Well it’s two thousand and eight and wrestling is back in full swing. The first PPV of the year was run by TNA. It appears that TNA was able to have a successful ladies match between Awesome Kong and Gail Kim. All indications are that TNA really seems to have a good woman’s division that the fans really appreciate. I’m starting to wonder what would have happened if Dixie Carter had run GLOW. I’m glad that the TNA ladies division is doing well but the chances of making any real money off of that division is very slim. If you are paying close attention to the TNA booking does it scream out Vince Russo to you? I do not believe the kind of ridiculous comedy skits that they are doing is helping anyone or anything.
It is a shame for our sport that WWE probably makes a lot more with its woman’s division that TNA does now or ever will. I blame TNA for that partially but the truth is that the fans supporting the product are a larger portion of that problem. I hope that over time the momentum can switch over to more respect for the girls that can actually work in the ring. If that happens then we will have to rely on the ability of TNA to market good talent properly. I have not seen anything up till now that tells me that they can do that. I have been surprised before. Hopefully I will be surprised again.
I really have never been a huge fan of the Undertaker. I think it comes from the fact that years ago he beat Jimmy” Superfly” Snuka at Wrestlemania. In my day Jimmy Snuka was the man who couldn’t be beat. I remember being around Mark Callaway once or twice when he was in the WCW. He was really nothing but a glorified job guy. I remember him losing one match to Lex Luger in what seemed to be a minute or less. I can remember my friend Mick Foley being used in the wrong way in WCW and really being nothing more than a mid card performer. It’s funny but both of those guys went on to a career in the WWE and with a little repackaging became major stars making millions of dollars. I bring this to your attention in this article because I believe there is a man out there who needs to make the same move that these two guys made. It is critical to the career of Abyss to move on to WWE now. I believe this could be a case of one hand washing the other. The WWE needs something fresh and new and Abyss is wasting his career in TNA with people who have no idea what to do with this guy. If history has proven anything to us it’s that a guy can flounder in one organization and flourish in another. I believe that Abyss has waited long enough for TNA to wake up. If WWE is paying attention Abyss is the talent that they should take from TNA and see if he can be repackaged into something marketable. I would even venture to say to try and bring James Mitchell with him and see if he can be the next Paul Bearer.
The first night of American Gladiators has been called a success by NBC and I have to say that I found it to be entertaining as well. I never watched American Gladiators years ago but I felt like I should watch it now since Hulk Hogan was the host. So far so good hopefully that will continue.
The picture in this article is Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ray “The Crippler” Stevens in those days they were managed by Gene Anderson and they were tag team champions. I have been lucky enough over the years referee matches with Jimmy Snuka in them. It was Ray Stevens who was booker for the AWA at the time that gave me my chance to do their TV in Las Vegas at the Showboat Hotel and Casino. It was my first TV for them and it was also the first AWA TV for another guy you might have heard of Paul E. Dangerously.
This has been a piece of my mind
by "The Big Cheese" Sal Corrente
