Honestly, when we read that RAW 800th episode would feature a 16 Diva Royal Rumble, we immediately thought that Gail Kim was about to debute on RAW. Then the Fabulous Moolah came out and our hopes were dashed- although it’s great to see the ‘First Goddess of the Squared circle’ still performing. Now our source is telling us that Gail Kim was backstage at the 800th taping and we’re happy to hear- apparantly- Gail’s ready to commit to WWE’s schedule (taking a break was a good idea for Kim, she’ll be working 300 days a year for the next three years).

On reflection, we realised that having Gail come out without a buildup would be a total letdown on what should be an eagerly anticipated- and rating boosting- event. The first official announcement for Gail’s return should be her Tron after a woman’s match and her appearance the following week, or implying a ‘mystery’ woman wrestler in a match while acknowledging her signing with WWE online. Point is, build it up- Ratings on TNA were boosted 300 000 viewers every time Gail wrestled and these viewers should be made aware of her first appearance on WWE! WWE will send a serious signal to viewers by either building Gail and setting aside ten minutes for her first match, or just throwing her into a quick match like an afterthought. Obviously, we’re encouraging the first option and praying WWE doesn’t screw up and go for the second option.

Okay, we’ll calm down. Time to be Zen and say, ‘We will see.’

This is a good time to bring up another thought about the wrestling market. Economic theory states that when demand increases for a product, the price of the product increases and consumers will go to a substitute product, increasing demand for the substitute, in turn shifting the price of the substitute and effecting the price of the first product, which will shift the demand for the first product, ect. ect. We think we wrote that right….

Point is, when demand increases for one product, the quantity demand increases for substitute products as well.

When talent crosses over from WWE to TNA or vice versa, it’s a big deal, which should in theory increase demand for both products. The RAW draft and cross-talent promotion is supposed to mimick this idea, but fails because everyone knows it’s all the same company and there’s no demand for that kind of kayfabe. Wrestling fans are asked to suspend reality to enjoy the matches and we think it’s a sticking point for wrestling fans when explaining their enthusiasm to non-believers. So, wrestling fans like to point out what’s real, the physicality and the competition between promotions. When a promotion scores talent from other promotions, it’s a big deal for fans.

Now, let’s be real for a moment before we continue and point out that WWE is like the ocean and TNA is like a river. TNA is a substitute to WWE, THE substitute and barring a major catastophic event, always will be.

So, why shouldn’t WWE promote TNA?

TNA could be the ‘paper tiger’ (read ‘The Prince’) that WWE needs to boost their ratings. If TNA could only grow their share of the market! TNA isn’t building market share on their own. TNA’s style of booking- turning any momentum the company builds into a swerve- is going to keep the company perpetually under the rader, until it folds. What TNA needs is a boost from WWE.

Is that crazy? Not at all- WWE is the ocean, TNA is the river. A rating boost from WWE could actually lift TNA to near parity with RAW’s low ratings, creating the illusion of an outside threat coming to bring down the ‘WWE Universe’ That sudden growth won’t do TNA a lick of good in the long run, because TNA lacks the resources to hold a sudden spike in their ratings (not that it wouldn’t benefit them) and what’s killing TNA isn’t the market, but their management. What it means for WWE is the ‘real’ competition between rival companies that created the ratings bonanza of the attitude era.

What I’m saying is, TNA needs WWE to do well to grow. WWE needs decent competition to grow. They need each other. Wrestling’s market share on cable is shrinking and that’s bad for both companies. If WWE folded tomorrow morning, TNA would fold tomorrow afternoon.

Now that the point had been made, here’s the contention: WWE is screwing up by refusing to acknowledge the existance of rival companies. ‘WWE Universe’ is a terrible idea because it reinforces an image that wrestling fans have come to associate with ’stale’ programming, that WWE is all there is to wrestling and there is no competition. That contention may stroke Vince’s ego, but, we’ll point out that it was Turner Broadcasting’s interference that cost WCW the war and not anything WWE was doing to win. It’s time Vince got off his laurels and picked a fight with someone!

That brings us back to Gail Kim (although this should apply to all WWE talent, coming in or going out). WWE should build Gail and acknowledge what she did for the TNA Knockouts and then gloat that they have her. WWE should recognize ROH and TNA and pick a fight with their competition. It wouldn’t cost anything to increase demand for TNA and pop them up above the radar for a week and the law of demand says they will in turn, harvest an increase in demand for WWE programming.

But don’t leave off there, WWE should also promote ROH. Let TNA fight for their niche market against ROH, while WWE protects their core market! Be honest, if Larry Sweeny popped up on RAW for a few weeks to cause trouble, wouldn’t you tune in?

Funk’s Corner - Coming to !BANG! TV for the Women’s Championship, “The Claw,” Claudia Reiff vs Awesome Kong

Awesome Kong comes to the Funking Conservatory’s !BANG! TV Taping Sunday October 26th to face “The Claw,” Claudia Reiff.

Gail Kim was the last to hold the Funking Conservatory Women’s Championship and now Gail Kim’s commitments to future endeavors have resulted in her relinquishing her title and belt to the Funking Conservatory Board of Directors.

The Funking Conservatory Board of Directors have decreed the re-claimed Funking Conservatory Women’s Championship will be on the line when “The Claw” and Awesome Kong step into the ring.

This will be the most important wrestling match for Claudia “the Claw” Reiff and fully deserved. “The Claw” came to the Funking Conservatory with a degree in Physical Education from the University of Miami with the desire to become the best wrestler that she can be. As a professional wrestler few can match the Claw’s accomplishments.

“The Claw” has wrestled many of the top stars in the business and holds pinfall victories over Gail Kim, Lexie Fyfe, Sumie Sakai, and Missy Hyatt.

Gail Kim is ranked # 3 woman wrestler in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine. Awesome Kong is currently ranked # 1 woman wrestler in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine.

If Claudia “the Claw” Reiff is able to gain a victory over Awesome Kong, The Claw could make a strong case for ranking #1 for next years Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rankings.

Gail Kim turning over the belt because of the terms for her future endevours? That’s got WWE written all over it.

Jessi Virtusio for southtownstar.com gave some updates on the Independant Wrestling scene, including the next SHIMMER DVD this Sunday.

Shimmer

Tickets are moving fast for Shimmer’s next DVD taping on Sunday in Berwyn. Front row is sold out, and more than half of the other tickets available have been snapped up by fans planning to check out the show.

“Shimmer a unique entity in professional wrestling,” promoter Dave Prazak said. “It is a show you can’t see anywhere else, from any other company. We have a total of 32 women wrestlers from around the world all gathered in Berwyn this Sunday to present an entirely female professional wrestling show.

“Fans will see not one, but two full length DVD releases filmed during the course of the live event, from 2 until approximately 8 p.m., with an intermission between the DVDs where the fans can meet the wrestlers. It’s an experience that only Shimmer can offer a wrestling fan.”

This weekend’s event also will feature the crowning of Shimmer’s first tag team champions via gauntlet.

“We decided to take things slowly and wait until the wrestlers were well-established with our fan base before introducing title belts,” Prazak said of the new championship. “The first Shimmer tag team champions will be crowned as part of the Volume 21 portion of the Oct. 19 taping.

“Shimmer waited until we had completed 10 volumes of our DVD series before beginning the tournament to crown the Shimmer singles champion in June 2007. We then waited another 10 DVDs before choosing to introduce Shimmer tag team titles.

“Over the course of the first 20 volumes of the Shimmer DVD series, fans became familiar with each of the tag teams on the Shimmer roster that it’s simply the right time to crown one of them as the top team in the company, and have title matches from this point forward.”

Prazak was proud to tout the talent booked for the DVD cards.

“Fans attending the taping in person will see not only some of the most well-established and world-traveled women in pro wrestling like Total Nonstop Action (Wrestling) stars Amazing (Awesome) Kong and Nikki Roxx (Roxxi Laveaux) , Shimmer champion MsChif, Ring of Honor mainstays Sara Del Rey and Daizee Haze, and international stars like Montreal’s LuFisto, Germany’s Wesna Busic, and the United Kingdom’s Jetta, but also some of the brightest new prospects on the scene today.

“Former Ohio Valley Wrestling women’s champion Serena Deeb, Ohio’s Ashley Lane and Nevaeh, and Canada’s Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews join a crew of determined female athletes who are looking to build their reputation as part of Shimmer.”

Prazak stressed that Shimmer is more about sport than sex appeal.

“Shimmer is a more serious brand of women’s professional wrestling than some fans have become familiar with from watching wrestling on television. We present our stars first and foremost as athletes who are just as capable as the men are in the squared circle, who just need a forum to show fans and their peers their true abilities.

“In Shimmer, the women aren’t eye candy or an afterthought. They are the entire show, and one that cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

These are the latest SHIMMER works by Rico Mann and Reggie Parks.

Former SHIMMER Champion Sara Del Ray posted on her blog,

Chicks!

I often wonder what possesess chicks to do the things they do…..I saw the most ridiculous thing at the gym and it really fired me up.

Much more than Chicks in wrestling (which I will address at another time).

This broad was wearing a freaking push up bra at the gym!!!!!! Sure she could have just gotten off work and forgot a regular bra but I doubt that was the case and considering I have seen her multiple times each in said “gym attire” I ruled that out. I had a lot of time to think on this and it is just one of the stupidest things I have ever seen.

This is what is wrong with the world. People are much more concerned with how they look and trying to bring attention to themselves than taking the task at hand applying themselves and getting the job done.

Screw you Chicks at the gym taking up space, breathing my air. Seriously you are a waste of space…leave the gym for the serious…..If you need to put a full face of makeup on and a push up bra to work out you have deeper issues and should spend time in a mental help facility.

Sara Amatto, who we know as the former SHIMMER Champion Sara Del Ray, has also wrestled as American Angel, Nikki and Nic Grimes. Sara was born in Martinez, California on November 13, 1980. Amatto has been wrestling since 2001 and has been trained by Donovan Morgan, Pro Wrestling IRON Dojo, Antonio Inoki, Bryan Danielson and All Pro Wrestling Boot Camp.

Sara Del Ray is a mainstay for SHIMMER Women Athletes, as well as Mexico’s Lucha Libre Femenil and has appeared for many indepentent promotions in the United States, including IWA Mid-South, Ring of Honor, All Pro Wrestling, CHIKARA and has competed under a mask as Nic Grimes for the MTV promotion Wrestling Society X.

Sara Del Ray defended the SHIMMER title against such notable opponents as Lacey, Amazing Kong, and Sara Stock, before losing the title to MsChif. Sara has been pretty vocal about her losss of the SHIMMER women championship to MsChif and has her targets set on regaining the SHIMMER gold and getting even with MsChif.

Sara Del Ray and Allison Danger make up the “Dangerous Angels” and together they have competed in both SHIMMER and ROH.

Sara is one of the few female mainstays of ROH and is a member of Larry Sweeney’s Sweet & Sour Inc.

Sara works hard and has no tine forchicks.