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The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
Nobody Asked Me, But…
Post-WrestleMania 25 Edition
The Kingfish Arnie Katz continues a “Katz Files” tradition with answers to some ticklish questions that have seeped into his mind as he reflects on the post-WrestleMania world..

Like most of the rest of the Wrestle Nation, I watched a lot of WWE action this week, including WrestleMania 25… and
Nobody Asked Me, But…

… How can WWE expect fans to take the tag team titles seriously if WWE is going to handle them in such a slipshod way? WWE didn’t care enough about what was arguably the most important tag team contest of the last five years to put it on WrestleMania. Then they compounded the original mistake by r giving fans a “rematch” on RAW the next night. At the least, they could’ve saved the original unification match for RAW instead of blowing it off as a dark match.

…If the match I predicted will “steal the show” actually comes through, can it be said to have stolen the show? I prophesied that Undertaker-Michaels would snatch the top spot and I think it did. Whatever the technical definition of “stealing the show,” these two venerable stars deserve credit for rising to the top of a card with four other A- or A matches.

… Doesn’t it look like good ring work is redeeming the Hardy versus Hardy feud? It started slow, handicapped by a behind-the-scenes change that made Matt, rather than Christian, the author of all those accidents. You have to wonder if they’ve gone over the edge, though, with the suggestion that Matt burned down Jeff’s house and killed his dog. Presumably, Matt Hardy will become a face at some time in the future; how will fans react to the idea of a heroic dog-killer? That hasn’t done much for Michael Vick’s career.

…Wasn’t that a great Hall of Fame class? Of course, the WWE Hall of Game is less a shrine than marketing tool, but they really loaded up on authentic Legends this time. The Funks, Rickey Steamboat, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Von Erich family are among pro wrestling’s all-time elite. The others may be a step down from that pinnacle, but everyone was deserving, even Howard Finkel.

… Did anyone catch that name of that blond guy who keeps introducing himself?

… Didn’t Santino Morella both save and ruin the 25-Diva Battle Royal. He ruined it, because it led to a meaningless result, little better than having Mae Young win. On the other hand, his clowning rescued the badly presented and poorly worked match, Morella continues to be a bright spot whenever they let him loose.

… Wasn’t the absence of Jack Swagger from WrestleMania a bit puzzling? I know ECW isn’t a top WWE priority, but shouldn’t the show’s reigning superstar get a little WM spot? The extended Kid Rock concert and the Jericho versus the Legends spots shouldn’t have pushed Swagger to the sidelines for the company’s most important show of the year.

… Isn’t Ricky Steamboat in fantastic shape for someone of his years? Maybe Jericho’s supportive ring work helped, but The Dragon seemed limber, fluid and athletic.

That’s all for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column. I hope you’ll join me then – and, please, bring your friends.

— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(4/8/09)