Muchnick has always had an anti-wwe bias. That means nothing at all as far as credibility in this story goes, because he's reporting on something horrible and true, and the facts of the story are beyond reproach. But I doubt his timeline "mistake" was an accident, and his backhanded retraction was equally stupid. He's like Bill O'Reilly reposting on Democrat scandals. There's truth to the story, but he's probably not the best guy to be reporting on it. His editorializing, bias, and half truths do more harm than good and give the morons something to pick at instead of dealing with the facts at hand.

If this does go to Congress, I wonder who leaked this out to Meltzer and Irv?

 

Has Meltzer mentioned this?

 

Dave linked to the article in yesterday's news update, simply saying it was an "interesting note" on Randy Orton. I think that would lend creedence to the theory that Dave knows this to be true, but couldn't/didn't report it for one reason or another.

Going back to the article. What if Randy Orton did commit suicide? There's no information behind it, the reasons, his current mental state at the time, etc. Would firing, suspending Orton do anything positive to the situation? I hardly find the situation a damning indictment of WWE. Many people sadly commit suicide. I don't see the companies they worked for (or the schools they attended) brought under public fire.

Chris Benoit committed suicide and the industry he worked for certainly came under fire.

 

Three pro wrestlers have committed suicide this year. A main eventer apparently being suicidal at some point is major wrestling news.

Chris Benoit committed suicide and the industry he worked for certainly came under fire.

 

Three pro wrestlers have committed suicide this year. A main eventer apparently being suicidal at some point is major wrestling news.

It's all related to the Benoit murders though. Mike Awesome received no press when he died, that was prior to Benoit. Not sure who the third one is right off, was that Bigelow? In any case, certainly it is news as it would be a big story if any known celebrity committed suicide. What I question is putting WWE under the microscope specifically for it. I realize though that with wrestling deaths in the news, anything close is going to be a big deal.

More follow up from Muchnick:

 

http://muchnick.net/babylon/2007/09/19/orton-further-notes/

Interesting how different message boards react to this story. Most people here seem to accept it, but at TSM it's being dismissed out of hand by pretty much everyone.

 

Why doesn't Mushnick identify the hospital in question, the other reporter he mentioned, or the specific time frame in which the incident occured? I know he's gotta protect his source inside the WWE, but it seems odd that he doesn't provide those other details.

I don't accept it to be true, as much as I am willing to accept that it may be true.

 

Alvarez said today in the new F4W that his WWE sources know nothing of it, but do acknowledge there was a "personal" issue last year, assumed to be drug-related.

Chris Benoit committed suicide and the industry he worked for certainly came under fire.

 

Three pro wrestlers have committed suicide this year. A main eventer apparently being suicidal at some point is major wrestling news.

It's all related to the Benoit murders though. Mike Awesome received no press when he died, that was prior to Benoit. Not sure who the third one is right off, was that Bigelow?

 

That would be James Fawcett aka Devil Bhudakahn.

"I compared notes on this with another journalist, who not only has unimpeachable credentials but also had looked into the same story last year on the basis of a tip from a completely different direction."

 

HMMMM I WONDER WHO THAT COULD BE

This little news item will certainly result in a lecture from Jim Ross on his blog.

I know this is totally not WWE's fault, but not a good time for a news item like this.

 

WWE News: WWE fan dies before Smackdown taping falling off walking ramp at arena

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Sep 19, 2007 - 12:39:46 PM

 

 

A WWE fans died at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. died last night just before attending the Smackdwn TV tapings. The fan fell from a walking ramp.

Didn't somebody also die at a UFC event falling from a Balcony?

From this week's Figure Four Weekly about Michaels contemplating retirement:

 

He's also said to be very content with his career, particularly the entire first half of this year when he was the main guy responsible for the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world.

Really? We're giving Michaels the credit for all of the great matches from the first half of the year? Not Cena, who had the great matches with Umaga, Michaels, and the miracles he worked with Khali (which may turn out to be viewed as the best work he's ever done in the ring)? Not Umaga, who made Lashley look like a real professional wrestler at Wrestlemania? I generally like Alvarez, but I can't for the life of me figure out how Michaels was more responsible than Cena for the great main events from WWE this year.

He's also said to be very content with his career, particularly the entire first half of this year when he was the main guy responsible for the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world.

AJPW from 1993-1997 says hi, Shawn.

I know this is totally not WWE's fault, but not a good time for a news item like this.

 

WWE News: WWE fan dies before Smackdown taping falling off walking ramp at arena

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Sep 19, 2007 - 12:39:46 PM

 

 

A WWE fans died at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. died last night just before attending the Smackdwn TV tapings. The fan fell from a walking ramp.

Jesus. Keller should proof read his posts.

 

He's also said to be very content with his career, particularly the entire first half of this year when he was the main guy responsible for the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world.

AJPW from 1993-1997 says hi, Shawn.

 

As does the WWF from 2000-2001.

Monty Brown has been released.

From this week's Figure Four Weekly about Michaels contemplating retirement:

 

He's also said to be very content with his career, particularly the entire first half of this year when he was the main guy responsible for the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world.

Really? We're giving Michaels the credit for all of the great matches from the first half of the year? Not Cena, who had the great matches with Umaga, Michaels, and the miracles he worked with Khali (which may turn out to be viewed as the best work he's ever done in the ring)? Not Umaga, who made Lashley look like a real professional wrestler at Wrestlemania? I generally like Alvarez, but I can't for the life of me figure out how Michaels was more responsible than Cena for the great main events from WWE this year.

 

Fuck that, look at the other half of that claim:

 

"the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world."

 

Not that WWE wasn't great the first half of this year (and still is to a certain extent), but he's not just putting 2007 Michaels ahead of 2007 Cena, Umaga, and Hardys, he's putting 2007 Michaels ahead of 1974 Jack Brisco, 1976 Jumbo, 1977 Race, 1986 Flair, 1989 Flair, 1990 Jumbo, 1992 Liger, 1993-95 Kawada, 1997 El Hijo del Santo and Negro Casas, 1997 Eddie Guerrero, 2005 Eddie Guerrero, practically any six month period between 1974 and 1986 for Jerry Lawler...I could go on forever. It's an astoundingly stupid claim.

Muchnick has always had an anti-wwe bias. That means nothing at all as far as credibility in this story goes, because he's reporting on something horrible and true, and the facts of the story are beyond reproach. But I doubt his timeline "mistake" was an accident, and his backhanded retraction was equally stupid. He's like Bill O'Reilly reposting on Democrat scandals. There's truth to the story, but he's probably not the best guy to be reporting on it. His editorializing, bias, and half truths do more harm than good and give the morons something to pick at instead of dealing with the facts at hand.

 

Are you sure you aren't confusing him with Phil Mushnick who always is bashing WWE over something? I don't recall Irv ever being anti-WWE other than actually telling the truth about stuff and not the WWE version.

From this week's Figure Four Weekly about Michaels contemplating retirement:

 

He's also said to be very content with his career, particularly the entire first half of this year when he was the main guy responsible for the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world.

Really? We're giving Michaels the credit for all of the great matches from the first half of the year? Not Cena, who had the great matches with Umaga, Michaels, and the miracles he worked with Khali (which may turn out to be viewed as the best work he's ever done in the ring)? Not Umaga, who made Lashley look like a real professional wrestler at Wrestlemania? I generally like Alvarez, but I can't for the life of me figure out how Michaels was more responsible than Cena for the great main events from WWE this year.

 

Fuck that, look at the other half of that claim:

 

"the best six months of weekly high-level in-ring action that there has perhaps ever been in any promotion in the world."

 

Not that WWE wasn't great the first half of this year (and still is to a certain extent), but he's not just putting 2007 Michaels ahead of 2007 Cena, Umaga, and Hardys, he's putting 2007 Michaels ahead of 1974 Jack Brisco, 1976 Jumbo, 1977 Race, 1986 Flair, 1989 Flair, 1990 Jumbo, 1992 Liger, 1993-95 Kawada, 1997 El Hijo del Santo and Negro Casas, 1997 Eddie Guerrero, 2005 Eddie Guerrero, practically any six month period between 1974 and 1986 for Jerry Lawler...I could go on forever. It's an astoundingly stupid claim.

 

Yeah, I was so incredulous about Alvarez giving Michaels credit for all of the good work in the first half of the year (when he wasn't even the fifth best guy on Raw at that point) that I glossed over the second half, which is equally ludicrous. I mean, was the first half of 2007 even Michaels' best six months of work ever?

I mean, was the first half of 2007 even Michaels' best six months of work ever?

1994 Michaels smokes 2007 Michaels like a cheap cigar.

Muchnick has always had an anti-wwe bias. That means nothing at all as far as credibility in this story goes, because he's reporting on something horrible and true, and the facts of the story are beyond reproach. But I doubt his timeline "mistake" was an accident, and his backhanded retraction was equally stupid. He's like Bill O'Reilly reposting on Democrat scandals. There's truth to the story, but he's probably not the best guy to be reporting on it. His editorializing, bias, and half truths do more harm than good and give the morons something to pick at instead of dealing with the facts at hand.

 

Are you sure you aren't confusing him with Phil Mushnick who always is bashing WWE over something? I don't recall Irv ever being anti-WWE other than actually telling the truth about stuff and not the WWE version.

 

Haha my bad. Thanks, man.

That part of the Michaels report sounds pretty vague. Is it Alvarez crediting Michaels for his work this year? Or is Michaels praising himself?

From the way Alvarez phrased it, a little from column A, a little from column B.

Alvarez's claim is much, much dumber than you're giving him credit for. He's claiming that in 2007, RAW had the best six months of in-ring action of any promotion in history.