It seems wrestling blog has hit a bit of a snag

for some reason my post are approved straight away, so if you wish to post here, pop me an email at ozwrestling@hotmail.com

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cheers

after doing a company record rating last week, they droped back down to 1.2 just beating out superstars which did 1.0!

A show headlined by mick foley and kevin nash just beat a show headlined by matt hardy,kahli and john morrsion taking on THD and the ‘chosen one’

your thoughts please

title says it all

It has been annouced that ECW will cease to exist and be replaced by an all new show… the show is rumered to be called NXT and feature mainly newer guys, with Syfi themes.

Well looks like some boys are going to be in trouble

Helms Jerico and Matt Hardy were all involed in a incident over the week, were according to TMZ, helms aussalted 3 people, inculding a women, before the taxi driver called 991 and jerico and helms were arrested. with Hardy fleeing the scence. police are not charging Hardy.

helms and jerico posted bail at about $120, and will get a small fine for being drunk in a public place.

If you havn’t heard by now, your way out of the loop

according to serveal sources within TNA and SPIKE, they are planning a full move of IMPACT to monday nights, possible starting from around march

two things to note, TNA post poned thier Aussie tour because of ‘tv sch changes’. the tour would of lasted between late feb and early march

Aslo they plan on having another Monday night show agasint raw when a comedy duo (insert name I forgot) is set yo host. (if anyone knows please state in the comments below).

so this could be both bad or good, ethier way the winds of war are coming.

Test marketing’

Ok once again I’m here to chew gum and kick arse… And I’m all out of arse.

Wait…

Never mind, on with the post

Lately the internet can only seem to talk about one thing, TNA and hulk Hogan. Or is that two things? Look the point is that the vibe going around is that Hogan sucks blah blah blah, going to ruin TNA etc.

But that’s just the view from people that follow wrestling.

What I did to get a perspective on the matter, was to ask someone who was in marketing and sales, about this situation and if what Hogan is doing (which is having only two PPVs away from the impact zone and reducing the total number of house shows) is the right thing to do.

And the answer shockingly was yes

That’s right, Hogan and Eric are doing the right thing. Wanna know why?

Smark- “No! I’m right because I’ve been watching wrestling all my life and can do a better job than Vince can cause he knows nothing about wrestling Cena sucks screw all you noobs we want attitude era back!!!!!!”

Shut up Smark

Anyway the reason is ….. Test marking

That’s right, it’s what successful business’s use when they want to test a new product or expand into a new market. Key word here is expand.

What people forget is that for a major wrestling company, the majority of their income would come from PPV and TV. And not from house shows as a lot of these arm chair critics like to think (want an example? Go to rajah.com and look up john report). So Hogan goes and looks at TNA’s record of house shows, how the bleed money because they can never fill up an area, demoraliser’s their roster because they didn’t even draw enough fans to fill half the arena, and most of all, just adding fatigue onto their wrestler’s.

Sure TNA have a light schedule compared to the WWE, but every match is a risk or getting injured, and if you’re not selling out a show, why bother risking your talent.

So instead Hogan looks at it this way, reduce the amount of shows and PPV outside the Impact zone, and focus on making the product better. Take all their energy away from these shows and put it into making a better show for the audience. As I said, their money is made from PPV and TV.

So let me bring you back into this idea of test marketing, TNA will most likely only do two shows outside the impact zone in America this year. So as a business man, what would you think if your two biggest shows of the year did not sell out the arena? Simply you wouldn’t waste your time putting on these lesser shows in the same area. Instead you would wait until your product is better, and more recognised around the country before you take that risk.

And that is what Hogan is doing, he is putting most of TNA show’s on in a studio where it is free to film, is guaranteed an audience every night, and is regardless of what people think, different from their competitor’s look and feel.

The main argument against what Hogan is doing is that TNA will continue to look like the minor leagues by staying in the Impact zone, but contrary to that statement, I’d rather a full arena of 500 people than an half empty one with 2000. The impact zone is one of the things that make’s TNA unique, people should be wary of that, furthermore they should be weary of the fact that if TNA were to film outside of the impact zone, they would look worse than before.

So from this moment now, TNA are taking educated risks, instead of blind ones like before

And that is why Hogan is right.

Batista comes out and says that while Vickie Guerrero tried to make things right last week, she isn’t the General Manager, so his match with Rey Mysterio won’t happen. He calls out Teddy Long for an explanation but instead out comes Rey Mysterio, who says he is ready to go and they can have the match if Batista wants it and says DAVE is affraid. OH IT’s on It’s on like Donkey Kong!

Match 1 – Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane

Either Kanes has improved or these two having a match just works very well. Problem is I think Kane has been ruined but Ziggler is a star in the making. Decent enough match i thought but Ziggler should be pinning Kane and not winning by countout.

Match Rating – **1/4

They announce that later tonight, CM Punk will save a member of the WWE Universe.

In a backstage segment, Michelle McCool, Layla El and Beth Phoenix all make fun of “Piggy James.” Layla and Michelle apologize to Beth for last week. Phoenix tells Layla they have a match tonight and she better start getting serious. oh I can’t wait!

Backstage, Chris Jericho asks the Hart Dynasty if they are ready to make an impact. They tell him they’ve been ready and what happened to Bret Hart on Raw was an embarrassment. Good segment I thought but then Jericho rarely has a bad one. DH Smith sounds like a whimp though!

Match 2 – Chris Jericho & The Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Time & R-Truth

I just can’t take to Cryme Time but the match was alright I guess. Shouldn’t Natalya be wrestling though don’t get me wrong I don’t mind a manager but she can do both can she not? And oh my god it’s a proper walls of Jericho for the win!!!!

Match rating – *3/4

CM Punk and Luke Gallows come out and “save” a member of the WWE Universe. He picks someone out from the crowd and asked him if he is ready to be saved. The fan say he thinks so and Punk asked him if he’s ready to stop or not. The fan says he is ready to stop. Punk said OK, then said there’s one more thing he needs to do to become part of the straightedge lifestyle, cut his hair (Yes I can see he is following in your footsteps Punk). The fan refuses at first but finally agrees. Gallows takes out an electric razor and shaves the fan’s head bald (pointless segement really)

Match 3 – Luke Gallows vs. Matt Hardy

This match bored me and went on too long. Hardy v Punk would have been better here. Do like Gallows finisher though.

Match Rating – *(Barely)

Match 4 – Beth Phoneix vs. Layla

Squash match for the most part although Layla did try a bit.

Match Rating – DUD

Post match Michelle kicks Beth for Mickie to come in for the save only to attack Beth afterwards.

WWE Intercontinental champion Drew McIntyre was being interviewed backstage when John Morrison showed up and told McIntyre he has to cheat to beat him. Morrison hits Drew a slap with security then breaking them up. Not that in to McIntyre but do like Morrison and think he should be moved up a level now and not fueding with this muppet. Morrisons scottish accent was funny.

Match 5 – Rey Mysterio vs. Batista

Match went to a no contest when DONG! the lights went out and when they returned, both men were unconscious. I wonder who that was, hahahaha. And yes tha’s happened not once but twice! With the 2nd time the ref vanishing YAWN!

Match Rating – * (only for what happened before)

Show Rating – 5.5/10

We begin with a video package from the first TNA event in June 2002. Then we move ahead to Sting’s debut which was a decent little package
Taz and Tenay are in a new position and they talk about the biggest night in TNA history because of Hulk Hogan. Lots of Hogan fans or at least lots of people wearing yellow and red

Bubba the Love sponge is outside with some fans talking about Hogan, YAY!

Match Number One: Steel Asylum Match featuring Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Homicide, Kiyoshi, Amazing Red, Suicide, Jay Lethal, and Consequences Creed
Decent enough match but I always find these multiman matches very confusing especially when the camera is consitantley switching between angles. Match is thrown out in the end because Homicide uses a weapon. Not a great way to draw the fans in here. I also think that if they wanted to showcase the x-division then they should have had an ultimate x title match here.
Match Rating: *1/2

Post match Jeff Hardy comes out to a huge reaction and is attacked by homicide.
After the commercials see Hardy walking in the back and Shannon Moore applauds his performance before the walk away
Cut to a shot of the Hogan Motorcade
Christy Hemme is with Kevin Nash and Nash says that his demeanor has been different over the last few weeks. He says that it is a great and epic night for TNA. Nash says that he is looking forward to seeing an old friend. Nash says that he talked to Hogan and Hogan is on his way and he is not alone which of course we already knew didn’t we?
Match Number Two: Tara vs. ODB for the Knockouts Title

This match was ok but lacked any kind of length to be honest. ODB gets the win for a new Knockout champion.

After the match, Tara attacks ODB and hits the Widow’s Peak. Tara gets Poison and sets her on ODB
Match Rating: *

We cut backstage and Ric Flair arrives in a LIMO before going to AJ’s dressing room. The Nature Boy is in TNA!!!!
We are back and Taz talks about Ric Flair’s arrival and entry into A.J. Styles’ dressing room.
Mick Foley is stopped by TNA security so he is not being allowed in oh dear, lol
We cut to the Impact Zone and Kristal and Bobby Lashley come to the ring where she says Bobby wants his TNA release and frankly I don’t care.
We see Velvet Sky in the back and she wants the camera man to follow her since we are going to get Beautiful People Poker. They talk about how poker is so popular, they are going to do one and it will be live . . . without a net. Since they don’t have chips, Lacey removes her jacket. Velvet says that they will be playing strip poker all night.
We go to commercial again! And again and again with other meaningless stuff in between. Well I say meaningless Waltman and Hall showed up.
The music plays for Hogan and Hulk Hogan comes out to his old nWo music which was cool as. We see Brooke in the crowd along with Hogan’s fiancée YAWN!
Hogan waits for 9:00 to start his comments. Well that was a given for sure. Here the NWO try to reform I guess or do they well everyone else bar Hogan and Bischoff seemed up for it. But then Vince has the rights so they can’t use that name anyway. Hogan and Eric says everyone in TNA must earn their spot and we spot Sting in the rafters.
Match Number Three: Awesome Kong and Hamada versus Taylor Wilde and Sarita for the Knockouts Tag Titles

I enjoyed this match quite a bit and it was a great advertisement for the knockout division. Match ended with a nice double team move from Kong and Hamada and this match definitely showed that women can wrestle too.

Match Rating: **3/4

We go from the new tag champions and we see the strip poker game continue and they are interrupted by Sean Morely(Val Venis) Sean says that he is here to bring them some ratings. He points out that if he loses one hand it is all over for them, yah like I want to see Val naked and not Velvet Sky.
We go to commercial.
Mick tries to get in and can’t followed by The Nasty Boys that’s right they REALLY are here and they can’t get it
Match Number Four: Raven and Dr. Stevie with Daffney versus Matt Morgan and Hernandez

 
Pure squash match when Morgan hits the carbon foot print for the win.

Match Rating: DUD
Dinero is backstage pimpin and Orlando Jordan shows up. At one stage it was looking good but seems the names turning up just get worse and worse as the night goes on
Match Number Five: Desmond Wolfe versus D’Angelo Dinero

 
Nice little match but definitely not long enough to be anything of serious note. Dinero wins the match with a role up. I hope these two get a PPV match against each other at some stage because they could definitely have a good match together that’s for sure.

Match Rating: *3/4

Jeff Jarrett is walking in the back and he gives a thumbs up as we go to commercial.
We are back and Rhino is down and Jeremy Borash is interrupted by Bubba the Love Sponge. He says that he is going to get to the bottom of things before we go back to Taz and Tenay.

We have a Moments Ago Moment as we relive the debut of Hulk Hogan which took place about an hour ago.
Jeff Jarrett is still walking and we go to commercial and we come back to him coming to the impact zone where he does is usual thank you to the fans after he returns blah blah blah. Hogan then comes on the screen and says Jeff Jarrett better lace up like the rest of them.
Foley gets in the door past Borash, yeo!
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jeff Hardy is painting and Shannon Moore says he likes his work. It is time to meet with the big man.
Match Number Six: Abyss versus Samoa Joe

This was originally meant to be Abyss v Rhino in a Barbed Wire Masacare but Rhino was attacked so Abyss v Joe for the first time ever happened and it was a decent enough back and forth match that Joe eventually won via submission. Oh and Sting was watching this match in the back somewhere

Match Raing:**

Kristal see Bischoff backstage and says well and Eric says well what? I agree Eric well what if Bobby Lashley wants to leave then let him.
We see James Storm and Robert Roode on the ground and Bubba the Love Sponge is there to check on them. He thinks he knows who is doing this and we go to commercial.
Hahaha the Nasty Boys have got in via a Bubba The Love Sponge distraction.

Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle to talk about his title match tonight. Kurt says that since he lost his title in September, A.J. Styles won it. However, since there were two others in the match, A.J. never beat him. Kurt says that he knew he would get his match against A.J. A lot has happened since September but Angle says that A.J. cannot beat him. A.J. has had a good run as champion but it is his time to get his title back.
Jeff Hardy and Shannon Moore look like they have left with contracts.before we cut to the Nasty Boys wrecking Team 3D’s locker room and a fairly funny segment
Match Number Seven: Kurt Angle versus A.J. Styles for the TNA Heavyweight Title

This match was utterly amazing. This was announced as a PPV match for Geniuses but happened tonight and boy did it deliver. This is easily going to be the best TV match of 2010. Great back and forth stuff with both men kicking out of finishers etc. What I like about this match was that you had no idea who was winning it. Angle shakes A.J.’s hand after the match and Angle raises Styles’ hand.

Match Rating: ****

Hogan then comes out post match and says they are the two best in the world before going backstage to find Foley getting beat up by the NWO (Oh yeah can’t call them that) in is office with Bischoff loving every moment as the show goes off air.

Overall show Rating: 7/10 – If not only for the Angle v Styles match

Raw opens with the Bret Hart video package that they showed last week and I for one as a big Bret Hart mark can’t wait for the show to get started. (Great video by the way)

Weoooooowwwwww – Bret Hart’s music playing on Raw for the first time in over 12 years and is it just me or did it sound speeded up? – Screw that I’ve got goosebumps and he is one of only three wrestlers that give me goosebumps the other two being Austin and The Rock!!!!!

Hell has frozen over, his words not mine. Here he blames Vince for the lengthy absence by saying it was him that stopped him returning and the big Welcome back chant begins as he thanks them for never letting him forget him.

Nice promo as he talks about winning the first King of the Ring before getting to why he is back. Here he calls out Shawn Michaels – Holy Crap hell has froze over!!!

HBK comes out and holy good crap hell has frozen over, Bret has called for a truths!!!! But HBK says Bret deserved what happened him in Montreal that cues the “You screwed Bret” chants!!
Hold the phone HBK regrets what he did now. I’m confused! HBK hates Bret, Hart hates HBK but is time a healer?
Now HBK is talking about the Iron Man match for 60 minutes saying that’s what he thinks when he thinks of Bret Hart and not the infamous Montreal incident.
Bret offers a hand in friendship which Shawn accepts to a good ovation by the crowd. HBK looks like he is going for a Sweet Chin Music but turns and hugs Bret. Awww they are both friends now how lovely!

Bret then calls Vince out who no shows.
We cut backstage and Josh asks Vince about Bret having called him out and Vince says he was in a meeting. Maybe he was watching Impact?

Melina is injured by the way vacated the WWE Diva Championship and a Tournament to crown the new winner has been announced

Match One – Maryse v Brie Bella

Collar and elbow tie up starts this one and then Maryse uses the coward tactics using the ropes. Then we have hair pulling and kicks from Brie followed by a dropkick. Maryse goes to the outside and has her face smashed by Nikki off the announce table and back into the ring for a 2 count.
The twins switch behind the referees back but Maryse hits a DDT for the win.
Match Rating – DUD
Post Match Miz comes out and Says if Marse wins he will call her back as he heads to the ring to scout the next match. Says it is every moment from now on belongs to the Miz because he is the Miz and he is AWESOME!!!! P.S. his new music sucks!!!!

Match Two – U.S. Title No.1 Contenders Match – MVP v Jack Swagger v Mark Henry v Carlito

 
Jack Swagger, MVP, Carlito and Mark Henry in an ok match. Jack Swagger and Mark Henry were the stars in this match so thought one of them should have won. Carlito looks like he back to be lazy again which is a shame cause when he was taking with his brother they were good.
Match Rating – **1/2
Loved the Jericho/Big Show and Jericho/Bret Hart segments even if the crowd didn’t react much well until Jericho came out later; then he got his heat.
Cheap plug for the new figures, by HHH and Hornswoggle which was kinda neat. The crowd quite like Hornswoggle which is good. Quite funny this segment. Santino taking the piss out of Jericho was great here.

Match Three – Unified Tag Team Title Match Jerishow vs D-X

 
A good TV match but did there have to be an ad break right away surley they could have gone after the prior segment. Jericho got a lot heat from the crowd showing how good of a heel he is, although doing Hogan posing was a bit odd. The crowd got into the match and there were a few chants for Big Show to turn on Jericho again proving my earlier remarks.
Match Rating – ***
Gah boring Orton time although Legacy growing a pair is making them interesting again saying Orton is getting kicked out of Legacy if he doesn’t win, love it. Oh yeah bye bye Jericho I almost forgot. Vince doesn’t like Orton still Incase you forgot.
Match Four – Sheamus vs Evan Bourne

This is where the WWE misses a cruiserweight division cause Bourne would be awesome here.  Pure squash and such and no pun intended Sham that Bourne had his finisher kicked out of.  Crowd chants for Cena but he wasn’t in attendance.
Match Five – Orton vs Kofi Kingston

 
Found it weird Kofi getting some boo’s here but quite enjoyed this match and thought it was another good match for TV. Kofi is really shinning in this fued as a credible challenger to the WWE Title well after all it’s only Mr Chalk that has the belt now anyway. But Orton prevails and is still in Legacy, lucky boy.
Match Rating – ***
Last but not least it’s the Vince and Bret confrontation and the crowd were most definitely expecting Bret to do something here whilst Vince was being all nice but in the end it’s Vince who hits the low blow and gets boo’d like mad for it.  Oh and Stu Hart is getting inducted to the Hall of Fame class of 2010 very nice touch:)

Overall show rating – 6.5/10
Next weeks guest host: “Iron” Mike Tyson

Dr. Phil Astin, who prescribed Chris Benoit a ten-month supply of steroids every three to four weeks, has received a ten-year sentence from a federal judge in Georgia after pleading guilty to 175 counts of overprescribing drugs to patients. See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090512/ap_on_re_us/us_wrestler_dead_doctor.

Prosecutors said two of Astin’s patients died as a result of his actions, and that neither of them was Chris or Nancy Benoit.

I don’t know the second, but one would seem to be Benoit’s good friend and ex-wrestler Michael “Johnny Grunge” Dunham.

Irv Muchnick