Have we killed professional wrestling? I came across an article a day or so ago talking about how the internet wrestling community may be playing a part in the mediocrity of the wrestling business. If there is no PPV, we start Monday afternoon speculating about what will happen on RAW. There are people who go to the shows and phone in reports about who has & who hasn't arrived at the arena. During RAW, we watch the show and criticize anything we don't like. I'm usually writing "RAW is Blogged" while I watch the show and I sometimes write a few things down and write my column after the show. We spend most of the night on Monday and all of Tuesday critiquing RAW. Then, ECW comes on and we do the same thing. There are people who phone in the spoilers to Smackdown and yeah, it's our choice if we read them or not, but face it, most all of us do. We read the spoilers and determine if Smackdown is worth watching or not. We get on the message boards & comment boards and debate many wrestling topics. I do an internet wrestling radio show every Wednesday @ 9PM, which you can check out at nwairwaves.com. We crap on every decision made and talk about how we would do things better, or at least I do. After reading that column, I got to thinking, have we really contributed to stuff going on in professional wrestling?

Internet wrestling fans are some of the smartest fans of any kind of sport or TV show. Most of us know what a good match is. We know which guys can wrestle and which guys can't. The power is somewhat in our hands of making or breaking a superstar. If we don't like what we see, we crap on it. We second-guess most every decision made. We know the results of some shows before they're even aired. We can truly ruin the surprise of some stuff before it even happens. As soon as something is heard & is posted, it spreads like wildfire.

Wrestling news sites are filled with news, rumors, results, opinions, etc. I do like to know what's going on backstage. I like to know when guys lose their pushes and that sort of stuff. I've tried to stop visiting wrestling sites but that usually doesn't last more than a day or two. Now that I write columns for over a year, I tend to visit wrestling news sites more than I used to. I sometimes think I'm too smart for my own good when it comes to wrestling. People from the WWE & TNA visit these sites as well to see what's been leaked and what hasn't. We usually know the main event of a PPV a few months before it's even announced. We knew about the Triple H-King Booker match at Summerslam back in June and it was just officially announced this past Monday. We knew about the outcome of the Randy Orton-Rob Van Dam, One Night Stand match before it took place. Vince tried to swerve us by having RVD win, but Orton destroyed him anyway. We know that Randy Orton is supposed to take the title off of John Cena at Summerslam. I can see how this would make Vince mad. They then try & swerve us to make us think we were wrong.

Who wants to run a company where the results of the events are already known before they take place? If I went to a Dallas Mavericks game & I knew they would win before they even played the game, why go to the game or watch it? The WWE doesn't help themselves much because we hear of the house show cards and we derive the potential results from that. There are employees within the company that tip off the Wrestling Observer. Yeah, I read the Wrestling Observer. Vince has tried to tighten the reigns on the information getting out, but we all know it will happen. The more this stuff goes on, the more I realize we're the ones to blame for some of the crap that goes on. You, me, the guy that visited this site before you, we all have a small share of the blame.

During the Attitude Era, I didn't really have access to the internet. I really didn't know that Chris Jericho was coming to the WWE or the spoilers to Smackdown before it aired, but some people did. I would watch the show and think that it was happening live. I didn't know Heat was taped before RAW. I just figured they were at the site of where RAW was going to be the next night. It's like the "oh shit, that's cool as hell" part of the business has been taken away by this site and others. I'm not here to openly criticize this site as well as other wrestling sites. It's tempting to not look at spoilers and stuff like that. A month or two after Wrestlemania 23, we were already getting word of the potential main events for Wrestlemania 24. Speaking of WM23, we learned about the Batista-Undertaker main event way before it was announced. So, when it's finally announced, it's like, "oh, I knew that was going to happen. Big deal." It ruined the whole surprise of Undertaker picking Batista. They had the 3-way stare down and you just knew he was going to pick Batista. But, there was that thought in the back of your mind that he might pick someone else.

I admit that I over analyze stuff and look into it too much. I admit that I crap on some stuff that might be good for the business. Wasting time with Extreme Expose when you can establish new stars is not good for the business. It's not like I'm trying to drive you guys away from this or condemn you. I'm just saying some of the stuff that goes on might be our own fault. It's just something to ponder. Now, let's move on.

There's going word backstage that Bobby Lashley has been getting heat for his comparisons to Brock Lesnar. Now, it's no secret that I thought of and referred to him as Black Lesnar. There are many similarities between Lesnar & Lashley. First off, they both have the initials, BL. They're both amateur wrestling champions. Lesnar is an NCAA Champion and Lashley is an Armed Forces Champion. They both are huge, whether or not that's by the juice is up for you to decide. They both dated current or former Divas that screwed with their heads. Reportedly, unlike the storylines, Kristal has been dating Lashley and she's "screwed" with his head. I don't know if that's true or not, but this next item is true. If you notice in matches, you can tell which guys are selling moves and which ones aren't. If you look at Goldberg's matches, he would barely sell moves because he was being built as a machine. If you watch a Jeff Hardy match, you can tell when he's selling a move. Lashley didn't sell many of Cena's moves during their short feud. The next deal was Lashley complaining about the way his character was being booked. Bobby, listen, when you're on the Triple H level or the Undertaker's level, you can complain. But, when you haven't carried a company or a show and people come to a show just to see you, then you complain. When you haven't had the lights on bright and been able to shine, you need to shut your mouth. I'm not saying Lashley can't carry a show or a company, but until you're at that level, you don't need to whine. He's complained that he wanted to work as a heel and the creative team didn't turn him. They probably should have because I've never been a big fan of a face-face or heel-heel feud. Lashley's heat will hopefully blow over by the time he comes back from his shoulder surgery.

I've heard some stuff about Khali's Claw. They're trying to put it over as a gruesome move. I'm sure it is but with Khali's awkwardness, it makes the move look childish. I mean, the FU looks harsher than the Claw. The Claw reminds me of Inspector Gadget. The Tongan Death Grip from WCW would be a better move than The Claw. The Mandible Claw is the only claw I would want to see in WWE. Khali has the Claw, the Big Boot, the Tree Slam, the Head butt, and I think a clothesline. Now that's 5 moves of doom!

It's amazing how Vince can come in and pretty much take over the storylines on the TV shows. Instead of building up the Biggest Party of the Summer, we're treated to the theories behind Vince's illegitimate child, which is me in case you're wondering, haha. This storyline would have been better saved until after Summerslam, when there isn't much going on. For the past two years, around this time, something with the McMahons overshadows everything else that's going on. I realize that they wanted to get the ratings up, but I don't want to see Vince all of the time. There was a period in wrestling that Vince wouldn't be seen for a while and the ratings would do just fine. Maybe it was because they had good storylines and not so much junk going on. Vince needs to realize that the people that come to the shows don't always come to see him. He dominates the air time too much and it's killing the business sometimes.

We learned this week that the new general manager for ECW is Armando Estrada. Man, that's what I'm talking about. Estrada is so freakin' hardcore! Maybe in the next month or so, they can bury Punk and make the Boogeyman the ECW Champion! They could reintroduce the ECW Television Championship and give it to The Miz! That will draw ratings! I can see it now: ECW takes over Smackdown in the ratings war! ECW could be moved to Friday nights and Smackdown could be shrunk to one hour every Tuesday! HELL YEAH!

Now that my smart ass-ness is out of the way, Estrada has to be one of the worst choices for GM of ECW. Then again, they made Khaliflower the World Heavyweight Champion. I don't know how many times I advocated for Mick Foley to be the GM of ECW. He's been the commissioner before, so he's a logical choice. He's actually hardcore, as opposed to Estrada. Hell, Mick was thrown off the top of the Hell in a Cell. He came back and got thrown through the roof, even though that wasn't a planned spot. Who's going to talk for Umaga now? I guess promos don't matter anymore for OOOOOOMAGA!!! What another crappy decision by the creative. See? There I go again, crapping all over their decisions.

Tuesday night was filled with some interesting stuff. I heard some cool new names that I'm going to use later on in life, like The Tuesday Night Delight, or the Guru of Greatness, or the Shaman of Sexy. Can you imagine going on a date with a lovely lady and calling yourself the Shaman of Sexy? I could seriously see myself getting into an argument with somebody and referring to myself as the Guru of Greatness. I will admit Morrison's promo was the best I've heard from him. He continues to improve each week. And to my surprise, we got to see Punk talk! I couldn't believe it! They need to let him talk some more. For the part of the show, it seemed like a showcase for Big Flabby V. What better way to book your possible future champion by having him get crushed by one of the worst wrestlers on the roster? I realize it was just a count out win, but still. You don't damage your #1 Contender in any way. If any damage is to be done, it's to the champion to give that possibility that a title change might occur and they actually did that. There was even a "boo-gey-man" chant throughout the arena at one point. I'm enjoying the Thorn-Richards mini-feud. It's pretty good even though Thorn needs to move to Smackdown to give him something to fight for. ECW was good but it can be better. Damn, there I go again, criticizing the creative teams' decisions.

The time has come for another storyline idea. I got some e-mails on what matches I would use for feuds & how I would end them. If we're just talking about what matches I would use, this is a pretty easy subject. I've never been a big fan of feuds lasting too long and having a bunch of gimmick matches. I have been a fan of keeping guys apart as long as possible and only letting them fight each other at a PPV. The first match would be your regular type matches with normal finishes, like a pinfall or submission. The next match would be a gimmick type match. This first set of gimmick matches is what I call "level 1." They're just to get your feet wet with nothing too crazy. For instance, I would choose from a Falls Count Anywhere match, Hardcore match, or a Ladder match. If the feud was to continue, I would use the "level 2" gimmick matches. These matches are either a First Blood match, Cage match, a 2-out-of-3 falls match, or a Last Man Standing match. The next set of matches would be "level 3." These matches could possibly end a feud or just add fuel to the fire. These matches would be a TLC match or an I Quit match. These could end a feud or keep it going. Now, after 4 PPV matches or 3 PPV & 1 TV match, it's time for the final level. These matches would ultimately decide a feud. After this match, the feud wouldn't continue. Now, I'm not saying these matches have to be in order or the guys have to feud for 3-4 months. You can always space them out or rekindle a feud later on. The last level matches will be it. You can add the "last shot at the title" type stipulation or a "Loser Leaves Town" or something like that to the match, especially if a title is on the line. The last matches would be a Hell in a Cell or a 60-minute Iron Man match. This would be it.

Besides these matches, I would add a few "innovative" concepts. I've always wanted to see what a TLC or Ladder match mixed with Cage match would be like. I'd probably steal the name "Full Metal Mayhem." You could use a regular steel cage or the Hell in a Cell without a roof. Stuff some tables, ladders, chairs, & a title belt hanging over the ring and you've got a bloody, gruesome match. Another match I've liked and wanted to see again would be a 3-level cage match. WCW used this back in the day a few times and I wish they would bring it back. You can combine a lot of the different gimmick matches to form new ones. One that should be used more is a Barbed Wire Steel cage. I know some of you might be thinking that I only like cage matches but that's not entirely true.

Does anybody remember the Barbed Wire Massacre match in TNA between Abyss & Sabu? ECW used to have them and I wish they would do a few more before I die. Another match I've thought about is an Island match. The ring would be on a platform in a lake or a giant pool. It's pretty simple to win this match. All you have to do is throw your opponent in the water. Most of you have seen how hard it is to throw guys over in a battle royal. Why not throw some water into the mix?

Now, I hope you people enjoyed this week's Excess. Hopefully the product will get better in the coming weeks. I know when these big stars get back, it will be better.

Excess Power Rankings
1. John Cena
2. John Morrison
3. Randy Orton
4. Umaga
5. CM Punk +2
6. Batista -1
7. The Great Khali +1
8. Mr. Kennedy +1
9. Carlito -2
10. Matt Hardy

You can e-mail me at yellow_jackets2000@mgoblue.com. If you send me spam, I will knock your block off. Just kidding, but seriously, I will.

Wrestling Autism

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