Well, where to start? All of those who have been released? The way it looks as if there is no question that the Cruiserweight division is totally unimportant? How about the scripting for what occurred after Undertaker squashed Daivari? Man, a really bad week in wrestling as far as I’m concerned. OK, so I’ll go in the order that I’ve mentioned them. Were some of the releases a big surprise? Of course not, at least not to me, and I’d be willing to bet that they weren’t to you either. Quite frankly, I wasn’t even aware that Gangrel was still even on the roster. The same for Marty Jannetty. I saw those two appearances he made with HBK, but it never dawned on me that he was still with the company. Akio, Miss Jackie, Kenzo Suzuki, and Joy Giovanni – especially Joy – did not startle me a bit. Maven had not gotten any type of push for so long, that wasn’t a shock either. I think Billy Kidman had been injured too long for their liking, which is too bad. Dawn Marie is pregnant, and depending on where you read what, it was almost a mutual decision. Spike, at 150 pounds, is way too small in this company that caters to the big man, even though he took bumps that most others wouldn’t get up from.
Now, the ones I really don’t understand. Shannon Moore totally changed his appearance and attitude to generate more excitement. He is a talented young man who, yes I know, is small, but so is Rey Mysterio. Now before you start to write asking me if I’m comparing him with Mysterio, NO, I am not! The point is, just how good could he be? They never gave him the chance to show them. Mark Jindrak is another young athlete who I feel did not get a fair shake. Matt Morgan did everything they asked of him, so what do they do? Involve him in an awful gimmick which stops any momentum he might have started and then dump him. Here was a big man who had the look and the desire, but not a shot in Hell with what they mired him in. The Dudley Boyz – Bubba Ray and D-Von. Did Bubba run his mouth off a bit? Probably. And perhaps they asked for too much money, and maybe this is a way to get rid of an extra tag team. But these two sold tickets now, they put butts in seats, and the way attendance had dropped off you’d think that is what the company would want. I love the Dudleys, and can’t wait to catch them wherever they will be appearing next. Finally, Charlie Haas. For my money this is the most talented of those given their walking papers. He was a hard worker, has a great look, and for what it’s worth (obviously not much to the powers that be!) he can wrestle!
We have not seen the end of the cuts, and I’m afraid that some of those will be good, solid wrestlers. If it is true that a lot of this is so they can afford to pay Brock Lesnar just so he can spit on the company and walk out again, well, they will get what they deserve. I only hope that those out of work get what they deserve – a place to showcase their skills and be appreciated.
I was going to get on my soapbox about the eventual demise of the Cruiserweight division, which certainly seems eminent, but I’m not going to. It’s not worth it, and just pi**es me off. I’ll just buy the TNA pay-per-views to see some of the best Cruiserweight action in the business.
The Undertaker had to face Daivari last Thursday night, and it didn’t take too long for ‘Taker to squash him like a bug. Everything should have ended there, and in some countries, it did. Shows that some people have sense. Listen, I am all for freedom of speech and I do not like censorship, but what happened after that match was appalling! Muhammad Hassan raised his arms above, and in run five terrorists in black hoods, who proceed to pound and choke ‘Taker. England had just been attacked by terrorists, many died in the bombings, and they pick now to expand this story line? What about the Americans and our allies who have been kidnapped, help hostage and executed??? Is this the image that a so-called “patriotic giant” wants to portray? I would think not! A ‘viewers discretion’ memo ran across the bottom of the screen, but who gives a damn about that? What a bunch of crap! In other countries they cut to commercial right after the match and did not show the attack. The WWE has frequently pushed the envelope and is known for doing so. But this was more than that. This was in such poor taste as to be abhorrent. It made the sick Katie Vick necrophelia angle of a couple of years ago seem lighthearted. I love to watch wrestling, I really do. And I enjoy many of the story lines along the way. But I am afraid that this will not be the last time we will be subjected to Hassan’s henchmen, and that makes me both sad and mad. If the writers who came up with this angle, and of course Vince McMahon who makes all the final decisions, have a brain in their heads this will die quickly. Maybe we can forget it ever happened. Too bad those involved in real terrorist attacks don’t have that option.
Be safe and God Bless,
Barb.
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