Short column this week as I use my Eric S. card (patent pending?) and put off the arduous labors of my column in favor of moving. We do have some interesting stuff to cover this week though, so as we say around here
Let’s do this.
Readers’ Picks: La Resistance Is Not So Futile
This gem of a little thing was turned in by Billy Damalas of Melbourne, Australia. Apparently, the members of La Resistance were having some good old-fashioned house show fun in the land down under, which Billy will share with us:
I know this isn’t from a televised event but at the Melbourne (Australia) house show last night there was something that I thought would make a great “little thing”. To get it you first have to know that in Australia a big insult chant used at sporting events and such is “You are a wanka” (with claps after then repeated). Both last year and at this show quite a few of the heels got this treatment. When La Resistiance came out they had a pre-match promo where they brought this up explaining how they didn’t understand our language with words like this. The promo went on to insult Australians saying if they
wanted to insult someone they’d just call them Australian but that’s not the “little thing”.
During the match however one of the members of La Resistiance got thrown up with a big back body drop and as they were flipping through the air he yelled out “Waaaaaankaaaaaaa!”. I thought that was so hilarious and really showed that they were paying attention to the crowd they had.
And attention to detail is what this column is all about. Extra props for the cultural education as well. You don’t get this kind of attention and fun anywhere except house shows, which ideally the fed should be employing to make them consistent draws. Of course, if one looks at the recent attendance figures, you could assume that off-camera, WWe may not be doing the little things it takes to keep the crowds coming back for more
Well if they can’t get that right, let’s see if they can at least get the on-camera portion correct. Here is the Little Five for the 08.04.2003 edition of RAW:
1. Hammer Time
Isn’t this all that HHH needed to do to make his character just a tad more ominous? Getting the sledgehammer out is one thing, but just giving it a tap or two on the steel steps adds so much more to the dastardliness of the deed he is about to commit in my mind. It even made the groin-induced stroll towards the ring a lot more exciting and logical.
I know you are reading my column despite your vocal disdain for the IWC. And when you smirk, point to the ground, raise your arms, beat your chest, pray to Jesus or SOMETHING before you pedigree your next opponent, I’m taking credit for it!
2. Hows About That!
For those of you wondering why Hyatte and a handful of other Nash marks like the guy so much, witness his big boot to Jericho during the breakdown of the Flair/Goldberg match last night. Did you see that little face he made after he leveled Jericho with it? The one that said “I know you jackass Canadians are booing me but look at the boot I just smeared in your boy’s face?†That’s why. You can tell he really enjoyed raising that big arm of his after that move and the powerbomb were deployed.
When given some room to operate, Nash knows how to work an audience, usually in a very arrogant, smart-ass manner. It’s this charisma and presence that makes him such a great natural heel and a wasted source of entertainment when used as a face.
3. Eric The Great
As a rule, whenever Eric Bischoff busts out THE CRANE, it will go in this column. This legendary status is afforded only to such little things as Jericho’s “C’MON BABY†pin attempt, Ric Flair’s thumb to the eye (which did happen twice last night by my count) and other acts of greatness.
I would like to have seen Eric humiliate the pad holder a little more, but post-match Eric delivered some pretty fun pin attempts to a beaten Shane-O-Mac and asked Hebner to raise his hands several times to signify victory to keep me happy. The last thing was the best though. And maybe this is just the old WCW fan in me typing, but didn’t his little victory lap over to the announce position rekindle that mid-90’s feeling that Nitro used to have where wrestlers and other characters frequently overran the position to continue a fight, promote a feud, etc? Didn’t that give you an added sense of uncertainty – that “anything could happen?†Where have I heard that motto before, now that I mention it?
Hmmm
4. Chairman Of The Bored
I will use this space to openly disagree with the resident ranter of 411Mania. How can pairing Goldust with Lance Storm be a bad idea? Didn’t pairing the oddball Goldust with an opposite like Booker T work wonders for him? As I remember it, Booker wasn’t nearly as over with the crowd until after Goldust’s goofy antics showed us how cool he really is by contrast. If Goldust can show us that Lance has a funny side (and if anyone can, it’s him), then that’s yet another Canadian that gets over with the crowd. So, what’s to complain about? Even if it fails, it’s not like Lance can go any lower on the card anyhow.
Personal mark out moment for me, by the way, when the Gold one did the suck and blow gesture for which he is famous.
5. Low Down Dirty Shane
I’m skipping over the Jericho juke n jive while he was stomping out HBK to give some props to Shane while he is still around.
I’ve always been a fan of the bob ‘n weave style of fighting he employs in the ring, which I believe started out as a joke when he first wrestled, but became cool, oddly enough. Reader Tyrion Xavier wrote in to say he really liked the glazed look on Shane after the tombstone on the steel steps in addition to his off-the-mic answering of questions/talking trash while Bischoff talked to him on the mic. All good little things that add to his upstart character and a funny facial expression to boot!
That’s it for this week. I’ll get moved in and come back strong next week with a longer column. Until then, take care and keep the comments coming!
PS – You’re not such a bad guy yourself, Grut.
