Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[Andrew]

Good for RVD, though it's another case of a talent built up somewhere else (originally ECW but for years associated with WWE) getting the run with the title. One wonders how long it will be before RVD is busted for possession or whatever, leaving TNA red faced. Of course, Jeff Hardy himself could be facing jail time in the near future, what a wonderful PR situation that would create for TNA as well.

[JaoSming]

Evidently TNA will be incorporating a ranking system for the #1 contendership, and all I can say is awesome.

As I've said before, wrestling only works for me if everyone's goal is to get a championship and then get side tracked in feuds going up that ladder. I like that wrestlers in feuds still have to fight other wrestlers involved in other feuds because it's their "job" if you will. Without that aspect it is just feuds which more or less makes it a half naked soap opera. I mean I'll have to wait till next week to see how it is implemented and then in the coming weeks if it will even mean anything, but I like the thought of it.

[Andrew]

Isn't that pretty much what every promotion does and has always done though? Some wrestlers just aren't cut out to main event though and thus they remain in the undercard.

[JaoSming]

i understand that some aren't meant for the main events, i have no problem with leaving them in the dust, but I fail to remember a public ranking system done by a promotion.

I know it's been done multiple times before, I just can't think of examples.

[Andrew]

Sorry, I was talking about the booking concept in general. As far as representing the system in kayfabe, that hasn't been done as often or as blatantly, if at all, so that part of the approach is certainly fresh.

[J@3]

A public ranking system is a pretty awesome idea. You could center entire storylines about guys going after people ranked higher than them trying to climb the ladder.

[Andrew]

For sure, it's got a lot of potential if done properly.

[JaoSming]

and it will do a good job letting people know who some of the TNA Originals are who still don't know.

the one thing that worries me is that they mentioned "fan interaction" with the rankings.

[Andrew]

That kind of stuff can be worked or at least manipulated. The votes for WWE's Taboo Tuesday/Cyber Sunday PPVs were reportedly legit, but they booked the lead-up in a way that at least influenced the voting and probably had a good enough idea of what the eventual results would look like. TNA could do something similar, which keeps the interactive element while still allowing them to move forward with the plans they have in place.

[buzzy]

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/superstarsreleased

WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Divas Mickie James and Katie Lea Burchill as well as Superstars Shelton Benjamin, Kung Fu Naki, Slam Master J and Jimmy Wang Yang as of today, April 22, 2010. We wish them the best in all future endeavors.

Mickie probably wanted to be released because of her music carrer n shit, but Shelton .. damn

[shadowgrin]

Kung Fu Naki and Jimmy Wang Yang?!? Nooo. They were always good for a laugh and Jimmy is pretty decent in the ring.
TNA should grab Benjamin quick and use him properly.

[Andrew]

Shame about Mickie, though I guess she does have other opportunities she wants to pursue. Doesn't help the Divas division at all. Shelton Benjamin could never seem to take that next step, but they're losing a great worker in letting him go.

[Lean]

Damn.

What were they thinking? Among the current Divas, Mickie is one of those who can put up a great match. Jimmy Wang and Funaki are always in dark matches (I can see this happening to Yoshi Tatsu as well), and Shelton, 'nuff said.

[Andrew]

Perhaps she asked for her release, though it wouldn't surprise me if creative (stupidly) has nothing for her and have decided to let her go in the name of cutting costs.

[Andrew]

WNW: Incidents On European Tour Led To Mickie James' WWE Release Today

According to sources, one reason WWE decided to release Mickie James along with the five other WWE releases today was because of some incidents during the recent European tour.

As if travel were not bad enough on the tour, Mickie James reportedly made things worse on more than one occassion when she arrived late for the bus, which held up travel for the rest of the WWE crew.

That was considered the final straw, as James already had acquired heat on her in the recent past, a situation which resulted in her being moved to SmackDown! in a disciplinary action on the part of WWE.

There you have it. Still a stupid move by WWE, but then that's par for the course in the PG era.

[J@3]

Mike Knox is gone too. Surprised about Benjamin.

[Andrew]

Only a matter of time with Knox. Benjamin seemed to have more security as a guy who could always put on a show in the MITB matches and flit back and forth between glorified enhancement talent and solid midcarder depending on how much attention creative was paying to him.

[JaoSming]

after tables, steel steps, and barricades.......duct tape? wins the match

new low

[Andrew]

Reminds me a little of Mick Foley winning the title from The Rock by pinning him with a forklift. Kinda creative in its own way but it doesn't book the winner to look very strong.

[buzzy]

The ending was pretty much the opposite of what Cena's character stands for. Would have been more fitting in an Eddie Guerrero match or something like that.

[Andrew]

True. Would've been great for a heel Cena though.

[Lean]

Morrisson, R-Truth to Raw?

This is just lame, I believe.

[buzzy]

RAW got quite stacked yesterday. I like it though. RAW's main event scene can be freshend up (apparently Edge turned heel yesterday and is starting a program with Orton) while SD might be the brand to develop new World Champions (Kofi and Christian went to SD).

Too bad there won't be a E+C reunion again, since they both changed brands.

[Lean]

I was surprised that Orton wasn't "traded" to SmackDown following that Swagger-Orton match at Extreme Rules.

[Andrew]

If they're intent on building some of those new faces on RAW, then it's not too bad. Still, sucks for those guys to be stuck on the show that's degenerating into a bad attempt at wrestling's Saturday Night Live. Hopefully it means guys like Christian and MVP can get a good run on Smackdown though, Christian in particular is way overdue.