Bryan Danielson Conspiracy Theory

If the Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson firing is a work (and I believe it is) the WWE should get a standing ovation.

First, they sign arguably the best indy wrestler on the market, make him a focal point of their new show WWE NXT, have him participate in an invasion angle that finally brought some surprises to Raw and then fire him for being too violent on PG TV. But his firing to me came at a strange time.

The show was on Monday and Danielson wrestled at FCW on Wednesday. The standard "future endeavors" statement was posted on wwe.com late Friday evening. By Saturday morning, it was all the IWC could talk about. Coincidentally, TNA's Slammiversary VIII aired the same weekend. Dixie Carter even teased "suprises" for the ppv, (which turned out to be Tommy Dreamer and wasn't much of a surprise since everyone knew before the ppv). I don't think it's a coincidence that all this took place before the TNA ppv.

Another curious item...John Cena's twitter post praising Danielson and claiming he will sign a petition to have the WWE bring him back. These tweets started around 8:00pm, just prior to the start of Slammiversary VIII.

If I have been reading too much into all this and Danielson has been terminated for choking Justin Roberts, the ring announce, then I say shame on the WWE for not grasping a hold of social media and using it to their advantage. But if this is all the beginging of a great storyline I must tip my hat to them and hope for more of the same.

Has There Been An Improvement with TNA iMPACT! TV Ratings?

The June 3rd edition of TNA iMPACT! earned a 0.9 tv rating with 1.1 million viewers.

It seems to me that TNA hasn't improved their ratings even after hiring the Hogan/Bischoff team, hiring members of the WWE future endeavored club, trying to look like the WWE by getting rid of the six-sided ring, trying to compete with the WWE by moving iMPACT! to Monday nights and getting rid of or over-looking good talent like, Awesome Kong, Melissa Anderson, Christopher Daniels, Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money.

J.R. Comments on Future Raw Guest Host Plans

"Beats the hell out of me...I have no idea what WWE's future plans are for going forward with the Guest Host deal. Would it work better once a month and make the Guest Host really special? Perhaps. The deal is that I don't talk to the people who handle that business and we are both mutually pleased with that arrangement."

Mmmm...A dig at Stephanie? Maybe it's just me, but JR is really starting to sound bitter about not returning to a broadcast position with WWE.

Lillian Garcia Has A New Bodyguard

Lilian Garcia recently responded to Mick Foley coming to her defense in a blog for what he considered rude behavior on the part of Triple H during a recent WWE event. Click here for the story.

Garcia wrote:

"Mick Foley, this tweet's for you!! I really appreciate your kind words and the compassion you showed in your blog. Your care for my feelings proves what a loving, caring and wonderful human being you are. This is why I truly miss working with you. You are one of a kind!! Thank you, love you!!"

This story has really gotten blown out of proportion. Since when is Mick Foley ultra-sensitive to ribbing? And Lilian is so distraught, she waits until May 12th to comment on an incident that happened on April 19th? The "joke" wasn't even that funny. Get over it.

Mick Foley Believes Everything He Reads On The Internet

TNA star Mick Foley is calling out WWE superstar Triple H for his “shallow” and “mean” joke about Lilian Garcia’s appearance on RAW two weeks ago.

Garcia returned to WWE for one night to guest ring announce when the RAW crew was stranded in Europe. During the opening segment of the show, Triple H had a microphone and went over to her and said, “Even Lillian Garcia. If Lillian wants to come back here for night to the WWE just to horse around, she can do it.” After Triple H’s remarks, Jerry Lawler made a horse sound on commentary. Triple H’s “horsing around” comment reportedly a reference to a backstage joke about Lilian that her face resembles that of a horse.

Foley wrote on his MySpace.com blog that Triple H’s joke was the latest incident in a pattern of cruel on-air behavior from Vince McMahon’s son in law:

“Why does someone like Triple H, one of the most talented, well paid guys in the business, do something so shallow and mean? Why would a multi-millionaire, with millions of fans around the world, feel the need (several times over the years) to say something that is only meant to hurt? I don’t get it. I don’t get why it’s done, I don’t get why it’s condoned, I don’t get what possible satisfaction anyone involved gets from demeaning someone like Lillian Garcia. I just don’t get it.”

source: lordsofpain.net

I think this story is complete bullsh*t. Since when does Mick Foley believe miscellaneous wrestling stories on the internet?

Is TNA Imploding?

Looking at some of the headlines lately, one has to wonder if TNA is its own worst enemy:

They sign Jeff Hardy knowing that he has been indicted on drug charges. They sign Rob Van Dam, an admitted marijuana user. I'm not sure how these individuals will factor into any type of drug testing TNA may use.

Ric Flair is having serious financial problems including losing his NWA world title belt after pledging it as collateral to two different entities. His wife was arrested for domestic violence against him in February, and Ring of Honor is suing him for the return of $40,000 which represent monies paid in advance of appearances by Ric at there shows. Ric never made the appearances.

The loss of the six-sided ring, not promoting the X-Division and some of the real gems of the show. While I thought the ring was stupid, it is what made iMPACT! unique along with the X-Division. TNA should have being showing what is unique about them, not trying to be the WWE of the South. Losing Awesome Kong, Christopher Daniels, and Melissa Anderson doesn't help either. Misusing AJ Styles is a huge understatement.

Allowing Hulk Hogan to hire his old conies. I don't think The Nasty Boys or Bubba the Love Sponge had anything to offer and it gave less air time to the talent that deserved it. They have finally gotten rid of both, but BTLS has created quite controversy.

Constantly mentioning the WWE. It began with the Voodoo Kin Mafia (VKM-Vince McMahon's initials). The Voodoo Kin Mafia appeared in front of WWE headquarters in Stamford (which was a cheap imitation of DX invading WCW during the Monday Night Wars) and called out Triple H and Shawn Michaels but had to refer to them by their real names after being put on notice by WWE legal. Currently Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair have had matches involving potentially losing their WWE Hall of Fame rings. TNA never hesitates to refer to "that other company" or "the company up North" as though no one knows who thay are talking about. You will never hear TNA or references to it mentioned on WWE programming.

Hiring every WWE cast-off. Just because they are available doesn't mean they should work for you. Has anyone in TNA questioned what Rob Terry is on?

Hulk Hogan stated that when Dixie Carter approached him about coming to TNA, he told her he wanted "Vince McMahon" control. Now he says that he can't handle it. Let's see, he can't handle the corporate side and he has no business in the ring. So why is he there?

Bad press, bad ratings, reported low morale, top stars leaving. It seems that TNA should be taking care of home instead of trying to copy WWE.

Chyna and Scott Steiner: Two Peas in a Pod

Once again Chyna is in the news on a negative note. According to TMZ.com, Chyna has been accused of attacking a female friend in a hotel room. Whether this is true or not, one has to wonder why this woman cannot get her life together. If given the chance, she will blame the WWE and her break-up with Triple H for all her woes. Instead of seeking help - which she could get for no cost from the WWE - she would rather continue her Lindsey Lohan impressions.

I'm starting to think Scott Steiner has a thing for Triple H. The man cannot do an interview without mentioning him. Here is his latest "love tap":

“I told (WWE) to have Triple H pick me up in a limo, then we could go test (for steroids) together,” he says with a laugh. “They never asked again. I’ve never failed a drug test in my life."

Why does he always single out Triple H? According to Hunter, it is easier to get attention if your trash talk a current and relevant star.

Scott Steiner and Chyna seem to have the same problem. They are stuck in the past and don't know how to move on. Whatever wrongs you believe Triple H and/or the WWE may have done to you would have occurred years ago. Please get over yourselves.

Jim Ross: No Longer A Fit In WWE?

A few of the wrestling news sites are claiming that top WWE superstars such as Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker requested that JR call their match at WMXXVI and were upset that he wasn't given a bigger role. Ross even wrote in his blog that Vince McMahon didn't make any time for him during WrestleMania weekend.

JR is great on commentary and has shown his loyalty to the WWE, but isn't it time to move on? The IWC has been clamoring for "new blood" in the main events and the WWE has responded with WWE NXT and more changes to come with the upcoming draft. Why wouldn't they look to change announcers too.

I don't understand. Why the uproar? Companies change staff according to their needs. School systems will replace teachers and administrators if they are not performing up to par. Government officials can be voted out. But how dare the WWE replace JR! People seem to forget that JR wasn't taken off of TV. He had another Bells Palsy attack. JR has stated that he more than likely will not be "camera-ready" for the WWE.

Quite frankly I'm tired of the whining. I can understand having a great job and not wanting to give it up, but please stop whining. Personally , I thought JBL was great on commentary but I don't think they will be able to get him off the links.

The WWE may need to tweak the announcer line-up, just like they tweak their roster of wrestlers and divas. A fresh start can be a good thing.

Matt Hardy Aiming for a Top Spot...Is He Serious?

Matt Hardy says he's aiming for a top spot in WWE when The Undertaker and Triple H take time off this year. Hardy, who has gained a reputation for doing a lot of talking about wanting to be a main-eventer, told ESPN during WrestleMania weekend that he feels he's ready to seize an opportunity.

"There's going to be some time coming up where guys like The Undertaker and Triple H are going to need to take some time off, and there's going to be opportunities for guys like Matt Hardy and Christian to step up," Hardy told Jon Robinson of ESPN at THQ's annual WWE video game competition. "I'm really motivated and ready to rededicate myself, especially after overcoming such severe injuries."...More?

source: pwtorch.com

I'm not sure why Matt Hardy thinks he is in the caliber of The Undertaker or Triple H. A top spot might be available, but surely it isn't for him. He can't equate himself with Christian and keep a straight face. Now that Jeff is gone he should try to stay under the radar if he wants to keep his job. Did I mention I wasn't a Matt Hardy fan?

TNA iMPACT! Changing Monday Timeslot But Still Drops the Ball

TNA President Dixie Carter announced via her twitter account that TNA iMPACT is permanently moving to 8PM EST. iMPACT will remain 2 hours, but starting next week - the show will have a 1-hour lead-in to WWE RAW and will only go head-to-head with the first hour of RAW.

This week's iMPACT was a test run to see how the show would do starting an hour earlier and the ratings were enough to convince TNA that a permanent shift is a good move. Monday's iMPACT did a 0.85 rating, with the first unopposed hour drawing a 0.91 and the second hour, which went head-to-head with RAW, drew a 0.79.

Carter also announced on Twitter that SpikeTV will be adding a replay of iMPACT to its weekly schedule The replay will air Thursday nights at 9PM EST, iMPACT's old timeslot.

source: impactwrestling.com

So they finally realize that they can't compete with WWE, but why would I watch iMPACT! on Monday's when I can watch it on Thurdays? There is no incentive to make iMPACT! must-see-tv. Still droping the ball....

Hulk Hogan's Non-iMPACT! On TNA

March, 2010, is over, marking the first full month of the Monday 'head-to-head' war between WWE's Monday Night RAW and TNA's Impact. Turns out, Hulk Hogan isn't the savior TNA was hoping he'd be.

Here are the head-to-head ratings for the month of March:

March 8: RAW--3.4 Impact--1.0

March 15: RAW--3.7 Impact--.84

March 22: RAW--3.24 Impact--.86

March 29: RAW--3.7 Impact--.60

So what do these numbers mean? First, it shows that WWE has remained fairly steady. March 15 was a bump due to Steve Austin's hosting gig. March 22 bottomed out because Pete Rose was the host. March 29 spiked back up because of Shawn Michaels' retirement. Overall, 3.4 to 3.5 seems to be a steady area for RAW to hit, regardless of what TNA has on the other channel...More?

source: gather.com

Tara Feeling "Unappreciated"...Please Get Over It

Those of us in the "real world" understand that a former employer has no intention of discussing all the wonderful things their former employee did while with their company. They are not going to be in advertisements or given kudos in a board meeting. Your time there is over and both parties move on. I say all this because I don't understand why former Superstars or Divas with the WWE don't understand this.

On her Twitter account, Tara/Victoria expressed her displeasure with being left off WWE's "Top 25 Most Impactful Women" list. She wrote, "(It) doesn't surprise me. That's an example of my experience at WWE. Unappreciated." She then posted a link (http://twitpic.com/17xysr) to a graphic spoofing the list, ranking her at No. 26.

Please, all former WWE Superstars and Divas. Stop whining. Stop moaning. Get over it. The WWE is not going to splash you all over their website or list you in articles unless you left on very good terms and continue to have a good relationship with them. One example of this would be Trish Stratus. And why should they? Why would any company promote someone that has left the company (for whatever reason) and is working for the competition?

Tara/Victoria may have forgotten what the "real world" is like.

Scott Steiner is Now Trash Talking in a Bingo Hall Somewhere

Check out the video at 2:55. All that trash talking didn't workout too well for Scott. Someone is still at the top of their game and someone is now taking indy bookings. Nothing against indy wrestling. I love indy wrestling, but I'm just saying...

Take That Chyna

After Beth Phoenix became the second woman to enter the Royal Rumble, she made he following comments:

“Despite Chyna’s accomplishments in the Rumble, I eliminated The Great Khali. Seven-foot-three, 420 pounds. No small feat. I am WWE’s Glamazon. Chyna was WWE’s Ninth Wonder of the World … mostly called so because people wondered whether she was a man or a woman. I often wonder this, myself.”

Beth then posted on her Twitter account the she was "told I hurt Chyna's feelings with my comments. Oops!"

This situation made me think, here we go again. Chyna has found a reason to try and be relevant again. When I checked a popular Chyna fansite, A Living Wonder, I found the following posted by the ALW webmaster:

Despite published internet reports, Chyna's manager told me Chyna has made absolutely NO statements about Beth Phoenix and that she will not engage in insults with Beth or anyone in the WWE for that matter.

Really? Since when has she stopped talking trash about the WWE? Chyna has posted several disparaging remarks including referring to Triple H as a dickhead and claiming that Linda McMahon is "killing in the name of payroll" on her official website. When is she going to get over the break-up with Triple H? She isn't the only person in the world to get dumped. What is the problem? Let it go! It's been roughly nine years, a marriage, and two kids later!

What's the problem Chyna? Can't take a few hits? Stop being so negative and move on. Take that.

Hulk Hogan Doesn't Like "Girls"

Hulk Hogan compared the corporate environment of the WWE to the "let's just hang out" environment of TNA with the following:

"In WWE, you just become a name and a number and they push and push and it gets impersonal. We don't have families writing the show or brothers-in-law holding the titles."

And then made the following sexist comment:

"We don't have a girl writing the show telling us what to say."

Since a "girl" is the president of TNA, I'm surprised by his comment about Stephanie. It's o.k. that he is trying to build interest in TNA and take shots at the WWE, but I don't know how he can separate a "girl" running the WWE and a "girl" running TNA.

It reminds me of Brock Lesnar's comments at the conclusion of his last UFC fight. While I thought his promo was great, he insulted the sponsors and Dana White made him apologise at the press conference. It's never good to bite the hand that feeds you.

The Devil’s Advocate: When is it Time to Walk Away?

TNA 1st Hour Fail

Jeff Hardy, Sean Waltman, Scott Hall & Ric Flair debut. Tara loses title to ODB. I guess some other stuff happened. I'm not sure. I switched to Raw at 9:00pm.

TNA iMPACT! - Lost Before the Start

Mark Madden picks Raw over iMPACT!:

Not to be negative (ahem), but TNA’s Monday launch looks dead in the water for reasons that should be fairly obvious.

WWE has Bret Hart. One of the promotion’s legendary figures returns. Hart has been absent for over 12 years. He left under the worst possible terms. What will it be like when Vince McMahon and Hart face off for the first time since the Montreal Screwjob? THIS IS PERSONAL, KING!

OK, I’m sold. As for TNA…

Hogan will be there. That’s the extent of TNA’s promotion for the re-ignition of the Monday night wars.

I’m watching WWE...More?

source: wrestlezone.com

Indy Wrestling Spotlight

Indy Wrestlers that would like to be featured in the "Indy Spotlight" may send me a video of their work. It will be featured for one week. Please send it in an embeddable version, i.e. YouTube. Click here for the submission form.

Another Bush-League TNA Move

TNA had a street team at WWE's show in Orlando on Sunday night. The street team was promoting the January 4th iMPACT! special. WWE's security eventually ejected them from the venue.

source: 411mania.com

And they wonder why they are perceived as amateurs. Perception is reality.