DrVenkman PhD

I just watched that on 24/7 today, good stuff.

If you get 1130 AM (The Fan, I think) in the Detroit area, they're talking about Mania right now. http://www.wdfn.com/pages/stream_us.html Edit: And now they're not, at least not on the stream, only on the radio. Some guy is really happy that Bobby Lashley reminds him of Ahmed Johnson.

Cena vs HBK should be good and really, it's the main events that sell the PPVs. Mania 21 is a show I like but really, it has MITB and Angle/HBK followed by two not that great title matches and a Big Show / Akebono sumo match in there too. I can't picture Kane/Khali being worse than the sumo match, but that all depends on how long it runs. Everything else on the card (except the women's match) should be decent to good to great. I see this show falling along the same lines as WM22 - no truly awesome match but a few very good ones and a decent undercard with some forgettable crap thrown in.

D RAY 3000! Wow, running big boot into the corner. Rolling Germans! I'm now hyped for MVP vs Benoit.

I watched 2005 the other day and 2006 tonight (now I just have WM22 to watch to complete the Road to Mania). I think this is the 3rd time I've seen Bret's speech in full and it's awesome every time.

Lepreton Bomb is good stuff.

Well Rey's match wasn't the last match last year, which made a friend of mine mad since Rey won the Rumble. I explained that, although it was never explained on television but if anyone asks, because Cena and HHH beat Rey, Angle, and Orton they got to be the main event. Same rule applies this year too (HBK/Cena beat Taker/Batista at No Way Out).

I'll be there in section 125 but I don't like random meetings.

Mike Jones. He played "Virgil" in the World Wrestling Federation.

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070328_mor...series_reb.html Just like the long-gestating “X-Files” sequel, the third “Mortal Kombat” movie has been swimming in the Development Hell Channel for quite a few years now. Apparently, and again like the former, it’s delay can mainly be attributed to legal issues. Insider ‘Rayden’ gave us a quick run-down on what the deal is with it- whilst confirming that the film won’t actually be a prequel or a sequel but more of a restart. “The movie is not going to be a prequel, sequel, or in any form be related to the previous 2 movie. Pretty much like Batman Begins, is going to restart the series with new concepts, stories,etc. “Threshold had to wait till around early 2000 for the contract with New Line Cinema to end (Threshold blames New Line for the disappointing Annihilation, talking about forced release dates, limited budget, no understanding of anything, etc.) “The reason it is taking so long is the script, so many parts are involved. The team at Threshold (the ones that holds the right to MK) are constantly writing drafts (along with the director), which they have to send to Midway (makers of the game) so the creator of the game (Ed Boon) adds notes and some input to the draft, then to the studio (rumored to be Lionsgate at this moment).” The director of the film, Mink, has also been fielding fans questions on the IMDB Boards, we’re told. In short, here’s some of the director’s comments on the movie : - “It is a new telling of the MK universe drawing from the whole universe. As I have said think of it like Batman Begins”. - “Threshold(Larry Kassanoff) has a staff of writer's working on the script. The script drafts interacts with all parties involved being addressed with extensive sets of notes. The script is then revised according to these notes and then pushed through the approval process again. This is how the project proceeds. In regards to finishing most scripts it takes along time. Yes certain projects get fast tracked or fast followed into production and they bang the script out as fast as the writer can type and fix the script as they go but this money driven. As most projects finalize the script first in order to trigger all the financing into effect. Which then triggers casting etc... Today most financiers have alot to say about the scripts as it is their money on the line. So usually when you see a movie that has 11 or 12 producers on the slate each one of them has had a say at the table about the script equal to their involvement financially. As I have said in past on this project Threshold, Midway and the studio all have one or two producers each making comments on the script. So that is where we are at the moment. All of us working on the script with the staff of writers”. - “Casting adjourned for the moment before we got that far. As I have said in other posts we went back to the script after the initial movement on the project and have been rewriting(per the partied involved Threshold, Studio, Midway) since so no additional casting thoughts and or processes were even continued. As soon as the script is done we will proceed with casting again and all options in all casting areas are still on the table 100%... “ (He has confirmed that he’s met with Christopher Lambert and Robin Shou though)

I really hope there is a money drop when Lashley wins, as long as no one riots and fights over it. It's Detroit so I think it would be ok and safe to do.

Quoting me seems confusing since I gave no info, but I assume you're asking about the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Yes it does and yes I did. The Sheik stuff was tremendous. 3 words - "Intelligent Jew businessman".

Cena sells merchandise and the kids love him. He's a top draw, whether people want to boo him or cheer him. Any female I know that watches wrestling is in love with him. Just because hardened smarks in their 20s or older don't want to admit Cena is over and a draw doesn't mean he isn't. The "turn someone that sells a lot of merchandise to shake his character up" idea sure worked well for WWE in 2001 with Austin, so yeah, turn Cena heel!

Was yours late or did you just take your time making the notes? I ask because I still don't have mine yet; I accept this since I'm used to it arriving on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest, but now it will be Friday at the earliest. That's a bit of a wait. I can understand Flair being mad but the storytelling is lending itself to a slower burn. This is where it's a shame that a team like Cade and Murdoch weren't higher up the mid-card ladder, they could have had a match with Flair and Carlito at Mania. As it is, there is no heel pairing that Joe Fan would say "wow, I hope Flair and Carlito's new team can defeat this tough duo!" in a high profile Mania match.

I'll be there and I'm looking forward to it. This isn't the card I'd be excited to order on PPV (but would with friends since it's Mania) but I think it will be an ok show. Live, however, I'm really looking forward to going and being part of the Mania atmosphere. This will probably sound weird but last week I had an odd dream where I forgot my camera at home and couldn't take any pictures so I borrowed some random fan's camera. Last night I had a dream where I sat with a friend for the first match in seats at the top of the stadium, then went to go to my real seat (lower bowl) before the MITB match. Somehow in this dream I fell asleep on my way to the seat and woke up when everyone was leaving the show. I didn't want my friend telling me who won because I seemed aware enough this was all a dream and I didn't miss Mania, but somehow I kept thinking "no, this was real, I missed the show". He told me Cena beat Shawn, then I woke up and realized it really was all a dream. I'm getting really pumped because of all the local newspaper articles, the mentions on the radio while I'm at work, and the Fan Axxess thing I was at yesterday. I'm really hoping I'm going to celebrate Shawn's WWE title win, but I'm fine either way.

Rob Conway is going to return to help Lashley win, paying off his on-screen firing.

I heard a radio commercial the other day for a company called TSM - Total Scrap Management. Seems about right.

Vince McMahon reporting from a hospital, waiting for the 'Late Night' baby on Letterman XFL auction

At the Fan Axxess thing I went to today, some young infant (had to be carried by her mom, no more than a year or two old) was doing the 'you can't see me' hand gesture. That was all worth it. That and doing commentary on 5 minutes of a Helms/Hardy match. Commentary sure is hard when you don't have people feeding you lines during lulls in the action or a partner to say something.

Saw the film with our Tuesday Night movie group (courtesy of 6 coupons collected from cereal boxes, which sorta negated going on cheap night). One of our friends seemed to absolutely hate the movie (although when talking to the rest of us seemed to admit to liking the same things we did) while the rest of us thought it was "good for what it was supposed to be" to "awesome". I fell into the former opinion; obviously there was some corny dialogue but I forgave it and enjoyed the action. And come on, Patrick Stewart! Billy West! John DiMaggio (though just briefly)! In terms of animation, we all (like almost everyone) had issues with the human designs but you got used to it. The rooftop scene in the rain looked incredible, though. I liked the Casey Jones, Raph, and Leo characters but Mikey was becoming a bit of a chore to listen to (I assume he - and he alone - is the basis of 'too childish' script complaints) but it was ok. The Casey/April relationship was a nice tough. Karai was grossly underdeveloped and if it wasn't for reading stuff about the franchise on wikipedia prior I would have not known what was going on with her. Karai's dialogue where she informs the turtles was a bit much (not familiar with subtle forshadowing?) but ok. Actually, that line and what the friend who didn't like the movie felt was "mixed continiuties" seem to be his main reasons for disliking the movie. Oh, and while most of the jokes in the movie were not intended to be funny for people my age, there were moments in the movie where I and/or the people with me laughed. Donatello doing IT work was good ("this isn't that kind of phoneline"), but the biggest legitmate laugh we all had was Splinter's line about watching his stories.

You always seem to forget to mention the Specials, but yes, a 5 week month in WM build-up mode certainly gave us a lameduck 5th week until the new theme starts next Wednesday. I was hoping for Armageddon but I guess that would interfere with the Mania theme, so maybe next week. Hall of Fame: Snuka vs Muraco, Snuka vs Zybysko. Specials: Disc 3 of the Hogan Anthology, Legends repeat (JYD episode). ECW/Territories: ECW (October 8, 1995), WCCW (don't remember). I still have to watch disc 2 of Mania XX, the 2005 Hall of Fame, Mania 21, the 2006 Hall of Fame, and Mania 22 to finish my yearly build-up by Sunday so I'm pretty much set for the week anyway but I look forward to watching the ECW and WCCW shows.

Who cares about your car. Just go feel some boobs up while neglecting your WWE Fantasy roster and joining the OAO Raw thread late. I don't even know you anymore.

WWE is gaining momentum right now but we'll see how things go post Mania. According to what I read on WO regarding the UFC/Pride deal, it sounds like they don't plan on doing any major crossover bouts soon (or at least not as a regular deal) and there won't be any title unifcation bouts. Of course, and I realize this is two different worlds, this is what WWE said 6 years ago about WCW. I read a story in the local paper today about the WrestleMania activities. I guess the people at the mall tomorrow will be Cryme Tyme, Burke, and Dykstra but Thursday will feature Masters, Regal, and Taylor. Kinda wish I scheduled myself to go on Thursday, but I guess I could go after work. What I didn't understand (and if anyone here has been to a "Fan Axxess" event, maybe they can help me here) is the event is listed as being from 2-8pm, but notes it "offically begins at 5:30". Does this mean people are free to wander "exhibits" until autograph signings begin at 5:30?

To me, it's more of a situation where when re-watching it, you know by this time period (almost 1997) the cool parts of the angle are mostly done and every segment is going to be a lot of babbling. When it was live, the babbling could have resulted in something cool and unpredictable. Edit: The above is referring to the nWo.