Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 4:24 AM EST

NOTE: The views expressed by Mike Siciliano in this column are not the views of WrestleView.com and its immediate staff.

I am still pretty depressed about the whole scenario involving Samoa Joe and Ring of Honor. I need to do a couple of things to try and describe the reasoning behind it.

First, I did a small entry on this in my myspace, and got some wicked replies. A lot of replies were bashing the ROH fans for being, how can we say, less than cordial. Well, be that as it may, I have to hope guys and girls that I am considered, at least in your eyes as my readers, as slightly above that. Hell, I'm probably the only one in Long Prison Island with a steno pad writing more than watching the damn matches!

Other replies involved Joe running out of things to do in ROH. And you know what, you're right. Joe has done it all outside of running with the tag titles, but it's obvious his other committments will make that a virtual impossibility. Or will it? Homicide is a TNA regular, one half of the NWA World Tag team champions, and also just crowned the ROH World Champion. Christopher Daniels is a former X Division and tag team champion, and currently one half of the ROH World tag team champs. Are these guys having the same committment problems that Joe is apparently suffering from?

Look, I don't discount Joe's decision whatsoever. He's been on a sked that would make the ordinary man say I quit long ago. If it's a money issue, then so be it, I don't discount that at all either. What bothers me is this. I came out of Final Battle last month thinking ROH and TNA had struck a chord, a working relationship between the two companies that can be mutually beneficial to both. The NWA Champ is on ROH shows, the X Division championship is displayed at ROH shows, ROH sends talents toward TNA with regularity, if only for a short time, i.e., Roderick Strong, Nigel McGuinness, and more lengthier durations, i.e., Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, Jay Lethal, etc. I really thought that a bond had been built on trust, and this would continue well in to the next few months and or years.

Now, the glue that has held ROH together since its renaissance has to depart. Whatever reasons inside his mind we'll probably never know, and like I said, I respect the man's decision for it, whichever way he takes his career, but when the term is "I'm forced to leave the company I love behind", it strikes a chord of discontent that he is being made to make a decision like this, especially when ROH is on the cusp of some heavy duty publicity with its 2nd UK tour, and an eventual tour to Japan with NOAH and Dragon Gate.

The detractors are going to tell me ROH is going to be fine, Joe's not ROH, we survived Punk, Gibson, Ki, and all the others leaving, and ROH has continued to flourish, and you know, you're probably right again. This however, hurts me, from a personal vantage point. When I went to Sign of Dishonor back in July 2005, I was pumped because of the fact that I was getting to see such major names as Aries, Gibson, Joe, Daniels, Punk, and Homicide. Now, we forward two years later, and yes, Danielson entered the mix, there's been others like an Albright, Whitmer, Strong, Evans, Sydal and more that have captivated my attention and made me love going to these shows, but I've seen the likes of Punk leave, Gibson leave, Jimmy Yang leave, Lethal leave, Shelley leave, Abyss leave, Styles leave and now Joe. Greener pastures, maybe, but from a personal standpoint, it hurts. How much talent can be removed from the equation before there is a visible sign of damage?

From my perspective, here's the bottom line. Where can a man with three kids go out for $40, see a show of some damn talented athletes kicking the crap out of each other, pick up a souvenir, and have enough memories from those shows to sit at a computer and type these diatribes? Certainly not for this person at a baseball game or something like that. It's been at the ROH shows on Long Island, and most recently at the Manhattan Center. My only hope is this.

I believe ROH will survive this purge. It will hurt, but I believe ROH will survive. I only hope TNA isn't trying to sabotage a company that could be a strong ally to their own development, just because of their own potential drawbacks.

But, we'll never know for certain, will we?

Moving on, some quick comments to feedback I got from the WSX review. Look, guys, I am WELL AWARE of the fact that the spots involving the explosions were feigned, and I am not questioning it one bit. I am simply saying one thing. Isn't it a bit much when you have more smoke coming out and around the ring during a wrestling match to make it almost unwatchable? Hell, bottom line, I was entertained, that's all I ask for. I'll watch the show next week, and see how it continues to unfold.

Forgive me, guys. I'm cranky.

John Cena & Shawn Michaels are the new World Tag Team Champions. Wow, how times have changed. I think I like where this is going, if only for the opportunity to see Edge & Orton NOT compete for the belt. Not because they don't deserve it, it's simply because I can't stand either one of them. Cena & Michaels as a tag team has a tense trust between them because of the WWE title, and that can make for some entertaining TV.

Now, speaking of Cena, as I get ready to get flamed to death, yes, ladies and gentlemen, I did it, I bought "The Marine" on its release date. But I really bought it for Kelly Carlson. Yes, Yes, Yes, I did! I did! OK, maybe I did and maybe I ditn't, one never knows, and you won't either. Just kidding.

Anyway, the DVD is cool, but I have to say this, they're pumping up the Unrated DVD with the extra features and such. While the unrated cut is very cool, and a significant notch higher level of intensity, the features leave a little bit to be desired. Oh my GAWD, am I gonna knock a Cena project? Well, yes, the features aren't the greatest. Some are damn funny, some are informative, but most of it is the promo trailers re-worked in to "featurettes". In other words, I got suckered in to the Unrated DVD because I am who I am. I would recommend buying the DVD because hell, I like the movie, but the Unrated version, well, it's sketchy.

Did I sound unbiased?

Attempting as best I can to move forward, I'm looking forward to checking out Smackdown friday night to see the tag match between Deuce & Domino and London & Kendrick. Call me crazy, but I think this could turn in to a pretty damn nice feud, if its written "correctly", as it were. It's nice to see the Untouchables get a shot at the champs right out of the blocks, considering how long they've been down in Ohio Valley. Can't put my finger on it, but I like this team.

Best of luck to Cassidy Reilly in his ventures in WWE. He took the Raven follower gimmick as far as it could go. I think he has a chance to succeed, and he at least will provide some competition if he can get to weight and fight Gregory Helms. And Helms is desperate for competition as we have gone over one year with him at the helm of the cruiserweights.

I read a report where WWE talents were scolded as a group about Sylvan's mishap when he was arrested for speeding trying to return to the arena after going to the gym to work out. Apparently, RVD came back with a snive comment in his typical wise-ass remark voice, which basically, from what I read, made it look like Oliver Twist going up to the front of line, and saying, "Please, sir, may I have some more?" I have to believe that RVD would have already been let go if Angle didn't pull his stunt. With that bad taste still firmly planted in McMahon's mouth, he's liable to bury guys like Van Dam further down in the toilet to the point that they want to walk out, before he gets embarassed like he did with Angle, again.

I read the Impact spoilers where Cage's consultant is named. Without saying who it is, if you've read my work, and remember some of my ramblings, well, you'll understand when I pat myself on the back. If you don't know what I'm trying to get at without revealing anything, well, you'll soon find out.

I saw a blog on myspace from TNA where it's listed that the LAX attacked Team 3D's family in New York. Welcome to today's topic, where for the seventeen hundredth time I scream at the top of my lungs, LEAVE FAMILIES OUT OF PRO WRESTLING, FAKE, REAL, OR OTHERWISE. It just doesn't cut it.

Kudos to Konann for returning to the action so quickly. Here's hoping for more smooth sailing.

It appears a dream of mine is going to come true. Unless things happen, and they do about every ten seconds around me, I am going to make my return to the Sunrise Mall autograph sessions in February when ECW Champion Lashley and the guy I have been dying to meet since I saw him back in July '05 in Lake Grove, CM Punk hit the table for a session. This will be my first session in close to six months. If you guys are interested in attending, I'll put a link up to the site at the bottom of this piece. Which, speaking of that, happens to be, right now.

Click here for info on the Lashley/Punk signing.

Click here for my myspace page.

Click here to send me an email.

Take care, everybody.