Week of June 8th to 14th 2009
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 us 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?.
Kayfabe: The Movie (2007)
I stumbled across this gem a couple of weeks ago. I actually had no idea it even existed but it was well worth the time and had me laughing pretty hard. It is essentially a ?mockumentary? (mock documentary) much like the movie ?This is Spinal Tap?.
The movie’s tagline says it all: ?A Fake Real Movie About A Fake Real Sport?
The following synopsis was part of the press release when the film came out on DVD:
?Kayfabe is an award-winning ?mockumentary? which follows a fictional independent wrestling federation (the ?TCICWF?) and examines the numerous challenges faced by the wrestlers as they try to hold the final two shows of the promotion before it folds. Just as This is Spinal Tap lampooned the world of heavy metal music and Best in Show skewered the sub-culture of competitive dog-breeding, Kayfabe pulls no punches while revealing the absurdities of independent professional wrestling. In addition to the film itself, the DVD includes the film’s trailer, deleted scenes and a commentary by the film’s directors and producers during which they rib the film, the film-making process, the wrestling industry and themselves, often with hilarious results.?
You seriously need to check this out because it’s a very unique and clever take on the wrestling business. The over-exaggerated themes and eerily real plotlines allow this film to hit near perfection. The jabs at wrestling fans watching along with the business itself will leave you shaking your head with glee.
The Movie won the following awards:
Okanagan Film Festival – Best Canadian Indie Feature
Eugene International Film Festival ? Audience Choice Award
Lakedance Film Festival ? Best Comedy and Best Mockumentary
Paul London Update
Recently, I have been pushing for Paul London to put out a press release regarding his current injury and professional wrestling status. There is a good chance one shall be forthcoming but in the mean time here are some interesting tidbits from his Official Site
Credit Paul-London.net:
?I heard from Paul earlier in the day and he wanted me to put this up for everyone. Please note this is not his personal address (sorry stalkers, lol) Feel free to send him fan mail, gifts and anything else. He is going to try his best to reply to all of them.
Paul London
4335 Van Nuys Blvd
Suite 185
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Also! Paul just shot a commercial for Pizza Hut as one of the hidden camera spots, so be sure to be on the look out for that.
To clear things up, Paul does not have a myspace anymore, so any out there are fakes. He has no bebo, facebook or any other online networking. This [Paul-London.net] is your only official source.?
What’s in the News?
all news is gathered from WrestleView.com
Former WWE star Umaga has reportedly been telling people that he is burnt out and this is why he isn’t taking any dates for at least a month
-Does this mean the no compete clause doesn?t exist if the employee was fired due to a wellness policy violation? Because this news piece is meaningless otherwise as wrestlers generally have a 90 day period where they can?t appear or wrestle for another promotion
The family of Nancy Benoit has filed a wrongful death suit in the U.S. District Court against Dr. Phil Astin III and three unnamed drug distributors.
Gregory Helms, who has been out of action for several months due to injury, announced on his Twitter account today that he will be wrestling at the SmackDown/ECW live event in Binghamton, New York.
-Hurricane or Gregory? This could be interesting, maybe even playing a dual role? I?d love it if they have him continue with backstage interviews as his ?cover? while he saves the world when he is in Superhero mode
HDNet made the call that they were not going to allow Reid Flair on TV for Ring of Honor
-Considering that having Reid wrestle in ROH was one of the motivating factors for Flair’s service to the company, he can?t be too thrilled by this announcement
Changing Times Vitamins Signs Bobby Lashley to Represent Its RecoveryX Sports Drink
-Is it just me or are there a ton of energy drinks on the market nowadays?
Dragon Gate USA has signed a PPV deal
-Just as ROH lost one!
Stephanie McMahon recently told Brian Gewirtz and Michael Hayes that she wants them to bring in more writers. They started a search last week and McMahon reportedly told Gewirtz to reach out to anyone he knew from MTV.
-I?m very willing to accept a creative writing job for the WWE, just send me an e-mail Steph!
Ratings
WWE RAW ? 3.61
ECW on Sci-Fi ? 1.2
TNA Impact ? 1.06
Smackdown ? 1.8
Must Read WrestleView Column of the Week
As I See It by Bob Magee
http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1245058795.php
Bob made a lot of great comments in this column that I just have to agree with. This column addresses haters and quite frankly jerkoffs who make derogatory comments about hardcore wrestling promotions such as CZW. One such example he gives is the ?fan? who told a medic that Nick Gage (a wrestler badly injured at the June 6th show) should have just been allowed to die. That line of insensitivity is mind blowing to me ? and Magee does an awesome job taking on such hecklers in this must read.
Loose Ends
-To any American that feels the need to keep outdated political bumper stickers on their car ? please I beg you take them off. For some reason this has turned into a pet peeve of mine. If you are riding around with a McCain or Kerry sticker you seriously need to accept that they lost and move on. The only exception is if you have a Theodore Roosevelt Bull Moose party bumper sticker. That one will get you bonus points for having that rare of a sticker and having a car that freaking old which still operates.
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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.