Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 10:53 AM EST

I guess it's well overdue for me to try and come up with a piece that either A) isn't a review of a show or B) isn't picks for a pay per view. With that being said, I know I said I would come out with a piece on the 3 hour Raw, and honestly, there isn't anything that stands out enough to spread out over a column. So, with that in mind, I have a couple of points to ponder, and hopefully, something will grow out of them.

Will John Cena go heel?

I know this question has been going on and on for months on end, but I was approached again about it by my friend at Myspace, and I thought I'd try and weigh in on the topic. Truth be told, a full blown heel turn on Cena's part is not, what I believe to be, in the best interest for his character. There are certain days where Cena can turn around and get a pop like no other, and there are certain days I have seen where Cena is the most hated man on the planet. He literally is the definition of a tweener. Changing it up to get a reaction out of the crowd is really dangerous, I would think because the reaction to him at this very minute is so passionate one way or the other, why would you want to try and influence it?

Cena COULD get a little, pardon the pun, "edgier", by ripping in to crowds that show heat toward him, perhaps that could be more of a tweak to his persona to bring a new wrinkle in to the fold, but overall, changing it up just doesn't seem to be right. As much as everyone and their mother is sick of seeing Cena with the WWE title, name me another superstar, outside of Triple H, that is ready to roll with the title for an extended period of time?

Good question. With Edge's defeat, there really isn't any on the horizon. I could say Orton, but I think his backstage antics will keep him out of the title picture. After that, not many are left in the "snake pit", to use Cena's words, as a challenger to the WWE title. With that being said, a major change in Cena's character doesn't appear to be the most likely at this time. Tweak here and there, yes, I would agree. But, overall, let the man continue to develop. I know people who read my column hate his guts, but I think he has grown, even as a champion, and continues to grow. It's still VERY YOUNG in his career, and he has a lot of time to show the world his true repetoire of abilities, both in the ring, and on the mike.

Does the Cyber Sunday Main Event hurt a brand?

Yes. Interminably. It hurts ECW. I know ECW has one champion, and one champion only, which is a problem in its own right, but to this moment, ECW has been flattened by the Big Show, and he would need to do the same thing to the opponents in the Cyber Sunday Main Event in order to keep his reputation in check. Anything less than that and you would absolutely see major devaluing of the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.

I would think that, for a PPV, WWE ought to think about broadening the title picture in ECW, at least with a singles title, and a tag team title, to allow for some development under the Big Show, and thus, making for some new stars that can be followed with the brand. Outside of one man who has a huge following it appears, (CM Punk), the only real pop the crowd gives is for the originals. Any new ECW wrestler is still languishing in mediocrity because there is no step to the ladder to the World title, and thus, no goal for the remainder of the group to strive for.

Getting back to the triple threat match at Cyber Sunday, it cannot be a squash for the Big Show, because if so, it devalues either championship for their respective brands. Cena can handle Show, as apparent at Wrestlemania 20, and Cena has had wars with Booker T., I harken back to the series for the US title as an example. I am not sure of any major programs between Booker and Big Show, but the point still remains, nobody in this match really gains a thing out of it, because a loss devalues your title, and a significant loss makes rebounding from it ten times more difficult. WWE has booked themselves in to a corner, and trying to get out will not be easy.

The Return of Chris Benoit

Thrilled to see the Wolverine back. I hope he gets a major push. I hope he gets gold, soon. He has been loyal to a fault with WWE, and he needs to be allowed a run as a major champion at least one more time. His clock is not very high in its volume, so the sooner that Benoit is given the ball, the better he will run with it. For Smackdown's sake, he better get the ball, quickly.

I mean, think about it, if Jeff Hardy can return to Raw after three years, and the baggage that he had under his skin, and that quickly win the Intercontinental Championship, well, Benoit has a pedigree (sorry Triple H), that is 10 times more valuable than Hardy's, so let's get him the gold, and let him do what he does best, suplex the crap out of people.

Jonathan Coachman as a General Manager

I never thought I'd see the day when I would say this, but I miss Eric Bischoff. As much of an ass he was, and he was a major league ass, he was an authority figure you can relate to, he had some assemblance of babyface decisions that made the show progress well, and he definitely kept the storylines focused. Coach as a GM is weak, weak, weak, in my opinion, and continuing with this road, as it appears Vince and Shane may not be that involved in that role for the forseeable future is very slipshod on the part of WWE Creative, and in my opinion, inherently dangerous.

The World Tag Team Championship

Ok, Ric Flair has turned the Spirit Squad in to lackey losers. Big deal. When are the quintuplet psychos going to drop the belts? It's time for some new blood in the tag team lack of division on Raw, and for the Squad to split and go in other directions on the show. I hate to say this, but is "Cryme Tyme" the answer to the tag team division's prayers against the Squad? How disappointing. What about the resurgance of Cade & Murdoch? Instead of having them be sacrifical lambs to DX, put them in a program for the title with the Squad, let them win it, and then let DX run with the belts for a while, at least we'd have some interesting possibilities. This five on 2 thing is really old.

Some Random WWE tidbits

On the Ric Flair thing, however, how cool was it to see Arn Anderson in the ring with Ric Flair like old times. I know Arn can't go, he's not physically able to, but damn, when is WWE going to release a DVD spotlighting the days of the Horsemen? That would be one that would be 4, if not 5 discs worth of footage, and some of the hardest hitting action on the planet. Arn Anderson WILL BE an addition to my Jakks collection when that series comes out, damn right. It was also cool to see Piper and Money, Inc. with Flair, but let's be honest. Flair and Arn are the diamonds, everyone else is just sapphires.

Saw the videos from ECW's Extreme Strip Poker. I guess Vinnie Mac is really trying to get the kids from watching the show, don't you think? More often than not when I go to autograph sessions, the place is crawling with kids, but the content that WWE is showing is making me think that there may have to be a parental label placed on the shows prior to their airing. Don't get me wrong, seeing Candice and Maria fight with no clothes on is not something I am going to frown upon, but I am going to bring up the other aspect of it, because I am a father of three young boys.

WWE needs to cross brand the Women's title tournament and let Trinity take a stab at it. She has just as much experience in the ring as Lita, Mickie James, and Victoria, and a fatal four way for the title with those four women would be down right interesting to watch. Look at me, an analytical statement on the women's division. I think that's a first for me! With that being said, I think the tournament is Melina's to lose.

How angry should Matt Hardy be? Jeff comes back, and in 2 months is I-C champ. Matt is in a program that he cannot flourish in with the cruiserweight title holder. Is Matt going to jump back in to the cruisers again? When is this alleged reunion going to take place?

Speaking of reunions, are we going to see one last run of the Brothers of Destruction? Would that not be so damn sweet? Jeez, man. I would kill for that.

Some ROH thoughts

Thrilled that ROH trusts a talent like Delirious with him winning Survival of the Fittest. It almost guarantees Danielson to be champion to the end of the year, because Danielson and Delirious already have a history. It would be almost insane to put Delirious in a title match with anyone else but the American Dragon. Delirious won't win the title, but he will make Danielson have to work to retain it, which definitely lately has been a laborious process for the champion.

ROH is losing some of it's major talents. AJ Styles is gone from ROH, for whatever reason, since his last match in August at "Time to Man Up." KENTA goes back to Japan after the first week in November. Aries will probably focus more on TNA when Bound For Glory comes to pass. Daniels, Lethal, Homicide, Shelley, all have TNA ties that hurt ROH with its storylines. Losing Prince Nana is a serious blow for Jimmy Rave, and I am not sure how ROH is going to pursue it, but it appears Rave may go solo, from what I have been reading.

Who, for any ROH stalwart out there, who is going to take the World title off the American Dragon? He eclipsed a year when he survived Glory By Honor V. Is he going to be able to make it close to Samoa Joe's reign? Danielson reminds me of a Dean Malenko type. He can turn and twist you in so many different ways. What impresses me the most with Danielson is he can play the heel or the face pretty easily with just the turn of a few words during a show, and that, to me, is most impressive. ROH has not done the wrong thing with keeping the belt on the American Dragon as long as they have.

Hero and Castagnoli are the World Tag Team Champions. Good. Give the Rotts a shot to make those boys bleed. That will be where Homicide wins his title, not the World title from Danielson at Final Battle. It makes the most sense, especially after what Homicide did to Combat Zone Wrestling during that feud.

I am waiting to get "Time to Man Up" on DVD, and I got my tix for November 24th. Will you be there? Lake Grove, Long Island. I'll be there, in the back, takin' notes.

OK, i'm done. Oh, one thing, plug time.

New York Sports Works, coming up for signings are the Hardy Boys, 2006 Diva Search winner Leyla, Kane, and Trish Stratus. Check out here for more information.

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New end line, ladies and gentlemen, in tribute to my son Brian....

It's a DINGLEHOPPER!

Thank you, good night.