We’d like to welcome our latest family member here to pro wrestling’s fastest-growing website — WrestlersRamblings.com — here he is: The Amazin’ Anthony Volastro! How ’bout a big welcome from all our regulars? Take it away, oh, Amazin’ one! - Mr. Mal

With McMahon being so desperate for ratings that he is bribing viewers to watch Raw with his Million dollar giveaway (which personally I could have spent the million bucks buying TV sets , putting them in a warehouse , and jacking up my own ratings - with of course a few bribes to the Nielsen distributors) we have thus official entered another dark age of professional wrestling. Dark ages are commonplace in the wrestling world - the incredible high of the 80’s, the horrific lows of the 90’s, and then the rise again in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. But now with Austin missing, Rock in Hollywood, and everyone else dying off or being shipped to rehab, we are in a new wrestling recession. And just like how economists claim an economic downturn can be good for the economy so to is this new wrestling dark age.

With ratings slipping, McMahon dipping into his own pockets, and stadiums unable to sell-out - McMahon is going to have to pull in the reigns of his horrible booking team and his out of control Son-in-Law, Triple “I will be the champ whenever I want” H. So die hard fans have to accept and let Pro Wrestling fall off the pop culture map for the time being until from the ashes another Steve Austin and Rock will emerge with fresh storylines and attitudes.

This is McMahon at his best: when he is forced to get vicious with competition. However, the problem this time is that McMahon’s competition is himself. He really needs to face facts that its his talent and writers causing his problems, not people’s lack of interest in the WWE. With no competition and no real reasons (until recently) to give top notch programming and writing, Vince has let his guard down. And giving away money is not going to be the fix. Not to mention those who do not watch wrestling will probably feel that the outcome of the money giveaway is as much of a farce as the outcome of matches on the card.

Just as McMahon reinvented WWE to get out of his early 90’s slump by turning from kid/family oriented to R rated material for guys - he needs to do the same now. Perhaps doing something that hasn’t been done in wrestling before - like keeping it exciting, and unexpected, letting crazy things happen like, for instance, a high level of unpredictability
in outcome of matches (just what if someone like Umaga pins Triple H on a fluke thirty seconds into what fans would think is a throw-away match) Whatever McMahon’s solution turns out to be, it means that die hard wrestling fans are going to get some kick ass writing coming their ways so just hang in there because Vince will not go down without a helluva fight. So for now, fans just need to enjoy this new Dark Age of wrestling - with all the experimentation that goes on to entice new viewers you are sure to get some horrible gimmicks and storylines that you will be able to look back on and laugh at (TL Hopper anyone and Jake the Snake being forced to drink booze by Jerry Lawler) and at some point in the future there will be a turn and we will once again get some truly kick-ass entertainment.

- Anthony Volastro

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Welcome back to another edition of ‘Under the Mat’. Sadly The Tazz couldn’t be here tonight so you’re stuck with me. I have a secret that I would like to now share with all of you fine folks out there. Lean in close…..A little closer…..Let me whisper in your ear…… The WWE is not the only wrestling organization out there….Shhhhh….Don’t tell anyone.

That’s right boys and girls…I, the Richster….Have discovered that there is a conspiracy of the highest order to take any REAL, talented wrestler, any wrestler that could possibly bring another company to the forefront, and buy him off to come work for Vince McMahon. However that’s not the worst of it. The worst part is that in order to work for Vince you have to water down your act accordingly. We can’t have you possible future superstars coming in and showing up the big boys. Let’s look at this a little closer shall we?

Rob Van Dam: One of the most amazing performers to ever grace the ECW stage…And that’s saying something when you’re in a group of daredevils like Sabu, Tazz, Tajiri, and Jerry Lynn. Rob, you come on over and join the WWE…We’ll make you a superstar…but you gotta cut out all that crazy stuff you do, especially outside of the ring. Also, lighten up your kicks and punches. The boys are whining that you’re actually….Making contact and it hurts. No wonder RVD got busted with the weed again. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Mal wants all you kids out there to realize that in no way do we condone marijuna use for any reason. The views expressed here are the thoughts of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the website as a whole or its administration.) 

Tajiri: As mentioned previously, another of the ECW Originals that ended up in the WWE. They had no clue what to do with this man. So they buried him. What better way to water a guy down then to not bother to give him much offense. Now for the biggie.

CM Punk: I recently purchased The Best of CM Punk Vol 2 & 3. Both of them from ROH. After watching the first MATCH on this tape I realized just how watered down Vince had made CM Punk. First thing to go…The Pepsi Plunge. A Top Rope Pedigree? What are you nuts? Triple H can’t even get off the mat let alone do a move like that! Can’t be showing up the son in law…So that’s out. How about the Shining Wizard? Nope…that’s a flashy move, you can’t be flashy, would make Randy Orton look like even more like a clueless idiot.
Ok Welcome to Chicago? Nope, that involves the double underhook, looks like you’re going for a pedigree…That’s Triple H ground again. So basically it’s go out and punch people in the face, kick em in the gut, then lift em over my head and drop em face first across my knee? You bet! Now go get em!

All of the Superstars I listed above have shown in ‘other feds’ (You know, the ones that Vince wants you to believe doesn’t exist) that they are FULL of talent and could put on one heck of a show…But they can’t….Because that would make Vince’s established have to put forth some ‘effort’ in the ring. Then again…You ever wonder why the fans in ECW and ROH and other places not named the WWE are so rabid and into their brand? It’s because the people who work for those companies give 110 percent EVERY NIGHT! The fans see that and they LOVE them for it! The WWE fans sees their favorite superstar mail it in and show their support by changing the channel. Remember back when the WWE was bringing in a 6 rating? Yeah go compare the work ethic then to what you see weekly from the WWE now. No wonder they’re lucky to draw a 4 rating on Monday night.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
-Thank you Vince McMahon for making Monday night worth watching. The return of the King of the Ring was truly the most entertained I’ve been in quite a while when watching WWE programming. From start to finish the card was solid…Ok with the exception of the dead weight in the ring called Khali, but since he didn’t advance and he actually contributed to the storyline with the abuse he put on Finlay, it’s a forgivable offense. The other thing that KOTR established was to finally put a push on CM Punk. The kid won the Money in the Bank and then lost the next night to Jericho. I was almost positive they were going to drop him to Jericho again and actually cheered when they didn’t!

-That leads to my next thought. William Regal…Oh how I have missed your ability to play the arrogant heel. You spent most of your GM life as a Tweener or Face but to watch you come out with that sneer on your lips and the hate in your eyes well it just brought back memories of a young, hungry Lord Stephen Regal and it made me enjoy booing you. I sincerely hope the push continues and we see you in the ring more often!

-Final note. This Saturday night I get to see the first ever HWA (Heartland Wrestling Alliance) Event here in town. This will be a first non WWE card to come to town since ECW closed it’s doors and I’m really looking forward to getting back to that small crowd feel. To make the show even better the main event is ROH Champion Nigel McGuinness taking on Chris Hero! So it’s an HWA event with an ROH main! How rocking is that! I’ll also get to see my very first barbed wire hardcore match in person and can’t wait! I’ll be sure to share my thoughts and feelings on the show next week…..
Until then….I’m crawling back under the mat.

 -R.M. Carroll

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Booker T makes an apology to Sting and so there will be no match between them instead it will be Booker T and Sting in a tag team match against Robert Roode and James Storm. With the TNA Tag Team Title vacant matches for the title will take place over the next two weeks to determine the first four teams. The deuces wild tag team qualifying match starts with Rellik and Black Reign against Team 3D in the first bout tonight. The tournament will have four teams from the qualifying matches and four teams that are random where the teams will be a wild card style.
Team 3D is looking like they were out of  sync last week and this week is no different in this match up, if they don’t pull things together they will not go any further. This altercation would be worth seeing but, I would say that is will be at least one more week before we see this one on the Impact Zone. After a Choke Slam from Brother Ray gets only a two count Team 3D gets the win with the 3D so they advance in the tag team tournament.

The second qualifying match will be the Instant Classic Christian Cage and the War Machine Rhino taking on the Motor City Machine Guns, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. A very fast moving match both teams are evenly matched. Sabin goes over the top and hits both Cage and Rhino outside the ring. After several near falls this one is tough to call when Rhino hits his patented move the Gore and it all over Cage gets the pin and they advance in this tournament.
The knockout challenge will be all the Knockouts Division in a over the top battle until there are two left and the one who climbs the ladder will get a contract to face the current Knockout Champion Awesome Kong for the title at the upcoming pay per view Sacrifice. The loser will be given a Britney Spears makeover and have their head shaved.

Next is a tag team match Booker T and Sting against James Storm and Robert Roode. Both teams working together and this one could go either way. Sting and Booker seem to be on the same page but, will they keep it together or will this be just the beginning. Sting hits the DDT on Roode and Sting and Booker T get the win. During the match Roode reacts to James Storm attempt to use the beer bottle and almost hits Roode. In the end they begin to throw blows and it looks like these two may go head to head as the heat continues.
Next up is Kurt Angle and the TNA Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe for the title a pay per view worthy match on the Impact Zone. Who will get the win and go onto Sacrfice to face Scott Steiner? Advantage is on Samoa Joe’s side as Kurt Angle is distracted by his wife Karen Angle and AJ Styles so this will show show who really has the real focus.

A Suicide dive from Samoa Joe and it could be all over for Kurt Angle as the agility of Joe is overpwering Angle. Angle gets the upper hand and sends Joe over the rope and Joe lands hard on his left knee and even though I hate to see it the outcome will likely be a DQ and Samoa Joe keeps the title but, may not be 100% going into Sacrifice against Scott Steiner. Kurt Angle gets Joe in the figure four leglock and in a struggle he gets to the rope to break the hold. After Scott Steiner hits Kurt Angle with a steel pipe Joe gets the win. And when Scott gets in the ring he says “its all about respect’ and that sets up Jim Cornette’s change for the upcoming bout at Sacrifice now it will be all three men in a three way Scott Steiner verses Kurt Angle verses Samoa Joe for the TNA Heavyweight Championship.
And thats all this fan has to say…Shredder88…I’m out

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