Welcome to another edition of Sean O’Mac’s Pullin’ No Punches (PnP for short). Here you’ll find Sean’s opinions on one or more topics in the WWE world as well as letters from readers. Remember that you, too, can chime in with your thoughts anytime. I like the props, but love the debates and disagreements too. Just keep them brief or I’ll be choppin’ ya down!
CLICK HERE to email Sean “O’Mac” McGuinney.
Before I delve into todayâ<80><99>s column, I first want to pass my condolences to the family of Triple H as they deal with the loss of his brother-in-law.
On a happier note, if the rumors are indeed true, congratulations also go to Triple H and Stephanie on expecting their next child!
But enough of that.
It seems the nightmare of what happened with Chris Benoit and his family is still lingering with many, as well it should. For such a respected and admired Superstar to suddenly kill his child, wife and himself â<80>” itâ<80><99>s difficult to grasp even now.
One of the topics that has been brought up in the aftermath, and even with Kevin Nash on the most recent episode of WrestleZone Radio, is: â<80><9c>Would you put Chris Benoit in the WWE Hall of Fame?â<80>
Although you might quickly be able to answer with your opinion, it really is a difficult question if you ponder it.
The Ottawa Sun recently came out with an article that seems to point again toward what some had suspected â<80>” that Chris Benoit was indeed brain damaged from numerous concussions and that it was that, not steroid rage, that led to this tragedy.
In fact, a Dr. Bennett Omalu stated that Chrisâ<80><99> brain â<80><9c>looked like the brain of an individual suffering from a specific type of dementia normally seen in people in their 80s or 90s.â<80> If that is indeed true, then at least those of us that admired Chris can find some solice in knowing that he was probably not responsible for his actions.
That being said, itâ<80><99>s time for me to throw my two cents in on the big question.
My answer is: â<80><9c>Yes, but not now.â<80>
Chris Benoit did amazing things in the sports-entertainment biz. I always loved watching him in action, and I was extremely excited when they finally put the World Heavyweight Championship on him. With all the time and effort and accomplishments added together, Benoit definitely fits the bill for someone youâ<80><99>d want to make a Hall of Famer.
But the tragedy of that weekend is still fresh in everyoneâ<80><99>s minds. Fact is, it will be years down the road and you will mention Chris Benoitâ<80><99>s name to people â<80>” the first thought will be not of his wrestling acumen or accomplishments, but of the way things ended.
But eventually, whether it be 10 years from now, 15, 20 â<80>¦ the diagnosis by medical professionals should be taken into account and Chrisâ<80><99> contributions to the business acknowledged. It may not be with as much pomp and circumstance as you would induct a Hulk Hogan or other star, but his name should eventually be on that list.
After all, if the doctors are right, the man lived and died for the sports entertainment business â<80>” as did his wife and son.
THE PUNCHING BAG
Itâ<80><99>s your turn again! This is where youâ<80><99>ll find e-mails and feedback from wrestling fans on my Takes and opinions. You’re welcome to send yours, good or bad, to Sean O’Mac’s Punching Bag. But be warned – the WWE isn’t the only ones I won’t pull punches for!
Hey Sean o’Mac,
Undertaker’s choke is most certainly not a gogoplat(I wish it was as thats an awesome name). Its definately a triangle choke that undertaker is a)either unable to flex enough to close or b)not closing as to prevent the real effect.
However, the real reason for me writing in is the location of your column. WHy did they move it out of the editorial section? I missed like 3 to 4 editorials. I thought you had gone silent. Anyways keep up the work.
– Michael H.
(Later, another letter from Michaelâ<80>¦)
Actually Sean, I just rewatched SD! and you are right, it is a gogoplat… i think they modified it cuz i know the first time it was a triangle choke.
See? Trust me. Sean Oâ<80><99>Mac is good, Sean Oâ<80><99>Mac is wise. Ok, enough of the Twister flashbacks. I did research the move online, and coupled with my own background in martial arts, concluded that it was indeed a gogoplat, also known as the shin choke. Itâ<80><99>s a nice new move to add to the arsenal of Undertaker.
As for the location of my columns, the Takes on Raw and Smackdown! have always been located in the â<80><9c>Latest Headlinesâ<80> section. However, when I first began writing for WrestleZone, my other editorial column, â<80><9c>Pullinâ<80><99> No Punches,â<80> was located in a columns section below. Now, that section is reserved solely for the wrestlers and other stars that write exclusively for WrestleZone, and rightly so.
You can find â<80><9c>Pullinâ<80><99> No Punchesâ<80> in the usual news section, and the headlines always begin with an all-caps â<80><9c>COLUMN.â<80> However, if you ever miss the column, or any of my Takes, and have difficulty finding it I know have a MySpace page that Iâ<80><99>m using to archive my columns as well.
Just go to www.myspace.com/wzseanomac and youâ<80><99>ll find the blog there will contain the archive. Note, however, that since my first priority has to be to write for, and draw traffic to, WrestleZone, there will usually be a delay between my posting on WZ and MySpace.
I got a names for Undertaker’s new move…The Death Lock. Or name it the Rest In Peace…like the GTS(Go To Sleep). Or the Soul Taker or Soul Trapper. Or the Burier.
– Angel R.
Hmm. Some to contemplate. The Death Lock would be one Iâ<80><99>d probably lean toward out of those if not for the fact that Sting has the Scorpion Death Lock. Too similar.
A few suggestions for a name for Taker’s submission
1.Purgatory Choke
2.Hellbound
3.The Last Gasp
– Eric K.
Some more good suggestions.
Was thinking about ‘Taker’s new choke. It got me thinking, you know how ‘Taker is always saying how “many DRAGONS try to lay siege to his kingdom?” why not call it the Dragon Slayer? It seems to me it can take out the 2 biggest dragons the WWE has to offer.
– TJ B. (Taker Fan)
Not bad, but Iâ<80><99>m not sure it would take.
I been watching taker since he debuted all those years ago,and am amazed at how he comes up with something new when backed against the wall such as in the case of when he wrestled BIG DADDY V a week or so ago.i believe the new move should be called”THE TRIANGLE CHOKE OUT”. let me know what you think.
– Tom S.
Canâ<80><99>t say Iâ<80><99>d go with that one, Tom. It needs a name that distinguishes itself from his other submission hold.
what do you think of the whole jamie noble and chuck and michelle mcool thing i mean it really sucks cuz it involves a ugly asss pulumbo and a redneck noble and a beutiful michelle i mean its just so annoying to see that she is with pulumbo and noble when she should be with me haha
Im 13
peace
– max
Ok, first of all Max â<80>” youâ<80><99>re so wrong. If Michelle McCool should be with anyone, itâ<80><99>s me! Well, truth be told, sheâ<80><99>d probably kill us both â<80>” but Iâ<80><99>d die a very happy man!
Personally, I think the storyline with the trio is working out alright. You have Noble, playing a somewhat ignorant country boy who McCool would probably not normally give the time of day to, the â<80><9c>friendâ<80> Palumbo who ends up showing his true colors, and McCool caught in between. Nothing wrong with the classic white knight and damsel in distress story.
Okay, so if Finlay interferes in the match between VKM and Hornswoggle, he’ll be fired. And I’m wondering what will keep Finlay from wearing a mask and interfering in the match (besides Uncreative, of course)?
Remember when Dusty Rhodes was suspended from UWF so he donned a mask and new wrestling attire and became the Midnight Rider(?). The heel wrestlers complained the Midnight Rider was really Dusty in disguise and they were told by the “commissioner” that if they could prove the Rider was Rhodes — by pulling off his mask — then Rhodes would be banned for life. Of course, that never happened.
Ever since then, every time I hear a wrestler has been banned from interfering in a bout, I’m always waiting for said wrestler to show up wearing a mask and interfering in the bout. But it never happens!
– Dave B.
Wow, that brings us back. The Midnight Rider. But I think it’s pretty much a given that Hornswoggle will be counting on another friend to help him out in that match – Mrs. Foley’s baby boy.
Hey Sean,
I read on WWE.com that the reason why Jesse and Festus has not been on TV is because they were â<80><9c>fixing Festusâ<80> and Jesse canâ<80><99>t wait to show off the new Festus.
Again, this is another reason why I hate the way they are using the tag teams. The storyline with Festus was clever. I would have had them going on a huge winning streak and then have whomever their rivals were realize that they could beat Festus if they rang a bell then during the match. The following match while Festus was in the ring, they would have rung the bell to turn him well, comatose and been able to pin him.
Instead, we have to wait to see if the change is a good thing. My guess is that they made him just another normal â<80><9c>tag-team-soon-to-be-a-singles-wrestlerâ<80>
Talk to you later,
– Paul W.
Well, I don’t think the writers are going to let the “fix” for Festus take hold. He’ll probably come back either the same vegetable/maniac that we saw, or perhaps he’ll be a bit more social but still turn vicious when the bell rings. Who knows? But I do like the way you think with the storylines. I wonder if the WWE writers thought of that whole mid-match bell thing?
Sean “O’Mac” McGuinney’s day job is as a newspaper editor. He has been a journalist for nearly 10 years and has covered everything from government to sports. The wrestling? Well, that’s just been enjoyed since he was a kid. Don’t ask how long ago that was.
Miss a column or Take? Just want to look back and see if I’ve flip-flopped on an issue? Visit Sean O’Mac’s archive blog at CLICK HERE www.myspace.com/wzseanomac.
