It’s been a tough week for me, as I’m dealing with a tragedy that has really shaken everyone up around me. I have put together a quick report just to give you guys something to read on this content-lite post-holiday Friday here on 411.
411 Black
It’s almost done, I was originally planning to launch it today, but now it will likely debut on Monday. I have some exciting announcements for 411 Black and 411 Wrestling, though.
411 Black already has about 30 weekly columnists signed on from the other areas of 411. These columns will have a wide variety of topics, from sports to news to politics to poetry. In addition, there will be 7 daily news report-style 411 Black columns, posting something each weekday like we do in the other zones. Here is the launch lineup for the 411 Black news report:
Monday- Joshua Grutman
Tuesday- Ken Anderson
Wednesday- Eric S.
Thursday- Chris Biscuiti
Friday- Daniels
Saturday- Steve Coogan
Sunday- Chris Pankonin
Because of the 411 Black news report lineup, there is also a revised 411 Wrestling news report lineup:
Monday- Hyatte
Tuesday- Eric S
Wednesday- TBA
Thursday- Ross Williams
Friday- Widro
Saturday- Flea
Sunday- Stephen Randle
Plus, don’t forget that all 411 writers will have a 411BlackPage, with a Blacklog (web journal), links, profile, pictures and more. I’m excited to finally show everyone, and I hope everyone really has a good time with it.
The Land of McMahon
Raw this week was another pretty solid show, highlighted by logical booking that actually leads into next week.
First off, it finally seems as if WWE is booking Shawn Michaels like a superstar again. After years of speculation as to whether he was retired or someday able to come back, he came back to some awesome matches with HHH last year, and then settled into a strange role as an upper midcarder. Lately WWE booking has shown him to be more of a megastar, and I think that is smart. There is still plenty of money in HBK as a main eventer, and he has proven that not only can he still work better than almost everyone in the promotion, he is actually willing to be a team player and job when necessary. I would like to see how he is booked in 2004.
The Chris Jericho/Trish situation is one of the best booked storylines in WWE in ages. It shows multiple sides to Jericho, and gives him an interesting dilemma – stay a heel and be alone, or become more of a good guy and get Trish. It’s a real life-type dilemma that is a nice change from the more typical “you cost me the match!†type of feud.
I think the Goldberg/HHH/Kane issue is developing pretty poorly. Kane has not been giving an opportunity yet to explain his side of the issue. Why does he want Goldberg? Why does he want the title? I’m also nervous about a 3-way match. There are a lot of directions to go in, but the worst would be HHH pinning Kane to regain the title. It would preserve Goldberg, but it would also kill Kane, who has been pushed as a megastar for months.
I didn’t really catch Smackdown, but it seemed like a lackluster show. I like the continued pushes of John Cena and Chris Benoit, and a re-use of the awesome Bret Hart/Lex Luger Royal Rumble tied ending was nice. Cool finishes like this are best when used seldom, and I think this was a great time to use this. Benoit is being pushed very well, and Cena is being portrayed at a level equal or above Benoit.
The Guerreros angle continues to develop. I’m not entirely sure where they are going, but it seems like they at least have something planned, so I will reserve judgment until it plays out completely.
I had a conversation with Flea earlier this week, and he is taking a lot of the credit for the positivity in mine and other columns on this site lately. And while I make a concerted effort to stay positive as much as I can, I disagree with his point that booking now is just as bad as 6, 12, 18 months ago.
While guys like Test and Albert were getting half hearted pushes earlier this year and last, they weren’t 1) being really put over as top talents or 2) who the fans really wanted to see pushed. The current group of wrestlers being pushed- Cena, Orton, TWGTT, Guerreo/Benoit- these are the guys that everyone would prefer to be pushed. Say what you will about the IWC, the internet is very often first to identify a trend that will take off in the mainstream (internet loved WWF when it was still losing to WCW as an example). The internet has enjoyed Orton, Benoit, Cena and the others for a long time, so it’s gratifying to see these guys get pushes, and to see them develop into legitimate draws.
News N Notes
Couple newsbites:
Goldberg is apparently getting along better with everyone backstage. I guess WCW really was a hellride for everyone involved. Once he got into the WWE system, with a supportive staff and an open mind, I guess he fit in just fine. I still don’t buy the rumors that WM20 will be his last match- where else is he going to get this money, this push and this much notoriety? He would be best to stay around for the next “upswing†and cash in then. [Torch newsletter]
The Royal Rumble is going to co-branded, as it was last year. It creates a ton of interesting booking opportunities, including a current champion winning a shot at another brand’s world champion, or a surprise entrant like a Steve Austin. [Observer Newsletter]
Apparently there is hope backstage in WWE that after WM20, which is mainly being viewed as a showcase for main eventers past and present, that a lot of room will open up for the midcarders. I’m not sure I totally agree, as HHH, Taker, Austin, et al will still be around. I guess guys like the Rock, Hogan?, Foley and others could make a WM20 appearance, so then they would likely be pushed on TV in the weeks and months beforehand. But at this time, any hope is good for WWE wrestlers lately, who seem to fear the worst about the business and their push. [Torch Newsletter]
The HOT Seat
I sent the questions to Scott late last week, so we did a little improvisation with the Scotsman. Here are the REAL Scott Keith hot seat questions and answers, let’s see how the Netcop fairs.
1) We always start with geometry- if you are given the equation of a circle as (x – 3)2 + (y – 4)2 = 25, please give the values of the radius and the center coordinate.
Scott: Just because I was a math major in university doesn’t mean I can REMEMBER any of it, dude. I believe the radius would be 5 and the center would be (3, 4), but it’s been like 10 years since I’ve done this stuff so I’m probably wrong.
Widro: Actually that is correct! 1 out of 1
2) Picture this: Chris Benoit is in town for the day, main eventing the WWE PPV against Chris Jericho in a ladder match to decide the undisputed champion. He needs someone to show them around town, help book their match, maybe have a nice lunch talking about how great Canada is, and then host a party after the show. If he chooses you, the Vancouver Canucks are doomed to never win the Stanley Cup again. But if you say no, the Canuck win the cup by 2006. With all that info in mind, can you explain again why you called Triple H a God in 2000?
Scott: First of all, Canucks > Benoit, so there’s not even a choice there.
And I called him a god because I had him confused with comic book hero Thor, also known as the Norse god of thunder. The long blond hair and sledgehammer threw me off.
Widro: Can I give credit to hair jokes as answers? 1 out of 2
3) Triple H is a good example of a wrestler who was once an internet favorite who became one of the whipping boys of the IWC. But one has to wonder if it could go the other way too. Pick 3 current wrestlers in the IWC doghouse and briefly describe how they could become both IWC favorites AND money drawing wrestlers.
Scott: a) Well, to use the main example, if HHH lost about 40 pounds of muscle and actually put over some of the guys in the midcard, it’d be a good start towards being entertaining again.
I’m not really sure who else would be in the “IWC doghouse” since views are so disparate to begin with, but for instance, La Resistance were hated by much of the internet before one simple change — replacing the brutally bad Sylvain Grenier with the tremendously entertaining Rob Conway — turned a bad idea all around into a solid and fun tag team.
Widro: You made some good points, but I only really see 1 example here. Sorry can’t give you the point here. 1 out of 3
4) Speaking of BONZO GONZO, name the one regular character on Muppet Babies that was not on the original TV show.
Scott: Nanny. And did you know that future Alanis song victim Dave Coulier did the voice of Waldorf on that cartoon?
Widro: The answer I was looking for here was Skeeter, but Nanny is also technically correct. Judges? 2 out of 4
5) It seems like a distinct possibility that Bret Hart will appear at MSG for Wrestlemania XX. In 40 words or less, book the perfect Bret Hart WM20 appearance.
Scott: Bret shows up, punches out Vince’s lights, kicks him in the nuts for destroying his family, and steals his wallet. Maybe the same to Shawn, depending on what kind of a mood I’m in.
Widro: Kicks him in the nuts and then steals his wallet! Nice job. 3 out of 5
A nice respectable 3 out of 5 for Scott Keith. I have no one booked yet for next week, but it will be good I’m sure.
Cream of the Crop
Next week we will have TONS of stuff to plug here, but for now, here is a nice little sample:
Ron Gamble is still plugging along. He missed last week, but came back as always to deliver a good column in this week’s The World According to Ron
Earlier in the week, Brian Cole (who thinks I hate him) posted a new Ask 411. If you were a big fan of Ask 411 in its heyday with Craig Letawski at the helm, you should definitely check out Cole’s new Ask 411- it’s awesome as well.
The Scotsman does a semi-regular review of the Playboy TV porn reality show 7 Live Exposed. Here is the latest recap which is always filled with enjoyable pictures.
Alex Williams takes a look at the new Xbox title Crimson Skies. Check it out especially if you have Xbox Live, and then be sure to check out the ongoing Xbox Live Giveaway in the games zone.
Headin’ Home
Thanks to everyone who has supported me this week. I should be back into the swing of things next week. Look for more 411 Black announcements this weekend and early next week, and check it out when it launches- you wont be disappointed.
