That’s a Wrap #2

That’s a Wrap #2
Week of February 9th ? 15th 2009
By: David Stephens of WrestleView.com

Ousta! Welcome back to the only WrestleView column covering topics both nowhere yet everywhere at once. If you are new to the column you are probably going to hate us for the first couple weeks, but then you are going to hit a point where you say ?oh wait a minute, I think he gets it?. Don?t worry, that’s exactly how it is designed to be. This column is all about gut reactions and traveling thoughts. As the great Andy Kaufman said: ?I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh f rom the gut, be sad f rom the gut, or get angry f rom the gut?.

This column is all about ?wrapping up? the past week in the crazy world of wrestling. My brain leaps 15 ways at once, so jump aboard and let’s see where we are headed today.

Christian on ECW

Right off the bat I have to talk about Christian and his triumphant return to the WWE as a member of the ECW roster. A lot of my readers as well as other columnists have been very interested in my thoughts on the subject since he came to ?my? brand. I did my best this past Tuesday to put him over, and my enthusiasm definitely showed. Mike Siciliano who writes ?Pro’s f rom the Palace? even went as far as to say I changed his opinion on the worthiness of the move.

There is no doubt in my mind that putting Christian on ECW is the absolute best decision. The readers of WrestleView are intelligent and we all know what he has been up to for the past couple years, but the fact is, most WWE fans do not. As far as some of them know, he is coming out of retirement. This is going to clearly be a great synergistic relationship because not only will Christian get built up and gain momentum, but ECW is further legitimized by having a ?big star?. The peeps are getting a chance to get reacquainted with their champ, and hopefully Christian will indeed become the ECW Champ. At the very least Christian is going to give Jack Swagger a great rub through their upcoming program together.

Speaking of TNA, what an incredibly different place it was when Christian had his 2 Title reigns. Back then the NWA belt was being used, which had a legitimate and rich history. Heck, I remember when nwatna.com used to be the TNA site. Ah well, at least we have the memories of an enjoyable TNA even if it was years ago.

What’s in the News?

Smackdown is staying on MyNetwork as it continues getting record ratings for the station
-A lot of talk has been given to the fact that MyNetwork TV is moving to become an all rerun station with Smackdown being its only original program. Some view the WGN Superstars deal as a way to cover their bases in case MyNetwork goes under. I?m going to be bold and predict that a fair amount of big stars leave Smackdown as a preemptive move by WWE to protect their interest. MyNetwork already doesn?t reach certain markets, of course it also doesn?t reach people who go out on Friday nights, but we are wrestling fans, we can give up our Fridays without social consequence.

ROH 7th Anniversary Show announced for March 21st at the Hammerstein Ballroom
-ROH will be getting back to its roots, and by that I mean continuing to feed off of disenfranchised ECW fans. There’s a chance I?ll be getting to this show as I?m on spring break.

WWE Soundtrack Debuts as #1 Soundtrack
-But low on the overall chart. Leave it to the WWE to always pull out the positives

Victoria is training for MMA
-Honestly one of the scariest things I?ve ever heard

Stevie Richards now working for TNA
-On a different Stevie note, he was used in the past to get Shane McMahon prepped for his matches, his absence definitely showed at No Way Out

Christian returns to ECW
-ECW is hereby renamed Extreme Charisma Wrestling whenever he is on air

Williams, Rave, & Hoyt released by TNA
-They were replaced with Stevie Richards and a couple of Knockouts

SHIMMER star Ashley Lane signs with TNA
-What better way to rub the above mentioned releases in their faces then to quickly hire a knockout.

WWE Draft returns April 13
-AWWW YEAHHH

Midway files for bankruptcy
-Midway didn?t want to feel left out after THQ announcing its staggering losses last week

Lacey Von Erich meets with Playboy
-Who?

Must Read WV Column of the Week

Rise and Fall of an Underdog #1 by AJ Pearce
I?m not going to lie, I was at first a bit hesitant to dive into a ?fiction? column, but it is worth every second. Go check it and get on board with episode one!

Quick Results

RAW
-Beth Phoenix & Jillian Hall def. Women’s Champion Melina & Kelly Kelly
-Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase def. Cryme Tyme
-Chris Jericho, Kane & Mike Knox def. World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston
-Mark Henry def. Shawn Michaels (disqualification)
-Intercontinental Champion CM Punk def. William Regal
-Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (no contest)

ECW
-World Tag Team Champion The Miz def. Tommy Dreamer
-Tyson Kidd def. local competitor
-Christian def. ECW Champion Jack Swagger (non-title)

TNA Impact
-Team 3D def. Kurt Angle & Sting
-Scott Steiner def. Petey Williams (Headdress on a Pole Match)
-Sojo Bolt def. Angelina Love, Taylor Wilde, ODB, Raisha Saeed, Velvet Sky, Rhaka Khan & Madison Rayne to become #1 Contender for Knockouts Title
-Lethal Consequences def. Motor City Machine Guns
-Beer Money def. Abyss & Rhino to retain TNA Tag Championship
-Sting v. Angle for TNA Heavyweight Championship (No Contest)

Smackdown!
-Montel Vontavious Porter def. Chavo Guerrero (DQ)
-World Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison def. WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito & Primo
-R-Truth def. Ezekiel Jackson
-Maria def. Michelle McCool
-Triple H vs. Undertaker vs. Big Show vs. Vladimir Kozlov (No contest) (Fatal Four Way Match)

No Way Out
-Triple H wins WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match
-Edge wins World Heavyweight Title Elimination Chamber Match
-Randy Orton def. Shane McMahon (No Holds Barred Match)
-ECW Champion Jack Swagger def. Finlay
-Shawn Michaels def. JBL (All or Nothing Match)

Ratings
WWE Friday Night Smackdown on 2/6 – 2.1 broadcast rating.
WWE Monday Night Raw on 2/9 – 3.4 cable rating
ECW on Sci Fi on 2/10 – 1.3 cable rating
TNA Impact on 2/12 – 1.2 cable rating
WWE Friday Night Smackdown on 2/13 – 2.2 broadcast rating

Loose Ends
-sign up for the forum/chatroom it is worth it
-why hasn?t the WWE announced any singers for mania??
-or any celebrities for that matter?
-Paul London’s first post-WWE match is this Saturday!
-Vickie’s ?Excuse Me? screams makes me want to take a drill to my skull

?till next time, that’s a wrap!

David Stephens

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