Happy New Year everybody! And now that it’s 2005 it’s time for me to get back into my routine. Impact wasn’t shown here in Chicago on Friday but I did watch Smackdown the night before and I definitely want to talk about that first. And then I’m going to switch over to ECW. I finally watched DVD and there’s a huge rumor going around about Paul Heyman, ECW and Stephanie McMahon that I just have to talk about all of that. Can you feel my enthusiasm? It’s just so nice to be back talking about one of my favorite things, WRESTLING.
I was rather pleased with Thursday’s edition of Smackdown. While it’s nowhere near Raw, it’s starting to come to life again. And I’m going to say that Kurt Angle is a big part of Smack down’s upbeat feeling. But first the show opened with the return of John Cena. Now I’ve said this before when his music hits, I get goose bumps. It’s nice to have Cena back however, I will say that the rap he did in the ring was really bad. Cena’s raps have gone downhill in the last several months. If you recall he spent a lot of time rapping about bathroom subjects and basically about nothing of depth. And this past week’s rap was no different. Maybe because Cena is a face the raps have failed to work, if that’s the case then I say turn him back as a heel and let’s get things edgy again where Cena is concerned. He and Renee Dupree did give the fans a nice opening U.S. title match with Cena defeating the French Phenom. I will also say that watching Cena take a trip into the stands to be with some of the fans in New Orleans was a nice added touch to the show. So welcome back Cena and here’s hoping that in 2005 you find your groove back in the rapping department.
How great is it to have Kurt Angle back on the mic playing the arrogant braggart again? While the Kurt Angle Invitational means nothing to me hearing him sing the praises of JBL was a delight. Telling the fans that JBL likes children and is kind to animals was like hearing the Kurt of old. He can’t play the bad ass, or be the overly sweet baby face; Kurt shines as the guy that loves to brag and thinks that he’s better than anyone. And he makes that character so much better by acting like a spoiled brat. I cannot tell you much I loved watching Angle during this part. As I said the match with “hometown boy” Matt Stryker did nothing for me but Kurt passed my test by his super mic work. I don’t know is it me or have you noticed that since Bob Holly beat up Renee Dupree at that house show a few weeks ago, he seems to be getting more on air time and so many of the fans seem to be right with him? And this all continued when he and smart ass Daniel Puder had a little exchange in the locker room about paying dues to be in the business. Puder has the idea that with the 8 weeks he put in he paid his dues but it’s going to be a feud with Bob Holly to prove him wrong. I’m glad Puder has the UFC background because we all know how dangerous Bob can be in the ring. But I have to say I don’t mind these two having a feud, I’m sure it will be short yet extremely entertaining.
Smackdown was the night of all the titles being put on the line and JBL’s title was included and I know we have all seen this one before. JBL having all the WWE superstars name in a fishbowl and he picks one name out of there for his opponent. Naturally JBL picked Shannon Moore and he took care of him in a few minutes. I’m pretty sure that Moore was the guy last time used in this “ruse” as well. So JBL won and Theodore Long came out challenging just how fair JBL was with the names and when all the names fell out of the fishbowl because of Joy slamming Amy’s head with the bowl (and trust me I have no desire to explain the Amy/Joy thing) Long found out that Moore was put on every paper. JBL blamed Orlando Jordan for all of that and as I said this was nothing that we haven’t seen before. But then Kurt Angle came out things picked up. Kurt was so hurt that the man he praised earlier would cheat like that. He told Long that Smackdown needed a role model and that he wanted to have a title match with JBL. That’s when Long made a Royal Rumble match with Angle vs. JBL vs. Big Show. And now in the back of my mind I just wonder if Angle will take the title from JBL next month.
I enjoyed my friend Carlito Caribbean Cool, threatening to take care of Theodore Long in 2005 during his interview with Josh Matthews. And because I am such a bitch I especially loved Cool teasing Josh about spitting apples in his face. As Carlito walked away and Josh thought he was safe, Carlito managed to spit the juicy apple in Matthews face. Yeah Carlito definitely entertains me. I’m going to tell you right off, that the Heindenreich segment was the worst part of the show and even with Undertaker in the coffin this whole feud just stinks. But things improved with the Funaki vs. Spike Dudley Cruiserweight title match. I’m sorry that this was so short because this was damn good and I want to credit both guys for putting on a super match. The main event with RVD and Rey Mysterio defending the tag team titles against Eddie Guerrero and Booker T was terrific. Earlier in the show Eddie and Book came to RVD and Rey asking for the match. That segment had some good humor in there. Then later Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak in an interview backstage with Josh claimed that they were the most dominant tag team on Smackdown and they should be going for the title that brought out the Bashams announcing that THEY were the dominant team. But in the end RVD and Rey chose Eddie and Booker.
And as I said it was a great main event. I’m watching these four and I can’t tell you how much I loved their work. This match just was loaded with action and I can honestly say it never got dull. We even got Eddie doing his comedy thing by putting the belt on Rey who was down on the mat. When Rey came too he explained to the ref what happened and even though Eddie was supposedly knocked out every now and then he would sit up and wave to Rey. He did it once too often and the ref caught it. It’s those little things that make a match so much more fun to watch. As I said a very good main event and a good show. I left out Amy, Joy and all the other diva’s that have been hired because Vince has shoved them so down our throats I just don’t want to waste my time on them. So a thumbs up for Smackdown.
Okay Christmas day my son Jason and I watched the Rise and Fall of ECW. He only watched it for a little while and went out, but let me tell you it was the best three hours that I have ever sat through. For a fan like me that followed ECW toward the end of it’s run, this DVD was a fantastic history lesson. I recommend this video to EVERY wrestling fan out there. And with ECW becoming so popular again, the latest rumor has been that Vince is bringing back an ECW pay per view in June. The reports have it that Vince wants to bring back as many of the ECW guys as possible, meaning guys that are not with WWE. However, Stephanie supposedly is totally against having this ppv, and if it happens she wants just the guys that are on the WWE roster to be in it. And also many are wondering if Paul Heyman and WWE are through. The latest is that Paul Heyman was eavesdropping on a Raw conference call during a Raw meeting. The rule is that both brands stay with their own shows and they are not allowed to be involved with the other show. Not only was Heyman allegedly eavesdropping but when it was discovered that someone was listening he immediately hung the phone up. They were able to trace the number to Heyman and that’s why he was dropped as a writer and some are saying that Stephanie suspended Paul.
Okay let me say this, I think without a doubt I would order the ECW pay per view no matter what unless it was a really really bad card. But Vince is right you have to bring in the talent from the past to make it worthwhile. There’s not enough on the WWE roster to give you that old feeling. However, I think it’s a bad idea to do this show. My reasoning is, if they only use a some of the guys it’s not going to be the ECW that so many would expect it to be. And if they did bring back a lot of the old talent there’s a possibility that the show could be so good that it would make the WWE guys look second rate. I don’t see anyone benefiting from an ECW pay per view, well the fans would but I really think it could hurt ECW’s image or bring down the guys from WWE.
And as far as Paul being suspended, if it’s true than I say Steph was right. If he did what they say he did then yeah he should be punished. He knows the rules and he blatantly broke them. I’m sure there will be so much more on all of this in the coming weeks.
Ah it’s so great being a wrestling fan. No it really is and I’m all set for Raw. Not the debate but definitely the build up for New Year Revolution. I will be back on Tuesday to talk about the show, again Happy New Year.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
