CALDWELL'S TAKE
THE CORNER CUBE: Your thoughts on familiarity with ECW TV
Nov 28, 2007 - 10:45:27 AM |
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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
Updated throughout the day, Torch columnist James Caldwell's new weekday blog focuses on hot topic current events and issues from around wrestling. Caldwell writes from his corner cubicle after a sudden department re-location to the other side of the office. It's law firm office politics.
Updated Wednesday, November 28 (last update: 7:45 p.m.)
Here's a sample of the reader response on today's mid-week question on your ECW viewing habits, with my comments following each comment.
Tim Davis, Torch subscriber: I do try to watch it weekly because it tends to have the most actual wrestling content by percentage for WWE programming each week. However, you're right as far as the familiarity goes, as most weeks I may flip channels during the show (after all, The Office reruns are on TBS) or switch over to the new Smackdown game on my PS3. I must say the recent addition of Shelton Benjamin to the show will keep me watching personally, as he is one of my favorite guys to watch. I will also admit that I probably go out of my way to watch ECW more than Smackdown, even. Although with Edge back, that may change.
While I do watch Raw from beginning to end without fail each week, ECW is one I will stay tuned as long as the matches look good. For example, last night, I watched the first 45 minutes, but tuned out for the Kane-Big Daddy V match since that feud is endless. But anything with Morrison, Punk, Shelton, or Elijah has me hooked. I also miss Steven Richards, as his little run during that mini-tournament for a title shot was a lot of fun. All they need is a couple more additions and I'd definitely stay watching ECW more religiously. I'd be all for moving the cruiserweight division to ECW, along with London and Kendrick.
JC: ECW definitely has a Big Four right now with C.M. Punk as champion, John Morrison as the better-half of the tag champs in the ring, and the law firm of Benjamin & Burke delivering quality wrestling on the undercard. I agree that Stevie Richards is a solid talent to utilize on TV, especially as an opponent to one of the three heels in the Big Four. That mini-tournament was one of the few "big concepts" WWE has come up for ECW, and it made for good TV three weeks in a row. More of those mini-programs established by Armando "where did I go?" Estrada could add something unique to the broadcast.
Sam Robinson, Torch reader: Personally I watch ECW nearly every week because I am a huge fan of the smaller, more athletic guys like Punk, Morrison, Burke, and now Benjamin. I watch every week much like you out of pure habit it seems. That, and my love for anything wrestling, though I also agree that it is nearly the same every week and needs some spicing up at least once in a while. While Shelton Benjamin is a welcome addition to what is looking like WWE's X-Division and Monster show, how long will it be before he gets stale just like everyone else on a roster that's this small?
The talent exchange is a great way to spice things up, had it has to be done right. Does anyone else notice the lack of main event SD stars coming over to Tuesday nights? All ECW is getting is their mid-card trash (some of whom, like Moore had been in ECW before) and what's left of their tag division. I want to end with a question, one that is purely rhetorical. Who else feels sorry for CM Punk, being the champ of a "Fed" that Vince could really care less about, when he deserves more than this?
JC: It is funny seeing Shannon Moore come over to ECW in the talent exchange when we remember that hyper-dancing music and his peculiar backstage promos last year. ECW could be the Monsters and Midgets...er...Monsters and Athletics show with a healthy balance of 10-15 minute X Division-style matches with Punk, Shelton, Morrison, and Burke, then the big man match-ups that fit Vince McMahon's style of heavyweight-style wrestling. Just keep the monsters separated from the athletic wrestlers and build two divisions that appeal to two fanbases.
***
ECW TV is essentially the same every week. The same characters - even the same characters from Smackdown. The same match-ups. The same talking points on commentary from Joey Styles and Tazz. Bringing over Shelton Benjamin was a welcome change of pace to get another athletic, young heel on the show to balance against the larger veteran heel, Big Daddy V.
With the overall sense of familiarity or you-know-what-you're-getting sense to the show, does that familiarity make it easier to watch the show or does familiarity breed contempt? I watch the show mainly out of habit for my live report, so I'm not watching the show with the mindset of looking for a reason to stay tuned to the show instead of looking for alternative programming if there's a sluggish match.
What keeps you tuned in to ECW? Or, what tunes you out? Does it depend on the advertised main event or who the special guests are from Smackdown? Have you completely stopped watching ECW? Drop me a line with your thoughts on your viewing habits for a very basic and familiar show on Tuesday nights.
Updated Tuesday, November 27 (last update: 4:20 p.m.)
Booker T. was the guest on TNA's monthly conference call this afternoon and he talked about why he left WWE for TNA. The straw that broke the camel's back for Booker was WWE not defending him after the Signature Pharmacy report linked him as a customer to the Internet drug retailer. He denied ever purchasing anything online from the pharmacy. He also said he tried to talk to Dr. Black, who oversees the WWE Wellness Policy, but he said Dr. Black did not return his calls.
Related to TNA, Booker said he would like to work with TNA on creating a "developmental territory" at his PWA school in Houston. If the terms work out for both sides, it could give TNA wrestlers a chance to get some regular work in during the week, and give Booker more exposure for his school and monthly shows. By the way, Booker's next show is Thursday night in Pasadena, Tex. featuring Abyss as the special guest.
When Booker was with WWE earlier in the year, he didn't want to run PWA as a training school for WWE because he didn't want to give up too much control to WWE, similar to OVW in Louisville.
The additional exposure through TNA at the expense of TNA having a hand in the training process could give PWA more financial flexibility to buy TV spots, and allow them to run the shows on a more family-friendly night of the week such as Friday or Saturday night. The issue is that running shows at the Pasadena Convention Center later in the week is more expensive than in the middle of the week - when they're currently holding shows - and when fewer families can come out.
Related to TNA match-ups, Booker said he wants to work with the younger stars and not take their spots. That's always the company line for any new big name coming in, but I think the majority of stars coming in believe that. The problem is how TNA scripts the big names coming in. Kurt Angle loses clean to Jay Lethal on PPV. An hour later, Lethal is a jobber doing a run-in. The next show, Lethal loses clean to Christopher Daniels. Two weeks ago, Kaz pushed Kurt Angle to the limit for the World Title. A week later, there was no mention of Kaz.
It's one thing for the wrestlers to be gung-ho about giving their main event rub to the younger stars and following through on their mission statement. It's another thing for TNA to fill in the blanks in the storyline to actually make it mean something.
***
Right now, we have a poll running on who Ric Flair should face at WrestleMania for presumably his retirement match. Leading the voting right now are Shawn Michaels, Ricky Steamboat, Triple H, and Undertaker. (By the way, three votes for Snitsky? C'mon!) I'm scratching Hunter from the top three candidates because we've seen them feud plenty of times, and I'll look at HBK, Steamboat, and Taker.
Shawn Michaels. Michaels vs. Flair is one of those dream matches that could headline Mania with a babyface vs. babyface match-up. Michaels thrives on the big stage with a big-name opponent, with Summerslam 2005 vs. Hulk Hogan coming right to mind. Michaels will create the movement while the fans will cheer for everything Flair does. Potential star rating: ****
Ricky Steamboat. This is very intriguing for two reasons. For one, WWE fans haven't seen Steamboat in the ring in nearly two decades, but he has one of the all-time best Mania matches on his resume against Randy Savage at WrestleMania III. The second reason is that Flair vs. Steamboat will be remembered as one of the best feuds of all time. Steamboat might not be in prime shape, but neither is Flair. It wouldn't be a headline match like Flair vs. Michaels would be, but it would be the perfect cap to Flair's career. Potential star rating: ***1/2
The Undertaker. They could sell this match alone on Taker's streak vs. Flair's six-month run to stay in the business. Flair loses, he retires. Flair wins, The Streak is over. Flair and Taker already had their "dream match" at WrestleMania 18, but enough time has passed to where WWE could revise history and call this a first-time meeting. (If they can honestly say Snitsky has never been pinned on Raw, then they can easily discard a PPV match from 2002.) I like the mini-streak vs. The Streak, but I'm concerned about match quality compared to the other two top vote-getters. Potential star rating: ***
***
The unofficial Flair Retirement Tour started last night in Charlotte, and most likely will commence in Orlando in WrestleMania unless plans are different than what I'm reading into. I could go Howard Dean and list all of the cities Flair is going to barnstorm with Mike Huckabee on the way to Orlando, but I'll save the effort.
Unfortunately, Flair won't be appearing on Raw in Charlotte each week, so the honeymoon of his big return won't last all the way through to March. There will have to be substance and careful attention paid to each of Flair's appearances. First of all, there has to be a reason for Vince McMahon antagonizing Flair with the ultimatum. It seems McMahon is now being a jerk just for the sake of being a jerk. Touching on their previous feud several years ago in the infancy of the brand split would be a start.
They also have to mix Flair into some tag matches. Flair, who is a hair shy of 60 years old, can't be defeating younger, more athletic wrestlers in singles matches every week. It just doesn't make sense over the long-haul. But, the best benefit could be realized by teaming Flair with some of the younger, athletic babyfaces who can get a rub from working with Flair. After all, McMahon didn't say Flair had to personally win every match. He just couldn't take the loss.
Something that Greg Parks touched on last night in our Raw audio analysis is that Flair vs. Orton worked because Flair was in jeopardy and they played that up with the backstage pep talks. The Retirement Tour will work only if Flair is in constant jeopardy.
With McMahon setting the bar so high with Flair taking on the World champ in his first match back, they have to avoid the drop-off factor from Flair facing lesser talent. Fans won't buy into Flair being in jeopardy against someone like Rory of the Highlanders, which would hurt the dramatics of a match. And, let's face it, the drama of the Flair vs. Orton story is what carried last night's match. Without the drama, there wasn't much there.
The keys will be keeping Flair in jeopardy, - gasp! - letting him talk, and setting up quality match-ups that will keep fans interested, but won't compromise the roster, all the way to Mania.
Updated Monday, November 26 (last update: 6:15 p.m.)
Rumors of a return by Sid Vicious (Sid Eudy) have been swirling for seemingly years following his return to the independent scene after the infamous snapped leg in WCW in 2001. (Viewer beware on watching the video if you've never seen it before.)
Vicious appeared on Live Audio Wrestling last night and said he's been in talks with WWE for a possible return. If Vicious is healthy, in good shape, and Wellness-compliant, I think the time is right for him to get a look on the roster. He's never been the greatest worker, but the gimmick of the big beady eyes, intense stare, and that music has always been his calling card.
Frankly, I'm tired of watching Kane vs. Big Daddy V every time I turn on the TV. With Kane being the only legit big man babyface they have on the roster until they figure out what to do with Festus long-term, a babyface return for Vicious to feud with Big Daddy could add some intrigue to the ECW brand. There's always a feud with Khali on Smackdown or Umaga and Snitsky on Raw that could bring some life to the Monster Division.
I'd like to see if Vicious has anything left in the tank after several start-and-stop main event pushes in WWF and WCW over the past 15 years. Right now, his legacy is that snapped ankle on live WCW PPV. I think he deserves another chance to re-write his story on national TV.
***
I've withheld comment on the Impact Turkey Bowl from Thanksgiving night because the show was almost too mind-numbing to produce clear thought. I will say that after turning off the DVR 30 minutes into the show because I couldn't take any more of the juvenile writing, I was mildly entertained when I watched the final 90 minutes.
Granted, entertained doesn't translate into "I'm excited for PPV." (I can't believe TNA has a PPV in six days, as it seems like they were in week 2 of a six-week build up.) The show featured a round of slapstick comedy that got a laugh, but made me care absolutely zero about any PPV match.
Rellik and Black Reign are supposedly two monster heels in a thumbtack match, but everyone was so scared of their presence at the Angle family household that no one paid any attention to them. And Eric Young ended up with Reign's wig. Shouldn't Young have ended up in a vice? Then, Awesome Kong was turned into this creepy freak eating plastic food, rather than having her character reinforced as a killer heel set on ripping Gail Kim's head off.
In an effort to establish personalities for this Bad News Bears cast of zeroes, TNA turned everyone into shells of their wrestling characters. The wrestlers should be gearing up for a round of hard-hitting fights on PPV next week, yet the only thing fans will remember about Rellik and Reign is the silly mouse causing a stir all throughout the house and Kurt Angle having a serious case of indigestion.
I was upset Kaz was not on the show to follow-up on his near-title victory against Kurt Angle last week. And then I thought about it. It's probably a good thing he wasn't on this show to be associated with this silliness when they're trying to build him up as a serious main eventer.
***
Ric Flair returns to Raw tonight in Charlotte. It's been an interesting journey back for Flair, who gave his notice about five months ago when frustrated with his lack of push after being drafted to Smackdown. You might recall the last we saw of Flair on TV was Khali's hands wrapped around Flair's head.
Now, with another five months on the road to WrestleMania, is tonight the start of the Flair Legacy Retirement tour or another one of those moments where the babyface gets pounded, humiliated, beat up, or ribbed in his hometown?
WWE would be best-served avoiding the babyface humiliation, as Flair can still contribute in a significant way based on his star-power and legacy. If Flair is built up as a major star, the Raw brand will have arguably its best line-up in months.
The roster has been depleted throughout the year with injuries and suspensions to Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Mr. Kennedy, Umaga, and Jeff Hardy. Now, they have a top five of Chris Jericho, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, and possibly Flair. That's potential for five important matches on PPV from Raw each month if WWE builds up individual feuds for their big five.
It's been an interesting five months between Flair and WWE, but now it's time to make right on what Flair can contribute in possibly his final stretch in the wrestling business.
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