RavishingRickRudo

That's my feeling about it. This seems more like "we have this show booked, but we don't want to change it, let's slap on "Eddie Tribute Show" and see what happens"

Matt, you're encouraged to come in here and bash MMA. If you feel a certain way about it, share those feelings. You offer another perspective and that's always welcomed. UFC 51 was a good show, it was -however- a PPV that I didn't buy (the last UFC PPV I didn't buy, and also broke up a nice string of PPV purchases). For me, it wasn't as exciting as other shows (UFC 52, for example), but I don't think there was anything outright bad on it. Main Event Tito Ortiz (204.5) vs. Vitor Belfort (205) - This was a lot better than I expected it to be, and the first round was pretty action-packed. Interim Heavyweight Title Bout Tim Sylvia (263) vs. Andrei Arlovski (238) - It's short, but it will probably make you a fan of the winner. Middleweight Title Bout Evan Tanner (187.5) vs. David Terrell (188) - This, actually, was an amazing fight IMO. If 2005 wasn't so loaded, I'd consider it a top 5 MOTYC. I think knowing Evan Tanner and what he went through to get this shot, and what David Terrell went through to get this shot, and their differences help in making what happens in this match so incredible. Phil Baroni (185) vs. Pete Sell (183) - I can't remember if this was good or just alright. It's been a while. I am leaning towards good though. Justin Eilers (225) vs. Paul Buentello (247) - You have Flair in your avatar, you will like this one. Mike Kyle (238) vs. James Irvin (224) - I don't really like either guy so I never made it a point to remember this one, but I know one guy gets knocked out so it can't be that bad. Nick Diaz (170) vs. Drew Fickett (170) - I skipped over this one on the DVD, so I can't say either way. I should really watch the DVD again Chris Lytle (170.5) vs. Karo Parisyan (170) - There's a throw in this that you won't see done in professional wrestling. I think this should have been better given the skill level of both Lytle and Parisyan, but it still was good IIRC. David Loiseau (184.5) vs. Gideon Ray (180) - Loiseau is a beast. Watch him prove it.

It was basically an extended version of the commercials. They had the guys talk infront of the black screen, and they had Dana White sorta put things into context and give a brief (UFC) fighting history of the guys. It wasn't nearly as good as the Horn/Liddell hour-long special (which I really hope they do again for other fights), but for someone who wasn't as familiar with these guys and with the UFC, it was pretty informative and sorta helped sell the show.

Nice to see ROH shamelessly try to profit off of pay homage to Eddie.

A 0.1+/- rating is nothing to be concerned about. If the average rating is 0.8, then a week with 0.9 and 0.7 just help sustain the average. It's no big deal. When the rating goes beyond that, then you have reasons to either be concerned (0.6) or jump for joy (1.0). Till then, numbers like these are just within the normal range (as far as we can tell) for the show.

If Vince is so evil help him make a living? I've never seen so many people fill the pockets of a man they hate so badly. Yeah, the shoebox under my bed is empty after spending all that money on the WWE. It's sad that it takes less than a day for us to all go right back to the mindless bictching and complaining about the most irrelevant crap there is. I bet Eddie's glad we're finding a way to just enjoy things. Actually, the only mindless thing here are people who think because someone died that the contributors to his death are absolved from criticism. Things like "I bet Eddie's glad" are mindless and particularly irrelevant. But if you want to play that game: I bet Eddies also glad that wrestlers will continue to take steroids, continue to abuse drugs, and continue to die-off way before their time and I bet Eddies glad that Vince McMahon will continue to not only let it go on, but will continue to sustain the environment that encourages it. In otherwords, I bet Eddies glad his death won't mean a damn thing other than some tears and good words on RAW and Smackdown.

But then, how will HHH get to show his dramatic range and ability to tout the company line?

It would be in Vinces best interests to have an employee die once a week, it seems. It gets him High ratings, and -evidently- makes him free from criticism.

...this can't be good for business.

I need an exact time and date. Since these sort of things apparently have a time limit and you know them. So when is the right time? 5 days? 7 days? 10 days? I mean, just because Vince McMahon is the greatest contributor to the steroid/image craze in pro wrestling history and has his guys on an insane schedule which essentially promotes drug use, doesn't mean he should be mocked, nor should the finger be pointed at him, at a time when someone dies because of such habits. My god, how downright insensitive of me to do such a thing. Times like these, Vince should be praised for how well he handled Eddies death on his television show and should reap the rewards of nice rating and now will continue to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to prevent something like this from happening again. Gosh, I feel so bad now for disgracing the legacy of such a wonderful man in a time when someone dies. Excuse me while I light a fucking candle and keep silent on the issue.

Building up the main events for UFC 56. It would be great if they stopped playing the same background music over and over and over again.

Oh man, they had to go and do the thing with the kid while they reunite Rory and Lorelai. Why don't they just kill me now...

Richard: Who are you? Finn: If I knew that, then I wouldn't really need my psychiatrist.

Man, Eddies death isn't going to discourage Vince from having his wrestlers abuse drugs and roids... it's going to encourage it... Vince: You know, Chris, if you get a lil bigger there's another title run in your future... Benoit: I dunno Vince, after Eddies death, I've sorta been reviewing my own habits and... Vince: Oh... Ok ok... I see... I thought Chris Benoit loved this business and wanted to be the best, but... whatever... it's cool... I guess I'll just give the belt to Edge or someone willing to improve their look... Benoit: Wait.. Vince: Yeesss? Benoit: I'll uh, put more hours in the gym... Vince: You do that. Benoit: I'll do that right now. Vince: Good. And Chris... Benoit: Yes, Vince? Vince: If you're ever feelin bad, worse than usual, don't be afraid to speak up and tell me. I really want to know. So, uh... we can ... um... help you get better, or something... *Benoit leaves* *Vince picks up phone* Vince: Yeah, Steph, get to work on the Benoit montage and make sure to have a super big angle ready for the next few weeks.

I saw that. No Homestar Runner references, though "Go forth and scan his neck" "His neck?" "..Or repeat everything I say in question form"

They should keep the Kerwin White character BUT have the spirit of Eddie Guerrero "infect"/enter him (think Cartman with Kenny in SP). Eddie keeps getting Kerwin in trouble, trying to bring him back to his old Guerrero ways.

Helped me

As long as they make for some sweetass throws, I'll be happy. Kondo vs. The Nak? That's a lil bit of not bad.

Turtle Guard? Pinball Guard? Spider Guard? You must enlighten.

I figure I'll say it here cause its not really appropriate elsewhere, but I can't stand it when people call the WWE "classy" or "applauding" the WWE for their RAW and Smackdown shows... like, seriously, what the fuck? Has the company gotten so low that doing what is expected of them and not ignoring it is considered "classy". If Vince put on a show at the Staples Centre in honour of Eddie with every cent going towards Eddies Family, then putting out a 3 disc retrospective with every cent going towards Eddies family as well, I'd call that classy. The video stuff and the matches, really required very little effort to put together, and all they really did was delay their storylines for another week. Going the extra mile and doing something that isn't expected of them to do is something that should be applauded, what they did with RAW and Smackdown is just not trashy.

Shawn was on as much drugs as anybody, so he certainly didn't get by or was allowed anything. Though, Shawn did have a talent for sucking up...

WWE business in the early-mid 90's dropped because they didn't create new stars that appealed to the fans, so it was hard to keep the momentum from the 80s going. Going the kiddy route of the Godwins, Doink, et. al. just started to bury them. At this time they moved to more PPV's a year, which certainly didn't help things. Meanwhile, popular culture was about 2 things - rap and grunge, both of which had an edge the WWE didn't have nor wanted to have. I don't think steroids had a lot to do with it. That's my perspective, maybe there's something I don't know here. However, the WWE gave a very, very, very, VERY bad impression to kids when it came to body image. Women will talk about Barbie and models and magazines giving this unrealistic image, but professional wrestling was just as bad if not worse. Then again, the entire culture in the 80s with Arnold, Sly, and Van Damme was focused on these super physiques. I think Vince should take a lot of the blame when things like this happen, because he sets the standards and he could *easily* stop a lot of it right now by implementing certain measures. But that's ethics we're talking about, and Vince doesn't see wrestlers as people. But while a lot of it is on Vinces shoulders, steroids is found in every sporting competition for a reason, and its the same reason its found in wrestling - to get a leg up on the competition, or to keep up with the competition. In wrestling, which is such a visual medium, its important to look bigger and stronger, because people will believe you are bigger and stronger without having to even watch you wrestle. So it's inevitable. Even without Vince, there would be steroid use. I just don't think it would be as rampant as it is today. And the fact that Vince could stop it if he wanted to puts responsibility on him when he doesn't, even while dead bodies pile around him. Inaction, in this case, is just as bad as action. Even though he doesn't force anyone to use them, he doesn't say not to - and when he pushes guys who use, it certainly doesn't say not to. But then again, Vince is probably looking at himself and saying "I'm not dead yet and I've taken roids for decades, so it can't be the roids..."

Wrestlers are expendable because the amount the WWE pays when a wrestler dies is... well... just about 0. Meanwhile, the losses from a vastly reduced schedule and using smaller wrestlers, would -in their minds- cost them millions and millions and millions.

I am expecting a dance-off where both men rip off their gis and proceed to HUSTLE.

I could see Gunn convince BG to team up in a tag match, gain a certain amount of success, and they try to convince BG that Konnan and Killings are holding them back.