WWE Journal

Against all my predictions, Judgment Day was a shockingly good PPV. Only two matches (Undertaker vs. Khali and possibly Jilian vs. Melina) weren't good, and some of the wrestling on show was superb. In fact, people have been referring to Smackdown as the better wrestling show for some time now, with the likes of Benoit, Angle and Finlay performing on a regular basis. But the problem isn't the technical ability, it's the complete lack of main event draws. A complete lack of main eventers, come to think of it. I doubt the show drew over 220,000 buys and, more worringly, I doubt it drew much over 140,000 American buys.

Seriously, if it wasn't for Europe and Australasia the company's financial structure would be in severe trouble. Instead, the share price has risen to its highest level since the Austin era and Vince McMahon is now a certified billionare once again. The same Vince McMahon who fires injured wrestlers, newlywed couples and pregnant women because he can't pay their wages. For the record, he ended the last fiscal year $47million richer. Enough to make you sick.

On the subject of Vince's questionable business decisions, what the frig is going on with Stacy Keibler? Since her pointless trade to Smackdown last summer, she's seemingly been phased out of the company, as if she can't play a valuable role on the floundering Friday Night farce. For two months all she did was nod to Batista backstage, a task that Melina could just as easily have carried out (I hear she and Batista have a good working relationship). Then there was the half-hearted attempt to cash in on the Jennifer Aniston love triangle, in the Peep Show angle with Christian and Jilian Hall. You've probably forgotten it ever happened. Yet again WWE had a home run sitting on their lap, and they still threw it out the window. After her job to Hall on the inconsequential Velocity, she disappeared from the company. Seemingly never to return. I'd like to remind Vince that Keibler remained one of the most over Divas in the company, despite the booking committee forgetting she exists. The same Vince McMahon who lambasts Eric Bischoff for the demise of WCW, forgets that Bischoff booked Keibler as a prominent and successful character for two whole years. Her wedding to David Flair was one of the most watched Nitro segments of the year (I know that's a bit like saying Jade Goody has just had one of her most stunning photoshoots), and she arrived in WWE already established as one of the most popular women in wrestling history. If anything, WWE buried her. Remember her endless string of jobs to Torrie Wilson? The appaling, never-ending mess involving Test and Scott Steiner? Sure, Stacy was given the occassional four minutes of airtime over the years, but the writing was so bad you often wished they hadn't bothered.

The argument that Stacy owes the WWE a debt of gratitude for bringing her to the dance (as posted by some prat on the internet) is laughable. The WWE didn't hand Stacy all the endorsements, magazine awards and premiere invites of the last year; Stacy aquired them herself. The WWE didn't negociate her 'Dancing With The Stars' contract; she did. In fact, all the WWE have ever done is pressure her to appear in Playboy every March. But while Candice Michelle is more than happy to head to Hugh Hefner's seedy ranch (and get practically molested by Vince every Monday night), Stacy has quietly decided enough is enough.


Keibler: Had enough

Her most recent quote that, "They hadn't written anything for me before Stars, so why should I think they will now?" is not arrogant, conceited or ungateful. It's what's called stating a fact. McMahon and his clueless cronies have continually overlooked Stacy for angles involving Jilian Hall, Christy Hemme (who they later fired, for no apparent reason), Candice, Torrie, Melina, Ashley and Mickie James. Not to do any of these Divas a disservice - they're a group of talented and well liked individuals. And Candice. But the booking of Stacy has been a running joke for at least two years now. All it's missing is a punchline, but I'm sure they'll bury Stacy in promos and angles once they get round to it. They've just got to finish with their vendettas against the Ultimate Warrior, JR and God first.

The ultimate irony is this. Stacy has more potential for storylines than ever before. She's a bona fide celebrity now, everyone in America knows her name and a return, even for one last appearance, could spike interest in the starless Smackdown. She's never even worked with Melina, Mickie and Candice before, so the list of potential storylines is endless. Smackdown also has wrestlers and tag teams who could do with a manager to establish themselves on the roster. And that's to say nothing of the potential angles stemming from the Dancing With The Stars screwjob, when she was rejected by the mindless voters for having a few dancing classes at the age of three (I'm reliably informed that women are the main voters in reality shows, so that may explain the jealous backlash). When you weigh it all up, it's quite embarassing that the WWE have nothing for her. They've apparently done nothing to coax her back to the company since DWTS, and can't be bothered offering her a new contract. Maybe they couldn't take the humiliation of her turning them down for Hollywood. There's a twisted irony in ex-Hollywood writers deliberately ignoring Stacy, then watching her leave for Hollywood as a result. I think they call it poetic justice.

Meanwhile, Smackdown has become a shambles. Due to a mixture of injuies, angles and suspensions for harassing women, JBL, Randy Orton, Batista, Mr. Kennedy, The Undertaker and Chris Benoit are all sidelined. As TNA draws 1.1's, Smackdown draws 1.9's. If a show headlined by Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger is closing in on you, you know you're in it deep. Keibler is best off without the WWE, and the WWE is poorer without her. Could someone remind Vince of this when he's firing all the Diva Search contestants in November?