By: David Stephens of Wrestleview.com
Ousta! Welcome back to the only WrestleView column covering topics both nowhere yet everywhere at once. If you are new to the column you are probably going to hate me for the first couple weeks, but then you are going to hit a point where you say ‘oh wait a minute, I think he gets it’. Don’t worry, that’s exactly how it is designed to be. This column is all about gut reactions and traveling thoughts. As the great Andy Kaufman once said: “I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut, or get angry from the gut”.
Are you ready? The stop questioning your heart and join me, because it’s time for “That’s a Wrap”!
John Morrison
He’s amazing. I love John Morrison. I enjoy watching him on my TV. I am a fan of John Morrison.
Alright, I needed to get that admission out of the way so that I can continue with my point. Apparently, the popular thing to do right now is hate on John Morrison. I’m not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden he is being considered by some to be a horrendous wrestler. Nicknames such as the “Shaman of Setup” have been tossed around in reference to the time it takes for each of his spots. Sometimes I wonder if I don’t have a different brand of kool-aid that I drink, because I fail to see the faults which are supposedly detrimental to his character.
Morrison is a different kind of wrestler. You aren’t going to see the John Cena brawling style from him because it wouldn’t be realistic. I actually started to lose interest in Morrison over the past couple of years. His character seemed to be getting stale, and he seemed to be faltering as a baby face.
Then, there was Parkour. After seeing Morrison backstage work through a free running drill the number one question in my mind was, “why hasn’t this been done before?”. It just makes sense. In the age of incredibly athletic wrestling, why did it take so long for Parkour to make it to the WWE? The two arts (yes, I believe that professional wrestling is an art) are made for each other. Plus, Parkour has received more mainstream attention over the past couple of years thanks to innovations such as youtube, and being featured in the James Bond movie “Casino Royale”. It was time for the WWE to cash in on the fever.
Bieber fever?
Nope, Parkour fever.
I have a very open mind when it comes to wrestling. I enjoy an almost absurd collection of styles and promotions. I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that I am the most eclectic in terms of wrestling consumption on WrestleView. I’ve been on my feet to cheer for Deathmatch wrestlers bleeding galloons of blood, Chikara wrestlers flying outside of the ring, and the hard chops of the Japanese Strong Style wrestlers. I like it all. But, I’m intelligent enough to realize that most fans aren’t that bold in their viewership. There is nothing wrong with that, it is a collection of niches, but I do invite you to check out styles of wrestling you have overlooked.
This all goes to point on the question of, “why someone would like John Morrison”. The answer is because he is different, and he is exciting to watch. I’ve already suspended my disbelief enough to accept that somehow the 5 Knuckle Shuffle is a devastating maneuver. It’s not hard to believe in a springboard 450 Splash to the outside of the ring.
Do his moves take some setup? Yes.
Are his sets heavily choereographed? Yes.
Does he have a ridicolous body? Yes
Should his abs ALWAYS be bedazzled? You betcha!
Do those factors make him a bad wrestler? Absolutely not.
Sports ENTERTAINMENT. World Wrestling ENTERTAINMENT. John Morrison ENTERTAINS me.
So, “who would like John Morrison”? Me.
As well as those who are entertained by flashy and athletic wrestling.
What’s in the News?
My opinions are in italics
All news is gathered from WrestleView.com unless otherwise noted
The Zach Ryder character is going to be geared toward being a “Jersey Shore” knock off.
-as long as they play his theme song, I’m all for him gaining screen time
Shelton Benjamin recently posted about his WWE release on his official Twitter account:
“WWE never made me any promises just gave me an opportunity to make money. And I made a lot of money, so (they) fulfilled their end. I am not bitter or scourned and I’ve got too much pride, passion, and confidence in myself to cry like a baby because i was released. Do I think I should have been a World Champion, HELL YES!, was I underutilized, without a doubt, do I have issue with WWE, NO! I NEED TO BE AWAY FROM WWE so I can grow are a performer. There are many things about that company that SUCK, but i got no time to be crying about it. I am enjoying a good life now and if history serves chances are you haven’t seen the last on me in WWE even if I go elsewhere along the way.”
-that’s the proper and respectful way to address the issue (someone clue in Matt Hardy)
To follow up our report yesterday regarding WWE star Christian suffering a torn pectoral muscle, it has now been confirmed that he underwent surgery for the injury on Thursday. He is expected to be out of action for at least six months. A storyline will take place on tonight’s Smackdown to explain his absence from the show going forward.
-this story really sucks. Christian is one of the most underutilized talents that the WWE possess
The Amazing Red def. Jay Lethal to become the new TNA X Division Champion at TNA’s house show event tonight in New York City, NY at the Hammerstein Ballroom. We are seeking live reports from that show and the event taking place in Oklahoma City, OK as well.
-Congrats Amazing Red!!!!!!!
Jay Lethal def. The Amazing Red to once again become the new TNA X Division Champion at TNA’s house show tonight in Rahway, New Jersey. Red won the title beating Lethal two nights ago at TNA’s house show in New York City, NY at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
-oh, nevermind
Paul Bearer, the former manager of The Undertaker, made his return to WWE on last night’s episode of Smackdown (the final episode on MyNetworkTV) during a segment involving WWE World Heavyweight Champion Kane and Undertaker.
-you know how there are certain wrestlers that get you really excited simply by appearing? Paul Bearer is that guy for me
Kofi Kingston was off the weekend of September 11 from WWE live events as he was getting married reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We would like to issue a congratulations to Kingston and his family and friends.
I bet his honeymoon was filled with lots of “boom, boom, booms”
Jeff Jarrett, who helps run TNA house show events, decided to call an audible at events last weekend when Mr. Anderson vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero was the scheduled main event for the shows. Jarrett pushed The Machineguns vs. Beer Money into the main event slot after the match between Anderson and Pope didn’t go well in Canton, OH and The Machineguns/Beer Money stole the show.
-MCMG/Beer Money continues to be one of the strongest feuds of the year, especially where tag teams are considered
Matt Hardy has been removed from the Smackdown opening video and replaced with Alberto Del Rio.
-good
PWinsider reports that all charges against Smackdown diva Tiffany have been dropped in her domestic violence arrest against her husband Drew McIntyre.
-for the record, I love Tiffany
Mick Foley announced today on his official Twitter page that he is teaming up with Union Square Media to develop a major movie based on his life story.
-word on the street is that Mickey Rourke will star. Actually, that’s a bold faced lie
Brian Fritz of AOL Fanhouse and “Between the Ropes” radio has an interview up with TNA star Robert Roode where he talks about avoiding social networking and interacting with wrestling fans:
“I don’t want to sound cliché, but I’m pretty old school. If people hate me watching me on TV, I want them to kind of hate me when I’m away from the ring too. I don’t want to go out and beat the crap out of somebody or make somebody mad to where people wanna kill me while they’re sitting on the couch, and then go on the computer and saw how much I love the world. I just think that contradicts itself.”
-an admirable stance to take
Brian Fritz of AOL Fanhouse and “Between the Ropes” radio is featuring an interview with TNA star Mick Foley talking about the release of his new book and why he feels he gets too much TV time on TNA Impact every week:
“To be honest, I think I have taken up too much of the show but that’s not my call,” he said “I would like to be the guy that helps pave the way for some of the younger guys and I’ve tried to do that on occasion and I hope to do that in the future. I have taken up too much time on the show. I think we should be cutting back — and we have cut back — on some of the segment and allow the wrestlers to wrestle.”
-I concur
Ratings
RAW 9/27 – 2.7 ↓
iMpact 9/23– 1.0 ↓
NXT 9/14 – 0.81 ↓
Superstars 9/23 – 0.69 –
WWE Stock Report
Week Ending Sept. 14 2010
Open: 14.00 ↓
High: 14.17 ↓
Low: 13.59 ↓
Close: 13.83 ↓
Volume: 1,232,756 ↓
Quick Results
RAW Sept. 27
-The Miz & Alex Riley def. United States Champion Daniel Bryan & John Morrison
-Natalya won Diva Battle Royal to become No. 1 contender to the Unified Divas Championship
-Sheamus vs. The Great Khali ended in a No Contest
-John Cena def. Edge
-Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater def. Evan Bourne & Mark Henry
-WWE Tag Team Champions Drew McIntyre & “Dashing” Cody Rhodes def. The Hart Dynasty
-WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho ended in a No Contest
NXT Sept. 28th
Week Four results:
-NXT Rookie Diva Challenge: Kaitlyn won the Wheelbarrow Race (PHOTOS | WATCH)
-NXT Rookie Diva Challenge: A.J. won Diss the Diva (PHOTOS | WATCH)
NXT Rookie Diva Records:
-A.J.: Challenge wins: 3, Win/Loss record: 2-1
-Aksana: Challenge wins: 0, Win/Loss record: 0-2
-Jamie: Challenge wins: 1, Win/Loss record: 2-0
-Kaitlyn: Challenge wins: 2, Win/Loss record: 1-1
-Maxine: Challenge wins: 0, Win/Loss record: 0-2
-Naomi: Challenge wins: 2, Win/Loss record: 2-0
Superstars Sept. 16th
-Primo def. JTG
-Goldust def. William Regal
Smackdown Sept. 24
-World Heavyweight Champion Kane def. Chris Masters
-WWE Tag Team Champions “Dashing” Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre def. The Hart Dynasty
-Chavo Guerrero def. Kaval
-Big Show def. Curt Hawkins & Vance Archer (Handicap Match)
-CM Punk def. Luke Gallows
-MVP def. Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler (Count-out)
Final Thoughts
-A glass of milk really makes all the difference when it comes to Peanut Butter & Jelly
-It must suck to be allergic to Peanut Butter
-George Washington Carver was a genius for discovering Peanut Butter
-Americans consume 700 million pounds of peanut butter annually, about three pounds per person!
So ‘that’s a wrap’…. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I’m always up for reading your thoughts so send them ’em on over.
Look for the newest edition to the WrestleView Radio Network: “The Teacher’s Lounge” featuring Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V) and myself this Saturday!
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