07/08/02

Here's the deal. I'm past it. I've done it and been there for several years gone by and thats how I get to put in my opinions. I'm a guy who has been through what each and everyone of you gos through each week. The routine of putting everything you got into what you love to do. But my time is up and my time to help has just begun. Since I started working for the EWCL back in February I have enjoyed watching the performers do their shit each and every week. Every minute wasn't great but can everything be great all the time? If it was nothing would be spectacular it would just be plain old last week. That's what i'm here for, to make sure it isn't plain old last week. My name is Ray Ramone, same as Razor just spelt differently. For those that haven't figured it out yet i'm a critic. I find what I like and say it, I find what I don't and I say it pretty simple shit really. The EWCL put out a strong showing this week but I still found fault as i'm sure many viewers did. So let's cut the chit-chat now and lets get down to the nitty gritty of things because when Ray Ramone talks....you listen!!

The messages still continue to flicker to life everytime Macbeth goes to hit his finishing move. Just who the hell is the mystery messenger? Is Sean Corvik planning his return sooner rather than later? Are we likely to see the return of all old great like Danny Christ? Hell, we've seen old IWF star Scott Monroe with Macbeth before maybe it could be him? The list continues from greats like Dan Prohibition all the way down to the likes of Jason Drake. Just who is sending the messages will remain a mystery until we they make their appearance known. Other stories that seem to grab us are the arrival of a new guy called Romeo Stone. What do I know about him? Nothing except he seems adimant on beating the living crap outta poor Eleven. Then we got the crisis of the 'ship-jumpers'. Now that Drake Laps and it appears Blade, have jumped ship to IWF is it the end for the EWCL? Is it hell. The talent is still there and everyone knows it. Chris Christ, Macbeth, Nick Dangerous, Strait Hate, Thorn, Chris Outcast and many many more will fill these gaps nicely. The crisis so many of you talk about is nothing more than a mountain from a mole-hill. The EWCL is alive and kicking and just to prove it take a look at my valid opinions of this weeks show....

Best bit: 'When World's Collide'
Best bit of the show for me wasn't what most people would expect it to be. Wasn't the eventual face turn of Chris Christ, it wasn't the Executive joining of Nick Dangerous and it certainly wasn't the humiliation of Marcus Babylon and Justine. For me the highlight of the night was the major announcement of what alot of us have been waiting to see...'When Worlds Collide'. That's right it finally happened. The EWCL is squaring off against its great rival IWF. It's been on the cards for a good while now but now we have a date and a venue. This show is undoubtedly gonna be the the biggest thing the wrestling world has seen since Eleven took on Jay Masters! All we need now is a card and from the talent pool these two feds boost, this isn't goin to be a hard show to put on. Talk of a clash between Joe Johnson and Chris Christ has alot of us excited. Johnson never did get his revenge for that attack made by Christ and Christ has got an ego thats just waiting to be, well be 'crucified'. But the list goes on and on and on. I personally cannot wait until this show goes ahead, and when it does, expect the ratings to be through the roof!

Next best bit: The Face
I think we could all sense it coming along. After losing Drake Laps to an IWF contract, the EWCL needed to fill the gaping hole left by Drake. The face list of the EWCL doesn't span too far anyway and losing Laps was a major blow. But it looks like they could have found a replacement in the shape and form of Chris Christ. Although the fans and him haven't been best of friends, the hate that Macbeth receives wasn't ever there. Christ was the kind of entertainer you would boo because you were supposed to. But will we be cheering him because we're supposed do? Or because we want to? Personally i'm a fan of Christ ever since he started in the EWCL. Carrying on from Danny is a hard thing to do and I think he took it on well, maybe not as good as his brother but well enough to land him the Universal title. Chris will find it hard with no companions to speak of, whereas the Executive boasts the talents of Macbeth, Dangerous, Hate, Thorn and Cazzo.

Last best bit: The Joining
Tough choice really. I do believe that the next best thing that happened on this weeks showing was none other than the joining to the Executive by Nick Dangerous. I didn't really see Nick with a gimmick or a storyline to persue so this would be his best bet. Surrounded by the best of the best in todays business, Macbeth, Hate and Thorn, Nick couldn't really go wrong in joining a stable with such talent and future. But looking at the roster, I don't see many faces that can feud with the Executive. Sure, Macbeth/Christ is gonna take place and will may even last for some time yet, but what else we got? Dangerous/Masters? I think thats insulting Nick a little. Other than that the only other faces I see as making it into top flight are Jerry Campbell and Chris Outcast. Campbell is a veteran in the business and he and Dangerous have a history. Outcast maybe new but with a little coaching he can be top flight stuff. Dangerous could do no wrong with picking a bone, excuse the gay related Campbell pun, with Campbell. Feuding with such a talent is never bad for your rep and can do no harm of your chances to get into the main events.

Worst bit: Humiliating in more ways than one
This may come as a shock to you all but what I found the worst of this week was the public humiliation of Marcus Babylon and Justine. Some of the points for this are: it lasted way too long, several chances popped up to continue using Justine, or Babylon if he is planning a comeback, in heel roles and last but not least it was pretty pointless. Ok, every male in the land wants to see bare boobs. I, for one, thought they were an impressive set, even if they were fake. But did we need to see them two to three times? Then came Cazzo with his 'you don't work here anymore' routine. In fact I don't really want to go into it. This segment could have been done much, much better and wasn't. I hope the only reason this was done is to keep Marcus Babylon in the running and some day bring him back. I think he would make a terrific face and if the EWCL needs anything right now, its faces.

Next worst bit: Old News
The Legion. Anyone else getting sick of tired of seeing people come in and out of the legion like a Justine movie? At one point I lost complete track of just who was in this stable. Odds are if you asked someone 'Who is in the Legion?' their answer would be 'Errrr....Punisher...and, er...oh, what's his name?' I think you see my point. The man is a veteran and one hell of an attraction to the EWCL. He's been through it all and seen most there is to see. He can do it all too. But the guy just can't run a stable. Sure you can go on and say the MOTJ worked and The Legion has had several outings but did they work? Look at the Royal Family. The most successful stable...EVER!! They had their members and they stuck with them, of one left then the stable fell. Punisher seems to feel the need to fill the gaps in his stables with just about anyone that is knocking around. Aaron Gold may well be a bright star in the EWCL universe and don't get me wrong, I like the kids work, but he is gonna find the heel route very very tough. Heel is the hardest role to play and the veteran Punisher can only just manage to pull it off. All in all I think the Legion should maybe call it a day and concentrate on bigger individual things. Right now the EWCL has got there heel stable and it's the Executive.

Last worst bit: Marathon match?
I didn't really see much wrong with lastnights show but I gotta fill this slot. If I was being picky then I would have to say....the Marathon match!! I mean, what the hell? 'Nuff said.

So my ramblings come to an end for my first week. Don't like me? Not many people do. My dog does, but then again she probably don't understand what i'm saying. But I don't really care if you don't like me. I do my job and thats to find out what right and whats wrong with this weeks shows. If you don't like it I suggest you find another job...I head the IWF is recruitng people these days.

Predicitions for this week:

Match 1:
Eleven vs. Chris Outcast: Pretty easy one this week. Can't see Eleven mounting to anything in this fed other than a curtain jerker. Outcast should now be pushing himself to appear higher up the card. Outcast with a stomping on Eleven.

Match 2:
Loki vs. Aaron Gold: This could well be on of the highlights of this week. I like Loki, but then again I like Aaron Gold. This one will be pure wrestling showcasing and hoefully The Legion will keep its nose out of it. My poker chips are on Loki.

Match 3: #1 Contender Prime Time Title
Amazing Alex Addams vs. Jay Masters: Uuuuummm, Amazing Alex Addams to make it 4-0. Although you can't deny Masters is gettin slowly better, he still isn't nowhere near good enough to hold a title greats like Marcus Babylon, G'Flem and Punisher all fought greatly to hold. I really like what i've seen from AAA and hope he sticks around for what promises to be a truly 'amazing' career.

Match 4:
Johnathan Cable vs. The Punisher: Ok, I said the Loki/Gold match could be a highlight of the card. Well this match may well be the downlight, that a word? Well no offense to these two competitors but I don't detect much heat in this match. The match may not deserve to be where it is on the card. Still, Punisher with the eventual win.

Match 5: #1 Contender tagtitles
Strait Hate/Thorn vs. Powerhouse/Rage: Now this is gonna be a match. The Big Unit have impressed me lately and I really hope they stick around in the EWCL. I think Rage and Powerhouse will make better faces than they think they will. This match contains some heat and I can sense a charged match. What's my prediciton? I feel either an Executive beatdown or a Christ fist thrown somewhere in this match. I'm goin for yet another beatdown. I hope not, lets hope the Unit win this one cleanly. In fact i'm goin for a Rage/Powerhouse victory.

Main Event:
MacBeth/Nick Dangerous vs. Chris Christ/Jerry Campbell: Hhhhmmmmm not sure wether this was the best route to take for the main event but its there. It looks to me that Jerry Campbell has been thrown into the mix for ratings sake and nothing more. Personally a Dangerous/Christ match or Macbeth/Dangerous vs Christ outing would have suited me better. Would have put over all involved. Still, should be interesting to watch. Christ's first week as a face, Campbell's first main event, Dangerous first week in the Executive and Macbeth's first loss. That's right, Christ/Campbell with the win before the PPV.

Rankings
1.Macbeth
2.Nick Dangerous
3.Chris Christ
4.Strait Hate
5.Amazing Alex Addams
6:The Big Unit
7:Thorn
8:Loki
9.Johnathan Cable
10.Chris Outcast

Quick note. These rankings are not done on anyones ability but more on the show and performance.

So its time to let the curtain fall on my first ever column. Liked it? Let me know. Didn't? Let me know anyhow, i'm sure you all know how to use the OOC board. I'll be checking it to see what you thought. Anyway, farewell friends.

Ray Ramone