12-08-06

“I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all.”

Boo-yah, here we go!!

***

Item # 1 – Are you freakin' kidding me? (Part One)

I’ve already provided a rant on my feelings coming out of last weekend’s horrific PPV, December to Dismember.  I’m despondent over the whole thing.  I was ripped off.  I spent 40 hard-earned dollars to watch a show 10 minutes longer than RAW.  Not only that, but the matches on SmackDown are normally 10 times better than what was thrown at me on the PPV from a company masquerading as ECW.

Since I’ve made my feelings very clear, let me say that I’ve come to terms with my disappointment.  I’ve come to terms with the bullshit that is WWE.  I’ve come to terms with everything because I had the glorious opportunity to watch ROH’s Glory by Honor V. 

Yeah...just when I think I’ve reached the end of my tolerance level for sports entertainment, I just have to watch some Ring of Honor and all seems right with the world. 

Now, for those of you who haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch an ROH DVD, I cannot explain to you enough what you are missing.  Of course, if you enjoy sports entertainment over professional wrestling then you’re not missing much.  Ring of Honor isn’t about gloss or glamour.  They’re more steak than sizzle. 

The fact of the matter is that wrestlers from around the world want to work at least once in an ROH ring.  Don’t believe me?  Ask Christian Cage what it felt like.  Ask Kenta Kobashi.  Ask Jamie Noble.  Ask Matt Hardy.  Ask Marufuji or KENTA.

Hell...ask Samoa Joe, Homicide, or Christopher Daniels why they continue to show up in ROH rings almost every weekend and brutalize themselves in the kind of stiff matches that they rarely see in TNA. 

The atmosphere in ROH is something you don’t find in any other promotion in the world.  The fans (with the exception of those who love to hear themselves chant or GLF simply because he's a tool) are the greatest in the world because they respect the business.  They love to see wrestling...not bullshit.  When ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky tries different things that are more sports entertainment-esque, they are crapped on by the fans and normally are not brought back again.  I’d dare say that they are the closest thing you’re ever going to find to 90’s-era ECW fans.

Still don’t believe me?  Try watching the Briscoes vs. Homicide & Samoa Joe.  Try watching KENTA vs. Low-Ki.  Try watching Roderick Strong & Austin Aries vs. AJ Styles & Matt Sydal.  Try watching matches with different combinations of the above.  Any of those matches will help you remember why you’re reading a wrestling website to begin with (i.e. it's because you're a fan...remember?).

Hell, if you can’t watch an entire DVD and enjoy the ROH undercard more than almost every single WWE main event...well, I guess I don’t know what to tell you.  All I can say is that my love, my passion, my absolute devotion to this business always gets restored after watching Ring of Honor.  I can deal with poopies and jackasses and boogeymen...even Don West.

All is good with the world again.

Item # 2 – Are you freakin' kidding me? (Part Two)

Oh yeah...I almost forgot...as of today (or actually last Monday night when I first said it on my ECW PPV audio review with James), I solemnly vow to not buy another WWE PPV until at least WrestleMania.  How can I make such a claim?  Well, I am absolutely promising to download every single WWE PPV from here on out.  Yes...I will illegally acquire these PPV's (I might even burn them on DVD just for shits'n'giggles).  You, WWE, will never burn me again.  I’ve finally learned my lesson.  My money is wasted on you.

And don’t go blaming Paul Heyman, either.  Everybody and their dog knows that Heyman was constricted in his ideas...he was held back in his thoughts and suggestions.  He was prevented from giving the world the ECW that he wanted to give us.  He was told that his ideas were old and outdated.  He was told that he couldn’t fit in with the “new” ECW and that’s why the PPV sucked so hard.  Thus, he was told to go home.

Work?  Shoot?  It doesn’t matter, really.  What matters is that ECW is now officially under the full guidance of WWE...and hence you’re going to see a lot more of Hardcore Holly and Test in the new ECDub.

Ain’t life grand?

Item # 3 – MTV vs ECW?

Lost in the world of WWECW nonsense this week was the announcement by MTV that their newest show, Wrestling Society X, will start airing at 10:30pm EST on Tuesdays beginning January 30^th.  This means that the new show will air opposite ECW on Sci-Fi, which airs at 10pm EST.

I’m intrigued.  I’ve read the spoilers and I’m really looking forward to seeing the show.  However, I’m surprised that MTV chose to go directly against ECW on a Tuesday night.  Are they going after the same demographic?  Does MTV have something against Sci-Fi?  Is there simply no other time slot on the MTV schedule?

I dunno...but I’m certainly interested to see what happens.  We’ve got a Tuesday night war, folks!

Item # 4 – Big Show goes on hiatus.

What’s been assumed for weeks now has been made official.  Paul “Big Show” Wight is done with WWE...for now.  Show has basically said that he’s not ready to retire but that his injuries are simply preventing him from working at the level he’s used to working at.  The big rumor now is that he’s just sitting back to rest his injuries so that he can have his final match take place at WrestleMania against Hulk Hogan.

Why Hogan?  Well, it’s the 20^th anniversary of the famed Hogan/Andre match from WrestleMania III and it’ll be back in Detroit in front of over 70,000 people. It would be a fitting end to both of their in-ring careers so I’m all for it.

Item # 5 – Abyss has a history?

Ugh.  Once TNA finally helped people to forget that Abyss was a cheap Kane rip-off...once Abyss finally had an identity of his very own...they turn right around and give us their usual WWE-lite storyline nonsense.

Apparently, Christian Cage and Tomko know a "deep, dark secret" about Abyss because Tomko knew him when they were kids.  While I’m hoping this isn’t some Katie Vick rip-off storyline, I won’t hold my breath.  After watching all of the booking and storyline decisions lately in TNA, I wouldn’t put anything past them.

It’s a shame, really.  This is a company that should be thriving.  Instead, it remains stagnant...even with the addition of Kurt Angle to the roster (regardless of what TNA may try to tell you).  It’s a shame because they’ve got a ton of talent and they’re blowing their opportunity to showcase it all in a way that’s different and unique (i.e. not WWE).

At least Ron Killings wasn’t rapping again this week.

Well, actually...

Item # 6 – 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 wasn’t tough at all.  Once I read the story I laughed out loud and pushed all other thoughts to the back.  It was really quite the obvious decision to make the choice for ZAH’s Loser of the Week to be...

Anybody who purchased December to Dismember.

Yep.  It’s pretty cut and dry this week. No more explanation necessary.   

Therefore, for everybody including myself who purchased the pure drizzling shits that was the WWECDub wannabe PPV, congrats on being my Loser of the Week!

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Pillar to Post 

Each and every week I’ll 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 (and I encourage every reader to throw me an e-mail and volunteer), I was able to find three great World Wrestling Insanity readers in kat_bb3, J. Bastard, and kc law!

1. Agree or Disagree
ECW is dead.

kat_bb3:  Agree.

ECW died the moment that Vince started to produce it. It has never been what it was. Vince almost had me convinced that he could create a brand that was different from the other, but at the end of the day it was just away for Vince to feel superior. He got us again, now I do not believe he intentionally is destroying ECW, but more like mutating it beyond recognition. Somewhere we gathered hope that at the very least it would be different than Raw and Smackdown. We were wrong we need to suck it up and say ECW is dead, but we can watch Raw lite on Sci-Fi.

J. Bastard: Agree. 

ECW has essentially been given a death sentence.  After their Sci-Fi Network contract expires in a year there will be no more ECW programming, and without Paul Heyman at the helm there is no reason to continue under the ECW banner anyway.  Vince was clearly just looking for an excuse to get rid of Heyman - why else would he fire him for such a disastrous PPV when it was largely Vince’s last minute changes to the show that made it so awful?  CM Punk was ECW’s one shot at a major breakout star and WWE’s already trying to kill him off.  The only reason to eliminate Punk and Rob Van Dam so early in the Elimination Chamber is so they’re out of the way and the crowd won’t crucify Lashley when he wins the title.  Well here’s a thought – if you’re worried about whether your choice for the new babyface champion will get booed by the crowd, DON’T PUT THE BELT ON HIM!  And why exactly was Sabu removed from the match altogether?  Could it be the first step in ridding the locker room of all the original ECW talent?

kc law: Disagree.

It's not dead but we have to go with the human diagnosing of ECW's current condition then I would assume that it would be best to say that it is very close but there still an opportunity to shock the heart back pumping. But for that to happen would be a miracle and something so unlikely that you can safely bet that it won't happen. But it's not dead, it can be saved and they have time as Sci -Fi won't get rid of it because it does benefit them through advertising, so they have time. But what can WWE do, they have done so much damage that it's unlikely to recover. But Smackdown was once in a position where it's was awful and it's one of the better wrestling shows around now. ECW can recover but it requires time and effort.

2. Agree or Disagree
Paul Heyman would not be a good fit with TNA.

kat_bb3: Disagree.

Paul has the amazing ability to, for the most part, produce shows that cater to the strength of his performers. TNA could use a little boost. Let’s face it; while it is an alternative to the McMahon world, it is not always good. Some times it is but other times you walk away scratching your head. Paul could be good for TNA.

J. Bastard: Disagree. 

Heyman could absolutely do wonders with TNA.  The one thing that company lacks is a strong, focused creative mind.  Russo is already damaging TNA with A.D.D. booking and angles full of logic holes.  Heyman’s made a career out of creating exciting stars and angles from nothing.  Here he’d be walking into a company that already has some real stars.  TNA just needs someone to grab hold of the reins.  Whether Jeff Jarrett would interfere with Heyman’s booking style is a question mark, but in my opinion someone like Heyman is exactly what TNA needs.

kc law: I don't know, but on personal opinion I'll disagree

Heyman would fit any organisation involving wrestling. He would improve any product he was given enough to improve. But can his personality fit with those in TNA, I don't know. I don't know how he feels toward Russo, but they appear to be polar opposite in terms of booking style.

But still, Heyman in ROH would be so much more awesome.

3. Agree or Disagree
John Cena vs. Umaga~! will be a very entertaining feud.

kat_bb3: Disagree.

I could not care less bout this feud, but my personal opinion aside, I can’t help to think that both men could suffer with this feud. First I think that this indestructible monster Umaga can only end poorly and has gone on long enough. So if at this point Cena wins every person that has fallen to Umaga seems weak, but that doesn’t matter. If Cena loses then Umaga gets a title I don’t think he deserves, at least not yet.

The feud is boring; it is the same shtick as all of their feuds. Cena loses over and over then pulls a victory out of his butt. Umaga’s side is the same as well, beat beat beat and in the end I suppose he will fall to Cena.

J. Bastard: Yawn.  Disagree. 

John Cena has proven he can have very entertaining matches – when he’s in the ring with someone who can carry him.  Cena’s had very solid matches with Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Edge in the past couple years, but something about Cena vs. Umaga reeks of a train wreck.  As for promos, Cena can talk it up with the best of them when he’s not spouting off lame dick & fart jokes.  But the problem with a cartoon character like Umaga is, what storyline motivation does he really have other than the fact that he’s a monster heel?  What’s his beef with Cena?  If Cena vs. Umaga can’t deliver in the ring it needs to deliver from an emotional standpoint, and there’s really nothing personal riding on this feud. 

kc law: Agree and Disagree

It's the WWE; they find many wonderful ways to screw up many things. They look like they are trying to keep this simple and that may be smartest. They are both tough guys and may lead to some decent brawl matches. But WWE could find some way to make terrible, or make it feel old and tired. I wouldn't be that surprised if they did make it stale.

But, WWE don't have many other options so it better be entertaining, because who outside of Rated RKO vs. DX can face him for the world title? Chris Masters? Carlito? Shelton Benjamin? K-Fed? No one is even in a remotely close position to face the champ.

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Great job everybody, thanks!!  I’m looking forward to seeing who gets to join me as a guest columnist next week. 

No problem.  Either e-mail me at Zah@worldwrestlinginsanity.com or hit me up at ZAH Nation, found in the Insanity Message Board and let me know that you’d like to participate.  Also, don’t forget to stop by my MySpace page and add me.

So until next week…

L8R