneheaded track record of rinse-and-repeat importing, it’s really the only card they have left to play on this one. Because let’s be honest here, folks — once the initial “mystery buzz” over this “new (old) star” wears off, interest in TNA goes right back to where it was before and the cycle repeats itself until the next WWE firing. Of course, this begs the broader and more important question (“Will TNA ever succeed if all they do is depend on WWE-jects?” Hint: NFW)… but that’s another topic for another day.

Score: 1 for 4

5. TNA should not try to secure the “RAVEN” trademark from a man that has been using the gimmick since 1995.

Geoff Eubanks : FACT. I was livid at Vince McMahon when he played THE DUDLEYZ for their gimmick and I’m pissed at TNA for pulling this shit on Raven now. It’s not even as if Scott Levy has this big, bright future ahead of him, with a windfall of merchandise to fly off the shelves, either. Raven is in the twilight of his active days, he’s battled a lot of personal issues and seems to be in a better state of mind now than when he was actually at the pinnacle of his career. He has a hell of a mind for the business and could be quite a valuable asset to TNA behind-the-scenes, and still has the capacity to be a compelling managerial character once he needs to hang up the boots. Why not add him to the TNA arsenal and allow him to contribute his expertise to help the company instead of getting selfish and disrespecting a former World Champion by trying to take his ownership of his own creation away from him, under the bullshit auspices of intellectual property?

John Meehan : FICTION. Going to have to disagree on this one, too. In the last question, we saw a clear-cut case how TNA has struggled to establish themselves as anything more than a “second rate, WWE exile island”… or worse, a “halfway house” between the ‘E and the Indies. Thanks to TNA’s lighter schedule, decent money, and national exposure, MANY a former WWE talent “on the way out” (Shannon Moore, Test, Rikishi, etc.) have stopped by the company with ZERO plans to stick around for the long haul in hopes simply to score an easy payday or some quick national attention. Point blank — performers have been taking advantage of TNA solely for their own gain, and the company has (quite foolishly, I might add) given them everything they came looking for and gained absolutely zero in return. Until TNA decides to run their promotion like a BUSINESS and *not* like a charity function, they’re going to continue to find themselves taken advantage of time and again by countless acts looking for an easy gig or a quick buck (Rikishi, VKM, Team 3D, etc.). While it most certainly sucks that a quality talent like Raven finds himself getting the short end of this stick, it’s a smart and necessary move for TNA to set a precedent that *THEY* are the ones in control of the folks who perform on their program. Locking down performer’s trademarks and contracts is an absolute MUST if the company is ever going to be taken seriously.

Score: 1 for 5

6. The TNA World title should be defended in a tag team match at Genesis.

Geoff Eubanks : FICTION. TNA badly needs to stop making things so difficult for themselves in these ways and just tell a friggin story, point A to point B with an arc in the middle. I’m not saying writing compelling episodic storytelling is cake, but it doesn’t have to involve these Russo-rific “plot twists” for the sake of having them, which is how the booking feels the majority of the time. But a World Title being decided in a tag match is asinine. It has Dusty finish all over it.

Here’s an idea…if a company finds itself with three truly viable candidates for a World Title, why not have a Fatal Four way or a Four-Corners match? Elimination or single fall to a finish. Anyone remember the FINAL FOUR match involving Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Vader and Bret Hart, back when they were first going to give Austin the Title, but ended up going to Hart when Austin injured his knee? The one where Vader bled like the proverbial stuck pig? That was a HELL of a match because it was just four men beating the shit out of each other because they all WANTED that title. The match had build, as all four men traded wins over each other in the weeks leading to the PPV. It gave the match (and certainly the Title, as well) more meaning because these were four men who all deserved to be Champion and they FOUGHT for it. No bells and whistles, no hearts and flowers, no swerves or surprises, just a big ass uncontrollable FIGHT. Why not one of those, TNA…?

John Meehan : FICTION. Once, JUST ONCE, I would like to see a TNA World Title PPV that features a classic one-on-one grudge match showdown between a no-strings-attached champion and a credible and well-developed challenger. You know the last time we saw that? THIRTEEN FREAKIN’ MONTHS AGO when Sting made Jeff Jarrett tap cleanly to the Scorpion Deathlock at Bound For Glory 2006. Since then, EVERY SINGLE TNA World Title match has featured either:

a) some form of outside interference (ref bump, run-in, etc.)
b) more than two guys involved in the match to begin with (triple threat, team battle, etc.)
c) a bogus or non-finish (from rope-grabbing to DQ)
d) a wacky gimmick tacked on (cage, ladder, etc.)
e) a gratuitous “more than one title” stipulation (tag, X Division, etc.)
f) a “bumper” where the title match serves as a segue to a “big debut” or “big announcement” to close out the show
g) some ridiculous combination of several (or all) of the above.

This either tells fans that you’re not confident enough in your feud-making and storytelling ability to rely on one epic mano-a-mano showdown to settle the score, or that you simply don’t think that a good old fashioned World Title match will be enough motivation to sell the PPV. Not only is this mentality dumb and defeatist, it’s also incredibly damaging to the relative value of your World (Orlando) Title itself — as fans start to believe that a title match alone shouldn’t be enough to warrant their attention. This go-round is no different. People aren’t tuning in (IF they’re even tuning in at all) to see who *wins* the title… they’re merely tuning in to see who the mystery guy will be. And once that big reveal is spent, you’re no better off than you were going into the show… so when buy rates come in *exactly* where they have been for the past two years — people shouldn’t wonder.

Score: 2 for 6.

These two finish 2 for 6! Come on back next week for more of 411 Fact or Fiction: Wrestling Edition!