Opening Witty Banter
Some days are just better than others I guess. It seems clichéd, but you really have to life day-by-day. One day you’re down on yourself while struggling to find a new job, the next day you’re having a blast with close friends and really loving life. One day you’re the one of the top promoted talents in your field, the next day you’re looking at a 60 day unpaid suspension and a loss of home. I think I am enjoying my spot in life right now.
The Big Story
Jeff Hardy has just had one of those weeks.
Last Monday Hardy went out and put on a fantastic match with Chris Jericho en route to losing his Intercontinental Championship. News broke shortly after RAW that Hardy was charged with a second Wellness infraction based on illegal drug usage. According to the policy, a second violation results in a 60-day unpaid suspension. But upon closer look, the policy states that a suspended performer can still be used on television while serving their time, but it looks as if Hardy will be removed from a television and pay per view build up as he has already been removed from Money in the Bank at WrestleMania. He was notified of the suspension on Monday before the RAW taping.
While it hasn’t been announced officially why Hardy was suspended, the rumors say that it was for illegal drug use, as opposed to performance enhancers. I’m not going to get all preachy or anything, because it’s not my life and I really don’t care what Jeff Hardy does in his his, but from a business and fan standpoint it sucks. Hardy seemed all but locked up to win Money in the Bank and maybe even win the big belt later on in the year. All those plans are up in smoke right now. Fans are always clamoring for WWE to create new main eventers, but it seems every time they take a chance the performer bits them in the ass. See Van Dam, Rob and Kennedy, Ken. It’s no wonder why Vince and co. constantly go back to old stand-bys like Triple H and Undertaker. Here’s hoping Jeff gets his personal life figured out in his time off and gets to come back strong. He’s incredibly over with fans and sells merchandise more than any other act barring John Cena and DeGeneration X.
As if Jeff wasn’t feeling rough enough after Monday, news broke on Friday that his home in Cameron, North Carolina, burned to the ground. Besides losing his home and all his possessions his pet dog was also lost in the fire. Investigators haven’t given a cause for the fire, but aren’t thinking foul play on Hardy’s part due to him not having insurance.
That just plain sucks. Not only losing all of his many personal possessions, but losing his dog has to be really rough for him. Hardy doesn’t have children so if he’s like other pet owners I know I’m sure he treated his dog like it was kid. Jeff is looking at losing six figures of income during his suspension, and now add to that monetary loss he incurred with the fire it’s just hasn’t been a good week to be Jeff Hardy. I’m really pulling for him to come out of all this turmoil and tragedy with his head held high.
Everything Else Fit For Print
This past week during an interview on jackassworld.com, Johnny Knoxville came clean about his and the Jackass crew’s lack of involvement at SummerSlam 2007. Apparently the two sides couldn’t agree on number of dates involved and Knoxville’s level of commitment to the angle.
Rumors ran rampant that Knoxville backed out after the Benoit tragedy, fearing that being associated with WWE during that time would be bad for his reputation. But this is the guy who’s made his reputation by being kicked in the nuts, so I can’t imagine his reputation would come into play too much.
According to Wrestling Observer, WrestleMania ticket sales hit 62,000 sold this week. The attendance record for the Florida Citrus Bowl is 73,358. The pay per view already holds the record for the highest-grossing event in Citrus Bowl history, and it’s estimated that the weekend of events could pump $25 million into Orlando’s economy and bring in 60,000 visitors.
The mythology of WrestleMania continues to grow. It’s the only professional wrestling event that can turn a city around like that during a weekend. It’s getting to the point that cities are campaigning for WrestleMania to come to their town a la the Olympics. And when your two biggest competitors are also putting on big shows in the area to capitalize on the event, you know you’re big time.
After the segment on RAW between Floyd Mayweather and The Big Show, Mayweather’s posse and the WWE wrestlers around ringside got into a crowd-pleasing brawl. Apparently tempers and egos begin to flair and the brawl between the two sides got a little legitimate, with Shane McMahon even getting knocked down in the process.
They should’ve let the two sides go. Mayweather’s posse were big dudes and I’m sure were pretty tough, but I just don’t see them as much of a match for twenty five wrestlers, two of who were Big Show and Big Daddy V. Plus would you want to get into a real fight with a guy like Bob Holly?
WWE continues their work with charitable organizations as they have now partnered with Second Wind Dreams. Second Wind Dreams grants wishes for the elderly. Charlotte, North Carolina news media is reporting that an 82-year-old woman will get to meet both DeGeneration X at an upcoming house show in Fayetteville, NC.
Everybody loves WWE, whether they are two or 82. More good publicity for WWE, especially as they head into their big event in a couple of weeks.
While The Rock will be at the Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday night before WrestleMania, he will not appear on the pay per view itself as he instantly going back to Las Vegas to resume filming on his latest movie, Disney’s remake of “Escape from Witch Mountain.â€
I’ve read on other sites how people are up in arms about Rock not appearing on the pay per view, but really that didn’t seem to be part of any deal. Just because he’s going to show up as a presenter to honor his family doesn’t automatically tie him into anything for WrestleMania itself. Sly Stallone didn’t appear the next night after he inducted Hulk Hogan before WrestleMania 21. Rock’s done with wrestling. We all have to just accept it and move on.
Vince McMahon got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this past week.
While this seems like a big deal and a cool thing, in reality the person being enshrined has to pay $25,000 for the “honor.†Plus TV personality Judge Judy has her own star as well so I’m starting to question what credentials there are to put you up for star treatment.
WWE.com officially moved the Cruiserweight Championship from the active titles section of their website to the defunct titles section, effectively ending the tenure of the championship.
Matthew Michaels has a great article detailing this news bite in more detail, but I want to just give my two cents as well. I’ve always been a huge cruiserweight mark so I’m sad to see the belt go, but WWE has never really booked the belt with high regard. I mean the last champion was a little person for crying out loud. The little guys have never been Vince’s top priority. Plus a lot of lighter guys like The Hardyz, Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero and CM Punk have been elevated to main event spots so there really isn’t a lot of talent left to run with the belt. And besides it could be reinstated later on, they’ve done that with other belts in the past.
The Orlando Sentinel, which has been fantastic in promoting WrestleMania coming to town, has an article up about the work WWE is putting into the Citrus Bowl to get it ready. Apparently 100 employees working are working 16-hour days to get the set, stages, lights, pyrotechnics and all the technical aspects ready for the big night. The show will be the biggest pyrotechnics display in WWE history, and when it’s all said and done the set will take five days to take down after the show ends. Once everything is set up the company plans of having production rehearsals to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Orlando is already campaigning for WrestleMania to come back, just based on the success the event has already brought the city.
It looks like the spectacle of WrestleMania will be remarkable this year. The company’s production department never gets enough credit for the amazing work that they do. They really make everything look easy and effortless and it’s boggling to hear how much work goes into behind the scenes. I’ve always said that WrestleMania isn’t just about the matches, but rather the flash and spectacle. Now as long as it doesn’t rain that day, everything should go off without a hitch. Either Vince has made a deal with the devil or made his amends with God if the day goes off like it’s supposed to. If it rains then apparently God still hasn’t forgotten his “appearance†at Backlash 2006.
Wal-Mart is going to putting out a special extended edition of WWE: The Music Volume 8 that will feature three bonus tracks, and will also be giving away a free issue of the new WWE Kids Magazine once it comes out with purchase of every regular issue of WWE Magazine.
Wal-Mart is friggin huge so for them to be running promotions on WWE merchandise will only help out the boys in Stamford.
WrestleMania Road Map
We are officially on the “Road to WrestleMania†and just two weeks away from professional wrestling’s biggest show of the year. So this little section will provide you with a scorecard in regards to latest match line-up for the “Showcase of the Immortals.â€
WWE Championship Triple Threat
Triple H v. John Cena v. Randy Orton (c)
World Heavyweight Championship
The Undertaker v. Edge (c)
Floyd Mayweather v. The Big Show
Career Threatening Match
Ric Flair v. Shawn Michaels
Money in the Bank
Mr. Kennedy v. Shelton Benjamin v. Chris Jericho v. Carlito v. MVP v. CM Punk v. John Morrison v. TBA
Battle for Brand Supremacy
Batista v. Umaga
24-Man Battle Royal – Winner Faces ECW Champion
The Great Khali, Kane, Chuck Palumbo, Jaime Noble, others TBA
ECW Championship
Chavo Guerrero (c) v. TBA
Belfast Brawl
Finlay v. JBL
Bunny-mania Lumberjack Match
Maria & Candice Michelle v. Beth Phoenix & Melina
celebrity involvement
* John Legend will perform “America the Beautifulâ€
* Snoop Dogg will emcee “Bunny-maniaâ€
* Raven-Symone will appear as part of the Bacon, Bagels and Biceps brunch
* Kim Kardashian will special guest hostess of WrestleMania
* 50 Cent will accompany Floyd Mayweather and provide his entrance music
Hall of Fame Watch
This week’s induction: Jack & Gerry Brisco
Already announced inductees:
“The Nature Boy†Ric Flair
“High Chief†Peter Maivia & Rocky Johnson
Mae Young
RAW’s On Tonight!
Triple H is in charge of RAW this week as part of William Regal’s “Triple Threat Takeover.†So far the only match he’s booked is John Cena and Randy Orton as a tag team against the entire RAW roster. Not really sure how that is going to turn out from a logistical standpoint, but it should be interesting regardless. Plus it looks Chris Jericho will defend the Intercontinental Championship for the first time, and there should be more build to the rest of the matches on the WrestleMania card. And someone else will be chosen for the Hall of Fame class of 2008. My money is on Florida promoter Eddie Graham.
On Last Week’s Episode…
Marshall went RAW, and even got an extra hour to do it.
Provencio and Hepple review SmackDown! which included an epic Jaime Noble/Kane-Great Khali/Chuck Palumbo tag bout and MVP-Batista, part 734.
How They Rated
A.M. RAW (3.8.08) – .8
RAW (3.10.08) – 3.6
ECW (3.11.08) – 1.2
SmackDown! (3.14.08) – 2.7
Other Guys Who Write Good Stuff
Glazer and special guest Wiswell debate the top stories from the land of Honor.
Ditch, our resident puro guru, drops in with some info about New Japan and Yuji Nagata.
Mulligan points out some high quality matches from the last month in Japan that we are all missing out on.
Wiswell analyzes what “The Wrestler†film means for Ring of Honor.
