Summer Wrestling Thoughts

ok, they finally unmasked Punk, now when his arm heals.... they better put the strap on him. even injured, he has provided the best moments on Smackdown just by being on show, no Heel is better in the business currently, with only Austin Aries even semi close in the zip code.

as a chrome domer myself, its a dope look and this should even further the SES mission and again, hopefully the Gold will be back on the 2nd City Saint soon. shame we can't see him perform in his claim to fame, Money in the Bank ladder match due to the arm injury..... opens it up for Kofi Kingston. as for my RAW mitb pick, I'll go with the Miz, seems he is on a roll and RAW needs a heel winner.

Current Rankings

10. CM Punk - he can't wrestle currently, but if he's breathing... he will not be outside the Top10

9. Jeff Hardy - only matter of time before he is TNA champ and a year ago from the matches of the year in 2009 he did with Punk, put em close together again here....

8. Austin Aries - wants to be a manager, but is the best all around worker in ROH currently

7. Eddie Edwards - ROH TV Champ's 10 minute hunt is best weekly segment on any show and his half boston crab/stomping on opponents head finisher is awesome

6. Jack Swagger - him using Angle's ankle lock only solidifies that he is an Angle wannabe, but is entertaining and deserves a spot here

5. Mr. Anderson - guy has taken the A**hole gimmick and made it fan friendly

4. Evan Bourne - on fire lately and letting Orton turn his Airbourne into an RKO took guts

3. The Miz - US Champ really more interesting to watch on RAW than WWE Champ

2. Davey Richards - if this guy was in a big company, everyone would know his name - really the best in ring technician since Chris Benoit (sans crazy killing tendencies). MotY candidate with Tyler Black from what I hear from their last internet PPV.

1. RVD - still champ in TNA and won their 4 way at PPV, lets see what this ECW storyline brings

Holla!

May Showers...

bring too much distruction for my taste. Even though my home wasn't damaged from the record flooding this area took this past weekend, I still am hurting for my friends that did. It is a stone cold reminder that nothing is ever normal and at any turn - your life and home can change in an instant. People in my neighborhood really beat anything I have ever seen on tv as what a good neighbor is supposed to be. Really, the past 2 days, I've never been offered as much water, food, popsicles, bananas, etc.... And what is unreal is after the darkest weekend that I can ever remember in Middle Tennessee, the most beautiful 2 days have followed. I am counting on that to be the trend as when I leave this dark world, the light of eternity with the only true God will be even more beautiful. But again, til then, if you need the best place to live, come to Cottonwood!

Now onto my Wrestling Rankings (which no one but me cares about)

10. Tyler Black - the ROH Champ is almost off the board because if Jim Cornett is involved, I think its crap!

9. John Cena - you have to have the WWE Champ on list, only reason he's here

8. Heart Dynasty - new Tag Team Champs can revive that division

7. Mr.Anderson - seriously, the dude is dandy with a MIC and should be a future TNA Champ

6. Sheamus - take a fav of mine, HHH, out of commission and I know who wrote the angle

5. CM Punk - leader of SES kept his hair vs Mysterio and now looks to create a rivalry with MVP

4. The Miz - lost tag team golds, but joining with Jericho and selling Big Show's punch is Epic!

3. Ric Flair - they made him job to Abyss, but seriously his colors get him here every month

2. Jack Swagger - has the belt that #3 made famous and is handling his own currently

1. Rob Van Dam - RVD is TNA Champ and is one of few things TNA is doing right

Wrestlemania 26 Picks

Hope the show out in Arizona is HOT for the K.Hite!!!!

CM Punk over Rey Mysterio

HHH over Sheamus

Christian is MTB winner

Cena over Batista

Edge over Jericho

HBK over Undertaker - the Streak is Over!

Holla!

Week 3 of MNW

Ok, last week didn't count because TNA was taped, had the Nasty Boys wrestle, and quite frankly one of the worst wrestling programs I have seen since a 400 lb bisexual was headline'n a local Saturday morning show from the Nashville Fairgrounds. Anyways, TNA hit with Jeff Hardy and RVD vs Beer Money. High Quality, great spots, fan friendly outcome........ but the majority of TNA's attempt last night was garbage and forgettable (and with apparantly Mick Foley's last match) says something. RAW was barely better. Opening with HBK, uncomfortable moments with Pete Rose (whom if you know me - I love Pete), good Miz vs Morrison match, a crowd pop for Sheamus (?), but a solid Bret "Hitman" Hart promo put the show above TNA last night. Considering WWE is holding everything til this Sunday's Wrestlemania 26, I didn't expect much and got barely that, but TNA needs to get their act together fast....... which means LESS BISCHOFF ....... more Anderson, Angle, Pope, and Desmond Wolfe. The Hogan & Bischoff co-involvement where one is good and bischoff is bischoff isn't working, pick one or the other.

Wrestlemania 26 predictions will be coming up and updated Superstar of the Month rankings.

holla!

Return of the Monday Night Wars!

It just felt right last night........ Not since 2001 has a pro wrestling fan (like ME!) have a choice at 9pm EST on a Monday night on what show to watch. Fans got to chose between either WWE Monday Night Raw on USA Network or now TNA Impact on Spike TV, or if they were like me - enjoy flipping the channels MANY times to see what the other show was doing. Competition for eyes brought out the best of TNA and a few extra wrinkles from WWE. In my oppinion, TNA "won" the first battle, but that was probably going to be my feelings regardless of what they gave us last night. Because the excitement and intrique of something NEW always grabs my attention - has since I was a child looking for the newest G.I. Joe and Transformers. Impact really did well in that they started off with their biggest promoted match (Hogan & Abyss VS. Flair & Styles), they grabbed attention early..... had a returning Sting do a run-in and turn HEEL!....... then built up the conclusion of this match for end of program which kept you wanting to watch. Also at the top of the 10pm EST hour, they brought back returning Sting to face mystery opponent - Recent Signed and Hottest Free Agent in wrestling world, RVD (Rob Van Dam)! I was just really impressed in the way show was written and executed - even the Nash & Young VS Hall & Waltman exchange was excellent. WWE just had some Smackdown talent from Thursday Night come to RAW to help excite the fan, but if there is Smackdown talent on the show and CM Punk isn't one of them....... you get an (*) as he is the best wrestler on the WWE roster (I'm biased). Undertaker staring down HBK is OK... but with no action = a waste of time and doesn't compare to a returning Ric Flair taking chops, doing flops, and then bleeding like vintage Nature Boy! Vince McMahon in the ring is compelling, but not as much as The Nature Boy pouring crimson in the ring and AJ Styles is giving Pele kicks to an almost 60 year old Hulk Hogan and end show with a returning Jeff Hardy........ RAW ended with John Cena getting beat down, AGAIN! .... TNA wins Round 1 .......... what do you think?

In honor of the Monday Night War Return .......... so will the FES Rankings for the Superstar of the Month! Enjoy!

SUPERSTAR OF THE MONTH STANDINGS (for March 2010)

10. Rhett Titus (ROH) - Lost to Kevin Steen in TV Title Tourney, but the Thrust is still a Must!

9. CM Punk (WWE) - No wins yet in March, but mic work still A+, give him a WM26 opponent (Rey Mysterio) already!

8. Batista (WWE) - He crushes Cena AGAIN and gets his Kanye spotlight, but where's the pink/baby blue Polo shirt?

7. Chris Jericho (WWE) - Finally a major champ wrestling on the B shows (NXT & Superstars)

6. Edge (WWE) - Spears anyone in his way, will he take Jericho's Gold at WM26?

5. Rob Van Dam (TNA) - Wins over Sting make a career, wins under 20 seconds makes you a Legend! Welcome Back Mr. Monday Night!

4. Tyler Black (ROH) - Young ROH Champ has ball and will run with it.

3. Desmond Wolfe (TNA) - Involved in biggest TNA storyline, only time until Gold around his waist

2. The Miz (WWE) - 3 Title Belts get you high on any list, his NXT work with Danielson is dope also

1. Ric Flair (TNA) - His match and color job in his return to action puts him on top! Why he is THE MAN & Hall of Famer still alive today!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holla!

Back 2 School?

So last week I got the chance to go back to Murfreesboro to tape some Audio for a new wrestling show for MTTV (campus television). The family and I left the Boro in the summer of 2005. We have been back briefly for a game or chance to see the Jaydogg (who still lives there), but haven't had a chance to just look at the campus since before Hannah was born. It was nice.

Parking, I could see where construction of Corlew Hall is taking place. We ate there all the time, because it was all you can eat and was based at the Ladies Dorm. Looks like it will be nice on the inside when done, lets just hope the food is better then what I remembered.

Next to Corlew is the Business & Aerospace Building. This was the campus headache for the first 2 years of campus life while it was built, due to all the fences keeping me from short distances from Nicks Hall. But once it was completed, I got to enjoy it my Junior & Senior years.

I went inside and could see where some of my favorite teachers still have an office. At least this time when I walked that hall, I didn't stink of cigarette smoke. It was weird seeing all the spots where me and some classmates would take a break and thought "Why did I ever toke". But it was a good chance to reminiss about the ol' days. Then it was time to go back to the studio where I spent some much time having fun recording Dandy.

The new head of MTTV, Rob, is a cool dude and was funny to see one guy have to set up the entire studio by himself with no help and do this show with no help. Reminded me of how hard the Pessoni's, Drew, Ryan, & others had to work to just get the tape rolling. The stuido was different, but still as small as I remember. Who knows if the show will be any count, but it was fun to get back in there where I hadn't been in over 10 years and see the red lights on those cameras again. Just wasn't the same without Trev blasting me or my momma.

Maybe there should be a Dandy 10 Years Later Special?

God Bless,

Fes

Goodbye MJ

It has been 4 days and I still am having trouble realizing that Michael Jackson is dead. Maybe because I am awaiting him to show up at a UK press conference with Bubbles and McCullay saying "Fooled You!"
But reality is that my generation's Elvis & Lennon, went before his time. I will never forgot pulling into my driveway on Thursday evening, hearing our local SportsTalk expert, George Plaster, say "and we are getting reports that Michael Jackson has died of an apparanent heart attack". I sat in my own driveway shell shocked for a couple of minutes until I realized that I could turn it on FoxNews or CNN (if desperate) to find out for myself. I did and sent texts and posted on Facebook hoping that it wasn't real, but it was. Now I can't turn off the TV.

I can't get enough of the videos. I can't get enough of the news updates. I can't get enough of my Sirius/XM Channel 51. Just like MJ said "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough". Why? Because he was the Soundtrack to my Childhood and now that he is gone - then a big part of my Childhood is gone too. I am grasping and trying to hold on to memories that are associated with each hit......

"Billie Jean"
- Remember sitting in my room, listening to this on Y107 & Coyote McCloud. Became a MJ fan to this song.

"Beat It"
- I remember this is first video that I got into. Watching this at my Granny's house because she had cable way before we did. If the Cubs weren't on WGN, we were watching MTV and this played every hour it seemed like. Austin, Kim, Jay, Shelly, Melissa, and I spent a lot of our time watching this.

"Thriller"
- One of my favorite trips (just my mother and I with my aunt Faye and my cousin Shelly to Gatlinburg)
- Charla scaring me out of my mind at Millersville Elementary with her magazine
- Having my sister, Janice, hide her VHS copy of "The Making of Thriller" before I would enter her house (and we were over ever week)
- Begging my mother to shield it from me when we were at the movie rental stores in Goodlettsville
** Yes, early I was freaked out by the zombies for too long backthen, but now I enjoy the terrific costume and effects that would be a hit today. No other song of MJ's contains so many memories for me.....

"Bad"
- After the fire at our house in Millersville, this song was stuck in my head. A stretch of nights where I couldn't sleep, remember "replaying" it until I went to sleep. We finally got cable in Millersville to go along with our new upstairs, and this was the hit during that time.

"Smooth Criminal"
- My favorite dance video and was theme to Sega Video Game that my brother, Jay, saved up to buy - fun times indeed
- Made this my Mr.MTSU finale dance number in 2000, Jay - Muff - Rippy - & I had some fun in the Tucker Theatre to this song....

"Leave Me Alone"
- Video I saw a bunch while visiting my Granny Hannah while she was with us. Now today, I wish I had spent that MTV watching time there in Hendersonville to listening to her stories more.

"Black or White"
- Song that anchor'd my Freshman Year in high School - trying to fit in. Remember sitting in Ms.Tuttle's Art Class discussing this video with Travis and others.

"Who is It"
- Sums up a bunch. The beat is bumpin' and is the best video besides Smooth Criminal to watch

"Scream"
- Song of summer of '95

"You Are Not Alone"
- This was the song that I remember was on when crusing with Mandy, Martin, and Lindsay. Writing letters to Grant while he was at bootcamp and writing letters to Jana while in Illinois.

"History"
- Did a Fes Anthology RAP TAPE (coping MJ) The Past - Present - and Future of this Honkey.... (insert your jokes here) Trevis gave his away to some dude that we ran into at the Media Play. Dude said "you know that crap rap tape you gave me - I copied over it"........ the look on T's face when he said "oh this is the guy who did it" .... priceless

"Wanna Be Starting Something"
- Funny that it wasn't until my college years that this song finally meant something... Scott taught me a specific dance to it and for 3 years, we rocked it whenever the DJ spun it - can do that dance today!

"Invincible"
- Remember buying this album after 9-11 and first talking to Courtney. Only listened to this album a couple of times, but I remember the hoopla and hype that only MJ would bring to an album release. I cared more about my new P.Y.T. than listening to this and any other music since.

All in all, MJ was my Elvis. The Soundtrack to my childhood and life. I guess its more sad to me because I realize that I am getting farther and farther away from those memories. Wish I could see those that makeup those memories. Some I can, but some I can't until I get to Heaven. I don't know if MJ will be there when I get there, but if so - I want some dance lessons and I'll moonwalk on those streets of gold. But he has with his passing given me some new memories, watching Hannah dance to Black or White and Emma asking for "More Mike Jack!" I'll one day tell them about my Music Icon passing.

Til then, I am left with questions. Will Justin Timberlake be the next generation's Icon like MJ was for us? Is it Madonna or U2 that is now the greatest from the 80's still alive? Who will be the MJ for my kids as they grow up? Will Usher finally get original?

God Bless,
Fes