The Way I C It 09.24.07: It Could Be! It Should Be! It Won’t Be

Before I get into this week’s promised topic, I want to touch on a couple of issues.

The Way I C Survivor: China

No, I’m not ashamed to admit I watch it. It’s a great show for anyone who enjoys social interaction and the study of people in general.

First, from what we’ve seen on camera, nobody has recognised Ashley yet. She’s been on TV well over a year, on a highly rated show, yet none of her fellow castaways have said “ZOMG I’m like such a huge fan!!!” Why is this a big deal? Rewind even 5 years. If Sable, Trish, hell even Ivory had been on a show like this, I have $10 that says SOMEbody would have recognised them and been asking them about the business non-stop. This could work in Ashley’s favour. Fans of the show will remember the ex-pro quarterback who was voted off because he blatantly did not need the money. There was also a used car salesman who, although he won it, was questioned about needing the million. Ashley made $250k in her first year, guaranteed, plus a bonus from Playboy and who knows what she renewed at.

It seems that next week, her skills as a wrestler (yes, I know, it surprised me too) are going to come in handy, as they have a physical challenge. After a week start where some sort of stomach bug incapacitated her for the first day, she needs a strong showing in the challenge and overall to stay put. Plus, she rubs her tribe’s leader the wrong way (this is a family show! Minds out of gutters!), thus making a strong showing all the more vital.

The Way I C the E

When are Vince and Company going to realise that death angles need to be avoided? I understand they needed a payoff to the Teddy/Kristal thing, and that it had to involve Teddy leaving the air somehow. I also see why they didn’t use the obvious ploy of Kristal saying no. So why not have Teddy say no? A heart attack, with so many wrestlers dying of heart conditions, is just another flip of the bird to anyone with an eye on the industry.

Batista? Again? Seriously? Some punishment. So I was wrong about him, but he was the guy vehemently denying any wrongdoing, and was only mentioned in one report, so who knows?

The cards are nicely set up for Orton to work an injury angle after No Mercy. It will completely discredit him as a legitimate threat, but it’s his own damn fault.

Am I the only person alive who doesn’t care if JBL wrestles again?

I’m becoming a bigger Santino Marella fan every week. This guy knows how to be a heel. He just needs a feud that can go somewhere, and a chance to show that he can go in the ring.

I wonder if we saw Hacksaw’s final match? I mean, was there any other possible reason for that flag match?

The Way I C Underrated Wrestlers: It Could Be, It Should Be…It Isn’t

As promised, 5 guys who should be strapping on 10 pounds of extra weight, but aren’t and likely never will. Whether because of politics, perceived lacks of talent, or wrong place, wrong time issues, these guys are not now, and will probably never be again, major champions. For the sake of the article, I am classing “major” as:
WWE World/Heavyweight Title
WWE Intercontinental/US Titles
NWA/TNA “World” Title
ECW “World” Title
RoH World Title (that’s right, no quotes)
I’m also not going to include people close to the end of their careers (Flair, Michaels, Taker) who have had tremendously successful pasts.

5. Val Venis
Val’s held the IC title on more than one occasion, and has had some decent pushes in years past. He’s not going to come near gold again, though. Given the chance, Val can go with anyone, in any style, and make it look good. His gimmick got stale years ago, and really only recaptured my interest during a brief upper midcard feud a few years back when he started using the testicular claw. RoH would know JUST how to use this guy (hell, they got BRENT F’IN ALBRIGHT over), but he’s set for life in the E with his cushy developmental job.

4. AJ Styles
Believe me, I really did not want to put this guy anywhere near this list. But alas, I fear that unless he goes back to RoH (which I may just discuss next week), his title days are done. He may get another tag run, or an X-Division shot, but TNAngle has a hard-on for ex-WWE guys now more than ever. And when you consider I almost put Samoa Joe here…Yes, I know AJ has done the Triple Crown in TNA, but that was completely devalued by Angle doing it ALONE and all at once. And I refuse to believe even RUSSO is dumb enough not to put the big strap on Joe at some point.

3. Claudio Castagnoli
And I just outraged half the RoH fans reading this column. Sorry guys, but let’s face facts. Right now, he’s at least 3rd, and possibly as far back as 5th, in the RoH pecking order, behind Danielson and McGuinness, and possibly Aries and Strong. This presumes Morishima is on a Shingo-type extended loan. He’s stuck in a feud with Chris Hero that he’s likely to lose, thus putting him behind Hero in the rankings. And, although he does everything well, he’s not the best at anything: Strong and possible McGuinness outstrike him, Danielson is a better technician, Aries and Strong are both better with the impact moves, Aries flies better. He also can’t work the stick. I’m a big fan, but that waist will stay empty, unless he gets some tag team gold.

2. Randy Orton
I’m really going out on a limb here, because Randall K Orton, Esq has been given more than enough chances to show that he can stay clean and well-behaved long enough to carry a title. However, so far, he’s failed. He has suffered from a poor booking decision to hotshot his face turn and give him the strap, only to put it back on HHH. This title run is widely considered the worst idea in the last 5 years. That much was not his fault. But the rest is bordering on Teddy Hart levels of stupid. Two 3rd generation stars who really want to coast, huh? From steroids to other drugs to harassment to crapping in gym bags, Orton has really gone out of his way to get fired. It won’t happen, because he has a marketable face, his family is well-known, and he can put on the matches when called on. But I think that this time, with his latest indiscretion coming at the worst possible time, he’s finally blown his last chance.

1. Christopher Daniels
Now seriously, who saw that coming? The only reason Daniels beats Orton is that Daniels has never won a major title. Let that sink in for a second. This is a man who was in on the ground floor with RoH, a man who has been with TNA virtually since day 1. Of the big names who left RoH (Styles, Joe, Daniels, Punk, arguably Low Ki), Daniels has received the fewest title runs of any kind. Low Ki aside, the others have all BEEN World champions. Throw in Austin Aries, who’s now back in RoH, and the list becomes worse. Daniels is ridiculously good on the mic, talented in the ring, and has always been over with the TNA crowd. He’s never wrestled for the TNA belt. In RoH he got shots, but only ever held tag team gold. It verges on criminal.

That’s me done for another week. Feedback is always welcome, even if it’s negative. Feel free to send arguments, opinions, omissions, money…