“Stone Cold” Shark Boy?

 OK, so when your gimmick is that your half man half shark i guess your character is pretty unique to start with, to say the least. I kinda liked the Shark Boy character, it was fun and entertaining. However Shark Boy isn’t that fun loving, cartoon like character anymore. Instead he resembles a famous beer drinking, ass whooping, Texas rattlesnake better known as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

    Id read previously that the Shark boy character was getting revamped and this made me curious. I mean how can you add depth to a character that portrays himself as being half shark? Well when watching iMPACT about a week ago i couldn’t believe my eyes when i saw Shark Boy wake from his coma and utter the words “The next time you stick that thermometer up my ass, there’s gonna be hell to pay you son of bitch! And that’s the bottom line, coz Shark boy said so!” So what does this mean for Shark Boy? A push maybe? It seemed to work for Jay Lethal, seemed to work pretty well actually seeing as he was the X division champion. However i cant see this one working. Jay lethal didn’t really have a gimmick to start with and i think he pulls off the Macho Man Style quite well. Shark Boy on the other hand is a gimmick, and a strange on at that. Now not only does he have his Shark Boy gimmick but hes got the “Stone Cold” thing going on as well. Its a very odd combination and something i feel will be entertaining for a while, and then get tedious.

I believe TNA shouldn’t have to use other peoples persona’s to elevate their talent. Jay Lethal i didn’t mind to be honest, it was a one off and i mean it wouldn’t exactly be the first time its happened, but now with this I’m hoping a pattern isn’t occurring. I mean whats next? “Do you smell what the Guru is cooking?” or “Whatcha gonna do brother!? When Peteymania runs wild on you!”

Only time will tell on this one, and like i said I’m hoping this isn’t going to a template for the entire X division. These guys don’t need silly gimmicks to show how good they are. They prove it week in week out with their talent alone. Never know this phase might die out, or are we in for a one hell of a gimmick overdose. I for one, hope not.

Rick

Royal Disappointment

So going into a deeper look of the Rumble I start off with this, Cena. He’s back and who would thought it? Certainly not me that’s for sure, and I bet I’m not alone there. I knew there were gonna be some surprises with 5 spots being left unconfirmed but this was a surprise I couldn’t believe.

Anyways, let me start from the beginning. I’m very nit picky, and I’ve got to say I really didn’t enjoy Michael Buffer’s ring announcements. But that’s not important what is important, is the rumble! So out come number 1 and 2 and oh would you look at that its Taker and HBK. The final two from last years Rumble, what a coincidence that is aye…but moving on. For me, it was an ok Rumble. I put emphasis on the word ok. There were many spots in the Rumble that really ticked me and made me think what the hell was the point of that!? First was Hornswoggle’s segment, which to me was completely a waste of an entrant and as well as time. I was expecting something entertaining to come out of this as surely placing the tiny Hornswoggle in the greatest match of the year, the Royal Rumble had to serve a purpose right? Wrong! He made his way to ramp looking all pumped up and then hid under the ring. Not for a bit however but for the entire match! Only time he popped out was when he helped eliminate The Miz, and when he got picked up by Mark Henry into the ring. Which leads to something else that bugged me VERY much. With Hornswoggle surrounded by two monsters in Mark Henry and Big Daddy V, who comes in the save the day for the little fella? Finlay, and in doing so gets disqualified from a match that is no DQ. What the hell!? So Finlay jumps his spot to help Hornswoggle, big deal. If I’m correct Finlay is the only person to ever be disqualified from the Royal Rumble match as its taking place. To be honest I spent quite a bit of time being disappointed watching that match. Shelton Benjamin lasted all but 18 seconds despite being pushed on ECW and despite being hands down the most technically gifted wrestler on the WWE roster, why was eliminated so fast? However, as the buzzer sounded and entrant number 23’s music hit I got excited as my pick for the Rumble had arrived. That pick, was Mr Kennedy….Kennedy! However a mere 13 minutes and 32 seconds later my pick was gone. Thrown out like he was nothing by Batista. I was incredibly disappointed as I was hoping that the Rumble was going to be Kennedy’s night with him being screwed out of a title Run earlier last year because of an injury. By this time there were only 3 unconfirmed entrants left in the Rumble the other 2 being the Legendary Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and to my absolute disgust who would make his way to ring as entrant number 26? None other than ECW World Champion Chavo Guerrero. Why was I disgusted? Because the Royal Rumble is supposed to be a match that grants the winner a title shot at Wrestlemania. This means that the champion isn’t supposed to be in the match, and until this Royal Rumble he hasn’t. To me this just shows how little they think of the ECW Championship and the brand as a whole. And if that wasn’t bad enough he doesn’t even last long. Some champion that’s meant to be.

Finally number 30 and the returning John Cena hits the ring to everyone shock and makes his mark quickly removing Carlito, Chavo and Mark Henry. Finally its down to 2. HHH and John Cena for a chance to face the champion at Wrestlemania. Was I excited? No. Far from it in fact. I want to see new faces making an impact, being given a chance. Not the same guys staying at the top making everything seem so, well…boring. I like both Cena and Hunter its just these are both guys that have had very long title runs in the past and who says it wont happen again? Surely enough Cena get HHH over the top rope to win. A huge surprise, ill give the WWE that. But a good one? Only time will tell. However if time is something to go by, we better start getting used to seeing Cena with that belt once again. Les just hope it wont be as long as last time aye.

Rick