From the Desk of Mr. V #46
December 17, 2009
By: Anthony J. Valvo of WrestleView.com
Happy Advent still to all of my fans waiting the days of Christmas Morning! To celebrate the fact that next week will be Christmas Week, allow me to show you a clip of one of my favorite tunes for the season that does not involve the King of Christmas Music, Dean Martin…
and if Christmas brings you down?.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Zx8c55f7Y
Oh Dean Martin, you can never go wrong.
So, I sense that many of my students are enjoying Christmas Vacation/Winter Break. So for this class from the desk of Mr. V I ask you to just sit back and relax. This week will be light of material, but always an enjoyable sight to see.
Here, I even did you a favor. I got the fire nice and warm for all of you.
Enjoy this fire with your favorite beverage (my choice would be some Dunkin Donuts Cinnamon Spice Coffee). Class is somewhat in session today.
The features this week will NOT involve the Classroom Rules (might bring them up next week) and Headlines. Look, I know that Bret Hart signed with the WWE and I am ok with it. However if you want my thoughts about it, e-mail me. Also, we know that Sheamus won the WWE Championship (much to the enjoyment of the Anti-CeNation). If you want my thoughts on the headlines, then just drop me an e-mail because I am trying my best to take out a chunk of the column since 4,500 word columns are too long sometimes for this teacher.
Also, looking for Detentions? None this week as well. Since this is the Holiday Season, I will give them all a break (even ETS and the Praxis Series). Yes, Mr. V does have a heart of gold.
However, Mr. V will be presenting his weekly Honor Roll, Commentary Grades, and I also have some announcements. In addition, I will announce a few things and present the up-to-date Predictions from the Faculty. So, once again I say relax and enjoy your beverage. Class is once again back in session
Quote of the Week
?There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning, and yearning.?
– Christopher Morley
It did take me a while to think of a good quote to put down for column #46. However, those who know me truly believe that I live by this quote. In other words, I learned from other columnists on the WrestleView site and I believed that they all taught me well.
I earned the respect not only from my peers, but to my readers as well. The readers? continuous support on my columns, articles, and features are just mind-boggling. That makes want to yearn for more.
I want to know more about professional wrestling (let’s face it, I am still new to the journalism part of it). I yearn for that ?perfect column?, one that I know I can do sometime. It never happened in the previous 45 columns, and it probably won?t in this one. But someday?.someday it will happen. But with the support from all of you, it just makes this teacher want to be better in this position.
Rules, Headlines, and Detentions
As I mentioned previously there is no need for them this week. I got one rule from a reader that will be shared next week. The headlines were plenty this week and if you do want me to share my take let me know by e-mail. Since I have been listening to Christmas Carols all week, I can?t find it in my heart to place anyone in Detention this week. But next week, I may have to put a few of these people in their place (since my Christmas shopping is complete).
Ok, time for the Best (and Worst) of Wrestling this week?
Mister V’s Honor Roll for the week of December 7 – December 11, 2009
This past week, the wrestling was pretty good. I counted ten matches that at least got a ?B? in my gradebook this past week (one of the highest marks in quite sometime). So obviously the decisions were tough, but here are my top three matches of the past week.
Distinguished Honor Roll – Austin Aries vs. Kenny Omega vs. Davey Richards vs. Roderick Strong, ROH on HDNet, December 7.
I encourage all of you to watch this match on YouTube. I had the pleasure of recapping this show every week and was hoping to see a fantastic match before year’s end. This may very well be that match. Kenny Omega was able to go all-out for the first time on HDNet, as he was flying everywhere in (and out) of the ring. The best highlight in this contest was the interaction involving a couple of the challengers, Richards and Strong. I was impressed with the story they told in ways of beating the crap out of each other. The ending was out of nowhere, as Aries kicked Strong aside to get a cheap pin over Richards to retain his ROH Title. I originally thought it was bogus, but later on I realized that this is Aries? gimmick right now. So yeah, it was done well. This will be considered in my TV Match of the Year, no doubt.
High Honor Roll – Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen/El Generico, ROH on HDNet, December 7.
Look, I had many matches that were graded a ?B?, but this one got a big edge over the other eight because of the in-ring chemistry involving the two tag teams. The stipulation was that the winner would face The American Wolves at Final Battle. This match did have a lot of everything. The highflying abilities of Generico were almost perfect this week. Kevin Steen is a workhorse. Steen is one of those rare performers that is an all-around solid performer. From high-risk to submission, Steen was on his game throughout the contest. The Briscoes won this match and I could not complain about it, actually I had one complaint, which is why this was not the match of the week. I watched the ending to the match and I noticed that Jay Briscoe was not tagged in, yet won the match via the Jay Driller. Mark really impressed with the ability to sell the offense delivered on his knee (which was legit injured for a while). From the start to about the final minute of the match, it was perfect. But I never saw a tag (and I may be wrong), and that to me is considered a ?botch?. With that aside, the match was done well.
Honor Roll – Dolph Ziggler vs. Finlay, WWE Superstars, December 10.
I gave this match the edge because of the great mat work involving both wrestlers. Sure, both men are not in line for a championship in the foreseeable future (a shame for Ziggler in my opinion) but they had a great opening match on Superstars. Just great chemistry, good awareness, and the ability to sell the offense placed this match ahead of the others that were near the top three. I give both men a ton of credit, as they put on a great match last week.
Honorable Mention awarded to: Dibiase/Rhodes vs. Primo/Bourne on 12/7; Kingston vs. Orton on 12/7; Miz vs. Henry on 12/7; Christian/Tatsu/Benjamin vs. Regal/Kozlov/Jackson on 12/8; Young vs. Hamada on 12/10**; ODB vs. Tara on 12/10; Styles vs. Wolfe on 12/10; Kidd/Smith vs. Slam Master J/Wang Yang on 12/10; Swagger vs. MVP on 12/10; Punk/Gallows vs. M. Hardy/R-Truth on 12/11; and Batista vs. Mysterio on 12/11.
**I give all the credit here to Hamada for putting on a great show. It is a shame it ended the way it did. **
Worst Match of the Week – Velvet Sky vs. Lacey Von Erich, TNA Impact, December 10.
I know some of my readers may disagree (*cough* Crelly *cough*), but there was no need to put that match on a card. They made this out like it was going to be tremendous, but all in all it was pushing, shoving and downright atrocious.
Dishonorable Mention awarded to: Cena vs. Carlito on 12/7; Maryse vs. Kim on 12/7; Croft/Baretta vs. Franks/Vaughn on 12/8; Jericho/Show vs. Escobar on 12/11; and James/Maria vs. McCool/Layla on 12/11.
Weekly TV Wars
Though Smackdown has clinched the #1 spot, there is still a debate as to who can clinch the #2 position. Still three more weeks to decide and your votes may make the difference. Place your pick for the show of the week by e-mailing me at mistervwv@hotmail.com.
And now, the best of each wrestling program?
ROH on HDNet (December 7)
Best Segment – The Jim Cornette Speech.
Best Match – Aries vs. Omega vs. Richards vs. Strong (Grade: A)
Monday Night Raw (December 7)
Best Segment – There were good ones here, but it is not often that you see a ?Showdown? in which a pro sports owner (Mark Cuban) gets drilled through a table by Sheamus.
Best Match – Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton (Grade: B-)
ECW (December 8)
Best Segment – It was brutal, so by default it would be the opening segment. You know, the one where Kozlov calls out Ezekiel Jackson and it leads to a six-man tag.
Best Match – Christian/Yoshi Tatsu/Shelton Benjamin vs. Kozlov/Ezekiel Jackson/Regal (Grade: C+)
WWE Superstars (December 10)
Best Segment – The one is easy. MVP’s backstage segment in which he hyped up his match with Swagger (via making fun of his lisp).
Best Match – Dolph Ziggler vs. Finaly (Grade: B)
TNA Impact (December 10)
Best Segment – It was when Christy Hemme was interviewing Scott Steiner. Mick’s quest to find Jeff Jarrett was not too bad either.
Best Match – AJ Styles vs. Desmond Wolfe (Grade: B-)
Friday Night Smackdown (December 11)
Best Segment – Though the showdown with Morrison and McIntyre was good, I am going to give the edge to Batista’s opening promo. Batista really got the heel gimmick working for him.
Best Match – Batista vs. Rey Mysterio (Grade: B)
So, who did the students chose to be the Show of the Week? The answer was FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN by a vote of 4-3. Overall, the show had some good programs and some above average wrestling and that is good enough to earn one point thanks to the students of WrestleView.com.
As for Mr. V, well I will admit most of the shows were pretty good in my opinion.
Runner Up: WWE Superstars
This is NOT a typo! I caught the replay of Superstars at midnight after watching Impact and I must state the facts here. ?Superstars? was wrestling-heavy, but all the contests were even and the product was good. Raw and Smackdown were also solid programs, but some of the segments I was not truly into. When I have a tie, I go with wrestling and not entertainment. Superstars did it for me this past week. As for Impact and ECW, there were below average in my opinion.
Best Show of the Week: ROH on HDNet
This was an easy choice for me. They had two long matches, but they were honor roll worthy. They had a good opening segment that got me hooked from the first minute when Jim Cornette addressed the locker room. Even the fans seemed into that part. Also, Davey Richards cut a great promo in a backstage segment. Richards in that promo reminded me of Kurt Angle/Randy Orton. With Nigel McGui..I mean Desmond Wolfe gone and Bryan Danielson set to debut in ROH, this promotion needed to build-up other guys. I think they did a great job in just one show.
Cliff Notes
Students? Choice – Friday Night Smackdown (1 point)
Mr. V’s Runner Up – WWE Superstars (1 point)
Mr. V’s Show of the Week – ROH on HDNet (2 points)
Current Standings
1) Friday Night Smackdown (64 Points) **Clinched Best Show of 2009**
2) Monday Night Raw (46 Points)
3) TNA Impact (43 Points)
4) ECW (29 Points)
5) ROH on HDNet (14 Points)
6) WWE Superstars (2 Points)
STILL TNA has a chance to clinch the second spot over Monday Night Raw. Only a few more weeks left to send me your pick for show of the week by e-mailing me at mistervwv@hotmail.com. Thank you for making this portion of my column very successful.
Commentator Report Card (Presented By: JR’s Family Bar-B-Q! With special offers on many barbecue products, my students should not pass up on this. Even WrestleView Professor Josh Piedra picked up a PERSONALLY autographed Jim Ross cookbook. I am truly envious of that and I hope someday I may acquire such a great read. It may be too late to order the products before Christmas, but you can still capitalize on free shipping orders! Finally, if your loved ones bought you products from Jim Ross then you should seriously give them a thank you card.)
Commentator Grades for the Week of November 30:
Michael Cole: C+ (2009 Grade: D) **Current Leader of The Awful Waffle**
Jerry Lawler: C (2009 Grade: C-)
Josh Mathews: C+ (2009 Grade: B) **Dean’s List**
Byron Saxton: B- (2009 Grade: B+) **Dean’s List**
Todd Grisham: A- (2009 Grade: B+) **Dean’s List**
Matt Striker: B+ (2009 Grade: A-) **Dean’s List**
Jim Ross: N/A (2009 Grade: A-) **Dean’s List** (Illness)
Mike Tenay: C (2009 Grade: B-)
Taz: B- (2009 Grade: B-)
Don West: N/A (2009 Grade: C-) (Now Amazing Red’s Manager and signing Brown Bags)
Mike Hogewood: C (2009 Grade: C-)
Dave Prazak: B (2009 Grade: B) **Dean’s List**
Predictions from the WrestleView Faculty Standings
Well, we are almost at an end of the fiscal year for the Faculty. As you all know since TNA’s Against All Odds in February of 2009 we have made our selections. Well, as of WWE’s TLC here is where we stand. Only three more PPVs until we find out who will be the Dean of the WrestleView Faculty.
(TLC record in parentheses)
1) Jose Marrero (Wrestling Rumblings)?????????..??104-72 (4-3)
2) Joe Baiamonte (Baiamonte’s Casa)?????????……..102-73 (5-2) **
3) Josh Boutwell (Viva La Raza and TNA Recapper)…???101-75 (4-3)
4) WrestleView Students (The Loyal Readers)????????98-78 (3-4)
5) David Stephens (That’s a Wrap and ECW Recapper)??96-80 (3-4)
6) Josh Piedra (The Shoot)???????????????????92-64 (4-3)
7) Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V/ROH Recaps)?92-84 (3-4)
8) Mike Siciliano (Pro’s From the Palace)???????????89-81 (3-4)
9) Matt O?Brien (Notes From The Nosebleeds)????????81-64 (3-4)
10) Chris Kelly (King of All Wrestling Media)?????????74-52 (3-4)
11) Doug Lackey (Reality From Ringside)???????????.67-74 (3-4)
12) Sean Hurley (The Sharpshooter)??????????????.66-44 (6-1) **
13) Phil Chroniger (On Second Thought..)??????????..64-62 (0-0)
14) Mike Tedesco (Smackdown and Superstars Recapper)?.34-25 (4-3) **
15) Mike Klubnik (Stylin? and Profilin?)?????????????..20-14 (0-0)4-4 (0-0)
The WrestleView Student Body recorded an average of 3.4 victories. Therefore by the rule of estimation, the record for the students will be 3-4.
**Professors Baiamonte, Hurley, and Tedesco sent their picks after the press release. There records for the TLC PPV are in parentheses.
Letter to Santa (part 3 of 3)
I will write the letter to Cary Silkin (President of Ring of Honor) at a later time. My deadline is approaching and my students come first. Sorry Santa!
Mister V’s Gold Star Segment
Once again, Gold Stars are going to be flying like hotcakes tonight! Let’s run down those who earned one, shall we?
Anthony DeBlasi – Your kindness this past week made me speechless. Thank you.
Sean Hurley – He was the ONLY Faculty member to post a 6-1 record for the TLC Pay-Per-View. The only one he missed was Sheamus winning the title over Cena.
Jose Marrero – STILL your Dean of Wrestleview!
Joe Baiamonte and Josh Boutwell – Congrats on earning 100 correct predictions this year.
Robert Downing, Pat Lorang, and Rocky Jr. – These three students posted the best PPV record among the WrestleView students. They each scored a 4-3 record.
Sheamus – Your NEW WWE Champion!
Drew McIntyre – Your NEW Intercontinental Champion!
Degeneration X – Your NEW Unified Tag Team Champions!
Michelle McCool – STILL your Women’s Champion!
Christian – STILL your ECW Champion!
The Undertaker – STILL your World Heavyweight Champion!
Mike Siciliano – Thank you for plugging the Dream Tournament on Pro Wrestling Rewind. I listened to it and it was a great show!
To the Students (Readers) who made their choices for the tournament – Thank you to all. You will be credited later this week and I post the results.
Ryan Gray – His Fantasy Football Team ?Gray Unit? will be going head-to-head with ?The Real Honor Roll? in the WNL Fantasy Football League. Regardless of the winner, it will be hard-earned. Good Luck, Gray.
Navy Football – Congrats on winning yet another Commander-In-Chief Trophy. In my opinion, Army vs. Navy is still the best rivalry game.
Cleveland Browns – Yes, this is coming from a Steelers fan. Thank you for making the Steelers/Browns game a rivalry once again.
Mark Cuban – You earned one for getting drilled through a table last week.
Chris Sabin – For winning your match in a 1 on 3 handicap match.
AJ Styles – STILL, your TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
Eric Young – I guess he gets one for retaining the Global Title over a Knockout.
Savannah (aka Angela Fong from FCW) Nice job ring announcing for ECW on Tuesday. I was actually impressed.
Austin Aries – STILL, your ROH World Champion.
JRs Family BarBQ – Thanks for your quick delivery and service. We will be buying from your store in the near future!
John Cena – For winning the Slammy for Superstar of the Year. (and yes, I too did not like the overall presentation of RAW nor the Slammys Monday)
Tony Atlas – Just because I do enjoy the laugh.
That may very well be a record for Gold Stars. If you (the reader) would like to earn a Gold Star for my ?Mr. V Christmas Column? next week, send me an e-mail and tell me why you deserve one. Or if you have someone in mind, that would be ok as well. E-mail me your choices and they will be up on the next column.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
This will be due TOMORROW (as I will be working on a Tournament Column this weekend). The Updated Bracket was listed below.
(1) Chris Jericho vs. (17) Shawn Michaels
(8) Austin Aries vs. (9) John Cena
(4) Ultimo Guerrero vs. (13) CM Punk
(5) Christian vs. (12) Mistico
(3) Kurt Angle vs. (19) HHH
(27) The Undertaker vs. (11) Samoa Joe
(2) AJ Styles vs. (18) Jushin Liger
(7) Randy Orton vs. (10) KENTA
Those are your eight matchups. Please vote who you would book as the winner by e-mailing me (mistervwv@hotmail.com) or by sending me a message on my Facebook Account. If you post them on my old Yahoo account, I may not count them since I rarely check that account now. Remember, it is due right after you read this column!!
Mr. V’s End of Class Announcements
1) WrestleView’s own Sean Hurley wanted me to plug a column for him and I will gladly do so. He is a good friend of mine and if any of my peers want me to plug a wrestling link, I would be more than happy to do so.
The site is called Countingthelights.com. The blog is created by a guy who trained Professor Hurley’s best friend. I will be the first to tell you that I checked it out and I must admit I got hooked on this. So please give it a look, class. You won?t be disappointed.
2) Please check out ?The Shoot? by Josh Piedra this week. Prof. Piedra is easing up my workload by doing the ?WV End of the Year Awards? and the first category is listed right now. I know how loyal my readers were for me when I did the mid-year material and I expect strong numbers for this one. Your participation is appreciated.
3) Move over Slammys ?! Mr. V will be presenting his 1st Annual ?Golden Yardstick? Awards. As a teacher, my goal is to one day be the recipient of the Golden Apple. The Golden Apple is awarded to the best teachers in the region. Well, since I won?t be getting one in the future I will create my own. And since Apples spoil, I will issue out yardsticks for the best professional wrestling had to offer. Look for it sometime before year’s end.
As for the Worst of pro wrestling, I may present the 1st Annual ?Dummy? Awards. Don?t know if I will do a worst, but I will do a ?best of? feature. Good Luck to all the wrestlers in advance.
4) Finally, I want to take this time to wish Dean Jose Marrero a Happy Birthday. He is truly a great wrestling fan and an even greater friend of mine. I do hope it is a good one for you, Jose.
Good Byes
FINALLY, that sums up another edition From the Desk of Mr. V. As always, if you want to chat wrestling you can always go on FaceBook and ask me your questions (I am on there at least once a day). You can also e-mail your comments to my address at mistervwv@hotmail.com. I am getting much better in responding to the e-mails, so drop me a line.
It is the end, and you know what that means. Time to push in your chairs, walk in a straight line, and exit your classroom door (more than likely your computer room or dormitory room). Until My Ring of Honor Recap, I bid you farewell! Thanks for reading and you are all officially?????DISMISSED!!
Look me up on Facebook under Anthony J. Valvo in the Pittsburgh Network
Mr. V does neither Twitter nor MySpace
Later ?From the Desk of Mr. V??.
-ROH Recap for 12/14
-Mr. V #48
-The 2009 ?Dream Tournament? Round 2 and the Quarterfinals.
More work on my other site The Examiner (got my Raw Recap up)
Check out my recent Examiner articles! Soon, I plan on presenting predictions for 2010 piece! Heck, you can even subscribe to my articles! Help me earn a little bit more cash by just going to the link, please.
http://www.examiner.com/x-26526-Pittsburgh-Pro-Wrestling-Examiner
If not for the students, there would be no Mr. V. Thanks for Reading.
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