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Submitted by Wevv Mang on Monday, December 4, 2006 at 3:55 AM EST
Ridin’ With The Bossman – The Rise and Fall Of ECW, The Next Generation Greetings! Welcome to another edition of Ridin’ With The Bossman! The column that more WWE writers read than any other. Wow, did you realize that we’ve had three wrestling PPV’s in a row on Sunday? Unbelievable. In fact, it’s been quite the time for wrestling. First there was the TNA special. Then the TNA PPV, then Survivor Series, and now an ECW PPV. And, in a few short days, we have ANOTHER PPV, a Smackdown one, and then, before you know it, Royal Rumble. Usually, this is the time of year when wrestling slows down. Not this year, apparently. Still no word on what matches will be happening at WM, or Royal Rumble, but one thing is clear. Survivor Series is considered a disappointment. But there is one thing to look forward to. Royal Rumble may be the time that Mark Henry returns. Huh? That’s not good news? Well, to you maybe… WWE TV – The Series Raw Recap Info courtesy of Chad Matthews Survivor Series was the night before, but the fall-out starts tonight. Ric Flair opens the show and calls out the Spirit Squad, because he has friends too. So, out comes the Spirit Squad, and they get some offense in, and then DX shows up, and they proceed to beat the crap out of the Spirit Squad. Big hug to Ric, who knows his time is short. Tangent A lot of speculation has been floating around about why Ric was so emotional in the ring. I think I have a solution. Also, a reason why all the old crufters have been getting so much TV time. It’s for the Hall Of Fame. They’re looking for that big inductee. I think they were hoping that Dusty Rhodes would do it, but well, now it doesn’t. So, maybe, WWE may be thinking about retiring Ric from the ring, just so they have that big name on the list. That’s what popped into my head. Oh, and that Ric was going to get laid out tonight. MNM Mercury is back. So, MNM is reborn. Which ties in nicely with the Hardy Boys return. So, it looks like a last second effort to revive the Tag Team Division. Chick Battle Royal It’s Torrie, Melina, Maria, Victoria, Candice. Sloppy match, no entrances for the chicks, and then wrestling. Vicki wins, and she nailed Candace in the face with a kick. And she’s back to being a psycho. Good luck honey. Eugene vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan I laughed all though this match. Eugene has been turned into a full-blown joke. One that I like. Go Crazy Retard! Cutting Edge Well, there was Ric, all bloody. And Edge trying to get his heat back. And Randy, being, well, a piece of wood. Well, here’s to hoping that they get to recapture that magic they had when they first announced they were teaming up. Remember that? Way back then? I barely do. Lawler vs Masters No comment. But look above to see the Tangent. Not sure if Lawler is already in the Hall or not. Sorry, I forget, and am not willing to look it up. Armando Speaks! I’ve missed his promos. That guy is great. Armando lays out the challenge to Cena, for his title. So, it is Umaga vs Cena for the belt. The face off could have been done much better. Umaga shouting at him in Samoan, laughing and leaving, for instance. Still, Armando got to speak, and that is a good thing. Cryme Tyme They did a parody of Michael Richards racial tirade. Cryme Tyme showed up and beat they guy up. Not that funny. You know what was funny? The guy getting up to leave, and then running back. THAT was funny. It was probably not even planned. Randy Orton and Edge vs The Hardys Good match. And a long one too. Plenty of action, but the ending left me flat. Edge and Orton lose by DQ, after a belt shot. I would have rather just have a winner and a loser, but oh well. Place holder show for Raw. ECW Recap courtesy of Eddie Martin Paul opens the show, telling us how this Elimination Chamber Match is different from the other Elimination Chambers, and not just by adding the word EXTREME to it. There will be weapons in this match. Sadly, no key. But they will have a chair, a table, a crowbar, and a barbwire baseball bat. What is the last weapon? Could it be a straight jacket? Spend your money to find out. RVD vs Sabu Very good first match. Sabu and RVD work great together. Pretty brutal match, and RVD gets the win. Hardy Boys vs Elijah Burke and Sylvester Terkay Not a bad match. Hardys pick up the win, and then MNM attacks, so, for a second night in a row, the Hardys get beat down. On a side note, it was interesting to see Terkay in action. Nothing much to comment on, but there he was. CM Punk vs Test Ends in a double DQ. That’s all you really need to know. Yeah, something tells me that Punk is going to be jobbing to Test often in the near future. Big Show vs Lashley Basic cluster ending, with everyone running in and beating down Lashley. Seen it before, and well, better to just have Show do a promo than a match. Well, the show tried some new things. It’s working CM Punk into a new feud, and trying to find the right spot for Lashley. Also, it looks like Elijah and Terkay are being worked into the show more frequently. It remains to be seen where they fit, and how well, but something seems up. Smackdown Recap info courtesy of Rudi Pavani Teddy Opens the show Teddy tells us about some matches for the upcoming Smackdown PPV, Armageddon, in two weeks. So, taking Cyber Sunday into account, that will be six PPV’s in about two months. With a seventh, and eighth quickly following. Good grief, you gotta be rich to be a wrestling fan these days. Don't be surprised, my close friends and family, if you get McDonald’s gift certificates this year. I ain't made out of money. HEY! You can get a lot for five bucks! They got a nice selection on the Dollar menu, you know. Tangent Speaking of PPV’s, just got done watching December to Dismember, and man, I can't help but wonder if the sheer number of PPV’s, pressure for TV ratings, and the holiday season push for merchandise is taking it’s toll on creative. Like I said, that’s an awful lot of PPV’s to plan for, and well, if this last one is any bar to judge by, then creative has got nothing left. And by creative, I mean management and their lackeys. Where was I? Oh, yes. Teddy was telling us about the Inferno match of MVP and Kane, and the Wevv Mang Tribute Match. I mean the Last Ride match, but come on. Who isn't thinking about Bossman dragging Big Show through the cemetery when they hear that matches name? Well, those who didn't see the skit, so yeah, nearly everybody. I GOT YOUR DADDY BIG SHOW! Still one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Gets a laugh from me, even now, just thinking about it. The best part was that the “guests” just took it in stride. Oh look, some psycho is stealing the coffin. Don't see that every day. Hey, they still have any of those cookies left? Your best work ever Russo. Teddy, Still Speaking It’s only been a few seconds, and well, I should have done another tangent, but oh well. Teddy calls Batista, who comes out to a nice pop. He’s happy to be champion. Says it’s been a long time in coming. But now it’s his. Booker comes out, and Sharmell, a true professional, sounds pissed at the people as she yells “All Hail King Booker!”. Booker demands a rematch. Finlay comes out and demands a shot as well. And Teddy makes a match. MNM vs Paul Long and Brian Kendrick Good match, but I thought MNM was on Raw? Well, WWE can only handle one idea at a time, and then beat it into the ground. Still, no complaints about the match, which was pretty damn good. Except for the interference. Regal and Taylor showed up and beat up London so MNM could get the protected win. Tangent Why is it that Smackdown seems to be sparking so many tangents? I think it’s because Smackdown has become a good show, and thus, lighting the fire of my markdown, and making me think of all the good things that could happen. When a show is good, it makes you want more, and I like to think about what that could be, and well, I’m happy, very happy actually, with what I’ve been getting. But there is always room for things to get better, and while what I want, as an individual, may not be what people want to see, I think that people will happily share what they would like to see, and the general feeling is a positive one, as opposed to a bad show, like Raw is becoming, where the fantasy booking is based out of frustration at not getting what they want, and seeing a bunch of stuff, that could be good, happening instead of the crap we’ve been getting. So, if that makes sense, Smackdown, fantasy booking, on what could be, based on the good things fans have seen, and with a positive vibe, while Raw seems to bring about a negative vibe, and a desperate hope for something good. Where, if the one happens, it’s gravy, while if the other happens, it’s another glimpse of hope for things to improve. Tangent Yep, one more. I understand the protected booking scheme of the MNM vs Hooliganz match. Yet, I can't help thinking that it’s time to move away from the run-ins and DQ Ending, period. Taylor/Regal as tag champs seems to be the plan, and no problem with that, but there’s gotta be another way to get a feud going, and generate heat. The fan reaction to such endings is luke warm at best. It’s been done way too many times recently. Also, it makes me think that the post title run for the Hoolganz will be the now-dreaded feuding form tag team partners. That is also tired and overdone. But Vince loves that shit. Here’s hoping for something better than that from Michael Hayes, who knows the tag scene very, very well. Eh, Freebird? MVP and Kennedy, Best Buds Nice promo there. Very nice. MVP was helping out Kennedy, but hey, if he didn't like it, well, then tough. They could have worked together….see, the hanging possibility is very sweet to me. Batista vs Booker vs Finlay You know what? This was a damn good match, and best match of Batista’s I’ve seen in a long time. Excellent back and forth, and each man got a chance to shine. Booker and Finlay were the stars, but Batista got the win. Top of the hour too. Hope that spikes the ratings. At least some one is thinking about the viewers. Benoit vs Chavo Very good match, with plenty of psychology going for it. Oh, not the Vickie stuff, the battle between the two wrestlers. Chavo got the win with shenanigans. Acceptable ending, given the content of the match. Tangent Yep one more. Last one I think. I think it’s time to move Chavo on. Smackdown seems to be willing to take chances with wrestlers who haven't been given much or proven much for that matter. I’ve been kicking around the idea of a Chavo/ Batista feud, and well, I think it could work well. Nothing long term, but give it a month, and see what happens. Hell, Batista is a guy that cashed in on the Guerrero name after all, and wrestling is not his strength, or wrestling for that matter, but both are Chavo’s. It’s a charisma problem with Chavo, something Batista has plenty of. Layla vs Kristal Man, both those chicks are smoking. Kristal has a perfect body. Match? Oh yeah. Basic stuff, and since both are rookies, I didn't expect much from it. But both chicks tried what they’ve learned so far, and based on that, not bad, not bad at all. Still more to learn, but hey, they gotta learn, and this match was a good test. MVP Vs Taker And we have the fastest taker entrance in months, if not years. That surprised me. Match was OK. Taker pretty much just pounded the crap out of MVP. But MVP kept up. End saw MVP run away, and Kennedy come back and throw him into the ring. Kane came out and threw in Kennedy. So both guys got clobbered, but managed to escape. Kane and Taker stood in the ring to end the show. Wow. I’ll say this, Taker has been doing some great work. He’s actually trying to work with Kennedy and MVP, and not just loose a match and say he lost. He’s trying to create a star. And it’s working. To a degree. It’s only booking habit that’s holding it off. After Survivor Series I wanted to see what would be done with Kennedy, because that match left a big question mark. It’s still there, but much smaller. I will say that I’m enjoying what I’m seeing. There’s some actual thought being put into this angle, and that makes all the difference. Well done Taker. TNA We have no TNA recapper. At least on the main page. Pity. Tangent Yes, before I even start reviewing the shows. This is about TNA, and I don't want to forget it. TNA, here’s an idea. Hook Davey Boy up with some DVD’s to review. Davey is the best reviewer out there. He keeps his bias in check. I don't see many TNA DVD reviews, and that’s a shame. You sell, them, I know, because I’ve seen them advertised on your show. So, send him some. I’m sure he’ll love to review them. He’s Australian, and I’m not sure he gets TNA. So, get the word out about your shows, hopefully before Christmas, where shoppers trying to get their fickle wrestling fan a DVD they haven't seen, can have a good idea of what to get them, that they will like. Consider it a bargain on advertising. Now, about the show. Impact 11 – 30, IMPACT 11 - 23, Thoughts Saw the show, and the show is trying to solidify angles. That’s a good thing. Forgive me, I’ll skip most matches due to space getting tight, and I got some really good reader emails I want to share. LAX It’s a flag angle. LAX wants the Mexican flag flown, and it’s WORLD WAR! They got Americans, Latinos, and a Canadian. Not bad. LAX is a pretty damn good heel group, but they skirt face territory due to the opposition being weak. Angle and personality wise. TOMKO is in TNA He’s with Christian, and I do have fond memories of them working together. Here, well, we’ll see. Christian is out to get Sting. Christian works great as a heel. He’s also calling out Abyss, and Abyss and Sting, are working a spiritual angle, with Abyss’s soul on the line. Hey, that’s what it’s all about you know. Once you known how religious Sting has gotten, it’s pretty obvious. Still, Mitchell is going some great work, as is Christian. It’s sad that it’s not meshing that well. It’s a bit too high concept, and the parts don’t fit well together. Since it seems to me, that when two out of three interact, they’re on different pages that the other angle. Still, everyone is really trying to make it work, and hopefully the match will tie it together. Daniels and AJ Styles They’re feuding tag team partners, and I’ve already covered that ground. Not in depth, but said what I think about that. It’s funny, because when I watched the show months ago, Styles and Daniels were tag team champions, and looked like they had finally broken out of the X-Division. Now, they’re basically right back in. Which is a shame. AJ Speaks Rhyno just shows up. Funny, because AJ points that out. It’s a touchy feely angle, with some violence thrown in, to make it seem more important. Nash, Austin Starr, and Alex Shelly I can't shake the feeling that Nash is just using this TV time to get himself a position in WWE. Seriously, I still can't figure out what good is supposed to come out of these skits, except for Nash. Oh, and it’s feuding tag team partners again. Alex and Austin just, gosh darn it, can't seem to get along. Joe and Angle Joe wants a rematch, and to get one, he has to watch Angle’s back. Interesting, and I mean that. It could lead to some long term planning. And good fodder for a future match. The Wrestling Good stuff, but still way too much Sports Entertainment for my liking. Some of the matches have something to do with angles, but more seem to be just thrown on to have some wrestling. Still No Jeff Jarrett VKM bits They’re gone for comedy, and I like it. It’s a self-mocking style, and that makes a huge difference. So, slowly getting into TNA. Actually making an effort to watch the shows. Still, there’s a lot of other wrestling I’m trying to keep on top of. There’s another PPV on the horizon, making this time one of the busiest it’s ever been for that. And quite a hit to the wallet. All the companies are really going to have put forth a huge effort to make people but them. ECW December to Dismember Results Recap courtesy of Chad Matthews Hardys vs MNM Hardys win in a great match, Twenty minutes of solid action. Matt Striker vs Balls Mahoney Balls surprised me by taking the match to the mat and keeping it there. Some pretty good moves, but the slower pace seemed to hinder it with the crowd. Still, enjoyable. Elijah Burke and Sylvester Terkay vs The FBI Pretty much a squash match. Terkay and Elijah win. Dreamer vs Daviari w/ Khali Bad match, and Khali got ejected. Daviari then won, in what seemed a fluke/ Post match saw Khali slam Daviair and we got several replays. This went through my mind. Producer: Why is the crowd not reacting? Show it again. Replay is shown. Producer: Still nothing! Maybe they blinked, show it again. Replay is show. Producer: Damn, they really don't care. OK, let’s move on. Mike Knoxx and Kelly Kelly vs Kevin Thorne and Ariel Decent match, nothing special, and then a cat fight broke out. Kelly got beat, went to tag, and Knoxx walked away. Weak, though Ariel looked fantastic. Extreme Elimination Chamber Match Order of Elimination: CM Punk, Hardcore Holly (Sabu was taken out in an earlier skit, and Holly was eliminated, though it looked like the ref expected him to kick out, and he didn’t), RVD, Test, Big Show. Punk and RVD Put on a show, but they got yanked quickly. Test, yes, frigging test got the big move, and then Lashley took out Show, and the crowd started to boo him. Big night for WWE guys. Bad night for ECW guys. And the show was only 2 hours and 15 minutes. Shortest PPV in years, and it showed. Oh, and there was a long commercial, with Michael Cole, for the Smackdown PPV. Shortest and worst PPV in a long time. Reader Mail Wevv, I was browsing your column this week and came across an interesting statement you made. "The main objection I have to this response is this. If you, or anyone, are interested in a show, you have to start watching sometime. If you're going to watch a serial show, like "Lost", "Survivor", or "My Name Is Earl", and didn't see the first episode, does that mean that one has to do extensive research to be "privileged" to watch said show? Shouldn't a person be able to just jump right in and start watching?" It just so happens that LOST and Survivor are two of my favorite shows ever and as a fan of Jason Lee and Ethan Suplee, I am just getting into My Name is Earl. My response to your questions is as follows: In a serialized show, yes, you have to do the "research" of watching the early episodes before you can truly understand and have a "right" to talk about the latest episodes. You can't understand why John Locke is a manipulative bastard without seeing all the little moments where he manipulated people subtlety. You can't understand why Ozzie is playing one hell of a game without seeing how close to the brink of elimination he was in the early stages of the game. Let me put it to you this way, can you truly talk about a team's entire season without watching all the games? No, you can't. Junior Seau destroyed his wrist yesterday. Without seeing all the Patriots games so far, it's unreasonable to give your opinion on how his injury will affect the team. The reasons above are why I am only watching My Name is Earl on DVD until I catch up. I am currently on season one. A serialized story is told in sequential order for a reason. You're only denying yourself the enjoyment if you stray from that order. Said analysis in mind, wrestling is NOT a serialized show. Does it have serialized elements to it? Yes, but only in the sense that it mirrors boxing in its title histories. Pro wrestling is notorious for forgetting past angles and events. A viewer can pick the show up anywhere and not miss much. However, it is important to note that it will probably take a few shows for any completely fresh viewer to get a grasp on who the faces and heels are, what personality traits the wrestlers hold, and who hates who. It sounds to me like you jumped into TNA and a reader called you on talking about angles, characters, and feuds before you had a firm grasp on them. Sorry, but you're wrong in this case. J Thanks for writing J. I did just jump into TNA, and am trying to get a grasp of what is going on. Great point about football and wrestling. Can't disagree at all. Wrestling is very similar in format to NFL. One example I can think of vividly is the Bears-Cardinals game from this year. That was a great moment to be along time bears Fan. I watched it at a bar, and since I live in Arizona, there were plenty of Cardinals fans around. I got shit all night long, but at the end, I was laughing, since the Bears just CRUSHED the Cardinals. Damaged their whole season. It’s the football that brings you, and the story behind the team that makes you follow one in particular. Which is what wrestling is all about. Hey Bossman, Greg here, writer/comedian/lifelong wrestling fan out of New York. I read your column on LOP regularly, and really enjoy your insights. I liked your thoughts on HHH, and wanted to offer some thoughts of my own, if I could... H has talent. But H, and through his associations, he knows only one way to book himself. Squash city. I have my own theory about this, especially when it comes to him and HBK, but I'll get to HBK in a second. I think HHH does this because he wants to be remembered - not just remembered, he wants to be a member of the Pro Wrestling Pantheon. He wants to be thought of in the same breath as Hogan, Austin, the Rock, Ric Flair, Bruno, Bockwinkel, etc. etc. etc. That's why he gets to cut the best promos, that's why he'll bleed himself out every other match, and that's why he'll put over only two groups of wrestlers: his friends, and the ones the IWC are positively rabid over. And in the WWE, where every program can always be broken down as "The Adventures of But the problem, the way I see it, is this: H just isn't in that same league as the other guys I named in that Pantheon. He could work as hard as he wanted, but I'd have a hard time believing that for the grace of Shawn Michaels, his mark in wrestling history would be a brief stint in WCW as Terra Ryzin, and the Ultimate Warrior TOTALLY no-selling his Pedigree. I think on some level he knows that too, otherwise he wouldn't try so hard to burn himself into the minds of the fans. H did put over Benoit. It was the right thing to do, and it was a good thing. After two, three years of H not just being on top, but THE TOP, period, it was necessary. H had to lose. And he did. To the perfect person. The IWC darling. But then Benoit was shoved into the tag division, as champion, and that was not good. Very big missed opportunity there. I think a lot of us would've liked to see Benoit get a bit of a longer reign with the belt, but I guess that's just being wrapped up in the would'ves...maybe someone will have a lightbulb moment and start building up Benoit vs. Batista for the next Wrestlemania. H did put over Cena. Kind of. That's putting it lightly. It's one of the clearest examples of how much the game has changed since I first started watching. Twenty years ago, no WAY would H, the villain, have been allowed to look stronger than Cena, the hero. No way could H get away with cutting a promo that culminates in, "And besides...you're just not that good of a wrestler." without Cena slapping the taste out of his mouth, or at least coming back with, "When's the last time you won a title without SOME kind of help? You sure can LOSE them all by yourself..." And the non-stop H push is happening again, just like the previous time. Only now, it’s “DX”, not just H. Yep. Nice little bit of sleight of hand there, huh? Like I said before, the WWE has always been about "The Adventures of..." and nowadays, when it should be John Cena (because whether the adult male fan likes it or not, he's moving those t-shirts and on top of all that...gasp...he's the CHAMP), it's instead "The Adventures of DX, Featuring Triple H." You mentioned one thing though, about HBK looking weak whenever DX Redux is in a match. What I find curious about HBK, is that he seems to get excused from the normal expectations of the fans when it comes to former stars coming back into the picture after several years away. Mick Foley and Ric Flair, for instance do a lot of work towards putting over newer stars and receive a lot of credit for it. How is it that Shawn Michaels has been excused from this expectation from the fans? I don't get that, and that goes beyond my personal distaste for HBK. For all of the people who think Hulk Hogan owes HBK a win from Summerslam 05, where are their voices when HBK got a win over Shelton Benjamin during the 'Gold Rush Tournament' that same year - a win that would've done a lot more for Shelton than it could've possibly done for HBK, who's already accomplished just about everything he possibly could in the WWE? Just putting that one out there... In any case, back to reading your column. Keep up the great work! Greg Thanks for writing Greg. I still haven't look for that H explanation. Too many columns to go through. I think it was about a year ago. In it, I compared H to David Spade. In which Spade can be hilarious, when he works with the right people, but on his own, he’s lacking. I agree with you completely that H likes to work with only certain people, and when he’s with his chosen few, he goes out of his way to actually work with them, The point about him trying to make people think he’s a top tier guy is also very, very valid and something the IWC has been saying for years. When he kept getting the belt back, the pool was on until he broke Ric’s numbers. Still is, as a matter of fact… I had forgotten that line about Cena, and yes, H does seem to lose more to interference than cleanly. As for HBK, it seems to me that HBK likes actually working a match with talent. He’s the other who made Umaga really look like a threat after all, when Umaga was just getting started. HBK actually wrestled the Spirit Squad when H would just squash them. Good point about Shelton, and then there’s the Jericho feud. Still, that was a long time ago, and maybe, just maybe, HBK truly has changed his ways. Still, Montréal is always in my mind. Hard to let go of it. It’s not as bitter as it once was, and HBK has been working very hard, still, great strides have been made. It’s just a hang over from my days of being a pure mark now. And with that, thanks to both of you for writing in. It is greatly appreciated. Great thoughts from both of you, and I’m happy to share them. Over-Analyzing Wrestling Today’s Topic: A New Breed Leashed The cry of the demise of ECW have echoed around the net for months. From the first day that ECW got a show, on a cable station, the watch was on. When would ECW fail? The show got a strong rating for summer. Still, the question was there. When would ECW fail? It wasn’t because the show wasn’t good. It wasn’t because the talent was not ECW originals, well, not the only reason. It was because ECW was now under the control of the WWE. The die-hard ECW fans thought that WWE couldn't pull of the magic of the first run, and the nostalgia factor seemed to prove them wrong. But then, like with all nostalgia angles, the magic did fade. But now, the deathwatch was being careful. The second PPV didn't do as well as the first. Now, the third is in the books. And I think I agree that the time is near for the demise of ECW. The PPV was bad. Very bad. The show has recently seen a spike in the ratings, but that was due to the Hardy Boys. The loss of Angle was a big blow. RVD getting put back in the dog house, like after his injuring Triple H (Which by the way, I still stand by my first statements that it was H’s fault, It happened ironically enough in an Elimination Chamber match. RVD came from off the top of a pod, and kneed H right in the neck. H went up to sell the move, and was too close to the pod. Plenty of excuses, but it still happened and it took months for RVW to be pushed again to any degree). The PPV was all about WWE talent. That is too say, talent that came from WWE, not ECW. Not even the ones who can be called ECW talent. Guys like Khali and Daviari, Striker, who lost, but still got the most time and chance to get himself over. The last three guys in the chamber? Big Show, who is half and half at this point, Test, who is still WWE, and Lashley, who just came from WWE and won the title. Hardcore Holly? Still a WWE guy. Elijah and Terkay, WWE guys. ECW has become an advanced form of OVW the training ground for WWE. Talent gets sent there to be polished. Nothing wrong with that, but WWE makes sure that “their” talent seems to get special treatment. Now, rumors have been circulating that Kevin Dunn has been pushing for a more WWE feel to the program. Kevin Dunn, if you recall, was one of the key voices for the failed Invasion Angle, who made sure that WWE talent was protected. That sentiment seems to be in full swing, and I’m not sure there’s anything that can be done to change it. Anti-ECW feelings seem to be winning. ECW is still running their debut ad. Smackdown goofs were sent to ECW. Sabu looks to be on his way out. Heyman seems to be handcuffed in what he can do. The Smackdown commercial sent a clear signal that ECW is just a hype show. The length of the PPV is a joke. Not even two and half hours, and the show seemed to just end. Which is never a good thing. Especially when you look at the clock, and are left wondering ‘That’s it?” I will say that it’s not over yet. ECW was about being the underdog and facing long odds. Yet now, the fight seems to be lost. Consider this. There have been plenty of PPV’s this month. The main reason people probably spent more money was to support ECW. The Elimination Chamber was the big draw, not doubt about that, but bottom-line, when it came time to make that decision, the thought probably crossed the mind that buying this PPV would be supporting ECW. And they got screwed. ECW isn't going away, they still have a deal with Sci-Fi, after all, and Sci-FI ain't complaining about the numbers. TO them, they’re still good, and probably will be, even if they drop to a 1. But the fans who watch the show? That’s another matter. ECW is gone, and the slap in the face will be their empty wallets. There’s still enough on ECW to be good. The real question is, will they get the chance to make it happen? To those that want ECW gone in WWE, they now have plenty of ammo to spin things to their side. Ha Ha, look at the buyrate! Ha Ha, look at the ratings! It’s because of OUR guys! You know what I find funniest about all of this? H endorsing CM Punk. Some folks actually think he planned to do it. They seem to have missed that every guy got to take part in the crowd interaction at SS. Yet, instead of a H or even an HBK chant, a CM Punk chant broke out. CM PUNK. That was surprising. H then made his move and said those semi-famous lines to steal the heat. “The Future of ECW.” I don't think people realized that could easily be a condemnation, as an endorsement. Because right now, the future of ECW looks bleak. First guy out of the chamber? One of the more exiting guys, putting on a great match, and has a loyal following that was really hoping he would win? Maybe not expecting it, but certainly hoping. CM Punk. “The Future Of ECW.” That’s it for today. Didn't mean to end it on a downer, or a negative rant. All I can do, is the same I’ve always done. Just wait and see what happens. Quick Plugs and that’s a wrap. QUICK PLUGS! LOP FORUMS New and Improved! The latest Sports, Entertainment news! What are you waiting for? LOP COLUMNS FORUM THE MOVIE BAR! Great place for reviews of DVD's, Music, and special video clips. Your one stop review spot. THE PROJECT LIVES! A creative site for creative people. Be sure to check out the forums! The Rose Reports A great site for politcal news links. LOP'S PWA E-FED. Best E-Fed on the net. Period. That's all for this week. Thanks for Readin' and Thanks For Ridin' Wevv Mang mrwevv@mac.com - PLEASE LABEL ALL EMAIL AS FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. *NEW GALLERY* Very RARE and Personal Backstage Photos of the WWE Divas!
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