Styles

Yeah, that was my friends' angle too, that she was a victim in this. I agree, the whole thing is just fucked up, but a little common sense and responsibilty on all sides could have prevented it.

www.youhavebadtasteinmusic.com

I got a lot of heat with my friends after an incident earlier this year where a freshman girl was killed, hit by a train, stumbling home drunk in the middle of the night after leaving a party, and while everyone was being all "oh, this is so sad" I gave my crass opinion that she should have been more responsible, made safer arrangements and watched out for the big fucking flashing lights and sirens before crossing the tracks. They thought I was a monster, and were telling me how she was a just a freshman who was taken advatage of by her friends and couldn't help drinking on her first week in college, to which I responded "I've gone a year and a half without getting completely messed up and run over by a train". Even though I expressed it was indeed sad and I felt bad for her family and friends, there are other people who have their lives taken from them by actions not caused by their own irresponsibilty and stupidity that I have more sympathy for. They didn't talk to me for a week after. I just don't understand it...

It's just ridiculous. Be more inclusive not less inclusive. If someone is offended by a Christmas display, ask them what religion they are? If they're Jewish, add a menorah. If they're...um....celebrate Kwanza put up a....whatever symbol they use. See the kicker is I think most of these PC police are secular atheists and thus they would respond they don't celebrate anything (poor bastards) so there would be nothing to put up I guess, thus they have no right to complain. If I was a business owner I'd put up something like "Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and to our atheist friend's Happy Saturday" or something silly like that. Anyway to the poster that's sick of Christmas music, you took the words out of my mouth. Everything is nice in moderation but a month of nothing but the same dozen songs sung in every style over and over again on every radio station and in every store and office is enough to drive you mad!

As a college student who rarely drinks, my perspective is actually one my dad passed on to me from his expirence in college (he was part of a frat). He thinks the exact opposite should be done. That the drinking age should be lowered to 18 and that all frats should be completely recognized and regulated by the university. His rationale is, college kids are going to drink, and his time the kegs were allowed right on campus, everyone had a good time and there was no danger of people having to drive around to places to sneak in to to drink and thus less accidents. Furthermore, if the frats are embraced by the university, frats have the incentive to ban hazing. If housing, programs, honors whatever is provided by the university that monitors the frats and bans hazing, none will want to encourage the practice, lest they lose their house and get kicked off campus. It's when the university ignors the frats and pretends they don't exist that trouble starts because then they do whatever they want, hazing happens and kids get hurt. Anyway this makes sense I think. I don't understand the whole drinking culture as it is, but in terms of frats, if you keep them on a leash instead of shunnning them there's a better chance of regulating them.

Yeah, well it's better than your idea which likely involves closing down TNA, cancelling the PPV and absorbing your favorites back into ROH. If you actually followed the promotion instead of constantly bashing it, you'd know that the stipulation of the cage match was that the losing team must break up forever. Therefore, Daniels is going to be booked as a singles from now on. And he was hardly in a "meaningless" tag team, unless you consider being promoted as one of the top 2 tag teams in the company consistently for 2 years and working PPV main events as being "meaningless" (of course I'm sure you'll say, the whole company is meaningless by default...) I don't know who he will work with at the PPV, in case you didn't notice, I'm not the booker. If I was I would have a totally different card anyway. For my idea, all he'd need to do would be to sneak attack Brown at the first show after the PPV and cut one of his classic heel promos, throw in 4-6 weeks of classic Daniels mindgames with Brown's insane rebuttles and we have an fun feud and sure to be good match. Let him win a squash match with a local guy at the PPV for all I care. Like I said, at least I presented an idea. My goodness, it's like dejavu all over again with you and me...

SAKURABA OFF THE SHOW!?! Shit, I know the outcome was inevitable and it's for his best interest health wise, but it was a marquee match that I was getting pumped for hoping he could pull it off. Oh well, I wonder what happened? They just going to throw a piece of meat at Silva like UFC did with Tito? UPDATE: well, a retro-update, anyway. Looks like it's his back. From Dave's Saturday update: Oh well, I guess we'll have to live with 3 main event matches instead of 4...

The ECW DVD is far and a way the best program they have ever put out. Detailed, honest, extensive, nostalgic, rivetting, emotional, etc. I can't reccomend it enough for anyone who had not gotten it yet. As for the complete package, it's tough to beat Benoit's DVD. Excellent program and a plethora of ****+ matches from companies all around the world. As for purely the matches, Ric Flair's is a must own, featuring some of the most classic and legendary matches in wrestling history in DVD quality.

Yeah, it's legite. The Observer had an article about how he got a sponsor at My Space and had professional looking posters put up around his hometown and various other marketing strategies to secure votes. Kid took it seriously!

Assuming Brown stays a face I can see a really cool 2 month feud with Christopher Daniels who obviously has what it takes behind the mic and the precence to work a main event feud and the talent to bring good matches out of Brown. He wouldn't win the belt under my scenario but it would at least bring him to main event level in the TNA fans' eyes. I would then put Brown in a transition feud and match with either Truth or Abyss before rekindling Raven's destiny, giving him one last run at the top, have Brown win the first match and then let Raven take the title in the second. That's about 6 months of good feuds and title matches for Brown's reign right there, but of course my ideas and TNA's are likely different...

True, thus I will contain my list to WWE matches. 10. Rock and Mick Foley vs. Evolution- Wrestlemania XX 9. Ric Flair, Batista & Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit, Edge & Chris Jericho- RAW 6/15/04 8. Smackdown Royal Rumble- Smackdown 1/29/04 7. Chris Benoit v. Shawn Michaels- RAW 5/3/04 6. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley- Backlash 5. Eddy Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle- Wrestlemania XX 4. The Royal Rumble- Royal Rumble 3. Chris Benoit vs. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels-Backlash 2. Eddy Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar- No Way Out 1. Chris Benoit vs. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels- Wrestlemania XX Honorable Mentions: Shawn Michaels v. Chris Benoit- RAW 2/16/04 Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit- Summerslam Eddy Guerrero vs. Bradshaw- Great American Bash HHH, Randy Orton, Ric Flair & Batista vs. Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley & Shelton Benjamin- RAW 4/12/04 Chris Benoit vs. Kane- Badd Blood Everything from the first half of the year. The first half was just awesome, yet the second half was so bad. Really polar oposites...

Very interesting (but predictable results). Monty Brown, luckily for TNA is going to have a chance at the title at Final Resolution. The time, obviously, is now to put the title on him. Hopefully they realize that he is the fans choice.

I wouldn't be so sure of this. The typical newsletters are reporting that Jarrett seems to realise that his time as champion is over and that he needs to put over someone else. Looking at the grim side of things there's even an opinion that Jarrett would not want to be champion in the event that the company does die. Anyway, I would say there is a better than usual chance that Jarrett will drop the title.

Hi, for Monty Brown, unfortunately I can't direct link it, but go here http://www.nwatna.com/superstars/main_stars.shtml for TNA's superstar section. Click on "The Alpha Male" under the top section labeled "TNA Superstar Sites". You'll get a mini site dedicated to Monty Brown. Click on "Music Video" and then click again on the short clip of him doing the Pounce to watch a video package on Brown featuring interviews and many instances of The Pounceeee! Absolutely do this so you can get a taste of Monty Brown. Here is also an interview with him from a few months ago to learn about his background: http://www.nwatna.com/interact/interviews/...6/18/alpha.html As for an opinion, he's still very green in the ring but he's a decent power wrestler with good speed (he was a former defensive lineman in the NFL) and his move "The Pounce" is very popular with the fans. His interviews and charisma are the best parts about him. He gets very hyped up for his interviews that use a lot of animal analogies. As for Petey Williams, under the "Team Canada" section on the Superstars page he is the first one listed. You can get some pictures of him there. To learn about Williams background click here for a nice interview with him from a few months ago: http://www.nwatna.com/interact/interviews/...s/williams.html He's a good all around lightweight wrestler with an incredible flip piledriver finisher called "The Canadian Destroyer". I think someone here has it as an avatar and I'm sure someone could post a gif for you but I'm not sure where to find one. For some pictures of Hector Garza, he is in the middle of the second column from the right on the superstars page. If you watched WCW in the mid to late 90s, Garza wrestled a few time as one of the luchadors and at the time had long hair and was thinner. He's apparently a pretty big star now in Mexico (I can't claim to have much knowledge of Mexican wrestling though), and has been popular in TNA ever since he led Team Mexico in TNA's series of X division world cup battles. He was originally praised for his heel mannerisms which were quite excellent but quickly became a fan favorite. New booker Dusty Rhodes reportedly wants to push him as their latino star to reach out to that audience. He's bigger than your typical crusiweight but does a graceful moonsault and a spectacular looking finisher called El Tornillo. Here is a just posted interview with Garza: http://www.nwatna.com/interact/interviews/...arza/garza.html As for your other questions, DDP is definitely better than his failed WWE run. He's the same seemingly ageless hard worker that he was in WCW. He's pretty much gaurenteed to give you a good match if you can put up with his style (which some say comes off as too pre-planned which is how DDP likes to lay out his matches). As for Sabu, he is apparently ill with an undisclosed illness and recently a benefit show promoted by TNA agent (and Team Canada manager) Scott D'Amore and worked voluntarily by many TNA talent was put on in his honor to raise money for his medical bills. As for when he was in the ring with TNA, his injuries have obviously left him deteriorated but if you like his style, he still could do more of the same in terms of the table breaking, etc. The best way to learn about current TNA talent is to check your local listings for Impact! on Fox Sportsnet or Comcast Sportnet and check it out! And I would reccomend if you're really interested to order Final Resolution on January 16th on PPV to watch the best TNA has to offer. Hope I've helped.

A nice article from the Baltimore Sun:

This is sad news, but he lasted longer than most thought. Johnny was the manager of the Orioles for 4 years in the early 90s and was a well liked figure here. Always seemed to be in a good mood. A touching moment was I think a couple seasons ago, he was brought back to Oriole Park to throw out the first pitch (this was after the original diagnosis and treatment and I believe he was making a recovery) and I think it was probably his first time back in Oriole Park since leaving as manager in 95, and he looked frail and he was missing part of his hair but when he walked out in his O's jacket the crowd gave him a huge standing ovation that brought a genuine smile to his face and he tipped his cap and the fans applauded some more and he just stood there smiling and waving. It was a special moment that I'll always remember that must have meant a lot to him. God bless you Johnn Oates, rest in peace Skip.

Interesting. Don't know what to say about Nash's participation but Brown was the overwhelming favorite in my poll to test who TSM wants to see get the title shot at the PPV, so he will vary likely get that shot and probably the title. This should bode well for buyrates!

Hmm, I'm assuming you're alluding to something that happens on Impact! (which airs Saturday night for me, so I haven't seen it). Irregardless, this poll is to test public opinion of the wrestling fans here at TSM. I want to know if amongst 10 of TNA's "top stars" which one would garner the most interest in terms of a Final Resolution title shot. I'm curious to see what fans would want to see to get them to order the show. Even if, for instance AJ Styles can't storyline wise get the shot, if he finishes big in this poll, and Final Resolution doesn't do well buyrate wise, we can say that TNA should be listening to their fans and giving Styles the shot if they want to sell PPVs. Otherwise, if Brown or Page do well in this poll and one of them indeed gets the title shot, that should bode well for PPV buys. Get what I'm saying?

Hailing from Mexico, Hector Garza entered TNA with the February America's X Cup events and has dominated the ring ever since. During that time, Garza has also become one of the most popular superstars in the ring and recently cemented his place at the top of the TNA ladder with a win over The Phenomenal AJ Styles before narrowly losing to Jeff Jarrett on Impact. Although still early in his TNA career, Garza is fast becoming a heavy hitter in the ranks and many say it's only a matter of time before he wears NWA gold. In this exclusive interview, Bill Banks sat down to talk to Garza about his background in Mexico, his family, TNA and much more.... Special thanks to TNA Spanish Broadcaster Armando Quintero for assisting with the interview BB: Thanks for joining us here on TNAwreslting.com, Hector GARZA No problem whatsoever. Thank you for having me. BB: Let’s start off by telling us where you’re from GARZA: I was born in Monterrey, Mexico on June 12, 1969. I am 35 years old and I feel like I am just hitting my stride in the ring. BB: Tell us a little about you family GARZA: My father Humberto Garza was also a wrestler who went by the name of “El Nino Travieso del Ring”, or “The Mischievous Kid of the Ring”. Currently, myself, my father and my brother (Humberto Jr.) own and operate a rehabilitation center for injuries, post surgery, muscular sprains and tears. Both my father and I are chiropractors. We are the alternative to surgery and have a lot of success healing injuries without the need for surgery. I can make my own schedule so I can keep wrestling and it is a family owned and operated company. BB: What kind of kid were you growing up? Did you play any sports? GARZA: I was a hyper kid. I never walked away from fights with bullies at school. I always stood my ground. I didn’t like school that much, but I had to earn my degree at the University of Nuevo Leon in order to become a wrestler. My father told me he wouldn’t let me wrestle unless I got my degree first. Growing up, I liked to go to the movies and I had a lot of girlfriends (laughs). As far as sports, I liked karate and “Thai boxing” which includes kicks and punches. I enjoyed contact sports. I always wanted to play professional American football, but my parents thought it was too violent with a high risk or injury, so they didn’t let me play. BB: Were you a fan or wrestling growing up? If so, who were your favorites? GARZA: My father was a wrestler, so I was raised in the sport. I was a wrestling fan but I only went to the arena when my father was wrestling on the card. As far as my favorite wrestlers, they were my father, my uncle Mario Segura and Mil Mascaras. BB: Aside from your father, what made you want to become a wrestler? GARZA: You might say I had wrestling “in my veins” as my entire family was involved. My four year old son already loves it, so it looks like the family tradition will continue. BB: Who trained you and where? GARZA: My father, my uncle and my father’s tag team partner Ruben Juarez. I was also trained by wrestlers named “Blue Fish” and “Mr. Lince” in Monterrey. Each one had a different style and that has helped me enormously because in order to be successful you have to adapt to a lot of different styles both in Mexico and in the United States. BB: When did you make your pro debut and against who? GARZA: I made my pro debut in a tag team match in November 1992 vs. "El Demonio de Tazmania” or “The Tazmanian Devil" and "El Gato del Ring” or “The Cat of the Ring" My partner was Ruben Juarez, Jr. and we won. BB: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment during your career in Mexico? GARZA: Not so much a match, but it was a great accomplishment for me to be recognized by my finishing moves in Mexico, the United States and other parts of the world. Another is when I was Mexico's Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champions (with "El Hijo del Perro Aguayo") at the same time. As far as my favorite matches, I would have to say the bouts I had as Mexico’s Six Man Tag Team Champions with Dos Caras and La Fiera. BB: How would you compare wrestling in the United States to Mexico? GARZA: In the US it’s more sports entertainment, while in Mexico and especially in CMLL it is more traditional wrestling. BB: Outside of wrestling, what are some of your hobbies? What do you do to relax? GARZA: I like to work out in the gym, go to the movies and spend time with my wife and children. I also love to go to the beach. I have a wife Liliana and two children, Leslie (age 6) and Hector Jr. (age 4). BB: Congratulations on currently leading in the TNA Year-End Voting as “Who To Watch in 2005”. Any last words to the fans as to what they can expect from you in the New Year? GARZA: Thank you – it means a lot coming from the TNA fans to vote for me. My goal in 2005 is simple – to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. I’ve been the Heavyweight Champion in Mexico and I would like to do it in the United States. But first I have to beat Jeff Jarrett, and that means getting by Scott Hall and Kevin Nash first. BB: Hector Garza, thanks for your time and good luck in the future! GARZA: Not a problem – thanks again to all the TNA fans for supporting me every week!

Wasn't that a Steel Cage/First Blood/Barbed Wire Top/Retirement match? Yes, but the stipulations for this match are too extreme to talk about here on the pre-show, so you'll have to order Uncencored 99 to find out all the details! Oh, and pinfalls don't count (except the winning fall apparently) and it's first blood too, except when someone bleeds it can be ignored. Oh and the participants MUST do a double turn even if the fans aren't behind it. Boy that was a screwed up match from every angle...

The "taxpayers" are losing out on nothing. Newsflash: the businesses wouldn't accept a tax for social services, it wasn't happening, this was specifically meant for the fuding of the baseball stadium. And you want the city to be cleaned up and have more revenues? That's what a baseball stadium would bring. The same thing happened in Baltimore and happened with the MCI Center (basketball arena/hockey arena built by Abe Polin). Both areas were slums in desperate need of rebuilding, and when they built the stadiums it brought all sorts of revenues into the city. Business and restaurants popped up all around, people invested in the land, bought real estate near by and quality of life as a whole improved as places like the inner harbor and Gallery Place (China Town) went from slums to entertainment districts. This would bring the city so much from so many different avenues. Instead, if it is indeed blocked, DC will remian a slum and its politics will remain the joke of the nation.

As a voice from the DC area (although a 100% bleed orange and black Baltimore Orioles fan, but still someone obvious curious about a DC team) I can tell you everyone is PISSED. Basically, the mayor, Anthony Williams on good faith and as a rep of the city negotiated the deal with MLB including the provision that the stadium would be 100% publicly funded (through taxes to local businesses). This vote was supposed to be procedural, just to make it official. Well, this councilwoman, Linda Cropp, decided to make a name for herself by amending the deal the mayor negotiated by saying 50% had to be privately funded (when no such funds are avaliable and after the mayor negotiated the original deal). It's all politics. This woman is reportedly looking to challenge the mayor when his term is up and she throught this would be a bright move to endear herself to the DC residents (who by and large are poor and ignorant-I mean come on, they elected Marion Barry back to the council-and wouldn't be the ones coming to see the team (they would draw from the wealthier suburban Maryland and Virginia areas (basically where I'm from) as well as the upscale business sectors of DC), by facading this as a move "standing up for the taxpayers of DC" which is 100% BS because the stadium would be funded by taxes on businesses who are fine with that, since they're the ones mostly buying the luxury boxes and such. Anyway, it backfired, bigtime. Now, she has a lot of angry people to deal with, including the Mayor who she made look like a fool (he won't talk to her) and I think she assumed MLB would cave in and accept her deal which she blindsided them with making her the hero to all (I saved the city money and you rich folk get your silly baseball team!), but instead MLB is standing firm basically saying they had a deal and they will not be pushed around, and the heat is on her to be the one to back down and agree to the original deal. The deadline is Dec. 31, chosen as such because Marion Barry begins his term on the council on Jan. 1 and has sworn to block any stadium legislation, prize that he is. Basically she's ruined it for the DC area. As I said, I really don't care, I'm an O's fan regardless but I know so many friends and family who have waited over 30 years for a team to come back to DC and saw it basically taken away from them in a couple months. It's typical DC politics. It's why the Redskins play in Landover, MD instead of DC because they pulled the same crap on them. For once MLB is not the bad guys here. I hope they call her bluff and move the team somewhere else. It would finally make it so Peter Angelos and the Orioles are no longer the bad guys in the area, their own selfish politicians would be. Norfolk is the most likely destination. It has a large circle of popullations to draw from Virginia, the Carolinas, etc. Las Vegas still has an attractive bid too. Here's a good article on the situation from Thomas Boswell, a well respected sports columnist from the Washington Post and a long time advocate for DC baseball:

Wow, I'm shamed to say I forgot all about this! I'm proud that I apparently made the playoffs though, go me. Even though I basically abandonned it towards the end last season, I am ready to go again next time. So how does this work? I request 4 players on my team last year to be kept for next year? Is that right? OK, I would like to keep: Javy Lopez Miguel Tejada Melvin Mora Eric Chavez (God I love my O's! And I think I'd just as well blow up my pitching and take a chance in the draft) Ok, look forward to next year!

Considering part of his release agreement with WWE was that he is barred from working with any other wrestling or MMA company for the duration of his WWE contract (I think it goes through 2007?) I'd say this is an impossibility.

How 'bout a cheese trading folder? I can get you guys a great deal on some provolone...