Lansdell's Sunday Brunch News Report 08.10.08
Posted by Chris Lansdell on 08.10.2008
A Final Flair-Well, pink slip season in WWE, my thoughts on Daivari's angle and the tag title switch. Plus, Hard Justice previewed! Join me, won't you?
Greetings, humanity! Welcome to Lansdell's Sunday Brunch, with a renewed vigour for my readers and their news needs. I am Chris Lansdell, your waiter, and as you read this I am probably watching the Olympics. Every 2 years I become a fan of every sport under the sun (or snow), from gymnastics to curling to weightlifting to 2-man luge. People who say the Olympics are dying are not true sports fans; there is no greater drama than watching amateur athletes who are all but unknown in anywhere but their home towns giving everything they have for the glory of their flag. THAT is what sport is all about, not how many millions you can con out of some multi-billionaire businessman who couldn't give a brass fig about anything but the bottom line.
Rant over. BANNER!
The Spread~!
Flair and WWE part ways!
Commentary changes in WWE!
The Week in Links!
Daivari the Terrorist!
Random Video Interlude!
WWE cleans house!
Espresso Shots!
New Raw Tag Champs!
Hard Justice…by the numbers!
The Tip Jar!
Look closely at the belt...
See what happens when you're not Fair to Flair? Ric Flair walks over WWE's tight restrictions on his bookings
When the story about Flair being kept out of several events first broke, part of me wondered if it might make him walk. When i considered that his best friends worked there, and the extent to which they went to say goodbye to his career, I thought better of it. It seems I should have stuck with my instinct.
Flair walking is not an ungrateful act. WWE understandably wanted to protect the profitability of their product and property, while Flair wanted to give of himself to as much of the business as possible, while raking in as many dollars as possible. Nobody is in the wrong there, and you can't blame Flair for wanting more control over his income. The offers have been flooding in, even with the $15,000 price tag Flair is charging, as opposed to the $10-12,000 that WWE was thought to be asking for a Flair appearance. For comparison, Torrie Wilson is said to be asking $7,000, Sean Waltman around $5,000 and Maven asks for $11.50, a meatball sub, return tickets on the Greyhound (with a guarantee that it doesn't go through Manitoba) and 1,000 brown M&Ms to fill a shot glass, or he won't get in the ring. Mick Foley asks $10,000 and will actually talk smaller companies OUT of booking him
if he doesn't think they'll make the money back. Reports of Teddy Hart paying promotions to bring him in could not be confirmed at press time. Apparently, bidding for the first Ric Flair shoot video is now over $85,000 and rising. The Brunch's offer of $43 was turned down outright.
Of course, the second this news hit, the TNA marks started begging for Flair to come to Orlando. There have also been reports that Flair was considering some guest referee spots. While it would be fine in my opinion for Flair to go to TNA for a brief run to say goodbye there, or even in a long-term non-wrestling role, or to do some refereeing in the indies, I don't think he should ever wrestle again. Nobody has ever received a send-off like Flair received on Raw, and it's likely that nobody ever will again. Vince McMahon, doubtless at the behest of his son-in-law, spent a lot of money, time and effort in giving Flair his due, and the entire roster was emotionally invested in it. For him to turn around and wrestle Sting one last time would be like taking a gigantic dump on Vince's face. Fortunately, Flair is reportedly not considering that at this time.
WWE Fire Sale! As usual with WWE, the releases come in bunches
First to be announced was Braden Walker. My reaction to the news after reading it on WWE.com and tipping of Big Boss Csonka:
Chris says:
wonder what the story is there Larry says:
He was fat, unmotivated and sucked in both TV matches he had Chris says:
yeah, but what did he do WRONG? Larry says:
Failed wellness three times – Ding Dongs, then Ho-Hos, then Twinkies
It's funny because it's true. Really, anyone who has been watching ECW and has seen Harris could have predicted this. The newsworthy part is what happens next. For the first time, we have a performer who has burned his bridges with TNA and then been released from WWE, who has nowhere near the in-ring ability to go to RoH. Where can Chris Harris turn? Well, this may be the start of a trend. Harris, I believe, has one good choice open to him if he wants to stay in wrestling: NWE. The European indy is becoming a legit option for people who want to make decent money and can't do it in the US. Don't be surprised to see Harris there soon.
The next day, 6 more names were announced: Nunzio, Domino, Big Daddy Moobs, James Curtis, Shannon Moore and...Nick Patrick?
Nunzio was really only enhancement talent at this point in his career (although he did recently win a main event on Smackdown!) and will not be a huge loss, although he has considerable talent and can make anyone look good. Curtis struggled to make himself anything other than vanilla, even when given a decent gimmick and a hot manager as part of the Teacher's Pets. He never managed to stand out, and in the WWE that's a death warrant. Domino was part of the biggest disappointment gimmick-wise in recent memory. The Greasers had tremendous potential as a gimmick team, but they never did anything with it except come to the ring in a classic car and dressed in leather jackets. After the split Domino's time was always going to be short, as he's the one without a Hall of Fame father. He's also the one with less talent. Big Daddy V is a decent big man, but his release is likely to do with the weight issue and not anything else. Vince is rightly even more paranoid than normal right now about someone dying in the ring, even from something largely out of his control like a heart attack. V has been very careful with his money and is a student of the JBL school of spending, so he'll be just fine. Shannon Moore's release is a disappointment. I've already seen people saying it's HHH's way of getting back at the Hardys for outselling him in merch, but that's utterly ridiculous. I thought his team with Jimmy Wang Yang had great potential and was doing well, but the pairing may have been hurt by Yang's suspension. As for Nick Patrick...where to start? That he was still employed is likely news to several people, and the release seems rather random. Ah well, if they were paying him to rest his rump, good riddance.
Of the releases, I can't really see TNA wanting any of them. Shannon Moore MIGHT get a look-in with RoH, or at the very least some smaller Indy bookings. Nunzio should have no trouble doing the same. Curtis and Domino may well have to follow Chris Harris to NWE.
The Week In Links After all, what's a Sunday brunch without the paper?
Sarnecky is back with a Piledriver Report on tag teams. And I couldn't agree more.
I do not, however, agree with JT and his Stolen Take on CM Punk's title reign. Damn fine read though.
Geoff Eubanks' final 4R's. End of an era.
Julian Bond has no hope of convincing me, but he gives it a good try.
Because talking about being a Muslim is bad, kids Sheik Abdul Bashir character to work an angle with "Homeland Security"
A lot of the IWC does not understand that wrestling today, or rather the entertainment aspect, is at its heart satire. As such, I get where Russo and company are trying to go with this. It's still stupid and inflammatory though.
The Muhammad Hassan angle, which is where this storyline is based, started off as genius: a Muslim American being discriminated against because of the Muslim part, while people ignore the American part. It would have made for a character that people would boo on instinct, then gradually would have got behind as the fans started hating themselves for doing exactly what he said they were doing. Have him fight cleanly, even as a heel, earn some respect from senior roster members, refuse to cheat...it would have been a unique story and one that could really have made waves. Of course, WWE chickened out on this angle and turned Hassan into your stereotypical evil foreigner heel.
Proving the theory that old angles never die, TNA look to be resurrecting it now with Daivari, who ironically enough was Hassan's manager in WWE. Only now they're making the character fall afoul of Homeland Security. From the vignettes we've seen thus far, there seems to be no reason for this. It's also fairly ridiculous for us to be expected to forget that the guy was wrestling as Daivari less than 6 weeks ago. The problem with this is that it's either going to be a comedy angle, which would be too much with all the comedy acts already around, or deathly serious. If you go the serious route, with something like Homeland Security involved that already makes people uncomfortable, you run a large risk of people shitting all over it. Either way, you're going to offend the Muslim community unless you're very, VERY careful to book him as a normal person and not some xenophobic extremist. And I don't think subtlety is Russo's strong point.
Random Video Interlude!
Comedy works much better when it's not winning titles. And this RULES.
And Tony Schiavone is STILL not on my TV More commentary changes in WWE, with a big one rumoured
A pleasant surprise this week as Matt Striker debuted on ECW as the colour guy to replace Tazz (temporarily) who was on Smackdown covering for Mick Foley, who was selling his injury from last week. Follow all that? Good. At the time, nobody thought it was anything than a short-term cover job. We also had Todd Grisham replacing Raw GM Mike Adamle last week.
Soon after, a rumour surfaced that Foley was unhappy with being yelled at in his headset constantly by Vince, and with the way his commentary position was going. With his contract due to end after SummerSlam, the thinking was that Foley would not renew. This rumour was later all but confirmed by Foley in an interview with the Long Island Press. Although I have loved Foley's commentary, he hasn't meshed with JR as well as I thought he would and his style is just not suited to what Vince wants nowadays.
Tazz and JR worked very well this week I thought, and hopefully they will be allowed to stay together. While I would mourn the loss of his in-ring talents (which haven't been fully explored) on Raw, Matt Striker was great on ECW and will hopefully be allowed to stay there with the horrendously underrated Todd Grisham. Tazz and Striker have the bonus of being comedy acts at the commentary table that aren't stale like The King is. Having Tazz on Smackdown also opens the door to possibly reuniting Cole and Tazz, who had great chemistry together.
One-line looks at minor news
TNA coming soon in HD More thrilling HD prospect – Sonjay's bacne, HD Poles, Nash's grey hair in HD, or Don West reminding us how the Pele IN HD JUSTCOMESOUTOFNOWHEREINHDMIKE! ? Mr Kennedy dislocated his shoulder So his gimmick is saying his name twice and hurting everything twice? SHIMMER to crown tag team champions Insert puerile joke about being tag teamed by 2 women here. Chris Hero now wants to be known as 'The Knockout Kid' I bet that got Rob Feinstein's attention. Oh KNockout Kid! Never mind then. Orton coming back very soon, possibly SummerSlam WWE has sent out memos to all hotels suggesting they bolt down lamps and TVs. Kaz likely to return as part of the Prince Justice Brotherhood Oh good.
Are we sure Russo isn't booking Raw? Batista and Cena win tag team gold…
Man oh man. Where do I start? After looking like they were going to start re-establishing a tag division in the WWE, we're back to thrown-together singles stars (who DON'T GET ALONG!) winning the belts and doing so in fairly convincing fashion. At least this time, the actual tag team was able to get in some offence and not be completely squashed.
Tag team wrestling is not just supposed to be about putting together two great wrestlers and having a great team. It's about working together and the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. WWE has been ignoring this factor for years, despite mentioning it in every team vs random pair match. However, I can see a bright side to this.
We've been saying since the match was announced that Cena-Batista was unlikely to happen with only 2 weeks of build for what is a Wrestlemania main event in waiting. This could be their way out. Adamle comes out on Monday and says that he can't possibly have the tag team champions fight each other at SummerSlam, so instead they would defend the tag titles in the rematch. Batista again walks out on Cena, turning him heel, costing them the titles and giving Simply Priceless their win back. With creative booking and an injury angle, they can stretch it to Survivor Series. In the meantime, we'll have to make do with this:
Hard (to watch) Justice Your PPV Preview, by the numbers
Seth Roy has the full breakdown, and I lead the 411 staff in the Round table. Which leaves me to bring you Hard Justice...BY THE NUMBERS~!
The PPV!
This will be the 4th annual Hard Justice PPV
First one held outside the Impact Zone
In all 3 previous Hard Justices, all the titles have been on the line. The trend continues this year.
Gail Kim, ODB and Taylor Wilde vs The Beautiful People and Awesome Kong
First woman's tag match at Hard Justice
Only Gail Kim has had previous experience at Hard Justice. She is 1-0.
Second 6-person tag at Hard Justice (2007 - Abyss, Andrew Martin & Sting beat Christian Cage, Tomko & AJ Styles)
Jay Lethal vs Sonjay Dutt – Black Tie Brawl and Chain Match
First ever Black Tie Brawl and Chain Match.
Hopefully, the LAST ever Black Tie Brawl and Chain Match.
FIFTH PPV in a row at which Lethal and Dutt have been opponents/fought.
Jay Lethal is 1-1 at Hard Justice. Sonjay Dutt is 2-0, with one win being in a dark match.
Christian Cage and Rhyno vs Team 3D - New Jersey Street Fight
Every Hard Justice has had some variation of a hardcore match.
Nobody involved in the match has won at Hard Justice (Rhyno 0-2, everyone else 0-1)
AJ Styles vs Kurt Angle – Last Man Standing
First Last Man Standing match at Hard Justice
Kurt Angle is 1-0 at Hard Justice, AJ Styles is 2-1
3 out of the 4 matches these two have had at Hard Justice were title matches.
Third PPV in a row that these two have faced off. The record is even at 1-1.
Petey Williams vs Consequences Creed – X Division Title
Only non-gimmick singles match on the card
Petey Williams is 1-2 at Hard Justice, including one loss in an X-Division title shot. Creed is making his Hard Justice début.
The X Division title has only changed hands once at Hard Justice (2007 – Angle d. Joe)
LAX vs Beer Money – TNA Tag Team Titles
Only non-gimmick tag match on the card.
The tag titles have only changed hands once at Hard Justice (2007 – Angle d. Joe)
LAX are 1-1 at Hard Justice. As a team, Beer Money are making their Hard Justice début. Storm and Roode are both 1-1.
Samoa Joe vs Booker T – Six Sides of Steel (with Weapons!) match for the TNA World Title
First singles cage match at Hard Justice
First TNA title defence in a gimmick match at Hard Justice
The TNA title has changed hands only once at Hard Justice (2005 – Styles d. Jarrett)
Samoa Joe is 1-1 at Hard Justice. Booker T is making his début at Hard Justice.
Samoa Joe is 0-1 in title matches at Hard Justice.
Don't forget the LIVE PPV coverage starting at 8 tonight!
The Tip Jar Your thoughts from last week
i think the idea of Freddie Prinze jr. working for the creative team is an interesting idea. i mean, since he is a fan, maybe he can give some constructive criticisms or what not. i dont get why people are shitting on him, he might, MIGHT be able to improve the product, even if it's just a little with his ideas.
Posted By: ScoobyDoo (Guest) on August 03, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Hey, it couldn't get much worse. He's got his work cut out for him, if indeed he even WANTS to make any changes.
I'm gonna call it, WWE will fail and flounder withen a decade after Vince McMahon either retires or dies, unless he has personally trained his successor.
For all the trouble he's caused, Vince McMahon has to be THE best out and out promoter of the modern era. because he always screws and outplots his enemies. First he drove everyone else nearly out of buisness and took their TV spots, making WWF the top promotion in the world by marketing to kids. and it took Ted Turner to even give him a threat, then he managed to keep his company alive dispite over a year of Having to deal with talent mutinies, another company with national exposure, and not having more money to burn then his competition, So he had writers start up the attitude ERA, and eventually bought WCW.
Now that the IWC is being pesky, he's learning to think one step ahead of US!
Dixie and Jarrett have their work cut out for them surviving against the evil Genius that is Vincent Kennedy McMahon jr.
Posted By: Davis (Guest) on August 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Interesting theory about WWE collapsing without Vince. I don't know that I'd go that far, but it's going to take 3 or 4 people to replace him.
Well that's about it boys and girls. I'm off to poker night and thanking the Lord that it's raining. That way I can't mow the lawn. Don't forget the PPV tonight, and Randle's in tomorrow.
Let me just say that what Dave said in "The Tip Jar" is so far off the mark it isn't even funny. Vince McMahon is not an irreplaceable genius by any stretch of the imagination. He isn't even a genius -- he was a just a good businessman in an industry where bad businessmen were the norm. Nothing flashy, nothing special. He just took advantage of other promoters' conservative attitudes and created an organization that was too big to fall apart on its own. Now there aren't enough smaller territories for a rival to cannibalize and get enough strength to challenge him, which is why TNA and ROH have no hope.
Organizations as big as WWE have a momentum of their own that is not easy to disrupt. Even the passing of a micromanaging leader like McMahon will only cause a brief disruption as his powers get apportioned out to executives and managers. Of course it will take three or four people -- that's too much power for anyone but the founder of the company to hold by himself. When he goes, it creates an opportunity for everyone to gain a little power, and no one will miss the chance.
As for him being the best promoter, that's a laugh too. He's far too out of touch with the current scene. He isn't following trends, he isn't making trends, he's rehashing trends that were cool in the 70s, 80s and 90s. WWE seems like they're doing a great job mostly because they hire young talent in video editing and they such a bag up job we don't notice that there's almost no character development and few stories being told. Some sitcoms get more done in their half and hour a week than WWE gets done in four a week plus PPVs.
McMahon has become a businessman who tells himself everything is fine because he's earning money. It doesn't matter that the ratings are down or the audience is unhappy, because he still sees good numbers on the balance sheet. He's reduced himself to just the die-hard core audience, and then tries to insult them with his stories. Is that the mark of a genius? Is that the mark of a brilliant promoter? No. That's the mark of a man who got lucky, then doesn't really know what to do with his luck, and every time things get a little bit worse, he finds someone to blame and some way to tighten the screws on the things he already controls.
That's someone who not only isn't irreplaceable, it's someone who ought to be replaced.
Posted By: Sly Reference (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Dear Lansdell,
Where can I find more of the kiddie Cena vs kiddie Batista vids?
Sincerely,
Rob Feinstein
Posted By: Angry Bear (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 08:54 AM
LOL @ rf loving kiddie vids, pretty sick but funny still
Sly reference-that was one of the best arguments I've ever heard disputing Vince's genius. I've always felt similar, it's like yea the guy's had good ideas and marketing, but is obviously out of touch and wouldnt be so highly thought of without the ppl behind the scenes that help him out-whether that be editing, writing, music production, markteting, etc. It's like smoke & mirrors with the Boss pulling the strings and getting all the credit. U gotta give it up for him despite him coming off as a creepy old man. Anyway, good shit and I'd like to hear more "theories" I appreciate shit like that from fans who didnt just start watching wrestling in the last few years. Not that there's anything wrong wit that, but I hate the "elitist" attitude that so many of these kids seem to have. That's all a by-proudct of the post-attitude era IWC. Kids watch a few older videos and visit message boards and are suddenly historical and philisophical experts or some shit. If you're gonna make an argument PLEASE have a factual basis and something intelligent to say. peace
Posted By: amusing comments (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Chris, that Mortal Kombat video was great, but imagine how good it would be on the Titantron, in HD!!!
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I've been watching wrestling since 1981, and if there were more people in the IWC like Sly reference and amusing comments I think wrestling overall would be much, much better today.
McMahon does not care about ratings, he just looks at the cash flow from the merchandise. What's worse is that he can get away with it now because he knows whatever he throws on TV the sheep will eat it up.
Even if TNA and ROH combined do you really think that would make Vince change his stance? I don't think so. Most people on the IWC were Rock/Stone Cold fans and think nothing is above the almighty Attitude era and they've never seen the NWA.
Posted By: Orlando (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 01:56 PM
To Sly Reference - Amen. I could not have said it better myself.
Posted By: Chay (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 04:26 PM
In the first video posted, I reconize most of those wrestlers from here in Ottawa. They have wrestled for UWA, C*4, and a few other smaller leagues. The only wrestling I watch these days is the independents. These wrestlers know how to "play the crowd". Nothing like getting drunk and up in their face! They will yell back and get in YOUR face! That's just one of the many reasons I never go see WWE live anymore.
Posted By: Whiteburbia (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Most of what Sly says is pretty accurate, but if you're disputing Vince being the best promoter ever, well...who would YOU say has done better?
Posted By: Ian (Guest) on August 11, 2008 at 08:21 AM
See what happens when you're not Fair to Flair?
WWE Fire Sale!
