Hello everybody I am Ray and glad to be back home from my holidays, I hope ya’ll missed me. I returned home yesterday and now have access to my laptop thus leading me to writing this ramble. I missed writing for the past 8 days but at the same time enjoyed the glorious sun and site seeing of Rome. I’m back now and writing the first ever edition of Ray’s Way. Basically this column will focus on topics that occurred over the past week of wrestling. Depending on my mood I’ll write more some weeks than usual. Let’s get started.
John Laurantitis…YOU’RE FIRED This past Sunday at WWE’s No Way out Pay-Per-View, John Cena defeated the over seven foot tall giant, Big Show, which meant Vince McMahon’s most famous two words You’re Fired was roared at the now former general manager of Raw and Smackdown! John Lauranitis. I doubt Cena would fall short against Big Show therefore not surprised he won. I loved how it came across to us it took 6 guys for Big Show to be defeated. Made him look like, well, a giant. I don’t think it will be the last time we’ll see Mr. People Power in power of Raw and Smackdown! though. It would be cool if he stayed away from WWE TV until after Survivor Series time perhaps, let him creep back in as an assistant to who will ever be GM then, work his way up over the course of a few months and regain power. This time, he’ll be super power hungry and will be a badass heel. WWE should do this because he gets tremendous heat. The question is though who should be the next permanent GM of the two brands? Let’s see what you’re tweeting.
DUSTY RHODES BABY! We’re going to the pay winda on the mothership, if you will, pulling double duty on NXT and #Raw – @nacgator
ric flair wooooo – @Bully_4_life
Edge – @Pencil_Tree
Someone new Edge, Arn Anderson or JBL – @Rookie_Year
JERRY THE KING LAWLER SHOULD BE THE GM – @Bigmikedoan69
Edge… And here’s the start of a pic in honour of the man himself – @Nik_Towers
Other than my glorious self? Ummmm… Stephanie McMahon or Shane McMahon. They need to return! – @Razor_WWE94
i think it should be teddy long for permanent manager of #Raw and #Smackdown #iLoveWrestling – @Bully_4_Life (The other tweet was in response to another tweet)
Bring the computer back for gm – @RealKevBradshaw
Shane O’Mac #Raw #Smackdown #iLoveWrestling – @PipFromWichita
Shane McMahon – @Asifusaf
GM: Paul Heyman. A newer, more vengeful parody of the IWC version incarnate. – @LaCorte6
Bobby Roode has a new challenger
I guess you can officially call me a fan of Impact Wrestling now. I have watched I think all of the episodes and Pay-Per-Views these past two months. The biggest reason for that is Bobby Roode. I think he is a badass world champion. He has been booked extremely well. When his music hits, you know you’re in for something interesting. Another wrestler who is just as interesting is Austin Aires. It was announced on Thursday’s live episode on Impact that the two will face each other at Destination X. ”Gods gift to profession wrestling” vs ”The greatest man on the planet” is going to be one helluva interesting feud leading to the Pay-Per-View and more importantly, they’re going to have an insane match to settle the score. I cannot wait for this to unfold more, TNA did everything right to garnish my attention on this one and my attention will continue leading into the next Impact live on Thursday.
This weeks ratings
Obviously Raw had the highest rating this week, it drew a complete rating of 3.4 with 4,963,000 viewers. Impact drew a rating of 0.97 with 1.24 million viewers. The reason for the fall in numbers for TNA compared to last week was because they had strong competition with the NBA. The reason for Raw’s increased number was because they have been against the NBA except not this week thus leading a much higher rating than previous weeks, despite the show not being as good. This tells us a lot about ratings. Mainstream Wrestling isn’t the top of everybody’s must-watch-now list. For example, if Raw was on live 8PM UK time and Football was on at the same time, and if the product was the same as now, I doubt very much I’d watch Raw live. I would wait until after the Football to watch it. I love watching wrestling, even if it’s lackluster at times, I will probably always watch it like. But as for now, it’s not like you’re missing much if you stopped watching it for a few weeks. People say (Yes I have said it myself) it’s easy to read up about the shows online or even watch it online, but you can do that with EVERY sport. I guess what I’m saying is if people love what they’re watching, they will want to watch it as soon as it airs.
That’s it for this week, this is a short edition compared to future ones. I just got back from holiday and still pretty much wrecked from it. By the way I just want to add that everyone did a fantastic job with their columns and J did a superb job of organizing everything. I have exciting news that WR’s Ryan has gotten Derek BATEMAN to do an email interview with us. If all goes to plan it will be up on WrestlingRambles.com this Wednesday. Our Adam Cole interview has not been scrapped, he had phone in issues but has been resolved and we are negotiating a date to reschedule it. We promise it will be worth the wait.
I can’t wait to see Roode/Aries
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It’s going to be a very interesting couple of weeks. The Roode/Aries PPV buildup should be super. Aries, of course, isn’t going to come out on top. But,Roode will make him look great (like Aries needs help in that department) . Ill bee Roode vs. St
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Damn that intrusive post button! It’ll be Roode vs. Storm at BFG. EVERYONE on this side of the pond is convinced that Storm is taking the title. I’m not! Roode is as credible a champ as TNA has ever had. He is looked at as legitimate, not just a guy that has a prop around his waist THIS WEEK. Why mess with success?
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I’m actually annoyed at TNA at the minute. The ending to the show was a massive dropping of the ball and what they’ve done to the X-Division…I’ll save my opinion until the impact review goes up!
I agree that Storm is taking the belt at BFG. Mind you, I was convinced that Roode was going to win it at BFG last year as well as that Storm was going to win at Lockdown. Roode’s a good champion though, there’s something about Storm that I just can’t buy into. No idea what it is but I just don’t enjoy him as much as other people seem to.
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If I ever come up with a defense for the shows ending, you’ll be the first to know. Don’t hold your breath though, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen on Impact. TOTAL bomb. I couldn’t agree more on X-division. Hope they’re bringing in LOTS of outside talent to give us a good Destination X PPV. They’re out there just waiting for a phone call or email,
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Yeah I didn’t want to post too much on TNA because I have a lot to say on it that I want to share on Insight Into Impact.
I really love watching Storm, I think I’m missing watching heels go after the world title. Which is why I want him to win.
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No doubt Roode is a credible champion, I cannot stop praising him for that. But he’s had it since what, November? I think he will lose it to Storm at BFG, it needs to happen IMO. Storm is just as good Roode and TNA need to show this because we know how good Roode is. I don’t think him losing it would be ‘messing with success’. Then again, TNA is really good recently so who knows.
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You’re probably right about a Storm victory at BFG. That’s the norm in today’s industry. But, rememberthat people like Race, Flair,Backlund and Sammartino held belts for years at a time. Then, a title change was big news that was talked about for weeks. Today, it’s so routine, it’s forgotten in days. The best thing about wrestling is that different types of booking appeal to different fans. Personall, I like it when the babyface heroes are chasing the heel champions. Just my taste. Things seem to be really hopping on the site this morning. Good! It’s been pouring rain here since about 6pm yesterday,thanks to Tropical Storm Debbie. We’re going to have a nonstop downpouruntil Tuesday night! So much for living in the “Sunshine State.” Today’s day at the beach and evening backyard barbecue has gone right down the tubes. And, the worst part is still approaching the coast where I live. Guess I’ll be hanging here (with good company) for a while today. Going out for some breakfast with friends. See y’all later!
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I’m convinced it will be Roode vs Storm as a lot of people think at BFG, but I just think they’ll swerve us again. Like, at Lockdown, there was the feeling that Storm would get the title back, the way they were building him up. I can see that happening again, build him up through the BFG series, and he ends up losing.
I’ve always been a fan of Roode, and wanted him to be World Champ for a while now, as I felt he’d do a good job. But honestly, I think he’s done a much better job than expected, and has been great as a heel.
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I’d rather see Aries vs. Virgo, or Cancer.
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I think you might be right about the swerve, and I can live with it.
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An interview with Batman? I’m The Flash and even I can’t get in touch with him!
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Thought it was a nice touch having the guys that Show had been messing with help to cost him the match.
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Yeah, it worked out good for everyone. Featured mid carders in main event, Big Show losing didn’t make him look weak. For Cena, well he’s SuperCena.
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Cena wasn’t “super”. Show just got fucked over by the guys who he’s been messing with. The story wasn’t about Cena, but Big Show.
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You’re right, how did I miss that?
What I meant by ”super” is he would find a way to win regardless.
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But that doesn’t make anybody “super”. He didn’t “find” a way. It was practically given to him. But because of how nasty Show and Ace have been, it doesn’t seem so bad.
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It isn’t just having Aries vacate. It’s more to do with the fact the X-Division champion is going to have the opportunity to vacate to get a title shot before Destination X, the show that is MEANT to SHOWCASE the X-Division.
It’s a good idea, but not before that particular PPV.
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Good point, I thought the same way at first. However, he’s not just vacating it, he’s vacating it for the WORLD title. The prestige title in all of wrestling (as in it’s a world title) which I think is okay. They could of done a better job of Aires’s decision though, like show regret in his face he has to drop something he worked hard for, then show determination on his face to be world champion.
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Gutted no one suggested let’s have Mike Adamle back in charge….
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haha I was going to try add him in somewhere but didn’t. He must of been the biggest flop of a GM ever.
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Jeff Harvey begs to differ!
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Capt. Smooth, I’m highly offended that you didn’t want to see Aries vs. Scorpio. After all, WE have a deathlock named after US.
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I’d rather see Aries vs. Too Cold Scorpio…or Flash Funk!
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I actually had to look up Flash Funk. Never knew Scorpio went by that name.
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Didn’t last long, but had a GREAT theme song.
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It should be Flash Funk vs. Brodus Clay!
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/ That’s really nice of you guys to daotne a couple of games for charity. I wish I could pitch in, though I doubt it would reach them. Praying is pretty much the best thing I can do right now.
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And Terry Funk!
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I don’t miiiiind TNA. But at the same time it doesn’t do much to make me watch. I love Roode, Aries, AJ and most of the knockouts but the rest are just bleeeeh. One thing that did annoy me was the AJ/Dixie storyline revelation. Who in the hell booked that shit.
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It was MEEEEEEEE!!! *evil laugh*
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Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, James Storm and,in particular, Kurt Angle are bleeh, and the Knockouts aren’t. A few years that division actually made me a fan of women’s wrestling that wasn’t Japanese. Today, for me, they epitomize blah. Outside of Tara, Gail Kim and Sarita, they’re barely able Diva level. What do you consider non-blah? P-L-E-A-S-E don’t tell me John Cena! Oh, and Bully Ray is the best heel in the business today.
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John Cena 🙂
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You did that on purpose! BAD BOY!! Just for that,you’re relegated to your room for a week, with Cena’s entrance music playing at maximum volume!
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At least it’s not country music.
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Capt. Smooth, Okay, just for that Cena’s music will be replaced by Mickie James’ music! S-U-F-F-E-R!!!
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Why?! WHY?!?!? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
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Non-blah would be Roode, AJ (outside of this current storyline), and Aries. I actually agree with you Bully Ray is the best heel currently. WWE would love him back. Speaking of WWE, non-blah would be Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler
As for the knockouts, yeah youre right again. Gail Kim, Tara, Sarita and Mickie would be the best. Having said that the knockouts division as a whole are superior to WWE.
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The acting in that is so god damn awful. Actually you’re right, the whole storyline is shit.
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The acting in TNA is so inferior to WWE that you see WWE as real life! I’m not saying WWE possess the best acting roster but compared to TNA you’re like, “Shit, it’s so real.” LOL!
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Capt. Smooth, Why? Because I’m from the U.S. and your from England (I presume). You have nothing to offer me outside of Magnus, Beefeater Gin and The Clash. Oh, wait a minute. That’s a damn good record. Never mind, I’ll have to think of something else.
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I’m from Louisville, KY. Where might you be from?
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Really, I thought I was the only Yankee here.I love Louisville!! I met my true love at the University there. I live in Tampa Bay, home of more pro-wrestlers than anywhere on Earth. Even the Canadian ones.
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Cool! We used to get quite a few wrestlers in Louisville as well with OVW. A guy who runs a local comic shop said that Punk, Kofi, and Cody used to come in there all the time.
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Hey, my parents just got back from Italy a few weeks ago. I don’t think they enjoyed it quite as much as you seem to have.
I want to see Stephanie as GM, and Paul Heyman replace HHH as COO. ….Yeah, I gotta storyline worked out again.
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It’s time for someone to nominate Barack Obama for WWE GM. He’ll be available soon, and he certainly knows how to “work” an audience. Can’t you just hear it now:
“We-ell, it’s The Big O
It’s The Big O ba-yay-by “
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I love American politics for some reason, very entertaining debates and shit. I think people overlook the good job Obama has done.
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If ya smell what Barack is cookin’!
Disagree about Obama needing to go to WWE. Romney is so robotic, he should be revealed as the Computer G.M. “CD Romney”?
@ Ray: I have to agree with you about Obama. It’s not so much that he’s great, but the GOP has gone off the deep end in recent years. Nixon and Reagan would’ve been kicked out of the party if they were around today.
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I know, I met up with them and had Gelato with them. They’re really cool people. We’re planning on meeting up next year! 😛 lmao
That’s a great idea, write it because I want to read that!!
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I’m part Italian. We do our best.
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Bring back The Anonymous GM.
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