Your News, My Views 1.16.07

Today in Wrestling History:

Births and Deaths

Your News: Irondale, Alabama – The superstars of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling are set to face off in an unforgettable night of action at the Zamora Shrine Temple on Saturday, January 20.

Former Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle will take on “The Monster” Abyss in the main event, while the bad blood continues between “The War Machine” Rhino and “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles in a singles match-up. Also, BG of the Voodoo Kin Mafia will take on Bobby Roode, Austin Starr will battle Eric Young, Petey Williams and Sonjay Dutt will square off in X-Division action, and former best friends and tag team partners will turn enemies as “Wildcat” Chris Harris takes on “Cowboy” James Storm!

My Views: Sounds like a fine card. This is part of the move to TNA not having the UWF house shows. They will run less shows, but fully under the TNA banner. Angle and Abyss is a fun match, AJ and Rhino have really good chemistry, BG vs. Roode is a throw away, the X Three way will be fun and Harris and Storm can get work in before they go one on one on PPV, which is smart. Sounds like a fun show all around.

Your News: It appears likely that TNA will air a taped special on Monday, February 12th. That is the Monday night that RAW is pre-empted for the dog show. The special will then re-air on Thursday night in TNA’s normal timeslot. This decision isn’t finalized but expected to happen.

My Views: About FN Time! I said they should have done this last year, but it is good to see they are doing it nonetheless. This is a prime opportunity to get the name out to an audience looking for wrestling on THE traditional wrestling night. They need to put on a GREAT card and GREAT matches to take full advantage of this.

Your News: Kurt Angle suffered a concussion in his match with Samoa Joe last night at the Final Resolution PPV. Angle sat on the apron for a bit after the match, and then headed to the back. When he was out of sight he asked for help from TNA staff. Angle stated that he didn’t remember parts of the match, and was praising Samoa Joe for carrying the match after he was injured. He reportedly felt better later on in the evening.

My Views: You know, going back and watching the match I can’t pinpoint the exact point, although he says about 8-minutes in but it makes sense. There was a time or two where he had a confused look about him and I thought it was exhaustion or forgetting what he had planned. The good news is that he felt better later on, and while a concussion is always serious, this one looks to be not too bad. Hopefully he takes it easy in the next few weeks so he can make sure he is alright.

Your News: Kurt Angle was on the syndicated NBC program iVillage Live this morning. He was announced as a TNA wrestler and took part in a cooking segment. He praised TNA, mentioned Samoa Joe and why he thought TNA was a better company than WWE. He discussed the heart disease that runs in his family as well and recommended regular heart exams. Angle looked fine on the program, showing no effects of the concussion.

My Views: It is always good when you can get the TNA name out to the public, and Angle seemed to do a fine job here. He repeatedly mentioned the name of the promotion, put it over as well as Joe and made sure people knew where he was. All in all it sounds like a solid appearance.

Your News: Scheduled for the Impact tapings this evening is LAX vs. Team 3D, NWA Champion Christian Cage cutting a promo and a reported “PPV Level” Main Event, which will be AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle.

My Views: Why? Why would you do this? First of all let’s discuss the fact that Angle just had a concussion on Sunday, one day before. It isn’t even that it is Kurt Angle, why would you schedule a match with ANYONE that just suffered a concussion the day before, no matter how minor it may have been? This is just not a good idea. And then you have the fact that you are not only giving away a PPV caliber match on free TV, not even a special like in February; but also a FIRST TIME MEETING between Angle and Styles. To me this is bad business and Russo-Riffic. The good news is that it will only last 2-minutes knowing match lengths on Impact.

WOTW~!

Column of Honor!

Friendly Competition!

The Ripple Effect!

Hidden Highlights!

FINK~!

The Goodness!

Shining a Spotlight!

The R’s of New Years Revolution!

Your News: Triple H had quad surgery yesterday in Birmingham, AL under the knife of Dr. James Andrews. The early report is that the surgery was a success. The quadriceps tear came off of the bone and the kneecap of his right leg and was reattached. He will now begin rehab and is expected to be out 4-6 months.

My Views: It is good to hear that everything went as planned. The H’s have a long way to go now to recover and properly rehab and I wish him the best.

Your News: ECW scored a 1.4 rating on Tuesday, and did quarter hours of 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.4, and a 1.6 for the overrun.

My Views: This cannot be encouraging for the ECW brand. They have dropped almost an entire ratings point since the debut of the show and as of right now they are showing no signs of recovery. This will be interesting to watch.

Your News: The Paul Heyman action figure has been pulled from the first series of ECW figures to be released.

My Views: Who would want a Paul E Action figure? Obviously they will want the double Trump/Rosie set they will be releasing soon.

Your News: CM Punk is currently in the doghouse, probably as he disagreed with the layout of the Elimination Chamber match with Arn Anderson and Michael Hayes who were the producers for it. For this week’s ECW TV Dave Lagana had written that Punk should get Holly in the vice and Holly should turn over, grab a rope and pin Punk. In the production meeting when the TV was being put together the whole room turned on Punk when Lagana told them his idea. Arn Anderson especially was against him, saying the Holly should make Punk pay his dues as he’s just “Heyman’ guy” and not any good so Holly shouldn’t need to cheat to pin him. Anderson also said Punk was only over because Heyman fluked it and shouldn’t be happening. Punk was personally told by Anderson that “after 14 years on being on WWE TV, Holly is the bigger star” as an explanation why the heel should pin the baby face clean. The actual finish was Finlay’s idea.

My Views: That’s what you get for out popping DX dude, I told you, you would pay for that. I can understand them not wanting him to submit Show in the Chamber as he wasn’t built up that much for something like that, but at the same time that could have made him. As far as the decision for him to lose to Holly I broke that down in the R’s last week. Lagana’s idea would have been much better I feel, but apparently the “old guard” feels the way that many in the company do about Punk, which is a shame because he is about the only star they have made in the “new” ECW.

Your News: Rumors abound that WWE is currently in the early staged of trying to put together a new Hart Foundation. The current idea would see it comprised of Harry Smith, Nattie Neidhart, Teddy Hart and TJ Wilson. Harry has been signed for a while now and Nattie was signed to a developmental deal just recently. She will be reporting to Deep South soon. Teddy Hart’s contract with WSX is up in February however there is a massive question mark over him do to his past history and reputation. They are having problems with TJ Wilson’s work visa, which they are currently trying to work out. With Survivor Series coming up this year from Montreal (10 years after the Screw Job), they would like to have them on TV as established characters by then so they can have a prominent role in the show.

My Views: Remember kids, you heard that here first months ago. I don’t care who write a column about it after the fact and that it is being reported now. I will expect my royalty checks any day from various people.

Your News: Monty Brown is included in WWE.com’s ECW lineup for the New Zealand tour next month. Sylvester Terkay, Elijah Burke and Trinity are all included with ECW as well.

My Views: So it appears as if Monty will be a part of ECW. While nothing is ever set in stone with WWE, that looks to be the plan. I don’t know about that. I think that Monty would benefit more from being on Smackdown due to the talents he could work with to help him improve, his style of entertainment and the editing factor to help out if need be.

Your News: Meanwhile, a revamped Gene Snitsky could fill the role planned for The Great Khali in ECW.

My Views: This could be horrendous or great, I am not sure.

Your News: There is some talk of moving Davari back to Smackdown for the Cruiserweight Division.

My Views: Smackdown has a Cruiserweight division?

Your News: Sylvain Grenier was pulled over on I74 around 3PM, according to the Peoria Journal Star. He was apparently doing 96 mph in a 55 mph zone due to being late for the WWE house show.

My Views: Take that JR, I discussed it!

Your News: THQ announced today that they have signed a five year deal with UFC to do their video games. THQ does WWE’s games also. “We see WWE as an entertainment brand, while UFC is a true sports brand,” said THQ exec VP of worldwide publishing Kelly Flock. Vince McMahon considers UFC to be direct competition to WWE.

My Views: Very interesting. This is a needed thing for UFC as they are hot right now. They also need a DVD distribution deal so that they can take full advantage of all the revenue that they can. Apparently this was a heated point of discussion in WWE over the last few days.

Reader Email Time:

From Drew –

I just want to say something about your WrestleMania matches. You mentioned HBK possibly vs. Cena. While the match is unique yes, I have different idea. I’d much rather see Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania, for 2 reasons: 1 is that they’re both older and breaking down and both will be retired within the coming years most likely and 2 is that if you think about it, they never really did finish there feud years ago.

I recall that there was a Tag match the night DX formed against Taker and Mankind and it ended with DQ with HBK knocking Taker loopy with a chair. Then at an In Your House PPV they battled again but I think it was DQ as well. Then the first ever Hell in a Cell Match and later Casket match for the title which Kane cost him both times to build there feud. I just think that Taker and HBK should do one last fight, with no interferences, a legend vs. legend thing and see who finally is the best.

HBK vs. Taker would be fun as Taker can bring it with the right guy (See: Angle, Kurt.) The Legend vs. Legend tag would work well, and I would dig the match. Not a bad idea Drew, good thinking.

From Will –

Was reading your views of what WWE should do since HHH is on the shelf. Personally I was not a fan of the original idea of an HHH/Cena rematch in the first place and while I like your rationale about your proposed match ups there is one that is better that you have yet to talk about.

Batista vs. Cena.

I think that is the money match and it is sorely needed for this mania as there is not much on the table for mania. They also have a bit of a history going back to the rumble two years ago. I think fans would want to see it. I think it would also be a good idea to unify the titles and have one champion who would float between both the main shows (ECW doesn’t count as a main show). Think it would make the championship mean more. I would do that with the IC and tag belts as well to build the mid cards and tag divisions. WWE wouldn’t even have to do that though. Batista could lose the belt to Taker and find a way to get a shot at Cena.

Another match that would be good for mania is Edge vs. Taker, with Edge finally breaking Taker’s streak. Taker is not getting any younger and Edge is someone that will not be leaving the company any time soon.

Sorry for rambling but I feel that when you mentioned the RAW main event for mania I should comment on the lack of build. Ford Field is a huge venue and they need some matches that will get people excited quickly. Since we are not getting an Austin/Goldberg or Austin/Hogan I feel the two matches I listed are the best possible money matches they could get on short notice. What do you feel the main matches should be at Mania to build some interest quickly?

I didn’t mention Batista vs. Cena because, as far as I know they don’t plan on taking the title off of either and they also have no intention of ending the Brand Extension or unifying the champions. Also, while there may be good crowd heat, the match would most likely suck.

I also agree that they don’t “seem” to have a lot of easy to see plans for WM. But it IS WM and between the WWE name and it being WM, they will sell an ass-load of tickets and PPV buy, so they aren’t as worried about that factor as you or I.

From Peirrre –

Okay, I may be acting like an idiot now, but I feel very sick from these reports on expected WrestleMania matches.

I mean, a rematch from last year for the WWE Title is forgivable (of course, I still feel they shoved it down our throats), but now that The King of Kings is gone, what good wrestler can take on Cena. And then…

The Great Khali. Okay, I hear he’s now in Raw, so what would be the problem for both Raw and ECW. The rumored (I HOPE TO GOD SO!) Main Events; Cena vs. Khali for WWE title and Snitsky vs. Lashley for ECW Title. Oh God, I want to throw up!

No, no, no, no, NO! Look, I’m no expert, and if people want to call me a hater, fine. But this is the one WrestleMania I really have doubts on. Sure, I bitched that WM22 was going to be bad, but I enjoyed the good parts of the event so much. But if what they have planned is legit, this may be the only WM I won’t buy on DVD. Sure, it is just a few months away, so there are possible changes. I just can’t see myself taking this seriously as of right now. I really hope HBK/Edge/Orton can fit in the WWE title scene instead of Khali, too bad for ECW. Well, Happy 2007, and hopefully this WrestleMania won’t be as bad as I think it could be!

I love to see people rant.

And finally from Paul D –

Just a quick thought on the Vicky situation.

I, like many others was pissed off about how the WWE was (mis)using the memory of Eddie, particularly as applies to Rey Mysterio. The current situation is nowhere near as bad as this, though still could be lived without, in my opinion.

My point is, we don’t know what goes on in the private lives of wrestlers, and nor should we. We don’t know what Eddie’s feelings were regarding the use of his name on TV after he was gone. Who’s to say that after he almost died in that car crash several years back that he didn’t say to his wife ‘Do what you’ve got to do’.

We, as fans, only look to what we perceive to be slights on the memory of Eddie based on our like/love/admiration of the man from afar. We don’t know his feelings on the matter, we only criticize because WE don’t like what’s happening.

I find the criticism of Vicky – never mind the mocking of her appearance from some quarters – to be in bad taste considering the fact that we know nothing of the situation behind the scenes. Hell, we barely even know the real Eddie that only his family and close friends knew.

I really think that Vicky is doing what she thinks is best for her and her kids, and for us to judge her based on nothing but our own pre-conceived ideas speaks more about us as wrestling fans than it does about her or her family.

A final thought, how would we respond if the WWE did not acknowledge Eddie in some shape or form, be it storyline or tribute?

Keep up the good work, truly the hardest workingman in the IWC. Cheers, all the best for you and yours in 2007.

Thanks Paul. I have pretty much said my peace on the whole Vicky deal. I don’t want to change people’s opinions or anything like that, I find the angle to be in bad taste, her use in bad taste and I have had enough of it. I do appreciate your thoughts on it though man, keep it real in Black Pool and take care!

Don’t fruit the beer.

MAN LAW~!