The Steel Cage

Here's some video I shot outside the Nassau Coliseum before Sunday's Great American Bash. Fans arrived several hours early and tailgated in the parking lot, even in the sweltering heat. It was a pretty cool atmosphere, and I hope WWE brings pay per view back to Long Island before too long. - Alfonso

Alfonso is in the office, Seth is in parts unknown and the Masked Superstar is working the e-phones from underneath the ring as we live chat about the WWE, the Great American Bash and all things pro wrestling.

Post your questions in the field below and have fun.

First things first, remember Seth and I will be doing a live chat discussing all things wrestling todat at noon. I hope to see you there.

I also hope to be sitting in the Nassau Coliseum this Sunday when WWE's Great American Bash rolls in, and if my Blackberry cooperates, do some live blogging with my in-person observations.

Here's what I expect to see:

First off, I have to apologize for the infrequent posts as of late. I’ve been quite busy, as evidenced in pages A6 and A7 of your Newsday.

This may be a bit late, but I wanted to ring in about what I thought was the most intriguing moment of last Monday’s Raw. Even more intriguing – none of us saw it on television.

I’m speaking about the 12-minute dark match that took place before the show went on the air. In one corner was Lance Cade – the five-year WWE veteran who seemed poised to get a decent push as a mid-card heel after breaking up with his tag team partner Trevor Murdoch.

In the other corner was a pale, plain, light heavyweight – likely unrecognizable to the majority of the fans. Yet somehow, this relative unknown made Cade tap out.

The mystery man’s name – Bryan Danielson.

On Raw last night, and at a press conference this afternoon, we got some more details of Vince McMahon's much-ballyhooed $1 million giveaway. And, despite the hopes from some WWE loyalists that there would be a lot more to it than originally appeared, there really isn't. This is not an angle designed to get over an up and coming wrestler, nor evolve into a hot storyline - It is, quite simply, a sweepstakes.

I understand the argument that the giveaway should not be judged solely on its own entertainment value, but rather as a tool to draw in new viewers and win them over with a quality wrestling product. But since when do wrestling promoters turn around business during a slow period by buying off fans?

WCW Nitro became the number one show on television not buy giving away a million bucks, but by reinventing Monday night wrestling through marquee match-ups and big ideas like the nWo and cruiserweight wrestling, and hot new stars, like Goldberg.

WWE had its hottest business period ever not by giving fans a secret code on a web site each week, but through fresh new acts like Steve Austin and the Rock, and by redefining the product during the "Attitude" era.

Historically, it's been new faces and innovative concepts that have sparked boon periods and made wrestling must-see viewing. While I agree that WWE, for the most part, provides a consistently adequate product, it's hardly groundbreaking these days. It's almost laughable that McMahon would seem baffled as to why viewers are leaving at the very same time that he just headlined four straight pay per views with Triple H vs. Randy Orton and Edge vs. The Undertaker - not to mention that two of those four men have been featured in the main event picture for at least a decade.

To be honest, there was something rather sad and pathetic about McMahon going out on the stage last night and essentially admitting that he would pay people out of his own pocket to watch Raw. Whatever happened to the guy who revolutionized the wrestling world in the mid-80s and again in the mid 90s? That McMahon wouldn't have won fans over with a box of cash. He would have won them over by pushing the next big star or by completely overhauling his operation.

What's more, it simply won't work. WWE actually has put on some fantastic shows, compelling angles, historic matches, and created megastars over the last several years without seeing the ratings budge. So, while I could see a very short term bump, I can't imagine that a desperate prize giveaway is going to be the panacea WWE has been hoping for.

This is the time of year when I don't really pay much attention to WWE's product (generally happens between January and December). So I haven't seen much of the build-up to Sunday's Judgment Day show.

Of course, I'd still be happy to post a little something about how bad I think the card is ...

As corny as they were, I enjoyed the presidential candidates' appearances on Raw last night. As a longtime wrestling fan, it was pretty cool to think the WWE has the kind of pull to get all three candidates to tape interviews specifically targeting wrestling fans, and invoking the the name of Randy Orton. WWE even got mentions in the top stories of network newscasts.

I understand Seth's point that, in many ways, the wrestling business does not deserve the endorsement of the candidates - what with its seedy culture of drugs, stereotypes, misogyny and early deaths. But I don't think this was the forum for any of the candidates to take a stand against wrestling's problems, any more so than they should blast steroid use in baseball every time they attend a game. Wrestling has a unique appeal to young people and the candidates' appearances weren't a stamp of approval on the wrestling product (well, maybe McCain's was) as much as they were an attempt to target a specific demographic. They were smart to use WWE's forum.

Yesterday, I predicted how each candidate would do, and I think I hit the nail right on the head. Hillary was especially hacky, unnatural and awkward; Obama was the coolest and most comfortable - but also gave the most political speech; and McCain had the most fun with it - almost embarrassingly so.

Here's a transcript of what each one said:

It was great to hear that WWE is bringing back the King of the Ring tournament as a one-night event next week on a special three-hour Raw.

Before it was brought to pay per view in 1993, the KOTR was a one-night single elimination tournament held each year at house shows in the New England area. For almost a decade, the tournament was the focal point of WWE's annual June pay per view offering.

Similar to what the Money in the Bank ladder match winner has become in recent years, the King of the Ring winner was traditionally a WWE mid carder that was being groomed for a top spot in the cards, if not a world title run. Some of the Kings went on to become greats in the industry, while others were colossal flops.

Counting only the winners of the PPV tournaments, here are my rankings of their majesties.

Two days after witnessing WWE wrestling on the biggest stage of all in front of 74,000 fans at the Citrus Bowl, I got the opportunity to watch it on a far smaller stage when I attended a Florida Championship Wrestling show in New Port Richey.

FCW is essentially WWE's farm system, where stars of tomorrow are groomed before being called up to the majors. Over the years, WWE's developmental system has pumped out some of the biggest names in the industry, from Randy Orton, to Batista, to John Cena to Edge.

It was pretty cool watching a WWE-sanctioned product in a small bar before a "crowd" of about 50 fans - many of whom were their for the $1 draft special. I must confess, I took advantage of the special as well, so pardon the goofy look on my face.

Scenes from the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Click the pic.

Time for some predictions for Wrestlemania XXIV. And what with this being the digital age and all, words don't seem fair. So let's predict some matches in video.

Alfonso and Seth differ on the Triple Threat champ.

Alfonso and Seth both agree on this "Money" Mayweather vs. the Big Show nightmare waiting to happen.

Alfonso has a special surprise for the Bunny Mania match

Alfonso and Seth fight it out over who will win the Money in the Bank match.

Seth breaks down the undercard, including Ric Flair vs. HBK.

I'm looking forward to attending this year's WWE Hall of Fame banquet, which will be highlighted by the induction of Ric Flair. Others going in this year include Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson, Mae Young, The Briscoes, Eddie Graham, and possibly Gordon Solie.

Disregarding the obvious nepotism and transparent political reasons behind some of the choices, I don't have a huge problem with any of those picks. But let me offer a few of my own.

While the qualifications may have been loosened in recent years, I'm going to try to stick with people who achieved fame in WWE/WWF. I'm also mostly choosing from wrestlers who competed more than 15 years ago, have long since retired, and/or are deceased. For political reasons, some of these people will obviously never get in, while, for others, it’s likely a matter of time.

I’m sure I’m leaving out some pretty obvious names. Feel free to post your own thoughts and suggestions in the comments field.

Rick Steamboat: He may have wrestled his best matches in the NWA before and after his WWF stint, but even during his three-year stint in the company, The Dragon stood above his peers for his ring work. Few others have mastered the art of telling a story like Steamboat - the Brando of playing babyface-in-peril. Ideal Person to Induct Him: Ric Flair.

The fifth largest cable provider in the nation.

One of the most popular television shows in the history of cable.

But for some reason, Long Island’s primary cable provider, Cablevision, does not carry the USA Network in high definition, which means that two months since WWE’s Monday Night Raw debuted in HD, most of us Long Islanders still have not been able to watch it.

It’s an incredibly frustrating situation for many wrestling fans, especially those who might have impulsively bought an 40-inch flat screen LCD television last fall (ahem.) And there are no simple answers.

USA says take it up with Cablevision. But Cablevision representatives say it’s up to USA to offer them an HD option.

Meanwhile, WWE has revolutionized the way fans consume their wrestling on television. If you’ve caught Smackdown in HD – Thankfully, Cablevision does carry the CW in hi-def – you’ve seen how amazing the product can look and sound. The crystal clear lines; the vibrant colors; the thunderous sounds of bodies hitting the mat. And the widescreen picture is perfectly suited to capture the size and scope of a wrestling ring. But obviously somebody has dropped the ball.

So here are your options, Cablevision customers. Call Cablevision at 1-800-343-1906, speak to a customer service rep, and request that they carry USA in HD. They keep records of all such requests.

Also, you can drop USA a line here, or by calling 212-664-4444 and asking to be connected to the USA Network viewer hotline.

If all else fails and you really want your Raw in HD fix, DirectTV does carry the channel. Unfortunately, it does not carry WWE 24/7 On Demand, which Cablevision does. So die-hard fans will have to pick which is more important to them – watching every pimple on Triple H’s back, or watching Uncle Elmer get married.

What’s a boy to do?