The Wrath of Tito - Hulk Hogan, is Jericho a Hall of Famer?, Brock Lesnar, more
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 7:20 PM EST
Welcome, one and all, to the Wrath of Tito. I can say what I want about ECW, but ever since it was brought back, the news has kept pouring in. Say what you want about how badly the McMahons have mucked up the "tradition of ECW", it has, at the very least, generated conversation and has created some sort of "invasion" angle. History has shown that invasions from rival promotions work most of the time, at least in the short-run. Maybe in a few months, we won't be talking about ECW and I sense that may happen if we go below 2.0.
Before we head into our column today, I do want to apologize for an accidental posting of a link to a horrible webpage. When trying to post facts about RF Video's Rob Feinstein, as he's been attending ECW shows and seems to be trying to get a good foot back into the wrestling industry, I ran a Yahoo! search on his name. Just glancing through the search results, hoping to find non-wrestling webpages who reported his sick, sick incident, I ran across a webpage that I never heard of before and used that as a news source. For all I knew, it was some internet news webpage. However, and I won't disclose the name of the organization to avoid a free plug for them, what I didn't know was that it was a freakin' white supremecist webpage! Just my horrible luck and this was NOT intentional. I posted the column late Thursday night and I was out of town for Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday without any access to the internet.
When I come back, my email is flooded and a few message boards are harping on me for that link. I did NOT know that this webpage was in support of bigoted hatred and I completely apologize for the mishap. It was NOT my intention to use them as a information source, as there's no way in hell that I'd embarrass LoP or myself by posting a link to a webpage that is filled with pure scum. I'm very sorry for anyone who was offended by this webpage if you dug into the webpage (though the title of the article is offensive enough). Again, to reiterate, it was an accident and I apologize for the mishap. My main goal was to present news on a certain individual associated with wrestling and the last thing on my mind was to give hatred a free plug. I swear on the lives of those who mean the most to me that it was NOT intentional. Thanks to whomever later corrected the link in my column. I truly am sorry for the accident.
The show must go on...
-Speaking of shows, I did NOT catch Saturday Night's Main Event... again, I was out for the weekend, and based on the way that the WWE has reshuffled the SNME deck after Rob Van Dam got busted for drugs, I actually lost interest in wanting to see the show. I actually wanted to see Edge vs. John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam on prime time television. But we can't have that... I catch a tape somewhere or just merely catch highlights on RAW tonight...
If I were the WWE, however, I would NOT panic over the 2.7 rating on NBC. First, it's NBC for crying out loud, as they aren't the ratings powerhouse that they once were during the 1990's when "Must See TV" actually meant it. Secondly, it's a Saturday night, and looking at the temperatures around the country, it was a NICE Saturday, weatherwise. Why stay inside when it's nice outside? It was very warm during the day and by the time SNME was on the air, it's time to go outside and enjoy the stellar weather. Even if I was home and not out of town watching the Kings Royal with Papa Tito, I probably wouldn't have cared. A), my interest dropped when the card had to be revamped, B) the return of Hulk Hogan doesn't interest me, and C), the weather was beautiful! Weather this warm doesn't hit the Ohio Valley very often.
But damn, my demand to see Hulk Hogan has significantly dropped. Do you readers remember how JACKED UP I was last year to finally see Hulk Hogan live at the RAW in Pittsburgh before Summerslam? I actually tolerated him back then and respected his ability to still work the crowd. A year later... well, the "Hogan Knows Best" show is driving down my demand to want to see Hogan. Plus, I think his whole attitude towards Shawn Michaels was very disrespectful. Say what you want about HBK's past, he's been a generous worker upon his return and nothing but a class act in the business. Plus, HBK is still a tremendous wrestler. Meanwhile, you have Hulk Hogan, who is the "Babe Ruth of Wrestling", and he had the nerve to refuse to lose to HBK. How can a loss hurt Hogan? It certainly didn't hurt him when he allowed Kurt Angle or Brock Lesnar to embarrass him in 2002 or 2003, I believe. He's untouchable... He's the absolute biggest star in our business and he holds that title because Steve Austin's star has diminished significantly over time.
I can't STAND Hogan Knows Best! Of all of the "reality" shows, that show just drives me insane. The concern on Mrs. Hogan's face is so fake, especially on the "Brooke is Missing" episode. Nick seems cool, but his antics are clearly staged. Brooke is hot, but she's NOT a 10 and she's a lousy singer. Her "single" was completely overproduced and a cookie-cutter song of what's out there right now. The Hulkster is just going through the motions for an easy paycheck. The only time the show is cool is whenever you see backstage footage of WWE events (i.e. Summerslam 2005 and Wrestlemania 21), or oddly enough, whenever Brian Knobs is there to play stupid. This show, as well as Hogan's ego during the summer of last year, has greatly destroyed Hogan's credibility with me as a wrestling fan. He's too overexposed from his television show and in his 50's, he should be the last guy protecting his "spot".
It's amazing on Vince McMahon's part, too... Does anybody even remember the heat that Vince and Hogan had during 2003? The whole Mr. America angle fell apart over money and Hogan's demands for a push. The two sides weren't even talking and Hogan missed Wrestlemania 20!! Seriously, folks, Hulk Hogan was NOT at the 20th Anniversary of Wrestlemania at Madison Square Garden. That should point you in the right direction as to whether they liked each other for the latter half of 2003 and most of 2004. Things all change when TNA showed some interest in Hogan (I do love how they always use Jarrett's footage of him smashing Hogan with the guitar at that press conference) as well as the WWE Hall of Fame actually getting popular. The WWE HoF has grown and grown throughout the years, insomuch that the WWE made it a point to make compromises to bring in Bret Hart this year. With that being said, Hogan's new deal with the WWE is to wrestle when he wants, and when he does wrestle, HOW he wants. That's absurd, no matter how big you once were in the business.
But hey, until there's competition, Hogan will be allowed to do whatever he wants in the WWE, whenever he wants. Just look back at 1998... WCW lost the ratings war because they let a guy past his prime, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, dominate while the competition kept knocking at the door. One of WWE's main reasons for winning the ratings war in the spring of 1998 and beyond was the fact that Hulk Hogan was the champion. WCW foolishly squandered the opportunity to put over Sting HUGE at Starrcade 1997 and once Hogan destroyed Randy Savage, yet again (and Savage beat Sting the night before), to become champion, WCW was dead in the water and it was too late to capitalize on Goldberg's growing popularity at that point. Without competition, Hogan is able to suck it up on screen and no competitor is there to challenge (I'm looking at YOU, NWA-TNA).
~Apple Dumplings~
-Recently in an interview with Canada.com, Chris Jericho, probably the internet wrestling community's favorite superhero, said the following quote about returning to wrestling:
"I never use the word retirement because everybody always retires and then comes back, so I never want to actually say that. If everything comes to a screeching halt and I'm out on the street wiping your windows down when you stop at a red light, then maybe I'll start thinking about going back to wrestling."
I guarantee he'll get back into wrestling. Now granted, I completely respect that he's walked away from wrestling in hopes of obtaining work in entertainment. However, is there really demand for him as an acting? Last time I checked, there wasn't many roles opened for guys who call other guys "assclowns". With his music, ugh... he's not making money off of those albums. I can imagine a certain degree of money earned touring, as clubs with alcohol and music always make money. But the high living he had as a top dollar earning WWE superstar? With Jericho taking chances on making it in other industries, I'm sure he's paying a lot for traveling for auditions and preparing resumes. Time is money... Working for Vh1 on comment shows shouldn't be considered something of a longterm job goal, as well.
That wrestling itch WILL come back. I guarantee it. TNA, if it ever grows, might make an offer to Jericho that he cannot refuse. I get the sense that Jericho was very burned out of the WWE towards the end of his career (though his feud with Cena got better by the week)... but as the saying goes, "never say never". Sometime in 2007, I predict that Jericho will be wrestling for WWE or TNA.
Here's an even better discussion about Chris Jericho: Is Chris Jericho a WWE Hall of Famer? According to Wrestling Information Archive... Jericho is a 1-time unified WWE Champion (the belt currently on RAW) and was the first champion of that kind, a 2 time WCW Champion (though this was in 2001 when the title was a joke), 8-time Intercontinental champion (holy cow!), 3 time WWE Tag Champ (the one on RAW), 5-time Cruiserweight Champion, 1 WCW Television Title, and 1 ECW Television Title. He has some good quality Pay Per View wins here and there... Good Indy resume before breaking into ECW... All things considered, he achieved most of his bigtime success from 1999 through 2005 in WWE, as WCW held him down when he was breaking out as a star. His entrance alone, in 1999, is Hall of Fame worthy.
Is Jericho a WWE Hall of Famer? Based on who is already into the Hall, I'd definitely say YES. However, taking into account who I believe should get into the Hall, I would also say yes. He has a resume and has wrestled plenty of good matches, with lots of championships and good quality wins, to earn it. Also, he'll be back to pad his resume...
-Good for NWA-TNA on getting OUT of that cramped Orlando television studio and wrestling elsewhere for their upcoming Pay Per View. The Orlando, FL, though I completely understand the cost situation, looked very tacky over time. The same could be said for WCW who did the same exact thing by using the same old television studio for all of their television tapings. It's time for TNA to step up to the plate and grow their business properly. Now, if we could get some good booking to go along with that......
-Tonight as announced for RAW, John Cena will take on Umaga. This is crazy... If Umaga is the big main event project that the WWE is working on for the future, they're crazy. The same problem happened back in 2002 when Steve Austin arrived for work on a Monday Night and found out that he had to fight Brock Lesnar in a shortly hyped match-up. Cena should be the last part of the ladder that Umaga should be wrestling right now. When I say better opponents than Indy wrestlers, I mean that by defeating, for example, guys like Val Venis and slightly above. If I were the WWE, I'd slowly build him towards Kane. Have Umaga run up a winning streak, push the "Samoan Bulldozer" gimmick hard, and have Kane say "try to bulldoze through hellfire and brimstone!". There you go... With Kane reportedly retiring soon, Kane could give back HUGE to the business with a big win for Umaga. There, Umaga would be officially set for the main event. To rush things, especially in the absence of competition, would be ludicrous. Speaking of more WCW history, remember when WCW gave Goldberg vs. Hogan WAY TOO EARLY on free television due to the pressures of competition? By giving away that match too early, Goldberg was officially on the downslide because he defeated the biggest fish in the pond way too early.
-Looking at results from SNME, we're getting Undertaker vs. Big Show on ECW? Holy cow, and I don't mean that in a good way.... HOWEVER, all things aside about the poor match quality, if attaching horror movie films to ECW is what the Sci-Fi execs want, the Undertaker is perfect for the product. He's a mystical character and could be what they are looking for, especially if he dares to go back to demonic Undertaker. Better yet, if you want to get more mystical, send the Great Khali to ECW as well. That's right, purge all of the big men to ECW. That way, the RAW and Smackdown roster would officially be clean of any big, slow moving big wrestlers in favor of a more productive roster. How about that? It would save everyone the trouble of watching Tuesday night...
-Reports say that Brock Lesnar had a major falling out with New Japan and is done with that promotion. Someone needs to ask Lesnar if it was worth fighting the WWE in court to burn down yet another bridge? This guy needs to put his career life into perspective... He's making $3 million+ per year in the WWE. He quits that job and signed ridiculous no-compete clauses just to join the NFL. Then, after failing that (though giving it a good shot), he tries to wrestle again or even participate in mixed martial arts overseas. For the next year, he's in and out of court with the WWE fighting over the no-compete clause that HE SIGNED and AGREED TO. Now, he drops the ball on New Japan... What's next? If he walked out of that promotion, as early indicators suggest he did, he has ruined his reputation in Japan and won't ever be welcomed back. It's time to return to professional wrestling in the United States and recognize who made him famous: the WWE. The WWE could use a bigtime main event star and Lesnar's timing couldn't be more perfect with Batista officially back.
But if I were NWA-TNA, I'd make Brock Lesnar an offer he couldn't refuse... His potential in the WWE was never met and based on the way he literally said "FU" to the WWE, he's infamous in the pro wrestling world. He'd be such a natural heel, too, for he could say "I'm better than pro wrestling" as an excuse to why he left. Let's just hope he matures just a little bit before making his big professional wrestling comeback here in the states.
-Not only does Mark Henry injure people, but he gets hurt himself, ONCE AGAIN. This guy has been on and off the injury list while regressing as a wrestler. That's a shame, for the guy has good size, the look, and was actually over as "sexual chocolate" during the late 1990's. Additionally, Mark Henry actually seemed to like his recent role and has ignited some passion in wanting to be a good wrestler. While results suggest otherwise, it represents a failure of the WWE to plan for a very injury prone disappearing from a Pay Per View card or a feud. Same thing happens with Orton. Why keep pushing guys who are repeatedly injured (as well as lacking wrestling ability?). Now, Batista is without an opponent for their upcoming Great American Bash... I figure, though, that Batista vs. Booker T, assuming Booker T becomes champion, will be a good feud. I sense that Booker is catching on with his "King Booker" gimmick and should be a natural to be champion again. That's right... 5 long years in the WWE and Booker T finally gets some respect. As a longtime Booker T fan (along with Coolbeans, a good friend and the webmaster of the once classic unofficial Booker T webpage), it's a proud moment if Booker T finally captures gold again. The WWE has misused him for so long...
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