Hey all - just a short one today. I know, I know - shocking, right? ;-) Wow! I think I've got a hater. Ah well, to each their own! And I guess I'm in good company: so do Freddy P and Michelle, just to name a few.
Around the barn, we have a saying that you're not a real rider until you've fallen off, gotten back on and kept on riding. Its a kind of rite of passage that separates true barn girls from the casual riders, the die-hards from the wannabes. I wonder if it is similar in this virtual world: that you're not a real blogger until you've gotten a hater ...or two or four (is there a group discount? :-) ) and kept on writing. I'm also curious to know what possesses people to be haters: are they just good at it? Did they have a bad day? Are they too unevolved to think of less biased ways of putting their thoughts? Do they think it passes for wit? And what do they hope to gain?
The ancient art of alchemy was practiced in order to turn lesser metals into pure gold. It also involved the search for an elixir of life, which would keep the creator happy and healthy indefinitely. In this exact sense, alchemy is not currently practiced. Figuratively, however, its precepts are still relevant. The transmutation of base comments into something positive is practiced by any who attract the comments of haters and keep doing what they do anyway. All that happens is that continuance and success become more poignant in the face of opposition. As anyone who has tasted that cup knows, it is surely one of life's sweetest elixirs. Bottoms up! :-)
Earlier this month, I got to experience the real thing. Admittedly, the setting was a bit different than I imagined. Being a barns and haylofts kind of chick, it having taken place in the city outskirts was a bit surprising, as was the number of men involved. However, since both Batista and Triple H were part of it, how can a girl complain? (wink). In fact, it was awesome. We ended up down on the floor. If you've never tried it - you must! The view is so worth it!
It all started with Evan Bourne's high-flying aerobatics. This dude is going to need flight clearance from the local airport if he gets any higher! Mike Knox drew plently of heel heat too, which warmed things up nicely. In the category of men I'd rather see between the ropes than between the sheets: Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer, who were up next. It is impossible not love the Dreamer; he is to WWE fans what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn, what the Sox were to Boston before the glorious season of 2004. Maybe someday Dreamer will get his World Series ring. I hope so because it would be fun to see him go all the way.
From there, it became a Four Way with Finlay & Hornswoggle v. Jesse and Festus v. Les Miz(erables) and Morrison v. The Majors Formerly Known As Brothers (aka the Edgeheads, aka Hawkins & Ryder...pause for breath. Are these guys part of a witness protection plan or what? Can we stop with the name changes already!). Television does not do justice to the pace of these matches - it is ca-razaaay!! And so much fun! Hornswoggle was adorably amusing as usual. Fighting Finlay was his heavy-handed self. M & M worked beautifully in tandem as always (digression: its really been interesting to watch The Miz develop his character. I was surprised at how much the crowd is into disliking him). Jesse and Festus, as always, combined some good wrestling with some good laughs.
The lowest point for me was definitely the Diva's bikini contest which followed. I don't tend to swing from that side of the plate (sorry girls). So although I really loved Kelly Kelly's yellow bikini (can I borrow it???), I'd really prefer to see the divas wrestle.
Next to enter: Big Show and Triple H v. the Great Khali and Umaga. Triple H came out to a HUGE pop. For awhile, it looked like the "Pound On Triple H" Show, but he pulled a Pedigree out of nowhere for the pin and the win. Even Khali did a decent job. Big Show was delightfully humorous, teasing Umaga just prior to felling him. And Triple H? Utterly fabulous! Oh...and his wrestling was great too :-). He and Big Show make an intriguing team.
This foursome was followed by Paul Burchill and Kofi Kingston (who I love watching, but we need to clarify how his name is pronounced. Otherwise when fans chant for him, it sounds like they're desperate for a Dunkin' Donuts run). Major kudos to Katie Lea, who accompanied her brother to ringside, for pulling off the cheerleader role without making me hate her. Her way of interacting with crowd was endearingly partisan. Kofi's athletic talent is fantastic; Burchill, with his more traditional ground-and-pound style makes a nice foil for him.
I was waiting all night for the Hardy's to come in and finally, they did...against Shelton Benjamin & MVP (who is so good at running away that I'd love to see him against Edge in a 50m sprint. Don't get me wrong - I love MVP. Seriously, he has a great sense of his character and plays it to the hilt). This was an amazing watch...Jeff's Whisper-in-the-Wind is absolutely wicked live! The Hardys had a bit a of a long haul before pulling out the win, but the crowd was behind them from the moment the bell rang. Their dedication to the fans comes through loud and clear, especially when Jeff hopped off the apron for a hug-and-pic session with a fan. Even more worthy of respect is the quality of match they create and the spark they generate with their high-flying moves and way of presenting themselves. Nicely done, gentlemen! SB & MVP finished up with a short comic interlude, which looked like it mught include an additional fisticuff, but ended instead in a brotherly hug, much to the fan's disappointment. Ah, c'est la vie!
But the climax of the night belonged to Batista and CM Punk, whose match for the World Heavyweight Title closed out the night. When Batista entered, the fans really gave it up! And Punk's pop wasn't much behind. They delivered a stellar performance in a No DQ match, which meandered out of the ring, incorporated a microphone-turned-weapon and a chair or two. All in all, the night was utterly satisfying. I can't wait to do it again!
Before I begin another installment here, I want to thank those who've invited me to be among their friends. As you can see, this is something I do in my spare time (at least until WWE hires me to write for them!! :-) ). Between keeping up with my Red Sox, MMA events, all the WWE happenings, plus life in general, what you see here is about what I get for free time. Consequently, many thanks. I'd hate to disappoint you, so what I write is it. However, if you just like reading my $.02, I'm going to thrill you because I have two topics to discuss coming in short order. First up: divas!
With Summer Skin and the advent of the new championship, "Divas" has definitely been a buzzword the last few days. And it got me thinking. There are few subjects that can get a girl going like "Divas". Whether they love them or hate them, most chicks can blather a blue streak about divas. In which category do I fall? It depends on the diva. I expect several things from a diva in general. The most critical one is that she better be able to wrestle. When she starts spouting off about not being afraid to break a nail, I'd better buy it. You want respect? Earn it. I spend six days a week dealing with thousand pound animals. I do it when its 95 and humid. I do it when the high is 25. I know about having passion for what you do. If you've got it, show it. I've been bitten, kicked, thrown off, slammed into walls, knocked out. You think landing on my keister in the ring would scare me? Hell no. So if that's what a diva does for a living, it better not look like it scares her either. Next, I love great moves in the ring. I don't mean the ones where all you've got is hanging out. I mean real wrestling moves. MMA-derived moves are fine. Gymnastics-derived moves are fine, as long as it works in the match (i.e. realistically, why would you ever use a round-off when it leaves you with your back to your opponent? Can't you at least put a half twist in it to make it look somewhat practical?). If its athletic, creative, functional and entertaining, I'm in her corner. Speaking of athleticism, a diva better handle that part of it competently. Otherwise, she has no business in the ring. Lastly, I'm looking for some personality. If she's funny, so much the better. Specifically, who do I love to watch? Here's the list:
Natalya: she just got here and I already love her. She can wrestle, she can work the crowd, she can tell the story. Delightfully cruel in the ring, charming out of it. Perfect! ( p.s. I wouldn't mind seeing more of buddy Victoria either)
Mickie James: she's spunky and fun and yeah, she can wrestle her butt off.
Kelly Kelly: Her personality is just so cute and sincere. Better yet, she keeps getting better in the ring, especially since her move to Raw. Although Michelle tends to be known as the athletic diva, KK is going to give her a run for her money.
Michelle: she's improved consistently as a wrestler. Plus, her build and athleticism reminds me of me. Her body is the best shape of the slimmer women, which is fun (for me) to compete with :-) . My big criticism: please, honey, learn to throw a punch!
Who am I gonna love?
Katie Lea: her dramatic ability and character sense are stellar. She's competent in-ring; a little polish will take her a long way.
Cherry: she's a sweetheart with prodigious ring potential. Can't wait to see her wrestle more!
Would I be a diva? Sure. I'd give a try for a day or two or twelve. I'd work my you-know-what off to be good at the wrestling side. I'd love the dramatic side of it and the competition of trying to give fans a great match every day. But in the end, I'm not really a diva. I'm a barn girl.
On a fan site last night, I read several comments that got me thinking. The first were the currently ubiquitous "F8%$ Vickie, Edge, Vince" etc. of those who are adjusting to the Undertaker's loss at ONS. The next was one berating those commenters as perpetuating the notion that WWE fans are stupid losers. I'm pretty sure I don't belong to that category. I have a BS in Management. I attended college on an academic scholarship and graduated **** laude. I've managed offices for a veterinarian and a lawn care company, as well as starting my own business. I've been published. So how in Death Valley did I ever end up a WWE fan? Its simple, really. I am a WWE fan because of the Undertaker. And not just because his body is scalding :-).
I was channel surfing and stumbled on Christmas in Iraq in back 2006 . This was in the days I cringe to confess about now, back when I was one of those people who heard "pro wrestling" and scoffed, who watched Jimmy Wang Yang miss a moonsault and snickered. Yeah, I was one of those people who didn't get it. Enter the Man in Black, stage left.
I've always said that if something looks easy, its probably because you're watching somebody good do it. And watching the Undertaker, professional wrestling looks darn easy. He was the guy who made me start imagining what it would be like to actually do those moves: to balance on the ropes for old School, to flip and hold another large athlete with control for the Tombstone, to hurl your body out of the ring for the Suicide Dive and land on something far from cushioned. As a former gymnast, the hypotheses came fairly easily. And with them came understanding and appreciation of the necessary athleticism. Watching the Undertaker made me consider the precision it takes to land these moves without injuring others...or yourself (much). He made me think about what its takes to tell the story, to sell what's happening in the ring to the top row of that big crowd outside the squared circle and to people at home. It occured to me that no mean set of acting skills is required to do it well. I saw the Undertaker tombstone Batista on a set of steel steps - and then surreptitiously lean over to ask if he was alright. If I hadn't already begun respecting the guys and gals who do this stuff, I would have started right then. Scoff? Snicker? Not me. Not anymore. Not ever again.
While the Undertaker is teaching the WWE's greenhorns about the wrestling business, he's also educating those of us whose closest call with being inside the ropes was the drunken encounter with a ball of twine we try not to talk about. Granted, as in any class, you get out what you put in. There are those who will never learn and those who think they can get an 'A' without showing up. But there are also those, like me, who have vicariously attended his school of hard knocks and come away with knowledge they wouldn't have had otherwise: an understanding of what it takes to be a truly amazing performer in sports entertainment. The homework? Pass it on to those who still don't get it. In the meantime, thanks Prof. And if you decide to offer continuing ed, I'll sign up.
