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Submitted by Wevv Mang on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 7:58 PM EST
Ridin’ With The Bossman – No Way Out For Wrestlemania Greetings! Welcome to another edition of Ridin’ With The Bossman! The column that Trump likes to quote as Vince to piss him off. Now that Donald and I are friends, I’ve been giving him wrestling advice, and he’s been sharing real estate tips. It’s a great partnership, and I’ve even been offered a spot in the next apprentice. I had to decline. I thought Donald said “Aprrentass”, which is a porno series, that focuses on girls getting, well, you know. I was all over that idea, but then Donald clarified, and well, it didn't sound like that much fun. Though we did come up with some very interesting tasks for the next group of people to try out. Heh. This week WWE was pre-empted on Monday night by the Westminster Kennel Dog Show. It was two nights of non-stop competition. The winner of the coveted Best In Show was “Diamond Jim” aka “James”, an English Springer Spaniel. I’m sure you’re dying to know more results, and they can be found here: Westminster Offical Page Fascinating stuff, and it’s a tournament that’s been going on for over a hundred years, and started in 1877. Talk about history. So, Monday night was not a WWE night, and TNA had a plan to gain some viewers. A best of show of their own, ha ha. This is TNA! Five of the greatest matches from TNA, as chosen by TNA management, and that’s not all folks! A countdown is going on, that is for the biggest moments in TNA! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!?! King Of The Mountain No idea when it took place. Christian vs Sting vs Ron Killings vs Jeff Jarrett vs Abyss What are the rules of this match? No idea. Christian was the champion. I saw people trying to hang a belt on a hook from the ceiling. I saw Jarrett get pinned, but he wasn’t eliminated. There was a cage at ringside. One big giant mess of a match. Larry Zybyscko was even in there at one point, cheating for some one. Who won? Jeff Jarrett of course, after a ref bump, AND a heel ref turn. Was it a good match? I guess so. There was a lot going on, some big bumps, but not knowing what the point of the match, let alone how to win it, keeps me from thinking it was a top five moment. TNA has Celebrities! Yep, there have been famous people appearing in TNA. Like Chris Rock. Brian Ulracher (who got shot for it from the Bears), and NASCAR drivers and Baseball players, and BUFF BAGWELL! Paparazzi Productions A history of Alex Shelly and his video camera. He’s taped stuff for angles. And now he’s Nash’s lackey. I remember that much. Yep, doing great Alex. They have a DVD of the Fifty greatest Moments in TNA? Yes, yes they do, and the Number 5 moment is Christian coming to TNA. Thank you TNA, you just saved me some money. Six Sides Of Steel LAX vs AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels Very good match, which was edited. Still, what they showed was some solid stuff. Sting vs Jeff Jarrett The NWA Championship was one the line. Kurt Angle was the special guest referee. Or enforcer. Or popcorn vendor, whatever. A basic match, with the main attraction being Kurt Angle. There were some good video packages before this match played, In fact, there have been a lot of special video packages. Dave had his work cut out for him, which might explain why the opening credits were not up to his usual excellent standards. Either way, Ref bump, and Angle takes over, and Sting wins. #3 on the countdown of greatest TNA moments? Jeff Jarrett attacking Hulk Hogan in Japan. You know what came out of that dastardly attack? Absolutely nothing. WHOO! #3! Rhino vs Christian It’s an Eight Mile Street Fight. Like the movie, with Eminem. So, it must have taken place when they went to Detroit. Pretty brutal match, lots of weapons, lots of spots, and a finish that must have sounded good, but when seen, just isn't there. Christian piles a bunch of stuff on Rhino and whacks it repeatedly with a chair. Sting coming to TNA is number 2. Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe Solid match. Kurt wins, and Joe’s streak is broken. We learn about Elevation X. It’s a scaffold match, instead of the cables that are usually strung across the ring, to make an X. So, it’s a more stable platform to do spots off of. I wonder if Nash is getting on that thing, since he’s the heart and sole of the X-Division. The Number 1 moment in TNA is….A TIE! TNA debuts on Spike and Angle comes to TNA! Yippee! Well, as a show, it was, and pardon the pun, Total Non-Stop Shilling. It showed some of the best matches, according to TNA, they have had this past year or so, showed a hell of a lot of video packages about some of their main characters, and stipulation matches, and gimmicks, and plugged the hell out of some merchandise. Yet, I didn't like the show. It felt too rushed, and didn't really cover the ground needed to draw in new viewers. It was like they were trying too hard, and came across as desperate for attention. The matches looked edited, and there were times that was not a good thing. That is my biggest problem with TNA. They keep trying to draw attention to themselves in ways that remind me of a five year old. The ‘Hey! Look at me! Look at me!” mentality grows annoying, and I believe will actually force viewers away. The wrestling audience at large knows about TNA, and many have at least taken the time to watch a couple of shows, but they’re not sticking with the product. TNA has plenty of talent, as they just told us with this special, and some big names in wrestling. But it’s how those names are used that is the next phase for TNA. I have read that Bob Backland is now a regular. He’s a name, and an odd fellow, but spending what limited time TNA has to introduce us to him is not really worth the effort. Nash has been a part of TNA for quite some time, and the goal for using Nash was to get the X-Division some attention. Instead, to me, it looks like the X-Division has become a running joke. Not a knock on the talent in the Division, but it’s how the Division is portrayed. It’s giving the guys a big roadblock to overcome, on top of competing with Sting, Angle, Joe, and the others for attention. It’s time to grow up. The pieces are in place, Spike is still very supportive, the window of opportunity is still open to grow the audience. Much like the good old days when WWF and NWA were in competition. WWF was using goofy angles, but NWA used their storytelling skills to stay competitive. Focus on the angles. Don't try to over think it. Only one swerve per show, and one ref bump per feud. And for goodness sakes, put a muzzle on Angle. WWE – The TV Series ECW Recap Info Courtesy of Eddie Martin Raw Recap Info courtesy of Chad Matthews Smackdown Recap Info courtesy of Rudi Pavani WWE packed three shows into four nights. With the pre-emption, ECW as the first WWE programming of the week. The first thing we see this week is Bobby Lashley defeating Hardcore Holly in an extreme rules match. It was an interesting programming choice. It was basically a main event for ECW, but it was put on first. The end of the show was RVD and Sabu vs Matt Striker and Elijah Burke, and Burke and Striker won. So, the thing WWE wants you to see, Lashley as a dominant champion, doesn't get lost in the show wide angle that’s being run on ECW. Wait, there’s a direction to ECW? Yes, yes there is. And it’s making a world of difference. Instead of trying to make two scrubs into main eventers (Holly and Test), the theme of Old vs New is being used, and it’s using legitimate new talent in Thorn, Burke, Striker, and Monty Brown. The ECW Originals, who have been introduced since the show started are the same. Sandman, Sabu, Balls, Dreamer, and now RVD. It gives the show a direction, and plenty of new angles to be spun off the central theme. Like CM Punk. He hasn't taken a side yet. That’s an angle. A new GM could be introduced. That’s an angle. Betrayal from within one of the groups. That’s an angle. But it’s all playing off the central theme. Now, this isn't a NEW angle, it’s an old one being recycled, with new faces attached to old roles. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Why? Because it works. Is it guaranteed to spike the ratings to heights never seen before? No, there’s still plenty that could go wrong. But it has given the show what it desperately needed. Hope. Raw, on Thursday night, going up against Impact, was a solid show. Impact took a huge hit in the ratings, but that was to be expected. They drew a bit over half of what they normally draw. Which, I think, could be considered a success. Hell, TNA did better than Wrestling Society X, which is drawing around a .4 and .5. Against the flagship of the WWE, which was well promoted, and heavily advertised, TNA shouldn't be worried about that rating. Raw had Smackdown heavyweights Undertaker and Batista on the show, as well as Kennedy and MVP, taking part in an eight-man tag for the main event. A good way to promote the PPV last night. In fact, it’s a good way to build all the brands, by cross promoting them on the different networks that have a show. Raw also had some slight undercard development, in the Ric Flair Carlito storyline and the Mickie Jame/Super Crazy vs Melina and Nitro feud. But other than that, it was all about the main event, and the build for Wrestlemania. HBK did get to plug the new Degeneration X DVD. Which I find funny. I keep wondering why WWE is pushing DX so hard. Merchandise wise. I mean, guessing about the details of their contracts, I imagine that H and HBK get a big chunk of the money for items sold. Compared to a guy like Cena, who probably gets only a fraction. So, it’s not like WWE is making as much as they could, off of it. And it’s not like HBK and H need the money. But hey, it’s a popular item to sell. Smackdown had the crossover from Raw, and, a crossover from ECW. Bobby Lashley was at the show, after Teddy showed up on ECW and invited him to Smackdown. Smackdown, with a PPV and all it’s matches to hype, had several angles to build on. There’s a tag team match, a cruiserweight match, which was thrown out there at the last second. There was also a parody of “See No Evil” with Booker and Sharmell. I found this funny for a different reason. See, the classic “At The Movies” with Goldust and Booker from a few years back was on the WWE website. This skit was the same thing, right down to the cheap special effects. So, it was copying a bit that worked, and this one didn’t. Which is a shame, because I remember some great moments from Booker’s feud with the Rock. I wonder if Booker still has that locket, SUCKAA! But the bulk of the show was around the two inter-promotional matches. HBK and Cena vs Kennedy and MVP and Orton and Edge vs Batista and Undertaker. The first was very solid, while the second was not that good. See, Edge and Orton keep losing, and this time, they had to make the big guys look good and unstoppable, and from a basic character standpoint, it makes sense. It’s just that loss after loss, after loss, and while it all fits for the minute, in the long term, it’s not good for the #1 heel team to be made into constant jobbers. Same thing happened with the Dudley Boys. Rated RKO is a stepping-stone, but it’s been stepped on so much, it’s sinking into the ground. And it’s been for next to nothing. Degeneration X was already pushed to the moon. Another win over Rated RKO meant nothing. Cena and HBK are already way over, and beating Rated RKO means nothing. Batista and Undertaker have a solid feud, and beating Rated RKO means nothing. Insert generic Heel Tag Team wherever you find Rated RKO, and it’s the same thing. To me, the situation just points out how putting the tag team belts on Cena and HBK was a bad move, and furthermore, keeping the belt on Cena. The same amount of conflict could be generated, perhaps even more, if the match at WM was still up in the air. If both men had one last shot at the belt, I think it would really drive home the edge of mistrust between Cena and HBK. Desperation is a good plot device. There is going to be a Saturday Night Main Event before WM, after all, and with the big belt on the line, that’s a good ratings draw. See, saying HBK is going to face Cena at WM, it just says to me that Cena is not going to lose, no matter what, for the next several Raws, and the matches loose impact. Same thing with Batista and Undertaker. If there is nothing tangible at stake, then what’s the point? Fighting for pride is one thing, fighting for a belt another. Unless there is a long history between the two competitors, it just comes across as forced to me, at least. Batista and Undertaker, Michaels and Cena, well, it’s still early. It’s been done very well, don't mistake me on that, and it still has plenty of promise. I’m just harping because this was a lesson that WWE should have learned a long time ago. Like last year. Or the year before, when the same thing was done. Right after the Rumble, it was made clear that the reigning champion was not going to loose, but might at WM. Also, attempting to keep the hype at such a high level is a difficult task. WWE had a great start, and the end looks to be very good, but in between, there’s a lot of time. Getting from point A to C is never as easy as it sounds. There is always the chance that the unexpected could happen. An injury, an accident, The Apocalypse, as they say in wrestling, never say never. And now for something completely different, it’s time for the Slapdown. Sup niggas! Yeah, I said it, and I'm white. If Vince McMahon can do it on live T.V., with millions of viewers at hand, I can say it here, in Wevv's column, where the three of you will read it. It's appearance #2 for me, Slap, buried deep in the heart of Ridin' with the Bossman. The feedback from my inaugural guest appearance last week was, for the most part, positive. I found it, admittedly, surprising, but trust me when I say I'm not going to let my e-go get too hard, as I still have 3 more appearances, including this one, to warrant some anthrax in my mailbox. Either way, Tim Hardaway still hates gays, so let's see what kind of shit I can fling at the wall this week, shall we? Guess what? Competition in the world of televised professional wrestling is back folks. Don't believe me? Here's proof from the main page... Translation of bolded: Originally Posted by Lop.com WWE: Here's a boatload of money to make rare appearances and not join our competitor. Paul Wight: Stick it up your ass. Now that the WWE has some (somewhat) legitimate competition, with TNA and WSX, they're going all out to resign talent that are capable of drawing, far before their contracts expire. Guys like HBK, and JBL would not have the recently inflated deals that they signed if TNA was still just a Wednesday night ppv show. For those wondering, HBK signed a 3 year, $9 million dollar downside guarantee, contract. I don't know the numbers on JBL's deal, but, reportedly, he signed a fairly phat deal, in which he only has to appear on Smackdown every Tuesday, along with ppv's that include Smackdown superstars, and his first class flights from NYC to wherever are paid for. Those are almost WWF vs. WCW type deals right there folks. The WWE offered Jay Reso (Christian) a $250,000 downside guarantee when his renewal came up, which also happened to be right before Impact went primetime on Spike, and after the WWE supposedly refused to include first class plane tickets with that deal, Reso packed his bags and went to TNA. When Reso did this, I thought he was an idiot, but now, looking at the long run, it sure seems as if he did the right thing. With guys like Kurt Angle and Sting making over half a million dollars a year in TNA, I think it's safe to say that Christians contract in TNA now isn't too far below those numbers. His travel schedule is a hell of allot lighter, and he can work indies for more $$$ if he desires. Unlike some other WWE superstars, he also left the WWE on good terms, so if TNA tanks, it's pretty safe to say he'll be able to regain a spot on the WWE roster. Guys in TNA who were fired, or let go from the WWE for various reasons, such as Team 3D, BG James, Kip James, Rhino, etc..., probably also still had a legit chance of rejoining the WWE, especially with the relaunch of ECW, had they not gone on live TV and radio, and talked huge shit about the WWE, and more/less specifically, Vince and HHH. If TNA tanks, those guys are sucking dick for their crack. Current contracts that the WWE are actively trying to renew, are for the likes of Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio. RVD has reportedly already made up his mind to not renew with the WWE, due to politics, and has openly came out saying he plans on signing with TNA when he contractually can. In turn, he's jobbing to everyone and anyone on the WWE roster, which I think is crap. The guys gone all out, giving everything he had to the WWE, despite being shit on, push wise, for the longest time. He has put on some truly amazing matches, most notably, to me, his extreme rules match against Hardcore Holly. When he did finally get his deserved title push, it was only because of the rebirth of ECW, and unfortunately, soon after winning the WWE championship, and being handed the ECW championship, he got caught with the possession of buds with Sabu. Sabu was also in the midst of a nice push, as, at the time, his matches were capable of making Vince's dick hard. I completely understand stripping RVD of both titles, and jobbing him out for a month or so, but the jobbing he's doing now, and until he's done with the WWE, is shit. Sure, he's taking it like a man, and, again, if TNA tanks, he'll probably be able to resign with the WWE if he wants too, but when fans tune into TNA, and see him getting pushed for his unique talent, what the fuck do you think they're going to think then? Maybe something along the lines of "man, this fed knows how to utilize RVD, I'm going to keep my eye on TNA, too bad the WWE consistently shit on him." What do you think WWE wrestlers are going to think? Maybe something along the lines of "hmmm, you get decent pay, a severely lighter schedule, AND you get pushed for your talent? What the fuck am I doing here?" The WWE leaving a bad taste in the mouths of wrestlers, that are respectfully leaving the WWE for TNA, is going to bite them in the ass one of these times. Rey Mysterio is still rehabbing from knee surgery, and reportedly, he's currently on the fence in regards to whether or not he will renew his contract with the WWE. If he does indeed decide not too, expect shit bags like Gregory Helms to be pinning him on a weekly basis. That's your Slapdown appearance for this week. No recaps this week, has after all, this is just a cameo appearance inside a main page column, and I've already gone on way too much to push my point on you whores. If you feel the need to virtually interact with me, you can attempt at slappzilla@yahoo.com. Thanks Slappy, and of course, you can always leave feedback in the RWTB feedback for Slappy, or myself. Over-Analyzing Wrestling Today’s Topic: Freedom Of the Press Wrestling, as a television show, spans the globe. It has millions of fans. It has a legacy on TV that is long and distinguished. The name of stars made from wrestling are familiar to the fans who watch the show. Some have even gone beyond wrestling, and made a name in the genre of entertainment. Names like Hulk Hogan and The Rock. Wrestling has a fan base millions strong. In the past, fans have craved news about the business, and magazines rolled off the press to meet that demand. As technology improved, so did the business of getting news to these fans. And the reach of such endeavors grew wider. Once the Internet became readily available, sites sprang up in large volumes. Some were just fan sites, about a specific wrestler, while others focuses on the business as a whole. Much like this site. Over time, mainly fell by the way side, due to a variety of reasons. Time, money, waning interest in wrestling, and so forth. The world of wrestling news reporting is very competitive. The amount of news is limited, and oft repeated. However, there is a type of news that wrestling has not really delved into, and for that wrestling should consider themselves lucky. Tabloid reporting. Back at the turn of the millennium, when wrestling was red hot, a couple of stories did appear in the tabloids about wrestling superstars. Sensational stories about the Rock and Stone Cold cropped up. But after that, nothing much has made it to the rags. In the newsletters, both electronic and traditional paper, the occasional story crops up, but mostly, after it has been reported some where else, typically a full fledged newspaper. But the field of gossip reporting is fairly dead when it comes to wrestling news. Some tidbits do make it through, as human interest, or “where are they now?” types of stories. Maybe it’s because wrestling is not that socially acceptable and is perceived as lowbrow entertainment. Maybe it’s because wrestling fans are not the audience that tabloids are marketing for. Or maybe, it’s because there isn't that much to report on, when it comes to muck raking and innuendo. Those reasons do not fit the bill of tabloid reporting. The target audience of tabloids are the moms in supermarkets, and the lower class. Kids have been a desirable target demo for wrestling for ages. If a picture of wrestler graves the front cover a tabloid, kids will notice as they wait in line in the supermarket. Wives may pick it up for their husbands to read. Wrestling fans like to know about their favorite wrestlers more so than entertainment fans want to know about their favorite stars. In other words, wrestling fans fit the criteria for the target audience of tabloids. Wrestlers don't seem to get the star treatment that other celebrities do. They may get recognized, but I haven't heard a tale yet of say, Funaki going to the store and getting mobbed by fans, and causing a riot. For the most part, wrestlers seem to be able to live normal lives outside of wrestling. Even guys like Big Show have vanished from the gossip radar. And Big Show is hard to miss. Hogan seems to be able to move around without needing a bodyguard and motorcade, and the guy is the biggest name to come out of wrestling. Yet, stars are stars, no matter how bright their shine. Wrestling is the number one show on cable, and has been in the top rankings for years. A name in print often gets more recognized than seeing the name in person. Wrestlers are good looking, athletic people, and the women of wrestling are attractive and athletic as well. In other words, prime fodder for gossip. The name recognition factor for wrestlers is generally lower than say an actor on a network show. But an attractive woman will have an easier time of getting her name recognized than an attractive actor. Many a woman has made a career out of her looks as opposed to what show she’s on. The same holds true for the world of music. An attractive musician doesn't really need a hit single to become famous. Wealthy is another factor, but famous, yes. As for not enough scandalous material for the tabloids, come on. Miss Elizabeth and Luger? Wrestlers getting divorced and cheating on their wives? Diva hook ups? Drugs? Ribs? Politics? It’s a soap opera beyond what occurs on TV. There’s enough material to fill one magazine a month for the next three years. And that’s just the past couple of years. Go further back and you can unveil the story of Jimmy Snuka running through the halls of a hotel naked with a dead hooker in his room. Wrestling is rife with scandalous stories. And yet, few of these stories see the light of day. Oh, some parts of them do, but it’s rare that a true journalistic investigation takes place. Most web news reporters are content to let the real journalists investigate the incidents. I think this is due to the fact that there are only a handful of true investigative wrestling journalists. In fact, come to think of it, there aren't that many professional sports investigative journalists either. The story is the game, and the results of that game, and who got injured, and what other facts can be learned in a press conference, or news release. There is just too much information to report, and not enough time to track down leads, and make an investigation. That’s what the other news reporters are for. But with wrestling, there is another factor. There is a respect for the business. That respect goes beyond just the reporters, but also extends to the fans. They have a respect for the people who perform. They may not like a wrestler, but they seem to be able to make the separation from the character they play on TV, and the person who plays that character. Not always, but more often than not. I just think back to Mick Foley’s book, and what he had to say about interacting with fans in causal settings. Like in a restaurant. Let the guy finish his meal, and then, if you must, ask for an autograph. Give the guy a little respect. And that lesson seems to have struck home. Some stories should be reported. Some gossip should be passed on. It makes the business more realistic, and also, some backstage stuff does effect what we see on our TV. It’s news, and whether it’s hard hitting journalism, wild rumors, or just senseless gossip. There’s a demand for it. People want to know, and knowing is half the battle. All right, I’m not ending it on some G.I. Joe Shtick. There’s more to it than that. Fans crave news. I think we can all agree on that. It’s what kind of news that gets a bit complicated. Taste in news is a lot like taste in music. Some nearly everyone can agree is good, but when it gets down to personal tastes, it can vary widely. Some folks love the fact based newsblurbs, some love the gossip, and some just want results. And if you’re going to try and satisfy everyone, you’re going to need to present a variety. Just like a real newspaper or news website. Because the business of wrestling news reporting is a very real and competitive business. And just like the real world, you never know what bit of news will capture the public’s attention. One day it could a one-sentence liner, and the next fifty headlines, and that’s still not enough. Just like wrestling, you just never know, and never say never. There, that’s a better ending. One last story I’d like to cover, and then it’s quick plugs and a wrap. This head cold is killing me, and it’s a good thing I took a half day of work. So I could get this sucker done. Wrestling Society X Pulled The fourth show of wrestling society X was pulled after Standards and Practices thought that part of a wrestling match, where a fireball was thrown into the face of another wrestler, was too graphic. Instead, the show was ganked and replaced with a show called “Scarred”. In case you're wondering, the show “Scarred” is a viewer generated content show. What’s the content you ask? “The program will provide audiences with a look at some of the most brutal-looking spills, tumbles and crashes ever seen on television, all provided by viewers. Producers of the show have been scouring Web sites in recent months in search of the best footage available for the series as it prepares to launch.” TV Week That’s right. People hurting themselves in unique and creative ways. Fireball to the face too much? Come on! This is the network that had Jackass on for years! It’s a smokescreen, and the fire is the ratings. One thing I have heard about MTV as a network is that they are dicks. They will pull a show like that, and constantly low ball the money for shows. The letters MTV carry more weight than just about any show. And MTV knows it and isn't afraid to use it. Wrestling Society X debuted strong, getting almost a 1. The next show saw a big drop, and the third seemed to be a leveling point. Less than a 1. Now, for all those who declared ECW a flop with a 2, where are you now? Today, there was a newsblurb about WSX airing the controversial episode. So, in other words, it was a promotional tactic, to generate interest in the show. Which is a smart move by the producers. It means that pressure is being put on WSX to perform. And that could mean added pressure to the other promotions. And that’s it for today. QUICK PLUGS! LOP Forums Sports! Political Discussions! Video Games! Wrestling! Sign up now! LOP Column's Forum The next generation of wrestling writers. The Project Creative Writing, polotical discourse, social topcs examined, and a forum for intelligent discussion The Movie Bar Currently under contrastruction, but stop by and email Monkey about it's grand re-opening. The Rose Reports Excellent site for political news The PWA Best E-Fed on the net. Period. JR's Myspace Page See it to beleive it. That's all for today. Thanks for Readin' and thanks for Ridin' Wevv Mang Please label all feedback as "FEEDBACK". Thank you. Email: MrWevv@mac.com VIEW NOW: Ringside Fan Pix & Clips from WWE's NO MERCY 2008 PPV! >>>>>>>
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