Make Movement: ECW Versus DX?

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RAW on Monday was a big push of the ECW One Night Stand II pay-per-view, as well as the continue on the road to the reunion of Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Because both of the storylines are pretty major, there is a theory within the Internet Wrestling Community that one of the storylines will suffer in the process.


The clear priority to the WWE right now is the reunion of Degeneration X, by having Shawn Michaels versus The Spirit Squad to close the show with the plot of the story, whether or not Triple H would betray HBK. HBK called Triple H a sell out for ‘doing what he’d have to do’ earlier in the show and Triple H was put in the position to attack a eager Kenny of the Spirit Squad rather than hitting or not hitting Michaels. WWE has been pacing this story perfectly as the fans are more than ready to back Triple H and Michaels as DX, so when it does happen, it has the potential to follow-up the original fever pitch of DX without missing a beat. Will the 2006 version of DX with Triple H and Michaels match their personas of the past? Michaels as a born again Christian, will crotch chopping be his limit? Will Triple H as a established main eventer and a five-time former WWE World Champion be making sexual innuendoes as regularly as he did before?
Will DX bring more members in the fold and should they?


My hope is that Michaels will not be limiting his creativity based on his strong beliefs in his religion. The fans understand his belief in Christ as his savior, and Michaels has to trust that the audience can separate the two. Triple H has always thrived as a face as a smartass of the two and has been going in that direction very easily when in verbal bouts with his (father in law) Vince McMahon and Edge. Even though I understand the argument that DX can be used to strengthen mid-carders into future strong positions with the fans, I’m hesitant to see it happen unless it’s for a Cena heel turn as I pointed out in last week’s column. The only exception that stands out would be Carlito, but his character is so independent and unique all on it’s own, I don’t believe he really needs the DX rub. The return of DX could be very fun for the fans, merchandise sales and for characters that weren’t around during the original DX run, such as Maria. I would also love to see some parodies done like were done in the past with The Corporation mockery, because they were done so well, but right now the only people to really parody would be Vince and Shane McMahon and John Cena.


The placement of John Cena versus Chris Masters at mid-card was bizarre to watch because traditionally, the WWE World Championship should be the focus of not only the company but of the show. Rob Van Dam’s declaration to challenge John Cena and cash in his Money in the Bank at ECW One Night Stand II didn’t meet the same electric energy it would have generated if RAW had been in the Northeast instead of the West Coast, however, WWE has a pay-per-view to promote and it was important that RVD establish that “the” major heavyweight title is up for grabs at the Hammerstein Ballroom.


Should John Cena be cutting promos now against ECW and Rob Van Dam? Will it be a mercy killing in NYC? Can John Cena handle the pressure and absolute brutality of a ECW loving audience against his ‘thuganomics’ style? We’ve witnessed in the past Cena looking almost reduced to tears before when audiences weren’t loving him on past WWE PPVs, those nights will pale in comparison to the heat he will get in June. John Cena maybe the WWE Heavyweight Champion, however, a lot of his career could ride on how he handles the reception he’s going to receive and the work rate he produces against Rob Van Dam. If RVD controls the match, can Cena keep up with his unorthodox, high risk style and pacing? If Cena tries to deliver his three move offense and RVD taps out to a weak STFU just like Chris Masters did on Monday, will fans view Cena’s retaining as fraudulent? Will the WWE invest RVD as not only the championship face of ECW but of the company as a whole? It’s not clear right now if ECW will have their own Heavyweight Champion again or if RVD does become the WWE Champion for the first time, if RAW would be without a major heavyweight champion.


WWE can build both storylines on equal footing if done right and it’s completely unnecessary for one story to suffer over the other. This potentially could be a great time for the WWE and this is something they could have invested on doing right at the very beginning of the purchase of WCW and ECW. Foley, Edge, Lita and her distracting revealing tops, benefits Foley the most if WWE and Foley are really willing to divulge into the delusion that Foley is buying all his hype over the years and his natural disdain of how he was received in ECW. Edge and Lita suffer the most because they are in a circle-jerk of Foley egotism and instead of Edge and Lita being able to shine as a R-rated couple with the best natural heel heat this side of Mr. McMahon, they are having to support Foley against the ECW crusade. Edge has in the last few months remind me of shades of Brian Pillman and I wish WWE would let Edge keep walking that controversial, trail blazing path that Pillman was on. WWE has established that it will be Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk versus Foley and Friends. Just watching Terry Funk “in action” concerns me at this point, as I watched him haphazardly walk down the ramp on Monday. Is he really in the condition to be working? I know people have been questioning this for years but as much as I admire and respect Terry Funk, I wonder if he should have sat this one out.


I enjoyed Iain Burnside’s Anti-Pulse well written points this week, on feeling disgusted on the state of professional wrestling. As a counterpoint, but a nicely written article on the negativity within the Internet Wrestling Community would be Steve Murray’s Look On The Bright Side . I can see both sides and appreciate both sides of the “argument” and I look forward to their special edition together of Look On The Bright Side later this week.


Thanks to all those who tune into the Big E Sports show at Rockland World Radio every Tuesday between 7-8 EST to hear hosts Erik Fenton, Dave Lagreca and myself discuss professional wrestling and whatever else is going on! You just never know what we’re going to talk about next.


Always remember, for things to change, you have to make movement. Thanks for reading and for all the feedback, feel free to contact me anytime at Bam@4sternstaging.com.