Shawn Michaels was an enigma, a wrestler slight of stature but who could work circles around most everyone he stepped into the ring with. Shawn Michaels had an incredible career as a singles performer after starting his career in a tag team and he was the exception to the rule where tag team wrestlers are concerned. One of the reasons for Michaels success was his determination, his desire to be one of the best in wrestling and to prove that he could overcome the stigma of what the prototypical wrestler had become. Shawn Michaels made a career of making people believe not only in himself but in the product and he was just that good he was money. When Shawn Michaels retired for the last time, wrestling went looking for his replacement and when Daniel Bryan won the WWE World Championship many in wrestling thought the next Shawn Michaels deity was born.
Daniel Bryan “won” the WWE World Championship using a gimmick match stipulation, namely the “Money in the Bank” win that guaranteed him a title shot at any time and he chose the WWE TLC PPV as his showcase. Bryan really did not beat anyone, Mark Henry, who was hurt going into his match with The Big Show, dropped the belt to Show and then Bryan rolled up an “exhausted” Show for a cheap win. A cheap win not one that would showcase what a capable worker Bryan is or one that would justify his title run, a gimmick win.
The reality of this title run is simply, it is Bryan’s turn in the rotation, nothing more, nothing less. The WWE has devalued titles so much over the years that being champion means next to nothing. When everyone on the roster has been champion all you have to do to become champion is make sure you are on the roster. CM Punk, while better on the mic and with a more appealing and interesting character and a slight step ahead of Bryan in the ring, holds a title as well but he is not money. Punk has been pushed to the moon this year including one of the hottest angles in wrestling in many years (Punk v. The WWE which was ruined by Triple H and his ego) but no one seems to care. Punk on top has not meant ratings for RAW, in fact ratings have dropped on and off for segments involving Punk and PPV buys have stagnated. House show attendance has not seen much of a change with Punk on top and outside of the cult following Punk has, no one seems interested.
The interest for Daniel Bryan will be the same if not less than for Punk and Bryan will not increase ratings, PPV buys or pop a house show gain. Daniel Bryan is a wrestler for the geeks, a wrestler for the internet and for all the things Daniel Bryan is, he is not the next Shawn Michaels.
--The former wife of Ed Leslie has come out saying that she thought some of the antics exhibited between Hulk Hogan and Leslie could be portrayed as more than a “bromance.” This comes on the heels of Leslie preparing to sue Linda Hogan for her claims that Leslie and Hogan had a homosexual relationship. Hulk has also filed suit against Linda for allegations made in her book “Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes” in which she claims that Hogan was mentally and physical abusive as well as adulterous and had homosexual relationships.
--Eden Stiles has left the WWE and has announced her relationship with Cody Rhodes leaving many to speculate that was her reasoning for the departure.
--The suspension of R-Truth for a Wellness Violation is nearing the end so expect to see him back on TV soon.
--Kevin Nash was pretty banged up after his match with Triple H on the TLC PPV and he will have to have surgery, may have suffered a concussion and is claiming that this will be his last match.
--Umanosuke Ueda has passed away at age 71 and was well known in Japan as one of the most prolific heels in the 70s and 80s.
--Jesse Ventura was pulled over in California for allegedly following too closely to another driver according to gossip site TMZ to which Ventura claims the story is a complete fabrication and he is considering suing.
--Steve Austin will be starring in a movie with legendary action star Steven Seagal which already has a place on my DVD shelf. The movie has a working title of “Maximum Conviction and the premise is Seagal and Austin are working for a private security company who are in the process of decommissioning a prison when two prisoners arrive being chased down by mercenaries.
--Beth Phoenix is said to be less than happy with Alicia Fox after a potato shot left her face bruised and swollen.
--Kamala, who recently had to have his foot amputated due to complications from diabetes is said to be back in the hospital and will have the upper part of his leg removed. Keep Kamala in your prayers and if you have not done so please buy a t-shirt to help defray his hospital costs and help him with his living expenses.
--Tammy “Sunny” Sytch is on the mend from her fall down an escalator last month but is having complications including dizziness and a viral infection. To add to her angst she is reported to have broken her nose earlier this week due to “clumsiness” which is a cute word for (allegedly) having too much to drink.
--Chris Hero has seen his dream of going to the WWE suffer a major setback when he failed a drug test due to high levels of testosterone.
--The WWE is moving forward, albeit slowly, with plans to have a physical location for its version of a Hall of Fame.
--The injury suffered by Alberto Del Rio on RAW this past Monday is not as bad as first thought but he will undergo further testing before being cleared to wrestle.
--The future of wrestling at the old ECW Arena in Philadelphia is not as uncertain as many would have you believe. The new owners plan a major renovation to accommodate concerts and house about 3,000 seats. The rent on the building plus restrictions as to what would be allowed will be a major discouraging factor to most if not all the groups that currently run in the building.
--Jesse Neal has been all over the online media circuit and with his departure from TNA due to not wanting to go to OVW as was requested by TNA has him seeking indie dates. Neal has repeatedly stated that he is not so much opposed to going to OVW as it just does not make good financial sense for him to do so.
--Batista has been critical of Daniel Bryan and his title win going so far as to heel on his Twitter followers. Even though I have a great deal of disdain for Batista this is one time when I can agree with what he says.
--Despite what John Cena said about being anywhere but at the TLC PPV this past weekend he was indeed backstage at the show. Why not just say “hey yeah, I will be there but I will not be working the show” instead of trying to work the fans and swear up and down that you will be elsewhere?
--If you enjoy this column please be sure to visit The Charlotte Pro Wrestling Examiner for even more news and commentary plus an article on the top ten news stories of 2011.
