The Steel Cage

This Sunday’s WWE pay per view features matches between the Undertaker and Edge, Randy Orton and Triple H, and John Cena and JBL.

Wait a minute, didn’t I already write this post two weeks ago?

"One Night Stand" feels more like a stale relationship with no end in sight. I’ve made this point many times, but WWE definitely needs to freshen up its top feuds. Hopefully, we’ll be getting just the shake up we need with the upcoming draft lottery. But there’s actually yet another pay per view before then, June’s Night of Champions. So it may be possible that we see some of these combinations on pay per view yet again in just a few weeks.

My hope for Vince McMahon’s big announcement last Monday was that it would involve a reduced price for One Night Stand, the third WWE pay per view in five weeks. One Night Stand was originally designed as an ECW revival pay per view, and received wide praise in its first two years. But it has long since lost its relevancy and needs to be removed from the pay per calendar, just as WWE wisely did with January’s New Year’s Revolution. Asking fans to spend $160 on pay per views eight weeks is insane.

That said, I’ll give WWE credit for making ONS feel unique by featuring all extreme-rules matches. Unlike TNA, WWE is fairly disciplined in how often it features quirky stipulation matches, so a card loaded with Stretcher, I Quit, Falls Count Anywhere and Last Man Standing matches is something to look forward to.

I’m especially intrigued by the tables, ladders and chairs match between Taker and Edge. We know how great the Rated R Superstar can be in this kind of match, and Taker always gives it his all and tries to innovate in the ring. And we're pretty much guaranteed a new world champion.

I’ll probably check it out.

There’s been a lot of discussion here over the last few days on what constitutes a quality professional wrestling product. Some WWE loyalists have defended the company to the hilt against criticisms that the product has been lackluster as of late. They say there’s nothing wrong with what we’re getting from WWE.

So how good can wrestling be? I’d direct your attention to exhibit A, Ring of Honor’s sixth pay per, Take No Prisoners, which debuts tonight on In Demand at 10 p.m., and has several replays over the weekend.

You know that feeling of complete and utter satisfaction that you get a few times a year from a particularly well executed, dramatic and exciting WWE match? Well, imagine getting that at nearly every show, and very often several times on a single card. That's usually my ROH experience.

Now, I don’t at all profess that ROH is “better” than WWE, nor that WWE should be emulating ROH’s wrestling style. They are two distinctly different products, and both are good at what they do. But if you ever wanted to have your faith restored that you don't need leprechauns, million dollar giveaways, and diva watergun fights to put on a wrestling show, then I implore you to check out an ROH pay per view, which are usually priced in the $15 range.

There’s a big misconception out there that an ROH show is a two-hour high spot fest with of the psychology, storylines, and starpower that separate it from the major leagues. On the contrary, some of the best developed wrestling characters, compelling storylines, hilarious humor and epic showdowns I have seen in the last several years have come from ROH.

And from what I heard, ROH is at its best at Take No Prisoners, which features an ROH dream match between two of Bryan Danielson and Austin Aries, as well as ROH heavyweight champion Nigel McGuinness defending his title against the winner of a four-corner survival match earlier in the night. I won’t give away any spoilers from the show, which was taped several weeks ago, but I heard the title match was a star-making performance for the challenger and a legitimate match of the year candidate.

I enjoy WWE as much as the next person, but I don’t think it’s going out on much of a limb to predict that the best wrestling pay per view this weekend will be ROH’s Take No Prisoners. So spend your money wisely.

Here’s a preview of the show:

Long Island's own New York Wrestling Connection returns to the Deer Park Community Center this Saturday, May 31, for "Planet E Attacks." Bell time is 8 p.m. and tickets start at $15. Find more info at NYWC's web site.

Among the matches scheduled are "The iSuperstar" Rob Eckos taking on Maverick, and "Greek God" Papadon vs. "Superstar" Dickie Rodz.

You may have never heard of some of these guys, but you can be assured that NYWC isn't pumping out a bunch of shlubs. Papadon, who I've known for years, has long been a standout of the NY independent scene. Rodz is one of NYWC's most seasoned superstars, and had a hand in training some of NYWC's talent now in WWE, including Hawkins and Ryder. Eckos is one of the hottest prospects in the indy scene, regularly competing in the East Coast Wrestling Association and even on WWE a couple of times. And Maverick is one of NYWC's most promising young wrestlers.

Support independent wrestling. Check out NYWC this Saturday.

I've enjoyed the spirited discussion that my last post about WWE's latest hotshot angle stirred. On one side of the debate you have fans that are very turned off by the current WWE product and frustrated over getting the same old, same old shoved down their throats. On the other side are fans who think WWE deserves the benefit of the doubt and wish fans would have some patience before dismissing everything WWE's creative direction outright.

Both sides have been relatively well argued, and made some very valid points. But there is one sentiment that I have come across that drives me absolutely mad. That's the notion that fans who are vocal in criticizing a product they don't enjoy are somehow wrong for doing so.

Continue reading "Criticizing Those Who Criticize Wrestling Critics" »

I’d like to take this opportunity to school some newer wrestling fans on some of the sport’s insider terms:

Babyface: A good guy.
Heel: A bad guy.
Major announcement: A major letdown.

It’s become as old as time, yet we somehow keep falling for it. Some sort of wrestling authority figure promises an announcement at a pay per view, at the end of a show, or on a web site that will rock the world, and inevitably it is a colossal disappointment. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me a thousand times… please cut it out.

I fell for it hook, line and sinker last night when I anxiously waited until the end of Raw for Mr. McMahon’s latest earth shattering announcement that promised to change the face of wrestling, forever, ever, ever. What was it? A dopey million dollar giveaway.

Not only do I doubt that this latest stunt will help Raw’s sagging ratings, I truly believe it has the potential to hurt them. The last thing WWE wants to appear is desperate, and nothing says “We’re drowning here” like a prize giveaway.

Continue reading "Wanted: WWE Viewers, Will Pay Top Dollar" »

It's absolutely staggering to me that Friday is nine years since we lost Owen Hart.

I -- like many of you -- still remember the day, crystal clear. It was May 23, 1999 -- just 13 days after I started with WWE as an intern.

Continue reading "Remembering Owen Hart" »

I was as saddened as the next person over the news of William Regal's most recent 60-day suspension for violating WWE's wellness policy. It's especially troubling considering Regal was in the midst of the biggest push of his career and seemed primed to be elevated into a main event heel and possible world champion.

But there is a bigger picture here, and one that we should undoubtedly consider good news. WWE appears to be getting serious about its drug policy.

Continue reading "Is WWE's Drug Testing Policy Finally Working?" »

I received the following press release in an email today and thought I'd pass it along.

Incidentally, McMahon calls it "first-ever broadcast television debut of 'WrestleMania." Am I the only person who remembers 1995's "WrestleMania" special on Fox, in which they aired the Michaels-Diesel and Bigelow-LT matches?

Nevertheless, I think it's a great idea to air Mania highlights on free TV. It was one WWE's best shows of all time and a great way to hook some new viewers on the WWE product.

NEW YORK - The WWE on MyNetworkTV will kick off a night early with a first ever broadcast presentation of "WrestleMania" on Thursday, October 2nd at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT), announced the network's president, Greg Meidel. This special presentation featuring the best moments of "WrestleMania XXIV" including Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show® will be followed by the premiere of "WWE SmackDown" on Friday, October 3rd at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

In making the announcement, Meidel stated, "We're thrilled to bring fans even more of their favorite WWE action on MyNetworkTV. These side-by-side primetime events are sure to deliver two nights of edge-of-your-seat, action-packed entertainment."

"WWE SmackDown" will be presented on MyNetworkTV weekly on Fridays and showcase a star-studded cast of WWE Superstars, including Edge®, Rey Mysterio®, Batista®, MVPT and Undertaker®. It will feature all the action, excitement, drama and great athleticism that have made it for nine years one of the most popular programs among males on broadcast television, and one of the top ten English language prime time programs among Hispanic households.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon added, "What better way to introduce MyNetworkTV viewers to the WWE brand than to schedule our first-ever broadcast television debut of 'WrestleMania.'"

John Cena was a guest on the Opie & Anthony radio show this morning, and while it was mostly playful banter, Cena did cover some interesting ground.

A couple of months ago, Cena was quoted in the UK Sun as saying the following: "“What I kind of get peeved about — and this is my Achilles’ heel — is that I've wanted to do this my whole life. At one point Rock loved wrestling and wanted to do this all his life. So explain to me why he can't come back."

O&A producer Sam Robert asked Cena to clarify his statement today, and Cena reiterated much of the same. He said although he believes that the Rock always wanted to be an actor, his "beef" was that he said he'd never leave wrestling behind, and he very clearly has. He said Rock's about face "makes my job harder" because nobody believes him when he says he will always remain a part of pro wrestling, even if he finds success in acting. He said it's similar to the way that nobody believes he doesn't do steroids because fans have "pre conceived notions."

"I'll find a way to make it work," said Cena, who said has a passion for working in front of live crowds on a regular.

On the subject of steroids, Cena said that the proof that he doesn't use them is that he has remained the same size even as other wrestlers' bodies have gotten smaller over the years.

Asked whether he's be interested in taking part in mixed martial arts, he said while he had "nothing but respect" for MMA fighters, he has no desire to compete in their sport. He said he couldn't accept training for six months for a fight that might last just 30 seconds and end with him getting his "a-- kicked." He said he loves going out night after, wrestling as many as 270 dates a year.

Asked by a caller what he does to relax when he's stressed out, he said he'll often tip back some Coors Lights at a local bar, work on his muscle cars, or visit "an establishment of ill repute." Asked by the hosts if he was serious, he said he was.

I can just see Cena walking into a brothel with a wad of cash of exclaiming, "The champ is here!"