Did you know that World Wrestling Insanity has a Message Board?  Yep. We've done got us one of them there fancy Message Boards, where you, the random, unnamed wrestling fan can go and vent your frustrations. From WWE's Family Friendly Direction, to ROH's Production issues, to whatever stupid stunt TNA is running with this week, the Insanity Message Boards is your place to speak your mind. You can also interact with fellow Insanity Readers, as well as the Insanity Staff. We even have an E-Fed, if you're into that whole "Role-Playing" thing, so feel free to stop on by and join in the fun!

In the meantime though, here's a taste of what you're missing –

  As you, the long-time Insanity Reader, may know, the current TNA World Champion, Jeff Hardy, was arrested for Drug Trafficking in the fall of 2009, shortly after his WWE Contract ran out.   Now, after a year of Jeff Hardy's Day in Court being pushed back and pushed back, it seems that we will be seeing a resolution here in the near future…

Aaron Wood
From PWInsider.com's free section:

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that when Jeff Hardy finally makes it to court next month he plans to plead guilty on the drug offenses that he was charged with in September of 2009, according to the Moore County District Attorney. Obviously, this puts TNA in a bit of a pickle since Jeff is their world champion. They have to take the title off of him, right? RIGHT? For more information, click here (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/12/27/1936732/moore-da-pro-wrestler-to-plead.html)

The Chosen 1
The #2 Wrestling Company in The USA's World Heavyweight Champion is planning on pleading guilty to drug trafficking.... and NOBODY cares.

It's amazing how little TNA matters.

Aaron Wood
The thing is, no matter what, I doubt he'll see the inside of a cell. He'll plead guilty in exchange for lowered charges and the deal he doesn't do porridge.

JohnnyCraze
So, is Mr. Anderson ready to be champion? Unless they put the belt back on RVD which I wouldn't be opposed to. OR, they could put the belt on Matt Morgan.....ok, don't laugh.

Mike Johns
For all I've done for that damn company, I deserve to be TNA champion. At least before Matt Morgan does...

RowdyRodimus
As soon as we get Paul Roma into the Hall of Fame, that will be the next project.

The Green Teabagger
They aren't going to take the title off of Hardy unless there's actual jail time involved, and even then.........it's TNA. Someone might try to turn it into a Michael Vick-like redemption angle and keep the belt on him if he only goes for a couple of months.

James Guttman
He's not going to do any time. Regardless, in TNA's messed up mind, this is a positive. I can just hear them now saying, "He's a heel! This all helps to sell him as a bad guy!"

The worst part is that TNA is so off the radar for most people that, in terms of mainstream fans, this will be seen as hurting WWE more than TNA. Most fans associate him with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Anthony.Analog
He should wear his Diva's belt to court. #HeelHeat

Canadian Bulldog
Knowing TNA, this is all a work and he's going to plead innocent. SWERVE~!

squirrelz!
I'm going with the consensus and saying no jail time, some community service and, if there is a god, a restraining order that keeps stupidity 500 feet away from all TNA venues.

... I know the last thing has nothing to do with Hardy but a man can dream

 Hey, you know that guy, Brock Lesnar, right?   The former WWE and UFC Heavyweight Champion who, last we heard from, was staring down the Undertaker after he lost his UFC Title to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121?   You may also remember our own James Guttman making some off-hand comment after Dana White said Brock was under contract to UFC and would not be appearing at next year's WrestleMania that Brock's 'gimmick', so to speak, was to break contracts.   I believe JG's quote was something along the lines of Dana now "daring" Brock to break his UFC deal.   Well, as it turns out…

Average
According to Dave Meltzer of Yahoo! Sports/Wrestling Observer, Brock is currently looking for an "exit strategy" from the UFC.

Meltzer said on his radio show that the fight with Velasquez has changed Brock's attitude on fighting and he is at the stage in his life where he doesn't want to get injured. He's very well off financially and the business man in him apparently knows that it may be time to move on.

Meltzer also mentioned that Brock hasn't trained a single day since the Velasquez fight nor he has returned any phone calls to Dana or Zuffa about upcoming matches.

Dave pointed out if Brock was motivated, he would be right back in the gym training and bringing in new coaches with the goal of beating Cain yet he isn't doing that. He's hunting and hasn't even thought about his next fight. Lesnar apparently wants to do WrestleMania "badly" and will earn an estimated 2 million dollars for 30 minutes of work.

Everything is pointing towards Brock having one more fight and ending his contract. His head doesn't seem to be in the fighting game and it looks like it was just yet another successful business move.

SOURCE: Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online -- WWE, TNA, UFC and International Wrestling and MMA Headlines - Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online

JohnnyCraze
Brock vs Taker at WM?? Although I'm not really interested in seeing it.

Aaron Wood
Yeah, Meltzer mentioned all that in the last WOR show. It's pretty much typical Brock behaviour. He's not getting his way, so he pitching a hissyfit until he's bowed down to. Didn't get the private jet and shit he wanted in WWE. He quit. couldn't get on a NFL right away, so went to UFC instead of working at it. Lost in UFC and he's nbot the golden one anymore, and he's thrown his toys out the pram once again.

The Chosen 1
Wow... if this is true than that really makes Brock look like... well.... a bitch. Like someone who just wants to be on top of everything and the second he isn't or gets beat he just wants to quit. I really thought Brock had well... grown up.

Squeaky
Or maybe he ALMOST DIED, decided that he didn't have it in him to train at the level it would take to compete at an elite level, and wants to live his life instead.

The Chosen 1
Yeah but he almost died... and then trained like a madman defended his belt, trained again LOST the belt and THEN gave up.

Squeaky
He almost died, trained like a madman to make his usual fighting weight, not cutting weight to get there. Totally different. He should have lost the Carwin fight. He DID lose the Vasquez fight. He realizes now with the lifestyle changes he has made to, you know, LIVE, he can no longer go in and be the overpowering force he once was. What's wrong with taking his money and running? He doesn't owe us anything.

Question though, what is the nature of his UFC contract? Is it based on fights or just time spent with the company?

[Mike's Note – UFC contracts, to my knowledge, are generally based of a number of fights.   Guys are signed for X number of fights, and can be cut if their win/loss record isn't up to snuff.]

Anthony.Analog
I'd love to see Brock back in professional wrestling. He was the most natural looking in ring performer I'd ever seen, and his absence made guys like Batista, Lashley, etc... look that much more ridiculous after watching Brock wrestle.

I honestly think Lashley would've been HUGE if he hadn't cast the unfortunate lot of coming in after Brock.

And this announcement officially make Dixie Carter the dumbest bitch ever. [Chris Jericho voice]Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeever[/Chris Jericho voice]. I stated multiple times that bringing Paul Heyman in would bring Brock Lesnar to that God awful company to legitimately save it as soon as possible. Brock's the only DRAW they had a chance to picking up. And considering that his stock is enormously higher AFTER UFC than when he left WWE... and considering Spike is in bed with both companies... not giving the reigns to Paul Heyman will prove to be arguably THE decision that ultimately tanked the company.

Mike Johns
If he's worth the money, and its good for business, bring him in and do whatever. But don't get pissed off when Brock ditches wrestling again once he gets bored or whatever, because he's proven time and time again, he's not a long-term investment.

Anthony.Analog
But he also likes certain types of challenges. Panda could've given Brock the WORLD, and in return, Brock could've single handedly brought TNA the attention it needed to legitimately compete w/ the WWE. They could've instantly taken their show on the road and sold arena's out. And I bet you Brock would've been down and interested as long as it was competitive w/ the WWE. Unfortunately, it's far too late for any of that now.

 And, then, there's the big story of the week – CM Punk aligns himself with the Nexus.   Here's what you guys had to say about the move –

The Chosen 1
This would be a weird reveal if he just puts the armband on

Okay... I'm not getting this... are they saying Punk's in charge of Nexus or no?

Wow there was a 1,000 cooler ways to do that

Does that just mean F*ck Barrett? Seriously, that was just disappointing how they did that

JohnnyCraze
So, Punk goes from the SES to the Nexus??

Squeaky
Nexus is the NEW SES

And I don't think Barrett is gone, I think he'll be back, and Darren Young will be back, and Punk will be the godfather of this overwhelming numbers stable. They're going to try and restart this Nexus thing and do it right apparently.

Also it's a good way to cover Punk's injury until he's fully healed. Punk wins the Royal Rumble with the help of Nexus.

shooting
Wow the Nexus got killed

The Chosen 1
I'd hate to fantasy book, but wouldn't they image of Punk standing on the stage with the Nexus coming out from behind him have looked a bit more powerful? Or Punk & Cena in the ring and Nexus come out through the crowd, mirroring how this whole thing began

I like the idea and the story, I just wanted a bigger moment. Figuring out Punk was behind Nexus was SOMEWHAT obvious... So when it's something that could be predicted the moment it's revealed should be covered up with a powerful visual, so that while you saw it coming you still end up going "wow... that was crazy" The beatdown was just too much like every other one.... everntually when you do something 1,000 times you need to try and top the last time you did it somehow. 450 off a ladder, onto a chair, through a table... something.

Drewcifer
Faaaaaannntastic!!!!

As soon as someone sends me a gif of Punk saluting Nexus, I will add that to the bottom of all my posts.

2011 is going to be fun...

Matt Dawgs
Man, I called this in my last column.

Aaron Wood
Well, I have two immeidate thoughts. First, it'll be interesting to see how they book Nexus with an actual main eventer in charge now. And secondly, if they intend on having Punk vs. Cena at Wrestlemania, then this is certainly the way to stretch the feud out nearly four months until Mania comes around.

ZAH
I was hoping that Punk was going to lead the Nexus and WWE delivered...FINALLY. This stable is gonna be huge on RAW with Punk at the helm.

Squirrelz!
Not quite sure why people are bitching about this. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how this went down. Sure, most people on here had a feeling Punk was going to take charge of the Nexus. It's still a pretty big moment and personally, I'm excited to see where this story goes. They didn't do the alliance in a conventional manner and I have a feeling that will be brought up next week by Punk who will say something like "we offered him a truce, he's an aggressive hypocrite and declined so blah blah blah...". They have done a good job building the story, try not to crap on the story after the second chapter

James Bullock
From what I saw, it looked like Punk saw himself acting like Cena. He could've let his agression get the better of him, but decided that would be just like everything he's fighting against. And I agree with squirrelz! on the fact of a lot of people complaining (not here, but in various reviews of the show). I thought it was a great move that made me interested even more than I am now with Punk leading the only super group in WWE.

James Guttman
Good move by WWE. The only drawback, for me, is that that it feels like they took too long to pull the trigger on it. If they had done this before Survivor Series, it would have had a bigger impact. Even with Punk being out of action, he could have stood on the sidelines and given people time to simmer on the idea of a Punk-Cena match.

That said, it was good. I wouldn't be surprised to see Barrett return and play tweener - teaming with Cena purely out of revenge, but being recruited by Punk who says he joined the group to avenge Wade's poor treatment.

The other positives here is that WWE has issues with small dudes. By putting Punk with a gang of Nexus thugs, it evens the odds in their minds. So he has more of a chance of getting over in a Cena feud than he would one on one.

Also, I'm getting more and more certain that the mystery GM will be Michael Cole. How else would you explain the aborted (and pointless) New Year's message that served to do nothing but distract Lawler so Miz could pound him? Unless, of course, they don't need to explain it at all. If you look at it in a real world sense, it seems like the GM was in on the attack due to the timing of the whole thing.

Mike Johns
See, me? I feels like a step down for Punk. The way it was done, it wasn't like he was "taking over" the group, it was like he was another member. And NO WAY is Punk and Otunga on the same level, for instance.

In my mind, the Nexus should have dumped the N shirts for SES ones, because Punk is higher on the food chain. Because they are following a new leader. Or, hell, this was the purpose all along, and Nexus was a wing of the SES. Either way, when Punk aligns with Nexus, Nexus becomes Punk's bitches, not the other way around. Instead, Punk puts on the N band. It's basically the same as the guy who gets his hand turned under in a handshake - it makes you seem the weaker party. Given, this is more "prison rules" talk than anything else, but no way how should CM Punk be made to look like David Otunga's underling, which, in a way, is how Punk putting on the N band comes off.

The Nexus really should have done the shirt deal, instead. Same effect. Same story. But this way, Punk is clearly labeled as the dominant force.

Squeaky
Could have looked better, and I could have done without the awful Otunga promo, but I'm reserving judgement until Raw next week when it's possibly revealed whether Punk joined Nexus, or was in charge of Nexus this entire time. Basically what his 'heel justification' is for forming the group and causing a reign of terror.

Mike Johns
Well, this goes back to my "prison rules" talk. Once you're shown to be a bitch, there's no taking it back. People already saw your hand get turned under. People already read your body language and saw you join Nexus rather than Nexus join you. Ultimately, execution is everything. TNA fails because of its execution. The Nexus, to this point, hobbled by based on its execution. When you blow something big like this (and the fact that Punk takes the N rather than the Nexus taking up Punk's colors IS a big deal), you can retrack it and retread it all you want, but it doesn't change that you f*cked up the intro.

HHH, ultimately, was the one behind Steve Austin getting run down. but we don't remember that. We remember that it was Rikishi who did the deed. No matter how WWE tried to save it once they saw they blew the Rikishi turn, even so much as to try and retcon it to be HHH, we don't remember how it ended. We remember how they began it, and call the Rikishi turn a mistake. No one even CARES that HHH was ultimately responsible.

Punk putting on the N band and the fact that the group will still be called Nexus after the way this was executed last night is, at least to me, Rikishi running down Austin. Whatever promo Punk cuts next week as damage control is the equivalent of HHH bailing Kish out after his heel turn bombed.

Aaron Wood
My only thing about Michael Cole is that we've seen the GM mail stuff that reacts to something that has been said with Cole in a position to be unable to send anything unless either Lawler is a complete dipshit and has noticed that the guy he's sat beside is somehow sending e-mails when Jerry has the computer at the desk or that Cole has someone helping him elsewhere (a la Cole is the HHH to the actual mailer's Rikishi). And indeed, in that "live" conversation when they gave the computer the voicebox, Cole couldn't have done any of that.

Anthony.Analog
But if Punk makes them SES... then this isn't about Cena anymore. It's about Straight Edge. This direction gives Punk a chance to do something OUTSIDE of Straight Edge for once, which will be a welcome expansion of his character, especially on the mic.

Plus, do we really want to see Julianne Moore shave her head?

Mike Johns
If you still wanted to call them Nexus, not SES, there are other ways to go about it. For one, CM Punk T-Shirts. Or, a full on different execution to pull off the same thing. There are ways around this to pull off the same thing that don't make it look like CM Punk is stepping down from a position to join another force.

Last night's segment made it look like CM Punk JOINED Nexus, not LEADING Nexus. That's my issue, here.

I could give a rat's ass whether Slater has hair or not at this point. He's random generic guy in the N shirt #3 right now.

Plus, if this isn't ultimately about Straight Edge, what exactly about Cena is Punk against? This is going to end up being a philosophical battle one way or another, as Punk has always been a heel on the Higher Moral Ground. If this doesn't ultimately become a philosophical battle, there's no point otherwise to the feud. Straight Edge is more than just not drinking or smoking, especially to the hell Punk. It's a moral code and practically a religion.

The Chosen 1
I definitely got the Punk is joining Nexus vibe too.. just by the way he put the armband on, like he was joining the enemy... but the lack of Barrett is what brought me back into the fact that he must be the leader

I just realized something that will bother me forever if this is the way they're going... David Otunga said that the Nexus is under NEW Management... and Cole said well look at Otunga directing traffic, he said Nexus was under new management is this what he was talking about... one of those "we're gonna say this because we know it's not true, so that it's more surprising when you find that out" moments. (like when Mick walked out of Orton and JR was going on and on about how he was gonna run down the ramp and attack Orton)

THAT being said, he was obviously talking about Punk... so does that mean Punk is NEW to the group as of last week? Because it would seem to be SO much better if he was the BIGGER PURPOSE from the beginning.

This is just a taste of what you're missing on the Boards. Why don't you come by sometime and check it out for yourself, eh?   You never know when something you post may end up being the next Hot Thread.

http://s14.zetaboards.com/Wrestling_Insanity

*****

Mike Johns, imbued with special, shameless self-promotional powers the likes of which haven't been seen since the height of DX's self-fellatious babyface run in 2006, is a contributor to WorldWrestlingInsanity.com and ClubWWI.com, single-handedly responsible for WWI's coverage of All Things TNA.   In what spare time he has left, Mike produces and records original music under the name 'SaviorSelf.07.05.98' as well as remixes and mash-ups of far more popular songs under the name 'TMJ'.

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