Four days later and I’m still jacked up over the Mayweather-Show Wrestlemania angle. It partially has something to do with the thought of my combat sports worlds colliding but I think more about the lost art of surprises in wrestling. That said, I will never forget the night Money May broke Big Show’s nose in a WWE ring (that and Leonard Ellerbe tripping over the guard rail).

Anyhow, you’ve all heard my opinion on the greatest angle of the last decade so I wanted to invite the producer of Live Audio Wrestling and Fight Network Radio, “The Prodigy” John Pollock, to share his views on this money-making angle as well as some of the key matches on the Wrestlemania 24 card.

We also spoke about:

* His initial reaction to the angle

* How he would book it from this point forward

* Did Mayweather really break Big Show’s nose?

* Should WWE try and turn Mayweather heel?

* Who deserves to win more: Edge or Undertaker?

* HHH’s involvement in the WWE title match

* Why is HBK wrestling Ric Flair at WM 24 and should Hulk Hogan replace him?

All that and much more more so take a listen.

John Pollock – 02/21/08

I feel bad for WWECW. Everyone loves to diss it and complain it’s nothing like the original version. Of course it isn’t. It’s WWECW! You guys need to stop living in the past and embrace the present. So, in the interest of spear-heading the WWECW revolution I present the top 8 reasons why it’s the best show around.

8. Joey Styles: A watered-down Joey Styles is better than 99% of the wrestling-only play-by-play men out there. I know there are only a handful but if your initials aren’t JR your probably looking up at Styles on my list.

7. Kelly Kelly: She is far from being my favorite Diva (Torrie Wilson will forever hold that special spot in my heart) but I just love the fact that someone on the creative team thought it would be a good idea to call her the same name twice. Think about it, it’s brilliant.

6. Big Daddy V’s side boob: Forget Marisa Miller and Bar Refaeli, nothing will ever compare to BDV’s side boob.

5. Kofi Kingston’s eventual heel turn: My American friends just don’t like foreigners. They hated Bret Hart. They hated Santino Marella and they continue to hate on all hockey players even though some of the better ones are actually American. So, I am guessing Kingston will turn heel on us in ooohhh 3-4 weeks. Until then, don’t forget – he’s always happy!

John Morrison’s entrance: It rules.

4. Stevie Richards: Love the fact that he is getting TV time. Love the fact that they are actually giving him a personality by focusing on his throat surgeries. Will always love the Right to Censor.

3. Extreme: Isn’t it great how they keep referring to WWECW as the land of extreme even though there are hardly ever any extreme rules matches? That’s called respecting the past.

2. Colin Delaney: No Joke – for about three weeks in January, Delaney was my favorite storyline in wrestling. Unfortunately, he turned into a weaker version of Shark Boy with all those bandages but I am still holding out hope that he is just playing possum.

1. Tony Chimel: Wait, what? Tony Chimel? As in the Smackdown announcer? Yup, that Tony Chimel. In researching this great post I made my way over to the WWECW website for the first time and noticed Chimel’s face on the WWECW superstars page. Obviously, we’re on the outside of some kind of inside joke but who cares. It’s WWECW baby!

So, here’s the deal. Let’s create a movement right now. Let’s be different and keep giving great reasons why WWECW is the best…thing…going…today!

A thought or two on the 2/18 edition of Monday Night Raw…

1. I gotta be honest, I wasn’t a huge admirer of how the Mayweather-Show angle progressed on RAW. I dunno, it kind of felt a little flat. I’m certainly not giving up on it just yet and maybe I was bit too excited for RAW but, still, I thought it could have been handled better. Thankfully, it didn’t end with the apology and Money May actually came back. I’m sure it will get better but something about how it started threw me off. I love watching Leonard Ellerbe act, though.

2. Nevertheless, a great episode of RAW. Everything made sense and really made me want to see ‘Mania (which is shaping up to be quite the memorable show).

3. The opening segment, while predictable, was solid. As was the main event. I will never like the idea of a triple threat match for the WWE title at Wrestlemania but these guys should provide great promos leading up to 3/30.

4. Little things like Orton coming out before Cena bug me. The champ should never come out first.

5. My money in the bank pick? Jeff Hardy.

6. Santino is quickly becoming my all-time favorite wrestler. Seriously, this man is brilliant. His facial expressions after Maria’s win were great.

7. Paul Burchill reminds me of the 2008 version of the old Val Venis. I think it’s the combination of his hair, his delivery and the fact that his gimmick is a blatant attempt to create controversy. That said, I kind of dig the new Burchill. Anything’s better than dressing up as a pirate…right?

8. So, it looks like we’re getting Flair v. HBK. I guess it could be worse. If I were in charge, though, I would have had HBK call out Flair to address the crowd and then superkick his ass. That would have made some jaws drop.

9. I love the guy but Jim Ross seemed a bit off tonight.

10. Not a big fan of Jeff Hardy’s or Mr. Kennedy’s new entrance music.

11. Why are guys like Snitsky and Mark Henry always built up as these feared monsters when all they do is lose?

12. Best segment of the night? The McMahon-Finlay storyline. I loved JBL’s involvement in it and Poor little Hornswoggle really sold it well. The star of the whole segment was definitely Finlay. Consider me very intrigued.

13. Speaking of which, and I forgot to mention this in yesterday’s Muesli, don’t you just love it how Lawler and Ross stay quiet when trying to sell an important angle. They did the same thing with the Mayweather-Show confrontation at No Way Out. Sometimes less is more my friends. Unfortunately, a Mr. West and a Mr. Tenay have yet to learn that lesson. It’s actually gotten so bad that I watch iMPACT! in mute. I swear.

14. Oh and how did they not show La Lohan on camera? I hope they offered her all the money under the stars to appear in an angle because that would have definitely sent our celeb-crazed universe in a tizzy.

By the way, I’ll be appearing on Fight Network Radio Tuesday afternon at 3:00 pm EST to discuss an unbelievable weekend in combat sports. Check it out on Sirius channel 186 or listen online at Hardcoresportsradio.com. As always, I can’t wait to talk combat with those guys.

(photo courtesy of WWE.com)

I’m still not over the site of Floyd Mayweather in a WWE ring. Honestly, I had a hard time sleeping last night just thinking of it. I haven’t been this excited for a celeb-wrestling angle since Pacman Jones joined TNA! Just kidding. No, I haven’t been this amped since Mike Tyson appeared on RAW in January 1998. That angle ranks as one of the best ever in my books.

So, I got to thinking: If Money May will actually be involved in WM 24, can this angle trump Tyson-Austin from ten years ago? I most certainly think so.

First off, let’s remember why Tyson-Austin was so great:

1. It came during one of the hottest eras in WWF/E history. The Attitude era.

2. It involved the biggest stars in the company (Austin and Vince McMahon) and later the hottest faction in the promotion (DX).

3. It seemed very “real.” I never got that feeling from the Trump-McMahon angle or even the KFed one.

Now here’s why Mayweather-Show (if executed correctly) will be better:

1. Mayweather is currently the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Tyson was way past his prime.

2. Mayweather is a MUCH better talker than Tyson. I always held my breathe whenever the cameras were on Iron Mike because it seemed as though he was very lost out there.

3. It looks like Mayweather will be competing. Obviously, Tyson didn’t.

4. During his hiatus from wrestling, Big Show had been training to become a pro boxer. So, if they do have a boxing match at ‘Mania he will definitely be able to make it look as real as possible (I highly doubt that match would be a shoot. I just can’t see Show dropping to 154 lbs).

Obviously, all this hinges on the fact that Mayweather has actually signed on to compete at Mania. Part of me feels this is the last we will see of him on WWE programming but I am ignoring that voice right now. I guess we’ll know for sure later tonight. I can’t wait.

(By the way, you’re probably wondering why I’m posting more than I have in the past. This is all part of the new look JarryPark.com. More later…)

***Update: The (UK) Sun has good report and a video clip of Mayweather’s appearance. Click here to check it out.

Random WWE No Way Out Thoughts…

1. Wow. Money. May. Wow. The best boxer in the world on WWE TV? Wow. This is bigger than Tyson because Tyson was washed up by the time he arrived. So, that said, why wasn’t his appearance advertised? They could have just mentioned he would be in attendance because I bet a lot more people would have purchased the show had they known Mayweather would be there.

2. Love the angle with Big Show but does this mean we are getting Mayweather v. Big Show at WM 24? I mean, wow (sorry I keep repeating that but I had NO IDEA this one was coming and am still in shock). Who’s behind this? Mark Cuban?

3. Please get rid of the ECW title. It’s worth less than the late Hardcore title right now

4. The bleeding mouth Gogoplata spot is so weak. We’ve all seen a real gogoplata and no one bleeds from it. I dig the fact that ‘Taker has employed this new MMA style but the blood cheapens it

5. Not even the Elimination Chamber could get Big Daddy V and Khali to have a good match

6. This Flair storyline has lost a lot of steam. It just doesn’t seem special

7. While we’re at it, I hope these HBK-Flair ‘Mania rumors are false. How does HBK benefit from defeating Flair? That spot should go to Kennedy or MVP (my pick would MVP)

8. If Mysterio’s injury was as bad as it was made out to be, why the hell did he wrestle? He wasn’t the champ, he wasn’t supposed to win…so what was the point? The Mayweather angle could have easily been done without him having to wrestle.

9. 3-Way at ‘Mania. Yawn.

10. I hated the triple threat match at WM 20 and I know I will hate this one. I’m sorry but there is no good reason why this match needs HHH. Okay, maybe one good reason (hint: he’s married to the boss’ daughter)

11. No surprise in the fact that I enjoyed the Raw Chamber match more than the Smackdown one. For a split second I actually thought Hardy might win but, alas, reality kicked in

12. If you would have told me that following Pavlik-Taylor II and Kimbo v. Tank that the event I would be most impressed by would be this PPV I would say your nuts. However, that’s exactly how I feel. It’s almost as though Vince & Co. said “um, don’t forget about us.” By the way, take Mayweather out of the equation and I might feel a little differently but, nevertheless, great job last night. I actually wrote to Large after the show and this is what he said:

“Money has…a hell of a publicist.”

Amen, Large. Amen.

When it comes to big events, sports fans love to talk about how February is the worst month of the year. I tend to disagree but one thing I will say is that World Wrestling Entertainment’s annual February pay-per-view, No Way Out, is one of the stranger events on the calendar. It’s not TNA Lockdown strange but the fact that it comes between the Royal Rumble and ‘Mania always make it feel a little underwhelming.

That said, I was looking back at some of the old matches and suddenly realized that No Way Out always seems to produce memorable moments. Foley’s first retirement, Lesnar-Guerrero, the rebirth of the nWo, Hogan-Rock II and much more. For a show that’s stuck between the top two events of the year it’s a pretty impressive list.

So, will the No Way Out magic continue tonight? Not so sure about that one just yet. Sure, there will be two Elimination Chambers on the card (although the EC has never really done it for me) but the problem lies in the real problem of holding a pay per view in February. By now, we’re pretty certain as to what ‘Mania will look like so there aren’t many surprises out there. Unless something drastic happens it appears as though we’re getting Edge vs. Undertaker and Cena vs. HHH at ‘Mania. The only real questions are whether Randy Orton will squeeze his way into the main event with HHH and Cena and whether or not Rey Mysterio will compete tonight after suffering a torn right bicep in Santiago, Chile a couple of days ago.

So, yeah, like I said in the first place, you should probably tune in tonight. Carry on.

As chronicled here, I’m a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan. So, you can understand why I have been kind down on the NFL lately. Nevertheless, there is nothing like the Super Bowl.

Obviously, it’s always a good time when the game lives up to the hype but, in reality, no one truly cares. We just like to get together with friends and rate the commercials anyways. Oh, and also talk about how crappy the halftime is show, right?

Well, remember Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999? John Elway and the Broncos won their second consecutive title after dismantling the Falcons. Of course you don’t because the game was putrid. But it didn’t really matter because that was the best halftime show in Super Bowl history. That year marked the debut of Halftime Heat – the special episode of WWF Sunday Night Heat highlighted by Mankind’s victory over The Rock to capture the WWF title in their infamous empty arena match. Great idea by the Federation (except for the campy finish) and I suggest they do it again next year.

Incredibly, its been nine years since this match and if you aren’t a big Tom Petty fan I suggest you whip out your computer during halftime and watch the video below. You know, for old-time sake.

I touched on this in our UFC 81 preview with John Chandler (found below) but, again, I really do get the feeling that MMA purists are hoping Brock Lesnar loses to Frank Mir tonight and quietly goes back to the “fake stuff.” I have even read some people contemplating whether tonight’s fight will be a work. I guess it makes sense. This wrestler with a weird tattoo is coming into THEIR world? How dare he! Forget the fact that the man was an amateur wrestling standout. The guy wrestled for Vince McMahon and there’s nothing else to it.

Listen, I don’t know Lesnar and was never even a huge fan of his when he did work for World Wrestling Entertainment. But that said, I do find it a little annoying to read these snarky remarks about his MMA abilities and his time in WWE. So, despite the fact that I think Mir deserves a high-profile victory after everything he has been forced to overcome, I am hoping Lesnar wipes the floor with him and then beats every heavyweight contender. Then, I pray he holds that title for approximately 10-15 years. Yeah, that’s right. 10 to 15 years of having to watch this former fake wrestler guy hold the crown jewel of the UFC. What a beautiful sight that would be.

Anyhow, to celebrate Lesnar’s long-awaited UFC debut, The Park presents his top 3 moments as a member of the WWE roster. And away we go…

3. The Debut – 2002: There I was, sitting in the Molson Centre (now known as the Bell Centre) in Montreal enjoying a good old fashioned hardcore match when this behometh jumps into the ring and starts annhilating everyone in sight. To make matters even cooler, he was accompanied by Paul Heyman. What a brilliant pairing that was.

2. The Loss – 2004: Sure, this match was highlighted by the fact that Lesnar lost his WWE title to the late Eddie Guerrero but, nevertheless, I thought it was Lesnar’s best performance in the ring mainly because he helped make us believe that a former Cruiserweight champion was worthy enough of holding that Heavyweight title. (By the way, isn’t it kind of eerie how this clip starts with Lesnar screaming “just die Eddie”? Sheesh.)

1. The Collapse – 2003: Brock Lesnar superplexes Big Show from the top rope. They land simultaneously. The ring collapses. The ring was gimmicked, I know, but it was a tremendous site.

This is the second Saturday In The Park post and you know what? I kind of dig it…sucka (sorry I had to).

First things first, an update on JarryPark.com. The site is getting some major plastic surgery done to it. The doctors are actually working on the new site as we speak and I think you will love it. The reason behind this decision is because I want the site to move away from the blog look.

Don’t get me wrong, I love blogs and there will still actually be a JP.com blog but it will now just be one of the many different options to look at it. The blog will be a place to discuss last night’s PPV, a fight rumor or anything else that has nothing to do with our bread and butter – the interviews. Those bad boys are still coming (and we have some cool things planned on that front too) but will be featured a little differently. In a few weeks, I think The Park will look like a pretty snazzy combat sports site.

Onto the 2008 WWE Royal Rumble. As I mentioned on yesterday’s Fight Network Radio appearance (audio coming tomorrow), I will be attending the real grand daddy of ‘em all tomorrow night at MSG. Yes, the RR is my favorite wrestling pay-per-view simply because it’s always a sure bet.

So, since we specialize in combat sports interviews I thought I would help get everyone excited for this year’s Rumble by presenting the top 3 greatest Royal Rumble promos of all-time. Enjoy!

3. 1990: We begin with a compilation of wrestlers giving their thoughts on the Rumble. Now, why doesn’t WWE produce these kinds of promos anymore? They’re so effective and so damn enjoyable. Plenty of juicy cameos in this one starting with a young Tony Schiavone calling the action next to Jesse Ventura wearing a funky Mickey Mouse sweatshirt. I guess no dress code back then. We transition into classic Savage, Fuji, Roberts, Hart Foundation and Hogan.

2. 2000: This might be the best Rock interview of all-time. Who else would start talking about Crash Holly and Headbanger Mosh before a big match? And it wasn’t in the HHH “allow me to bury ever other guy on the roster” kind of way. It was just sweet and funny – nothing more, nothing less. There’s even a classic Y2J promo at the end for good luck.

1. 1992: Without a doubt, the greatest wrestling promo of all-time. There’s really nothing more that I can say. Watching Flair, Heenan and Hennig doing their thing gave me goosebumps 16 years ago and still does to this day. (Love the added effect of the cameras flashing too).

Check out my latest Fight Network column about Justin McCully here.

UFC Heavyweight contender Justin McCully stopped by The Park today to discuss a whole host of MMA/wrestling topics. Some of the issues we talked about included:

* How he missed a chance to fight Cheick Kongo

* Why he deserves to fight the winner of Kongo-Herring

* His health status

* His ten-year journey to UFC stardom

* How he got involved in professional wrestling and MMA

* His experiences while wrestling in Japan

* Turning down a WWE developmental deal to wrestle in the original ECW

* Why Bill DeMott ruined his WWE dreams

If you’ve seen McCully’s appearances on HDNet’s “Inside MMA” you know the man brings a lot of knowledge to the table. Add to the fact that he has a background in professional wrestling and he’ll always have a permanent seat at the JP Head Table.

Justin McCully – 01/15/08