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Pro's from the Palace (#187) - The Fans speak out on McMahon's 'death' |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 12:06 AM EST
I’m currently on vacation from work until the first week of July, and I had been looking forward to the WWE Draft and the subsequent fallout from that scenario for the upcoming shows. But, with this absolute atrocity called a McMahon ‘death’, I have grown so disgusted with this angle that it’s to the point that I may actually boycott the show. Instead of me going on and screaming like a banshee, I am going to take the time and let you the fans voice your opinions.
However, before I do so, I have two opinions. One, I am disgusted and appalled at the lack of respect show Sherri Martel by the WWE. I have read independent feds all over the country have done 10 bell salutes for Martel, and while I certainly would not be surprised if Raw did not do that, they should have at least taken the time to do the vigil screen, as they did for the angle last week, for Sherri, to show her the respect her career demanded. The absolute laissez-faire way that Ross & Lawler and WWE as a whole handled recognizing the true tragedy of Martel’s passing was nothing short of abysmal.
And two, getting back to the ‘death angle’, someone had yelled at me in an email that the McMahons were doing ‘acting’, which is obvious, and if you listened hard to the final segment, which was painful to listen to, you might have heard a brief moment where Stephanie said her father “is” the most important person in the world, when she meant to say “was”. Now, I know certainly that everybody’s human, but they are pros, they’ve done this type of acting a lot longer than you or I have done it, and if I could have picked up something like that, well……
I had asked in previous columns how you would write off Shawn, back when he got hurt with the ‘concussion’, and I went nuts, and RVD for the same reason, and then for Vince following the limo explosion. While I am still holding on to your emails for future publishing of some of the lovely and talented ideas for removal of a character in these three scenarios, there are a lot of opinions on the angle itself that I felt needed to be publicized. And for those people who think I am out of line being so adamant about this, well, read on. This is from the public, not from me.
From Terry Pierce:
Dude....your right,the car blowing up went WAYYYYYYYYYY over the line,I would have went with Vince going into an Insane Asylum! NOT THAT! That was way over the line,they shouldn't have done it!
From Mike in Pittsburgh, PA
Blowing up McMahon was humorous. I laughed not at the situation, but at the
sheer notion that the WWE blew a person up to close their show. I could feel
something out of place brewing those whole final 10 minutes and when the
limousine exploded I felt relieved. WWE gave me a spectacular and ludicrous
ending that washed the foul taste of "The Sopranos" from my mouth.
I thought the WWE had pledged to never portray deatgh or rape on-camera or
something? Either way I'm willing to bet this isn't the last we've seen of
Mr. McMahon. I expect to see him in a full body cast next week and for this
storyline to turn into a "Whodunnit?" for the next few months.
From "wvucheerjr@yahoo.com"
Ok, first off all I would like to say what im sure most wrestling fans are, McMahon's limo blowing up is the most in bad taste angle in the history of wrestling. I thought that I once read McMahon (Or at least someone in the WWE) saying that no one would ever "die" in one of their storylines. Now of course things change and let's be honest, they will continue to say that "no body was found". That way to keep it from being an actual death. But I think they missed an opportunity for some comical tv. I personally thought that the crazy oh I lost the ECW championship McMahon could have been a hilarious character.
From "undisputedchamp77@gmail.com"
In my opinion, I thought it was absolutely ridiculous the way it was ending. I was actually expecting the DX symbol on his limo for the final flip out of McMahon for a soon to be reunited DX. When the limo blew up I was like, What the f--k! we all know that eventually McMahon will be back on TV, what are they gonna do with him and what will the answers to be to how he escaped the bruning limo? I think WWE made a big mistake here. If they wanted to play out the McMahon is eliminated storyline, they should have cleaned it up a little bit like having him kidnapped or something. WWE has their work cut out for them now.
From "airtas@hotmail.com"
the whole mcmahon angle pretending he is dead is insane and I wont be shocked if it has mainstream media scrtuiny
From my new friend Kaity, in North Port, Florida (Don't debate this one, she's got a ton to say... WOW.)
The outcome of Monday night was absolutely .... RIDICULOUS. I see no point in them killing off the McMahon character because he was on a roll. He just got done suspending Ashley indefinitely, ruining Lashley's title run after two weeks, and making Matt Hardy's life a living H _ _ _.Oh well, I guess they're building up to something.
From "the_1_xtremist@hotmail.com"
From what I'm reading everywhere, everyone believes he's actually not coming back. In the famous words of Vince McMahon, "there's no chance in hell" that he's stepping out of the spotlight forever, it's just not a Vince thing to do. From what I'm seeing, reading and what happened on RAW, he's got to come back. My first tip off? The word presumed. As soon as I read that I knew no body would be found, and sure enough I log on at noon today (expecting more draft picks but surprise surprise I read the qwrong date) and now the Feds have stepped in, it's now a "crime scene" and hey...looky looky...no body found. Oh of course it's been burned.
I really thought they had chosen to do something new and actually kill a character off, however my fear is they'll do the typical twist, bring him back, find the person who blew him up (Shane or Coach..who directed him to his limo) and have a match for WM. Of course this could have been Mcmahons idea all along for the lack of appreciation on RAW. He'll get two tribute shows....and pop back in the picture laughing, and proving that everyone DOES appreciate McMahon.
I really wish there didn't need to be a twist on everything....they're getting predictable. Can we twist a twist?
From my new friend Niraj:
I was so confused when I saw that retarded scene when Vince blew up! It
makes no sense whether they are killing him off or anything. It was
ridiculous.
From one of the most loyal emailers I have ever seen, Rocky Dominguez
That other story line was a disgrace last night. There could have been
a better way to end the insane Mr. McMahon character. what makes it
even better is the report today put out that fans actually saw him
outside of the arena. Couldn't there have been another way to finish
his character instead of the WWE now having egg on their face
This was a second email Rocky sent me about the testimonials that littered Smackdown and ECW after the limousine explosion:
the McMahon angle is a complete and utter disgrace. Especailly with what you mentioned it
being father's day. I mean to push this angle and have "testimonials"
from other wrestlers and his kids about the "memory" of there father
and the boss when he isn't even dead is just a disgrace. What's next
are there going to say that Vince was buried and laid to rest in a
cemetary. I mean what will they do stuff a dummy that looks like Vince
into a grave. I love how the fans have reacted during these "memorial"
ten bell salutes. to be booing just shows that us fans aren't stupid
anymore and know when stuff has gone to pot.
From Kenny from Scotland;
i watched the draft on monday and was pretty disappointed. dont get me wrong seein Bret Hart in character again was a big tease again!, also the segments with Trump, Ventura, Snoop Dogg etc were fun, but i was expecting a big pay off to McMahon appreciation night and NOT a limo getting blown up. As usual, when we are promised a 'Major announcement from Mr McMahon' etc it is just a letdown!
And to show I would publish anything within reason, even if its against my opinion, here are two opinions that vary significantly from the bulk that have been posted above.
A different sort of view from Jeff:
The ending to Raw was shocking, to say the least. Did I like it? Not at all.
My biggest problem is that wrestling needs to keep its believability. I do not have a problem with storylines that accent wrestlers abilities. I don't even mind segments that have nothing to do with wrestling. Say what you want, but all of the This Is My Life segments with Mick Foley and The Rock were very entertaining, and were proof that there are times that nearly NOTHING can surpass the WWE, even if it is in 15 minute increments.
I'm sure this will play off more - some have suggested a whodunnit. I've always found "whodunnits" to be disappointing in wrestling, as the result never ends up meeting the hype.
But the death on Mr. McMahon is over the top. I didn't mind seeing the taped segments -- maybe because I'm "older" (but I'm not even 30!) -- but any chance to see Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, etc. in any fashion are nostalgic and worth it.
I'm not gonna blast the WWE for what happened on Monday. The internet is quick to criticize (and a lot of times correctly), but I have a feeling it might generate some additional interest in the WWE product. That's what the WWE wants. Us -- as fans -- demand a lot and because of weekly television, things move fast.
A positive angle to the potential of this storyline from Mat from Taiwan:
I think, if it is done properly over time, that this could be an angle that will be remembered as one of the better things the WWE creative team has come up with. I know if I was watching it live I would have been out of my seat with my jaw dropped to the floor that they actually came up with something like that. Really, how else would you get rid of Vince McMahon?
I'm a writer and I love it when something like the WWE actually proves that they have some creative people on their staff. The whole angle of 'Who Ran Over Steve Austin' is still something I remember and I'm sure if they have that type of storyline in mind, they could do some great television with this one as well. I'm not saying to saturate the airwaves with more McMahon's... no way. I think they make their presence known too much in the world they have created, but to actually kill off a character in a world where everyone knows the behind the scenes goings on and not have a single website report it beforehand is amazing. they pulled off something that very few people have ever pulled off, Vince McMahon has actualy faked his own death.
Now, believe me, I would hate for him to re-emerge within a few months and say he got out the other side or anything as for this storyline to really have any impact, they need to keep him off TV and out of storylines for a long time to come. You can have chaos within the ranks now like we had during the McMahon/Helmsley Era, you can have different people trying to step up and take charge, you can have McMahon sympathysers and those who wish they had done it. Hell, they could use this down the line as something someone who was coming back did (Undertaker, HHH, Michaels), someone new who has yet to be premiered (anyone from TNA or OVW) or even finally do the reveal and create a new faction or revive an old one (Horsemen, DX).
This is something that has legs and can run for a good amount of time. McMahon as ECW Champion? Embarrassing! McMahon blown up outside an arena while the entire roster looks on... genius. This is sports entertainment and I agree the sports part needs to be kicked up a notch or two, the entertainment level has been lackluster as of late as well. DX... woo hoo, been there done that, bought the t-shirt. John Cena (although I do respect the hell out of the guy) going from one unstoppable giant to the next, overcoming the odds each time... I already lived through the Hulkamania years and didn't like it the first time around. I'm shocked they haven't had Carlito come off the top rope with the bell and crush Ric Flair's larynx, or have a cage match where the champion and the challenger both hit the ground at the same time causing a draw like Hogan and... oh, wait, they did just recycle that one as well.
Wrestling is supposed to be inventive in a new and creative way to keep us interested. Although I understand that many people may not find this entertaining (and don't blame them for it at all) I am excited to see that they have a creative platform to really dive off of in a new direction and prove they, after all these years, can still be innovative and creative with the product. Someone stepped up and actually said "I have a great idea for something new..." and for once the WWE listened. Now, all I can do is hope they canfollow it up and keep it going and not kill the momentum this could generate.
If you’d like your opinion noted for me to possibly add in future columns, drop me a line. I am still overdue on the storylines you have all written to me for removal of Van Dam, Michaels, and McMahon from television, and a lot of you have written me thoughts on the draft. I’m going to go through all of them, and try to get them out there as quickly as I can.
See you around, everybody.
Click here to drop me an email.
Personal Note to my readers
I'm going to try this out with having you have a say in the column for a while by publishing feedback emails. I don't know how it's going to work out, but I certainly welcome opinions on this idea, and if you're not a fan of it, and rather listen to me rant and rave, then tell me. Trust me, I will do everything in my power to make this column evolve and continue to be, what I hope, entertaining.
NOTE: The views here are those of the author alone, and do not reflect those of the administration of this website.
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