| From WorldWrestlingInsanity.com ZAH
07-18-08
Boo-yah...here we go!!
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Item # 1 – ZAH = flawed & misleading.
So my writing can sometimes be "flawed" and "misleading", apparently. Hmmm...
I got some feedback on last week's column where somebody didn't like my assessment of two aspects of the TNA "Victory Road" PPV. Not to dive into a "flame war" or anything, but I felt the need to address the issue here. It is my column, after all.
The first part I was criticized on was that I wasn't paying enough attention to Impact to know how the whole 2-match X World Cup final thingy was to be broken down, points-wise. The feedback then explained the points system...at which point I immediately tuned out and got confused.
No I didn't. I'm just trying to be a smart-ass. Moving on...
Before writing my column last week, I went to the TNA website to get information on the PPV because, quite frankly, I hadn't watched Impact that week and wanted to get the breakdown.
TNA's own PPV web page said absolutely NOTHING about the points...how they were earned, how they were broken down, what the standings were, or who might be involved with which match. So while an avid watcher of Impact would be able to understand the unnecessarily convoluted "point system" of this tournament (and yes, I knew that they didn't know the final group of participants because of the fears that some had "visa issues"), a casual viewer...the one that TNA desperately wants but cannot seem to be able to obtain...would have no freakin' idea what in the hell was going on.
And that was the problem that transferred onto me. I shouldn't have to read that there will be an Elimination Match and an Ultimate X Match that will determine the winner of the World X Cup without also knowing, exactly, HOW these two matches will provide that result.
I'll freely admit to being only a casual fan of TNA. I don't watch them every week. I used to, but they lost me as a regular viewer a year or so ago. On a daily basis, I read up on the "goings on" within the company and their storylines, but because their product rarely entertains me when I do tune in I can't call myself a fan who watches every week. But make no mistake: I'm the fan that TNA wants.
I'm the fan that gets disgruntled with WWE (although certainly not lately) and wants something different; who wants an alternative. I'm the fan that does buy dvd's online from time to time (I don't download everything I watch) and has purchased PPV's in the past. I'm the fan that sits back and decides whether or not to watch Impact or a CSI repeat or Survivor or whatever else may be on in that timeslot.
So when I go to their website and they do not do the best job of explaining the details of a very major part of their PPV (and the World X Cup would have been the only reason I would have bought the PPV...ummm...were I to have bought the PPV), I have every right to say it's confusing. I shouldn't have to watch an episode of Impact in order to enjoy a PPV (and the same goes for RAW or Smackdown or UFC or whatever PPV comes on). But if you want to sell me a PPV, you better SELL it to me. Simply saying there will be two matches isn't enough for a casual fan. The World X Cup means nothing without background or explanation or detail.
As it turns out, I knew I would entertained regardless because of the talent involved in the match (most of the names I had already recognized). It doesn't change the fact that the set-up wasn't easy to follow. And for me to say that isn't "misleading", it's my personal opinion. The last time I checked, I was a columnist...not a "wrestling journalist". I don't need to take a middle ground when it comes to opinion. When it comes to the set-up of the World X Cup, especially when it came to their website, I believe that TNA f*cked up and I stand by that statement.
Now that wasn't the only point that was brought up. Apparently, my take on having Gail Kim & Angelina Love on the PPV wasn't taken very well, either. I had said the following:
My first question for this match is WHY?? Yeah, you can go back to Roxy getting her head shaved as the beginning of the "feud" between these two. But I really have zero desire to watch two women's matches on one PPV. With so many talents sitting on the sidelines, to have two Knockout matches is really an insult. At least they're both hot.
I got ragged on for not knowing it was Love who cost Kim a shot at the TNA Knockout title before the Roxy incident took place. And you know what? He's right...I didn't know that. But you know what else? That was besides the point I was making.
The point I was making was that I didn't think there needed to be two women's wrestling matches on the PPV. I don't care that their little feud has been ongoing for awhile now; it doesn't intrigue me. After the entrances of "The Beautiful People" where the cameras zoom in on their wiggling asses and the announcers stutter and stammer over their own words, I just tune out. So when there was already a women's title match on the PPV, I really didn't see the justification for having a second women's match on the PPV...regardless of the fact that they already had a feud in place.
But again...the last time I checked, I wasn't a "wrestling journalist". This column is an opinion piece...not a fact-based newzletter. I give my take on things as I see it. If I influence somebody's decision to buy that PPV because I don't like watching two women's wrestling matches, then so be it. If a casual fan reads my column and uses that for a basis on whether or not to buy the PPV, that's their choice. I really don't know if my opinion holds that much weight.
Are these two write-ups "very flawed and mis-leading"? I don't see how, to be honest. I mean, I'm sorry if you don't like what I wrote...but it is what it is. I can't please everybody and I refuse to sit and write things simply in an effort to make everybody happy.
Right or wrong, I'm opinionated. Right or wrong, I'm a guy who shoots from the lip and doesn't normally care what others think. Most who read my column find me entertaining, others do not. But know that whether or not I write something you agree with, I'm far from being "very flawed and mis-leading".
I call TNA as I see it. I don't think I mislead anything as it's just my opinion based on what I've seen, read, or heard. It is what it is.
But having said all that, I welcome your criticism. You...yes, you the reader...are all more than welcome to provide me with your opinions and feedback, too: good, bad, or indifferent. Details at the bottom of the page. Just scroll away.
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Item # 2 – Great American Bash predictions.
Unlike last month's WWE pay-per-view, I think this one is going to be pretty easy to predict...
- WWE title match: Triple H vs. Edge. § I'm really looking forward to this because, for one, Triple H is wanting to establish Smackdown as the new "flagship show" and a great main event will certainly lend credence to that claim. Another reason is because Edge is absolutely on top of his game right now both inside and outside of the ring (front-runner for Wrestler of the Year, perhaps?), so he also wants to prove himself to be 'worthy' of a main event PPV match against Triple H...which should, theoretically, lead into another stip match at SummerSlam. All told, this should be one of the best matches on the card. § WINNER: As much as I'd love to see Edge win this one, I think Trips is walking out with the belt in tact.
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World title match: CM Punk vs. Batista.
§ Wow...talk about having a lot to prove. You want pressure? How about defending your newly-won World heavyweight title against one of the biggest walking muscles on the planet and expecting to have a good match? I'll be SHOCKED if Punk is booked to be anything other than a jobber in this match. Batista, by all rights, will probably destroy the champion. § WINNER: ...who will still find a way to get out of the PPV still champion. Whether it's from outside interference or by hook AND crook, Punk retains...for now.
-
NYC Parking Lot Brawl: John Cena vs. JBL.
§ I really have lowered expectations going into this one. These guys will be performing on pavement surrounded by cars. You can't do too many high-spot bodyslams or suplexes. You can't run the ropes. You can't do a whole lot, actually. I'm sure WWE has something interesting in store, but I don't see this as much more than a crowd-killer...both at the arena and at home. § WINNER: Cena.
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Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho.
§ This will be the match of the night and, depending on just how good HBK is feeling, a potential Match of the Year. I can't wait to see this one. The backstory and heat of this feud has only added to the match. They haven't wrestled a million times already on television so there's a wanting to see the match. It's not often that you get that feeling. § WINNER: This could go either way. I see Lance Cade interfering, so the only question is whether or not Michaels is willing to lose this quickly on PPV after the Batista squash. Will Cade's interference backfire or help Jericho? I'll go with HBK winning here...because I don't see him willing to lose again yet (which probably means he will...lol).
-
ECW title match: Mark Henry vs. Tommy Dreamer.
§ Wow...this will suck. § WINNER: Henry retains.
-
WWE Diva title match: Natalya Neidhart vs. Michelle McCool.
§ I'm actually looking forward to this match because both Neidhart and McCool are going to be the flagship performers out of the divas on Smackdown. Neidhart definitely knows how to wrestle and McCool has worked her ass off to be respectable in the ring. This really shouldn't be too bad of a match. Certainly a million times better than Kelly Kelly vs. Layla. § WINNER: I'm hoping Victoria interferes and costs McCool the title so that Neidhart wins. So yeah...let's go with that.
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WWE tag team title match: Miz & Morrison vs. Curt Hawkins & Zach Ryder vs. Jesse & Festus vs. Finlay & Hornswoggle.
§ Three of these teams should have a pretty decent match. The other team needs to sit the f*ck out. I'll let you guess who is who. § WINNER: The champs retain.
All in all, this should be a decent PPV and much better than Bashes past.
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Item # 3 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES GUTTMAN~~!!
Yes, the guy who started the Insanity is celebrating a birthday on Saturday, July 19th. So please join me in wishing Good Ol' JG a happy birthday by going here .
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Item # 4 – OMFG PUNK LOST AND IS BERRIED~!!!
People...chill the f*ck out. Seriously.
People are now saying that Punk's push is over...that the "Punk experiment" has ended...that everybody else's pop when they face Punk is bigger than his...
How long did you think this whole thing was going to last? I mean, I'm a HUGE Punk supporter and all, but I'm certainly not foolish enough to have believed he was going to get an uber push as World heavyweight champion. The guy was on ECW and on a pretty decent losing streak (or at least not on a winning streak) before winning the title on RAW, so why should the crowds go crazy for the guy when he's been booked to be nothing more than lucky at this point?
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Item # 5 – Aaron Wood is bangin' Mae Young?
Apparently there was a reason why Mr. Suck chose Mae Young to be his #10 all-time WWE babyface...and let me stress that for those not hooked-up with Club WWI yet...#10 ALL F*CKIN' TIME WWE BABYFACE!!!
Well...now we know. She gave birth to a hand so she might as well bang a guy who is normally all hands even when he's the only one in the room.
Proof? You want proof?? Please...it's indisputable: . . . . . . . . . . .
Canadian Bulldog is 100% spot-on in his assessment of this guy. In fact, it would surprise me to see him in cahoots with that new Fritz guy on ClubWWI...who kinda gives me the creeps, to be honest.
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Item # 6 – Who is the TNA champion?
...nobody? Oh for crying out loud...why was this even an issue? Of course Joe was the champion after Sunday night. I mean, how TNA could want to "make viewers wait" until Impact before telling us that Samoa Joe was still the TNA champion was silly, wasn't it?
Listen, I appreciate just how strong Booker was...ummm...booked in Sunday night's main event of the Victory Road pay-per-view...at least up until the last five minutes. I felt it was important to to put Booker over strong and not make him out to look like Joe's bitch, especially after struggling to defeat perennial mid-card lovable loser Robert Roode for months on end.
But once Joe took control of the match, I really don't understand what took place. I mean, I watched it...I watched it again...but I just shake my head at the wonder that is TNA booking.
Although let me state very clearly that my biggest peeve during the match was the CONSTANT showing of Sharmell. I mean c'mon TNA...she was going to be part of the match. We get it..."foreshadowing". We didn't need 100+ shots of her over and over and over, reacting to every goddamn move in the match. It absolutely took away from the flow of things for me, at least from a "watching it" point of view. I'm sure it was different live, but sitting at home I had a hard time getting into it when I was bombarded by shots of Sharmell all the f*cking time.
And what...was Rudy Charles f*ckin' SHOT?? He was down, seemingly, forever. Ten minutes, at least. And why were the other referees and everybody else and their f*ckin' dog trying to stop the match?? Why weren't they trying to continue it?? I just didn't get this. At all.
Joe was beating down on Booker T?? People...Joe was BLEEDING. We had just seen six men throw each other through tables and use chairs in the previous match. Were we really supposed to believe that a Joe "Ole Ole" kick on Booker T was suddenly so incapacitating that the match needed to end?
And then STING?? What in the flying f*ck was THAT about?? I just don't understand. He had promised to show up at the PPV, but once he got there he waited until Joe was destroying Booker before making his appearance?? Wouldn't you think this type of appearance should have been unannounced? I mean, what if Booker or Joe had won via pinfall five minutes earlier? Would Sting then come out and stand there? At least one good moment came out of the whole clusterf*ck. Thankfully, Joe grabbed a pair of balls...
And while I like the insinuation that Sting might either turn heel or become part of a "veteran vs. young gun" type of stable (which was shattered after reading Impact's spoilers...he's a babyface again), this f*cked-up non-finish only epitomizes just how inept TNA and their booking really is.
Ridiculous.
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Item # 7 –
LOSER OF THE WEEK.
Each and every week, I pick somebody (not necessarily always from wrestling) who has either acted in a dumb way, said something stupid, or generally was an idiot in some way, shape, or form. This week’s choice was about as clear-cut as they come.
To nobody's surprise, this time around ZAH's Loser of the Week is...
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson!!!
Wow...where in the blue hell do you start with this guy?
Tuesday afternoon: Jackson was arrested on suspicion of felony evading, hit-and-run and reckless driving after he allegedly led police on a pursuit from Costa Mesa to Newport Beach, California.
Tuesday night: (per Dave Meltzer's update) Jackson was released on bail from the Costa Mesa City Jail. There is some confusion regarding the jail and everything that happened. Jackson was arrested and brought to the Orange County Jail. He was declared medically unfit to be jailed in Orange County. After an exam, he was brought to the Costa Mesa jail where he was medically cleared to be put in. All the police reports are completed and have been sent to the District Attorney's office in Orange County and they will decide what, if any, charges to try and get an indictment on and how to proceed from here.
But the fun isn't over here, kids...
Wednesday afternoon: (per TMZ.com) Sources say around 4:30 PM yesterday, friends who were hanging out with Rampage, waved down an Irvine police car after they were worried about his behavior. This, of course, following the insane chase the day before in which the UFC fighter hit several cars in his monster truck and was arrested at gunpoint.
Yikes. Can you say "bad f*ckin' week"?
So for being a psycho...and for living up to his nickname...congrats go out to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for being ZAH's "Britney Spears Loser of the Week"!
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Pillar to Post
Each and every week (well...NORMALLY each and every week) I take three statements that you, the WorldWrestlingInsanity.com readers, have submitted on the hot topics du jour and then get two or three volunteers to give their thoughts and insight. Ladies and gentlemen, this week I bring to you two great Insanity readers in TXL and JT!!! ,
1. Agree or Disagree , ,
TXL
:
Disagree.
,
JT
:
Disagree.
The heel turn that began on Monday night will be completed here. I think that Punk wins by DQ or count-out and Batista snaps and goes on a rampage. I think he demands a rematch on Raw the next night, then wins at Summerslam
.
,
2. Agree or Disagree ,
TXL
:
Disagree.
,
JT
:
Disagree.
I say this because a certain former GM is returning from his 60 day suspension. If he gets reinstated, I won't be disappointed. Hopefully the WWE have learned from their mistakes and won't give us a poor ending. But this is WWE we're talking about, so anything can happen
.
,
3. Agree or Disagree ,
TXL
:
Agree.
x
JT
:
Agree.
Since the first episode after the draft it's been meh for me. I usually DVR Smackdown and end up watching it either Saturday or Sunday, where I fast forward thru the boring parts. Raw seems to be the show to watch lately since it has that we don't know what's going to happen feel that Smackdown doesn't have because it is a taped program
.
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Zah@worldwrestlinginsanity.com
, hitting me up at
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), or letting me know that you'd like to participate by checking out my new online blog
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!
Oh...and then join the
Insanity Facebook page
.
Whew!
Got all that?
Good.
That's all I gots for now, kids.
Until next week...take care.
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