May 24, 2006
It's time once again for everyone's favorite column................ mine! So kids put your parents to bed cause this is not for the elderly.
This time around I have another exclusive interview when I sit down to go one on one with Horsemen member Jason Oliver plus I will as always look into the brands and pick the mvp of each show.
Rampage
1. Battle of the mat greats: It appears that we are all set to have a classic on our hands when world champ Travis Wakeman collides with Kurt Angle in an epic war over the world championship. Question is, who has finally met their match in this one?
2. What's in a name?: As of late we have seen Shawn Michaels try to get on the same page with John Cena due to the crowds' split reaction to him and also Rob Van Dam but we also saw him fall short on both accounts. With RVD asking the question what means more to the fans in 2006 r-v-d or h-b-k and while I am not a fan of Michaels' actions or comments, I think RVD needs to remember HBK is a first ballot hall of famer when the time comes. In other words, HBK may not mean much these days but it still means a lot in the long run.
3. Head in the clouds: Is that where Money Mike is? Ever since Starman has surfaced, it appears to be and in my interview later with Oliver, you'll see that he told me that Mike is obsessing over the masked man. Question is, who's side is Starman on? I guess time is our only informant on this one.
Rampage mvp: This time the Rampage mvp award goes to Kurt Angle for rebounding from the Bret Hart situation right into the title situation.
Primetime
1. Year of the animal: Following an impactful past few months, Batista climbed the top of the mountain and became the TWF Universal champion.
2. On his own: Another success story on PrimeTime has to be the new Intercontinental champion Heidenreich who had a good deal of success in tag team action but came into his own when he defeated Sean O'Haire for the title. Now we'll see if anyone can beat Heidenreich.
3. Turf war: With the recent return to PrimeTime of John Bradshaw Layfield under this new persona he has a turf war of sorts is on with not only former champion Christian but PrimeTime mainstay Jordan Rockwell. With Chaos Wolf and now Orlando Jordan on his side, it appears that Rockwell is the main target for JBL but I wonder if it's out of greed which is typical JBL or simple jealousy?
PrimeTime mvp: The mvp award of PrimeTime has to go to Heidenriech for the major improvements he has made to himself.
SlaughterHouse
1. Colliding nations: Over the past few months, Outcast and Petey Williams have been on a collision course but that was put on hold due to Williams' injury. But with Williams return, it looks like this war is on again and will get nastier.
2. War machine: Rhyno debuted in SlaughterHouse back at Overload and has quickly become a major player following a pinfall on champion Nemesis. The "war machine" straight outta the state of Michigan is now in the title hunt.
3. Implosion: With the apparent break up of Triple X, all the members are now looking at going their own ways with the exception of whomever loses the up coming X-division title match with current champion Low-Ki defending against his former group mates in a situation where the loser will leave SlaughterHouse for SMW.
SlaughterHouse mvp: This mvp award goes to the war machine Rhyno for making an impact in a quick time period.
SMW and Asylum
1. New talent: Over the past few months there have been a variety of talent that have been added which may prove to be interesting for both shows.
2. Era's: Recently in SMW we saw the end of an era when Max Ogden lost the SMW title at Lethal Lottery and the beginning of a new era with the guy who beat Ogden in Jake Diamond who looks to be SMW's brightest star.
3. Up and comers: As I said before, Asylum has gotten several new guys that have bright futures and some that have been or look to be called up to one of the three main brands real soon.
Up close: And now as promised, here is my sit down interview with Horsemen member Jason Oliver.
Joe Diano: I am here with one of the members of the Four Horsemen , Jason Oliver and first I wanted to thank you for taking the time out to sit down with me.
Jason Oliver: No problemo Joey, anytime I get asked to do something like this is a pleasure.
Diano: Now, first question I wanted to ask is when you first came to the TWF as part of PrimeTime, you called yourself the Tiger, why did you drop the name when you moved to Rampage?
Oliver: (laughs) Belive me I think the fans and me all got tired of the Tiger thing, I sorta went for the whole angery tiger thing but that just is not me so I dropped it and started becomeing more or less my self.
Diano: What was the move like? Going from PrimeTime to Rampage.
Oliver: Tough, on PrimeTime I was accepted cause I was paying my dues just like everyone else, maybe not liked but on Rampage for the first little bit I wasn't the most popular guy mostly cause I was hand picked by Money Mike and Corey and they weren't the most popular people there. Guilty by assocation I suppose.
Diano: Now on PrimeTime you were associated with Sean O'Haire and Heidenreich which led to a reign as tag team champion and yet now to this day you have yet to wear any title gold, is there any part of you that regrets the move?
Oliver: I learned early from a wise teacher that tagigng hurts, now no gold is bad but hopefully I'll be holding some after Evil Intentions, but there are no regerts.
Diano: Now we all know what went down between Money Mike and Joe Corey, and my sources tell me that both yourself and carney had no idea that was going to happen.
Oliver: That's true, we had no idea what was going on, but I went with the flow and here we are today. Corey-less and couldn't be happier.
Diano: I know that is what you and your buddies might say and all, but another thing I have heard is that since Corey's departure from the group it has not been all that pleasant in the Horsemen locker room.
Oliver: It's never been all that pleasant, but we're Horsemen, we're the elite, the most amazing athletes in TWF history so we put all our differences aside and go out there and perform.
Diano: Now one subject I wanted to get into with you is Max Ogden, because he has been a serious thorn in your side for a while now. What's the deal with you and Ogden?
Oliver: Maxie pad is a thorn in my side cause that's all he can be. I made Max Ogden, I could break Max Ogden. If you ask him he'd tell you he was made by himself but the truth is I got him into that King of Cable title match which is the reason he became this big. I was the one who he faced one on one in King of the Ring. look at his matchEs with anyone else, see how they stack up, they dont. so what my deal with max ogden is that he's not good enough to lick my boots.
Diano: Well no offense but he was good enough to keep the King of Cable title away from you.
Oliver: Funny cause I don't remember ever getting a one on one shot against him for it. And when I did get my shot, I tooled his ass from here to Quebec and back.
Diano: Moving on a bit, he wound up joining forces with managing legend Jimmy Hart along with Gene Snitsky and Sylvain Grenier to face you and your associates and most thought you all would dominate them but that was not the case. Was it a suprise at how they faired?
Oliver: Yes it was, for three reasons. One, we are the Horsemen, two we are the Horsemen and three, we are the Horsemen, the elite, the best, no one can beat us, simple as that! They did, but we got it back, no scratch that, Corey beat us and again we tooled his ass afterwards.
Diano: Now one fact that TWF fans might not know about is the fact that you are the one responsible for J.J. Ramplin being part of the Horsemen, how did this come to be?
Oliver: Me and him have been freinds for awhile before the TWF, hell we were drinking buddies, freinds nick named us the Proch and the Tank. I got to the TWF first and he was in SMW. I combined two ideas and put J.J. in the Horsemen as some extra power.
Diano: One thing fans and some of the boys in the back talk about is the long bad luck streak of Carney, all his losses and then the injury recently. What is the plan for him?
Oliver: He's a Horseman, that's all the plan he needs.
Diano: Once again no offense, but till now all that being a Horseman had done for Carney is land him in the hospital and the losing column, what do you say to those that say that Ramplin is carrying him?
Oliver: I say Ramplin doesn't have to carry Carney but it is amazing what those two are doing and winning the tag titles is gonna do amazing things for the Horsemen.
Diano: Another subject that has come up is all the bad decisions Money Mike has made, most of which has gotten all of you in trouble since he took over as leader.
Oliver: We stand behind Mike no matter what decisions he makes, bad or good it's a matter of opinion.
Diano: Let's get into Evil Intentions because as of now you will face Shelton Benjamin for the King of Cable title, and Shelton as we all know ended the long reign of Joe Corey. What is your game plan going into the pay-per-view?
Oliver: Out work him, I want this alot more than he does, he can't match my strength or submissions. I have to use those to my advantage and keep his quickness down.
Diano: What do you think you can do different that others who have faced him have not when you go into the match to face Shelton Benjamin?
Oliver: Match his athleticism, he may be better than everyone in that, but I'm just as good.
Diano: Other than Shelton Benjamin is there anyone else you want to face on Rampage?
Oliver: High Octane, Travis Wakeman, Paul Birchill, Max Ogden and anyone that's holding the TWF championship at the time.
Diano: Anyone? Does that include or exclude Money Mike?
Oliver: One day there may be a time where I'm looking at my mentor across the ring but that day isn't coming up too soon, I can tell you that.
Diano: That actually leads me to my next question, obviously you are really up on the whole Horsemen thing, but don't you think it hinders your individual success or that of Ramplin and Carney if Mike is your main concern?
Oliver: No, because unlike what everyone thinks, it's about the group. If Mike holds the main title it helps us, just like if J.J. and Carney hold the tag championship or I hold the King of Cable championship.
Diano: Okay now I just have these last two questions for you, first, as of late you've had more singles success than Mike has due to Mike's focus being on Starman and who he is, what role if any has this Starman guy played into the turmoil amongst the group?
Oliver: A lot, Mike couldn't sleep, eat or do much of anything without mentioning Starman and it was starting to freak us all out.
Diano: Before I get to my final question, I meant to ask you about what went on this past week on Rampage with Stacy Snow and Stephanie McMahon, and specifically the fact that Stephanie basically butted in on something personal with you and Stacy.
Oliver: Stacy and I need to go talk somewhere with out the Horsemen or anyone else getting in the way. Our feelings are our own and being the youngest of the group is sometimes hard but I truly believe Steph was looking out for me but I'm an adult and I can make my own dessions.
Diano: Okay now this is the big question. I always end this segment with when you hang the boots up, how do you want to be remembered?
Oliver: The greatest athlete the TWF has ever seen, to surpass Jordan Rockwell in everything he has ever done and to make Travis Wakeman tap out at WrestleMania.
In the End
1. In the end I wish and hope HBK finds whatever it is he is looking for in this part of his career and wakes up to the fact that the fans helped make him and he owes them a debt of gratitude.
2. In the end I wish more success for men like Batista and Heidenreich who have finally gotten to where they should be in my mind.
3. In the end I wish more success for SlaughterHouse, Asylum and SMW and that they continue to prove the doubters wrong.
And once again, in the end I want to thank all of you for reading my column and allowing me the honor of giving you I hope good reading material and to T- dubya for giving me the chance to do this column.
Thats all the time I have so until next time this is ya boy JD saying, this has been my two cents and they have been everything you dreamed they'd be..... and then some!
