Powell's Blog Powell's Blog: Jeff Hardy still showing up in WWE advertising, big Dot Net Weekly audio show, Eric Young's push is doing more harm than good, WWE marijuana policy, NFL kickoff By Jason Powell Sep 11, 2009 - 11:45 AM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing Friday, September 11 – 11:45 A.M. (CT) -WWE is still advertising Jeff Hardy for Saturday's WWE house show event in Ottawa and other upcoming shows. I realize that the ads are done weeks and even months out and then sent to the arenas to post on their websites, but we've known for months that Hardy wasn't sticking around. WWE will definitely create some frustration with fans who purchase tickets for shows because they see these dated advertisements. Yes, WWE has written Hardy off television, they didn't even bother to move him off the Smackdown page and into the WWE Alumni section until earlier this week. Furthermore, fans also know that retirements and "loser leaves" stipulations are blown off routinely in wrestling. One can only assume that there are some casual fans who trust the advertising, believe the Hardy situation is just a storyline, and will be disappointed when he doesn't appear on the show. Don't believe me? Check out the reaction Hardy's music received from the live crowd on Smackdown last week before C.M. Punk came out dressed in his gear. Those fans definitely thought they were going to see the real Hardy. -Today's Dot Net Weekly audio show with Rich Twilling and I discussing the latest news will be filled with WWE and TNA news and notes that haven't been reported anywhere else. It will be a loaded show and you can score instant access to all Dot Net Audio, the members' forum, the ad-free site, and more for only $5 per month by visiting the Dot Net Members' Signup Page. -I was tough on Eric Young in my TNA Impact report last night. I stand by what I wrote, but I actually feel bad for the guy. Whether the similarities between his character and Chris Jericho's heel character are intentional or now, it comes across as a second rate knockoff. I also believe Young would have a better chance of getting over if he wasn't being pushed down the throats of viewers in this mid-card heel faction. It's even possible that the World Elite faction would be more over if they were the only faction in TNA. Unfortunately, they come across poorly because it's obvious that the Main Event Mafia is the, well, main event faction. I was all for Young turning heel and abandoning the played out babyface comedy character and I think the guy has some talent, but TNA creative is doing more harm than good by pushing him and World Elite so aggressively. -I'm disappointed that WWE has raised the fine for a positive marijuana test result from $1,000 to $2,500. Yes, pot is illegal outside states where it's use is permitted for medicinal use, but I'm a big believer in legalizing marijuana and using the tax money to pump some life into the economy. Don't agree? I don't care. Seriously, spare me the emails because you're not going to change my mind. The real reason I'm mentioning the issue is that I'm curious to know what would happen if a WWE wrestler possessed a medicinal marijuana card from a state such as California. Can WWE still fine a wrestler if he has a medical card that permits his use of the drug, particularly if the wrestler lives in said state? I'd appreciate it if anyone with specific legal knowledge of how this works could pass along the details. -What a great kickoff for the NFL last night. An overtime game in the first game of the season? Really? Does it get any better than that? Can you believe the Madden video game cover curse struck again with Troy Polamalu suffering a strained MCL last night? I don't put much stock in "sports curses," but I'd be a little nervous right now if I were Larry Fitzgerald, who shares the cover with Polamalu this year. Can they please put Cris Collinsworth on the cover next year so that he loses his voice and I don't have to listen to his smarmy commentary? For those who care, I picked the Patriots to beat the Vikings in the Super Bowl in the Dot Net Members' forum. Are the Vikings a homer pick? I'll let you be the judge of that. I went with the Pats in spite of the fact that their defense isn't as good on paper as it has been. Let's not forget that Bill Belichick has a history of turning no-name defensive players into stars. Plus, it gets no better than the Tom Brady to Randy Moss hookup. -Did you encounter the problems I said you would with a certain fantasy football website last night? There's still time to move your league to Myfantasyleague.com. I moved our main league earlier this week and it was easy to do and the online scoring system worked like a charm last night. HELP SUPPORT DOT NET! BECOME A MEMBER AT OUR CHARTER RATE OF JUST $5 A MONTH - GET THE FIRST LOOK AT EXCLUSIVE INSIDER DOT NET NEWS, TONS OF EXCLUSIVE AUDIO SHOWS, MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, START YOUR OWN BLOG, AD-FREE MAIN LISTING: SIGN ME UP (or MORE INFO) GOT AN IPHONE OR IPOD TOUCH? THEN BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR NEW FREE iPhone APP: (click here!) (or SEARCH "pro wrestling" in iTunes App Store) FOR MORE BREAKING WWE & TNA NEWS AND COMMENTARY, VISIT OUR AFFILIATE PWTORCH.COM (click here!) FOR MORE MMA & UFC NEWS AND COMMENTARY, VISIT OUR AFFILIATE MMATORCH.COM (click here!) 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