Mike Rickard
Rickard's Ramblings: The Shape of Things To Come, Tag Team Turmoil, Upcoming WWE DVDs, This Week’s Magnificent Bastard, and More
By Mike Rickard II
May 22, 2007, 19:11

After a long week in court, there’s nothing like rambling on about the latest happenings in the wild and wacky world of professional wrestling.  Help me wind down from lawyer mode to smark mode as I ask a few questions of you, the intelligent wrestling fan.

1. Wouldn’t Khali’s leg be under the rope no matter where he was in the ring?

2. Can you believe TNA has stayed afloat for five years?

3. Why couldn’t Mark Henry get bit by the injury bug instead of Mr. Kennedy, the Undertaker, or HBK?

4. Wouldn’t it be great if Carlito could transplant some of his hair to Ric Flair?

5. If ROH already has their first PPV “in the can”, why are they waiting a month to show it?

IT’S OVER MAN:  While the WWE continues to claim that the brand split is here to stay for the duration, it’s a brand split in name only.  Whether it’s SmackDown! Superstar Matt Hardy showing up regularly on Monday Night RAW or Bobby Lashley becoming a staple of RAW and SmackDown! there’s nothing separating the brands anymore.  Need I remind you of the WWE’s new “all-brand” format for their PPV’s?  No matter what the WWE insists on telling the fans, the brand split is dead, dead, dead.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: Speaking of diluting the product, observant fans have noticed some new faces on WWE television and given the talks of the WWE opening up promotions around the globe; it should come as no surprise.  Whether it’s Santino Marella,  Robbie Brookside, or the Great Khali’s new “translator”, the WWE is slowly introducing new faces so when their international rosters debut, people won’t be saying “Who’s that jabroni?”

OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING: Despite the fact that the new “all brand” format for PPV has closed the door on that much desired PPV check for a lot of the mid-card, the recent rash of injuries presents quite an opportunity as well. 

If history repeats itself (as it’s been known to do from time to time), you could see some new superstars rise to glory.  Recall the early 1990’s when Hulk Hogan’s departure from the WWE led to “The New Generation” (and singles pushes for guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels) or the Monday Night War which saw considerable singles success for the likes of guys like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin or Diamond Dallas Page who seemed destined for eternal spots in the mid-card.  There are some gaping holes in the main event that need to be filled (as well as the need for some fresh faces in general) if the WWE knows what’s good for business (always a big IF).Who do YOU think might step up, given the chance?

TAG TEAM TURMOIL:  Kudos to Cade & Murdoch for really stepping up in the ring as of late.  Their matches with the Hardyz have made me glad to see them leave the Phantom Zone aka Heat.  Despite their improvement, the team the WWE should be setting up for the Hardyz is Kendrick & London.  Can you imagine what a great series that would be (culminating of course, in a ladder match).  If the WWE is going to continue to go interpromotional, they really need to capitalize on some of the dream matchups out there.

UPCOMING WWE DVDs:  Have you seen the latest on the WWE’s upcoming DVD releases?

1. The Ladder Match
2. Wrestling’s Most Powerful Families
3. Stone Cold

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s refreshing to see the WWE taking advantage of their deep video library via WWE Home Video.  Hopefully the WWE will continue to showcase some of the stars of yesteryear whether it’s individual DVDs like the Ultimate Hulk Hogan Anthology & Rowdy Roddy Piper or it’s stuff like Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s.  Wouldn’t it be great to see sequels too such as:

1. Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '70s
2. Greatest Wrestling Tag Teams of the '80s?
3. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
4. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (hey, anything can happen in the WWE!)
5. The Spectacular Legacy of the AWF? (okay, that one’s a stretch)

What superstar compilations would you like to see the WWE release?  Post your thoughts over in Rickard's House of Old School at the World Wrestling Insanity Forum.

THIS WEEK’S MAGNIFICENT BASTARD: This week’s Magnificent Bastard Award goes to Radio Free Insanity (RFI) guest Ole Anderson who once again demonstrated why he’s one of the most outspoken men in professional wrestling (and as past RFI guests have shown, that’s saying a LOT).  Anderson’s comments on the Four Horsemen, Vince McMahon, and Ric Flair were hilarious as well as pretty insightful.  Whether you agree with him or disagree, you can’t help but admire Anderson’s candor.