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 once said: ?I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut, or get angry from the gut?.
All that glitters is gold?
This past week I had an epiphany. No, it had nothing to do with the general direction of my life, nor is it anything that will ever come to fruition. Why am I sharing? I have no idea.
My epiphany came about when I realized what my ring attire would consist of if I ever stepped inside the squared circle. Now I would like to drive home the fact that this is a ?character? I?d be embodying and NOT how I dress/appear on any given day. I?m sure some of you won?t remember that, oh well.
Let’s work from the ground up. I?m very much a fan of the tights, knee pad, and boot combination that AJ Styles and Paul London used to wear in the ?03-?04 period. I?m leaning towards a black and purple color coordination scheme. I?ll definitely be decked out in tassels. Around my boots, possibly on my tights, and around my arms. Think Ultimate Warrior.
Now it’s time for the face. This is what’s really going to put the character over the top. Definitely going for a Jimmy Jacobs style haircut. Blue and purple streaks should add a nice flair. It’s at about this point I started to realize I?d be forced to be a heel, cause the crowd is simply going to hate my look.
My eyes are going to be the cr?me de la cr?me that really tops off the gimmick. Black eyeliner is a given, but it gets better. I?m busting out miniature sequins to place under my eyes. If any of you watch American Idol, think Adam Lambert’s eyes when he performed ?Beth? with Kiss. Now that’s a brilliant outfit and gimmick, hell yeah!
I?m wondering how many people closed the browser window, or are shaking their heads thinking I?m insane. I could totally deny and argue with them, but quite frankly they are probably right. Anyways after this uncomfortably revealing view of my fantasy gimmick let’s move forward. I?ll hand things off to Jared to take us into the world in which pro-wrestling IS reality.
Jared’s Kayfabe Reality
Well it’s nice to be back here on WrestleView to wet the dry eyes of those once blind. I?m coming to you straight from ?The Institute of Wrapping Things Up?. Alright look, David told me to say that, but is this guy for real? Don?t let him fool you into thinking there is some glass table in a high rise upon which he holds board meetings. It’s just him, a glass of Coca-Cola, and a Paul London shrine. True story.
On today’s agenda we are going to take a look at Evan Bourne and try to decipher just how he can solve the world’s toughest riddle. Or, just how he can win matches despite his diminutive stature. Either one would work for me, but I suppose the latter is more ?on topic? as they say. Bourne’s case is a tricky and curious one.
For him fighting someone twice or thrice his size is nothing new. From the day he entered the business he has been looking up to those around him. Not necessarily out of respect, but simply because they are taller. In many ways we see the parallels of David & Goliath every single time he steps into the ring. Evan has joined the WWE at a very good time in wrestling history, because more and more ‘small guys? are receiving contracts. This is incredibly beneficial as it ensures opponents less likely to accidentally step on him while entering the ring.
The best advice I can possibly give to Bourne is to be as smart as possible. Look to guys like Rey Mysterio that have pioneered movesets capable of knocking out large predators. One of things to gleam from Rey is the importance of choosing your spots. Evan needs to make sure that he doesn?t exert more energy delivering a move than will actually be taken out of his opponent.
This is tricky because Bourne needs to walk the perilous line between showmanship and performance. He gets immeasurable help from the audiences? support. The adrenaline rush injected with the roar of thousands would make even the junkiest of crack heads jealous. Regardless, at the end of the day Bourne needs to remember that no matter the flash and style, what really matters is the Win/Lose record and who is carrying the Title out of the building.
It is called ?high risk? for a reason. Evan needs to scout out his matches more than anyone else. He needs to plan all the possible counters, and surprises to get the upper hand. Bourne must not be afraid of teaming up with a veteran for both apprenticeship and protection. A veteran would help him learn to pace and not get blown out.
As long as he stays focused and under control I have a feeling he will soar high in the business. Soak it all in Evan. Your time, is now.
That’s my ?Kayfabe Reality?, I hope you at least found your curiosity intrigued with my thoughts. I asked David to throw my e-mail at the bottom as I look forward to hearing from the WrestleView audience. Until we meet again, I?m Jared, just keeping it real.
What’s in the News?
All news is gathered from WrestleView.com unless otherwise noted
Brett DiBiase was described as a stud by at least one WWE source who said that he was more relaxed than his brother Ted when the camera was on reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Mike DiBiase, the third brother, is said to have lots of potential, but he has lots of different problems and that is why he isn’t currently with the company. The original idea in WWE was to team all three of them up and call them the “Billionaire Boys Society” playing off of Ted Sr.’s gimmick and making them very pompous.
-Hold on just a second. Who refers to a wrestler as a ‘stud?, seriously?
In regards to marijuana, some major WWE names are still smoking and getting caught via testing through the company’s Wellness Policy reports The Figure Four Weekly Newsletter. While fines had originally been at $1,000, were now told that has been raised to $2,500 per failure. Marijuana tests come at a minimum of four times a year, but others are tested more frequently and are being fined big money. As noted earlier, some planned pushes in WWE were also halted because of so many positive tests.
-Or in the minds of the offenders, an 150% tax increase!
According to a report by PWInsider, the photo shoot that TNA Knockout Traci Brooks did for Playboy not long ago will not be appearing in the magazine after all. According to sources, a change in editors at the magazine ended up killing the Brooks photo shoot as this new editor didn’t want anything associated between the magazine and pro wrestling. Brooks was scheduled to appear in the fall issue of Playboy this year and this was one of the main reasons she was brought back to TV and put into the Main Event Mafia. However, even though Brooks will not be appearing in the actual magazine, she will be appearing on the “Cyber Club” Playboy website instead later this month. Brooks would have been the first female wrestler outside of WWE to pose for the magazine since they broke ties with WWE.
-Can?t say I care. I had zero interest in seeing a 35 year old woman fully exposed in high quality
The Sun in the UK has an interview up with WWE Champion Randy Orton where he talks about the recent release of Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore from the company.
-“Eugene was just given a second chance. He came back two weeks ago and came in a little heavy from where [management] wanted him to come in. Nick is a good friend of mine. I pulled some strings to get his job back and he comes back all overweight. So all in all, I am a little upset with (him) right now.”
Kevin Eck of The Baltimore Sun has an interview up with TNA President Dixie Carter.
On ever wanting to have Impact go head-to-head with Raw:
-“I think that you?re going to see some different things with us and Spike. I think that’s our goal going into this. Do we know specifically what they?re going to be? No. Does Spike love us for Thursday night on their network? Absolutely, they do. Is that our preference? No. We would love to be up against Raw on Monday night.”
Jim Ross has a new blog up on his official website and comments on the development of a new Jeff Hardy DVD by WWE.
-“Many WWE Superstars and I did interviews Tuesday afternoon for an upcoming Jeff Hardy DVD that will be released in a few weeks. I don’t know how many talents were involved but there were several. John Cena was included as he and I visited about this project Tuesday evening in Phoenix.”
During one of her many media interviews yesterday, TNA President Dixie Carter stated that the company’s new agreement with Spike TV gives them the freedom to speak with other TV networks reports ProWrestling.net. There were said to be hopes internally of securing additional TV time in the new deal with Spike TV. While they did secure a series of 10 one-hour highlight programs, the obvious goal was to obtain another hour or two of new weekly TV programming.
-I?d be very curious to see what would happen if they added another show on a different network. Whether it be X-Division based, Knockouts, or something else entirely
In regards to the creative direction of the company, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that while Vince Russo is the lead writer, Carter is in charge of the big picture direction. The new philosophy by Carter is trying to make the product more sports-oriented by giving referees more “power” and having less run-ins and interference. Another big thing Carter reportedly wanted to see was the pushing of younger talent like Hernandez (who is said to be one of her favorites), Matt Morgan and the newly signed Bobby Lashley. Another change is the announcing by introducing Taz with Mike Tenay and pulling Don West from TV. Jarrett was said to be in favor of the two hours of “high-energy” from West, but introducing Taz was a way to provide a different type of on-air product.
-Almost along the lines of how they were back in the FSN days. I wouldn?t want to see them go back quite that far, but anything that pulls away from being WWE-lite is welcome
The Sun in the UK has an article at this link looking at how some TNA fans were “invading” WWE SummerSlam this past Sunday in Los Angeles to promote the upcoming Bound For Glory PPV. They were passing out Sting masks and a member of security added, “They are a rival organisation so WWE instructed us to put all these masks in the trash.”
-Why do those fans even bother?
According to a report by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bryan Danielson signing with WWE was expected since ROH started on HDNet. As reported on months ago, Danielson never wanted to sign a contract with ROH and the belief was that as soon as he could work out a deal with WWE he would accept it. He had been booked in ROH in prepartion for a possible signing with WWE since about May. At this point, it isn’t believed that Danielson will be heading to WWE’s Florida Championship Wrestling territory before debuting on TV. However, that has been the case with others who have signed with WWE and were then sent to developmental.
-Dos Caras Jr. anyone?
The latest on Jeff Jarrett is that he is still with TNA and remains a part-owner reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. There were reports earlier that the Carter family had purchased the remaining shares that Jarrett owned in TNA, but as of now that doesn’t appear to be the case. Jarrett isn’t expected to be doing anything on TV for a while because of the situation with Kurt Angle and he is not expected to return as a member of the creative team in the near future. Where things go from here is still up in the air. One source indicated the only way Jarrett could be brought back to TV as a talent is if something was to go wrong with Kurt Angle. Jarrett is still working from home and working on TNA business projects including making trips overseas, putting together international TV deal and other business deals.
-IF something was to go wrong with Kurt Angle? What HASN?T gone wrong with Kurt Angle? Jarrett remains part owner, because he belongs there as part owner.
MMA fighter and WWE Tough Enough winner Daniel Puder was in attendance at SummerSlam last Sunday in Los Angeles (where he resides). According to a report by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Puder was spotted talking with WWE’s John Laurinaitis. As of now, it doesn’t appear WWE has any interest in signing him. Puder was released by WWE in September 2005.
-and I have no interest in seeing him
In regards to recent reports that Ring of Honor was close to going out of business due to some recent cost-cutting, The Figure Four Weekly Newsletter is reporting that while one ROH source has confirmed the cost-cutting, any predictions of the company’s demise seem to be a bit overstated. As reported on earlier, HDNet is currently shopping around footage in hopes of some international distribution.
-It just seems like the company doesn?t know exactly where they want to go with the product. In many ways they are leaving their fate up to whatever HDNet wants to do with them.
TNA President Dixie Carter was a guest on the Live Audio Wrestling Show on Sunday night. Host John Pollock discussed TNA’s current PPV formula of one event per month. Carter says she is not a fan of the monthly PPV format and she would like to see the formula shaken up.
-“I’m not a big fan of monthly PPVs, quite honestly, but you have contracts that keep you held in and bound at times,” Carter said. “We’re definitely talking about trying to shake things up and do things differently in the future.”
Despite the fact that TNA is a privately held company and their actual PPV buyrate figures are never officially released, the data that does get out indicates that TNA has never come close to breaking 100,000 buys for an event and change is needed.
As reported on earlier, Scott D’Amore is now back with TNA and is looking at working as an agent at TV and PPV tapings reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He had several business interests outside of wrestling including a restaurant, a shopping plaza, construction and waste management projects. D’Amore stated that he is back with TNA because he enjoys wrestling and wants to help TNA out. The belief at this point is that he will again be working closely with the Knockouts division.
-Scott was responsible for a lot of great talent, and it’s nice to see him back on board
WWE’s popularity in Mexico continues to grow. Both Raw and Smackdown are among the top 20 television shows in Mexico. Raw was the fourth highest rated show on Televisa Ch. 5 in May, while Smackdown was the fourth highest rated show of the month on Ch. 7. In April, Raw did a 13.1 rating and Smackdown did a 13.2. Just to compare, UFC 100 did a 13.3 in Mexico and that was just the main event of Lesnar vs. Mir.
-Nice to see that WWE is beating UFC with something, somewhere
Former WWE star Kevin Fertig (aka Kevin Thorn) wrestled in a dark match at last night’s TNA Impact TV tapings in Orlando losing to Kip James. He wrestled under the name Serpent. PWInsider is reporting that it isn’t believed he has signed a deal with TNA at this time.
-Too bad Ariel left, they could have reunited the Vampire clan
Ratings
WWE RAW ? 3.93
ECW on Sci-Fi ? 1.2
TNA Impact ? 1.13
Smackdown – 1.9
WWE Stock Update
Week Ending August 28th 2009
Open ? 14.40
Close ? 14.32
Low ? 14.00
High ? 14.65
Volume ? 753,497
Quick Results
RAW August 24th
The Miz def. Santino Marella
Beth Phoenix, Alicia Fox & Rosa Mendes def. Divas Champion Mickie James, Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim
MVP & Mark Henry def. Unified Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show
Hornswoggle def. Chavo Guerrero (Boxing Match)
DX & Mr. McMahon def. WWE Champion Randy Orton & The Legacy (No Disqualifications Match)
ECW August 25th
Shelton Benjamin def. Zack Ryder
Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov def. local competitors
Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels ? The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania Special
Sheamus def. Goldust
Superstars August 27th
Jack Swagger def. Primo
Paul Burchill def. The Hurricane
Dolph Ziggler def. Mike Knox and Finlay in a No. 1 Contender’s Match for the Intercontinental Title
TNA Impact August 27th
Suicide vs. ?Samoan Submission Machine? Samoa Joe NO CONTEST
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament 1st Round: Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed def. Traci Brooks & Sharmell
Jesse Neal def. ?War Machine? Rhino DQ
$50,000 Bounty Challenge Handicap Match: ?The Monster? Abyss def. Motor City Machine Guns w/Stevie Richards
No DQ Match: Hamada def. ?Scream Queen? Daffney
Suicide & ?Fallen Angel? Christopher Daniels def. ?The Pope? D?Angelo Dinero & ?Samoan Submission Machine? Samoa Joe
6-Man War: ?The Icon? Sting, ?Super Mex? Hernandez, & ?The Phenomenal? AJ Styles def. ?Big Poppa Pump? Scott Steiner, Booker T., & ?The Blueprint? Matt Morgan
Smackdown August 28th
John Morrison & Matt Hardy def. The Hart Dynasty
R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre (No contest)
Melina def. Layla
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio def. Kane (disqualification) (Non-title)
Unified Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show def. Cryme Tyme
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk def. Jeff Hardy (Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship) (Hardy forced to leave WWE)
Must Read WrestleView Column of the Week
Wrestling Rumblings #30 by: Jose Marrero
He gets the nod this week for two reasons. The first has absolutely nothing to do with his column, but with him as a person. He messaged me the other day and we had a chat about, well some of the general rumblings in the Indy wrestling world. I have a lot of respect for his knowledge and ability, if you aren?t checking him out, then start now. Jose takes a look at Bryan Danielson signing with the WWE and the state of ROH in general.
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So ?that’s a wrap??. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I?m always up for reading your thoughts so send them ?em on over.
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