Thoughts on Tazz, Chris Jericho and Vickie Guerrero
I can’t say that I’m upset over the news that the contract of Smackdown color commentator Tazz is not going to be renewed. In my opinion, Tazz, whose last appearance will be on Friday’s episode, was serviceable as a color guy, but nothing special.
Naturally, Tazz’s exit has led to speculation about who will replace him. My first thought was JBL, who many believe will retire (again) after his match against Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania. One scenario that someone brought to my attention was that JBL, who has promised to do something historic at WrestleMania, would become the first to wrestle a match and do color commentary at the same WrestleMania. Sounds plausible to me.
My other thought in regard to the Smackdown announcing vacancy was to move Matt Striker over from ECW. Striker’s commentary is one of the highlights of ECW every week, and I think he and Jim Ross would work well together – assuming, of course, that Ross does not go back to Raw in the upcoming draft.
As for Tazz, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in TNA in some capacity. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but Brother Ray used Tazz’s catchphrase during his interview on Impact last week. Plus, TNA’s next pay-per-view, Lockdown, is in Philadelphia, Tazz’s old stomping grounds.
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I was thinking recently about Chris Jericho’s match at WrestleMania and what could have been. After the deal with Mickey Rourke fell through – if there actually was one – and WWE was scrambling for a Plan B, I wonder if Vince McMahon wished he still had Mick Foley on the roster. Foley, playing the role of the broken-down, aging veteran who can’t walk away, would have been the ideal opponent for Jericho. Foley is terrific at playing a sympathetic character, and Jericho would probably have even more heat than he has now.
I don’t recall these two superstars ever wrestling each other, so that alone would have made it special. And can you imagine the promos these two would have cut to build up the match?
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WWE.com posted a story Wednesday morning announcing that Vickie Guerrero is pregnant and raising the question about who the father is. It sounded like a typical wrestling story line to me, although I thought it was odd that the “news” was revealed on the Web site and not on Raw or Smackdown. As it turns out, it was an April Fool’s joke, supposedly masterminded by John Cena.
I’m disappointed, because I think a “who’s the daddy?” story line would have been entertaining. I could have seen it going something like this: Everyone assumes that either Edge or Big Show is the father, but in a swerve, it ends up being … Hornswoggle! The story is that she got drunk at Finlay’s St. Patrick’s Day party and was looking for a “little” action while Edge and Big Show weren’t around.
Comments
Kev — Where is this interview with Edge you teased about a few days ago?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Will be up today. Guaranteed
Posted by: Adam | April 2, 2009 4:27 AM
Kev, I forgot, it's been so long.What was Tazz's old catchphrase?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Beat me if you can, survive if I let you
Posted by: Gregory Asch | April 2, 2009 8:42 AM
Kevin,
Will the Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies be available anywhere on television? I'd like to see that as much as I would Wrestlemania.
RESPONSE FROM KE: AN abbreviated version of it is on USA Network
Posted by: Sean | April 2, 2009 8:50 AM
I agree with you on Jericho. He could be involved with a better program than this. Could have had a tournament for the HWC like the undisputed championship with Edge vs. Big Show and Cena vs. Jericho and the winners facing again that night. Sounds like you are trying to get a job on the creative staff for the WWE. If they end up doing that program, you need to get some royalties or at least a writing credit.
Posted by: akaskip | April 2, 2009 10:35 AM
Would you really have wanted to seen Foley back in the ring against Jericho? You have said yourself recently Mick is looking slow in the ring and not the star he used to be, I do not think he has what it takes to do another wrestlemania, such a shame though because he was one of the best in his day.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I think if they worked smart, Jericho is good enough that he could carry Mick to a good match
Posted by: Wylsey | April 2, 2009 1:45 PM
If Jericho doesn't win against the legends at wrestlemania 25, then I'll be damned. Cuz if he loses to them, that will kill all the momentum he gained since his heel turn. And just off the record, I am sincerely hoping that Jericho will slap Rourke pretty hard.
PS - I am a Jerichoholic.
Coming to the April fool's joke I think that was totally unnecessary. Wasn't Cena supposed after what we saw at monday night.
And yeah one more thing as someone rightly pointed out. I can't wait more to read Edge's interview.
And yeah I would like to read your views on recent Shawn Michaels interview in which he said something like Bret Hart should induct him in HOF.
Posted by: Kunal | April 2, 2009 2:50 PM
haha, love the bit at the end about hornswoggle. thats one of teh only things i thank wwe to pretend to have never happened.
Posted by: Gohan | April 2, 2009 2:53 PM
speaking of tna and brother ray, there are going to be 3 or 4 huge returns on impact either next week or the week after. i don't want to spoil anyone who watches impact, but 1 of them is huge and the other 2 are not as big, but they haven't been in tna in years.
Posted by: paul19 | April 2, 2009 3:50 PM
I believe the Hall of Fame ceremony will also be streamed live on WWE.com, with the edited version being shown at 10pm on USA.
Posted by: Tony A | April 2, 2009 4:00 PM
Mick foley and Jericho has wrestled in the past. It was in jericho's first few years in the WWF but it was only once or twice.
matt
Posted by: Matthew Hester | April 2, 2009 6:24 PM
Jericho & Foley also wrestled once in ECW. It was Jericho's third or fourth match & Foley's next-to-last match before going to WWE. Jericho won - he wrote about it in his book.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Yep. I now remember reading that in the book. Luckily I was careful to say "I don't recall" them wrestling each other.
Posted by: Chris Slater | April 3, 2009 12:37 AM
A 1998 Taz in TNA would be insanely awesome. A 2009 Taz...better be a one-off.
Posted by: chris | April 3, 2009 3:36 PM