Corner to Corner: Struggles
    Submitted by Stan Grubb on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 11:07 PM EST


    People struggle everyday. Some struggle with money issues. Some struggle to get out of their own beds each morning. Others struggle to juggle various careers. When it comes to the lives of wrestlers, the struggles become more internal and less external. The struggle to maintain a clear, level head in times of crisis would be a promoter's curse. The struggle to keep ego in check is that of the actual performer.


      Corner to Corner: Struggles



    Hello again everyone and welcome back to Corner to Corner! I want to thank all of you whole emailed me about where I've been lately. I've been working a lot and trying to get things in order for the big Corner to Corner: Top 100 issue. That issue, by the way, will be up and ready by December 15th. Things are going okay, however, so thanks for your continued support.

    Quick shout out to Jacob, thanks for checking me out this week. I hope those tapes are keeping you entertained.


    My Ultimate Response


    One of the best things about this job, is the ability to reach so many great people. Apparently, I have been reaching some of the angry people too. I was going to do my best to leave this alone but I can't do it anymore.


    I recently had a chance to email the Ultimate Warrior my rant concerning his Halloween post. I stand by my comments and contend that Mr. Hellwig/Warrior is in need of a serious reality check. I will not allow an ego to override my sense of right and wrong. So, in that, I want to share with you what the Ultimate Warrior emailed me back in response to my rant.


    "Just had to let you know, you absolutely wasted your time. It is people like you that manifest the wrongs -- and weakmindedness -- that there are in the world. I know, I know, don't tell me...there is no right and wrong -- although you had no problem pontificating about who did what right and who did what all wrong re UW success. Your kind always want it both ways. You won't take a stand for anything, including yourself...its be just too arrogant and non-p/c. But you want the whole world to believe you KNOW the way to the light. I get eloquently-written emails from 14-15 year-old homeschooled kids who have more sense than you. You must be a liberal."


    If you're looking at that and scratching your head, you're not alone. Here we have a man who is clearly, detatched from the rest of reality as his only defense was namecalling and cheap attempts at insult. Neither were successful. I think my political designation has nothing to do with this business. I think that the biggest mistake made here is that he contends I do not accept the existance of right and wrong. Let me explain this in a way where all of us can understand.


    If you're reading this, Warrior and his fans, please pay particular attention. The claim that my email wasn't eloquent is a sad thing in itself. I wrote you an email in layman's terms so that there could be no mistake. You, Mr. Warrior, will never be above this business. You attempt to DAMN Vince McMahon for his bad programming and his cheap attempts at publicity, and yet you'll still throw the Ultimate Warrior costume on and make money on an idea he created for you. Tell me, who's working who?


    That's my take on the Warrior, and I will not change that view. Anyone who claims he could do better than those who made him in telling about the industry that he damns, DOES NOT DESERVE a place in the industry's history.


    There is a wise man who said; "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."


    Triple H and Choking down the Elimination Chamber's aftermath


    It's never good to see an injury in this business. I don't particularly like Hunter all that much, but in all seriousness, he doesn't deserve to have to face death. That being said, I want to make a few statements. Thank you for not having Triple H go over at Survivor Series. The Elimination Chamber was cool, but it was time Hunter 'choked down' his own pride and lost. I swear it seems that he's the smartest man in the business as his losses are as rare as a good Spike Dudley match.


    So, now with him not being the World Champion, I'm finally able to look around the Raw roster and imagine who they will make champion next. Well, I was until Monday came and went. Kane has been shuffled right back down the card. What's the deal with that anyway? Kane, a 6'10" MONSTER of a man with agility to boot, is moved away from a main event? I'm no fan of the super heavies, but this guy can go and go as long as he needs to. Booker T is now laying down for matches. Not just laying down, but looking sloppy while doing so. I'll grant that he could be exhausted, but his efforts inside the chamber were about half of Jericho's, RVD's, and even Michaels'. The following night, he's holding the mat like it's keeping him alive. The annoying part of that is Booker cut two terrific promos leading into the Elimination chamber and an interesting one before the triple threat bout. So why shuffle him away?


    What I did enjoy was the furthering of Chris Jericho and Christian's tension. I like seeing them both interact and moving Christian up the card could end up being goldage for both him and WWE. Christian is struggling to get out of the tag team scene, but this could be his chance to break out.


    I also enjoyed Michaels' face routine, but it was clear he was struggling to find ways to work the crowd without resorting to his older style of promos. The new Shawn Michaels is a good thing to have for many reasons, the most important being his chance to pass the torch to another young star. I think this is the best way for him to go out, if he can handle the punishment a little longer. His performance was good at Survivor Series, but I think the whole match got hindered by Triple H's throat injury. By the way, about the necrophilia angle, it offended me as a wrestling fan as well. Very well said indeed Shawn.


    So, will Michaels lose to RVD? It's quite possible, but I wouldn't predict it to happen until pay per view. Rob Van Dam has finally approached his time, in my opinion. In RVD, we have the high flyer that Michaels wanted to be and the extreme attitude that brings the fans to their feet everytime he's in the ring. And OH BY THE WAY, the ratings seem to agree with me as the 3.7 rating is quite a step up from the miserable 3.1 last week. Maybe Raw's struggle is ending? My gut tells me it's too soon to tell, but an improvement is taking place.


    Big Poppa Pump showed up at Survivor Series and thrashed Nowinski and Hardy. What did we learn from that? When he wants the mic, you give it to him. He is still just as huge as ever. On Raw, he came down and did some trash talking with Jericho. For the face reaction he's getting, Scott Steiner sure could use some lessons on pacing himself on the microphone. Maybe he was just really jacked up, but he stumbled over his words so much I wondered if Jericho was going to pull out the insults about it. In truth, I'm happy to see Steiner out there, but he struggled to talk when in a clutch situation. Let's hope this is a sign of rust and not a habit.


    Folks, looking at Brock Lesnar, the one thing I couldn't see was a sign of him struggling to go toe to toe with the Big Show. Those two had a decent match for the short time it was allowed. Word had it that Big Show had accidentally broken a rib of Brock Lesnar's during a house show. In return, Brock apparently took a liberty or two with those chairshots last week on Smackdown. While I'd be pissed that my rib was broken, I don't know that I'd risk my job by cranking a chair on my pay per view opponent. Either way, it's clear that the Big Show is doing his best and is not struggling in Smackdown as he was on Raw. I, for one, don't like him but I hope he can pull off an entertaining and effective title reign.


    YES! Finally somebody got the tag team right and put the Dudleyz back together. Not only did the MSG crowd go NUTS but the Bridgeport folks exploded too. BOTH Bubba and D-Von struggled to get a singles career off the ground. I'll say that Bubba had far more success, but his niche is with D-Von in the tag team division. Now maybe Spike will find a new gimmick or persona. I struggle each week not to change the channel when Spike is wrestling.


    This week, we looked at struggles. It's important when you look at that to point out who overcame and who's starting to battle with their own problems. I hope that with the way things are right now in this industry, our struggle to understand the direction becomes less and less of an issue. Next week, we're going to take a special look at Sacrifice.


    Thanks again for tuning in and please join me next week.


    --Stan Grubb--


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