The Triumvirate of Truth 2.19.12: The Elimination Chamber, Garrett Bischoff, Santino Replacing Orton, Drew McIntyre and More!

I want to first commend the readers on some great responses and amazingly insightful comments. In the Wrestling Section of 411, it’s hard to find a comment section that isn’t littered with negativity for no cause. I’m thoroughly happy that last week wasn’t the case. I’m working on some banners that include a bit more spiffyness to them than those that we have now, but the general consensus is that the minor changes to the flow of the column and what we do with it is good enough to differentiate us from the previous column as well as stand on its own. With all that being said, I told you I’d do my best to incorporate some TNA in this column, and I think I was able to do so. I hope you enjoy my attempts and, as always, feedback is welcomed.

Another day another dollar, amirite? No? Eh well, we’re here and we’re here to stay! After a response last week that made me giddier than a middle school girl getting waved at by her crush, I have developed a newfound love for all things wrestling and want to continually make this one of the better read articles on 411wrestling.com. I’ve got a great team here and although it’s only the third week in doing this, I can see the fire in the eyes of Mike and Josh, and feel the disagreements all but coming out. This is key to our success, though, as if we all thought the same thing then the read would be a boring one. Keep in mind, however, that some things are just unanimous. (I mean, Santino in the Chamber?). I’m considering a way to add some reader comments in the near future, but one thing I noticed is that all three of us are quite long winded in terms of answers and responses. Not that I’m complaining, I love reading my own words (I’m a writer, we have egos). Nonetheless, this week brought a lot to the table. A TNA PPV, an HBK return, an upcoming WWE PPV and more! Let’s get to the show!

1.HBK’s appearance on RAW makes you want to see the Undertaker vs. HHH match at WrestleMania.

Michael Uphoff: I have to say I am still on the fence about this match, with a slight leaning toward wanting to see it. Don’t get me wrong, seeing HBK on my TV is never ever a bad thing. I have to say, what he was wearing made him look a little out of shape. Still, HBK cut an amazing promo with HHH that further elaborated on why HHH does not want the match. He also criticized HHH and pretty much called him out as a coward, which was pretty cool. The back-and-forth between the two made me more and more intrigued about what this still has to offer before WrestleMania, but the latest Taker video with him shaving his head didn’t do any favors to my attitude towards the match.

I guess the best way to put how I feel about this match is that I liked their match last year. However, parts were really slow and felt a little contrived, but both men busted their asses to put on a helluva match. Taker hasn’t been in a WWE ring since WrestleMania 27, and Triple H was last in the ring almost two months ago. Realistically, I can’t have really high hopes for their match this year. Somehow, though, Taker manages to bring the goods almost every time at WrestleMania in his career. Since HBK is likely going to be involved to some degree, I’m probably going to want to watch the match, but right now, outside of HBK’s promo on RAW, HHH and Taker are not doing a good job of keeping me interested, and that’s sad because Taker is my favorite of all time. I just hope they step it up in the coming weeks.

Tony Acero: My immediate reaction during the segment on RAW was excitement and goosebump worthy. Again, that was my immediate reaction. Shortly thereafter, I considered it all and lowered my excitement to average level. That is essentially what this feud is in a nutshell, however. I mean, the mystique behind it all, the epicness of it all is there and it leads me, as a fan, to be extremely excited and care not whether the match will suck. The lead in, the shoot-esque comments, the fact that it’s The Undertaker, a man who I worried was even going to make it to Mania, all have created an aura around the match that gets me excited. I’ll have to agree, however, with Mike here in that the hair thing is really scaring me. If Taker is BALD then I fear people are going to look at this a bit oddly, including myself. I know, it’s just hair, but the aesthetics of the match are a big thing for some reason, at least to me. In terms of the actual question, HBK did get me excited to see the match, but I fear that I may very well be excited already.

Joshua Stangle: Actually, I was more interested in HHH’s side of the argument. He is actually playing probably the most unique character in Sports Entertainment history: an adult. Someone with responsibility and obligations, who has to set aside their own ego to get the best result. I find it sad that HHH is being booed, as his character is in a zero sum situation. On one hand, if he doesn’t face the Undertaker, then the Undertaker will torment him continuously, and he will be labeled a coward. On the other hand, his character’s job position states that he has to remain impartial. Agreeing to such a match will likely place his “job” in jeopardy. Even more weird is that he is placing the future of the business ahead of his own ego, yet he still gets heat from the audience. Long-term investments usually produce the best results, people…

Michaels and HHH had the best segment on last RAW. At first, I thought that Michaels behaved like a douche bag, but then I remembered why HHH turned face in 2006. After Wrestlemania 22, HHH was aiding Vince McMahon against Shawn Michaels, and Michaels basically told HHH, “I know you’ve done a lot of bad things in your career, but I never thought you’d be a sell out.” To Michaels’ character, selling out is the worst thing a person can do. That’s why he had such a strong reaction on Monday. The promo was so compelling because it allowed both HHH and Michaels’ personalities to shine through.

I’m more interested now than I was before. Both sides have compelling arguments for their decisions, and if built right, this could be much better than I previously believed.

2. What do you think about the upcoming Elimination Chamber Pay Per View?

Joshua Stangle: To be frank, I think that the build up has been mostly horrible. The Cena/Kane feud seems to get worse by the week. It takes a special kind of feud to actually make everyone involved seem worse. But this feud somehow managed to pull that one off with zeal. The ambulance match stipulation doesn’t really do anything to mitigate the mediocrity of the Cena versus Kane matches. I don’t really care for the Divas match either. Tamina seems to be more of a challenger of the month rather than someone with a chance to win. The match will be decent at best.

The RAW Elimination Chamber match is better by comparison, as the feud between Punk and Jericho heats up. Both Punk and Jericho have been booked strongly as of late. However, the remaining competitors don’t really seem to have that much of a chance between the four of them. It should be a good, maybe great, match, but the suspense is limited when only two competitors have a shot at winning.

The Smackdown Elimination Chamber match, on the other hand, is just poorly built. The once crafty Daniel Bryan has become a two-dimensional evil hipster. The Bryan/Show feud has stalled out, especially now that Orton is out of the picture. Although the pissed off Big Show on Friday’s Smackdown has me slightly intrigued. The Great Khali hasn’t been built up at all. Not only that, but he has been knocked out by both Orton and Big Show. Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett are involved with Sheamus, which bodes well for their otherwise negligible chances, but doesn’t add anything to the match. As for Santino, I’ll talk about him later. The match seems mediocre. It could be good, but I just don’t see it happening.

Am I supposed to want to pay for any of this?

Tony Acero: Well, geez, Josh, when ya put it like that! Haha. I think the PPV will be serviceable, but I won’t be watching it live, which means that I can’t rightfully say that this thing will be good. First off, I’m tired of Cena and Kane (more on that later), secondly, the show is sold on two matches; both the EC matches. While the RAW one seems like it could be fun, I’m not really clamoring for it, and unfortunately, with one injury to Orton, the life was sucked out of the Smackdown version of the EC match. Such a shame, too, because that was the match I was banking on for some goodness. Then, of course, I remembered that Khali would be involved. So, in short, I don’t think too much of the upcoming show.

Michael Uphoff: I agree with Josh on the point about the Cena/Kane feud. It has become steadily worse with each passing week. Even the stipulation to their match is not going to help much at all. Tamina/Beth Phoenix has potential, but again like Josh says, it will probably only be decent because they have not been building Tamina as enough of a believable threat for long enough.

I disagree with Josh on his feelings of the RAW Elimination Chamber, however. I very much enjoyed the RAW debate between the six participants, and Kofi provided some fire that I haven’t seen in some time from him (I think the last time was his brief feud with Orton). I think still that either Punk or Jericho will win, but I think that it will easily be the best match on the card.

Despite my arguments on how I think Josh is wrong about some of the participants in the RAW Chamber, I do think he is spot-on in his analysis of the SmackDown Elimination Chamber. It has been poorly built for the participants. Only Big Show has provided some interesting character development, while the World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan has stagnated with his vegan persona. As for my personal feelings to the EC PPV, I’m likely to see it anyway, since I go see them for free at a bar where I live. However, if I had to pay for this PPV, there is no way I would shell out the money for it. The only match that has been built properly is the RAW Elimination Chamber. Everything else has little to mediocre build. This is not something that WWE should be doing on their go-home PPV before WrestleMania.
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3. Is the Drew McIntyre losing streak going somewhere?

Joshua Stangle: Ah yes, another losing streak angle. The former chosen one, Drew McIntyre is now Smackdown’s designated jobber. It’s strange to think that just two years ago, almost everybody in the Internet Wrestling Community thought that he would win the Wrestlemania Money in the Bank match. People were up in arms about how this young upstart was going to get pushed to the Moon without paying his dues. Instead, Jack Swagger won, and had a dismal title reign. What’s sad is that both Swagger and McIntyre are worse off now than two years ago.

McIntyre is in the middle ground in terms of talent. He isn’t World Champion material, but he definitely deserves to be in the Intercontinental title hunt. Maybe this angle is meant to be funny. It has completely failed in that regard, much like when Jamie Noble or Chavo Guerrero constantly lost to Hornswaggle years ago. I know that jobbers are somewhat important in Wrestling, but McIntyre has potential. He can never utilize that potential when they only stick him in poorly written segments and stupid matches.

Losing streak angles never work. I don’t understand why are still happening in Wrestling. The people who win don’t look any better, because they just did what everybody else has as well. Even jobbers don’t have their constant losses illuminated. This angle doesn’t seem to heading in any worthwhile direction. What a waste…

Tony Acero: This storyline hasn’t even been touched on in a couple of weeks, which leads me to believe it has been all but forgotten. Seriously, where’s Drew? I didn’t see him in the Battle Royal on Smackdown and we probably won’t see him in the near future. (Okay, I did see him in the Battle Royal, but he was hardly a factor or a winning choice to the higher ups…) Josh, I was in the minority in that I didn’t support Drew in the slightest when he first started. Sure, he was the chosen one, but I saw nothing of the sort in the ring or in character. He was bland and the best thing going for him was the fact that he had a bad ass entrance (and even that took some time before it came out0. I will agree, however, that losing stream angles hardly ever work, but the reason why is because they are largely either forgotten or supposed to be forgotten. The thing is, nobody forgets a loser. Especially a fan. how are we to believe he can beat anyone? And if he does, what does that do to his opponent? No, what Drew needs is to snap….or get a haircut.

Michael Uphoff: Josh is also correct in his assessment of the angle. It has gone nowhere, it’s a waste of his talent and ability, and it is only hurting him in the long run.

I hope to God that it does go somewhere, because Drew McIntyre has the talent and the drive to someday be one of the two main champions. He isn’t there yet, but he can do it. He can go in the ring, cut a decent promo, and can engage the crowd. This losing streak is killing his career. I hope WWE turns this around quickly and gives Drew an Intercontinental Title run to rejuvenate his career.

4. What are your thoughts on Santino Marella replacing Randy Orton in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match?

Michael Uphoff: I’m torn on this one, because on the one hand I can see how it is a bad thing, but I can also see how this is a good thing. Let me explain properly. Randy Orton has achieved a level in the ring this past year in 2011 that few ever reach. He has become so good in the ring that he can adapt and mold his style of wrestling to fit his opponent. Few wrestlers today can do that. It is a huge loss to SmackDown that Orton cannot be in the Chamber, but it is a very good thing that they are taking this seriously and not wanting to risk Orton going the way of Sidney Crosby.

In essence, it is bad that Orton had to be replaced. It is even worse that he was replaced by Santino Marella. However, it’s not truly bad because I would rather have seen Santino (who can bump and move and sell pretty darn well) in the Chamber than Mark Henry. Ever since that injury of his, Mark hasn’t been the same in the ring. No one is going to think that Santino will win the World Heavyweight Championship, but as long as he bumps and sells and does his stuff, I won’t get too miffed about it.

However, I would really rather have seen someone else go into the Chamber besides Santino. Drew McIntyre has been in an Elimination Chamber match and could do a better job than Santino. Hell, Justin Gabriel could work better in the Chamber than Santino. If Christian wasn’t injured still, I think he would be in there. I’m not happy that Santino is in the Chamber, but considering some of the choices (Henry, Mahal, etc.), it could have been much worse.

Tony Acero: Well, there were better choices, and Josh listed a few, so I suppose this isn’t all that bad of a choice, but really people, who could they have put in there that would have honestly satiated our needs as fans? I don’t think they have a suitable replacement, which is an issue that is obvious and that apparently WWE just BARELY recognized; they have a lack of star power. Who do we have that could take place of Orton, bring in the buys, and allow the fans to be happy? No one. Not Henry, not Gabriel, not Henry or Mahal…ok, maybe Henry. This is the bigger issue that I just don’t want to get into, but the facts are there. We also must add the fact that us fans are hard to please, so once Orton was injured, no one was going to make us happy. Now then, let’s get to Santino. He is a comedic character, a good flopper, and a funny guy in the ring as well as out. While typically, I’d be okay with his addition to any match – since he brings a nice humoristic quality to it – perhaps the Elimination Chamber isn’t the right match for that. I mean, we already had the goof ball known as the Rumble, are they going for a comedic Elimination Chamber as well? Perhaps Santino will surprise me, or maybe he’ll just get eliminated the moment he steps in the Chamber. Either way, the choice isn’t all that flattering.

Joshua Stangle: I think you missed the best viable alternative: William Regal. Regal is someone that the creative team haven’t used in quite a while, yet he still has credibility. There are so many reasons that Regal should have been in the Elimination Chamber anyways (over Khali): 1. Regal is still a good worker and has strong mic skills. 2. The WWE audience still gives him a reaction. 3. He has history with the current World Heavyweight Champion. I don’t understand the thought process on why they didn’t put him in the match.

Orton had an excellent year in 2011. His matches were greatly improved. The crowds love him. He proved to be a true main event level face. I agree with the decision to take him out of the match, although he probably was the one who made that decision (good call). It’s unfortunate that he is no longer in the match, but it is clearly the best option.

As far as Santino goes, he certainly isn’t the worst choice. I remember the reaction he received when he *almost* won the 2011 Royal Rumble. He is the ultimate underdog in this match, which gives the audience someone to sympathize with (as opposed to Big Show and Khali, who are both dominant). There is no way that Santino wins (unless the creative team does it just to annoy me personally), but he is now the most entertaining face in the match. It’s still a considerable downgrade though, and leaves the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match looking pretty weak.
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5. After Monday Night’s new additions to the storyline, the Cena and Kane saga has lost any hope of being successful or entertaining.

Tony Acero: After Monday Night’s new additions to the storyline, the Cena and Kane saga has lost any hope of being successful or entertaining.

Oh no, this feud lost it’s luster long ago, Monday only added fuel to the fire that is about to spew from my mouth. It is only February and I can almost assuredly say that this will be the WORST Storyline/Feud of the Year Award recipient. Let’s eliminate my disdain for Cena for a minute. Let’s focus on the storyline aspect as just that, a storyline. So, Wrestler A is typically a fan favorite, a good guy, and the typical hero. Wrestler B is the anti-hero, the evildoer, the bad guy. Wrestler B decides to fuck with Wrestler A mentally, to take his heroism and turn him to the darkside, to the evil evil darkside! Sound familiar? I made the Star Wars allusion a few weeks ago on The Greg DeMarco show (catch me every Tuesday Night!) and it could have worked. The issue? They dragged down Zack Ryder for it and I don’t see Cena losing his hand any time soon. What I mean is, I don’t see Kane getting the upperhand, ever. This could have been good, perhaps not great, but good.

We all know that this is nothing but a placeholder feud for Cena until Mania, and that’s fine, but the reality of it is that it’s some of the cheesiest TV Melodrama that WWE has done in quite some time. Take a look at Monday night’s show, where the cameraman either misses a cue, or the producers cut too early and we see Eve GET IN the ambulance calmly and Kane closing the door. Then we get the cheesy ass “shock” of Eve hilariously LEAPING into Cena’s arms and going in for the mass makeout session. Of course, nothing is complete in Soap Opera land without the viewing luster. So Ryder gets his heart broken to add to his supposed back. Then, Eve drops the F word and what is this all supposed to do? Unleash an “evil” in Cena that we are all supposed to believe is inside of him? We are supposed to be sympathetic for Cena, we are supposed to believe that Kane can take him, that perhaps he will join the darkside but the thing is that a) people don’t care if he does and are almost clamoring for it b) This has only served to make Ryder look like a bitch, Eve look like a whore, Kane look a creep and Cena look like…Cena. So please, tell me, who is this helping?
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Michael Uphoff: Tony is absolutely correct in his assessment of the feud. This has gone from bad to downright deplorable, giving both worse and terrible a miss. Eve jumping into Cena’s arms and making out with him? WTF is that supposed to accomplish? Are we supposed to feel bad for Cena? None of this stuff makes sense anymore, and I can only wait for EC so that this feud will be over. I don’t care anymore AT ALL.

Joshua Stangle: Unlike Tony, I don’t think this feud ever really stood a chance at being good. I mean, cheesy and over the top is Kane’s calling card. Cena is usually cheesy and over the top as well. Ryder isn‘t any better. Do I even need to talk about Eve? And this is supposed to be a deadly serious feud…

This feud started at stupid and spiraled downwards from there. Kane didn’t like Cena’s shirt? That’s not the basis of a good feud, or even a decent one. The Star Wars analogy doesn’t work as well, because the Emperor and Vader had something to gain from turning Luke to the darkside of the force. Kane did it because of some contrived philosophy about hate or something…The motive rants were equally stupid. Everything beyond that was absurd. Zack Ryder became WWE’s version of Kenny (from the early years of South Park).

This feud had a chance at being bearable, at best. Kane would torment Cena, slowly causing Cena to crumble. Between Wrestlemania looming, the crowd, and Kane; Cena would deteriorate under the pressure, and start questioning himself. He would be torn on whether he should turn heel or not. Kane would beat him in Royal Rumble match, and reveal that he just used Cena’s doubt against him to win. Cena gets really angry and destroys Kane in the next match. The end.
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6. Is the Gunner/Bischoff/Hogan storyline currently the worst storyline that TNA has to offer?

Tony Acero: I promised you guys more TNA, and in the interest of fairness, I have done so. One thing I did not want to do, however, is put my colleagues through watching the show if they truly didn’t want to. Admittedly, if they don’t want to watch it, I cannot force them nor do I want to because of the simple fact that their reviews will most likely be something a bit more on the edgier and skeptical side as opposed to a fan’s standpoint. Moreover, they simply don’t have the time. With that being said, I will have a couple of guests come and trade a question with me in the future regarding the beloved Impact Wrestling. This week, I am leaving it open for YOU, the Reader! That’s right, you will be involved here. In the coming weeks, I’ll have guest spots featuring Greg DeMarco and maybe even Wes Kirk!

Now then, the question. I firmly believe that this is currently the worst that TNA has to offer, but I say this with the knowledge that I have only watched the last three weeks of TNA and the PPV. I figured that was enough to go on to get started, however, and this is what I’ve come up with. First off, I haven’t the slightest idea what Bischoff’s role is, as it seems he doesn’t have any power and he’s not exactly the managerial type. Secondly, although I understand Hulk’s role as mentor/trainer, he has not aged well. His promos are often contradictory and he goes off on more tangents than I’ve ever seen. He tries to be creative with his words, but it doesn’t work and comes off both fake and stilted. Lastly, Bischoff’s son is pretty weak in the ring, all things considered. If I am to remove the last name and just see him as an up and comer, then perhaps the storyline would hold a bit more interest, but then I look back to the Zack Gowen experiment where Hulk was to be the mentor/trainer and it all of a sudden became more about Hogan and Vince than it did about anyone else. While I don’t know for sure, I do sense that happening all over again here.

READERS: ???