MY TAKE: Steve Austin Show feat Ariane Andrew

Before I start, let me say that I do understand that this post may cost me in the fact that I'm just a smark behind a computer that's never been in the business, blah blah blah. Anyway--

I was hesitant to listen to this episode of the Steve Austin Show because of how Ariane sounds. I didn't know how much how I could take listening to that valley girl voice, but I got through it. I liked some of the things she said and some of the things I didn't like. Let's start with the positives. When she talked about the whole Ryback fiasco. She stood her ground on what she tweeted what she did. I liked the fact that she talked about the heat she was getting could have been a good thing because it could've made for a better character. I also like the fact that she said that she presented some ideas that didn't quite get through. I know from following her social media that she was indeed working on her craft. She was doing some house shows or live events for NXT and getting better. I even saw she had a new move she was incorporating in her matches. I was glad that she actually cared enough about the craft to get better at it just in case she got called up to the main roster she wouldn't stink it up. She owned the fact that she was not a wrestling fan but she grew to love the business. She said a key statement when she said something to the fact that if you don't learn to love the business you won't last. I've heard Kevin Nash say something similar to that. So that had me thinking, she kinda gets it.

I even liked the fact that she mentioned that being a heel came natural that it was more fun than being a face. Which I've heard plenty of other people that are or were in the business say.

So later in the interview she gets asked if WWE calls would she take the call, she said she would accept because she feels "she has something to prove." No problem with that at all. Steve then asked her if some other wrestling organization would offer her a job, she basically said that since she's been in the WWE so going any where else would be downgrading. Now in this same interview she said that she still has an "itch" for wrestling. Obviously it isn't a major itch because she wouldn't work an independent show. To me that's a slap in the face to the performers that has worked for WWE and are now working the independents, like Sean Waltman, Sabu, Lisa Marie Varon, Mickie James, and others. Then you got folks like former WWE "diva" Maria who is not working for TNA. She spent time on the independents and worked on her craft and she got much better. Her promos in ROH were not bad in my opinion, but didn't allow the fact that she was no longer working for WWE take away that itch that was there for wrestling. Don't say you have an itch, but you don't want to scratch it. I don't know that kind of rubbed me the wrong way, She got the training, might as well do something with it, Just my opinion. I do wish her all the best in whatever she decides to do in the future.

~Daniel Richerson

The Main Roster is still the Main Roster...

I hear a lot of fellow smarks, yes you're a smark embrace it, say that going to the main roster is a downgrade as far as going from NXT to Raw. Ok, I understand that the main roster has been none too good lately. I understand that NXT has had the better product lately. Now that that's out the way. NXT is on the WWE network. Not everybody has the WWE Network. Raw is on USA. Raw gives you more exposure than NXT. Raw gives you more money. I'm pretty sure they don't come to NXT to stay at NXT. I'm pretty sure if you sign a contract with WWE, your goal should be on the main show, right?

We want Raw to be better. We want Raw to create better stars. You can't create better stars if the NXT stars stay in NXT. Samoa Joe will never have an opportunity to main event a WrestleMania if he stays in NXT. Like it or not, Wrestlemania is a main roster show. Royal Rumble is a main roster show. AJ Styles is on the main roster. AJ Styles is on RAW like it or not. He's not in NXT. He's on RAW. In my opinion, Samoa Joe should be on the main show right now. But the only problem with the main roster is the bad booking. That was my main problem with the Royal Rumble 2015. It was a poorly book Royal Rumble match that year. I feel it was more than the fact Roman Reigns won, it was how he won. My opinion, Big Show and Kane ruined that match.

But back to the topic at hand. The main roster is still the main roster. No matter how bad the show is. It's still the main roster. I know we all want the main roster to be better, but to say that moving to the main roster is a down grade. It's still the main roster. One of the problems with the main roster is like the "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission" mentality is none existent. When DX was just the Kliq, they did stuff that got them in trouble every week. HBK is now in the Hall of Fame, and HHH is basically Vince's right hand man.

So yes, NXT is the better product in most people's eyes. You tune in to NXT expecting the great, and you tune in to Raw expecting the worse. I get that, but that doesn't change the fact that Raw is still Raw. There's a lot of people that think Football is not as good as it once was, yet people still tune in. Some people don't think the NBA is as good as it once was but people still tune in. I think Raw will get better. Vince still micro-manages the product, which is a major issue that no one talks about. I feel that as soon as Vince lets go of the reigns, not a shot at Roman,  a little bit, that's when the product will get better.

Daniel Richerson

Impact Wrestling 7/17/14 review: GET YOUR MONEY JEFF HARDY!

Just got done watching an entertaining episode of Impact Wrestling aka TNA. First of a few shows from NYC and overall I gotta say the show was a good one. Of course you got the folks that's going to hate TNA no matter what, and to those people you really can't say anything to them. Some of them are are former employees that can't forgive, but I digress. I really got nothing bad to say about the show really. The crowd was extreme, pun intended. It was an old school wrestling crowd. Real NYC crowd. Even noticed some familiar faces in the crowd that were at some of the WWE shows back when they ran shows in that building.

Dixie Carter should not be on TV. I know I'm just a "smark" but in my opinion, she shouldn't be on TV as a character. Don't get me wrong, Dixie Carter looks great for her age, but the kind of heat she was getting tonight was not typical wrestling heat, it was what some fans call "X-Pac heat" meaning they just don't like you at all. AT ALL. But with that being said I like the build between her and Bully Ray. They're actually making it work. Now I think Dixie, if she still owns the company, should only show up when needed. Not forced down our throats. Let Kurt Angle handle the GM role, and Dixie sits in the back in her office and sips her drink of choice. Dixie is not even in Vickie Guerrero's league of character, and Vickie was not that good of a character.

Can we talk about Jeff Hardy? I mean, doesn't he have money now? The spots that man did tonight were insane. First the spot where Jeff went head first on the stairs after Lashley grabbed his legs while he was standing on the stairs. I even tweeted after that, "Is Jeff ok?" Jeff is the type of guy that loves to top himself in the ring. Now let's get to the swanton on the stairs. Folks if you didn't see it, youtube it. It was the definition of crazy or stupid. It's amazing to me how Jeff hasn't had major back surgery with all the stunts he's pulled over the years. Keep getting your money Jeff.

Speaking of getting your money, allow me to mention Daniel Bryan. Keep getting your money Daniel Bryan. I wish Daniel Bryan a speedy recovery from his injuries but I think he has nothing to worry about when he comes back to the ring. The man gets Yes chants in other companies and independent companies world wide. Like I said, GET YOUR MONEY DANIEL BRYAN!! 

The X Division title match was good as well. It was non-stop action. Austin Aries is money as the boys say. I just got one question...is the suicide dive a ROH staple or what? Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Seth Rollins...all do the suicide dive. I'm just wondering. The Knockout match, it was a good match, but to call it a no DQ match? Nah. No weapons or rule breaking in this match. But again it was a solid match.

How about that promo from the human suplex machine Taz? Talk about old school. Taz can still talk with the best of them. He's better than just about anyone working today except for Paul E. I loved it. Not scripted, just a straight good promo. Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer cut good promos as well. Dreamer with a little shot at WWE, and it worked. That clowned face guy got a good reaction too. In NYC, that's a big deal. 

Overall, props to the TNA creative and TNA wrestlers for a great show, and making me want to tune in for the next show. Until the next blog...

Daniel Richerson

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