The Wrestling News Experience 01.19.09

Posted by Stephen Randle on 01.19.2009

I hear Vince might be coming back tonight, but there's other stuff in my exclusive Raw preview, plus Steve Austin tests WWE's goodwill, more wrestlers hit the bricks, and I incite unnecessary controversy. Okay, I do that a lot, but this time it's about pyrotechnic accidents.

Monday, January 19th, 2009

From 411Mania's Canadian offices in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, this is The Wrestling News Experience, with Stephen Randle!



Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Experience. I am Stephen Randle, and if the fact that Nortel and all related tech stocks crashed the autumn I entered university for a computers degree wasn't a sign that someone is out to make sure I never get a real job, then the fact that the rest of the economy hit the crapper the month before I graduated with my second degree surely must be.

More importantly, I bit the bullet and started paying for WWE 24/7, and so far it's totally worth it, if only because it's showing the Monday Night Raws from right after Survivor Series in 1997. It's showing the Nitros too, but from just watching two, I can already tell why the Sting-Hogan match was destined to be a disappointment and not really end the nWo; namely, it's one month before Starrcade 1997, and the nWo is actually stronger than its ever been, while nobody in WCW has even stood a fighting chance to suggest that once Hogan loses and the nWo theoretically falls into disarray, anyone else in WCW will be able to beat them., Plus, they even beat up Sting a couple weeks ago. The guy's been stalking them for a year, he doesn't need more reasons to beat the nWo, why make him look weak right before his big comeback?

Anyway, it's still the best ten bucks a month I ever spent on television. Moving on.

What's On Tap - WWE Raw for January 19th

Tonight on Raw, just in case you missed the half dozen promo segments last week, Vince McMahon, the self-proclaimed "biggest star on Raw", will be making his big return. How did we not notice that he's an insane egomaniac sooner? Also, wasn't he crushed by a shoddily crafted light board a few months ago?

Plus, Stephanie McMahon may have fired Chris Jericho last week, but I sense he'll still try and have his voice heard by Vince.

Also, the Legacy seems to have taken its final shape, as Ted Dibiase returned last week and helped Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton put the boots to Sim Snuka and Manu. What will the Viper and his comrades have in store for Raw this week?

And here's your Unofficial Michael Cole BINGO Scorecard for last week's Raw:



I'd bet dollars to doughnuts (mmm…doughnuts) that WWE came across this card, as it was fairly obvious that Michael Cole was manfully attempting not to use anything on it, including managing to go through the entire night only saying "Vintage" twice. Also, Jerry Lawler seemed to be carrying more of the conversation than normal. We'll try again this week to be sure. For your Michael Cole BINGO Card, go back and read last week's Experience.

And while everyone's watching, let's see if Cole can avoid calling Cena's finisher by name again this week.

Around The Horn

Word is going around that Steve Austin has requested that Ric Flair be the man who inducts him into the WWE Hall of Fame. This, of course, would not be the best choice in Vince's eyes, since Ric is shockingly behind on his kneeling and kissing the ring, and thus is not really worthy of being promoted as part of any Hall of Fame ceremony. This despite the fact that just last year Flair was the centerpiece of the entire induction, but then, if you tried to figure out who Vince is fighting with and friends with on a week to week basis, it'd probably make your head explode.

Austin's bestest buddy in the whole wide world (or maybe not, considering he's not been asked to induct him), Good Ol' JR, was quick to fire at the Internet speculation over Flair, saying that it doesn't really matter who inducts the newest entrants, since the night is not about the intros, but the inductees. I have a forty minute introduction speech involving The Rock that might have something to say about what does and does not matter. And then it might ask you to smell what it is cooking, who can say.

Speaking of Hall of Fame inductions, apparently "Cowboy" Bill Watts will be another induction, at least according to him. I'm willing to wager a large sum of money that Watts' introduction will not be done by Hank Aaron.

Allegedly, The Viper Randy Orton was involved in an altercation with a fan at a house show, and no, I was at work all weekend. His hotel room is going to feel so neglected.

Hey, if you're still following this story, and who wouldn't be, it seems that Dos Caras Jr., rather than sign a WWE contract as he was reported to have done a month or so ago, after waffling back and forth for a few months beforehand, will instead be staying in Mexico. We'll stay with this story forever if we have to. And it seems like we might have to.

WWE.com is reporting that Jeff Hardy is "in shock" following the pyrotechnics accident on Friday's Smackdown. I'm in shock myself, since I haven't noticed anyone complain how inappropriate it is for WWE to run an angle involving someone getting horribly burned by malfunctioned pyro in light of the same thing happening to fans at WrestleMania 24. Not that I'm complaining about it, I'm just surprised no one else thought of it first. Come on, people, there's valuable whining not getting done here.

I guess everyone's still distracted by the other news coming out of WWE.com, which is a list of the Top 25 Managers of All Time. And what a coincidence, neither Jim Cornette, last seen as a representative of TNA management, nor Paul Heyman, who often takes time to point out some fairly valid criticisms of WWE and offer ideas on The Sun.co.uk website, were listed. It's almost as if they never, ever existed, and also will rue the day they thought they could remain part of wrestling without Vince.

Apparently if you buy WWE The Music Volume 9 at Best Buy, you'll get a bonus disc with a bunch of random theme music from over the years, including some gems like Mr Perfect and, by contractual obligation, yet another rendition of The Undertaker's music.

Sigh…ring it up.

The Injury Bug Bites

Inactive List as of 01.12.08

WWE Raw

- Batista, out 6-8 months as of December 22nd (hamstring)
- Hardcore Holly, out indefinitely (rehab)
- Ted Dibiase, out indefinitely as of November 10th (kayfabe, concussion)

WWE SmackDown

- Umaga, out indefinitely as of August 20th (PCL)
- Maryse, SD!, day-to-day (dislocated kneecap)

ECW

- Evan Bourne, out 4-6 weeks (torn deltoid)

TNA

- Awesome Kong, day-to-day as of January 11th (back)
- Christy Hemme, out indefinitely as of January 10th (neck surgery)
- Kevin Nash, out indefinitely as of January 11th (staph infection)
- Moose, out 6 months as of July 7th (broken femur)
- Suicide (Kaz), out indefinitely as of December 15th (torn bicep)

Transactions

- Chris Jericho, RAW, out indefinitely as of January 12th (kayfabe, fired)

- Hardcore Holly, RAW, released from his contract

Interesting side note, five years ago this month, Hardcore Holly was the #1 Contender to the WWE Title. Yep, he got a title shot at the Royal Rumble and everything. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it and then blocked it from my memory.

- Hade Vansen, WWE, released from his contract

- Matt Cappotelli, WWE, released from his contract

Arguably, WWE went above and beyond for quite a while paying him even though he's unable to wrestle due to his illness. It sucks that he never got his shot in WWE, but hopefully he'll still get his chance someday.

- Mickey Henson (referee), WWE, released from his contract

- Ron Simmons, RAW, released from his contract

No, I'm not saying it. You say it.

- Sgt. Slaughter, WWE, released from his contract

Now there's something I didn't really see coming. You would figure he got a WWE job for life in exchange for agreeing to become an Iraqi sympathizer back in 1990.

- Ted Dibiase, RAW, returned to action on January 12th Raw

- Victoria, SD!, retired from active competition

You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you over Sforcina's weeping.

Who's Holding Gold

WWE

WWE Champion: Jeff Hardy
- 36 day reign, defeated former champion Edge and Triple H in a Triple Threat Match on December 14th (Armageddon PPV)
- Next title defense: vs Edge, Royal Rumble PPV

World Heavyweight Champion: John Cena
- 57 day reign, defeated Chris Jericho on November 23rd (Survivor Series PPV)
- Next title defense: vs JBL, Royal Rumble PPV

**NEW** ECW Champion: Jack Swagger
- 6 day reign, defeated Matt Hardy on January 13th (ECW on Sci Fi)
- Next title defense: vs Matt Hardy, Royal Rumble PPV

WWE Intercontinental Champion: William Regal
- 70 day reign, defeated Santino Marella on November 10th (Raw)
- Next title defense: vs CM Punk, No DQ match, January 19th Raw

WWE United States Champion: Shelton Benjamin
- 183 day reign, defeated Matt Hardy on July 20th (Great American Bash PPV)

World Tag Team Champions: John Morrison and The Miz
- 37 day reign, defeated CM Punk and Kofi Kingston on December 13th (Hamilton, ON house show)

WWE Tag Team Champions: Carlito and Primo Colon
- 115 day reign, defeated Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder on September 26th (Smackdown)

WWE Women's Champion: Beth Phoenix
- 155 day reign, with Santino Marella, defeated Mickie James and Kofi Kingston in a Winner Take All match on August 17th (Summerslam PPV)
- Next title defense: vs Melina, Royal Rumble PPV

WWE Diva's Champion: Maryse
- 24 day reign, defeated Michelle McCool on December 26th (Smackdown)

TNA

TNA Heavyweight Champion: Sting
- 99 day reign, defeated Samoa Joe on October 12th (Bound For Glory PPV)

TNA Tag Team Champions: Beer Money, Inc.
- 8 day reign, defeated former champions Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed, and Matt Morgan & Abyss, in a Triple Threat match on January 11th (Genesis PPV)

TNA X-Division Champion: Alex Shelley
- 8 day reign, defeated Chris Sabin in a tournament final to claim the vacant title on January 11th (Genesis PPV)

TNA Knockouts Champion: Awesome Kong
- 89 day reign, defeated Taylor Wilde on October 23rd (Impact)

TNA Legends Champion: Booker T
- 89 day reign, introduced new title on October 23rd (Impact)

Links For Fun And Nonprofit

Harrison and Cook have the weekend news reports.

The Triple Threat talks Jack Swagger.

Bond has Against The Grain.

Rodriguez has For The Record.

Short has The Navigation Log.

Ari has Column of Honor.

And Larry has his personal Top 10 WWE PPV Matches of 2008. I highlighted the adjectives that will most likely be missed by people hurrying to complain that he didn't include anything from ROH. It won't help, but at least I tried.

The Gab Bag

A lot of discussion went on about TNA's decision to replace Kevin Nash with Cute Kip at Genesis last Sunday. Now, obviously this was a last minute injury, and there's really no one available on the roster who's a good fit as an MEM replacement. So I'm in the camp of people who said that TNA should have just figured out a way to pull Devon out of the match. Frankly, if they really are the Main Event Mafia, and Kevin Nash has been put in the hospital, then they should already know what to do. It's the Chicago Way.

Ah, Sean Connery. You teach us so much on a daily basis.

And One To Go On

411 will have live coverage of Raw tonight starting at 9 pm EST.

Remember, if you love poker, and are in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo area, check out Player's Poker League.

And for the drunken ramblings of Sean Carless and his merry band of reprobates, check out The Wrestling Fan.

That's our show, Small's in tomorrow, here it is, your Moment of Zen.



That one's for you, Sforcina.

Have a good one, and always be a fan.