Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 12:05 PM EST

I've got quite a few topics to discuss over the next few words, so let's get right down to business.

First off, condolences go out to anyone and everyone who knew, respected, and was a fan of Bam Bam Bigelow. I never had the chance to see him live, although I had hoped to during the first indy show I went to back in Feb, 2005, when the scheduled main event was Bam Bam vs. Bundy, but I saw enough of him do his path of destruction throughout WCW, and through my collection of DVDs in the old ECW. He was an incredible athlete for his size. His look was second to none. I can only imagine the impact he had in the ring, both physically, charismatically, and otherwise. It's sad to see such legends pass before their time, but I hope Bam Bam is resting comfortably wherever he may be, taking the temperature to the next level.

Moving forward, I picked up the Armageddon 2006 DVD. Quick synopsis of a couple of things. I don't do PPVs on the day of them, because $40 is just insane. I normally, if the card interests me, wait the month, and buy the $20 DVD. It's one of the things you have to do as a "pop" of three monsters, as you all know I am. Well, Armageddon was the third in a trilogy of PPVs that I neede to pick up from WWE, and that is saying something because it's a surprise if a WWE PPV impresses me enough to want to buy the DVD. Normally, they're all ho hum basic matches that you'll eventually see on television, and the investment isn't worth the effort.

But, this trilogy of PPVs was. First in the trilogy, yes, I know, I did it, it was December to Dismember. I haven't gone through the whole thing yet, but the truth is the truth. I hold in my collection every single Elimination Chamber match, and I'll be damned if I wasn't going to keep that going. Not to mention the fact that I met Lashley at an autograph signing, and he was ultra cool, so I didn't mind at all the fact that he was going over. I will say, however, that the PPV definitely did lack a lot of credibility, from the Sabu removal to the shortness of the chamber match itself, but, a deal is a deal, and I'll stand by it, hook, crook, or otherwise.

Second chapter of this trilogy was Survivor Series. CM Punk teaming with DX and the Hardy Boys. I never thought I'd see the day. Well, I did. And although the result was a bit far fetched, shutting out Team RKO, it was fun to watch that team, a team that I never thought I'd see in a million years come together, tear the building apart as it did. Also, the amount of traditional Survivor Series matches, which has been rare for the past few years at the November spectacular, made it an interesting sell. Hey, when you get recent opponents to the WWE title like Kane, Sabu, and RVD teaming with the WWE champ, you gotta think that maybe something is there. Although it wasn't, it made for some good fodder to want to pick it up. So I did. And we move on.

But by far and away, the best of the three was Armageddon. First reason. The ladder match. Damn, ladies and gentlemen, I cannot tell you how good this match was. MNM, the champs, the Hardys, and the Brits put on a top notch first class A+ rated performance from start to finish. I respect all that these men and women do inside the squared circle, but this match, I hadn't had the emotional ride like I did in this match since Money in the Bank I when RVD won, and Shelton did the mid air ladder climb.

Second was the inferno match. Yeah, call me stupid, I like gimmick matches. I may hate gimmick storylines, but gimmick matches are always fun. Although it was pretty damn obvious who was winning when Kane came out without a shirt on, (I doubted you'd see legs get burned in this match), MVP needs to be commended for putting on a pretty damn good performance throughout. It's funny how Kane is supposedly at home at Inferno matches, yet, he's 1-3 in them, with the win vs. MVP being his first. It was fun to watch, and although people are going to disagree with me, JBL's rants at Teddy Long were entertaining. JBL has a gift of gab that has grown on me considerably as a commentator, and his ability to call it as close to the middle, although leaning toward the heels, makes him a very sound replacement for Tazz, and he is becoming more and more enjoyable every week. Is he top notch now? Not a chance, but he is learning on the fly, and in this person's humble opinion, he is performing admirably.

Third was the last ride match. Kennedy is one of the future stars of WWE. He put on a hell of a show. Taker did his usual first rate performance, but I love Kennedy's bravado. He's good, he knows it, and he's going to let you know it, in his way, which is right in your face. People may call it obnoxious, and it is, but frankly, scarlet, I could give a damn. It's entertaining, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout this contest. Truth be told, I cannot believe the fall Taker took, got up, and continued like nothing had happened. Over a decade and a half of destruction, and he's still taking bumps like that bump off the facade? Impressive. Insane. Incredible.

Lastly, you all know I'm a Cena mark, and I like the team of Cena and Batista. I *hate* Batista, but if they're going to team them, then do it, because it has legs. I hope eventually we see these two go at it, but the fact of having two brand champions as teammates against the man who won the "champions of champions" fiasco and an Irishman who hits harder than cement blocks, it had potential. It couldn't stand to the other matches, but it held its own, none the less.

Joey Mercury's ladder shot to the face was beyond brutal. It's a testament to him and his ability and his desire that he's even thinking of competing, none the less involved in a feud with Matt Hardy, and scheduled for a tag match with the Hardys at the Rumble. That shot was beyond sick.

Pick up the Armageddon 2006 DVD. It's a worthwhile purchase. I'm not a shrill for WWE merch, but this one does the job.

Moving forward, the releases seem to have stopped. I did a piece on the bulk of them, and some more have come down the pike, and frankly, I was going to go over them, but why? It's done, it's time to move on, and it's time for those people to find new work. I feel badly for all of them because most of them did not have the opportunity they had hoped for within the confines of WWE, but a couple I will mention as surprises to me. Actually, two. 1 is former Ohio Valley talent Seth Skyfire. A multiple OVW television champion, he seemed to have the possibility of entering the main roster as a potential cruiserweight. He had some fire in his belly well documented in his tags and feud with Punk and Charles Evans, and he had been a regular on OVW television for some time. 2 is obviously Bill DeMott. Bill was a hit on Tough Enough, and that's what landed him the job in Georgia, I think at DSW. Whether or not he was performing his duties I'll never know, but the fact remains, Bill DeMott is a competent talent with a lot of experience who could be a valuable mentor to any independent roster as a wrestler or otherwise. I hope the reports I have read to the negative are false, but the words are there and I can't deny or condone what has been said. I can only say I was surprised that he was let go. Who's next on the chopping block? Vince only knows, and it's probably more on the line on how his sick twisted mind feels. Sad, but true.

One last thing on WWE before moving to some TNA topics. Who saw Smackdown last week, and the Taker/Kennedy main event with Batista at commentator? Ladies and gentlemen, Batista may be an animalistic athlete, but he can't commentate to save MY life. He sounded lost, he sounded pathetic, and he sounded like he was intimidated with the microphone stuck in his face. I could not believe how terrible he was on the mike during that match, and it took away the quality of a high profile match like Kennedy and Undertaker. If I were Smackdown suits behind the scenes, I'd keep the Batista promos to a minimum till he figures out how to speak again. Back in Evolution he had potential. Now, he's just about a mute. It's really sad.

Happy to see the arrival "finally" of Deuce & Domino with Cherry. Yeah, I know, I am contradicting myself with this, but I LIKE THEIR GIMMICK. Ever see the movie the Outsiders with Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, and a whole host of characters? These guys remind me of Dillon's character, Dallas Winston. The Outsiders, the book by S.E. Hinton, and the movie, were and are two of my favorite. This gimmick from Jimmy Snuka's son and his partner is pure gold in my opinion, and I hope it leads the Untouchables to a lot of success in the blue and white of Smackdown. Not to mention the fact that Cherry is hot, and I think she can dance with the females when the time is right, which is always a good thing.

When I say dance, by the way, I meant, dance on the other ladies heads with her skates. Kickin' butt, and all that. K?

Ok. Was I positive there ? I think so. Hell, I was positive about WWE?!?!?!?! What am I, sick? Sheesh.

Ok, time to move on. Here's where things go downhill.

First, the small comment. It's kind of ironic how two former WWE talents are headlining the next TNA pay per view. I guess for Christian Cage, the jump was the right thing to do, 8 years in WWE, no world titles, less than a year or a year and change in TNA, 2 world titles. Either way, I am bothered by the fact that TNA can't come up with something a little "different" in the grand scheme of things for a title match at the PPV. Yeah, Joe being at ringside does provide a little, but how much? Joe's push was destroyed by Angle beating him at Final Resolution. Do we really think that the title is going to change hands again to set up Angle/Joe IV for the belt at the next PPV? I'd be stunned.

Oh, and one more thing, who else believes this consultant is Scott Steiner? He's got a beef with Joe to begin with, so that could be his next program, while Angle either continues with Cage, or starts up with someone else, like maybe Jarrett? It's a thought.

Now to the disgusting stuff. You all remember the ridiculously pitiful angle done by WWE known as the "Katie Vick" angle? Well, apparently, we've got it part deux in TNA. Abyss allegedly put three bullets in the back of his father's head. First, and much less offensive, brining family in to the mix in wrestling is always bad, whether spoken or literally, its just plain bad. Secondly, and much more offensive, yes, I know, it's FANTASY, IT'S NOT REAL, but damnit, kids watch this show, and do we need to be talking about one of the guys that some child may look up to and be told that this person put 3 bullets in some guy's skull? IT'S A STORY, I KNOW THAT, BUT COME ON, someone COULD technically take it for real, and take it to a level that nobody in the wrestling business needs to see. It's pathetically offensive, it's tasteless, it's digusting, it's wrong, and it's just stupid. Sting sounds more like Jimmy Swaggert than a legend in pro wrestling. He looked like a damn punching dummy getting destroyed all over the Impact Zone. Tell me the good that comes out of this, please. I don't see it. I just don't.

Lastly, now obviously, Voodoo Kin Mafia won their "feud" with DX when The Game went down. So, now, what are they going to go against? Women in wrestling? Yeah, I know something like this needs to be done to promote the upcoming women's division, but like I said, this is supposed to be a family show! We've got talent shooting people in the head, and we've got narcissistic male chauvinistics. (Say that three times fast). I'm sorry, people, but there's gotta be a better way to promote the upcoming women's division in TNA than to have Christy Hemme ask for recognition for Joanie Laurer in DX and then have Kip "Don't call me Monty Sopp" James basically shove it down her perverbial throat. Do I know an alternative? No, I don't, and I don't pretend to think that I can come up with one. But, supposedly, there are people in the offices of TNA that have to approve this type of stuff, and I'll be damned if they are letting this stuff get on the air. It's not funny, it's not effective, it's just, well, stupid. Like the crowd said during the segment. "We want wrestling."

I know I am wafting back and forth from the storyline to non storyline thing, but let me say this to try and clarify my position. I can take a storyline here and there if there's a modachim of believability behind it. But, the thing I can't take, the thing I won't stand for, is taking topics that have absolutely no business on a family show, and using it for the gain of your product. It has never worked once in any facet for any wrestling promotion, and I'll be damned if it's gonna work now. I don't know who is approving the storylines for TNA, but they need their heads examined, because what I'm seeing just is plain stupid.

Like I've said before, bring me two top talents, have them come to the ring, shake hands, step back, and then try to beat the high holy ever living crap out of each other. That, ladies and gentlemen, I enjoy immensely. Where is that? Does someone know? Show me, please. Because right now, the only place I've seen that on a regular basis is Ring of Honor. And man, I know that comment is going to piss off a lot of people.

Ok. That's enough for one rant. I'm sure the response here should be flamboyant to say the least.

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Take care, everybody. And remember one thing, I'm just a fan with an opinion. I'm not an informed journalist. Ok? Thanks