The Horsemen Ride One Last Time, WM Thoughts and MORE!

Just a quick one today.

To answer a couple of questions first:

I might discuss in the future what I would do if someone came along and wanted me to run a well-invested wrestling promotion. That would certainly be a long blog for another time. I don't have all the answers, but I think I have a few.

In regards to Rob Stardom's promotion, I'd have to see a show before I really commented in depth. I do fear it will be a "development" venture, which is a nice way of saying he might use the "cheap - free" guys to cut down on costs. I hope that's not true. If you have to cut costs to run, don't run. There is certainly a place for "role players" and those guys that promoters book for a variety of reasons, but they shouldn't be the top guys. The top guys should be the top guys and if you can't book them, don't run.

But I certainly wish Rob luck and I hope I can check out his show.

I was told there were some mixed feelings in regards to my last blog. Some people felt I sounded either "on the fence" about continuing or reluctant to move forward. I've always been honest with people, even competitors (even when those so-called competitors happily work me, as if I don't know I am being worked or care in the first place). The fact is, on any given day, I am on the fence. On any other given day I am dying to continue. I think it comes down to what kind of deal I get from the venues I am talking to (I'll try not to take eight months to announce it like some people...and when I say it's confirmed, it really will be confirmed) and the commitment of the team.

Culmination of Cool would definitely be a great way to go out and it's doubtful we could ever top that as far as farewell shows go. It was an end of an era. But this could be the beginning of a new one. It amazes me that, even with the mere possibility of the end of PCW, no promoter stepped up to fill the void...the seize the moment. Sure, they may have used my private honesty with them to email my crew and try to convince them to take bookings, but it's not the same. I don't want to leave the business behind and abandon the guys who deserve a great place to work unless I know it and they are in capable hands. I certainly don't feel that way right now.

Stay tuned...

Wrestlemania almost didn't happen for me. I considered my options and headed over to a friend's house. He lives outside the city but just bought a brand new 46" HD TV, surround sound etc. When I walked in the door (cutting it close at 5:55), he informed me his cheat card had just been zapped. Karma I guess.

He worked on it for 45 minutes before we gave up and went home. I wouldn't have wanted to start watching it an hour in anyway. Fortunately, our former Commissioner was recording the event. I got my copy at 10:00 that night and sat down for a long night of wrestling action.

I thought the show was okay. In most cases WWE Pay Per Views have been underwhelming for a few years now. Nothing ever happens at them. They are a collection of matches with no surprises or storyline developments. The good stuff happens at TV now.

My predictions were way off this year. In retrospect, I can see why I did so poorly. I should never have bet against JBL winning. He's practically a McMahon. I don't know what they see in him. I like him, but top guy he isn't.

Flair/Michaels was a tremendously emotional match. I was very disappointed in the finish, feeling that nothing was gained for Michaels with the win, but a Flair victory would have felt right. I would not be surprised to learn that Flair insisted on losing. I read that he was offered the main event spot but turned it down. I was surprised they didn't do anything special post match, but when I watched RAW, I realised it was the right decision.

The triple threat match was okay. WWE seems determined to change their own booking plans at the last minute to throw off the smarks. But, again in retrospect, Orton is the only one of the three who needs the strap.

Edge/Undertaker started off slow but built to a great finish. Edge was booked as strong as a person can be when they're losing.

I didn't mind CM Punk winning MITB. I think he's over-rated, but he's over and the McMahons supposedly love his clean lifestyle.

RAW was exceptional. It was an amazing segment when they honoured Flair. I was stoked to see Tully Blanchard back as well as JJ Dillion. It was wild seeing the Four Horsemen back together one last time. Too bad Arn Anderson didn't get to talk though. What a waste it is, having one of the all time great talkers in the company and he's kept in the back. The glaring omission was, ofcourse, Sting for obvious reasons.

I heard Marty Gold mention today on his radio show how Flair seems to be the last guy left who can generate genuine emotion. Some of the most "real" emotion in the business has been centred on Flair - the backlash against WCW when he jumped to WWE in 1991, his "homecoming" when he went back, his remarkable performance in the Royale Rumble 92, his "retirement" match with Vader, his return to Nitro after the war with Eric Bischoff, the heartbreaking look on his face as he stood in the background when Arn retired, the night he nearly beat HHH for the World Championship, his "I will never retire" speech on RAW and ofcourse, last night. Just amazing.

There is magic to Ric Flair. I became a hue fan back when we didn't even get Flair on TV. I read about him in all the mark mags as a kid and got to see one match on US television when I took a trip to North Dakota. When he jumped to WWE, I was wholly on his side. I watched the Four Horsemen DVD last week - amazing.

I know Flair will be back on TV, but I hope it's sooner, rather than later.