Overall a very nice, classy show with the one gaping flaw of Vince McMahon's moronic speech at the top of the show. Yeah, that's right, because it's the MEDIA who are to blame for everything, Vince. Just like how 9/11 was just like the time you were prosecuted by the government.
Aside from McMahon, the rest of the show was very well done. It looked like the Smackdown stars and the soldiers were genuinely touched by the experience, and I've gotta admit, JBL's promo in the biohazard suit was pretty funny.
I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits." --- President Jed Bartlett, The West Wing
I don't care what anyone says about the guy's reign as WWE Champ, I still maintain like I did from the start of his reign that I LIKE JBL. I find his character very humorous in a subtle way, and while the biohazard suit wasn't the best he's given us, I still enjoyed it until Big Show came out. The armed guards was a good touch. If there was ever an opportunity to turn JBL face, this was it. (not to suggest that they should)
I was waiting to see John Cena the whole show... I guess he's still filming in Australia. I don't actually like Cena, but I suppose the fact that he's the U.S. Champ had something to do with me having expectations that he'd be there... (couldn't they have put the belt on someone else??)
And what was the point of certain other guys attending the Smackdown taping (like Charlie Haas) who didn't wrestle or get any air time other than shots of him sleeping on the plane?
The wrestling itself was booked without reason (seemed like Velocity), but I liked most of the segments with the troops. It was a little heavy-handed in the politics at times, but I can always choose to shrug that off.
I dunno - just throwing out a question here, but if guys like Kidman and Paul London had signed up or been asked to go, wouldn't a GOOD wrestling match have been a better treat for the troops than pieces of crap like Suzuki/Holly or Booker/Dupree? I just don't understand the booking sometimes.
Originally posted by chillI don't care what anyone says about the guy's reign as WWE Champ, I still maintain like I did from the start of his reign that I LIKE JBL. I find his character very humorous in a subtle way, and while the biohazard suit wasn't the best he's given us, I still enjoyed it until Big Show came out. The armed guards was a good touch. If there was ever an opportunity to turn JBL face, this was it. (not to suggest that they should)
I was waiting to see John Cena the whole show... I guess he's still filming in Australia. I don't actually like Cena, but I suppose the fact that he's the U.S. Champ had something to do with me having expectations that he'd be there... (couldn't they have put the belt on someone else??)
And what was the point of certain other guys attending the Smackdown taping (like Charlie Haas) who didn't wrestle or get any air time other than shots of him sleeping on the plane?
The wrestling itself was booked without reason (seemed like Velocity), but I liked most of the segments with the troops. It was a little heavy-handed in the politics at times, but I can always choose to shrug that off.
I dunno - just throwing out a question here, but if guys like Kidman and Paul London had signed up or been asked to go, wouldn't a GOOD wrestling match have been a better treat for the troops than pieces of crap like Suzuki/Holly or Booker/Dupree? I just don't understand the booking sometimes.
Look at it this way: London, Kidman & the rest got paid to go to a war zone, while the troops got treated to middling wrestling matches with jingoistic overtones.
"Illusions, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...or candy!" - G.O.B. Bluth, Arrested Development
I found the show quite moving. I liked hearing stories about the soldiers, and you could see the wrestlers were impressed with what the troops were doing. It definitely gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Originally posted by Big BadOverall a very nice, classy show with the one gaping flaw of Vince McMahon's moronic speech at the top of the show. Yeah, that's right, because it's the MEDIA who are to blame for everything, Vince. Just like how 9/11 was just like the time you were prosecuted by the government.
Aside from McMahon, the rest of the show was very well done. It looked like the Smackdown stars and the soldiers were genuinely touched by the experience, and I've gotta admit, JBL's promo in the biohazard suit was pretty funny.
I didn't see the McMahon speech, but I would imagine that line played well with the target audience, the troops. Many in the military and the right wing DO blame the media for portraying things as worse than they really are, so this is not something that he pulled completely out of his ass, nor is it a completly McMahon-centric thought, and actually probably used because he knew it would work for a cheap pop.
The Bored are already here. Idle hands are the devil's workshop. And no... we won't kill dolphins. But koalas are fair game.
The show was a nice thing for them to do, but I agree with the original post, that Vince didn't come off well. Doing it on the TV show, right there among the troops, didn't bother me as much as buying an ad in the NY Times telling the media to go to hell. That's a nice little Christmas message. Incidentally, I wonder how much he had to pay the NY Times to tell them and others in the press to go to hell.
I agree that we could use more coverage of some of the humanitarian projects that are going on over there. But I'm also extremely proud to live in a country and to have a news media that lets us know when there's a massive explosion or when our own soldiers abuse prisoners.
Back to wrestling, however, I thought the show was pretty good. It will take a lot more for me to think JBL is a good champ, but he made good use of his time on this show.
Look at it this way: London, Kidman & the rest got paid to go to a war zone, while the troops got treated to middling wrestling matches with jingoistic overtones.
Was Kidman there? I was watching for him next to Torrie at any point and never saw him. Do they keep him so far away from his wife that he is not even allowed to sit next her on the airplane flying into a warzone?
PAM ANDERSON on being named E!'s best blonde: "The carpet don't match the drapes!" "... Just kidding, there is no carpet."
The only thing I wonder is how many of the troops who are able to stay current with the WWE asked Rey, "So where's RVD?"
I also liked how one of the troops asked about JBL's being champion. They didn't know how long he'd been champ and that's when he explained he'd beat Eddie, Booker, and Taker.
I really though the show came off even better than last years.
If you love your little animal friends make sure to schedule them a regular vet visit.
J.J. Dillon: "I'd rather flip burgers at McDonald's than work for Vince McMahon again." July 3, 2004 New Era Of Wrestling
Originally posted by SOKI didn't mind the show...but would it have hurt to have booked a title change for the show?
And why didn't they have RAW out there this year? I mean...Smackdown was there last year.
All in all, it was a good show. JBL totally RULED in his promo.
RAW got Puerto Rico.
Thank you for stating the obvious. My point is...Puerto Rico or not; SD! went to Iraq both years; why couldn't have Raw taken the trip this time around?
Also, for both years, Raw had a best-of show; why not SD! this year? This is kind of ridiculous.
"would it have hurt to have booked a title change for the show? ... why couldn't have Raw taken the trip this time around?"
Man, who cares, it's just a dumb ol trip to Iraq.
"Also, for both years, Raw had a best-of show; why not SD! this year? This is kind of ridiculous."
Raw had it both weeks that SD was in Iraq so they didn't have to produce a week of important first-run TV while Vince and other important folks were in the Middle East. SD's best of show airs in the UK and on Velocity though, so they do go to the trouble of picking stuff.
Originally posted by JustinShapiro"would it have hurt to have booked a title change for the show?
Well, they had a golden opportunity last year with Cena/Show, but the idiots made it a non-title match for some inadequately explored reason and we got stuck with Show not defending the title for about four more months. They didn't really have a chance this time - they'd just changed the tag and Cruiserweight titles to babyfaces, the WWE title is Superglued to JBL until at least WM, and Cena's still off Marine'ing his way through Hollywood...
"I didn't see the McMahon speech, but I would imagine that line played well with the target audience, the troops. Many in the military and the right wing DO blame the media for portraying things as worse than they really are, so this is not something that he pulled completely out of his ass, nor is it a completly McMahon-centric thought, and actually probably used because he knew it would work for a cheap pop."
Aye, but it was still pretty dumb; "All I hear is negative, negative, negative! We never hear about all your accomplishments and the good things you guys do each and every day!" -For a minute there, I was expecting him to use the phrase negative nellies ...
Now...
Was the show good in that it was a gift to the good people of the armed forces? Yes. Was it a good show wrestling-wise? Nope.
I just think the WWE could have done better, put on a better show. Taker's match with Heidenreich was crappy to say the least, the U.S. Champ wasnt there (as has been mentioned) RVD, as half of the tag champs wasnt there. Carlito Caribbean Cool wasnt there, not that I really cared or anything... (I just wanted to hear him tell the troops that they're not cool). Mick Foley was there but I think they could've done more with him, although the Gatorade thing did make me laugh.
Last year's Christmas in Iraq was a lot better, and not just because Austin was there- which does account for a lot of its betterness. I just think they put on a better show last year.
(edited by WhoTookMyHonor? on 29.12.04 1539) Come on people! Rate me! Have you seen my rating? Its lower than my I.Q.! TNA gets better ratings! An ape banging his head on the keyboard could get better ratings than me!