The Impact Players

The current state of Pro Wrestling has been deeply discussed in recent months, from the PG restriction, lack of competition for WWE and the guest hosts... and we're all pretty much down in the dumps about it. People will argue that the sport is in the worst state its ever been, but that not where this blog is heading.

I'm gonna shine a light, no make that two lights on two very VERY positives that shine through the gloom. Randy Orton and Chris Jericho.

Every so many years that pass the industry by, we get to witness something beautiful, almost majestical when the best in the biz reaches the top of his game. We've seen how Austin's was on top of his game, as when Bret was and Shawn too and it always left me feeling blessed to have seen it happen. We are very blessed at present to witness two wrestlers, who are at the top oftheir games, miles above anybody else in the sport and my god they area pleasure to watch. If you love this sport in the way I do, then you will fully understand that by the end of this blog you it won't just highlight how good they are... but how Orton and Jericho are on an entirely different planet!

Chris Jericho: is the best in the world at what he does.... he say's it each week and it's not just a cool catchphrase! Its a reminder! Jericho has always been one of the best performers, aglue that has kept everything around it together and he could work a good match out of a corpse! The man of 1004 holds doesn't do anything fancy, he doesn't need to... but he could if his character warranted!

His mic work sets him apart from anybody else,  infact I'd only rate Rock above him. Jericho is the most rounded talent in the industry. Amazingly he has the ability to evolve his character completely from attitude to moveset to apearance.

The fact that Jericho has single handedly taken the Tag Team division from the dumps to where it is now highlights how fucking good the guyis.... and he often loses.

His ability to play the crowd as and when he wants is unrivaled. He'll make you believe he's the worlds biggest ass one week then the next you'll be eating out of his hands cheering "Go Jericho Go"... An amazing talent who is at his peak, and long may it last!

Randy Orton:

There's an old saying "you are what you eat" and Orton has been fed some shit material with his fueds with Batista, Cena and some pathetic half written fued with Kane over Kelly Kelly. Randy Orton should by all accounts be struggling due to how poorly his character is often booked.

He gets alot of stick by some fans, who I'm sure will comment, about how dull and boring he is and he never has standout matches. The booking is something more or less entirely out of his hand! You can call the booking around him dull, uninspiring and boring. You can level criticisms at the character he has been told to portray. But you can not blame him for a damn thing as Orton not only shines, he blinds. If anything, claims of him being the things his character demand of him shows just how good he is; he has you all nailing him to a stake because you believe he is something he isn’t. Is that not in itself a testament to his skill?

Asperformers, all wrestlers should evoke a response from you. Orton is evoking a response. As performers, all wrestlers should act according to how their character demands and acts according to how The Viper demands he acts. People may find The Viper boring, but that does not mean Orton has failed to master hiscraft. On the contrary. The fact you think Orton is the one whois boring proves quite the opposite. I guess what I am attempting to say under no clear terms here I realise is that The Viper character is simply not a very exciting character; however, as, in the past, we know Orton can be damn entertaining and now appears to be boring, is a result of his mastery. That is to say he's so good at being this essentially boring character, if I must go that far, that everyone thinks ORTON is boring. Such is his skill.

I personally rate him as the best in ring performer, second to none, amazingly gifted and his mic work has come on ten-fold!

Now after I'm done gushing about the two and how good they have become,despite the restictions that the PG rating clokes their roles is a realcrytal clear indication of how these guys truely have mastered the artof their characters and how far on top of the game they really are!

This was Pocket!

What might have been?

I wanted to take a break from writing about the current product or lackof and change the pace with a blog that I was inspired to write whilstwatching Vintage Collection this past week, where Lex Luger faced offagainst the late Flyin' Brian Pillman.

Seeing Pillman was always a pleasure and it left me wondering whatmight have been? What he could've acheived had tragedy not struck? Howfar his talent would've taken him? Could he have become a main eventer?

Brian Pillman was always a guy who was fascinating to watch. From hisearly high flying days where his abilty was revolutionary to his "LooseCannon" character, in which he was so incredible, that fans and evenpeople in within the industry had no clue weather it was a work or not?Probably one of the most convincing portrayals of a character inhistory. His gift inside the ring was there for everyone to see, evendespite his ankle problems that he refused to rest. The angle he workedwith Austin was one f the best segments of tv that WWF ever provided.His talent along with the truely amazing character he played so well,could've easily taken him to the main event.

After reminiscing over old youtube clips of Pillman, thoughts of othersflooded to mind.... guys who unfortunately never had the chance to rechtheir true potential.

Owen Hart was one of very few wrestlers to have perished inside thering. I can personally recall that moment so clearly, as I was watchingthe event live with my best friend who alike myself choked up....  Owenhad more than everything. One of the greatest  wrestling technitians.Vince never saw him as a main eventer, but had everything needed to be.

Eddie Guererro was another who died in his prime.... he lied, cheatedand stole his way into our hearts. His fight with drugs were welldocumented but adventually caught up to him. I remember the day I readthe news of his death and my first thought was "yeah but he can't die,he was supposed to be one of the greatest"... and he would've been.

Magnum TA is thankfully still with us, but unfortunately he never gotto where he was heading. He was heading for the top of the world, andcould very well have stayed there had fate not stuck its ugly nose in.He was set to have a run with the NWA title at the expense of Flair...and I suppose the golden question would be: Would Flair had made it to16 if Magnum had not been left paralyzed by his car crash? His steelcage match with Tully Blanchard was way before its time!

Others that deserve a golden mention are of course Dynamite Kid wholiterall gave his body to the sport. Kerry von Eric who amazinglybecame a big WWF star and IC Champ with a prosthetic foot, beforetaking his own life. Davey Boy Smith was another who's drug abuse cameback to haunt him.and Bruiser Brody, who was before my time but hismurder at the hands of a fellow wrestler was a true tragedy.

The dark side of Profensional Wrestling has always been a lingeringpresence which I prey we never see again, but I fear it will.

This was Pocket!

The good, the bad and the ugly vol 8: Creative Monkeys!

WWE Creative... not so creativeare they! The writing has become a real big issue within the WWE as of late... perhaps the whole of 2009.... there have been a few highmoments, but maily poor, sub-standard shit!

So I thought it was time to revive The good, the bad and the ugly in dedication to those monkeys who work in Conneticut!

The Good

Lets start on a positive. For me there have been few, but I'd have tohighlight the storyline of the year, focused on Randy Orton's superbportrayal of his character, who decided to innialate the McMahonfamily, one by one. This was the high spot of the year for me.... sureit did start off in the final weeks of 2008, but it really got goingafter the Royal Rumble,in which for the first time since 1999 a heel won it. Once HHH gotdragged into the fray as the last hope and family protector, then thewriters really went to town. IED... the punt heard around the world onVince....They even took it to Orton's house and gave us a glimps of "attitude" for a weeks or two.... great stuff!!

The Bad

It would be a long, long list but I'll pull out a select few.

Horswoggle getting more TV time than guys with real talent. Another failed DX return.... glo sticks T shirtsand more... they are booked in the main event every year which is onereason why Raw has been terrible for months. The main reason is theGuest Hosts. The writing is so fucking predictable. Its as if they havea standard script which gets tweaked as to what kind of Host is on theshow. If its Nascar gimps, the Bella's dress in driving gear. If its a Boxer they dress in boxing gowns... the show is a predictable train wreck!

Finally I'd have to point out the flop of the Montreal Screwjob II. Itwas on paper a decent idea but it was poorly executed. The whole TeddyLong (actor of the year)  in the Limo skit was fucking shamefull.....

The Ugly

I'm not gonna go with an angle or storyline here, I'm gonna revive apiece of news that, when I read it, I could hardly believe my eyes.This got me pissed... really pissed!

Remember the article about the WWE Creative Team "MOANING" about theirjobs? These guys were bitching about having to book too much TVin-between the PPV's. To work for WWE would be a pleasure, in anyaspect... fuck I'd sell Nachos and be happy to do it. But these "suitwearing monkeys" have no fucking clue how lucky they are to writestorylines for the biggest company in the industry. Its a dream jobfor every single wrestling fan.... millions and millions (say it rock)would run down their Grandmother to write for Vince McMahon. I'd cutoff my left bollock for such a job!

You can't replace booking with gimmick matches!

You can't write the same gay promo's for John Cena each week!

You can't run out of ideas for CM Punk once he finally gets over!

You can't keep recycling Cena v Orton v HHH v HBK or Edge v Batista v Undertaker!

You can't keep booking a "beat the clock challenge" when you need a number one contender!

You can't rely on a video promo to tell the story of a feud!

Notice how the writing sucks all year round until Rumble-Mania time???

So to conclude.... it's been a poor year for creativity. I think alotof what we see on TV is down to vince's vision of the PG product andalso the restrictions of Linda's Senate campaign.... but my dogs couldwrite better than the lazy, slop that the overpaid fuckwits inConneticut do.

People within the industry or WWE would call me an internet idiot, butI know my wrestling and if I worked for Vince McMahon he would have ithard for the stuff I'd russle up for him. And I'd do it for free.

Wrestling fans know wrestling.... Hollywood writers don't!!

This was Pocket!

I was looking on wwe shop after the aftershow and I found some really funny stuff here are some of the highlights.

From the clearance rack perfect for the holidays

Batista Plush Bear

While Batista may carry a reputation for being one of the most physically dominant forces in World Wrestling Entertainment, it doesn't necessarily mean that The Animal can't qualify to be a brand newaddition to the lovable WWE Shop Plush Bear family! From his famousring attire, detailed body art and signature haircut, all of theattributes that fans of this sports-entertainment powerhouse have cometo know on a weekly basis are all captured within one 17' collectible! Experience The Animal's softer side and pick one up today!! 17' tall.Cotton, polyester, and nylon. Imported.

$15.00

http://www.wweshop.com/item/batista-plush-bear/hotdeals/16-00308

WWE Light Cruiserweight Championship Plastic Belt with Gregory Helms Action Figure

Light Cruiserweight Belt-Plastic

Gregory Helms Action Figure

Sale Price: $11.98 (save 60%!)

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gregory-helms-action-figure/hotdeals/50-03430

D Generation X Yarmulke

Now no matter where you are you can show your support for themischievous group of degenerates in the WWE..D Generation X. Get your Dgeneration X Yarmulke today! Black. 100% cotton with suede feel.Embroidered logos. Imported.

Sale Price: $4.98 (save 67%!)

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Carlito Wig

You really want to be cool? Part of achieving the intense levels ofcoolness that only Carlito has been able to attain thus far lies withinone's hairstyle. Can anybody else wear the trademark locks of Carlitoquite like the Caribbean Superstar? Maybe, maybe not. Either way,there's never any harm in trying! Fans of this brash competitor can nowemulate the most recognizable "do" in sports-entertainment history bythrowing on the Carlito wig and instantaneously increase their coolfactor by leaps in bounds in the process! There's no hotter place to beon a Monday Night than right in the middle of Carlito's Cabana, so besure to demonstrate a proper style to attend the festivities! 9.85'diameter. Adjustable to fit most heads. Imported.

Sale Price: $7.98 (save 60%!)

http://www.wweshop.com/item/carlito-wig/hotdeals/02-00452

Paul Heyman Ring Rage 24.5 Action Figure

Collectall of your favorite superstars. Get yourPaul Heyman action figuretoday! Comes complete with packaging. Action figure Dimensions  the figures are typically 7' tall and approx. 4' in width. Construction material injection molded plastic. Made of ABS plastic and PVC.

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Sale Price: $5.98 (save 60%!)

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DanTheCannon

The Impact Players Host

And well, well, well, Dan the cannon has a problem. A back problem that is and it's not getting any better. I usually don't like to share much of my personal life with the wrestling world because let's face itwho in the hell gives a shit, but this is starting to affect my performance and unfortunately we are going to be taking this week off because of it. I had to get several injections into my back and I guess it takes a while to kick in because to be honest I am in pain right nowas I type, but I want to give everybody an ample heads up.

My major problem is going to be preparing an outline and material which is obviously the most important part of the show. So rather than just take a week off altogether, we can still do a callers only show. Let me know if there is anybody out there who wants to contribute to a callers only show otherwise we will just scrap the week altogether.

Also obviously I haven't been able to keep in touch via the forums and I don't want you guys to think that I'm losing my passion for thebusiness. I'm just going through some unfortunate circumstances rightnow and hopefully everything will be sorted out soon so I can come back to being my awesome self. Seriously though please hold the forums pagesdown guys until I get back and don't let the ship sink gentlemen. We are wrestling! Thanks for your understanding guys.

Sincerely Dan the Cannon

Now I working on the look and feel of the site. Ill be look at a few different things in this area. Let Me know what you guys think.

The Blog has been updated so members can postto the blog. Member blog post will have to be approved to be posted somake it good.. If your post is good it will be tweet out to the world!!

As you know Dan the cannon has asked me to help with the website. Lucky I have a lot of experience with web administering. I will be trying a lot of different things just to see how they look and work out. If you see something you like (or dislike) just let someone know, Hopefully we soon have more ways for you guys to add content to the site.