The Wrath of Tito - Answering YOUR Feedback and UFC clarification
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 6:27 PM EST
It's the Wrath of Tito, welcome to the Wrath of Tito, watch it bring you to your knees, knees... I wanna watch you bleed! Classic GNR to start today's "show". I've really been in a GNR kick and hearing new Axl Rose with the GNR leaked songs might have done that. But anyway, we're about a week away from Wrestlemania 22, the biggest show of them all...
Looking back, there really isn't much significant news since our last installment... I covered a lot of bases with that column. I do want to say that a bit in my last column was taken out of context and that was this quote:
"Seriously, folks, where is John McCain when you need him so that he can forever ban UFC from boring us to death? If McCain runs for President in 2008 and his top platform is to "ban UFC", he'd have my vote in an instant. This is not because I want UFC censored from its content, for that doesn't bother me. It's because UFC sucks. Get 'em McCain!"
Jesus, the last thing I want is hardcore censorship of a promotion. IT WAS A JOKE! I only brought up McCain's name because I knew that would piss off UFC fans, and reading my email, it did! If you read the paragraphs above AND my quote about McCain, I was suggesting that UFC be banned because it SUCKS, but that was the joke of it. I didn't tear it to shreds about UFC's content or violence. I honestly don't care about that and I'm not about to advocate censoring UFC for their violent fights. I was only joking that we should send in John McCain after them because the product SUCKS, which I clearly stated "This is not because I want UFC censored from its content, for that doesn't bother me. It's because UFC sucks. Get 'em McCain!". Gotta read the context, sometimes. If I wanted UFC banned, I would go to some extreme lengths to do so, and I clearly haven't. I'm just saying the product is lousy and I have ratings numbers from the Ultimate Fighter after WWE left and the last UFC event getting clobbered by RAW to prove that.
ANYWAY... I get hammered on e-mail and since I'm sort of at a lack of wrestling news to discuss (though I really want to write), I'll open up the mailbag and answer YOUR letters.
Mr. Tito's Phat Mail
Keep in mind that ever since I've started a more looser style with this column (and readership has shot up from it), I've been getting clobbered with e-mail more than ever! So if your emails aren't getting responses, I apologize, but they are getting read!
Dear Tito: Have you ever considered having your own wrestling audio show? I know you've fascinated with talk radio and are very opinionated enough to maybe want one?
Yes. I love talk radio, I love discussing radio, and I believe I'd do a good job at it. The problem remains with the internet. I need webspace to host said audio files. That's what has stopped me in the past from doing a show. I've spoke with Calvin about it in the past on LoP, as I was really serious about doing a SportsCenter like audio update about 3 years ago. But, on the LoP server, that would really drive up the costs of bandwidth and I really don't feel like putting LoP out of business. IF someone were to give me good webspace for an audio show, I'd definitely consider it. I have the recording equipment and software to make it happen.
I enjoyed my brief contributions to the Wrestlepalooza show and I have a lot to say in person. If anyone is serious about providing webspace with heavy amounts of bandwidth to give, let me know. wrathoftito@yahoo.com
Dear Tito: I live in Philly. I've been to many ECW and WWE events. Come to Philly and say hockey doesn't exist.
Easy reply: Why is hockey on the freakin' Outdoor Life Network? ESPN looked at the NHL offer sheet to televise hockey games and laughed. That's ESPN, too, who will throw money at almost anything given how big and bloated they've become. Hockey has never been a top sport in the United States. Yeah, it might be huge with hardcore fans in certain cities. But if you live outside a city, how would you care about a pro sports team that's in an unpopular league?
NHL is well behind the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NASCAR. Even behind the NBA, who has saw a significant drop-off in viewership. I believe, though, in time that the NHL will grow thanks to its revised economic system to keep smaller city clubs competitive, but they still won't surpass, at least, the NFL, MLB, or NASCAR, who are each bigger beyond belief here in America. And don't give me petty threats of "come to my city". I like hockey, as Mario Lemieux is close to a God to me as any other sports figure (Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Warren Moon, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Barry Bonds, Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, Roger Clemens, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, among others are my all-time Sports favorites), but even I can recognize that Hockey is low on the ladder for American sports.
Dear Tito: Who do you think SHOULD win the Wrestlemania Smackdown 3 way match between Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton?
I'd personally have Kurt Angle go over and turn him into an ultra heel. I'd have him feud with Rey Mysterio all summer and build Mysterio towards an eventual title win. HOWEVER, we're living in a world where Randy Orton is loved by the McMahons, so I believe Orton will win and Mysterio will feud with him through the summer until Batista comes back. I guess Batista vs. Orton for the title is what the WWE wants, and maybe at the end of the day, that might work. I'm just not sold on Randy Orton just yet. At age 25, he has way too much to learn before being a World Champion. Angle has the credibility of being a world champion (yet he doesn't need it to define his greatness) and Mysterio defeating him would be a huge deal.
So as to who SHOULD win it, I say Angle should retain... but Orton is clearly winning at Wrestlemania and Mysterio will feud with him over the summer, probably winning the World Title once, in honor of Eddie Guerrero.
Dear Tito: Do you think Ric Flair will get one more World Title reign?
I say "YES" because I'm thinking that Flair will win the "Money in the Bank" match at Wrestlemania. I just don't see the WWE seriously backing Hardy, Finley, Benjamin, or Rob Van Dam for a World Title shot at this point. I reckon that HHH will defeat John Cena at Wrestlemania, and from there, HHH would give HHH one more title reign. JUST MAYBE at this Wrestlemania if you keep your eyes open, who knows?
If Flair wins the Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania, it's a definite YES.
Dear Tito: In response to your recent mention of the Four Horsemen, do you believe that the WWE will eventually bring back that group name?
Oh yeah! In reference to my previous question, HHH is a HUGE 4 Horsemen and Ric Flair mark. They are his heroes and he's actually used a lot of their material for his storylines. HHH loves oldschool NWA, so I believe, yes, it will come back. Evolution was actually thought of as a Horsemen style group, only it didn't have that name.
If I were framing the group today, I'd probably make it HHH, Masters, Carlito, and maybe Flair if they want him heel again. If not, Shelton Benjamin would thrive under HHH's wing. The problem with stables is that HHH only likes to associate himself with guys whom he's actually friends with. Flair, Batista, and Orton are all close friends of HHH's.
Dear Tito: In your latest column, you stated that a local independent federation was the "Best in the Ohio Valley". How so? Does that include places throughout Ohio or greater parts of Pennsylvania?
Good point. I live on the Eastern Ohio border that's just a few miles away from the West Virginia northern panhandle and a few more miles away from Pennsylvania. I've always felt that this area that has 3 states so close together is the "Ohio Valley". I guess I should have restated it as best along the Ohio/West Virginia border. Sorry.
Dear Tito: Do you think that Bret Hart will interfere with the Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon match, given how the Saturday Night's Main Event match between HBK and Shane McMahon ended?
I'm starting to think so, as it would have been suicidal for the WWE to do that angle and lose out on Bret Hart no-showing for the Hall of Fame (Bret is reportedly doing that appearance for FREE). I've always contended that Vince, Michaels, and Bret have been working fans since the Confidential story aired and HBK admitted to knowing about the Survivor Series 1997 screwjob. Michaels becoming a born-again Christian might have something to do with it and I guarantee he's called Bret Hart personally and apologized for past wrongdoings. Someone of such high faith these days would do so when trying to have all sins forgiven.
Hart doing the DVD for the WWE only further proves that point that all 3 parties have moved on. Both Vince and HBK like to mention the situation just for pure character purposes and I can imagine that the recent pokes were approved by Bret. I want to hold out all hope that Bret Hart WON'T do it, for it would go against what he's said for years in his columns and whatnot, but I'm thinking that Bret has worked the fans to a degree and actually gets along with Michaels/Vince.
Dear Tito: What do you think of the recent conspiracy theory that Eddie Guerrero's death has been booked by the WWE and that Eddie will show up, alive and well, at Wrestlemania 22 to help Rey Mysterio win?
I think it's a load of crap and FINGER OF SHAME to anyone who implies that.
What, were Benoit, Angle, Chavo, and Mysterio FAKE crying? Same with Guerrero's family. Guerrero is dead and the WWE would get in some possible financial trouble (they might have had a life insurance policy on Guerrero?) and I believe fans would quickly leave the product. Yeah, I'd love to see Guerrero alive and well, but I'd be disgusted if the WWE played with my emotions enough to fake someone's death. Mark my words, if the WWE trots Eddie Guerrero out on Wrestlemania, I'll stop watching WWE wrestling, period. YES, I'd be happy he was still alive, but the angle would completely disgust me.
Besides, there's way more evidence that Eddie is dead than alive. Benoit, Angle, Mysterio, Chavo, and the Guerrero family aren't trained actors to cry the way that they did.
Dear Tito: Trish Stratus has already put out a DVD of the first half of her career. Do you think she'll have another?
She'll have several more DVD's. I'm thinking at least 2, as I'm betting she has one in the works right now and then an Anthology of her career when she retires (but when would that be? I really don't see her stopping, even at an older age). Trish Stratus, when it's all said and done, will be the absolute best female performer in the WWE, ever. If she's not there now, she's close. Great wrestler, great beauty, and a great ambassador for the company.
Just imagine how popular Trish would be if she had a larger women's roster of wrestlers to work with? To be honest, she usually feuds with ONE person over long periods of time. She feuded with Lita, Jazz, Victoria, Molly, and now James, and each have been or will be for long periods of time. Christ, she's wrestled Victoria for a long time now.
Enjoy your weekend.
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