Posted in: Fact or Fiction FACT or FICTION: Foley/TNA, Finlay's Gone Soft and More!
By SkittleZ
Sep 15, 2008 - 8:40:05 PM
Holy snap, crackle and pop! It's that time once again boys and girls for the greatest column to ever hit LOP's Main Page... Fact or Fiction! We're keeping the tradition going with an all new cast of disappointments. That bible thumpin' Main Pager romans_3:23 leads this group of perverts and outsiders. That list includes back-to-back Columnist of the Month (July and August) MadchucK, a pot smoking fiend, a well-known who's recently started to prove himself literally and an e-fed maniac who must have received an invitation by accident. For those who are too damn stupid to understand this tango, I'll run it by you once again. Five gentleman will attempt to tackle five diverse questions (pro wrestling related). Each of them will answer 'FACT' or 'FICTION' and then follow it with a respectable explanation.
FACT or FICTION: Chris Jericho's World Heavyweight Title win at Unforgiven was the biggest shocker in the WWE this year.
(Bloodline)FICTION. Mike Adamle said that the World Championship Scramble needed World Title Caliber contenders and the moment CM Punk went down, Jericho fit that bill just as good as Orton. Did I see it coming? No. But it pales in comparison to John Cena coming back, God knows how early, at the Rumble this year. Hell, a case for CM Punk winning the briefcase at WrestleMania could probably have some legs to stand on.
But still, I have to go with Cena winning at the Rumble. There was no way ANYONE predicted that happening. Nobody.
(MadchucK) First of all that match was shit, the Scramble concept was okay, but the participants fucked it up. Why the fuck did the WWE pull out CM Punk anyways? To protect him and make him look good. Punk was an average Champion at best, let him lose. I'm unhappy with Jericho winning the title. Where is the logic? If anything HBK should have been the one to replace Punk since he beat Jericho, what is the fucking logic WWE. I say FICTION, I was not shocked, Sid Vicious being the mystery man coming out and winning will shock me, Stone Cold coming out and winning it would be a great shock. Jericho winning it doesn't do it for me. HBK better win the title one more time because of this, otherwise I'll be really pissed.
(CoLd) We all know I like to talk swift and fast so lets get right down to it. Without a doubt this is FICTION. Don't get me wrong it was surprising as hell. Dumb as hell but that's a question for another edition. No question the shocker of 08 remains the return of John Cena at the Rumble. This has been a year full of shockers in the WWE if you ask me. Punk winning the MITB as well as going on to become WWE Champion, Chris Jericho stealing the WWE Championship in the Raw Scramble as well as Cena's mentioned win. Hell for all we know they still have more to come. Chris Jericho's win will probably be forgotten before long.
(cYnical) I gotta tell ya. As much as I marked out HARD for Jericho’s win, and as stunned as I was, I’m gonna have to call FICTION. The day Jericho’s viral ads started popping up on WWE television, I knew he’d get another title run, and I figured it would be while he was working heel. The only thing I didn’t know was when it would happen. Punk being removed from the match entirely, and replaced with Jericho was a pretty big shock, but that seems to be WWE’s M.O. lately. They’re tossing curve balls all over the place.
The single most shocking thing in the past year was the WWE’s release of Senior Referee Nick Patrick. Why in God’s name do you release one of the single best referees of the past 20 years? The guy has the credentials and the tools to handle any big match and any match type. He always adds that something extra to a match he’s involved in, and over the years he’s become a character himself. Why would you just let that go?
I never saw that coming. There was no scandal, no explanation, nothing. He was just cut. Pure insanity.
(romans_3:23) I’ve got to say this is FICTION. While definitely shocking, I still say this comes in second behind John Cena’s early return from injury at the Royal Rumble. No one at all thought that Cena would be back in time for WrestleMania, much less the Rumble, and I remember that at that time everyone was pretty much expecting Big Show to come out at #30 since he had resigned with WWE. No one expected Cena to show up at 100% and win the Rumble and end up in a main event match at WrestleMania.
Jericho’s win was shocking because he wasn’t in the match, but the Championship Scramble format made it likely that Punk would lose. That factor kind of dulled the shock for me. Plus, I have to admit that I was watching the Rumble as it occurred and I wasn’t watching Unforgiven. Finding out Jericho won the belt while cruising LOP just wasn’t the same as hearing Cena’s music hit and seeing Triple H’s reaction in the Rumble match.
FACT or FICTION: WWE put forth an overall better product when the McMahons are kept off television.
(MadchucK) Hmmmm this is a tough one. McMahon coming out in the 90's was great, the last two years have definitely tainted their appearance value because of the bad storylines and overkill. You can't base a person or person(s) value based on two bad years you have to look at the long run. McMahon vs Hogan vs Stone Cold. McMahon/Helmsley era feud, McMahon vs The Invasion of ECW/WCW overweighs the failure of the prolonged McMahon vs HBK/God and McMahon vs DX. I say FICTION.
(CoLd) Are you trying to say that Hood Vince was bad for television? This is a push here and is a tough one. The McMahons are good in spurts. When they come and go from time to time, I usually love it. With the exception of Steph, I can't say I mind them on my television. I mean lets be real here. Even when the McMahons are on television we still get both. If they do appear they usually stay on RAW and leave SmackDown untouched. So If you love it either way you can pretty much have both sometimes. I'm gonna go with FICTION.
(cYnical) I’m officially on the fence with this one, but I guess I’ll call FICTION. The product has been great with McMahons on television. Vince vs. Austin was pretty much universally praised. Most of Shane’s angles have enjoyed the hell out of me. The McMahon-Helmsley Era was absolute gold. Then again, when Linda is on television, everyone dies or falls asleep. She’s more powerful than brain cancer, and slightly less enjoyable. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
On the flip side, lots of great angles have occurred with little to no McMahon involvement. The entire 1980s come to mind. I don’t think it ultimately matters who is on television, nor does it necessarily matter how much exposure they get, as long as they can pull their weight. What truly matters is the storylines and how well orchestrated everything is. The overall presentation can make a lesser worker seem great and a great worker seem not so great. You can only work with what you’re given in this business.
Point is - The McMahons haven’t necessarily been the problem. Ratings and fan satisfaction tanks when horrible writing and direction comes into play. Besides, I’d rather see Vince and family actively take the initiative and mix it up with the talent rather than sit behind a desk and bitch at everyone for ineffectively doing something that they didn’t have the balls to do, themselves.
(romans_3:23) I guess I will say this is a FACT but only if you don’t count Triple H as a McMahon… But seriously, I think that not having Vince and family around as a crutch has enabled the writers for Raw and SmackDown to try new things and push new superstars. I love how Shelton, The Brian Kendrick, and CM Punk are all receiving unexpected big pushes. And I like how WWE has developed new boss characters in Vickie Guerrero, who may be just as effective as a heel boss than any McMahon, and Mike Adamle.
I think that on the whole, this has been a spectacular year for WWE, and the absence of the McMahons has played a major role.
(Bloodline) I have to say FICTION again, and because of one name. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Say what you want about the Submission match with Bret, or King of the Ring 1996. If you erase Stone Cold vs McMahon from wrestling history, Austin is nothing. In my eyes, that feud made Austin because nobody had ever gotten the best of Vince like that. Nobody.
Another reason DX 2006. If you subtract that feud from DX's run in 06, I don't think it would have been nearly as successful. Sure it would have moved merchandise, but it would have been DX just squashing people like matches after the McMahon feud proved.
All in all, I say that the McMahon's are good for TV.
FACT or FICTION: Triple H is bullying the SmackDown brand just as he did RAW for so many years.
(CoLd) Isn't it obvious? Is it me or is H trying to cruise his way into destroying JBL's record title streak. What did H do his first month after getting drafted to SmackDown? Make an appearance here and there before fighting the worst possible challenger to establish H as the new man on SmackDown. The SmackDown Scramble ? Yea he did his part but what did he do ? Come in last and work a cool 5 minutes... FACT. H is gonna do everything he can to chill as long as possible.
(cYnical)FICTION. FICTION. FICTION. Oh my God. Are we hearing this already?
The fact of the matter is that SmackDown is heading to a new network that few people even know exists. SmackDown and MyNetworkTV are both going to need to run in, guns blazing, to make any sort of impact. To do that, they obviously need big names at the top of the card. HHH fits that bill. In fact, he’s the most consistent WWE champ of the last decade. If you were running the company, you can bet your ass you’d put the strap on him.
Another point is that for Triple H’s character to mean anything or to carry any weight, he needs the title. He doesn’t have DX to leech heat from, anymore. He doesn’t have HBK to feud with. The only way for HHH to truly be effective is to be champ. Undertaker doesn’t need a belt to draw. HHH does. He needs to cut his “I’m the best” promos. He needs to swagger to the ring with the belt on his shoulder. He the belt to remind everyone of why he’s relevant.
I’m sorry, but putting the belt on MVP (who I’m a big fan of) isn’t going to draw tons of new viewers or give the product legitimacy. Putting it on HHH will.
(romans_3:23) This is complete FICTION. Triple H isn’t “bullying” SmackDown and he didn’t bully Raw either. Triple H is a true professional who cares about the wrestling business and he will do whatever is best for business. The whole idea that Triple H holds people down is just plain wrong. Seriously, I wish people would just stop beating this horse. He died long ago and at this point people are just grinding his bones to dust.
Triple H has made SmackDown infinitely more interesting since his arrival. I know that I did not make SD a priority, but now with H on the show, I watch almost every single week. And what I’ve seen is Triple H establishing himself as a strong champion going into the upcoming move to MyNetwork TV, so that he can drop the title to the guy that he’s been building up for the past year, Jeff Hardy.
Yep, Triple H will drop the title to Jeff Hardy soon - maybe even on SmackDown’s MyNetwork TV debut in Oct. Then Jeff will have received a true rub from the best in the business to win his first WWE title. It won’t be a fluke and it will come in a great match. And Triple H will deserve much credit for the whole thing.
(Bloodline)FICTION, the creative team is bullying the SmackDown brand. Triple H didn't even want to be on SmackDown according to rumors. The brand is so watered down right now, that its pretty much Triple H at the top anyway. I believe they are saving Triple H vs Taker, or even Triple H vs Big Show, so it makes sense that he is mediocre title feuds right now. Besides, Triple H wants that one good face run as champion. And I think No Mercy will tell the tell.
(MadchucK) I am no fan of HHH, every knows this, but at the moment I think that it's too early to say. He hasn't been on SmackDown much cause (thankfully) the Edge/Taker storyline dominated the show. HHH has only really beaten Khali who no one cares about. I think who he faces next and how that feud ends will be a better measuring stick for how he is behavior is. Though I'm sure that he will lose the title again in the near future cause he needs to lose it and win it back to beat or equal Ric Flairs World Title tally. I say FICTION at the moment.
FACT or FICTION: Mick Foley has negotiated with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) for the wrong reasons.
(cYnical)FACT. Mick was legitimately interested in joining TNA in 2005, for the right reasons. He wanted to help out a young organization and play mentor to the up-and-comers. Then Vince lured him back with money. Paul Heyman called Mick a prostitute and on this day, Mick proved him right.
Flash forward to September of 2008. Mick is calling matches as an announcer for SmackDown. Vince is yelling at him over the ear piece (the same way he allegedly treats everyone else), because he’s a perfectionist nut case. Mick gets his poor little heart broken and decides to let his contract run out. Now he’s running off to TNA to get his revenge. Sadly for Mick, that certainly won’t happen.
What are you gonna do, Mick, when Russo decides that your creative ideas are garbage and that you should do segments in a grocery store aisle with AJ Styles? What are you gonna do when they build up a huge PPV match between you and Abyss, then after you job in controversial fashion, they just forget to call you back for 2 months and never explain your absence on air? If you think that Vince disrespected you, just wait until you’re standing around in the TNA backstage area watching a monitor and you look around to all the wide-eyed kids glued to the screen and go “What the fuck is going on? Why is there a black guy dressed like Macho Man? Why is Kurt Angle in a tanning bed? Do people actually watch this shit?”
(romans_3:23) I have to say this is a FACT. Foley left WWE because he didn’t like having Vince yell at him during his commentary. You’ve got to be kidding me! Look at all the crap Jim Ross has put up with over the years - both on screen and off. You don’t see him running to TNA even though he was moved to SmackDown without notice. Yes, JR complained, but he calmed down and realized that he had to do what was best for the business, not his ego.
And Mick Foley, the chief beneficiary of JR’s move to SD, runs off to TNA because he can’t stand getting some criticism. Does he really think he’s above Vince’s criticism? Has he not worked with Vince for years now? Didn’t he have an idea that this is how doing commentary in the WWE worked? I’m sure he was aware of all this, and I’m pretty sure that deep down Foley didn’t leave for TNA because of Vince. Foley left because he was an utter failure as a commentator.
Would he ever admit this? Probably not, but observe this - Foley is not going to commentate in TNA. Hmmmm I wonder why?
(Bloodline) To be honest, I don't know why he negotiated with TNA, nor do I care. I won't watch the product any more or any less than I do. Whether he went because McMahon chewed his ass out or he wants to be champion again or whatever, only Foley knows.
But for the sake of the question, I'll say FACT. Reason being that there is nothing in TNA to help Foley. Nor will Foley going to TNA help them. It's a lose-lose situation.
(MadchucK) Uhh.... This is a tough one to answer too. I'm a huge Foley fan, and I could sympathize with him for retiring at a relatively young age to spend time with his family and write his books. I think the reason why he came back for those matches with Ric and Edge were because he missed the ring, but he didn't want to be put into the WWE's tough schedule, so TNA would work out for him great. I think Mick would have happily settled in to his announcing job if he did not have to endure the wrath of McMahon in his ear. As you can see from his promo on the Cutting Edge, he is as good as ever on the mic. I'm not worried about his ring work, as long as the match is hardcore style, he'll be fine.
Foley's dream job at the moment would probably be one that could allow him to do funny promos and wrestle occasionally and win occasionally. With his recent spat the McMahon because of the announcing job and the fact that WWE probably either wants him to come back and wrestle full time or not come back. Let's face it every time he comes back for a short stint he ends up losing his feuds and the novelty of that dies quickly (Orton, Edge, Flair). I think Mick is smart and he wouldn't do something stupid just to get back at McMahon. I say FICTION.
(CoLd)FICTION. If there are people to pay him for doing next to nothing then why not? Shit wasn't working out in the WWE and there wasn't much more he could do...could he? At least in TNA he can have a handful of matches and unlike Sting probably make the TNA talent look good. Mic is just trying to stack his paper. Don't hate.
FACT or FICTION: The illegitimate son storyline has severely watered down Finlay over the last several months.
(romans_3:23) This is FICTION. As a heel, Finlay was bland and stale. Now as a face, he got to be part of a major WrestleMania storyline and freshen up his character. I like Finlay and Hornswoggle together. They are a good mid card attraction for the kids. Plus, if Finlay ever turns on ol’ Horny, he’ll get major heel heat - something he lacked over the past year or so.
(Bloodline) This one is FACT for so many reasons. A, Finlay is facing Knox. A feud many folks aren't gonna care about. B, I haven't seen his brawler side in quite some time. C, he's on ECW. D, he lost a Belfast Brawl.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the illegitimate son storyline, but the fact is, since it has happened, Finlay went no where. It's kind of sad that before they really put any attention on him, he was actually doing something. And yes, I'm not counting an ECW Title scramble as really doing something.
(MadchucK) This is obviously FACT. The moment it turned out that Horny was Finlay's son I see trouble for Finlay. What a stupid fucking idea. Best friend's son fine, Dead sister's son fine, now Finlay's character would forever be tagged with a fucking irritating Leprechaun who can run through walls. What a fucking setback in terms of storyline writing, this is something that you would expect from bad story writing in the 80's. I feel sorry for Finlay but at least some naive chicks may think he has magic sperm.
(CoLd)FICTION. Even before the whole kid crap it was plain to see that having Hornswaggle around was making Finlay look soft. He was dancing around and playing with that creepy little midget even before he mysteriously became his child. If Finlay is going to be a face he cant be the hard bad ass we all love.
(cYnical)FACT. There was a time when Finlay seemed like a legit championship contender (I said “seemed like” as in perception. We all know he wouldn’t have won the strap.) There was a time when the guy that ‘loved to fight” was feared as a brutal Irish monster that could seriously jack up someone’s world.
Now, he’s a jolly fat man with a midget. Yes. Fit Finlay has become Santa Claus. Not the evil murderous one from “The Night Santa Went Crazy” either. I’m talking about the belly like a bowl full of jelly and the rosy red cheeks. It’s downright disgraceful. To make matters even worse, he’s on “Extreme” Championship Wrestling. I dunno about you, but I don’t have any desire to see an Extreme Santa Claus.
The worst part is that the angle had so much potential at WrestleMania. They booked Finlay to lose, which obviously set up a string of brutal rematches. Right? Wrong. They killed it off and shipped him to Tuesday nights, completely killing his momentum. Remember earlier, when I said that it wasn’t about who was on TV, but it was about what kind of angle they were stuck with? Yeah. I think you see my point, now.
Yes I know... you want more. You can't get enough. Well go bug someone else because that's all we have for now. A new edition of Fact or Fiction should be available for your reading pleasure come mid October so keep your eyes peeled. I have better things to do with my time (like salvage a marriage) so lets bring this thing to a quick close. If you have any thoughts or opinions that you'd like to express with the five individuals on jury here, don't hesitate to harass them unmercifully by overflowing their inboxes with hate mail and obscenities. Below are the links which connect yourselves to these underachievers. Hit them up whether it's positive or negative input. Take care everybody and we'll see you in around four weeks!
Click Here to Email romans_3:23 (It must be tough being a sports fan in Pennsylvania)
Click Here to Email MadchucK (A potty mouth like you've never seen)
Click Here to Email CoLd (A big fella with lots of love to distribute)
Click Here to Email Bloodline (But I wouldn't if I were you)
Click Here to Email cYnical (Nobody loves the city of Orlando like this guy)
