Just a few thoughts collected together, rather than do a series of columns.
Is it just me, or is Enzo Amore's career path starting to mirror that of the Miz? Like, with Big Cass on the DL, Amore's resorted to a few subtle heel reams to win some matches, and yet he's still a babyface. Recall back in 2006 when Miz began competing on Smackdown, no longer the "host". He, too, began using subtle heel moves before completely turning heel, as Uncreative was slow to respond to the fact that fans weren't buying his act. "Hoo-rah!" didn't get over as a catchphrase, but while Miz's career trajectory plays like a poor man's Rock, Amore would end up being bargain basement, save for a subtle change in appearance, like cutting his hair. Also, Amore is a late bloomer, not a young guy like Rock or Miz were at the same points in their careers.
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On September 18, Nikki Bella becomes the 3rd WWE superstar to appear on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars". Stacy Keibler (2006) has had the highest finish (3rd), and Chris Jericho, based on all accounts, wasn't too shabby, either, finishing in the top 10. What Nikki has to watch out for is the husband & wife team of Nick & Vanessa Lachey. Nick's brother, Drew, snuck in the back door to beat Keibler & NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in '06. Just sayin'.
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So Jeff Jarrett is out at Global Force Wrestling. What a shock. Seems Jarrett might've been a little off at Triplemania two weeks ago, tossing burritos to the ringsiders. While that's supposedly part of his heel act in Mexico, it seems it's rubbing Ed Nordholm & Anthem Sports the wrong way, such that Anthem is considering selling the company it only purchased a few months ago. Naturally, that's led to the usual warnings of doom & gloom with the moribound franchise. WWE would only want the video library, particularly as it relates to current stars such as Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Eric Young, and whomever else has TNA/Global Force on their resumes (i.e. Kurt Angle, Sting). Reports I've read claim that Anthem is bleeding money, something I don't think they'd be doing if they didn't tape too far ahead.
If there are any personal issues with Jarrett, let him handle it in peace and privacy, but something tells me there's been a falling out between him and Nordholm, and the rest of the story will come out in due course.
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The more I think about the Kevin Owens-Shane McMahon angle on Smackdown, the more I suspect that Shane's dad, Vince, may be greasing the skids to set up another variation on the Montreal Screwjob, with the 20th anniversary of the most infamous Survivor Series ever looming on the horizon. It's not the people of Canada who won't let go, although Owens, a heel, is being posited as a national avenger, but rather the elder McMahon, whose self-reinvention in the wake of the '97 Survivor Series has been milked to death over the course of these 20 years. Even Hulk Hogan knew when to flip the dial and put the past behind, and he's retired. Vince just doesn't care about what his audience wants, and his hollow lies to the contrary are just that.
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Over the summer, my brother & I watched Netflix's reboot of "GLOW", a satirical farce that purported to explain how the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling got their start back in the 80's. A standout cast weathered a slow start, building to a crescendo in the finale, leading to a shock finish that will bring folks back for season 2 (it's already been renewed). If you haven't seen it already, what are you waiting for? With apologies to Vince McMahon, this is sports entertainment done right.
