Wrestling Commentary News

The WWE appears desperate ratings.

How else do you explain the back-to-back finishes to WWE RAW and ECW this week?

First, William Regal supposedly pulls the plug on the Triple H vs. Randy Orton main event on RAW. That's just lame. You watch a show for two hours, you should get rewarded with a pay-off that at least is focused on the match/rivalry itself. But a cheap maneuver to get Regal heat?

Come on, WWE. You saw how well a blackout went over on the The Sopranos finale.

Then, on ECW, Mike Adamle and Tazz staged a walk-out. It's become apparent, because WWE.com published an article about the action, that this was nothing but a work. So, it that what ECW has been reduced to? A third-rate show whose main story line is how awful one of its announcers is?!?

Check out a short clip of the walk-out on ECW now and then let us know: Did you like these show endings this week?

By Pete Ellis

Well, hello again kids. Sorry for the lengthy delay. The Think Tank is back up and running and just in time for the best part of the wrestling year.

The best pay-per-view of the year, Royal Rumble, is right around the corner and two months later, yours truly will be attending Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando. Good times ahead.

Thinking about these upcoming events got me wondering what blockbuster matches we could be looking forward to at the big dance. So, perhaps we can all have a little discussion on The Wrestling Post about which main event matches are most likely to become to reality at Wrestlemania.

Naturally, we need to talk about this before the Royal Rumble because the Rumble's results will directly influence the main event in March. Here's what I hope to see at Wrestlemania 24:

Best overall: John Cena vs. Batista
How about title for title? Why not? We can always make another title for the losers' show later right? And didn't these two have a run-in a few years back at a rumble? I think this would have real potential if The Animal can keep up with Cena.

The long shot: Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley
Could Hardy actually carry the title? Is there time to mix him up with Lashley before mania? I'd love to find out.

Smackdown's Best: The Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio
I would love to update this with someone better then Rey, but most of the expected matchups involving the Taker have been done.

Dare we suggest ECW? Shelton Benjamin vs. CM Punk
Could we possibly pick "wrestlers" over entertainers?

Others likely candidates for matches...

• Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair
• Randy Orton vs. Triple H
• Shawn Michels vs. Triple H
• Edge vs. Batista
• Edge vs. Rey Mysterio
• Batista vs. Big Daddy V

Any thoughts out there on these? Share them now on our forums!

Thanks to reader Adam B. for submitting the following column...

Steroid Allegations
Last week, we found out that 10 superstars would be departing for at least 30-60 days. Who are these superstars you might ask? Are they the main eventers or just dark match wrestlers? Rumors are flying, but we may have gotten some hints last week:

On RAW, Randy Orton brutalized John Cena's father: was that so he would get suspended for doing such a heinous act? Also, with Batista not facing the Great Khali at Unforgiven, was that a sign? There are so many questions that will be answered in the following weeks.

RAW Aftermath
Jeff Hardy returned to RAW last Monday, but it wasn't a welcome return. Hardy took on Mr. Kennedy and towards the end of the match, Umaga interrupted and gave Hardy a kick to the jaw and his trademark Samoan Spike. I can definitely see a Umaga/Hardy feud in the future.

With Triple H embarrassing Carlito and Mr. McMahon on Carlito's Cabana, Hunter could be in for a rude awakening this coming Monday night. Or maybe just a Triple H/Carlito singles match. Also, if Orton is not a part of the steroid issue, Cena will definitely be after him for what he did to his father. Lastly, Mr. McMahon's family will be on RAW, so expect some further news on the illegitimate child.

Smackdown Aftermath
Friday Night we saw the return of Rey Mysterio. Teddy Long opened up the show to announce that there would be a series of single matches that would decide who would be the #1 contender for the Great Khali at Unforgiven. The first match was Kane vs. Finlay.

After Kane dominaed most of the match, Finlay was able to nail him with over the head while the ref was distracted. The other semi final match was Rey/Batista. With Batista leading the match, Finlay dashed to the ring with a steel chair only to get thrown off the apron. However, with the ref taking away the chair, Batista in frustration threw the ref to the ground and he immideailty called for the bell, announcing Rey the winner.

In the finals Rey, found a way to win against Finlay and was looking death into the face as the Great Khali made his way down to the ring to intimidate the #1 contender! In other news that night, MVP and Matt Hardy became new tag team champs.

Here are other interesting notes:

• Samoa Joe on his latest blog on MyApace announced that if WWE were to give him a bigger contract then he would take that offer.

• Also, Batista's new book seems to be a must read.

• Finally, with Mark Henry having a tough time re-negotiating his WWE contract, dont be surprised if you see a buried alive match at Unforgiven. Thanks everyone for reading and have a great week.

How many of you out there have ever tuned in to the ol' wrestling show and wondered about the truth behind the story lines?

Well kids, gather 'round and get a load of this little story. The chairman of WWE, Vince McMahon, has been running some pretty controversial stuff since last week on RAW, and I'm forced to start asking some real questions of the old man.

So Vince, just in case you or one of your goons out there is reading this article, let me try and find out about some of these issues. I think your fans would really like some inside info about your professional life right now. You remember your fans, don't you Vince? The folks that keep your jet plane full of fuel?

Question 1:
Is the U.S. government actually launching an investigation regarding your company and its steroids policy? What accusations have been made and does this have anything (or everything) to do with Chris Benoit's death?

Question 2:
How much trouble are you really in with the IRS (the organization, not the wrestler)? Is this IRS audit in any way linked to the previously mentioned investigation from question 1?

Question 3:
Why are you so hot at the media right now? If this is getting as personal for you as it seems, why not just come out and say it? Why dance around obscure issues that your public doesn't have all the details about? I saw McMahon on the Today show recently and he seemed to handle himself just fine. What is all the media bashing fuss about? If you're gonna bring it up, bring it up.

Question 4:
Where the hell was that exploding limo storyline going? What was the set up if the Benoit tragedy hadn't happened? Is this stuff about a bastard child the end result of the plans for the McMahon death story, or has this been concocted to take our minds off of the exploding limo deal?

I would suggest everyone reading this article get onto the FORUMS of this site and start sounding off. I have questions that need answers (or at least opinions) and maybe if we get this going long enough we might actually get some real info from the WWE.

By Pete Ellis

ECW is breaking down like a turd in the rain.

Let's see here... Big Show is gone, Kurt Angle is gone, Heiman is gone, Test is out, Lashley has moved, RVD is (yep, you guessed it) history ... and Chris Benoit is really gone.

So what have we replaced them with? The Boogie Man, The Miz, and Big Daddy V with no shirt (shutter). Has anyone seen Sabu or Hardcore Holly recently? Anyone seen any talent recently?

THE GOOD:

- John Morrison is okay, but the new look is a little too obvious if you ask me. He might as well come out to the ring to the tune of "Break on Through."

- CM Punk is also a decent performer, but he is running out of people to work with, and needs a new theme with a new finsher.

- Elijah Burke is fun to watch in the ring, but every time they get a story going, they seem to drop it just as quickly. A man can only do so much in the ring, after all.

THE BAD:

- Marcus Cor Von. As much as I look forward to that shoulder tackle, Marcus epitomizes the term "one-trick pony."

- Extreme Expose. I love tits. Yet I can't get past the feeling that I should be watching a match.

- ECW's Draft Picks. Not even Taz can whitewash the fact that what was left of ECW died with the draft.

THE UGLY:

For God's sake, Big Daddy V needs to put a top on or start calling himself "Tittera." This brand is like a sick animal. Get the damn thing to the hospital or put it out of its misery.

While you're at it, get Sandman the hell off of the TV. Whatever show he's on, he stinks and I'm tired of pretending he doesn't. Does "hardcore" always suck this much?

I'm out.

By Pete Ellis

That was the best Monday Night Raw I have seen in years. Wow!

Not a bad moment all night. First we had some BS involving King Booker and Jerry Lawler. Not the best moment ever, but not a complete waste of time either. Then the WWE features a Diva match, never bad to see some T & A.

How about Bobby Lashley putting on a little show after the Carlito tag team match. Damn, that Lashley guy is pretty good, eh?

Then things really got going.

Randy Orton vs. Little Rhodes - I was impressed with Cody, and the match overall stood up against some of the better Raw matches in recent memory.

Jeff Hardy vs. Kennedy - An amazing match with some of the best crash and burn moments ever. I've never enjoyed a count out win so much. This could have been a pay-per-view match.

World's Greatest Tag Team vs. London and Kendrick - That's a high flyin', ass kickin' good time. Big time wresting moves and a great ending. High quality fun.

The main event was exciting, too, with lots of plot twists packed into a short time frame. It seemed like the show loaded a lot more action into this week then I can ever remember.

Plus, to top it all off, we have Orton and John Cena to look forward to at SummerSlam. This is the match I have been waiting years to see. The best two young stars in the business, both wrestling at the peak of their careers and abilities. I can't wait.

Some guy named Triple H is coming back, too.

By Pete Ellis

A lot of things have been said since the untimely demise of Chris Benoit and his family a few weeks ago.

Many of his fans have journeyed to Atlanta to leave flowers at the gate of his large suburban home. Others consider the events the act of a madman or a drug addict who deserves to be condemned for his actions.

The WWE has all but washed its hands of Benoit and his legacy since the day after the initial announcement of his death. WWE.com went from a Benoit memorial to "MOVING RIGHT ALONG! NOTHING TO SEE HERE!" overnight.

But for whatever it's worth - for the public, for the media, and for wrestling fans everywhere - I will never forget Chris Benoit. In my opinion, he stands as the greatest in-ring performer in the history of wrestling. I will not forget his accomplishments or what he meant to me as a fan.

William Regal said it best the Monday his death was announced. Regal didn't gush about his passing or speculate as to any of the details. He simply said Benoit was the best ever, and he was right.

I have the luxury of being able to remember Chris fondly and not consider judging him or his actions. Certainly I am left a little more weary of the idol worship that comes with every form of professional athletes and other famous individuals. But perhaps that's for the best.

I also look forward to enjoying wrestling again, and here's hoping that the string of bizarre and unexpected deaths that find their way into this business can dissipate now and forever.

Goodbye, Chris Benoit. May others who internalize their pain in this world find a way to deal with it because of you. The sport of wrestling is worse off because of your absence, and you will always be remembered.

By Pete Ellis

Ted Dibiasi once described what his life as a professional wrestler was like under the command of Vince McMahon. Dibiasi said Vince had him living like a real millionaire: Stretch limos, first class accommodations, and flawless grooming before every public appearance.

Perhaps McMahon felt this kind of living would help Ted develop a more convincing character, or perhaps he treated a lot of his top names to such a superstar lifestyle at one time or another. In any case, "The Million Dollar Man" will go down in history as one of the companies best villains.

The irony here is that McMahon himself is, of course, the true evil billionaire. He has been playing the role of a corporate shark since the late 1990s - and that position has served him well.

Any popular WWE hero can stand against Vince and be an instant success; Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and more recently John Cena and Bobby Lashley have thrived in the role of the hero pitted against a villainous billionaire and his endless resources.

Countless other wrestlers have played off of this angle, such as Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan and just about everyone in Vince's family who's been on camera. Despite his recent efforts to change his personality, I have a feeling (and a $50 bet) that says we'll see Vince and his "kiss my ass club" for years to come.

The real question, which may never be fully answered, is what McMahon is like in his personal life. No DVD special will ever be able to accurately paint the true picture. But perhaps he isn't all that different from what we see on TV?

What do you think?

By Pete Ellis

Okay, seriously. I watch World Wrestling Entertainment to get away from the nightmarish realities of life. In general, bombings, hostage situations, miscarriages, gun play, mutilation and death make me question why I watch wrestling in the first place.

When Eddie Gurarro died, his fellow athletes gathered together on camera to say goodbye. It was touching and appropriate. What I saw on Smackdown on Friday infuriated me. It was a classless mockery of what is all too serious in the real world.

The predictability of this whole storyline is the worst part. They spend a week mourning. Then we're subjected to some long, drawn out "investigation" into McMahon's "killer."

Then, weeks or months later, Vince McMahon reveals himself alive and well and scares the living crap out of J.R. or whoever and claims that it was all part of some master plan to accomplish something meaningless that no one will care about.

Years from now, we will all look back on this as a mistake in writing and in wrestling. Which reminds me of all the other crap I've had to endure to enjoy some of the WWE's better moments.

Here are my top 10 most regrettable WWE story lines:

10. Stone Cold pulls a gun on McMahon. Isn't there enough shooting in the real world? Even if the gun was fake, I found this kind of stuff disillusioning.

9. May Young gives birth to a hand. If you don't remember this, consider yourself lucky.

8. Austin pees on Arn Anderson. Somewhat symbolic of the way the old WWF has faded away, but still classless and stupid.

7. Triple H dresses up as Kane and has sex with Kane's dead ex-girlfriend while she is in her coffin. Curse this reliable memory of mine.

6. The New Diesel and Razor Ramon. Bad idea. I don't know how this ever made it off the drawing board.

5. Old Kane fights new Kane. Just to prove that we can still have bad ideas in the mid 2000s.

4. Paul Bearer is executed by the Undertaker. This made so little sense that they didn't even try to explain it.

3. Triple H gets dropped inside his own car by Steve Austin and a bulldozer. There is a reason some clips are never seen again.

2. Big Boss Man gets "hung" at Wrestlemania 15. Mistakes: they aren't just for little pay per views anymore.

1. Vince dies in his limo. Predictable, forgettable, time-wasting nonsense. You know what would have been better then that? Anything.

By Pete Ellis

I hope that not a single fan of pro wrestling has ever let a broadcast go by without appreciating the announcers who add so much to the broadcast.

Recently, I found myself developing true appreciation for the greatest commentators in the history of wrestling. Sooooooo... here they are!

If the best commentators had a King of the Ring tournament to decide the greatest ever, based on talent and how much they added to the business, it'd go something like this...

Round 1: Jim Ross vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler
You know you've wanted to see these two go head-to-head one way or another. To be honest, I think that so much of what makes Jerry Lawler work is what he bounces off of JR. I don't think the King's sex obsessive and bad joke style would fly if it wasn't right across the table from down-home, clean cut, good old JR. I give the nod to Ross, who is loveable in any situation and passionate at every event. Every night is the biggest of his career.

JR wins.

Round 1: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan vs. Joey Styles
Talk about a contrast in styles... no pun intended. Some might say that Joey doesn't belong in the running, but I think Styles provides enough energy and interest in the history of our sport to be considered a top commentary figure. He did quite a few of those old ECW shows by himself.

But after the dust settles, you know Bobby was a true figurehead at every event he took part in. I'll never forget him calling "This Tuesday in Texas" watching a match between The Nasty Boys and The Natural Disasters. His partner noticed a sign in the audience that read "Natural Disasters Rule!" "How about that Bobby!" Heenan: "If she was home doing the dishes like she's supposed to, she wouldn't have time to make stupid signs."

That comment works on so many levels.

Bobby Heenan wins.

Round 1: Gorilla Monsoon vs. Jessy "The Body" Ventura
It pisses me off when I hear some reporter refer to Ventura as a "Former wrestler turned politician." Jesse was an announcer who tried and failed to have a wrestling career. He was much more successful as a broadcaster.

Still, I don't think he can lay claim to be the best of his generation. Gorilla Monsoon had all the charm and passion of JR and worked in a time when he could truly make you forget that it's entertainment. Hulk Hogan owes more of his success to Monsoon then Stone Cold owes to Ross.

Jesse Ventura was so negative at times that you'd swear he was getting ready to kick someone's ass at the broadcast table.

Gorilla Monsoon wins.

Round 1: Rowdy Roddy Pipper vs. John Bradshaw Layfield
This would have made a fantastic team behind the mic. Roddy Piper brought a "live wire" style to the position, and both of these men offer something that many lacked: a claim to real wrestling experience. Piper then and JBL now provide the ability to talk about guys in the ring who they have faced and give you a belivable annalysis of what it was like to fight them.

I love JBL's sense of humor, but I give a slight edge to Rowdy Roddy and his laugh-cry approach to color commentary. If you've ever heard the hot Scott behind the mic, you know what I'm talking about.

Piper wins.

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