Bleacher Report - Articles by Jared Farver

Believability: What Monday Night Raw Is Lacking

Jared Farver — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:37:07 -0400

The WWE has been making great strides toward providing a better product overall. Despite this, there are still some things they could improve upon, like the believability of the product.

The WWE will never be perfect, just like you and I will never attain perfection, but why shouldn’t the WWE strive for it?

It seems to me—and I’m sure many others feel the same way—that Vince has lost sight of what wrestling truly is. I know the “E” in WWE stands for entertainment, but the most entertaining part of a wrestling company and show should be its wrestling!

Instead, it feels as if Vince is more concerned with money, media, and quick, dumb segments.

I feel he is forgetting that good wrestling is truly what the WWE Universe deserves, and more importantly, what it wants.

Monday Night Raw feels more like a variety show than a wrestling show ever since the celebrity guest host has been introduced. I feel that Raw’s celebrity guest host takes away the believability of the show.

The addition also makes Raw look like a traveling circus, traveling from town to town with its freaks not too far behind. Just watch the first 13 minutes of Raw, where you will witness Jeremy Piven and his good friend Dr. Ken parade around the ring like complete idiots.

Not only are we supposed to believe the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Seth Green, and Jeremy Piven make the matches, but we have to endure the silly “comedic” segments revolving around the host and Santino/Hornswoggle in skits between matches.

Did any of you find the Hornswoggle/Michael Cole/Shaq segment funny at all?

Neither did I; it was a travesty.

Heck, the Scrabble segment including Shaq and Santino was almost verbatim from one of ESPN's NBA commercials. If you have a man with the magnitude of Shaq, you should be able to come up with something very entertaining. I didn’t really find Shaq funny or entertaining while he was the celebrity guest host.

But I’m sure Vince thinks the Monday we watched Shaq take on Big Show was a huge success, because a wider audience watched the show. Shaq also gained the WWE some extra media attention it would almost never gain without him.

Some of you may agree with Vince and say that having a celebrity guest host is good for the WWE, because it will gain the WWE a larger viewing audience and greater media coverage. And, of course it does, but I think it does more damage than it assists the WWE.

For instance, after Raw aired last week, ESPN aired some segments from Raw. All of the segments included Shaq’s actions from earlier that night.

I know what you are thinking, “Oh my! The WWE was on ESPN?! This is great for the WWE!” but it was not for the better.

After the WWE segments were aired on ESPN, the two anchors preceded to basically trash the WWE for not only stealing one of their segments but also because of the strange things that happened throughout Raw.

So, the last three times we have seen the WWE on ESPN it has been absolutely brutal.

First, Vince is interviewed by an E:60 reporter. After being asked who will run the WWE after he passes away, Vince told the reporter that he will never die. This sure sounds like a joke, but Vince seemed very outlandish throughout the entire interview and especially while answering that specific question.

The second time, ESPN aired an interview where Vince talks about E. Stanley Kroenke, the owner of the Denver Nuggets, and during the interview, Vince challenges him to a steel cage match.

ESPN aired quite a few segments revolving around Shaq. One of the segments included Hornswoggle, a midget dressed as a leprechaun, trying to dunk a basketball on a little basketball hoop.

So, I ask you this: Is this how you want the WWE perceived by non-wrestling fans?

Instead of having a weekly guest host, Raw should have a strong, stable GM; not someone like Mike Adamle or Vickie Guerrero, but someone the fans can actually believe is running the show.

Wrestling is at its best when it’s run by a believable character.

Of course, the entire WWE, and Raw specifically, is run by Vince, but the on-air personality is just as important as the true leader of the company, if not more important.

Guys like Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman as GM make wrestling more believable and entertaining. Even with former wrestlers like Sergeant Slaughter and Ted DiBiase, Sr. as the guest host, it makes Raw more believable than when we have actors or singers in the position of power.

Guys like Shaq, Seth Green, and ZZ Top tarnish the WWE’s image and, more importantly, decrease both the believability and entertainment that the show can produce.

Give me a good wrestling match over a funny segment every day of the week. I know that is how most of you feel as well.

With a guest host, the WWE might get higher ratings and more media coverage, but the quality of the show suffers.

All of this does not matter, though, because to Vince, any media is good media.

I, for one, think otherwise.

Sports Immortalized: A Bond Between a Boy and His Grandfather

Jared Farver — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:56:15 -0400

My love for sports is deeply embedded in my soul.

I’ve been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. Some of my fondest memories of childhood revolve around watching and enjoying the spectacle of sports.

At the age of six, my two heroes were "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Jeff Gordon. What a pair of heroes they were!

I remember sitting on my father’s lap while watching Austin throw the Intercontinental Belt into a river.

I can also remember watching, with my Grandpa Farver, Jeff Gordon winning the 1998 NASCAR Championship.

Those aren't the only two guys who fueled my ever-growing passion for sports. I loved to watch team sports as well. My favorite teams were the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Bulls.

Of course, I was a big fan of Michael Jordan, and still am to this day.

However, when my mother once offered to get a Bulls jersey for me, instead of asking for a Michael Jordan jersey, like most kids at that time would, I asked for a Dennis Rodman jersey.

So, by the age of six, I had already learned to appreciate a good defender and rebounder; well, that, and I liked his flamboyant hair and attitude!

I have also been steeped in Notre Dame Football fan since I left the hospital after being born. The very first outfit I wore was a Notre Dame baby outfit.

So, with the help of Steve Austin, Jeff Gordon, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Notre Dame football, I became a huge sports fan at an early age.

But no one helped me find sports more than one person: My Grandpa Farver.

He is the biggest reason for me being a sports fan. Our favorite teams are all the same and the way we look at the sporting world is very similar. In fact, you might say that I modeled my opinions of sports after his.

Without him, I'm not sure whether or not I would be a sports fan at all. I can guarantee, though, that without him I wouldn’t be anywhere close to the fan I am today.

It is with him that I remember watching most of my first sporting events with, and still to this day I watch many sporting events with him.

He gave me the Notre Dame baby outfit, showed me my first Cubs' game, and it was with him that I watched an Andre the Giant documentary. I had already been a pro wrestling fan but after watching that documentary my passion for pro wrestling grew.

He did tell me after watching the documentary that pro wrestling was fake, but I didn't understand how it could be fake, nor did I care (I now know that the results are pre-determined).

That is the kind of person he is, though. If he doesn't like something or he feels fervently about something, he will tell you.

His love for his favorite teams is only outweighed by his abhorrence towards their rivals and opponents.

While watching a NASCAR race with my Grandpa a few months ago, we saw close to five Tony Stewart commercials.

Every time they would pop onto the TV screen, he would quickly turn the channel!

It’s the same way with Ozzie Guillen, Brett Favre, and Kyle Busch. That's just an illustration of how much he loves his favorite teams, how much he detests their rivals.

That, and other attributes, makes him the biggest sports fan I know. He would watch every sporting event he could, which was a lot.

Then, on April 21, 2009, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This significantly altered his way of living.

After just two months of being diagnosed with ALS, he is a shell of his old self. He can no longer walk, hold long conversations, or find humor in many things.

He still has his undivided passion for sports, though. He is still on top of the sports world and is up to date on what is happening in the world of sports.

Thank God it is baseball season, too. Baseball is not only his favorite sport but it is on every day, which means he can find entertainment and relaxation almost every day.

While he watches the Cubs play, I notice something quite extraordinary: he is at peace. All of the problems in the world seem to go away for that time (well, except for the Cubs' hitting woes, but that’s another story altogether).

I also notice something else while he watches the Cubs play: he doesn't hesitate to smile. Making him smile as of late is a hard task, and when he does smile, it's a great moment for everyone.

He still wears a Chicago Cubs or Notre Dame jersey almost every day. If you ask him the start time of an upcoming sporting event for one of his favorite teams, he can tell you with ease. He also watches all nine innings of play for the Cubs, depending on the start time.

Although he can no longer do things he once could, he remains the biggest sports fan I know. I hope I can remain a sports fan as long as he has and hopefully when life throws adversity my way, I will maintain my passion for sports, too.

My Grandpa Farver gave me one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever pass on to another human being: the world of sports.

He opened the door to sports for me and as soon as the door opened, I was flooded with thoughts, goals, wild imaginations, and most importantly, a lifetime full of happiness and ecstasy.

I hope I can pass my passion for sports onto my son, and his son, as well as my Grandpa was able to pass it along to me.

Thank you, Grandpa, and I hope to watch many more games and sporting events with you.

I love you.

Where the Hell Is My Show?: The Sad Chapter in the Story of Raw

Jared Farver — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:45:59 -0400

Before I start, I would like to thank Sulayman and Anthony Hammett for helping me with this article.

On Jan. 11, 1993, pro wrestling fans were introduced to a new show on cable television called Monday Night Raw.

Raw was broadcast live on USA Network. It was something new, unique, and exciting.

It was created by Vince McMahon. His intentions were to make the WWE easier to watch and follow on television.

His plan was a success and Raw has been WWE’s flagship show ever since. Raw has been home to some amazing matches and memories.

From Mankind winning the WWF Championship to The Rock and Mankind’s “This is Your Life” segment and Stone Cold driving a beer truck and a Zamboni to the ring; all these memories were a significant part of RAW continuously dominating the competition.

If not for Raw, the WWE would be out of business.

On Sept. 4, 1995, WCW launched its new Monday night show on TNT called Monday Night Nitro. It aired one hour before RAW and ran for 3 hours and by doing so, WCW was legitimate competition for the WWE.

During late 1995 and all the way up to 1998, the two shows battled for ratings. This battle for superior ratings between the two shows became known as the “Monday Night Wars.”

For 84 continuous weeks, Nitro received better ratings than Raw and for numerous reasons.

Eric Bischoff would give away results of Raw’s matches and since Raw would be live one week and it would air taped the next week, this would make some fans unconcerned about the show.

They figured there was no need to watch Raw because they already knew the outcome of the matches.

WCW also had edgier storylines and they had the New World Order, known as the nWo.

Since WCW was achieving better ratings, the WWE and Raw became an edgier and more violent show. WWE’s new style and era became known as the Attitude Era. The Attitude Era helped increase Raw’s ratings.

In 1999 WWE added SmackDown as another weekly TV show, but everyone knew Raw was still the flagship show of the company.

Then, in 2001 after years of battling, the WWE bought WCW and the WWE became the only major pro wrestling company left in America.

This cemented Raw’s place as the best pro wrestling show because it was WWE’s best show.

After the WWE bought WCW it had an excess of talent, so the WWE decided to separate the rosters.

Some superstars were sent to Raw and others to SmackDown. Once the wrestlers were put on a show that was the only show they wrestled on.

Even after dividing the talent onto two shows, everyone knew Raw was still the flagship of the company.

Superstars, and even the commentators, would rather be on Raw. In the 2008 WWE Draft Jim Ross, Raw’s lead commentator at the time was drafted to SmackDown in the 2008 WWE Draft Lottery.

He was really upset that he was going to be leaving Raw and was very mad because he thought of it as a downgrade. He was also upset that management had not told him he was going to switching shows.

Superstars look at it like this; if you have made it to Raw, then you have made it to the top.

Raw has also always seemed to be the main focus of the McMahons. Raw has also been the main focus in most Pay-Per-Views since the brand extension.

Recently though, Raw’s spot of being the top show has become endangered. Raw is no longer WWE’s best show. Heck, it may not even be the WWE’s third-best show.

For quite awhile now, Raw has been sub par to the WWE’s other shows and since Backlash it has been quite dreadful, to say the least.

There are many things wrong with Raw and here are the biggest problems with the show:

Almost every week since WrestleMania 25, Raw has been the home of Santina, otherwise known as Santino. Sure, Santino is a funny guy. But, I would rather see him wrestle than play dress-up with Vickie Guerrero.

This whole Santino/Santina angle has really hurt the Women’s Division. Beth Phoenix has been stuck in this mess and it has taken her away from the chance of being involved in any other feuds.

Mickie James has also been misused. Kelly Kelly and Maryse have been involved in a lackluster feud that seems to be going nowhere.

Raw’s Tag Team Division is made of The Colons, The Brian Kendrick and whoever his partner is for the night, and Goldust and Hornswoggle.

Enough said.

Raw has a mid card made up of some good talent. They have Kofi Kingston, MVP, Matt Hardy, William Regal, and The Miz.

Kofi Kingston and MVP have been putting on magnificent matches. The Miz has been cutting some good promos and has been decent in the ring whereas William Regal and Matt Hardy have been just kind of there.

SmackDown’s mid-card is absolutely amazing. They have superstars who have been both entertaining in the ring and on the mic.

Their mid-card is made up of Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, and Kane, when he is there.

This group of superstars is better than what Raw has to offer for their main event scene.

Speaking of Raw’s main event scene, it’s horrible. It’s probably been the worst part of the show. No actually, I take that back. Santina/Santino and Vickie Guerrero take the cake for the worst part of Raw.

Raw’s Main eventers consist of Randy Orton, Batista, John Cena, Big Show, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels.

With Triple H and Shawn Michaels out, there aren’t many Superstars in the main event scene on Raw. Since Backlash it has been Randy Orton, Batista, John Cena, and Big Show.

Enough said, but I will elaborate some more.

Factor in the fact all of the superstars I just mentioned have feuded with one another and we have a very boring main event scene on Raw.

Randy Orton could carry an entire show on his back.

Unfortunately, we have witnessed Randy Orton take on Shane McMahon and Ric Flair.

Both times he has ended up looking weak. Why make your champion look weak to a 60-year-old man and Shane McMahon? Shane isn’t even a wrestler!

Batista is well, Batista.

Big Show and John Cena’s feud has at least been fueled with believable hatred. They have also been putting on decent matches and promos, with the help of The Miz. The only problem is, this feud has been done many times before.

Remember WrestleMania 20 and 25? Even during the buildup of WrestleMania 25 this feud looked boring.

Horrible booking and the absence of Triple H and Shawn Michaels is really what’s making this part of Raw so unbearable to watch.

Both ECW and SmackDown have better main event scenes.

ECW has Christian, Jack Swagger, Tommy Dreamer, Finlay, and The Hart Dynasty. It’s fresh and entertaining, two key components Raw’s main event scene is missing.

SmackDown’s main event scene has some great competition as well. Edge is SmackDown’s champion and Jeff Hardy is the number one contender.

We have watched these two superstars battle it out many times before, so I would expect SmackDown switching it up soon.

Along with those two they have CM Punk, Umaga, and many of their mid carders compete in the main event scene.

Guys like Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho help make it exciting and different every week.

SmackDown also uses their heels way better than Raw. Randy Orton is the only main event heel for Raw that is drawing any real heat.

SmackDown has Chris Jericho and Edge; both draw more heat than any other superstar in the entire WWE not named Randy Orton.

Now, to help fix these problems that Raw has.

The Women’s Division on Raw has all the potential to be great, so it should be able to be fixed.

If Raw would just let Mickie James have a real feud with Maryse, then the division would be better.

Instead of having Kelly Kelly feud with the Diva’s Champion so early, she should feud with Beth Phoenix.

This would help both Phoenix and Kelly. Kelly would get better in the ring and Phoenix would actually be back into the swing of things.

After awhile Raw would have four really good women competitors.

Raw’s Tag Team Division could also be fixed.

If they would give The Brian Kendrick a real tag team partner and include Priceless into the division, the tag team division would look a whole lot different.

Raw could still use Goldust and Hornswoggle as comedic relief.

A good intense feud between Priceless and The Colons would help the entire show.

Since Priceless is part of Legacy they are always in the main event and Main Event scene. The Colons could help the babyface Randy Orton is feuding with just to make Priceless mad and get even with them.

The Mid Card may be a tougher fix.

After the draft Raw lost a lot of their mid carders. They lost Jericho, Mysterio, and Kane but gained The Miz, Matt Hardy, and MVP.

Raw should continue to include The Miz in some of the main event feuds. He is really good on the mic and it will help him become better in the ring.

Kofi and MVP have been putting on great matches, so why change that?

When Matt Hardy was on SmackDown he was on quite a roll. He had tons of heat and it looked like he was going to make the jump to main event status.

Now, on Raw, he is teaming up with Regal and not doing much else. That isn’t cutting it.

Even though Kofi just won the United States Championship, I believe Matt should win this Sunday at Extreme Rules. This would allow him to be a heel similar to Edge.

Before Mr. Kennedy was released it looked like he was going to be thrown into the mix of the main event scene.

Now that he has been released many are calling for MVP to make the jump, but I believe that would hurt the mid card.

Raw is in a rough situation because we have seen most of the main eventers feud with one another already.

I’m sure we are headed for a Randy Orton and John Cena feud which will last for quite awhile. This may be Raw’s best choice.

Triple H needs to return and when he does the obvious choice will be for him to continue his feud with Randy Orton.

I think that would be a mistake for Raw. Triple H should feud with Batista for costing him the WWE Championship.

If Triple H and Batista end up feuding then that would change the whole complexion of the main event scene on Raw.

John Cena and Randy Orton will be feuding, Triple H and Batista will be feuding, and Big Show and The Miz could feud with each other.

I believe the promos and matches would be a whole lot better after these changes.

As you can tell, Raw always seems to prevail. Let’s hope this is just a small phase Raw is going through and it will change for the better.

If Vince doesn’t change Raw for the better, he better hope TNA iMPACT stays on Thursday nights.

“From a personal standpoint, the old expression of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger is somewhat true.”

-Vince McMahon

I believe Vince is correct. Raw may have to fall from grace before it can become better and stronger.

What do you guys think Raw should change and do you agree with my proposals?

credits: brainyquote.com

Shaking It Up: A Wrestling Fan Expanding His Horizons

Jared Farver — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:00:36 -0400

I would like to start off by saying this is my first article that includes TNA and ROH.

I have read many articles here on B/R where writers talk about their favorite pro-wrestling companies.

Most writers here on B/R watch WWE more than any other wrestling promotions.

I have to admit that before I became a member of B/R, I hardly ever watched TNA. I had hardly even heard of ROH— Ring of Honor.

And I definitely had never watched a ROH match before joining B/R.

Thanks to writers like Adam Testa I now watch TNA regularly. I have became a TNA fan because of some writers here.

Recently, a fellow writer named Ray Bogusz wrote an article about ROH. After reading the article I decided to check out ROH and I must say that I was really impressed with the wrestlers.

I have only watched a total of five ROH matches but I plan on watching many more.

I've always been a WWE fan.

For some reason, I've always thought the WWE is far better than any other wrestling company.

During the Monday Night Wars, I absolutely hated WCW. I was a child and because the WWE had Stone Cold Steve Austin, they were my favorite company. I do realize now that WCW was a great company and that I missed out on some great matches and wrestlers.

My neighbor was a huge WCW fan. We always argued over who had the better wrestlers.

He would say Hulk Hogan was the best but I thought Steve Austin was.

He told me Sting could destroy The Undertaker and I told him that The Undertaker would kill Sting, and I meant it literally.

After Vince McMahon bought WCW and ECW, I figured that WWE would be the only main stream wrestling company.

Thanks to Jeff Jarrett, I was wrong about that assumption.

The first time I watched TNA , I laughed because the ring was shaped strangely. There were very few wrestlers I had heard of on TNA at that time and this made me feel as if these guys weren't as good as the guys I watched in competition every week on WWE.

I was used to only watching WWE, so everything else didn't look as good in comparison to me.

As I said earlier, Adam Testa showed me through his articles that TNA is just as good as the WWE, if not better.

I know a lot of people think TNA is ruining their company with all the older talent main eventing but it's a huge reason why I watch.

As soon as I heared TNA had wrestlers like Kurt Angle, Sting, Team 3-D, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, and Booker T I decided to actually give TNA a shot.

After a few weeks of watching, I realized TNA has a lot of young talent. I also started to agree with some of the members here on B/R are right about TNA's main event superstars.

I think Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett, and Scott Steiner should let some of the young talent become main event superstars.

I know a lot of you people that watch TNA want the same thing.

You, the TNA fans want guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels to wrestle for the TNA World Wrestling Championship a lot more.

Without Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash many people wouldn't even give TNA a shot though. These guys are there for a reason.

They may be gambling with their future but it should pay off. The fans that watch TNA for the older talent will start to recognize TNA for it's great young talent.

That is the only reason I still watch now, along with their Tag Team division.

I believe ROH should sign a few big names to help themselves get recognized more, even though this may never happen.

This would help them gain new fans thus reaching a wider audience.

If TNA continues to grow then I believe the younger talent will rise to the top. So with that said, TNA fans please let the older talent play their roles. In due time the older talent will start to put over the young talent they have.

Judgment Day Fails to Deliver: A Great Disappointment

Jared Farver — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:23:48 -0400

When Randy Orton punted Triple H and pinned him for the three count, I was ready for the Age of Orton to begin.

I was ready for the sadistic and insane side of Orton. I wanted him to be a complete bad ass who no one could control.

I didn't want Orton to be a coward.

Last night at Judgment Day, we saw Randy Orton run from Batista and cling to the ring post.

This, along with most of Judgment Day, was a huge disappointment for me.

Randy Orton looked like a coward and a loser in his match against Batista. A coward is not something the WWE wants to build around, so why let your champion be a coward?

If Randy Orton is the next big thing, he should not be a coward. If he is going to be the WWE Champion for longer than a month, he should not be a coward.

When Randy Orton was feuding with Triple H earlier this year, it made sense to have Orton look cowardly.

He was fighting a man named Triple H, who was enraged and wanted to kill him. Orton had punted Triple H's Father-in-Law and RKOed his wife. Triple H was also walking around with a sledgehammer that he intended to use on Orton.

After Backlash, I figured Orton would have conquered any fear he had. He finally dethroned Triple H, who has always had Orton's number.

Then a few weeks later, along with the rest of Legacy, Orton destroyed Shane McMahon.

This ended the McMahon and Orton rivalry.

Randy Orton was destroying everything in his way and he was doing it with a sadistic smile on his face. This was exactly what I was waiting/counting on!

Then suddenly it all changed for the worse.

Batista beat the Big Show to become the number one contender and he was set to face Randy Orton for his belt.

I expected Randy Orton to dominate Batista all the way up to Judgment Day. Randy Orton, Batista, and Triple H have feuded every which way for a while and it's time for Orton to step up as the man between these three.

Instead, Batista has made Randy Orton and Legacy look weak. Batista has wrestled every member from Legacy and he has dominated every member of the WWE Champion's stable.

The episode of Raw before Judgment Day saw Batista as a man who looked insane. He took out Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes. Then he beat Orton with a chair and even after Ted and Cody came out, he continued to beat on Orton.

I was hoping Judgment Day would be different but as soon as I heard the Orton and Batista match would be before the John Cena and Big Show match I knew it wouldn't be a great match.

The entire match looked like re-runs of the past two weeks of Raw.

Batista continued to make Randy Orton look weak and cowardly, with help from Ric Flair. Batista lost by DQ but it was clear he still has the upper hand in this feud.

Now that Batista has Ric Flair by his side, I'm afraid this feud could last a lot longer than we all thought.

He may even end up with the WWE Championship in his hands after it is all said and done!

This would be a huge mistake for the WWE.

Instead of making Batista look unstoppable, the WWE should be making Randy Orton not only look but become unstoppable.

That is when he is at his best.

If Randy Orton's gimmick is to be weak and a coward then he shouldn't be the WWE Champion.

Let's hope Orton quits using cowardly tactics and once again begins a hot streak.

I'm Not a Loser: Memoirs of a Wrestling Fan

Jared Farver — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:08:28 -0400

I've been a wrestling fan for almost my entire life. Throughout my life I've encountered many people that think I'm a loser for being a wrestling fan.

These people tell me that wrestling is fake, scripted, and just plain dumb.

I would like to thank them for letting me in on the secret that Pro Wrestling is scripted. Without them, I may have never realized that.

I know all of you other wrestling fans have came across the same type of people.

As far back as Elementary School, I can remember kids telling me wrestling is dumb.

In first grade I was outside at recess and two older kids approached me. We were both playing in the same kickball game. I was wearing a Stone Cold shirt like I normally did.

One of the kids said something like "Don't you know wrestling is fake?" and his friend said something like "Yeah, and they take special stuff to become strong."

Of course, they meant wrestlers took steroids but I had no idea what steroids were at the time.

At that time, Stone Cold was my hero so I didn't believe what they had to say about him or wrestling.

The ironic thing about this whole situation is that one of the kids was wearing a Sammy Sosa shirt. I wish I knew then what I know now about Sammy Sosa. I would've told them that their hero is worse than mine.

As a kid a lot of my friends were wrestling fans. They all were huge Stone Cold, Undertaker, and The Rock fans.

As I grew older, more kids quit watching wrestling.

By the sixth grade, only a few of my friends still watched wrestling and there was only a few others in the entire school that watched it on a regular basis. I admit that I do attend quite a rather small school, but I'm sure it's like this throughout all schools.

Now, I'm almost finished with the 10th grade and the same friends from 6th grade are the only who still watch wrestling like I do. There are still a lot of kids who watch wrestling when they are "bored", or so they say.

I watched WrestleMania 25 at a friend's house. We invited a couple of friends over to help pay because neither of us have a job.

There were two of us there who were what I would call real wrestling fans. The others were just there to hang out, and I would consider them casual fans.

The casual fans all thought the dive off the ladder from Shelton Benjamin was astonishing. They thought the Santina moment was hilarious. They also thought it was hilarious that a man the size of JBL lost to a man the size of Rey Mysterio.

My friend has DVR so we watched their entire match twice, in less than a minute. They loved the fact that John Cena picked up both the Big Show and Edge at the same time.

So far my friends thought a lot of stuff was funny and fascinating that I didn't. They were also terribly upset over the Triple H and Randy Orton match, that was one of the things we agreed upon.

The other match that my friends and I agreed upon was the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels match. We were both amazed by the caliber of match the two legends put on.

All of my friends who hardly ever watched were on their feet. By the end of the match we had almost lost our voices because of all the shouting we did during the match.

Before this match, my friends had teased me a little bit about liking wrestling. After this match, they were speechless.

They had become wrestling fans, maybe not the biggest fans but they now had respect for the business. I believe if everyone would just watch one good match, they would become wrestling fans.

The next day at school I was talking to one of my friends, one of the casual fans that I watched WrestleMania with, about the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels' match.

We were in the middle of discussing how badly the Undertaker could've been hurt if he had actually fell straight on his head after leaping out of the ring.

Then a kid walked up to us. He listened for awhile and then said, "You guys still watch that crap? It's sooooo fake!". He then explained to us how the punches do not actually connect, that wrestling is scripted, and that the wrestlers cut themselves to bleed.

I thanked him for informing me on the world of wrestling.

Why are non-wrestling fans like this? Do they actually believe us wrestling fans are that dumb?

We've heard everything that they have to tell us by other morons, but for whatever reason they feel they should tell us about their feelings towards wrestling.

I watch a lot of matches on YouTube. There is always someone on the comment thread that says wrestling is dumb. They say it's a waste of time and wrestling fans are losers.

Ok, I guess that would make me a loser.

I'm a loser because I get to witness incredible athletes, watch some of the best entertainment today, and see some amazing athletic feats by man.

So, wrestling fans really aren't losers.

We wrestling fans don't care what non-fans think about wrestling and quite frankly we are happy they don't watch wrestling because they wouldn't understand it.

I'm a Pro Wrestling fan; I'm not a loser.

Rethinking John Cena

Jared Farver — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:21:04 -0400

If you ask a kid who their favorite wrestler is you'll hear a couple different answers. All of which will be face wrestlers.

The WWE has tried to become more kid friendly, right?

Of course the WWE has been cleaned up since the Attitude Era.

We hardly see blood anymore, even in matches that call for blood. It used to be normal for someone to bleed during a show but now it's almost obsolete in the WWE.

The WWE shows are all rated PG too. These are two of the many reasons people believe that the WWE only cares about children and women.

John Cena is the WWE's biggest star. He is the biggest babyface today. If your under 12 years old you probably have a poster or shirt with him on it.

He is every childs' hero. Most women, but not all, want to be with him. His current gimmick is geared towards these two fan bases.

He has been the King of this "PG" era. His gimmick was made especially for this current era in the WWE.

John Cena is also the reason for guys over 12 and real WWE fans for hating this new era.

Everyone has heard the story of The Rock being booed his first few months in the business so I won't go in great detail. Instead of cramming him down our throats Vince gave in and turned him heel.

This story is close to what John Cena is experiencing now with the male fan base over 12 and real WWE fans.

Many people believe John Cena should turn heel. I even included him in an article about superstars that need a change.

It got me to thinking, is he already a heel?

I think Vince has purposely kept John Cena as a face to kids and women and he wants us to boo Cena. Vince has done the exact opposite of what he did with The Rock.

John Cena is a tweener.

Instead of comparing him to Hulk Hogan, who almost every fan loved during the 80's, we should compare him to Bret Hart.

Hold on, I'm not saying his in-ring ability is even close to Bret Hart but his gimmick is close to Bret's "Anti-American" gimmick.

During 1997 Bret Hart and the Hart Foundation was absolutely hated by American fans. While in America he was treated as if he had just robbed an old lady.

When Bret Hart left America he was treated like a god. He got more feelings and emotions out of anyone at the time, other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Kids, women, and casual fans are the people from all over the world that supported Bret Hart.

Males over 12 and real WWE fans are the Americans that hated Bret Hart.

I'm not saying they are the same people but I'm comparing the two.

John Cena's gimmick is designed for us to hate him.

You can't go to a Pro Wrestling website without hearing about John Cena. I recently watched a match on YouTube from the Attitude Era. The entire conversation on the page was about John Cena. People either wanted him to leave the WWE or become champion again.

He is the most hated WWE wrestler today.

He is the most loved WWE wrestler today.

I think this would be a good gimmick to use in the WWE.

I know I'm probably over thinking his gimmick but I think this could actually happen. He is in movies and Vince expects all WWE fans to support any WWE movie.

Vince needs casual and non-fans too. This is why he created John Cena's gimmick for John Cena.

John Cena is known world round and is on more mainstream shows than any other WWE superstar. So, to the outside world, kids, and women he is a baby face. This makes him a heel towards males over twelve and real WWE fans.

With this kind of gimmick Vince has covered all areas of people. He has a superstar that is kind to kids and the outside world, but to the people who really pay attention he has a huge heel.

In a way John Cena is the ultimate heel and face. He is an unconventional heel and an ordinary face.

Am I giving to much credit to Vince, over thinking this, or just realizing something everyone has known for quite awhile?

You guys tell me.

Superstars Who Could Use a Change

Jared Farver — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:38:07 -0400

In wrestling a superstars gimmick means almost as much as his in-ring talent. A lot of people believe that the superstar's charisma and gimmick does mean more than his wrestling ability.

Some superstars are better at being a heel than being face. Others are better at being face and can't deal with the crowd booing them.

Look at Stone Cold's heel run from April 2001 to SummerSlam 2001, it just didn't fit Austin's style and the fans wanted his old gimmick back.

Randy Orton is the best thing going in the WWE right now. The reason why he is so hot now is because he was meant to be a heel. His gimmick fits his personality and in-ring style very well.

Then you have someone like Rey Mysterio. He is at his best when he has the fans supporting him. He is also great at portraying the underdog.

Superstars like John Cena have had the same gimmick for quite some time. A huge portion of the WWE fans boo Cena, although he is a huge favorite for kids.

The reason for the fans booing Cena is for two reasons. One, he has gotten stale and we are tired of watching him do the same thing. Two, he has been pushed down our throats for quite awhile.

Cena is not the only superstar in need of a change though. There are many superstars that haven't reached their full potential because of bad gimmicks.

Matt Hardy has had mediocre success while in the WWE but recently he has become a different person. He seems better positioned to have a shot at the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship with his change. The fans seem to also have gotten behind Matt Hardy after his change.

Without a change and thinking outside the box in the world of wrestling we wouldn't have seen the likes of Stone Cold, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Hulk Hogan.

So, with all of this said let me tell you a few of the changes the WWE could use and benefit from.

John Cena

He is supposed to be the guy everyone likes and pulls for, but he gets booed more than Shawn Michaels in Canada.

He has had the same gimmick for what seems like an eternity. His gimmick is similar to Hulk Hogan's. He is a hero to kids and he is the biggest babyface in recent history.

This gimmick has run its course. After five years of Cena being the same thing, many people are calling for a change.

I believe John Cena should turn heel.

Cena marched his way up to Main Event status as a heel and a rapper. He is far more entertaining as a heel and he could be way better in the ring as a heel.

Everyone talks about Cena having only four wrestling moves; clothesline, Five Knuckle Shuffle, Attitude Adjustment, and STF. Becoming a heel would enhance his move set because he could use moves that only heels can.

I mean heck, if Cena goes back to his old rapper gimmick we could see another Cena vs. Big Show battle rap! Honestly, who wouldn't want to see that?!

Kane

He has been used horribly while in the WWE.

Kane came into the WWE as an unstoppable force. He dominated everyone to step in the ring with him until he met his match at WrestleMania XIV, The Undertaker.

As a kid, I was absolutely terrified of Kane and his brother, The Undertaker. He was and still is an amazing athlete for a near 7-footer. He should be as successful as big men come but the WWE doesn't know how to handle The Big Red Machine.

Now Kane is a jobber to lesser talent. He hasn't been in serious title contention in years.

Kane is in serious need of a change.

The WWE needs to find a good storyline where he could get burnt again. If this storyline happened we could see a resurgence for Kane.

He could wear his old mask and seek revenge on the person who burnt him. He could also attack anyone that thought of him as a freak.

This would definitely bring Kane back into Main Event status and title contention.

Many fans want to see Kane succeed again and with a change in his current gimmick it could easily happen.

Jerry "The King" Lawler

I know he isn't a wrestler anymore, but think about it.

Right now on Raw, SmackDown, and ECW we have normal everyday face commentators. What happened to the days of having a heel commentator that everyone wanted to slap in the face?

Jerry Lawler is at his best when he is rooting for the heels of the WWE. He is for more funnier and entertaining while rooting for the heels.

It's also better T.V. to have the commentators on separate sides. You hear both sides during the match and they help paint the picture better.

Remember SummerSlam 2001? We heard both sides of the Invasion and we got to hear the feeling of pride for their brands. We now only hear the face side of the story.

Right now Lawler should be rooting for Randy Orton but instead he is the biggest fan for the John Cenas of the WWE.

I remember at Fully Loaded 1999 Lawler was yelling and cheering for Stone Cold to lose his WWF Championship belt for good. At one point in the match he yelled for The Undertaker to stab Stone Cold with a pen to make him bleed (The match was a first blood match).

Then when Undertaker started to bleed Lawler acted as if The Undertaker wasn't bleeding at all.

This moment was Jerry Lawler at his best.

I know he wrestles maybe once a year, but if he became heel again the WWE would be just a little bit more entertaining.

Shelton Benjamin

Imagine a 6' 2", 250 pound wrestler with an excellent amateur wrestling background. He can leap out of the arena and is as strong as most to lace up wrestling boots. This man is Shelton Benjamin.

His gimmick now just isn't cutting it.

If you were Vince McMahon wouldn't you try to get this guy some more mic time or a better gimmick?

At one point in Shelton's career his gimmick was to roll his mother down to the ring in her wheelchair. She would shout and cheer for Shelton and sometimes she would even interfere. This was a horrible gimmick.

Shelton is better at being a heel, so he should stay heel. He does need a change in his gimmick though.

If Shelton gets a good and creative gimmick he could be WWE or World Champion sooner than later.

I'm not exactly sure what his gimmick should be but I know he is decent enough on the mic to carry out a big role on any WWE show.

With these changes the WWE would be more entertaining. It would also be fresh and exciting to see these guys change it up.

What do you guys think of these changes and do you have any other ideas?

No More Switching Brands in the WWE

Jared Farver — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:05:37 -0400

Before the WWE 2009 draft the superstars roamed freely. They could show up on whatever show they felt like.

This really defeats the purpose of having a draft, other than to get higher ratings.

Well, I guess superstars are acknowledged as either a Raw, SmackDown, or ECW superstar when they walk down the ramp and into the ring. That is the only time you can tell where they are from.

WWE really seemed to push the idea of where the superstar ends up after the draft is where they will stay. They went as far as having "last match on this show" matches. This left with either sentimental moments or some superstars ridiculing the fans and telling them they are leaving to a better place.

After the draft, WWE seems to have actually stuck to the idea of the superstars staying on their certain brand.

Although I hear that some superstars have been on other shows during "Dark Matches".

I think this is a really good idea for WWE to use. I hope they aren't just using this style for a couple of weeks and then go back to the old style.

Here are a few of the reasons for keeping the brands separated:

First, it would give a good opportunity for up-and-comers to make a name for themselves. They have to compete with a dozen veteran superstars to get in front of the cameras.

Everyone on B/R wants at least one mid-carder moved into Main Event status. This would be a great way for them to reach that kind of stardom.

Guys like Shelton Benjamin, MVP, The Miz, The Colons, and John Morrison could get a lot more time, both on the mic and in the ring, with the brands being separated.

Secondly, it would make a stronger chance for better and more interesting feuds.

Superstars could would work with their opponents longer and make it more believable. The feuds would also be more thought out and developed.

Instead of throwing together matches, Kane vs. CM Punk at Backlash, many more feuds would have a good build up to them.

We wouldn't have to watch a recap of a feud on the other shows because they would need to use time for building up their own feuds.

Thirdly, the PPVs would be better than now.

I believe that the PPVs would go to the old style, where one brand has their very own PPV and the next month it belongs to the other brand.

Raw would get a PPV full of just their superstars with a few matches from ECW once a month. Then the next month SmackDown would have a PPV with just their superstars and a couple matches from ECW.

This would give some superstars more PPV experience.

ECW superstars would get more of a chance to make a name for themselves and be seen by more of an audience.

Of course for the top PPVs every show would send some of their superstars to it.

My fourth and final reason is simple. It would make the superstars want to be on the better show.

Every superstar wants to be on the highest watched show. So, if they can only be on one they would try to make it the best show for the WWE.

This would lead to each show trying to get a better rating and it would be entertaining to watch another ratings battle.

This would then lead to every superstar giving it their all and having great pride in their brand.

What do you guys think of the WWE keeping the brands separated? Is it a good idea or do you like seeing the top superstars three times a week?

Welcome to the Spotlight, Randy Orton

Jared Farver — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:55:24 -0400

Quite a few members of the B/R community have written articles about the "PG" era we are experiencing now in pro wrestling, and many others have expressed their thoughts through comments on these articles.

I'm pretty sure that all WWE fans have been wanting more out of wrestling. Most fans aren't sure what exactly they want from the association, but know they want a change.

Many fans couldn't wait for Randy Orton to dethrone Triple H in this recent feud. Triple H, along with John Cena, has ruled the WWE Universe in this "PG" era. I believe most fans (though admittedly not all) were ready for a change at the top. It just seemed time for a fresh face to rule the WWE.

All of these problems were solved this past Sunday at Backlash.

People will look back at Backlash and say that's when the "Orton Era" began, I believe the foundation was set on January 19. That was the day Randy Orton punted the owner of the WWE, Vince McMahon, in the head.

I'm not saying the WWE will no longer be PG-rated, but I believe a fresh and exciting era is about to begin, and Orton will have the reins. He has been the World Heavyweight Champion once and the WWE Champion three times now, but he wasn't thought of as "The Guy" until Backlash.

When Orton held his belts, you knew it wasn't going to be a real long time until Triple H took the title off of Orton.

But now, Randy Orton is the top WWE superstar. He's a great wrestler, and he plays the role of a bad guy excellently.

He is the top heel in the WWE today and the man everyone loves to hate; what he will do next is anyone's guess.

Orton has built a good group around him with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr. If these guys stay on course, they could be one of the most dominate factions ever (though they might need one additional member to ascend to that kind of greatness).

If Randy Orton is used the right way, he could be one of the best wrestlers of all time, and that is saying something. His gimmick of being an uncontrollable, sadistic, gold-hungry bad ass is great and believable.

It's possible that his tremendous popularity could grow even more.

I hope in this new "Era of Orton," the WWE can get him some new opponents. It seems like the only men Orton wrestles are Triple H and Batista. Although he has had stints with legends and other wrestlers, Orton always comes back to feud with his former Evolution running mates.

I was excited to see MVP come out and interrupt Orton on Raw, and he and MVP were having a good match until Shane McMahon came out and went ballistic.

Orton can feud with anyone on the WWE roster. They could pit him with a legend or someone on the rise, and that gives him a better chance to be on the top for a while. He could be the bridge for younger guys to reach Main Event status like MVP.

Orton will bring us a new age, and I believe he'll do it wonderfully. The WWE has put a lot of weight on his shoulders, but I hope they continue to allow him to be "The Guy".

Let's hope the man stays for a while and helps others rise through the ranks to become great wrestlers.

Last Call For Vince and Shawn Michaels

Jared Farver — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:28:52 -0400

Recently I read an article written by Gary Williams about what Vince McMahon's last storyline should be.

It really got me thinking about what it should be and how Vince should leave the WWE.

I believe Vince should leave as a face and with the fan's support.

So, with all of this said lets begin what I think Vince's final storyline should be.

It starts with Vince saying he has become to old to travel WWE's rough schedule and that he is ready to step down as owner of the WWE. Vince decides that Shane McMahon, his son, should be the new owner of the WWE. Shane tells his father thanks for believing in him and that he won't let him down.

Fast forward to a month later and Shane has become power hungry and a jerk to everyone that doesn't suck up to him. This is what his father was known for throughout his career. Shane puts his mark on every show and he tells everyone what to do. If they don't do as he says he will either fire them or put them through hell.

Shane has become the new "Vince".

After a while longer of Shane acting like the King of the WWE, Vince comes back and he tells Shane that he should change his ways. Vince also tells Shane how being a control freak will ruin his life.

Shane doesn't listen and continues to whatever he wants, when ever he feels like it.

So, Vince comes back again with the same message to Shane. Shane comes out to the ring with his father and says, "Thanks Pops, but I know what I'm doing."

Vince continues to make appearances on shows with the same message to Shane about ruining his life.

Shane tells everyone on Raw that he is tired of hearing his good for nothing father. Shane says Vince is jealous of how well he is running the WWE.

The next week on Raw Shane calls out Vince to the ring. The fans cheer for Vince and it's clear they would rather have him than Shane.

Shane makes Vince a proposal about a match. Shane tells Vince that they are both going to choose a superstar to wrestle the other's superstar. If Shane's wrestler wins then Vince will be fired and if Vince's wrestler wins Shane will be fired. Shane then tells Vince this match will take place at Wrestlemania 26.

Vince tells Shane he doesn't want this match to happen.

Shane bad mouths Vince to the fans and calls him a chicken.

Vince then tells Shane that he accepts and says good luck.

Shane tells Vince he has already chosen the wrestler that will be representing him at Wrestlemania. That man is Triple H and he is the biggest heel at the time. Triple H accepted because he said he is tired of hearing Vince and says it's time for a change in the WWE.

Vince chooses Shawn Michaels because he is "Mr. Wrestlemania".

Shane then decides to make it whichever team loses will be fired since he hates Shawn Michaels.

No one is allowed at ring side and it's a beautiful match between the two great wrestlers.

Triple H wins and Shawn Michaels have just wrestled for the last time. Shawn stays in the ring saying his final goodbyes. It's a very emotional moment.

Shane comes out and tells Shawn he is fired and to get out of his ring. Shane then calls Vince out. Shane fires Vince in the ring with a smile on his face.

Shawn who was still hugging fans and making his way up the ramp runs back down to the ring. Shawn gives Shane some Sweet Chin Music.

Shawn leaves Vince alone in the ring and he says good bye to everyone that is a WWE fan. Vince looks like a caring father and good man while leaving.

Shane now has tons of heat on him. Vince walks out of the business with fans cheering for him at his creation, Wrestlemania.

I think this would be a great final storyline for Vince and Shawn both.

What do you guys think?

My Five Dream Matches

Jared Farver — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:46:14 -0400

Every wrestling fan has dream matches they wish they could see and dream of at night.

Some fans simply wish they could see two huge icons from two different generations step into the ring.

Others wish for a great technical match between two great technical wrestlers.

My top five is a combination of the two.

These are not in any specific order because I would love to see all of these matches.

1. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan

Wrestling's two biggest icons of all time. When you think of dream matches, this one comes to the mind of almost every wrestling fan.

The match wouldn't be a great technical match but it would definitely be one of the greatest matches ever because it involves these two Hall of Famers.

Although this match would have more hype than any other match in the history of wrestling it would live up to its expectation.

Stone Cold would pull off a victory over Hulk Hogan and the millions of Hulkamaniacs.

2. The Rock vs. John Cena

Both are as charismatic as they come.

This match could still happen. Many people and experts believe and predict it will happen but I do not believe it will.

Hate him or love him John Cena would make this match very fun and interesting. The Rock would also deliver, as he always does, a great performance and many hilarious promos.

Both superstars would argue they are the better actor so this match would also have some extra incentive.

If these two were to clash I believe one of them would have to be a heel because two big baby faces would make it really boring.

It would be a nice surprise to see one or the other play the role as a heel because both do quite well at it. I believe John Cena is even better at being a heel than being a baby face.

The Rock would get his hand raised after beating John Cena and the Chain Gang (do you 10-year-olds still like that name and being called that?).

3. Shelton Benjamin vs. Bret Hart

I believe Shelton Benjamin is the most athletic wrestler today.

Bret Hart is considered by many as the best in-ring technician ever to step foot in the ring and he believes it.

Both have amateur wrestling backgrounds ,as well as, being great at almost any match type. Shelton Benjamin and Bret Hart can put on a classic match almost every night and they seem to do it with ease.

Bret Hart has been known to bring out the best in all of his opponents. I believe the sky is the limit for Shelton Benjamin. A match with the "Excellence of Execution" would definitely bring out Shelton's best.

With all of this said, this adds up to a heck of a match!

Bret "The Hitman" Hart would win after an exhausting match between the two great wrestlers.

4. Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart

Kurt Angle also has an amateur wrestling background. He is a great in-ring performer, as well as, being great on the mic and generating fan's attention.

As I said earlier, Bret Hart brings out the best in his opponents and Kurt Angle's best may be better than almost anyone else's best.

Both have dozens of classic matches already so this one would presumably be just another classic for the two great wrestlers.

This could be one of the greatest matches ever. If these two would display their talent in a Submission match then it would without a doubt be an instant classic.

I would really enjoy watching these two try to the make the other tap and fight to get out of a submission hold.

I think Kurt Angle would win but this one would really be a toss up.

5. Big Show vs. Andre the Giant

Two seven foot giants battling it out for the role of best big man ever to wrestle.

I think this would be a great match... if the ring could hold these two giants.

Finally both would have a competitor to pick on their own size.

Big Show has and always will be compared to Andre the Giant. He was brought into WCW as the "son" of Andre. This would be his chance to step out of the huge shadow casted by Andre the Giant.

Big Show should be hyped up as an unstoppable force along with Andre the Giant. If this would happen then it would make their match even better.

After a long-fought battle between these two 400+ pounders Big Show would get the three count.

I believe all of these matches would live up to the expectations. I think all of these matches would be absolutely wonderful to watch.

If only we could travel through time. . .

Orton-HHH Feud Shouldn't Involve Batista

Jared Farver — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:39:41 -0400

I would like to start off by saying "Hey, yo!" to everyone at B/R. This is my first article, so please bare with me. I really hope to see some constructive criticism and comments.

I personally believe the Orton-HHH feud is way too personal for Batista to join now. I can understand Legacy and Shane McMahon being involved in some way at Backlash because they have been involved in the feud since the beginning.

I realize Batista was a member of Evolution along with Orton and HHH.

I also realize Orton was the one to injure Batista not too long ago.

But the feud between Orton and HHH has very little to do with Batista.

The three man tag team match at Backlash should be a good match, but if Orton is going to be put over, then he should be put over by HHH. It would be the only satisfying way for Orton to become champion.

This Sunday at Backlash Orton and HHH should face off in something like a "Last Man Standing" match or an "Iron Man" match. Since the Cena vs. Edge match will be a "Last Man Standing," it should be an "Iron Man" match. This would be a great ending to a feud that has been great at times, but then not so great at other times.

If Orton is truly going to be the man after this feud, then he should win it without Batista being involved.