The Critic

QUOTE (T R U @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 07:09 PM) Well right off the bat.. This big red cage is not easy for TV watching.. when they show the far shots I can barely tell whats goin on in there.. Yeah, it looks terrible. A clusterf*** match isn't the way I'd have started the show.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 06:56 PM) Early word is he's gonna debut in the cage match they have set up tonight. Also 8 women tournament for the title on Raw tonight since Melina tore her ACL over the weekend. So hopefully this means we'll get to see Maryse 3 separate times tonight. Draw back is we get 7 women's matches... I don't think the entire tournament happens tonight.

Goddammit, no Heyman tonight: http://heymanhustle.craveonline.com/articl...night-war-2010q As always, a very interesting read from Paul E.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 06:28 PM) Yeah, let's get rid of a guy that makes wrestling sound legit and gives it credibility to some clueless loud mouth who has never been in the ring. The Buddy System should be the name of the AARPWO in TNA.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 05:22 PM) lol, Bubba the love sponge is the new backstage interviewer for TNA. Hogan gets his guys paid, thats for sure I read a couple weeks ago that Nash didn't like Taz as the color guy, and was pushing for MARK MADDEN to be hired to do color commentary.

As excited as I am about tonight, it won't mean s*** if the writing is stupid. I really hope the writing staff steps up.

Man, the rumors and breaking news are a-flyin' today! Source: PWInsider.com - This isn't 100% confirmed but apparently Ric Flair was spotted at Orlando's International Airport last night around 8PM EST. With the promo cut by Hulk Hogan earlier today on Flair, it is still possible he might appear on iMPACT. - Former WWE Superstar Brian Kendrick is expected to start with TNA soon. He may make his debut in the Steel Cage Asylum match for the X Division Title tonight. I had read earlier that if Flair didn't accept TNA's offer by today, they were pulling it. I know he was leery of burning a bridge with V-Mac, but the third wife costs $$$ and I doubt indy jobs pay enough for his liking. And the X Division is custom-made for Theeeeee Brian Kendrick. He'll do very well there.

oooooh, it still has that New Decade Smell, AND that New Thread Smell!!! Unlike the AARPWO, which has a faint smell of cotton balls, suntan lotion and wrinkle cream.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 3, 2010 -> 10:13 PM) Please don't link bleacher report articles as a source of relevant information. Ilya is probably gone, but I wouldn't take a bleacher report report as saying the Hawks could nab him this week. We'd deal, what? Sharp +? That'd really make us quite unstoppable. The report guessed at Versteeg and Barker going to Atlanta. They're sure to ask for more than that, but that does sound like a deal they'd take if no one came at them with more. Salary-wise, it's close, so the Hawks could possibly absorb the difference. Of course, the FUTURE contract would be the problem. How much do you want to give up while risking that Kovalchuk bolts after the season?

A top line of Kovalchuk, Toews and Kane? .....faint.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 3, 2010 -> 09:28 AM) Heyman would be interesting, but the powers that be never seem to let Heyman do his thing. When he is creative control, he is at his best, but I really cannot see Bischoff or Hogan allowing that I don't think Heyman would sign on unless he had things in writing. He's basically moved on from wrestling, although he has kept his ear to the ground. I think Heyman, Hogan and Bischoff would be highly motivated to challenge VKM, so anything is possible. If it meant Russo got the boot, even better.

Okay, if this is true......NOW color me interested!! http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31801...e-creative In a most interesting article posted by The Sports Courier, it is speculated TNA Wrestling will blast out during its first unopposed hour this Monday January 4th during the 1st Monday Night Wrestling Wars in 9 years. Vince McMahon's WWE will be challenged by a new version of TNA, lead by former WCW President Eric Bischoff, WWE Wrestlemania and All Time Legend Hulk Hogan, TNA President Dixie Carter, and surprises they will unveil on Monday Night. According to the article, which was written by Fred Richani there is a 95% that former WWE superstar Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson will make his TNA debut this Monday night. Before you discredit this source, think about it. Anderson has been relatively quiet. He took some Nu-Wrestling Evolution and Hulkamania Tour international bookings, but has not popped up much, if at all stateside in a wrestling capacity. Anderson even said on his Twitter that he wasn't a free agent. This was in response to a fan mentioning he was “the hottest free agent in wrestling.” Now here comes the big surprise. From the article: Here's the real bombshell. We are told there is a 75% chance, if not better, that former ECW owner, WWE manager/commentator, and creative genius Paul Heyman will debut for TNA on Monday night. In fact, it is believed that he may be the first person you see on your television screen, assuming the now non-WWE contracted Shane McMahon doesn't decide to take a stroll (now that would freeze hell over) to Orlando, Florida. On a side note, if Heyman does debut for TNA on Monday night, it further pieces everything together. RVD and Anderson did the Hulkamania Tour. RVD is tight with Hogan. Heyman is loyal to Anderson and RVD. Heyman can provide the creativity and sense that has been lacking in TNA's booking for quite some time. And here's some food for thought. Tommy Dreamer left WWE's ECW brand. He is actually not contracted by WWE anymore. In fact, he can't appear on television for a major promotion until a designated 90-day period ends. I ask you readers this. Who said Dreamer would go to TNA as a wrestler? If Heyman shocks the world Monday night, expect Dreamer to be backstage and involved in some creative/road agent capacity in the very near future (aka a non-televised/non-active wrestling role). Lastly, we were told that none of us should be surprised if Booker T returns to Raw this Monday night for WWE, as a way of Vince McMahon letting TNA know “I won't acknowledge you, but I know you're there.” Hulk Hogan seems to be doing what he's said since joining TNA: shaking things up.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 3, 2010 -> 08:47 AM) Are Kennedy and RVD WWE copyrights? If so, then its gonna be Ken Anderson, and I have to wonder what RVD would be renamed I think RVD has rights to his name since he used it before signing with WWE. Angelina Love re-signing = goodbye Lacey Von Erich. Too bad for my eyes, but good for the business.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 3, 2010 -> 08:18 AM) She is all yours, man

Those refs had a bad game, and they over-reacted to the Hawks' response to the physical (goonish) play of the Blues. Even in my crappy floor hockey league when I was young, I would see this. When the refs would be off their game and the play got chippy, they would make up for their poor officiating by trying to "take back control of the game". This meant issuing overly severe penalties like game misconducts and majors where a minor would have been appropriate. That's what the game last night reminded me of.

This is not the smartest or sharpest game this team has played.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 2, 2010 -> 07:36 PM) That was god-awful officiating. I bet the Blues didn't get that kind of home-cooking during the holidays. STUPID penalty by Brouwer to give the Blues a full 2:00 two-man advantage.

QUOTE (Nunnigan @ Jan 2, 2010 -> 12:28 PM) Very good news. I gotta see them when they come to Chicago. It would ****ing sweet if they go on tour with Pearl Jam or AiC The context of this post no longer seems odd, since it was not about AX7 after all, but rather Soundgarden.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 2, 2010 -> 01:19 PM) This does have the makings of being a trap game... That's true. I hate the trap, it sucks all the great elements out of the game.

Blues fired Andy Murray. We'll see if they get the "new coach boost" when they host the Hawks tonight. I doubt it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 31, 2009 -> 03:15 PM) racist Hey, no personal attacks!

I'm actually used to the team changing their look pretty often, so I wouldn't have any problem with a new uniform. I find myself thinking it's time for a change. The current uniforms are great, but I think something new would be refreshing. I don't want toothpaste tubes ('83) or softball uniforms ('76), but I've liked the majority of the choices they've made over the years. At the very least, I support the idea of rotating Sunday retro uniforms, home and road. If nothing else, it would give the fans a whole bunch of new gear to buy.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 03:15 PM) was Dr Death the guy that b****slapped that 20/20 reporter(totally blanking on his name right now) who called wrestling fake to his face? No, that was another Dr. D., David Schultz. Schultz was off his f***ing rocker. Dr. Death was a good friend of Jim Ross, yet agreed (to keep his job, I'm sure) to hang around with Ed Ferrara's awful "Oklahoma" character in WCW, who was basically mocking Ross' Bell's Palsy. And it was John Stossel who took the open hand to the ear, messing up his hearing legit.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) Don't think I ever heard he was sick or even had cancer. Glad he is not suffering anymore. I know he had more of career, but I will always remember him getting knocked out by Bart Gunn legit. THE VARSITY CLUB!!! Dr. Death, Mike Rotunda, Rick Steiner and Dan Spivey with Kevin Sullivan as their "coach". Awesomeness!!!

RIP Dr. Death Steve Williams: http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/5604.html Source: PWInsider.com - It's sad to report that wrestling legend Steve "Dr. Death" Williams lost his battle with cancer last night and has passed away. More details should be available soon. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Williams.