Mike Summers
29/10/01
Welcome to the Summers Report, where some of you get to hear what you don't want to, some of you get bragging rights with your opponents' girlfriends after a few too many post-match drinks and a quick nip up to the room to "refresh", and some of you cry and squeal like stuck pigs that you didn't get a fair go.
Another big week coming off the highest rating show ever. How did the EWCL do? Stay tuned�. However, ratings aside, it seems that the EWCL financial woes continue. While I'm more than sure that The Rage would love to take credit for this, I think that any issues concerning him are really only scratching the surface of the problem here. E-Fed's are not known for their longevity, so� are we heading for a bankruptcy and a long wait in line at the welfare office?
I hope not!
Now, join me in congratulating those that 'Hit' this week, and jeering those that didn't.
Universal Champion Exile �
When one soldier falls, another steps up to take his place. Exile has thus far put on a blinding show, and plays the comic foil villain better than anyone else in the business. Sure, some may lament that his days of sophomoric comedy are gone� I'm one of them� but hey, look on the bright side� he ain't doing poetry anymore. Now that's a blessing. Besides, given time to establish himself as a serious player, I'm sure we'll see the return of the play-acting lunatic that kept us laughing and booing for the better part of the year. Exile's got the charisma and intensity to be one of the best Champions ever, and with a rekindling of his feud with Cazzo, looks to be in the Captain's Chair for the long haul. And that's not a bad thing� that's a good thing.
Internet Champion Joe Johnson �
Must be the Family's week this week in the Summers Report. Some people call Joe a whiner� a complainer. Some people can't stand the way he continually bitches about having his spot stolen by other less deserving people. For that minority, I have these simple words� get with the program! Joe's complaining has added a whole new dimension to an otherwise stale act. Now he's the bitching underdog whose being held down, whose not being given a fair go, and I gotta say� it really works for him. A full heel turn at this point while sticking with the bitter underdog who doesn't realise his complaints are kind of ironic will catapult this kid into the Main Event ranks. Now he has to move away from the Hardcore scene and show that he's versatile enough to wrestle a regular match with the top guys without sending them home with stitches. Let Dan Prohibition rule the Hardcore ranks and move on to bigger and better things. The future looks bright.
Good Guys vs. Bad Guys �
I'm really liking this angle, and it kind of surprises me because I thought we were beyond the old school monikers. Nonetheless, the EWCL is showing that the classics are still the classics, 'cos they're classics (and Neil, if you steal that line I'm going to tell your wife about your girlfriend!).
Kritical Kondition �
Didn't this guy win Wrestler of the Year? Isn't this man hailed as one of the finest entertainers in our business? Is this the same man who ran the greatest feud of the year with Alexander Glory? You wouldn't know it. How many months with the Internet Title, and how many defences? In fact, I wasn't alone in thanking God that Joe Johnson won that title, 'cos now we can hope to see it defended! And Sean Corvik said it himself� he could be running in the Main Event right now if he chose. So why isn't he? A good question. Lately he's shown a lack of heart towards this Game. What we'd all like so see is for Corvik to bounce back from this loss and show us why he rightfully won Wrestler of the Year. And hey, throw in a little character development while you're at it.
Dan Prohibition �
Okay, so this is going to come as quite a surprise to a lot of people� after all, didn't Dan win his match on Sunday? Sure, Dan defeated Mystic in as fantastic a match as we've come to expect from him. However, where did it get him? Nowhere. Less than a month back, Dan was wrestling almost weekly in Main Events or high card matches. He received a Universal Title shot. He won the Tag Team Championship, and still retains it (although you'd never know it if it hadn't been brought up by my colleague Neil Down). He was wrestling against Joe Johnson, Alexander Glory, Kritical Kondition, and The Rage. And since? Well, he's been to Japan and fought an aborted feud with Ex-Terminator. Prohibition's career is going in a backwards direction, and if he doesn't arrest the trend soon he'll be back opening the show with the new guys. There's no reason Dan Prohibition can't reclaim his spot at the top, if he wants it bad enough. I guess the question is� does he?
The Punisher �
From Universal Champion to perennial jobber. No, wait a second. That should really be from perennial jobber, to Universal Champion, to perennial jobber. The EWCL is killing off this guy's heat faster than you can say 'what is it marks us out to bow, what power transforms our souls like light (sorry, couldn't help myself� had to get another of those in). Who did Punisher p*ss off in the back in between winning the Title and losing it a week later? Apart from a cheap win at the hands of Cazzo, I can't remember the last time Punisher won a match! Is he out of his depth? Are we just being built up for a great feel-good victory? What's going on? I really hope for Punisher's sake that he takes a match sometime soon before it's too late.
This week's Venom pulled in a 4.2, down one point from last week. How, I hear you ask? Well, I'm not really sure. To put it honestly, the business is in a bit of a downturn right now, and it had to hit the EWCL sooner or later. Looks like it was sooner. Venom was strong this week, and in a regular market should have topped last week's ratings, or at least levelled with it. All I can say is folks, pray for our jobs. With the EWCL in financial trouble, the industry suffering, and the economy not looking as rosy as it should, we could be in for some lean times ahead. Lets hope we don't have to make staff cuts, or John Pilchard may find his strike transforming into permanent retirement and I may end up sharing an office with Stephanie Sprinkler�.
Come to think of it�
�maybe it isn't all bad�.