Five-Star Conversation 12.02.08: MAFIA Breakdown, Edge’s Return and More!

Posted by Geoff Eubanks on 12.02.2008

Has Russo found a new ink cartridge for his RussoRific booking pen? What does Edge’s auspicious return mean for Friday nights? Would accept a SURVIVOR SERIES without a world title match? Read on!!!

I want to apologize for having bailed out on this column last week. As was plain by virtue of my comment about Striker that had many a reader (rightfully) up in arms, all was not well in The House Of Geoff as I was polishing off the last column and that whole situation continued to burrow into my mind and heart as the week wore on and, for almost two weeks, I was felt completely skinned alive and absolutely mortified to have to be in front of people. I simply could not think…I was literally running on auto-pilot. Yes, I was an emo mess. I won't go into it, suffice, though, to say, nothing you would have gotten from me last week would have been worth reading, so all apologies. I'm a puss. It's been mentioned. Let's get this donkey show on the road...your referee...Bronco Lubich!

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: I spent the better of the week not thinking. We'll get this back on track next week.

IS THIS THE START OF THE BREAKDOWN…?
Sad to use that old school Tears For Fears quote to introduce what we saw on TNA iMPACT! last week, but I've tears for fears that we could already be on the verge of seeing a fantastic program fall prey to that which we all hoped wouldn't happen…RussoRiffic booking.

Across the board, the angle of the MAIN EVENT MAFIA coming to fruition, centered around the faction's intention of taking, by force, if necessary, the respect, power and riches this all-World Champion stable feels to which it's entitled, especially at the cost of (what they view as being) the impudent youngsters populating the ranks of the franchise, was viewed as one of the smartest, most vital angles upon which the company had ever embarked; at the very least, TNA scoffers cast a single, interested eye upon the situation. I've detailed on several occasions the potential virtues this program stands to lend the entire company if guided in proper fashion…as well as my trepidation that, given the myriad instances TNA has managed to have a fantastic idea and self-shat all over it due to Vince Russo's inability to exhibit self-control enough to allow an angle to run its course without blessing it with his anti-Midas' touch, his fingerprints turning positivity into an incoherent mess. I don't wish to wave the red flag, but I think we're seeing the beginning of just that occurring still again.

As this angle developed, I broke down the respective sides in the faction war currently plaguing TNA between MEM and the newly-named FRONTLINE (Really…? Is that the best name they could manage? Isn't that a flea & tick pill for dogs…?), the opposing sides sizing up quite nicely as follows:

MAIN EVENT MAFIA
Kurt Angle
Booker T with Sharmell
Christian Cage (Yes, I'm still including him until his absolute future is confirmed)
Kevin Nash
Scott Steiner
Sting

THE FRONTLINE
Consequences Creed
Jay Lethal
Samoa Joe
AJ Styles
Petey Williams
Eric Young
THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS: Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly

As it stands thusly, the score is 8-6 in favor of THE FRONTLINE, leaving the situation pregnant with the obvious…TEAM 3D needed to acknowledge its legendary status and join up with MEM to even the odds, especially as MCMGs were a preordained team on the side of the faces and, despite their near-rogue status within the stable, their dislike of leaders Styles and Joe ever-present, stood to finally gain the respect and notoriety they've deserved for a couple years now by eventually going over the 20-time tag-team champions, 3D, in the eventual blow-off.

However, it appears as if Russo simply couldn't help himself and simply HAD to swerve us for nothing more than for the simple sake of a swerve.

On the most recent installment of iMPACT!, MEM actively recruited 3D to join up and take their rightful place in the stable of champions, a move which had been teased for a week or two and, as I said, was absolutely foreseeable, rightful and understandable. And we got the whole treatment, 3D coming to the ring with both factions in the ring, decked out in suits (!!!), appearing, for all intents and purposes, to have completely joined MEM. However, following an impassioned promo from Brother Ray, he opened his jacket, as was evident by superior camerawork, to reveal to us and Styles, he'd brought a collapsible weapon to the ring, which he offered to Styles, Devon doing the same on the other side of the ring with Joe, and the show-closing battle was on, 3D having chosen their side, against MEM.

Now hold onto that thought, because we have still to mention the third man in the ring with Styles & Joe, apparently now, too, representing THE FRONTLINE, in Rhino. Yes, Rhino. The guy who's been busy lately doing fuck all before unsuccessfully managing to even the score a victory against the "feared" Sheik Abdul Bashir, and yet now is so high up the FRONTLINE roster, that he was the only other member to accompany Styles & Joe to the ring for this potentially 8-3 outnumbered situation, had 3D not sided with THE FRONTLINE. Uhm, where were the rest of THE FRONTLINE…? This was a situation where the leaders of the stable stood to have been put out of action, falling under the collective and, should 3D have joined MEM, emboldened might. Wouldn't you think this might be an instance when you'd want the whole gang on hand, you know, just in case…?

Okay, so enough doom and gloom…I have suspicions.

First of all, yes, I believe Cage was successfully "jumped out" of MEM, as well as the franchise. It's just a hunch, however, therefore, we can eliminate him from the equation.

We all know it's always darkest before the dawn, right? So, should Cage be out of the picture permanently, with THE FRONTLINE inclusion of Rhino & 3D, MEM is now outnumbered 11-5. So imagine the scene on what will be perceived as the final showdown, THE FRONTLINE totally confident with almost two-on-one odds…until Rhino defects and starts Goring the shit out of his "allies"…! THE FRONTLINE is startled, perplexed, but there's no time for questions or accusations in the heat of battle! Finally, 3D has the traitor in Dudley Death-Drop position, the fans calling for the finisher…but they hesitate, turn and shake hands with The War-Machine and begin laying waste to THE FRONTLINE! Their alliance has all been a clever ruse to lull THE FRONTLINE into a false sense of security!

The next installment of iMPACT! opens with MEM hitting the ring en force, 3D chastising the fans for believing them, as if they'd actually side with a group of kids who were hungry to overtake the legend they'd busted their asses to create (and, if it comes down to it, let's say MEM paid them off to betray THE FRONTLINE, considering 3D were on the fence about which side to take in the first place), before Rhino grabs the mic and reminds the fans that, long before he was TNA Champion, he was the last man to hold the ECW World Title, a title for which he was never defeated, and it's about damn time he got the respect HE deserves from the kids in the back, as well as the fans and the business in general. Completely plausible, in my eyes.

As this issue stands, the sides are evened up, 8-8. However, there are some loose ends I find curious:

In another qualm in terms of continuity, we now see Sting having second thoughts about the issue HE HIMSELF brought up in Styles' regard, now that Styles has had his opportunity to explain exactly what occurred between his father and himself. Okay, it's highly anticipated that Sting is going to turn, himself, on MEM eventually, as he HAS to be the goodie-goodie, due to his IRL personal convictions.

There's already foreshadowing in this respect as Sting is allowing his stablemates the luxury of doing the dirty work without him. This is fine, because, as TNA Champion, he's playing the godfather role, not soiling his hands with the rough stuff when his lackies are willing and able to do it for him (this also leads into the aforementioned turning on THE FRONTLINE by Rhino & 3D, as Sting, the Champion, will later turn
on MEM, proverbial tit-for-tat). However, if this is the case, WHY telegraph the turn so early…unless this is something TNA plans to foster over the weeks, beyond the Rhino/3D double-cross, MEM thinking they have all their proverbial ducks in a row, until someone arches a brow in Sting's regard and questions him, and that's a point of conjecture for a week or two, Sting assuring his comrades he's 100% MEM…and then turning on them at a crucial point to pop the crowd and give THE FRONTLINE an advantage.

That's all well and good, except it's always seemed to me that this angle was set up to eventually put over Styles as the decisive "face of the new generation" of TNA, and he NEEDS this win over a legend like Sting at the culmination of a big-time program such as this to really come out looking like the penultimate hero to really solidify that status. What I can see eventually happening in lieu of this situation is that Sting comes around, has a heartfelt conversation with Styles about the whole issue, apologizes and offers to defend his title against the man he's wronged, and may the best man win. Kinda pussy, but much more honorable, and it would still put Styles in a great position, plus, Styles would find himself at the continued scorn of former MEMbers (following the demise of the angle), as well as FRONTLINE comrades who want his belt, so it STILL could all work out for the best…!

ELSEWHERE, however…another situation I find perplexing and confusing is the treatment to which Alex Shelly was subjected in the ridiculous $20,000 Turkey Bowl. So there was this triple-threat pitting Rhino against recent adversary Bashir, as well as Shelly, who was curiously split from his MCMGs partner to forge ahead in solo fashion for this contest, the winner receiving a check for $20,000, the loser being forced to don the skinned Gobble-de-Gooker (who, reportedly, met his end when he jumped to TNA in the hopes of joining MEM, and ended up slow-roasted, basted and gleaned for a spectacular stock). I can see how and why Rhino went over, giving him some vindication with which to move forward from the Bashir angle and into the MEM/FRONTLINE program, but to have Shelly lose…? This seemed like the perfect opportunity to give Bashir a measure of come-uppance without forcing him to sacrifice the XDT, which needs to be a major occurrence when it does eventually happen, to allow the X-Division the resuscitation it requires such that it can again be a quality draw for the company, that which sets it apart from WWE.

But it was Shelly who found himself in a losing effort, refusing to don the ridiculous suit, forcing Mick Foley to exercise some muscle to get Shelly into the humiliating position after a verbal thrust-and-parry which commanded an entire segment AFTER the match itself. I HAVE to believe this is going somewhere and that this turn of events is going to skew MCMGs even farther away from the center of THE FRONTLINE, as Shelly's humiliation was abject and complete, such that he flipped off Foley to his face and Foley threatened Shelly with his job if he refused to adhere to the rules of the match.

I understand Foley's need to exercise his power and to assure the fans and (moreover) the boys that his position is absolute, that the proverbial inmates will not run the asylum under his command, but it seemed to me that Foley took a huge step in so doing, as this was the first time we saw him become physically aggressive in a TNA ring, going so far as to double-arm DDT Shelly for his trouble, a move which could eventually spell trouble for the FRONTLINE, the faction to which Foley has run a grip of support thus far. We can't, after all, expect MCMGs to take this humiliation sitting down, can we…? Or will this split the team…?

All in all, there's a lot to consider, and, although the seams of continuity appear to be initially unraveling, I remain hopeful and optimistic. And all this before even considering the seeming demise of the blessedly refreshing simplistic booking we've enjoyed thus far, as FINAL RESOLUTION already has RussoRiffic clusterfuck written all over it.

BTW, as it stands, do you realize the only people on the TNA roster NOT involved in this program (aside from Kaz, who is injured, and would be Suicide by now, anyway, as well as THE ROCK & RAVE CONNECTION, also injured) are Bashir, Sonjay Dutt, Cute Kip, Abyss (who REALLY should be in THE FRONTLINE), Matt Morgan, BEER MONEY (James Storm should be in THE FRONTLINE, too, but I understand), Hernandez & Homicide, Curry Man & Shark Boy? And I still have a bit of faith that we'll be saved in the end by The Fallen Angel. To quote a great man…I'm just saying…

EDGE'S DRAG NAME IS HELEN BACK
Cuz he's been to hell and back…geddit??? Yeah, I'm still acclimating…

So some big doings in the main event scene on Friday night. After having earned his right to challenge Triple H for the WWET at SURVIVOR SERIES in a triple threat (which also included Vladimir Kozlov), jumping through a multitude of big time hoops to do so (including, but not limited to defeating The Undertaker and HHH) at the behest of General Manager Vickie Guerrero, Jeff was removed from the bout when he was assaulted at his hotel the day of the PPV. I'm not going to get into the negotiable irresponsibility of WWE by posting the ambiguous story of Jeff being rushed to a hospital, all things considered, mainly because Paul Heyman already covered that territory better than could I last week.

However, this forced a PPV main event between The Moscow Mauler and The Game, which, from reports to my shell-like ear, showed HHH, once again, believing he could have an epic WRESTLING match against an epic WRESTLER, translating to an epic display of just how NOT Flair he is, things only really getting shaking when La MooMooCita took the stage, announcing there would, indeed, be a triple-threat after all, introducing her husband Edge's grand return, prompting Jeff Hardy to sign in and do his best to foil The Rated-R Superstar's triumphant reintroduction to no avail, Edge walking the new six-time WWEC.

Okay. Aside from the fact that Edge looks like he could be playing bass for The Doobie Brothers…

First of all, I'm going to need a really good explanation of how things got settled so well and completely between Edge and Vickie, because, last time I checked, they weren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye, so I'm going to have to have a little exposition with respect to how and why Madame Bovine is, once again, being so accommodating toward her philandering husband, especially since the whole reason for his absence (ie, his tour through the hoary netherworld) was basically her doing.

Next, does this seem to anyone else as if it might be Kozlov's subtle brush-off out of the main event picture? I mean, you've got the returning heel champion in Edge, who…oh, all right, Michael Cole, go ahead.

"He's the ULTIMATE OPPORTUNIST!!!"

Yeah. That. So Edge is back and has turned the SD! title picture on its ear. We've got the spurned former champion in HHH, who, we KNOW just HAS to be pissing mad over having lost his belt in such a manner (we'll assume that happy-snappy "Buy-our-DX-shit-for-Christmas-for-the-redneck-in-YOUR-life" promo with Shawn Michaels was taped prior to the match). Then there's Jeff Hardy, who's enjoying the build of his lifetime, and, I don't think my own personal markdom is forcing me to overstate that he's rising to the occasion in superb fashion. Does it give one the impression Kozlov is left out in the cold somewhat, especially considering the voting for CYBER SUNDAY saw the Russian eschewed by fan edict?

Quite frankly, it's my assertion that a Four-Corners match at ARMAGEDDON featuring these four would be a hell of a main event, considering the varying contrasts of styles which actually all bleed into one another quite well, but that's just me. We'll have to see how this plays out, but, for now, I'm optimistic, especially since I smell a WWET win for Jeff Hardy, who is Von-Erich-in-Texas-over-without-daddy-booking-him-to-be-such sometime soon…dare I think WrestleMania…?

An afterthought in Edge's regard - - HOW many titles has he managed to win in this sneaky manner now? While it's fun and slightly ingenious and all, it strikes me that maybe Edge needs to drop this belt and actually WORK to win it back next time…

THE CHAMP IS BACK!
Really, were you surprised that Cena took back the WT?

Considering Vince's obvious hard-on for Cena and Edge, does anyone else wonder if everything we've seen in their absence was Vince allowing everyone else the opportunity to play house until his hand-picked champions healed up and were ready to return?

WOULD-BE SURVIVOR SERIES MUSINGS
Once the entire SURVIVOR SERIES card came together, I started playing around with the line-up and was wondering what you, the stalwart and intelligent reader, might think of my results.

I've come up with four traditional SS elimination matches, in addition to two title matches…although not in the usual denominations. Let me see if you buy this. I sacrifice Big Time title matches such that I can feature that which I feel are bigger marquee draws, and instead, allow a couple smaller and more overlooked belts a spotlight in an attempt to make them seem more important. Because the "lesser title" matches wouldn't go as long as a world title match, this allows more time for the elimination matches, and to really mean more, without those lame double-DQ/count-outs to which we've become accustomed over the years. Here's the line-up:

DIVAS ELIMINATION MATCH
Candice Michelle, Mickie James, Kelly Kelly (Kelly), The Bella Twins
versus
Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Natalya, Victoria, Maryse

INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE (blow-off) MATCH
William Regal
versus
Santino Marella

Batista, CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, The Great Khali, Mr. Kennedy
versus
Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Manu, MVP, Brian Kendrick

DIVAS TITLE MATCH
Michelle McCool
versus
Maria

John Cena, CRYME TYME, R-Truth, Rey Mysterio
versus
Chris Jericho, John Morrison, The Miz, Shelton Benjamin, Kane

D-GENERATION-X: Shawn Michaels & Triple H, THE HARDY BOYS: Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker
versus
John Layfield, Vladimir Kozlov, Mark Henry, The Big Show, Umaga

Up front, I hate leaving out Finlay and Chavo Guerrero. Just want to get that out now.

I did my best to include Divas who, for the most part, can actually wrestle, but, the multi-person/tag environment could go a long way in concealing those who lack as much physical prowess as others and spotlight such performers' gimmicks (ie, The Bellas, Maryse).

Too, I recognize in retrospect that Regal had a wicked cold, and so his involvement in his respective match at SS was kept to a minimum. In this respect, we could have an extended humorfest in Sargento Mozzarella's regard to eat up time, keep the match itself to a minimum and have Regal retain, thus allowing both to move on to new adventures.

Considering Batista, Punk and Kingston all have issues with Orton, Rhodes and Manu, it all works to have a neat little three-on-three in this elimination match. It also works to combine this feud with MVP/Khali as programs are often combined in these situations and it's a fun opportunity to see some cross-branded action in one of the few situations it should be allowed. Admittedly, Kendrick and Kennedy's inclusions are arbitrary, but solid, IMO. If you'd prefer Finlay and Guerrero, so be it, make it so. Engage.

This is NOT the Divas Title match I'd ideally feature, but since it 1) this is the angle and participants involved, and, 2) there's a heel turn brewing in McCool's regard and at Maria's expense, so we'll let this ride. For the record, if it were up to me, I'd have a Triple-Threat featuring Beth Phoenix, Victoria and Natalya going implants to the wall, but that's just me.

It seems to me there's a kind of hip-hop cohesion among Cena, CT, Truth and Mysterio, so it was kind of a foregone conclusion to put them on the same team and then simply align those who oppose them on the other side. But the main thing that really encouraged me to group the faces together was a response to common complaint about SURVIVOR SERIES, in that, with ten separate entrances per elimination match, ring introductions last long enough to hit the loo and the fridge, so why not combine their entrance themes into a big hip-hop medley and have them all perform their way to the ring? I dunno, is that incredibly clever or incredibly gay? I can see both, but if Vince has wood over believing his show is more entertainment than wrestling, it would certainly fly. And if it works here, why not make it a staple for all elimination matches (not necessarily with the wrestlers performing, just a medley of themes to streamline the entrances, as well as lend a sense of team cohesion)?

Finally, DX, THE HARDYS and Taker. On one team. Really, need I say more?

Well, if you know me, of course, there's always more to say. Again, it's child's play to group together the dream team's foes on the opposing team, and, as it turns out, it's quite the collection of monsters! I know I'm jumping the gun having included Umaga, and I did so before having read that he's headed back to SD! to feud with Taker, so points for me. A little bleeding-over from Show to You-Mang-Gah certainly wouldn't hurt. On the other side of the coin, considering the tension existing between HHH and Jeff, there could potentially be room for some proverbial trouble in paradise…!

So, do the strengths of the elimination matches balance the lack of big time title matches…?

COMMENTPALOOZA!
I dont know I wouldnt really vote against Gay marriage but I wouldnt be marching alongside gays for the right to get married either.

I see both sides of the issue but comparing gay rights to the civil rights struggle/immigrants struggle is BS and its very offensive.

A man not being able to marry his boyfreind is very different "go to the back of the bus right now nigger" type of BS blacks and minorities have to go through in america.

Gay basically turned most minorities against them with that BS.
Posted By: MacDOllarz. (Guest)

I kinda wanna put a lid on the politics and get back to wrestling, but all I'll say in response to this is that freedom is freedom, rights are rights, discrimination is discrimination and love is love. I would think minorities who have experienced discrimination would recognize that and act accordingly.

Hey Geoff! That Trish vs Lita match occurred on Dec. 6th 2004, and if you youtube the match you can see that trish kinda took the fall early........I can understand your opinion on Lita that she was sloppy and took unnecessary risks at times, but honestly she was the reason I started watching wrestling back in 2000 and probably why so many people began to get interested in a women's division at the time.....thats just my opinion though

good article though!
Posted By: Guest#0744 (Guest)

A-ha! Good ol' YouTube.com! I'll have a look and discuss the match as warranted next week! Thanks!

Ok apart from the fact Striker doesn't have the same opinion as you what other reasons would you have to fire him? ?The guy has been awesome in his role as a colour commentator for ECW and would deserve a role if ECW didn't get renewed. He'd be a good manager for someone like Knox, Kozlov or even Hawkins/Ryder the guy has quality mic skills to utilise.
Posted By: Mr Wheal...WHEAL! (Guest)

Yeah, you got me, Mr. Wheal. See, that's why I don't like to write this kind of stuff when I'm in a bad emotional way, as I was when I wrote that…I tend to be pissy and take leave of my senses, as I did in Striker's regard. With a cooler head on my shoulders, I really like your idea of having that bigoted asshole (LOL) as a second for Knox and/or Kozlov…well done!

"Downtown discriminationville" because he's black and because he SAID "oh they aren't giving me what I deserve cause I'm black"

That's obvious crap-- they handed Lashley the keys to the chocolate factory. He just knew the oompa loompas hated him. And not because he was black, but because he was Bobby Lashley.

He basically left for pussy let her get his ear and made a big deal about the race card. Guess what Bobby-- there's an African American in the white house now (or will be soon enough) so I can't wait for people like you who use the race card as an excuse for your own failures and stupidities to have NO socially acceptable excuse.

Lashley was a complete waste.
Posted By: McObvious (Guest)

I appreciate the viewpoint with respect to Kristal Marshall's role in Lashley's departure from the company, and have suspicions in that regard as well, but they're unsubstantiated as far as I know, so I'm not going to give too much official credence to them; however, it wouldn't be the first time someone made a foolish mistake because of what his dick was telling him.

"Its the people who built TNA with their hard work (Meaning Jarrett is a perfect person to represent them, even if hes not "young")...

vs.

The guys who come over from elsewhere and TAKE CREDIT for that hard work, demanding respect in the process.
Posted By: El Nahamocola (Guest)"

That is a very good point. and if you think about it, it doesn't even work to call the storyline veteran vs new guys, because Aj has actually been in the business longer than Angle, not counting the infamous ECW "High Incident" thing. In fact, I bet if dug a little deeper, there are several people on the originals side that have been in the business longer than Angle.
Posted By: Toddo (Guest)

Finally, TNA renamed the "Originals", thank Flair, even if the new name kinda sucks. However, Toddo, I think you prove Angle's own argument in your statement, because Angle could fire right back at you and say, "Exactly! See, I'm living proof of what a superior athlete can do in a relatively short amount of time. These kids like Styles who've been schlepping around the business for longer than I have need to have everything handed to them or else they start to cry that they've never been given a chance. I didn't wait to get my chance, I TOOK it, which is part of the reason why I'm where I am now and THE FRONTLINE is where THEY are."

You obviously don't watch Mythbusters.. because on last week's episode, they proved that you indeed CAN polish a turd!! But, you are correct.. I know my turds.. and Bam Neely, my friend, is no turd!
Posted By: DemonMF777 (Registered)

I kinda don't even really know how to respond…I guess you're voicing support for Neely, and, if so, I commend you for being the only one.

yet another interesting read geoff.

i was just wondering why you started from the class of 2002 with regard to developmental, when kurt angle and the rock had come up through the system beforehand, or was ovw still technically independent of the fed then?

interesting to see you put evan bourne and scotty goldman in the "wwe developmental product" category. certainly with regard to bourne, his time working the indies means i wouldn't necessarily categorise his as a wwe find.

also, just because they put neely with chavo on screen doesnt necessarily mean hes giving him fruits of advice from the guerrero learning tree. maybe chavo feels neely is too different of a worker from him for him to feel like he can really be of help.

and i didn't realise ecws tv deal is up so soon! but they still have the x-stream right? maybe the e will split the roster over the two other brands vut keep ecw streaming on the web, as a kind of lead in to seeing the wrestlers on the other shows and a chance for the mid-carders to get some decent ring time.
Posted By: DaJ (Guest)

Thanks, DaJ! Auugghh! I'm being nitpicked alive! J/K, dood. I started with the 2002 because we're still seeing the favorable results of that graduating class in WWE, as The Rock has been there and gone to Hollywood and Angle is in TNA now and the discussion was centered around current WWE talent. We were also discussing Lesnar in a certain specific respect, so it made sense to me to start there.

Also, with respect to Bourne and Goldman, I include them because any young talent is going to have to through WWE's developmental system before they make it onto WWE-TV so they can learn the "WWE style" (ie, how to tell Vince's story, because, you know, he knows what we want to see even more than we do ourselves), and, if Vince doesn't like what he sees, such a young talent will be deemed a shallow one-note who's not picking up on the "WWE style" and so, never make TV.

I considered this being the case between Guerrero and Neely, but it strikes me, and if I'm simply not getting the way things work behind the curtain, then my bad and I welcome being put right, however, if I'm a noob with the intention of making it in this business and I'm paired up with someone the caliber of a Guerrero, I'm picking his brain like a gorilla picks lice off its mate and absorbing and putting into practice everything I've been privileged enough to glean, although I do understand one is allowed to do only as much as McMahonagement allows one to do.

Time will tell what's going to happen with respect to WWECW. Like I said, I've heard absolutely nothing one way or the other what's going on, so I'm going to assume nothing cataclysmic is going down, although I have to admit I'd forgotten about the stream on WWE.com.

Geoff, good column this week! You never sounded like you were trashing the people that you thought should go down to FCW. You went out of your way to point out the good in what they could do and I respect that. Concerning Neely, Ortiz, Spears, Braddock and Goldman, they used to wrestle here in Louisville at OWV and they were quite good. Spears and Braddock were great heels and Goldman was a wonder as a face. Neely was a decent power wrestler that had good facials. Ortiz was almost exactly like he is now but better in the ring. I think he just came off a bad knee injury right before he had his ECW debut, so maybe he just has a harder time moving now. He's in his mid thirties, so if he were to retire, he is more than able to be a manager. I honestly think it's creative not giving them a lot to work with. When you combine that with more and more wrestling fans who don't give people a proper chance, it doesn't bode well for this new crew.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest)

Good facials…?! LMFAO!!!

Thanks, Schmoove! I'm envious of the fact that you're able to see OVW!

Look, it's unfair to expect these kids to come out of the chute and perform at Benoit-type levels. As with anything, there's a learning curve and these guys are at the beginning of it, so it's best not to judge too harshly. The other side of that coin, though, demands that this IS WWE and there should be a certain commitment to excellence from anyone they allow through that curtain. The main thrust of my argument was threefold, and I stand by them:

1) Keep the kids in developmental until such time that they really know their chops;
2) Once they make it to WWE-TV, hook them up with one of the myriad veterans backstage to teach them the "advanced level"
3) If McMahonagement is ambivalent about a developmental talent's ability, don't elevate them to TV just to watch them flounder and fail!

Geoff, I'm glad someone else noticed some of the comments made by Matt Striker. I dont watch these shows to hear some moron give his views on politics. Stick to wrestling dean.
Posted By: Nickeltoe (Registered)

It's good to hear someone else echoing my sentiments, even if you don't necessarily agree with my views. I was so pissed off by what I heard, the TV went off right then and there. Striker really is a great orator, but there, to me, is a difference between playing a character, such as JBL or, to take it back, Bobby Heenan, who are constructed to intentionally raise the ire of viewers, but, for one thing, Striker isn't a politically-based character, therefore, it strikes me as being cheap heat for the sake of cheap heat, which is offensive in so many ways, especially since I believe Striker is BETTER than that and needn't sink to those levels to get a rise out of fans.

I've said it for years, the quickest way to get me to hate a character is bring in nationalism, because once someone starts waving a flag, it tells me that this oaf has absolutely nothing else in his arsenal but to fall back on "my country is better than yours" to get heat and get over, and that tells me that said oaf should take an industrial arts course and ply a new trade. Striker resorting to such levels to get heat on himself was as ridiculous and it upsets me, because now my desire to watch WWECW has shrank into the negative integers.

I definately agree with you on most of your ECW thoughts. Noticed I said most, though. Here is what I would do differently:

Matt Striker: I also wouldn't fire Striker. In fact, I would use what he said as a great heel gimmick. Ship him to RAW and put him in a tag team with JBL and call them "The Conservative Connection" or something and have them basically keep saying what both of them are now saying. Heck, you could put a pair of glasses on one of the numerous divas and have her be their manager/Palin lookalike.

Barring that, I think he'd be great as Jack Swagger's manager. He was doing good in that role with Big Daddy V before he got released.

I would ship Miz & Morrison (along with Cryme Tyme and the Conservative Connection) to Smackdown and make that the brand for tag team wrestling. Brand splits work if you're a singles wrestler, but if you're part of a tag team it clearly doesn't.

Braddock, Spears, and Goldman could be released for all I care. I forgot they even existed until you mentioned them.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest)

Not a bad idea there, with respect to Striker, JLAJRC, but I think I like Mr. Wheal's notion of making him the mouthpiece for Kozlov or Knox a bit more, but you're barking up the right tree in this regard. As for making one brand the sole land of tag teams…I've batted this notion around my own noggin a time or two, myself and, although there is some merit implicit in the idea, Vince failing to see the value in teams these days as he does, I always end up having to nix the notion, simply because, once tag teams are cordoned off to such an extreme that they're seen solely as a special side attraction in and of itself, it stands to teeter pensively on the border of going the way of the CruiserWeights in an official capacity, and that would be a real shame.

Least ineffective bodyguard? Doesn't that make him effective?

As to Striker's comment, he is a heel and was likely going for some cheap heat.
Posted By: Iron Knee (Guest)

You haven't heard…? Double negatives are all the rage…yeah, you caught me, Iron Knee. My bad…LOL!

Wow, usually I don't like it when stupid commenters come and bash the columnist for stupid/no reasons. But really? You're saying Scotty "Colt "Boom "I was once tag partners with CM Goddamn Punk" Boom" Cabana" Goldman doesn't have "that little something extra to help them stay in the business?" Are you serious dude? I don't watch ROH all that often but even I know how awesome Cabana is. Seriously, is WWE ALL you pay attention to?

And as for the Striker comment, get over it. He's a fucking great commentator when he's not telling everyone to vote Republican. I figure in a week or two once the election stuff has fully died down he'll only do it occasionally, but other than that you would have to be fucking insane to want to get rid of Striker. Who really gives a damn about his personal beliefs? I agree that he should keep them to himself but seriously, who cares what a wrestling announcer thinks about gays? He has to sit next to Todd Grisham for an hour every week.
Posted By: m8 (Guest)

LOL…that last sentence literally had me laughing…fair enough…almost…but we've already discussed and I've already admitted to my over-emotional faux pas.

As for the first paragraph, I'm not going to defend myself in this regard, I'm not going to get all defensive. Where were you when I was asking those into ROH to help guide me to the best DVDs when I was in the market to expand my horizons so I can have and display more informed comments? For the record, as it stands, once I've caught up on the WWE PPVs I've missed (I'm almost there!), I plan on Netflixing as many ROH PPVs as they offer (which, sadly, isn't too much at the moment), take note of the names by whom I am impressed and do some more independent research via other outlets such as YouTube, etc. Yes, I am aware of Colt Cabana and that he is well-respected, especially by a bunch of self-righteous fanboys who get off talking down to those who aren't as smart as they are.

If Matt Striker deserves to be fired for that comment, Michael Hayes should be killed.

I like your column but GETTING RID OF MATT STRIKER WOULD BE STUPID. We're talking Teddy Hart stupid here.
Posted By: markhenrysquash93920 (Guest)

I'm going to actually discuss that whole Michael Hayes situation sometime soon…

Are you sure Stryker's not working you? He is a heel announcer.

Also, Vince does things quite differently than you would. Remember that JBL impersonated Hitler in Germany and was rewarded with a world title run.
Posted By: Hawkeye (Guest)

And I boycotted SmackDown! for almost a year as a result.

Buff Bagwell fan since American males,Just the theme music alone had me lol
Posted By: Scotty R (Guest)

Well of COURSE…look who's posting. Scotty Riggs! How's that clap coming for ya? x_x

That's all for this week, friends. See ya next week!