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I have been on Twitter, now, for the better part of the last several months. I’ve gotten the hang of it and I’ve enjoyed some discussion on there, particularly during the Road to Wrestlemania Countdown. That’s about the extent to which I enjoy it, though. If it were not for discussing something, I’m unsure what its use would be. That is why I’m somewhat taken aback by the notion that there’s this feud going on that I’ve not actually seen involving some guy that I’ve not actually seen either. I’ve heard of Dean Ambrose. In fact, I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. I’m sure that his Twitter saga with Mick Foley is a blast for anyone that follows both and/or reads every single news brief on LOP. However, color me skeptical that this is going to actually translate into an actual debut; that it may transition well from the cyber world onto the television screen. This might be a good time to ask the question: am I just, at not even 30 years of age, just too old to understand how Twitter feuds could mean anything to a mainstream wrestling audience? I know that the WWE spent a great deal of time forcing Twitter on us last year; I even understand that wars of words through tweets might even be a fun way to further the animosity between two wrestlers via social media. I just don’t know that I can buy into a feud actually starting and building through Twitter. I’ve watched every show since Mania and I don’t see that there’s enough quality TV being produced outside of Brock Lesnar-John Cena, Chris Jericho-CM Punk, and Daniel Bryan to suggest that Dean Ambrose vs. one of the all-time greats in the wrestling business shouldn’t be airing on Raw or SD instead of testing it out where no one sees it and proliferating it through Twitter blasts. People are saying that Ambrose is a really engaging character that has breakout potential. Why is this not on TV already? Is Ambrose just going to show up on TV one day and interrupt a random Mick Foley segment, during which time Michael Cole will alert us to the fact that “These guys have really been going at on Twitter over the past couple of months.” Maybe I got too wrapped up in Wrestlemania over the last four months to share this with you guys, but I think about as much of the WWE’s references to Twitter and what’s “trending” as I do a turd covered in rainbow glitter. Applause to the WWE for upping their social media score, but as a consumer, stock holder, and avid fan of that company for twenty five years and counting, I want to see a guy like Dean Ambrose mix it up on television with Mick Foley and use all of these promos he’s written in 140 characters or less to make me interested in a new star that might actually have something to say. Most new stars fizzle out quickly; most of the time it’s because they have nothing to say. It’s been awhile since there’s been one that starts his career by hooking me with the words of his character. I’m actually puzzled as I sit here and try to remember the last new guy that debuted who got me on board with what he was going to do by telling me about it. I guess it was Wade Barrett? That was two years ago. The content of what originally sparked this whole Twitter diatribe, that being the words spoken at Wrestlemania Axxess, is something that I’d absolutely love to SEE. For those that don’t read Twitter or don’t read the news briefs, Ambrose apparently stated that Foley needed to be held accountable for leading the Attitude Era to a point where guys pushed the envelope so hard to try and keep up with Mankind’s death-defying stunts that it has, in some way, ruined the sport. Well, there’s some legitimacy in those words. I’ve never been a fan of the Attitude era style and there’s no question that the risks taken by many of its stars have already been, but more so will particularly be, quite costly to the health of those that took them. Edge is an example – enough degenerative change in his cervical spine, from what I’ve read, to be mistaken for someone double his age by simply looking at an x-ray. Numerous others will follow. That kind of verbal substance would garner instant awareness for any new guy like Ambrose from which it emanated. I think any feud that’s laced with realistic overtones would make for much more intriguing television than the WWE has been known to produce in its mid-card…especially during the post-Wrestlemania doldrums. Last summer, CM Punk accentuated the “Reality Era,” sparking a fire under the rears of a lot of old fans to start paying attention to the WWE again (whether the ratings reflected it or not). More of that worked shoot style of interview would be a welcome sight to these eyes. The bottom line is that the issues are being wasted with no cameras around to see them, while Ambrose and Foley could be verbally engaging each other in a way that would help give an added jolt to post-Mania business where the reset button has been proverbially pressed and fans like myself are looking for something new on which to focus. All due respect to the actor doing vignettes on Smackdown, but the last guy I remember doing those debuted by getting squashed by Mark Henry. The WWE has forgotten how to properly hype a guy that way. Ambrose seems ready to be thrown to the wolves in a way not many rookies have been up to the challenge for, verbally. So, how about Ed Koskey stops taking notes and we just see this play out on TV? It’s a trial by fire business. Imagine the kind of impact Ambrose would have in a debut that consisted of him verbally berating Mick Foley for what he conceives to be past transgressions that are having present consequences. That’s creative! That’s unique! That’s interesting TV! Make it happen on Raw, WWE; not Twitter… (Doc's Note - Again, I like discussion on Twitter. Follow me @TheDocLOP or request friendship on Facebook Doc LOP to enjoy wrestling talk)
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