Cheap Shots
CheapShots: Impact Quickie #10
Fault lines in Orlando continued to fluctuate at a typical pace for Impact Wrestling. Thankfully, Don Callis was back on commentary. Although, the storyline that produced his recent injuries is still being needlessly perpetrated by third-graders, including Callis himself. The show’s opening match was just window dressing for a feud that won’t die. It feels like bookers don’t even try to think anymore. “We have nothing for Sami Callihan, but we’re still paying him so let’s keep flipping this roadkill as often as we can.” Why is Alicia Edwards continuously brought in to appear helpless? Why was she taking the kendo stick shot a month ago? It was one thing to bring her in to compete opposite Angelina Love. Don’t use her like this.
Nothing Impact is doing with this storyline can make me care about it. Congratulations Mr. Edwards, you have gone from being a top independent athlete to a glorified hooker.
We enter the less psychotic portion of the program with a tag match that came from simple origins. LAX has been struggling recently thanks to a void in leadership. Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley ran into Santana & Ortiz after The Latinos suffered their second straight loss. The “Cult” members challenged them to a rematch. This time, without Konnan backing them up like he was weeks ago. The contest was relatively even, including a fight on the outside of the ring. Despite the coin flip nature of things, LAX lost their third match in a row and the dejection was obvious. Surprisingly, most of this week’s promos and vignettes look like they will lead to interesting developments.
Let’s start with a very agitated LAX back at their clubhouse in a rather destructive mood. Suddenly, a voice of reason can be heard. This is Eddie Kingston, informing the crew that Konnan is alright and currently residing with Homicide in a safehouse. Fans have not seen Senior Jamaica for quite a while. We have no idea if this is a swerve device for down the road. Though, it is nice to see new blood that will move things forward. With that information tucked away, we go backstage for an interview with DJZ & Andrew Everett. Shock of shocks, the new Tag Team Champions are interrupted by Scott Steiner. The Roided Up Redneck can barely get through his promo. Eli Drake runs in, doing his best to hold his pit bull back. Dude, you know that’s Scott Steiner, right?
As the tag champs are visibly amused, I can’t help but wonder if The Self-Induced Hyphen can keep his hired gun from going off long enough to get his rematch for The Gold? Sadly, there was no recess this week. However, Madison Rayne was interviewed regarding her issues with Tessa Blanchard. She was unable to get three sentences out before The Horsewoman herself came in to play the “stay-at-home mom” card. Daddy taught you well young lady.
Later, we see a video package with Knockouts Champion Allie assuming some of the midnight characteristics of her missing protector. It seems the leader of The Hivelings left a note for her bunny. “Don’t let the darkness consume you…” Allie’s response? “I know you don’t want me to do this, but it’s something I have to do.” Keep in mind, Rosemary is NOT dead! The Bunny’s challenge might be coming from a character in a bad horror movie. I still don’t like her chances to retain Gold. Impact brought the zombie in. They must shove her down our throats.
Both Knockouts contests will take place next week. Our final promo of the night finds Kongo Kong and Jimmy Jacobs rehashing their beatdown of Grado. Reminding Moose that interjecting himself last week was a bad move. This was the last time we would see The Dragged-Out Disco standing upright…
Apparently, I was misinformed last week. Just a smark folks, not a true insider. My apologies if people are actually disappointed to learn this. Get a life! The showdown with Matt Sydal and El Hijo Del Fantasma for X Division Gold took place this week. The match was decent if not illogical in one particular spot. An Indian Death Lock should’ve given The Son of The Ghost The Championship. If he doesn’t roll Sydal to the ropes, it does. Why does the art form need to LOOK like a work? PS: These are Cruiserweights. Not every high spot should be missed on purpose. A wrestling ring is not a balance beam. Sydal retained Gold by countering The Thrill of The Kill with a modified rollup for the victory.
A one-on-one match featuring Petey Williams and Dezmond Xavier was next. The contest featured a rather poisonous carrot for the winner. Don Callis mentioned that the dude representing The Maple Leaf was too fixated on using The Canadian Destroyer. I tend to agree. Williams is a solid performer. Outside of the fact that the person taking the move is working harder than the one giving it, he waits too long to pull it off. Xavier has Top-5 American Cruiserweight written all over him. His time in Orlando is coming, assuming someone down there has a brain. Unfortunately for him, they also have a generational athlete named Brian Cage; and with the victory, Xavier earned an opportunity to face the freak next week. A very twisted reward indeed. Good luck kid!
Main Event time! In the previously mentioned promo, Jimmy Jacobs said he was a good guy who was simply rectifying Grado’s accusation from last week when Moose got involved. The Ball Player’s intervention led to this week’s encounter. Moose comes out to his typical entrance. Kongo Kong follows suit, with one notable exception. Where was The Dragged-Out Disco? We would find out soon enough. First, I must try to be nice, no guarantees. Unless Jimmy’s Giant Stutter is working his match and his offense, it comes across as difficult to watch him in a ring. Moose is a great athlete. His move set was so basic when attacking Kong. Without his mouthpiece, the bigger man looked aimless at times. He lost a very boring fight.
What happened to Jimmy Jacobs? The last relayed image of this episode told us. He was indeed laid out in the locker room with an X on his chest. Our mystery assailant has struck again! They don’t appear to discern between baby faces or heels in searching for victims. This alone is excessively rare in the art form. This could be very interesting. Especially if Impact bookers pay off the angle with an identity next week. Even if they don’t, I am still looking forward to both Knockouts matches along with Austin Aries’ return match with Pentagon Jr. for Impact Gold. Outside of Edwards & Callihan, Impact continues to impress with roster usage, flexibility, and storyline development. The company is slowly growing on this smart mark.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Cheap Shots
MadMan: She’s Handing Out Blues Better Than A Namesake Will
Madman decided to follow his blue dragon back towards the titans! Let’s see what black magic he weaves in this edition.
Madman decided to follow his blue dragon back towards the titans! Let’s see what black magic he weaves in this edition.
I may not be in regular rotation, but when they give me a chair, I swing for my fences. As a decades-long consumer of the art, I don’t have many left. The only Home Runs WWE has placed within my scope, can be found in Women’s Division on both Monday Night Raw & SmackDown Live.
The year I began watching wrestling, some very interesting circumstances took place surrounding cable television. WTBS; (Atlanta), WAS the home of The NWA’s Jim Crockett Promotions. At least until “Black Saturday,” which ultimately saw Vinnie Jr. Hijack the famous 6:05 time slot. This nearly cause riots among cable viewers opposed to McMahon’s product and presentation.
Though the million dollar ransom The Crocketts paid to get their flagship spot back on the dial gave the head of Titan Sports the backbone to finance WrestleMania, which helped to wreck most of the territories. Hell, it can be argued somewhat convincingly upon its 30th Anniversary, Vince himself ruined his biggest display’s pristine intentions for two consecutive years with Lesnar beating the streak instead of Bray Wyatt; and, Sting losing his ONLY Mania match because someone else had the right bride on their marriage license.
Despite the objections of both smarks and sheep in certain cases, we must respect the history of this pop culture institution. IF WrestleMania is Woodstock, it is only appropriate that Tito Santana opened the show with a victory!
In recent years, there has been only one person on The Main Roster who has matched the swag of Santana’s initial accomplishment without even trying, and she wrestled in the last Mania Match I cared about. Finally got tired of giving fans The Blues. She’s ready to deal some out in the form of steel chairs and God knows what else.
“Cut Her talent LOOSE!” We kept screaming. “A REAL run with Gold, PLEASE?” Like a kid aching just before Christmas. As with Solis, she was a true pro, until the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in the modern art form washed over us.
Fans and insiders alike FORGOT about Social Media! Don’t get me wrong, it’s still here. Can’t get away from it. Hell, I’m doing a roll-in on the internet right now! If you’ve been fans of us long enough, you’ll realize that last sentence was not a botch! Seriously, this thing felt like the territories back in the day. No one knew a damn thing! Even some of those paid to know were flipping a coin every five minutes. Thanks for the constant stress, you ancient prick!
Come on folks. If you know my current wrestling HEART at all, you KNEW the last Chair Shot on her return was coming from her Super Mark in Middle America! When older dudes at this circus describe what true fandom is like; they’ll often say: “That’s bulls***, that’s bulls***, that’s bulls***, BUT THAT’S REAL!”
For her boatloads of fans and the woman herself, Christmas is here! The Stamford’s latest Blues enthusiast is very real, And WWE’s Black Magic Woman IS BACK! Line ’em up. they’re all falling. Charlotte & Ronda too. To The Man and those in charge of her Twitter Account, thanks for keeping the possibility top of mind when things first got weird. We never gave up, but you will! MISSED YOU LADY BANKS!
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Cheap Shots
Mad Man’s Spinal Tap & 20 Questions
Back to back weeks we see the Mad Man come to play in our sandbox. Does this article go to 11? Are the retread concepts, just hollow nowadays?
Back to back weeks we see the Mad Man come to play in our sandbox! Does this article go to 11?
When you have decades of experience watching the art form, your eyes and thought processes change. It’s the reason my colleagues can break down pending news and angles we haven’t seen yet. Mr. Meltzer made a cottage industry out of it. A ton of people on The Internet are trying to follow suit. Then, there are fans like me. As much as I love twitter, Professional Wrestling fans were never meant to receive “spoilers” every day.
This is NOT a “Back in my day…” thing. My eyes have changed too. However, I am focused more on WWE’s calendar when watching Stamford’s offering. If I think about wrestling. it’s very simple. My suspension of disbelief is gone for very few performers. In fact, I would say it’s gone for most fans. If we know it’s a work, why are scripts and outcomes still based on the assumption that we don’t? If I have seen a gimmick before, I am VERY hard to impress. Make me believe you can beat somebody; and stand out doing so, or I will chew you up and spit you the Hell out.
For those who say I should keep my mouth shut because I can’t perform and never have, I DON’T CARE! Saint Dave gets a pass, and y’all still watch the current product like his lap dogs and clones, despite “knowing’ the outcome? I don’t watch for the outcome anymore. Based on character development and pushes, I can see that coming. Call me a hypocrite and I will play 20 Questions with you. Can you get me to the finish line without looking like an idiot or a laughable copy of someone else?
Su Yung is 5’6’’ish. Marks and sheep world wide are transfixed and petrified? Make up aside, why? She is impersonating three legends with no unique move set and doing it very badly. Without her zombies, can she beat anybody? Mr. Calloway used druids. He was 6’10’’ and did not need them to kick your ass. Mick Foley put himself and you through HELL before using The Mandible Claw. You had no choice but to take it. The Great Muta was arguably the best Rising Sun performer of all time. He had a move set most American fans had never seen before. The Mist was believable in his hands because audience and opponent were spinning trying to keep up with him. Where is Su Yung’s Mysticism? As much as fans love her, there are no OMG moments in her matches, and her gimmick is predicated on them.
She is far from the only example. Twitter went crazy about a month ago because a top name on the indies put something in her opponent’s mouth during a match. Outside of a prison fight, when would this EVER HAPPEN? Why is this necessary? If this is a work, why would any girl allow someone to do this? Tell me why either woman gets hired again without the parrot response? Same question applies to Joseph. Dude ain’t pickin’ up anybody like that in real life. I dare him to pick my wheelchair up with his finish. He would be in traction.
Tony Schiavone is our crazy wrestling fan uncle. Our memories of him when we were kids and teenagers all ROCK! He is without question one of the best to ever call the action. God Bless Conrad Flair for bringing him back to the art form. Among other fun stuff, he now does commentary for MLW. With tongue firmly planted in cheek; I must say, I have a slight problem with him. I understand that it is his job. He continues to put MJF over because?? I get the gimmick. It’s just OLD! He is ripping off The Miz. One look at him, and you can see that. “I have more money than you.” So did DiBiase. And if you did, you wouldn’t need the $50.00 a night you made before Tony started calling your matches because you’d be paying him. Just wait until Mike retires before you go to New York.
Finally, we arrive at the biggest tent. Vinnie’s circus was on The West Coast in The House of Hot Rod & Billy Jack Haynes. Sheep under 25 are now asking a three-worded question. The only help you’ll get from me is to say that he may have been the father of Modern Independent Wrestling. Sometimes, it wasn’t his choice, and he is still fighting demons today.
Back to this week. Didn’t Spinal Tap all stand in the Center Ring around a month ago and do a babyface promo? “It’s our fault. We’ll do better for you. This is YOUR product.” First, I believe Stephanie as a babyface as much as I believe Saint Richard as a babyface. Shut up and go home as a shoot. Second, as big a moron as Vince is, he’s NOT leaving the person carrying the big top out of WrestleMania! Outside of the obvious, Becky’s leg is a work. SHE WAS LIMPING ON THE WRONG ONE ON MONDAY! Seth Rollins is hurt as a shoot. He WASN’T at Monday Night Raw. If Becky wasn’t cleared, she wouldn’t be on either show. So WHY is everybody going apes*** over this?
Sometimes, I can’t tell which group is Spinal Tap?
Is it the group on stage or the sheep who believe what they’re watching? I truly wish this art form was treated more like real competition.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!