CALDWELL'S TAKE
CORNER CUBE THURSDAY: Hogan comments on Nick, TNA Impact preview
Dec 13, 2007 - 6:55:19 PM |
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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
Updated throughout the day, Torch columnist James Caldwell's weekday blog focuses on hot topic current events and issues from around wrestling.
From the Cube: Thursday, December 13
6:55 p.m. Hulk Hogan was interviewed during an American Gladiators press conference and talked about the situation with his son, Nick, following the near-fatal car accident a few months ago. Hogan said Nick's well-being is his primary concern right now while going through the divorce with Linda.
"My main concern in life is my son, and his situation with the boy in the car," Hogan said optimistically. "Everything seems to be getting better in that situation." He said his only choice is to face his family's issues rather than crawl into a hole and hide. "There is no other choice but to be okay," he said.
When asked about the VH-1 series on the Hogan family, Hogan said he's not sure if he's up for another season. "I know VH-1 would like more programming," he said. It’s a situation where I would love to focus more on my daughter's career." Hogan said VH-1 was talking two days ago about renewing the series.
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5:45 p.m. Tonight on Impact, airing on Spike TV, the contents of the briefcases from the last PPV are finally revealed. We'll find out who gets fired and who gets title shots. In case you forgot, the involved parties are Christopher Daniels (via victory over Senshi last week), Scott Steiner, Petey Williams, and B.G. James, who doesn't like his partner. No word on whether Mr. Maple Leaf muscle, the purveyor of the protein shake, is on the Mitchell report.
Matches include Christian Cage trying to find a partner for a tag match against Kurt Angle and Robert Roode. ... The gimmick match of the night is X Division champion and non-possessor of the belt, Jay Lethal, against Johnny Devine in a lumberjack strap match ... Also, Booker T. vs. Chris Harris and Knockouts tag team action. ... James Mitchell confronts Abyss on the latest super secret we haven't heard yet about Abyss's checkered past ...
We welcome your feedback on the show!
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3:15 p.m. There was a story reported by the AP and Reuters on an investigation into unsafe children's toys in the state of New York. Some of the toys identified were labeled as "Wrestle Mania", but WWE quickly said the toys were unlicensed products using the WWE trademark. WWE said they will file paperwork to stop the manufacturer from selling unlicensed toys on the market.
- WWE will be taping Smackdown and ECW on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at Toyota Center in Houston. A special pre-sale started this morning at 10:00 a.m. CST for people on the Toyota Center mailing list. The pre-sale lasts until tomorrow at 10:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at toyotacentertix.com and the special code is CHAMP.
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11:20 a.m. Major League Baseball's D-Day came today. Up and down the list of former and current players linked to Sen. George Mitchell's investigation into baseball's drug culture are major names from Roger Clemens to Barry Bonds. This will assuredly push forward the Congressional hearings in early 2008 that pro wrestling is expected to be part of. Both sports will have to answer questions. MLB has its list - All-Star steroid users. Pro wrestling has its list - dead wrestlers.
The key for the future of each sport is how the fans react. Do fans even care? The hometown Astros just acquired Miguel Tejada, who is on the list, while former Astros legends Jeff Bagwell, Ken Caminiti (dead), and Darryl Kile (dead) are on the list. Will ticket sales be affected? Will people turn away from baseball like they did after the 1994 strike before flocking back when juicers were bashing homers?
Pro wrestling's most-recent dark period was the Chris Benoit story - when the business was exposed for an entire month on national TV shows. Casual wrestling fans turned away in small numbers for a time, but there hasn't been a sweeping drop off in viewership or PPV buys, despite plenty of exposure on the mortality rate in pro wrestling, largely due to drug abuse.
Sure, ratings slumped in the second-half of this year following the Chris Benoit news and subsequent fall-out. But, after casual fans digested the news for a few weeks, was it enough for them not to tune in anymore? Maybe a small percentage stayed away, but Raw continued to be a Top 10 cable show. Five months later, Raw is still in the Top 10.
As long as casual fans don't have the big picture issues in their face, they'll ignore the issues facing sports. And who can blame them? There's more concern on the mortgage payment, child care, college tuition, and helping an elderly parent than worrying about whether the All-Star 1st baseman took steroids, or whether the WWE champion passed a drug test.
Does that mean fans won't buy season tickets or show up when the WWE show comes to town next time? Baseball - we'll see. Wrestling - fans are still showing up in big numbers across the world. Regardless, both sports will always be linked by a common issue of how to handle performance-enhancing drugs with its top performers. Fans will ultimately decide what the penalty should be for each sport.
From the Cube: Wednesday, December 12
7:15 p.m. In this week's Torch Newsletter, we're putting together a few articles looking at the top WWE superstars in Raw history. Here's my Top 10 list.
1. Steve Austin
2. The Rock
3. Shawn Michaels
4. Mick Foley
5. Bret Hart
6. Triple H
7. John Cena
8. The Undertaker
9. Jeff Hardy
10a. Chris Jericho
10b. Chris Benoit
Vince McMahon and Jim Ross are certainly worth mentioning on the list for their non-wrestling roles. I couldn't make a decision on the final spot, so I cheated and picked two.
3:40 p.m. The Times of India has a story on a 17-year-old boy in India killing another boy of the same age with an elbow strike to the throat. The report calls it "true WWE style," as the boy was a fan of wrestling on TV. He left the victim in a toilet for five days, and even helped the father of the boy file a missing person complaint with the police to cover up the killing.
A similar incident occurred in India a few years ago and there were threats to pull WWE programming from TV, or at least push it to a later timeslot. I never heard anything more after the previous incident, but today's newspaper report headlining with: "Inspired by TV, teen kills friend in 'wrestling style'" will rekindle some of that negative sentiment toward WWE's product overseas.
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12:15 p.m. Earlier in the month, Yahoo revealed that WWE was its second-most searched term in 2007. AOL revealed its top search results for 2007 - Chris Benoit was the most-searched for news item of the year. WWE was the most-searched for sport of the year. (Well, it is sports entertainment.)
Although 2007 was a low mark for WWE in terms of TV ratings, as they regularly set 10-year lows in the second-half of the year, WWE created plenty of buzz on the Internet. Only problem is that it was usually negative buzz. There was a two-month span when Vince McMahon faked his death on Raw and news of Chris Benoit's murder-suicide received mainstream coverage everywhere. There was a lot of interest in WWE, but it didn't necessarily translate into people watching the shows or ordering PPVs. From WWE's perspective, the only bad publicity is no publicity, right?
- ESPN finished first among cable networks last week, thanks in large part to the record-setting cable numbers for the Patriots vs. Ravens game on Dec. 3. USA Network finished second with Raw grabbing a below-average total viewers of 4.83 million. Despite the drop-off, Raw still finished in the Top 10 among cable TV shows.
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11:10 a.m. Last night's ECW was an above-average episode. It played out the same as most weeks, but the action in the Miz & Morrison vs. Yang & Moore tag match was a step above the usual tag team action featured on ECW. Jimmy Yang is unbelievably underutilized, so it was good to see him in a meaningful role. ECW could really have a very strong brand if they took all of the underutilized talent from Raw and Smackdown and gave them a significant role on ECW, similar to Shelton Benjamin.
Speaking of Shelton, I thought his promo was good. Not spectacular. The story was dated and didn't play to a mass audience, but his delivery has improved dramatically. He's going to tell you a story and you're going to listen. He's not rushing through it; just taking his time, and not screaming AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS like too many people do these days.
The booking of C.M. Punk continues to puzzle me on a week-to-week basis. He's just not treated the same way World Hvt. champion Batista is. (I was going to include WWE champion Randy Orton in that sentence, but he's not exactly piling up significant victories in meaningful matches right now.) More often than not, we see Punk flat on his back with someone else making a comeback (Kane last night), or not making a comeback at all.
It's really getting old for people to make predictions of victory in sports. Wrestling will always have that element because the writers have control of the finishes, so a prediction can be mixed in from time-to-time depending on how they want to present a character in a positive or negative light. Elijah Burke making a prediction about beating Batista was completely unnecessary. It made him look silly, as everyone and their momma knew Batista was winning that match. Burke is too valuable to the ECW brand to be turned into the butt of jokes.
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9:30 a.m. Last night, ESPN aired a best of show for the "This is SportsCenter" ad campaign. Of course, that sent me to youtube last night to catch up on old times, including the classic Steve Austin chair shot from Dan Patrick. Then, there's the much older WWF clip with King Kong Bundy, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Undertaker, and Paul Bearer. Probably a fanny pack involved there.
Somehow, I stumbled upon the legendary mistrials of Robocop and Sting from 1990. If you wonder why WCW went out of business, well, just take a look at how doomed WCW was during the Jim Herd era. Unbelievable how the Horsemen, Sting, Jim Ross, and Gordon Solie had to sell this.
From the Cube: Tuesday, December 11
6:50 p.m. I was pleasantly surprised to see the 4.4 rating in the usual timeslot for last night's Raw, as I predicted a 3.8 rating for those final two hours. The number shouldn't be surprising, though. WWE delivered an entertaining and memorable show that caught a big audience with its large net. There was a little bit of everything for everyone.
For newer fans, maybe it was the first time seeing legendary clips of Kurt Angle spraying the milk truck or DX invading WCW. For older fans, it was a nice trip down memory lane to remind them of why they sat through moments like Mae Young giving birth to a hand to see the classic Rock vs. Austin confrontations.
WWE was certainly helped by going up against a non-competitive Monday Night Football game that was pretty much over during the third hour of Raw. Now, the key is how much momentum they can carry over to next week without the nostalgia and party atmosphere.
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5:15 p.m. Tonight on ECW, it's Batista vs. Elijah Burke in a non-title match. Batista hasn't been on ECW since the very early days of ECW on Sci-Fi when they taped TV in smaller venues to create a more intimate crowd setting. In August 2006, Batista faced Big Show at the Hammerstein Ballroom and he was booed out of the building. So, Batista should fare much better at the same venue where Smackdown is taped tonight.
Also tonight on ECW, it's Kelly Kelly vs. Victoria & Leyla in a handicap match. Smart move to get the more experienced Victoria in the middle of this to help out Kelly.
- There was an Impact taping last night in Orlando, but we haven't received a report on the show. The last taping of 2007 is tonight in Orlando, so if you attend tonight or attended last night's taping, please send in a report!
- The Black Anthem website has an in-depth look at WWE's overseas tour for the Tribute to the Troops show. Lots of details on the trip. We're just missing Rita Cosby.
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2:45 p.m. Batista has an interview with the U.K. Sun where he comments on fellow WWE superstars, including Melina. He said: "It started out completely innocently, but I just fell in love with her. It’s been on and off for a long time and I still love her death. But I can’t see us getting married. I still don't think I'm over my ex-wife."
He said Randy Orton has found himself as a person and a wrestler. "He was lost for a while," Batista said. It's encouraging to hear that Orton is getting his personal affairs in check after really struggling the previous three years.
Batista's most critical remarks came for Great Khali. Regarding Khali's World Hvt. title reign, Batista said, "I didn't think he deserved the world championship. I don’t want to say it made me sick to my stomach to see the title in his hands, but it really did make me sick to my stomach."
I'll make the argument that, like Khali, the only reason why Batista became champion was because of his size. He has a certain big-man charisma that certainly helps and he was hand-picked by Triple H, but if he were 6'1" and 200 pounds with the self-admitted weak wrestling skills he had when he first came to WWE, I doubt he would have even sniffed title gold.
The full U.K. Sun interview can be downloaded at the link above.
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9:35 a.m. Time to snap back to reality and I'll play the role of Debbie Downer today. So, now that the big Raw party is over, everyone's had a few (too many) drinks on the house, and everyone picked up another payday to spend...um...in a prudent manner, WWE has some business at hand. Namely, they have that PPV on Sunday. Ya know, the one where Randy Orton beats Chris Jericho, Triple H beats Jeff Hardy, and they set up Orton vs. Hunter V.105 at the Rumble.
But, after that, Raw will have to go back to developing the underneath storylines to boost up the top of the card. Which means devoting time to the tag division, Intercontinental division, and figuring out a way to keep viewers when Hogan, Austin, and Foley aren't on the show. Fortunately, they have a good crop of main eventers - the best line-up probably this year considering all of the injuries in 2007.
However, fans are going to look at the wrestlers like Michaels, Hunter, and Flair a little different now. They seemed to be tied more to the past on Raw last night than doing anything really special in the present going to the future. Another DX reunion. An Evolution reunion. Marty Jannetty returning for a main event in Shawn Michaels's place.
To the average viewer tuning in for the nostalgia show, it certainly didn't seem like the big stars of today who were big stars of yesterday are actually doing anything important right now. It certainly sent mixed signals on trying to a sell a PPV on Sunday. WWE will have to change that message on next week's Raw before going into the holiday programming leading to 2008.
From the Cube: Monday, December 10
4:25 p.m. From the Cube inbox - Torch VIP member Joe Crowe asks...
When I heard tonight’s Raw 15-year anniversary would have stars from the past, some questions arose: How many "stars of the past" aren’t in TNA? Or dead? If these "stars from the past" are able to perform to some degree on Raw tonight, why can’t they have regular jobs in WWE? That’s rhetorical; I know why. The WWE has no further use for them, for political reasons, or the stars have "personal demons." But still, it would do an '80s and '90s wrestling fan good to see some of their old favorites contribute meaningfully again.
JC: I don't know how much "performance" we're going to get from old stars being brought back for the show, as most of them are not in peak physical condition. But, I believe a good handful of the older stars can still contribute. WWE already has plenty of older wrestlers contributing off camera - Mike Rotunda, Arn Anderson, and Ricky Steamboat are backstage agents/producers. Dusty Rhodes and Michael Hayes are on writing staff. Would it be nice to see more appearances like Michael Hayes confronting MVP to deliver great TV? It sure would be.
But, there aren't too many older stars who aren't currently on staff with WWE or in TNA who are capable of delivering the entertainment value expected on WWE TV. Tonight could be considered an informal try-out to see what everyone can contribute. Who's in good shape? Who can talk? Who has a good attitude? Who can share nuggets of information with younger stars and be on the road 200 days per year as an agent? A lot of it depends on schedule, stamina, and a willingness to work with younger talent from a completely new generation of wrestling stars.
Have a question you'd like to see answered in the Cube? Send an email to Caldwell's inbox for future consideration.
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1:35 p.m. Here's a rather interesting business development for WWE. A gossip website Jossip has a story on a WWE seeking an editor for a new WWE magazine aimed at children.
The job description reads, in part: "WWE is seeking someone to be a part of a magazine launch, sister magazine to flagship WWE ... Candidate should have a strong knowledge of children based subject material. Wrestling knowledge is also a plus. ... Requirements: 4-6 years experience as a magazine editor at a children’s publication and/or have worked for other various children’s related media."
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11:45 a.m. Midway Games released a new trailer for the first TNA video game, set for release in the spring of 2008. The new trailer opens with real-life footage normally reserved for PPV video packages, then showcases various signature moves from A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christian Cage in the video game. It shows some additional arenas beside the Impact Zone that matches can be contested in. Gamershell.com streaming video link.
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11:10 a.m. WWE Raw's 15-year anniversary show tonight is getting considerable buzz on mainstream news outlets today, especially in TV listings. The announcement of the two-year cable TV deal with USA Network was timed perfectly late last week, as every major entertainment news outlet has reported on the deal and plugged the show tonight.
WWE was also helped by the writer's strike talks breaking down over the weekend. Doing a quick Google search for WWE, many newspapers are reporting details of the talks breaking down, and segueing that to WWE having original content tonight with the anniversary show.
The regular two hours of Raw should do a very strong rating against a weak Monday Night Football game, and be helped by broadcast television airing re-runs or holiday specials without original content available. The first hour at 8 p.m. EST will drag down the overall three-hour rating, but I'm predicting an average of 3.8 for the second and third hours in the normal timeslot.
- WWE Smackdown from Friday night was a strong show with two very strong confrontations on the mic. Teddy Long was terrific matching Edge sentence for sentence in the opening segment. He appears to be very refreshed and eager to be in his authoritative role after being off TV for several months. Again, it provided more evidence that any TV wrestling personality needs a break from time-to-time to recharge and come back with more energy.
MVP and Michael Hayes had the promo exchange of the year for Smackdown. MVP has really grown into a legitimate star the last four months, beginning with the Matt Hardy program. Hayes played a very strong protagonist, but did so in a way that put the spotlight on MVP, not himself.
Of course, the PSA messages of "Don't Do Drugs, kids!" or "drugs were only done in the '80s, but everyone is squeaky clean now!" were almost laughable, despite there being a good message in the World Class story on drug prevention.
But, outside of that, I haven't seen a better ten minutes of TV on Smackdown in some time. Besides plugging the DVD, they effectively built up Matt Hardy's return to chase down MVP, and they built up Rey's challenge to MVP for the U.S. Title without Rey having to talk on the mic. This seemed to be a one-time deal for Hayes, but I think he could be a very strong character as a part-time manager/adviser. We don't need the return of Dok Hendrix, though.
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