AS I SEE IT 7/16: Employee Assistance Plans, and one promotion trying SOMETHING

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

More this week on Employee Assistance Plans and about one promotion that at least tried to do something.

This letter from someone calling themselves "Seekers":

"Your most recent article raised a simple question: 'Would an Employee Assistance Program have saved the lives of Chris Benoit, Nancy Benoit, and Daniel Benoit?'

And while you stop short of saying yes, your implication is fairly clear: It certainly could have.

Before I take issue with that, let me state from the outset that I do firmly believe that the pro wrestling needs to clean up its act, and that an Employee Assistance Program is an important component of the benefits that should be offered by any large company, especially when employees are enduring the kinds of stress that pro wrestlers must endure. I will not defend any company that puts itself ahead of the welfare of its employees.

That said, I'm afraid you're wrong. In this case, I don't believe for a moment that an Employee Assistance Program would have helped at all, in terms of helping Chris Benoit keep his demons in check.

There is a significant mental barrier that must be overcome in taking that first step, making that first phone call I speak as the voice of experience, having used an EAP personally on a couple of different occasions. Picking up the phone and talking to a stranger, even a trained specialist whose job it is to say 'It's ok', it's hard. It's much harder than talking to a friend or family member about what's going on. And I'm prepared to go out on a limb and say that if everyone was as shocked as they claim to be about all this, then an EAP wouldn't have helped Benoit deal with his demons. When you're fighting with demons, your friends are the first to know. If he didn't tell anyone he was having a hard time, he wouldn't have called a stranger for help.

Benoit didn't suffer from a lack of resources here. Being able to pay for the services wouldn't have been a problem at his level. And being able to pay for discretion wouldn't have been any more of a problem. You could possibly make an argument that Benoit didn't know where to start in terms of getting Professional Help, but I don't think even that argument would hold much water. You don't go directly from 'I don't know who to call about this' to killing your family and yourself.

I believe that the problem is more cultural in nature, and it has to do with how we as men are perceived in this society. Chris Benoit didn't ask for help. Why not? By all accounts, and people would have gone to the wall to help him. What kept him from asking for help?

I'm inclined to think it's because even today, men are afraid to show signs of weakness. We're supposed to tough it out. That's what our dads did. You are applauded for being 'tough' and working through an injury, but looked at with raised eyebrows if you take 2 weeks off to fully recover from a sprain. If the stress starts to get to you, people say 'He can't handle it.'

The culture has certainly changed, but we're not there yet. There's going to have to be a continued shift in people's idea of what it means to be a man.

I could be wrong of course. We certainly agree on one thing. We'll never know."

Think it won't do any good? Let's at least TRY. Let's start with stopping even ONE death.

I'm well aware that wrestling has a macho culture. That's part of the problem. Wrestlers aren't going to change unless they're forced to...or permitted to...or both. I'm also well aware that companies, even though they offer such programs, seem to offer judgement on those who use mental health services.

But, wrestling, quite frankly, has no choice. Either professional wrestling will enact Employee Assistance Programs (or again... whatever other word, since we all know wrestlers...cough... aren't "employees"), ...or some similar type of programs for their talent; or states will take over drug and other testing for them and remove them from having any role in the process.

Well, at least one wrestling promotion made an attempt to make something positive happen out of the Benoit family tragedy.

At their Best of the Best 7 show this past Saturday night, CZW's Sabine Kernaghan, who processes CZW's ticket orders and works the front door, and who works in the helping professions in her non-wrestling job, came up with the idea of a leaflet in a response to the Benoit family tragedy, that said the following:

Combat Zone Wrestling cares about you. If you are wrestling with real life issues, please look for help.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE
Alcohol Referral Hotline (Idaho Careline), 1-800-ALCOHOL
Cocaine Hotline (Office of Substance Abuse Prevention) 1-800-CO
Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, and the NAFARE Alcohol, Drug, and Pregnancy Hotline.

And if all else fails, you can call on us at czwbeaners@aim.com

CZW's Maven Bentley and Zandig went along enthusiatically. Roger Artigiani of the ECW (New Alhambra) Arena wants to put the numbers up on the ECW (New Alhambra) Arenatrons as a public service as a public service.

Bitch all you want about CZW. Complain about their hardcore style. Complain about something else they've done in terms of promoting or matches they've run or whatever, but they did something post-Benoit that Vince McMahon hasn't done, Dixie Carter hasn't done, and any other promotion in America hasn't done to my knowledge...do something constructive to help someone with the kinds of problems that killed the Benoit family. They ought to be applauded.

Let promotions try SOMETHING...try ANYTHING. Not just face-saving policies that will last until the media and public look away again until the next high-profile death, but real, substantial policies that will help the workers who entertain us to live to something approaching old age.

Until next time...

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If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

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Funk's Corner - Professional Wrestling and Competition

Professional wrestling is a very competitive business. To get to the top and earn the "Big Money" is extremely competitive and can leave many disappointed. So will the movies, network news-casting, Broadway, the NFL, politics and writing editorials for the New York Times.

For those who make it to the top, professional wrestling can be very rewarding. Just ask Ric Flair, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, Gene Sniski, Mickie James and others on the top of their game.

Even American Idol and Miss America only have one winner.

We can act, dance, perform or wrestle for the love of the game, but should understand making it to the top is really a tough road to go. In professional wrestling making it to the top is achievable but only by demonstrating that you can be of value to the company you would like to work for.

Strangely enough, professional wrestling at the top of the game is a giving business. It is about what you can do for the company, not what the company will do for you.

Show me someone who can demonstrate that they can draw a buck in wrestling and I will show you someone that can earn a living in the wrestling business.

Many come into professional wrestling hoping to become World Champion. In the words of Jim Ross when he was Head of Talent Relations, "I am not looking for someone who wants to be world champion, Show me someone who wants to be a part of the WWE team and I will be interested."

It is not unusual at times to feel eaten by the system. I would guess most who read this column have felt eaten by the system at one time in their lives but the answer is to pick up the pieces, have faith and go on and fight.

You will find it really is true, "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game."

Life is beautiful but not easy. Don't Quit.

Our next !BANG! TV Taping is Sunday July 29th. For more information on tickets to the show and training information Call 352-895-4658 or visit www.dory-funk.com.

Dory Funk Jr.

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Funk's Corner - Chris Benoit, Who is at Fault?

Funk's Corner - Chris Benoit, Who is at Fault?

The events surrounding the demise of the Benoit Family have been a terrible and confusing odyssey for all who are a part of the wrestling business. One of the most beautiful women ever to step into the ring, Nancy Sullivan Benoit also known as Woman, Her son Daniel and Her Husband, Chris Benoit are gone.

Many question that Wrestling business itself may be at fault.
*********************
On an early misty cold morning on my Father's Flying Mare Ranch southwest of Amarillo, Texas with shotguns in hand and our limit of wild ducks, I stopped as we crossed the terrace that carried runoff water from his grass pasture to the pond just south of his house.

I said, "Dad, I would like to become a professional wrestler.

He told me two things, Dad said that professional wrestling would be great for my physical health. I could stay athletic, healthy and enjoy sports and a healthy life for a long time.

He also said it would take at least four years to even begin to learn what the wrestling business is about.
*******************
When I got my pilot's license, Eddie Graham who was an excellent pilot flew out to Texas in a single engine Cessna 210 just to offer some encouragement and instruction.

Eddie put me in the left seat (Pilot's Seat) and told me to take the aircraft up to altitude for maneuvers. Amarillo's Tradewind Airport is at 3600 feet so for maneuvers we went to 9000 feet.

When we leveled off Eddie had me slow to maneuvering speed, drop the landing gear and extend to full flaps then pull power and release the stick and take my feet off the rudder controls.

With no hands on the controls and no power the Cessna 210 just lazily continued to fly, leaning to the left, then to the right, nose up then down but still flying.

Eddie looked at me and said, "You see, Airplanes don't kill people.

Likewise, professional wrestling doesn't kill people.

Trucks and cars don't kill people and for that matter, you could make a case that drugs don't kill people.

It is the ignorant and unwise decisions and actions of people that kill people.
***************
My father's predictions have come true.

professional wrestling has been great for my physical health. I have been able to stay athletic, healthy and enjoy sports and a healthy life for a long time.

I am still learning every day more about the wrestling business.

I am grateful.

Dory Funk Jr. - Coach of the Funking Conservatory - www.dory-funk.com.

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AS I SEE IT 7/9: Would an Employee Assistance Program have saved the Benoits?

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

Would an WWE Employee
Assistance Program have saved the lives of Chris, Nancy, and Daniel Benoit?

It's not the first time that I've brought up this issue in AS I SEE IT. The
sad thing is the words below come from an AS I SEE IT column...on January
28, 2000. Obviously there is no more WCW and ECW as there was seven years
ago, but otherwise, the words ring as true as they did over seven years ago
and speak for themselves:

"It's time for WCW, the WWF, and ECW to make an effort to enact REAL drug
testing. NOW.

By that, I mean LEGITIMATE drug testing. I don't mean the farce that results
in stars being conveniently leaked times when testing will take place, but
REAL honest to God testing. I don't mean the farce that allows dirty tests
to be ignored if it will interfere with a major storyline and PPV main
event.

It's time to start a policy of universal random testing within wrestling
companies for the use of somas and other muscle relaxers, for painkillers,
for cocaine, for Nu-Bain and other narcotics; as well as for steroids and
other growth-enhancing substances...testing for the drugs being used by
wrestlers today on an all too frequent basis.

Somas are one of the most widely used drug by wrestlers, used both to
relieve physical pain from ringwork, as well as for "recreational"
purposes...

Firing or suspending someone so they won't 'die on my watch' (a phrase
uttered by Paul Heyman about Louie Spicolli, who wound up employed in
another major company shortly afterward, and died from a soma overdose
shortly after that) won't help one bit. It'll just cause a wrestler to deny
that he or she has a drug problem and more effort in concealing it than in
ENDING the drug problem; just to save their jobs. That policy will just
cause more wrestlers to die.

It is time for Time-Warner-Turner, WWF Entertainment, and ECW to enact an
Employee Assistance Program to allow for drug/alcohol counseling of workers
and office employees. Employee Assistance Programs are a common practice all
over corporate America. These programs involve making counseling services
available through a third-party who will not disclose the nature of the
counseling to the employer, but will provide services that may save a
life."

Would an Employee Assistance Program have saved the lives of Chris Benoit,
Nancy Benoit, and Daniel Benoit?

We don't know. None was ever enacted, even though such a program might have
the demons that took over Chris Benoit stopped from exploding, resulted in
the murder of his wife and son and his own suicide.

To explain, Employee Assistance Programs are commonplace in many major
American companies.

Employee Assistance Programs are part of the medical benefits offered by
major companies. Typically included are (at minimum) a certain number of
sessions without additional costs (beyond any premiums already being paid by
the employee) providing assistance with issues relating to mental health,
alcohol or drug abuse assessment, family issues, child or elder care, grief
counseling and legal or financial services, career planning and retirement

An employer contracts with an outside third party company (there are many)
to manage its Employee Assistance Program. As per the Federal HIPPA law,
participation in an program managed by an outside party is confidential.
This arrangement, as opposed to a self-administered program (which does
allow limited access to information by employers) is the only model that
would work for professional wrestling; because few if any wrestlers would
participate in a program that gave a promoter a chance to pull their push,
or evidence to terminate their services.

Forget the fact that we're talking about companies with some form of medical
benefits...which doesn;t exist for national wrestling touring companies. TNA
claimed to have some sort of program, but won't tell anyone what it consists
of, so fans have to assume it doesn't exist unless or until provided proof.

So....no Employee Assistance Program. What did happen after 2000? We all
know what happened.

Wrestlers kept dying.

Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy: July 16, 2001 (blood clot in the heart); Rhonda
Singh: August 2, 2001 (drug overdose); "Gentleman" Chris Adams: October 7,
2001 (shot to death); Alex (Big Dick Dudley) Rizzo: May 16, 2002 (kidney
failure); Davey Boy Smith: May 18, 2002 (heart attack); Curt Hennig:
February 10, 2003 (acute cocaine intoxication); Michael (Road Warrior Hawk)
Hegstrand, October 19, 2003 (heart attack); Mike (Crash Holly) Lockwood,
November 6, 2003 (drug overdose/suicide); Jerry (Malice/The Wall) Tuite
(December 6, 2003 (heart attack); Chris Candido, April 28, 2005 (blood
clot); Eddie Guerrero, November 13, 2005 (heart attack due to years of
drug/steroid use); Michael (Johnny Grunge) Durham, February 16, 2006 (drug
use and obesity); Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow, January 19, 2007 (drug use); Mike
"Awesome" Alfonso, February 17, 2007 (suicide); Sherri (Martel) Russell;
June 15, 2007 (cause unknown); Nancy "Woman" Benoit, June 25, 2007
(strangulation murder), and son Daniel (suffocation murder); Chris Benoit,
June 25, 2007 (suicide).

Drug use continued after Eddie Guerrero's death. While WWE instituted a
"Wellness Program" and a few mid-level workers, like Nick Dinsmore and Chris
Masters, were made examples of and suspended, and the names that were
"suspended", like Randy Orton were told to work without pay; little truly
changed.

In two notable cases, Randy Orton and Chris masters were openly ridiculed on
air for having smaller builds after presumably getting off, however
temporarily; whatever growth-enhancing drugs they'd been using.

Needless to say, the true message went out: do what you have to do to have
the build we want, just don't get caught. Anyone who thinks wrestlers look
like WWE and TNA wrestlers look naturally is out of their minds....even now.
The use of growth-enhancing substance goes on...with some wrestlers who make
enough money moving on to more expensive and undetectable growth-enhancing
substances like HGH, so WWE and TNA can maintain plausible deniability
regarding anyone failing the steroid component of a drug test.

WWE clearly won't do anything about this problem.

Until State Athletic Commissions step in and mandate truly independent and
truly random testing, or the DEA starts making unannounced visits at live
shows, TV tapings, and PPV events; nothing's going to change.

Before I get the inevitable WWE trolls, TNA is no better. It's been
suggested that TNA will happily take any of WWE's drug failures and
behavioral problems, as long as they have a name. The most notable recent
example is Kurt Angle, whose participation in the internet pharmacy ring,
including the use of equine steroids; is well-documented by Sports
Illustrated.

Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this
column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months.
These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads
are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main
newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT
column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by
e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not
necessarily of the website on which it appears).

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AS I SEE IT 7/2: 13 years

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

It seems surreal to be posting
this column again, as we're still in the middle of reeling from the Benoit
family tragedy....but here we are.

The song quoted below has an additional and poignant meaning in light of the
events of last week as well.

When I post this column each July 4th holiday, I remember how many years
it's been since the death of former WWF referee Joey Marella in an
automobile accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, while traveling to Newark,
NJ from a WWF show in Ocean City, MD.

But since that tragedy happened, so much has happened in our world and in
all of our lives since that day a decade ago. The world is a very different
place than it was in 1994, with terrorism and war now an everyday concern
for those of us in the United States, as well as the rest of our world. The
fruit of our country's youth is coming home in bodybags from Iraq and
Afghanistan on an almost daily basis. Terror is also being visited upon the
United Kingdom over the last 48 hours.

Nonetheless, the passing of one person and the need to remember it, still
stands out above and beyond things that we often can't understand or
control, like terrorists using the name of God as a justification for what
they do, or the actions of world powers toward other countries; or
inexplicable murders of an innocent child and a wife by a man we thought we
knew...and knew far less than we all thought.

One thing we can control, however, is to remember those who are and who were
important within our lives...or within our areas of personal interest, like
wrestling.

Thus, a remembrance of former WWF referee Joey Marella, who left this world
13 years ago on July 4th. I thought I'd again add last year's foreword from
Kathy Fitzpatrick, who is, as always, is mentioned in the article below. Her
remembrance from last year adds to the yearly AS I SEE IT I do remembering
Joey:

---------------------------------------------------------------


"On this 4th of July after the picnics and parades, I always do one thing
that I thought I wouldn't ever have to start a tradition of doing...going to
the cemetary to remember a dear friend, Joey Marella. Joey was taken away
from his friends and family way too soon, and this is the 12th anniversary
of his passing.

That fateful day will always stay with me no matter whatever may happen to
me. The reason it sticks with me is that I was one of the last people to see
Joey. it was after a WWE show in Ocean City, MD and I was staying with
friend in Baltimore. I am the person that Bob speaks about in the column
below that wanted Joey to stay with us. But Joey and Bruno Lauer had to go
to Newark to drop a car off and fly out.

I will always remember his last words to me... no, nothing mushy... just
"call me I go to the Phillipines on Friday" Well, that Friday was when Joey
was laid to rest in NJ. Joey was a great friend and will always have a
special place in my heart.

I just want to say that Joey was a very important person to me and so many
other friends and co-workers; and on this rememberance of his passing, I
just wanted to remember a friend by saying I love you Joey. My prayers are
always with your family...

Kathy Fitzpatrick"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Looking back on the memory of...
The dance we shared...
'neath the stars alone...
For a moment...
all the world was right...
How could I have known...
that you'd ever say goodbye...

Dance, (Garth Brooks and Tony Arata, 1989)

Every July 4th, most people remember the holiday for fireworks, barbecues,
and patriotic speeches. But some of us remember it each year for different
reasons.

I remember July 4, 1994, all too well. I was sitting down, eating lunch,
getting ready to watch an early round World Cup soccer game when the phone
rang...two friends, one of whom was a ECW referee; had left messages on my
phone within five minutes, but I didn't think anything of it.

Then the phone rang again. I finally picked it up, realizing something had
to be wrong. I heard the agonized voice of a friend over the line... I could
make out about every third word being said. Gradually, I pieced together the
news.

Joey Marella had been killed in an automobile accident while returning from
a WWF show in Ocean City, MD the previous evening. Joey had fallen asleep at
the wheel on the New Jersey Turnpike; and was involved in a one car accident
together with Bruno "Harvey Whippleman" Lauer. Joey wasn't wearing a seat
belt, and was killed, only miles from the Marella family home in
Willingboro, NJ.

Only hours before, my friend had been with Joey and friends after the
show...they'd tried to get him to crash with them up in Baltimore, but Joey
told them he had to get going, up to Newark Airport. The person was on the
phone going through horrible, but unnecessary, guilt for somehow not making
Joey come to Baltimore with them.

For many readers of this column who might not have been around back then,
Joey Marella was a WWF referee who worked many high-profile WWF matches
during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Joey's career highlights include PPV main events, such as the legendary
Hogan-Andre the Giant match at WrestleMania III from the Pontiac Silverdome
in March 1987, Ric Flair's first WWF title win at Royal Rumble 1992, Bret
Hart-Davey Boy Smith at Summer Slam 1992 from London's Wembley Stadium, and
Owen Hart-Razor Ramon in the final match at King of the Ring 1994 from
Baltimore. He also worked many high profile WWF TV events, including the NBC
and Fox Saturday Night Main Event shows, and the 1993 debut of Monday Night
RAW. Joey even made a brief appearance as himself in the Hulk Hogan movie
"No Holds Barred".

Aside from the ring, some readers may even know he was the adopted son of
Robert (Gorilla Monsoon) Marella. This led to a running inside joke on WWF
TV of Monsoon telling viewers how "horrible" that referee Joey Marella was,
each time Joey "missed" heel interference in a match.

But some of us knew another side to Joey.

Joey Marella was a "big brother" to many within the wrestling business,
particularly the World Wrestling Federation. He was always there with a
shoulder to lean on, or with time to listen to those who needed it. Joey was
loved by many, including a friend of mine who was quite close to him, who's
kept a special place in her heart for him to this day....the same friend of
mine I told you about earlier.

I knew Joey through this friend, so on that July 4th, the feelings weren't
from the death of someone distant. They were strong and deeply personal.
Joey's loss was felt deeply by many in and out of the World Wrestling
Federation. The loss is still felt deeply to this day.

As one example, WWF ring announcer Tony Chimel (the announcer on Smackdown
and house shows) named his newest son after his friend (and Godfather to his
other two children) Joey Marella. Some would argue young Joey Chimel is just
as mischievous as his namesake. One hopes he's half as good a person.

On this upcoming July 4th holiday, please keep a special place in your
thoughts for Joey Marella, who left this world at the age of 31. Keep also
in your thoughts those others who left wrestling far richer for having been
a part of it, yet poorer for having left the business and their loved ones
too soon, including Owen Hart, Rick (Renegade) Wilson, "Hot Stuff" Eddie
Gilbert, Art Barr, Brian Pillman, Louie Spicolli, Sylvester Ritter, Jay
Youngblood, Rick McGraw, David, Mike and Chris (Von Erich) Adkisson, and
Buzz Sawyer.

Finally, on this upcoming July 4th weekend, I'll repeat the motto I leave
you with frequently: Be sure to treasure those in your own lives... for we
are never promised tomorrow.

"And now, I'm glad I didn't know...
The way it all would end...
The way it all would go...
Our lives are better left to chance...
I could have missed the pain...
But I'd of had to miss the dance..."

------------------------------------------------------------------

There are far too many within wrestling that have left this world too soon,
just since that list above was first compiled in July 1999, by natural
causes after a long life...or due to the recreational and growth-enhancing
drugs and emotional turmoil so endemic to professional wrestling: Chris,
Nancy, and Daniel Benoit, Sherri Martel, Flash Barker, Cowboy Lang, Cocoa
Samoa, Bam Bam Bigelow, Bob Luce, Mike Awesome, Ray Stern, Badnews Brown,
Black Shadow, Ernie Ladd, Arnold Skaaland, Angel Azteca, Abe Coleman, Sonny
Myers, Sandy Barr, Elizabeth "Miss Elizabeth" Hulette, "Bruiser" Brian Cox,
Kodo Fuyuki,"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, Naoto Morishita, Yukon Braxton, "All
American" Jeff Peterson, Billy Travis, Davey Boy Smith, Shoichi Arai, Randy
"Pee Wee" Anderson, Dave Casanova, Jeff "Rattlesnake" Raitz, Russ Haas,
Rhonda Singh, Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, Masakazu Fukuda, Bobby Duncum Jr., Gary
Albright, Tony Rumble, Brian "Mark Curtis" Hildebrand, Jackie Sato, Alex
"Big Dick Dudley" Rizzo, Dave Casanova, Chris Adams, Mike Davis, Gary
Albright, Jumbo Tsuruta, Rick Rude, Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoai, and The Sheik.

There was Stu Hart, Road Warrior Hawk, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, Michael
"Crash Holly" Lockwood, Anthony "Pitbull #2" Durante, Hercules Hernandez,
Larry "Moondog Spot" Booker, Jerry "The Wall" Tuite, Mike Lozansky, Sandor
Kovacs, Buck Moore, Jack Tunney, Beetlejuice, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Dave
Levin, Dinty Parks, Danny Hawke, John Heath, Dano McDonald, Hercules
Hernandez, Power Mike, Texas Outlaw #1, Dr. Destruction, Stephan DeLeon,
Goliath, Rattlesnake Brooks, Pepper Gomez, Kurt Von Brauner, Malcolm Monroe,
Victor the Bodyguard, Pat O'Hara, Balk Estes, Sandor Kovacs, Billy Redwood,
Pat Roach, Gentleman Ken Timbs, J.W. Hawk, Dr. Wagner, Jim Barnett, Enrique
Llanes, Ray "Big Boss Man" Traylor, Chuck Molnar, Billy Spears, Jack
Donovan, Misterio de la Muerte, Xtreme, Samson Kutsuwada, Ray Villmer, Pez
Whatley, wrestling photographer Tony Lanza, Roger Mackay, George Culkin,
Chris Candido, Guy Brunetti, Spider, Ricky Romero, El Texano, Emory Hail,
Jackie Pallo, Johnny Grunge, Kay Noble, Sammy Steamboat, Bull Ramos, Prince
Pullins, Earthquake, and Crazy Luke Graham, Antonio Pena, Joey Maggs, Ill
Kim, Huracan Ramirez, Sputnik Monroe, Tiger Conway, The Spoiler, among many
others.

Back about 4 years ago, I received a kind letter from Joey's sister Valerie
regarding the version of this column that was published in 2002:

" I just happened to come across your article about Joey while I was at
work, and I wanted to thank you. You really seemed to know alot about him,
not just as a referee, because we both know he was so much more than that.

I am his younger sister, and in addition to Tony Chimel naming his son after
him, I had twin boys 2 years after he died; and named one Joey after him,
and named the other Gino after my father.

Thanks for making my day."

Hopefully...in an era when lives seem to mean a lot less, with daily deaths
in foreign lands reported on the evening news as if scores in some obscene
video game; we can remember Joey's passing in some manner similar to the way
his sister did...and to remember those important in our own lives.

Take a minute to say a prayer for or give a thought to them, as well as all
within wrestling who've left us too soon as you approach this holiday
weekend; and remember to see human beings, and not just anonymous performers
when you watch RAW, Smackdown, TNA, and syndicated TV shows...or your local
independent promotion...because some of those performers were and are
remarkable human beings.

Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this
column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months.
These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads
are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main
newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT
column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by
e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not
necessarily of the website on which it appears).

Continue Reading!

AS I SEE IT 6/27: The Benoit family tragedy

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

I am absolutely numb as I write this.

I'll never again be able to be puzzled at someone on my television who says about another of the all-too-frequent murders in neighboring Philadelphia..."How could they have done this? They were such a quiet person."

Because we now all have seen and/or know someone like that.

Chris Benoit.

As we have all gone through the seemingly endless lunatic newsreel of shock, sadness, then rage at the various revelations of the last 36 hours, here are the facts as they are known as of this writing.

The deaths of Chris Benoit, Nancy Benoit-Duas, and Daniel Benoit were ruled late Monday by local police to be the result of a double murder-suicide from within the home.

Numerous media and police reports have made clear that Chris Benoit murdered his wife Nancy sometime on late Friday/early Saturday by strangulation with an electrical cord, before taking his son Daniel's life by smothering him with a bag sometime late early Saturday, and finally his own by suicide on Sunday by hanging via a pulley/cord attached to his weight machine. Benoit’s body was found in a weight room, Nancy’s was found in the living room, and son Daniel was found in his bedroom.

The timeline of events as presented by WWE indicates that Benoit was initially scheduled to appear at the WWE SmackDown/ ECW house show on June 23 in Beaumont, TX. At 3:30 pm, an unnamed co-worker (believed to be Chavo Guerrero) received a voice message from Benoit. Benoit indicated that he had overslept, missed his flight and would be late to the show. The co-worker called Benoit back, Benoit confirmed everything he said in his voice message, sounding "tired and groggy". Benoit made a rather odd statement in context, saying “I love you”.

The co-worker, feeling something didn't sound quite right, called back Benoit...then got a call back by Benoit claiming he didn’t answer the call because he was on the phone with Delta changing his flight. Benoit excused his absence, claiming he had a real stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel being sick with food poisoning. All the while he was talking to this co-worker, Benoit still sounded "groggy".

An hour later, a co-worker who consistently travels with Benoit, called Benoit from outside Houston Airport with Benoit answering, saying that Nancy was throwing up blood and that Daniel was also throwing up, which Benoit attributed to food poisoning. Benoit then told the co-worker he had changed his flight and he would be arriving into Houston at 6:30 pm. Benoit told the co-worker to g ahead alone and drive to the WWE Beaumont show.

At 5:35 pm, Benoit called WWE Talent Relations again making the claim about his wife and son having food poisoning, but in this version stating that his son was throwing up and that he and Nancy were in the hospital with their son. Benoit said he would take a later flight into Houston, landing late, but would make the WWE live event in Beaumont. At 6:10 pm, Talent Relations called Benoit, who indicated he was leaving Atlanta at 9:20 pm Eastern time arriving into Houston at 9:24 pm Central time.

The representative from Talent Relations advised Benoit that it would be too late to make the WWE live event in Beaumont. Benoit apologized, citing a "family emergency". The Talent Relations representative suggested to Benoit to simply take the flight to Houston, rest up and be ready for the Vengeance Pay-Per-View event.

On Sunday, June 24, a number of text messages were sent to to the same two co-workers who'd spoken to Benoit the day before from the cell phones of Chris Benoit and Nancy Benoit:

A text message was sent from Benoit’s cell phone at 3:53 am saying "My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215". Ten minutes later, another text message was sent from Benoit’s cell phone "The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open".

Benoit repeated the first text message a minute later, then two minutes later from Nancy's cell phone saying "My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215", and a third message repeating this at at 3:58 am toa nother unnamed co-worker.

WWE then made several attempts to contact Benoit via phone and text messages, as well as, the local hospitals in the Atlanta area. As of 11:00 pm Sunday night there was no contact made with Benoit.

On Monday, June 25, at 12:30 pm, WWE was notified of text messages sent to the two co-workers. Fifteen minutes later, WWE contacted the Fayetteville County Sheriff’s office and requested them to go to Benoit’s residence

At 4:00 pm, WWE was notified by the Fayetteville County Sheriff’s office that they had; after some difficulty getting onto the Benoit property Monday afternoon, due to the German Shepherds walking around the property; entered the Benoit's house and found the bodies of Chris, Nancy, and Daniel Benoit; that they had secured the house as a “major crime scene”.

Those are the facts.

There has been wild speculation all over the media about "steroid rage", past domestic issues between Chris and Nancy Benoit, and wrestling as a whole.

> From all reasonable evidence, the Benoit family tragedy was not due to
solely a single episode of steroid rage, as the irresponsible media such as Nancy Grace and Bill O'Reilly have suggested.

It is possible that the tragedy was due to long-term effects of Benoit's steroid use, as there have been sources that have outlined changes in Benoit's personality within the last year, including episodes of paranoia. It is also possible that there was added strain in the family due to health issues with son Daniel who has both issues with limited growth, and a illness called Fragile X syndrome; which may have accentuated whatever issues Benoit had due to possible long-term steroid use.

None of those issues are excuses, nor even explanations for this inexcusable, inexplicable crime, but are merely evidence as a part of the whole.

I've had co-workers at the proprietary school at which I work (most of whom had no interest in wrestling, but were aware that I own PWBTS.com) asking me all day yesterday about this tragedy. I had and have few answers to give them then, or now.

The only things that are sure are these: the greatest wrestler of my lifetime, a wrestler who was my favorite is a murderer, and dead by his own hand. A wife and mother are dead. A child is dead. Many of us who were fans of Chris Benoit and believed they knew him feel stunned, shocked, and angry as what he's done.

We have to acknowledge Chris Benoit's far-reaching role as a wrestler (and I believe WWE is wrong in trying to erase Benoit's role altogether from their online pages)...but we don't ever have to give the man Chris Benoit a moment of tribute. He killed two innocent people and killed himself. God will judge him for that.

May God, if you believe in a God, give you some peace as a fan who feels as violated as I do. May that same God give peace to the souls of Nancy and Daniel Benoit.


Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not necessarily of the website on which it appears).

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Funk's Corner - Nancy Benoit Brought Class to Professional Wrestling

The events of the past three days have been a terrible and confusing odyssey for all who are a part of the wrestling business. One of the most beautiful women ever to step into the ring, Nancy Benoit also known as Woman, Her son Daniel and Her Husband, Chris Benoit are gone and will truly be missed.

Now on our website we have exclusive photos taken by Marti Funk that show just why Nancy was considered one of the most beautiful and exciting managers in wrestling.

Nancy brought class to professional wrestling.

May peace be with Nancy, Her son Daniel and Her husband, Chris Benoit

Dory Funk Jr. - www.dory-funk.com

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AS I SEE IT 6/25: Tastelessness, thy name is McMahon

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

What kind of utter crap was
that last Monday night? Even after the real-life death of Sherri Martel,
couldn't Vince McMahon have scaled back his macabre death fantasy and murder
mystery...even for a couple of nights?



Nope, we got it in turned up even louder. And of course, we had to have the
tearful Stephanie McMahon coming out and "honoring" her father to end RAW to
crowd boos.

And....if the 136 replays of Vince's car and the fake McMemorials weren't
enough, we have yet ANOTHER 3 hour McMassive Mock Memorial Service later
tonight.

They finally got around to mentioning Sherri Martel's death at 10:20 pm ET
last Monday, buried far enough inside the show that few even saw it. Was it
REALLY asking that much of WWE to give fans a weekend, or even a night, free
of this crap...and taken the time to give Sherri Martel's death a REAL
acknowledgement? Would it have been THAT hard to put Shawn Michaels on a
remote and ask him to say a few things about her? Or Flair? or any of the
many people Sherri's worked with?

What's even worse is the beginning of a murder mystery by "Federal
investigators"...at the same time that there an actual investigation into
Sherri Martel's death. While there are no toxicology reports as of this
writing, in news that seems to have largely fallen beneath the radar; a
bombshell was let loose last night by Dave Meltzer on his Wrestling Observer
Live radio show when he made the statement on his Wrestling Observer Live
radio show June 17 that Sherri Martel's death "was not a typical wrestler's
death," was "not a suicide" and "she did not die of natural causes."

You figure out what he meant, readers.

But Vince has to continue on with his murder mystery, even under those
circumstances.

WWE is now even going so far as to have an official "I did it" t-shirt on
WWE.com.

;>

Here's the text of the ad:

On June 11, 2007, the unimaginable occurred when Vincent Kennedy
McMahon's limo exploded as he left Rawʼs McMahon Appreciation Night leaving
the question: WHO DID IT? As we continue to mourn this sudden loss,
suspicions are arising.

Everyone knows Mr. McMahon had a multitude of enemies, maybe it was YOU!
Declare yourself the presumed killer by owning the I DID IT T-shirt today!
Black. 100% cotton. Screen-printed in the USA. Imported.

LOVEly...

Tastelessness, thy name is McMahon.

Some fans are also more than a little unhappy with this angle:

From Jen Powell:

"Ya know I was fine with the McMahon angle until 2 things happened. First
the bell being rung at ECW and Smackdown. I donʼt even care about the
WWE.com promoted it to a point but I will mention that. I have tuned in to
many times and cried tears listening to the bells ring. And to tune in and
hear them for a storyline is just messed up. That is when I knew they were
gonna mess this up and take it to far.

The second thing was Sherri's passing. Her death was second rate on WWE.com.
She was a great star and deserved more respect than that.

I respect the right of WWE to run a storyline.. stupid or not.. but damn
have some class. To me this is more tasteless than using a dead wrestler's
name to promote storylines."

From Duane Pischke :

"After watching Raw tonight, I just feel ill. I watched the tribute shows
when Owen and Eddie passed away, and they were honorable, emotional events.
To see Vince, in my humble opinion, bastardize them and any other wrestler's
death for this stupid storyline, is just wrong. Let alone they didn't have
the memorium pop up for Sherri Martel until 1020E. I guess you can't have it
at the start of the show, one has to have wrestlers in the ring doing the
'whodunnit' thing first. Instead of trying to show up the Sopranos, Vince
should've just got in the limo, and 'rode off into the sunset'...."

From "Jodie"

"I love reading your As I See It Column on PWBTS. I believe a lot what
you say about TNA. As I amwatching Raw right now, I noticed that they
haven't even MENTIONED Sherri Martel. Of course its only the beginning of
the show, but still, they are hyping up the 'death' of Mr. McMahon. As a
fan I am insulted that they actually think I am that stupid to not see that
it was a complete set up.

The only good thing that has happened with the WWE was the draft. Raw got
an awesome combination with the tag team of London and Kendrick. Those two
bring so much energy to any show that they work. Also with the Great Khali
going to Smackdown leads to another feud with Kane. Despite his non
existence ring skills, he does carry a presence that rivals that of The Big
Show in size. Also with Mr. Kennedy going to Raw is big. You love to hate
the guy but you respect him because of his great skills on the mic and in
the ring.

WWECW even has a chance to get better with the addition of an ECW Original
Chris Benoit, and Raw gets a better mix of challengers for the WWE
Championship with Lashley and Booker T (I really hope they get rid of that
King Booker crap because it is just insulting).

That is the only good thing going on right now. This crappy storyline is an
insult to wrestling fans and degrades the memories of fallen wrestling stars
who have passed away, especially the memories of Owen Hart and Eddie
Guerrero and now Sherri Martel, whom they STILL haven't acknowledged as
having passed away."

Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this
column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months.
These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads
are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main
newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT
column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by
e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not
necessarily of the website on which it appears).

Continue Reading!

Funk's Corner - In Depth Interview with Alex Marvez

Funk's Corner - In Depth Interview with Alex Marvez

From Alex Marvez - "Not only is he the second-longest reigning world champion in National Wrestling Alliance history (1969 to 1973), Dory Funk Jr. also
has helped train two other current title holders with similar status in World Wrestling Entertainment’s Adam “Edge” Copeland and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s
Kurt Angle. Funk, 65, is now trying to create a new generation of stars through his Funking Conservatory training school in Ocala, Fla."

In the interview conducted June 14, Funk talks about the Funk clan being featured on WWE’s new “Most Powerful Families in Wrestling” DVD as well as his
reflections upon 40-plus years in the wrestling business.

A copy of my Funk column through the Scripps-Howard News Service can be found at
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/24507
For more information on Funk and his Funking Conservatory, visit
www.dory-funk.com.

The transcript is posted at (
www.wrestlingobserver.com).
go to "Interviews."
*******
Alex Marvez's weekly pro wrestling column can be found in the Rocky Mountain News, Biloxi Sun-Herald, Abilene Reporter, Dothan Eagle, Boulder Daily Camera,
San Angelo Standard-Times, The Oklahoman, Wichita Falls Times Record News, Honolulu Star-Bulletin and other select newspapers and web sites that subscribe
to the Scripps-Howard News Service.

Continue Reading!

MMA would seem to have a new fan

Mark Purdy - San Jose Mercury News
I will reserve comment on the football portion of his piece for awhile longer.

Continue Reading!

New Dear Don Column

...here...

Yay, Don!

Continue Reading!

Funking Conservatory Press Release - Next !BANG! TV Taping Features TNA Wrestling's Jerry Lynn

Funking Conservatory Press Release - Next !BANG! TV Taping Features TNA Wrestling's Jerry Lynn

Support the Troops 17, "Red White Black and Blue" comes to the Funking Conservatory Sunday July 1st at 7:00pm in Ocala, Florida at 2200 NE 36th Avenue.

For the Tag Team Championship, Johnny Magnum will team with Jerry Lynn to take on the challenge of Elvis Sharp and Fylin' Ryan "Air" Mitchell with Sandii Skye.

In a Florida Heavyweight Championship Match, the new champion, Shane Chung with Dory Funk Jr. in his corner will defend against the challenge of Blain Rage with the Pop Tarts, Lady Kimberly and Miss Vicki in his corner..

For the Women's Tag Team Championship, the champions, The Pop Tarts, Lady Kimberly and Miss Vicki will defend against "The Claw," Claudia Reiff and England's Duchess Louise Henley.

Interviews (Webbies) are now on up our website for Support the Troops 17, "Red White Black and Blue."

More matches will be added to the card.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door and are available at Devon Self Storage in Ocala, Florida or online at www.dory-funk.com.

If you would like to become a professional wrestler and appear on !BANG! TV, call 352-895-4658 or visit our website, www.dory-funk.com.

Ask about our summer teenage program. At the Funking Conservatory we are coed and have a safety program.

Continue Reading!

AS I SEE IT 6/18: Death, real and imagined...

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

Leave it to Vince McMahon to think he's going to top a popular TV show...he pulls off a finish to the June 11 RAW that thumbed his nose at HBO and The Sopranos by giving fans the ending they didn't get with the Sopranos finale. He was "left" dead as the result of a car bombing.

Well, in storyline, anyway.

Since "Mister McMahon" lost his ECW title to Bobby Lashley, he's been exhibiting paranoid behavior. Even before that, he made a remark to son Shane that "something bad was going to happen to him", leading to the storyline that he was "overwhelmed by fear". At the end of the McMahon Appreciation Night, McMahon came out doing his paranoid shtick, looked around, and said "thank you" to the crowd in a weird sort of voice. He then slowly walked out through the back...looking at his locker room...as if he thought it might be for the last time...and went to his limousine.

At which point...a earth-shattering explosion, with lots of fire (just how much DID Zenith Pyrotechnology, the company used for the stunt, prime that car anyway?).

WWE.com then turned into an electronic version of the 1970s era Apter mags with such headlines as:

"MISTER MCMAHON PRESUMED DEAD"

"A morning of mourning for Mr. McMahon...WWE flag at half-staff"

"Federal officials search McMahon office"

"Lead Federal investigator to address media Thursday"."

OK...OK, we all enjoy some corny Apter-esque stuff. WWE thumbing its nose at the fiasco Sopranos non-ending was cool, too.

There was even a little self-parody going on, as in one of the more hilarious moments, a statement from WWE's Executive Vice President and General Counsel Ed Kaufman was sponsired by Ghost Rider (now all WWE tech experts need to do is to figure out how to make Vince's head to explode in flames at night...THAT would be something).

But, as happens all too often, WWE couldn't leave well enough alone.

In a "what the $#@k were they thinking moment", and in what has to be an lock as nominee for the most tasteless moment of the year in every Year-End vote this year, WWE actually did a ten bell salute for "the late Mister McMahon" complete with a memorial graphic (the same one as showed on WWECW last Tuesday night) on this week's Smackdown from Philadelphia.

To continue the disgraceful garbage, they did the ten-bell salute with the whole Smackdown roster coming out to "honor Mister McMahon" in the same way they did Owen Hart and Eddie Guerrero. If that wasn't enough, the televised version of Smackdown featured "remembrances" from WWE talent about the "late Mister McMahon". No wonder they didn't have the guts to show it to the live Philadelphia crowd.

Philadelphia proved its well-earned reputation as a no-bullshit wrestling city by booing the entire proceedings....LOUDLY. Live, they gave up on the actual ten-bell as when WWECW aired live (taped, of course, after Smackdown) the crowd was booing even louder than the first time.

The only thing that could top this for Most Tasteless Angle of 2007 was if WWE pulled something relating to a terrorism storyline to indetify the "culprits" of the "murder"; or continued to all but ignore the real death of Sherri Martel. WWE.com has already buried her very real death under multiple mentions of the soap opera including supposed "fan memorials to Mister McMahon" and "Federal investigators".

I know WWE can't edit 30 minutes out of a live to tape TV show 5 hours before it airs...but they could easily have cooled it for a day or two with all the "late Mister McMahon" crap on WWE.com, then started it up again after RAW and Smackdown next week. Even better, if they HAD to do the ten-bell "tribute", do it with an empty arena, and the ten bells sounding. If you're going to play up an old-style angle...go cheesy all the way, lay off the exploitive crap of bringing out the workers to "do a tribute", and accomplish precisely the same thing.

For WWE to ever have the respect of any thinking person or any fan...they had DAMNED well have a decent memorial tribute for Sherri Martel on tonight's RAW. If McMahon has any decency whatever, he goes on in a real taped segment, mentioning that while "Mister Mcmahon" was blown up in a car last week...and that storyline will resume in a minute, but right now the real Vince McMahon wants to talk about one of his valued superstars. He can then go back to his fairytale.

I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen, though.

As for Sherri herself, she was one fun, feisty lady who lived every day of her life to the fullest. God's got one helluva woman to handle right now, and I imagine the Marriott in Heaven is a pretty wild place as we speak. Lord knows she's buying a round for the boys right now.

> From Rocky Dominguez :

"This was the best Raw I have seen in a while. the draft was done well in deciding how picks were going to be made. Raw in my opinion had the best draft out of the three brands ECW came in second with Smackdown bringing up the rear. the selection of Chris Benoit gave ECW some much
needed credibility with the departure of RVD. The additions of King Booker and Mr. Kennedy to RAW really just give the brand more dominence than they already had. I also agree with Hunter's assessment that Smackdown's picks really gave it some much needed depth.

The only thing I didn't agree with was at the very end and the 'death' of Vince McMahon. After such a great Raw Why would you run such a stupid angle. Why not just continue with Vince being nuts that was bringing in ratings.

Wat the f*** was the purpose of that. I wonder how they will 'mourn' Vince's death, will they acknolwedge this angle on television next week even go so far as to run one of those 'In Memory Of' black background openings. The question now is how low will the WWE go with this angle? will they try to run it as a 'murder'. I just wonder how far and/or how low will the WWE go. "

This was sent to me before the fiasco last Tuesday night and the sad coincidence of Sherri Martel's passing. As it turned out, WWE did exactly what this fan feared they would.

> From California's Mark Deregla with thoughts on TNA, WWE, and PWG:

"I'd just like to write to say I respect your opinion and thoughts. I'm not writing to flame on you because I see everyone else does it. I read your article on Wrestleview.com and I get a kick out of reading how you see things going on in the world of wrestling, like ROH, PWG, and CZW, and the world of sports entertainment.

I'm from Los Angeles, California, and I know you frequent a lot of the Philadelphia shows like CZW and ROH when they run in Philly. Hopefully I run into you at the IWA-Mid South ECW Arena show on the 30th.

If I can add my 2 cents, tna is just horrible right now. I tune in when I get the chance, but its atrocious. Good for jay lethal and getting his character over, but come on, the man IS talented on his own, given he may need a manager because he isn't the greatest talker. There is no rhyme and/or reason to what is going on in tna. I do like the fact Jeff Jarrett is taking a 2nd fiddle type role to elevate the talent, but other than that, they have themselves stuck in quicksand.

WWE is good for what it is, but I just wish some of the talent would be prominently used more. This is nothing you haven't heard because I think you've said the same thing on prior articles. The one and only thing the wwe shouldn't be doing is the diva search. I mean I don't mind t-n-a, but there are many other women wrestlers that can do the exact same thing. Best example, shimmer wrestling. Some hot girls that can kick serious ass. Lacey, Rain, Sara Del Rey, mschif, and my personal fave, Cheerleader Melissa, but they're all awesome.

I'm fortunate to live in Los Angeles because of PWG. I think we were hit hard by mcmg not being able to perform in the tag tourny, but that night was still amazing. I wish WWE could take a page from this tourney to see how tag team wrestling should work instead of showing the Hardyz v. Cade/murdoch for the x time. Let them watch the Pac/Strong v. Dragon/Davey first round match, or the finals of the Briscoes v. Pac/Strong. Hell, even the Final Battle 2006 tag match between Kings of Wrestling /Briscoes was amazing live, and my friend and I were there for Homicide!

There was a PWG show last night, and it was amazing. Very light on the outside talent and very socal heavy. Danielson, Steen, Generico, and Richards in the 4 way for Generico's title was pretty sweet, given it was their final day of 3 straight days of wrestling! And Danielson was pretty much balls to the walls and held nothing back, except that he didn't get cattle mutilation or the mma elbows, but I'm not complaining. If they get the chance, the young bucks will be the deal in the future. How is it that a indy promotion has more common sense, to a certain degree, than the bigger national sport promotions? Just some food for thought.

Thanks for taking the time read this, if you get the chance. "

I'll be there on June 30....and will be over as usual on the concession stand side of the building. Hope to see you.

> From Adam Seguin:

" I've e-mailed you several times on the subject of your columns, and I've read your most recent one, and I had to agree, WWECW is and always was ruined, but there is something I'd like to point out, look at it, WWECW, recongnize something? It's a mix of WWE's 'Sports Entertainment', WWE's slaughtering of ECW, and a hidden view they share on WCW, if you observe the CW at the end of WWECW, you see it's a mesh of WWE's mix of WWE, ECW, and WCW.

WCW for example, consider the war they had with WWE and you can compare it to WWECW over happenings that happened then, and is happening now, like stars appearing on SmackDown and RAW on their show, you have Stable vs. Stable that basicly rule what small programming they have. And though this sounds like a very bad move, to some it may be a good move, what I think one of WWE's intentions is running on a minor station, so rating expectations aren't really that high, so they can ruin their show without giving a crap. Than it makes their shows like RAW and SmackDown seem like an action packed show enjoyable by any Je.

Realistic? No. Stupid? Incredibly. But these are the guys that are promoting Jackass when a fed did it before and wasn't a success.

To me, WWECW will always be the Doghouse, most people there are ones that couldn't be used well, or misbehave, and put in some good people so it doesn't look so obvious.

In fact, I see the only one there with major potentiel aka, CM Punk being drafted to RAW or SmackDown tonight. The only star that hasn't received the big prize in ECW that has the potentiel it seems. Also, I heard on NoDQ.com that the draft will make actual, and I mean the REAL ECW fans will be happy, well the only ones that would make them happy, and yet fit in are people in the dog house.

Not to say I hate WWE, I love it, SmackDown is an excellent show, and RAW is back on the rise after an entertainment hiatus, but ECW is the big toy that WWE bought, yet now it's collecting dust in their closet, and whenever they use it they just get it over with so it doesn't end up in a garage sale.

What's the incredible solution that can get rid of this ever growingly cancer? Rename it, WWE Tuesday Night whatever, just don't lie about making it ECW, because in no way does it relate to the real ECW.

On another subject, I see people are misunderstanding John Cena, all he needs to get rid of his rap gimmick (He still has a rap gimmick?) is bringing back old glory, aka the real WWE Championship. It's wierd, I don't see anyone decorating the Stanley Cup with a Spinner, or the Fifa Cup, why bring disgrace to a sport filled with pride? Back onto the subject, Cena simply needs for his gimmick to drift away, and one thing that has been needed 14 months ago, a finisher that looks strong, and not the submission known as the pain created by the screaming he does during the F-U. Bring back the Protoplex, or even a TKO, something that looks like it hurts, but other than that, he rules on the mic, his moveset has improved tremendously, I think we may see the day where people will accept Cena's Merchandise, instead of tossing it back."

> From the UK's Danny Campbell:

"I don't know about you, but HUSTLE shows are actually quite refreshing to me. We've had years of 'hardcore' and 'attitude' and now it seems as if we're in the 'bad storyline' era.

I love watching ECW matches. I love watching 'tournament of death' etc from CZW. Even wwe can be entertaining (rarely). I thoroughly enjoy watching Lance Storm pulling off rolling clutch boston crabs. Technical and hardcore styles are still amazing to watch, but i've seen it all now. You can only watch a table being smashed or a glass lighttube being smashed so many times.

That's why someone somewhere in america or britain needs to take HUSTLE and work on it, a really cartoony wrestling show could have lots of entertaining points about it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see the 'WWF' make a return with Papa Shango and crap like that. I definitely don't want TNA, ROH and CZW and all the rest of them to fold or change their products. I just think that having an alternative product based on cartoony characters and storylines would really be a valuable alternative. Maybe it would do us all good if there was a promotion that just offered fun."

There is such a promotion. It's called CHIKARA and its based in the Allentown-Philadelphia area.

If you can, take a look at their online TV show at their CHIKARA website. Then go to Smart Mark Video and buy their stuff. You'll enjoy it.

Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not necessarily of the website on which it appears).

Continue Reading!

Funk's Corner - New Florida Champion at the Funking Conservatory.

Funk's Corner - New Florida Champion at the Funking Conservatory.

Now on !BANG! TV, in a Funking Conservatory Florida Championship Match, Shane Chung defeated Johnny Magnum for the Funking Conservatory Florida Championship. In Shane Chung's corner was 5' 4, 120 pound Gail Kim. In Johnny Magnum's corner 6' 6" 315 pound Chris Carnage.

In the controversial finish, Gail Kim created havoc, first throwing a chair into the ring, creating a distraction and allowing Shane Chung to take out the 6' 6" Giant Carnage, then she performed her specialty, a flying dropkick from the top rope that cost Johnny Magnum the Florida Heavyweight Championship.

The complete match is now on !BANG! TV 24/7 at www.dory-funk.com.

Also new on !BANG! TV Blain Rage defends his !BANG! TV Championship. Blain Rage defeats Lance Alonte and Johnny Romano in a handicap match using a most unusual hurracana from the top rope causing his opponent Lance Alonte to do a Swanton Bomb on Johnny Romano and following up with a pin on both men at the same time.

The complete show, Support the Troops 16 including an appearance by Pat Patterson is now on !BANG! TV.

Last week at the Raw Taping in Tampa, Florida three Funking Conservatory wrestlers, Johnny Magnum, Blain Rage and Shane Chung had the privilege of working in the WWE ring with Jamie Noble in front of WWE Executives including The McMahon Family, John Laurinaitis, Triple H, Gerald Brisco, Pat Patterson and Barry Windham.

WWE has released their most recent DVD, "The Most Powerful Families in Professional Wrestling" including The McMahon's, Funk's, Brisco's, Orton's, Guerrero's, Windham's, Gagne's, Hart's, Vachon's, Maivia/Johnson's, Rougeau's, Graham's, Hennig's, Von Erich's and The Colon's.

If you would like to become a professional wrestler and appear on !BANG! TV Call 352-895-4658. If you are between the ages of 14 through 17, have your parents call and ask about our summer time teenage programs.

For more information on our pro-wrestling training schedules and programs you can also visit www.dory-funk.com.

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AS I SEE IT 6/11: A walk in the forest...

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

Seems we couldn't go more than two weeks without more visits to the e-mail forest. Here's an old troll from columns past, Roman Gibson. He quotes me in his troll rant, so I'll boldface what he's quoting me as saying, so you can read what he has to say (in regular italics)...if you want to.

Hey Magee,

I just had to respond again. You just lowered yourself in my opinion even more when you revealed that you’re a Democrat. That idiot reader of yours took shots at the Republican Party and Bush for no reason at all. Any way it figures you’d be with the wrong party. The Republican Party is the best party. Anyway I’ll respond to stuff you had to say concerning my last letter.

Nice to see we're arguing politics now. Sorry. I'll pass on your political discussion.

Yawn. Nice to see Ole Anderson has a pen name.

No, I'm not Ole, but I do respect him. Hey, he worked for WCW as well as NWA, and he stood up to Vince McMahon when everyone else sold out to him.

Actually, he's a bitter old man who discounts everything fans say. Reminds me of you in a lot of ways.

What's your point here? Would you tell a Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant reviewer that they have to be a winner of the Bocuse d'Or, or a New York Times reviewer that they have to own a restaurant rated among the top in Zagat's? Would you tell a Hollywood Reporter columnist that they have to have be an Academy Award director to offer an opinion on a movie? Would you tell a Consumer Reports reviewer that they have to be a line worker at General Motors (if there are any left in the US) to comment about cars?

My point is if you’re not qualified for the job, don’t tell people how to do it. If you’re not a doctor you can’t tell him how to do his job. Only the workers know how it’s like.

Guess you didn't read what I said above. Try reading it again. It's in English. Consumers DO know what works. You might want to go back and read the stories about the "New Coke" marketing debacle. The story of this marketint debacle is taught in every business school in America. Unlike some wrestling promotions, Coke did eventually listen to what their customers told them and went back to the original formula.

I agree that the new ECW sucks. I've said it before...than got whined at by WWE marks. But you haven't bothered to read those columns.

At least we agree on one thing. I think it’s even more idiotic how they have brand splits but you have Lashley and Umanga wrestling on both Raw and ECW. It makes no sense.

Yippee....he agrees with me on one thing. Must be an accident.

The real Jay Lethal works well enough for me...and did for the fans in Orlando before someone in TNA creative (isn't that an oxymoron?)

No…TNA Creative works hard and deserves credit and respect.

Bwahahahahahahahhahaaa....whoo hoo.....God, I just spit my coffee all over the computer with that one.

Credit for WHAT? Losing a boatload of money for the Carter family? Giving us masturbating midgets...or wrestlers dressed up like kids pretending to be wrestlers? Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal are talented as hell...I saw them a long time before you did, Gibson. They don't need this tripe from TNA creative to get over.

Let me say it slowly, so even TNA creative can read it: Just......let.....them.....wrestle.

TNA's come a long way? They've come from the Dupps and midgets masturbating in trash cans to Shark Boy pretending to be Stone Cold Steve Austin and Jay Lethal pretending to be Randy Savage.

The Jay Lethal thing is a storyline, it’s funny, get over it.

Ranks right up there with Sonjay Dutt pretending to be Mahatma Gandhi. Hee hee. Giggle giggle. The Spike TV ratings last week were down to .9, by the way. Wonder how this new Dutt gimmick is getting over in India where they've actually received a lot of foreign press coverage of TNA? Wanna bet there's no reference to it at all in India?

Losing millions is impressive? Then WCW was the most impressive wrestling promotion in history. Using your criteria, Paul Heyman was a better businessman than Paul Boesch. By the way, you do seem to have an unhealthy obsession with restaurants and my employment. I hear your favorite WCW executive, Jim Herd, was an executive at Pizza Hut.

Maybe that's it. I miss WCW and loved it. Jim Herd did his best. But Eric Bischoff was the best. Frey and Watts were good, too.

Anyway biased dirtsheets don’t give them any credit.

It wasn't just "biased dirtsheets" that show they lost a boatload of money. The WCW balance sheets did, too.

Anyone questioning Jim Ross's credentials over the years proves their stupidity. Oh, and he says Tony Schiavone deserved more credit. "Roman Gibson" want to spell Schiavone's name correctly, if he's going to invoke him as a great announcing talent.

Jim Ross was better in WCW. He sold out to WWF/E and turned sports entertainer. Tony Shiavone did a great job but guys like Meltzer and Keller disrespected him in their dirt sheets. Same thing with dumb WWE marks.

Even if he is burying TNA X-Division workers, I hear at least Kevin Nash is INTENTIONALLY funny.

He’s not burying anything. Nash is helping out.

He's helping himself by collecting a paycheck. He's not helping the X Division out or helping TNA as a whole.

This letter from Burt Hollobaugh ought to get lots of letters from my old school ECW Arena rats. Direct your heat toward him, not me, please.

"I despise ECW 'fans'. I mean the old ones, the 'real' ones. They are hypocrites of the biggest kind. John Cena "can't wrestle', yet RVD 'is the whole f'n show', and guys like Sandman are cheered immensely? I find that comical.

RVD is average at best. His offense looks like it wouldn't hurt a flea unless it's a big spot. He can't wrestle a real match. He's like a shittier version of Sonjay Dutt. The Sandman can wrestle about as good as a 50 year-old Hulk Hogan. He's pathetic. All he can do is hit you with weapons, take some punishment, bleed, and drink alcohol. The drop toe hold is about as technical the Sandman gets.

Cena may be no Chris Benoit, but his matches are way better than RVD or the Sandman's that I am 100% positive of."

I suppose it's worthless to point out that the previous two year's One Night Stands were (WW)"ECW" PPVs, as opposed to tri-branded ones. The hostile reaction from old school ECW fans started after the previous year's show was supposed to be an ECW show, and McMahon panicked when ticket sales lagged (probably because they were ridiculously over-priced). His reaction was to stuff WWE talent onto the show, which proceeded to piss off the old school ECW fans who came to see what they thought was an ECW show.

The next year, they were just as pissed...including the now-infamous "If Cena wins, we riot" banner. This produced the reaction you're talking about.

> From Joseph Shay:

"Having been a loyal fan of your column for a few years now and having been posted in your column a few times I really wanted to write again to express my disappointment with the world of televised professional wrestling today. I know that the WWE has had its low points in the past but even then it was still somewhat tolerable to watch. Now it’s pathetic and what it did to the once proud name of ECW is even more pathetic.

Then there is what could have been the white knight company of TNA which sadly is plagued with poor booking and even poorer business practices.

It seems to me that it’s too bad that ROH, IWA Mid-South, or CZW couldn't’t find a network to give them airtime. It’s a pity to me that independents can’t even find their way to local networks. I think it’s most a hardship for me as I live in Washington State and the last Indy promotion I recall ever seeing was Portland Wrestling towards the end of the 1980’s as the territory circuit was coming to its end. If anything I guess I will be contented, for now, with the DVD releases ROH and CZW put out when I can find them. In that respect thank God for Suncoast as they are the one chain in Washington that I can find those releases without going through the Internet and waiting on shipping.

So I guess until Vince gets his talent issues straightened out and get’s rid of his fear of ECW loyalists and until TNA figures out that their head booker is not the sharpest tool in the shed and that certain tactics bring in the fans better than others I’ll keep seeking out independent promotions when I can.

Problem is, TNA's trying to screw with independents like ROH, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, UWA Hardcore Wrestling in Ontario, Maryland Championship Wrestling and others with their insistence on being the 900 pound gorilla of independents, saying you can't use our talent if you puit them on DVDs sold through third party sites.

What TNA refuses to learn is that you can't force brand loyalty on professional wrestling fans. TNA's idea seems to be if you want to see them on DVD, you'll see them here or nowhere. Hey, TNA, ever hear of file-sharing websites? Fans that want to and have the sophistication to use file-sharing sites, legal or not, can and will get what they want from where they want and HOW they want to get it.

Eric Bracht said the following:

"I thought I would just say up front that I agree with you in terms the points you made about why WWECW never went back to the ECW Arena. That's exactly what happened. Also, I agree with you about who would have succeeded in the old ECW. However, the entire basis of your point is just wrong.

"This wasn't supposed to be ECW. It was supposed to be WWE with Extreme Rules. It was advertised as a RAW, SMACKDOWN!, ECW event. It just doesn't make any sense why you are just looking to seek out WWE and bash them in this case. I mean I somewhat understand, however, because you have to please the stereotypical smark out there by down talking WWE. Whatever makes those people and you happy I guess. "

WWECW One Night Stand was held the last two years as an (WW)ECW PPV (see above). This year McMahon took away any reason to have it under that name by making it a "tri-branded" PPV. As far as my columns "pleasing stereotypical smarks", I'm not writing what I write to please anyone except except myself, if that's what you mean. Just read my letters and you'll see that not everyone agrees with me.

"...Let me point out that these traditional ECW fans at One Night Stand last year were making chants of 'you can't wrestle' at John Cena and Randy Orton at the beginning of the matches and later did not make such chants because Cena and Orton impressed them with their wrestling. Hhmmm...it prompted such chants as 'you still suck!' at Cena saying that even though he's wrestling a good match, he still sucks... I enjoyed both the Angle/Orton match and the Cena/RVD match so much because those fans were shut up for a second, even though I do respect their passion a lot. I agree with you that Cena would have earned the ECW fans' respect in the old ECW."

I told you what I thought about Cena. Cena as a WWE-esque white rapper wanna-be sucked. Cena as a hard-working talent who acknowledged that not everyone liked him, AND who didn't whine like Batista won people's respect.

"Oh and about Orton, to respond to what the guy made a comment about behavioral issues. Doesn't anybody just get it? Damn! Let's see what we have here shall we?

* Curt Hennig
* A going nowhere at the time Matt Hardy(he's sweet NOW both on Raw and Smackdown!)
* Kid Kash
* Rhino/Rhyno
* Randy Orton

To quote a song, 'One of these things is not like the other'.

Hmmm... let's see oh yeah...Randy Orton because fans actually give a shit about him. He sells shirts, makes the company money Okay John W. Johnson, it would really make sense to release this guy for behavioral issues with a roster loaded with injuries and lack of depth (because they decided to do a brand extension five years ago). He is a main event level star who has great matches just like with RVD last night.

If that happened to Matt Hardy today he would probably get another chance because he is now a relatively big star having big matches that fans care about. It would hurt the company to punish him that severely. When Bradshaw and Brock Lesnar got into a fight on a plane in 2002...Bradshaw was reprimanded as Brock Lesnar was continually pushed.

Is it a double standard? Yeah, that's just the way it is. Sorry. It happens in sports too. Get over it. And hell yeah TNA would sign Orton. You're an idiot to think otherwise. They would sign RVD wouldn't they? And RVD is a guy who decided to ruin the greatest push by far in his career by getting caught smoking pot while driving. Almost makes me laugh thinking about it. Don't get me wrong I love Van Dam."

So stars can do whatever they want, and mid-card guys should get suspended or fired in a non-competitive entertainment enterprise? Great way to maintain discipline in your locker room. Ask anyone in WCW how well having blatant double standards worked. Oops, WCW's out of business.

Yes, I understand that HHH will never fail a drug test as long as he's married to Stephanie McMahon. I do live in the real world, but to so blatantly and openly say that there are two sets of rules would create a chaos-filled locker room.

As far as Van Dam and his pot bust, go back to my columns a year ago. Look back at what I said about Van Dam and what he did to himself and to the WWE a year ago. You'll see we agree.

What happens when Randy Orton isn;t just smoking his joint openly in an arena WWE is running that night? What if it were HIM in the pot bust? Wanna bet he gets suspended and GASP....even pulled from TV then?

> From Lonnie Walker:

"I agree with you. I'm glad they finally put the title back on a wrestler instead of Vince McMahon. I'm a little concerned that they told that guy he couldn't take photos at a wrestling event. I've been to a few wrestling shows and nobody every had a problem with still photos. They always had a problem with video cameras. That's wrong to have people all around this guy snapping pictures while he's prohibited from doing it. Especially when he's not profitting from those pictures.

I got a video called Monday night Wars yesterday. It was pretty informing when the subject came to Vince Russo. Eric stated that the powers that be in WCW intended Russo to take over after they let Eric go. They attempted this only to come back and ask Eric to come back and fix WCW because Vince screwed it up. I guess where I'm baffled at is trying to figure out how TNA thinks Vince is going to help them do anything but help them fail faster.

Another simularity between WCW and TNA seems to be they don't want to make new stars just keep pushing the same old ones down their fans throats. WCW has already proved that this strategy doesn't work so why go there? Don't get me wrong, I still like seeing some of the older wrestlers but jeeze when pay per view time rolls around and you have the same guys wrestling it shows no growth within the product. You can't sustain a fan base if you give them the same thing month in and month out.

I heard Gallagher tell a joke that reminds me of TNA. The joke was 'I'm coming out with a magazine for married men....every month same girl.' Honestly that approach won't work for a magazine or a wrestling promotion."

WCW insisted on using old WWF/E talent. TNA insists on using old WWE talent. Rather than develop its own talent...talent that IS very much there...it insists on falling back on old WWE talent...and killing all their value through inept booking. TNA's even managed to screw up Kurt Angle...and will screw up Rob Van Dam, IF they in fact sign him.

Until next time...

If you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year/$200 for six months. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

If you have comments or questions, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website or for advertising requests, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com.

(As always...this column represents the view of this writer and not necessarily of the website on which it appears).

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AS I SEE IT 6/5: Double de-caf ECW latte

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

So last night with WWECW One Night Stand we got ECW-lite....a sort of double de-caffienated ECW Caffè Latte with extra foam. Actually, it was a lot less like a one night stand, and more like a cluster...well, you know.

Yes, there were the advertised "Extreme Rules" matches...WWE's version of them, that is. But if you want real hardcore wrestling, go to one of Ian Rotten's IWA Mid-South Wrestling shows or go down to CZW's Tournament of Death next week. Last night, after all, was WWECW.

WWE wants the PPV buys from and the TV viewing by old-school ECW fans, but is afraid to get a real ECW reaction it can't control. So WWE calls its glorfied Velocity show ECW and populates it with talent that reminds no one except Vince and Stephanie McMahon of the real ECW. You can call a pig kosher, but I wouldn't advise serving it at the dinner after someone's Bar Mitzvah. The McMahon family apparently thinks otherwise.

The best case in point was last year's WWECW One Night Stand, which scared WWE away from running PPVs in traditional ECW locations, including the"You can't wrestle" chants at John Cena and Randy Orton, booing a non-finish in the Rey Misterio, Jr.- Sabu match, and booing Sandman not coming out to his traditional Metallica music; that it moved One Night Stand away from the successful location of the Manhattan Center and moved it to the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL.

WWE even moved a scheduled WWECW TV taping weeks later on July 4 from the ECW Arena to the Wachovia Center (with 10 days notice). WWE claimed they moved the taping because they weren't allowed by ECW Arena management to use pyro. More than a few others think they were afraid of the reaction they knew would result after they had to take the WWE and ECW belts off of Van Dam after his drug bust. They were right.

The already pissed off old school ECW fans then gave WWE a near-riot when they took the ECW belt off of Rob Van Dam with bottles and containers of beer hitting Paul Heyman and the Big Show in the head and the WWE camera operator with a direct hit in the camera lens that couldn't be cropped out of the live telecast.

The August 1, 2006 WWECW Sci-Fi Network taping was probably the last straw. More on that in a minute.

So with all this....let's look at the names from last night's show, and imagine them in the real ECW.

Melina and Candice Michelle in a pudding match...OK, that sort of fits the usual "throw two women into the ring and have them do nothing of socially redeeming value" traditional ECW match. Except Francine and Beulah McGillicutty took better bumps, and if I wanted silicone-inflated sexual fantasies, I'd have done the local strip bar just over the Walt Whitman Bridge.

The Great Khali? He makes 911 look like Karl Gotch. Cena? Some of my fellow ECW Arena rats might consider this sacrilege, but I think Cena might very well have made it. Why? Because he busts his ass, does what he's asked, and would eventually have won over ECW fans with getting crowd heat, AND takes it like a good sport.

Vince McMahon as WWECW Champion? Yeah, right. He doesn't get heel heat from real ECW fans. McMahon evidently thinks people will tune in and dish out PPV dollars to see Lashley chase him for the belt. Instead, McMahon gets "get the f$#@ off of my TV set" heat from ECW fans. Maybe lsat night's title change shows he finally recognized that, too.

Bobby Lashley, well....he's really big.

Edge? He'd have been a success in ECW. Imagine if Paul Heyman took those quasi-shoot promos up a notch.

Batista in ECW? Bwahahahahaha. This is the guy who threw a fit on the level of a third-grade girl when real ECW fans booed the shit out of him at the August 1, 2006 WWECW Sci-Fi taping, including vulgar chants and steroidschants, at which point on the telecast WWE killed the crowd sounds and jacked up Joey Styles to talk over the chants; likely ending any possibility of a WWECW TV show or PPV ever being held in a traditional ECW venue again.

Tommy Dreamer and Sandman? God bless 'em...they're pretty much just getting paychecks now to make up for the checks Paul Heyman bounced on them.

CM Punk? Paul Heyman could have made CM Punk a main event star on RAW if he'd been allowed to do it, instead of keeping Punk on the third-rate show that WWECW on Sci-Fi is.

Elijah Burke, Monty Brow...er, Marcus whatever his gimmick is...and Matt Striker. Best thing I can say here is that Monty Brown as Monty Brown might have gotten over in the real ECW.

Randy Orton? He's right there in the grand tradition of ECW doing things to get itself kicked out of hotels and general all-purpose self-destruction. Orton is tremendously talented. It's shame he can't keep away from the chemical substances and behavioral issues. Maybe Orton should ask Axl Rotten what drugs can do to a career.

The Hardys? Assuming Jeff could keep himself clean (then again, with ECW...maybe his old drug issues WOULD have had him fit right in), an ECW incarnation would have have been a success instead of the schizo act that Vince McMaoh wants to break up every other week Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas would have done well if allowed to be the athletes they are, instead of early show filler for house shows and TV.

Moving along to other promotional stupidity... the following letter was sent to me by Matt Roseboom. Matt took picture at the Orlando TNA tapings and distributed them free of charge, with nothing more than credit asked, as well as posting them to his blog, http://mattboom.smugmug.com. Matt Roseboom gave TNA free publicity it badly needs...and take a look at TNA's response:

"Unfortunately I don't have any pictures from this past Monday's TNA TV tapings.

Just before the show was to start, TNA official Bill Banks came up to me and said I couldn't take pictures anymore. I told him I was told it's OK before I started ever coming to the shows last summer. First he said he was going to be watching for other people taking pictures, and I told him that would be a lot of people. Then he said it was because I have a 'professional' camera (I have a Canon Digital Rebel.) 'You can't do that.' he said. So I told him that I've been e- mailing links to my pictures each time to Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter and haven't had anyone ask me to stop. Then he said it was Dixie that told him to tell me. Then he walked away.

I stayed for about half the show, then I had to leave. I couldn't stand being there any longer, watching everyone around me taking pictures and no one stopping them. There was even a lady down from me with a very long lens - much longer than mine.

I e-mailed Dixie Monday night to see what the true problem is and to see if we can work something out. I told her I'd be willing to hold my pictures until after the shows air or even give them all my photos to use however they wish in return for nothing more than photo credit. I haven't heard back from her.

I'll update all of you if there's anything to update. If any of you could do anything to help me get my privileges back, I'd appreciate it."

Alan Wojcik, who distributes results for TNA to a large number of websites had this problem some time ago. Several of the websites that receive his results also receive this column. including my own PWBTS.com. After that fact was made public by this column, someone who's no longer at TNA got him the go-ahead to continue doing what he had been doing...ALLOWING him to give them free publicity far in excess of what they had been generating themselves to that point.

Now if I were an independent wrestling company that has illusions of being number two to WWE ; if I were a company that has spent millions upon millions of dollars, yet still drew a 0.92 rating this past Friday night (among men 18-34 drawing an even worse 0.54 rating)...along with PPV buyrates two-tenths of WWE's; I would get on my knees in the middle of Times Square, and kiss the ass of everyone that wanted to help me get out the word about my company. I damned sure wouldn't be upsetting anyone like that to the point that they feel the need to write to wrestling websites like mine.

If you still care about TNA, send an e-mail to them and ask them why they're doing something so clearly self-defeating and non fan-friendly to someone whos was not making money off of them, but was running a fansite that was giving them free PR.

Even TNA's road shows that are supposed to replace the numerous independent bookings that TNA workers have had pulled from them aren't doing that well...with Dave Meltzer reporting slow sales for the upcoming San Juan, PR road show. The show is already only set up for only 7,000 seats (out of a 18,000 seat arena). This is a venue that WWE has filled with recent appearances.

The upcoming TNA Slamiversary PPV apparently isn't doing much better. TNAwrestlingnews.com reports "sluggish" sales for the Nashville PPV, owing to higher ticket prices than the Nashville market is used to paying, with ringside seats priced at $125.

> From John W. Johnson:

"I'm starting to shake my head not only at TNA (like usual) but now WWE. There are a couple of reasons why...

First, I agree with the whole discipline thing in WWE. Notice how in previous years, great talent was released because of behavior problems, even with only a single incident (Matt Hardy, Curt Hennig, Kid Kash, Rhino), yet you have a guy like Randy Orton who on more than one occasion has been involved in behavior issues still on the roster.

I can see why they want to keep him elevated, as he's a 'big name' that they don't want to see in TNA, but I don't think at this point, that TNA would even touch him with a ten foot pole. People seem to forget that he hasn't truly committed to anything in his adult life, including twice going AWOL from the US Marine Corps.

Secondly, I think that the Draft Lottery is always a good idea, as it gives the WWE an opportunity to shake up the undercard. But this much is going to be certain, John Cena, Shawn Michaels and Triple H will still be on RAW, The Undertaker, Batista, and the Cruiserweights will still be on Smackdown, and ECW will still look like an overglorified developmental territory.

Finally, I hope that the buyrates from the non-Big Four PPVs show the WWE that holding Joint PPVs every month won't work, because until this years Backlash, they were really the only way guys like London and Kendrick, William Regal, Benjamin and Haas, and the Cruiserweight Division have a chance to make it on PPV."

WHY do a draft lottery when some of the talent is appearing on one, two, or even three shows? Brand separation is a thing of the past. Just do an angle to move two or three guys over toRAW and be done with it.

> From Justin Ruppe:

"Though I am guilty of occasionally enjoying some parts of TNA, but too few and far between nowadays, I used to actually enjoy the show whenever I first started watching back at the beginning of 2006, But I saw it slowly (and heavily pick up speed) fall down a hole.

Despite being a WWE fan, I do wanna see TNA succeed and compete with WWE, but with the way things are now, that isn't gonna be happening any time soon. I wish that they'd get their crap together and start putting together some good shows. I'm hoping that maybe the 2 hour time slot will help that, possibly, but I could be wrong, since their main problem is they don't know or realize how to use their talent, and thus keep pushing the guys that already have names for themselves, giving us that still watch every Thursday.

But as I was saying, giving us the same confusing, spoiled feuds that they seem to be just keeping at us. They can't seem to keep one feud going on at once even, and instead throw a third and fourth, and even fifth guy into the mix. And they can't seem to keep a title on a person for very long either.

In my opinion, Samoa Joe should have that title, and he should hold it for a very long time, too. They keep teasing at it but never pull through, and keep Sting, Kurt Angle and Christian Cage on the top. I'm tired of seeing these three guys go at it, and whenever they do bring someone into the mix its always Rhino, Samoa Joe, and Scott Steiner. I'm sick of seeing all the same crap, and they can't even keep a stable feud going which irks me, and it just keeps going down hill from there, They can't seem to make their minds, its all too chaotic, and its pissing me off every time I watch it (but I have nothing else to do on Thursdays so..I keep watching anyway, hoping for change.)

And whatever happend to the X Division? I don't think there is one anymore. It's more of the Kevin Nash and Bob Backlund division. Which is annoying, we've seen enough of Kevin Nash in WCW and WWE, now TNA continues to shove him down our throats. Now I like the guy but C'mon. The X Division used to be TNA's only redeeming quality, I loved watching Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal and others go at it with insane moves. I was a huge fan of those two. Those in the X-Division have alot of skill, and they need alot more recognition than their getting, I feel bad that their being buried by Kevin nash, and I wouldn't doubt that their pretty pissed off backstage about it.

Also I feel bad that their getting pulled from all these indy shows as well, since thats their way of thriving, and showing off their real talent as well (because TNA sure isn't doing it for them.) and if TNA doesn't change, all I see is it becoming just as a place for all WWE releases, and old WCW stars sitting on their asses, getting paid for it, and not putting emotion or anything into their promos or storylines, leaving it a dull, desolate, wasteland."

If that wasn't bad enough for you, how about this past weekend's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which reported that Sonjay Dutt will now be doing a Gandhi gimmick.

Yup, Gandhi.

Dutt's wearing clothing that Gandhi wore in 1930 and 1940's photographs and is "preaching nonviolence" to Jay Lethal (who's already pretending to be Randy Savage) and Kevin Nash (who's pretending to be a wrestler). If this STILL isn't bad enough, TNA wanted him to wear a turban and put a dot on his forehead. TNA apparently backed off when Dutt sarcastically asked them if he they wanted him to drive a cab as well.

God, I hope someone sends Phil Muchnick or a group of Asian Americans a copy of this crap when it airs. I want to see Dixie Carter talk her way out of this crap.

Until next time...

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