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MCNEILL'S TAKE
McNEILL's "Who's Hot, Who's Not" for Week of 4/8: Batista, Dusty, Aries, Knox Apr 8, 2008 - 4:52:11 PM
Time for our weekly look at the ins and outs of the pro wrestling industry as we begin the new WWE spring season. Feel the Backlash!
WHO'S HOT?
Dave Batista: The quick feud with Shawn Michaels, and the opportunity to appear on Raw, has revitalized his character and made The Animal a lot more interesting. While Batista's rationale for going after Michaels isn't clear yet, you can't fault his delivery. By the way, if Ric Flair wants to turn heel and become Batista's manager as part of this storyline, don't let him. It won't work and he might end up turning Batista face as a result.
Dusty Rhodes: A win-win for WWE and the American Dream. The promotion found a man who actually wants to head up developmental and has a lot to teach younger wrestlers. The Dream gets to stay in Florida. Not only does he not have to book ECW any more, now he doesn't even have to watch the show. Plus, son Cody won't have the pressure of having his famous dad on the creative team. A fine move all around.
Festus Dalton: He bombed as Fake Kane. Now he'll get his first chance to headline for WWE on network television Friday night against The Undertaker on Smackdown. The Festus gimmick has won over numerous fans on the Torch VIP message board, and now we'll see how it comes off on the big stage.
NWA Showcase and David Marquez: They're back on Dish Network with a whole new timeslot, just in time for the beginning of Los Luchas' reign as NWA World Tag Team Champions..
WHO'S NOT?
Sting: Poor Steve Borden. Last week on Impact, he needed to use a baseball bat to beat perpetual midcarder James Storm. This week, he tags with Kevin Nash in the main event. Not to mention the fact that the Stinger gets to play second fiddle to former nemesis Christian Cage. Nothing in that promotion makes sense.
Austin Aries: The former ROH champion sustained a head injury during an AAW match against Silas Young on Saturday, and is off Ring of Honor shows this weekend. The "dream match" between Aries and Kota Ibushi for this weekend is now cancelled, as Claudio Castagnoli will fill in for the master of the pendulum elbow. The good news is that Aries isn't taking chances with potential brain trauma.
"Hardbody" Harrison Norris: The former WCW wrestler was convicted of conspiracy, commercial sex trafficking, aggravated sexual abuse and witness tampering. One report also had Harrison forcing his ladies to work in his garden and paint his house, in addition to their other duties. Harrison should remain incarcerated until well after he's eligible for the senior discount at Denny's. As the late Frank Sinatra would have said, "That's Life".
Mike Knox: The new owners of Knox's former residence found performance enhancing drugs and syringes, along with one of Knox's World Wrestling Entertainment pay stubs. Don't they teach sports entertainers to make one final check around the home or apartment during the moving process? Toys, toys, toys in the attic.
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AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?
