----Have you noticed the body changes?? Charlie Haas [normal looking], Shelton Benjamin [natural – not puffy], Lance Cade [ditto], Trevor Murdoch [what the hell happened to him – he is so skinny], Ken Kennedy [small] and even HHH. Guys like Randy Orton, Batistia and even John Cena [before he got injured] don’t seem to have changed much; have they?? This all goes to fact that if you have the right connections, then you will not be punished?? I am not sure how it will work before Vince has his meetings with Congress. When guys like Batistia shrink, then I will believe the Wellness policy is in full effect. Kudos to HHH – he might be on something, but not to the degree he has been in the past. Speaking of HHH, I could care less about DX tagging this coming Monday.
----Junior Fatu aka Rikishi is gone from TNA. Does he make more money working indy dates than working a max of 4 dates a week for TNA?? Was his asking weekly guarantee too high?? If there is all a possibility for him going to WWE, then that might be a reason to ask for more money. His workrate was just as usual and I like his act. His interviews sucked this time and he stumbled over words and tried to say a catchy “cooking” phrase. Does that remind you of anyone?? Kishi’s charisma [Am I the only one that noticed his nipples looked really strange??] on the small shows compare to none as the show I seen him on in Dyersburg for NBW – he did very little, but got over like crazy. His asking price is in the $2000 area, which I think is too high, but if TNA is paying him $500 a shot, then he could make more on the indy circuit. Rumors still being said backstage at Memphis TV that “Too Cool” with Brian C/Scotty 2 Hotty will be making a TNA debut soon.
----I posted a letter from XOW on Wednesday responding to the fans and workers that posted about the XOW show last Saturday night. I do think it is classy for them to address what seem to be problems at the shows. This makes it clear that XOW is all about having a good show. First off they don’t really need to listen too much of the BS over at Jimmy’s board, because a lot of people just write stuff to get crap started. If you are a fan that attends XOW shows and think there is a problem with talent, time spent and such, then drop XOW an e-mail. I know from experience that Russ will e-mail you back.
----Two of the main concerns of the XOW show and shows in this area seem to be #1: Crap people make crap shows and #2: Long shows. I believe it is hard not to use rookies on shows. Where are they going to learn?? Where do they make their craft better? I really don’t know the answer to this because I have at times bitched about shit talent makes shit shows. I do believe if there is a mixture of rookies and real good workers, then the show will evolve into everyone being good workers. If the show is full of bad workers, then no one improves. You have to look like a wrestler – in boots and tights – and at least know how to react to the fans. You can then improve on everything by taking advice and listening.
----My advice on show length is as follows: [and I am not saying it is 100% correct] five matches with two intermissions and a total of 2 hours and a half. You have two matches, a 15 minute intermission, two matches, a 15 minute intermission and then the main event. I, as a fan in the crowd, love to see at least two tags and then three singles. On shows that a promoter would build as a “big show”, then I would add two more matches and make it about 3 hours. This would give you an extra 15 minutes per extra match with intermissions after every three matches. Also when I say “matches”, I am including everything – interviews and such. On a regular five match show, that gives you 48 minutes, then an intermission, 48 minutes, intermission and 24 minutes for your main event segment. On a seven match card that gives you 54 minutes, an intermission, 72 minutes, an intermission and then 24 minutes for your main event. You, as a promoter, can adjust the times as you fit, but 2.5 to 3 hours is as long as show needs to run. Something to think about – RAW is 2 hours long and most PPVs are three hours long.
----I want to finish this edition off with a “High Five” to a few of the area workers. Austin Lane, voted RRO Best Damn Performer 2006, returned back from Orlando, FL from the tryout camp and it seems he got good reviews. Lane will be eased in working dark matches, then “Explosion” and finally IMPACT if they think he is worthy. It is good to see guys in this area getting a national look. “The Posse”, Simon Reed & Lil Chris, finished up this week in TIWF and they are headed from there to ASWF this coming Saturday night. I like the idea that this team has not stayed in one area long enough to get stale this year. They could walk thru the doors of TLCW right now and have the reaction they had earlier this year. No other team works for as many promotions or dates as these guys do. It not only gets them over in one promotion, but everywhere!! 2007 RRO Awards is only two months away and it will be interesting to see where these guys end up in the tag team awards.
