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Submitted by Pt2 on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at 4:59 PM EST
Whose responsibility?This topic was actually influenced by an e-mail I received in response to my last column. If you are reading Xan, thanks for the idea. I put the phrase in my last column “The fans pay the money, they can cheer who they like”. Now, some people consider this answer a cop-out. I’ll admit, in some cases like the Eugene case, it does throw me that the fans would want to be him. It seems almost everyone is behind him, Hunter is working as a damn fine heel these days, and it’s not even as if Nick Dinsmore isn’t capable in the ring. So I’ll admit, that threw me. I didn’t particularly like it. Luckily, that never happened to me while I was in the ring, but if it had, as the heel, I would have had to have found a way to stop that. But I won’t condemn the fans for it. Fans who boo faces often get jumped on. Whether it’s Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, The Rock - there are people who will criticize what they do. At the end of the day, that's all they can do. But I think some greater significance is attributed to these fans than really exists; or at least, really SHOULD exist. Here’s a couple of arguments I have heard AGAINST “anti” crowd reaction. 1/ It detracts from the match. Sometimes, but not always. Granted, if the wrestlers in the ring are inexperienced, they can get lost out there when the reaction doesn’t go the way they expect. And sometimes, as in the Hunter - Eugene match, it detracts from the quality of the show. But I think by condemning it all together, we forget how much it can add to a match. I truly believe that Hollywood Hogan vs. The Rock wouldn’t be the same match without the split crowd reaction. I don’t think it would have felt anywhere near as special for people, and wouldn’t have had the legend vs. legend feel to it. It would have felt like any other match between two main eventers. And look at Sid vs. Shawn, from Survivor Series 96. People often under-estimate Sid - I know he’s no Jushin Liger, but he had a brutal looking rough-neck style, and with the right man (like here) he could have more than watch-able matches. I do genuinely believe that the story of this match, the face against the tweener, was truly added to by that crowd split - especially due to the fact that the cheers for Shawn were an octave higher than the cheers for Sid. It gave it the feeling of a sport - in sports, there are home and away fans. Well, for the first time, Michaels was defending his title on the road, and the home fans were damn sure pro Sid. I don’t think that detracted from the match. 2/ Causes Premature turns I won’t deny that it does, but the very existence of the reaction doesn’t mean that it should. Whose responsibility is it to turn the wrestlers? Ultimately, whose responsibility is it? The last time I checked, it wasn’t the fans. When I was cheering Hunter in 2000 because I found him that little bit edgier than the Rock, I don’t remember the WWE turning him. It’s the bookers choice. Steve Austin was getting face pops for months before his turn. They even put him with the number one face to try and keep him heel. Didn’t work. Eventually, they accepted that he would have to be turned. But they didn’t feel pressured to do it. Vince McMahon, I’ve said before, is not a stupid man, especially not when he is fighting for his business, as he was in 1997. He knew that he had a star to create, a long term star, that would help him in this war. So he waited until the moment was right, booking the turn when it was at it’s strongest. The reaction was there, but they didn’t rush it, and they made a star that was still with the company in some capacity this year - and may still return. And Austin isn’t the only example. The Rock was getting big face pops, and they waited to turn him, and look what happened there. It took 3 years before his insanely repetitive act got stale, and he made the company a shit-load of money during that time. It’s not the crowds fault that John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar have all been rushed into face roles. They’ve only been doing what they’ve always done - cheer those they find entertaining. And there aren’t many people denying that their heel incarnations were entertaining. It’s the job of the WWE to listen to that, sure - but they should know their talent better than we do, and be aware of that. And if they were in a state of competition, I’m sure those turns, like the turns of Austin and Rock would have been used to full effect, instead of trying to cash in and make a quick buck. Lets not forget as well, the booing of a face doesn’t only affect the heel in the turn stakes. Some much needed turns have been brought through by people booing the face. The Rock’s match with Lesnar may have resulted in the early turn of Lesnar, but it also resulted in the heel turn of the Rock - something that was much needed, and gave us the most entertaining couple of months that RAW had seen in a long time at that point. In all honesty, he was so entertaining then, that I wouldn’t have minded him taking up one hour of the two hour show. Hulk Hogan started getting boo’s in the early nineties. In 1996, they eventually gave him the long overdue turn. And voila, he’s fresh again, and leading the nWo - the angle without which, you’d be watching The Undertaker vs. Barry Horowitz on RAW next week. Now I’m not saying that all reverse booing/cheering is good, but I hope I’ve shown that it can be beneficial, and it isn’t something to look down on. It’s something that fans have done for years, right down to those kids who were Macho man fans when the mega powers split. People will always cheer for who they want to, and while I won’t always understand it, I think I’ll continue to encourage it. Now, if they only knew when to turn wrestlers, we’d be on our way...... You be the Booker IVBefore we begin the fourth contest, I’d like to explain what will happen over the course of the next few contests. 2 contests ago, Tina beat Billy, due to my error. In the last contest, Tina beat Billy by judges vote. However, many people didn’t agree 60% of feedback received thought Billy should have won, with one or two even claiming that it was a “fix”. So now, we over you the chance to judge. Regardless of the result of this next contest, Tinaali will be back in the next contest, to face Billy for the third and final time, in a bout decided by vote. That is, If I receive support for the idea from people reading. So, if you like the idea of being able to judge the final bout between Tina and Billy, drop me a line and let me know. So, the next bout will either be for the Booking championship - or if Tina is defeated today, then the winner of Tina - Billy will become “number one contender” and return to face Random. I hope thats clear enough. If it isn’t, and you are unsure, feel free to ask. And without any further ado, allow me to introduce the participants today: First, the challenger, From St Louis, Missouri, he is the author of “The Nosebleed section”, Random guy #5! And the champion, From Pittsburgh PA, the author of “The XY files”, the queen of the columns forum, Tinaali! And with the introductions over, it’s time to book. Can you diggit, sucka? Just as a reminder, here are the rules: 1. Each Scenario has a maximum word length of 400 words - Otherwise god knows how long the column would be. 2. Marks are taken off for obvious glaring errors in the storylines - Unlike the WWE writers, you can't forget what has happened before and have to keep it in mind. 3. The final winner will be judged by a friend of mine who has little access to the internet, on which he would rather see - a sort of "Man on the street" type verdict, if you will. And here is the first challenge. 1. Edge is returning from an Injury, and Vince thinks it is time to push him as a Main event heel. He wants him at main event level for the Royal Rumble, 4 weeks away, to prepare him for a losing effort in the main event at Wrestlemania. Your challenege is to book the return of Edge, turn him heel, and make him a convincing main event heel in 4 shows NOT INCLUDING the Rumble itself. RG5: In the midst of a tour of Canada, Edge returns to face the man who put him out of action, and current Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho. He announces that he has unfinished business with the champion, and that the two Canadian heroes will settle their differences the following week, in Montreal. It is also announced that to make a Rumble announcement, Vince McMahon will be in attendance, which instantly creates a buzz amongst Canadians, still remembering the Montreal Screwjob of Bret Hart. The following week, while announcing that their will be a number 30 battle royal the following Week, Edge interrupts the boss, saying he has a match with Jericho and that Vince needs to vacate the ring. Vince says that if this match is such a big deal, he may have to watch it himself, as the crowd hisses at the idea of Vince at ringside in a Montreal match. The match later, sees Earl Hebner as referree, and as crowd chants reign down of “You screwed Bret” Edge locks in the sharpshooter. Earl looks repeatedly at Vince at ringside, and finally calls for the bell, without Jericho ever tapping. Edge lays waste to Jericho, and goes off air holding hands high with Vince McMahon. The following week, Edge explains that he didn’t screw anybody, Jericho screwed himself when he injured him and kept him out of action for months. Vince joins him, saying Earl didn’t screw Brett, he screwed Brett, and announces that Earl Hebner was paid a great deal of money and has officially retired. Edge goes on to be screwed out of the Battle Royal win by none other than Shawn Michaels, with help from a steel chair. The next week, Shawn explains that he’s found the error of his ways, and couldn’t live to see Edge repeat his mistakes. Edge runs in, and a brawl ensues. Vince announces he helped Edge to show the world he doesn’t hate Canadians, he just hated Bret Hart. A match is booked for the Raw before Rumble between Michaels and Edge. That episode, Edge enters to Shawn’s music wearing mirrored pants, even using old DX taunts. He goes on to blatantly cheat his way a win over HBK, mocking his taunts and even winning with a super kick. Vince and Edge proceed to beat down HBK after the match. Tina: The camera pans across a park until it finds Pavilion #6. It zooms in to find Edge sitting on top of a picnic table resting his head in his hands. He lifts his head to speak. “For over a year now there has been rumors as to when I will return but I have to ask myself, why should I? Before my injury I gave my heart and soul to this business and what did it get me? NOTHING! I have been sitting at home, all alone, for a year now. All my so-called friends? Too busy. My fans? Oh they were there at first but it wasn’t long before they all disappeared as well. SO why don’t you just leave too? Get the hell away from me!!” He shoves the camera and the scene ends. The following week Edge comes running into the ring during Benoit’s match against Orton. He blasts Benoit with a chairshot to the back of his head screaming, “How does it feel? I’ll teach you to never turn your back on me again?” Orton grins but Edge turns around and slams him upside the head as well before leaving the ring. Week 3 begins with Edge getting some visitors in the locker room. It seems that Edge has caught Evolution’s eye. They were quite pleased with his behavior last week and would like for him to join up with them. He answers them yes claiming that will make the “edge-olution” complete. He no sooner speaks the words when he turns around and surprises Flair with a clothesline. “If you want me to join we have to take out the weakest link. Isn’t that right, gentlemen?” HHH and Batista chuckle and walk away with Edge laughing. It is now the last show before the Rumble. Bischoff has scheduled Edge, HHH, Batista vs. Orton, Benoit, Flair for the main event. There are only a few minutes left in the match and its Edge vs. Benoit, his old friend. Benoit applies the cross face but Edge manages to get free. After a brief exchange Edge goes for the Edge-o-cution. Benoit is down but instead of the pin, HHH throws in the sledgehammer. Edge beats him unmerciful. Blood is everywhere as Edge completely loses control. The ref calls for the bell but he doesn’t hear it. The show ends as paramedics and security make their way to the ring. Wow. Impressive booking there. Lets see what the judge made of it. Judge’s view: Strong booking from both here. Random does something clever, but uniting the audience. I can see the US hating Edge because of what he does to Michaels, and while they’d applaud that in Canada, what he does to Bret would be unacceptable. Linking him with McMahon also doesn’t hurt. 96% is a fair reflection for Random I think. As for Tina, there’s turning on Flair - guaranteed to get heat, regardless of Flair’s face/heel allegiance. I don’t think it’s quite as concrete as Random’s though - 82% is probably fair. Pt2’s analysis: No penalties here, except one. Both build up well, and both execute their angle within the rules, but Tina got hers in a little late. Not late enough to have a big impact, but rules are rules. Minus 2 points, leaving 80% for Tina. Final score: RG5: 96% Tinaali: 80% And the challenger takes the lead in the first fall! Catch your breath quickly people, there’s no rest periods in Take up thy wrestling boots and walk, lets get straight onto the second. 2. Chris Sabin is offered a big money deal with the WWE. He demands success in TNA to stop him from walking, by the end of the month. You have 2 shows to get Sabin the world title, and make him look like a big enough name to stop the growing TNA audience from walking away at a midcarder challenging for the title. RG5: Our faithful Wednesday TNA PPV opens up, and to the surprise of everybody, including Don West scoring the massive oversell, we start off with the familiar “Hail Sabin” music. Sabin proceeds to get on a microphone, and acts a bit edgier than we’re used to seeing him. He talks about the lack of X-cup competition leaving him with little to do, and draws issue with the X-division’s booking, namely him getting passed over in title matches. He continues to say to the crowd, and to anybody listening backstage, that Chris Sabin is “The Future” and he will not be passed over any longer in the title pictures. At this point, Alex Shelley comes out, and proceeds to go into a traditional rant, along with Goldilocks, screaming that if anybody is getting passed over, its him. Sabin gets instantly upset and takes the fight to Shelley. Enraged, Sabin loses it. He lays waste to Shelley, and goes for a chair. A conflicted Abyss goes for the save and Sabin promptly nails the monster, and proceeds to beat down Abyss as Black Shirt security runs in, peeling off Sabin. Russo comes out, and says that he doesn’t know what got into Sabin, but if he wants Abyss so bad, he can have him later that night. A very excited AJ Styles calms down Sabin backstage, showing their friendship, but saying that Sabin is capable of much more, he knows, because he made the jump himself from X-D to the Heavyweight crown. West wonders aloud if Sabin is actually capable of such a feat, defeating Jarrett. Before he begins his match later with Abyss, a furious and excited Sabin calls out Jarrett, to the surprise of all. Jarrett enters the arena, confused, and fearing the crazed Sabin.. Abyss enters, and Sabin snaps. He thrashes Abyss, ending with a springboard DDT onto a chair, and Jarrett looks scared. Sabin looks crazed, and starts screaming he’s the number one contender. Russo books the match for the following week’s PPV, saying he can’t have that match on free TV for fear of what Sabin will do. The following week, Jarrett is scared and forced into the match by Russo, but he doesn’t want to fight the crazed Sabin. With a kamikaze move set and many chairs, Sabin upsets the champion, with a new psycho persona and a manipulative AJ waiting in the wings. Tina: The show opens up with Sabin backstage talking with Jerry Lynn, the Team NWA captain. Sabin lists his long list of accomplishments but one thing is missing, the NWA Heavyweight championship belt. He wants to know how Jerry Lynn has made it all this time in TNA not being able to grasp the most prestigious belt in the business. Lynn tells him he resigned himself to the fact that it just isn’t his fate. Sabin finds that unacceptable. He explains how he knows that his destiny includes capturing the heavyweight belt and nothing will stop him. If another X-Division star could make it to the very top, there is no reason why Sabin can’t obtain the same ultimate goal. Later that evening Jarrett is scheduled against Jeff Hardy. Before the match Sabin attacks Hardy in his locker room making him unable to wrestle that night. When Jarrett finds out he laughs finding it very amusing that all the little spot monkeys want to take a shot at him. Since Sabin demolished Hardy, Jarrett says Sabin can wrestle in his place… next week in the first ever TNA 60-minute Iron Man match. We’re down to the last 2 minutes and it’s tied up 3-3. After a brief exchange of blows and chops Jarrett shoots Sabin into the ropes and hits him with a clothesline. Sabin shakes it off and goes to attack Jeff but Jeff sets him up for The Stroke. Jarrett stops for a second to jaw at Chicken Hat and that is all Sabin needed. Sabin manages to slip out and reverses The Stroke into his own Bum Rush (front slamhold swinging neckbreaker.) Sabin goes for the pin but at the last possible second Jarrett gets his shoulder up. Sabin drags himself to his feet scooping Jarrett up for The Cradleshock. Sabin executes it perfectly and Jeff is just devastated by it. Sabin rolls him up and becomes our new heavyweight champion. HAIL SABIN! Judge’s view: Well, another strong outing from both. This one will be closer than the first one, as I think both get Sabin over brilliantly. I can’t really fault either scenario really. I’m going to give Random 97%, but Tina gets a 98% for the inclusion of an Iron man match. Dammit, I love a good Iron man match. I think if Tina had used more of her words to book the iron man match in more detail, it could have been even higher. Pt2’s analysis: I think this is the highest scoring scenario EVER. No penalties. Both in on time, both abide by the rules (just) and neither contradicts anything that goes before, to the best of my knowledge. No interruptions from me. So Tina wins the TNA scenario. Can’t say I’m really surprised. Imagine the stick she would have got over at the TNA board if she’d lost that one. Alright, so the champion makes it 1-1. And we’re almost there.... 3. Book the break up of Paul London and Billy Kidman, using only the male stars of the current Smackdown locker room, and points will be awarded here for originality. RG5: Smackdown opens in a darkened; smoke filled room with Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” playing in the background. We see a very laid back Rob Van Damn, discussing comic books with Paul London, wide eyed on confused as Rob tells a person off camera to “pass that”. Later in the show, Billy Kidman and Paul London defend their tag titles against the Bashams, but London looks distracted. Kidman looks curious as to why London seems disoriented, but seems to not be worried about it. The following week, we see London and Kidman talking backstage with London steady engulfing Goldfish Snack Crackers. Kidman wonders why, and asks why London has been so hungry lately, saying, “Man you have been eating a ton of those Goldfish crackers”. RVD comes by, and asks London if he’s coming over later, and Kidman looks upset. Next Smackdown we see more of the smoke filled room with RVD and London, this time listening to the new A Perfect Circle record. London is obviously disoriented, and keeps coughing. He and Kidman defend the titles but Kidman does almost all the work, with London laughing a lot and saying “Dude! That move rules!” Following the shooting star press for the win. The following week’s episode opens up with a parental advisory, and a message from RVD and Paul London saying that drugs are bad, in a sort of public service announcement. The show utilizes more “smoke filled room” footage and this time both men have bloodshot eyes. As London leaves for the ring, Kidman barges in and throws a fit, handing London a bottle of Visine. Their match, a pairing of Orlando Jordan and new JBL follower Shannon Moore, sees London almost incapacitated, coughing and smiling a lot. Kidman puts forth a good fight, but has no hope following interference from JBL. Following the match, he tries to talk to London, who seems confused by losing the titles. The following week, Kidman again barges in, dragging London out of RVD’s “comic book palace”. He tries to explain that what London is doing to himself is wrong, although the drug use was never shown, only implied. London doesn’t understand, and Kidman finally breaks down and decides to beat some sense into London. The fight ensues, as the two men, London with RVD in his corner, invoke a feud worthy of the Attitude Era. Tina: Billy Kidman is back in the locker room unlacing his boots when there is a knock on the door. It’s Rey Mysterio and he has come by to congratulate him on the win. Rey and Billy get to talking when Billy suddenly remembers he was supposed to meet Paul at the gym. He thanks Rey for stopping by and says goodbye. By the time Billy makes it to the gym, Paul is already gone so he just calls it a night. The following week Paul arrives in their locker room to find Billy and Rey laughing it up again. Paul tells Billy that they have to talk so Rey rolls his eyes, laughs and leaves. Paul asks Billy if he is really into this team. He accuses him of being distracted ever since they won the belt. Paul goes on to ask what’s the deal with Rey because he sure wasn’t there for him before they won. Billy tells Paul to relax. His heart is in the team and tonight he’ll prove it to him. During their match against the Bashams, Rey comes down to ringside to cheer his friend on. During the course of the match one of the Bashams takes a cheap shot at Rey knocking him down on the ground. Billy sees this and goes to save him but in the meantime, Paul is in the ring trying to make a tag out but his partner is gone. Billy finally sees what is going on but by the time he makes it in, it’s too late. The ref made the three count and the Bashams are the new tag team champs. After the match Paul attacks Billy but Rey comes in for the save. That’s it for Paul though. He tells Billy that they are through. There isn’t any room in this business for people who don’t care about their partners. He leaves Rey & Bill standing there looking dumbfounded. Pauls storms to the back but is stopped by Josh. Who asks if what he saw in the ring means the end for these two. Paul says yes and explains he is in this business to succeed. He can’t when his partner’s head is in the clouds dreaming of Tori and Filthy Animals. He says he is looking for a new partner immediately. A smiling Rico appears in the background as the camera fades to black. Judge’s view: I don’t think there will be too many surprises here. While both are solidly booked, the challenge says originality. And while there’s nothing wrong with Tina’s, that means that Random’s is better. 70% for Tina, but for the Russo-humour perfection of Random’s, complete with the originality of it (I’ve never seen a face team split in such a funny manner). Paul and RVD would be pretty loveable good time faces, and no one loves the guy saying “you can’t do this” so Kidman becomes a hateable heel. I have no problem giving 90% for this. Pt2’s analysis: Well, there’s nothing to penalise here, as far as I can see. Everything seems to be explained in the bookings. Scores stand And with that, Random Guy #5 defeats Tinaali and becomes the second “You be the Booker” Champion! If you’d like to contact Random, you can reach him at randomguy_316@hotmail.com If you’d like to contact Tina, you can reach her at womenarefromlop@hotmail.com I’d like to remind you to send me your thoughts on the upcoming NUMBER ONE CONTENDERSHIP challenge between Billy Arceneaux and Tinaali coming up in our next contest. If you think deciding it by a vote instead of Judge’s is a good idea, drop me a line at takeupthywrestlingboots@gmail.com Feel free to send feedback relating to this weeks contest, or the rest of the column, or even any requests to be a part of any future contests, to the same address. Thats all from me this week. If you’re still with me after such a long column, you show great commitment. kudos. As promised, Take up is away this Saturday, but will be returning to a regular Saturday slot from the week after. God bless, Pt2 *NEW GALLERY* Hot RETRO Photos: WCW's Sexy NITRO GIRLS! Wow!
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