MCNEILL'S TAKE McNEILL's "Who's Hot, Who's Not" for Week of 4/1: Flair, Sting, Ashley, The Clique Apr 1, 2008 - 5:22:34 PM

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By Pat McNeill, Torch Columnist

Time for our weekly look at the up and downs of the pro wrestling industry as we begin the month of April. Whoo!

NOTE: There are no stupid April Fool parody bits in this article.

WHO'S HOT?

Ric Flair: The Nature Boy's three day farewell to in-ring wrestling gets a thousand on a scale of one to ten. Surprisingly, the big emotional keynote of the weekend turned out to be last night's Raw, not the Hall of Fame induction or the big WrestleMania stadium show. The goodbye to Flair gives everyone who ever begins training as a wrestler a new career goal to shoot for. Slick Ric's sendoff was booked like the ending of "Meet Joe Black", if that had been a good movie.

The "Clique": Triple H worked a WWE title match and served as Master of Ceremonies for the biggest retirement party in the history of our sport while fixing the holes in the Floyd Mayweather match. Shawn Michaels became a bigger hero by giving Ric Flair the gold watch, both literally and metaphorically. Kevin Nash headlined a live TNA event and proved he was bigger than his adopted company by partying with his old mates. Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are getting the help they have both needed. A big weekend for the former Fab Five of the WWF New Generation.

TNA Wrestling & Midway Games: According to those who test drove it this weekend, the new TNA Imapct video game is going to be a hit. Plus, the game could also be what ends up putting the promotion into the black for the first time. (The promotion sure won't turn a profit by putting live television shows on Spike TV).

Dragon Gate: For the second time in three years, the young men from Japan apparently stole the show at ROH's "Supercard of Honor". Amazingly, the match featured the same six wrestlers who electrified Ring of Honor fans back in March 2006, except with CIMA and Horiguchi on opposite teams. Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito and friends have done more than anyone to influence the American "X Division" wrestling contingent in the past two years. (That's both good and bad, since not everyone can work the style.)


WHO'S NOT?

Sting: The former champion's last big comeback brought with it an increase in ratings and pay-per-view buyrates. Thursday's live show, with the Stinger wrestling in the main event, didn't budge the ratings meter. Impact drew the same 1.0 rating it had the prior week. TNA will obviously need more than Sting's starpower to escape its current ratings funk.

Robbie McAllister: The Highlander ignored instructions from his WWE superiors and showed up in the audience during TNA's live show at the Impact Zone. Robbie was promptly shown on television and identified as a WWE wrestler. This is unfortunate, because Derrick Graham-Couch is so far down the ladder people in his own company's front office might not have been able to recognize him. The rehiring of Cryme Tyme could be a bad sign for the Scotsman as he tries to keep his regular spot on Sunday Night Heat.

Ashley Massaro: The last-minute substitute for Candice Michelle reminded everyone why she hasn't caught on as an in-ring talent and why she's had such difficulty capturing the attention of male WWE fans. The clock is ticking for the former Playboy cover girl and reality show contestant.

Frank Goodman: The Orlando indy promoter put on a UWX event in Orlando on Saturday afternoon. Steve Corino, Demolition, Team Macktion and Disco Inferno were all no-shows. Fortunately, Big Vito made the trip. The show drew a respectable crowd, but the company shouldn't expect a lot of repeat business.

Responsible Replies are welcomed.

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