The end of a Reign, a terrible Angle, and life on the Edge
May 12, 2005

I don't get as emotional as I used to about wrestling. I used to be keyed into the matches so much that I was genuinely pleased or pissed depending on who won the match. Of course that was years ago when wins and losses still meant something in the standings and every wrestler hadn't already beaten each other at least twice already. Plus, just about every angle or swerve has already been done before so there's no real shock and awe anymore when there's a big heel turn or somebody gets hit with a chair to lose a match. I did read something before I started on this column, though, that lit a fire of anger in me - LUTHER REIGNS HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT. WWE WISHES HIM THE BEST IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Besides the fact that Vince and the company probably don't give a crap how well Luther does in the future, I really feel like the WWE brass botched his career big time. A lot of people are going to disagree with me and based on Reign's performances on Smackdown, they have a valid point. Most people haven't been charting his progress for the last 8 years, though. Newer wrestling fans don't recall the time he spent in WCW on their minor league programs back in the late 90s. He graced WCW Saturday Night, WCW Worldwide Wrestling, and the program that Scott Hudson liked to dub "The Pro." A lot of fans are also probably ignorant of the fact that Reigns was the AWA heavyweight champion just before he signed his developmental deal with WWE. The point is, big Luther has a great deal of talent and anybody who saw him perform before his WWE stint know that he can hold his own in that ring. That begs the question - Did he just suddenly forget how to compete when he made it to Smackdown? Or, Did the WWE brass misuse his talent? Too many times, internet writers are quick to criticize wrestlers for their lack of ingenuity in the squared circle; what they don't take into account is that some of these guys are given very little freedom in that ring when they do get a chance to lace up the boots. I'd be less inclined to blame the creative team for Luther's misuse except I can name wrestler after wrestler who has been misused by WWE Creative. Do I need to name them all? Do you have that much time on your hands? For all of the talk we constantly hear about Titan wanting to develop young superstars, there isn't enough evidence coming out to back their big words up. For every John Cena that succeeds, there are at least ten Luther Reigns that are cast aside before they even have a chance to fail on their own. From what I've read, it was Luther who initiated his release as he felt like the WWE didn't utilize him properly. Good for him! Whatever his future is, it'll be a lot brighter now that he's out from under the chains of the creative team that was killing his career.

Speaking of the creative team, what are they doing with Kurt Angle lately? You'd think the writers are trying to bury him; just look at the way he's been portrayed since he returned last year from his injury. Let's review -

1. They teamed him with Reigns and Mark Jindrak in a heel stable that looked like a joke next to JBL's cabinet. (Attention to the writers - if you want a stable to get over, you're going to have to let them win a few of their matches every now and then.)

2. He subdued the Big Show with a tranquilizer gun

3. He stripped down to is BVDs for an adultery attempt with Amy Weber

4. Now he's supposedly raped or assaulted Booker T's wife.

For those of you counting at home, this is now the 3rd time Angle has sexually harassed somebody's main squeeze, and the second time he's pursued somebody's wife. Why don't they just make Kurt a pedophile? That oughta get him over as a heel! Maybe they could kill off his credibility entirely. If it isn't obvious by now, I miss the old Kurt Angle. I miss the goody-goody Olympic hero who touted the Olympic Heroes for Abstinence and the man who preached the Three Is. I loved it when he instructed the crowd at his pay-per-view debut that you do not boo an Olympic gold medalist. The writers have done nothing but trashed the credibility of his character since that initial run, and yet Angle remains one of the top stars in the WWE today because he's the one man who can take a turd of a storyline and keep the undivided attention of the fans while acting it out. Now I was excited about the Kurt Angle/Booker T feud when it first became apparent that they would square off at Judgment Day. These two men match up well and they can have can generate a money feud with some memorable matches without a lot of fluff getting in the way. Leave it to the creative team, though, to do something that would actually squelch my interest in their rivalry. Personally, I'm not a big fan of adultery angles as it is, but if the creative staff are dead set on using that storyline, then they might as well use one that's already been set up for them. I'm talking about Edge and Lita.

I don't think I ever commented on the whole love tri(angle) between Matt, Edge, and Lita because, quite frankly, my opinions on the matter are probably in the minority, and right now I'm not up for reading all the hate mail that would come my way should I unload my thoughts on the matter. As far as a wrestling storyline goes, though, this is one heck of a gold nugget that fell in the writers' laps. Since Edge went heel last year, they haven't found a way to sufficiently sustain his heel heat, and now they've been handed a way on a silver platter. Is everybody expecting Lita to turn on Kane and join Edge next week? Yes they are, and the WWE should run in that direction. This will give Edge the despisement from the fans that he needs to make a truly legit run at the World title as the summer progresses. Think how much the fans hate Edge already! Now imagine that pompous creep, his annoying smirk, with Lita by his side, and they're showing off his World heavyweight championship. Think how much the fans would hate him, then. It'd make the Internet community's treatment of JBL look like Christian charity. Add to that, the man can wrestle a tremendous match inside that ring and the WWE has tremendous draw on their hands. The scenario is set and the heat is already there. I'd pay to see a super heel Edge as champion get his butt kicked. Would you?

Yes the dog days of summer are looming and before they're over, you're going to see some good stories come out of the woodwork and you're gonna see some real crap get flung around. Either way, I know I'm excited to see what's around the corner. Yes, there are some things that are making me mad, but that's a good thing, too. Right now, at least Vince is doing something besides boring me to death each Monday and Thursday with his product. I may complain a lot more before it's all over but I have a feeling that despite all the bad, there'll be enough good to keep me entertained.

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