Rants and Raves from An Observant Columnist

Rather than focusing my efforts on one specific topic this week, I want to offer some much thought out opinions and suggestions for the current WWF vs. the WCW/ECW alliance angle:

Changing Sides: There are a handful of superstars that desperately need to change sides. Chris Jericho, the Big Show, and X-Pac should join the Alliance. Jericho’s character has been ready for a heel turn for months. The Big Show now could revert back into the Giant, and try to reclaim the glory he once achieved in WCW. Simply stated, no one likes X-Pac, so why not turn him heel?

There has yet to be any defections from the Alliance to team WWF. Rob Van Dam is supposed to be a heel, but plays total babyface. If management won’t insist that he at least try to get himself over as a heel, then he never will. The WWF has tried hard to get Booker T over as a heel, but it honestly hasn’t worked. Not to mention that his “raise the roof” entrance theme is a total babyface theme.

Entrance Music: Speaking of entrance music, have you noticed that most of the current entrance themes have become rather bland? The WWF purchased the entire WCW musical library, yet has refrained from utilizing it. Over the years, the WWF has revolutionized the business creating themes that have established many of today’s most recognizable wrestling faces. Most of the themes currently used are too generic, not distinctive enough.

Commentary: As I wrote a few weeks back, the power play between WWF management and former analysis Jerry “The King” Lawler continues. The feeling now is that the WWF will eventually bring him back, but not right now. While I enjoy Heyman’s commentary, it’s a conflict of interest to have someone from the Alliance putting over the WWF superstars, and for the WWF play by play commentators to put over the Alliance. If the Alliance is the visiting team, why would the WWF “allow” members of the Alliance to comment on their shows?

Random Thoughts: At the end of WCW’s run under the AOL Time Warner umbrella, bookers finally figured out how to push “Sugar” Shane Helms. When he debuted on WWF television, he was referred to as Gregory Helms, as the name Shane belonged to a McMahon. Realizing the blunder the company had made, the WWF changed his ring name to “Hurricane” Helms, but he has been lost in the scuffle.

No Tributes: In recent weeks, the wrestling community has lost two beloved superstars - Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and Rhonda Singh. The story broke about Gordy’s passing late on a Monday evening, which is a valid reason the WWF didn’t acknowledge that evening on “Raw.” Yet on Thursday, the company still didn’t acknowledge the passing.

The WWF also neglected to mention the passing of Rhonda Singh (formerly WWF Women’s champion Bertha Faye) on television, only opting to acknowledge her passing with a short blurb on the company’s official web site. What happened to the traditional ten-bell salute? Shame on you WWF. You know better.

Summerslam: Two thumbs! It was a great card on paper, and the PPV lived up to the hype, and then some. Kurt Angle was by far the MVP of the show. Its true, it’s true!

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