On Stables

Does anyone remember the angles of Hulk Hogan? Where were they at their best? nWo! Then came (and went) DX. Then Evolution: the past – Ric Flair (regardless of how worthless he is now, he was an integral part of Evolution), the present – Super H (regardless of how bad a person he is, he WAS “the present” those days.) and the future – Randy Orton (regardless of how disappointing he is, I still think he IS the future – the immediate future – considering that WWE also has the likes of MVP, Mr. Kennedy, C.M. Punk, The Hardyz, etc.) and then Batista (he was sick and will always be). Anyways… That’s just a theory – I don’t want to start a controversy on these already (very) controversial people. So, the most prominent stable this decade was Evolution. There were more – like JBL’s council (the Bashams, Jordan, first Amy and then Jillian) and King Booker’s court (Finlay, Regal, and the “royal” couple). There used to be Team Canada some time ago (it’s a history now). I miss the days of Clique, nWo, DX and Evolution. Every stable angle is exciting. Remember Foley’s feud with entire Evolution? I worshipped Foley and loved that feud! Just can’t forget those days! Of course, the Angle Alliance is a fine example of a stable – Kurt Angle (regardless of him being power hungry now-a-days, I still feel he is a fine Wrestler and Brawler) and AJ Styles (undisputedly the FINEST cruiserweight) plus Tomko (what Batista was to Evolution) and “Queen” Karen (no comments). I am disappointed that Hart Foundation 2.0 got scrapped. It would have helped the young, raw (and home made) wrestlers of WWE get over! Look at D.H. Smith today! Where’s he? Did anyone care about Batista as an “enforcer” under D-Von? But Evolution made him “World Championship Material”. nWo made Kevin Nash – who can neither wrestle, nor brawl, nor can spout a word on the mic – a multi time champion in WCW and then in WWE. This is what a stable can do to your career… And one more thing; if I were to start wrestling, I’d start off as a part of a stable…

On Tag Teams

As an old saying goes "2 are better than 1." How would you like to see 4? Over the years, every game has developed a “team game”. So has wrestling! Tag-teams have been a part of wrestling as long as the sport itself. The best of wrestlers started as a tag-team to get over and only then did they start being known individually as singles competitors… Today’s “elites” – Edge, Christian, and even Shawn Michaels started as tag-team specialists. The future champions – Mrrrrrr. Kennedyyyyyyy, Montel Vontavius Porter, John Morrison, A. J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, Homicide and so forth – were all tag team wrestlers. It’s great to see 2 people cooperating, coordinating and getting not only themselves, but each other over too. The best part of it is that if you lose, you don’t have to take the entire blame yourself! Though this form of wrestling is waning, it still holds significant importance in building careers of budding young raw talent. One team that has got heads turning is has been The Motor City Machine Guns. Comprising of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, this team is simply PHENOMENAL! They first started as a team in 2006 in Pro Wrestling Zero-1, where they are the current tag-team champions. They were voted the tag-team of the year (2007) in TNA… The best is yet to come for these 2 great wrestlers as they are the future of TNA and its X-division too (the feud with Ray and D-Von proves it)…

On HIGH-FLYING (CRUISERWEIGHT) action

There is certain skill required to produce high-flying matches. Any frustrated gymnast can get into the ring and break out over 250 variations of the back flip. But therein lays the problem – the so-called "wrestlers" flipping and flopping around the ring for no reason what so ever! The (mark-ish) crowd begins to think of them as a great acrobatic display than a competitive wrestling match. Take a look back at the great matches involving Jushin Liger or Owen Hart - Yes! There were flashy moves in there that got people on their feet. But everything they did made sense in context of the match! One wrestler who seems to realize this, and is wooing crowds by putting together some awesome matches, is Mistico! Currently in the CMLL, he was approached by WWE with a contract for the 2007-08 season, with all pressures and persuasions from the likes of Dean Malenko, Paul London and Rey Mysterio. But, he had to turn it down due to his prior commitment… But the good news has come – he agreed to a contract offered to him on 18-01-2008 and is reportedly heading to WWE after his current deal with the CMLL expires… This 25-year-old seems to be technically sound and has grasped the psychology behind a great match!... This guy FLIES!...

On MAIN-EVENTERS

Everyone has to start somewhere… At one point, even Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and Hulk Hogan were nobodies, guys whom no one had heard of. They dragged themselves from the bottom of the ladder, and wound up on the top of the entire World! Everyone has heard of the glass ceiling of wrestling. Above it – the elites. The guys who call the shots, make the money and have their fingers in every pie! Below it – everyone else. There are many many MANY people at the stage where they are trying to break through to become the top name in the wrestling industry. But who does really have the best shot? If I were betting on a man, I’d probably put my money on Montel Vontavius Porter. He has the talent needed to be the big fish of the wrestling pond. The skills, while in the need, are there. Who knows that he can achieve – (with Matt Hardy out) all he needs is a good opponent (I wouldn’t recommend Batista in the wildest of my dreams), a few memorable angles, some interview airtime, a good feud, a few interviews at the V.I.P. lounge and that’s it – he’s ready! We could be looking at the next World Champion by Royal Rumble. Hadn’t heard such words about him before? Well… You could be hearing a lot more about him in the near future – VERY near future…

On FEMALE wrestlers

Great female wrestlers don’t just appear out of nowhere in big leagues overnight. They build up their skills first on the independent scene, then start as a manager in a backyard league, then as a wrestler in a TNA – type “made for rejects” promotion. Then in a global promotion as a manager and finally, a Lita or a Chyna is born (or rather, MADE – tailor made). Quite a few wrestlers are working day in and day out to give the males a run for their money. The best one at this moment – is the Glamazon from Amazon – Beth Phoenix! She has that ultimate made to be Women’s Champion element. She somewhere has what Trish Stratus always had – the (female) Wrestler image… And I dare say – with all luck, she CAN be the next Trish Stratus…

On BRAWLING

Every wrestling fan loves a pier 6 brawl. While a picture perfect moonsault always makes a good photo in a magazine, and there is real sense of art when two technical wrestlers exchange hold and counter hold, there is something about a wild brawl that will get everyone talking. At its most basic level, the drama of watching two men just beat the living daylight out of each other until one can barely be beaten. Recently, Finlay has been catching my eye! Currently building up against JBL, he has been engaging in wild brawls with all kinds of opponents –ranging from a smaller and quicker guy like Rey to the largest and the slowest guy in the roster – The Great Khali; from duds ones like Batista to technically sound ones like Mr. Kennedy. He often leaves arenas like a tornado has just hit it. In fact, when I see him pummeling an opponent with whatever weapon has come to hand (the most common one being the shillelagh, though we have also seen him hold the chair), there were certain shades of Bruiser Brody, and some of the energy that were the hallmark of Public Enemy in ECW. Will this wild fighter end up in the main event? And if so, will he be forced to tone it down? We’ll find out in the coming months…

On MANAGERS

It seems that the era of the managers ended in the 1990’s itself. Gone are the days of Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, Jimmy Hart, Paul Bearer and Mr. Fuji. (In Fuji’s case, it’s PROBABLY a good thing). But you get the point. Whereas, we used to be entertained by their ringside shenanigans, these seem to now have been replaced by some ex-lap dancer in a bikini standing at ringside, whose presence adds nothing to a match, what so ever. Though, the American fans get some eye-candy. But the “wrestling fans”, though, are disappointed. Just have a look at Michelle McCool. She isn’t THAT “cool” at all. How about Tracie Brooks, Karen Angle or Kelly Kelly? Opinions on Stacy, anyone? (From a wrestling fan’s point of view, please!)... If I were asked who the best manager is currently, I’d give the edge to Father James Mitchell. But then, of all the places in the world, he is in... TNA! That would be the last place I’d want him to be. He deserves to be in a place where there is some sensible booking – the WWE. (I’m not saying that Vince is a perfect booker; but WWE’s booking is much better than TNA at this moment). And he needs to manage someone better than his “son” – someone of Jeff Hardy’s caliber (He would compensate for the mic skills that Jeff lacks). Will the ringside manager make a comeback? I think only time will tell…

On TECHNICAL wrestling

While some people may favor bloody brawls and lucha libre spot-fests, there will always be a place in my heart for a classic technical wrestler. Back in the days, guys like Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect and The Million Dollar Man complimented killer characters with close to – excuse the pun – perfect mat wrestling skills! More modern technically superior workers like Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit also were masters of the art. One worker who has been reawakening the joys of a really crisp suplex in crowds across the World is Mrrrrrrrrrr. Kennedy...... KENNEDY!... His technical ability has really begun to get him noticed, especially by me . So, I’m making a plea to the WWE to book him well (or rather BOOK HIM in the first place) and let him do what he does best – and that’s 100% crisp wrestling holds...