The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: 07.17.09

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Hey, and since we’re on a Twitter kick…

Chris Jericho and The Miz – have been engaging in a war of the Tweets over on each of their Twitter pages, respectively. In the verbal sparring exchange over the past two weeks’ time, the 2008 Superstar of the Year and the self-proclaimed “Chick Magnet” have been trading insults and calling one another out, with Miz primarily slagging on Jericho’s age and physique while Jericho bashes Mizanin’s lack of fundamental wrestling ability.

Now if you asked Mee…

Jericho has been getting the better of The Miz with just about every single one of the Tweets he fires off in his opponent’s direction. Miz, meanwhile, has come across as increasingly one-note — often to the point where his “no, YOU are” attacks appear to be one step behind.

So what’s the end result here (both in “real life” and in kayfabe)?

REAL LIFE: I can’t imagine that the tightly controlled “WWE Universe” of Vince McMahon’s creation will stand for this sort of out-of-character cross-brand-feuding for much longer. While Vince and Company have certainly given Twitter accounts (and Chris Jericho, in particular) some leeway in the past, the simple fact of the matter is that WWE is in the business of telling stories of their own — and they usually don’t take too kindly to performers’ “real life” drama muddying the waters of their neatly constructed onscreen fairytales.

(see: Matt Hardy Kane vs. Edge and Lita)

Sure, WWE has made kayfabe lemonade out of real life lemons in the past — but by and large, Vinny Mac and his merry band of storytellers typically like to be the ones calling the shots and telling their talent just WHO, exactly, they will be feuding against and how those feuds will unfold. Jericho is — of course — a rare exception to WWE’s tightly controlled approach to mapping out their performer’s onscreen rivalries for them (as we saw in his WrestleMania XX feud against Christian/Trish Stratus, his post ‘Mania 23 feud with Shawn Michaels, and his recent feud with Rey Mysterio), but the bottom line is that this beef with the Miz won’t likely continue much longer without some stamp of approval by the WWE brass.

Bottom line?

It seems like only a matter of time before WWE decides that “enough is enough” with the Twitter warring, at which point they issue a company-wide policy against out of character (or “out-of-rivalry”) posting without the consent of the front office. While this might sound extreme, the NBA has issued sanctioned talent for “unprofessional” complaining on Twitter in the past (e.g. Mark Cuban), and the NFL has issued a similar policy just last week (where players are not allowed to tweet/text at any time during a game or practice). As such, it’s hardly a stretch to think that a worldwide entertainment company with a public image to uphold would likewise follow suit.

Now in KAYFABE terms?

Jericho’s Twitter feud with The Miz might actually provide a bit of insight into WWE’s creative process for this whole “Web 2.o” generation of storytelling. In which case: this feud can only end one of two ways.

1) Jericho’s tweets at the Miz are actually just a WWE-approved cross-media stunt all along, in which case he and The Chick Magnet will soon find themselves engaged in an onscreen altercation (though this might be a trick with the whole “brand extension” thing, of course).

2) Jericho and Mizanin’s “Twitter war” is merely a red herring contrivance that’s already received WWE’s stamp of approval, and the two have actually been encouraged to blend “real life critiques” with a burgeoning onscreen alliance so as to plug The Miz into the “unlikely partner of the tag team champion” role formerly held by Edge. After all, the ‘E has certainly played up storylines across the intrawebz before (many will recall May of 2005, when Eddie Guererro “hacked” Rey Mysterio’s website).

Regardless —

It’s probably a safe bet that this Twitter nonsense won’t continue to go unchecked for much longer. Obviously the best way to see how WWE reacts to this booming new media outlet is simply to sit back and observe how this all plays out onscreen. But as Twitter continues to grow, WWE will likewise have to choose how to adapt to this increasingly popular new technology. As a result — smart odds seem to be on some “official” WWE statement or policy to be handed down regarding their performers Twitter activities within the next six months.

So stay tuned.

Rey Mysterio Gets a New Tattoo
Masked Superstar’s Latest Ink Inspired by a Fan

This is about as “soft news” as it comes, but WWE.com ran a heartwarming little story this week about the latest tattoo addition to the increasingly inked physique of Smackdown’s Rey Mysterio.

Fans at home might have noticed that the masked superstar is sporting a big block of text on his left side. What they might be surprised to learn, however, is that the tattoo was actually inspired by a little girl who Mysterio met at an autograph signing. Here’s the scoop from WWE.com:

“I was at an autograph signing,” Mysterio explained with a smile. “A little girl gave me a collage that she made of me with a prayer on it. She said it was a prayer that she says for me every night.”

Mysterio was so touched and impressed by the prayer that he decided to make it a permanent addition to his ever-growing collection of body art.

The tattoo, translated into English, reads, “Jesus Christ, you accompany me every day. I ask you to bless me and protect me every time I land on the mat because my life is always on the line. Never leave me alone. Protect me and be with me always. Amen.”

Well ain’t that sweet.

CM Punk Treads Closer to Full-Blown Heel Waters
Straightedge Superstar Finds His Inner “Edge”

Last Friday on Smackdown!, CM Punk ratcheted up his “slow burn” to a full-blown rulebreaker by zinging Jeff Hardy for his notoriously checkered past as it relates to Wellness violations, WWE suspensions, and controlled substances. In case you missed it, here it is:

As a lifelong Punk fan, it has been tremendously entertaining to see the guy return slowly but surely to the same self-righteous smart ass that put him on the map in the first place. In my opinion, this is where CM Punk is at his very best. For those of y’all unfamiliar with his pre-WWE career (shame on you!), here’s a quick sampler of some of my favorite video highlights:

“No damn sense! None of you have any damned sense!”

Lol. Classic.

“You dumb bitch, I’m not holding a microphone.”

And of course…

Long story short —

CM Punk as a self-righteous rulebreaker is infinitely more engaging than CM Punk as a milquetoast fan favorite. While Punk needed to debut as a babyface and remain on the “good guy” side of the spectrum long enough to garner a WWE-specific fan following (particularly because so many in the crowd are younger viewers who might be unfamiliar with his pre-WWE tenure), now seems like the perfect time for the ‘E to pull the trigger on a full-out CM Punk “shades of grey” heel turn where he continues to revel in his role of an outspoken truthsayer who’s happy to pick a fight with anyone who crosses his path — be they hero or villain.

With his newfound attitude, Punk now stands to develop into one of the biggest heels that Friday Nights have seen since the heyday of the Rated R Superstar. This is especially true now that Chris Jericho is otherwise occupied with tag team gold and Edge will be on the sidelines for the forseeable future. Assuming Punk can retain the gold against Jeff Hardy at Night of Champions, it looks as if the remaining “top stars” on the Blue Brand consist of Chris Jericho, John Morrison, and Rey Mysterio — all of whom would be natural foils for a straight-talking heel(ish) champion. Where Punk goes from here is anyone’s guess, but his recent “attitude adjustment” puts him in a great position to reign supreme as the Blue Brand’s number one heel for a long while to come.

Dolph Ziggler Steps Up
Upstart Superstar Headed for Rey Mysterio Feud?

I never thought I’d say this, but Dolph Ziggler is freakin’ awesome.

Since returning from his 30 Day Wellness suspension and making the jump to Friday Night Smackdown, the erstwhile Nick Nemeth (Spirit Squadder and golf caddie extraordinaire) has really stepped up his game and proven that he has what it takes to run with the big dogs on Smackdown! From his in-ring abilities to his cocky and charismatic out-of-ring swagger (not to mention his Barney Stinson-esque delivery and timing), Ziggler has been consistently impressive on Friday nights, and his win/loss record has really shown him to be a talent with a boatload of front office support to match.

At the conclusion of last week’s Smackdown!, Ziggler raided the ring and joined Edge and Chris Jericho in a three-man beatdown of Rey Mysterio. With Edge now on the shelf and Jericho otherwise detained looking for a suitable replacement of a tag team partner, Ziggler appears to be the heir apparent to Y2J’s ongoing quest to win the Intercontinental Championship from Smackdown!’s masked man of mystery. In other words? Wrestling fans could soon be seeing Rey Mysterio putting the IC gold on the line against Dolph Ziggler.

Not bad for “that guy who used to be a male cheerleader.”

On the other hand, Edge’s recent injury now puts Chris Jericho in a position to find a tag team partner to step into The Rated R Superstar’s place. So if Jericho is looking for a performer who matches his personal swagger, style and self-importance, then his blue brand cohort in Dolph Ziggler seems to be a logical (and sound) choice. Life seems pretty freakin’ good if you’re Dolph Ziggler right now — since either option (Mysterio or Jericho) ends up with you squarely in the hunt for championship gold.

MeeThinks?

WWE seems to be pretty high on Ziggler as a singles star, and while he’s probably the strongest choice to serve as Jericho’s replacement tag team partner, the company can just as easily keep him in a one-on-one feud with Rey Mysterio and free up Edge’s place to help elevate another talent instead. Judging from the Twitter war between Miz and Jericho, I can’t help but think that WWE has, at the very least, entertained the notion of pairing the 2008 Superstar of the Year alongside The Chick Magnet in a “partners who don’t really like eachother” tandem at least for the short haul. And once the duo inevitably loses their tag team straps? You’ve got a tailor made feud between Jericho and The Miz to keep both men occupied while Ziggler and Mysterio keep themselves busy battling over the IC gold.

And just like that, you have not one but TWO feuds where a veteran is pairing off against an “up-and-comer,” thus keeping FOUR members of your roster(s) occupied with a meaningful storyline and doubling your overall chances of success in creating new stars along the way.

Bravo, Smackdown! While RAW continues to stagnate — it is really quite awesome to see WWE’s business model of a three-branded company building a strong crop of talent for future generations. ECW has churned out a solid roster of “developmental” talent that have since made a splash on WWE’s other two rosters (Swagger, The Hart Dynasty, Bourne, Miz, Morrison), and Smackdown! continues to serve as the proving ground in establishing WWE’s “next generation” of performers who could well become permanent additions to tomorrow’s slate of bona-fide “Main Eventers” (Punk, Ziggler).

RAW’s Summer of Guest Hosts Rolls On
Seth Green Cameo to be Followed by ZZ Top Next Week

It hasn’t really done all that much to *improve* RAW’s overall ratings (since the one-off “New Owner” appearance of Donald Trump, WWE’s flagship broadcast has returned right back to the normal mid 3-point-something ratings it had previously drawn), but there is really no arguing that RAW’s “guest host” strategy has certainly helped liven up what otherwise may have been a terribly stale run of shows that have been stuck in the summer doldrums.

Take a quick look —

Batista – Not exactly a game-changer, but a great way to turn up the heat on Randy Orton’s title reign and remind fans that The Animal has plenty of unfinished business when he returns.

The Million Dollar Man – A fantastic choice for the guest host spot, Ted DiBiase managed to lend infinite credibility to his son’s hot-and-cold relationship with The Legacy, and young Ted probably scored more credibility in one night than he had in the two years prior as a result.

Seth Green – Probably the biggest “mainstream” actor to grace a WWE ring since Rob Schneider, Seth Green was brought in to show younger fans (like Family Guy viewers and Robot Chicken devotees) that wrestling can be fun and entertaining — even if it’s not exactly “must-see” television. While he didn’t set the world on fire (or bring the ratings up), his celebrity cameo could definitely pave the way for future “mainstream” crossovers to follow in order to help perpetuate this impression in the weeks to come.

Moving forward, next week’s guest hosts are the bearded boys from ZZ Top. While these rock and roll mainstays might not be all that familiar to younger audience members, they are “good ole’ boys” who could help WWE attract at least a handful of “old school” wrestling fans from the deep south who feel that the product has drifted a bit too far into the waters of the “kid-friendly” baby pool.

Again, ZZ Top is hardly the one-off answer to WWE’s prayers — but the fact that the company can follow in their pattern of back-to-back guest hosts who appeal to fans YOUNG and OLD (Bastista=Young fans, DiBiase=Old fans, Seth Green=Younger viewers, ZZ Top=Older viewers) could really go a long way in suring up an audience comprised of all demographics.

Looking forward then, for a second —

I can’t help but think that WWE will continue to cycle through these “cameos” of performers and celebrities “New” and “Old” in order to maintain their show’s appeal as they wind through the summer months. I’m not much of a betting man (ah who am I kidding?), but smart money seems to be on some combination of the following guest hosts before all is said and done:

Dusty Rhodes – WWE has teased a Dusty cameo as recently as last week. The American Dream has plenty of clubberin history with Randy Orton and Legacy, and so it’s a no-brainer to believe that he’ll soon be making a one-off return to help give them the rub.

Roddy Piper – Hot Rod has had an untimely run-in with the law thanks to a DUI charge just a few short days ago, but he always manages to find his way back into the WWE ranks regardless of the problems that he tends to run into when the cameras stop rolling. While Ric Flair is much the same, Piper seems like as good a “WWE Legend” cameo as the company is likely to get (given the fact that Bret Hart, The Rock, and Hulk Hogan are nowhere near likely to play a one-off guest host role) — so I wouldn’t count him out.

Shaquille O’Neal – Shaq is a big-time WWE fan, and he’s been known to appear in the front row of live events all across the country. And even though he’s primarily an “athlete” and not an “entertainer” — he has done a number of commercials, television shows, and movies in the past. As a result, I’ve gotta’ believe that WWE is doing whatever they can to court him for an onscreen host’s role.

Ben Roethlisberger – Like Shaq, the quarterback for the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers is a huge WWE fan. Also like Shaq, Big Ben has a ton of mainstream media exposure and a solid collection of “real sport” championship rings to broaden his appeal to the mainstream sports world at large. While the preseason is in full swing, Roethlisberger is definitely a long shot. But if his schedule permits, I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.

Edge – Dave Batista set the precedent that WWE stars on the injured reserve are fair game when it comes to guest hosts for WWE’s Monday Night broadcast, but there’s no way WWE will be bringing in The Undertaker for anything but an actual in-ring return (the same can probably be said for Shawn Michaels). As a result, Edge seems like a smart choice to run amok on RAW in a week where WWE can’t quite obtain an outside star to help the company liven up the broadcast with a celebrity cameo. In addition, Edge can use the guest host stint to test audience’s reaction to a possible babyface turn — which is a great way to plant the seed for a major character development once he’s back from the disabled list.

Trish Stratus – WWE’s longtime poster girl is certainly no stranger to the one-off post-retirement cameo, and she has made a handful of appearances for her former employer since officially hanging up the boots several years ago. While Trish bailed on the Miss WrestleMania battle royal earlier this year (claiming that her inclusion in a 25-diva match would mask any impact her cameo might otherwise have), a one-night-only stint as the host of WWE’s flagship broadcast would definitely give her a shining moment in the spotlight.

Hey look! A new feature!

Each week, I’ll try and ferret out an oddball reference to professional wrestling and include it here for your reading/viewing pleasure. While these “soft news” tidbits probably won’t exactly be earthshattering developments, by any means, I think they might really prove insightful in demonstrating just how deeply the professional wrestling subculture has permeated the regular channels of mainstream media and everyday life — even if those “non-fans” out there refuse to acknowledge this influence.

Ready?

Cool.

This week’s random ‘rasslin reference comes to us from a story originally reported on MSNBC.com, where wannabe grapplers “wrestled for hunger” outside of a restaurant in Elkhart, Indiana to raise more than $10,000 for a local food pantry. Take a look:

Obviously, the program was a bit hit with the residents of Elkhart, so kudos to all involved for a job well done. Two quick notes, however:

Thing #1) HOLY CRAP! It’s ROB CONWAY!

Thing #2) Um Greg — there’s really no easy way to say this, but — at just about a minute and a half into this nationally syndicated video, we can clearly see your… ahem… “Caffeine Beans.” You might wanna invest in a cup, bro.

And With That, I’m Outta’ Here

That does if for Mee this week. Victory Road looks like a pretty big deal for the TNA faithful this week, and so here’s hoping the show can follow strong on the heels of last month’s outstanding SlammiVersary card. Until next time, stay healthy, stay off that soccer field, and always stay positive!

– Meehan