The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks 11.09.07
Posted by John Meehan on 11.09.2007
YouThinks Reader Mail like whoah! Hey, it's a slow news week, alright?
Welcome back, all.
Thanks to what has pretty much been an otherwise "slow" news week, over the past few days I've been something of a writing machine 'round the hallowed halls of 411. Plenty of stuff in this week's regularly scheduled column, and all (lots of 'Mania talk and a boatload of YouThinks Reader Mail), but if you've got some time to kill, feel free to check out my DVD Review of Disney & Pixar's Ratatouille, Fact or Fiction Wrestling Showdown, or that "411 exclusive" LIVE Report from Cyber Sunday in Washington, D.C. I hammered out a few days back.
Oh right, the news!
On Tap This Week:
Chris Masters Gets the Axe
WWE Bosses Lay the Smackdown on CNN
The MeeThinks Pay Per View Tracker
YouThinks: Hot Deals in O-Town
YouThinks: Outdoor PPVs and Live Events
YouThinks: A WrestleMania Pre-Game?
YouThinks: Save_Us 11/19?
YouThinks: Undertaking an Unbeaten Streak
YouThinks: Hanz und Franz und der Big Danz
YouThinks: A Flair Title Match at 'Mania?
YouThinks: TNA's Troubles
YouThinks: An Extreme Third Wheel
YouThinks: Homegrown Woes for TNA
YouThinks: Wrestlers (Name)Dropping Like Flies
YouThinks: PPV Poster Hijinx
YouThinks: A Suicide Conspiracy Theory?
Rock & Roll.
*note: Though it's been a relatively slow news week, there are plenty of solid wrestling-related newsbits from readers and yours truly alike interspersed throughout this week's YouThinks Reader Mail. It's definitely worth the read)
The release of Smackdown! superstar Chris Masters has been a long time coming, and many folks have already come to the poor guy's defense for what they perceive to be a classic case of "catch 22." After all, the guy was signed and pushed for "having a perfect physique" and then he was nailed for doping (shocker!) and publically called out (and all but forgotten on television) for not being able to stay in shape without the help of some "performance enhancing supplements."
While the above argument is all well and good (hey, the guy was just trying to keep up in the first place) -- a LOT of folks are missing the more basic and underlying fault of the matter which drastically changes this case from the word "go."
Namely?
If Chris Masters hadn't been doping to achieve such a freakishly impressive physique in the first place, he would never have been saddled with the gimmick to begin with.
Face it folks --
Professional wrestling is a tremendously competitive industry, and there are countless performers out there with *plenty* of talent who simply find their careers squandered in the indys or obscurity because they can't find a way to separate themselves from "the herd" in order to catch the attention of a major national promotion in the first place. But as the old saying goes: "pro wrestling is a circus," and as a result, performers from all walks of life will do whatever it takes to get themselves noticed.
You've got your freaks, your strong men, your acrobats, and your clowns. Some folks are "naturally" (unnaturally?) freakish and easier to notice from the get-go (The Great Khali comes to mind). Others are *naturally* strong or athletic, and so they rise to prominence by way of legit competition before making the jump to a wrestling ring (Mark Henry, for example). Some guys come up with crazy ass gimmicks (The Boogeyman, for example) in hopes to get themselves noticed. Others agree to do all sorts of nutty and dangerous stuff to their bodies in order to attract a more "violent" edge (Abyss, Necro Butcher, etc.) A select few make a name for themselves by displaying all sorts of natural and acrobatic abilities (The Hardys, Rey Mysterio), and even fewer still (CM Punk, Samoa Joe) rise to prominence after developing a cult-like following after years of being a dedicated student of the professional wrestling game.
For those folks who *don't* fit into any of the aforementioned categories, many decide that the best way to the top is to get as jacked as humanly possible (by any means necessary) and then worry about the details of getting better in the ring (and getting clean, if need be) *after* you've already scored the big-money contract from a major promotion. Such was the case for Chris Mordetsky -- better known to wrestling fans as Chris Masters.
MeeThinks?
I'll be the first to admit that it's an unlucky series of unfortunate events that have befallen Masters' way since the institution of the WWE Wellness Initiative. But then again, if the guy only landed a job in the first place by developing (and re-developing) a physique that was so heavily dependent on "performance enhancing supplements" to begin with (which likely got him noticed in the first place) -- I have a hard time seeing the fault in a company saying "sorry pal, we've gotta' let you go" rather than forcing both parties to dance around drug testing snafus until the man's heart explodes ten years down the road.
Bottom line --
Masters was called up from the developmental territories WAY too early (not his fault). Though he'd recently been showing *some* signs of improvement in the ring, he still had a LONG ways to go (a recent high-profile flub with The Undertaker is proof of how out of it Masters still is -- which *is* his fault). Plus, his work behind the microphone was certainly no better than it had been the day he debuted (again, this too is largely *his* fault)... which meant that the entire success or failure of the "Chris Masters" gimmick rested solely on the shoulders of his freakishly huge physique.
Yes, WWE nailed him for the very same thing they likely hired him for in the first place, and in that regard Masters' fate seems both unfortunate and unfair. But when you go back to the beginning and realize that Masters *himself* decided to juice up to get noticed to begin with, and if after three years of regular performing the guy was still completely unable to draw any fan attention beyond "hey look, it's that musclehead guy who can barely talk or wrestle" -- it's pretty hard to cry for Chris Masters.
In the biggest item of major mainstream media exposure that the wrestling business has seen since the initial fallout from the Benoit Family Tragedy subsided earlier this summer, this Wednesday night, WWE's Vince and Linda McMahon were interviewed at length as part of a CNN special investigation into the professional wrestling industry, titled "Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling."
During the interview, CNN correspondent Drew Griffin peppered the McMahons (and several other wrestlers) with a number of controversial and hard-hitting questions. From talk of drugs and doping in pro wrestling to conversation surrounding the weeks prior (and fallout after) the Benoit Family Tragedy of less than six months ago, the interview provided a comprehensive and in-depth look at just what, exactly, is going on behind the scenes at the world's largest wrestling organization during these most difficult of times.
Here's a highlight:
Drew Griffin: Have you ever used steroids?
John Cena:"I can't tell you that I haven't, but you'll never be able to prove that I have."
And this one:
Drew Griffin: Is the WWE steroid-free, drug free?
Vince McMahon: I don't think that there is any organization in the world, be it entertainment or be it sport, that can tell you that they are totally drug free.
All in all?
MeeThinks what we're seeing here is a smart (and believe it or not, *much* more truthful) new "company line" from the folks associated with World Wrestling Entertainment. Vince is absolutely right in pointing out that there simply aren't *ANY* sports or entertainment outlets in the world today that can guarantee without exception or concern that their organization is "100% drug free." Heck, I'd argue that there aren't even Wal Marts and Best Buys out there that can make a similar claim.
Why is this important?
What it does is shifts the onus from "IT'S THE COMPANY'S FAULT" to "we've done our part and here's the proof -- now go ask the wrestlers if they're doing theirs."
Look at Cena's answer to the doping question, for example: the guy's not saying (ala Mr. Kennedy or Harry Smith) "I've never touched the stuff" (and setting himself up to look like a major hypocrite if he gets busted). Instead, he's coming as clean as can be expected, saying "I've been tested randomly six times in the past year, and the record shows each of my tests are clean." In short: WWE is doing their job by testing me to the best of their abilities, I'm doing my job by making sure I pass the tests when they come my way.
Is it a perfect system?
Not by a long shot. So long as wrestlers continue to put their bodies on the line on a daily basis (even if it *is* scripted, and just 120 times a year instead of 300+... that's a whole lotta' physicality), performers will continue to self-medicate as they see fit in order to maintain whatever competitive advantage they believe is necessary. Steroids are an easy fix, as are recreational drugs and alcohol -- but these problems are hardly unique to WWE alone, as just about every other "entertainment" and sporting industry regularly deals with issues much the same.
Chris Farley, Janis Joplin, Lawrence Taylor, Anna Nicole Smith, The Cast of "Lost," and the list goes on...
Without a doubt, I am sure that WWE -- like EVERY other company in the world -- is probably loaded with all sorts of secrets, scandals and scoops that they'd be much happier to keep out of the hands of the media than reveal... but their willingness to talk to CNN (and Vince's ability to come across as composed, well-spoken and honest) gives fans, critics and shareholders alike every reason to believe that if there *is* a problem with drugs in professional wrestling, WWE is at least making some sort of organized effort in order to curb these practices... and they are most certainly not alone in playing the "bad guy" role in all of this.
The MeeThinks Pay Per View Tracker
This Sunday, TNA hosts "Genesis" -- and the card is loaded with fresh faces and new matchups. Let's see how we've fared so far:
WWE New Year's Revolution - N/A TNA Final Resolution - 3/7 WWE Royal Rumble - 2/5 TNA Against All Odds - 2/9 WWE No Way Out - N/A TNA Destination X - 4/9 WWE WrestleMania 23 - 4/8 TNA Lockdown - 7/9 WWE Backlash - 2/6 TNA Sacrifice - 5/9 WWE Judgment Day - 5/7 WWE One Night Stand - 7/8 TNA SlammiVersary - 3/8 WWE Vengeance - 8/9 TNA Victory Road - 5/7 WWE Great American Bash - 7/8 TNA Hard Justice - 4/9 WWE Summerslam - 4/7 TNA No Surrender - 6/8 WWE Unforgiven - 6/8 WWE No Mercy - 5/6 TNA No Surrender - 7/9 WWE Cyber Sunday - 11/12
Cumulative Total: 108/167 Percent Correct: 64.67%
HELLZ YES! Cyber Sunday was loaded with stipulations and matches that I was able to peg from a mile away, and so with the one exception of The Miz as CM Punk's opponent, I totally cleaned up when all was said and done. Let's see if we can keep momentum strong for the TNA PPV:
Abyss, Lethal retains, Christian, AJ & Tomko retain, Gail Kim retains, The 'Guns, Samoa Joe, and Angle retains. Oh, and Booker T shows up.
YouThinks Reader Mail
We'll start with a quick one-two punch of Orlando-related info. Though precariously close to spam, it might be somewhat helpful for readers headed to the Citrus Bowl for WrestleMania 24. Like... Mee, for example :)
Thanks for the info, Don. For those of y'all out there who might also be considering a trip to a nearby Orlando attraction during your WrestleMania stay... I'd also suggest www.undercovertourist.com and www.MouseSavers.com. Take it from a Disney World diehard: you'll find TONS of park info and discounts on each of those sites.
Matthew Mills sounds like he'll be in Orlando for the Big Dance as well:
Hey Meehan,
I don't care what JT says, you have the most positive column in the IWC. Love your reporting.
I'm going to Wrestlemania 24 as well. I'm in Section 109. Not exactly centered on the ring, but it'll work for me. It's my first time making it to a wrestling PPV. I've been to a couple of television tapings, but never a PPV. Is the energy of the crowd a lot different? ...It's Wrestlemania, of course the energy will be different, what am I talking about!
Anyway, I just wanted to revel in the fact that I'm finally going to Wrestlemania after dreaming of going since I got into wrestling. Hopefully they'll build up a decent show! Edge ending 'Taker's streak, anyone?
Thanks for an always entertaining read!
-Matt
Thanks for writing and for the kind words, Matt. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Meehan clan (and the rest of the 411 family, as we'll see in a bit) in section 214 and beyond!
As for the energy level at a PPV --
Though I've had the opportunity to be in live attendance for a number of other non-PPV shows (ranging from RAWs and Smackdowns, to ECWs and Impacts -- plus house shows in dinky arenas that are barely half full), having personally attended three PPVs (WrestleMania XX, SummerSlam 2005, Cyber Sunday 2007), I think it's a pretty safe bet that there is absolutely NOTHING like the crowd enthusiasm for the "best of the best" wrestling shows out there.
As for week-in-and-week-out enthusiasm, you really can't beat TNA's Impact Zone (though ROH shows -- while less frequent -- are likewise high energy, if not moreso). TNA benefits from a regular taping locale, FREE tickets (people always love free stuff!), and a relatively small arena which really helps make the energy levels seem "off the charts" in a hurry... often because you're able to get an arena-wide chant going or catch a performer's attention in the ring with very little effort.
But when it comes to PPVs --
WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden is, for Mee, the epitome of what a live wrestling experience is all about. Though I've been to other shows and PPVs before and since then, I've never quite experienced the same level of sheer crowd enthusiasm as we felt that night not so many years ago in New York City. The Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg debacle is a shining example of just how frenetic a PPV crowd can get, and (even though the moment has been tarnished with age) the Chris Benoit title victory and confetti celebration with Eddie Guerrero was pretty freakin' incredible to be a part of live.
I'll have to admit, however, that for as crazy as the WrestleMania XX crowd was, the showdown between Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005 (Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.) was the most energetic I've seen a live crowd for any one match. Say what you will about The Hulkster, but knowing that we were in for the chance to see the guy on PPV in such a high-profile bout *immediately* brought the crowd to their feet for pretty much the duration of the show. And the D.C. crowd isn't exactly a wrestling hot-spot... so that's saying something!
It will be VERY interesting to see how the outdoor venue affects this year's WrestleMania. Obviously many fans remember the only other outdoor WrestleMania -- WrestleMania IX -- for all of the wrong reasons (terrible matches, screwy finishes, shoddy booking)... so it will be very telling to see if "the outdoor curse" has more to do with an indoor vs. outdoor venue or if it was simply indicative of how goofy things were in the (then)-WWF back in the early years of "The New Generation."
Either way, should be one hell of a show.
Travis Smith seems like he's in for an Orlando trip as well:
Got the mania tickets yesterday also. Some of the boys and I were talking about a "411-readers-columnists gathering" Sat night (after HOF) or Sunday afternoon (before Mania) at an establishment where we could get some adult beverages. It would be a good time to get the 411 "Family" together and put some down.
Tell Csonka he's got a rock bottom waiting for him.
- Trav
Hahaha. Pretty sure Csonka could kick my ass, but I'll be sure to let him know there, Trav.
As for a 411 pre-game? I'm all for it. If we can all coordinate some sort of massive 'rasslin-fan gathering of family and friends at a local neighborhood establishment just prior to the big show (Sunday afternoon, perhaps?) -- it could definitely make for one heck of a party going into the Grandaddy' of Them All.
That said, however --
I know absolutely zero about adult beverages, and even *less* about reputable neighborhood watering holes in and around The Citrus Bowl. Being from D.C. and all, it's gonna' take some serious luck on my part to set something of this nature up... so perhaps an Orlando-area reader would like to take charge of this little shindig, eh?
READERS?
Dreamer4er had some 'Thinks about the Big Dance as well:
hi,i'm a long time reader of your column...great work!
i only have one comment and one question.on wwe shopzone the save_us t-shirts are going to be on sale starting on november 19...survivor series are on november 18.... finally we're going to know who it is that everybody is talking about!!....is about time!!
my question is.........a long time ago i read something about the undertaker.i was wondering if it was true.somebody was saying that he wanted to retire at wrestlemania....and loose that match to none other than he's baby brother kane....kane vs undertaker has been done before...undertaker's last match is "a must see match" there are so many great ways they can "end his career"(let's face we all know he'll come back at one point or another..look at hogan,piper,foley)...but then again we're talking about the "e"...to expect a great match from them is like expecting the whole world to like cena....what are the odds!like that's going to happen any time soon!!...
is this just a rumor or something somebody made up?
-Dreamer4er
Thanks for writing, dude. As for the "Save_Us" big reveal, it's a pretty encouraging sign that WWE will begin shipping those suckers on Nov. 18, as that all but assures us that SOMETHING big will be happening on WWE television in the next few weeks.
Regarding the WrestleMania 'Taker/Kane swansong -- I wouldn't count on it. These two have already gone toe-to-toe on two separate occassions in WrestleManias of yesteryear (WM's XIV and XX), and while there's always something to be said for a third showdown being the "rubber match" to break a tie, the Dead Man has consistently come out on top in each of these Big Dance showdown. Plus Kane has pretty much peaked in terms of popularity and viability as a top contender (plus he's not getting any younger) -- so I really can't see the need for (or marketability in) a third chapter to their WrestleMania story.
Again, though --
I've said it a million times, but it probably bears repeating: Undertaker should NEVER lose at WrestleMania. The entire draw of the Dead Man at WrestleMania is that the guy has this massive streak going for him. Once somebody ends that streak (which has taken the better part of 20 years to accomplish), all of his momentum is instantly shot, and he's instantly less valuable for the next "Big Dance."
Keep him unbeaten at 'Mania until he retires, and you accomplish three key things:
1) It keeps 'Taker marketable for the remainder of his active run on the WWE roster. So much of The Undertaker's success is derived from the mystique and "larger than life" aura of his onscreen persona. At WrestleMania, the guy is almost mythic -- and people will ALWAYS pay to see that stuff so long as the mystery remains intact.
2) After he retires from regular competition, his streak gives both WrestleMania itself AND the Undertaker character an awesome legacy that other up-and-comers can hope to emulate (John Cena, for example, is likewise unbeaten at WrestleMania). In other words, you've got a one-night record that seems almost impossible to beat... but every year somebody gets an inch closer to achieving the impossible (like home run records, unbeaten NFL seasons, etc.). And as sports fans the world over can tell you, there's ALWAYS money in "the chase."
3) It gives you a "get out of jail free" card for an otherwise lackluster WrestleMania on down the line. If a show is hurting for star power in, say, five years or what have you -- bust out a "one night only" return of The Phenom (still unbeaten!), and instantly you've got a compelling reason for people to tune in.
TBBucs is thinking 'Mania as well:
I'm going to be in 214 too. Row W to be exact. I am pumped up more than a Hans & Franz client (SNL).
- TBBucs
Looking forward to seeing you, "little gihrly mahn!" The 411 in 214 contingent is getting bigger by the day!
David Gould chimes in with some 'Thinks about WrestleMania as well:
Meehan--
Congrats on all the fine work for 411Mania. I don't write columns very often but I wanted to further congratulate you on the tickets to Wrestlemania. I'm also in 214 (row S, seats 9-10). Maybe I'll see you there.
Loyal reader,
Dave Gould
P.S.: I know it's a long shot, but do you think there's any chance of a Flair title win at the big show? It's probably wishful thinking, but I'm hoping for a title win/retirement angle.
Thanks for writing, Dave -- and I'm sure I'll see you there if you're only a few rows behind Mee (we'll be in Seats 1-6 of Row O)! Add another 411'er to the 214 V.I.P. section, Orlando :)
As for a Flair finale at the Big Dance? Tough call. The way I see things shaping up so far (it's early, but regardless), MeeThinks The Nature Boy will probably be put back on the Smackdown! roster once he re-debuts (Jericho will be on RAW right about the same time). ECW, of course, will be lucky to have any more than one title match on the WrestleMania card (last year the ECW Title wasn't even defended at 'Mania!)... and so the blue brand is looking like the most logical home for Flair as he wraps up his active tenure with WWE.
So, let's take a second to look at the Smackdown title picture and see who among the bunch might make for a solid opponent for Ric Flair. Barring any trades/imports/etc. in the next few months and judging strictly from the current landscape of the blue brand, it's pretty fair to say that your World Title contenders are probably just limited to Edge, Batista, Mysterio, The Undertaker, and *mayybe* (on a longshot) The Great Khali.
Now then... let's see how Flair would stack up against each of these guys:
The Great Khali: Flair obviously has unsettled business with this guy, but *neither* man is really all that capable of pulling off a passable-to-PPV-worthy match without some serious help at this stage in either of their careers (Khali has always sucked, Flair has shown signs of wear with age). As a result, MeeThinks WWE doesn't have much faith in a Big Dance showdown between these two, and so if Khali's the champ, I wouldn't count on a Flair title match at WrestleMania.
Undertaker: Obviously a last hurrah against The Dead Man would be the biggest and best way for ANY performer to "go out on top" -- particularly if they could manage to BEAT the guy. Problem, of course, is that Flair and 'Taker already squared off at a WrestleMania in the past (X8)... and so if The Undertaker is the World Champion after January, a Flair/Phenom 'Mania rematch seems like a long shot.
Batista: Flair's former Evolution running-buddy and longtime friend would certainly make for a solid "respect" rivalry to send The Nature Boy off in high style. And if Batista still has the big gold belt by January, there is no reason to believe that fans wouldn't absolutely jump at the chance to see these two competitors square off in a respect-meets-retirement match at the Big Dance (especially if the championship is on the line). Regardless of the outcome (think Rock/Hogan), the atmosphere and energy alone would more than compensate for the in-ring-limitations (though Batista is about as trustworthy an opponent as Flair will likely find), and it'd be one hell of a show. Slight problem, of course, is that Batista seems to be making onscreen enemies with JBL these days... and if The 'E is looking to stretch that angle out into an in-ring-return for The Wrestling God at WrestleMania, you can pretty much kiss Flair's chances of a Batista showdown goodbye.
Edge: Edge is an interesting case, as the guy will come back fresh from injury and ready to make a serious impact in the SD! title hunt (which is desperately lacking for credible heels at this time). Problem, of course, is that Edge (along with Mysterio) is a relatively young guy when compared to the rest of the blue brand's main event picture, and so there seems to be little incentive to have him on the losing end of a WrestleMania payoff. After all, 'Mania is supposed to catapult *new* stars, not give the rub to *old* ones (look at the outcomes of Hogan/Rock, Foley/Edge, HHH/Batista, or HBK/Cena for example). Edge as champion probably is Flair's best logical shot at a WrestleMania *main event*... but I dunno if it bodes well for his best odds for a WrestleMania *victory*.
Rey Mysterio: No disrespect to "the biggest little man," but his last title run was pretty laughable, and the number of opponents that people would actually pay to see him defend a title against (while believing he had a legitimate shot of retaining) is extremely limited ("Taker vs. Rey at WrestleMania" -- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!). While Mysterio may be a marketing gold mine with the kiddies, a PPV headlined by "that really small guy vs. that really old guy" doesn't exactly have the same crossover appeal that WWE usually depends on for their marquis matchups. Yes, a Flair WrestleMania title win would make for one hell of a happy ending and all... but if all he beats is "that really small guy" to do so? Odds are pretty good that the casual fan might have a hard time forcing themselves to get all that excited.
Troy had some 'Thinks to share about another Orlando-based-wrestling happening these days... a little promotion known as Total Nonstop Action:
TNA has no idea how to use it's performers. Kurt Angle has been really good lately, but he should not be feuding with Sting and Nash. At the ppv it should be Angle his partner AJ vs. Samoa Joe and his partner Chris Daniels. The winner and new face of TNA should be AJ Styles (as a heel). But that won't happen, because TNA would rather have AJ be a bafoon and lackey for Christian.
Also TNA would rather push wrestlers who are in their mid to late 40's. AJ as a heel could be so good and would make a great champ and could have a home run type feud with Samoa Joe. One last thing on TNA, I can't wait to see how TNA wrecks the carrer of Robert Roode and they will because over the last couple weeks he has finally started becoming someone who matters.
That's all I got. I'm out.
- Troy
You make a very good point, Troy. As I've mentioned in a number of columns already (and in this week's Fact or Fiction) -- TNA is demonstrating a nasty penchant for hiring away the latest free agent/WWE firing, shooting them to the top of the card (think Rikishi and Test), and paying little to no regard towards the remainder of their homegrown or home-developed talent along the way.
Though it's providing the company with a huge influx of "big names" (Booker T, Kurt Angle, Team 3D, Christian Cage, etc.) -- it's done little to NOTHING to change ratings and PPV buyrates across the board, as these "big debuts" are being treated as more important than any actual homegrown momentum for TNA's stars, titles, and storylines. It's becoming almost comic: "big name comes in and runs roughshod over everybody else."
Samoa Joe did it.
Christian did it.
Sting did it.
Team 3D did it.
Angle's doing it.
... and we all just *know* that Sting's "mystery partner" is the next in line to do the same.
If TNA is ever going to succeed in the long run, they're going to need to start making people care about their TITLES, IN-RING-ACTION, and ability to write compelling STORYLINES. Blindly hitching your wagon to the next "big name" horse that comes along simply ain't gonna' get the job done.
Paul Clark sends some 'Thinks in a similar vein:
The article (The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks 11.02.07) was fantastic. However, I just have one simple question?
If the homegrown talent gets pushed in TNA with the expense of veteran or former WWE wrestlers as of right now, would the ratings and sales go up?
As of now I think "No", because for example if Samoa Joe wins the TNA World Belt as of today, only the "Internet Junkies" would celebrate. However, the rest of the world would not give a rat's ass. Not to do discredit Samoa Joe (one of greatest wrestlers up to date), first TNA is trying to make money, putting former WWE wrestlers would draw WWE fans and other fans that abandoned wrestling within the last couple of years. All I am saying is that former WWE wrestlers have a place in TNA just to draw attention, make money, light schedule, and feed there egos. Examples "Kurt Angle, Christian Cage".
Finally you have to think when TNA first started, they pushed a lot homegrown talent first especially "AJ Styles". TNA did not get recognized at first by the people, so when TNA started to make some moves and expose the X-Division at first, then TNA was been recognized. For now pushing the former WWE wrestlers makes sense for now, but in the long run, the homegrown talent would get there due. People have to pay there dues somehow. Besides, the homegrown talent in TNA is not fully developed let to take the company to the next level.
- Paul Clark
Absolutely right on all accounts there, Paul.
While TNA's problems wouldn't magically be solved overnight if they "pushed the homegrown guys" and rewarded everybody who's been with the company for more than six months with a title run tomorrow -- the failure to create ANY credible stars who haven't come to TNA from "free agency" (Steiners, Sting, Rikishi) or from the latest round of WWE releases (Dudleys, Angle, Booker T, etc.) is indicative of the long-term failings of the company.
Simply slapping a title around some homegrown star's waist isn't going to make people plunk down more coin to see him perform. On the contrary, both the *title itself* and the *performer himself* are going to need a few months (and years) of credibility behind them before anybody will ever believe that they're worth any attention, time, or money. And this is where TNA continues to drop the ball time and again.
a) they bring in a new guy
b) they push the new guy's arrival as if it's an even bigger deal than the company's world title match itself
c) once the new guy's "newness" wears off, nobody cares about him OR the title that he was supposedly "even bigger than" in the first place.
Time and again, the cycle repeats itself and TNA writers simply chase their tails back to the start. Cage is brought in and given the belt, then Sting's brought in and given the belt, then Angle (and maybe Booker?), and so on and so forth.
This conditions your viewers to think "don't worry about these other guys... we'll be bringing somebody even BETTER in really soon!" And since the title that these "new guys" are fighting over is rarely (if ever) actually defended in a no-gimmicks, no-frills, one-on-one showdown between two guys with a longstanding and well-documented beef... it's really no surprise that fans are coming to see the TNA Title as little more than a meaningless "signing bonus" reward that's used to help snag the next free agent that comes along.
Speaking of folks not taking things too seriously, Jason Kromas had a pretty insightful take on WWE's recent decision to go public with their Wellness infractions:
"Think parents will be so eager to buy their kids Jeff Hardy gear if
they find out he's a repeat drug offender? Think again."
A nice idea in principle, but considering parents can't even be bothered to read one letter on Lil' Timmy's videogame box, do you really think they'll do that much research into his favorite wrestler?
- Jason
Fair enough, Jason, and you're absolutely right that (as is the case with most things) "laziness" usually wins out over "research."
HOWEVER --
The very same day that WWE's Wellness Initiative decided to go public with their suspensions, the Associated Press IMMEDIATELY released the names of the first two wrestlers that had been suspended. Within minutes of the 'E posting it on their corporate website (in a small and out-of-the-way blurb that's industry standard, but easily overlooked by "investigating" parents), the story was picked up by the AP wire and published in a slew of major news outlets all over the world.
AP stories are regularly republished by outlets like MSNBC, CNN, The New York Times, etc... and so long as "sports and steroids" remains a hot-button issue (which it *will*), these outlets will continue to remain more than happy and willing to make a public whipping boy out of the next pro athlete ("real" or "fake") to get nailed for doping. In other words, parents won't have to do all that much research into little Johnny's favorite fake fighters... talking heads like Bill O'Riley and major news outlets like The New York Times will have already done the digging for them.
Sure, we live in a world where people barely read anything more than the headlines of a newspaper story (poor, poor paragraph five...) -- but if "another pro wrestler busted for drugs" is what makes a headline time and again? It won't take much research on Mommy and Daddy's part to take a long, hard look at whether or not they want their kids exposed to the 'rasslin biz in the first place, regardless of *which* particular wrestler just so happens to be the latest one nailed for drugs on any given day.
In a non-Wellness-related release, James posits an interesting theory about the recent exit of WWE's "Extreme" third wheel:
My theory about Brooke and Extreme Expose is that it is sort of like that show Charmed.
On Extreme Expose you have Kelly Kelly, Layla and Brooke. All three very attractive, but Kelly Kelly is Ms. ECW, Layla won the Diva contest so Brooke is just "that third hot girl."
Kind of like on Charmed when they had those three really attractive girls: Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan...and that third hot girl that no one knows her name.
If Brooke or 'that third hot girl from Charmed' were on the TV by themselves every week everyone would be like "Damn! That Brooke/Piper girl is really hot!" But instead the other two girls fill up our minds so by the time we get to looking at the third hot girl we have ran out of space to sufficiently ogle her and she is forgotten.
Anyway, hopefully Brooke will end up somewhere that she can get the proper attention, and not where Kelly Kelly can do her best Diana Ross impression to block her out.
- James
Pretty well said there, James, and MeeThinks you're probably onto something with your analogy.
Additional word this week, of course, is that Brooke happened to garner some backstage heat with at least one of her coworkers (Melina), and so it was only a matter of time before this "third wheel" got the pink slip. But if you couple this new info with the theory you've outlined so neatly above, it actually makes for a pretty darned plausible explanation as to why Brooke Adams got the (pardon the pun) "heave ho."
In short: She pissed people off, and wasn't distinguishable enough on her own merits to be worth the frustration. A pretty face, but hardly the best of 'em OR only one out there... and so The 'E decided to cut their losses and move forward. And (using your analogy above) -- can't say I blame 'em, either, as I'd *much* rather have "the pretty girl who's more famous" on my show than "the other one," if given the chance.
Dan has a question about our nation's capital:
Meehan,
I noticed you said you are from DC, did you get out to see either Batista, Rey or the Hardys? I'm met Batista before, so I wanted to go meet Rey, then maybe go meet the Hardys, but I got in line for Rey at 5:20 and didn't get the autograph until 8:20, and by then my girlfriend and I were starving so I never made it out to the Hardys. I listened to the Junkies the other day and they said the Hardys were pretty much hammered from the time they got there but they were real friendly. Didnt' make it to Cyber Sunday, I refuse to give them any of my money.
Anyways, take it easy.
Later.
- Dan
Thanks for writing, Dan. I didn't have the chance to meet any performers prior to this last show in D.C. -- had no idea they were even signing autographs, to tell you the truth! Damned missed opportunities... grumble grumble. That said, I have had a chance to "meet" (for a few minutes, at least) at least a few of those guys in the past. To date, I've run into:
Matt Hardy (really nice guy)
Mick Foley (one of the best)
Linda McMahon (much warmer and friendlier in real life)
Shane McMahon (very business-like, intelligent)
The Ultimate Warrior (WAY shorter than you'd imagine!)
Tazz (very friendly and genuine)
JBL (quick-witted with a great sense of humor)
Ron Simmons (DAMN!)
Rob Van Dam (very welcoming and good-natured)
Booker T (seemed somewhat distracted)
Debra McMichael (I'll refrain from any insults...)
Lita (nice as well, though kind of "bored")
Hillbilly Jim (great guy, and a mountain of a man)
Gregory Helms (tons of appreciation for his fans)
Rosey (ditto)
Fifteen including two McMahons and seven former world champions ain't a bad start, if I may say so myself. Still think you're a "Baller?" Take THAT, Small.
One last bit of wrestling-related YouThinks, courtesy of John Baker:
I was just checking out the Poster Showdown, and when you mentioned the ring at the bottom left of the poster, it occurred to me that the ring is a Hidden Highlight (and I'll be sure to point this out to JP). I could be wrong, but it looks like the ring has been cut in half, as if by a chainsaw. Where have I seen that image before? Why, on the Survivor Series poster, which I saw right here on The MeeThinks PPV Poster Showdown!
I thought that was a really cool inclusion by whoever does the PPV posters. I might be reading too much into this, but it could be alluding to the addition of Edge into the Batista/Taker feud.
Keep up the good work,
- John Baker
Great catch, John -- and nicely done.
WWE's promotional department has been fantastic with their "little things"... err, I mean "hidden highlights" when putting together WWE posters and print ad campaigns. Though the destroyed wrestling ring could easily be explained away as a result of "Armageddon" (the name of the next PPV, after all) -- the fact that the ring looks *suspiciously* sawed in half is a clever and sly tribute to the folks that might have paid notice to WWE's November PPV ads. Subconsciously, we've got this image of a guy with a chainsaw who's totally cut the ring to shreds for month one... and month two we see another guy standing tall in front of the wreckage, BUT WHADDAYAKNOW! -- the ring is still all busted up from the previous month.
Again, well spotted.
Switching gears, The Fallen Angel shared some 'Thinks about a literary factoid from two weeks' back:
You Wrote:
Random Factoid of English Literature #80204: 20th century poet Sylvia Plath killed herself by sticking her head into an unlit gas stove and inhaling until she died. Shame of it is, she might not have actually wanted to succeed in her suicide attempt, as she'd asked at least two separate people (in advance!) to stop by the house and "check in" on things precisely at the time she planned to start the ordeal. Sadly, neither one made it in time.
Just as an aside to this theory involving Silvia Plath's death there is another theory that floats around many literary circles. Many believe that Ted Hughes himself was responsible for the death of Plath, and the fact that his second wife Assia Wevill commited suicide in the exact same mannor brings cause to many that there might be a cover up. Of course the fact that Ted was a three time poet lorret of England I am sure that they would not want it well known that there where so many wives of his killing themselves in the same way.
It was for a short time to be considered an interesting "coincidence", not to mention now that you are finshed cramming give you something good and litterary to look up. :) Not to mention I am sure it is a good break from all of the usual Wrestling e-mails that you get each week.
-(\The Fallen Angel/)
Thanks for the e-mail dude! Some conspiracy theories never quite die, do they (I'm looking at YOU, Bret Hart)? But I've gotta' say, the "what ifs" surrounding the Sylvia Plath suicide/Ted Hughes shenanigans are probably as plausible as any lone gunman theories I've ever heard (Hughes destroyed all copies of her final writings shortly after her death, too!).
Then again, Plath struggled with depression and suicidal tendencies throughout her young life, and she *did* try to off herself at least twice prior to the day she died... so there's probably a strong case to be made that even *if* Ted Hughes may have played a hand in her demise (not saying he did, of course), Sylvia Plath was precariously close to taking the next train to the great beyond on many a given day *with or without* Ted Hughes' help.
But -- as they say in the wrestling business -- "anything can happen" when you're dealing with writer types... so never say never, I suppose!
And With That, I'm Outta' Here
Thanks again for reading, folks. It's a bye-week for the Pats, so rest up and get healthy, all you football fans. 'Till next week, enjoy the fall weather, good luck with any papers or late midterms still in the way, and always stay positive!
