It's a new year, so I say let's get it going in style with another action packed edition of the LowDown. The man of the hour, too sweet to be sour, always walks in and owns the place, breakin' hearts at a record pace, best stay out of his pretty face is back, so let's go!
>The Horsemen vs Hart Family feud is really heating up. Fans can't decide who they hate more! Max Ogden has shown some real big brass testes by stepping up and leading the charge against the Flair-blessed Money Mike-led Horsemen. Who has the edge? I don't know. The Horsemen have talked the talk, but have walked the walk so far. Everything they've said they have wanted to do, they've pretty much done. The Hart Family is really more a group of up and comers who want to make a name for themselves. I think they've accomplished that, and then some, with Hart Family member Ogden winning the King of the Ring. He defeated Horsemen member Jason Oliver to do it too, which I'm sure rubs the Horsemen the wrong way. I'd give it to the Horsemen so far, because they seem to have made a bigger impact on Rampage so far than the Hart Family. Watch out for the Hart Family, however, they are a group of hungry competitors who don't back down from anybody.
>Speaking of Money Mike, might he be spreading himself too thin? He's got enemies everywhere he turns lately. With the Hart Family rivalry, to booted Horsemen member Joe "The Show" Corey returning, to MM deciding it was time to go after newly crowned World Champion "High Octane" Damion West, he has his work cut out for him. He's undefeated, so High Octane has his hands full in his first major title defense since winning the title at KOTR. I overheard Jason Oliver saying recently "He better keep his focus, because his punches get sloppy when he's not focused, and we have the bruises to show it. I hope he doesn't forget that we have his back." Money Mike feels he has something to prove at the Royal Rumble. He wants to prove that he is the best in the business today, without any help. Some might call that gutsy, some might call it selfish. Who knows what the rest of the Horsemen think, only time will tell.
>4 of the greatest technical wrestlers of our time seem to be butting heads a lot lately, with Travis Wakeman and Bret Hart on one side and Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle on the other. Great news for us watching, because we get to see some awesome matches displayed, bad for the combatants because someone is going to get hurt eventually. Shawn Michaels seems to have reverted back to the "real" Shawn Michaels as of late. Bret Hart will probably say "I told you so" if you see him, based on the history those two have elsewhere. Angle, by being his usual "charming" self, probably aided in the regression. It'll be a clinic everytime these four hook it up, so let's all just enjoy the ride.
>IT'S ABOUT F%$&*ING TIME!!!! Edge finally has ascended to the place I've always stated he belonged, and that's the Universal Championship. I used to get tired of him killing himself in pointless hardcore matches. Winning the Hardcore title was just him being complacent, in my opinion. Now he's going to continue the "Cain and Abel" feud with his brother Christian at the Rumble by defending the title against the former champion. I can't wait.
>Jordan Rockwell and Nails won't stop till somebody is permananetly injured, it seems. They both seem content, Nails especially, with beating the crap out of each other than winning titles. One way or another, it's going to come to a nasty end at the Rumble when they face each other in a Buried Alive Match. This match won't be for the weak at heart, so don't eat 45 minutes before the match starts. (that might be the rule for swimming, but I think it applies here also.)
>That freak, the Boogeyman, needs to stop eating those worms or I'm going to start calling him "Bait"! Yeah, that guy's normal, he's all right. He's not at all weird.
>Matt Cruz seems to be taking a big leap to becoming a major star in the TWF, by tangling with former World Champion Drew Blood. Cruz was on the reciveing end of a two on one attack by Blood and his understudy, Paul Birchill, when Rey Mysterio intervened and made the save. After disposing of his former partner, Karam Ibrahim, Cruz went on a mini slump, but I guess if you want to break out of it, why not do it with a bang and take on a major star like Drew Blood. This years' Rookie of The Year is ready to prove to everyone that he's not a flash in the pan, and if he gets the best of Blood, that will only make his stock rise even higher.
>Bobby Lashley is a beast. I know Evander Holyfield's nickname was "The Real Deal", but I think it applies better to Lashley. We are looking at a future Universal Champion and the future of the sport right here.
>If you thought Cruz went on a mini slump, his former tag team champion partner Karam Ibrahim, went on a MAJOR slump. With a capital "Slum". After his loss to Cruz on Rampage, Ibrahim couldn't seem to buy a victory, landing him on Uprising for weeks, until he finally got a win by defeating Austin Porteau to qualify for the Royal Rumble. Heres hoping the 2004 Gold Medalist has a better string of luck in the near future.
>Rob Van Dam is going to make an impact again on Primetime soon. I'm glad for the former Universal Champion, but don't trust him when he sends you Christmas gifts. He sent me a batch of his "special" brownies and I ain't been right ever since then. I thought Michael Cole was funny for awhile, that's how bad it was.
RUMORS AND RANTINGS
>Brokeback Mountain seems to be a real hit with the people and the critics. Huh. Who knew Jason Oliver's life story would interest people.(Only kidding, Jason!)
>WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. The Broncos are one win away from the Super Bowl!!! I'm already preparing the Super Bowl celebration, as I don't think there's a team left that can beat the Broncos. Although I will admit, Super Bowl Champion Jake Plummer sounds really strange.
>The rumors of Brock Lesnar returning to the TWF are false, from what I can gather. Lesnar's contract demands and percieved "attitude problem" have caused TWF officials to break off negotiations with Lesnar's people. Lesnar will continue his career in Japan, where he is a major draw.
> I caught up with Wrestler of the Year, Jordan Rockwell, and Rookie of the Year/Breakthrough Wrestler, Matt Cruz recently and asked them some questions. Here's what they had to say:
(to Jordan Rockwell) *How does it feel to win the Wrestler of the Year award for the second time in a row and were you at all surprised?
Jordan Rockwell: "It's a great honor for me, and at the same time, I think this award is the reward for all the hard work the recipient puts into his career. I think it's one of the two things every singles wrestler shoots for, with the other obviously being some version of a World Championship. In a nutshell, hard work pays off in the end! As far as "Was I surprised?", in all honesty, I would say I was but I wasn't. As I said before, this goes to the hardest worker in the company, not that everyone else doesn't work hard, but like I say on Primetime, I am the greatest showman in this company. I take it that extra mile for the fans and for the McMahons, and also for my fellow Primetime superstars because I want our show to be the best in the TWF. If I can inspire people to work to make it that way, then I will. If I can do a kickass match that makes backstage viewers say "I can do better" or "I need to top him" then that's good for Primetime, which is good for business. Even though I still believe there is no one that can out do me, especially certain people who I have mentioned in the past. It's still good for business if I work my ass off in a match and someone tries to out do it.
(to Matt Cruz) *You were one of the most hyped rookies to step into a TWF ring this year, and you capped it off by winning the Rookie of The Year award, as well as being dubbed a "Future Breakout Star". Do you feel any pressure to not have a "sophomore slump" in the next year?
Matt Cruz: "I tell ya, homie, it's been one hell of a year! Anybody who knows me will tell you, I'm a very competetive person. I don't like to come in second to anybody. Winning the Rookie of The Year is amazing. I've had many superstars giving me great advice, but none better than the late great Eddie Guererro. He was my first tag team partner here in the TWF, and he sort of took me under his wing.(pauses as he gets a little choked up) I still can't believe he's gone. He told me once "You have a lot of corazon, Cruz, and I think you'll go far." That was the greatest compliment someone in this business has given me, and I'll never forget it. Do I feel any pressure to live up to my first year? I would be lying if I said no, but I don't put any undue stress on myself. I know there are a lot of haters out there waiting to see me fall flat on my face, I just have to not let it get to me. I'm not arrogant, but I believe in my own ability that I won't be denied. Winning these awards are great, but I won't stop until I reach the top. I want people to say, when my career is done, that I was a great World Champion, not that I had a great rookie year."
>Eddie Saint James sent me a case of Miller Light to say his name in my column. He wanted me to chant "Asylum" over and over again, but I had to draw the line somewhere. (Maybe for a bottle of Bacardi Limon I would've)
That's it for me this time around. This has been Gabe Morales, and I'll see you ringside. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel. I'm Rick James, Bitch!
