Time For 'Mania

The more I try to be different... The more I'm just the same. Haha... It is time for Wrestlemania, and of course that means I, along with they other couple million internet wrestling know-it-alls, will be talking about "The Granddaddy of them All!"

As much as I am excited for Wrestlemania, I have to say... I think they needed one LESS week of promotion. Here we are 4 days and some hours away, and we still have an ECW and a Smackdown! to get through. What else is there? Last week, to me at least, really seemed to be a great last shows into 'Mania. This week, it seemed they needed material... When it came to the Main Events at least. But hey, usually WWE has it the other way, not enough time to properly promote the next PPV, which I'm sure will happen for Backlash.

So where to start...

JBL/Mysterio for the IC Belt: This has the potential to be a very good match. However the build up to it was sub-par. I think they were doing a good job with JBL going onto the net to promote his appearance at 'Mania. But I think this match was just thrown together. And thats what I think hurts it. But then again, why is this going to be such a memorable JBL appearance? As much as JBL is really past what he was a few years back while he was a World Champion... He still has the ablity to make some really awesome heel material. Rumors were/are he's retiring... But how is that memorable? If he was a face again, then it would be... But as a heel? I still think JBL/HBK at 'Mania would have made more sense too. So who will come out on top? This is a hard one, as it is expected that Rey is going back to Smackdown! So if he were to win do we get the IC Title on Smackdown! and the US Title on RAW? But that isn't so illogical, as the US Title has been more stable in the last year. Whoever the winner, I think this match will set the tone for the Draft and possibly Money In The Bank. What I am confident in saying is... I think this match will open the show. Both have opened 'Mania in the past, and I think this is a sure fire good opening bout.

Next...

I personally would put the Tag Match, but I have a feeling its gonna be Money In The Bank as the #2 Match.

Money In The Bank: This is another hard one. Personally... I'd like to see Punk win it again. But I doubt that will happen, as that right is reserved for Edge (Who only one it once techincally, but has had the "case" twice). I'm kind of scared of the quality of this match, as it has been the highlight of the last few 'Manias, but this time is has 2 big men. Now I personally think its fun to see ONE person out of their eliment in a match like this (Kane was awesome in the TLC on RAW a few years ago). But two? Although I was never really a R-Truth fan until recently... I think he would have been the better pick over Mark Henry. But I could be wrong, as Henry has grown on me. So winner? Henry out... No question about that. Punk... I think he's out for the reasons I said above. Finlay out... I don't see him as ever being the top guy, but the guy that grooms the next top guy. Kofi Kingston? That would be another surprise to me. They took him out of the Chamber before, so how much faith do they truly have in him? Plus, I think he could run with the IC or US Title for a bit. Who does that leave? Kane, MVP, Benjamin, and Christian. All are good candidates. But going by recent events, I would say MVP is probably poised for it. Personally I think they could have kept the streak going until he qualified for this and then won it. But either way, I think he's in the best spot right now. Benjamin is pretty much a perennial midcarder, as they've changed the wrapping so many times but he's essentially the same guy we first saw in Team Angle. Kane? Although it would be fun to really put their money behind him, I think he's kind of peaked at least in the powers-that-be's eyes. And Christian? If rumors are true... McMahon won't put the money behind him either. But then again... Why did he allow him to comeback? Maybe the Cap'n will make it Hap'n.

Next up...

Jericho vs. The Legends... Easy... No contest finish with the Legends looking good in the end. Whereelse can you go with this? Short of a match between Rourke and Jericho. And of course... Rourke will be involved. It just has to happen. I'm sure the only reason there was cold feet was because of the Oscars. Now that's over with, Rourke will play a part in the match. If he doesn't, I'll be disappointed. Another scenario... Hogan? Rumors were going around about him and 'Mania... Could it happen? Another thought... MORE LEGENDS. OR... Glass Shatters... Austin stuns Jericho. In any case, Jericho (the top heel) does the job and we get a fun match.

I'm going to say the Tag Match is up next...

Colons vs. Miz & Morrison... I think this is another easy one. Jake and I noticed probably about 6 months ago that Miz & Morrison are on EVERY WWE SHOW. And I don't think WWE even has noticed this yet. As much of a makeshift tag team this is... They seriously are the #1 Team out there right now, where as the Colons who have the potential are not in M&M's league. Plus, basing off of what I have written so far. All faces are going to win. A heel or two need to come out on top. And Miz & Morrison is exactly that, plus... They are the face of WWE practically. They are the ones doing the radio and TV shows, the charity events, and again they are on EVERY WWE SHOW EVERY WEEK!

The Hardys Face-off... I guess the third time is a charm... In this case its like the what... 3 billionth time?

(Side note... Watching ECW now... And Matt Striker as an announcer sucks. I heard a Big Pun and a Notorious BIG reference... I don't think he realizes they are two different people. Ugh... But I suppose he's better than me! He's there and I'm here. Back to the blog...)

They've tried and tried and finally got a halfway decent/believable Hardy Feud. And now, they are probably gonna have this as a one and one feud. So who comes out on top? I'm going to say Matt Hardy... As he needs this more than Jeff does. Jeff has always been seen as the "Shawn Michaels" while Matt is "Marty Jannetty." Even though, personally I think Matt has been better (until recent months as Jeff really has become a main eventer). Another scenario... Jeff wins and we get a Hardy Boyz vs. Miz & Morrison leading into the summer.

Next... Either World Title 3 Way or HBK/Taker...

I'm going with World Title 3 Way... Who wins though? I'm going to say Cena, as I believe HHH is dropping the belt to Orton. I think this match DIDN'T need Big Show, in fact I think the 3 Way Match at 'Mania went from being not done to being OVER done. Although now thinking, it may be Big Show winning with Orton winning later on. Giving us Cena/Orton and Show/Edge in the summer. Another scenario would be Cena winning and Orton losing leading to the same feuds. I guess either way, I've just cover both World Title matches but HHH/Orton Match will Main Event the entire PPV.

25 Diva Battle Royal... This will be before the Main Event. Who wins? Who knows? I think this won't lead to any angles. So I'm assuming we'll get some Santino Marella fun. And probably a Beth Pheonix win, positioning her as the top Diva in WWE today.

Last but not least... I probably the best story in WWE right now (As Orton/HHH didn't need this week's RAW and made it overkill last night). Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker... For me being an Undertaker mark... This is quite possibly the scariest match in regards to the streak. HBK could really be the guy to do it, as he "put down" Flair last year... Which I still think was dumb to a certain extent as they could have given the rub to a young star. I believe the same scenario is here. I think what makes this hard to call is the fact that Flair was known to be retiring, here Taker isn't... Rumored at times, but nothing close to be confirmed. And its my belief that the day Taker loses at 'Mania is the day he retires. So is it time? Looking at my Wrestling 101 book, no it isn't Taker's time. Michaels has been the one looking good every week. And usually that would say that Undertaker is winning. Plus, I believe if its going to end they are going to do it in style. And I believe there is too much going on for it to be the end... Random thought... JBL's History Making Moment Here?

Well there's my long winded predictions about Wrestlemania... Is there a NCAA-like pool to enter here? I feel fairly confident in my picks... Haha... In other news, visit my friend RC's site for Completely Damaged. He went from interviewing me to interviewing the guy I want to be, Joey Styles. Anyway, check it out http://www.myspace.com/completelydamaged.

If I don't blog before then... See you April 25th at PWU New Beginnings (ProWrestlingUnplugged.com)!

Stay classy,
Dan "The Phan"

Shook off the Rust

Well the whole point of this blog was supposed to be chronicling my life in pro wrestling. And well since I started the blog my chronicles have merely been behind my computer screen. Its amazing how time flies... I hadn't been behind the mic since September 20th! I went from announcing every single month sometimes more than that, to nothing! Although I haven't brought attention to that, I've missed it. I know I'm not in the ring so I don't really get that rush that some guys get... But damn I get a rush still. I probably will never step in the ring, but I still have that wrestling bug and announcing is the next best thing for me.

Did I make poor "political" decisions to get me in this hole? Possibly... Okay... Probably! Haha... This is probably why I should never run for a government position. Haha... But nevertheless, I've kept myself somewhat active in this crazy world so that I don't fade out and in hopes of getting my "chance" that may never come. Its my vice... What can I say?

Anyway... Finally, last week I made my "triumphant" return. I really wouldn't call it triumphant as I was cringing at my very very rusty play by play. But I made my return to WXW-C4. It was actually my first time working for the Anoa'i Family in about a year and a half. As I think about it... That was another bad "political" decision... Haha... Either way though, I've kept in touch with the people up there and was finally able to work another show last week. Going up I had a feeling I would encounter a ironic "job" as when I arrived I was told I would be working with Maven Bentley of CZW Fame. Haha... Obviously those who follow the internet reports like they are the bible would expect that the two of us threw down. And while that would be an enjoyable story to tell, nothing of the sort happened. Sorry. Actually it was really the first person outside of Jake Black that I felt that I was able to work with well. I've worked with others, but I've been told they didn't come off as well... But I feel that Maven and I, with some more broadcasts could work out pretty good. So although I was sub-par, I think the time off helped me break away from my "one trick pony" so to speak. Plus it was also nice to just shake off the rust and get back out there. And what was extremely awesome to see up there... They had a packed house, more people than the last time I was up. And on top of that it was a HOT crowd. After hearing and seeing so much negativity lately in the independent scene, it was a sight for sore eyes to see that. I think what was more interesting was... It was simple booking. It wasn't complicated. I was talking with my roomate earlier and we kind of agreed that entertainment in general tries to be too complicated. Too many swerves and nonsense like that, when really whats on fire now? UFC... And you know what? UFC has a simple formula... Two guys kicking the crap out of each other. That isn't to say you can't have swerves and whatnot... But keep it simple. Re-train the fans. WXW-C4 seemed to do that and I believe when they eventually try to break the mold and "challenge" the fans they will only get better.

I think I covered it all... Soon yours truly will rise once again a be "The God Of All Media" as I will be all over PWU and WXW-C4. So stay tuned... And more importantly...

Stay Classy,
Dan "The Phan"

Competition

Here I am again... Lately the creative juices have been flowin'. Which weren't flowing for awhile.

ANYWAY...

Over the last week or two the idea about competition in wrestling has been on my mind. It is no secret that I "left" Pro Wrestling Unuplugged for a brief time to join the new Velocity Pro. And its no secret that I "left" Velocity Pro to come back to PWU. Yes, there is a whole story behind it... But no I won't go into all that now.

However very recently it all started getting me thinking. Granted I am on the side of letting the workers work wherever they want and pretty much be booked however the promotion feels fit, within reason. I say within reason because... Well its not good for one company's champion to be booked for the "competition" and to not be booked to win. Hence why I totally agree with the decision to dismiss The S.A.T. from PWU... They were PWU TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS JOBBING IN CZW! Yeah I know... I contradicted myself. But it makes sense. Other wrestlers have worked both and some currently work both PWU and CZW or CZW and Chikara, or whatever. But very rarely to champions get "jobbed out." Now if its out of state say like PWG all the way out in Cali... Well then who cares?! But when its in the same market (in this case Philly) its a huge deal. Otherwise I don't really care who works where.

With that being said now... I do understand why other promoters are uncomfortable with people working competing companies within the same market. While I don't really like it... I understand it. And this is the thought that has been "haunting" me. Because it really gets me contradiction myself. Rewind to January 2007... The Philadelphia Wrestling scene was seemingly hot! Maybe not as hot as it was in the late-90s into early 2000s, but it was hot! I was still a young buck in the wrestling business and it was exciting. I'm sure if you go back in the posts on DOI you'll see the back and forth battle between PWU and CZW. At the time, talent was held closely by the management by either company. Very, very, very few worked both at the same time. And it made sense. It was almost a mini-WWE/WCW feud. I think a few of the workers benefitted from this "war" as I know some people were paid hefty just to stay with one company or another. And who won in all of this? The Philadelphia Wrestling Fans! All the message boards were on fire. People were choosing sides. It was great. Competition is a very good thing.

Now February, 2009... The war is more or less over. Maybe it will flare up again. Who knows? But now I sit here and go... Why? Why can't this person work here, etc.? Who cares?! Do I look at things this way because I'm not out there calling all the matches like I was back in 2006-2008? And at the same token... People are calling it all a "war" when there really isn't. We're in a terrible economy and no company is staying afloat easily. Here now I look at things like... Well I think a few of us should try to team up to keep going. Or do we try that competition thing again to get people into it. Because we all know, no one will go out to a show or buy into a product that doesn't satisfy us. We all do it. What are we to do?

It looks like the wrestling world has decided to keep competing with each other. So that's what the name of the game is. Some will be left behind, while others will strive. And honestly... Although I am a little worried about the not only the state of the wrestling world, but the economy... I remember that I'm a history teacher and remember that this was all experienced before and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So the thought of competition gives me hope that the wrestling world will survive and be stronger.

Stay classy...
Dan "The Phan" Cowhey

Jericho versus the World

That's right... Two blogs in very short period of time. And on top of that, I gave my blog an official home right here on Blogger.

Not many people, that I could tell, wrote about Chris Jericho's run in with some fans over the weekend. The news picked up on it and all. Funny, when he was trying to be mainstream, it didn't really work out. Now he's mainstream with very little effort, although that's probably proof that the WWE Machine works.

Anyway, if you didn't hear/see the news... Jericho was trying to leave a house show over the weekend and was mobbed by a group of fans. Long story short, he was blocked in the parking lot by a huge group of fans and was being harassed. One thing led to another and he was spat on and attacked. During the attack he hit a female fan, male fan, and a worthless security guard (or two or three). Just search for it YouTube and you'll find it. Actually Fox News did a piece on it for one of their legal shows. One lawyer sided with Jericho, while another sided with the fans.

I should start off by saying... I love the fans! I hope I personally have a fan or two out there, even if I've only been in the "spotlight" for 3 years. But even the fans can agree that there are some out there that "cross the line." For crying out loud, I'm from Philadelphia and I know every Philly fan out there will admit that we cross the line time to time. (Cheering at Michael Irving NECK injury) Personally I believed these people crossed a line. Granted, Jericho I'm sure played it up since he's heel and he seems to be a little more old school at heart. Hell, that's probably the best part about being heel. You can be a dick in "real life" and get away with it. But still, he's trying to leave. People circled his car and prevented that, and security just stood there picking their noses. Obviously Jericho isn't gonna run them down in his car. From the videos I saw, it really didn't look like he got out of the car to kick some ass. I'm sure he figured he'd get out, maybe sign a few autographs to appease the people and leave. But then he got harassed. Sure, he egged them on all night. But still did he take a swing at people during the show? No! So whether the guy is a jerk or not is besides the point. At that point, security should have stepped in and moved the mob. If it was a "real" sports star that would have happened. And a guy like Terrell Owens garners more heat than Jericho. So yeah... He was justified. And yeah... WWE is right by not punishing him. Hell... They probably liked it! Now he's more of a heel by hitting a fan or two and making it onto the news. And sure the news gives it a negative spin. Just look at the video, and from the fan accounts I saw, Jericho was pretty much justified.

If you read any biography of wrestlers that have worked the Old School or Mexico, you'll fully understand what Jericho did. To the best of my knowledge stuff like this doesn't happen anymore, except in Mexico. They are just a different breed of fan there. They get so wrapped up in wrestling that they take everything to heart. But back to the point... They are trained when they are heels for situations exactly like this. I think its Eddie Guerreros Biography that really explains this. They are pretty much told to grab the first person they see and just go nuts on them, and that prompts everyone to back off. Look at the video, Jericho does that. At the very end of the video when a couple people come at him, he gets his hands on one guy and takes him to the ground and lands a few shots. He lets go and just goes nuts at security. And look! The crowd backs away. And Jericho finally is able to leave.

Even if Jericho is somehow in the wrong. I really blame it on the security. They all pretty much allow the situation to escalate. They don't lift a figure until Jericho goes after someone.

And really I could go on about security but I don't really feel like it. Haha...

My verdict...
Jericho is innocent
(And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Jericho Mark!)

Stay classy,
Dan "The Phan" Cowhey