After what seems like an eternity, this week I decided that no matter what happened, I would write something positive, I would say nice things, and maybe see past everything that is bad in wrestling right now, and find something that would make me be the naturally positive and not grumpy at all person that I really am.
Wrestling actually had a great shot at this, personally it has been a bit of an epic week.I mentioned an exam last week, I honest to god kicked its ass. That meant I got to go and hand in my notice at the job I have been doing for just short of 10 years, a job I have not particularly even liked for the last 3 of those 10.
So I was in a positive frame of mind, I was looking for something positive to write about, all I really needed was for wrestling to deliver. I managed to make that happen quite easily, I watched none. No Raw, no Impact, no Slammiversary. I was actually thinking if I was gonna write something, I probably should watch something, and just explain it as me taking one for the team, watching it so you don’t have to kind of thing, but then I thought about how selfless that sounded, and figured that is just not me.
So today I get to stay positive, by dipping my toe into a few subjects, rather than ranting about the things that would have pissed me off. And I am sure there were plenty of those things.
First things first, that darling of the IWC Colt Cabana is back with a new DVD, the originally titled Wrestling Road Diaries Too. This is particularly good news, because it gave me an excuse to not watch anything else, this was my weekly research. Colt is joined this time round by the Big LG, and that surprisingly is not a fridge, but Luke/Doc Gallows, and Cliff ‘Domino’ Compton.
The format has not changed much since the first in the series, three guys in a car, travelling to do shows. I don’t really want to do a DVD review for a couple of reasons,
- I don’t really pay attention enough to do it justice
- Bad News Michael Brown would sue me for gimmick infringement ……brother
- This probably needs one more bullet point or I just look like I am showing off because I remembered how to do bullet points.
So the DVD was fun, we get to see wrestlers in their natural habitat, Compton talking to camera at 5AM from ER is a personal highlight, although nothing can possibly top seeing the three of them taking chops from an elderly lady in a burger bar. The three generally seem to have a great time, and if they seem to be enjoying themselves, it would seem churlish for the viewer not to follow that example.
And enjoy it I did, watching the three interact with anyone who crossed their path, from a 98 year old on a mini tractor, to a promoters son who gets to manage the trio for the night, the DVD is, as expected, a look at three guys making money and having fun doing it. Although with Gallows carrying a horrendous looking injury, maybe he is having a bit less fun than the other two.
Next positive thing, and this might seem strange, is the bloodletting at WWE. Nine wrestlers released, although that number may have increased since I last could be bothered to look. How is this positive? Well there is one person on that list that I have hoped for some time would be released, and surprisingly it is not JTG,
Drew McIntyre arrived in WWE, (the third time) as a grumpy Scot. He was fairly successful, winning IC gold as well as the Tag belts with Cody Rhodes before seemingly knocking himself out on that glass ceiling. He has never recovered.
Now I don’t want to tell Vinny Mac how to run his business, his share price is low enough without my help, but I think he missed a trick here. having 3MB jobbing to anyone and everyone, having McIntyre lose to a baby bull, all that stuff might be amusing for the live crowd, but for a global TV audience, it is obviously just filler for a three hour show, and time to go make a sandwich.
Drew obviously has some talent, he got a contract at WWE, held titles, and anyone who saw him and Dean Ambrose just over a week ago can see he is willing to take the bumps. So why waste him on Los Matadores?
WWE has never been shy about exploiting national stereotypes. Hacksaw with his flag and U-S-A chant, the aforementioned matadors, Lana, the ‘Russian’ beauty, right back to the Headshrinkers via Aldo Montoya(the Portuguese Man o War), Kofi Kingston, (the Jamaican from Ghana)and even the Hot Rod, the original (Canadian) Scotsman.
So while WWE runs a story with Rusev(Bulgarian) being a big supporter of Russia and Putin, and having a go at Obama and the USA, this is a fight we will never see.
Now compare that to the biggest political story around these days, Scotland’s Independence referendum, and WWE had the chance to mirror that in the ring. With McIntyre having been jobbed out for the last two years, and BNB obviously on the rise, a feud between the two would surely have had the same global appeal that the real story has?
If Obama, Hilary Clinton and Putin are being asked their views on Scottish Independence, and are giving opinions, surely this is quite a big story?
So the positive here is that TNA have a chance to steal that story from under the nose of Vince. Obviously there may be a problem with a no compete clause, and even if that can be sorted, TNA would still have to write the feud, but surely this is a story even they could not mess up?
Bram and Magnus, the two English guys, running roughshod over everyone in their ’empire’, have McIntyre join the group. Bring back the ‘British Invasion’, then after a while, have McIntyre say he wants to be independent. Then just sit back and see what happens in the real world, and copy that.
Have leading figures in the wrestling world give opinions on whether or not they think Drew should be independent, could he even survive on his own, whatever is happening in the REAL campaign is just mirrored in the ring.
Now I have to declare a vested interest here, I am a Scot, and watching a fellow Scot lose to a mini-taur is not nice.I want to see the Scot if not dominate the world, at least be able to give as good as he gets. TNA have the chance here to get in another British wrestler, and run a story which would probably be of interest to its UK audience, no matter which side of this particular fence they sit on.
There would also be a possible problem in that his ex-wife works for the company, but to be honest, when have wrestlers or anyone involved in wrestling ever cared about that? Most of them are far more likely to see it as a chance to have another storyline, and exploit the situation as much as possible.
If I am being completely honest, I don’t really want any of that to happen. Drew has suffered enough in the last few years without exposing him to a trip up Russo Mountain( copyright MFX Podcast).
Instead, maybe Drew should come home, wrestle in the UK, for a UK audience who will appreciate him. It may not sound glamorous, but even a wet weekend in Bognor has to be better than having your ass handed to you by a midget in a bull suit?
And finally, perhaps the most positive thing, the break up of The Shield. I know a lot has probably been written elsewhere about something that happened a few weeks ago, but realistically, this was fantastic.
The Shield, for the first time in a long time, were broken up at the top. They had nowhere to go except continuing feuds with Evolution and the Wyatts, and while that would have been OK, I don’t really want to see that any more. Removing one of them, and probably the one we least expected to break ranks gave us a great moment on Raw, some great reaction the next week, and opens up all new possibilities.
For WWE, that obviously means getting Cena involved, as they continue to try and make Cena cool to the over 12 market. But now they are down to two members, they can either take on more feuds, or continue with the new dynamic in the rivalry with Evolution. Either way, we get to see something new, involving the best booked faction WWE have had in a long time. Personally, I would cool the feud with HHH, have Orton win MITB, then use the Shield to help Bryan win the belt back.
By my reckoning, that is three topics, and I have been positive about them all. That should fulfil my contractual obligations re positivity for the next few years, so don’t be expecting this kind of thing every week…
Before I finish this week, I should make an apology. Last week, when unsuccessfully pimping out my twitter account (@GrantCookDFC by the way), I may have suggested that my girlfriend was unbearable now she has more followers than me. That was not really what I meant to say, I meant to say shit I forgot she reads this I was happy for her, and in no way was I jealous or pissed off.
If however anyone would like to help me redress balance to the universe, get on twitter, follow me and make my world a sanctuary of smug…
As usual, I would like to highlight the sterling work done by all my fellow writers here on SLTD, some of them actually watch shows, and put some thought into articles.and not just because its 7 AM and their deadline is in 5 hours…
Again, I would also like to direct everyone’s attention to the ever popular SLTD Radio, and the returning MFX podcast, both of which are superb at keeping you informed of anything important going on in the world of pro wrestling. And just in case I have forgotten to mention it, my twitter account. @GrantCookDFC is the place to go for infrequent tweets about wrestling, football and anything else that catches my attention for more than 2 seconds. Get on board with the fantastic me on twitter, and I personally guarantee* a fun filled life awaits, and if your life is not better because of it, I will give you money.
*guarantee not valid anywhere,no money will ever be given out.
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