You know I'm actually thinking about ordering Survivor Series. So many people sit and bitch about the main events, especially on the Raw side of things but what did they expect? You think the Miz was going to challenge Cena for the belt even though he's just started to elevate? Or maybe Swagger would leapfrog everybody for no rhyme or reason? You could almost convince me that Rhodes and Dibiase would have worked but as poorly as those guys have been booked nobody is going to buy them as legit contenders. Face it, Shawn and Hunter makes sense and also allows more time for some of the up and comers to build their characters. Look at Kofi, the guy is heading into a feud with the biggest heel on the brand.
Like most people I wouldn't mind seeing a DX vs Jerishow feud but what's to say it still can't happen. Regardless of what happens at Survivor Series, Jerishow are still currently the reigning champions and DX hasn't showed any signs of inner tension building just yet. So what's to say that we won't be seeing this feud in December or even January?
Speaking of Jerishow that brings me to the other side of the main event scene and a match that I think was unfortunately hurt a little bit by making it a triple threat. Nothing against Jericho but after jobbing to Christian, JTG, Kofi Kingston and virtually anyone he faces one on one why should I believe he's a threat to the belt? I understand the added dynamic of Jerishow being your tag champions and both of them vying for the same belt; but is it really necessary? I was perfectly content thinking the main event was a one on one bout with the Big Show (who's been booked solid as hell as of late) and the Undertaker.
I do like the interactions we'll get between Jericho and Undertaker from this though and maybe (though I doubt it) it'll be a tease of a full fledged feud between the two. Hopefully Wrestlemania but beggars can't be choosers.
Two solid main events, both intriguing in their own rite. Add in some classic Survivor Series elimination matches and I'm sold. I can't say it's a guarantee at this moment but I can tell you that if the event were tonight that yes I'd be ordering. Be nice to bring back what used to be a birthday tradition for me, let's just hope WWE doesn't screw this one up.
Day 93
Sheamus fucking blows, sorry but it's true. I was willing to give the guy a shot because prior to his two matches on Raw I had only seen a few of his matches with Goldust and a bout against Shelton Benjamin; so I felt I needed to see more to judge. Well not that I have, I just don't get the damn hype.
He more or less looks like a jacked up Seth Green, has a theme song that sounds like it's being sung by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and was given the moveset of "random power wrestler # 89." I just fail to see the reason why I should buy Sheamus as anything even remotely threatening. "Oh man, he put Jamie Noble on a stretcher."
Maybe I've just seen the same thing too many times to care. Generic monster heel, squashes face that has no credibility whatsoever in order to gain cheap heat. Reminds me of the days of the original WWF Superstars when Mantaur squashed some random jobbers in order to try and make the crowd believe that he actually belonged in the ring with the Undertaker. Same thing applies here, we have a generic monster face squashing guys with hopes that we'll eventually buy that he might have a shot at destroying a guy like John Cena or Triple H.
That's where the WWE meshes up from time to time; rather than let a character naturally develop and letting the fans to build an emotional investment they attempt to dictate the response themselves. Instead of letting a character get to a stage where the fans actually care about them in a negative or positive light due to their actions; they try to skip ahead. Ironically it's the times that the WWE goes so far out of their way to make the fans care that they end up doing the complete opposite.
Day 94
I'm a little late on this matter due to Skip Rogers week but figured I might as well throw my two cents in all the same. Quite frankly I'm not sure how I feel about Hogan coming to TNA. Growing up I was never a Hulkamaniac and never marked out for anything involving Hogan that didn't involve the N.W.O.
I also can't help but roll my eyes in a way when I read things such as Hulk suggesting that he is going to teach the TNA stars "the lost art" of professional wrestling, as well as implying that he taught Vince everything he knows about the business. Let's be honest Hulk, I can never take away your legacy and how truly over as a superstar you became. Nobody ever can, but what exactly was it that you brought to the table? Extraordinary wrestling ability? Nope. The ability to cut an amazing promo? Not really above average in that department either. In fact your main selling point was your push. Other than that you were just a muscle bound guy with blonde hair, but once you were pushed as the monster face that destroyed all the bad guys you were destined for greatness.
Yet now you seem hellbent on denying that Vince had any part in your success. To me that's just absurd, because like it or not given the same push and hype anybody of that era could have become Hulk Hogan. Terry was simply in the right place at the right time. Sorry, but that's the truth. In fact, if the Ultimate Warrior wasn't such a douche bag in real life Hogan would have passed the torch to him way back at Wrestlemania VI.
I'm not trying to take credit away from Hogan necessarily but rather not discredit the efforts of Vince McMahon in the rise of Hogan. Hogan had his chance to prove to the world that he could hold his own without Vince when he went to WCW and eventually he found great success. Then again that success had more to due with the NWO angle and turning an iconic face heel; something that can't even be accomplished within the realm of today's wrestling world. Even that story eventually ran it's course and Hogan had to come back to Vince.
So while I don't deny that Hogan can bring an audience and maybe even help give them a little more of a mainstream buzz than they had previously; but when I hear the competitive nature of Hogan coming through all I can think is "not again." It's important to concentrate on taking baby steps with regards to this pairing and not try and get ahead of ourselves. For instance don't even think for a minute that you can compete head to head with any of WWE's programming at the moment, much less the organization as a whole. Let's concentrate on turning a profit first.
I really want to like the idea of Hogan coming to TNA and I'm more than willing to give it a fair shake. It all simply boils down to what Hogan comes to do. Is TNA trying to fix a few leaks in the pipes or are they attempting to but a band-aid on cancer?
Day 95
I was driving home from work today and I saw a truck hauling a trailer for the retail store Target. For those unaware, across the side of the trailer is Target's logo. "Expect More, Pay Less." Sure it's kind of a bullshit statement about the chain but it got me thinking nonetheless. Why don't wrestling companies apply that logic to their business.
For instance, why is it that wrestling promotions feel the need to increase the price of their product without increasing or in some cases even sustaining the quality of their content? WWE did it with the increase to $40 dollars for their standard events and $50 for Wrestlemania. Did they start to offer more content for your money? Nope, in fact some will even argue that due to the over saturation that the quality has actually decreased.
Now word has come out that supposedly TNA events will be $35 dollars a pop from here on out. Why though? What change for the better have you made to your product to warrant such an adjustment? I understand the fact that at the end of the day it's a business and the ultimate goal is always to be profitable, I fully support that. However, isn't it a poor business decision to increase the cost of something that isn't in high demand?
I was always under the impression that's how supply and demand works. Once the demand for a product increases or peaks you increase the cost to turn your quick profit. Yet by all accounts TNA hasn't been shattering records in the buyrate column. Truth be told I've yet to hear too many good things about their version of "Wrestlemania", aka Bound for Glory. TO be fair I haven't seen the event, but given the fact that even the writers seem to be pretending the event never happened maybe it's for the best.
Like I said, I realize the slogan "Expect More, Pay Less" is bullshit but I'm even willing to me wrestling companies halfway. I'm willing to "Expect More, Pay More." That's fine with me, and I have no issue forking over the extra money for a truly quality event. It just seems that more times than not they operate under the "Expect Less, Pay More" slogan and it's led to me really cutting down on the events I buy. Looking at the numbers, I'd say I'm not the only one.
What do I know though?
Day 96
For quite some time Samoa Joe was my favorite newer wrestler. His work in ROH, PWG, and even TNA was excellent. I know people love to give the guy grief about his TNA run but for me he was something fresh. An intensity that nobody in that federation brought to the table. It seemed like every night the guy was just dominating wrestlers. His victory over AJ Styles to claim his first title was pretty damn awesome. The way in which he pulled AJ's tights while AJ rolled Joe up, thus allowing him to lock in his patented choke for the win.
I can honestly tell you that I easily bought a good 15 or so TNA events just to see Joe's matches. Not to say that the rest didn't deliver at times but Joe is what brought me in. When Joe, Daniels, and Styles started their feud they delivered a four to five start almost every time. The only exception off the top of my head being the Ultimate X match.
Things change though and when Angle debuted Joe's push disappeared and in my eyes he has yet to ever recover. In fact, every time it seemed that he took a step forward TNA pushed him back. He finally won the TNA title and quickly dropped it to Sting. Finally started regaining his footing as a main event, than the MEM "injured" him. Then we got back an even fatter Joe and he seemed to be off by a step or two.
I finally warm up to the fatter Joe, his painted face, and his so called Nation of Violence. Then what do they do? They throw him in with the Main Event Mafia. I get over one of the worst swerves long enough to appreciate Joe's X division title reign. I figure what the hell, he's going back to his roots and helping rebuild a division that is falling apart. Of course even that was short lived and he jobbed the belt to the Amazing Red.
Now after jobbing to Red and jobbing to Bobby Lashley I'm supposed to be excited. Excited because a good four years later TNA has decided to revisit the Daniels, Styles and Joe feud. I just don't know if I can do it. To be honest, I haven't bought a TNA event in awhile. I was close with BFG, but it didn't happen. Now for the first time in ages Joe is being pushed as a true main eventer and is heading into a match with guys whom he never has a bad bout with.
Yet I'm not excited. Believe me, I want to be. I'll even go as far as to say I'm mildly curious as to what the result will be. Though as much as I root for TNA and have supported them through the years I just have trouble getting in the mindset. I want to believe in my heart that Joe/Daniels/Styles will be a classic and that the Motor City Machine Guns will finally get their change to shine.
I want to believe that TNA is gearing back towards trying to create the stars of the future, as opposed to giving the stars of the past one last chance to shine. I'm right there, I've made as far as the fence and now I'm sitting on top of it. Will you win me back from being a part-time TNA viewer and bring me back to the days of calling Impact the best wrestling program on television? Or maybe this will be the final straw and getting my hopes up only to be let down again will sour me on TNA forever. I really wish I could say it was up to me, but it's not.
It's all in the hands of TNA at this point and Turning Point may just be that for me.
Day 97
You know I've made a bunch of jokes in the past about the alleged Savage banging Steph rumors resulting in Vince hating his guts but in what the fuck did that guy do in all seriousness? Obviously the HOF isn't even remotely confirmed but you'd have to figure a big name like Savage would be hard to keep under wraps. Seeing as we finally got a Macho Man DVD don't you figure this would be the perfect year?
Instead the Ultimate Warrior is rumored. Obviously I reiterate the "rumor" portion but still. It's like some sort of sick joke that Vince is playing on Randy. "I'll induct the Warriror whom I hate before I induct you." Are you honestly ready to give that guy a live microphone and let him unleash his acceptance speech? Exactly.
Vince, maybe it's time you let the past lie dead. Maybe it's time to open the door back to Savage and let him have his crazy moment in the sun. Hell, if nothing else do it to stick it to Hogan. Not that Hogan could care less, but hearing "Santa Claus" cut a 60 minute promo in the style of a rap would be well worth it.
Day 98
So one of my more loyal readers emailed me and gave me a suggestion as to something they wanted me to write about today. Being as Wrestlemania tickets went on sale today they suggested that I try and predict what the WM card will look like. Makes sense to me, so let's see if I'm any good any this future telling stuff.
Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler vs John Morrison vs Christian vs The Miz vs Sheamus
This one is a bit out there but it's perfectly feasible to me. You have your high flighers in Morrison and Kingston. Your ladder match veteran in Christian. Your token hoss in Sheamus. Lastly you have your cocky young heels in Dolph, and The Miz. Not only that but it's a perfect showcase of your young wrestlers.
Even though Christian would seem like the more obvious choice,I'd give the edge to Miz. From a booking perspective it's simply better to book a cocky heel as the MITB winner.
Maryse vs Mickie James (Divas Champ vs Women's Champ)
This is a bit of a stretch in terms of fantasy booking so let me explain. First off it assumes that both have won their respective brand's title, which really isn't a stretch to me. My main reason for booking this is because you'd figure that the WWE would want to book a women's match to make up for last year's clusterfuck. I also am getting the feeling that Mickie's WWE days may be numbered as she may be heading to other ventures. I look as this as Mickie's blowoff match (not her final bout though) and a chance to build Maryse up as a top heel. You also have the backstory of Mickie "putting Maryse out," if you wanted to go in that direction.
CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio
This one just makes the most sense to me. They've had a couple of high quality bouts against each other already and why not allow them a chance to duel on the biggest stage. I actually thought that we'd get this feud immediately following the fatal four way but seems like we may have to wait at this point.
Big Show vs Chris Jericho
Nothing lasts forever and eventually this storied romance is going to blow up in Jericho and Big Show's face. If you asked me about this a year ago I would have groaned at the thought of a Jericho/Big Show match, but now I'm all for it. Big Show has really had a hell of a year and has been putting on some solid big man matches as of late. Plus his booking is finally where it should be in terms of coming off as a monster. Jericho, well he's Chris Jericho.
Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes vs Ted Dibiase
Legacy is going to end, and I'm thinking it's going to end in one big explosion. While I don't think Cody and Ted need to split up just yet (it's still going to happen), Randy is ready to go off on his own as it fits his character better. With this scenario you end legacy and have a chance to prove once and for all who was the dominant member.
John Cena vs The Undertaker
Let's face facts, the Undertaker doesn't have a lot of matches left in him. Furthermore, his best bouts and this stage of his career are going to be brawls seeing as his aging body is limiting his athletics. On the other side you have John Cena, a great brawler and like it or not one of the biggest money matches left for Taker to have at Wrestlemania.
Batista vs Edge (World Title)
I honestly hate his idea but feel it's very realistic. Though I strongly question whether Edge will be in active competition at WM, I didn't want to leave him out. With Batista being the top heel on the blue brand I feel it's just a matter of time before he's the World champion and with the lack of big faces Edge seemed like the logical choice. Plus they've had some good bouts in the past and it's been quite some time since a face Edge has faced a heel Batista.
Triple H vs Shawn Michaels (WWE Title)
While the IWC will hate this idea I want you to ask yourself something. Have you ever seen a bad match between Hunter and Shawn? Have you ever seen these two fight at Wrestlemania? Being one of the only guys I know who still openly marks for both these guys maybe it's simply a pipe dream. Seeing HBK get one last title reign and title win at Wrestlemania would really be a nice addition to Michaels' career. Plus Shawn is due a win at Wrestlemania.
I don't expect this to be the exact card and maybe not even close but I think everything I've booked at the very least makes logical sense. Not only that but I actually feel that I'd pay for the above card, which is something I can't say for too many events as of late.
As always I am THE MONKEY and you've just seen the world through my eyes.
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