Five-Star Conversation 08.18.09: Who Holds the Book in Dixieland?

First of all, this is my one-year anniversary of writing a solo column! As London Tipton would say, Yay me!

So let’s celebrate!

Thanks to all of you who’ve become loyal readers and contributors of and to this little venture and thanks for Larry and Ashish for taking a chance on a single guy with a vision…a vision to bring together fans to converse intelligently about the rasslin. Yeah, I know, I just put over intelligence and included a couple irritating videos. It’s a fine line between genius and madness, my friends.

SONG OF THE SOUTH: WHO HOLDS THE BOOK IN DIXIELAND?
It seems as if things are a-changin in a big way down in TNA as a power struggle of sorts is taking place between co-founder and Vice-President Jeff Jarrett and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, both of whom apparently know exactly what it takes to get laid around here, and it appears as if Angle could be winning, at least before his little hotel reconnaissance mission last weekend. Kurt, Kurt, Kurt, haven’t you heard?

Hotel and car rental, no need to leave the house. Hopefully, no need for a driver’s license, either.

Dixie Carter, President and Chairperson of TNA, has apparently sided against Jarrett after Jarrett allegedly lied to Carter about the status of his friendship with Angle’s former wife and TNA on-air personality, Karen, assuring her that their friendship was platonic, when, in fact, he was banging her like a screen door in a hurricane. (This news came to light in dubious fashion when an anonymous person, claiming to be an employee of TNA, called in to the Bubba The Love Sponge radio program to make public Jarrett and Karen’s relationship. The identity of the caller, to my knowledge, is still unknown.) Carter, furthermore, pulled rank on Jarrett, sending him home for an undetermined amount of time, citing the fact that the relationship is a poor reflection on the company, considering the manner in which it came to light, although there were initially reports that Jarrett went home voluntarily.

However, subsequent actions employed by Carter appear to be sending a different message, and pointedly to Jarrett. Following his “suspension”, two of Jarrett’s closest allies and fellow booking team members, Dutch Mantel and Savio Vega, were terminated from the company by Carter, as well, thereby suggesting that Jarrett’s time writing stories for TNA is through, further suggesting that room is being made for some new blood at the creative table. (Incidentally, it should be noted that both Mantel and Vega also served double-duty as Road Agents, leaving only BG “Road Dogg Jesse” James and Jim Cornette in such capacity, both of whom, too, have a lot of history with Jarrett and are said to be loyal to him.)

At present, Vince Russo and Matt Conway are the only full-time members of TNA Creative, although it’s being reported that Russo and Cornette have been working together since Jarrett was sent home…! Never say never in wrestling, friends!

So who’s in the running to step up/be brought in to take TNA in a new direction?

Paul Heyman: Heyman apparently has no interest in coming to TNA, although has been hypercritical of the company’s inability to self-brand in any meaningful manner. Anyone who reads “The Heyman Hustle” with any frequency knows Heyman has some ideas about the franchise and, seemingly, beyond simple “off the top of my head” musings. Considering he managed to turn “just another indie fed” Eastern Championship Wrestling into internationally recognized and ripped off Extreme Championship Wrestling, providing Vince McMahon with the business model by which to turn around a stale WWF when WCW was wiping the floor with them with its’ Roman candle hipness, could Heyman work his magic again in TNA?

He’s displayed the ability to book talent the way talent needs to be booked (ie, hiding flaws while pushing strengths) both while running ECW and booking SmackDown! (leading the Silver and Blue brand to the only period in the show’s history that it defeated Raw in the ratings), he knows how to write strong, consistent stories, complete with coherent character development that leads to creating stars, all of which are the only things keeping TNA at this point of its’ evolution from really being a viable contender to WWE.

Also, something to bear in mind, is that Heyman and TNA have a common denominator in Jeff Katz, who has worked for WCW and New Line Cinema. Katz is affiliated with TNA as well as the “Heyman Hustle” portion of its parent site, Crave. Heyman is also tight with current TNA talent, Bobby Lashley and expected-to-be-future-talent, Ken Anderson.

However, Heyman has a very autocratic style of booking, which ended his career at WWE (eavesdropping on that Raw creative meeting probably didn’t help much, either). Heyman and Cornette reportedly would enjoy tearing out one another’s jugulars (although, as we said, if Corny and Russo work together…?). One wonders exactly how Heyman and Russo would gel as writing partners, too. It was Russo and McMahon filtering one another through Heyman’s business model that bore The Attitude Era. With Heyman providing the overall branding concept and direction, both of the big picture as well as individual talent, could Cornette provide an old school flare to which Russo might give a modern twist, all three working together to smooth the rough edges, could this work? After all, it was Heyman’s inept accounting that was his downfall in ECW. With TNA, the only money he’d need to see would be his own paychecks. Ah, but what if Heyman’s vision differs from Carter’s…?

Cornette claims to have no interest in booking the entire show, but this way he’d not have to do so. Or, he might feel a little good old fashioned Louisville claustrophobia in the same room as new schoolers Heyman and Russo and decide to stick with being a road agent.

Kevin Nash is also a name apparently being batted around like a kitty on its’ back playing with a piece of yarn. He has experience. None of it good, mind you, as he was responsible for the horrible 1999 of WCW, plus, in a recent interview, he claims to have a greater interest in being a father to his 13 year-old son than booking at this stage of his life. Although Kurt Angle is apparently also telling people backstage that he’s going to come into creative power, although, considering recent events, he might not even be coming into Rhaka Kahn anymore and, if things go poorly at his hearing, might be come into himself, especially if he doesn’t learn to keep his mouth shut and ends up in contempt of court. While it could be interesting to see what vision Angle has for the company overall, I don’t think we’ve ever seen an active wrestler wield the power of the book to benefit anyone but himself and his buddies in the long run. Too, considering the fact that Angle doesn’t even seem capable these days to make positive, healthy, rational decisions for himself, do we really want to trust him with the reigns to the company at this critical time in its growth? Could he even handle the pressure?

If nothing else, it appears as if Scott D’Amore, the man working behind the scenes in the Knock-Outs division at its’ height, has returned to the company to resume his magic touch with the ladies (make your own joke). As adept as he’s displayed himself to be in that vein, it could be tempting to ask him to stretch into the men’s division, as well, although I’m not sure TNA wants to risk spreading him too thin, considering the Knock-Outs provide iMPACT! with some of its’ highest-rated segments.

Oh, and I hear Gabe Sopolsky’s at a bit of a loose end.

With Carter announcing her interest in taking TNA in a new direction, as well as a new deal on the table with The UFC Channel, uhm, Spike-TV (including talk ensuing for more time for TNA, which could spotlight greater the Knock-Outs or The X-Division), Carter’s decisions at this time could be extremely important for the future of the company. Let’s hope for the sake of the American industry as a whole, she makes some prudent choices.

COMMENTPALOOZA!
This being my one-year anniversary, I’d like to reprint my favorite comment of the year:

This is the worst column ever. It’s like it was written by a bunch of other people, and you just responded to what they said… Whats that? Oh, thats what you did? Oh my bad. Keep truckin Geoff, glad to see you embrace your chance to shine on your own, away from the R’s and Larry. Now the question is… will you be Marty Jannety to his Shawn Michaels, where you just slowly fade away? Or are you going to be the Christian to his Edge, where you eventually carve out your own fanbase, based on blistering charisma, and a great comedic timing?
Posted By: Toddo

Love ya, Toddo. Not like that.

well spin my nipple nuts and send me to alaska! i’d almost forgotten bischoff took the idea from japan, heck they even had that sort of false start using it with the wcw vs njpw around starrcade 95.

stoke me a clipper, i’ll be back for christmas
Posted By: DaJ

Your nuts have nipples? If so, wouldn’t they be all hard and painful in chilly Alaska…?

DaJ, I have about as much love for Bischoff as Paul Heyman. As far as I’m concerned, Bischoff’s high points during his tenure holding the book for WCW can be summed up in three bullet points: 1) the creation of the nWo, 2) featuring the CruiserWeights, and 3) Goldberg, point one having been ripped off from Japan (that he allowed to become a bloated, unfocused runaway train that consumed itself), point two having been ripped off from ECW and point three having been a rip off of Steve Austin. He wasn’t a creative genius, he was a brash prick trying to take the edgy route to supremacy. He shook things up and turned what felt like a regional promotion into the modern age, but ended up too self-serving to care about the monster he’d helped to create in totality. His lack of respect for the franchise’s history was one of many symptoms that led him to perforating his own foot with lead (it wasn’t just Flair whom he disrespected).

I loved how he swallowed his pride when he came to work for Vince. He’d be filmed talking about backstage dealings, both in the past and present, and his voice would end up muffled because he was talking out of his ass, towing that company line in a way that should have had Jim Ross’ detractors speechless and stymied. It was so obvious he was lying I’m surprised his nose didn’t start growing. The fact that he’s a card-carrying member of the Hogan entourage says it all in my book. My personal feeling on Bischoff, in sum? He’s proof that we’re all born mere inches from an asshole and that some of us really don’t gravitate too far away from it after the cord is cut.

I had tickets to see The Mozzer a few years ago, when he was promoting “You Are The Quarry” at a big festival that also had Muse, X, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Tears For Fears, Devo, Billy Idol and The Creatures. He was supposed to headline, but, in true Morrissey fashion, he had to cancel due to illness. I was disappointed, but I had to laugh. I mean, Morrissey, sick and ill. Who’d’ve thunk it?

I can’t listen to anything REM has done after “Green” in 1988. I don’t know who convinced him Stipe could actually sing should be publicly hanged. “Everybody Hurts” all right, Mikey, when we have to listen to you whine and wail. The early stuff, though? Unparalleled. DaJ, please share with the studio audience how watching Coldplay soundcheck figured into your work experience? Awesome!

I was fairly tight with Suede back in the early days (considering I was living in northern California and they were in London). No one in America remembers Suede (if, indeed, they ever knew of them at all, sadly), but they were an absolute revelation to me. We ended up scoring some blow for Brett and Simon then went drinking with the band. I hit it off with Simon, crashed in his room, saw the band off in the morning and ended up joining them in Los Angeles for two shows the next weekend where Brett and five others and I were chain smoking cigarettes and passing around a jug of warm Tanqueray Simon and I had smuggled out of the backstage area of The Palace. Ask TheGun, I can go on about my relationship with Suede forever, so I’ll stop here and get back to the rasslin.

I’m pleased you echo my sentiments regarding my Cena/film observation. Without making a blanket statement, though still pointing to the fairly obvious, if you’ve seen a WWE PPV in the last couple years, more often than not, fans during a Cena match develops into a “dueling cheers” where those cheering for him are the kids who idolize him and the chicks who want to blow him, and those cheering against him are comprised of just about all the men over 15 in attendance. Why would McMahonagement purposefully market this guy to the latter audience and think they’d follow him to the movie theater? Or does Vince simply think the guys are “playing along” and being antagonistic for the sake of it?

I hate to quote anything Roddy Piper said, but in an interview with Piper recently published here on 411Mania, he suggested that Cena’s a great performer and a solid company man who has been too whitewashed for his own good, and I think he’s really got something in that statement (and not just because that’s something I’ve been saying for a good long time myself).

Do you really think the reason Cena’s not doing film targeted to a younger audience is because Dwayne Johnson has that market “cornered”? I don’t necessarily think so. I think kids are always happy to have a strong adult character they can admire and laugh at/with, and I think there would have to be a wealth of such roles to go around, plenty for the both of them.

Let me put it this way, as well – We saw Johnson transition his career from wrestling to film, yet, despite some solid performances, see his career stall (at least not continue to grow)…until he started doing films geared toward children. Seeing his appeal, he and Disney have established a sort of relationship that appear to be mutually beneficial. I think we’d all be in agreement that, should Disney ever decide to expand into the realm of professional wrestling, at least a basic glance at Vince business model would behoove them in doing so, the actual direction they chose in the end notwithstanding. With Vince looking to expand into film, wouldn’t make sense to have a peek at other successful similar such businesses to see what has worked for them and what might work for them?

And, to wrap up, is anyone else of the mind that Johnson is finding more success in child-targeted films because the majority of that demographic doesn’t have another identity (The Rock) attached to him in their minds and so have no need to reconcile his wrestling past, therefore making it easier to see him as he’s presented now, rather than with older audiences who still see him as that wrestler trying to make it in Hollywood? I totally think so, and, which is why I think WWE Films might consider following suit in Cena’s regard if they really want him to succeed at the box office.

The celebrity guest hosts need to be scaled back a bit. Go with an old wrestler for a few weeks then drop in someone who actually likes or belongs in wrestling. Enough obnoxious midgets with dubious acting credentials, see Piven.

The most interesting part was how Gorgeous George seemed tailor-made for TV with his emphasis being on the entertainment aspect of wrestling as opposed to the sport aspect. In order to build heat, his entrance grew longer and longer as did his primping rituals. Like Cena, he had an ardent fanbase and equally passionate detractors. Suffice to say, a lot of folks around here would’ve hated him for not putting on four-star matches.
Posted By: Iron Knee

Considering the fact that WWE has so many amazing legends working for them behind the curtain in Road Agent capacity (I refuse to call them “Producers”), it astounds me that we’ve seen so few of them in the Guest-GM role, especially as impressive The Million Dollar Man was a month or so ago. It makes me wonder why they’re sitting on Dusty Rhodes (aside from the fact that he must be so soft and cushiony), considering we saw the dynamic between the DiBiases. Now that Goldust is on ECW, they wouldn’t even need to concern themselves about involving him in a dynamic into which he doesn’t sensibly fit. Duthty would be a fantastic Guest-GM, though. Maybe even in a permanent capacity.

However, in complete contrary terms, how incredibly dull and ineffectual was Slaughter last week?

Geoff, sorry to break it to you, but I never said that last week’s RAW was awesome. If you are referring to the main RAW report comment section, somebody used my name. My comment was actually at 5:54 am and on August 4th. (That was too anal.) If that wasn’t the place where you saw it, please let me know where I wrote this down. Maybe, I’m just losing my memory? As far as celebs hosting RAW goes, to me, it all comes down to who they are and how they are used. Last week, I mentioned digging Whose Line?, so how about the cast guest host? I can just picture Colin and Ryan (the bald one and the tall one) trying to get HHH or Santino to do a hoedown or playing Song Titles with Cena and Festus. All joking aside, the WWE needs to be cautious in the way they do this. They have to make sure that their fanbase will be “into” the guest, make sure the guest is “into” wrestling, and perhaps most importantly, write to the guests’ strengths while hiding any weaknesses.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth

Oh, thank goodness, Schmoove! But why would someone slander you like that? It’s tough being a celebrity, isn’t it?

See the thing that concerns me about bringing in celebrities to Raw is that they’re walking such a fine line between getting people interested, or at least talking, about Raw who may not normally do so, and making themselves (as well as the fans, I suppose) look like total geeks once actual mainstream stars show up to slum it on Mondays, effectively putting themselves in place on the grand scheme’s pecking order. This is partially what I suggested in the beginning, when WWE announced they were going this route. It may seem cool and fun because it’s different and they manage to acquire a star who actually gives a damn about WWE and its product (as with Shaq, or, as in the case of Seth Green, they were able to get that Triple H sketch on “Robot Chicken”), but once it comes down to something like we had with Piven, where he proved himself to be such a fan of WWE that he fucked up the name of the company’s second largest PPV of the year, McMahonagement simply jumps at the opportunity to have someone on the program who has something to shill.

Have you seen the list of stars supposedly locked or being considered/considering a GM appearance? Bob Barker has a ton of potential, but I question how many kids are going to know who the hell he is, same with Al Sharpton, and no one knows who Nancy O’Dell is. LeBron James and Floyd Mayweather are much better choices, especially the latter, considering he already is a familiar face to WWE fans (his reunion with Show could prove interesting), although I fear James may be an attempt to cut-&-paste the success of Shaq’s guest spot.

As far as prospects, we get into much murkier water with Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (anyone else think she’ll forget her lines, bust out her hoe-down dance and run sobbing to the back?), Regis & Kelly (although there could be a fun sketch with Ripa, Kelly Kelly and Santino Marella), Rachael Ray (Good Lord, what have I started…?! I can just see The Miz and Mickie James in an “EVOO on a Pole” match…). There’s others, but it’s all pretty much a different face (Ashton Kutcher, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon) on something we’ve seen before (Piven, Green). I mean, that’s all we get in terms of booking, why should the Guest-GM spot be any different?

However, if Woody Harrelson guests, I want Brian Kendrick brought back in his little singing telegram outfit to cover his weed delivery service to the GM’s office.

Hmm. How about we bring in the cast of last season’s VH1’s Charm School for a big Diva battle royal? Of course, that’s a horrible idea, so watch it happen.

Finally, Schmoove, if McMahonagement books to hide the celebrity guest’s weaknesses and build to their strengths, but still refuse to do the same for its’ contracted talent, I think I’ll launch my TV out the window.

Honestly, RAW is so boring now that the guest hosts are the only thing I look forward to at the moment. Yea, Piven was obnoxious and Sgt. Slaughter got on my nerves (Seriously, couldn’t the Hart Dynasty have made a special appearance just to knock him out? Although the HHH/Chef Shawn sketches were funny). But I thought the other ones did a pretty good job so far (even the lambasted ZZ Top episode wasn’t that bad to me).

Speaking of British Comedies, I liked the show “My Hero” before they replaced the main actor in the last season.
Posted By: JLAJRC

I’d have hit the ceiling had THE HART DYNASTY jumped the brand lines, too, although it would’ve popped the live crowd and proud Canadians everywhere. Hell, it might’ve helped to make them, since anyone with any sense was bored to tears by Slaughter’s non-appearance. And in terms of ZZ Top, what were people expecting? Jesus, I didn’t even know the guys could talk.

Dr Ken Eubanks, CM Punk would be so disappointed in you and your coke habit. Make you should turn straight, err, straight edge, that is.

Have a good weekend, Geoff, and remember, just say no.
Posted By: Angry Bear

Actually, Bear, you’re right!

Mr. Eubanks, you are weak just like Hardy and the rest of the WWE Universe.
Posted By: CM Punk

I’ve never has a coke “habit”. Virtually anything snortable, I quickly learned, has the tendency to evolve from a drug to a lifestyle, therefore, extreme caution was exercised on my part whenever partaking of any such thing. Nothing goes in my nose anymore save for air, tissue and the occasional finger.

I didn’t say mine.

Really, I can support a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle and, in the end, believe it’s probably the healthiest life choice, all around, even though it’s not for everyone. But why must there be the little name for it? Straight-Edge. Can’t you just live clean and not have to label it? I never got that.

I’m not feeling these DX skits, either, especially the premise that Shawn Michaels decided to leave wrestling after that whole thing with JBL just a year ago. And to be a chef? First of all, obviously, that was bullshit because one just doesn’t apply to be a chef, even at just some venue commissary, which, it was obvious, was where these skits were filmed. Now if they wanted us to consider that this could be a real life choice for HBK, it could have been an angle that stretched on for a few weeks, centered around the fact that HBK didn’t feel like getting back in the ring after having to be the one to retire his idol, Ric Flair, and it would take Triple H some real convincing to encourage him to return, a story that, while predictable, could have at least had a better pay-off than HBK popping off Sweet Chin Music on every obnoxious person into whom he came in contact (and a little girl, Shawn? Really, who would Jesus super kick?).

I will admit to laughing at the boss calling HBK “Hickenbottom” and at the old lady bellowing, “Suck iiiiiit!” at the camera, but I’m really afraid for this new “PG” version of DX. That just doesn’t seem right to me. It’s like “Twilight” with likeable characters, decent actors, a compelling story, realistic dialogue and appropriate pacing.

As for you, Punk, you do realize how bad that Pepsi you’re sucking down is for your insides, right…?

Celebrity GMs aren’t really floating my boat at the moment. I just don’t like it.

Bring back revelant managers, get the general manager situation more grounded and you serve more fans in the long run. This SNL type of celebrity host role just frustrates me and I find it quite boring to watch.
Posted By: thegunisgood2009

Gun, first off, I owe you a couple comments on your awesome column. You shall receive them, my friend, but well done thus far!

Agreed with the whole GMs connecting with the fans comment, and it goes back to what I said earlier about the stars coming in and being bigger than the show. They show up and we’re supposed to just cheer them because they showed up, when they could really care less about us and are just there to be whores, walking product placement on a show they wouldn’t be watching themselves if they were at home (Shaq, at least, being an exception).

And this isn’t anything I’m gonna get up on a soapbox and cry about, because I’m the last person to whine, “What about the CHILDREN?!”, but having these celebrities guesting on the show and getting involved in the ring counterbalances the increase in “Don’t try this at home” spots we’re seeing. If an Emmy Award-winning actor is displaying how ill-suited he is to acting in a wrestling vein, why the hell is he getting involved in matches?

You’re showing you age, gun. You just miss the old school figurehead:

But that’s okay. I miss La MooMooCita.

So far, I would have to say the Jericho/Big Show team is working. I know a lot of people weren’t happy with the Big Show being picked to begin with, but its going well.(I think the bigger flaw was Show being the “Mystery Tag Partner” at NOC, I mean, the guy was on Raw the week before so it wasnt special at all.
Posted By: JWestmoreland

If Cryme Tyme gets the belts, then Jericho won’t be able to work RAW. They lose a ring general and a guy who can work the stick in one move. So I don’t see JeriShow losing the belts any time soon.
Posted By: Guest#3473

Wow, no love at all for coining the term JeriShow. I give and I give…lol

I agree, our UTTCs are making a hell of a great team thus far, even though it’s clear their role is simply transitional and being used a means to getting CRYME TYME up the ladder. And if that works, I’m fine with that, because we need to see talent elevated and this seems like one of those rare modern instances where McMahonagement are finally listening to the fans and pushing an act with whom they connect (even though I’m still convinced the initial point of putting the belts on Edge & Jericho was to turn Edge and feud them against one another, although we managed to plant those seeds on Edge’s way under the knife, so that program will occur upon Edge’s return).

I’m interested in seeing what happens with Show after this title reign concludes. Show is an underrated talent, IMO, who simply lacks self-starting direction, but when paired with someone with a solid point of view and insight, he flourishes. He’s done a great job of finding cohesion with Jericho’s updated heel persona and look forward to seeing if he’ll continue with it once the team runs its’ course, and, if so, how.

As for JeriShow not losing the belts to CRYME TYME at SummerSlam, I don’t think McMahonagement values Jericho being allowed to work any show he chooses, especially with HBK returning to Raw to wear that hat. Besides, should he drop the belts, Jericho is stationed on SmackDown! without “in & out” privileges, so it stands to reason he could just hook up with another partner to continue his quest to re-obtain the UTTTs, although I wish he’d return to vying for and winning the WT.

Ah, praise for the Big Show and Mark Henry. I’ve been fans of both guys for years and it’s good to see both being used for something other than big slow heels.

Solid column, Geoff.
Posted By: Pete

Okay, I have to do this, but credit for the initial joke goes squarely Christi “The Wife” Csonka, as she was the one who made the connection now that Mark Henry is wearing that red singlet:

Do you really think Henry is being used in an important manner? It seems to me he’s not doing anything with Hornswoggle that one-dimensional Festus couldn’t, meanwhile utilize Henry back up at the top to freshen things up from the never-ending Cena/Orton/HHH show. You mean to tell me he has a pinfall victory over the WWE Champion, but would rather squash Chavito with a midget than try to score the belt for himself?

Pete, you’re totally correct with respect to MVP’s journey on SD!. I recall being incredibly frustrated when I was analyzing SD! for The R’s when this whole thing was going down and I didn’t see the long view (or, more accurately, I didn’t trust McMahonagement to have a long view in MVP’s regard). However, managing to stand up against The Brothers Ginger allowed MVP to move along to that awesome and surprising UST feud with Chris Benoit appropriately and in believable fashion. As I’ve said in the past, I just hope both Swagger and MVP can come out of this program in tact and upwardly mobile.

In Punk’s regard, I like to think I learned my lesson for having mistrusted MVP’s handling. People were freaking out when Punk followed up his first World Title reign by tagging with Kofi Kingston. It was solidly my belief that, because that first Money in the Bank victory was to have been Jeff Hardy’s (who earned his second Wellness violation, the following suspension taking him out of WrestleMania and subsequently the $itB match), when it came time to take the belt off of Edge, Punk had basically managed to luck into a “trial” title reign, where his popularity et. al. could be gauged and considered, such that, once fans really started to buy him as a plucky, new face at the top of the card, he was pulled back to an extent and built all over again in McMahonagement’s own image, such that his rise the next time around would be more controlled and deliberate. I think that’s just what we’ve seen.

Speaking of Punk, who I’m liking more and more each week as a heel, I’m finally exploring some Ring Of Honor DVDs and on one of them, in one of the special features, there’s a montage/summation of the two one-hour draws for the ROH WT he had with Samoa Joe. Punk provides guest commentary, describing in kayfabe how he prepared for challenging Joe and it’s amazing. My appreciation for the grasp Punk has of the business has skyrocketed as a result of having seen that montage. Kudos, Punk!

No talk of Dolph Ziggler at all in this column. Is this the end of Dolph Ziggler’s push?
Posted By: Guest#4556

There was no mention of Ziggler in last week’s column because last week’s column discussed Raw and Ziggler is a SD! talent.

big show faces akebono, not yokozuna…
yoko is dead
Posted By: Guest#4777

Actually, I believe “Yokozuna” means “Sumo Champion”, so Big Show faced the Japanese Sumo Champion.
Posted By: Quimby

And Quimby comes through as the informed voice of reason. From Wikipedia:

Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo. The name literally means “horizontal rope” and comes from the most visible symbol of their rank, the rope (tsuna) worn around the waist.

bless you sir for writing my exact sentiments on that KFC commercial, i laughed my ass off.
Posted By: Guest#6325

Thank you! GOD, that little pissant is so infuriating. When did “smart ass” actually come to equate to actual intelligence in this country?! If that prick was any kind of friend, he’d be like, “Hey, Tony, we’re doing KFC for the awesome new value menu today, wanna join?” Although maybe Tony is just a little douchebag and deserves to be left out and ridiculed. We don’t really know the back story do we…?