Wrestling News August 8, 2005
The biggest new over the weekend was the edict by Vince McMahon for cruiserweights to stop doing certain top rope maneuvers. World Wrestling Entertainment officials have made an effort to tone down several high flying moves, putting the word out that there is an unofficial ban of sorts on both the 450 splash and the shooting star press. The edict, said to have come down from Vince McMahon, is due to several recent injuries from the moves (Billy Kidman giving Chavo Guerrero a concussion with a shooting star, Juventud Guerrera nailing Paul London with a knee to the face with a 450 and causing a major scare, most notably). The edict actually went out about two weeks back to the Cruiserweights. When Paul London used a shooting star against Nunzio on a recent edition of Velocity, he was told not to do it again by WWE officials and to come up with a new finisher. London was said to have been noticeably upset about being told to tone down his style.
SD: I know this move has caught a lot of hell from the internet wrestling community but I am mostly in agreement with it for a number of reasons. First, they have become too commonplace. Yes they are extraordinary but when a fireman’s carry gets a bigger pop you know something is wrong.
Second, the two moves mentioned involve a loss of control on the part of the performers who do them. They spend their energy trying to finish the flips that they are unable to fully protect their opponents. Witness: Kidman’s SSP on Chavo last year and Juvy’s 450 on London this year. Yes, those are only a couple examples but it’s part of the feeling now. Now, this may be unfair to London who has never been involved in an injury (as far as I know) and always looks extremely crisp out there but you really can’t take any chances.
Third, this doesn’t take away from the cruiserweight division at all. If anybody remembers early WCW CW matches, most of the performers in the division weren’t doing moves of the sort. Ohtani, Benoit, Malenko and Eddie made up the core of the beginning of the division and none of them did moves like that. Some moves off the top may have happened but they were relegated to impact moves rather than spots. If a problem is to be laid on problems with the division it begins and ends with the writers who refuse to give it the attention it deserves.
The Coach is going to be staying on as the third announcer on Raw according to the WWE. “Vince (McMahon) and the producers came to me the day before Vengeance and said I might be doing it,” Coach told WWE.com. “They wanted the broadcast team to get a little younger and a little better looking. But I didn’t know for sure I was in until a few hours before the show.”
From an interview with JR we learn his view about the decision: “A lot of people might not like Coach on the broadcast,” said Ross. “A lot of people watch wrestling for the steak, and I think I can bring that. But a lot of people watch it for the sizzle or the entertainment. They want somebody to stir the pot, and certainly both Lawler and Coach have the ability to do that. Coach brings a different demographic and a knowledge of pop culture, which is good. Every young guy should get the opportunity to see if they can come and hunt with the big dogs, and this is his chance.”
He continues: “I would have liked more time to prepare, but my job isn’t to question those decisions,” Ross told WWE.com. “I’m a team player, and if that’s what management thought was best for the company, then I’m going to make it work.”
SD: I don’t care what people may think: Coach is going to be a great color commentator. He brings a lot more to the table right now than Lawler has since late 1998. With all of the wealth of information about the product that Lawler has he pisses it all away to be the “cute” perverted tweener to stay over wit the fans. It doesn’t add to the product at all. With Coach out there we have somebody in touch with today’s demographic, willing to be the heel and actually calls the in-ring action.
The few times we saw JR and Coach alone (and they weren’t in that horrid feud) the product was far more enjoyable and wasn’t mentally (at least) muted by me. If WWE feels the need to go back to the 2-man system I hope they do the right thing and put Lawler on Heat.
The first edition of Joey Styles' Extremely Hardcore PPV will be taped alongside Women’s Extreme Wrestling on Saturday 8/20 in Atlanta, Georgia. A few of the names scheduled to appear are:
Sabu, Justin Credible, Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney, Gary Wolfe, Mikey Whipwreck, CW Anderson, New Jack, and Rodney Mack, with John Finnegan refereeing and Stephen DeAngelis ring announcing.
The matches penciled in right now are:
New Jack and NWA Wildside wrestler Murder One vs Axl Rotton and Balls Mahoney
Sabu vs Justin Credible
Mikey Whipwreck vs CW Anderson
Rodney Mack vs Pitbull Gary Wolf
Styles' partners in the project are former ECW officials Steve Karel, Greg Bagarozy and Dan Kowal. The first PPV will air on In Demand on 9/9.
SD: Best of luck, guys.
Michelle McCool tells her local paper that she may not be on tv – but that’s good news! Michelle remains on the payroll and soon will head to Atlanta, where she'll begin training at a new WWE developmental facility.
"It's called Deep South Wrestling," she said Thursday. "They do their own shows, but they train every day. It teaches you in-ring psychology and keeps you in shape for the physicality of the business.
"Originally, I enjoyed the week off, but now I miss the friends I've made on the road."
SD: And we now have another name for what is sounding to be a very good wrestling territory.
TNAwrestling.com has learned that retail leader Wal-Mart will feature a new TNA Wrestling DVD combo pack in stores in time for the holiday season.
“TNA Anthology: The Epic Set” will feature over ten hours of Total Nonstop Action, featuring the “Victory Road”, “Turning Point” and “Lockdown” Pay-Per-Views as one mega set. In addition, TNAwrestling.com has learned that the box set will be priced under $30, making it an affordable, must-have for every wrestling fan. TNA Wrestling will post an official release on the Wal-Mart “TNA Anthology” box set in the upcoming days.
SD: At the link you’ll find a match listing of the best of the X-Division DVD as well. Really, this is a bargain for wrestling fans. I’m not the biggest fan of the company for reasons I won’t get into right now but $30 for 10 hours of DVD quality wrestling is a bargain. The ppvs have some excellent matches and moments.
ROH News & Notes:
- Ring Of Honor is pleased to announce that it has agreed to terms with "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce. He is already signed for the 9/17 Long Island and 9/24 Boston events.
- A special match has been signed for the 8/20 afternoon "Do Or Die V" event in Morristown, NJ. It will be John McChesney vs. Sterling James Keenan and the IWC Super Indy Title will be on the line!
SD: I know this move has caught a lot of hell from the internet wrestling community but I am mostly in agreement with it for a number of reasons. First, they have become too commonplace. Yes they are extraordinary but when a fireman’s carry gets a bigger pop you know something is wrong.
Second, the two moves mentioned involve a loss of control on the part of the performers who do them. They spend their energy trying to finish the flips that they are unable to fully protect their opponents. Witness: Kidman’s SSP on Chavo last year and Juvy’s 450 on London this year. Yes, those are only a couple examples but it’s part of the feeling now. Now, this may be unfair to London who has never been involved in an injury (as far as I know) and always looks extremely crisp out there but you really can’t take any chances.
Third, this doesn’t take away from the cruiserweight division at all. If anybody remembers early WCW CW matches, most of the performers in the division weren’t doing moves of the sort. Ohtani, Benoit, Malenko and Eddie made up the core of the beginning of the division and none of them did moves like that. Some moves off the top may have happened but they were relegated to impact moves rather than spots. If a problem is to be laid on problems with the division it begins and ends with the writers who refuse to give it the attention it deserves.
The Coach is going to be staying on as the third announcer on Raw according to the WWE. “Vince (McMahon) and the producers came to me the day before Vengeance and said I might be doing it,” Coach told WWE.com. “They wanted the broadcast team to get a little younger and a little better looking. But I didn’t know for sure I was in until a few hours before the show.”
From an interview with JR we learn his view about the decision: “A lot of people might not like Coach on the broadcast,” said Ross. “A lot of people watch wrestling for the steak, and I think I can bring that. But a lot of people watch it for the sizzle or the entertainment. They want somebody to stir the pot, and certainly both Lawler and Coach have the ability to do that. Coach brings a different demographic and a knowledge of pop culture, which is good. Every young guy should get the opportunity to see if they can come and hunt with the big dogs, and this is his chance.”
He continues: “I would have liked more time to prepare, but my job isn’t to question those decisions,” Ross told WWE.com. “I’m a team player, and if that’s what management thought was best for the company, then I’m going to make it work.”
SD: I don’t care what people may think: Coach is going to be a great color commentator. He brings a lot more to the table right now than Lawler has since late 1998. With all of the wealth of information about the product that Lawler has he pisses it all away to be the “cute” perverted tweener to stay over wit the fans. It doesn’t add to the product at all. With Coach out there we have somebody in touch with today’s demographic, willing to be the heel and actually calls the in-ring action.
The few times we saw JR and Coach alone (and they weren’t in that horrid feud) the product was far more enjoyable and wasn’t mentally (at least) muted by me. If WWE feels the need to go back to the 2-man system I hope they do the right thing and put Lawler on Heat.
The first edition of Joey Styles' Extremely Hardcore PPV will be taped alongside Women’s Extreme Wrestling on Saturday 8/20 in Atlanta, Georgia. A few of the names scheduled to appear are:
Sabu, Justin Credible, Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney, Gary Wolfe, Mikey Whipwreck, CW Anderson, New Jack, and Rodney Mack, with John Finnegan refereeing and Stephen DeAngelis ring announcing.
The matches penciled in right now are:
New Jack and NWA Wildside wrestler Murder One vs Axl Rotton and Balls Mahoney
Sabu vs Justin Credible
Mikey Whipwreck vs CW Anderson
Rodney Mack vs Pitbull Gary Wolf
Styles' partners in the project are former ECW officials Steve Karel, Greg Bagarozy and Dan Kowal. The first PPV will air on In Demand on 9/9.
SD: Best of luck, guys.
Michelle McCool tells her local paper that she may not be on tv – but that’s good news! Michelle remains on the payroll and soon will head to Atlanta, where she'll begin training at a new WWE developmental facility.
"It's called Deep South Wrestling," she said Thursday. "They do their own shows, but they train every day. It teaches you in-ring psychology and keeps you in shape for the physicality of the business.
"Originally, I enjoyed the week off, but now I miss the friends I've made on the road."
SD: And we now have another name for what is sounding to be a very good wrestling territory.
TNAwrestling.com has learned that retail leader Wal-Mart will feature a new TNA Wrestling DVD combo pack in stores in time for the holiday season.
“TNA Anthology: The Epic Set” will feature over ten hours of Total Nonstop Action, featuring the “Victory Road”, “Turning Point” and “Lockdown” Pay-Per-Views as one mega set. In addition, TNAwrestling.com has learned that the box set will be priced under $30, making it an affordable, must-have for every wrestling fan. TNA Wrestling will post an official release on the Wal-Mart “TNA Anthology” box set in the upcoming days.
SD: At the link you’ll find a match listing of the best of the X-Division DVD as well. Really, this is a bargain for wrestling fans. I’m not the biggest fan of the company for reasons I won’t get into right now but $30 for 10 hours of DVD quality wrestling is a bargain. The ppvs have some excellent matches and moments.
ROH News & Notes:
- Ring Of Honor is pleased to announce that it has agreed to terms with "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce. He is already signed for the 9/17 Long Island and 9/24 Boston events.
- A special match has been signed for the 8/20 afternoon "Do Or Die V" event in Morristown, NJ. It will be John McChesney vs. Sterling James Keenan and the IWC Super Indy Title will be on the line!
posted by Stefan at 8:21 PM
1 Comments:
Yeah FunkyM would rate Coach better than Lawler right now too. At least Lawler isn't screaming "PUPPIES!!!!!!!!" anymore.
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