Moderator: "Welcome one and all to another installment of The Wrestling Council. In today's installment we have four hard-hitting topics that will cause our panel to reach back into the deep recesses of its mind and deliver a well-thought out response.
Today we are joined by three truly awesome individuals. With us are: Dub Sizzle, Nefatiri H, and Kevin Williams. No need for witty nicknames as these three are awesome enough in their own rights.
Now that pleasantries are over, let us begin, shall we?"
1) Who is the one person in each company (WWE, TNA, ROH) who you feel can lead their respective companies for the next 10 years? Please explain why.
Dub: For the WWE:Ted DiBiase Jr. I see a lot of potential in this young man. If given the chance, I believe he could be the face of either RAW or SmackDown!. He has the talent, the lineage, and one hell of an awesome finisher. Out of him and Cody, Ted is by far the best bet to carry the company.
In TNA: A.J. Styles. The man has so much talent. I get the same edge of my seat excitement watching A.J. as I do from watching HBK. He may not be the best on the mic, but when he is cutting his angry A.J. promos, I can relate. I have a bit of a temper myself. To put it simply, Angry Dub likes Angry A.J.
And for ROH:Tyler Black. Up until this past weekend I had not had much chance to check out RoH. Even after two full days of watching matches, and reading bios, I don't feel I am greatly qualified to choose who could carry the company for the next 10 years. If pushed into a corner, I will have to say Tyler Black, due to a mix of what I saw of his in-ring work, and a very good article written by Joe Burgett spotlighting Tyler. He strikes me as someone you could build a company around."
Nefatiri: "I haven't been watching RoH and TNA long enough to make a pick so forgive me for not answering. I don't like to say anything unless I can defend my answer with some good key points.
As for the WWE, I'd have to go with CM Punk. I'm choosing Punk over Cena, Jeff, Orton, DiBiase, and MVP for several reasons.
For starters, I don't think we're going to see anything new from Cena or Jeff in the next 10 years. Hell, I don't expect the Enigma to even be around in 10 years. Cena will more than likely still be around but since he's the current face of the WWE today, I expect someone else to move in on his spot later on when the company evolves into it's next era―whatever that may be.
I didn't pick Orton because the way it's looking, Orton just may be another Triple H. The way he keeps losing the belt, then winning it back... At this rate he'll catch Edge and Hunter with the number of times he's held the belt. Not good, especially this early in his career.
Orton's a fine wrestler and has improved a lot on the mic but at this rate, he's going to get stale pretty quickly unless creative does something about it. I'm already getting bored with him and it shouldn't be that way for someone like him.
MVP just doesn't have it yet and by the time he gets it, it will be too late.
DiBiase...Punk over him because he's already two steps ahead of him. Punk's way over right now and if he keeps the belt long enough to establish himself as a credible champion, then he will be the new face of the WWE.
Why? Because he's different. You can't watch him wrestle and say he's the next HHH because he's not. You certainly can't call him the next Jeff Hardy, for several reasons I won't get into. Punk's style in the ring is his own, which helps him stand out.
Another thing about him is his character. Whether he's a heel or a face, his character is versatile enough to work either angle and put on a good show. As a bonus, Punk's personal values could really represent the 'PG' era of pro wrestling. His straight-edge lifestyle is certainly marketable and what parent wouldn't want Punk as a role model for their kids? The fact that Punk keeps his body clean is a good marketing tool to show skeptics in the media that not everyone has to look like Batista to be a professional wrestler, and not all of them are junkies.
Another thing about Punk that swayed my decision was a recent promo he cut. I think it was the Smackdown! after Extreme Rules. Punk was addressing the issue about cashing in his briefcase to take the belt from Jeff. He basically said that it didn't matter if it was Edge or Jeff who won the match. He was getting the belt that night from whoever won and could care less who he beat to get it. His character was being real.
Hell, I know that I'd have done the same thing and who can argue with that logic? He waited 'til his two biggest contenders beat the hell out of each other in a ladder match before taking the belt from both of them. That was real and I liked it. These past few weeks it's been real hard to tell what the WWE was planning to do with his character which made Punk an enigma in his own way.
'Is he going to turn heel?' It had people talking and you know what? Who's to say Punk's character will ever become a straight heel or face? Already, Punk has everything he needs to lead the company into its next stage in evolution. He's a character who people can relate to. He's got the look and he lives a healthy lifestyle. I don't think anyone else has him beat right now and 10 years from now, he'll be the one to beat."
Kevin: "This is a hard choice for me, but I feel John Morrison is the best suited of the younger guys in the locker room to carry the WWE into the future. It seems as if the creative team may feel the same way. In the last two weeks, he has victories over Edge, a nine-time champion, and CM Punk, the current World Heavyweight Champion.
He was one-half of the most successful tag team the WWE has seen in years, and it seems as if it is only a matter of time before he is in the title hunt. If CM Punk holds the belt long term, I can see these two superstars feuding long term, with Morrison eventually becoming World Heavyweight Champion.
Morrison works great as a heel, and he is getting over in his current role as a face. The 'Morrison' chants I heard from the fans on Smackdown! definitely weren't the work of canned heat. Morrison is also one of the more entertaining in-ring talents in the WWE right now.
He has a broad arsenal of moves that compliment his athleticism, including his various aerial maneuvers. Not to mention, Morrison has the superstar look. I think the only thing holding Morrison back may be his mic work. In my opinion, he's a decent talker, but his interviews leave a lot to be desired. Another thing is that Morrison is 29, so maybe he is more of a suitable choice for the next five years, but when looking at the WWE roster as of today, I don't think anyone else on the roster is prepared to be the face of the WWE for the next ten years.
AJ Styles is the past, present, and future of TNA. Although Styles is on the wrong side of thirty, TNA obviously has no problem pushing talent over the age of forty, which Styles will be in 10 years time. Even in ten years he will still be younger than the members of the Main Event Mafia currently are.
Styles is the most decorated wrestler in TNA history, and I don't think he has even reached his full potential yet. He has great ring work, as seen in his classic matches with Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe. He is constantly putting his body on the line for the entertainment of the fans, and I don't think I have come across somebody who is not impressed by AJ's work in the ring.
AJ also has the ability to cut great promos, as seen in his rivlary with Rhino. I'm under the impression that once the Main Event Mafia finally succumbs to the TNA Frontline (or what's left of it), Styles will be the one wearing the belt around his waist. Styles has been with TNA since day one, and its only fitting that he be the one to lead them as they try become a front runner in the wrestling industry.
The ROH one is a hard choice for me. I can't say that I am a huge follower of ROH, but I do try to catch them on HDNet whenever I can remember. I've had to do some research and look through hours of video to decide between Austin Aries and Bryan Danielson. To me, Danielson seems like the better choice.
If he is not the best pure wrestler on the planet today, then he is in the top five. The American Dragon has learned from the best in the business including Shawn Michaels, William Regal, and Masato Tanaka.
Based on talent alone, Danielson should be a top contender in the WWE, but from what I've seen from him, he could be a little more charismatic, and his small stature doesn't help either. Despite whatever shortcomings he may have, all Danielson has to do is step in the ring and let his wrestling do the talking.
ROH is not a big promotion by any stretch of the imagination, so most of their talent aren't recognized by the average wrestling fan. Danielson, however, is the name most commonly associated with ROH, and probably their most recognizable talent, other than Jerry Lynn."
2) Much talk has been made about The Undertaker's impending retirement. The debate has been raging whether or not the WrestleMania streak should be broken. What is your thoughts on the illustrious streak? To break or not to break?
Dub: "On one hand, ending The Streak would be a huge push for a young up and comer. On the other hand Undertaker has done so much for the business, and even more for the WWE itself, it is hard to justify ending The Streak.
Honestly, I have to say no, let The Streak stand. It is probably the biggest part of the Deadman's legacy, it would be a shame to see it end, also I don't have faith in the WWE to continue the push of whoever would end The Streak.
It would be a shame to see someone end The Streak, then subsequently be buried, or forgotten about. Leave The Streak alone; the man has earned at least that much, and deserves more than what he has got."
Nefatiri: "I want his streak broken. Streaks are made to be broken and this is one streak I'd love to see killed. Call me harsh, but it is what it is.
I am a huge fan of The Undertaker. Growing up, he was probably my third or fourth favorite star behind Shawn [Michaels], Bret [Hart] and [Steve] Austin. It was cool watching him defend that illustrious streak year after year but now I want to see it end. And not because I want to see the angry faces of his marks. I want it used to make someone a big star.
I'm all about making the WWE a better company and this could certainly help someone get way over in a good...or bad way. As long as it's not Cena, I don't really care who they choose to push. Be it DiBiase, JoMo (my first pick), Ziggler, Truth, Smith...doesn't matter to me.
Hell, I wouldn't care if Orton did it. Say what you want, but he IS supposed to be The Legend Killer and it would put him way over Edge or Jericho in the heel dept. Ha Ha.
And before people start jumping down my throat about it, I'm going to state that I'm sure The Undertaker has enough pull in the company to keep his streak if he so chooses. However, I'd be willing to bet that if The Undertaker thought ending his streak would benefit the company, he'd do it. I'm also pretty sure he'd get some say so over who gets to end it, too. So, hell yeah. End the streak."
Kevin: "If The Undertaker was anything less than 8-0 at WrestleMania, then I would say that it would be OK to end his streak to get a younger talent over, or against a guy like Shawn Michaels.
As it is, the 'Taker is 17-0, and I think a loss to Jesus himself would taint the Deadman's WrestleMania streak. Now, that we have seen Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania, I don't think there is any veteran in the locker room worthy enough of snapping The Undertaker's unbeaten streak.
Then there's the talk of having him lose to an up-and-coming talent to put them over big time. I also think this would be a huge mistake. I hear Ted DiBiase Jr.'s name is being tossed around to someday end the streak. The thing about using The Undertaker's streak to put a younger talent over is that you never know how long that superstar is going to last, and what their legacy will be when it is all said and done.
Upon his return, Ken Kennedy looked as though he was about to get a huge WWE Title push, only to be released soon after his return. The wrestling business is so unpredictable that I wouldn't risk having any young talent beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Wrestling is different from other sports where the writers choose the outcome of the match. It would be a different story of the Undertaker was 17-0 as say, an MMA fighter, and then lost because the other guy was better than him in that particular match.
The fact that wrestling's outcomes are predetermined means that whether or not the Deadman remains undefeated at WrestleMania is in the hands of the writers. It would be the ultimate sign of respect and appreciation to The Undertaker, the WWE's most loyal and respected employee, if he is allowed to retire undefeated at WrestleMania."
3) Two years have passed since the horrific events that transpired with Chris Benoit. Should Benoit be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame?
Dub: "I know it was not your intent to set me off with this question, I promise no overly foul language, other than that I will be quite blunt. The short answer is HELL NO!
Speaking of Hell, I hope it is hot enough for that murdering cowardly monster down there. I have heard all of the, 'Oh, we should remember Chris Benoit, the wrestler; Oh, it was 'Roid Rage.' None of that will ever excuse what he did.
I fully support him being erased from the pages of wrestling history. Maybe if some idiot makes a murderer's hall of fame, he can get in there. How can you take the life of your own child? It makes me sick, it makes me even sicker to think I was sad when I first heard of his death.
He killed his wife and young son, then took the coward's way out. I can only hope the torture he is receiving in Hell is worse than anything I could ever think to do to him. This one incident, for me, erases everything he ever accomplished in the world of wrestling. He deserves nothing more than to be erased and forgotten."
Nefatiri: "For the record, I don't think any athlete should be penalized for things that happen in their personal life. Media or not, it's not anyone else's business. Therefore, yes, I think he should be inducted into the HoF.
It was a sad thing that happened but it doesn't erase his legacy. The man was one of the finest technical wrestlers in the WWE; second only to Kurt Angle. He's had several great matches and fans will never forget them. You cannot just pretend like they never happened and you certainly cannot act like he never existed.
The media could never understand why a man like Benoit meant so much to his fans and I say, 'screw them.' It shouldn't matter what CNN thinks. All that matters is what we think. We had a connection with Benoit that only wrestling fans can understand.
We don't connect with the superstars because of what goes on in their personal lives. We connect with them each time they step in the ring wrestling and telling a story that we will remember forever. Benoit did this, and as a result, earned himself a spot in the HoF. He should get it.
I'm sure some people will disagree, but I'm looking at it like this: Every one of his co-workers said Benoit was a very private person but he was also well-liked. He kept his private life private and who could blame him? Everybody has problems and maybe Benoit just didn't know how to deal with his issues. A lot of people are like that.
The thing is, tragedies like the Benoit case happen everyday but because he was a wrestler and TV star, the media ate it up. If Benoit would have been just some regular Joe it would have been looked at as just another day in the USA.
My point is, I know what he did was horrible and I'm not trying to make excuses for him. But the media acts like it was Vince McMahon's fault that Benoit snapped, which is not true.
Benoit worked for Vince but that doesn't mean Vince was responsible for him 24/7. I think Vince should shake it off and do what's right by remembering the Benoit we all knew, and not letting the Benoit we didn't, reflect how he runs his company."
Kevin: "If every athlete was inducted into the hall of Fames of their respective sports based on talent alone, then few individuals would be more deserving of a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame than Chris Benoit.
As it is, the double murder-suicide will always linger over the legacy of Chris Benoit. I personally feel that "The Crippler" Chris Benoit should be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a wrestler.
I am aware, however, that the chances of this are highly unlikely. In the two years since Benoit's death, the WWE has made no mention of Benoit, and often disassociate themselves with Benoit, taking actions such as editing out parts of WCW Nitro on WWE 24/7 where Benoit is included.
The WWE already has a sketchy public image, and the Benoit tragedy only saw to increase that. With that said, although his accomplishments in the ring prove that he is more than deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame, the horrific events that occurred two years ago will prevent Chris Benoit from being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame."
Moderator: "Thank you three for taking part in today's discussion. We have concluded another episode of Enter the Hall of Justice. We hope to see you next time."
Shane Howard is a member of the Hit The Ropes Radio Show team. Tune in to HTR this and every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Be sure to add HTR's Web site to your favorites, YouTube us, add us on Myspace, follow us on Twitter, and join the Facebook group. Be sure to check out HTR this week as we welcome Elijah Burke.
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