Take up thy wrestling boots and walk - Backlash, Wrestlemania, Matt Hardy, Money in the bank,Michaels/Hogan, Flair's book
Submitted by Pt2 on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 4:54 PM EST





Welcome everyone once again to the column that thinks it knows you but is never going to stop you, never going to stop, Take up thy wrestling boots and walk. I’m the man who ran out of ideas on how to use Edge without sending ADD kids to sleep in 2002, Pt2, back once again to share my thoughts on everything related to wrestling, that sports-entertainment of kings.

I’ve finally picked up a copy of Ric Flair’s book. I certainly don’t agree with everything in there, but it’s not a bad read anyway, and I’d recommend it. While the trashing of other stars may seem a bit over the top at times, some sections of the book are really entertaining. It’s one to check out, but approach with a “don’t believe everything you read” attitude.

I’m not going to dwell too long on Wrestlemania, since it was over a month ago now, but I have a few thoughts after watching it. Triple H and the Undertaker probably deserve the highest praise of the night, because they really worked their asses off and got two highly enjoyable matches out of Batista and Orton. Guerrero and Mysterio blew a few spots, but got the basics right - it may have looked odd at times, moving from slightly old school mat wrestling into the more fast paced lightweight tricks that Mysterio likes to pull, but it was certainly solid. As was Michaels and Angle.

See, I don’t buy what everyone else is telling me. This match wasn’t one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches ever, and I refuse to jump on the bandwagon and call it one just because of who was in it. It was solid, and at times heading towards very good. But a classic? No. And that’s what confused me, because they could have a classic. But looking back, I’m not confused anymore. I think this match was used almost PURELY to build to a rematch. That rematch, hopefully at Summerslam, will be the real classic. I’m not sure who will come out on top, and since each can afford to lose without it hurting them, I don’t really care. I just get this feeling that next time, they aren’t going to hold anything back, and that people can drool with legitimate reason.

The 6 pack challenge is a good example of what the modern WWE ladder match has become. But since practically every spot involved the ladder, and it was little more than a glorified stunt fest, albeit an entertaining one, it’s not for me. I’d rather have seen some of the more seasoned pro’s in there set up a wrestling match then find ways to use the ladder, rather than always use the ladder.

But that being said; the worst stuff on the card was solid. That shows what a success I actually thought the PPV was, overall. While there was little in the way of spotlight stealing, everything was good, and the WWE can put that PPV in the win column. Now, they have to go out and do it again.

The money in the bank gives them a lot of options. Personally, I don’t want to see Edge on the title, so I’d rather he ended up getting fed to Batista. Am I sure who I want to take the title from Batista? No, but I have a pretty small shortlist of candidates on the RAW roster who I think could do a good job on the title. Triple H, as highly as I rate him, should not. Apart from the Benoit - Orton title switch, every time someone has beat HHH for the belt, he’s beat them straight back. A new champion is in order again. That being said, we’ve had as many new champions since February 2004 as we did from January 97 - December 2001. In that period the championship tended to hang around a small group of guys. Perhaps the chance for promotion isn’t as bad as some people make out….?

Looking ahead to Backlash, I think the bout between Shelton and Jericho for the IC title could be a key match on the card. From what we’ve seen, Hunter won’t be able to take Dave for more than 20-25 minutes and keep people interested. That’s ok, Dave’s a big guy, he’s still learning, and he’ll be able to do that one day, I’m sure of it. But he can’t do it now. So, it could be up to Jericho and Shelton to provide the wrestling on the card. I’m pretty sure no one will mind seeing these guys go at it for half hour. Hey, maybe even let them go to a 30 minute time limit draw, and have a rematch later down the line - It’d really give ratings a kick to have a match like that on free tv, or if they would prefer, they could hold it off until Summerslam. The possibilities are endless.

Hogan and Michaels vs. Hassan and Daivari…. Man, when I look at Hogan and Michaels together, I always think the same thing. Turn Michaels. OK, maybe not here, maybe not turn him into some kind of Arab, but at some point. Drop the “one last match” crap, get Hulk back out there, Michaels turns on him (maybe even another appearance for Jannetty not long after?) and then we get Michaels vs. Hogan. Now if you thought that Rock vs. Hogan was a big deal, just wait until you see the Hulkamaniac and the Boy toy, brother.
Incidentally, I’m actually going to see the WWE RAW tour soon, so I expect I shall talk briefly about that in the next column.

Now, as for a draft lottery. I’m not going to speculate, but it’s a good idea, and Smackdown! Definitely needs some strengthening in my eyes. I’m not sure exactly how they will do it, but they need to ship some people over to Smackdown! And make them stars, not just people who are there doing nothing. Cena needs opponents, and the whole scene really just needs a breath of fresh air.

TNA would be mad not to pick up free agent Matt Hardy. People really support Matt right now, and I think that a lot of people would watch TNA if Matt was on it. I wouldn’t reunite him with Jeff though. Perhaps run them against each other, but keep them separate. Maybe in the future, have some kind of tearful reunion and have them take on AMW…. I don’t know, I’m just clutching at straws here, but it seems the options are much better with him, than without him, down south right now.

Wellllll… that should just about do it for this one. Coming up in the next, you’ll have my usual banter, talk of the Wrestlemania Revenge tour here in the UK, and a YBTB title defence when champion Random guy defends his title against a reader of the column, going under the name Malenko 1000.
If you have feedback, please leave it at takeupthywrestlingboots@gmail.com , and I shall reply to all mail recieved. Until next time,

Take care

Pt2.








*NEW GALLERY* Whoa Payton!! VERY HOT Modeling Shots of Payton Banks!

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