The Triple Threat 1.28.07: The 35th Edition

First, before we begin, Alex wanted to say a few words before he left on the trip.

Alex: Hey everyone? Man what a couple of weeks in wrestling huh? When we last left off in was on the heels of Final Resolution, since then CC was crowned the new NWA champion, 731 people were fired by the E, ROH annoucned that they are going over seas once again, not to the UK to Japan. HUGE news from Ring Of Honor. The reason I am not a part of the column this week is because I’m on the road going to the Royal Rumble, Raw, and every Texas indy show along the way. Should be a great weekend. I’ll be back next week with live reports from the shows, until then everyone take care.

Topic #1 Even though it wasn’t their official debut date. Wrestling Society X had their first show on Friday Night, what did you think of it? And do they have a good outlook for the future?

David Martell: I thought WSX was turned out better then I thought it would be. The first match between Sydel and Jack Evens was a pretty good match that used a lot of indy style moves which is surprising for a wrestling TV show. The rumble match they had later on was alright but a lot of it was over done such as the “live electrical wires” and the big explosions that happened when someone landed in it. I also thought the announcer was way over doing his part. It did have a different feel and all in all it was alright for a 30 minute wrestling show.

Samuel Berman: WSX was so hot-and-cold for me that it was hard to decide whether or not I liked it. I like that it’s giving wrestlers like Matt Sydal, Jack Evans, Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, Colt Cabana and the Dragon Gate guys a chance to apply their trade on a national stage. I dislike that there were enough quick camera cuts that I’m probably going to take Dramamine before I watch it again. I like that it’s going to be on after Two A Days, which might help bring a non-wrestling audience to the fold. I dislike that they’re using stupid death match gimmicks like ‘live electrical wires’ and ‘cages rigged with explosives’, because it makes the whole thing look like a carnival hack job. In terms of long-term outlook, I think it’ll be easier to gauge what WSX is really about after a few more episodes. For now, it’s hard to tell whether all of this is just a flight of fancy for MTV or whether they’re looking to possibly development of another true national company. In the end, will WSX start to run weekly shows year round? Will MTV help the company’s exposure by having Matt Sydal appear on The Real World or Jack Evans show up at the MTV Movie Awards? Is PPV (a staple of the wrestling business) in WSX’s future? If I had to guess, I’d say that we’re looking at a one-season run (two at best) before MTV finds something else to do, but if the exposure can help some of the Independent scene’s best strut their stuff and get a national spotlight, then who am I to complain?

Sean Garmer: This was the debut and it was ridiculously crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this, ever. WSX is what TNA tried to be while they were on FSN and luckily for them they were able to find a different television station. Unless this gets Real World type numbers I don’t see MTV keeping this thing for more than two years. I know all these wrestling purists and smart guys are going to say “this isn’t wrestling and all it does is create a bunch of spots.” As a person that doesn’t take wrestling too seriously, they have something here. The biggest name they have on their roster is X-Pac and for the casual fan that doesn’t get too involved in storylines, MTV needs to do something to set themselves apart. Having all these gimmick matches maybe aren’t good for the “wrestling business” but it may work in drawing viewers to WSX. It has that “did you see what he just did” factor, and the “that’s new” deal. Jack Evans vs. Matt Sydal was good and if they can get some exposure that’s awesome for them. The Battle Royal was ridiculous and you had to be on speed, to keep up with everything that was constantly happening. However, it was their first show and we will have to see how they do in the next few weeks.

Topic #2 Kurt Angle wants to do MMA, and a possible fight with Tito Ortiz. Should he do this?

David Martell: I really think Kurt has gone crazy. I really don’t know how healthy Kurt is and I would hate to see him get his ass kicked in his first match.

Samuel Berman: Let me be clear on this: absolutely not. Angle has spent the last seven-and-a-half years working with opponents who were intentionally NOT trying to injure him. It’s also important to note the number of times he has been INJURED under those circumstances, including in his most recent match with Samoa Joe (who is a consummate professional). Would Angle vs. Ortiz probably pop a decent buyrate? Sure. However, if Angle puts himself into a truly competitive atmosphere, and one in which he’s never before contended at that, with a fighter of Ortiz’s caliber, he’s only asking for trouble.

Sean Garmer: Angle under no circumstances should attempt to do MMA. He has not been in there with real competition since the 1996 Olympics. Tito is a terrific fighter and he has too much pride to not go all out on a big name from the wrestling world like Kurt Angle. If anything Angle should ask Jarrett what Tito thinks of wrestlers that have too much to say. I really hope they don’t clear Angle for this, he would be on the fast track to permanent injury if he keeps this up. Sure this would do a great buyrate for UFC but is Angle’s health worth that? No, it’s not, and obviously, Angle can’t even think straight because he said in a recent interview that “TNA is getting better ratings than SmackDown.” Yeah, not even close there buddy. Angle would only be causing himself harm if he stepped into an MMA ring.

Topic #3 Hulk Hogan wants to have a match with Great Khali or Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania 23. Would you want to see either one of these match-ups?

David Martell: To be honest with you, I really don’t want to see Hogan at Wrestlemania, well at least not wrestling. I do not want to see a Hogan vs. Khali match, I would much rather settle for a Hogan vs. Shane match. We will just have to wait and see what happens with this.

Samuel Berman: I don’t want to watch Khali wrestle under any circumstance. Ever. Period. As for Shane, I’ve always liked his in-ring work, actually. His early matches against X-Pac and Test were big, featured matches on important Pay-Per-Views and each one came across well. He’s always shown an ability to put over an opponent as well as bring the goods himself. All that being said, I don’t really want to see Hogan on my TV anymore, so long story short: Hogan vs. Khali, no way, Hogan vs. Shane, if they must.

Sean Garmer: Obviously the reason Hogan wants the match with Khali is because he’s the closest thing they have to Andre these days. He wants to recreate the magic of Wrestlemania 3, twenty years later. It’s a novel concept but at least Andre could move around. Khali is inept in the ring and even though he’s a monster, at his age, Hogan should not be trying to slam people of that size. The other idea was to have Shane McMahon w/ Vince & Khali vs. Hogan w/ Donald Trump. I like that match better, because Shane would be able to make Hogan look like a million bucks, Hogan could still slam Khali, and it would tie-in the Vince vs. Trump storyline. It may be silly, but I think it could draw some extra viewers to Mania 23.

Topic #4 Since we missed last week. Did WWE make a mistake in releasing any of those wrestlers?

David Martell: None of the released talent was really much of a surprise. I didn’t really care too much for any of them and stuff like this happens in the business of wrestling. Seems to me they are just making more space for new talent, which is always a good idea.

Samuel Berman: Not by my count. I’ve always been a fan of Al Snow in the ring, but his best role for WWE at this point in his career is as a trainer for their next generation. If they had let him go outright, that would have been a major miscalculation. Everyone else had either run their course for the company or was going to be indefinitely stuck in the bottom-of-the-card carousel. Besides, if this house cleaning gives guys like Ace Steel a chance to strut their stuff on the national stage, all the better.

Sean: Not really, they did the smart thing in keeping Al Snow on as a trainer, but other than that, all the releases were fine. The two tag teams were not doing anything. Even though the Bashams could have been reunited to help out either brand. Bill Demott apparently pissed off some people and that’s why he’s gone. As far as the others, well they were pretty much taking up space on the roster and pretty much in jobber land. I guess Shannon Moore should consider himself lucky? If this opens up opportunities for new guys to step up, I don’t have a problem with that. On a final note, I wish Jazz and Rodney Mack the best of luck in the future, since they like to travel around Texas a lot. Maybe we will see them back here again soon.

Fun Topic of the Week: It’s prediction time guys. Who’s going to win the Royal Rumble this year?

David Martell: This is how I think it is going to go down at the rumble: The final four guys in the rumble are going to be Edge, HBK, Orton and The Undertaker. These are the four men who everyone thinks is going to win which would be perfect and plus they did the same thing last year which worked out well. I, think when it is all said and done (at least I hope) it will end up Orton on top with a title shot at Wrestlemania.

Samuel Berman: It would be totally unreasonable for me to flip-flop on my prediction from the 411 Staff Roundtable. so I’m sticking with “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. Undertaker can get a title shot at Wrestlemania without winning the Rumble with the storyline being that he’s putting his undefeated streak on the line. Orton and Edge seem to be on a collision course for a match against each other. The field (including Booker and Rob Van Dam) is unlikely to pull out an underdog victory. Combine all that with a real fire and brimstone promo from Shawn on RAW, and you’ve got another Rumble win for HBK.

Sean Garmer: I’m going to agree with Samuel and go with HBK. Also you have to thrown in the fact that the PPV is also in San Antonio. HBK won the title last time he was there for a PPV. He seems to be the one that is going to carry RAW in Triple H’s absence and that’s all good. His promo and match on Monday showed why he is still one of the standard bearers of this industry. Taker seems to be the runner-up, but could very well win since he’s never done that before. So that then he could go on to Wrestlemania and capture the title one last time. I’ve always felt Taker deserved one last title reign before he retired. EDGE and Orton are the other two that could win, with Orton being the more likely because a Cena vs. Orton match-up would be a nice feud, even though I can’t stand Orton. Whatever ends up happening is fine with me, but I will be rooting for my favorite old HBK tonight.

Topic #6 TNA received some good news this week that their April PPV, Lockdown will be held in St. Louis Missouri. Then it was announced that they will have another Basebrawl with current World Series MVP David Eckstein’s team vs. the former World Series MVP Dave Pierzynski’s team. Should TNA be doing this baseball thing again?

David Martell: That’s great that TNA continues to move shows and PPV’s out of Orlando. I really think the baseball stuff is stupid but it does bring publicity and it will put out there product once again. It may be stupid but they will make some money off of this angle.

Samuel Berman: The real answer is ‘probably not’, but I like David Eckstein (and his Cardinals) enough to overlook it. Bringing in mainstream stars (and high-profile baseball players do fit that bill) is a good thing for an up-and-coming wrestling promotion, because it lends credibility of a sort to the company. However, I’m not wild about those mainstream stars getting directly involved (as competitors OR managers) with the in-ring product. In the end, it’s probably not that big of a deal, and the upside is probably worth more than the downside of potentially tanking of one match on one PPV. So while the real answer is “probably not,” it is not actually all that far from “why not.”

Sean Garmer: I’m happy for TNA that they can take another PPV out of Orlando. Hopefully, they sell out that 10,000 seat arena in St. Louis. I know TNA is trying to take advantage of the home crowd with this baseball deal. It gives them some extra publicity going into the whole thing, and that’s great for them. I just wish they could focus a little more on how to make the TNA talent better, excluding all the ex WWE talent. I hope by this time Joe will be in the spotlight and not Angle & Christian.

Topic # 7 One of WWE’s most important PPV is on tonight. The 20th Royal Rumble airs this evening, what do you think of the card?

David Martell: The Royal Rumble card this year looks pretty solid. I am kind of excited about Kennedy vs. Batista mainly because this is Kennedy’s first title match of, hopefully, many to come. I doubt hes going to come out on top but let’s hope he can make the match at least watchable. Cena vs. Umaga could be interesting because its a last man standing match and it could make Cena look good because he is taking down the “monster.” Everything else looks pretty good as well but of course I am most looking forward to is the Rumble itself. Lets hope that Orton ends up on top.

Samuel Berman: Simply put, it’s solid. Batista and Kennedy can probably put on a good show, and Cena will probably carry Umaga through a decent enough brawl. Lashley and Test will probably be sub par, but I’m willing to be pleasantly surprised. I’m excited to see what MNM and the Hardyz come up with, as they could put on a real show-stealer. The Rumble itself is obviously the lynch pin and will be what pushes the card significantly in one direction or the other. This isn’t going to be the 2000 Rumble card (HHH-Cactus, Hardyz-Dudleyz Tables Match, etc.), but it could certainly rise above middling expectations if everyone brings their A-game.

Sean Garmer: I guess I’ll be the third to use the word solid to describe this card. MNM vs. Hardyz could be great once again, but I expect them to save something for Wrestlemania. Lashley vs. Test wasn’t that bad on Tuesday, and it could be decent again on the PPV. Kennedy vs. Batista at GAB was actually good, and I expect something similar here, hopefully with an actual ending this time. Cena vs. Umaga provides some intrigue I guess. The rumble match of course is always the highlight of the night, and this will mark the first PPV I will watch as a fan in a long time. I can’t wait to cringe with every elimination in the Rumble. I hope to see the Lord’s man Shawn Michaels victorious at the end of the night. Just so I can jump and down with him one more time.

Well that is all for this week folks. Thanks everyone for reading. Well let us know what your opinions are with some feedback. It’s always good to have someone else to argue with besides these guys. Thanks again to Samuel Berman for helping us out this week, and don’t forget to read his stuff. We hope you enjoyed this edition of the column and we will see ya’s laters. Later Triple Threaters.

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