411 Fact or Fiction 1.17.08: The Big Show Returning, Chris Harris Leaving, Foley Retiring and More!

1. WWE RAW not be pre-empted by the Westminster dog show this year is a huge positive for the company’s standing with NBC Universal.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. So it comes down to the dog show or a dog of a show, huh? J/K. This is going to be something of an off-the-path response, but bear with me (and please note I am not terribly business-minded, it’s simply a point of view). Back in the day, when Raw was pulling in 5.0s – 6.0s on a regular basis, WWE’s fanbase was so strong and dedicated, USA had the luxury of switching Raw’s night and/or time, confident the audience would follow along and tune in. Now, however, when it isn’t entirely unheard of for SmackDown! to slightly outdraw the so-called A-show, although Raw provides USA with a solid, consistent number, I hesitate to consider this a mandate of good faith; rather, it seems to me USA has more faith in fans of the Shih Tzu division than the Women’s division.

Steve Cook: FACT. I don’t know if it’s a “huge” positive, but I do know this…I remember when I was a little wrestling fan that watched WWF Monday Night Raw every week. It was often the highlight of my week because I didn’t have much else going for me in life. When you’re a geek, that’s how it is. I remember being so disappointed when Raw would be pre-empted for a stupid dog show. The US Open didn’t bother me so much because sometimes a hot female tennis player would be on the show, but there was nothing worthwhile about the dog show. I didn’t know how advertising worked back then, and I didn’t understand why USA would take my wrestling off the air just so they can show some stupid dogs running around. It sucked. Now that NBC Universal has seen the light and realizes that wrestling gets better ratings than dogs, that makes me happy…even if I don’t enjoy Raw as much as I used to. To actually answer the question, the fact that somebody at USA realizes that Raw does better ratings than a dog show can only mean good things for WWE’s standing with the network.

Score: 0 for 1

2. Chris Harris leaving TNA is a big loss for the company.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. And I proclaim that in despondent fashion. Chris Harris leaving TNA *should* be a big loss for the company, but it’s not. Breaking up AMERICA’S MOST WANTED should have been a huge springboard for at least one of its members, but their spilt was treated as perfunctory and arbitrary by TNA management. I’m not going to raise any red flags just yet, but Dixie should keep an eye on this situation because it *could* be seen as a harbinger of things to come. Instead of chasing after WWE’s most recent release with her nose up their butt laboring under the misapprehension that “X” will bring in viewers because they used to be with the Fed, she needs to start pushing the people who made her franchise in the first place, Harris being one of them.

Steve Cook: FICTION. I’m not taking anything away from Harris’ talent, because anybody who knows me knows that I’m a mark for guys out of the Northern Kentucky area, and I’m a big fan of the Wildcat. That being said, TNA wasn’t doing a whole hell of a lot with the guy. Could more have been done? Sure, but as much as I like Harris, I don’t see him as the kind of guy that you can build a national wrestling company around. He’s a solid worker but not great, and his microphone skills aren’t the best. Harris is best in a tag team situation, which is why America’s Most Wanted was one of the best tag teams of this decade. Hell, you could say they were the best. But when you’re not using somebody, it makes their departure not much of a loss because they might as well not have even been there anyway and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. This is the case of Chris Harris, and I hope that he makes one more stop at Shimmers Tavern before going up north.

Score: 1 for 2

3. It is being said that 2008 will be Mick Foley’s final year wrestling and he will then retire. That being then said, you feel that Mick Foley will return to wrestle in 2009.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. At least on a full-time basis. I can see him coming back to do one more angle and then a blow-off at WrestleMania or SURVIVOR SERIES, one of the biggies, but as far as his semi-retirement thing we’ve seen over the past few years, no, I think Mrs. Foley’s baby boy will hang em up…and, as much as it pains me to say it, that’s a good thing. Few have as much Mick love as have I, but when he waddled down the ramp on Monday to be Horny Bastard McMahon’s partner, I was like, “Oh, for Flair’s sake, again?! Mick, dood, you look awful.” I don’t want to feel that way about one of the greatest performers in the history of the business. There are those like Hogan who come back because he’s needy and greedy; Foley’s at least, returned to put over young talent like Randy Orton and Edge (hmm…and who are our World Champions…?). I’d love it if he could take a managerial role or if he was given the book on Mondays, but in the ring? Mick, sir, thank you, but you’ve given enough. You’ll never be forgotten and always be revered. Give your body a rest

Steve Cook: FACT. It’s like our President says…fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-we can’t get fooled again. We’ve all heard this song and dance before from Mick, haven’t we? “Oh, I’m gonna retire and it’s actually gonna mean something.” Sure, Mick. Whatever you say. Don’t get me wrong, Mick Foley is one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, is a fine human being from all accounts and has provided us with too many memories to list here. But don’t feed me this retirement garbage because I ain’t buying it. And anybody with half a brain won’t buy it either, because a Mick Foley retirement means about as much as a Terry Funk retirement. Oh, and one more thing…dude, if you really want to go out on a high note, don’t go into that ring 50 pounds overweight and tag team with a midget. Nobody wants that to be the final memory of a Hardcore Legend.

Score: 1 for 3

4. Chris Masters will end up in TNA during 2008.

Steve Cook: FACT. Masters is reportedly trying to get into TNA as we speak, and I think he might be a good fit there. In WWE he went about business the wrong way and was never given a chance to get up to the next level. It’s not his fault that WWE called him up to the main roster long before he should have been due to his physique and Vince’s hard-on for it. And it’s not his fault that they instituted a policy that made it impossible for him to maintain the one thing that got him on television to begin with. Sure, he got a big head, but wouldn’t you have a big head if you were his age and in the position that he was in? If Masters is going to be anything in this business, he needs to get down and dirty and find out how to really work. TNA, while certainly not the perfect place to do that, can serve that purpose for him. The TNA fans will likely accept him like they accept all the rest of the WWE rejects, and he can perfect his craft on a platform that isn’t quite as big as Monday Night Raw. From interviews I’ve seen, Masters seems like a guy that wants to learn and wants to succeed, and TNA just might be the place for him to do that.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. At least I HOPE not. Masters’ story in the business thus far has been a sad one, really. He was screwed by his own company, brought up from development too early, saddled with a gimmick he had to break the company’s own rules to maintain and then was let go when he couldn’t straddle the delicate balance between extremes. Add to that the fact that he was pretty crummy on the mic and was booked in absolute one-dimensional fashion his entire run on two shows and one has to think he was given a raw deal, pardon the pun.

In the aftermath of his WWE release, Masters has shown intelligence, class and drive in that he’s not allowed this set back to bury his passion and that’s to be commended. Best of all, though, is the fact that he’s set his eyes on Japan with the intension of improving his craft, which is a proven method by which raw talent willing to improve can do so. That said, I think it would be a shame for Masters to derail himself from this path, as I think it will serve him VERY well to spend a couple years in Japan in the overall picture. Perhaps 2010 would be a good time for him to set his sites upon returning to America, where he can allow his talent dictate his course, and not a misappropriated gimmick and apathetic company.

Score: 1 for 4

5. It has been reported that the Big Show has agreed to or has signed a new deal to return to the WWE. The Big Show returning to WWE is not a big deal for the company.

Steve Cook: FACT. Is Big Show a good performer? Sure. Is he a unique attraction? Sure. Does he have cool entrance music? No doubt about it. Is the Big Show big box office? No. He never drew that much money when he was on top of the company before…I’d place him on the tier below guys like Austin, Rock, Triple H, UT, Foley, etc. It’s nice to have the big guy back, but it’s not going to make a difference in the ratings or ticket sales. In order for something to be a big deal, it’d have to make both of those things go up. You know whose return would make both ticket sales and ratings go up? The Rock. That would be a big deal. Big Show…not so much. Of course, the WWE fans reading this will probably say Big Show’s return will bring the return of the wrestling boom and ratings will go through the roof…I wish it was that easy, but it’s not.

Geoff Eubanks: FACT. Again, as with Chris Harris’ TNA departure, stated with regret. Quite frankly, I was surprised to hear this news, as, just a few months ago, it seemed, Paul Wight was referring to “Big Show” as his “slave name.” However, to the issue at hand, considering the tepid booking treatment Chris Jericho, a talent for who fans have been clamoring to see return to the ring, has received, one can only imagine what’s in store for someone like Show, whom no one has really missed, I daresay, and all deference to Mr. Wight. Big Show/Great Khali at WrestleMania 24, anyone? I KNOW…the sleep I’ve lost praying…

Score: 2 for 5

6. TNA made the right call when the booked the Knockouts Title change on Impact last week.

Steve Cook: FICTION. Honestly, they goofed the thing up when they didn’t put the title on Kong to begin with. You’re supposed to build up the dominant heel as a champion and have the plucky babyface chase the heel to get the belt. TNA reversed it up on us for reasons that defy me, and had Kong destroy the rest of the division while Gail sat around with her belt and waited to get killed. That being said, I didn’t mind getting to watch the title change on free television. So why should I get all worked up about this? Sorry Larry, I know this is the part where you would insert this:

But, I got to see a good match on TV for free. If TNA puts more good matches on TV for free, maybe more people will pay money to see even better matches on PPV. It’s so crazy that it just might work! So while I say FICTION, I applaud TNA’s efforts and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Geoff Eubanks: FICTION. But are you surprised? I first agreed with this decision when I heard Gail Kim, the Knockouts champion, suffered an injury at the PPV. If Kim is injured, have her drop the belt ASAP, get her into rehab and let her heal up, allow Awesome Kong to run wild with the belt in the meantime, then book a triumphant return for Kim when she’s well. Classic, basic booking.

However, if Kim ISN’T injured, then this is just more ass-stupid booking from everyone’s second-favorite Vince. This was hailed by EVERYONE as being the best-booked program in TNA, bar none, in eons. Why would TNA give away such an important match on free TV? I mean, holy Hogan-Goldberg, Batman. Okay, not to suggest that Kong/Kim would have touched that blown buy-rate, but, really. Such a shame, because trash stinks all over, not just in a localized manner and if they’re doing the ladies this way, when, here to fore, everything’s been done superbly, what chance have the men got…?

Score: 3 for 6

These two finish 3 for 6! Come on back next week for more of 411 Fact or Fiction: Wrestling Edition!