Talk about it here.

Bob Armstrong is trying to get the SMW belt back, but can't find it. Um ... okay???

 

Then we get an interview of Tim Horner at home with the belt and this is really bizarre. Horner has to give the belt back, but ... is he supposed to be in hiding? I don't get this.

That Horner interview really made me angry. If that happened in WWF or WCW, it would have won the Observer most disgusting promotional award. Just such a sleazy attempt of getting Horner over.

That Horner interview really made me angry. If that happened in WWF or WCW, it would have won the Observer most disgusting promotional award. Just such a sleazy attempt of getting Horner over.

 

Agreed

Yep. That was not only overkill in trying to get sympathy for Horner, that was downright sleazy. In a perfect world, Raven would cut the same promo with Sandman's son next to him. First really embarrasing stuff on SMW TV.

Yeah, didn't like this promo. When it comes to kids, wrestling needs to stay away from this kind of promos.

Armstrong has gone all-out in the search for the SMW title belt. By "going all-out" I mean he's looked in the locker rooms and asked Tim Horner where it is. God, this is cringeworthy as hell. Even as heavy as the subject matter is, your top babyface generally should not be crying on television. Or lying through his teeth to sick kids about winning the belt.

Tim Horner stole the SMW title belt. Not doing the company any favors. Promo with a sick kid. Much more exploitative than a lot of WWE stuff and just feels disgusting.

Halfway through the Horner interview I had to hit FF because I could not take this any longer.

Bob Armstrong has been trying to find the SMW Heavyweight title to return it to the Dirty White Boy but has been having no luck. He's asked Tim Horner about it but he doesn't know where it is, he's looked in the dressing room, he's doing the best he can but just can't find it. We then get an interview with Horner and a young lad (called JT) from Horner's home and the young lad is holding the belt. This lad JT briefly makes an appearance on a local interview earlier in the year, but here we get it laid on in full. JT has been sick and Horner wanted to win the belt for him, this lad has made Horner know what is important in life etc etc. Horner says that he knows in his heart that he is the SMW champion and the Commissioner's office have said that he has to give the belt back. Whether he does or he doesn't, he is the champion and the fans know he is too.

 

I didn't know what to make of this. The whole angle of Horner stealing the belt has reeked of desperation and then topping it off with the exploitation of a seriously sick child? Why on earth is a face stealing the title? Odd, uncomfortable, ass backwards booking. Just garbage!

I could handle either the sick kid stuff or Horner stealing the belt by themselves. In fact, I like the idea of a babyface, especially one that's as vanilla as Horner usually is, doing something heelish in response to being screwed. But both at the same time? Tim's so desperate not to look bad in front of a sick kid that he steals the title instead of beating Tony for it fairly, and we're supposed to sympathize with him for it?

 

What's the matter with Horner just saying, "You know, these SOBs (Tony and Ron) have tried to kill me twice on television and made my life totally miserable, and I'm through taking it. So I stole the belt, and now they're going to have to come through me to get it back, And so will you, Commissioner." Period. No babyface had ever stolen a belt, admitted it, and refused to give it back when called upon, so that would have been something fresh and exciting, provided that they didn't actually have Horner keep the belt for more than a week or two without relenting. But no, we get this sap instead. The kid looked out of it, which is hardly surprising considering what he'd been through, and I'll lay a dollar to a donut that he didn't know Tim Horner from Little Jack Horner, What's worse is that Horner's actually calling himself champion. Heels always sound pathetic when they do something like that, but faces sound a million times worse. And I get the feeling Bullet Bob's not exactly looking too hard for the belt, either, considering that he's practically adopted Horner as another son since he came to SMW.

 

What I'd like to see next (even though I know we won't get it) is an answer promo from Tony: Horner and Bullet Bob have a week to return the belt. If they don't, then Ron's suing SMW on his behalf for the return of the belt plus Bullet Bob's job as commissioner. That would have gotten some action in a hurry, but like I just said, I don't think we saw anything close to that. Thankfully, we get a new top babyface in the next few weeks who can get over without cheap tricks like this. Let's just hope Tracey can undo the damage this crap (hopefully) did to the promotion's credibility. As for Horner, he should be dumped at the first opportunity, because he's beyond saving.