MazFin-:-Wrestling-:-Alex's Thoughts

MAZFIN.COM---WRESTLING---ALEX'S THOUGHTS

Last Updated: 13th March

Welcome to the column of I the English Stud Muffin, entertaining SOB, saviour to millions and the master of the wrestling column, Mr.Friday Night. But you my readers, can call me Alex Gledhill. Mr.Friday Night is a gimmick that I have, rather like Rob Van Dam's Mr.Monday Night Gimmick, only I'm better looking, more entertaining and have twice the talent. On with the column as I am not a fan of long openings...

With Wrestlemania less than a month away, it only seems correct to divert my attention to the mother of all Super Shows, the Grand Daddy of them all and possibly the highest-grossing Pay-Per-View in the history of profesional wrestling in the USA. Yes the Wrestlemania 17 or Wrestlemania X-7 as the WWF are billing it, problem is upon us. Early indications show that The Rock & Stone Cold Steve Austin, the WWF's two biggest faces will go at it in the Main Event, but it wouldn't surprise me if Triple H (come on, a match with The Undertaker would be dull) and Kurt Angle (the true bad ass in the WWF at the moment) are thrown in the mix. Personally, I would like to see The Rock turn heel, via a Debra/Vince McMahon Screw Job. The Rock has said that he enjoys playing the heel more than the face and both he and Austin have made it clear that they would like to work together again in the near future. What better a time for the WWF to capitalise on an opportunity to turn Rocky heel? Austin's feud with Helmsley is steadily dying down and neither man have a big heel to feud with. I say turn Rock Vince, and turn that Son of a Bitch soon.

It appears as if the best wrestler in the WWF since Bret Hart and a personal favourite of mine, Chris Benoit is turning face. Even though, Benoit's character is more suited to heel more than face, the WWF seems to think he will gain more success as a fan faourite. It is common knowledge on the internet that good ol' JR (well not so good from a shoot aspect, just ask Jeff Jarrett) has said that this fine technician will be a huge fan favourite by the end of the year. For all of last year, the WWF Scriptwriters made the Crippler appear as a big superstar that could beat many a respected competitor, but just didn't have it when it came to beatring the big WWF Fish. Benoit lost to Triple H once on TV and once on Pay-Per-View, The Rock once on Pay-Per-View and god knows how many times on TV (though he did go over him once), Stone Cold Steve Austin twice on TV and the Undertaker went over him more than enough times on Raw & Smackdown. As a fan favourite, possibly Benoit will take that big step to the next level. However, judging from the immediate reactions to his turn, it may prove difficult to establish a cult following.

My gosh! The Tag-Team Division is growing stale and the WWF has decided to take action by re-introducing the Three-Way Feud between the best damn tag-team the WWF has ever seen, Edge & Christian, the highly over Dudley Boyz and the highly- overrated Hardy Boyz. With Wrestlemania just around the corner, what are the odds on another TLC Classic? I certainly aren't complaining, because there's no doubt that it'll be a great match. However, why don't they make it a Hell In A Cell Match or a Last Team Standing Match. Something that's new and fresh. There's only so much these three innovative teams can do in a Ladder Match and they can't be turned to, to produce the goods every time there is a sudden lul in the Tag Team Division. Push two or three new teams, like Creible/X-Pac and Perry Saturn/Dean Malenko.

ECW!ECW! ECf'nW is back at last. However, it's all but confirmed that the federation is closing down. So why am I shouting my mouth off like an ECW Die Hard proclaiming it's back? Well I was pleased to see Paul Heyman on Raw doing some good announcing and showing how proud he is of his ECW Roots. I'm sorry but this can only be a sign of more ECW things to come in the WWF. The official ECW Site has been speculating about an ECW Invasion Angle and I for one, hope it goes ahead. What's there not to like about this idea? Lynn, Rhino and Tajiri have to debut some time, so why not like this? The WWF should have Tazz get back in the ring too. He should voice his support for Heyman and re-start his in-ring career. Survive if he lets you....

Moving onto to the second biggest fed in North America, WCW. Being stuck over here in the UK, I am sorry to say that I don't get to watch Thunder at all. However, I do watch Nitro and have been impressed by the extremely high standard of in-ring action, particularly amogst the Cruiserweights. These guys sure do have a lot of talent. Personally, I think the best of the bunch are Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Kaz Hyashi, Rey Mysterio JR and Elix Skipper. I'm also well informed that the combination of AJ Styles and Air Paris is rather good too. Lets hope this Cruiserweight Division lives long and the company prospers as a result.

If only Eric Bischoff, Johnny Ace, Jimmy Hart and whoever else is writing for the comapny at the moment would realise that Rick Steiner is only useful for injuring wrestlers. He's certainly not US Title material and that belt should be taken off him post-haste. I'd rather see it around the waist of a younger, more accomplished talent than the DFG, hell even Hugh Morrus would do. There would be nothing wrong with putting the belt back on Lance Storm or maybe giving Mike Awesome the title for the first time, just take it off Steiner, he doesn't have what it takes it anymore.

Well that's it for this week. I'd love feedback for my readers and do not hesitate to e-mail me. My address is alexander@dougals.freeserve.co.uk. I'll accept any kind of constructive criticism and of course plaenty of praise. This is Alex Gledhill, signing off.