Lansdell's Sunday Brunch News Report 09.28.08
Posted by Chris Lansdell on 09.28.2008
Angle airs it out, WWE settles down, RoH calls it off, and the Eddie DVD pulls us in. All about the prepositions in the latest Sunday Brunch!
Greetings, humanity! Welcome to Lansdell's Sunday Brunch, the only wrestling news article read by TNA creative! After ranting about it for weeks, TNA toned down Sheik Abdul Bashir and his theme music, making me a happy camper. My boys at Derby won on the road today, the cocky buggers from Arsenal lost to HULL CITY and the NBA is a month away. Yes, I'm in such a good mood that I could find nothing to rant about this week! With that in mind, how about we look at the
BANNER~!
The Spread~!
Angle at Jarrett at odds!
Status quo achieved!
The Week in Links!
RoH postpones Florida shows!
Random Video Interlude!
Eddie DVD listing!
Espresso Shots!
The Tip Jar!
It was true, it was all damn true Angle shoots on TNA, Jarrett not happy
Some people just shouldn't be allowed to talk to the media. In an interview with The Sun in the UK, Kurt Angle recently brought a few home truths about TNA to the public eye, in the process pissing off his boss (and Bound for Glory opponent...) Jeff Jarrett. It's nothing that we wrestling journalists hadn't been saying since Spike picked up Impact: too many gimmick matches and run-ins, too much attempted innovation, and protecting the wrong people. The thing is, to have it said by probably the biggest star and most recognisable name on your roster carries with it a lot more weight than having, say, Aaron Hubbard say it. Nothing against Hubbard, but he's no Kurt Angle. Kurt perfectly sums up the problem with TNA in two particular places:
We say TNA: We are wrestling. No we're not. We're fucking gimmick matches.
To make him a bigger star. I wanted Joe to beat me and Christian at the PPV to make him a bigger star. But what's been happening is we have run-ins to create the wins, so I get protected. I don't want to be protected and I don't need to be protected. I'm having a real struggle with it.
Now, with TNA posting on their website that Jarrett is not happy about these remarks, you have to wonder: were the comments a work, or are they taking them and working them into the storyline? Is this classic Russo worked-shoot? Whatever the case, it shows that at least somebody in TNA is aware of the problem, and if this is worked then there's hope it could get fixed. We all benefit if TNA improves, as Vince McMahon works best against strong competition. Angle also said that in terms of straight wrestling talent, WWE cannot compare with TNA. While I don't think the disparity is as big as he makes out, I would give the advantage to TNA, and it's possibly the only thing they have over WWE. However if pure wrestling ability mattered, RoH would be beating both TNA and WWE.
At last, some stability The longest stretch between PPVs in a long time also sees the rosters of both major feds settle down.
A few weeks ago, I made a suggestion that we were seeing too many new people in too short a period, and as a result the new faces were being largely forgotten. This last week was the first time in 2 months that saw no débuts or returns. Amazingly, we also saw no injuries, firings or suspensions this past week. It's about time.
I'm all for keeping the product fresh by bringing in new people and repackaging others. However, since the end of June we have seen 13 débuts (Ricky Ortiz, Braden Walker, ZEKE, Scotty Goldman, Primo Colon, Ryan Braddock, Jack Swagger, Brie Bella, Manu, Sojourner Bolt, Sheik Abdul Bashir, Taylor Wilde, Shawn Spears),
18 releases (Ashley, Trevor Murdoch, Braden Walker, James Mitchell, Rellik was Killer spelled backwards, Dustin Runnels, Tomko, Big Daddy V, Domino, Nunzio, Shannon Moore, The Highlanders, Cherry, Stevie Richards, Colin Delaney, Gail Kim, Mick Foley), 9 returns (Rey, Tony Atlas, D'Lo Brown, Regal, Kenny Dykstra, R-Truth, Candice Michelle, Jeff Jarrett, Mick Foley) and 5 serious injuries (Moose, Kennedy, Cena, Orton, Umaga).
On the bright side, the lack of injuries, suspensions, firings and wrestler deaths can only be seen as good news. The deaths we have had (Kowalski, for example) could hardly be said to be untimely or attributable to wrestling. What does it all mean? Hell if I know, I just think it's all good news.
The Week In Links After all, what's a Sunday brunch without the paper?
Really, how ironic is it that Smackdown should compete with the debate, with WWE starting the "SmackDown Your Vote" campaign?
Required Reading Best of the week's editorials
This week, Chambers has a wacky theory about talking to CHIKARA stars. Campbell débuts a column about books, and it's a good read.
The new Ask 411 guy is doing pretty well. Hubbard is on fire. His look at Daniels continues his streak.
You're not going to Disney World! RoH postpones Florida shows indefinitely
It was only a matter of time really. RoH have tried this year to expand their fanbase aggressively, both by running with PPV and in new cities. This represented a significant change from the norm for the company, who had always believed in the "slow and steady" approach to growth. 2008 had been largely successful for them, with good buy numbers on PPV, great débuts in the new cities, continually strong DVD sales and the stellar in-ring action that RoH has been known for since day 1.
The news that the Florida shows (scheduled for 10/10 in Coral Springs and 10/11 in Orlando) have been postponed puts an end to the fairy-tale run that ROH have been on. All reports point to the postponement being due to light advance sales, and this despite Survival of the Fittest 2008 (always a popular event) being in Coral Springs, and Orlando seeing Briscoes-Steenerico for the straps. Fans have understandably reacted badly to this news, especially with no return date announced. The previous Florida shows also had slow advance sales, but both ended up selling out.
Although this might appear to be terrible news for ROH, especially with the dreaded phrase "cost-cutting measures" being thrown around, it may not be as bad as it seems. RoH will still come out of 2008 in a stronger position than they entered it, having established Manassas, Toronto and The Grand Ballroom in Manhattan as new venues. Their return to Cleveland was disappointing, but they have shows coming up in Montreal, Nashville, St Louis and Pittsburgh to try and make up for the disappointment. Florida was really only chosen because of the ROH-FIP partnership and Wrestlemania being in Orlando. They have shows two weeks later featuring Sabin and Shelley, and are coming off some important shows in the past month. It's a blow to be sure, but one from which they can recover. Provided, that is, that they reschedule the show promptly.
Random Video Interlude!
Complete with old-school Batman sound effects. I must find more of this.
Orale! Compre el DVD! WWE releases the match listing for Eddie Guerrero's DVD set
No preamble, let's just get to it:
Disc 1:
ECW World Television Championship Match - 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Eddie Guerrero (ECW TV April 8, 1995)
ECW World Television Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (ECW Hostile City Showdown April 15, 1995)
Eddie Guerrero vs. Shinjiro Otani (Starrcade December 27, 1995)
United States Heavyweight Championship Match - Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero (Hog Wild August 10, 1996)
United States Heavyweight Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Jericho (SuperBrawl February 23, 1997)
WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match - Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro November 10, 1997)
WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (Starrcade December 28, 1997)
Eddie Guerrero vs. Ultimo Dragon (Slamboree May 17, 1998)
Juventud Guerrera vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro August 3, 1998)
Psychosis vs. Eddie Guerrero (Thunder June 24, 1999)
A nice selection here, but hurt by a total (understandable) lack of Benoit matches from ECW and WCW. The Jericho, Flair and Malenko matches all stick out in my mind as being pretty damn good. One thing I find interesting is the inclusion of an entire disc of pre-steroid Eddie...the difference will be obvious to people who never noticed it before.
Disc 2:
European Championship Match - Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Guerrero (RAW April 3, 2000)
King of the Ring Qualifying Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Matt Hardy (SmackDown! June 8, 2000)
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Eddie Guerrero (Backlash April 21, 2002)
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Jeff Hardy (RAW April 29, 2002)
No Disqualification Match - Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero (SmackDown! September 26, 2002)
WWE Tag Team Championship Match - Team Angle vs. Los Guerreros (Backlash April 27, 2003)
Latino Heat Parking Lot Brawl - John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero (SmackDown! September 11, 2003)
Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero (Royal Rumble January 25, 2004)
WWE Championship Match - Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guerrero (No Way Out February 15, 2004)
Wait, no Wrestlemania XX match? I can understand leaving out the celebration after the Benoit match, but no Wrestlemania at all? And only one Los Guerreros match? Sure we'll be getting all their vignettes, but I could have done without Cena-Guerrero to fit in another tag match. Again, leaving out the début of the Radicalz really hurts the collection but is of course due to Benoit. The tangential effects of his actions are still being felt...
Disc 3:
WWE Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (SmackDown! March 18, 2004)
WWE Championship Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield (Judgement Day - May 16, 2004)
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship - JBL vs. Eddie Guerrero (SmackDown! July 15, 2004)
WWE Championship Series - Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle (SmackDown! April 14, 2005)
Steel Cage Match - Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (SmackDown! September 9, 2005)
World Heavyweight Championship Match - Batista vs. Eddie Guerrero (No Mercy October 9, 2005)
Eddie's Final Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Mr. Kennedy (SmackDown! November 11, 2005)
I'm glad to see the Batista match, not so much for the match as for the build to it. Rey-Eddie in a cage was pretty good, but seeing the "I'm your papi!" scene again is the real perk to that. Altogether the set looks strong, but would have been so much more complete with Benoit in it. I wonder if it will be re-released when the world is ready to see him again? I'll probably buy it, but I'm a completist.
One-line looks at minor news
Former WWE star Vito arrested for beating his girlfriend - I hope they put him in a dress when they lock him up. Mr Perfect DVD tops the sales charts - Now THAT's...Perfect. Shelly Martinez is auctioning off a date - Ashley Massaro is considering legal action for gimmick infringement. Batista wants to be the next crossover star - Maybe he should get some talent first. Rey Misterio wants to be in a movie - They already remade Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...maybe the Lollipop Guild? GLOW puts out a casting call - Wonder if they need a referee...
The Tip Jar Your thoughts from last week
Titanes del Ring - that was AWESOME! Maybe the Vinces could watch it and pick up hints...
Posted By: blacklodge (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 06:31 AM
God I hope not. Cheesy nostalgia is fine in the past, but that's where it needs to stay.
Whats the deal with Sonjay Dutt? I was watching the PPV last week and he has what appears to be acne all over his back, is totally ripped and appears too large for his frame. plus why does he have bandaids all over his shoulder?
Posted By: simone65 (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 06:45 AM
Dude is obviously a Balco customer. Just goes to show that you don't have to be a 300-pound muscle-bound monster to be on the juice. The bandaids are not unique to Sonjay – Homicide wears them too. In Homi's case they are due to an old shoulder injury. Maybe the Ask 411 guy would know why Sonjay wears them. I hear he's pretty good.
You know, if you follow what has been said in the past, it seemed like Karen and Kurt were doomed from the start as supposedly they were set to break up soon after getting married. So if this has any ounce of truth, then they were doomed from the start.
Also, Lansdell... Mad respect for the Kenny Omega mention. Also, I demand you watch this and not laugh... I demand it!
Posted By: Travis (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Kurt and Karen had been having problems due to Kurt's travel schedule, but going to TNA was supposed to help that. Then, putting Karen on screen was supposed to help. Sometimes it just isn't meant to be.
Omega really impressed me in Toronto, and I hope he finds a regular spot in ROH. That clip is great, but then Delirious always was when working comedy. His match with Colt Cabana where he works over Colt's ass is hilarious.
"Tornado's versions always look week."
Tornado just looks weak. His high flying stuff is very smooth, but he's so thin I find it hard to believe that he can actually suplex someone like Kevin Steen. He's one of those indy guys that really out to hit the gym (along with Christopher Daniels).
Posted By: Sly Reference (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Tornado is just a really skinny runt. Honestly Rey mysterio packs more muscle on his frame.
Posted By: Davis (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I find it hard to disagree. While tremendously entertaining and incredibly athletically gifted, Human Tornado is the perfect poster boy for Indy guys that smarks cream over but mainstream fans will never see. He's too small, too raw and too unpolished for the big time. He has an advantage over people like Bryan Danielson in that he has charisma and a uniquely entertaining gimmick, but he's still unlikely to ever get beyond where he is now.
We're almost through, boys and girls. Catch more Lansdell with my review of RoH Unscripted 2 and my preview of Smackdown vs Raw 2009. I'll be back Wednesday with Ask 411. Randle, Clark, Cook and company are in tomorrow. Stay cool, rock hard.
I believe that the "bandaids" are actually Kinesio tape, which is a special kind of tape used by chiropractors to relieve muscle pain and correct joint motion after severe injury and/or surgery. It got a lot of press after Kerri Walsh competed in the Olympics while wearing it. Here's an article: http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2008/08/15/kinesio-lifestyle-walsh-for beslife-cx_avd_0815sport.html
Posted By: HeartBurnKid (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 12:52 AM
TiTans Del Ring is how Wrestling SHOULD be!!!
if there was english commentary, I would seek out the DVD---
Seems like ROH is nowhere in Florida, can't find a DVD anywhere---
this colum is shorter than usual, and not as funny (you didn't direct Titans del Ring, don't say you did!) thank god I'm up late & drunk and not starting my Sunday morning w coffee & this! otherwise, good job! this colum is my favorite---
--- I'm hammered---
Kennedy is on my shit list--
??? wish me luck w the Jagger hang-over......
Posted By: theHomewrecker! (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 01:38 AM
Hate to burst your bubble, but there WAS a debut this week. That chick who was on TNA vs. Kong.
Posted By: Michelle (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Just so you know, I sincerely doubt Benoit will NEVER be on a dvd again. Considering Ric Flair's fucking hall of fame speech was edited so that he sounded like an idiot (they had him repeat Dean twice and cut to the audience rather than allow the Chris Benoit name dropping audio). I think they are going out of their way to get rid of him. I wouldnt be surprised if they have him blurred out of any footage he may appear beside any in or have the video cropped to cut him out.
Posted By: A.G. Awesome (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I don't think you can count people who came out to get squashed as a debut....so Josie and Lexxus did not debut in TNA (Bolt and Mercedes I think, I dont remember what they went as).
Posted By: Curtis (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 12:55 PM
When WWE or TNA cancel shows everyone yawns. When ROH cancels a show the Chicken Littles start screeching the Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!
So its nice to read something calm and sensible for a change.
Posted By: nomark (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 01:27 PM
"I wouldnt be surprised if they have him blurred out of any footage he may appear beside any in or have the video cropped to cut him out."
On WWE 24/7, in the airings of old Nitros, his matches are cut, and anything with him talking is cut, too.
However, Benoit interfering in matches or just being in the background of somebody's interview is allowed. The announcers' mentions of him by name are not removed as long as they're not promoting a match with him later in the program (which makes sense because of his matches being removed).
And surprisingly, on 24/7's recent airing of the 9/29/97 Nitro, Tony Schiavone's mention of Benoit recently suffering a concussion was not cut.
Posted By: Guest#6358 (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 09:17 PM
that Batman-Lucha thing was great! That Shelly/Ashley joke was hilariuos! & I agree on Batista's lack of talent! good luck to theHomewrecker with his han-over!
this is a fun column, good stuff lately from 411--
Posted By: Blueoyster (Guest) on September 28, 2008 at 09:27 PM
What do you think people will think if WWE starts putting Benoit in DVD's. Since some people already think wrestling is low brow. That Wrestling is so low to make money they even make money off a double murderer. How long before people protest aganist the TV networks to stop showing wrestling and then wrestling goes back to what itwas in the 50s were you only see it at the arean.
Posted By: Guest#4282 (Guest) on September 29, 2008 at 03:34 PM
It was true, it was all damn true
At last, some stability
