Post by ozzsmith on May 11, 2006 15:32:34 GMT -5
stole this from PWInsider.com
WRESTLER’S EYE VIEW LOOKS AT JIM CORNETTE IN TNA AND HOW HE SHOULD BE USED, FINLAY AND BENOIT, AND MORE
by Les Thatcher @ 10:45:00 AM on 5/11/2006
Quite a few surprises were in store for those who follow the ups and downs of professional wrestling through this past week. Signings turns, and wrestling matches.
To start it off Jim Cornette has signed for a limited number of dates with TNA. The general buzz is that he will be the new “Voice of Authority” they have been teasing for the past few weeks. That would make perfect sense because this guy would be in the “Promo Hall of Fame” if there were such an animal. What would also make more sense to me personally would be that Jim becomes the lead man on the writing team. Why you ask? Well for a few simple reasons. First there is all this talk that TNA only has an hour to get it done on Thursday nights. I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count as to who has been writing 60 minute television shows for the past seven years that make sense and weave entertaining story lines. Plus I feel that Cornette would also apply a more common sense approach to the over all show, and slow things down just a bit. Allow all the current members of the writing team to stay as is and give suggestions, input, and comments, but let James E. have the power to piece the final puzzle together. I truly believe that you would see more viewers tuning in on Thursday nights and buying PPV’s over the long haul.
Cornette, behind Samoa Joe could be the second most important signing for this company in recent months…BUT only if his talents are utilized to their fullest degree.
Instead of voice of authority I would put him in another position. Let’s play fantasy league pro wrestling for a minute. Here are a couple of moves I would make if my company was TNA. I would put Cornette in the lead announcers spot as the play by play guy. He is second only to Jim Ross in getting stories across and weaving sense into miscues and unreal angles. Mike Tenay would be my color man. Mike in this role doesn’t have to raise his voice, and push the envelope, but just deliver historical facts, and add detail and incite to the in ring activities. I think that is his comfort zone, and he excels there. Don West would become my interviewer behind the scenes and in the locker room. West could be this companies “Mean Gene” as he is a stronger salesman then a color man and utilize his energy in this manner. As a wrestler finishes up his promo, Don uses the final 30 seconds or so to hard sell the next pay per view. I honestly feel that these moves alone would improve the over all show quite a bit.
Now my friend Jim may not like me finding new jobs for him to do, but to me it is just getting the most out of his talent. In fact all the moves I listed above are because I think it gets the most out of each of those peoples talent.
After enjoying the Chris Benoit/Fit Finley match from Smackdown 5/5 I was reading reviews as I tend to do, and saw where one “Expert” said in essence he was disappointed because they “were wrestling”! Well, Dahhh? My question is that since the flip flop and fly fans get there weekly fixes, the hardcore fans are getting theirs, and if you like comedy and parody then you to are being entertained. Do you mind if those of us that enjoy classic pro wrestling have some fun as well? Not only that but here is another match to watch if you are in the early stages of training for a career or even if you have been wrestling for a few years. This has all the elements needed to build a good solid professional wrestling match. It had a slow build, and when they did a spot, or when Benoit made his comeback the fans were right there and popped. It had all the ingredients of what a pro bout should be, including the peaks and valleys, the ebb and flow. Even Joey Styles would have enjoyed calling this one as it was indeed a “pro wrestling match” in every sense of the word. These are the performances that all young athletes should be spending more time watching. This style can get them over in Japan, England, Puerto Rico, etc.
Please let me state here that I do not want this generation going back to the dark ages. There are many things from my time in the ring that would not hold up today, but this match is sure one that would. I know I am repeating myself but this is the foundation, and as in life you should learn to crawl, then walk, then run. Too often currently many are zeroing in on the high spots and trying to perfect them before they even have a clue about how to apply a hold and how to “work” it, or anything remotely resembling ring psychology. For God’s sake don’t read a review by experts such as the one I am mentioning and think that he has a grip on the pulse of the business. He simply is telling you what he personally likes and reports it as gospel. If you do get a chance to try out for a legitimate promoter who can help you get looked at by one of the major companies he will also expect you to be able to show him this style match is in your arsenal. Benoit, is considered one the top wrestlers of all time, and this is a big part of the reason. Mix you high spots with good solid mat work.
Before closing I want to send my deepest sympathies to the families of two top hands from my generation who have passed away in the past week. Kay Noble and Sam Steamboat have left us, and they were two fine human beings who brought much to the table in terms of our business. I was honored to have known them both. Sam was a personal friend and a class act. God bless them both.
WRESTLER’S EYE VIEW LOOKS AT JIM CORNETTE IN TNA AND HOW HE SHOULD BE USED, FINLAY AND BENOIT, AND MORE
by Les Thatcher @ 10:45:00 AM on 5/11/2006
Quite a few surprises were in store for those who follow the ups and downs of professional wrestling through this past week. Signings turns, and wrestling matches.
To start it off Jim Cornette has signed for a limited number of dates with TNA. The general buzz is that he will be the new “Voice of Authority” they have been teasing for the past few weeks. That would make perfect sense because this guy would be in the “Promo Hall of Fame” if there were such an animal. What would also make more sense to me personally would be that Jim becomes the lead man on the writing team. Why you ask? Well for a few simple reasons. First there is all this talk that TNA only has an hour to get it done on Thursday nights. I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count as to who has been writing 60 minute television shows for the past seven years that make sense and weave entertaining story lines. Plus I feel that Cornette would also apply a more common sense approach to the over all show, and slow things down just a bit. Allow all the current members of the writing team to stay as is and give suggestions, input, and comments, but let James E. have the power to piece the final puzzle together. I truly believe that you would see more viewers tuning in on Thursday nights and buying PPV’s over the long haul.
Cornette, behind Samoa Joe could be the second most important signing for this company in recent months…BUT only if his talents are utilized to their fullest degree.
Instead of voice of authority I would put him in another position. Let’s play fantasy league pro wrestling for a minute. Here are a couple of moves I would make if my company was TNA. I would put Cornette in the lead announcers spot as the play by play guy. He is second only to Jim Ross in getting stories across and weaving sense into miscues and unreal angles. Mike Tenay would be my color man. Mike in this role doesn’t have to raise his voice, and push the envelope, but just deliver historical facts, and add detail and incite to the in ring activities. I think that is his comfort zone, and he excels there. Don West would become my interviewer behind the scenes and in the locker room. West could be this companies “Mean Gene” as he is a stronger salesman then a color man and utilize his energy in this manner. As a wrestler finishes up his promo, Don uses the final 30 seconds or so to hard sell the next pay per view. I honestly feel that these moves alone would improve the over all show quite a bit.
Now my friend Jim may not like me finding new jobs for him to do, but to me it is just getting the most out of his talent. In fact all the moves I listed above are because I think it gets the most out of each of those peoples talent.
After enjoying the Chris Benoit/Fit Finley match from Smackdown 5/5 I was reading reviews as I tend to do, and saw where one “Expert” said in essence he was disappointed because they “were wrestling”! Well, Dahhh? My question is that since the flip flop and fly fans get there weekly fixes, the hardcore fans are getting theirs, and if you like comedy and parody then you to are being entertained. Do you mind if those of us that enjoy classic pro wrestling have some fun as well? Not only that but here is another match to watch if you are in the early stages of training for a career or even if you have been wrestling for a few years. This has all the elements needed to build a good solid professional wrestling match. It had a slow build, and when they did a spot, or when Benoit made his comeback the fans were right there and popped. It had all the ingredients of what a pro bout should be, including the peaks and valleys, the ebb and flow. Even Joey Styles would have enjoyed calling this one as it was indeed a “pro wrestling match” in every sense of the word. These are the performances that all young athletes should be spending more time watching. This style can get them over in Japan, England, Puerto Rico, etc.
Please let me state here that I do not want this generation going back to the dark ages. There are many things from my time in the ring that would not hold up today, but this match is sure one that would. I know I am repeating myself but this is the foundation, and as in life you should learn to crawl, then walk, then run. Too often currently many are zeroing in on the high spots and trying to perfect them before they even have a clue about how to apply a hold and how to “work” it, or anything remotely resembling ring psychology. For God’s sake don’t read a review by experts such as the one I am mentioning and think that he has a grip on the pulse of the business. He simply is telling you what he personally likes and reports it as gospel. If you do get a chance to try out for a legitimate promoter who can help you get looked at by one of the major companies he will also expect you to be able to show him this style match is in your arsenal. Benoit, is considered one the top wrestlers of all time, and this is a big part of the reason. Mix you high spots with good solid mat work.
Before closing I want to send my deepest sympathies to the families of two top hands from my generation who have passed away in the past week. Kay Noble and Sam Steamboat have left us, and they were two fine human beings who brought much to the table in terms of our business. I was honored to have known them both. Sam was a personal friend and a class act. God bless them both.