Billy Graham's WWE Hall of Fame ring

Due, Graham claims, to being angry with Vince McMahon for putting the kiboshed on the promised actual building for the WWE Hall of Fame - which currently is simply an honorific, with no actual bricks and mortar location - "Superstar" Billy Graham is selling his WWE HOF ring on eBay. Currently going for ~$7600, you can bid on it here.

Personally I can't help but wonder, as Jason Powell does, whether this move is more fiscally motivated than any kind of principled stand; Graham has had known health problems and has the same story as many former wrestlers in terms of little work and much bitterness. Just because Vince McMahon does not currently envision a WWE Hall of Fame building in the current economy, does not preclude one being built in the future, and as it is a stated goal of his son Shane's, at least come the time the McMahon children take the helm of the company.

Yet another chapter I suppose in the saga of the fractious history between the WWE and the Superstar.

Raw

I missed some major swaths of Raw last night admittedly - it doesn't sound like it was an especially bad show to be semi-tuned out of however; the few things that made an impression on me through what I saw and recaps later:

1. Props to Seth Green for surprising me. The guy was game, worked with the right people in John Cena and Triple H (the two of whom, along with Green, created some awesome promos and a surprisingly decent match over the course of the night, by the way), and was enough a part of the show to justify the payday he no doubt got, without overwhelming the rest of it. That applies to his role in the show as a whole, and also the main event where he teamed with Cena and H to face the Legacy; he was there enough to be funny and do what he does without being too much. Well-handled, which was a pleasant surprise.
2. Most worthwhile segments involved Green, or else the main event players; sorry, I'm just not fascinated by a 6-Diva bikini match amazingly enough (although the live crowd always seems to enjoy such things), and while MVP vs. Jack Swagger was a good match, it deserved either some PPV time, or at least some hype as an above-average TV match.
3. I didn't mind how Chris Jericho addressed Edge's injuries, and his referring to Edge as the 'weak link' of the team and photos of Edge in hospital might hint at the face turn I suggested upon the Rated R Superstar's return; I also am digging Mark Henry's face turn as he comes out to be propositioned by Jericho to be his partner, only to reveal he's Jericho's opponent. I'm not however a fan of Jericho just being able to pick a replacement partner; I was more excited by the idea of a tag title tournament at Night of Champions. People shouldn't just be *crowned* champ by someone's choice, and I never like angles involving such.
4. Otherwise, besides the show being mediocre, my main complaint is the couple of dropped ideas put out over the course of the show; first Jerry Lawler suggested there might be a tag title tournament at NOC, but Chris Jericho put the kibosh on that idea; then Cody Rhodes suggested his dad might be the guest host next week, only for it to be revealed that ZZTop would be. I get red herrings; but such a quick turnover on them? I don't quite get the point of the misdirection then.

Anyway overall mediocre show; some very weak moments, some strong moments which should have received more hype, and a pleasant surprise in the show's guest host. A run of the mill Raw for one involving stunt-casting but at least they addressed the 'injured Edge' issue and had some decent action in Jack Swagger-MVP and the six man main event; just wish they'd held off on the former until they'd had a chance to build and maybe even (gasp!) promote it.

We'll be talking about this and much more on Thursday night on our weekly podcast of "In This Very Ring". Be sure and tune in then! :) Peace.

Brock Lesnar's actions at UFC 100

Former WWE pro wrestler and champion Brock Lesnar faced Frank Mir for the undisputed UFC title this weekend. Beginning of the match, he refused to tap gloves with Mir, and afterwards flipped off the fans before cutting a very WWE-style heel promo on his opponent and the entire UFC.

As UFC falls more into the realm of 'real' (if extreme) sports than the WWE, this was widely criticized by UFC fans, as well as UFC owner Dana White, as unsportsmanlike and inappropriate behaviour. While I don't necessarily think Lesnar needed to do much to rile the fans up - the anti-pro wrestling UFC fans weren't taking him seriously, and were booing him from his entrance on - I do agree with the sentiment. Bottom line; Mike Tyson's lack of professionalism in his later career was not appreciated, nor was Todd Bertuzzi's some years back in the NHL when he attacked an opponent from behind, nor is such behaviour appreciated in any other legitimate sport. UFC at this point has a certain 'respectability' factor as being real, having rules (as minimalist as they may be), and this was not the situation in which to revert back to your wrestling persona.

Is it done in other sports? Yes of course; it is a testosterone-driven community and particularly as you get more 'extreme' (ie UFC). It doesn't make it right. And especially after Lesnar just last week decried his wrestling experience as a stepping stone - you don't go straight from amateur wrestling to acting, or UFC, or other legitimate sports - and said 'the smart ones are the ones who get out, they really are', I wouldn't have expected him to lean so heavily on that part of his history.

I'm pleased he apologized for his behaviour today, quite rightly so; he's a young guy who no doubt was on an adrenaline high after a tough match. But hopefully he can keep this lesson under his hat and behave more professionally in the future. While the UFC isn't exactly a suit-wearing, coffee-drinking corporate environment, it is also not exactly Vince McMahon's 3-ring circus anymore either, and if nothing else, you can get seriously hurt for developing a reputation of getting out of line.

Better late than ...

Never! :D Click the header to hear In This Very Ring and be sure to tune in Thurs. next week for our very special 1st anniversary edition! :) Cheers.

Day change to ITVR

I think we're going to permanently change In This Very Ring to Thurs. nights - we get it up consistently then, while Wednesday's are usually a bit of a struggle. So on that front be sure and tune in tomorrow as we discuss Raw, a few releases made this week, the death, locally to us of Waldo Von Erich, and my awesome birthday gift (a couple months late) from my in-laws! :D Join us here around this time tomorrow night, for In This Very Ring.

RIP Waldo Von Erich

Condolences go out to the family of Wally Seiber (better known as Waldo Von Erich, the legendary Fritz Von Erich's storyline brother). Seiber died today in a Kitchener ON hospital due to complications from a fall. He was 75 years old and is survived by his daughter Mary Jane.

Injury report and renamed PPV concept

• First I want to apologize for my absence since ITVR was posted - not a lack of posting per se so much as I was out of town. But I've been keeping myself posted and the two main pieces of news this weekend include:
• WWE commented on the new September PPV, renamed "Breaking Point", revealing that all matches on the card will be submission matches. Great name and not a bad concept; I understand with so many PPVs WWE needs to come up with some original, Royal Rumble/Survivor Series/Night of Champions/KOTR gimmick-esque concepts and this isn't a bad one. My only complaint is the Hell in a Cell one, with all HITC all night, which to me kind of bastardizes a match which is so valuable due to its rarity and its use only in big-match situations.
• Secondly unfortunately Adam "Edge" Copeland was injured in a house show over the weekend, tearing an Achilles tendon and facing a potentially long layoff. I'd heard rumours of a possible face turn down the pike for Edge and this might be a great opportunity to transition there, but of course no one wants anyone to get hurt in this biz; my wishes to Edge for a speedy recovery.