Monday, December 15, 2008
The Underdog Wins
I'll likely get a little grief about posting something WWE-related that has nothing to do with a steroid scandal or death, but the story of Jeff Hardy winning the WWE title at last night's Armageddon Pay-Per-View was a reminder of why I used to tune in in the first place. I can't remember the last time I watched a full episode of RAW or Smackdown and now the only PPV I consider watching is the annual Wrestlemania show. But I still do check in weekly to see what's going on in the world of wrestling, mostly in the hopes the show can turn around and be as fun as I once remembered it.
Anyway, Jeff Hardy had been booked by WWE creative as the fan favourite underdog, so close but so far away from winning the big one. In real life, he has battled personal demons and has twice been suspended by WWE's "wellness" policy for reasons related to substance abuse. Because of this, no one thought Vince McMahon would ever give him the chance of being the #1 man in the business. But, at what is usually a throw-away PPV just used by WWE to make a few bucks before the fiscal year ends, the company gave the fans a treat by having Hardy win the title after chasing it for over a year. It may be hard for the non-fan to understand what the big deal is when at anytime the creative team can hand the title to anyone it chooses. But knowing what Hardy has dealt with and his dedication to getting his life back on track, it was nice to see the underdog, in both the real and fictional world, prove everyone wrong and show he can be trusted to be "the man" for WWE.
Well, it might be too early to make a statement like that, but it was nice to hear a feel-good story like Jeff Hardy last night in a business which has had too many tragedies to speak of. Here's hoping his happy ending will continue for a long time.
# posted by SBP : 11:59 PM
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Clearly, I don't know anything about the WWE and care even less, but why is it so hard to believe he'd make someone with a substance abuse problem the number one guy?
For DECADES he (at least) ignored for profit, and (more likely), outright enabled the use of drugs (performance enhancing or otherwise) of the majority of his actors because it made for better entertainment value.
Nobody's jumping ten feet in the air into a couple of folding tables without some kind of pain reliever stronger than a few advil.
I think it's very fitting to have a confirmed addict as their top dog.
The road to treatment for that kind of problem is to get yourself out of the environment that's enabling you, and I don't think being the champ is going to do anything to help alleviate whatever pressures were making him turn to drugs in the first place.
At the same time, I hope this is good for his career and that he can use it as a positive example for keeping his life in order.
But why do I have a feeling that Vinnie Mac is just setting this guy up for a "fallen hero" storyline? Because, from an entertainment perspective, that's really the only place he can go now, right?
I hope a forced heel-turn doesn't ruin this guy's life.
For DECADES he (at least) ignored for profit, and (more likely), outright enabled the use of drugs (performance enhancing or otherwise) of the majority of his actors because it made for better entertainment value.
Nobody's jumping ten feet in the air into a couple of folding tables without some kind of pain reliever stronger than a few advil.
I think it's very fitting to have a confirmed addict as their top dog.
The road to treatment for that kind of problem is to get yourself out of the environment that's enabling you, and I don't think being the champ is going to do anything to help alleviate whatever pressures were making him turn to drugs in the first place.
At the same time, I hope this is good for his career and that he can use it as a positive example for keeping his life in order.
But why do I have a feeling that Vinnie Mac is just setting this guy up for a "fallen hero" storyline? Because, from an entertainment perspective, that's really the only place he can go now, right?
I hope a forced heel-turn doesn't ruin this guy's life.
# posted by 
: 7:32 AM, December 16, 2008
: 7:32 AM, December 16, 2008
The WWE, since becoming a publicly traded corporation, now feels the needs to be more "responsible" with its image. Basically, having a former drug-user as your world title holder is a risky proposition as Vinnie Mac doesn't want to see his stock fall millions of dollars overnight.
They had another guy named C.M. Punk given a title run with his "straight edge" gimmick: No drugs, booze or cigarettes. I think one reason this was done was for public perception WWE is cleaning up its act.
But it could also be a clever way to show that their "wellness" program is working. I hope it is. McMahon does not want federal regulators telling him how to manage his wrestlers, so he has to prove they're okay under his watch. Hardy might be the guy to show the program is working.
But your idea of a possible "fallen hero" storyline isn't a crazy thought, either.
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They had another guy named C.M. Punk given a title run with his "straight edge" gimmick: No drugs, booze or cigarettes. I think one reason this was done was for public perception WWE is cleaning up its act.
But it could also be a clever way to show that their "wellness" program is working. I hope it is. McMahon does not want federal regulators telling him how to manage his wrestlers, so he has to prove they're okay under his watch. Hardy might be the guy to show the program is working.
But your idea of a possible "fallen hero" storyline isn't a crazy thought, either.
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