Bleacher Report - Articles by Shane H.

Breaking News: TNA Airing Monday Night, Huge 3-Hour Live Impact

Shane H. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:42:46 -0500

Previously posted on Hit the Ropes .

Huge announcement today in the world of professional wrestling. Where was it made? At an MMA event. Really? Yes.

The UFC Ultimate Fighter 10 finale is tonight and live, in attendance, is TNA's President Dixie Carter, Hulk Hogan, and Eric Bischoff. The three were sitting in the front row of the event.

After the match between Matt Veach and Frank Edgar, Joe Rogan went over to speak with Hogan. Hogan expressed how he is a fan of the competition that is on display tonight and that he is a fan of UFC. It was here that he dropped the bombshell that TNA would be going head-to-head with the WWE on Monday nights beginning Jan. 4, 2010.

Monday Night Wars part deux?

We shall soon see.

Hogan has been talking a big game since signing with TNA. He's confident in bringing in the likes of Ric Flair, RVD, and other names in wrestling, whether they are past or present stars. He's also said he wants to get rid of TNA's six-sided ring.

I truly hope that this move works out for TNA. They have barely been able to maintain a 1.2 rating on their current Thursday night slot. I am not completely confident that a change in date will create a jump in ratings. Maybe, hopefully, (please let it) it will work.

If this move does improve TNA's ratings this is a big thing for the world of wrestling. With TNA doing better, it means other companies (WWE, I mean you) will have to step up their game. Competition breeds better television, I say.

What will this three-hour live episode of iMPACT! produce? We can only sit back and wait until that Monday night.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. Next Sunday, Chasyn Rance joins HTR and in two weeks, Hall of Famer, The Iron Sheik.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Creature vs. Creature Wrestling Contest: Who's the Greatest Face of a Promotion?

Shane H. — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:18:38 -0500

OK, ladies and gentlemen, I think it is time to put on the thinking caps once again and show your excellent writing prowess.

Thanks to Juan and Joe Burgett for the last few writing competitions we have had lately. I figured I would spearhead one before the calendar year ends.

What's better with this is you'll get a prize. Everybody loves free stuff, right?

So here's the skinny on my Creature vs. Creature. I want to know your thoughts on who has been the greatest face for their respective promotion. When I say face, I don't mean good guy. For example, currently John Cena would be seen as the face of the WWE.

This does not have to be current. Take us back in history if you want.

This does not have to be local. Take us to the Land of the Rising Sun if you wish.

This does not have to be solely masculine, either. Give to us the face of an all-female wrestling company if that is what your heart desires.

Just let us know why that individual was/is the best person to be the top dog in their company.

If you are doing someone in the past, give us the time period, is all I ask.

To the winner, I will be mailing out a copy of TNA's Lockdown 2009 pay-per-view, courtesy of Hit the Ropes Radio.

It's a first-come, first-served deal. So if you want to represent for your choice, drop a comment below with your submission. Don't post it on my bulletin board, because I want everyone to see that I won't be playing any favorites, and everyone can see if their choice is still available.

Spots are available until 11:59 p.m. Monday Dec. 7th.

After that, the submissions are asked to be posted by the 15th of this month.

Behind the Music, Vol. 2: Breaking Down the WWE Theme Song Lyrics

Shane H. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:44:27 -0500

It was so good the first time, the fans demanded a sequel.

The entrance themes of wrestlers are there to get the crowd pumped for the impending appearance of their favorite wrestlers. But are the lyrics in these songs true to life? Do the superstars keep it real?

Well, I took the time to break down a line or two from some of your favorite themes and how they relate to the stars who use them.

I will provide the line in italicized font first, and then give the honest thoughts of the wrestler who holds the song. With that, let's begin.

Sheamus - "Too Many Lies "

"It’s a shame for they lost their head."

So true. Have you heard all the uproar from the fans because I jumped right to the main event?

"It’s written in your face, and the shadows of my eyes"

As pale as I am, are you surprised that you can see shadows on my body?

Mark Henry - "Some Bodies Gonna Get It "

"Always in the hood, number one wig splitter."

You know I know all about being number one in stuff. Anybody else had a hand for a child?

Michelle McCool - "Not Enough for Me "

"Acting all ghetto with them cheap ass stilettos."

Perhaps if I acted as ghetto as those cheap ass stiletto-wearing chicks people might say I have some kind of personality. Hmm...

Kane - "Slow Chemical"

"When she's not around I feel it coming down."

Geez, the guy can't seem to get over Katie Vick, huh?

Kelly Kelly - "Holla Holla"

"Hop in my Jag, baby we can go.
Just remember, you gotta keep it up for me."

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! This is a PG-show there, lady.

Shelton Benjamin - "Ain't No Stopping Me "

"Coming from the bottom on the way to the top"

Damn, the WWE took that seriously and placed him on ECW.

R-Truth - "What's Up?"

"To be one of the baddest-ass [expletive] to step foot in this game
And I haven't even started yet!"

From the looks of it, you've never really gotten out of the starting blocks in the WWE...in both of your runs.

Dolph Ziggler - "I Am Perfection "

"Go check the scores again
All mine are perfect 10"

Please, someone check the score because I'm unsure how many IC title shots I've had and have yet to win the damn belt.

Kofi Kingston - "S.O.S. "

"SOS (I hear them callin')
SOS (I hear them shoutin')"

I bet he heard them calling and shouting when they tried to tell him that he wasn't Jamaican.

Christian - "Just Close Your Eyes"

"Deceived by my eyes, and all I was told I should see"

Deceived by my contract, too. I said I would come back if I got a world championship run, they didn't tell me it would be ECW.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. This Wednesday, former ECW and WWE star Spike Dudley comes to the show.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Pro Wrestling: Here's Why I'm Thankful

Shane H. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:22:17 -0500

It's Thanksgiving. A time for family and friends to gather around, eat, be merry, and have a good time.

As it is a day for giving thanks, I want to take a few moments to thank the world of professional wrestling for what it provides to us every day. Feel free to add anything you might be thankful for, if any.

I am thankful for professional wrestling because...

it allows men to watch one man tussle with another man, both in trunks, and it isn't homosexual.
it brings relationships together because the male can watch beautiful women wrestle each other while his significant other can watch good-looking men.
it leads to break ups due to her thinking Zack Ryder is cute while he thinks Ryder is a moron.
it gave us the boom of the 80's and the Attitude Era.
it gave us DX and the nWo.
it allows us to see the Motor City Machine Guns dazzle us (Well, whenever TNA decides to let them get on TV, that is).
Misawa, KENTA, Nakamura, Tanahashi, Keiji Mutoh, and a host of other Japanese stars who have thrilled us through the years.
Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and the Mexican wrestlers who have shared their talents with us.
Ring of Honor will be a force to reckon with once everyone realizes how talented the men and women there are.
the ton of independent promotions that provide fans around the world with the chance to see guys before they make it big.
Nigel McGuinness went TNA.
TNA allowed McGuinness to use the name Desmond Wolfe so we can laugh at the sheer silliness of him quoting Duran Duran tracks.
Bryan Danielson soon gracing WWE fans with his presence.
it will provide folks a lot of opportunity to pen articles about how the WWE is restricting Danielson and the outcry for him not be able to use the Cattle Mutilation move.
having Jesse Ventura speak the truth when it comes to John Cena the other day.
showing us how much blood the human body can produce after watching a Ric Flair match.
the obligatory food fight that would occur during a WWE Thanksgiving show.
VINTAGE! Michael Cole will always find a way to annoy listeners.
Terry Funk is the motivation for Brett Favre.
we still get "You Screwed Bret" whenever we take a trip to Canada.
the Hart Family Dungeon put out a ton of talented individuals.
ECW provided us with awesome chants: "E-C-Dubya", "You F@$ked Up", "Holy Sh*t", "This is Awesome", etc.
TNA fans in the Impact Zone will scream "This is Awesome" for the most basic of matches sometimes.
it led to the formation of Hit the Ropes Radio, the Hit the Ropes website , Force of Wrestling , Wrestling-Radio , and The Wrestling Daily .
it gives us the chance to know AkD, Capt. Charisma, Andrea Claire, Ryan Michael, Justin Thomas, Dub Sizzle, and others.
without wrestling, I wouldn't get my Maryse fix weekly.
and I wouldn't get what follows below.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Sheamus to Challenge John Cena at TLC: I Have No Problem with That

Shane H. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:33:19 -0500

I wanted to put this article off until tomorrow, when I had some sleep in me, but the outcries from the Internet Wrestling Community is as loud as some of the Rock's 500 dollar shirts.

Tonight on RAW , the majority of the show was about giving fans something fresh. Guest host Jesse Ventura conducted a series of matches between individuals who have never been world champ to win qualifiers and get into the main event battle royal. The winner of the battle royal would get the No. 1 contender spot against John Cena at the Tables, Ladders, and Chair pay-per-view next month.

Men from both RAW and SmackDown brands participated in the qualifiers (where ECW was is beyond me). If a SmackDown participant won, he would challenge the Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Fast forward to the conclusion of the battle royal and the Celtic Warrior Sheamus stood tallest.

Yes, Sheamus .

The most recent RAW acquisition.

Yes, Sheamus , the guy who has only feuded with Shelton Benjamin and Goldust , beaten up Jamie Noble, a ring announcer, and Jerry Lawler , not to mention a slew of jobbers. The man who tossed Cena through a table at the end of the show after Cena tried to embarass him. That Sheamus!

What the heck has he done to get a title shot?

That is what is on everyone's mind, right?

Well, let's look at this thing rationally for a second.

I didn't see any other logical choice.

First off, eliminate all the guys from the blue brand because there should be no reason why the host of RAW can make the main event for SmackDown . Plus, we might see something similar happen over on Friday nights, especially with Batista looking to have caught the eye of Kane.

We just had a face vs. face title defense. Actually, it was a face vs. face vs. face. Those matchups aren't used often, especially not back-to-back. Fans, in general, want to have a good and a bad guy to root for.

So, eliminate all the faces from the Raw roster.

Yes, ALL the faces, including Kofi Kingston.

He is embroiled in a feud with Randy Orton. That feud is the hottest feud in the WWE right now. Let's not have this tangent possibly screw it up.

Moving on to the heels. The Miz was not involved in the invitational. But did we really need the U.S. Champion in the mix? Don't get it twisted, Miz is, indeed, awesome but let's not forget the last time that he went up against Cena . His character, whether you want to believe it, is still recovering from that burial. Cena /Miz could have been bigger than the current Kofi /Orton but the WWE didn't go that route.

Jack Swagger hasn't been able to take out Evan Bourne , and Bourne is the jobber to the stars on RAW (don't worry Primo , you still have Superstars all to yourself as the reigning jobbing king). Swagger vowed to go undefeated for the rest of the year and that didn't go a month.

Chris Masters? HA!

Chavo Guerrero? Oh look, a little person. Go get beaten up, why don't you?

Carlito? I still see his picture on the side of the milk carton.

Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase , Jr. have not been at their strongest in a while. Had it been a few weeks back, sure. Now? No. Their momentum hasn't been there. Plus, all you fans out there should be happy as this still leaves the door open to that face turn you all keep waiting DiBiase to have.

This brings me back to the man who seems to have avoided the Sun with the same dedication that Maryse avoids my phone calls.

Sheamus has momentum. He's been steamrolling all competitors since coming to RAW , heck, since coming up from FCW . Sure, his opponents haven't been those of great caliber but would we rather give the shot to someone who can't win any other time on TV?

Sheamus is a big, formidable individual. Visually, he looks like a challenge to Cena . Whether or not that is the case is another story.

Do not forget that at Survivor Series he was one of the three youngsters left on Miz's team. That was a clear indication that big things were in store for those three individuals.

There is an individual who came through a few years back and pancaked whoever stood in front of him on his way to gold. Oh yeah, Brock Lesnar . Five months on the main stage and the guy had beaten the Rock for the Undisputed Championship.

We all know that Cena is going to win now that he's facing Sheamus .

I'm quite sure many are already discounting this match due to feeling this way. Guess what, that doesn't mean the match won't be good. That doesn't mean that Sheamus won't deliver one hell of a beating to Cena .

Cena doesn't have to drop the belt to Sheamus . There can always be an interference, a DQ , a no-contest, a double-countout , something. It doesn't have to end in a clean one-two-three is what I am getting at.

And if Sheamus does win, then go back to 2002 and file a complaint for Lesnar's win. Go back and file a complaint for Goldberg's win in WCW . From time to time we can have someone come out of nowhere and run through the field to get to the top.

This is a fresh face in the title picture, something many of you have been screaming for. So here we get a fresh face but we still cry. Because you feel that he hasn't done anything to deserve it? Well, many of the men involved didn't seem to have done much to deserve the shot in my opinion, either.

This is Sheamus' chance to show that he is a big time player in the future. Much like Kofi has taken the ball and ran with it in his current feud, who knows what can happen with Sheamus ?

I don't expect to have many see things my way here, but I am not at all upset by what the WWE did here. Call me different, as long as you call me (since Maryse refuses to).

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Dolph Ziggler Continues to Lose When it Counts: My Latest Gripe

Shane H. — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:24:23 -0500

The man formerly known as Nicky from the Spirit Squad has been making his presence felt on the WWE's blue brand. Dolph Ziggler is one of WWE's future main eventers. Like the guy or not, he's got tons of talent.

Natural charisma, microphone skills, in-ring abilities, he's got all those things.

With that said, why are we witnessing this guy losing momentum?

From the middle of the summer until now, Ziggler has been embroiled in battles over the Intercontinental Championship. He is still without the necessary check in the "Wins" column.

July, at Night of Champions, Ziggler lost to then-champion Rey Mysterio. The next month at SummerSlam, same matchup, same result. After falling 0-2 to Mysterio, Ziggler was able to procure one more No. 1 contender spot. He would not face Mysterio for the belt though.

Mysterio would be suspended by the WWE for failing the Wellness Policy. Before starting his suspension, Mysterio dropped the Intercontinental title on an episode of SmackDown! to John Morrison.

Yes, Morrison swoops in and gets a title match with the departing Mysterio, all while Ziggler was next in line.

We are then treated to fantastic matchups between "The Shaman of Sexy" and "Mr. Ziggles." Prior to this past episode of SmackDown! , the two have had two matches for the Intercontinental Championship with Morrison winning one and a double count-out in the other.

Their third match was a two-out-of-three falls match on the Nov. 20 episode of SmackDown! . Morrison would reign supreme here, obviously.

So, Ziggler has had five shots, FIVE, for the Intercontinental Championship since July and has yet to claim the prize.

I understand someone's inability to grasp the brass ring, but this is the IC title; right now, it's the iron ring. You can't possibly tell me that these losses don't take a toll on a wrestler's credibility as champ.

Ziggler is worse off than the Buffalo Bills of the '90s because they only lost four in a row, not FIVE!

I'm all for a guy waiting his time. I'm all for guys paying their dues. I'm all for patience . But when is enough, enough?

I understand the curveball thrown, as third time is normally the charm when someone is going for WWE gold. But, the guy has been the only man the last four months to receive title shots for the IC title, outside of the one Morrison opportunity.

This isn't even counting his May match against MVP for the U.S Championship where Ziggler was on the losing end.

Now that he's lost this latest shot I'm not sure he'll be getting another shot immediately.

Unless the WWE plans on having Ziggler make an impact at Survivor Series and possibly be the sole survivor and eliminating Morrison, I'm not sure I can see him in the title hunt for the time being.

It doesn't help Ziggler's case that upcoming house shows have Finlay taking on Morrison. Of course, the cards for house shows are made in advance and are subject to change.

I ask you this WWE: Why should we continue to watch when this guy continues to lose when given the shot?

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Paul Burchill and Katie Lea: What's Next for the Wrestling "Siblings"?

Shane H. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:26:51 -0500

On Nov. 17, 2009, Paul Burchill lost a match (not surprising, as that has been the norm) on ECW to the Hurricane.

What made this match different from others was the fact that this match was a "Mask vs. Career" match. If Burchill won, the Hurricane would unmask. If Burchill lost, which he did, he, along with his on-screen sister Katie Lea, would have to leave ECW.

I wasn't sure where I stood here. On one hand, I wanted the Brit to persevere and get the victory to unmask our resident hero. On the other, what else could Burchill do on ECW?

Sure, he could actually be booked better, but that doesn't seem to be the course the WWE has for him.

For months, since coming over to ECW in December 2008, Burchill is usually seen laying on his back to end a match. I don't have the exact calculations, but I'm quite confident that he hasn't amassed double-digit wins since going to Tuesday nights.

Here is a fellow who is quite skilled in the ring and pretty good on the microphone, yet the WWE has never really done anything with him.

Anybody remember the pirate gimmick on SmackDown! ? As silly as it was, the crowds enjoyed it. Where did it go? Check Davy Jones' locker.

Burchill has appeared on all three brands of the WWE since being called up from OVW in 2005. In those four years, he's toiled away in the midcard ranks, never once being engaged in a storyline that seemed to have a defined ending point.

So here he is on ECW trying to reveal the true identity of Hurricane but being foiled in all his attempts. Two weeks ago he issues a challenge for the "Mask vs. Career" match and Hurricane agrees. Actions of a desperate man or a confident man, you make the call.

Would I have enjoyed an ECW Championship title opportunity? Definitely. But that isn't going to happen, at least not for the near future.

Does he return to Raw? Does he head to the red brand where if you're not named John Cena, Randy Orton, DX, or Hornswoggle (yes, I said Hornswoggle), you don't get much attention?

I can already see it now: Burchill makes his debut on Raw and decimates Primo or Evan Bourne. We will then get these matches off and on for about a month before Burchill teams with Chris Masters to take on the team of Primo and Bourne.

If there is no possibility of upward mobility, I rather not see Burchill on Mondays.

Then we have SmackDown! . The blue brand is home to many youngsters currently and talent wise, I rather see Burchill here. This reason isn't solely based on Paul, though.

I'm figuring that with Paul comes Katie Lea. Katie Lea needs to be on the Friday night show.

She's a woman who has not been used to her full abilities since being called up from developmental. A woman who has wrestled in the states and abroad, Katie Lea can work with just about anybody in the ring.

Of course, we wouldn't know this because the WWE likes to keep her in vampire-inspired garb and stand her at ringside. It's a travesty that we can't see Katarina Waters let loose in a WWE ring as I know she can.

With Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Michelle McCool on SmackDown! , Katie could be a part of a solid core of women wrestlers.

However, the blue brand has several heels trying to make a name for themselves in the midcard in Dolph Ziggler, Mike Knox, Drew McIntyre, and Eric Escobar.

Does that leave room for Burchill? Or does that mean a face turn for him?

I can't really see that happening as he was dead-set on unmasking a fan favorite. Unless the have him throw himself at the mercy of the audience and tell them he sees the errors in his ways. Still, I rather a heel Burchill.

ECW is the place many go to wither away and die or hone their craft to come back up to the big boys. Burchill shouldn't be withering away now that he lost his match.

Despite not having more checks in the "Win" column, I think the WWE needs to let the guy blossom and do something of significant. The guy hasn't even won a bloody tag team championship. Wherever he ends up, I pray something worthy is done with him.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

When Pro Wrestlers Become People of Wal-Mart

Shane H. — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:28:21 -0500

**It was a huge hit on the Hit the Ropes website, so we decided we would bring it to the folks of Bleacher Report, just in case you might have missed it.**

There is nothing like needing something and realizing you have to get up out of your home and head over to the nearest Walmart. Fear not, though, as the local department store can lend itself to viewing many interesting folks.

The influence of professional wrestling can be seen throughout the world, and Wal-Mart can't escape the tendrils of pro wrestling. So, thanks to the wonderful people at PeopleofWalmart.com, HTR has decided to bring to you, "When Pro Wrestlers Become People of Wal-Mart."

Be sure to check out the People of Wal-Mart website, as it is chock-full of hilarious pictures of Wal-Marts throughout the nation. With that, let us begin the fun.

Initial Thoughts:

Goldust, eat your heart out.

Dustin Runnels has got nothing on you sista!

This is why there are no long title reigns in wrestling anymore. Nobody wants to hold on to the gold.

Initial Thoughts:

Holy crap! It's Henry O. Godwinn.

Anybody remember when Hunter Hearst-Helmsley got "slopped" after the Arkansas Hog Pen match? That's what happens when you break kayfabe, Triple H.

Hey, where's Phineas I. Godwinn and Hillbilly Jim?

Initial Thoughts:

Someone call Sgt. Slaughter; I think we have someone who went AWOL.

She was the true winner of that Diva Search contest a few years ago when they had to run the obstacle course.

Go back and watch that DX entrance from SummerSlam, I believe we saw her in the tank with the boys.

Initial Thoughts:

My name is Finlay and I love to...buy teen comedy DVDs???

Finlay isn't looking very "fit" anymore.

When it comes to young Hornswoggle, sir, you ARE the father!

Initial Thoughts:

With the PG programming, the WWE has gotten another kid-friendly sponsor.

Hey Scott Hall, isn't this ride, Just...too...sweeeettttt! (No, not really.)

So this is how Mark Henry and MVP get to the arenas now.

Initial Thoughts:

I wondered why Sting doesn't paint his face as much anymore.

Hiroko , where's Kenzo Suzuki? "You cheer on Kenzo Suzuki to the vic-to-wee!"

I'm thinking she got Mr. Fuji really angry earlier.

Initial Thoughts:

I'm telling Ranjin Singh that you're cheating on him with another translator.

The Great Khali, huh! You're not so great. You can't even drink milk with lactose in it.

I'm sorry, Khali, Wal-Mart sells a lot of things, but you won't find wrestling talent there.

Initial Thoughts:

I've got two words for ya...That's tacky!

If that lady isn't careful, she'll get a Superkick like that little girl did.

Even when they aren't on WWE television, DX finds a way to shamelessly plug their merchandise.

Initial Thoughts:

And that's the bottom line, because my barber said so.

How do you want your hair to look? WHAT!? How do you want your hair to look? WHAT!? Your hair? WHAT!? To look? WHAT!?

Will we see "Stone Cold" Steve Austin guest host an episode of RAW? Depends.

Initial Thoughts:

Money wasn't the only thing that Linda took in the divorce.

Whatchya gonna do brutha, when the Hulkster has 11 items and still gets into the 10 items or less lane?

I don't think this is what TNA expected when they signed Hulk to come onboard.

Initial Thoughts:

Katie Vick anybody?

Hey, Kane, this guy wants to boink your ex. You gonna do something about that?

If this guy succeeds in accomplishing that desire, then all those souls the Undertaker took might not be resting very peacefully.

Initial Thoughts:

Is that Vladimir Kozlov on the right?

This is a true parking lot brawl. First person to slam their opponent on the hood of the Ford Ranger and drive them into the produce aisle wins.

Is it just me or does this look like a TNA house show?

Credit People of Walmart for pictures.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. This Sunday, independent stars Josh Abercrombie and the Osirian Portal stop by.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there. HTR is having a TNA Turning Point competition. Head to the site to join.

The Wrestling Rumor Mill is Back, Rejoice! (Humor)

Shane H. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:41:05 -0500

It's been a while, but I'm back with another installation of the only rumors you should ever believe.

Everyone should know that the fans clamor for only one rumor mill around here. Those who think my rumor mill isn't heavily sought after also believe that The Great Khali had one of the most impressive title runs in recent memory.

Ring of Honor (ROH)

Mike Hogewood got himself in a similar situation to Pee Wee Herman recently. Apparently, some people in a movie theater that Hogewood was in didn't take kindly to having the announcer shout "slap the porpoise" in the middle of an action scene. Things were smoothed over once everyone realized that Hogewood was fully clothed at the time of his outburst.
The creative team of ROH have now implemented the "Pick 6" rankings to make the title scene a bit more credible. Unfortunately, getting a clear understanding of the rules is as easy as figuring out Sudoku.
ROH has partnered with Mexico's AAA promotion. Wrestlers such as Teddy Hart and Jack Evans, to name a couple, will make their way into a ROH ring. No worries, if you haven't seen the work of the AAA guys, you still won't. NO ONE gets HDNet.

Total Nonstop Action (TNA)

Lacey von Erich calls her wrestling attire her "costume". My insiders tell me she might be somewhat delusional and think she's a superhero of sorts. Well, with great power comes great ability to botch the simplest of tasks.
Five TNA wrestlers have recently asked for their release but TNA has rejected all five. Apparently the captain won't be the only person going down with this ship.
The last charges against Kurt Angle have been dropped. Trenesha Biggers plans on re-filing her case against the former Olympic gold medalist. Well, you know what they say: "If at first you don't succeed, try and try to extort again."
Sojourner Bolt has been quietly released from TNA. She hasn't been seen on television in a while. Other wrestlers have since reached out to Bolt asking for advice on how they can get released as well.
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have yet to appear in TNA. It's rumored that Hogan won't be showing up to the Impact Zone until special accommodations are met. Apparently, the major demand is that catering provides food with lots of fiber for Hogan and his league of extraordinary has-beens.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)

Word has it that the Trix rabbit to host an episode of RAW. Why? So we can have Chris Jericho interact with him and say, "Silly rabbit, RAW isn't the place for wrestling."
The Rock is in talks of hosting RAW in January to promote his movie Tooth Fairy. You gotta love that the man who was laying the smackdown is now running with wings on his back.
Many have jumped over the departure of Shane McMahon from his family's company saying how Vince is pissed and Stephanie and Shane don't get along. Well, folks, don't be surprised if it's all a SWERVE!

Oh, by the way, that fellow right up there holding the title just might be hosting an episode of RAW.
Early talks going around are saying that WrestleMania 26 might feature a matchup pitting the Undertaker versus Chris Jericho. This is the backup plan as the writers are holding out hope for their top choice. If we are lucky, we will be able to view the Undertaker vs. Father Time in the desert.
If you're wondering why John Cena and DX are being so chummy when they have a title match in two weeks, I've got the scoop for you. At Survivor Series don't be surprised to see the match end with the three men "hugging it out." After all, this is PG, right?

Ed. Note : These were jokes, just in case that fact didn't dawn on you. And I really don't think TNA is going to fail. At least, not any time soon.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also, check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Out of the Spotlight: Legends of Wrestling (Second Edition)

Shane H. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:30:59 -0500

This is the second edition of the Legends of Wrestling slideshow. For those interested in the first one, please seek it out in my archives. Throughout history wrestling fans have been entertained by many individuals. The colorful characters who have laced up their boots for the fan's enjoyment are to be appreciated for the art they perform in the wrestling ring. Here I will look back at five individuals. Their mark on wrestling might differ but know that they left an impact, nonetheless. *Going forward, when addressing the WWE, I may use WWF, as the men I chronicle here worked with the company mainly when it still had the F in its name.

Begin Slideshow

Internet Wrestling Fans Need to Convert From Markism: My Latest Gripe

Shane H. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:38:54 -0500

Many months ago I came up with the idea of creating a Bleacher Report wrestling lexicon (can be found in my archives if interested) where terms, coined here, would be recorded and could be inserted in our conversations here. I discontinued the lexicon after a few editions but I have found that there are several late entries to be added, thanks to my observations of this community lately.

Too many writers and commenters here seem to be devout Markists . They practice the religion of Markism , not to be confused with Marxism.

Markism : n. The practice of having one's vision clouded due to the fact that their favorite wrestler(s) isn't getting proper treatment in the fan's eyes.
Markist: n. One who practices Markism.

It is becoming quite unbearable as of late because people seem to be talking out of their rear, instead of looking at logic, just because one of their favorite wrestlers are involved.

Most recently I griped about the clamor of fans who feel that younger superstars aren't being pushed fast enough. Certain fans are willing to have someone rushed to the top, only to fall on their face due to not being ready, just to satisfy their desire of seeing their No. 1 person reign.

Some people don't even seem ready to crawl before they walk nowadays.

Why am I hearing that CM Punk is being misused when the guy is a top-level talent, who is not entrenched in the main event scene? Because he isn't challenging the Undertaker at Survivor Series later this month?

Um, he fought the Undertaker the past three pay-per-views, walking away without the title, twice.

But he didn't get a rematch!

Let's see, he lost the title at Hell in a Cell, lost his rematch the Friday before Bragging Rights, and then didn't win in the fatal four-way at Rights. Why should we see him get another shot? Because you think he is awesome?

Let me tell you that being awesome means squat sometimes. Look at the Miz. He's awesome (he says it and I believe it to be so), yet he was never able to actually beat John Cena when they fought. So, there goes the awesome argument.

John Morrison is the next Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels isn't dead nor gone. Why are we trying to replace him? How about letting John Morrison be John Morrison? How about Morrison wow us with wonderful mic work and show us that charisma we saw when he was a heel? Instead of seeing Morrison get tossed in there with the big dogs right now, how about having him continue to build on the talent he has now so when his time comes he is magnificent?

I don't dislike Punk or Morrison. In fact, I like both wrestlers. I am a huge fan of Punk. Hell, the guy was doubly awesome when he was back in Ring of Honor (ROH), which is where I became a fan of his.

Morrison is a good talent and has a great look, but he needs more than that. A look and some flashy moves aren't all one needs. It's like some websites out there. They can have a great look externally, but it's what the site offers that counts. Get over the superficial and look at things more closely.

Then there is the one, Jeff Hardy. I don't like the guy as a wrestler but can we just all let the judicial system do what it was put in place to do? What does being a fan of Hardy have to do with him being innocent or guilty? Does him being your favorite wrestler suddenly absolve him of whatever transgressions he might have done?

At the end of the day, people need to realize that wrestling is a business before it is entertainment. If someone went into it just wanting to have all the fans go home happy then they wouldn't be running that promotion for very long.

The Markists need to convert back to reality and rinse out their eyes. See, things aren't as black and white as you think they are. One little feud on the side does not mean someone is being mistreated. A couple extra months in the mid-card level does not mean that you will never get the chance to shine.

In due time, most of their favorites will get an opportunity. Again, patience.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This Wednesday, we welcome Dragon Gate USA's Gabe Sapolsky and ROH's Kory Chavis of the Dark City Fight Club.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

TNA and WWE Will Push Their Young Stars; Wrestling Fans Need to Be Patient

Shane H. — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:39:46 -0400

So, TNA and WWE are finally putting some focus on their younger talent. I love it. And apparently, the rest of the Internet Wrestling Community does, too. The exception being that they are being a bit too impatient.

As my grandmother always extolled to us, “Haste makes waste.”

Two pay-per-views ago, TNA gave us the chance to witness AJ Styles win his first TNA World Championship. Fast forward to the Bound for Glory event and it seemed the youth movement was in full effect.

Matt Morgan and Kurt Angle put on a good outing, the British Invasion left with the TNA tag titles, Eric Young won the Legends title from Kevin Nash, and Styles retained over Sting.

The post-BFG iMPACT! had a Kurt Angle who seemingly saw the “light.” Angle’s sudden face turn, coupled with a good debut of one Nigel McGuinness, now known as Desmond Wolfe. Things are looking to be heading in the right direction.

Then we hear of the huge news of Hulk Hogan signing with TNA. Now everyone is buying their wreaths and ordering tuxedos for TNA’s impending death. No one knows what is to happen yet, but we are jumping the gun that the youth movement is over with.

Up in Stamford, the WWE’s post-Bragging Rights episode of RAW showed the rise of Kofi Kingston. Kingston now seems embroiled in a feud with the Viper, Randy Orton.

When everyone was calling for Orton’s next feud to be with stablemate Ted DiBiase, the WWE gave a big middle finger to all of the “psychics” and gave us Kingston. Bravo! I love it.

We’re also seeing the progression of Jack Swagger and The Miz. Throw Sheamus in that mix, as he was just moved over to the flagship show. (I’ll get back to Sheamus momentarily.)

RAW also has the tag team of Legacy, DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes, who seemed to have been elevated some since their three-month feud with DX.

ECW continues its job of cultivating tomorrow’s stars. SmackDown has CM Punk in the world championship scene, with John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler probably less than a year from following. All in all, WWE seems to be on the right track.

So why the heck am I griping about impatience?

Well, when I was watching that Sheamus match on RAW , where he defeated Jamie Noble, I heard the crowd chanting “boring” and other noises to show disinterest.

While I am not a supporter of Sheamus’ sudden jump to Mondays (yes, I am aware of Triple-H’s endorsement), the fact is we have a good youngster on the main stage. Allow him the opportunity to grow. It’s not as if Sheamus is Khali in the ring.

Then the guest hosts announce that at Survivor Series, John Cena will defend his WWE title against Triple-H and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match.

Cue moans and shouts of seeing the same old feuds.

Just because we saw progression of younger stars it seems that everyone was hoping to see someone unproven get a title shot against Cena.

They all seem to forget that this is a business and that at the end of the day, it is all about making money. Cena, HHH, and HBK are money makers. Not to mention that the match should be good considering the competitors.

Whether it is TNA or the WWE, fans are seemingly anxious to see new faces in the top title scene. That’s nice and all, but that shouldn’t be the way. Give the guys the chance to earn their way up to the top. Let them develop all facets of their character.

Eight years.

It was eight years of work in the WWE before Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart captured their first world title. And those two are always up at the top when discussing the greatest wrestlers.

How long did Edge and Jeff Hardy toil away in the mid-card ranks before their first opportunity to win the world title?

Everyone seems to want to put everyone on a two- or three-year plan and after those years are fulfilled then someone is automatically ready to be championship material.

As Les Thatcher was extolling this week on HTR, younger wrestlers of this day and age are winning championships at a far quicker clip than in the past.

Yet, fans are still clamoring to see these youngsters, who just barely left the shallow end, to go right into the deep?

Why? Because you tire of seeing John Cena, Triple-H, Randy Orton, Kurt Angle, and Sting in the title scene? You do realize that those names push tickets, right?

Would the casual fan, who is the person the companies want to attract, really buy a pay-per-view where John Cena is main-eventing against Sheamus? I highly doubt it since most casual fans wouldn’t know who Sheamus is at this stage of the game.

Pump the brakes, put the car in cruise control and enjoy the ride. New stars are coming shortly.

This article falls under the "My Latest Gripe" series.

This article was originally published on Hit the Ropes and Force of Wrestling.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Sunday and Wednesday at 6 PM ET. Next Wednesday, we welcome Dragon Gate USA's Gabe Sapolsky.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Call Me Different: A Fan of Two Teams Speaks Out

Shane H. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:52:49 -0400

It's World Series time; New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies. As a fan of the Yankees, I'm extremely happy to see the boys in pinstripes back on the grand stage.

Throughout the division series, I've communicated with several online friends on Facebook and an issue came up that I want to address.

Yes, I'm a Yankee fan: I've been one since I moved from Jamaica to Brooklyn, NY at the age of six. That was 19 years ago and I've been a loyal supporter of the Bronx Bombers through every one of those years.

However, when the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies came into the league in 1993, my brother and I decided to pick one of the new teams (both from the NL) to root for as well; I chose the Fish.

That was just something we did: We wanted to support the underdog.

This was not to say we renounced our Yankees. On the contrary, we still loved the Yankees. Heck, we were fans of all the primary New York teams (Rangers, Knicks, and Giants); although, in football I cheered for the Miami Dolphins only.

In 2001, I moved to Miami to pursue a college degree, and lo and behold, I was living minutes away from where the Marlins play their home games. This was great; I got to support the local team, and underdogs, as well as take in baseball games.

Anyway, what am I telling you all this for? Well, apparently (according to some) there's something wrong with having more than one team to cheer for in a sport.

Where was this rule written? Let me know.

I'm a fan, but I'm not one of those rabid ones you hear about from time to time. I'm not someone who would get physical with a fan of a rival team: Life is just too short for nonsense like that.

At the end of the day, sports are nothing more than games, and I hate when people sometimes forget this fact. Games are supposed to be played for fun: Sure, these men and women get paid generously for playing a kid's game, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still just a game.

I'm not out there on the field battling the opposition. I'm not trying to score a touchdown, hit a game-winning single, net a three pointer. I'm in the stands or sitting on my couch watching my TV; enjoying the display of athleticism before me.

When the Yankees play, I'm rooting for them. When the Marlins play, I root for them. When the teams play each other, I pretty much hope for a good series, but in the end, nine times out of 10, I want the Yankees to win.

I enjoy cheering for my team and defending them in a light debate. Yet, you won't find me sitting around spouting stats from 50 years ago in an attempt to prove how dominant my team was, or is. Why? Well, for one reason, doing all that research is just far too tedious and takes the fun out of the game. For another, it's just a little too nerdy for me.

So, let me ask you: Is there something at all wrong with rooting for two teams in a sport?

Whether you believe there is or not won't change my view, but I would like to hear your take on it.

In the end I guess you can just call me different. I'm a fan of two teams, and I like it. To me, it's one of the great things about America that we can root for two teams.

John Cena, I Hate You For Winning; Joe Burgett, You Won

Shane H. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:35:26 -0400

It is the rivalry to end all rivalries. It wasn’t just a rivalry, it was the rivalry. (Or so they say.) It goes beyond the physical world. The disdain runs deeper than the river Nile. October 25th, 2009 was the day that everything came to a head.

All that was needed was for one man to lose, for John “The True Teflon Don” Cena to friggin’ lay down. A loss to his opponent Randy “I Have Great Facial Expressions but My Best Attribute is Being John Cena’s Bitch” Orton was all I asked for. A loss that would “banish” Vince McMahon’s cash cow from the flagship show, RAW . I chose to roll the dice and go against Cena.

Surely, Super-Cena wouldn’t lose with all that on the line, right?

His supposed “last” match on Monday against Triple H resulted in the Chain Gang Commander losing, so he has to win at Bragging Rights, right?

Well, call me stupid for believing that the WWE would actually have the balls to pull the trigger and not do the obvious—having Cena prevail.

No, seriously, call me STUPID. Because that is exactly what I did.

Now, I am here. Cena’s victory is my loss. It is the loss for all those who thought that McMahon would actually allow something so “crazy” to happen.

Cena’s victory is also the victory for one Joe Burgett.

Joe who? You have to know Joe Burgett. He’s the “B/R Superstar.” A guy who’s gotten more coverage than Balloon Boy. A guy many think might have more air in his head than said balloon. (Do I? Hmm.)

Regardless, Joe won and I lost.

We had a friendly wager: If our choice of the winner of that Iron Man match won, the other writer would have to praise the winning the writer.

It’s quite obvious that I shouldn’t have thought the WWE would allow Orton to banish Cena. So, here I am, about to praise Joe Burgett.

Now, I had a loophole ready to be taken when I made this agreement. Oh boy did I have a loophole, but I won’t go that route. I’m an honorable man and I will do as was agreed upon.

Burgett and I got to Bleacher Report on the very same day. Our time here together is akin to Goku and Vegeta in the Dragonball Z animé. He is seemingly the crown prince of the Wrestling Community and rose through the ranks quickly. Within a months time (28 days to be exact), Burgett was the top writer in the section. Nearly 700 articles in and he’s back on top.

If you want to see an archive full of 1,000-plus reads, go see Burgett. If you want to see what’s going on in the world of pro wrestling, ask Joe. Granted, I might already know all the information before Burgett posts them in an article, but he is there for those who don’t know where to search. You ask Joe because Joe knows wrestling.

What Joe also knows is that he is not the greatest of writers. (That honor lies with me. Joking.) Burgett isn’t shy enough to let you know that this section has writers who are better than him, and that is a good thing. He has quite an ego, but at least he understands some of his shortcomings.

The guy is passionate about the pro wrestling world. Sometimes that passion comes out a bit too much, as he might not be keen on seeing reason, but passion is always a good thing.

For the most part, he goes out of his way to drop a “Welcome to B/R” note on someone’s bulletin board when they are new to the community. He will pony up advice to those writers who ask him.

Joe does things outside of the wrestling section as well. He is an avid college football fan and will often write about it. He actually writes about several sports. He attempts to do something in every fashion, including humor. Although, for the many readers out there, please Joe, stop trying to do humor articles. Your chances at doing an intentionally funny piece is as good as Stephanie McMahon revealing that her two children are mine.

So, Cena won, thus assassinating my chances of getting honored by Joe. Wait, did I say assassinate? Nope, I won’t go there.

On a side topic, is anyone else hungry? I feel like a burger. Remember the Burger King Kids Club? Oh man, those guys were awesome. Especially Vid Kid. (Guess you’d have to had been there to understand that one.)

Would Joe and I ever be friends in real life? I can’t say. I don’t think I would hate the guy. In fact, after probably punching him one good time, just for the heck of it (laugh people), I think we could be amicable towards each other.

Listen, say what you want about Joe Burgett, and believe me I don’t do, but he has fans. For every person out there who finds fault with the guy, you will have two more liking him. It was nearly a year ago I dubbed him incomparable and B/R’s very own John Cena.

Did I mention how I loathe Cena?

Friday Night SmackDown!: The Best Place for Divas Wrestling

Shane H. — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:43:19 -0400

Previously, I wrote a piece on stating just having pretty women doesn't mean the women's division is good. That article can be read here. I might have undersold a certain area in that piece.

For a while now, many viewers of the WWE would attest to the fact that Friday night was the best night to see wrestling. SmackDown! was no longer the Jan Brady, it had progressed to the point where it was Marcia. Fans were treated to fantastic encounters featuring men llike CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, and Chris Jericho.

The same could not be said for the women of Friday night. Although Women's Champion Michelle McCool, Melina, and the "Anvil-ette" Natalya were on the brand, the division was not putting out anything worth talking about.

Things just might be on the way up thanks to a little switching around.

Forget the women in the picture above (well, don't forget them, but stop drooling) as the landscape of the blue brand's Diva division no longer features some of those beauties.

Up until the divas trade "initiated" by RAW guest host Nancy O'Dell, SmackDown! was the place to see, not only those three women named earlier, but Maria, Eve Torres, and Layla. Those three, especially Maria, weren't on the level of being "good." For Eve and Layla, good was near. Maria, not so much.

Still, the title scene was pretty much an on-going battle between McCool and Melina. Natalya, as talented as the youngster is, seemed to be relegated to accompanying The Hart Dynasty to the ring.

Michelle McCool/Credit: thewwe-divas.blogspot.com

After defeating Melina again, McCool seemed poise to battle Eve. Yet, much as Eve was progressing, was it truly believable that she stood a chance at dethroning McCool as the queen of SmackDown!?

Bring on said trade.

Gone are Eve and Melina, as they shuffle off to Mondays.

Mickie James and Beth Phoenix, welcome to Friday nights.

In the words of Jim Ross, "business is about to pick up."

If the WWE continues to keep Natalya as the valet for TJ Wilson and David Hart Smith, it isn't as disheartening as before.

McCool now has the privilege to defend her title against two worthy competitors in James and Phoenix. And by George, am I happy.

With all these changes, thanks to the trading, I think it's time some of the women themselves trade roles.

As a heel, McCool has not been able to garner any reaction from the fans. Heck, as a face, she wasn't much better at getting people to care. Having her compete against a top face like James could do wonders. At the very least, we can hear noise during their match, unlike Melina's and McCool's matches were most of the noise was from Melina's primal screams.

Phoenix is a dominating heel, and one who can knock McCool off that high horse that she is currently atop.

The division is now with two face Divas (James and Maria) and four heels (McCool, Phoenix, Natalya and Layla). Seeing as how Maria's skills are lacking, James is pretty much left as the only face there. This needs to be rectified.

McCool isn't turning face anytime soon. Layla isn't in need of a change either, as she is coming along. But what if Phoenix was to turn face? Outside of her very first appearance in the WWE back in 2006, Phoenix has played a heel. It seems high time for a change for the Glamazon. Taking McCool out is one way that can be done.

There is another, but I'll hold that for a little bit later.

Rumor has it that James has been contemplating retiring due to her current standing within the company. She has had some less-than-stellar outings lately and lost her Divas title the night of the Divas trade. There was the heat she received after that incident with Gail Kim in their match on RAW weeks back. Then she is traded away from RAW, where she's been for her entire career. All things considered, I don't think Ms. James is a truly happy camper.

What about turning the chipper, upbeat James heel? Have her use some of that real-life angst.

She's not on the card in the the three-on-three brand supremacy match at Bragging Rights. That has to hurt. Let's use that. Use the fact that she lost her title to Jillian Hall in a controversial fashion. Have her get angry. Have her get mad. Have her take out whoever is in her way. And do it without mercy.

James and Phoenix can basically switch roles. Back on RAW, they have had countless battles. Have James now the aggressor. Much like how the WWE used Randy Orton beating down Ted DiBiase Jr. to garner face reaction to his stablemate, James taking out an unprovoking Phoenix could elicit face reaction for the Glamazon.

Whether or not we see new faces and/or heels on Fridays, I am interested in watching things unfold. We should be given quality wrestling, and at the end of the day, that's what I am looking for.

If only the WWE was as behind the Divas division as I am.

This article was originally published on Hit the Ropes.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This week we welcome a fan favorite on the Indy scene, M-Dogg 20. In two weeks, HTR welcomes Dragon Gate USA's Gabe Sapolsky.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Wrestling Roundtable: Final Hall of Justice (Jeff Hardy, Fantasy, ECW Youth)

Shane H. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:45:28 -0400

Moderator: Welcome one and all to the latest installment of The Wrestling Council. This is a huge day, folks.

The tenth edition of the Hall of Justice will be its final. Yes, the hall will be closing its doors after today, but we thank you for being with us from Day One.

For the monumental day it is only fitting that we have the biggest panel to date. We are joined by six men who have agreed to share their thoughts on four topics for your viewing pleasure.

Allow me to introduce five men who have all stepped within the hall before: AkD , Sulayman , Adam Testa , Scott Beeby , and Justin Thomas . And making his debut, Svyato Rovenchuk .

1) Jeff Hardy: Is it a lock that he will return to the WWE if the court proceedings work to his benefit? Why or why not?

Svyato: Yes, I do think if it works to his favour that Jeff Hardy will return to the World Wrestling Entertainment. The man is too big of an attraction for the WWE to get rid of him. If you look in the crowd you see so many kids wearing those Jeff Hardy wristbands.

Plus, you have the Hardy shirts as well. Let's not forget the Hardy necklace. I think Jeff Hardy is too big of a merchandise seller for them to let go of him just like that.

Matt Hardy is a good wrestler no doubt, but he just doesn't bring in what Jeff does. Plus, you have to have that bit of extremeness in every show.

Jeff Hardy, the daredevil, spices up the shows with his Swanton Bombs, his Whispers in the Wind, and the rest of his high-flying stuff. That is one of the things that makes him so damn popular.

So bottomline: yes, Jeff will be back; yes, he will re-join the main event; yes, Shane will hate it.

Justin: If everything works out, there's no reason Jeff wouldn't return. Jeff, as well as his brother and close friends, are adamant that the situation will work out in his favor. He has made it clear he does not believe he will be receiving any jail time.

Jeff is still relevant in the WWE. He still sells more merchandise than DX and Cena. The mere mention of his name is met with cheers while CM Punk is consistently getting booed and jeered.

Jeff knows how popular he is, and how successful he can be, so I fully expect Jeff to be back in the WWE by the end of next year.

Adam : Even if Jeff Hardy finds himself cleared of all charges in court, it remains to be seen if he would be welcomed back to World Wrestling Entertainment.

On the one hand, Hardy has become a walking public relations nightmare, crying out for negative media attention because of past problems and unlawful transgressions.

On the other hand, the company has failed to demonstrate a long-term punishment for other top-tier individuals who have violated the company's wellness policy and spat in the faces of their loyal fan bases.

Look no further than Rey Mysterio 's tag title shot and upcoming world title competition as an example.

More than likely, Hardy will not be welcomed back to the company, and it would be a rightful decision on behalf of WWE and its chairman and president Vince McMahon.

Hardy represents too big of a liability to be given a warm welcome back into a company trying to promote itself as a family-friendly and kid-friendly product.

Scott: Assuming that all charges are dropped, then what's changed between now and when Jeff had his last match? He's had his name dragged through the mud, but other than that the situation is exactly the same.

If anything, he could become even more popular because we all love to see a wrestler make a successful return from controversy.

I think with the recent news that WWE are still going ahead with the Jeff Hardy DVD for a December release is a good indicator of whether or not the company would accept him back on the main roster, for now anyway. Things could change at the drop of a hat.

Just because he might be showing up in WWE, it doesn't mean he'll be going back to the world title scene anytime soon, if ever again.

To answer the question, if the court proceedings go his way, then right now I'll say it is a lock that we'll see him back in WWE someday. The real question is in what capacity he'll be featured upon his return.

AkD: My initial thought on Hardy and his house (Hardy Pharmacy) was that he was pretty much done. Punk brought him up in that promo going into Breaking Point and that promo alone gave me reason to believe that he won't be completely shut out of the WWE if everything goes well and he attempts to return.

I'll go on a bit of a tangent to further elaborate. His backlash reminds me of the backlash that Kanye West got for interrupting Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs and the Michael Vick dog fighting fiasco.

Hardy's situation isn't like those two and it sits sort of in the middle, being more extreme than Mr. West's situation and somwhere beneath Vick only because no lives (human or animal) were lost.

My point is that eventually the "heat" will cool off and Hardy might have a legit shot at returning to the 'E. He went out the top face in the company and I'm sure the big boys would love to collect with him again.

His real life problems blend in well with his character anyway, and stars like Punk would cut hilarious promos on him at his expense.

With a fan base consisting mostly of marks, everyone is too busy enjoying the show and probably aren't cognizant of the behind the scenes stuff, so who's to complain? I'm sure a DVD would be in the best sellers list and they were drooling about the bucks they can pull in before the cops found his pharmacy.

Like aforementioned, he has a shot once everything cools down; no one died; no one is in the hospital, but he might have to play in the doghouse for a while.

Sulayman: Ah, yes, I thought someone would ask this question and the answer isn't as complicated as it would seem to many wrestling pundits and the so called experts.

It's simply a matter of time until Jeff finds his way back to the WWE. If the proceedings shift in his favor, I don't see why the 'E would not try to reel their biggest star back into the net; would he be reprimanded by management for his actions after quitting the company?

They might send him to RAW for a while so that he gets lost in the black hole that is its mid-card and then resurrect his star on the blue brand.

While Mysterio returned with a shot at the tag team titles, the most we could see the WWE doing is having Jeff compete in the mid-card for a month or two before giving him a chance at the title.

Is it in keeping with WWE's attempt to clean up its image? No, but they could have easily made the WHC match at Bragging Rights a triple threat contest, thus excluding the recently suspended Mysterio.

Plus, we're talking about one of the hottest (money making) stars in wrestling today who connects with millions of fans despite his limited abilities in the ring. The latter doesn't even matter, really.

As long as he continues to make money, and he is as evidenced by WWEshop numbers, he's going to be at the top of the heap.

Plus, his "living in the moment" crap really attracts attention.

2) Take a wrestler from each of the top 3 promotions to be placed in a triple-threat match. Name the combatants, the type of match, and explain your reasoning behind the picks.

Svyato: Chris Jericho (had to expect this from me), Sting , and Austin Aries are my competitors. The stipulations are a Triple Threat Steel Cage Match.

The reasoning behind the cage is that it is my favourite stipulation. Plus, I remember when I was playing a Triple Threat Cage Match with my friends on SmackDown v. Raw 09, it seemed like a lot of fun and looked like a cool match to have.

Obviously, Jericho is going get chosen from WWE. Why? First of all, because he is my favourite guy. Second reason, because he is Chris Jericho. The man is without a doubt up there with HBK as the best wrestler in the business today. He is great in the ring, has a great set of mic skills, has amazing charisma, etc.

The man brings it every night and can make even the worst of superstars look good. He would definitely keep this match interesting by trying to slither out of the match and escape when possible. So he is in.

Sting? Well, I love the guy. Sting is living proof that age is but a number. Despite his rather old age, Sting is still a very good wrestler. He can work the mic, he has charisma, he has the "it" factor.

It would be interesting to see Sting in a cage match. He could whip the guys around a few times and maybe even do something unforgettable.

Austin Aries? Simple. He is the best superstar in ROH today. Plus, I always wanted to see him in a match with Jericho. Just seems like something interesting.

Justin: A triple threat match between Chris Jericho, A.J. Styles , and Grizzly Redwood would be a good one. I am not a big fan of triple threat matches, so the inclusion of Grizzly Redwood is not to actually have him wrestle. He looks like a small guy, so I'm sure AJ and Jericho would be able to eliminate him from the equation easily.

I think as far as all-time greats go, Jericho is often overlooked. In my opinion he could be in the same league as Shawn Michaels.

Chris Jericho may draw a huge amount of heat for saying he's the best in the world at what he does, but the fact is he speaks the truth. His matches with Shawn Michaels last year were beyond exceptional.

Anytime he steps in the ring, if given the proper amount of time, you can expect a great match.

A.J. Styles is an amazing wrestler. He meshes great high-flying skills with great technical skills. I am not a big fan of his, as he never wowed me enough to make me believe he should be the face of a company, but there's no denying this man's in-ring abilities.

A match between Jericho and Styles would truly be a remarkable match to watch. Grizzly's just there for show.

Adam: My tri-branded triple threat match of choice would feature SHIMMER Champion MsChif (representing Ring of Honor), recently dethroned WWE Divas Champion Mickie James, and one half of the Total Nonstop Action Knockouts Tag Team Champions Sarita (known as Sarah Stock in the Mexican and independent scene) competing in a women's ladder match.

These are three of the most talented women in the modern professional wrestling industry, and if they were allowed to wrestle a no-limits match-up exerting all their skill and ability, the fans would not be disappointed.

Add a ladder to the mix, and things are only going to get better for these three women, all of whom possess superior athletic ability.

Watching these three compete in a high-flying, fast-paced match-up with a major prize on the line, hanging above the ring, would be a truly remarkable experience for the fans.

Scott: There are a multitude of possibilities that come with this question. I could go down the road of dream match-ups that we've all been dying to see such as a match including Sting and the Undertaker, or I could try to match up wrestlers that would compliment each other's moveset and in-ring ability such as A.J. Styles v. John Morrison v. Austin Aries, but I'm going to do something a little different.

WWE is undoubtedly the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, but it is common knowledge that their tag team and women's divisions are sorely lacking.

I would like to know how one of WWE's tag teams would fair against other tag teams from the "No. 2" and "No. 3" promotions in North America. Here's the match that I'd like to see: Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase, Jr.) v. The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) v. The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Ladder match.

All of the wrestlers in the match have established themselves in the business through singles and/or tag team wrestling, they all have experience in either Ladder matches or some form of match with a No DQ stipulation, they're all in their mid 20's, and each team has great chemistry and team work.

I genuinely think this match would get the fans excited, and if it were to happen, regular viewers of RAW, ECW , and SmackDown! would have their eyes opened to what real tag team wrestling is.

AkD: Elijah Burke /D'Angelo Dinero (TNA), Shelton Benjamin (WWE), KENTA (ROH).

Many are probably going to wonder why I chose these stars. "Where are the big names?" "Where are the megastars?" "Pshhh, that Benjamin fella is his avatar picture."

Instead of star studded match-ups between huge names, I'd rather see these three above in a triple-threat Ironman match.

These men are really athletic and versatile; they're really well-rounded. Burke and Benjamin got to mix it up ever so briefly before Burke's departure in a triple-threat match with CM Punk.

The two were one-upping each other with impressive moves, not only of just flash, but with timing and the right angles. There was something special there and I would have liked to see more.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Benjamin and he's one of kind to me. Anything you want, he can do. The man can fly like a Hardy, suplex like an Angle, kick like an HBK, apply holds like a Benoit, etc.

Kenta is another amazing star. He's been all over the place, the likes of Dragon Gate , ROH, All Japan Pro Wrestling , and Pro Wrestling NOAH . There's plenty of material on him out there to look up. The three are similar, but their styles differ and it would be a nice clash of styles (no pun intended).

Sulayman: Samoa Joe , Tyler Black , and CM Punk . All three of these wrestlers are gifted in the ring and it would make for a great match for wrasslin' fans as they could build on Joe vs. Punk II from their days in ROH. It would be a regular triple threat match.

3) Some of the latest superstars from ECW's superstar initiative aren't as popular as the earlier batch. Abraham Washington seems to be at the forefront for getting bashed. What is your take on Mr. Washington?

Svyato: Me, personally, I don't like the man. I find him annoying and a waste of my time. There are times when he can be kind of funny, but besides that, I seriously want this guy off my television set or computer monitor (depends where I'm watching). Sorry Abe, but I am not a fan of you or your Tommy Dreamer fat jokes.

Justin: Rightfully so, this group of superstars from the latest ECW talent initiative aren't impressing many. Tyler Reks already looks to be forgotten, Yoshi is over but doesn't look to be a legit threat, and Sheamus doesn't impress me at all. Had these guys come in with the likes of Jack Swagger and Evan Bourne, they would've been an afterthought.

Although those three have yet to prove their worth (to me), Abraham Washington has proven to me that he should have a job in the WWE for a long time. The man plays his role to perfection, the annoying talk show host.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it hilarious that he thinks his corny jokes are actually funny. That, combined with Tony Atlas' laughter make for the perfect talk show duo.

Abe's mic skills can also lead to a job as a manager or even a GM. Abe can draw heat like no other. Some say his heat is "bad heat," but to me that makes no sense. When The Great Khali was world champion, he did a terrible job at drawing heat. The reason? He sucks.

Abe is doing a great job getting under people's skin, and making them boo him since Day One. Every time I tune into ECW, I look forward to seeing his show. Outside of Hurricane Helms, Mr. Washington is my favorite person on ECW and I'm expecting big things from him.

Adam: The mere fact that Abraham Washington finds himself met with the reaction the fans give him proves his worth as an on-screen character. The talk show host is meant to be a character that isolates fans, drawing purely nasty ire from many fans and gaining celebrity idol support from others.

The character needs to be inserted into an actual storyline if the company wants to truly get him over in the coming months.

With a superhero character running around in The Hurricane, it almost seems obvious to insert Washington into a "journalist/superhero" storyline along the lines of Clark Kent, Perry White and Superman or Peter Parker, J. Jonah Jameson and Spiderman.

To make the Washington character successful, he needs to become a full-fledged heel and embark on a journalistic crusade to unveil the identity of the Hurricane. To accomplish his goal, Washington could recruit other talent to help.

This would give the rub to rising heel talent like Sheamus and Zack Ryder , in addition to pushing Washington as a top-tier out-of-the-ring talent who could even begin competing and challenging the reigning general manager.

Scott: I don't watch ECW all that often, so I might not be the best person to ask this question to, but from what I've read on numerous websites, the man knows how to get heat.

That's a rare talent for somebody so new to the business, let alone someone who only uses the mic. Heel wrestlers can let their actions speak for them by using the full five count from the referee or attacking their opponent behind the referee's back.

Washington doesn't have that luxury, and yet he continues to draw emotion from the crowd. I would like to see him eventually move into a General Manager role on ECW, much like he was in Florida Championship Wrestling.

Even when Tiffany has been present for the Tuesday night show she hasn't been overly impressive, and could you imagine the response from the crowd when he walked out? It could possibly rival Vickie Guerrero 's heat given enough time.

AkD: I fail to grasp the notion that Abe Washington sucks, I hear things like: "A waste of television," "A disgrace to wrestling," and/or "He's not funny." He is a vital ingredient to ECW's feuds.

Ryder v. Benjamin

Goldust v. Sheamus

Dreamer v. Christian

Burchill v. Hurricane

Ziggler v. Morrison

Benjamin v. Sheamus

All of those feuds were not only progressed through Abe's show, but they got airtime, a chance to shine. You don't see Evan Bourne, Chris Masters, or Charlie Haas getting time like this, do you?

You all can sit there and shake your head in disagreement because it's ECW we're talking about but that's my point exactly...it's ECW!

So, what's the problem? Washington's show is contributing to the overall product, RAW Rewinds and SD! Rebounds are not; those are are wasting time.

It's common for the guy who spends the least time in the ring to be the scapegoat. It's the frustration of the overall product, the PG Era, the constant title changes, the endless gimmicks PPVs, that pushes some to redirect their disdain to easier targets like Abe.

He's blamed for being horrible, as if ECW is vital, but then those people turn around and say no one cares about ECW; so why do you care what Washington does?

Another notion that confuses me is the notion that he's booed because he sucks and not because he's getting heat. There is no such thing. A reaction is a reaction; he's doing his job well. If he really sucked then he wouldn't get a reaction at all like the MIA Tyler Reks.

He gets under the skins of fans and makes you angry before he even speaks. Abe crosses the line ladies and gents. He is the only non-PG character in the WWE. If you catch on, he has many stereotypical and racial remarks.

For all the anti-PG smart guys out there who have disdain, Abe can put their feet in their mouths because the only exception to the PG era is Abe. Granted he doesn't curse, but he's a close as you can get.

Then there's the notion that he's not funny. Abe isn't funny, but he thinks he is. He's your average cocky guy with played out jokes and the funny part is that he thinks he's funny when he's not. He's meant to be that annoying guy that gets under everyone's skin and he's doing just that.

His route was much more difficult than Reks, Sheamus, and Yoshi as he has to speak and gain heat rather than just wrestle. He is hands-down better than Yoshi and Reks, and you can add Sheamus to the list as well.

Tatsu doesn't have to speak that much, his wrestling does it for him. Reks is a lost case and Sheamus does better in the ring.

Abe has to only show what he's got on the mic and he delivers; he's in the top five top speakers right now in the 'E.

Sheamus lovers, don't cry. Don't tell me I failed because Abe is more valuable than anyone from the new talent initiative.

Abe has four dimensions, unlike his one dimensional new peers. I mean dimensions by the possible routes. Abe can be:

Someone's manager/mouth piece

A wrestler (Yes, he can wrestle)

A heel commentator

A GM

When was the last time you had a star capable of all four? The last three that come to mind are Mick Foley, Matt Striker, and maybe Regal. I have already said it, and I'll say it again, Abraham Washington is the best new talent initiative star of this group.

Can you image what he could do as RAW's GM? As a mouthpiece to a guy who's having trouble getting over? As a heel commentator with ridiculous jokes alongside Striker's greatness? Or finally stepping in the ring? (Yes, he can wrestle.)

He's not perfect, some lines are forced, but he's really coming along and has had some gems.

"All of you people can't read! That's right! I said it, ain't nobody scared!"

"Coming to America sucks!" (Arsenio Hall diss)

"I'm the best thing to come to Cleveland since LeBron James!"
"The one thing me and LeBron have in common is that we can't wait to leave this town!"
"Can I call you Mufasa cause your the lion (lying) king!" (Hurricane/Helms diss)
"Ain't nooo stopping me from falling asleep!" (Shelton diss)
"The only reason you want to go back to Philly is to stuff your big fat face with Philly Cheese steak sandwiches!" (Dreamer diss)

"Really?! Can a brother get a shout out too?!" (Ryder girlfriend diss)

"You Dennis Rodman reject! This ain't the Hip Hop Source Awards!" (Shelton diss)
"Your a technician? Could you hook a brother up with some free cable!"
"Are you out of your damn mind?! I didn't pay my Rent-A-Center deposit on that couch yet!"
"You can kiss my natural black Assssssssssriel!"
"Man are you okay?! I know what this is Ashton knew I was coming to town!" (Goldust diss)

"Is it me or did it get whiter in here?!" - (Sheamus diss)

"You make Casper look like a brother!" - (Sheamus diss) When asked what Miz and Ziggler have in common Abe responded:

"They're both white?!"

"This ain't the set of Rocky IV, but I will go Apollo Creed up in here!"
"Your right Tony, he does look like the Lucky Charms guy, it's magically delicious. (Sheamus diss)

Sulayman : It's the Abraham Washington Show that really puts feuds in the spotlight, since most of ECW's time is spent dealing with the segment.

It reminds me a little of Piper's Pit except here, it does little to nothing to pique my interest in the guests and their respective rivalries. It feels just like another generic segment.

The purpose is clear, all they need to do now is the fulfill it. These kind of segments are placed to increase tension between superstars, and even though Tony's laugh is the only thing worth watching, I continue watching the show in hopes that Washington will perfect the equation and give us a legitimate alternative to long in-ring promos since time is of the essence in the Land of the Extreme.

4) Who was the greatest and worst ship jumper in pro wrestling? (I mean a person going from one promotion to another).

Svyato: I think Christian's jump to TNA was very good for him. He got the push to the main event, which he wasn't really receiving in the WWE. He won TNA World titles there. It seemed like TNA was a really good place for him. He seemed to be at the top of the company for a good time. So it seemed like a good jump for him.

The worst jump in my opinion was probably Christian right back to the WWE. The man is trapped on ECW. Vince obviously does not like the man so he is keeping him on ECW.

Not saying it isn't a good brand, but this obviously shows that Vince doesn't care for him because Vince does not care for ECW. Everyone knows it.

Until Vince finally puts him on SmackDown ! or Raw, showing that he actually wants the man, this was a very bad move on Christian's part. He should have stayed in TNA.

Justin: The greatest would have to be Jeff Hardy (his jump from TNA back into the WWE). Before Hardy left the WWE, he was considered nothing more than a Sabu-like wrestler. After he returned, I believe he proved he was, in fact, a great wrestler.

Since he returned, he's made the company more money than anyone else. After returning, Jeff won the WWE Tag Team Championships (alongside Matt), became a three-time Intercontinental Champion, as well as a three-time World Champion.

He consistently main-evented pay-per-views through mid-card feuds with Umaga and John Morrison, as well as main-event feuds with Edge, Triple H, and CM Punk. He has pretty much solidified a spot in the Hall of Fame.

The worst ship jumper was Colt Cabana. Many expected him to be a mid-card champion in no time, but he was used as an occasional jobber. Big things may be ahead for Cabana in either ROH or TNA, and the WWE may soon regret their decision to let him go.

Adam : While the other contributors may wax poetic in their responses to this question while throwing out names like Hulk Hogan, Sting and Christian, I am once again going to give a spotlight to two women of modern times who have had significant changes in their careers caused by finding a new employer.

Wasting away in WWE developmental until her eventual release from the company, Angel Williams found herself on the fast track to nowhere. In 2007, when TNA came looking for women for its new full-fledged Knockouts Division, Williams found herself with a new contract and a new employer.

Through the next two years, Williams would find herself re-christened as Angelina Love and placed at the center of the top mainstream women's wrestling division in America and leading arguably one of the top stables in current wrestling.

Love earned multiple singles' titles and seemed destined to win the inaugural Knockouts Tag Team Championship until her untimely release from the company due to visa issues.

When Love left TNA, she was on top of the world. Coincidentally, another woman also left TNA while on top of the world, but things haven't worked out so well for her. Gail Kim became the inaugural Knockouts Champion and competed in a number of memorable contests against Awesome Kong , Roxxi and Love through the early days of the division. But then McMahon came calling and the Canadian knockout found herself on the way back to WWE, where she had previously been a champion, as well.

Fans were excited to see Kim headed back to the "big leagues," where she'd be able to have lengthy title reigns competing against talented divas like Beth Phoenix , Natalya and Mickie James. But those fans were let down as Kim as been relegated to enhancement talent for the likes of Alicia Fox , Michelle McCool , and almost assuredly eventually, the Bella Twins .

The paycheck may be nicer, but one of the top women's wrestlers in the world now finds herself at the bottom of the food chain, punished for choosing to work with TNA for the past several years.

If Kim hadn't left TNA, she's likely still be on the top of the division rather than wasting away as a jobber to the not-so-talented stars of the divas roster.

Scott :The best ship jumper, at least from the last 10 or so years, would have to be Kurt Angle going from WWE to TNA in late 2006. Since then, he has virtually carried the promotion on his back and is responsible for bringing TNA into the spotlight more than in previous years, which has in turn seen a gradual rise in the television ratings.

As for the worst ship jumper, there is definitely a case to be made for Goldust who's currently on his fifth run with WWE, but I would have to say that the definitive worst "journeyman" would be Alundra Blayze going from WWF to WCW in late '95.

As the story goes, Blayze signed with WCW while she was still the WWF Women's Champion, and as part of a storyline that Eric Bischoff had thought of, she was made to throw the WWF Women's Championship in the garbage on a live broadcast of Monday Nitro.

WWF was so outraged that she was officially stripped of the title and the belt was left vacant for almost three years. From WWE/F's perspective, she would have to be one of the worst defectors.

AkD : The worst guy to jump ship was Giant Gonzales (El Gigante in WCW); he ended Taker's streak (his streak of good WrestleMania matches). Honorable mention to Taz going to TNA as well.

Some of the best ones I think come in the forms of Angle to TNA, Dudley Boyz to WWE, Christian to WWE, and Madusa to WCW. Madusa completely trashed WWE/F's women division literally when she appeared on WCW Nitro tossing the Women's title in a trash can.

The Dudleys came from ECW and, together with Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz, became the core of the tag team division and gave birth to the epic TLC match . Angle alone is great star power and presence for TNA. Christian's return was unexpected (on ECW), but he looks as if he hasn't lost a step.

Sulayman: The greatest ship jumper has to be Chris Jericho. While his run in WCW would lay the foundations for Y2J's birth, it would be in Vince's yard that he would truly prove his worth.

He, along with others like Guerrero, would be ignored by management up to the point where it became common practice for them to deviate from the pre-planned scripts and spots just to see if management would notice.

Along with Jericho's electrifying debut, which still gives me chills today, his ability to have the crowd eat from the palm of his hands is only second to The Rock .

While his journey to the top has been a rocky one, and he has yet to achieve the same distinction that stars such as Triple H and Shawn Michaels do, Jericho remains one of the best to never receive accolades such as Royal Rumble victories, simply because his skills in the ring and on the mic have garnered praise from wrestling purists everywhere.

It's simply a case of this happening: one man's trash became another man's greatest treasure.

The worst of the worst? There are many to choose from: Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan (despite being responsible for the success of the nWo), Vince Russo, but I think Nash sticks out most as he's been bouncing around from one promotion to another with ease and is placed into comfortable positions in whichever company he jumps to, even though he hasn't done much to deserve his position.

Moderator: I thank you gentlemen for taking part in today's discussion. I also thank you all for taking the part in joining us today within the Halls of Justice. Do make sure to check out the previous nine entries in the hallowed archives.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here . HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This week we welcome a THQ game designer for WWE's Smackdown v. RAW 2010. Also ROH's Grizzly Redwood comes on.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Ric Flair, Batista, and Kurt Angle Play The Dating Game (Humor)

Shane H. — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:35:32 -0400

Here's the host of The New, New Dating Game , Michael Cole.

Michael Cole : "Thank you VINTAGE unnamed announcer person. Thank you for being with us today on The New, New Dating Game . Before we go and meet our lucky lady, let's meet the three men she'll be able to choose from.

"He's the PWI's 2005 Wrestler of the Year, the man who walks alone, and he's got some of the best medical coverage in the free world. Ladies and gentlemen, bachelor number one, Dave Batista .

"Bachelor number two is a man asking us to make copy of this episode so he can auction the tape off to pay his alimony payments. He is a 16-time world champion, he's a limousine riding, jet flying, kiss stealing, wheeling dealing son of a gun. Please welcome, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair .

"And finally, mystery man number three is an Olympic gold medalist, considered the greatest technical wrestler today, and is only here due to ending a relationship with this crazy chick named Rhaka Khan. Ladies and gents, Kurt Angle .

"Of course, there has to be someone to choose a lucky man. She's been selected Most Likely to Go to Jail for Prostitution in her high school yearbook, she's a two-time college drop out, and currently works as a cocktail waitress at the Touchy Feely Gentlemen's Club, please join in welcoming to The New, New Dating Game, Anita Mann."

Anita: "Hello, Michael....Um, hello, Michael."

Cole: "Oh, sorry. I had someone screaming instructions in my earpiece. Glad to have you here. We've got three men anxious to meet you, so let's get down to business, shall we? You've got three questions to ask these men and after all questions have been answered, you will choose a bachelor to go out with. Ready?"

Anita: (actually salivating) "Yes, I've been waiting for this for a while."

Cole: "When's the last time you've been on a date?"

Anita: "Well, I just got out from doing a little time, so it's been a while since I've been with a man." (Cole laughs at this point.)

Cole: (finally stops laughing) "That was VINTAGE just-getting-out-of-jail-pent-up sexuality, ladies and gentlemen. Okay, Anita, whenever you're ready."

Anita: "We'll start with Bachelor number one. What would be one way that you would take care of me if I was sick?"

Batista: "Well, I would say that I would pick you up and carry you around but I fear that I might injure myself doing that. Not saying that you're fat or anything. Just that, I seem to be a tad prone to injuries.

"Heck, I'm in a walking boot right now after going to get the morning paper. Anyway, if you were sick, I would, umm, call on all of the Divas that I've been with to give me ideas on how to nurture you back to health."

Anita: "Bachelor two and three, same question."

Flair: "Well, WOO, I would have to, WOO, find some alternate methods because I can't take any medical bills on top of what I've got to pay right now. Well, I've got a whole bunch of Campbell soups in the cupboard at the apartment that I can open and heat up. Soup is always good when someone is under the weather. WOO"

Angle: "Those two guys have no idea how to treat a lady. Listen, if you're sick, you're going to get my undivided attention. I don't care if we haven't known each other for too long, I'm moving you into my home, since I can go back to it now, so I can take care of you."

Anita: "Alternate methods? Kicked out of own house? Numbers two and three aren't looking so good so far. Okay, we'll go backwards this time. Bachelor No. 3, what would you say is your greatest accomplishment in life?"

Angle: "Well, many might not know this, but I won the Olympic gold medals with a broken frickin' neck. I'd say that's pretty great. It's true. It's true."

Anita: "Oh my, that's amazing. Although, I saw Greta McGregor beat down four armed guards with a spork stuck in her neck...Okay, mystery man number two, I'm here because I'm looking to find love. Are you willing to get married sometime in the future?"

Flair: "Whoa! Marriage? I think the folks at City Hall are tired of seeing my face. I'm not too sure about that. Couldn't we just have fun rolling around town in my limos?"

Anita: "Ooo, I like limos. The last time I was in a long vehicle, there was a gate separating me from the driver...Bachelor number one, where would we go for our first date."

Batista: "Well, it depends on the time of day. You know, actually it doesn't. We'd head out to the gym. That's where we'd go. Doesn't matter the time of day."

Anita: "You like to get sweaty......Me too. And coming from where I was just at, I know a little thing or two about weights."

Cole: "Okay, one final question to each contestant before you have to make your choice. Go ahead."

Anita: "Well, Bachelor number two, what is something you can't control yourself from doing?"

Flair: "I would say that I can't control myself from bleeding profusely, but I do have the uncontrollable urge to beat up articles of clothing. Not sure why, but my suit jacket never stands a chance. My dry cleaner bill is astronomical."

Anita: "Bleeding profusely? Haemophiliac? That's not cool. Okay, bachelor number one, same question."

Batista: "Umm, I don't believe them, but I do hear a lot of people saying that I suck at what I do professionally. I guess if you hear it even you start to believe it."

Anita: "Hmm, as long as you don't suck at other things, sir." (Cole laughs .)

Cole: "I'm sure glad that this isn't PG. That was a VINTAGE sexual innuendo."

Anita: "And finally, bachelor number three, tell me the last time you got some action."

Angle: "I didn't want to share this but a week ago, after work one night, we all went out drinking. The next morning I woke up in bed next to one of my co-workers. Let's just say that she is much bigger than me and she made me her bitch that night. The funny part about it though is that I thought it, and her, was AWESOME."

Anita: "So, you have no problem being someone's bitch? There's hope for you yet."

Cole: "Okay, Anita Mann, you're all out of questions. It's time to make a decision. Who's it going to be: Bachelor number one, two, or three?"

Anita: "Well, Michael, there were some good answers but I'm going to have to go with the first one."

Cole: "Bachelor number one. Okay. Well, before meeting your mystery man, let's bring out the other two gentlemen who weren't so lucky."

"First, Bachelor number two, WWE Hall of Famer, Ric Flair...And that's VINTAGE Flair strutting out from behind the partition, folks. And Bachelor number three is none other than Kurt Angle."

(Angle comes out and his old music hits prompting the crowd to respond accordingly .)

Cole: "Haha, VINTAGE pissed off Angle. Okay, Anita, here's your selection, 'The Animal' Batista!!!"

Anita: "Ooo, animal you say? I hope that's is the case." (wipes away a small dribble of drool)

Batista hobbles around the partition, doesn't see the final step and falls onto the stage. A resounding crack is heard as Batista grabs his right shoulder in pain.

Cole: Thanks for joining us on The New, New Dating Game folks. Have a great night.

**The views here were clearly for humorous purposes. They do represent the feelings of one Shane Howard, but that's because he has a sense of humor.**

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here ). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Book Review: Are You Ready? The Unauthorized History of DX

Shane H. — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:26:03 -0400

Are you ready?

I said, ARE YOU READY?

Well, if you are a fan of D-Generation X, then you might be interested in checking out their book, Are You Ready? The Unauthorized History of DX, available at WWEshop.com (and other fine retailers). See what I did there? I learned how to properly plug merchandise by reading this book.

Before even opening the front cover, readers are provided with classic DX humor with the book reviews found on the back.

"A complex tale of redemption featuring a pair of modern American heroes embarking on a Homeric journey of self-discovery through an Orwellian dystopia. Oh, and male cheerleaders, too." —PAUL LEVESQUE

"Truly, D-Generation X is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be!"—ANONYMOUS CANADIAN WRESTLING LEGEND

The words found on the 256 pages were quickly devoured as the book proves to be a quick read.

This is by no means a must-read for wrestling fans unless you are a die-hard fan of D-Generation X.

Shawn Michaels and Triple H, with the help of Aaron Williams, wrote the book. The founding fathers of one of the most revolutionary groups in professional wrestling are basically talking to each other throughout the text.

Broken up into three acts, the tale starts in the summer of 1997, but we are quickly informed about the Madison Square Garden incident of 1996. It was the MSG incident where Shawn Michaels and Triple H broke character and came out to hug fellow Kliq members Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in the middle of the ring. This was a big no-no as the men broke kayfabe.

Courtesy: Photo Bucket

Throughout the read, the men showed they have no issue incorporating real-world situations, such as Triple H's marriage to Stephanie McMahon or Shawn's previous angry years.

The pages are very short and the book is filled with many you may deem as filler.

Every so often, you will come across a gray page that simply shows the DX logo. Dispersed throughout the book are little DX facts, akin to the "Did You Know?" factoids found on RAW episodes.

Triple H does the majority of the talking here, since the early years with Michaels, Triple H and Chyna were cut short due to Michaels' hiatus after WrestleMania XIV.

For those who do not remember, it was after that WrestleMania when Triple H stepped out from Michaels' shadow and led the second incarnation of DX with Chyna, Sean Waltman, Billy Gunn and Road Dogg.

Courtesy: Photobucket

Anyone who is a fan of juvenile humor and seeing a lot of rear ends will feel right at home reading this. DX do love their sophomoric humor.

The book ends after Triple H's quad injury during the tag match between DX and Rated RKO at the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view. Thus, anyone hoping to learn about things from this 2009 run is out of luck.

We aren't given any in-depth information, as I'm sure the WWE made sure the two kept some things quiet.

At the end, readers can also test their DX knowledge by taking a short, 50-question trivia quiz.

For $16, a bit cheaper on Amazon, there are worse things to buy. Plus, you'll find out their thoughts on certain wrestlers and the possibility of putting new members in the group.

Originally posted on HitTheRopes.com.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here. HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This week we welcome D-Ray 3000, former TNA tag partner of Shark Boy and ROH's Kenny King.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

The Hypocrisy of the WWE's PG Programming: My Latest Gripe

Shane H. — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:57:54 -0400

The wrestling business goes through different eras. Fine.

Professional wrestling is a business. Right.

The WWE is PG; I get that.

Does that mean the WWE can’t do things differently from what we are currently getting? They surely can.

There is a no-blood edict currently in the land of the WWE. I’m no sadist. I don’t need to see someone gushing after a chair shot, but I would like the WWE to be a bit more realistic. Humans bleed.

Heck, I’m sure I can turn on the television and view a children cartoon (also PG) and see some vividly colored creature wincing in pain after seeing blood drip from a cut. Advertisers still sell out money to have their products shown on the network of those cartoons.

It’s not even so much the blood ban. It’s the overall hypocrisy of the WWE.

Credit: Photo Bucket

The move to PG programming means that Vince McMahon & Co. wants to be more family-friendly. So, let me ask you this Vinnie Mac: How are you family friendly when you allow a man recently suspended for steroids use to return and go right into a title match at a Pay-Per-View?

What kind of message does that send to the younger viewers you are trying to hook with your new cradle to the grave strategy?

“You broke the rules but because you sell a lot of merchandise you will immediately go back into the title scene once your 30 days are up.”

I understand the time was served but how about just showing a bit of a backbone and have the superstar regain your trust? I’m not saying to have them lose to Jamie Noble and Jimmy Wang Yang (men used in dark matches currently), but how about them tussling with the actual mid-card talent?

Prior to this whole situation, you had a very hot program between a former talent who has a history with drug use and another man who is straight edge. Take a guess who was portrayed as the bad guy here?

Granted, CM Punk is much better as a heel, but there was kind of message being put out there that Punk was wrong in everything he was saying to Jeff Hardy and the fans. Is Punk preachy? I guess you can say that. I enjoy the hell out of his promos, but there are those who have said the preachy line. Does that mean that he should have been seen as the bad guy?

Our parents preached to us to do the right thing when they raised us. (At least the responsible parents.) Do we perceive them as the enemy? Well, I’m sure many of those Maury Povich kids might oppose me here.

Hornswoggle is to be viewed as a little kid. Or is he just a midget? Is there any clarity on this? I mean, he was said to be Finlay’s illegitimate child, yet Shaquille O’Neal said that he and Swogs went to school together. What is Hornswoggle’s age?

Anyway, as he looks and acts the part of a child, let’s go with the child perception. His feud with Chavo Guerrero basically was televised child abuse.

Yes, Hornswoggle came out on top all of the time, but he was still being beaten by a full-grown man. It’s not on the level of what John Bradshaw Layfield was doing to the little leprechaun a few years ago but someone is still beating up the little guy.

There was the whole Santino/Santina storyline and Shawn Michaels Superkicking a little girl (as annoying as she was). These are just two other examples of the hypocrisy of this whole family-friendly approach.

Listen, I’m all for trying something new and getting new fans, but how about sticking to your guns? If you say it’s PG, make it PG. I’ve watched many PG shows on television and in theaters that have been more entertaining and logical than what the WWE gives us. Let’s get it together guys. You have it in you to make this thing work since you won't be dropping it anytime soon.

Hornswoggle

Originally posted on HitTheRopes.com.

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Survivor Series Gets Makeover, HvH Round 2 (Humor)

Shane H. — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:29:45 -0400

Now that No Way Out has gone the way of Cyber Sunday, Armageddon, and No Mercy, the WWE has turned its attention to the second-oldest Pay Per View in its stable, Survivor Series. The Survivor Series is out the window and in steps the ultimate Pay Per View—Gimmick Survival. Yes, the WWE has decided to just be blunt with their message. They are going to shove the gimmicks and stipulations down our throat. The WWE wants to make this brand-new event a memorable one so they are pulling out all the stops. No cost is too high as legends will make their return, someway, somehow.

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Alicia Fox: WWE Diva Getting Her Time to Shine at Hell in a Cell

Shane H. — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:16:03 -0400

She isn’t a second or third-generation star. Currently she is not on that level as let’s say a Trish Stratus, Lita, or Gail Kim, but she is starting to turn heads through her grit and determination to improve.

She has her first major title shot this Sunday at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. I am, of course, speaking of one of my favorite woman wrestlers currently, Alicia Fox.

Fox, born Victoria Crawford, is a Florida native. The Tampa resident is set to square off against Divas Champion Mickie James at the inaugural Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

This is major for Fox, as she will have her first one-on-one match on a pay-per-view, and it will be against a veteran in James for championship gold.

We are rarely treated to a women’s wrestling match on WWE pay-per-views as of late, and for an up-and-coming star like Fox, this can only mean bigger things will follow.

Before coming to the WWE, Fox was a model for KindIndustries.com, the same company who once employed WWE Diva Kelly Kelly.

She was given a developmental deal and sent to OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) in 2006. Her debut with the company was in July, but she didn’t have her first wrestling match until September of that year.

Within a month she, known as Tori, would win the OVW Women’s Championship off Beth Phoenix. Her reign would be of Kane-like proportions as Phoenix would regain the strap the following day in an eight-woman elimination match.

The OVW records won’t show this, as Fox’s reign was never officially recognized.

After OVW and WWE cut ties, Fox and several other talents were shipped to FCW (Florida Championship Wrestling).

She would get her shot at the main stage in the summer of 2008, when she came to SmackDown! as the wedding planner for Edge and Vickie Guerrero.

Edge and Fox were having an affair, evident by a video shown by Triple H during an episode of SmackDown!. After that angle ended, Fox would disappear from television for a while but reappear on ECW as the valet for DJ Gabriel.

It wasn’t until the supplemental draft in April of 2009 that Fox really began getting traction. First, she began coming out with Michelle McCool while back on SmackDown!.

She was standing in McCool’s corner back at The Bash pay-per-view when McCool became the first woman to hold the Divas and Women’s Championship.

Working with McCool allowed us to see the confidence build within Fox, as well as improve in the ring.

Fox seems to be capable of selling moves very well. Seeing her take some bumps has been enjoyable to me. Watch a few of those tag matches she has been in.

For the most part, Fox is the one on her team taking the opponent’s attacks. That speaks volumes about her improvement.

Thanks to Donald Trump, Fox was moved yet again, this time to the flagship show, RAW. On Monday nights, Fox would bide her time.

Although her favorite color is blue, Fox has been extremely successful as of late on the red show.

Procuring two pinfall victories over the Divas Champ James, as well as defeating Gail Kim to become No.1 contender, helped to set the stage for the Hell in a Cell encounter.

With a dangerous axe kick, Fox Trot, in her arsenal, can she out-“fox” James to win the title? The odds are against her, but I am quite content with the fact that she is getting the shot.

Maryse wasn’t the very smooth in the ring when she first began wrestling but she improved enough to get a run with the Divas Championship.

The same seems to be in store for Ms. Crawford. Hopefully, this matchup will be a good outing, so we can continue to see the rise of Alicia Fox.

Credit: Wikipedia, Alicia-Fox.net, and Ultra-Fox.com

Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW and WR for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Ben Roethlisberger Hopes to Tackle Viewers for the WWE, Hosting Monday Night RAW

Shane H. — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:43:46 -0400

Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback in NFL history, will be standing behind center in a much different atmosphere this coming Monday.

Sunday night, Roethlisberger will lead his Pittsburgh Steelers against the San Diego Chargers. The next night, he will be guest hosting Monday Night RAW, the flagship show for the WWE. Yes, WWE, as in wrestling, as in the company owned by the guy who created the XFL, Vince McMahon.

We've seen numerous NFL players sit at ringside at wrestling events have there have been those who have stepped in the ring. Lawrence Taylor and William "The Fridge" Perry anyone?

Since the announcement of Roethlisberger hosting duties became public, Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin has had to field questions about professional wrestling. Tomlin has yet to offer up a comment on the situation.

It seems that Roethlisberger did not ask the team permission to take part in the duty. Since it is the players' day off, they are allowed to do what they want.

Rothleisberger had this to say about talking to Coach Tomlin about the appearance:

"It’s our off day. I talked to him about it, but I didn’t really ask for permission. I kind of went and talked to him and got a feel for if he was going to have a big problem with it. I figured he would tell me. But like I said, it’s our off day. I want to let everyone know: I’m not coming off any top ropes or anything. People are freaking out that I’m going to be doing something. I’m not going to be doing anything crazy, so relax."

Roethlisberger doesn't seem to be coming alone either. Several hosts have gotten into the action in the ring, so Roethlisberger will have a few of his offensive linemen as possible backup.

For those in the know when it comes to wrestling, it might be a shame that the wrestler known as Ricky Ortiz is no longer with the company. I'm sure we would have seen Ortiz try to offer Big Ben a "Rally Towel" only for Roethlisberger to offer a Terrible Towel.

The guest hosts on RAW have the power to make matches between the WWE superstars. Celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, Jeremy Piven, Bob Barker, and Rev. Al Sharpton have all taken part in the hosting gig.

Why do I have the feeling that viewers are going to see some silly sort of quarterback challenge or scramble idea play out on screen?

Either way, after suffering a horrible Nielsen rating from last week's Sharpton-inspired show, the WWE is hoping that Big Ben can draw some NFL viewers. Monday features a huge Monday Night Football matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. This will be Favre's first trip back to Lambeau Field and will surely garner high interest.

What are your thoughts on Big Ben hosting? Do you feel it's a bad decision on his part to associate himself with the WWE in the middle of the season? Feel free to discuss your thoughts and don't forget to check out Hit the Ropes Radio this Sunday as we will provide a live updates of the WWE's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

Credit Scout.com for the quote

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here. HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This week we'll air last night's hilariously funny recorded interview with ROH's Prince Nana. Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

The Florida Marlins: Reflection on This Season and Looking Ahead

Shane H. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:29:54 -0400

The Florida Marlins won't be playing baseball after the first Sunday of October, but they shouldn't chalk this up to a loss season.

No one expected these youngsters to end up with a winning record but that is what they have done. This can be an 88-wins season for the fish, if they run the table.

Looking ahead, the team should continue to build on what they have accomplished this year.

What They Have: Great One-Two Punch

Josh Johnson leads the team with 15 wins, 186 strikeouts, and a 3.08 ERA. He is the team's ace and rightfully so. Johnson was able to procure his first All-Star selection this year and this is after coming off Tommy John surgery only two years ago.

Following Johnson is the 12-game winner Ricky Nolasco. This wasn't Nolasco's best season (2008 was) but there is no denying that Nolasco was the best pitcher on the team not named Johnson. Nolasco was able to rebound after being sent down to the minors earlier this season.

What They Need: Other Arms

Adding on to these two individuals is key for the team's success. The Marlins have had the propensity of having to patch up the rest of the rotation after the top guys. This year was no different as seven different men started 10 games or more this season.

Will Andrew Miller ever give us what we think he can?

Is Anibal Sanchez able to go back to his 2006 form?

Can Chris Volstad keep the team in the game with his pitching?

In the bullpen, Matt Lindstrom and Leo Nunez served as the primary closers this season. Both are men who can hurl the ball right by you before you blink. Unfortunately, you need more than heat to succeed as a pitcher in the majors. Thus far, they have a 5.89 and 4.23 ERA, respectively. That is not enticing as the team's final hurler.

The rest of the 'pen wasn't much better at bestowing confidence. The 'pen wasn't at its strongest this season. Far too many leads were blown in the later innings after the starters hand things over.

Part of this was due to so many injuries besetting the top guys in middle relief. Youngsters would be called up from the minors to fill in. The experience is great for the kids, but it can be detrimental when it comes down to critical games.

What They Have: The best hitter not named Pujols

Heard of Hanley Ramirez? If you haven't, where have you been? He only leads the NL in batting average (.341), a full 0.15 points ahead of second place. Hanley tops the Marlins in batting average, RBI (105), tied in doubles (41), stolen bases (26), on-base percentage (.457), slugging (.546), and on-base plus slugging (.970). He's left the yard 24 times so far this season. On the defensive side, he has improved tremendously.

The 2006 NL Rookie of the Year was voted to his second All-Star berth this season. He has embraced the fact that he is the star of the team and is playing, for the most part, accordingly. He is a five-tool player and will continue to be the man who makes the offense run.

What They Need: Dan Uggla to be Consistent

Uggla is a power guy. He knows that, the fans know that, and the other teams know that. Uggla leads the team in home runs this season but he's also hitting around .250 for the season. Uggla isn't the greatest defender either. Anybody remember the 2008 All-Star game?

Uggla needs to show growth or it may be time for the Rule V draft pick to be moved.

What They Have: Chris Coghlan

This year's potential NL Rookie of the Year has been the hottest player in the majors post-All Star Game. He has hit over .360 since the game. Coghlan leads all NL rookies in hits, runs, total bases, and on-base percentage.

He currently boasts a .319 batting average and may finish the season as the first ever Marlins' rookie with a .300 average. The young outfielder should have played himself into an everyday position come 2010.

What They Need: Bonifacio to Improve

At the beginning of the season, Emilio Bonifacio was the toast of the town. The speedster was hitting everything thrown at him. Then the opposing pitchers caught on and Bonifacio couldn't hit the side of a barn.

With his speed, Bonifacio is made to be a lead-off hitter. But, as a lead-off man, he needs to be able to do more to get on base. The kid doesn't draw walks. Lead-off men need to get on base somehow. If Bonifacio doesn't hit the ball, you won't really see him reach first. He also needs to learn how to bunt. Small ball is a must-have when a team can't rely on power everyday.

What They Have: A Good Backstop

John Baker's second year (first full) was just as good as his first. Baker was the team's primary catcher and he fielded and hit well enough to continue that. He might not well-known now, but Baker's production on the diamond should raise some eyebrows.

What They Need: A Definite Outfield Plan

The fish have a plethora of outfielders: Jeremy Hermida, Coghlan, Cameron Maybin, Alejandro De Aza, Cody Ross, Ross Gload, and Alfredo Amezaga. Who are the starting three, is my question? And are these men truly the men we are going to continue to go with?

Outside of Coghlan, every other player is essentially hit or miss. Maybin and De Aza show promise but we can only continue to hope that they deliver.

What They Have: A Home

This season gave us the one thing that Marlins fans have been wishing for—a retractable roof stadium. Finally, the city commission agreed on the new ballpark, available in 2012. The rain delays and washed-out games will be a thing of the past. The new stadium will open up a load of opportunities for the team and for the city of Miami in general.

What They Need: Support

With the brand new home coming, the Marlins will still need fans to come out. Many complaints from fans on why they don't come out is due to the weather. It is either far too hot or because of the rain. With the retractable roof, those complaints will be moot. This team can't only have filled stadiums on Opening Day, when the Phillies, Mets, or Yankees come out, and when they make the playoffs.

Conclusion

Marlins and Marlins fans, let's be happy for what we accomplished this season and make 2010 even better than 2009.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here. HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 PM ET. This week's guests include UFC fighter Frank Trigg. Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

The Diary of WWE's Batista, Humor v. Humor Round 1

Shane H. — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:49:47 -0400

You think you know, but you have no idea. This is the true story of The Animal, Batista, and how he goes about his everyday activity. The Animal has granted us here at HTR TV the opportunity to follow him around and record his daily routine for his fans out there in the WWE Universe. Sit back, relax, because The Animal has been unleashed.

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Sting or Bret Hart in the WWE: Who Would Make a Bigger Impact?

Shane H. — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:23:16 -0400

The argument was spawned from a little rumor. On Hit the Ropes Radio, the hosts were discussing the impending retirement of TNA's Sting. They speculated on the significance of Sting's final Bound for Glory pay-per-view, next month.

The conversation then went to the recent revelation from The Wrestling Observer newsletter about Bret Hart possibly being contacted to return to the WWE.

So, what do these two men have to do with one another?

Other than the fact that they are two of the most famous men in the world of wrestling, they both have had their issues with the wrestling world's "Evil Empire," the WWE.

So who would create a bigger buzz if they signed a contract to work with the WWE? This is where the debate became passionate.

Sting

Sting had the opportunity to join the WWE in the past, but has spurned Vince McMahon due to the direction of his programming. When every other wrestler in WCW jumped ship to the WWE in the 1990s, Sting stayed loyal to Ted Turner's company.

When WCW was purchased by McMahon, Sting still didn't come over. He toured Australia for a while and joined TNA in 2003. He would win the championship on two occasions and has been the "The Icon" for Jeff Jarrett's company.

Sting's devotion to Christ, being a born-again Christian, leads many to believe that he might never step foot in a WWE ring. Despite all the potential classic encounters the fans can witness such as matches versus the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and Randy Orton, just to name a few.

The WWE's product has been toned down recently, as they are PG-rated, though I don't see how cross-dressing wrestlers or little girls getting kicked in the face is PG. The PG rating has allowed the WWE to attract new advertisers, so perhaps it can attract Sting.

One of the knocks on the WWE is its strenuous road schedule. Many wrestlers choose TNA because of this. Sting has enjoyed the easier schedule as he is able to spend more time with his family and to his faith.

Current legends like the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels aren't on the road as much as the younger talents in the WWE, so it is possible for Sting to obtain the same deal.

Just imagine, Sting versus 'Taker at WrestleMania 26.

Bret Hart

He is the "Excellence of Execution." The master of the Sharpshooter. The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be. He is the Hitman, Bret Hart.

For the early part of the 1990s, Hart was the man in the WWE. No other man wore pink as confidently as he did.

Whenever someone talks about the greatest wrestlers in history, his name is always at the top of the list. He might not be the most entertaining man when it came to ring work, but he was a master technician. He was also the man who was in the middle of one of the most famous incidents in wrestling lore.

The event: Survivor Series 1997. The place: Montreal, Canada. The opponent: Shawn Michaels. The outcome: a whole lot of pissed off Canadians and an even angrier Bret Hart.

The Montreal Screw Job became a polarizing issue. If you were a fan of Shawn Michaels', you hated Hart and loved the result of the match. If you were a fan of Hart's then it was the complete opposite. The WWE, and namely Michaels, can't return to our neighbor of the north without hearing the chant "You Screwed Bret."

The "job" was another brick in the road to one of the greatest eras in wrestling. Still, it was an incident that left a bad taste in many mouths. As great as Hart was, and still is, he will forever be attached to that Sunday in Montreal.

McMahon, Michaels, and referee Earl Hebner will always be attached to that Sunday.

Hart would head to WCW where he was misused and later had his career end earlier than expected after a kick from Goldberg.

It was a three years ago that Hart was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame. Obviously, the animosity has tapered off some, though I'm sure there is still distrust amongst several parties.

Of course, there is this fellow by the name of Shawn Michaels who still works for McMahon.

The WWE currently employs members of Hart's family, Natalya, Tyson Kidd, and David Hart Smith. The fact that those youngsters are in the WWE could make Hart's return an easier one. Whether he is in a managerial or GM capacity, fans would welcome Hart's return.

So, who would create a bigger impact if they were to come to the WWE? The man who was once the franchise of the WCW or the man who was "screwed" over by the WWE?

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here. HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. Be sure to join the Facebook group as well (click here). Also check out FOW for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Athletes and Celebrities: Stop Making These People into Role Models

Shane H. — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:31:02 -0400

For the past two days I was involved in a debate about the fine handed to Roger Federer for his antics at the U.S. Open. My stance was, and still is: he used foul language, so what?

Did he pull a Ron Artest? A Michael Vick? Dante Stallworth? Anything remotely similar?

Did he hurt anyone? No.

He simply had a mouth with which a man should not kiss his mother.

Is he the only person to display his or her "potty mouth" while the cameras were rolling? No.

The author of the Federer article, along with another reader, decided that I was naive because I claimed that athletes and other celebrities are too often placed upon a pedestal and idolized. I don't hero worship.

Charles Barkley has said and done a lot of stupid things in his life, but he did say something with which I agree: kids should not make athletes their role models.

Role models should be real people. Why idolize celluloid individuals or men and women you have never met in your life?

Role models should begin in the home, or be someone you know on a personal level.

I played sports throughout my life. Did I want to be like Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron, Parker Bohn III (yup, I bowled)? No.

I thought those men and countless others were wonderful players but I never framed my game after them. I never sat there and said, "Well, if Magic Johnson said this then I'm going to do it." I had my father, mother, uncles, aunts there to look up to.

One of the readers told me that he teaches young children (I'm assuming tennis) and one young girl asked why Federer used such bad words. Well, if that little girl had someone there watching with her, perhaps she would have already had her answer. The role model would be there to say that one shouldn't act that way.

These men and women who are constantly in the media spotlight are human like us. To err is to be human. Just because they are in the spotlight means they can't use a bad word? They can't call someone a jackass if they displayed "jackass-ery" behavior?

If you want to place these individuals up on a pedestal, don't get upset when they eventually topple over.

Unless you have never screwed up or said something stupid—then don't complain.

It's not as if Federer is a middle school student and decided to curse at his teacher. He's a grown man. He's a very competitive individual. If he was complacent and never displayed any emotion whatsoever, wouldn't you question that as well?

So, if you want to call me naive, ignorant, idiotic, by all means, do what you will. I know what I am, and that is thanks to the upbringing I had from real people.

TNA, to Succeed You Need to Start Airing Impact! Live

Shane H. — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:50:53 -0400

Total Nonstop Action is the second largest wrestling promotion in the United States. It was a company founded after the closing of WCW (World Championship Wrestling) in 2002 by Jerry and Jeff Jarrett. In the eight years of existence, the company has grown tremendously.

Starting off, the company would put on weekly pay-per-view shows, generally held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. By operating in one area, and not touring like other promotions, the company was keeping costs down.

In 2004, the company would get a deal with Fox Sports Net and TNA Impact! was started. After consistently scoring low ratings, TNA's one-year deal was not picked up by FSN and TNA was out in the cold.

They would air a webcast show until getting the deal with Spike TV in 2005. They would start off as an hour-long show airing late-night Saturdays. Eventually, they would move to Thursday nights.

Two years later, the company was able to make Impact! two hours. Another milestone would be met Oct. 23, 2008, when the company aired its first live Impact!, as well as its first Impact! outside of the Impact Zone.

Since the move to Thursday nights at 9 PM (ET) the show has averaged around 1.0 rating on the Nielsen scale. This isn't horrible, since it's on cable television, but it is less than a third of what WWE's RAW does on a weekly basis on the USA network.

While TNA possesses some amazing talent and innovative matches, they have not endeared themselves to the entire Internet wrestling community.

While the company asks fans to "Cross the Line" and see how they differ from the WWE, many cite that TNA still comes off as WWE-lite.

The company would employ many older wrestlers who were wildly popular with the WWE and WCW as a way to get more recognition. Consequently, many of TNA's younger, homegrown talents were pushed to the backburner, thus drawing the ire of fans.

Impact! shows were generally filled with segments and very little wrestling. This turned folks off as well.

Constant overbooked finishes to matches, didn't thrill followers either.

I, for one, was adamant about not crossing over and watching TNA on a weekly basis. Then something happened.

Some personal laundry got aired on a radio show, certain individuals took some time off or got fired, and the program began to improve. Younger guys were getting some time to shine and the booking of the show made sense.

So, why is it that the ratings have fallen in recent weeks?

It's as if when the show is good, no one tunes in, yet when it's a horrible show, the ratings are around the 1.2-1.3 mark.

The Sept. 10 airing of Impact! scored a 0.9 rating, while the Sept. 3 edition did a 1.0. TNA blamed the 1.0 rating on a DVR miscue, while the 9/10 show went up against the return of the NFL.

Listen, those excuses might be accepted by some but at this stage of the game, TNA shouldn't be keeping their fingers crossed in hopes of a 1.5 rating.

WWE Superstars, airing on Thursday nights at 8 PM (ET) on WGN America, a channel not offered to everyone, is fairly new and gets ratings hovering around the 1.0 mark.

Yes, part of the reason is because it is WWE-owned, but it is also a show that is simply a compilation of matches from the three brands.

TNA wants to keep costs down; that is understandable. The economy is rough right now and anytime you can save a buck, you take it.

But, in order for TNA to continue to rise, they need to make concessions. They need to go live or tweak their taping schedule.

What attracts wrestlers to TNA is the lighter schedule they offer in comparison to the WWE. TNA will tape Impact! shows at the Impact Zone in Orlando on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Unfortunately, it is not one show they are taping. TNA can tape up to three shows of Impact! over the two days. Don't believe me? Go back and watch several showings of TNA and you will be sure to see the same faces by ringside. (Hello, bearded guy wearing the Beer Money, Inc. shirt.)

WWE tapes Smackdown! on Tuesdays and air the show on Friday nights. Unlike, TNA though, the WWE for the most part only tapes one episode of Smackdown! a week, unless the company is heading overseas.

Taping so many weeks in advance allows for folks to be content with reading the spoilers and not having the need to tune into the Thursday show.

I'm sure that if TNA was to go live on a weekly basis that ratings would improve. This is not to say that ratings will double immediately, but perhaps they can get that 1.5 rating.

Perhaps they can get to that 2.0 rating that Smackdown! currently enjoys on the regular.

If not live, maybe TNA ought to try to revert to a taping schedule like Smackdown! does. Doing something like this would still allow spoilers but it wouldn't be as bad as what we currently have.

Changing the show's schedule would also prevent incidents like having matches involving Angelina Love still airing, two weeks after she was released from the company.

Fans who aren't privy to the situation might be shocked to see someone replacing Love at this weekend's PPV after just seeing her perform Thursday night.

I also remember that after Gail Kim returned to the WWE, a commercial of some sort aired during a TNA telecast that involved Kim.

Does this increase the money TNA has to put out? Yes. But I feel it is a necessary step in order for its future to be successful.

Having stagnant ratings means your viewership isn't growing. Plus, what is the point of pushing your youngsters if no one is going to see them reach the mountaintop?

TNA, keep booking the way you currently are, but please think about fine-tuning your Impact! schedule. I think it would be in your best interest.

Shane Howard is a member of Hit the Ropes Radio Show. You can check out the web site here. HTR Radio airs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. Also check out FOW for your wrestling news, as well as my work there.

Kanye West Interrupts the Sporting World

Shane H. — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:55:20 -0400

This entire week has been all about musician's Kanye West's outburst during Taylor Swift's unexpected acceptance speech at the MTV VMA's. Mr. West thought that Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video should have defeated Swift's "You Belong With Me." The segment became one of the most talked about moments in MTV history. Heck, President Obama even made his feelings felt on West and the incident. For those who missed it, head to YouTube. Anyway, I've decided to channel my egotistical, silly hairdo, paparazzi hating rapper and see how Kanye can interrupt several spots in sports history. **Shane Howard can be found on www.hittheropes.com. Listen to HTR every Wednesday at 6 PM (ET) on Blog Talk Radio.**

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Breaking News: Kurt Angle Sees Harassment, And Other Charges Dismissed

Shane H. — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:32:35 -0400

Flashback to last month's TNA Hard Justice Pay Per View and the Internet wrestling community was abuzz, because of the arrest and charges leveled against TNA champion Kurt Angle.

Many, including myself, thought that TNA would take the belt off the Olympic hero due to the ongoing investigations. I won't lie, I was all for Angle losing the belt as well.

Why?

Because I am tired of seeing mega stars run roughshod through their companies without any sort of consequences. Have him drop the belt at HJ and after the court hearings he can get back in the title hunt, if found innocent.

Well, TNA stuck by its man, and all charges have reportedly been dismissed.

Last month, Angle, 40, was arrested after his then-girlfriend Trenesha Biggers (TNA's Rhaka Khan), 26, filed a protection from abuse (PFA) order against the 1996 gold medalist. Police arrived at Angle's Moon Township home in Pittsburgh and removed him from his own residence.

If we remember back, Biggers claimed that Angle was stalking and harassing her by circling the parking lot in a plaza while Biggers took refuge in a Starbucks shop.

After being released on bond, Angle was quite emotional as he broke down several times while talking to reporters and radio personalities. Today was no different, as Angle grew emotional yet again. (Click here to see video of Angle after hearing.)

The judge dismissed the harassment charges, the driving with a suspended license charge, and with the drug possession charge from the two vials of HGH found in Angle's vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Biggers did not comment after the procedures.

Angle, though, spoke with the media afterward and had this to say:

"I'll just move on and close the door behind me and open the door in front of me and keep pushing forward, but it's been really hard.

For eight months, I've been trying to get out her out of my house. Thank God. This is the way it had to happen, but I'm just glad it has."

He also said: "I will continue to live my life by the law, as I've always done, and try to be a role model in this community, and that's all I've ever asked for."

Congratulations to Angle getting these issues cleared. There will be another hearing in October dealing with the PFA order and simple assault charge.

It seems, in this case, we truly are innocent until proven guilty. Hopefully, we won't have to see Angle in the news again once the hearings conclude next month.

Credit: ThePittsburghChannel.com for quotes and video.

Out of the Spotlight: Legends of Wrestling, First Edition

Shane H. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:17:07 -0400

Throughout history wrestling fans have been entertained by many individuals. The colorful characters who have laced up their boots for the fan's enjoyment are to be appreciated for the art they perform in the wrestling ring. Here I will look back at five individuals. Their mark on wrestling might differ but know that they left an impact, nonetheless. *Going forward, I will address the WWE as WWF, as the men I chronicle here worked with the company mainly when it still had the F in its name.

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