The Gorilla Press: Survivor Series Review and Special Guest Sign Guy!
__________________________________________________________________________Uncategorized, Wrestling News |
Tuesday, November 23, 2009
SURVIVOR SERIES REVIEW
HIGH SPOTS
Matt Striker. It’s been quite some time since one announcer could add such a significantly positive impact to a show but Matt Striker is that guy. His style of calling a wrestling match as if it were – well – a professional wrestling contest. His unique flavor of branding a variety of wrestlers with entertaining names and phrases still has not gotten old and Matt Stryier only continues to get better every show.
HBK Swerve. Although I still stand by my point that a comedy build up towards a heavyweight title match hurts the championship more than it helps, in hindsight, Shawn’s superkick to HHH at the beginning of the match set the tone for an exciting title match and was only shocking and exciting because of the lack of tension between these two going into the main event. This match was very well done in terms of payoff as it re-established the importance of The WWE title. It was good to see a WWE Champion hold on to his belt for once, but how much more exciting would it be if HHH and HBK were embroiled in a feud for The WWE Heavyweight Championship?
Kofi Kingston. This match couldn’t have been booked any better as it followed a theme for Survivor Series 2009 that pushed younger talent. Kofi Kingstons’ victory over 2 former world champions in 6 seconds was done in a way that didn’t make Orton and Punk look like chumps but at the same time made Kofi look very strong as he continues his roll.
Pushing young talent. The WWE did a great job of showcasing its young talent with the above mentioned victory of Kofi Kingston as well as Team Miz. Although I was surprised that Team Morrison was vanquished in such dominating fashion, it was good to see Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and The Miz standing strong as the sole survivors. This had to be the first time that I actually cared about Drew McIntyre as he was featured in the right way on a big stage.
LOW SPOTS
Striker Cheering for Jericho. As good of a job Matt Striker did on this show, I was quite peeved to hear him begin to completely heel out and cheer for Chris Jericho during The Smackdown! main event. All this told me was that Jericho wasn’t going to win this match, and it is unnecessary for Matt Striker to straddle the heel line. One minute, he was a heelish informed announcer playing devil’s advocate and the next minute he’s Bobby Hennan. The only criticism I have about Matt Striker these days is that he sometimes switches from heel to tweener as an announcer and it might benefit him more to pick a side, strengthen his identity, and stick with it. He’d be brilliant either way.
What the hell happened to Ted DiBiase? At one point, Ted DiBiase was at the forefront of the future superstars of the WWE. The WWE has been very high on this guy, and he even has a movie coming out under The WWE brand name. After being left off of the Raw show in MSG and then being the first member eliminated on Team Orton, it seems that DiBiase has fallen from the ranks of future stars.
After speaking with various journalists within the pro wrestling community this past week about their thoughts of the future of The WWE, I was surprised to find out that Ted Dibiase’s name was not mentioned as one of the up-and-coming stars on their radar. Either they truly don’t believe he has star potential, or they just forgot about him due to the lack of a push. I’d go with the ladder. His movie is still coming out, right?
GRADE
Although this card received an unflattering amount of a build up considering its historical significance, I felt that it would be a very good show from top to bottom and it did not disappoint. The crowd was hot, the young guys got a much-needed push on a big card, the stories of every match made sense, and the two champions are finally getting time to be champions. Survivor Series gets a B+.
***
THE SHOOT
We caught up with WWE ambassador and superfan Sign Guy (real name Rick Achberger) earlier this week to get his thoughts on the Survivor Series PPV as well as talk about his improbable career path. We’d like to thank Sign Guy for taking time out of his day to speak with The Gorilla Press.
Sign Guy (right) spoke with The Gorilla Press in an exclusive interview.
TGP: How did you become such a big star in The WWE doing something that millions of fans already do?
SG: Big Star???? Ha!!! Yeah, right!! I started going to WWE (at the time WWF) events quite frequently. Some wrestling fans would come up to me and say, “Hey, You’re that guy with the signs. You’re that sign guy.” That name kind of stuck. I kept wearing the same red hat and blue workman shirt because I wanted the wrestlers to recognize me and say, “Oh great. It’s that moron sign guy again. We’re in for a long night!” I was then lucky enough to be asked by the WWE to have a segment done on me for a show called “WWE Confidential”. After that aired, the WWE fans knew my story and I have met several WWE fans that are as nuts as I am! I then sent in a tape for a contest the WWE was running for a USA commercial for RAW, and applied to be a contestant for the game show “Deal or No Deal”. Big star? No. Passionate WWE fan? Yes!
TGP: Where do you draw inspirations to come up with your ideas for signs?
SG: Pop culture, news events, character flaws, physical flaws, storylines, etc.
TGP: Growing up in Ohio, does this make you more inclined to cheer for The Miz who is also from the state of Ohio?
SG: Oh hell no!! I don’t care where he is from! I will always boo him! Actually, I think his character is great and I do wish him the best of luck!
TGP: Speaking of Ohio, Lebron James recently came out and said he could cross over to Football if he wanted to. Do you think he could cross over to Pro Wrestling? What kind of WWE Superstar do you think Lebron James would make?
SG: Realistically, I think Lebron is smart enough just to stick with basketball. Why take the risk of getting injured playing football or wrestling? In a dream world, he could use that powder he uses in the opponents face!
TGP: As a lifelong WWE fan, who did you grow up idolizing?
SG: As a young tike growing up in Ohio, I would go over to my friend Jeff Stonebreaker’s house and we would watch the Superstation (TBS) on weekends. There I would marvel at Ric Flair, Tommy Rich, Mr. Wrestling 2, the Freebirds, just to name a few. When the WWF came on the scene, I was obsessed. I went to my first live event with the Undertaker taking on the Ultimate Warrior.
TGP: If you could get into the ring with any WWE Superstar right now, who would it be?
SG: All the WWE Divas. Id get my ass kicked, but it would be a good pain.
TGP: We’ve asked this question to a number of columnists who cover The WWE, so I’ll ask you as well. What are your thoughts of last week’s RAW in MSG?
SG: Well, its always special when they broadcast from MSG. They always seem to crank the amps to 11 for a show like that.
TGP: Last week I spoke with Phil Strum, of The Poughkeepsie Press journal, who said that he would love to see another HBK title run. What are your thoughts on HBK as champion and do you think we could see it anytime before he hangs em up? (Whenever that may be)
SG: I think Shawn Michaels to me is one of those guys that you could never imagine hanging it up. I mean, eventually its going to happen, but I just think he is such a staple with the company with such a great history that I cant imagine him leaving. Depending on the right situation, I would love to see him have a great title run.
TGP: Cena vs. Taker at Wrestlemania 26. Your thoughts?
SG: Perfect. Great idea. Bring it on. Main event.
TGP: Who do you think will do the best job as RAW’s guest host among the names that have been booked for upcoming weeks?
SG: I know Ventura is one. I heard rumblings that Mark Cuban will be one here in Dallas (where I live). I don’t know the others. “The body” should be great and I’m looking forward to going to the RAW here in Dallas to see Cuban host. He will do anything! Hope he brings some Mavs! And Mark, if you need a co-host, let me know! I’m actually excited about the month of December! I’m going to 9 WWE events!
TGP: If you went to a Press Conference for a match between Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair in Australia and you could bring a sign, what would the sign say?
SG: Come back!!!!!!!!
FINISHERS
We leave you with some news and notes from what was a very good Survivor Series card.
As mentioned above, Matt Stryker was brilliant. Here are a few of my favorite lines from The best color commentator in pro wrestling:
[About Cody Rhodes]
“The Blue-eyed Bandit!”
[About William Regal]
“From The Seaside town they forgot to close down!”
[About Christian]
“The Pontiff of The Peepulation!”
[About Randy Orton]
“The Greatest trick the devil ever played was to convince the world that he did not exist!”
Batista defeated Rey Mysterio by TKO. He did everything in his power after the match to establish himself as a heel, by attacking Mysterio, yet his hometown loved every bit of it and he was cheered heavily.
All of a sudden, C.M. Punk is hairy.
Team Mickie defeated Team Michelle as Melina scored a pinfall victory over Michelle McCool. Melina and Mickie were you soul survivors.
Cena got Wrestlemania 22-esque heel heat during the entire main event match against Shawn Michaels and HHH.
The WWE’s next pay-per-view, TLC, will be held in San Antonio Texas, Shawn Michaels’ home town.
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Tags: Pro wrestling blog, Sign Guy, Sign Guy Interview, The Gorilla Press, Wrestling News, WWE News, WWE Survivor Series 2009, WWE Survivor Series 2009 Results
