Corner to Corner: When Dreams become reality

Hello everyone and welcome back to what will surely be a passionate edition of Corner to Corner. I had multiple ideas floating around in my mind, but after yesterday I knew I couldn’t possibly pass this topic up. So rather than sit here and waste time, hows about we get down to it?

HERE

WE

GO!!!!

Slam U- IPhone App
Yesterday, I caught wind of an application for the Iphone called Slam U. The application’s main focus is to train those interested in becoming a professional wrestler. Thats right, AN Iphone APP has been released to train those of us who’d like to give it a go, to become wrestlers. Now, I have a group of friends who I discussed this with, a couple of them are independent wrestlers, on Twitter. The overall reaction I saw was overwhelmingly negative.

Before I dive too far into it, let me share with you a description of said app from http://www.WrestlingHouseShow.com :

“Have you ever been interested in being a professional wrestler? Or have you ever simply wanted to get a better insight into the inner workings of the action you watch every week on TV? Well, if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch then the new Slam U app is for you.

Released by the Fordela Corporation, Slam U is described as the first in a series of applications geared towards instructing users on how to be a professional wrestler, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Included in this nice little app are not only instructional videos but also news feeds, information on upcoming wrestling events, and even some full length matches courtesy of clickwrestle.com.”

Wow! So let me get this straight, we have an app that will show me how to do a powerbomb to someone? How abot a DDT, will it show me how to drill an opponent’s skull into the mat while not killing or crippling him?

I have a few questions. How is this application considered legal? I mean, they have this ‘Don’t try this at home’ message but isn’t the application designed to have them LEARN HOW TO TRY THIS AT HOME? Who was so high that they figured teaching someone to wrestle via textbook was a good concept? This invites so much liability it’s not even funny. Can you imagine what would happen if somebody who learned how to do this through the app, got signed to an indy fed or maybe one of the larger ones like Ring of Honor or TNA? Say he gets in and goes out there and gets obliterated. Say he gets an injury like a broken neck or back. Who’s responsible for this?The user for buying the app? Are you kidding me?

This has already happened before. Two words for you folks- Mass Transit. Here’s a guy who lied about his age and experience and was DESTROYED by ECW’s New jack. The man was so beaten down and bloodied, it became a lawsuit. Haven’t we learned by now that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it?

Unfortunately, while the creation of this app is good natured and well intentioned, it’s also a gross sign of disrespect and lack of proper education. If someone wants to become a wrestler, they need to go to a training school and do it right. Don’t believe the hype ladies and gentlemen. And what makes this worse is that there are wrestlers both female and male that participated in the creation of this application.

I would LOVE to one day be a pro wrestler simply to have the kind of excitement these guys cause on a daily basis. I also know that I will NEVER become one because I am not in the proper shape or the right lifestyle to ever be able to do this effectively. That’s called reality. Sometimes we don’t reach our dreams. That’s called life. So, because some folks out there want to make a few bucks, we now have an app that could potentially kill or cripple us. Amazing. Yeah thanks so much Alyssa Flash, Oliver John, Christina Von Erie, and Ulysses for giving us an app that could kill us. All for the wonderful price of $1.99. That’s what our lives and well being is worth to these numbskulls.

Anything for a buck huh…

Here’s another excerpt from the above mentioned review:
“When you first open the app you are greeted with a disclaimer stating that all instructional videos are for entertainment purposes only and if you want to try any of the maneuvers demonstrated that you should seek proper supervision. There’s no ambiguity about the disclaimer. When it says “You understand and acknowledge that you may be hurt, get injured or even die if you attempt to apply these Techniques” there’s no question that you shouldn’t try this at home. It’s a good disclaimer to have and shows that the people that created Slam U are being professional and responsible, people you should probably take advice from.”

Hey that’s an awesome idea. Let’s put the disclaimer out there so we can claim no responsibility. BRILLIANT.

Listen to me good SLAM U people: The first time someone gets hurt because they were dumb enough to think that an iphone app could teach them to wrestle, you deserve to be sued and thrown in jail. And the idiots who truly believe that a IPHONE APP will train them to become wrestlers, deserve whatever happens to them.

What a slap in the face to those who actually did it right and got their chance in the ring! Is this an indication of where we’re headed as fans today? I know full well that those who bled for the business we love are incensed that this application was released much less created in the first place. All of you on Staff for SLAM U should be ashamed of yourselves. I am thouroughly disgusted by the lack of responsibility shown by those who created this app. You guys were trained and you should know better.

Thats all for this week. Hit me up on twitter under the screen name: TheStanBrand or on my email: impactxtreme@msn.com

In war, victory is defined as the group or person who has gained control or dominance of the others’ territory or people. Those that attempt to stand in the victor’s way, usually find themselves on the receiving end of punishment- most times fatal. When the dust settles and the smoke clears, the only thing left is the victor. Of course, in war, all is fair.

Corner to Corner: There can be only One

Hello again everyone and welcome to Corner to Corner! We’re back this week to take a look at one of my personal favorite events, THE ROYAL RUMBLE. This Sunday, WWE will be bringing us it’s annual 30 man, over the top rope, battle royal. The event signifies so much, but what stands out is it begins the ‘Road to Wrestlemania.’ There are so many memories I could choose as my favorite Rumble moments. The finish in 94 where Bret Hart and Lex Luger were declared co-winners stands out. Shawn Michaels winning back to back rumbles in 95 and 96 are my personal favorites. What about Chris Benoit’s performance in 2004 when he made his way to Wrestlemania 20 by outlasting all 29 other combatants? Just finished watching that one actually, very cool ending. Which moment was your favorite? Was it during the rumble itself or was it one of the undercard matches? Maybe you enjoyed Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit when they gave a standing ovation to Benoit following the match? Either way, I think we’d all agree that this weekend’s events will be pretty cool. So today, we’re going to look at this event from a purely fan perspective. We’ll look at what each winner has to offer and whether or not I think it’d be a viable option.

Now, looking at the list of competitors, we could see a multitude of winners Sunday night. We have Triple H who is probably looking to go back to being the top guy. John Cena would be a pretty obvious pick simply because of how he’s been used lately. We could see a dark horse winner like CM Punk or maybe a surprise entrant like Edge. It’s really an interesting list of potentials. Shawn Michaels is on a quest to end the Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania and he looks to do just that by winning the Rumble and getting his automatic shot. Can’t forget about Batista who could get a shot one more time before he hangs up the boots. It’s exciting and offers a chance to see some interesting mini-match ups. I always enjoyed seeing guys who wouldn’t normally mix it up, face off.

I remember seeing Demolition go at it and really enjoy seeing something different. I guess it was a different time back then, but I can’t help but enjoy the memories.

So, let’s look at some obvious options. Triple H is first. Now, the net is FILLED with rumors that state Trips is on his way back to the Mania main event. The problem with this logic is two fold. First, if he goes back to the main event, the build up of Sheamus will actually end up meaning less than it did when Sheamus became champion in the surprising manner he did months ago. I am no fan of Sheamus by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s hard to ignore some of the backstory. Sheamus and Trips are workout buddies. Trips has taken a liking to Sheamus’ work ethic and in ring work. It fits his logic to think he’d want to main event with his ‘prodigy.’ Secondly, if in fact Trips did face Sheamus, why would anyone want to see it? Do you remember when Vladimir and Trips faced off? HOW BORING was their confrontation? Vladimir was sluggish and clumsy, much like our current WWE Champion. Trips chose rest holds and simple brawling compared to his usually mix of basic suplexes and slams combined with brawling. His normal style tends to make the matches flow so much better. We have yet to see if Sheamus can really work a match without being the ‘overwhelming brute.’ I have trouble supporting the claim that Triple H will win.

The second option would be John Cena. This could actually be the way they go simply because they would want to put some degree of closure to the Sheamus/Cena feud. Sheamus took John’s belt and avoided a true rematch. If Cena were to go the distance and claim his second Rumble victory, Sheamus could not deny him any longer. WWE could market this as Cena’s last chance at revenge. Sheamus would get more time as champion which could actually help him improve. By the time Mania rolls around, Cena and Sheamus could be the ’semi main event’ and have a passible match where brawling goes a bit faster as both seemed to work a faster pace together.

Next we have the dark horse or surprise entrant. CM Punk would be a good choice for dark horse winner. His ‘Straight Edge Society’ has really taken hold lately. He’s already proven to be a more than adequate heel who can also be a credible champion. His in ring technique works with just about anyone. It’d be very easy to put him in the main event against Sheamus or Randy Orton for the WWE Title or whomever could defeat Taker for the World title. He’d be able to work the angle and carry out a good solid showing at Mania while becoming WWE’s champion yet again. By pushing him to the main event again, there would be a solid heel who could work a feud with anyone they chose. He’d also be able to elevate the mid card to the next level by making them true competition as he plays the roll of heel in peril very well. I’d say this one has some weight to it, but in the end they will most likely continue to put Punk in a position to take on that role at a later time.
With the surprise entrant expected to be Edge or RVD, the chances of that person winning certainly bears the need for conversation. Few superstars have captured the audience as easily as Rob Van Dam had before his departure. He was easily the most over superstar they had and ultimately lost his championship because of punishment rather than storyline. Granted, WWE took every measure possible to bury him when he was arrested for possession, but they also had planned to bury the ECW concept early in it’s rebirth. If you proof of this, look at what happened with the ‘ECW Originals.’ Yeah, they’re all gone. But with Rob, WWE knows they’d have a star. A huge star. Rob Van Dam delivers some of the biggest pops when he pulls off any of his manuevers. They elicit a huge response and grow his fanbase each time he hits the Five Star Frog Splash. It would be a huge surprise and a big hit. The biggest flaw in that is the lack of commitment on both sides for a long term deal. I highly doubt Rob or WWE will work together for much longer than they’d have to and that would make for a tough marketing plan for Mania. On the flip side, Edge would be an EASY sell for WWE. Here’s a guy who’s last seen interview got massive face responses and gave us a shot at seeing how he’d fare vs Chris Jericho in a feud. It’d be pretty easy to see Jericho defeat the Taker and go on to Mania. Edge would be an excellent choice as fans seem to enjoy almost all of his antics. It goes without saying, this would be an great call and an unpredictable one at that.

The one I feel is not only most likely, but my personal choice, would be Shawn Michaels. Let’s look at the facts. Shawn has not openly stated anything about a retirement, but I would suggest it’s not too far away. His work has led him back to the main event for some time now. With the build up for the Rumble coming so strong around both Undertaker and Michaels, I have a hard time believing it will end any other way. The Undertaker’s retirement is coming sooner than we think, according to internet reports. If you look at him in the ring, you can see he is battered. Each time he puts his body on the line he takes a little longer to recover and loses a little more longevity. If he’s going to end the streak, I imagine it will be against someone he truly respects. It’s obvious he enjoys working with HBK because it is different from his previous feuds. So much of the time Taker is paired with big brutes and brawlers. It would be typical to have him face Batista or some other heavy hitter. Michaels presents a challenge to keep pace and fend off the faster man. People ate this up last year and I’m certain this match could exceed last year’s performance if given the right stage. What better shot than the main event at Wrestlemania? Michaels has done everything that’s been asked of him and he’s shined while doing it. He’s proven to be the showstopper with just about everyone imaginable. He’s faced Jericho, Mysterio, Orton, Cena, Edge, Triple H, and even Batista. The next man for him to go past and finally take his last main event ride should be The Undertaker. They’re pushing too hard on this to make it happen any other way. I am a big Shawn Michaels fan anyway, but to me it makes perfect sense.

No matter which way they go this year, I can honestly say I am excited. The buzz from who could it be as the mystery entrants to the rumors of who TNA could try to sign to compete just makes it more interesting. Sunday night will be an exciting one and I hope that it lives up to even half the hype.

Take it easy and we’ll be back next week with more. If you’d like to see more of my thoughts on WWE and TNA, please check me out on Twitter. I’ve changed my nickname to TheStanBrand. You can find me with that or at my email- ImpactXtreme@msn.com

See you next week!!!

Corner to Corner: Calm Before the Storm
Hello everyone and welcome back to Corner to Corner. I have some news to announce today as we prepare for another edition. I am pleased to announce that as of today, Corner to Corner has been picked up by FTWnews.com ! I cannot tell you how cool it is to have another site pick up on the momentum we’re building. So, hello to the new set of readers and I hope to see your feedback as well.

First of all, I want to talk a little about the tragic earthquake in Haiti. There is little doubt that we, as Americans, have it pretty good. I mean let’s face it, if we get an earthquake, we can pretty much count on being able to recover pretty quick. Sure, our economy is facing multiple challenges and our political system is battered, but we are so much better off than these smaller countries. I found Bubba The Love Sponge’s comments about our country being in shambles to be not only wrong but stupid. To blow off the devastation that we’re seeing in Haiti is just plain idiotic. Bubba, I hope you get a chance to apologize and make this right by offering some monetary support. I mean, we may not all live as well as you do, but those suffering in Haiti could use a hand don’t you think? And yes, I did donate. I care about the world, not just my little part of it.

Today’s edition is a two fold complaint so bear with me. First, here we are, just hours away from TNA’s Genesis. We’ve already seen confirmation of *spoiler alert* and *spoiler alert* arriving on the scene as well as the ring *spoiler*. And it occurs to me that I am really annoyed by that. You know… The spoilers…

Now, contrary to popular belief, I do not like spoilers. Granted, I’ve read them but I get so dissapointed every single time I do. I mean let’s be honest. We all want to know what’s going to happen. For example tonight. We want to know who the big acquisition is. We want to see who Amazing Red’s opponent will be. We want to see if the six sided ring will be sticking around or not. Only problem is, now that the news is out there, has it ruined the moment for us? I mean, when we get to the show, that moment is just blah. So tonight, we get a chance to see -and I’ll spoil it because I think it’s already out now- the debut of

*SPOILER STOP READING if you DO NOT want to KNOW*

Brian Kendrick and Ken Anderson. While it is so awesome to have Ken come back, would we have enjoyed it more to have him surprise us? I think I would have. I mean, I’m my own worst enemy here because I wanted to know just like the rest of us. Still, it was a bit anticlimatic to have it confirmed. Then we see Brian Kendrick confirmed and to me, this is another blah kinda moment. I mean, yeah it’s cool to have a former WWE guy show up on TNA, but doesn’t TNA have enough talent right now? Do they NEED Kendrick or Ken Anderson? Not really. Do they need some organization to their storylines and their title divisions? Absolutely.

Case and point, the January 4th show. Hogan parades around the arena in a limo right? Well, maybe… No wait, he comes out and says he’s been in the back the whole time! What a moron! Look, I’m not saying it always has to be perfect, but if you want to make sure people are on board, get this stuff done right. So maybe before we debut some more WWE cast offs, we might want to get our already staffed company in order.

Here’s the thing about tonight’s spoilers… All that really has been answered by signing these guys is the question of if Hogan/Bischoff will be loose with the money and unorganized like they were with WCW.I mean, the six sided ring was something that set TNA apart. It made them special and unique. It gave TNA something nobody in the mainstream had. So what happens? Instantly, I MEAN INSTANTLY, the ring changes back to status quo and TNA goes back to being just another company.

I really wish I had not been curious about the spoilers. I have myself to blame, but now that I know, I am really annoyed. The decision to go from unique to ordinary is like taking the horn off a unicorn. When you do it, it’s just a horse and we can see one of them ANYWHERE. Why would fans want to see TNA now?

Hey TNA, is your product truly different now? Let’s face it folks, all of the storylines we’ve seen have all been done before. There will always be good vs evil. Someone will lust over the other’s girl. Someone will want to take control of the company and make a power play. The faces will get together to protect the company. The heels will cheat to win and disrupt the show. NONE of this is new. Seeing ‘the band’ get back together is not going to turn WWE fans into TNA fans. And why is that?

It’s not the story that makes the fan change. It’s the wrestler that makes the story and the wrestler that snares the fan’s interest. Put the focus on the wrestler and you’ll put the focus on TNA. THAT is how you get fans to move their interests to the other side. Tonight, we need to see AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Kurt Angle, and Beer Money draw a line in the sand and dare us to change. Don’t allow the shock tv to override common sense. Vince Russo and the rest of TNA creative are sure to be pushing hard to get tonight’s show to come off huge, but I worry that they’ll rush the process just to get their instant gratification. I hope I’m wrong about it. I want to see a show that makes me say ‘TNA is seriously bringing the heat.’ I want to see the show that makes a statement about what TNA really brings to the table.

OF course, when you eliminate the factors that keep you unique, boy is it ever hard to change the momentum. WWE is a huge machine that picks it’s spots with such precision, they don’t even need to worry right now. They have their share of issues and creative problems, but they also have huge main event talents ready to bury the competition. This stopped being a simple scuffle when Hulk Hogan started comparing himself to Vince McMahon. Hulkster, I’d say that was a bit much, even for you. I realize the facts are saying that Hogan is a huge draw and instant star for TNA to hook up with. I know that with Bischoff as the creative and executive experience, the odds are good TNA can pull off a big win. I just get irritated when I see them do the same old things with the same old talent. I personally hope Team 3D vs The Nasty Boys ends in a 30 second squash with the Nasties getting the 3D and then being escorted from the building. That’s the fan in me.

In the end, I have a lot of random questions about tonight. I want to see TNA bring everything they have and really turn it out. It’s time to make that statement by putting out a 5 star show. The whole buildup has been clumsy and a bit of all over the place, kinda like today’s column. The fan in me is just screaming to see something different.

What about you? What do you want to see tonight? Hit me up on my email or on twitter @ImpactXtreme . I’d love to see your thoughts.