Time for our weekly look at the highs and lows of the pro wrestling business, because we're never going to give you up or let you down.
WHO'S HOT?
Chris Jericho: The "Sexy Beast" stole the show on Raw last night, turning on Shawn Michaels in a scene straight out of Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop" in 1992. Jericho made the case for his unprovoked attack on the Heartbreak Kid by taking us back through the tortured history of this feud, so that when he put Shawn's head through the Jeritron, everyone knew why. Now that Jericho's a rulebreaker again, maybe he'll start getting cheered.
The Beautiful People: The duo of Angelina Love and Velvet Sky were an afterthought in TNA's knockout division. Now they're among the most hated heels on the roster. The act, which now includes IWA Mid-South's Mickie "Moose" Knuckles, led to another week on TNA Impact when the knockouts outdrew the better-known male wrestlers. Having Angelina and Velvet escape unscathed at Slammiversary indicated that the bookers know what a fun little act they have here.
The Age Of The Fall: Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black regained the Ring of Honor tag team titles on Friday night in Hartford. The show ended with the ROH faithful pelting the new heel champs with trash, in a scene right out of WCW in 1996. Jacobs and Black are two of the more entertaining wrestlers on the roster, and the chase for the tag titles might keep Ring of Honor fans busy until Mark Briscoe's return from injury.
Bryan Danielson: What's causin' all this? The self-proclaimed "Best Wrestler In The World" won a dark match last night at WWE Raw, defeating fellow TWA wrestling school graduate Lance Cade. This raised all sorts of questions about the contractual status of the top Ring of Honor wrestlers. Will the American Dragon leave Ring of Honor? Is WWE interested in Shawn Michaels' former pupil? Do the McMahons have any idea what to do with Danielson if they sign him?
WHO'S NOT?
Kurt Angle: This isn't a complaint about Kurt Angle's match on Sunday against A.J. Styles, which was a fine effort by both men. The problem? Angle was obviously wrestling while in great pain. Believe it or not, this took away from the willing suspension of disbleief, since any observant fan was probably more worried about the Olympic Hero's health than the result of his battle with the Phenomenal One. Isn't there anyone in Total Nonstop Action with the testicular fortitude to stand up to Angle and hold him out of action while he's injured?
McMahon Money Mania: One million dollars bought WWE a DROP in the Raw ratings. If the rest of Monday Night Raw had been as compelling as seeing Mr. McMahon get "rickrolled" on live television, this would have been a momentous episode. The expression of the Chairman of Crazy's kisser while listening to that jaunty Rick Astley beat was fantastic. Also, why does McMahon have to dial his own numbers? Wouldn't it save valuable television time to connect the guy to McMahon after someone's answered the phone?
Santino Marella & Carlito: Santino lost to Cousin Sal on Friday Night Smackdown, which speaks for itself. Carlito, who returned to the company in exchange for a more serious push, is so farther away from the title picture than anyone not married to Jackie Gayda. Then the quick-witted duo lost clean to Cryme Tyme on the Million Dollar Money Night Raw. Doesn't WWE need to push some wrestlers eventually?
Jimmy Wang Yang: What's worse? Jimmy Wang Yang's wellness-related suspension, or that the suspension is the only thing we've heard about the Georgia Redneck for the past several weeks?
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