Monday, May 19, 2008

The Swerved Presents: Dream Match the 41st


Kane and CM Punk vs. Wham!

The Mizard
The Mizard
The Mizard

I put the Nitro into your car
But I put too much so your car won't start
Nitro into your brain
Which will kill your braincells but you like it just the same
But something ain't right
You felt weird last night
Your Hollywood friends told you Nitro has electrolytes
Left you flippin' in this very ring
You were flying, but you should have been pro wrestling

Tag me up before you pin him
Don't leave me in the corner before you win this
Tag me up before you pin him
They don't wanna lose it to a guy with a fauxhawk
Tag me up before you pin him
My wavy hair smells a little like burnt cinnamon
Tag me up before you pin him
Let's be winning tonight
I wanna touch the sky (in a non-platonic way)


The Question:
Who wins and how?


*****

NEXT WEEK

Have wrestling-related or general questions for The Swerved? Add them to the comments and I'll answer them in a future post.

AND

I told you I can't build you a candy house. It will fall down. The sun will melt the candy. It won't work.

The Swerved Recordings: Vickie Guerrero

This summer, as you sweat off the many pounds of blubber from your ghost-white frame, you'll need some music to help you have a modicum of fun in the proverbial, vitamin D-rich sun. While normal people prefer to play Top 40 music on their iPod in surroundings that play Top 40 music, we all know from experience that you're not normal. For instance, you watch professional wrestling in your Mark Henry-sized pyjamas. Yes, I myself watch professional wrestling, but I analyze it for your enjoyment; on the flipside, you have no excuse. To please your eclectic tastes, The Swerved Recordings is about to release a unique offering from one of WWE's most popular divas. Some of you have been asking this woman to put out an album for a long time. On the other hand, the rest of you have tried to prevent her from speaking. To the latter group, double shame on you. How dare you once. How dare you for a second time.

If you are anything like me, you like your ears. Since your ears have never scarred you emotionally or physically, you desire to reward your ears for their sympathetic treatment. Obviously, you want to give your ears some aural goodness, but you don't know what that goodness should be as you have never bought a gift for your ears at this peculiar time of year. This week, The Swerved has something for you and your lobes. For those of you who want to treat your ears to a musical delight, trek to your nearest online or offline music store and pick up Vickie Guerrero's " The Sound of Vickie."




The Swerved Recordings'
Vickie Guerrero - “The Sound of Vickie”


Wheelchair music hasn't been heard like this before. In fact, wheelchair music hasn't even been invented yet, yet that won't stop Vickie from showing and blowing up the scene. She is an musical innovator wrapped in a musical marvel wrapped in another musical innovator wrapped in another musical marvel. Yes, you read that right--Vickie Guerrero is two sets of two musical people at once. She doesn't apologize for nothing.

Vickie Guerrero delves into the musical world with her debut release. For years, Vickie Guerrero's beautiful tone has been compared to the greatest vocalists of our past and present generations, such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Ashlee Simpson. If you enjoy music, take caution with her first album for her talent may be too overwhelming for you to observe. One fine day, heaven lost an angel in Vickie Guerrero. When she touched down to Earth, she began a quest to touch our lives. I thank the skies above for letting us experience her fantasticality. Let the sound of a heavenly harp getting it on with a grand piano grope your heart and many other places of your person.

Whenever I hear her voice Friday Night Smackdown, I get confused. Is that Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, or Julie Andrews? In comparison, Vickie Guerrero is equivalent to ten Julie Andrews--five Mary Poppins and five Fraulein Marias. Why buy an album by a proven artist or band when you can play Vickie Guerrero's "The Sound of Vickie" over and over again for the remainder of your life? Don't waste your money on ridiculous background noises when you can listen to Vickie Guerrero all damn day. In a sentence, her voice is a pocketful of love on a hateful day. When the hearing-impaired come across her music, they suddenly gain their hearing back for a brief period of time. In some public buildings, her amazing voice replaces the fire alarm during accidental blazes. Actually, when fire comes into contact with Vickie Guerrero's "The Sound of Vickie," the fire extinguishes itself in order to hear the album without interruption, but it's all good in the hood, understood?

Without fail, Vickie Guerrero's "The Sound of Vickie" will blow your mind. If you are a coal miner, it will blow your mine too. I hope you have fifteen minds and fifteen mines because Vickie Guerrero will destroy each and every one with the assistance of fifteen life-changing, inspiring tracks. Check these out for they will haunt your dreams in the best way possible.


Track Listing:

1. We'll Assistant General Manage
2. (The Hills Are Alive With) The Sound of Vickie
3. This Song Sounds Familia
4. My Wheelchair (Is A Chair on Wheels) ft. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
5. Undertake Yourself Before You Underbreak Yourself
6. On Edge
7. Roll Down Ev'ry Rampway
8. Do-Re-Me Want You
9. A Spoonful of Us
10. Make Love, Not Warrior
11. SupercalifragilisticexpialiVickie
12. Theodore's Long Goodbye
13. Smackups
14. Smackdowns
15. We'll General Manage

A minute ago, all the critics were talking about Vickie Guerrero's "The Sound of Vickie." In fact, I heard a few critics conversing in a restaurant, but I was eating tacos at the time so I couldn't hear their comments during across-the-border bites of hard-shelled deliciousness. Critics talk about a lot of things these days, but for a moment, they were talking about Vickie. If you were in the same restaurant with me, let me know if I missed anything. One day, I hope the critics will talk about her again. Until then, take a gander at the overwhelmingly positive feedback for Vickie's album.

"An uplifting journey of everlasting pain." - The WWE Audience

"The ultimate opportunistic album... to the skull." - Michael Cole

"Vickie Guerrero's 'My Wheelchair (Is A Chair on Wheels)' is the theme to the next WWE Pay-Per-View. Therefore, it is great, JR." - Jerry Lawler

"I have never met her in my life." - Chavo Guerrero

"I was once with Lita. Did you know that?" - Edge

"What is 'music'?" - Vince McMahon

"Aw yeah. That's my jam, girlfriend. Mmm hmm." - Undertaker

*uncontrollable weeping* - Lilian Garcia

You see? Do you see? If you don't see, take a trip to Lenscrafters, get yourself a pair of spiffy bifocals, then come back here and tell me if you see what I am seeing. I am seeing promise. I am seeing stars. I am seeing dollar signs. I am seeing the next big hit. If you don't get yourself a copy of Vickie Guerrero's "The Sound of Vickie,” I will personally come to your youngest child's intramural indoor soccer game and kick a colourful soccer ball straight into his or her Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. If you can't inform your children about quality music, your children don't deserve to reap the benefits of teamwork from an extracurricular activity. If you don't have any children, I will personally come to one of your grandparents' intramural indoor soccer game and do the same. Amount of fooling I am dishing out right now equals nada.

In conclusion, buy "The Sound of Vickie with a smile on your face. You better mean it too or so help me I will fix a bunch of wagons. Are you fully aware of the number of colourful soccer balls that I have? I have a lot. I am willing to part with a large percentage of my balls to get my point across.

The Swerved Recordings'
Vickie Guerrero - "The Sound of Vickie"
In Stores When They Allow It

Monday, May 12, 2008

Postcards from Adamle: Cherry Blossom Guy

This week, Mike Adamle travels to the Land of the Rising Sun by accident.


Mike writes: "Everybody speaks weird Chinese here. I like the lights and buildings and bright things. Where is the Godzilla? I want his autobiographs."

*****

NEXT WEEK

Have wrestling-related or general questions for The Swerved? Add them to the comments and I'll answer them in a future post.

AND

Don't act like I'm a steamboat operator, Dad.

The Booker


In the past, I have presented several revolutionary ideas for the betterment of the professional wrestling industry. While I am aware that I am nothing but an enormously gifted and respected analyst on the internet, my proposals have been ignored and or shot down by the higher-ups of World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. The lack of feedback has not crushed my spirits, but I am beginning to wonder what I must do to get WWE and TNA to heed my advice. Yes, I have never run my own independent, national, or international wrestling organization. And, yes, my net worth is a measly ten quindecillion dollars. Despite my shortcomings, I am a visionary. Not only am I able to think outside of the box and bun, I can predict upcoming events and trends in the wrestling world as well. For example, the day before Survivo(u)r Series 1997, I played out the Montreal Screwjob with my Milton Bradley Karate Fighters (Bret Hart spin kicked Vince McMahon's head off in my scenario, but that was the nature of the toy). Hours before WCW Bash at the Beach 1996, I slipped on my Hulkamania t-shirt which fell on the ground and leg dropped my Randy Savage Wrestling Buddy. If Vince McMahon and the zany 99.7 TNA FM morning crew that is Dixie Carter and her ragtag group of wrestling minds are not convinced of my abilities, I will have to show them. In my opinion, the current wrestling programming available today is okay. Since WWE and TNA know that I love to take naps, their respective bookers have provided matches and segments boring enough to give me those restful Zs. Though I thank them for their contributions to the maintenance of my sleep regimen, I wish to give a booking hand to them. For their benefit and yours, I am going to show the world why I am the best wrestling booker ever.

Starting this week and continuing monthly throughout the year, I will be utilizing the tools that wrestling bookers around the globe employ to book their live shows and weekly television programs. Before I reveal my booking methods of mayhem, let me warn The Swerved's loyal fan base of famous female underwear and swimsuit models that these tools are for professional wrestling experts only. These specific instruments are expensive and dangerous and should not be used without years of extensive training. If you feel the urge to emulate my methods, The Swerved is not responsible for any minor or major injuries you may cause to yourself or others, any damage caused to the structural foundation of important city buildings and historical landmarks, or any accidental pregnancies. With those warnings out of the way, I will let you in on the secret: to book my company, I will be using my head, my heart, and Extreme Warfare Revenge.

What is Extreme Warfare Revenge, your ignorant mouth asks from your feeble noggin? In 2002, some British programming guy named Adam Ryland created Extreme Warfare Revenge, a wrestling management text simulator which allows the player to run a wrestling promotion of his or her choice. How does the player run a wrestling promotion? The player most likely runs the wrestling promotion into the ground by giving the entire roster an “Evil Pimp Gimmick,” but I digress. On second thought, giving the entire roster an Evil Pimp Gimmick is genius. The average wrestling fan can relate to an evil pimp because an evil pimp’s lifestyle mirrors that of a young male teenager from suburbia. In the end, aren't we all evil pimps, pimp slapping our way to personal and professional success? If you're not pimp slapping your way to personal and professional success, you are failing. Let me put that statement out there post-haste.

For the sake of timeliness, I will be using the most recent rosters for this magical endeavour. Without further ado, it's time to curl up with a good book... ing.

Rules and Changes:
- World Wrestling Entertainment will be renamed Swerved Wrestling Entertainment. In the next few days, I will begin a rebranding campaign with the tagline, "Out of this world." Mere seconds after I start this campaign, I will be given the world in exchange for my creativity.
- All Pay-Pay-Views will be renamed after song lyrics by Chingy, my absolute favourite philosopher on money, the accumulation of money, women, and the accumulation of women. Furthermore, Chingy is a world-renowned expert on the mispronounciation and misspelling of English words and phrases. He is super good.
- All wrestlers, managers, valets, announcers and personalities are up for grabs. Wrestlers will become managers, managers will become wrestlers, valets will become announcers, announcers will become valets. Conversely, personalities will stay personalities. Why? They have personality; it says so in their description. I may be a visionary, but I'm not crazy.
- All championship titles will be vacated. In 2000, this move worked for Vince Russo in World Championship Wrestling. Therefore, how could this move go wrong for me? It doesn't--that's your answer.
- I will create new feuds, tag teams, and stables. Specifically, I will conjure up an innovate feud in which two wrestlers do not like each other. Hence, I will win at life.
- The brands will be concrete. Unlike the real WWE, wrestlers will stick to wrestling on their brand’s show.



Swerved Wrestling Entertainment
In-Game Start Date: June 2008


Linda McMahon wishes The Swerved the best of luck with my new job. I have your "full support"? Are you talking about your bra? Are you hitting on me, Linda? I'm not attracted to middle-aged women who used to sit in wheelchairs without emotion while Vince McMahon made out with Trish Stratus. Sorry.


Schedules

Television Schedule:

I am tired of high-definition suckage. Swerved Wrestling Entertainment will dish out the goods and the services, if you want. I might be keeping the show names, but RAW, ECW, and Smackdown will go through drastic alterations. I'm talking about the Pope Todd Grisham getting mad paid here. His Popemobile will be rolling on dubs and what not. The Cristal will be popping and such.

Monday: RAW
Announcers: Jim Ross and JBL: The Cowboy Hat Brigade

Tuesday: ECW on Sci-Fi
Announcers: Pope Todd Grisham and Armando (Alejandro) Estrada

Friday: Friday Night Smackdown
Announcers: Mike Adamle and Jonathan Coachman: The Dream Team


Pay-Per-View Schedule:

Say farewell to the grandeur and pageantry of WrestleMania. Say salutations to the mystic wonder that is Sample Dat Ass. Thank you muchly, Chingy. You have provided Swerved Wrestling Entertainment with the best Pay-Per-View names professional wrestling has never offered.

JANUARY
Girl, Can I Touch You Where It's Sunny?

FEBRUARY
Do I Care Ho?

MARCH
She Was Wit Her Mom In Bank America

APRIL
Sample Dat Ass

MAY
Got The Drink And Izzerb

JUNE
Don't It Look Like 100 Moons On My Wrist?

JULY
Equipped With Much Ding-A-Ling

AUGUST
Mobster Eating Pasta

SEPTEMBER
Physiology Ain't Too Furr

OCTOBER
Softer Than A Cactus

NOVEMBER
Carrots All In The Dezzy

DECEMBER
Adjustin' To Fine Meat


Trades

For starters, I will limit myself to five trades. Only fools who are too cool for school make six trades. I am cool enough for school. Also, I have knowledge for college.

Singles Trades:

1) Shawn Michaels (to Smackdown) for Mark Henry (to RAW)
In my opinion, Friday Night Smackdown lacks star power. Conversely, RAW lacks wrestlers who look like Predator. Since I run the show now, Shawn Michaels for Mark Henry is a beneficial trade that will balance the WWE landscape.

2) CM Punk (to RAW) for Jeff Hardy (to ECW)
According to CM Punk, he is addicted to competition. According to myself, the ECW has zero competition, unless you count Nunzio who makes up 95% of the competition. A change of scenery for Punk to Monday RAW will give him the adequate competition he requires to stave off the alcoholic beverages, the marijuana cigarettes, and the promiscuous sexing with the ladies. At this point in his career, Jeff Hardy has two strikes out of three in an industry that does not pitch balls. Though I still have faith that Jeffrey will make it out of his terrible predicament as a better individual, I am hesitant to trust him. So, Jeff Hardy will Twist of Fate towards Tuesdays. Actually, he will simply appear on ECW on Sci-Fi, but Jim Ross will think that he is executing the Twist of Fate.

3) Umaga (to Smackdown) for Rey Mysterio (to RAW)
The Samoan Bulldozer has bulldozed most of the RAW roster many times over. Umaga's extended stint on RAW is similar to a houseguest who refuses to leave your home, even when you force him to sleep in the tub. On Fridays, the recovering Rey Mysterio has been on Smackdown since the 13th century. Swerved Wrestling Entertainment represents a new beginning in the industry. When Umaga goes to Friday and Mysterio goes to Monday, a new beginning will be as new as something very new, such as a really old person.

Tag Team Trades:

4) London and Kendrick (to Smackdown) for Deuce and Domino (to RAW)
Before my reign, the exciting high fliers that are Paul London and Brian Kendrick got the chance to showcase their skills in two-minute matches which usually ended with a roll-up. On the other hand, the throwback team of Deuce and Domino punched and kicked for eternity in the low-card basement of Friday nights. In Swerved Wrestling Entertainment, I'm giving London and Kendrick the opportunity to showcase their skills in three-minute Smackdown matches which end with a small package. On the other hand, Deuce and Domino will punch and kick for eternity in the low-card basement of RAW, but they will shove too. Enjoy.

Diva Trades:

5) Maria (to Smackdown) for Natalya (to RAW)
I used to be fond of the bubbly Maria. Then, one day, she posed for Playboy Magazine and lost her standout persona forever. For those who don't know, Natalya is Nattie Neidhart, the goatee-less daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Because the WWE brain trust likes to sniff paint on the weekends, Natalya is stuck wrestling for peanuts on Fridays. Meanwhile, Maria wrestles in every other Divas title match for she is the only competent female competitor available on RAW aside from Mickie James (Ashley Massaro is Ashley Massaro, after all). While most fans use Divas matches as bathroom breaks, I am interested in women's wrestling. If Natalya is a wrestler and Maria barely passes for a wrestler, you cannot stop me from switching this whole situation up because I'm going to switch this whole situation up something fierce.


Firings

Professional wrestlers have to feed and clothe their families. The Swerved cares for its employee's well-being, so I will be delivering five pink slips. These pink slips will be constucted out of cotton candy and can double as a raincoat. You're welcome in advance.

1) Snitsky (RAW)
You're still in World Wrestling Entertainment, Snitsky? Why? Do you live in World Wrestling Entertainment or something? How can you live in a publicly traded, international wrestling company? Does a publicly traded, international wrestling company have a guest room? Why are you here, Gene? Are you installing cable? Are you here to fix the washer-dryer? You go can now, Gene Snitsky. Wait, why are you here again? Are you hungry? No? Are you thirsty? Do you want a drink or a fun size bag of tortilla chips before you exit? Please leave.

2) Chuck Palumbo (Smackdown)
Dear Chuck; your gimmick consists of the fact that you enjoy riding bikes. I can safely say that you like riding bikes more than you like not riding bikes. In all, your gimmick is dynamic with infinite potential, but my company does not have room for you. Without Billy Gunn, you don't look so good to me. Your severance pay will be a tricycle. My budget did not allow me to get you a bicycle, nor a motorcycle for that matter. I bought you a wicker basket with flowers painted on the front instead. I know how you dig your posies.

3 & 4) Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder (Smackdown)
Hawkins and Ryder, otherwise known as the charismatic duo of La Familia, are too charismatic for Swerved Wrestling Entertainment. I'm sure that they will find their charismatic selves in an environment that takes full advantage of their ability to resemble brothers in major and charismatic manner. Sigh and three-fourths of a sigh.

5) Ashley Massaro (RAW)
Fly, Ashley Massaro, fly. You are free. Spread those legs wings and soar out of this place. As a tip, please do not injure yourself on your way out. Yesterday, I shovelled Swerved Wrestling Entertainment's sidewalk and driveway. You cannot sue me for Property Owner's Liability.

Whatever, Matt Hardy. First Lita, now Ashley. When Lita slept with Edge, you two were on a break anyway. I Don't Care Give A Rat’s Posterior Version 1.0.


Hirings

Five TNA talents of my choice will sign on the solid line. They would sign on the dotted line, but I don't believe in dotted lines. Dotted lines are just rebellious solid lines with low self-esteem.

1) AJ Styles (to ECW)
Currently, AJ Styles is stuck in the middle of TNA. Though he is the Prince of Phenomenal in the company, he will have to wait a bit to become the King of Phenomenal. With this acquisition, Prince AJ Styles will be immediately upgraded to the President of the Phenomenal States of Phenomena.

2) Disco Inferno (to ECW)
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment did not have Disco Fever... until now for the Disco Inferno will be the new General Manager of ECW. In the next few weeks, I hope the fans contract Disco Fever, Disco-itis, and the always important Disco Gonorrhea. In conclusion, Disco is not dead; it is simply waiting to be awoken from a light slumber.

3 & 4) LAX: Homicide and Hernandez (to RAW)
The Latin American Xchange lost the E in Xchange due to pressure from “The Man.” In order to take on “The Man,” Homicide and Hernandez will attempt to own Monday Nights with the help of random, interstitial protest footage. Move aside, Cryme Tyme. Homicide and Hernandez does not understand the actual Cryme Tyme on a standard, wall-mounted, analog clock. They're guessing it's 3:03 PM Coordinated Universal Time. Are they right, or do they have to mess some fellows up? Sadly, Salinas will not join LAX in SWE because my company does not have the space for her ample anterior protuberances. Maybe next time.

5) Samoa Joe (to ECW)
I got your champion, Total Nonstop Action. What you want, TNA? What you want? Without Samoa Joe, you are Partial Frequent Action. You will bring the action in between Chess matches in the park on a Sunday afternoon.

Yes, Paul London. It's true. I am hiring Samoa Joe. Why are you shocked? You are so shocked, you are not even moonsaulting in place. How come?


Demotions

Swerved Wrestling Entertainment's official developmental territory will continue to be Florida Championship Wrestling. I have never been to Florida, but I assure these demoted wrestlers that they will have a ton of fun. You probably don't want the worldwide exposure and big Pay-Per-View bonuses that Swerved Wrestling Entertainment provides. I think you'd much rather have tuna sandwich dinners and constant battles with tornadoes and flooding.

1) Cody Rhodes (from RAW)
I cannot sum up Cody Rhodes' gimmick on a page, let alone a paragraph. Cody Rhodes' gimmick is fairly elaborate, involving a complicated system of pulleys, levers, and an automated robot army. To simplify the persona of Dusty Rhodes’ offspring, I'm sending young Cody to Florida so he may come back better and Cody-er than ever. Do not come back until you become a boring, do-gooder with an everyday DDT finisher. I’ll be waiting with open arms.

2) DH Smith (from RAW)
If you look back to a recent article of mine, you will discover that I have big plans for DH Smith. King Regal's reign on RAW requires a group of supporters to back up his onscreen tyranny. When the time is right, DH Smith will take on the role of the Duke of RAW. Until then, DH Smith must go to Florida Championship Wrestling to study up on famous Dukes. At a younger age, I thought former WWF superstar Duke "The Dumpster" Droese was a Duke, but it turned out that was simply a scruffy dude with a trash can. So far, I have met several scruffy dudes with trash cans. To me, Droese seems to be quite Dukeworthy.

3) Eve Torres (from Smackdown)
While I was glad that Eve Torres won the 2007 Diva Search, she has done nothing on Smackdown since her victory. I would claim that World Wrestling Entertainment are daft for not coming up with something for Eve to do, though I don't have a clue either. I'm positive that Eve is a wonderful lass; I just have no ideas for her at the time. She has an exotic look in a company with numerous exotic women. She looks the part yet is not capable of acting the part. In this conundrum, I'm sending her to Florida Championship Wrestling. Do what you will, FCW. In case of emergency, give her a top hat, a monocle, and a cane. She can be Mrs. Peanut, Mr. Peanut's promiscuous wife. I told you once and I’ll tell you again: I’m not crazy.

4) Layla El (from ECW)
Insert Superman joke here. I think Layla is foxy enough to do great things in Swerved Wrestling Entertainment, but not at the moment. A few months in Florida Championship Wrestling should do wonders for her. Hopefully, Florida will turn her curly, frizzy hair permanently straight somehow. I will except no other outcome.

5) Lena Yada (from ECW)
Lena Yada will not be back on SWE television until she transforms into Lena Yoda, the Asian descendant of Yoda from the Star Wars "Sexlogy." That's. The. End. Of. The. Story. Or, in Lena Yoda's words, "End of the story, that is." Isn’t that right, Yode-dawg?


Promotions

1) Chris Harris (to ECW)
I believe that the former and blander half of America's Most Wanted did not get the attention that he deserved in TNA. Sure, "The Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm is allowed to stroll around the Impact Zone in his camouflage trench coat, but I despise camouflage trench coats. What is James Storm accomplishing by wearing a camouflage trench coat? Storm does not grasp the concept of camouflage. I can see him in that trench coat no matter where he goes. Is he supposed to blend in with the six-sided ring? If so, he fails. When Chris Harris was in TNA, he had a trench coat, except it was made of white latex. When it came down to it, white latex does not make a good gimmick. As Chris Harris shows up on Swerved Wrestling Entertainment programming, I'm giving him a second trench coat that will consist of living and breathing orphans to put over his white latex coat. With a coat of abandoned children, Harris will become ECW's most hated heel. Boo. Abandoned children are not articles of clothing.

2) Colt Cabana (to RAW)
Ring of Honor alumnus Colt Cabana was part of the Second City Saints stable with CM Punk and former WWE developmental talent Ace Steel, otherwise known as the guy who played Donald Trump in the infamous Trump versus Rosie match on a January 2007 edition of RAW. As a sidenote, Cabana worked for Wrestling Society X as the old school, masked wrestler named Matt Classic. Perhaps the most important fact about Cabana that you should know is that he used Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" as his Ring of Honor theme. With his promotion to the big leagues of Swerved Wrestling Entertainment, I will reunite Cabana with CM Punk. Although Cabana and Punk will not be a full-time tag team, they will become allies. When Punk is down and out, Colt Cabana will cue up "Copacabana" over the loudspeakers. Together, they will dance the Dance of Manilow. I don't know what the Dance of Manilow entails. Truly, I'm too frightened to find out. The dance sounds scary. Scarily awesome.

3 & 4) The Cobras: Kenny Dykstra Doane and Jaden Johnny Jeter (to Smackdown)
Doane and Jeter, the former members of the Spirit Squad, will debut on Smackdown as the babyface version of the Cobra Kai from the hit movie The Karate Kid. In my view, Ken looks like Johnny Lawrence, the film's villain who sweeps the leg like nobody's business. In addition, Johnny once wore a head wrap that was similar to Daniel Larusso's Tenegui. Deep down, I have always wanted to base wrestlers on The Karate Kid because the film’s characters are all Miyagiriffic in their own right. Since Cherry cannot lead Deuce and Domino to the ring with that team’s move to RAW, she will reinvent herself as Johnny Jeter's love interest. At Halloween, Johnny will put on a shower costume, Ken will don a skeleton costume, and Cherry will turn into Elisabeth Shue circa the 1980s. At first, Doane and Jeter will feud, but will eventually team up when Johnny utilizes the crane technique to defeat Doane in the All Swerved Karate Tournament. Doane will congratulate Johnny by saying, "You're alright, Jeter! Let's form a tag team." Of course, Johnny will say yes. Behind the scenes, I will force Johnny to paint my fence.

5) Matt Sydal (ECW)
This call-up is dedicated to the fallen Wrestling Society X and its followers. In Wrestling Society X, Matt Sydal had an entertaining male model gimmick which captured the hearts and minds of male models like myself and the one wrestling fan out there who doesn't smell like rotten liver. With his Swerved Wrestling Entertainment debut, I call upon Matt Sydal to revive that Abercrombie & Fitchy character for the ignorant masses. Don't shop at The Gap anymore. I have no use for their family-friendly commercials. Lest we forget Wrestling Society X. I'm pouring an exploding bottle of explosive liquor for my Wrestling Society X peeps. May Wrestling Society X’s bling ladder bling bright for years to come.


Feuds

Mickie James is not willing to feud with Natalya. Well, too bad, girl. I liked you better you when you cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, Mickie. You have left me with zero female figures to admire, other than "The Woman King" Oprah Winfrey, with whom I will fight in the octagon one day for world supremacy. Big ups to nothing.


Major Feuds:

RAW
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment Heavyweight Championship Feud:
Triple H vs. William Regal

Before I start this feud, I would like to apologize to Triple H for stripping him of his coveted WWE Championship. To my dismay, Triple H is only a 12-time world champion. The last thing that Triple H needs in his career is less belts. To make up for his loss, he gets to engage in a lengthy feud with King William Regal. The King of Kings versus The King of WWE is a logical rivalry that might not wow the average wrestling fan but should result in compelling episodes of RAW. Triple H will battle King Regal in and out of the ring for power, facing the King himself and his loyal and royal stable. While DH Smith is down in Florida Championship Wrestling, Princess Katie Lea and Prince Paul Burchill will serve up the kingly beatings for their ruler until the Duke makes his presence known. To bring believability to the feud, both Triple H and Regal will wear crowns the entire time. I'm looking forward to a summer of constant crown-wearing. You should too.

SMACKDOWN
World Heavyweight Championship Feud:
Undertaker vs. Umaga

If WWE is unwilling to pull the trigger on Umaga's move to Smackdown, Swerved Wrestling Entertainment will be happy to do so. In today’s wrestling scene, Undertaker can't get enough of facing Edge. At Judgment Day, Undertaker will face Edge for the 475,686,458,348th time, not counting handicap matches or bouts decided by a count out. On the Smackdown brand, Umaga's will debut by beating up Undertaker's druids at the May Pay-Per-View. Man, I hate those druids so much. They think they're all that with their oversized cloaks and large torches, but you know what? They are so not all that. They are not even some of that. In high school, I was about to be a druid, but I decided that I didn't want to be totally lame sauce. You can't get girls with a fiery stick and dark attire that covers your face.

ECW
ECW World Championship Feud:
Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

Look what I got, TNA. I got your wrestlers, man. What you gon' do, Dixie? What you got, DJ Jazzy Jeff Jarrett? I ain't tripping. Samoa Joe and AJ Styles will be blazing up ECW like a mothertrucker. I'm talking off-the-wall mothertrucking where straight-up wrestling equals no countsies and drawing blood gets you triple-word scores. Word to your next of kin, your family friend, and your local pediatrician. Jigga what? Jigga whom? I'm still not crazy.

Minor Feuds:

RAW
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment Women's Championship Feud:
Mickie James vs. Natalya

With this feud, Swerved Wrestling Entertainment will take full advantage of the truth that Natalya does not look like Jim Neidhart in any way, shape, or form. If you want to compare her to The Anvil, she's the sexamified version of him, which is both an odd and arousing claim. By moving Natalya to RAW, I run the risk of converting her into a clone of Beth Phoenix: The Glamazon, but Natalya isn't a glamorous Amazon.com; she is a sexamified Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Are you paying attention at all? The Mickie-Natalya feud will contain no lingerie pillow fights, nor any battles with water guns; rather, these two females will go at it like two determined beyotches at a one-day sale on wedding dresses. To those of you who are offended by this comment, go to the one-day, wedding dress sale some time. You will understand my analogy forthwith.

RAW
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Championship Feud:
CM Punk vs. Mr. Kennedy

CM Punk is straight-edge. Ken Kennedy says his name twice with the assistance of dangling microphones. Could they be any more similar? CM Punk has done anything and everything in Extreme Championship Wrestling, including wrestling against Matt Striker, the best disgraced, former Social Studies teacher that ECW has to offer. At the same time, Mr. Kennedy is not up to much right now. Yes, he is having a spat with King Regal, but I don't expect that feud to last long. After he finishes losing to William, he will need direction. Swerved Wrestling Entertainment will give him direction by pitting him in an Intercontinental Title feud with Punk. The winner obtains an Intercontinental Breakfast consisting of a plate of bacon and eggs which has been hand passed from every person on Earth. Delicious indeed.

RAW
World Tag Team Championship Feud:
LAX vs. Cryme Tyme

I prefer to look at Shad and JTG as the G-Rated variant of Homicide and Hernandez. My signing of the Latin American Xchange will give Cryme Tyme something to chant about. Homicide and Hernandez don't care about Euros. In fact, they have no idea what a Euro is. If Cryme Tyme wants to cash in on that number one contender shot that they won over a year ago and take the titles, they will have to defeat Hernandez's rainbow poncho first. Holy carp from a freshwater lake is that a colourful poncho. That poncho must produce Skittles.

SMACKDOWN
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment United States Championship Feud:
Shawn Michaels vs. Montel Vontavious Porter

The Heartbreak Kid is not a kid anymore, but he can still move with two bum knees. With Shawn in the twilight of his professional wrestling career, Montel Vontavious Porter is on his way to the top of the company. I can't tell you why Shawn Michaels has never wrestled on Smackdown, but I will use my superhuman booking powers to bring him to Friday nights. One reason I have chosen to make Michaels and MVP feud is to witness the visual of Montel "Ballin'" off the ropes, only to receive a Superkick in his most valuable playing grill. Once I see that event on television, I will be content with my existence until I get my own candy slash firearms slash adult erotica factory.

SMACKDOWN
Swerved Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Championship Feud:
Paul London and Brian Kendrick vs. Shannon Moore and Jimmy Wang Yang

Because Smackdown has a wealth of babyface tag teams, one of these teams will have to turn heel. If you're thinking what I'm thinking, London and Kendrick will be the ones who will turn evil. You see, Brian Kendrick is showing heel tendencies already. In the past few months, he has walked out on Paul London during matches and looks at him with a disappointed glare. In professional wrestling, the disappointed glare signifies an upcoming heel turn, next to a sourpuss facial expression, the desire to put down an area's sports franchises, and the need to eat dark chocolate. The instant you see a professional wrestler eating dark chocolate on television, tell someone you trust.

Kid Rock praises Swerved Wrestling Entertainment to the tune of a Sweet Home Alabama rip-off. This is great news for wrestling fans everywhere? I don't think so. Kid Rock, you are great news for wrestling fans everywhere. Sugary House Mississippi. Where the upper atmosphere is a light azure hue. Sugary House Mississippi. Almighty authority figure, I'm travelling to that house to you.


NEXT TIME

Swerved Wrestling Entertainment runs its first month of shows. Who will win the big one? Who will lose the small one? Who will be disqualified during the medium one? Keep reading The Swerved for upcoming installments of The Booker.




Monday, May 05, 2008

Postcards from Adamle: Late Spring / Early Summer Vacation

This week, Mike Adamle sends his love from Jamaica, the place which makes him crazy.


Mike writes: "I is having good time on Jamaica. It is hot and warm. There is water and people a lot. I want to meet Cool Runnings. Byes."

*****

NEXT WEEK

Booking for love in all the wrong places.

AND

Have wrestling-related or general questions for The Swerved? Add them to the comments and I'll answer them in a future post.

TNA Impact: The Video Game: The Preview


Like every Cheetos-fueled teenager, I partake in the odd video game now and again. I am a player of video games because my childhood dream is to shoot aliens in the face with overpowered machine guns from a first- or third-person perspective. Until that day comes, I highly anticipate this year’s release of the TNA Impact game for the XBOX 360 (360 is the number of times you can disappoint your parents by having computer-generated relations with computer-generated prostitutes), the PlayStation 3 (three is the number of steaks you can cook on the console at the same time), and the Nintendo Wii (I call my man factory my Wiiner). THQ’s Smackdown vs. RAW series stands king among next generation wrestling games, but Midway hopes to usurp the throne with Total Nonstop Action’s introduction into the video game fray.

Have you ever wanted to grab a large yet insignificant letter of the alphabet from cables suspended high above a hexagonal ring? Have you ever envisioned yourself as Rhino, war machining your girth into your opponents’ midsections? Have you ever seen Impact and said, “Hey, this show doesn’t confuse me at all. If only I could play this goodness on a glossy, overpriced machine”? If you have thought about any of these questions in your fruitful existence, consider yourself a buyer of TNA Impact: The Video Game. To be honest, I have grown tired of World Wrestling Entertainment and their entire video game series. Sure, they have passable graphics, but as a young man, I want video game man sweat to be as realistic as possible. Also, they may boast an impressive roster but I can only play as Michelle McCool for so many times before I question my life. This year, I’m ready to spread my wings of love for something new. Yeah, that’s right. I got myself some wings of love. What do you have? Nothing.

Popular video game sites will try to play up TNA Impact: The Video Game as the greatest wrestling title of all-time. On the other hand, this is The Swerved, the one site that tells it like it is. The last thing that this blog would do is lie to you; it would never even think of it. Just give The Swerved a chance to make you happy. The Swerved does not love you; it is in love with you. Now, take The Swerved’s hand into the meadow of happiness.



Features

Match Types

The following match types will make you go, “Wow, those are match types, all right."

Singles Match
Two grapplers battle it out amidst a group of clueless Universal Studios tourists.

Tag Team Match
Two teams fight for the right to tag team dissension.

X-Division Match
Two to sixty small guys trade flips for five minutes while Kurt Angle wanders backstage in his banana hammock with hilarious results.

X-Division Gauntlet
Two to sixty small guys trade flips for five minutes in an over-the-top-rope battle royal. The remaining two competitors get the opportunity to trade flips in a more intimate setting.

Xscape the Cage Match
Two wrestlers attempt to Xscape the steel cage which surrounds the six-sided ring. To “Xscape” a steel cage is a climb out of it with the assistance of a dirt bike and a bottle of Mountain Dew to the sound of non-threatening, high energy, royalty-free stock music.

Monster’s Ball
Four wrestlers hit each other with garbage cans and flimsy wooden tables to infuriate garbage can manufacturers and sensitive woodworking teachers from high school.

Reverse Battle Royal
Twenty to thirty wrestlers (X-Division or normal-sized) duke it out in an over-the-top rope contest. The two remaining wrestlers must say something nice about each other or they won’t get any ice cream after the show.

King of the Mountain
Do you love to put up Christmas lights in the freezing cold? The King of the Mountain ladder match allows you to climb a ladder and put a championship belt on a hook because it‘s the logical thing to do. Fun, right?

Reverse Cage Match
Ten wrestlers punch and kick each other at ringside in a sloppy manner. The first two wrestlers to climb up and over the cage wall and touch both feet on the canvas get to wrestle in a bout in which the first wrestler to escape the cage and touch both feet on the ringside mat gets to wrestle the wrestlers on the outside of the cage. Next, the next three wrestlers that can climb back into the ring and touch both feet on the canvas gains the opportunity to fight the loser of the first stage of the Reverse Cage Match. Then, the four wrestlers inside of the cage have to climb out of the ring and back fifty times. The first wrestler to do this task fifty times wins the chance to travel to the ends of the Earth in search of four golden pieces of the broken amulet of Aaarsgaard, the Norse God of Simplicity.

Reserve Match Match
Two wrestlers begin in the pinfall position. The first wrestler to exit the ring and walk to the back in a backwards fashion wins.


Venues

This fall or the next fall or the subsequent fall after that one, TNA Impact: The Video Game puts the wrestling fan in realistic venues around the world. Hone your grappling skills in North America; venture to the Far East and become an elite high flyer; take your bags to Europe and transform yourself into a feared submission specialist; or, go down to South America for a experimental change of gender. The choice is yours, Player 1 or Player 2.

Impact Zone (Orlando, Florida) *
The current home of Total Nonstop Action. Jonny Fairplay stops by sometimes. Just ignore him. Don’t turn on the lights. He will go away.

The Asylum (Nashville, Tennessee) *
The original home of Total Nonstop Action. Get nostalgic for the days when you had to pay ten dollars to see Jeff Jarrett.

Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan) *
Don’t fear the silence of the passionate Japanese crowd. They are simply horrified at your American ways.

Gwinnett Center (Atlanta, Georgia) *
Taint the memories of WCW’s former fanbase forever with a visit to their stomping grounds.

Madison Square Garden (New York, New York) *
Madison Square Garden, I say? Don’t you dare question it. With TNA Impact: The Video Game, some woman named Madison will let you wrestle in her garden that is in the vague shape of a square. Enjoy.

*subject to change to non-existence


Roster

Midway’s TNA Impact: The Video Game boasts an enormous roster of twenty wrestlers. I don’t know even how to count to twenty. In school, when my third grade teacher would ask each student to count to one hundred for some reason, I would start to do The Robot after nineteen. At first, the teacher said, “What the heck are you doing?” In response, I continued to do The Robot. Eventually, the teacher gave me an A and unlimited use of the Apple II. In other words, twenty wrestlers is a lot of wrestlers.

Take this roster and love it, Smackdown vs. RAW. You may have Shawn Michaels, Triple H, John Cena, The Undertaker, Edge, Randy Orton, Batista, Big Show, Umaga, Chris Jericho, JBL, Finlay, Finlay’s son, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, MVP, CM Punk, Kane, and the immortal Michelle McCool, but TNA Impact: The Video Game has Eric Young. Suck on those suckers, suckas.

TNA Impact: The Video Game Official Roster:

- Kurt Angle (Finisher: Angle Slam)
- Karen Angle (Finisher: Angle Slam)
- Kira Angle (Finisher: Canadian Destroyer)
- Samoa Joe (Finisher: Muscle Buster)
- AJ Styles (Finisher: Styles Clash)
- Tomko (Finisher: Angle Slam)
- Christian Cage (Finisher: Unprettier)
- Rhyno (Finisher: Canadian Destroyer)
- Homicide (Finisher: Gringo Killer)
- Hernandez (Finisher: Canadian Destroyer)
- Alex Shelley (Finisher: Being in Doghouse)
- Chris Sabin (Finisher: Cradle Shock)
- Petey Williams (Finisher: Angle Slam)
- Scott Steiner (Finisher: Canadian Destroyer)
- Jay Lethal (Finisher: Top Rope Elbow Drop)
- Jeff Jarrett: 'Bringing TNA to Hulk Hogan' Version (Finisher: Absurd Claim)
- Mike Tenay (Finisher: Shouting)
- Don West (Finisher: Shouting)
- Jeremy Borash (Finisher: Having Bug Eyes)
- Jumper: The Total Nonstop Kangaroo (Finisher: Canadian Destroyer into Angle Slam into Canadian Destroyer)



Controls

Midway’s TNA Impact: The Video Game has revolutionary controls which rival those of the most popular games today. As a wrestling video gamer, you might enjoy such luxuries as manual camera control and the ability to move your wrestler out of the ring, but TNA Impact: The Video Game is years ahead of its time. Be prepared for the “Super-Fixed Camera,” a camera which gives you the action continents away from the almost-appears-to-be-a-stop-sign circle. Let’s pretend you have selected to wrestle at the Impact Zone. Once you choose your wrestler and your opponent, the super-fixed camera will position itself in Cairo, Egypt rather than the bland Impact Zone. Why know what you’re doing on the screen when you can watch sand blow over more sand in a dry climate for hours on end? In addition, “In-Ring Play” constricts the match within the six-sided ring. You don’t want to go outside anyway. It’s not that interesting, really. According to numerous research sessions held by TNA representatives, video game players don’t want to roam anywhere they wish. If anything, they prefer claustrophobic spaces (TNA’s research concluded that the best multiplayer map for Halo 3, Bungie Studios’ megahit shooter, was a crawlspace). Since Midway and TNA desires to give the fans what they like, TNA Impact: The Video Game lets you compete as if you are stuck inside of a crawlspace.

In addition, TNA Impact: The Video Game utilizes various control schemes that are specific to each next generation console. Whether you own an XBOX 360, a PS3, or a Nintendo Wii, TNA Impact: The Video Game has the controls for you. Just so TNA is aware, you don’t mind having multiple surgeries to fix future carpal tunnel injuries, do you? You don’t? Great.


TNA Impact: The Video Game for the XBOX 360 emphasizes tag team wrestling with the ability to fight your partner at any time. In the long run, every ally becomes an enemy. Why wait to murder them?


TNA Impact: The Video Game for the PlayStation 3 uses the six-axis control scheme to Cross the Line. How do you Cross the Line? You have a line, then you cross it. What a fool, you are.


TNA Impact: The Video Game for the Nintendo Wii employs the family friendly Wiimote and Nunchuck to fit your simple video gaming needs. Use Mike Tenay and Don West as your guides into the marvelous world of physical activity.


Audio

For the benefit of those with high quality speakers, TNA Impact: The Video Game is brought to you in both mono and stereo (where available). Get ready to hear the realistic bone-crunching, hard-hitting sounds of TNA. You will never hear a pin drop with TNA Impact: The Video Game for TNA’s fantastic announce team will make sure to narrate the pin drop for you. Hear the deafening boos, the boisterous cheers, and the toe-tapping rhythm of TNA’s entrance theme catalogue. From the white noise of the Motor City Machine Guns to the angelic anthem of Sting, Midway’s upcoming release has just what the doctor orders you to listen to in his sketchy doctor’s office. Will your doctor prescribe TNA Impact: The Video Game for all your aural needs? If they won’t, get a new doctor. Seriously.


Graphics

Trust me on this one, loyal readers. The graphics for TNA Impact: The Video Game are outstanding. The three-dimensional wrestler models are the best that professional wrestling video games have to offer in the next generation. The wrestlers look the part, act the part, and most of all sweat the part. While you’re playing, it will feel as though you are watching an actual TNA Impact broadcast. You know how editions of TNA Impact have adequate production values but still look like they occur in the haze of a smoky alcoholic’s basement? If you can’t get enough of TNA’s upbeat atmosphere, TNA Impact: The Video Game duplicates the unique aura with precision.

Before you line up to buy a game that doesn’t come out for another four to five months, let me warn you that at this point in the production, the trail blazing graphics for the Midway title are incomplete. Although the game is not finished, don’t worry. Video game developers and publishers prefer to frequently delay for minor tweaks and upgrades. For instance, TNA Impact: The Video Game has only been delayed two to three times. You may think that’s two to three times many, but don’t worry. When the game comes out, you will be content. You will not be suspicious about the delays, nor will you be skeptical about the noticeable absence of finished footage available to avid players right now. Go out and spend a day in the sun. By the time you come back, TNA Impact: The Video Game will be ready and waiting for you, unless it is delayed again. Though, don’t worry. I’m sure Midway is up to amazing things.



Look, TNA Impact: The Video Game does not have any background graphics as of yet, but they’re working on it. Come on. Don’t be so hard on the makers of the game. They’re trying. Why don’t you picture a bunch of fans cheering instead? See, that’s not so bad. Also, picture some signs. A bunch of signs with clever catchphrases on them such as “Total Nonstop Angle“ and “Samoa Jo” with the letter E missing because the sign maker forgot to include it on the sign. If you don’t care for these visuals, make up your own. I don’t know. Make up something. Midway is not going to do it for you. What does Midway look like to you? Your parental guardian? Anyway, don’t be afraid to visualize some scenery. In the background, pretend that a scantily clad, attractive woman wishes to have sex on you. Yes, go ahead and make that magic happen, Merlin the Magnificent.


The Buzz

I’m not going to sugarcoat the early reception for Midway’s gam, so I will declare the following: initial reviews claim that TNA Impact: The Video Game is the cure for every incurable disease known to modern man. If you find yourself in a life-threatening motor vehicle accident in the near to distant future, play TNA Impact: The Video Game and your crippling neck, back, and head injuries will subside. If you are in dire need of a kidney or heart transplant, put TNA Impact: The Video Game in your console and a fully functional kidney and or heart will start to grow inside your body. If you are in great debt in the hundred-thousand-dollar range, TNA Impact: The Video Game can’t help you. For your edutainment, TNA Impact: The Video Game is not a miracle worker.


Praise on, random reviewers.

Release Date
May 2008 September 2008 January 2009 In Our Lifetime, Hopefully, With Fingers Crossed


The Verdict: Sell your body for this game. Once you sell your body, everybody wins.

Monday, April 28, 2008

The Swerved Presents: Dream Match the 40th


World Heavyweight Championship Match
Undertaker (c) vs. Matthew Lillard


You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will never look like Edge
He is a poor impersonator
And I'm getting the best of him

You know I look like Edge because I know I look like Edge
You know, you know, you know, you know I look like Edge because I know I look like Edge (and I don't act in a film without Freddie Prinze Jr.)
You're just a person who doesn't look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
You think I look like Edge
Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will never look like Edge
He is a poor impersonator
And I'm getting the best of him


The Question:
Who wins and how?

*****

NEXT WEEK

Don't hate the video game player, hate the video game.

AND

Thug life.

Stable-ize


The Four Horsemen. The New World Order. Pretty Mean Sisters. The great list continues. What do these groups have in common? They were all fantastic wrestling stables that changed the landscape of the industry forever. As a wrestling fan for a tad under five hundred years, I am not happy with WWE's decision to cut down on stables. Sure, we do have La Familia on Smackdown, but I don't even know who Zack Ryder or Kurt Hawkins are. They may as well be part of the WWE set. When I first saw them on Smackdown one Friday night via the magic of digital video recording, I thought they were shirtless janitors that stole Edge's ring gear. Look, I am human. Once in a while, I like to borrow a professional wrestler's attire and mop the floor in an efficient fashion. The other day, I dressed as Big Daddy V and cleaned the hallway of my former elementary school, but my former elementary school frowns on my decision to model my appearance after Big Daddy V. Where was I? Oh, yes. Stables. I have a few suggestions.

Stable Characteristics I Like:
1) A stable with a charismatic, veteran wrestler or manager who manages a rookie
2) A stable with a cohesive tag team that sports a unique look
3) A stable with an official uniform (a shirt with the stable's logo, or a certain colour scheme worn by all stable members)
4) A stable with a catchy theme song
5) A stable with an intrinsic need to beat down you and yours with painful results


Stable Characteristics I Don't Like:
1) A stable of similar wrestlers
2) A stable made up of only veteran wrestlers/A stable made up of only rookie wrestlers
3) A stable without a name
4) A stable without a purpose
5) A stable without hay (dude needs to feed his horses, man)


This week, I provide stable ideas to ensure the survival and success of the wrestling business for many generations to come. Unlike the last time I saved the industry, you don't have to thank me. As long as you hand over your functional hearts, I'm good to go. You don't need your hearts for anything important, do you? That's right. You never do.


The United Kingdom
(RAW)

The King: William Regal

William Regal, the 2008 King of the Ring, attained the crown in a grueling one-night tournament on RAW, defeating such tough competitors as a broken-down Finlay and his magical leprechaun son. Wrestling analysts claim that magical leprechaun children are the most dangerous opponents in one-night tournaments, but they were no match for one William Regal on that Monday night. As the king of ropes, turnbuckles, an apron, and a mat, King Regal requires much encourage and support since ruling over inanimate objects is a difficult thing to do. In other words, for a king to be successful in World Wrestling Entertainment, he definitely needs a royal hierarchy behind him.

Although King Regal will not be able to order his court to behead every single opponent, his rule will be one of great domination. King Regal will proclaim that his people will drink nothing but tea and greet and bid farewell to one another with suplexes aplenty on the neck area. Perhaps they may be parched after suplexing each other on the neck area. Therefore, they will need to drink tea right after they suplex each other on the neck area. On the other hand, drinking tea beforehand might give them adequate energy to suplex each other on the neck area. Well, what should they do first? This whole king business is complicated. This complicated king thing is why I write about sports entertainment. I could have been a king, but I didn't want to take the correspondence course.


The Prince: Paul Burchill

One day, Paul Burchill was a pirate. He swung from a rope, handed out beads and riches to the audience, and used his sword to swipe at the air because the air said something about his mother. As a pirate of the Caribbean variety, Paul Burchill had it all, until Vince McMahon noticed that he existed and put an end to Burchill's seafaring ways. You see, Vince McMahon does not enjoy the company of pirates. If I didn't know any better, I would think that Vince is piratephobic. As a young child, he had to wear eye patch following a freak blinking accident. To aid his visual perception of the outside world, he was given a shoulder parrot that described the features of his surroundings which he could not decipher with one eye alone. For six months, he went through life as a pirate. Ever since, he has wanted to denounce the pirate life. Sadly, a pirate's life is not the life for Vince McMahon.

As Burchill continues his wrestling career without his pirate persona, a role in King Regal's stable should do wonders for him. As part of the United Kingdom, Paul Burchill can use the king's power to get what he desires, such as the Intercontinental Championship or first dibs on The Flintstones Phone. Since he is the heir to the throne, Paul Burchill can adopt an arrogant and condescending attitude, suitable for an individual guaranteed to be royalty. If he does not want to use the Curb Stomp, he can bring back the C-4. This time, Prince Paul Burchill does not have to execute the move by himself; he can hire his minions to execute the move for him. If he chooses to keep the Curb Stomp as his finisher, he can always call it The Bangers n' Mash... of Curbingham Palace (awesome name). I know a pirate is not as exciting as a prince, but at least Paul Burchill will have a character again. After all, he needs to catch up to the wrestler with the best wrestling persona today--Cody Rhodes. "Hello, I'm Dusty Rhodes' son." What a gimmick.

The Princess: Katie Lea

In the world of World Wrestling Entertainment, Katie Lea is Paul Burchill's sister. When she debuted on RAW, she had her hands all over her brother. I'm not from the south, where twin brothers and sisters are born in the missionary position straight out of the womb, so I found that visual disturbing. Weeks later, Katie Lea lost feelings for her brother and attempted to seduce William Regal in his office, only for that story to go nowhere. Together, Paul and Katie are fixtures on Heat, watched by a total of five people on the internet, three of which want view the program to relive the era of Velocity. Do I believe that Katie Lea is a talented performer? I could not tell you because WWE won't let her do anything. Then again, maybe Katie's non-performances on WWE programming will provide her the chance to reinvent herself as the princess of King Regal's royal family without the fans saying, "Hey, wait a minute. That girl was another girl there before. Me confused." Well, go ahead and be confused, Me. Princess Katie will be the bomb-diggity-omb.

Every week on RAW, Princess Katie will arrive to a ring on a horse and carriage. She will wave and curtsy to the fans before matches, then employ underhanded tactics to steal victories from her opponents. With Prince Paul by her side, Katie will become a worthy challenger and champion for the WWE Women's Title. If you do not buy into the Princess Katie Lea idea yet, I give you the following suggestion: staying true to the Disney movie tradition, loaded bluebirds will fly down to the ring, sing a few songs, then attack Princess Katie's adversaries when the ref is down or not looking. In conclusion, Princess Katie is not a license to print money. Princess Katie is the definition of money. Without Princess Katie, the world would still be paying for things with animal hides.

The Duke: DH Smith

I know that DH Smith has recently been christened "The Canadian Bulldog," but he too is destined to be a lifetime wrestler on Heat. According to his name, he is a designated hitter as well, which will not help him in the industry either because WWE falls under the National League, a league in which the pitcher has to bat. If I'm not mistaken, Smith’s debut on RAW involved a run-in with twenty thousand other wrestlers. While that in itself is a fantastic debut full of flawless victory, he has not impressed me again. In his prime, Davey Boy Smith proved to me that wearing nationalistic underwear is the best thing I can do as a human being. As of this moment, I have added Danish boxer briefs to my collection of undergarments in honour of my hometown of Danishland. If DH wants to be an inspiration to us all, he must find a way to stand out like his father did. How can DH Smith get noticed? By joining The United Kingdom as the ruler of RAW, of course.

While William Regal is the King of WWE, he cannot have his eyes on RAW every single night and day. When King Regal is on top of his extracurricular kingly duties, such as creeping up to strangers and presenting them cheeseburgers on silver platters, Duke DH Smith can oversee each weekly episode and weed through each segment with a fine-tooth comb, a comb-fine tooth, or a tooth-comb fine. During Regal's matches, he will become his bodyguard of sorts, making sure the opponent is on the level and treats the king with the utmost respect. If the opponent does not bow down to Regal post-match, Smith will jump in and take the guy out with a running powerslam towards the British Isles. As a tandem, Regal and Smith will be dastardly. On the dastard scale, they will be at about a twenty-four out of eleven. Those rat dastards.


The Entourage
(Smackdown)

The Star Player: MVP

Do you watch Entourage? If you haven't watched Entourage, go ahead and do so because Entourage is one of my favourite top ten shows about Hollywood entourages involving Jeremy Piven in the supporting cast. For those of you who do not comprehend fictional television shows, Entourage is a make-believe storybook come to life about a movie star and his group of friends. As an entourage, they engage in hijinks related to partying, women, and naked partying women--the ho-hum life of a professional wrestling analyst like yours falsely. Smackdown superstar Montel Vontavious Porter is a charismatic individual with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. At first, his gimmick of a athlete who couldn't live up to the hype was questionable, due to the fact that a wrestler who attempts to suck on purpose does not equal compelling programming. Today, MVP is a legitimate upper to mid-card force. Once Porter begins to ascend to the main event ranks of Smackdown, his character will need to stay fresh. How does a superstar and gimmick stay fresh in WWE? Put the wrestler in the refrigerator to chill overnight, you say? What the frick, motherfricker? You are no comedian. You are Carlos Mencia-ing this whole situation.

One more time. How does a superstar and gimmick stay fresh in WWE? You surround him with a stable. To my surprise, MVP has yet to lead a wrestling stable. Even though an entourage is the perfect way to get MVP noticed, WWE has not given him a posse. Since WWE does not want to do it, I give you MVP’s stable entitled "The Entourage." Yes, MVP is not a movie star, but he is an athlete. Many star athletes have entourages. More often than not, they have an loudmouth agent who constantly sells his client and every other client he represents to the public. In addition, these athletes have friends that ride the star's coattails, benefitting from the spoils of their success. Out of anyone in World Wrestling Entertainment, Montel Vontavious Porter is the one wrestler who could do amazing things with a stable.

The Player Agent: Jonathan Coachman

In recent weeks, Jonathan Coachman and Mike Adamle have been battling it out for the Announcer of the Whole Damn Century Award, an accolade given to the commentator who employs the most unique method of screwing up. Of course, Coachman and Cole are an extraordinary duo on Smackdown, what with their ability to speak the English language out of their mouths on all, but I believe that young Jonathan would be better served in a managerial role. Without significant effort, Coachman comes off as dorky, smarmy, and sleazy--the player agent trifecta. Give Jonathan Coachman a bluetooth headset on one ear, a Blackberry phone on one hand, and a T-Mobile Sidekick on the other hand. With all three components, you've got yourself Montel Vontavious Porter's new agent.

Deep inside of my heartiest of hearts, I think The Coach can be an entertaining manager. Look back to his interactions with The Rock and you will see a hint of charisma and poise (you will also see Coachman try to work his mind around the act of sucking on a monkey's nipple, which is a difficult task at best). Yes, MVP does not require a manager at this point in his career, but Coachman can add another dimension to his athlete character. In the midst of dealings with the Smackdown General Manager, Coachman can be the guy who only lets MVP wrestle when he deems the opportunity to be profitable and appropriate, a tactic which should arouse a whole new kind of hatred from the WWE fanbase. "MVP will not perform unless his dressing room is lit with twenty three candles, contains a shower that sprays water upwards, and has a velvet painting of Martin Luther King Jr. as a matador on the wall farthest from the door." Genius or too genius? I cannot decide.

The New Acquisition: Elijah Burke

When Elijah Burke burst onto the wrestling scene, he was the cornerman of MMA-ish fighter Sylvester Terkay. Burke's career has been going downhill ever since. I recall the time when Vince McMahon called Burke into the ring and deemed him "The Future of ECW." I seem to remember the time period when Elijah Burke was the leader of the New Breed, featuring Matt Striker, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von. He was at WrestleMania 23, for goodness Pope Todd Grisham's sake. Right now, Burke is in limbo, sometimes winning a nothing match against on ECW, sometimes wrestling CM Punk and losing. From my viewing experience, WWE is high on Burke but they don't want to give him that nudge towards superstardom for some unknown reason. Conversely, in my WWE, a company that I will own in the very near future through candy bribery and mind control, Burke will join The Entourage as Coachman's newest client and become a star.

Burke's role in the stable will consist of being MVP's budding rival. In the setup to big PPV matches, Burke will be the upstart guy that MVP's opponents will have to beat before they can face the star player. Unlike the business relationship between Porter and Coachman, MVP will look to Burke for advice and guidance on a personal level. The instant that MVP goes on a losing streak, Burke will blow up and position himself above Porter in the stable, a circumstance that will create tension between the two. In the future, they will engage in a lengthy feud that will culminate in a big money match at WrestleMania. This match will situate Coachman in the middle of the mess as he struggles to decide which client to support. So, Burke's involvement in The Entourage will help solidify both wrestlers in the main event scene. Plus, the stable means more Coachman. Here a Coachman, there a Coachman, everywhere a Coachman. Let it be so.

The Hollywood Friends: The Miz & John Morrison

At this very second, WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz and John Morrison are thinking about Earth Day, a day that nobody should forget. Go shorty. It's your Earth Day. We are going to party like it's your Earth Day. What is so important about Earth Day, you say? You know, you ask a lot of questions for a stupid head. To answer your ridiculous question, only famous people care about Earth Day. No matter how you perceive Montel Vontavious Porter, he is a famous person. As wannabe members of the Hollywood elite, Miz and Morrison enjoy the company of famous people. Because MVP is famous and Miz and Morrison want to be famous, a relationship between the two parties is inevitable. MVP lives the high life, a life so high that Miz and Morrison cannot reach it. Although they cannot gain MVP's notoriety, they can certainly mooch off of it. The Miz will make himself a salad out of diamonds. Meanwhile, John Morrison will spend the evening on his bidet that doubles as The Fountain of Youth.

The team of The Miz and John Morrison is so easy to hate. Whenever The Miz appears with a wicked fedora on top of his fauxhawked head, the crowd boos. Whenever John Morrison interacts with the audience, the little kids say, "John Morrison. That name sounds familiar. Are you related to Soulja Boy or something?" The tag champions are heat machines, much like a pair of functional furnaces or incredibly hot water bottles. Their eventual association with MVP will add fuel to their fiery fire. Miz and Morrison will attain the scraps that fall from MVP's table. They will get seconds on MVP's groupies. They will eat the black jellybeans that MVP does not want. Last but somewhat least, they will eat lobster daily, but only the tail. By now, if you are not into The Entourage, you are a liar and possibly a beyotch.


Fortune Enterprises
(RAW)

The President: JBL

Do you like gold? You know... the bar kind? How about money? Do you like slightly disturbed to mad cheddar? Or do you like to keep it safe and be rich with food stamps? In my opinion, the best things in life aren't free. In order to get money, you need to make money. One time in Guadalajara, Mexico, I was forced by three intimidating women to strip and get this alligator to... it's not important. Anyway, Johnjohn Bradbrad Laylay is a stock market dynamo who knows his way around Wall Street. With the power of his serious mind, serious face, and serious cowboy hat, he manages to turn pennies into millions of pennies. Like Ted DiBiase before him, the former WWE champion's standing depends on his wealth and well-being. Now that JBL is on RAW, he faces threats to his being in the form of WWE's top stars. JBL cannot face the competition by himself. He is only one man against a world of many. How can John maintain his success? By gathering a group of underlings to make a stable, dedicated to the steadfast accumulation of gold and money. Fortune Enterprises love to accumulate gold and money like a fat kid loves to be shot from the shoulders down in a news story about childhood obesity.

Before you educate me on the history of WWE, let me stop you before you start. Not too long ago, JBL had a stable on Smackdown named "The Cabinet." I know that JBL's group existed and sort of ruled Smackdown for a brief time, but does that mean anything? I mean, we're talking about a stable made up of The Bashams and Orlando Jordan. Really? Orlando Jordan? In case you weren't aware, Orlando Jordan doesn't count. If you say Orlando Jordan three times fast in the mirror at midnight to give yourself a scare, your mirror will say, "Hey, what don't you go ahead and do that over? Orlando Jordan is not scary enough." I guess what I wish to relay to you readers is that Orlando Jordan was most likely a mirage, not a former WWE superstar. I have no other explanation for his Orlando Jordan's Orlando Jordan-ness.

The Vice President: Mr. Kennedy

Ken Kennedy was the winner of the Money and the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania. A future title shot at WrestleMania XXIV and a role as Vince McMahon's son seemed to be money in the bank for him, until a certain scandal involving a certain establishment led to a certain suspension of Mr. Kennedy for purchasing steroids online from Signature Pharmacy. Since his return and move to RAW, Mr. Kennedy has been floundering. He gains some victories, takes some loses, and says his name in the middle of the ring a lot. What else has Mr. Kennedy done? A honey bunch of nothing. A lock, a stock, and two smoking barrels of nothing. Dear diary, nothing did nothing today. Like I said in the W