Before I talk about Survivor Series I’d like to once again bag on the WWE. Listen, I keep reading that the company listens to the fans, so I figure, what the hell! Perhaps someone will quit avoiding the internet writers and rather than thinking that all of us are ignorant idiots, read a few things that are written and take some hints as to what is and isn’t working. My opinions are certainly not the only ones around and many may disagree with me, but I do believe that even though I write my little column each week I am also a regular fan who would really like to get excited about wrestling again. But that is a hard thing to do with some of the goings-on.
It is not a good time to be a wrestler in the WWE, and as long as these cuts keep occurring it will continue to be a scary thing. Some of those cuts I understood, others made no sense to me. Rico is an entertaining wrestler who was given a ridiculous character and put in a really silly story line, pulled it off, did his job, and got fired. From everything I have ever read about him, he never caused any trouble, always came to work, didn’t complain, and was great with the fans. That is a good employee, guys. Carlito is going to need surgery after Survivor Series. I mention this because it is the Rico’s of the company who could pick up the slack when some are injured, need a week to regroup, that sort of thing. If all they keep are what they consider the main event guys, who helps out in a pinch? There are many young talents to be sure, but do they push them out front before they are ready? The answer appears to be yes. Hey, why not? Let’s get rid of the likes of Rico, Johnny Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo and bring back Mark Henry – yippee!
I rather enjoyed Raw this past Monday night until the Simon Dean segment came on. Knowing what would come of it, I changed the channel and turned off the VCR so as not to waste tape. I just channel-surfed around, checking back periodically to see if that portion of the show had ended yet. My friend, who has been watching with me for the past five years, also changed the channel, but she got involved in another show and did not go back until 11:00, at which point she called me and we watched the remaining minutes. I really do not think this is what the WWE has in mind. I mentioned this last week as well, but these segments are so demeaning and cruel – plants in the crowd or not – that I cannot sit back and watch them. There is no entertainment there for me at all, and I’d love to hear from some of you and get your responses. And just for the record, because I know I’ll be asked, I’m five feet tall and weigh 96 pounds, so no, it does not strike a nerve with me! The Katie Vick angle was sick and twisted, this is just mean-spirited.
And no, no, no, SmackDown! is not innocent in this either. They bring us Tough Enough. Man, is this a waste of time. Thirty minutes or more is lost – time during the show that could be used for matches. And I can’t believe that the fans will vote on who shall get a contract to wrestle, for God’s sake! What do they think this is, American Idol? It worked for the Divas, ‘cause does it really matter which pretty girl is prancing around the ring? I’m sure that the seven men left for the TE contest are ones that the company are high on, it just seems wrong for the fans to chose their favorite rather than who would be best for the business.
OK, I got that out of the way. Now on to Survivor Series, and I’m going to be positive here, because once again I’m looking forward to some of these matches. The Intercontinental title will be on the line with Champion Shelton Benjamin going against Christian. We have a great young talent in Benjamin, and while Christian is not a big favorite of mine he is doing a good job and this has the makings of a good match. If they are serious in their objective to push younger talent, than Benjamin should walk away still the Intercontinental Champion.
Trish Stratus will defend her Women’s Championship against Lita. No new push here to be sure, but maybe this will once and for all put an end to the verbal bashing Trish has been giving Lita, not to mention perhaps putting the Kane / baby thing to sleep for good. (Well, maybe not, since this past Monday night Gene Snitsky had another baby reference segment.) At least the two women involved here can wrestle. I get so tired of watching the women who have no wrestling talent being pushed in that direction when others like these two, as well as Molly and Victoria for instance, not being taken seriously enough. For sentimental reasons I’ll pick Lita.
There is an important four-way dance scheduled, one that will decide who will have control of Raw for one month while Eric Bischoff goes on ‘vacation.’ Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Maven and Chris Benoit face the quartet of Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky and Edge to see who gets this honor. Interesting that Snitsky was chosen to participate here – do we have a new Evolution member in the works? And how about Edge? Will he join forces as well? Or will both Snitsky and Edge be so determined to be number one that they blow the chance for the rest of their team and lose the match? Regardless, I think that this match should be a good one, and I like the way the teams are matched up. I’ll take Orton, Y2J, Maven, and Benoit to win here.
On to SmackDown!, and we will see WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield attempt to hold on to his title when he wrestles Booker T. I can’t help but feel that one of the reasons that JBL continues to wear the belt is that once he loses it they won’t know what to do with him. I’m probably wrong, but they haven’t given him any real heat with anyone other than Undertaker, which has already been proven doesn’t work on a weekly basis. For the reason I mentioned, and because I don’t think they will let Booker win the big one, I’ll have to give the nod to JBL.
Thursday night’s resident crazy John Heidenreich will get his chance to stand up to The Undertaker. Heidenreich came, went, and came back again, and I’m not keen on him at all. Regardless of the winner here, I’m pretty certain that I would not like to see a rematch. I am a huge ‘Taker mark, but I think I’d hate to see him have to carry John around the ring more than once. I hope I’m wrong, but Heidenreich has a long way to go, and other than being a really big guy, I’ve yet to see the fascination that the WWE has with him. Obviously, I want The Deadman to win this one.
Four men vie for the Cruiserweight Title. I am a big fan of the cruiserweights and am sad to see the importance of this, and all of the other titles for that matter, falling by the wayside. The three men who will be gunning for Spike Dudley will be Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero and Billy Kidman. Forgetting personalities for a moment, the one to push here would be Kidman. He is a talented wrestler who has been put in rather weak story lines of late, and now he is supposed to be a bit of an ass. I like him much better as a face, but no matter. He is ready to deliver. Chavo is OK, but wouldn’t he be considered a mid-card wrestler in most circles? Hopefully he won’t be next in the long line of the pink slip. Mysterio is super, but will probably play second fiddle. As for Spike (who will probably keep the belt thanks to his brothers), I hate his newest persona. Just how believable is it that Bubba Ray and D-Von crumble and give in to Spike’s outbursts? Not at all. Anyway, Kidman for the win.
Finally and not to be outdone by Raw, eight members of SmackDown! will make up two teams. Kurt Angle will head one team, with the other three people being Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns and Carlito Cool. This is kind of neat, what with the members of his team all being interesting younger talents getting a good break here. I think Jindrak and Reigns will be productive members of the roster with a bit more time, and the only reason I’m not really high on Carlito right now is that I don’t like his character. I do look forward to watching him interact with the others, although since he was recently injured he may have to take a bit of a back seat. Too bad, I’d like to see more. Eddie Guerrero had him team picked out until he was informed by GM Theodore Long that he could not have Mysterio, due to his participation in the Cruiserweight match. Guerrero’s other two men are Rob Van Dam and The Big Show, and I have no idea who he will choose to round out his team. This match should rival the one from Raw, and I look forward to it as well. I would really like for Eddie’s team to win, but I don’t think that will happen. Sorry to say that I see Team Angle victorious.
When the curtain comes down on Survivor Series, new feuds could certainly begin. So much can happen in both of the eight-men matches that some fun and fresh disputes can easily develop. New match-ups would certainly be appreciated. The same could be said with the Cruiserweight match. And what about JBL and Heidenreich? Actually, why not let the two of them have some sort of issue? Booker could win the title and then John and John could go at it. Yeah, I like that. There are opportunities for the WWE to use the matches to make the future competitions different and entertaining. I hope they are able to do so.
I hope you all enjoy Survivor Series.
Be safe and God Bless,
Barb.
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