Well it's a small milestone but a mile stone nonetheless as this will mark the 29th consecutive day of doing this little blog thing. There have been a few times in which it was a little difficult to squeeze things in due to my crazy schedule, but in the end I have yet to miss a beat. When will the streak end? Who knows, let's just focus on the now. Which in terms of writing, this week promises to be a busy one but on the plus side; you the reader shall benefit. Or not, depending on whether or not you consider yourself to be a fan of my work. I guess all that matters is that you are here for the ride, even if I'm drunk and heading into the river.
Sunday August 30th, 2009
You know, last week I mentioned that I picked up "The Rise and Fall of WCW" DVD, which is a damn good buy for those wondering. It also got me doing a lot of reminiscing about the good old days of watching WCW. While I was always a bigger fan of some of the WWE's character, WCW put on some classic matches.
That kind of brings me to the point of today's post; it seems increasingly that more and more people look down on the product of WCW. Yet there are so many things that WCW did that reshaped the industry.
Think Wrestlemania was the first super card event? Sure, if you consider 1985 to be before 1983. The first Wrestlemania took place in 1985, whereas the first Starrcade event was held in 1983. Sure Vince and company made it to pay-per-view first but I'm sure the million dollar deal Vince struck with Jim Crockett might have helped that move along at a little faster pace. Even McMahon himself will say that.
You a fan of those evil heel main eventers? Do you find yourself pulling for the bad guy? Well thank WCW. Vince and company always catered to the good guys, and sending the crowd home happy. WCW on the other hand were one of the first mainstream companies to actually let heels (Harley Race and Ric Flair to name a few) carry the belt and consistently get the best of the good guys. What heel can you honestly say was doing that in the WWE at the time? Nobody, even when a heel touched a belt it was just to transition it right back to a face.
What about the NWO? Say what you will about the product, there isn't a single wrestling fan alive that doesn't know about that faction and if you were watching at the time you had to talk about the group. Hulk Hogan turning heel after being a face for nearly two decades was easily one of the best heel turns of all time. Not to mention, the early run the group had was simply must watch television week in and week out.
Lastly, while WWE was busy filling their shows with mostly entertainment segments; WCW was packing their shows full of solid wrestling. From the classic 2 out of 3 falls matches every week on TBS, even to the later days when Nitro started. You think the Smackdown Six was crazy how about this: Jericho, Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Hogan, Savage, Giant (Big Show), Ric Flair, Nash, Hall, etc (I could go on and on) all on one show. You had sheer talent in addition to big marquee names.
My point in all of this is the same I would have when talking about ECW. Yes, the company folded due to making several stupid mistakes in the later years; but that doesn't discredit all of the things they did right for years and years. While it may be cool to just poke fun of WCW since they are gone, the truth is their impact is felt still till this day. All I ask is give them the respect the federation deserves, and if you've never seen the product then do yourself a favor and start to do some digging. If nothing else, WWE has just released two very excellent compilations of WCW matches that deserve to be viewed. You owe it to yourself to see what was truly the "alternative" for quite some time.
Monday August 31st, 2009
Changes are coming. It's something we've been hearing quite often lately but this time I must say that my interest has officially been peaked. For the first time in over a decade a wrestling company is discussing moving away from the monthly ppv format, and that company is TNA. Of course it's all talk at the moment but it is proof that someone is seeing that things need to change.
While TNA may be doing it for their own benefit, perhaps it could benefit the fans as well. For years storylines have been rushed in order to have a feud cultivate at the monthly pay-per-view; and for years it has left said match feeling less important than it should. For instance take what TNA did with Joe and Kurt Angle, they rushed them into a feud immediately and had Angle end Joe's winning streak. Then the very next month Angle's momentum gets killed when Joe beats Angle. There was no build to the feud, simply a headbutt to Joe's face. It didn't span over months, instead it was thrown at us without giving us a reason to care. Sure, the match was a dream bout but beyond that what was the appeal.
Take CM Punk and the Undertaker, a feud like this has the potential to make CM Punk a huge star even if he loses. Yet do they let this feud build and give it a backstory? No, the Undertaker shows up for no logical reason to attack Punk and they ultimately get booked into a submission match.
That's the problem with today's wrestling logic. They'd rather rush into a feud, give away a big match at a throwaway pay-per-view and then repeat the same match for months. That's the modern way of building a feud, having the two stars wrestling for several weeks and by the end of it we should care. In all reality by the time the feud has actually been built up to the point where we should "care" the feud is either over or we are so sick of seeing the same two bouts that we wish it was over.
So what does this have to do with my original point? Fewer pay-per-views means longer time to build up feuds and I mean the old fashioned way. Don't book them in 50 one on one bouts, make the crowd savor the day the two will meet. Make it actually mean something when they finally lock up. I'm not saying Sting/Hogan style (we don't want that end result again) I'm just saying even a solid month of build is better than two weeks.
My logic, if TNA can pull it off then just MAYBE (huge maybe) the WWE will take notice and realize it doesn't take monthly ppvs or even multiple ppvs in one month on some occasions.
At the end of the day though it's a business, and I understand the thought of it being hard to sacrifice guaranteed money just for the sake of the product. After all, the events are going to sell regardless. So while I will wait for the day, I refuse to wait while holding my breath.
Tuesday September 1st, 2009
Going to keep this a little on the shorter side today as I just posted "The Eyes of a Monkey #68" today. I will give some brief Raw thoughts as usual though.
-Dusty as host worked out better than I expected. I've always been a fan of The American Dream but he can be a little on the cheesy side from time to time. Only negative was yet another guest host turning heel.
-I honestly missed the battle royal as I was working on some things but it was good to see Beth win (I did catch the very end of the bout.)
-I also missed the start of the MVP/Jericho bout since I was making some food but what I did see seemed like a solid bout. Good to see them putting some time in this feud since it is obviously very rushed in terms of the challengers.
-Seriously stop having Chavo vs Hornswoggle, the joke stopped being funny well over a month ago. What the hell has Chavo done to get him turned into a jobber to Hornswoggle?
-Big Show and Mark Henry could have been longer, but then again do we really want to see that? Sure it served it's point but Mark Henry and the Big Show isn't a match I want to see go more than 5-6 minutes.
-The US title match was the match of the night without a doubt. That's what I like to see on a free television, a solid bout that actually has been on the edge of my seat waiting to see who wins. True story, I actually had to get up and go to my daughter last night because she was crying so I comforted her and literally ran back to the t.v. so I wouldn't miss any of the match. Yep, it was "ignore the kids" good. Also got to give props to everyone involved as it honestly seemed like anybody could win at any given moment.
-Jesus Christ, Beth Phoenix looked intense last night. Some solid selling on the part of Ms. James and one of my favorite women bouts I've seen on Raw in a while. Curious to see if this leads to a Mickie James/Beth Phoenix submission match at Breaking Point as it seemed they were really selling Beth's ability to focus on a single limb. Major kudos to the women in that bout for working an all around good bout.
-The main event was a little disappointing but I suppose it served it's point. Randy also selling the fact that he's batshit insane by hitting the RKO on Dusty for no reason whatsoever. Also Cody proved he had a mangina by doing absolutely nothing about it. Decent setup and I'm smelling a six man tag match on Raw next week.
Got to say the show was pretty fun all around especially since I had low expectations going in with Dusty hosting.
Wednesday September 2nd, 2009
With remakes being such the rage in Hollywood lately it seems that the WWE has gotten into the game themselves. They aren't in the business of remaking movies though, they are remaking a very prominent wrestling angle. It's an angle they've already remade once themselves but you can never get tired of the classics.
The New World Order is coming back. I know you are thinking that I'm losing my mind by saying such things with no proof, but if it's proof you are searching for then it's proof that I'm delivering. To understand the logic though you need to understand that the thing about remakes is that they often give the lead roles to different actors or in this case wrestlers to bring a new dimension to the characters.
So who has the WWE cast as our new batch of "invaders". Isn't it obvious? From day one Raw has been infiltrated by numerous guest hosts. Some catering to the fans while others simply meant to bring the federation to it's knees.
Jeremy Piven as Scott Hall
When Scott Hall showed up on Nitro it was a truly a WTF moment and one that people wouldn't soon forget. At first it wasn't really sure what his intentions were but by the end of the night everyone knew, and war had been waged. Can't the same be said about Jeremy Piven? When he first came out people cheered him because of his face value yet by the end of the night the audience were singing a different tune. You want to talk memorable? How about Piven's "10 second delay" cross body?
Sgt. Slaughter as Kevin Nash
When Nash showed up, "the bar got raised." He gave Hall not only a big name but one hell of a big guy backing him up. Now Piven knew that he'd need someone with a wrestling background to help him bring the WWE to it's knees. Who better than a Hall of Famer? With Slaughter's antics he might as well spray painted "NWO" down the backs of every single Canadian. Now that's heel heat.
Dusty Rhodes as Hulk Hogan
To make it all fall in line though you need to have a long time face join your ranks and shock the fans. Who better than the American Dream? The son of a plumber, the man who the people could identify with; turned their back on them. Metaphorically speaking, he gave a bionic elbow to every small child in attendance and watching at home live. Say it ain't so Dusty.
Bob Barker as Eric Bischoff
Who better to be the mastermind than a living legend like ol' Double B. The babyface that people thought identified with them and was on their side. The man whom seemed too fragile to possibly mastermind such heinous acts of treason. Don't be so sure, for there is a price to pay for second guessing.
You've been warned.
Thursday September 3rd, 2009
Why is it that people we care about so much we want to so badly to see them fail? Well I suppose I mean care as much as you can in terms of liking someone you don't know personally. It's not just a wrestling thing, it seems to spread across the board. What I'm talking about is a fan's dislike for seeing their favorite star break through into the mainstream.
What most people fail to understand is that the life of an Indy superstar isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure there is money to be made if you are willing to travel and make wrestling your life. At the same time, heaven forbid you get hurt. Why you ask? We'll get there.
Think of Indy wrestling like this: you are unemployed yet you do landscaping on the side. This is your main source of income. While you may be your own boss (sort of) you still have to maintain a certain level of responsibility. The cheapest route may be to simply work mainly with those close to you, but that can only get you but so far. Eventually if you want to make the big bucks you have to venture out more and get your name out there with more than simply word of mouth. After all, the best way to turn a profit is to make people want to come to you to request your work.
With branching out comes a whole new level of headaches. Who is going to pay for your equipment? How about your transportation? As the profits increase due to increased work so does the amount you must pay out. You have to try and find a balance that works best for you.
Still there is the lingering problem of injury. While you can get "cobra" insurance it isn't cheap. Ultimately a major injury is going to come out of your pocket. What do you do then? It's not like you can get fully compensated while you are hurt, and if you are hurt you don't make money. If you aren't making money how can you possibly pay for your bills? How can you keep up your commitments? Quite a few questions to consider before making such a decision.
Could you blame somebody if they were offered a job with a company doing the same thing for more money and better benefits? Then what is the difference when our favorite Indy guy breaks through and starts to make it. Do we really want them to fail?
Of course not, it's just that when you have a guy who is a legend in the Indy circuit it's special to you. You've more than likely seen that person's struggles since day one and appreciate the fact that they are able to entertain you without limitations. Seeing them make it big makes us suddenly question how much they'll have to change and how they'll be treated.
Can we really be angry though? If anything having seen their struggles we should be happy for them and ready to see them apply their skills on a bigger stage. Maybe that's our problem though, we are jealous. On a smaller stage we could appreciate them and it was even as if we almost knew them. On such a large stage it's much harder to create an identity; and how could the new audience appreciate them the way you do? Did they witness the night that in front of 50 people you broke your arm 5 minutes into the match but didn't stop and wrestled for another 20? The answer would be no.
The question you should really be asking is: what would you do in the same situation? He who appeals to idiots is himself a fool and anyone who wouldn't jump ship themselves is just that... an idiot.
Friday September 4th, 2009
I don't really like to comment too often on things that are 100% pure rumor but sometimes you stumble upon something so crazy, so intriguing, that you can't help it. I actually read this rumor a few days ago but purposely didn't comment on it. Still it has gained a little bit of steam and even though I don't buy it, I figure why not indulge today. To reiterate, what you are about to read is mere SPECULATION on a RUMOR.
Jim Ross to sign with TNA
I know, crazy right. It sounds like one of those dummy headlines you read on a link that takes you to a shoddy ass wrestling site that infects your computer with the equivalent of internet HIV. Yet putting whether or not the rumor has any truth to it aside, let's take a look at this. What would be the fallout from a move like this?
From the WWE's end they would lose a face that has been with them for going on two decades. Not to mention a guy who flat out knows the wrestling business but better yet, it's fans. While that may seem like something simple when only seeing it in writing, I want you to actually think about that statement. In a business that more times than not caters to the "business" and it's needs, Jim Ross is a guy who actually knows the business side and the fans' perspective. He still has a grip on things and understands that your average wrestling fan wants to actually watch wrestling.
TNA would not only gain a complete upgrade in announcers and finally replace "Mr. Personality" Mike Tenay, but they'd also reunite Taz and J.R. Like mentioned above you'd also get a guy who I'd dare say could really help TNA behind the scenes with his knowledge of the sport. Let's not forget how appealing the schedule would be to J.R. as well as getting the chance to work with some guys you have in the past again, as well as a lot of up and comers. Another thing to consider, Sting is about to call it a day which should also free up some big dollars for TNA.
Like I've repeatedly said above, I don't really buy the rumor at all but I can't say I would be totally shocked. There are definitely aspects of it that make complete sense, while others that say "why give up a good thing." True or not, sometimes it's just fun to speculate.
Saturday September 5th, 2009
When I first heard that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would be filling the role made famous by Mr. T in the A-Team for the big screen adaptation. Not only did I feel the role was a good fit for Jackson but it was nice to see Jackson getting his life back together following the craziness following the Forrest Griffin bout. First a big profile bout with Rashad Evans was signed and then he lands a big movie role, everything was going good.
As soon as I saw that filming of the film would stretch until December I immediately thought "how's that going to effect the Evans/Jackson bout?" Not only that, but how would Rampage possibly have enough time to train for a fight in the middle of a major role in a movie. Today I got my answer.
Due to his filming commitments, Rampage's bout has been put on hold. Such a shame to hear because the rivalry with Evans had gotten pretty heated and was a fight I was definitely looking forward to. To put things in perspective, Quinton turned down a title shot in order to get a one-on-one bout with Rashad. Then there are the rumors of their alleged altercation at the UFC 100 afterparty as well as one it being called a very heated season of the Ultimate Fighter.
Still as disappointed as I am, I still am very happy for Quinton Jackson and it would be hypocritical (see earlier blog comments) for me to want him to take a fight he's unprepared for just to please the fans. This way we should be able to get the best of both worlds as Rampage will get to star in a movie and also get proper time to train for his fight with Rashad. Bottom line, a fight that both fighters are better prepared for equals a much better bout.
On the plus side this is one fight that should be more than worth the wait.
As always I am the Monkey and you've just seen the world through my eyes.
Feel free to send all feedback to monkeyweasel9821@yahoo.com
