Missing Mania: The Great Khali is a big deal in India

The Great Khali is a big deal in India
by Kev Kellam


Now the Great Khali is no technical master in the ring. You are never going to see a "five star clasic" from this monster of a man. Plus he's not much of the dream boat, that WWE sarcastically props him up to be. And he's far from the charismatic showman needed, to talk fans into a match. Hell, this giant can't even speak any language let alone English. If you got your pet dog in front of your TV during an episode of Friday Night Smackdown when the Great Khali is on the mic, your dog would have better chance than you, of understanding what it is Khali's actually saying. His mutton-chopped manager with the bedazzled velvet coats is not helping either. His monstrous body and menacing look are what keep him employed with WWE. He's just big, really abnormally big. To be blunt, The "Punjabi Playboy" circus act is just tired and unfunny, and is not something fitting the grandest stage in all of pro wrestling, Wrestlemania.

So why am I making note of his absence on a show no suspects Khali to be on to begin with?

Khali is a massive attraction in his native land of India, one of WWE's biggest foreign TV markets right now. It probably still sounds debatable that Khali would be seen as a pay per view draw anywhere in the world but WWE's Stephanie Macmahon was quoted in the Wall Street Journal recently, praising Khali's drawing power in his homeland. She went so far, as to say “He’s like a god over there”. Macmahon is being honest too. If you don't believe her, check out this worship from Khali's countrymen:

"This 36-year old Indian giant has already proved his caliber in the world arena, but this is not the end — it is just the beginning for this Indian legend!" - Merinews.com (an Indian pop culture news site, read the whole article here)

So money making logic leads one to believe, the Great Khali should just be crammed into the Mania card to make some money in Mumbai right? Currently there is no place for the Indian Giant on this year's Mania at this point in time, but it could be a real stunt to see Khali try climb a ladder in the Money in the Bank match. But that does not seem likely as WWE has made no mention in the past few weeks of adding another wrestler to the already crowded match which currently has 9 wrestlers seeking to win the briefcase with a guaranteed World title shot.

Khali could possibly be tethered to an autograph table during the week long Mania festivities, scribbling his name on 8x10 photos with a Sharpie, like a lot of WWE superstars. Hopefully, that is the closest the Great Khali gets to any wrestling ring in Phoenix.

Missing Mania: Yoshi Tatsu is still learning the language of the WWE

Yoshi Tatsu is still learning the language of the WWE
by Kevin Kellam 3/20/10

This young immigrant star from New Japan Pro Wrestling was a bright spot on ECW in 2009-10. Even though he may have entrance music that sounds better fitted for a Skittles candy commercial, his naieve foreigner personalty has made him into an endearing up 'n comer. His character as a Japanese guy learning the language and way of life in America may seem like comedic fodder especially his giggle-worthy backstage skits with Goldust, but it's his stellar ring work that makes him really shine. His singles matches on ECW were consistently action-packed. His atheletic grace in the ring is undeniable. Yoshi is able to move very fast but not too fast. He just sets engaging tone to his matches. And pay attention to his finishing move, the Buzzsaw Kick. It just looks brutal.

It's also worth noting that Tatsu is making a hard adjustment with the "WWE style" of pro wrestling. Especially when you consider he started his pro wrestling career in the NJPW Dojo, where hard hitting "strong style" is the philosophy. Also he has adjusted well with his showmanship, a performance characteristic which is not ever present in his homeland's wrestling world.

Now with his limited grasp of the English language, one could understand his absence from WrestleMania 26. With the mainstream audience you need a big time personalty that is loud and reels in the masses.Yoshi may be lovable, but he's just that right now, lovable. But you don't say "Hey that guy who won the World Title, He's just lovable". Nobody goes over on bruisers like Batista and the Big Show, if they are just 'lovable'.

No these wrestlers need some grit, they need a little edge. Yoshi needs that killer edge to propel himself. Maybe give Yoshi a manager, like a good valet or veteran wrestler to groom him with grizzle. It's also worth nothing that Yoshi's WWE career is still in it's infancy. He has time to grow and does appear to be heading towards the "future endeavors" of released WWE talent.The kind hearted head kicker from Japan is not ready for the bright lights of pay per view just yet, but with some upgrades, he could get there. And if he does, you could see him putting on some show-stealing matches on pay per view in the future.

But I could also be putting my foot in my mouth in a couple months when Tatsu is just stuck doing jobber patrol in three minute matches on Monday Night RAW.

Missing Mania : Kofi Kingston's Trouble in WWE Paradise

Kofi Kingston's Troble in WWE Paradise
by Kevin Kellam 3/20/2010

If you told the common WWE fan in November of 2009, that Kofi Kingston was not going to be a part of Wrestlemania 26, they would have been shocked. Since debuting in 2008, Kingston has had a rocket tied to his back, wowing fans along the way with his boom-boom leg drops and roundhouse head kicks. It looked like Kofi was going straight to the top. And just as he established himself in his first high-profile feud with Randy Orton, it seemed as though the rocket fuel had ran out.

The Orton story brought depth to Kingston's happy-go-lucky character who was not considered a threat to any main event star at the time. After weeks of attacks by Orton, Kofi laid an angry beat-down on the former WWE Champ,which ended with Orton being smashed through an equipment table. Standing tall over Orton at Madison Square Garden on RAW, Kofi Kingston seemed destined for a match on the 2010 edition of Wrestlemania.

Now with a only week left to Wrestlemania 26, Kingston has no match booked for the biggest night in pro wrestling. His feud with Orton faded by January, and fell to wayside as WWE built bigger stories for the pay-per-view spectacular on March 28th in Phoenix.Still wrestling fans are asking why the breakout young star of 2009 is not booked for the biggest show of 2010?

Reputable wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has speculated Randy Orton complained to management, about Kingston underselling his RKO finisher in a televised match and this got Kingston in trouble. Did this supposed in-ring error cost Kingston his Mania Moment?

Also on an already stacked super-card with Shawn Michaels/Undertaker, the returning Bret Hart/Vince McMahon and several big time championship matches, Kingston's chances of making it on the big show are slim. If a tenth wrestler is added to the crowded field of nine wrestlers for the Money in the Bank ladder match, Kingston would have to be a likely choice. But that is just an "if", and nothing more.

This is first in short series that looks at WWE superstars who for whatever reason, miss the cut for Wrestlemania 26 on March 28th. For more info on this pay per view, www.wwe.com

UPDATE 3/21/10 : KOFI MAYBE KICKING HIS WAY INTO WRESTLEMANIA
Prowrestling.net is reporting, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania will now feature ten participants instead of the originally scheduled eight.

The final spot will be determined this Monday night on Raw (3/22/10) with Kofi Kingston as the favorite.

The ninth competitor is revealed on tonight's episode of Friday Night SmackDown, United States Champion Drew McIntyre.