Sports Talk with MC

by MC

First off all, let me just say that it feels good to be back on the writing beat. I felt a distinct sense of comfort when I write. Thank goodness I’ve managed to find some time to conjure up something special with pen and ink (or, in this case, a keyboard, and, err, pixels?).

I was IM-ed by a colleague earlier today. He excitedly informed me that WWE Diva Ashley Mazzaro had been included as a castaway on the latest installment of the popular “Survivor” TV show. The latest season of the program, its 15th, will emanate from China, this fall.

It’s amazing how the WWE has managed to not only rule the small screen amongst sports entertainment afficionados, but the big screen, with viewers of all types as well. Vince McMahon has created true media synergy before our very eyes, the sort of well-placed magic which comes as a result of careful planning, and yes, often cutthroat business savvy.

Vinnie Mac has peddled everything from sex, soap opera-ish drama, to morbid attempts at parodying things like death and the siring of illegitimate children. He may not be the most moral upright of people, but hey, in terms of catching people’s attention, for better or worse, he is the king.

Realistically speaking, Ashley probably will not win the coveted plum of sole survivor simply because her status as an international celebrity would necessitate stamping on a bullseye on her back even before she sets foot in the Far East, but her mere participation should garner just enough publicity in order to gain yet another long-lasting financial triumph for the WWE.

John Cena started as your typical white chocolate rapper. Look at where a little marketing wizardry has brought the current WWE Champion who, for all intents and purposes, will never be as skilled in the squared circle as, say, Kurt Angle, Bret Hart, or Shawn Michaels.

Controversy does created cash. Controversy is a coalescence of flair/showmanship, catering to/knowing all about the sensitivities of your audience, much time devoted to advanced planning, and, yes, a little bit of luck.

The winner of the Survivor game show nabs a nice purse of $1M USD, a car, and, a truckload of opportunities at even more gold even after the sand’s been washed off one’s feet and the spotlights are hauled out of the jungle, or, uhem, beach.

Like I alluded to earlier, though- we need not wait for season 15 of Survivor to end to become privy to who will come out as the big winner. The real winner in this case is a man who has one heck of a toned physique for a 60 year old, and chooses to look dignified in an Armani suit, but isn’t ashamed to moon audiences (much to our chagrin), from time to time.

Will Bill Goldberg do a cameo on “America’s Next Top Model”? Not likely, but hey, stranger things have happened.

So there you go.

~0~

by MC

How are things going, my peeps? It’s been quite awhile since I’ve managed to update this blog. I’m not sure if you’ve missed me, but I am certain of this- I sure have missed writing about sports. Such beats a day in the office. Really.

How about the last week in the WWE, huh? From Edge having to give up his world title due to a pectoral muscle tear, to The Great Khali becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion in the process, to Dusty Rhodes getting himself beaten up two nights in a row by a veangeful Randy Orton, and John Cena has managing to once again turn back another challenge (and a formidable one, at that, in Bobby Lashley), it’s been a festival of “surprises” (generally, yes, in terms of pro-wrestling standards, not too much, in a way) over the last seven.

*Randy Orton Vs. John Cena, for the WWE Title, Summerslam 2007:

After another gargantuan effort at the Great American Bash, people have been let to ask- can even God Himself beat John Cena?

The rapper turned marine has been the titleholder for over 300 days now, and with the impending return of Triple H, one might surmise that the Champ’s days would (realistically) be numbered. His reign as WWE Champion could be in jeopardy, though, not because of the King of Kings, but because of the exploits of the Legend Killer.

My friend raised a valid point over lunch today- Orton will probably snag the belt from Cena at Summerslam, making him a convenient, and ultimately vulnerable, target for a returning Game towards once again reigning supreme. A Cena loss would make some sense at this point, because McMahon wouldn’t want to strain his “best asset” too much (if that hasn’t occurred already), Orton has seemed to have earned a spot in the limelight again (it’s about time he stopped “jobbing”; what’s more, insiders say that a push for him to go back to being an A-lister has Triple H’s support; Triple H is, of course, Stephanie McMahon’s beau, so, that stand might go a long way for the master of the RKO), and a Triple H title reign at this point would be beneficial for the company, both financially (his return has been hyped up considerably), and in terms of prestige (Cena is more of an entertainer than an athlete; Triple H is a hybrid; he’s the best of both worlds; his 10 world titles speak volumes about this; he makes anyone and everyone who steps in the ring with him, better).

Go Randy! Bask in the seemingly impending glory that is to be yours once you defeat Cena! The belt won’t be with you for very long, knowing how WWE storylines work. If a longterm rivalry between Orton and Triple H is built up, then well and good. We need a bit of the “good ‘ol days” infused into today’s WWE anyhow.

Of course, all of this postulating could be for naught should John Cena beat Orton at the upcoming PPV. Cena winning would, in truth, make the WWE lose more fans than gain any. Kids love Kool Ade, but they can only take so much of it before screaming for water, just plain water. Without the base solute, nothing gimmicky can, and will, ever emerge. So goes my point.

*The Great Khali Wins the World Heavyweight Championship:

Stand back, Apu. Dalip Singh, aka The Great Khali, is the new World Heavyweight Championship.

Honestly, it’s about darn time this 7,3″, 420 pound behemoth won something in the WWE. Being a victim of John Cena himself while on RAW, moving to Smackdown proved auspicious for the Punjabi warrior. To many, it was only a matter of time before he struck it rich, and he has done so, in very convincing fashion.

From dominating the 20 man battle royal on Smackdown, to decimating ring veterans Kane and Batista at the Great American Bash, the Great Khali showed why he’s no Giant Gonzalez. His character might not have the longevity of, say, an Undertaker, or a Bret Hart, but he has certainly proven that newbies who don’t pledge allegiance to the red, white, and blue, or don’t fit the mould of the consumate sports entertainer, can grasp, even ever so slightly, a lasting sense of notoriety.

Who can beat this guy? Who can steal his thunder? Marketing sense would dictate that the Great Khali not hold the belt for too long (ala Bob Backlund from ‘78 to 80-something long), but who knows? He could hold the championship for quite a while, without viewers becoming too bored with him, assuming that he has with him the right handler, and gets the right sort of pushes for his title matches.

This former rock cutter, and New Delhi police officer, has indeed come a long way. He now, maybe literally, has the whole world, in his hands. At least his dominance is founded, somehow, unlike that twit on RAW who can’t shake of mockery related to Marky Mark.

=)

by MC

By now, a lot of you reading this article would have probably already read many others in relation to the Chris Benoit case. I for one, am exceedingly disappointed that investigators managed to prove that Benoit had, in all likelihood, murdered his spouse, their son, and then killed himself, last weekend. For someone who had painted such a respectable image of himself amongst his peers, this comes as, understandably, a huge shock.

In this blog, I recently paid tribute to the man as matter of honoring his in-ring and purported back stage poise. I shall continue to hold Chris Benoit in high regard when it comes to being an entertainer. That will not change, irregardless of the further findings made in this sordid situation. His personal life is a whole other matter which, evidently, all of us who have borne witness to the unfolding of this tragedy over the last couple of days, never knew enough about to possibly form conclusive judgments about the “Rabid Wolverine”’s “true” character.

For all the crap he’s slung at us on-screen in the last couple of years, Vince McMahon was right about one thing he said in a brief statement aired over network television moments prior to the beginning of this week’s “ECW on Sci Fi”. There, the WWE Chairman alluded to the fact that right now, we ought to go on with our lives, and allow those in his stable to do what they do best- entertain the heck out of us. This does bring into the spotlight, though, the need to accurately define what “entertainment” is. Where do we draw the lines on things being there for “entertainment value”, and things existing as a matter of them being rooted in debauchery? It’s difficult to say, consider all the intrinsic factors involved, plus those of an external nature, stemming from the right of every person on the planet to his/her own personal opinions. I believe that it is the right of every media consumer, and furthermore, that of every media stakeholder, to listen to what is in demand, but at the same time, be able to filter what is given out in response to those supposed “demands”. Is what is in “demand” what merely what the people “want”, and not what they “need”? Can’t there be equilibrium, in the sense that the people get something which is a synthesis of both concepts of giving, and receiving?

Many have questioned the sports entertainment business for a long time, and so they should. The fact that anyone bothers to question the quality of sports entertainment, for me, is indicative of a 3-prong reality:

-People are pro-active. People, despite all of the mean stunts they can pull, want peace of mind at the end of the day.

-Those in power tend to get blinded by wealth, and, invariably, blind to the real requirements of him/herself, and those of his/her fellowmen.

-Those who are “forced” or “coerced” into carrying out deeds which lead to corruption can be both forgiven, and condemned. The median in terms of responding to frontliners in this case would be to simply doubt. Doubt is a powerful thing. The moment you doubt, you neither burn, nor absolve. You neither make yourself open to purging, nor chastizement. You simply nudge the foundation of what is accepted as real, and hope, and pray, that it will gravitate over to a moral side  not only by popular demand, but also in accordance to the whims of the common good.

What do YOU think? Whatever you happen to believe, I will respect your view. That’s what our lives should be about anyway- respect due, and respect accorded to.

~0~

by MC

In the last day or so, many (conflicting) reports have surfaced in the media as to the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, his wife, and his seven year old son.  In a way, it was to have been expected that the media would pounce on this story like sharks on a feeding frenzy, but then, one would’ve expected that they’d be a little more responsible about it then they are proving to be, at this juncture.

As of this piece’s writing, toxicology tests have not yet been completed on Chris Benoit, nor have they been completed on Nancy, his wife, or their son. Ergo, it would be totally pointless, and irresponsible, to assume that any one of them was “under the influence” over the past weekend, when the killings occurred.

Although there have been confirmed reports made about Nancy Benoit being bound when her body was found, and about Bibles being found near the bodies of all three victims, such still does not paint a full picture of why this all happened, and how. WWE.COM has also released information on the final text messages sent by Chris Benoit to some colleagues. 4 out of 5 of the messages which were sent out contained the fallen grappler’s home address, and the other contained information about where his dogs purportedly were kept, and about a”garage side door” being open. Could Chris have thought this all out, for whatever reason, such that “wanting to be found” was part of the plan? No one has the right to judge, with finality, at this point, what his motives were, or what the motives of any of the other individuals involved were. We can all come up with a truckload of conjecture, but it must be emphasized that we must any theories that may in any way sound conclusive, for the most part, to ourselves. It would be extremely foolhardy, and, disrespectful, to so assuredly comment on something so sensitive, and something we know not fully about.

The facts that are on the table at this point suggest not only a plot thickening, but seemingly, a plot thickening, and spreading out, turning what could be said to be discernible motives, into something that, when put together, consitutes a convoluted web of intrigue that could very well ruin the image of the sport Benoit participated in, the media itself, and us, who choose to believe A, or B, or remain apathetic altogether.

It’s anybody’s best guess where this unfortunate tale will navigate to next, but one thing’s for certain- the WWE, in all likelihood, will never be the same. It’s one thing for former in-ring performers like Ray Traylor (The Big Boss Man), and Eddie Guerrero to have passed away due to sudden ailments incurred, but this situation is totally different. Legacies, instead of being celebrated, are being put into question, for valid reason or otherwise. No one can claim to be stating anything “indisputably right” at this stage, and as much as life may go on, as much as filmings and WWE promo campaigns and storylines can proceed- although slightly altered- as scheduled, this chain of events involving one of the true kings of the squared circle- the shock value of it all, the utter “say it aint so” effect it has had on everyone watching- will surely resonate for some time to come, even after final pronouncements on why, how, and when, are made.

P rayer never hurt anyone. Maybe such, directed towards us who feel overwhelming disquiet, towards us who cannot seem to find answers using accepted logic, would be a good recourse during these days defined by confusion, and heavy hearts adrift.

~0~

by MC

I took the Metrorail, like always, to my office this morning. As I stood and gazed at the sky from one of the train’s cabins, I received a text message from a dear friend and sports afficionado. The message read very simply:

“RIP, Chris Benoit…and it’s for real”.

Needless to say, I was deeply moved by the reality that message carried with it. The sporting world had lost yet another fiery competitor, and, if the comments of his colleagues are to be taken at face value, it can be said that, indeed, the world had lost another good person.

The former World Champion was found dead in his home along with his seven year old son, and wife Nancy. The cause of death has yet to have been determined by authorities. The original storyline behind this evening’s telecast of Monday Night Raw has been shelved. A 3 hour tribute to the man they called, “The Crippler” and “The Rabid Wolverine” will be aired in lieu of the regular Raw fare.

What comes next for the WWE after this tragedy? The “Big Boss Man” Ray Traylor passed away early this year, and in 2005, the hugely popular Eddie “Latino Heat” Guerrero passed away under equally shocking circumstances. For one thing, perhaps WWE writers could drop the Vince McMahon death gimmick, at least for the time being? Or maybe even for good? I believe that it would be exceedingly disrespectful for the WWE to continue making a joke of the supposed “death” of its patriarch. Vince was despicable to have made the concept of death so trivial, and the death of one of his company’s top stars should serve as a cold-water wake up call to him and other spin doctors in sports entertainment. The fact that that the Canadian wrestling legend’s death, and that of his kin, has been ruled to have been due to “double murder- suicide” only serves to further the importance of knowing how to draw the line between being a showman, and being an outright source of the corruption of the minds of many a media consumer.

Benoit, seen left, celebrating at the the tail end of Wrestlemania 22 with close friend and fellow former World Titlist, the late Eddie Guerrero, was said to have been dearly beloved by his colleagues in the pro-wrestling industry. One thing that can be said to be sure, though, beyond any doubt, would be the fact that the Rabid Wolverine was immensely respected by WWE fans. He carried himself with a semblance of class and dignity befitting a World Champion, and it’s no coincidence, I think, that he never quite did figure in ridiculous on-screen gimmicks like some of his peers (Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Big Show) did. Irregardless of what sport you follow, Benoit was one who not only asked for your admiration- he earned it. With every Dynamite Kid like flying headbutt, with every Crippler Crossface maneuver he dished out, he poured forth a type of intensity and unfettered competitive spirit that was representative of his technical ring acumen, and also the honor he bestowed upon the industry he worked in. For such a person to have existed in this day and age, in sports entertainment no less, was something to behold indeed. In a world of crack junkies, and potheads, and egoistic dimwits without any skill or face to show for, Chris Benoit’s strength of character was truly something to marvel at. Even to the fan who didn’t know any better about the financial side of sports entertainment, the side that had to do with wheeling and dealing, Benoit was clearly one who just went about his business, working to better himself in the execution of his craft rather than busying himself with matters which would probably seem rather trivial to the wrestling purists (movie deals? endorsing products that have nothing to do with the sport, etc.). Instead of whining and crying about not being in the main event, the Rabid Wolverine just did what he did best- run through his competition with an efficiency seemingly unparalleled in this generation.

Personally, next to Owen and Bret Hart, Benoit was probably my favorite grappler. How could you not respect a man who always meant business, who never wore a mask under the klieg lights, and who gave 120% every night (quite ironic that all three were trained in the famous “Dungeon” run by wrestling icon Stu Hart)? For all the hype behind more “manufactured” stars of today, people tend to forget that behind the face paint, behind the razzmatazz involved in a flashy entrance theme, inclusive of pyrotechnics, and a legendary rock band backing you up, and behind any sort of stupid, two-bit gimmick that would go so far as to play with the deepest sensibilities of people just to make a buck, lay people like The Rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit. Sometimes, to survive, and yes, to be admired without looking like you crave it like a warm slice of pizza in the middle of a famine, you need to eschew thinking of how you can make a difference, and just go forth and do what you believe to be correct, and beneficial to the many. Whether or not Chris died in the way he did or not, we have to remember that with every loss, can arrive some form of gain, and in this case, the one thing we can draw from this ghastly tale is that since life is fragile, we have to sometimes quit thinking about the how’s and why’s behind each and every move we make, and simply, “conceive”, “believe”, and “achieve”. At the end of the day, it’s as basic as that. It’s as austere a fact as just doing a 9 to 5 without whining, and without being prissy, and just going about our responsibilities without becoming pushovers to the more destructive forces that reside in the modern world. It’s a matter of doing a 9 to 5 believing you’re the best, but not flaunting it for the whole world to see. It’s a matter of letting actions, speak louder than words.

We’ll miss you, Chris. As a wrestling fanatic, and as a person, I’d like to thank you for showing us so much good in the short time you were with us. You truly touched many a life for the better. May you rest in peace.

Billy Joel was right- only the good do die young. The key word in that phrase, ladies in gentlemen, contrary to popular belief, is “GOOD” and not “DIE”, or “YOUNG”.

We must take, but not want. Whatever we’ve lost, whatever we want, we can “take back again”, so long as we retain a strong sense of belief in correctness, passion, and pride.

That’s as “real a deal” as I’ve ever come across in my young life.

~0~

by MC

If you’re a fan of professional wrestling,  it would incredibly pointless, at this juncture, to say,

“I knew so.”

Why? Because there’s a 99.9% chance that you and I DIDN’T know so.

At the recently concluded WWE Veageance: Night of Champions, we became witness to the crowning of a new Women’s Champion in Candice Michelle, Edge retaining the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista in less than flattering fashion, and the decimation of Ric Flair at the hands of the brash Montell Vontavious Porter.

Oh yeah, John Cena managed to win “against the odds” yet again. Big surprise there.

The real shocker of the evening, however, was former “MNM” member Johnny Nitro winning the ECW World Heavyweight Title.

Fans in attendance, and the millions watching on pay-per-view were primed to witness a battle between Chris Benoit and CM Punk for ECW’s top prize.

Internet reports have cited The Crippler’s absence as something that had taken place due to “personal reasons”. Whether this is kayfabe, or real, has not been determined as of yet.

In any event, I think it’s a progressive move, on the part of the WWE, to give a young gun a world title. As much as we all love guys like Batista, Triple H, and Lashley, you, the fan, would later be placed under the impression that the WWE is a tad “boring” and “stagnant” because of the fact that they don’t allow for ”sharing of the wealth” as much as they ought to. I think the Great Khali, for one, should have won something by now, and the same goes for A-gamers like Chris Masters, CM Punk (who will get his so long as he stays in ECW), and Elijah Burke (same case as with CM Punk). Johnny Nitro’s victory at Vengeance is a breath of fresh air in a federation that was beginning to smell musty.

Most people would be led to assume that eventually, Chris Benoit will probably rain on the main billed as an “A-lister”. Despite that, it can be said that in the last 24 hours, we’ve witnessed the birth of a star, the rise of a man who, for all intents and purposes, ought to figure in many a storyline in the years to come.

Of course, almost nothing is set in stone in the world of Sports Entertainment. Whatever happens, I know that at least for now, I’m pulling for Johnny, because he’s new, he’s hip, and yes, his name, without the extra “n” and “y”, and him, with a little less hair and a little more bulk, would’ve been too boring for anyone to endure.

Roll out the red carpet, whip out the champagne, for professional wrestling fans everywhere really do have reason to celebrate (even a wee bit, just a wee bit).

~0~

by MC

You tell me if this is indicative of “crossing the line”.

The above picture is what millions of Monday Night Raw viewers were left with recently, as WWE Chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon was reported to supposedly have “died” in a fatal car bombing incident.

All arrows point to the fact that this is just another one of the WWE’s big time gags. Just something kayfabe to garner attention, it probably is.

Whether it is real, or shockingly true, we, media consumers, are led to ask one question quite vehemently:

“Has this recent skit become ‘too real’ for its own good?”

World Wrestling Entertainment has tons of fans who are minors. I don’t think they (nor their parents) would be well served to know that such violence is occurring in such close proximity to them. I know that pro-wrestling these days can be so much about being busted open, slammed through tables, and getting hit with chairs (i.e. ECW), but hey, “depicting” the death of a man via the “staging” of an explosion as shaking as the one we witnessed on RAW, would leave even the most hardcore wrestling fan reeling, even a little bit.

It’s never a whimsical thing to toy around with the concept of someone’s death. Never. Whether you are in the entertainment business or otherwise. Has callousness crept up our backs so much that we don’t give a hoot about what we see in media anymore? As much as Vinnie Mac’s managed to stage perhaps the most shocking stunt in the history of pro-wrestling (what’s more shocking, this, or Terry Funk bleeding himself to death during a barbed wire match? You be the judge), whether or not role play becomes successful, or is deemed worthy of commendation, depends BOTH on how a stunt is executed, and what a stunt is based on. In this case, the issue the “gag” is rooted in is way too controversial. Ergo, the value behind the manner through which the event was staged is compromised.

I do hope that WWE spin doctors stop this foolishness soon. I don’t want to seem hypocritical, but, perhaps the oft happy go lucky world of entertainment should put a premium on social responsibility for a change. Such a move might actually bring some respect, along with filled seats, onto the WWE, and sports-entertainment’s, resume.

The threshold between fantasy and reality has been blurred way too much already. Let’s not make the malaise called disillusionment in the face of priorities and good taste worse by shooting ourselves on the foot, and, consequently, scampering to remove the lodged bullet, with, of all things, our teeth.

(Your guess is as good as mine with regards to where the WWE will steer the McMahon death storyline next…poor wrestlers…instead of focusing on their efforts in the ring, the world has its attention on an accident that, well, is “purposely counterfeit”.)

 -0- 

by MC

The WWE’s first tri-branded draft occurred earlier today.

And there were a few surprises- from a very REAL marketing standpoint.

1) Torrie Wilson to Smackdown: What was the logic behind this one? SD has enough Divas already, and Torrie would only act as yet another pretty face amongst the roses. Maybe SD could have been served better getting someone like Randy Orton, or perhaps, even a CM Punk? What Friday nights need at this juncture, in my opinion, is starpower, major starpower, to help supplement Batista’s lack of charisma, and Edge’s already budding popularity. The Undertaker’s injured, and of course, that doesn’t help. Kane is old, and guys like MVP, Finlay, and London/Kendrick are by no means A-listers as of yet. Maybe Vince McMahon really has gone insane.

2) The Great Khali to Smackdown: Ah, another big man has been let loose to eventually fade away. He’ll probably be involved in a triple-threat match or two with Batista and Edge, but I don’t see any way he will beat either of the two aforementioned stars for the World Heavyweight Title (a championship he epitomizes from head to foot). Will this guy eventually become another Tyson Tomko, or Jamal? Maybe he doesn’t stink that much, but there’s no doubt that his character, which really, is brimming with potential, has been misused up until this point. Blame John Cena for this and other nosedives taken by the careers of many a newbie? Absolutely.

3) Mr. Kennedy to Raw: Can anyone say, “Breath of fresh air”?

The former Mr. Money in the Bank can now lick his chops with more of an auspicious outlook towards the future. His moving to Raw signals several things- a larger stage upon which he may showcase his in-ring (assuming he doesn’t suffer any more major injuries) and on mic (need I say more?) skills, stiffer competition for the Green Bay native (let’s admit, WWE’s starpower is saturated in the Raw brand), and a particular, gaping hole which is just waiting to be taken advantage of (Shawn Michaels’ indefinite LOA status could mean that Ken Kennedy has even more airtime he can sink his teeth into; that is a good thing, considering the fact that Kennedy, in truth, is a top brass performer).

Personally, I hope that KK challenges John Cena for his title, and invariably, manages to take down “The Marine” (or, as he is known in some circles, “god”). Not only would he make for an athletically competitive heel champion, he’d also make for one heck of a marketable “bad guy that the fans admire” (sort of like Triple H).

Yes, it pays to have the word “Kennedy” in your name when you’re a WWE employee, but there’s no doubt that Mr. K. has paid his dues, and it’s about darn time his sacrifices began paying very real dividends.

4) Gene Snitsky to Raw: Again, this a draft pick that could have been better utilized. Perhaps they could have pried Matt Hardy away from Smackdown instead? Or maybe CM Punk from ECW? Judging from how the Raw roster is packed with stars, maybe they needed to grab a jobber for humor’s sake. Hey, Santino Marella’s gotta beat somebody apart from who he’s already hit with his “rollup of death”, right? Gene the Machine fits the bill for that role perfectly.

5) Ric Flair to Smackdown: Now, this is another case of life being breathed into a stale piece of bread. The Nature Boy’s career had become nothing more than a blip since losing the Intercontinental Title some time back (although some might argue that the fall happened much sooner than that), and my view is that WWE writers, for a long time now, have struggled to find an apt storyline to fit the 16 time champ’s wrestling lineage considering the number of quality up-and-comers in the business from this generation. Perhaps Flair’s move to Smackdown could signal the beginning of a quality mid-level rivalry with someone like M.V.P., or maybe, could even signify an appearance amidst those contending for the World Heavyweight Title (because of his ties with Dave Batista, and because of a short rivalry he had with Edge previously). All things considered, this move is good for Ric, and only time will tell whether he’ll be able to ressurrect his career. There’s no doubting the fact that he’s a top level talent. The real factor to look at here would be whether he fits into the brand’s general direction. The acquisition of the legendary North Carolinean grappler immediately signals the addition of a heck of a lot of class to what many consider to be the WWE’s “A minus broadcast”.

In my view, he does fit, but of course, stranger things have happened in the WWE.

6) Bobby Lashley to RAW: This was something that seemingly had been coming for some time now.

Let’s face it- Bobby Lashley is a blue chipper, and not to mention, an apart fan and WWE talent officials’ favorite. His on-screen charisma is steadily improving, and, when you couple that with his amazing physical gifts, he becomes a shoo-in for the WWE’s flagship telecast- Monday Night Raw.

Lashley’s situation is similar, in a way, to that of Mr. Kennedy. Instead of getting past June as someone stuck in a rut, the intense ex-army man is on his way to an even larger place in the spotlight. Could the WWE be stocking up on talent on RAW to counteract criticism that WWE Champion John Cena is being marketed as someone who is all too invincible? Only time will tell. After all, once upon a time, RAW has had the likes of Chris Jericho, Triple H, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, The Great Khali, and Umaga on the active roster at one time or the other, with Cena managing to top each superstar with god-like efficiency.

Maybe with the addition of Bobby Lashley, along with Mr. Kennedy and the next chap clad in red and gold I’m about to talk about, Cena won’t seem so “divine” anymore, that is, unless WWE Films plans to release a sequel to “The Marine”.

7) King Booker to Raw: The life of John Cena is about to get interesting.

Make no mistake about it- Booker T is the consumate sports-entertainer. Yes, you might say that you don’t like him because his schtick annoys the hell out of you, but hey, that’s the point. The fact that you absolutely loathe him is evidence of the fact that his gimmick has succeeded in digging deep into the WWE audience’s consciousness.

It’s about time King BOOOKAH returned to Raw, and it’s about time someone established challenged Cena for his championship again. Ladies and gents, this fellow might be our man. He might just place the WWE Title in respectability’s limelight again by virtue of his long, elaborately executed, entrances.

Long live the King. Maybe.

We’ll see.

8 ) Chris Benoit to ECW: This selection, I love with all my heart for a couple of reasons.

-Benoit will finally get his hands on a world title again.

-The ECW championship will FINALLY be in the possession of an ECW ORIGINAL again (go away, Lashley, Vince, and Show).

-Benoit was getting no love on RAW or Smackdown. Why not return to your roots when the rest of the world doesn’t seem to be appreciative of your skills?

-It would be fascinating to see The Rabid Wolverine wrestle fresh talent in the form of guys like Elijah Burke, CM Punk, and Kevin Thorn (assuming they stay in ECW, of course).

This is seemingly the beginning of great things for Benoit, at least within the confines of Tuesday nights.

Go on, Chris. Prove your mettle. Prove that technical wrestling isn’t dead (John Cena…booo). Make the haters and the pretenders, TAP OUT.

9) Boogeyman to ECW: I’ll make this short, and sweet. Wild animals need to be caged to be controlled.

Get the point? The Boogeyman can take his black body paint and his worms anywhere, and he’d make quite an impact, but in truth, no brand seems to fit him more than ECW.

Blood? Barbed wire? Chairs? Matches with the most freakish stipulations?

It’s tantamount to rolling out the red carpet for Boogey. Don’t worry- be crazy.

He’s coming to ‘getcha. No matter how silly it may seem.

Uh huh. Wake me up when it’s over.

10) Chris Masters to Smackdown: After a losing streak courtesy of the Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella, Chris Masters has been shipped of to Smackdown to, presumably, achieve greater things via the maximizing his abilities.

But really, is talent the issue here, or is the existence of a shoddy storyline?

In my view, the latter seems to be more true.

Not too long ago, Masters was in contention for the World Tag Team Titles, and the Intercontinental and WWE Titles. As time went by, he became nothing more than a glorified jobber, and a sideshow freak (Masterlock Challenge? Please. What a farce). Perhaps this move to Friday nights will help WWE writers give Masters a fresh chance at glory. At least make him be in the mix for the World Heavyweight Championship, or maybe, the United States Title. I feel that even temporarily, this twenty something kid with muscles the size of planets could carry gold with a semblance of dignity. He could be a strong crowd drawer too, if writers can emphasize the supposedly “unstoppable” nature of his signature maneuver again (it would come to the fore even more if he had gold around his massive waist, or at least, was in the hunt for some).

Masterful move? Quite frankly, yes. Done deal? Not by any means. The Great Khali doesn’t need any more victims. Matt Hardy needs other people to “upset”. Batista ought to look elsewhere for “tune up match fodder”. Masters deserves a better spot in the sun, and everyone knows it. Well, except maybe for Vince and Steph McMahon.

-Lord knows what will happen in the supplemental draft which will happen at 12pm ET on Wednesday. Personally, I hope the Hardys are formally reunited, Randy Orton moves to Smackdown, Kevin Thorn goes to Smackdown, Melina goes to RAW, and Johnny Nitro goes to ECW. Those are just my initial thoughts on the matter. I’ll post more as soon as my brain decides to cooperate. =)

by MC

The photo you see above has not been retouched in any manner. WWE Chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon really is the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

I was never really big on the technical side of graphic design anyway, so, go figure.

At the most recent WWE Pay-Per-View event, “Backlash”, Umaga, Shane McMahon, and Vince McMahon were pitted against then ECW titleholder Bobby Lashley in a handicap, no-holds-barred, matchup. Any wrestling fan out there who has been gotten around to knowing the tendencies of Vince McMahon over the years shouldn’t be too surprised at this latest development. The boss likes to boost his ego in front of the world, whether it be through flaunting the Kiss-My-Ass club, or taking names during tirades on RAW, Smackdown, and ECW.

As annoying as Vinnie Mac being champion maybe to the novice wrestling fanatic, him being a titleholder can actually be said to be a good thing, marketing wise, for the ECW brand. Since it’s “rebirth” in 2006, the storyline underlying ECW has been rather bland, in that, it’s been predictable, slow, and without “wit”.

If the boss holding the most “blood drenched” title in sports entertainment isn’t enough of a push and isn’t enough of an exercise on “comedic genius”, then, well, we might as well bring back the original Horsemen to the WWE. Pro-wrestling isn’t just about athletic competition. It’s also, well, about “clowns with muscles”. Form, here, can tend to be just as essential as content.

Rob Van Dam, an ECW original, has staked his claim to the ECW World Title. RVD vs. McMahon? Now that’s compelling.

Maybe we could see another hair versus hair match between the two, somewhere down the road. Our appetite for “almost perverse entertainment”, invariably becomes satiated, and with utmost hilarity, no less.

Talk about getting your money’s worth. =)

By MC

No, the title of this post isn’t suggestive of some inspirational, Oprah Winfrey-be the best you can be sort of talk.

Instead, it basically describes, in the most succinct manner possible, the finish on WWE chairman Vince McMahon’s bit of “crowning glory”, post Wrestlemania 23.

Over 80 thousand rabid WWE fans saw Vince’s “crown” taken away from him, both figuratively, and literally.

For those of you who missed it, ECW champion Bobby Lashley, with the help of the ever anti-establishment rebel in Stone Cold Steve Austin, defeated Intercontinental Champion Umaga in the first hair versus hair match the WWE has seen, since, well, Angle- Jericho (Angle lost that bout and has worn the bald do, proudly, I might add, ever since).

As much as Vinny Mac was totally embarrassed as a result of the “haircut seen ’round the world”, it can be said that both McMahon, AND Trump have gotten the last laugh- in reality.

The little circus act created so much publicity leading up to WM 23 and post WM that it can be said that it is almost certain that ad revenues, for the both the WWE and any Trump venture to come in the conceivable future, will be on the rise.

In the WWE plotline fishbowl, it can be said, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the McMahon-Trump tiff created a nice sidelite as a complementary piece to more high profile rivalries such a Cena-HBK (HBK should be the champion as we speak…if only to shake things up a bit), Undertaker-Batista (it’s about time the Deadman became champion again, and his becoming champion pretty much puts Batista boring on-screen persona in a gawky position), and heck, even Melina-Ashley Mazzaro (I was going to put Benoit-MVP, but well, we all know that either the Rabid Wolverine gets cheated out of the US title, the title for sly, young, up and coming, midcarders, or he gets to keep the US belt forever and ever until everyone forgets about just how great an athlete Benoit is…again).

Amidst failures like the ongoing wars between Kane and the Great” I will eat your planet” Khali, and Deuce and Domino (borrrrringgg), the Battle of the Billionaires provided both wrestling newbies, and old time wrestling fanatics like myself, even for just one second, something to truly chuckle about.

Back to business, then. Back to the equal ratio of “Cena sucks” and “Cena rocks” chants. Back to a once again angst-ridden Shawn Michaels. And once again back to the one man show that is Bobby Lashley on ECW (ps- they reeeeeallly should give an ECW original like Sabu the belt at some point).

Water break’s over. =)