Sunday, September 7 - 10:00 A.M. (CT)

-Nice house show angle with Team 3D telling the New York fans that their contracts had expired and they were torn between staying and returning to WWE. There's been plenty of talk on the internet about their contractual situation, and it's one of those stories that the fans who don't read wrestling websites can quickly get caught up in. Plus, New York was the perfect setting for such an angle given the duo's roots in that market.

I'm happy to see Team 3D stick around. I don't think the door was really open for them to return to WWE, but I think they add something to the TNA product. I've reported several negative comments that were made by their former colleagues over the last couple weeks, but I've always enjoyed Brother Ray and Devon and I respect the fact that they can put on a hell of a show when motivated.

I'd really like to see the duo get their edge back after doing so much comedy in recent months. Some of their comedy segments have been very funny, but they're money when they're portrayed as sadistic, badass performers. I'd love to see Brother Ray cut one more profanity filled, riot inciting promo like he became famous for in ECW, but I'm not holding my breath given the family friendly nature of TNA and mainstream wrestling.

-I was bored by Saturday's UFC 88 pay-per-view. I watched the show at a bar and my fellow patrons were much more engaged in the college football games that aired during the first half of the show. I'm not a huge fan of college pigskin, but I noticed there were plenty of fans wearing MMA shirts who were more vocal about seemingly college football games than the boring UFC undercard.

The only fights the bar patrons really cared about were the last two matches with Rich Franklin beating Matt Hamill, and Rashad Evans upsetting Chuck Liddell. The Franklin fight was solid, and the huge knockout punch that Evans landed stunned everyone in the packed sports bar.

It's easy to write off Liddell because he's lost three of his last four fights. However, he was moving well and appeared to be in good shape (by his standards) before he ate the big punch. The finish reminded me of the painting at the end of Rocky III with simultaneous knockout punches from both fighters. Rashad's punch landed clean on the jaw, while Liddell's home run swing went lame the moment he took the shot.

This was not a one sided fight and I'd like to see a rematch between these two. Evans did nothing before landing the punch to make me think he was the dominant fighter. It was a one punch fight. For what it's worth, I would given the first round to Chuck even though both fighters were tentative.

I'm not suggesting that Liddell is as good as he once was and his jaw is questionable at this stage in his career, but I still think he could do some damage in his division. That being said, I don't know continuing to fight is worth the risk of damaging his legacy or risking his long-term health.

-I made it this long without mentioning NFL kickoff Sunday. I'm jacked. It feels odd watching the first Sunday without a Vikings game to watch, but I'm really looking forward to the action and tracking my four fantasy teams. I gave the kiss of death to the Dallas Cowboys in the Dot Net Members' Forum by picking them to defeat the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl (although I noted that I avoided the obvious Patriots pick).

-If you're looking for some last minute fantasy lineup advice, check out the weekly "Bench or Start" article I wrote for UGO.com's Fantasy Football Friday.

-Yes, I will be covering the WWE Unforgiven show tonight despite my excitement about the first Sunday of the NFL season. Watch along with me or check in during the commercial breaks of the Bears vs. Colts game tonight. I will also be posting an audio review of the show later tonight.

Wednesday, September 3

-It's great to hear that Shawn Michaels suffered only a minor triceps tear on Sunday night and will not need surgery. I mentioned in my Member Exclusive audio update yesterday that WWE could have turned a negative into a positive by moving the red hot Jericho into a new program with C.M. Punk or one of the other babyfaces, and WWE could have saved the big Jericho vs. Michaels match for WrestleMania 25.

Of course, I'll take the alternative. As great as Jericho has been this year, HBK still has my vote for MVP of the pro wrestling industry. He's delivered in one high profile match after another, and got one great last match out of Ric Flair at WrestleMania back in April. My biggest concern was that Michaels would opt to call it a career rather than go through all the rehab work and risk suffering another in-ring injury if surgery was required.

Sunday's match should be spectacular, assuming Michaels is able to work at his usual pace. I assume he'll be selling the arm injury quite a bit, and I'd be shocked if any other match stole the show. It remains to be seen whether Michaels will need to take a little time off to rest his injured arm, but all indications are that he won't miss much, if any, time.

-I'm already fired up for the mega-match between Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture in November. However, it's kind of a no-win situation for both fighters from a respect standpoint. If Couture wins the fight, skeptics will claim that he beat a novice fighter. If Brock wins the fight, skeptics will say Couture is either past his prime and/or coming off a long layoff from fighting.

Of course, UFC and both fighters should win big financially. Dana White predicted during the conference call yesterday that their research indicates that the fight could score between one million and 1.5 million buys. In other words, this fight could be a bigger draw for UFC than WrestleMania was for WWE.

From a marketing standpoint, it's a thing of beauty. Couture is the aging and respectful veteran who just keeps defying the odds and adding to his legend. Meanwhile, Brock is the cocky newcomer from the pro wrestling world who mocked his last opponent in the final seconds of the fight and again after the final horn was blown. It's UFC's ultimate babyface against it's biggest heel. I'll wait until we get closer to fight time to make my prediction.

-I am holding an NFL pick'em contest in the Dot Net Members' forum throughout the regular season. There's no point spread involved, so it's just a matter of picking the winners each week. The winner will receive a free three-month subscription to the Dot Net Members' site, the second-place finisher will earn a free two-month subscription, and the third place finisher will get one month free. Yes, you do have to be a Dot Net member to participate in the contest. Rich Twilling and I will also be taking part, and I encourage members and fellow NFL fans to join in on the fun by visiting the Dot Net Forum.

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