MCNEILL'S TAKE McNEILL's "Who's Hot, Who's Not" for Week of 3/25: Flair, Maria, Chavo, Hulk Mar 25, 2008 - 4:51:11 PM

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By Pat McNeill, Torch Columnist

Time for our weekly look at the winners and losers in the pro wrestling industry as we head into WrestleMania. Hooty-Hoo!

WHO'S HOT?

Ric Flair: I don't know how WWE could screw up the final big show of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair's career. Fortunately, it looks like they ran out of ideas on that front too. Even if he's not the same wrestler that used to work sixty-minute draws with Ricky Steamboat, it felt good to see the former umpteen time champion get one last big promo, one last big television main event, and one last victory. Saturday night's Hall of Fame induction will be a big emotional moment for a man who has had dozens of big emotional momnets through his career.

Maria Kanellis: The April issue of Playboy with Maria on the cover will be out soon, and that will, uh, expose her to a whole new audience that doesn't see her on Monday nights in WWE. She'll be picking up a WrestleMania payday for her match this Sunday, and the interview Maria gave on Playboy.com isn't going to scare away too many potential suitors.

B.G. James & Kip James: The "Rough Cut" promos on TNA Impact are the best and worst of that company rolled into one. It is funny watching B.G. admit that pro wrestling isn't his top priority (No! Really?) while Kip complains about having to "carry" his partner in the ring (because all heels lie). While these segments probably haven't sold one person on their upcoming cage match, this has been the best use of the former Outlaws in years. Solid entertainment.

Roderick Strong: This is a huge week for the leader of the No Remorse Corps. First, he continued his run of good matches and good houses atop Full Impact Pro. On Friday night, his crew headlines in a big six-man tag team match in Orlando against protege Erick Stevens, CIMA and Go Shiozaki. And the newest ROH DVD release has the "Messiah Of The Backbreaker" all over it.


WHO'S NOT?

TNA Management: People who watch Impact may have suspected that TNA's booking committee contains heavy substance abusers. Now there's a report out of Konnan possibly introducing evidence of drug use in the TNA front office as part of of his EEO claim against Total Nonstop Action. This news, combined with the pressure of doing a live television show, the ratings drop for last week's episode of Impact, and word that Jeff Jarrett doesn't want TNA wrestlers attending Ric Flair's Hall of Fame induction can't be good for morale. Worse yet, TNA wants to move to Monday night and go head-to-head with Raw. Spike TV, to its credit, doesn't seem too keen on that plan.

Chavo Guerrero: Did Chavito enter Witness Protection? No, he's the ECW champion. If anyone cared about the ECW title, they might have lost interest after seeing Chavo get destroyed by The Undertaker on the final segment of Smackdown. Worse yet, he had a competitive match with Colin Delaney, a sure sign that the last Guerrero is low on the WWE totem pole. Chavo has never shown the fire that he had when he was teaming up with, then feuding with his late Uncle Eddie.

Candice Michelle: The former cover girl and commercial spokeswoman turned into a perfectly acceptable Diva wrestler, then had to take time off after breaking her clavicle. What could be worse than that? Candice broke her clavicle again. This time, it will cost her a spot at Sunday's WrestleMania. Hopefully, she'll be back.

Hulk Hogan: Hulk's been on this list before. The two new developments in Hulk's life are that he was rebuffed in his attempt to get face time at Saturday's Hall of Fame ceremony, and that John Graziano's family reportedly filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against Hulk, Mrs. Hulk and Nasty Nick for their role in John's horrific car accident. What'cha gonna do?

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