Wednesday, September 24 – 12:15 P.M. (CT)

-The WWE Raw ratings are not out yet, but WWE officials have reason to hope that the dismal rating they drew on Sept. 15 can be primarily attributed to the huge 13.3 rating drawn by the unusually strong matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles. This week's MNF game between the Chargers and Jets drew an 8.9 rating. Meanwhile, the third season premier of "Heroes" on NBC was down 25 percent compared to the second season premier. The Raw numbers should be out sometime today.

-Just in case you couldn't tell based on the last two weeks of television, WWE officials have high hopes for Vladimir Kozlov. He's in line for a mega-push on Smackdown and could be a major player sooner rather than later.

It's worth noting that Jerry Jarrett actually delivered Kozlov to WWE. He stated during a recent Monday Night Mayhem interview that his son Jeff Jarrett passed on bringing in Kozlov because Dixie Carter didn't want to invest in a wrestler who couldn't produce immediate dividends. If Jerry was shooting straight in the interview, TNA officials will end up kicking themselves over that decision.

-Speaking of TNA, I get a kick out of the way Kurt Angle continues to complain about the creative team booking gimmick matches and cheap finishes. He was very outspoken in a recent interview with the UK Sun, but he's actually made similar statements in past interviews.

How many current TNA wrestlers, former TNA wrestlers, and critics have to make similar comments before someone with power in TNA will get a clue? Their current creative approach is a complete disaster and it goes beyond the gimmick matches and cheap run-in finishes that Angle complained about.

TNA creative team members think they're revolutionizing the industry by blurring the lines between babyfaces and heels when all they're doing is presenting a product that confuses the audience. Sting isn't really a heel in eyes of TNA creative, yet he seems to be aligned with Kurt Angle, Booker T, and Team 3D, which all seem like straight up heel acts to this viewer.

Meanwhile, Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles are portrayed as arrogant young guys who have yet to truly make their mark in the wrestling industry. Keep in mind that Joe is the current TNA Champion, and Styles has been with the company since it's inception and is also a former TNA Champion. Call me crazy, but I'd say these guys have arrived.

-It will be interesting to hear what Kevin Nash has to say about his contractual status when he's interviewed on the InYourHead.com radio show tonight. The news broke last week that Nash had agreed to terms on a new deal, yet his bio has since been removed from the TNA roster. Was there a falling out? Are they using their website to launch another storyline?

-I'm looking forward to attending Monday's Raw at Target Center in Minneapolis. It's been a few years since I've attended a WWE taping in person so I'm looking forward to seeing how much things have changed. I've read about the various things they do before and after the shows and during the commercial breaks to keep the live crowd entertained, but it will be fun to experience this in person. Rich Twilling will by flying solo with the live coverage on Monday night, but I'll have plenty of details from the show either late Monday night or on Tuesday morning.

-Dot Net Members are currently reading the latest "Powell's Bonus Blog" in the members' blog section. I tend to break away from pro wrestling in the bonus blog and today's post features comments on Matt Millen finally leaving the Lions, FOX's "Fringe" TV show, and whatever else was on my mind this morning. You can read my bonus blogs and write your own blogs and enjoy all the other perks of membership for only $5 per month. You can become a member right now by visiting the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: