Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Friday, February 23, 2007 at 2:28 AM EST

When you sit down and think about life in general, and the whos, whats, and wheres about it, sometimes you get a new perspective on life, the liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What that means is, I am going through a pretty rough stretch of road right now, and I think because of that, I may take this column to a different approach. While I can respect some of my colleagues throughout the web taking to heart and pen the difficulties and the inconsistencies that plague pro wrestling programming, perhaps it may be a good idea to focus on some of the more positive aspects that I witness, and be more cognizant of the work of the talents, rather than the idiocy that may be behind them sitting in a room with smoke filled lighting and a bunch of old, crappy suits.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to watch Raw or Impact! this week, but I will comment on what I have seen through the web. My intention is to watch Smackdown tonight, but that is liable to change due to plans.

First and foremost on Raw, I am beginning to really enjoy the back and forth between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. Michaels alone can teach Cena things that he probably will never learn again within the realm of a feud, and this has been a time for the teacher to take the pupil to school. The tension is palpable, the events surrounding the two a little bit unpredictable, and I’ll be damned if anyone is going to come out on any forum on the web and say they know for sure who is going to win that main event. I sure as hell don’t, and I’m probably one of the biggest Cena marks on the planet. It’s a testament to the ability and experience of Shawn Michaels, and the willingness to learn on the part of the young champion. And, yes, when it comes right down to it, Michaels is the teacher here. Cena is the student, belt, or no belt.

I have to agree, although I got a very distressing email from a reader saying why did Umaga win the Intercontinental title. It is, by far, the most likeliest scenario for the samoan to pursue since his loss in the program with the WWE champion. Umaga’s push has been successful, to this point, regardless of your opinions of him, and Estrada continues to entertain on a week in week out basis. Now, with Umaga being tabbed as McMahon’s pick in the match with Trump and coifs on the line, there is liable to be even more pressure put on the behemoth, the question remains, how is he going to respond. I would suspect pretty well, since he’s been doing that pretty much since day one of his return to WWE.

I’d like a touch of kudos, no, I’m kidding, but it appears ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley is going to be Trump’s pick in this encounter. While it makes ALL the sense in the world from a storyline perspective, it perplexes me in this facet. I have read many reports that WWE is trying to make Lashley look like an unstoppable champion. If that is the case, then it is sealed already that McMahon is going to be bald on April 2nd at Raw? That is kind of tough to swallow, because at first, when this challenge was laid down, I thought Trump would lose, because for sure, the ratings would go through the roof for the Apprentice if they came in to the board room and saw a bald chairman. I guess either which way will work, which is the best way to book a wrestling match, not to be able to have schmucks like me be able to predict it virtually before it happens.

Smackdown’s top feud going in to Wrestlemania also had some nick pick up from No Way Out. Batista’s turn on Undertaker makes this match just personal enough to get under the Dead Man’s aire, and bring out the best in the Undertaker. I only hope that Dave Batista is capable of keeping his dream alive in Detroit at Forbes Field.

I think I like TNA’s new gimmick match. Elevation X has the potential to put on some very entertaining matches throughout the X Division. I am kind of concerned however if Rhino thinks he’s going to be able to run across a 2 foot platform and gore Styles out of his boots. One too many shots to the head with a chair, and I doubt Rhino can walk a straight line, never mind run one. Anyway, this type of “new" product is going to make me want to buy this PPV……
When it comes out on DVD. Tee hee.

Instead of criticizing, let me ask you a question. Has Sting turned in to a version or an incantation of the Undertaker? Let me ask you another question? Has Abyss turned in to a reincarnation of the earlier versions of the monster Kane? Or has Abyss begun to grow to become a giant wuss? Only time will tell, ladies and gentlemen. Hopefully, this feud will take a drastic turn in one way, shape, or form,

I guess TNA is becoming a promotional tool for Spike TV with Andre Rison appearing on Impact earlier this evening. How did that black hole slam feel, dude?

I know I am going to catch heat for this, but hell, I’ll take it. I am going to go out on a limb, and say CM Punk wins Money in the bank, and uses it to cash in a shot at the ECW title.

I am grateful for the publicity that guys like Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Austin Starr are getting through the Kevin Nash skits, but personally, I’d rather see them wrestle.

Throughout all the reports to the contrary, I guess Melina has found her way out of purgatory and to the women’s title. It should be very interesting how arrogant Melina takes her character now with gold around her waist. Melina looked like a promising competitor when she came in to WWE, and I would assume, through time and experience, she has continued to grow. I only feel sorry for Victoria, someone who deserves in every facet of the word, a run with the title again, and I don’t suspect her to get a shot at it any time soon with Melina having gold around her waist.

I picked up the new DeGeneration X 3 Disc set. While I am a huge fan of WWE home video, for all sorts of reasons, I am a little disappointed at this, because I would’ve liked a little more matches. However, I can’t say that I am really disappointed, I guess its more like surprised. I thought it’d be more wrestling, but it literally is almost a skit for skit dossier of Michaels and the Game’s antics from their reunion, all the way to the beginnings of the prep for New Year’s Revolution. Sprinkled in are interviews with other stars, most of them in character, and hell, it’s a good view. No question about it. I am kind of curious about the ideas for the packaging. If you see the pictures of the duo on their shirts, its those pics in the 2nd fold of the packaging, with pull down tabs moving their arms for crotch chops. It’s a bit corny, even for DX standards, if you ask me. Bottom line, if you’re a fan of DX, this is a disc set for you. If you’re interested in bashing them from pillar to post, then get it, and rip it apart, because it’s all there for you to do so, in one nice, neat little bow.

I would consider going in to another tirade about TNA’s DVD distribution, as I can’t find any of their new releases out there for pickup, aka No Surrender and Bound For Glory 2006. I had to buy BFG from ROH, and I haven’t seen No Surrender yet. I also read that I think Genesis 2006 is out now, but God forbid if we could actually find it. Wait, negativity, let me stop it now, SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH.

I’m very happy WSX was not cancelled. I want to see how this pans out in the coming weeks. I am dying to see the Colt Cabana gimmick within WSX. He’s a creative mastermind throughout ROH, and I can only imagine what his gimmick is liable to be like in WSX. I know what it is, obviously, but I won’t pull it out here in case someone new is reading this, and wants to be surprised.

If the main event on ECW next week is Lashley vs. Holly in a cage, I am interested. I only wish I had the resources to watch it live. Sucks to be in a vampire job.

I got my hands on ROH’s Black Friday Fallout DVD from Long Island back in November during thanksgiving weekend. (A Show I attended live.) I have to admit, Long Island crowds are dead, man. Dead. I’m surprised the talent were able to perform to their levels during the show, because most of the time, they were either silent, or screaming at another fan. Me? Hell, I’m in GA writing furiously on a steno pad. But that’s me. I’m going to order Final Battle 2006 this week. I am looking very forward to picking that up. (I was there for that one too.)

I know this is bouncing all over the place, but you know what, it’s what I do. I really enjoy how the brand extension in WWE has been bent and twisted like a pretzel these past few months. It provides an aura of unpredictability and freshness that the programs need, desperately. Perfect examples, Lashley vs. Kennedy for the ECW title at the PPV. Punk vs. Nitro on ECW for a shot at Money In the Bank, and the obvious dealing with the two brand main events at Wrestlemania. More cross promotion is needed to keep the shows fresh and new. I know it kills the talent and the scheduling, but that’s the price that these people signed up for when they joined WWE.

Speaking of cross promotion, I read what’s going to happen to Rey Mysterio tonight on Smackdown. If you haven’t read the spoiler, I am going to keep from revealing it here. I’ll just say one word in response.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Closing this out, I want to thank everybody for reading and emailing me during the past two years. It’s been a lot of fun, and a welcome respite to the harrows of real life as we all know and loathe. (Sorry, it’s been that sort of a way for me lately.) I hope you guys continue to like my work, and continue to keep in touch, as I intend on keeping the pen active as long as the brass here think I am contributing something to the site.

Till next time, ladies and gentlemen. Take care, and remember to think before you speak.

There’s a reason why I said that, but I am not going to tell you guys about it.

Bye.

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