411 Fact or Fiction 1.10.08: TNA Drug Testing, Brock/UFC, Raw Roulette and More!

Posted by Larry Csonka on 01.10.2008

Week ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY features Andrew Critchell, Scotty Flamingo and discussion of Hustler running a Nancy Benoit Photo Spread.

Welcome back to another week of 411 Fact or Fiction: Wrestling Edition! This week, two 411 writers go to battle as Andrew Critchell enters the 411 Arena to do battle with Scotty Flamingo!

And remember to go to TigerFlashGames.com and play addictive, free flash games when you're bored at work, school, or whenever! Ashish made this place because he loves you.

Let's get to it!

1. Considering that WWE and UFC are PPV competitors, you're surprised that WWE would allow UFC to use footage of Brock Lesnar for promotional purposes.

Scotty Flamingo: FICTION. I don't think that Vince views UFC as competition, or if he does, it is in the same vein as boxing. At the end of the day, I think there is still enough of a difference between UFC and WWE that it is not an issue. What does surprise me is that Vince wouldn't keep the footage just to screw Brock.

Andrew Critchell : FACT. I am surprised but I think it was a good business decision. The UFC is one of the hottest things around right now and letting them use Lesnar footage is like a commercial for WWE. UFC fans that have discounted wrestling will see that WWE does indeed have legit athletes and they might feel compelled to check the product out. It's not like WWE was doing anything with the footage anyway and by cooperating they are in control of what footage is made available and I'm sure it puts WWE in a good light.

Score: 0 for 1


2. TNA has announced that they will begin drug testing at the 1.21/1.22 tapings. You believe that that they will take this testing seriously.

Scotty Flamingo: FICTION. WWE doesn't take their seriously and they have Congress breathing down their throat. TNA has a low profile. They'll do this to show they have SOMETHING in case the heat comes down on them. They may even fire someone of test results. But do you think for one second that Kurt Angle is gonna get the same treatment as Petey Williams?

Andrew Critchell : FACT. I do think TNA will take the testing seriously…until they don't. TNA is not under the scrutiny that WWE is under when it comes to drug use and as such they won't feel the pressure to enforce the policies, especially when one of their marquee talents *cough* Angle *cough* tests super duper positive.

Score: 0 for 2


3. Raw Roulette was a great show.

Scotty Flamingo: FICTION. Raw Roulette is a great idea in theory. It allows for fresh match-ups and could be used as a shake up show to launch new feuds. It really could be booked as a Special Clash of the Champions type free TV. Unfortunately, the E insists on using the wheel for gags, with very few of the match stips being anything serious. Let's look at this year's:

Strange Bedfellows Match: Apparently, Vince Russo quit TNA over the weekend and was hired by WWE.

Trading Places Match: This was a good piece of comedy and would've worked better as the only comedy on the show.

Lingerie Pillow Fight: This has been done a 1,000 times on normal RAW's, so it was pointless. You wanna do the T&A thing with the Divas, fine. Give them the submission and have the winner spank the loser into submission. It gives the fans a new match and still fulfills the sexy.

"Vince's Choice" - Isn't this every match since he is in charge? And if he hates Hornswoggle so bad, why not make it a Hell in a Cell against Great Khali, Umaga, and Snitsky?? Again, this is nothing that hasn't been done repeatedly in the past.

First Blood - This is what Raw Roulette needs. A simple old-fashioned stip match. Nothing cutesy or overbooked. Good match for a gimmick show.

Handicap Match - Do I even need to comment? The most overused stip in WWE. And the worst.

Cage Match - Again, no problem with this and the match was great.

So while the Cage and First Blood matches were good, the rest of the show was a waste of time and more of the same.

Andrew Critchell : FACT. Raw Roulette was what a wrestling show is supposed to be and that's FUN. It resulted in really cool gimmick matches and yet still furthered main angles like HBK/Kennedy and Orton/Hardy. Speaking of Hardy, we have Raw Roulette to thank for the superlative Hardy/Umaga cage match and that match alone made for a great show. And let's not forget that diva match…seriously, could Maria look any hotter or Mickie look any naughtier?

Score: 0 for 3

---SWITCH~!---

4. TNA bring in New Japan talent for the 1.21/1.22 tapings is a great move.

Andrew Critchell : FACT. This is a great move for a number of reasons; chief among them being that this is something that WWE would never do. If TNA is ever going to be seen as a true alternative, this is exactly the type of thing they need to do. Another reason this is a great move is because this will expose TNA fans to talent and a style that they are not used to seeing. Remember how much fun the X-Cup was? Bringing in New Japan talent should be just as fun. Finally, a move like this will take TNA seem truly international and will add some prestige to the company and man do they need it.

Scotty Flamingo: FACT. And it is something that they need to do more of. After reading most of Chris Jericho's biography, I've been reminded of just how many flavors and styles of pro wrestling there are. I would love to see TNA embrace this and give American fans a taste of Japan, as well as Mexico or Europe.

Score: 1 for 4


5. Hustler running a nude spread on the late Nancy Benoit, while tasteless, is par for the course when it comes to Hustler.

Andrew Critchell : FICTION. I don't really see how this is tasteless. It's not like they are running autopsy photos, they are running pictures from when she looked her absolute best. Playboy did the same thing when Anna Nicole Smith died. Truth be told, I imagine that these Nancy Benoit pictures will be quite tame compared to when they normally run in Hustler. I have not seen the pictures myself but if they are 80s style nudes they might actually come off as "tasteful."

Scotty Flamingo: FACT. Hustler is Penthouse's trailer trash 2nd cousin.

Score: 1 for 5


6. Ron Killings will end up signing with WWE.

Andrew Critchell : FICTION. Where would the money be in bringing in Ron Killings? The most noteworthy thing he has done in the last three years is publicly call out John Cena which only made news in our little IWC corner of the world and is something WWE would never acknowledge. At best, Killings is a poor man's Booker T and overall is not very good in the ring or on the mic.

Scotty Flamingo: FICTION. I would say definitely if he hadn't started all that crap with Cena a few months back. Cena is the E's golden boy and they aren't gonna want to bring in anyone who he isn't going to get along with.

Score: 2 for 6


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