Truth B Told 6.26.08: The Big Resthold

Posted by Bayani Domingo on 06.26.2008

The older you get the worse your life’s workrate becomes. One day you’re in an 8-man scramble match, the next you’re stuck in a 20 minute wristlock.


Recently I was scheduled to have a meeting with one of my managers from Minnesota and the Director of Operations for the Western Division of my company. The Director was walking by my office a few hours prior to the meeting and chatted with me about my job, how I was enjoying my position, and what kind of work I had been doing since I started 9 months ago. He then asked me a very good question, "What do you think your biggest contribution has been to the office since you started". I paused for a good 10 seconds and tried to start in about helping to organize the project I was spending most of my time on, about cutting down on some of the paper work and…then I stopped and actually said, "you know what…I'm not really sure what my biggest contribution is…I kind of hope we'll figure out what it should be this afternoon". Probably not the best answer to give to someone who is your boss's boss, but it was true. The meeting that afternoon didn't really answer that question either. All it did was provide for a "future discussion" about how to "best utilize my talents". Pfft.

It's frustrating at times to spend so much of your life going to school, trying to find the right jobs and positions that will help you in your career, involving yourself in everything you can just to put yourself in the right place at the right time…then having no idea where that place is or when you're supposed to be there. I spent 6 years spinning my wheels at my first company out of college, gaining experience and getting my Master's Degree, yet ultimately never getting promoted. I finally left that company and jumped to two different companies within two years, each time being promised "bigger and better things" only to be told that there wasn't enough internal resource to make that happen. Right now I'm just stuck in this position, it's not a bad company, but there just isn't enough support from management to get the kind of shit done that needs to happen to help me move forward in my career. I can't really leave because I would look like a "jumper" to potential employers, plus my pay is pretty good, but since I joined the company so late last year I wasn't given a raise this year even though the cost of living has skyrocketed in LA, the next job I want to take has to be in Seattle and I'm not in a position to move yet for a couple of reasons. My professional life went from a "Speed Muscle" to "VKM" in no time. Yep…my career is in a "Chinlock".

I'm the CM Punk of my office. I have a good reputation for the most part from the higher ups, even if some influential people don't really know what to do with me and are scared of giving me too much power and inadvertently uncovering all the stupid mistakes they've been making, yet I keep getting reassured that "my time" will come soon and every once in a while I get a nice little "push" just to keep me somewhat placated. I feel like I'm holding this shiny briefcase with a cool decal on it and I can't do jack shit with it. I kind of feel like my career is in this temporary resthold, only it's been in 3 consecutive restholds for the past 8 years. Every time I get some momentum and get going somewhere else where I think the grass is greener (well the paycheck is at least) I get pulled back into a proverbial wristlock or side headlock by the Randy Orton and Mark Henry's of Middle Management. The latest "MiTB Briefcase" I got was this revelation that I'll be taking on this new responsibility that will be like a higher level position…but it won't be an official promotion and it won't come with the pre-requisite raise…oh, and it'll only be a part-time position as I'll still be pushing paper for the majority of the time. It's a shiny promise of "greatness"…only I can't officially cash it in. I would take Punk out for a drink to commiserate…only they don't serve Diet Pepsi in the Palace of Stagnation. They serve RC Cola.

I read a lot the past week about Carlito still being unhappy in his current situation within the WWE. In fact it seems like a lot of writers and readers here have been bashing him and calling him an ingrate and a whiner. But you know…I can totally relate to the guy. Well, not in the way that my hair isn't manageable and silky smooth, really a tonsorial masterpiece of the highest caliber, but still I can relate to the position he is in. The guy is unhappy at his job, he feels underappreciated, underutilized, and feels like he has been promised something that hasn't been delivered on. No one wants to feel like their talents are being wasted while other less deserving people are ruling the roost for various reasons that may have nothing to do with their actual talent or ability. While I can't say for sure whether Carlito is being a "crybaby" or merely feeling "underutilized" I think the guy really has gotten the short end of a lot of feuds. Beyond just winning the US Title and IC titles upon debuting on Smackdown and RAW the guy has done little since. It's almost like the case of "too much too soon"…only "creative" is responsible for giving him that and having no where else for him to go. Imagine if Crosby or Ovechkin were told that after winning the Hart Trophy so early on they would now be banned from winning the Stanley Cup for at least another 10 years.

The problem with Carlito is that wrestling is his "chosen career" because he's spent so much time trying to perfect his craft that doing anything else now would just be a letdown. Not to mention how long it takes to get good enough at something else fast enough to still reap the benefits while you're young enough to enjoy it. Plus, it's not like he's The Rock and reached the pinnacle of his profession and now wants to conquer a new line of work because he's done all he could. The man won the IC and US straps…right now they're booked about 1 level higher than being crowned the RAW Diva Search winner. Only Jericho and Hardy probably never had to give Vince a hummer while giving Johnny Ace a footjob to get the belts. I'm fairly sure Lashley did however…but you know how much Vince loves his "dark meat". Carlito knows he still has some career goals in mind, but he just doesn't seem to figure a way to reach them…now the way things are going now at any rate.

Now this isn't about just defending Carlito, because Truth Be Told, I'm not the biggest fan of the guy. For the most part I've only been semi-entertained by him and I think he's progressed a bit too slowly in the ring for my taste, but the fact is that he isn't alone in feeling "discontented". Within the past year or two the "e" has lost some very good wrestlers which all started with Christian. I can't help but feel like Christian was destined for a very "Owen Hart-like" career before he left. That is to say he's a WWF guy whose career was shortened and was a very popular and successful "mid-carder" that was probably destined to be in the shadow of his more successful "brother". A great character and worker, but it just didn't seem like Christian would be getting that one "big push" anytime soon. It seems like Christian merely decided that if he wasn't going to get the shot at "running with the ball" he'd rather take his ball and go home. Lashley and Booker T were also some fairly big losses to the WWE as they were both successful and popular in their time. There was however a big difference for the reasoning and the fan's reaction to their departures.

Booker T asked to be released following a rumored suspension for violations of the "Wellness Policy". Booker T himself has gone back and forth a bit about the reasons he asked for his release, at one point saying that he was innocent and at another point accusing the policy of being "selectively enforced". What was clear was that King Booker's time on top of the "Smackdown Kingdom" was over and after moving to RAW while feuding with an announcer and being fed to a returning HHH the future looked pretty glum for Booker. While most people think he simply didn't want to "do the time for doing the crime" I could see how a number of things added up for Booker T and he just decided he'd had enough, he'd gotten his one obligatory title reign in the "e", his wife was going back to school to get her law degree and he wanted to focus on his family and his wrestling school. A lot of fans criticized him for leaving and even more so for going to what they considered to be a "second class promotion", but Booker seems to be pretty happy with the abbreviated schedule and the extra free time. It seems like ol' Book managed to elbow his way out of the headlock and "book" his own finish.

Prior to his injury and subsequent release from the "e" Bobby Lashley was being built up as the "Next Big Thing" in the "e". Problem was that the original "Big Thing", John Cena, was in his way and on the exact same show he was drafted to. Lashley apparently came back from injury and found out he had nothing to do at ‘Mania, some very bad planning on the part of the "e" if you ask me. He was also upset that his "take" for last year's ‘mania was much smaller than other wrestlers in similarly high profile matches, it's a matter of debate whether you agree or not but I always come from the point of view that "equal pay for equal work" is the policy I live by. There are some contradicting stories as to whether Lashley asked to be released or was fired, but the end result was that Lashley stated that he no longer wanted to work for the company, not that he wouldn't wrestle, but he just didn't want to wrestle for Vince McMahon anymore. The backlash all over the IWC was that Lashley was a spoiled brat who didn't get his way and was an overrated oaf who got pushed much further than he deserved because of his unnaturally big physique and Vince's predilection for "beefcakes"….BEEFCAKES!! When Lashley talks about the situation he always talks about Vince being a good guy for the most part and being appreciative of the opportunity, but part of his decision laid in the way he felt he and other important people to him were mistreated. Funny, but in a vacuum that situation doesn't seem too unreasonable after all.

Regardless of whether you think that Lashley is an idiot or not for giving up a "dream job", the man left as a matter of principle and I can respect that. If he felt he wasn't being treated fairly and he feels as though the woman he loves…his future wife…and the future mother of his child was treated unfairly, then why wouldn't he leave? Would you be able to work for a company that you feel did your woman wrong and at the same time may have mistreated or slighted you as well? I think as wrestling fans we look at things as a man climbing slowly to the top of his chosen profession and then throwing it all away on a whim, but the man decided he would be happier elsewhere. I can totally get behind that…in theory. At the least it seems like Lashley was smart enough to know his option before he left and knowing that he could take bookings in Mexico, train for an MMA career, and also has an open door to TNA any time he wants was a good enough back-up that he could leave "the biggest stage in the business". Someone once told me that "a man is only as faithful as his options". In this case it seems like Lashley didn't mind playing the field a bit.

I can't help but look at a guy like Jamie Noble and wonder if he's as happy as he thought he would be to be back in the "e". he went from a fairly anonymous cruiserweight in WCW to unemployed, to a fairly anonymous cruiserweight in the "e", to umployed again, then RoH champion and IWC/Indy favorite, and now back to fairly anonymous jobber fodder on Smackdown since they don't even HAVE a cruiserweight division anymore. He's working for the greatest wrestling company in the world, but what does the guy really have to look forward to? I know for some people just having and maintaining ajob with the "e" would be enough, but for a guy like Noble who tasted a bit of success, even on a smaller stage like RoH the experience has to be a little bittersweet. The man is plying his trade in front of millions of wrestling fans, but he used to play his trade for hundreds of "James Gibsons fans". Do you leave the fame and fortune of the WWE to go back down to the minors and wrestle longer matches in a night then you would in 2 months worth of Smackdown tapings? Would you rather wrestle a **** match in front of 1,000 people or a * squash in front of 10,000? For Gibson it seems like he's been stuck in a reverse chinlock for the better part of two years and there doesn't seem to be a "rope break" in sight.

I know a lot of people interviewed in TNA are saying all the right things about being happy with the company, wanting to see the company grow and become a viable competitor to the "e", good morale being prevalent backstage due to the lack of politicking, etc. and so forth, but I can't believe that there aren't at least a few people who feel like they're on a professional treadmill. Guys like James Storm, Bobby Roode, or Sonjay Dutt who have been with the company for so long but have yet to garner singles gold. Guys like Christopher Daniels who has done so much in his career and all over the world, yet while his peers like AJ Styles are able to do a no hands tope over the top rope of "size-ism" and win the TNA title multiple times, he has yet to get his big program for the belt. I think for a lot of the guys on the roster they are probably too good to simply work Indy shows and not able to move up in their promotion or be successful in the "e", they aren't in bad positions or employment, they are just kind of stuck, not really able to do anything themselves to improve their current situations.

With the draft on Monday Night it seemed like there might be some hope for some of the wrestlers moving brands but when you break down the results thus far you have to kind of wonder about whether or not some of the moves will really more of a "transfer the same job to a different office" type arrangement. Guys like Umaga and Kennedy will still have to compete with more popular and better "connected" wrestlers for their spot in the mid-card. The Hardyz each have a shot at a World Title, although they will both be for less prestigious shows than they were originally on. It's a matter of being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. I actually think that Matt has a better shot at ECW champion than Jeff does of being the SD champ. Problem is that for Matt it's almost a lateral move as ECW is treated like a joke in comparison to the other brands, just look at former champion Chavo who couldn't even beat Holly or Cody on Monday. It remains to be seen if the "e" is willing to give Jeff one last shot at the belt considering that he's probably one more strike away from a pink slip, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that his "Main Event" days might not be over on the Big Blue Brand.

But you know I think at the very least the Draft did help some guys stuck on that treadmill. Rey Mysterio will never be the champ of RAW, but by virtue of being on the "A" show he's bound to be happier with his position in the upper middle card which goes for Kane as well. Likewise, Batista has a chance at a Championship and a big program with either Cena or Orton upon his return. HHH has a whole new roster to bury and it's not like he'll ever have to worry about being stuck in a rut because his "rut" is standing on top of all the other wrestlers in the company. But clearly it's CM Punk that has the most to gain…POTENTIALLY from the draft. But you know, "Potential" doesn't pay the bills. Well if you're in the NBA it does…but just till the end of your contract. Right Harold Minor? Funny thing is…Punk really could have written his own ticket anyways with his briefcase, now they're just giving him a slightly better rental home until he decides which house he wants to "buy". Man, I wish my company had a "Draft", shake things up a bit, I guess the pitfall is that I might have to learn to use CAD or change the drive shaft on a truck, but at least the change would be nice.

The "Supplemental Draft" was just completed on Wednesday and even more changes took place, it seems like all of the roster were moved around a lot and the mid-card, tag team divisions, and lower card all got injections of new life. It looks like Carlito got his wish to be moved over to a brand with more room for growth now that…oh wait…who else got moved over to SD? That's right, his good old buddy HHH. Funny but it looked like by virtue of HHH being drafted Carlito had twisted his way out of the hammerlock, only to be brought back into a headlock. That's…not cool. A lot of ECW guys were moved and mid-carders and jobbers switched brands, but I'm not sure that a change of venue means that the position on the card will change for guys like Brian Kendrick, Jamie Noble, or Super Crazy. It just means jobbing to a new group of mid-card heels. Still at least there is promise and potential. If nothing else the WWE draft always provides a glimmer of hope for everyone in the company since it's not just about being moved in the draft. Guys like Jericho and MVP might not be on the move, but they will now get a new group of guys to feud with, also for members of RAW and ECW it's almost addition by subtraction because the main event scene gets a shot in the arm now that HHH is gone and ECW opens up a few more spots for perspective Developmental guys to fill now that Kofi and Punk have moved up. Even Smackdown gets a shot in the arm since HHH and Jeff Hardy were two of the most popular guys in the company, proven merchandise sellers at that, and now the "Big Blue Brand" looks less like a collection of also-rans and scrubs since they got some more premium talent.

All in all I guess we're kind of stuck with a mixed bag here. The Draft opens up some real possibilities and shakes things up theoretically, but at the same time the perception of "change" doesn't always mean it will take place. For some guys on the roster being moved to a new brand is kind of like being told you'll get more responsibility at work…but without the pay raise, "Wow, I get a new title…that means I'll get an increase too right? No. Um…well I won't be in the same cubic…Oh I will…well….new business cards?" I'm optimistic however that some people will at the very least get a temporary feeling of hope and a new lease on life in the short term, for guys in TNA they really have to just bite the bullet and settle in for the long run, because for them the potential payoff seems far greater than in the "e". The farther you have to come to reach the top, the more satisfying it usually is when you get there. So maybe all this is going to take is a little crowd participation and that "building clap" that it takes to bust out of the "Body scissors of Boredom" at your job. If I ever find that ring tone, you can be damned sure it'll be on my iPhone before you can say "RC Cola for Two". Make mine a diet.

The Truth

I remember watching a 15 minute match with Danielson and Claudio that consisted of 14 minutes of a single headlock. Anyone who says they loved that match should be shot in the back of the head. While I know a resthold is important at times in the psychology of a match or to help wrestlers catch their breaths to build to something epic over the course of the match itself, but it doesn't mean I have to stand up and shout "Holy Shit" every time I see a neck vise applied. We've all hit that rut at some point in our lives, whether it be in our careers, in school, sports, or even our relationships. There is just this feeling like you're doing a whole lot of running, but the scenery just doesn't change. It's hard to explain to people since you're not in dire straits, you're not homeless, unemployed, or destitute. You feel like you can't complain or speak up, yet you find it frustrating to not be able to voice your unhappiness. Its like dating a pretty girl with nothing much else going for her and every time you tell a friend you want to call it off he reminds you how lucky you are to even have someone, let alone someone that isn't so hard on the eyes. You feel stuck, trapped, like a rat in a cage, a nice cage, but a cage none the less. Wrestlers don't have it any different than you or I and possibly they have it worse because they don't have a say in what happens in their career, the bookers do. Imagine if there was some guy pulling the strings on your career or your relationships that could build you up or cut you down regardless of how hard you tried or how well you performed. Oh right…they're called "Supervisors". Oh well, at least they make more money then us and get to hang out with Divas and Knockouts all day. Maybe they don't have it so bad after all. Man, I just wish my company's "Draft" was coming up soon. Preferably an office in Maui or Fuji. As far as you guys out their hoping your "Girlfriend Draft" comes around…it's called a key party. I hope you don't get stuck with the chick with the "good personality".


Coming Up Short

Look, some of you are complaining that ECW was RAPED on Monday Night, but if things go according to plan then Big Show will be moved back on ECW. Which, is where he DIDN'T want to end up I'm sure, otherwise he wouldn't have retired in the first place. ECW traded Punk and Kane for Matt Hardy and Big Show. To be honest it's pretty much a wash. It's not even like Smackdown lost Big Show since he wasn't really regularly on one show or another anyways, the guy was just roving wherever he pleased. I actually thought the Draft did a good job of shaking some things up a bit and it was interesting to note that with the exception of Umaga all of the wrestlers who got "Drafted" were "faces". Now as far as the "Supplemental Draft"…yeah…ECW got straight fisted in the ol' stink hole on that one. They lost Kofi, Shelton, BDV, Striker, and in return they ended up with a midget, the world's largest Ho Ho, a Mexican day laborer (i.e. Jobber) and an Irish guy…who all coincidentally walked into a bar. The midget says to the bartender…oh wait…sorry, lost track there. What is clear now is that ECW is simply a televised Developmental Terriroty and…I'm kind of okay with it. I think we all need to realize that ECW will never be able to survive and thrive on it's own, it's being used to get guys who are too green for SD and RAW ready to move up and at the very least it is allowing guys like Kofi, Bourne, and even Knox to get some exposure and experience before they move up to the bigger shows. Hopefully this makes some room for guys like Colt Cabana, Chris Harris, and Ron Killings to finally get on TV. I really think the only people who felt that ECW came up short in the draft…still don't want to admit what ECW was always intended to be. A well produced D-League.

6 Degrees of…



Speaking of Drafts, Derrick Rose is expected to be the first player chosen in this year's NBA draft. By the time you read this tomorrow he just might be a Chicago Bull, then again you never know. So this week we're going to highlight a man who will be ecstatic to be drafted. But we're also going to link him to a man who wasn't so happy to see his name get called…



Good ol' JR. Surprise, surprise, surprise. The man had to know something was up when he steadily seemed to be losing influence within the company. Besides, if HHH was going to be moved then no one was safe. It looks like the grooming of Michael Cole is finally complete and it's only a matter of time before we see The King take a back seat to a newer color guy as well. I'm thinking JBL. Yep, Jiggly Breasts Layfield get ready to take your seat.

Whatchu talkin' bout readers?

Nothing earth shattering in the comments section…nothing in the e-mail. Clearly I need to be more controversial. Maybe a nice spread on why Brian Kendrick will be the next World Champ?

6 Degrees Results

So if this comes down to another no-show this week I might have to temporarily "suspend" this promotion just like the McMillion Mania. Only no one is getting their $2 from me.

Left Overs…

I was hoping Matt Sydal would get drafted over to RAW to be HBK's "second" in his war against Jericho and Cade. They'd henceforth be known as the "Bourne again Christians".

On second thought, there already are a couple of guys who can back up HBK and are ALREADY on RAW…this looks like a job for…London and Kendrick!! Actually…every match they wrestle looks like a "job" for those two.

I've been reading up on JBL's newest "business venture" which is following up on the heels of his new energy drink. I guess it makes sense that JBL would want to endorse an energy drink as it's something he could use every day as a wrestler, plus after he unretired from wrestling it looks like he could also put THIS product to good use as well. I'll be damned if buying the rights weren't cheap.

So how surprised did JR look on Monday when he got drafted? It's like his face was just frozen. Oh wait…

Mike Adamle was even shocked and perturbed, it's like he couldn't even string two words together…still.

I went to lunch the other day and my friend ordered an "Arnold Palmer", it's a half lemonade, half ice tea drink. So then I ordered a "Tiger Woods" that's a half green tea and half grape soda. Refreshing!!

When asked if he was surprised to be moving to Smackdown from ECW Big Daddy V replied that "he was beside himself". The reporter then said, "no…that's still you there…you're just really fat". That reporter will be sorely missed.

Leave it to the "e". On the heels of the popularity of TNA's World X-Cup it looks like the WWE will now be holding a similar tournament called the World Ex-Cup. So far the first round match ups include: HHH/Chyna vs Stone Cold/Debra, Goldust/Marlena vs Kenny/Mickie James, and Torrie Wilson/Billy Kidman vs Billy/Chuck.

TNA is having Visa problems now. It makes sense… I mean NOBODY gives TNA credit for anything anymore.

I guess Adamle's slip was just a foreshadowing of the Supplemental Draft now that DH Smith is on the same show as Umaga again. The Samoan Bulldogs have a nice ring to it, I bet you they bring a bulldog to the ring with them…they probably won't LEAVE the ring with it…but you know Umaga gets hungry after a match.

Smells like Smackdown dropped a Deuce.

Well apparently Russo has changed his mind yet again and it looks like they are moving the newest Knockout "Moose" away from The Beautiful People and will be teaming her with a new Indy wrestler they are planning to sign. I'm not familiar with Moose's New Partner so if someone knows send me an e-mail.

The Great Booty Debate 2008

Well competition is heating up and to be honest it seems like this contest is pretty much a moot point as the same people keep voting for the Asians and the same people keep voting for the Latinas. C'mon people, open your minds...and your pants. No, not in the computer lab or in your cubicle...just e-mail it to yourself on your private account. Geez...too damn literal.

Random Asian Bitch Lookin' Good Pic of the Week



Maya Simone: Two First names, with a rack worthy of it.

Random Latina Bitch Lookin' Good Pic of the Week



Kristina Raquel: Two first names...um...you know the joke.

A lot of people were surprised to see Al Snow a TNA House Show over the weekend. Apparently all those cans and bottles DID add up to $21.50 after all. I hope he got good seats for that.

Is anyone else looking forward to the team of Mark Henry and Super Crazy uniting on ECW? I'm hoping for the Tag Team name, "Mexican Hot Chocolate". Or alternatively "Montezuma's Revenge". Yeah…that would be the shit.

Living in LA I have come to realize a very important fact about driving on the freeways here. If you want to get the person in the lane to the left or the right of you to suddenly speed up, just signal like you are trying to get into that lane and they will come zooming towards you at 100 mph. in fact if everyone in LA constantly left their left blinker on then traffic would never go less than 70 mph again.

PWG just announced that BoLA '08 has been postponed from late August to possible the October/November time frame. I guess they couldn't get enough wrestlers signed to fill up this year's bracket. I mean…Super Dragon already filled up one by himself, but those other 2 were going to be a real bitch to cover.

Pimpin' In High Places

The WWE Draft is over and the fun will soon begin. Well not until wrestlers who aren't on the shows they are going to be wrestling on this week are finally on the shows they were drafted to. Or something. Don't worry kids, the '08 411 Draft is just around the corner, I can't wait to see who gets drafted to "Ask 411", who makes up the new "Triple Threat" and find out whether I get drafted into a weekly News Column. I still say "Domingo Gigante" could be the single biggest rating news column in the history of 411, plus I have all these leftover Blonde Mexican chicks hanging around:

Ask 411

'08 Indy Draft

CoH

WWE Draft Round Table

J-Weezy

D-Dubya

You know, sometimes writing a column is like cheap therapy. Sometimes things come out and take on a life of their own. Some people can relate, other totally ignore it. But being a wrestling fan I'm sure you can sympathize that it seems like just about everything in "real life" can relate back to wrestling in one way or another. And if it doesn't…you'll try like hell to make a horrible analogy linking the two anyways. Here's to hope that all of you in the IWC get your own personal "push" this week. Hopefully it's not be on ECW.

Till then, the Truth will set you free.

-B