Five-Star Conversation 12.30.08: Some Random New Year’s Thoughts, Observations and Other Kits and Kaboodles

Posted by Geoff Eubanks on 12.30.2008

I’m not doing any sweeping look back at 2008, because virtually every other column is going to be doing some form of year-end reminiscence and, quite frankly, like ODB, I’m lucky if I remember last week.

You know, I'm under no obligation to do this, other than to myself and I feel I've been somewhat misleading. A couple weeks ago, there was a playful insinuation that I'd be 411's version of Pat Patterson in the overall hierarchy of the site and I laughed and took likewise playful evasive measures and was a bit…vague. Let the record show that, yeah, Pat and I have more than just being lifelong wrestling fans in common…and no, my underpants are skidmark-free, thank you. Yup, I'm gay. I've been writing for this site for about four years now and it's not been a factor yet, I don't see it being such now. It's absolutely nothing over which I'm embarrassed or ashamed and several members of the staff already know anyway, so I may as well come clean as long as the subject came up. No, I do not watch wrestling for the guys, as the larger-than-life build is decidedly not my aesthetic, and I hope that I've managed to prove to you over time that I really do watch for the characters, the competition and the stories, not to see 300 pound men in tights, a notion that would otherwise have me summoning the earl. And when I suggest that Sharmell, Kelly Kelly (Kelly) and Michelle McCool are smoking hot divas, I mean it…just maybe not in the same way many others might, say, have appreciated Larry's Tuesday News column send-off. All right, so there you are. Read on and enjoy. Don't worry, it's not catchy.


THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Does it strike anyone else that it makes more sense for William Regal & Jamie Noble to be a tandem as opposed to arch enemies? Regal & Noble…get it…?


Considering it's the holidays and I've been busy getting my holiday on (including, but not limited to another bronchial attack, conveniently on Christmas Eve morning), which translates to me needing to catch up on the last week or so of wrestling programming before I can discuss the stuff I wanna discuss, aside from the fact that I was blessed with some fantastic-er-than-usual comments coming off of last week's LEGACY discussion, I'm going to simply babble about some things that have been on my mind recently, spend the week getting up to snuff and return next week to FINALLY address the big issues that have been weighing on my mind.


SUMMERSLAM 2009 WILL COME TO YOU FROM STAPLES CENTER!
I don't know exactly how, but I just had a feeling that, when I clicked on the item on the news page regarding the location of SUMMERSLAM that it was going to be at Staples. I am STOKED. Granted, everyone has a special place in their heart for WrestleMania, myself included, though not in automatic fashion, especially after last year's less-than-stellar outing, and long-time fans such as myself all seem to get a tingle in their dingles over ROYAL RUMBLE and SURVIVOR SERIES, it's always been SUMMERSLAM that has been my hands-down favorite PPV. It just seems to me that a bunch of stories come to a head in August and that the in-ring performances rise to the occasion and match the fire of the stories. I just got the "History of the Inter-Continental Title" DVD set and it struck me as I watched it last night for the second time that the bulk of these awesome matches takes place at SUMMERSLAM.

It also dawned on me while watching the set that, although I've been to many house shows, a handful of Raw & SD!s in my life, as well as the inaugural FULLY LOADED and UNFORGIVEN, I've never been to one of the "Big Four" PPVs and decided just last night that I need to make it a priority to attend some of these shows, and look at that…the very next day, my favorite PPV is announced as coming to my favorite local arena! A good omen for 2009? Let's hold our breath.

I've been checking Stub Hub for tickets to the upcoming Raw at Staples and even checked out tickets for the SD! coming to Bakersfield, but decided it's more of a priority to horde my cash to score an HD-TV for the living room. It seems an error in last year's tax report to the IRS has me $600 in MY favor, so if some of these amazing year-end prices can hold till I get that refund check, I could be welcoming home a new 40" 1080 TV to the living room…and hopefully before my current one dies a pitiful death. I can hear the tubes inside protesting as it skids toward the end of its days, poor thing.


"THE HISTORY OF THE INTER-CONTINENTAL TITLE" and other current DVD musings
This is, quite simply, friends, an absolute must-have for any true wrestling fan. Nine hours fly by in what feels like nothing. For those who lived through most of these matches, as did I, it's an incredible trip down memory lane, and for those blessedly younger than this old fart, it's a fantastic education…although it does put one a little on the snatchetty side when one considers the amazing history of this title and what it's become in today's landscape…and for what?! It simply knocks me out to think Vince could be cognizant of this release and not recognize what he's allowed to occur to this prestigious belt in the last decade and be compelled to redress this pathetic lapse in judgment. I mean, sure, there'll always be great performers and challengers who will offer fantastic matches, battled over the ICT and there will always be announcers who will lend, at least, lip service to the import of the belt, but overall, in the grand scheme, what we have today doesn't touch the vitality that title had back when Muraco or Savage or Steamboat or Hennig or Hart warred in its name.

And, for those of you who love (or bemoan) the commentary portion of a match as much as do I, the best announce teams in the company's history are also here en force: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura, Monsoon & Bobby Heenan, Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. Of course, there's also the crap end of the majesty, too…Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler (Lawler is actually at his bad best at this time, but about midway through the second disc, if I had to hear McMahon bellow his catch phrase du jour, "Un-be-LIEVE-able…!" ONE MORE FUCKING TIME…) and the ill-included Roddy Piper in with Monsoon & Hennan, plus, of course, Michael Cole. But it's amazing to watch how the company itself, not just the belt and the performers who fought over it, grew and expanded over the years…you get a real sense and appreciation from where the company and the industry as a whole came from and how it's managed to grow to the point, for better and worse, we find it now. I can't stress enough what a treasure is this set!

In other DVD observations, I scoured a couple Best Buys over the holiday looking for the expanded version of the new Eddie Guerrero 3-DVD set, but came up empty. Did this thing actually exist?! What I did elsewhere see in WWE-DVD offerings was the new Edge set, which was on sale for $20, down from the $25 list price, and the deluxe version which came with some Edge swag for slightly more. I can wait on that one and get it used for much cheaper if I exercise some patience. Also, there was a LOT of Kane DVD sets scowling on the shelves, poor guy. I hope they at least have Tool Grisham (the one REAL downfall of the ICT DVD-set) trying to make sense of the twisted, meandering "legacy" of The Big Red Monster, which is akin to telling Helen Keller to find the corner of a round room.

What I DID find, though, was a three-DVD bundle of TNA's 2008 PPVs of VICTORY ROAD, HARD JUSTICE & NO SURRENDER for just $20! So, after consulting the all-knowing Larry Csonka, I picked it up and was quite stoked! Believe it or not, these were the first TNA PPVs I've ever seen in their entirety and I was very pleasantly entertained! Now I didn't see this bundle in the Bakersfield Best Buy, but the one here in West Hollywood had a couple left, so I'm not sure how widely distributed was this set (or if, perhaps, TNA is bigger in B-Town than WeHo, which wouldn't surprise me, as I noticed that other TNA DVDs were in short supply in Bako), but I'd snoop ‘em out and snatch ‘em up…as Larry advised me, it's a great deal with some great matches!


COMMENTPALOOZA!
Thanks for wishing me happy holidays. I'll try to especially enjoy Arbor Day and the 4th of July. They're my favorites.
Posted By: Cameo Kneuer (Guest)

Plant a tree and then burn it down with a wayward bottle rocket, huh?

This is neither here nor there in terms of wrestling, but I'm just so sick of hearing all this whiney bullshit from single-minded traditionalists who think that just because THEY celebrate Christmas, they think EVERYBODY does and has the unmitigated nerve to get pissy when someone says "Happy Holidays" to them. Here's my rule of thumb – if I know specifically that someone celebrates Christmas, I wish them a Merry Christmas. If I know specifically that someone celebrates Chanukah, I wish them a Happy Chanukah. However, when addressing a global audience, as I am in this forum, with readers of all faiths and traditional backgrounds, I don't want to be the asshole American who thinks everyone has to believe the same as I do…we've mercifully ousted that kind of thinking here on our portion of the rock.

But I did get a chuckle from your post.

I gave my fat clothes to Umaga
Posted By: bowflex (Guest)

I normally leave the cute comments like this to their own devices, but this was particularly funny!

"If Man-u doesn't start to Man-up, I may have to start referring to him as Man-ure."

That sir, is comedy gold...on top of an already great column. If I wore hats, I would tip mine to you, Mr. Eubanks.
Posted By: Nick (Guest)

I've been calling him Manure on here for ages...Blah.

Manure and Snuka's dad's couldn't lace anyone's boots and their sons are shit too!
Posted By: FUZEY (Guest)

Thanks, Nick! Maybe you got a nice little beanie or something to keep your noggin warm this season! And my apologies to FUZEY, I didn't mean to steal your thunder, although it doesn't surprise me in the least that someone else had already come up with the whole Manure thing, as it's such an obvious joke. Glad you spoke up to give yourself props.

As for dogging THE SAMOANS and The Superfly, though, them's fightin words up in here, but we can certainly agree to disagree with respect to the quality of the first generation's performance.

I want to see Manu & Umaga team in a Han & Chewie kind of way-- make Manu be the only person who can communicate with Umaga!
Posted By: M:-X (Guest)

That, sir, is fucking brilliant. You know, the notion to create a tag team between Manu & Umaga was almost an afterthought on my part last week, but the more I consider it, the more stoked I become on the notion and wish they'd make it happen…I mean, Manu is floundering and impressing no one (aside from maybe his mother), and I all McMahonagement seems to have in Umaga's foreseeable future is a trip down Jabroni Drive in The Undertaker's regard, which is a sad misuse of his considerable talent, although the matches do stand to be a lot of fun. Manu isn't bad on the mic, and stands only to improve as he goes along, so to make him partner and spokesman/communicator for Umaga makes a lot of sense! Great to see you again, M:-X!

I've got one... How about SIM Snuka?
Posted By: Richie (Guest)

I'm afraid I don't get this…is there a pop culture reference to which I am ignorant…? Sorry, I'm sure this is good…don't let my nincompoopery spoil it!

One thing I thought about in SIM's regard when it comes time to jump him out of the gang, for whatever reason that I think I neglected to mention last week, is that the rest of the group could eventually look down upon him when they realize he's not Snuka's blood, that he's adopted, although that gets into some really touchy territory, especially now that we're back to catering to kids. The last thing Vince would understandably want is some kind of civil suit where a bunch of adopted kids start crying that he's portraying them as being "second-class" family members, but as touchy as people get over the silliest things these days, you can bet someone would start to cry over it.

(the commenter formerly known as Toddo)

I am digging the idea of a cross branded Legacy. One thing I would suggest is building each member up individually first, otherwise you run the risk of making all second gen stars look NWO B-team quality if they can't hold up to the more prominent members of the team.
Posted By: Todd Vote (Registered)

You know, it should have struck me that the great Toddo and the great Todd Vote were one and the same! As usual, you make perfect sense and, yes, care would have to be taken to ensure TSL would not be viewed as a B-team. While the lazy booker might be enticed to relax and figure inclusion in the angle, in and of itself, would elevate those involved, it's absolutely important to ensure those involved prove they deserve to inclusion in the first place; that way, the integrity of those involved gives as much a rub to the angle as vice-versa. Good call, man! BTW, you DO realize Larry's looking for new staff writers in the Wrestling department, right…?

Geoff, great job in ending with another Money Inc! I will say that I would prefer Richie Steamboat be a face like his dad. I have an idea for a column. Give us a character. That's it. If there were a wrestler called Angry Bear, Toddo, or even me, based on name and writing personality, what do you picture us being like as wrestlers? Are we faces or heels, high flyers or monsters, or perhaps are we a manager or GM? I know it's an odd question, but it's just for shits and giggles.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest)

I knew someone would get a rush from a Second-Generation MONEY, INC.! The components are there, why not give it a shot? We've certainly seen worse ideas get the green light!

I understand completely your desire to see Richie Steamboat follow in his dad's righteous footsteps, and I agree…to a point. You see, when that old "Best Wrestler EVER" discussion inevitably rears its head as it does periodically, Ricky Steamboat is almost invariably (and rightfully, though sadly) voted out early because of his seeming inability to play a heel. Assuming Richie will end up, for argument's sake, as technically sound and as entertaining as dear ol' dad, it was my consideration that we shoot down that stigma straight away and make him a more well-rounded character. Parents always want for their children better than they themselves had or got, right? Besides, can you imagine the HEAT he'd get, everyone assuming Steamboat's son would be as much the shining white knight as his dad, then have him lay out a total babyface, seemingly out of nowhere? AWESOME.

As for the characterization of you dear readers, it's a fun idea, but, wow, what a self-inclusionary article that would be, huh? Hahaha. Tell ya what, send me your e-mail addy and I'll get back to ya on that one, cool?

Quality article right there, I actually hope they are building to DiBiase/Rhodes at Summerslam to play off that promo they did earlier in the year then build to some EPIC Second/Third Generation Fatal Four Way at WM for Ortons title - Orton/Rhodes/DiBiase/Other dude = Success
Posted By: Brad (Guest)

Many thanks, Brad! It's great to see so many new commenters this week! I don't know if you guys have been reading all along and just never commented before, or if this was your first time reading 5SC, but welcome!

Do you really think WWE has plans to extend this angle as far as August? I mean, I'd LOVE it if McMahonagement would/could book an important angle in interesting, compelling fashion for that length of time, and, as we proved last week, they more than have the means…I am simply plagued by doubt. However, a thrilling blow-off at SUMMERSLAM would rule…have I mentioned that's gonna be at The Staples Center this year…?

WWE needs to get off their second generation kick. Rhodes and DiBiase are ok but Scotty Goldman's blogs are more entertaining and Colt has great matches to back up his resume. Priceless's great matches......none
Posted By: Guest#2419 (Guest)

You know, it strikes me that, one, if not THE main reason WWE is so stoked on young performers with a legacy already in place with respect to his/her family is because a wrestler who has a performer's blood in his/her veins is much less likely to pull a Brock/Lashley on the company and leave them hanging after pouring so much money, time, care and promotion into making them a feature on its programming. Therefore, you're highly likely to continue to see more of the same in the foreseeable future, especially, as I discussed last week, that we have some real heavy-hitters in terms of pedigree coming up the ranks in the sons of Ted DiBiase, Curt Hennig, Ric Flair and Steamboat.

I agree with you that I've been largely underwhelmed with PRICELESS/THE LEGACY thus far, but we've also seen significant improvement over the last few months, too, in some respects, but this goes back to my tired old assertion that these kids need to be kept in development a LOT longer than they are currently. I don't know about you, but I grew up believing that, booking aside, the actual performances consisted of the best the North American continent had to offer, and I steadfastly believe hot-shotting this kids to the big time too soon is tantamount to Vince throwing eggs at his own face.

I'll discuss JLAJRC's epic post in segments:

I really liked your idea for The Legacy and think it would make for a fun midcard feud.

But my biggest complaint with Legacy at the moment isn't with Rhodes/Manu, but with Orton. I'm just not seeing this tweener role he is supposedly becoming at the moment. To me he is a bully heel. I've always felt that a good stable must have members that are at the same level in talent and personality and must get along (before the eventual breakup, of course). You didn't see Flair yelling at Tully or the Andersons or the Evolution members. Every time I see Orton go off on Rhodes/Manu I feel sympathy for them and want them to turn face and kick the crap out of him. I'm still trying to figure out why they are putting up with it. It's making them look weak victims.

The other problem I kinda have with Orton isn't really his fault. He's clearly not a rookie anymore, but I also don't think he's a seasoned enough veteran to be able to make someone or put someone new over convincingly. How long has he been with the WWE? 5-6 Years? That's not a lot of time for someone to fit that role.

I agree about Orton being booked away from the whole tweener role into which it appeared he was going to originally be cast. Featuring this in such a prominent manner where this discussion is concerned last week was really my bad, because I'm trying to synthesize what I'm seeing as I play PPV catch-up via Netflix (I just watched BACKLASH 2008 yesterday) with that which is occurring currently, and it seems to me that he has, indeed, been booked away from tweener status and is exactly as you suggest, a bully heel.

To that end, it strikes me much in the same way as you, JLAJRC, that Rhodes & Manu should look at one another and ask, "Why the HELL are we putting up with this shit?!", especially in Rhodes' regard, as, if you want to look at their fathers, Cody's dad is a MUCH bigger legend than good old Hepatitis Bob, but allow me to put it to you this way:

Despite their individual pedigrees, let's look at Rhodes & Manu as the freshman on campus who both had older brothers that were your typical popular star athletes on campus, therefore, everyone kinda knows who they are, but understands that they are certainly their own person, whereas Orton is, say, the junior who has excelled rapidly and is already the star quarterback/typical asshole jock who singles them out and tries to mold them in his own image, but via some tough love, such that they manage to excel as rapidly as he did, but that they know their role and are subservient to him, or at least recognize him to be their leader/mentor. Does that make sense? I'm not saying it's the right manner in which to go about booking this stable/program, and it does seem quite ass-backwards, but I think this is the blueprint from which they're working. I commend them for taking an atypical approach, but it is certainly confusing from a fan's standpoint.

As for your assertion that Orton is too inexperienced/untested to give a rub to a couple noobs, I have to take exception there, but that's largely up to the individual opinion in Orton's regard. I think the guy is just fucking amazing and has certainly come a hell of a long way in a very short amount of time and can't wait to see where he's going to be when he's Triple H's age. The kid gets it on all fronts and I totally buy him as being the leader of a dangerous stable…I'm just not convinced the right road is being taken in this particular instance, and, combined with my steadfast belief that Rhodes & Manu are still too green to appropriately benefit from Orton's rub, we come to a similar end, but via different routes.

Anyway, while I did like your Legacy plan, can I suggest a couple of alternatives?

1.) The obvious route would be to do Legacy vs. the veterans ala TNA's Frontline/MEM or WCW's Millionaire's Club/New Blood feuds. If we are being serious about putting some of these over, we need people like Cena, Edge, HHH, Shawn Michaels, Big Show, Taker, The Hardys, Rey Mysterio, JBL, and Kane involved. Heck, I say go further and get some of the Legacy's parents involved somehow. Get Dusty, Ted Dibiase, Ricky Steamboat, Jim Neidhart, Jimmy Snuka, etc involved somehow. Surely some of them might not be too happy with how their kids are behaving. I say have Cody Rhodes just beat the tar out of Dusty and Goldust to cement him as someone not to mess around with. Make the entire Legacy group Legend Killers.

I think you and me discussing booking directions would be quite similar to Los Vinces brainstorming back in the day.

While I agree with the whole point of the program to be the putting over of these youngsters, I highly doubt the best route to doing so would be a LEGACY/veterans angle, especially considering TNA is pretty much devoting the bulk of its roster to just such an endeavor right now, unless, as I think I laughingly suggested last week, Vince decides to show TNA "how it's done", but that would be an indictment on his part that he's keeping TNA on the radar, when, of course, we all know, Vince doesn't sweat TNA…coughcough.

I have to disagree with involving main-eventers against the noobs so soon. The point of all this is to introduce/prepare the kids for what we intend to be greater roles later on; there's no need to rush them into obvious over-matches this soon, where they're not going to be able to stand tall against veteran talent, unless said veteran talent dumbs down their performances to make the noobs seem better than they really are, and that, to me, seems counter-productive all the way around.

Now as far as bringing in the legendary dads, you're on the right track there, my good man. Absolutely it stands to reason that Duthty would NOT be terribly proud of neither the manner in which young Cody has been behaving, nor with the company he's been keeping. The wild card of now having Dustin under contract, too, has some interesting possibilities. Where would he stand in the grand scheme, especially given the much-publicized acrimony for which he holds for Old Dust? Would the wackiness of the Goldust character be utilized, would we get plain ol' Dustin, or would we see Dustin go completely off his rocker and be a combination of things? It might not even be a bad idea to bring in several dads who threaten to divide the camps, each having his own agenda or reasons for wanting to see his kid either follow in his righteous footsteps, be the voice of reason, or influence the kids and their stablemates to "follow the darker path". I LOVE the notion, though, of making the whole stable into a gang of legend killers…made in Orton's image, even…?

2.) But I'm more intrigued by this idea, which is to have Legacy go against the other rookies who don't have that famous parent to fall back on. Imagine a group consisting of CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, Ricky Ortiz, Jack Swagger, Miz/Morrison, MVP, Kennedy, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, DJ Gabriel and whoever else that might fit getting really pissed off that Legacy is coasting on their names while they are working their butts off to reach the same point. You can practically involve the entire mid/lowcard of all three brands this scenario. But I feel that my group would also need a veteran that is well respected, but never quite got into the main event to help combat Orton. Which is why I think the returning Christian would fit quite well here. He can come back the same way Jericho came back to originally take on Orton, and a feud between them could possibly elevate Christian.

Now here's a great idea. Reverting back to the campus allegory, it could totally stand to reason that, once we finally manage to secure some unity among the second/third generation performers, that they start to run around the backstage area like the jocks who keep the rest of the student body under its collective thumb, taking it out on the rest of the recent newcomers who, as we've complained here in the past, have been elevated, but have little-to-no purpose, despite having displayed solid skills in developmental (Ziggler, Gabriel, Ortiz, Spears, Swagger, Braddock, Goldman, etc.). I'd hesitate involving other, more established acts such as Kennedy, MVP and Miz/Morrison, at LEAST in the beginning, because I see the upper-tier of the roster passively looking down the ranks at this derision, asking themselves why they should involve themselves, rather preferring to allow the kids to work out their own issues. Too, I like the inclusion of a returning Christian, because it gives him a respected, mentored role as soon as he walks back into the company, although it does concern me that this could just as easily be his ticket into the purgatory I have a feeling Vince can't wait to stick him once he has him on the payroll, so I'd be initially hesitant in The Instant Classic's regard.

Also, speaking of Orton being a possibly cheered tweener (which I've already stated I'm not seeing), do you think there will ever be a chance of a true face ever being popular again? All I've been seeing is that so-and-so needs to turn heel is because they're boring or untalented or whatever (Cena, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Kennedy, both Hardy's, and people practically cheering that Batista is injured seem to be the frequent targets).

Don't get me wrong, I was around for the Attitude Era/Monday Night Wars where the rebels/misfits and love it dearly. But every once in awhile I just want a pure face against the pure heel. But it seems like I'm in the minority here. Frankly, I'm surprised that promoter hasn't started promotion where EVERYONE is a heel of some kind. That person could possibly make a lot of money.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest)

Wow, have we become so cynical? I think John Cena is the uber-face you're looking for, but, in a nod to that cynicism, a large portion of the fanbase has abjectly turned on him. Now we could argue all day long as to exactly why and what has and does contribute to making him SO unpopular in some circles (and I've attempted to unravel that mystery here several times), but, that conundrum aside, I think Shawn Michaels and Jeff Hardy are two men whose face statuses must be considered to be absolute at this stage of their careers. If not, in HBK's regard, would we not feel such pity and disgrace in his regard when we see him kowtow to a complete bastard like JBL? Too, once it's revealed that his own brother Matt was his attacker, will we not feel the utter betrayal and aloneness Jeff will experience? I've mentioned before, Jeff Hardy is consistently getting face pops that rival "Von Erich in Dallas" proportions, whether he's embroiled in a hot-n-heavy title chase, or just coming out for a paint-by-numbers feel-good house show exercise, so, yeah, there's my answer off the top of my head in that regard…agreed…?

As far as an all-heel promotion, eventually, someone would come off the lesser of the evils and emerge by a certain amount of default as the anti-hero, much in the same vein as Steve Austin did back in the day, so, while it might be a little on the heavy-handed side at first, at least for me, personally, eventually, someone would have to be cheered as the favorite, it just depends upon how he's presented, played and received, but, yes, I think there would be a certain amount of cash to be made in such an instance, even though it does seem to me as something of an unpleasant and, as said, cynical approach to a product and, further, a statement of our times. I can see a certain Old West/mob appeal, though.

i love the idea to completely take over the midcard & TTTs. i'd recommend:
1) Keep Carlito & Primo together in TSL to make is stronger and have the TTT
2) Chavo can be the mouthpiece for TSL on SD (alongside VIcky so we can use her awesome heat somehow) while Orton is the mouthpiece on Raw
3) They can randomly team up and dominate the TTTs on both brands, eg. Umaga & Manu, Bulldogs and try to bring unity/prestige back to the TTTs
4) They can go for gold on both brands, eg. holding IC and TTTs on Raw and US and TTTs on SD as though they rule the midcard (while Randy and Chavo can get involved in the Main event scene too)
5) I wouldn't do a New bLood thing, but rather keep it as you have suggested because the new blood/frontline angle has been done, and an internal feud between 2nd generation and other upstarters would be more fresh (eg. TSL think they are better than all other new starters)
6) They should all come out to the Evolution theme music, every time each one comes out.
Posted By: digg it (Guest)

1) Yes, initially we have LOS COLONS united, but over time, I can see them splitting, even though, yes, we're sacrificing a decent team at a time when we're really starved for such. It just seems too obvious that the two have had differing opinions from the time Primo debuted and that a split is imminent. Here's a thought, though…what if it ends up Primo going heel…?

2) Too, I see a face turn for Chavo sooner than later, as a result of the shitty way La Moo-Moo-Cita continues to treat him as her own personal sacrificial lamb. This would allow Chavo the opportunity to redeem himself both in his own eyes, as well as the eyes of the fans, and I'd really love to see that occur. He's simply too good to be allowed to be remembered SOLELY as "Eddie's cousin". This is a solid opportunity to do so.

3) Yeah, I had hoped to have gotten this across last week.

4) I'm still hesitant to get these guys too involved too high up the card too soon.

5) Yes, going back to what we discussed just above with respect to THE LEGACY exacerbating its perceived dominance over the other noobs with a non-famous heritage.

6) Well, I wouldn't make that EVOLUTION's theme music, but, as display of unity, they should all always enter the arena accompanied by the stable theme song (and it actually needn't be recorded by Motorhead…).

Even though he'll never join the legacy, Rey Mysterio JUNIOR definitely fits the second generation outline. If he does get involved, the legacy will just try to recruit him, he will reject, they will beat him down, he will get revenge, rinse, repeat.
Posted By: Dirk Mantooth (Guest)

Good call to give a nod to Mysterio's heritage…I'd not thought about that. And come to think of it, he doesn't really have a whole lot going on, so Christian's spot, discussed above, might not be a bad place for Rey…except that, somewhere along the line, his promo delivery, to me, has become the proverbial two cats fucking on a chalkboard with rakes tied to their tails, and personal feelings aside, Mysterio will never hold a candle to Christian's impressive verbal skills, and we really need a strong orator in the head role, but good thought!

Jesus, talk about taking an idea and running with it. I tell you what, I like the rival Legacy faction. Orton, Rhodes, Manu, Snuka vs. Dibiase & the Hart Foundation (I know Wilson technically isn't 2nd gen) and Dustin Rhodes. If they aren't going to make Santino and Goldust a TT, then they might as well have the Legacy beat down Goldy and Cody cut a "embarrassment" promo on him. Dustin comes out with Dibiase's group in a few weeks and we have another "Blood Feud" that way down the road ends in a brother vs brother with father reffing match, if you weeeel.

I don't like Umaga in the group. He doesn't need the rub, but his character does need some development. I'm just not sure what can be done with him.

And here we have an interesting manner in which to elevate Cody, and in a way Vince would LOVE, as he obviously loves families in turmoil. Thing is, though, is Cody the face? Where do Duthty's allegiances lie? (BTW, I LOVE the notion of pairing Sargento and Goldust, but there's plenty of time for that to occur, provided Goldust doesn't miss any more shows in favor of a court appearance having beat up another girlfriend.)

I wasn't thinking in terms of Umaga getting a rub in this case so much as giving one. Remember, Umaga has main-evented in the past and could again in a second…he's going to be facing off against Taker upon returning and that's about as high up the card as it gets. To pair him off with Manu would be a huge boon to Manu, both because it would give him a learning tree under which to sit, and one to which he can relate and use in his own regard, as well as give him the opportunity to ride on Umaga's beastly coat-tails until such time as Manu discovers his own inner-monster, a fire that could be stoked from having tagged with Umaga. We've already mentioned the possibilities implicit in Manu being the only person who can actually communicate with You-Mang-gah.

No one cares about Chavo. He's basically a bitch for La Familia. I've always thought that there was money in a "restoring the guerrero name" storyline. No one cares about him as a singles star and I think Chavo was at his best in Los Guerreros. Maybe he could help Rey out a few times and see the errror of his ways. I'm a big tag team guy (gets more people involved) and I think him and Rey together just make sense.

Another great column and have a happy festivus.

Now this is something to consider. We just discussed the possibility of involving Mysterio in this angle and I stand by my guns in that Mysterio on his own trying to pull the weight of a leadership role may be a little too heavy a burden for him…but to actually get into Chavo's head and make him see that Vickie is using his own family's name and legacy against him when SHE IS ONLY A GUERRERO BY MARRIAGE, Mysterio could actually put aside their own blood feud and ugly history in favor doing what's right and save both Chavo's integrity as well as the Guerrero name in the same action, and, fortify his own face status all at once…interesting notion.

Oh and if you need more column material, here's food for thought. How the hell am I going to pull off my wife's birthday and the Royal Rumble on the same night?

Wife comes first, Bear. The RUMBLE will be replayed on PPV ad nauseum, but the couch will always be lumpy.

Caught the Kelly Kelly comment the second time around. I also think she's getting better in the ring, but I also see tremendous potential as a manipulator. She's got that innocent blonde dumb fuck-me look (yeah, I know, keep dreaming) and I'd like her to be more devious, using her "assets" to her benefit. Let's face it, the crowd needs someone to chant "SLUT" at. Her "sexing up" Kane, MVP, Vickie Guerrero, Stephanie, Shane, etc. to get her way might give her some depth as a character. You can get this by with innuendo so the kids don't get it (kind of like they do in Shrek, Shark Tale, etc) and doesn't hurt the WWE's rating.
Posted By: Angry Bear (Guest)

I absolutely agree, but this all hinges upon her ability to match her mic skills with her physical and that's a hell of a tall order to place on anyone. She's coming along in leaps and bounds in the ring, and I say, allow her to continue on in that fashion for the time being before we move from the visceral to the cerebral. But, totally, she has that smoking little body and the most dazzling smile ever in wrestling; she has master manipulator written all over her, and if she can manage to cultivate a snotty character, even to the end of an Angelina Love, she has commodity written all over her (in chocolate syrup so you can lick it off her, if you like…I won't tell the birthday girl!). However, if she can dig deeper and come up with a full-on conniving bitch side to her character, then we could see a rival for Trish Stratus' place as Best Diva Ever role. Kelly's still young…REALLY young. Let's see what happens.

I wonder why WWE creative can't sit down and noodle some ideas like these. I mean if you have some creative juices flowing and a semi-talented roster you can make some compelling television. Thank you for spending so much time on this. I enjoyed reading.

I wouldn't mind seeing Umaga resurface on Raw and team with Manu. Kind of a nod to the old school samoan tag teams, Headshrinkers and Wild Samoans. Or even Sim Snuka filling that slot.

The two show legacy deal does seem a bit far reaching, I like the idea of keeping the Legacy to one show. I do however LOVE the idea of incorporating the Colons into the Legacy. I would love to see them hang onto the Smackdown tag straps for a while and then be involved in some sort of double trade for the Raw world tag champs that Randy sets up with Stephanie. Do the old Cena Batista double show swap.

Great as always, thanks Geoff.
Posted By: CarnivoreJ (Registered)

Thanks, man! This was a labor of love, but I really enjoyed this little brainstorm, and, while I'll admit not every idea is feasible, I think I managed to come up with some very doable situations. The additions of these awesome comments makes one wonder why we're not working for WWE and not some of these Hollywood hacks. Just goes to show what can be accomplished when you give wrestling fans a shot at booking who enjoy it as opposed to those who are simply appeasing a megalomaniac with enough money to justify his God complex.

With respect to your mention of the Cena/Batista double switch where LOS COLONS are involved, we ARE coming up on that portion of the year where The Draft could rear its head at any time. It's definitely possible that McMahonagement could keep THE LEGACY in tact in its current form until WrestleMania when DiBiase returns to challenge Orton (or, Rhodes on his way to Orton, although it seems Orton may need an opponent now that Dave "Flex-n-Shred" Batista has decided to move on to his lower extremities in terms of his "Checklist of Muscles I've Not Yet Torn"…), then run The Draft and expand…? Who knows? Time will tell.

That's it for this week! Thanks for reading…see you next week!

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