Cracking the Code
By: Kitty

Admittedly the WWE knows that there is a problem. They just don't know exactly what, why, and how to fix it. All the fans have their own ideas about how to fix it. Having grown up on wrestling I am myself trying to figure out what the problem is. As with most things there is no simple answer. Always complexity.

My first thought is that there is no competition. While WCW had its problems, at least there was an alternative. I used to flip between Raw and Nitro every Monday. (Especially when I saw Sean) I found WCW to be more slow paced than WWF. Some of my friends referred to it as Wheel Chair Wrestling. There were a lot of the 'old timers' in the group and I never watched enough to know much about the storylines. However, it was an alternative to the dull moments in WWF and for when they were showing someone I couldn't stand to watch.

I was very bored with the whole thing and then here comes the Invasion angle. I was very interested to see how it all played out. Needless to say it lost its spark fairly quickly because they seemed to just throw it away. ( Of course then there is that whole thing about Sean. He was there in a big match with Kane and Taker and then he was gone. Poof! Vanished.) I loved HHH and Stephanie as a couple. What a couple!  I think it ended very well and just in time. Then there is Undertaker . . . "Rollin, Rollin, Rollin".  Now that was pretty cool at first. I thought, "Wow, Limp Biskit and Taker, great combination."  Now Limp is pretty much defunct and the whole Bad Ass, whiney baby, I been in this business for 11 years and I get no respect bit has worn on my nerves. (Sorry, to the Undertaker lovers out there. No offense.) While I am sharing my opinion and point of view, let me say that without Wes Borland, the Biskit is no longer
limp, it is soggy . . . no chance of every reaching a limp point again. Fred is however, a very talented fella and should continue in his directing efforts. (Stay away from the fertile models Fred.) Next thing you know half of the roster is injured and out for an eternity. The Rock is a great talent. He has skills all across the board, but here is his deal. He wins the title, loses the title, leaves to make a movie, returns to win the title again, and then the whole cycle repeats. Fair, no, but the fans love it. HHH, most likely due to his injury is forced to drop out of constant title chasing to pursue enemies/former friends. That is cool though. It is nice for others to get a chance at THE title. I was ecstatic when Ric Flair returned. Like him or don't like him he is a permanent fixture in the wrestling
world. He just brings drama and controversy. I have to admit though to liking him better in a more official and corporate aspect as opposed to wrestling. He has earned the right to take it easy and delegate. Hogan, as great as he was and still is, should also stop the in ring action.

I think the split was a good idea. It just needs to be developed better. I really think they are still working out the kinks and don't know exactly what they are going to do. As sick of Stephanie as we all surely get, it is good to see her as SmackDown GM. Getting Eric Bishoff on Raw as GM was brilliant. Will he run WWE into the ground. No. Not single handedly. He really doesn't have that much power folks. I do believe that he underestimates Stephanie, which will prove more than once I am sure, to be a big mistake.

There is much I could discuss at this point, but to avoid repetition and boring you to tears I am going to start with SummerSlam. Yes, SummerSlam, the most recent Pay Per Snooze. Off the top of my head these are the things that stand out the most. Eddie Guerrero's performance was bad. He missed lots of spots, his moves were not connected or smooth, and every time he went up on the ropes I cringed. He seemed to be unsteady. Perhaps he has a cold, wasn't
feeling well, on drugs, something to that affect. While I find Goldust and Booker T to be entertaining, the UnAmericans Suck! Come on, these guys do have some talent. You can't find anything else to do with them. Test is too much of a hottie to be in such a stupid role. He gets over better as a victim.  The tombstone piledriver! Yikes! Please bring back the Lord of Darkness! Where was the women's match? While I prefer to look at the men, I have been impressed with what they seem to be trying to do with the women's division. Real wrestling. Wow. Molly is a hilarious prude. Trish Stratus has grown
on me because she has come a long way since she arrived on the scene. She actually has in-ring skills with her clothes on. Go Trish! HHH/HBK! I was so hoping it was just a ploy to get Eric Bishoff. They are so good together. Why divide them? I don't miss X-Pac particularly, but I do miss DX with the New Age Outlaws. NAO battling Mankind and Al Snow = Classic! Rock v Brock? I have to agree with the majority on this one. What is with Brock's quick big push? I have
tried to be objective about it and I see his ability and potential. He is indeed big, strong, aggressive, and talented. However, isn't he still "paying his dues?" That is what they say about all the other talents who have been in this as long or longer than he. You guys know where I am going with this don't you? So I don't really have to take it there. This just goes to show that they really do have the power to make and break people. It isn' always about the wrestler. So the question is left, Will Brock's big quick push be his demise?

Then there was Raw. The Raw after a PPV (PPS) should be exciting. Can you say Raw is Snore! My friend Vicky and myself put together this award list for this weeks show.

Biggest Crock - UnAmericans
Worst Performance - Howard Finkle
Best Performance - Kane-a-rooni!
Worst Match - Jericho v Jeff Hardy
Best Match - Lillian Garcia v the Fink
Most Overrated - Brock Lesnar
Most Underrated - Kane
Biggest Crybaby - Chris Jericho
Biggest Pile of Monkey Crap - This two overweight non-talents and their 3 minutes of disrespect on the best dressed and legend Jimmy Snuka
Funniest Moment - Brock in Terri's face saying "It doesn't matter."
Most Tasteless Moment - Threat to burn the American Flag, especially at MSG
Dumbest Comment - JR, Something like " I can't believe they are going to burn our flag, somebody has to stop them. ( Hello! Why are they doing this storyline? It is ignorant!) I guess talents scouts have no say on storylines.
Highlight - Kane's return - Even though they played it horribly. It was underdone and too short lived.

Analysis: Kane is my new hero. WWE needs female camera operators. Getting rid of the Hardcore title is a bad move. I wonder if Stephanie has HHH up her sleeve too.

Finally, I want to wish Sean a speedy recovery. It is truly a shame that JR's rare comment about Sean is about his injury. I think it is very negative that he never mentions him otherwise. However, I do find it positive that he regards his progress as an improvement. As far as that "long way to go"; part, well . . . I am not going to go anywhere with that one. I prefer to be optimistic and positive about the whole thing. Having some idea of how Sean himself feels about things and what his objectives are, I say it will happen. He will make it happen and his true fans will be behind him 100%, all the way, no matter how long it takes. I would much rather his advancement be slow and calculated than for him to get a huge push at the wrong moment. No this way does not help us see him on TV every week, nor does it get us that two-sided pin-up from Raw magazine, but it does guarantee complete success and longevity of his career.

A final thought to ponder . . . I wonder if more wrestling fans will watch SmackDown or the MTV VMA awards? This would be a great topic for the message board. If one of you doesn't start it, I will.

Thanks for reading my ramblings.
As usual send comments, questions, or suggestions to
catinastoy@yahoo.com
Subject: Sean

One bored, rambling Kitty