Dear pregnant Kharma - you're an idiot

Ok ok, so I shouldn't call a woman an idiot for getting pregnant, but I will anyway, because in this case it was Kharma, the WWE women's division's saving grace. She was the one that was going to help legitimize wrestling again for the WWE Divas. She was being built up as this unstoppable force, and now we are being told she will be stopped - for at least nine months - because she got herself pregnant.

Now I understand things happen, but when you have a powerful company like the WWE backing you, and  investing in you, you don't get pregnant. Sorry, you just don't. You do everything you can to not get pregnant. You know why? Because this is the very thing that makes male fans go "see, this is why women shouldn't be in wrestling."

I now understand the whole crying in the ring thing, because they have to write her out, knock her down, and take her off the air. And honestly I can't see a comeback happening a year or so down the line, because she's already disappointed so many.

Perhaps the tears were real on her end after all.

Dear big bad...crying? Kharma

 

Well the WWE sure through us all for a loop last night because when I saw the eight diva tag team match about to go down, and Kharma come out I thought for sure, here they're finally going to kick her ass, or she's going to dominate everyone. This is gonna be a great showing...

But instead we got this:

Kharma crying? She collapsed in the middle of the ring, muttering to herself, we even had actual tears, and no match took place. By the time they came back from commercial all the girls had disappeared. What a rip. Maybe they're going to diva her up and make her wear little tight dresses and pink streaks in her hair. Maybe she's crying because she wants to be like them? Who knows. I was just hoping for Beth to get a chance to do something. But with the WWE you never know what they're gonna do with the women, so there may be a chance this was a fluke encounter.

I'm off all this week, preparing for my wedding, so I'm going to workout a bit, and finish watching my Shimmer vol. 36 dvd. And then run around like crazy. So this'll probably be my last post until next week. 

Dear winds of change

Watching last week's Smackdown made me very happy. Ok, not the part where my fave, Natalya, lost to a Bella of all things, but because I start to sense the WWE's attempts to legitimize the Women's division once again. How are they doing this? Well in very subtle ways right now, but they made their mark. Backstage interviews with the women? Unheard of considering no one ever cared about what they had to say before. A screen cap of an upcoming Diva's match for a PPV? I can't remember the last time I seriously saw something like this:

Natalya had to carry the match to make the Bella look somewhat serious for her upcoming match with Kelly Kelly, so I understand. But I think the WWE seriously missed their opportunity to have a real women's competitor stand up to Kharma. I know it's coming, just hoped for a little sneak preview. Patience I suppose.

I wonder if these various first steps made by the WWE have anything to do with TNA changing to "IMPACT Wrestling" and talking about how wrestling is what it's about, and that their women are serious competitors. I wonder if Vince is getting a little nervous and is trying to make the women's division about wrestling again too, and not just talk and good looks. Though it's going to be hard for them to sway my love for the Winter/Angelina Love/VelvetSky angle they've got going on over on Impact.

This however, is just scary:

Dear Shimmer Women

I heard about Shimmer a few months ago, an all women wrestling league, but never watched it. I think the fact that they don't travel to do shows made me hesitant to become attached to the organization, because I knew I would have to order dvds just to see the matches. Well I caved and I ordered shimmer's Vol 36. the other day, and of course am refreshed to see MATCHES again between women wrestlers. Good choice.

While rough around the edges, Shimmer is a great wrestling company for those who can appreciate girls who kick ass. Some of their promos are a bit...eh, but mic skills are not important in these showings, wrestlings skills are however a must. Some of the characters are pretty cool. I like Misaki Ohata, Leva Bates, and Mercedes Martinez, (all seen below). Very different styles, but their presence draws you in.

If I ever make it to Chicago, I know where I'm going.

Dear women in paint

I love to paint - every once in a while. I say that because once I'm done a painting I'm exhausted mentally and artistically. It takes a lot out of me to obsess over something, to get it just the way I envisioned it, but to be angry at my hands for lacking the ability to pull the image straight out of my head. In the past I have mostly painted animals, because that's what I was good at. But it gets boring because it's not risky, or passionate, it's just cute. So I wanted to find something to spray across a canvas that would make people think, and be a little more dangerous than a duck or a tired kitty.

So I thought why not paint women's wrestling? It's beautiful, it's controversial in a sense, and it's something i'm very passionate about. I wanted it to be a little abstract, but not so much so that there are female limbs painted in every which way with a tampon taped to the front - not that extreme. But enough to convey pieces of these athletics in a new way.

So below is my very first in the series I hope to continue. Still sitting on the easel, tried to get it in the best light I could. I call it "Roped In"

Dear new Layla

I am so happy to see Layla wrestling! Like, no, really wrestling, not just screaming and pulling hair.  The reign of Michelle McCool is over, and Layla has managed to start looking like a pro.

She escaped the wrath of Kharma, who set her eyes on Alicia Fox. Kharma gave her a vicious clothesline, which actually did injure her shoulder (although I speculate Alicia Fox just didn't land correctly).

 Layla ran her cute little ass out of there. You've gotta admit, even her scared face is pretty

So the first real casualty of Vince's "I hire models" policy has occurred and we're getting a sense of what the women's division is going to endure if they don't start stacking their roster with real athletes.

I am also happy to announce that I will be attending Smackdown here in Philly in July, and my fiance and I have 2nd row seats!!! Thrilled to death. 

Dear Kharma for your past deeds

Well the tide has turned, and Kharma (formerly Awesome Kong) has made her debut into the WWE world. She appeared after Layla finally defeated Michelle, at the PPV Extreme Rules. The stipulation that Michelle would now have to leave the WWE was apparently not enough retribution in Kharma's eyes, so she added...well injury to injury by taking out the blonde.

RAW last night, I assumed we would be seeing her make her debut to TV, and I was right. During the match between Maryse and Kelly Kelly, the barbie smashing beast made her way to the ring again, her eyes set on smashing some implants. Kelly Kelly was oddly enough spared, but not without a good scaring.

So as of now, she is dishing out some karma towards the heels of the company...the white hats are getting off so far. But I

wonder how long until that changes, and she decides to demolish all the little cheerleaders in the locker room.

Michelle leaving the WWE was a big shocker to me. Not that I will necessarily miss her, but she has been around for a long time. Apparently the injuries have been catching up with her. The minute they announced the stipulation, I knew she would be gone. But this happily gives Layla some time to shine.

In the coming weeks, I think we all expect to see the women's division step up their game now that Kharma has been introduced.

Nattie and Beth Phoenix are probably celebrating right now.

The latest from mattel: Scared Barbie

Dear Pickle Jar

Trilbie - 1 Pickle Jar - 0

Looks like my workouts have paid off. My first attempt to open a pickle jar since working on my arms, and I popped that bitch right open. First victory.

Fuck you pickles. Pwned.

Dear baby muscles

I've really been enjoying working out as of late, since I'm starting to see some tiny results. I call them my baby muscles. My fiance hates when I talk about them, but I don't care! They are there and I need to feed them some tougher exercises now. The last two weeks my body got accustom to my Jillian Michaels 5 pounds weights, doing some fun upper body workouts. This new week will start the 8 pounders. Maybe baby muscles will grow to toddler muscles.

My brother calls them fetuses.

Went out jogging a couple of times, in my swanky new get up of pink sports bra and shiny tight pants.

We found a cool spot to run beside the water at Penns Landing, so we're gonna hit that up once it stops raining.

Oh, and I got my Natalya figure in the mail. Loving her.

Beyond that, been watching wrestling, waiting to see the changes begin for the women's division. Last night Michelle McCool seemed to have finally broken up with Layla as tag team partners.  Maybe she'll get to toughen up and take her on as revenge?

Dear WWE women - look out!

Last night on RAW, we were treated to a vignette, where we see a hidden Kong flicking the head off of a barbie doll. Perhaps the end is coming to the Divas only interested in appearing in the ring to model? For those who don't know who Kong is, see picture below. Then picture the Divas trying to take her on.

I think this means a lot of things for the women's division. First off, last night, Eve losing the title to one of the Bella's was obviously done so Kong can come and destroy her and take the belt. After that happens, the girls have no choice but to amp up their abilities in the ring to even think about going up against this beast.

I also like to think that wrestlers like Natalya and Beth Phoenix will be given their chance to shine, since they are two of the most powerful in the women's division. I think Tamina, daughter of Jimmy Fly Snuka, will finally get to break away from the classic valet girl role, and wrestle again.

It was interesting to see backstage segments with the women lately, especially last night where Eve enters the women's locker room, upset over her loss, and tells the other women waiting there to console her, that they are all the same. Tamina walks in with a dirty look towards the girls, and leaves. 

I think this is going to be the beginning of a new line up, full of women who are going to be passionate about this title.

Dear Tough Enough Contestants

Why do you show up, knowing you're going to be taping a show about being TOUGH ENOUGH to be a WWE wrestler - and you're not in shape? Did you even hit the gym before getting on that plane ride?

It amazes me the one woman, Michelle Deighton, (seen in the pic above) claims she has been wrestling the indie circuit over the past 11 years - and can't even perform a basic roll in the ring. Someone lied on their application. I like her attitude, she would probably be able to handle the mic very well - but she has no muscle, no skills, and came on pretending to already be a wrestler. Making the ladies look weak missy.

Ivelisse, who I had no idea was Puerto Rican until she opened her mouth on RAW last night, wasn't able to show off too much in the first ep, but I have a feeling she might have some skills.

I'm looking forward to this show potentially pushing forward a new class of WWE Diva - the kind that wants to wrestle.

My question: If one of these females makes it through, will the WWE gods push for a boob job? It's kind of well known that many of the women get where they get by enhancing the goods. And I noticed these girls don't have as much as, lets say, Miss USA does. Lita wrote in her biography that she ended up opting for the extra cuppage because she felt that it would help her get to a higher level. Sad. But really necessary? Time will tell.

Dear Wrestlemania 27

Haven't written in a while, so what better way to come back then to talk about Wrestlemania 27 and it's victories and failures.

The hype for The Rock being the host was so drawn out, that by the time the event had arrived, I think we were all kind of tired of it, right? We didn't get a diva's championship match, but we did get Pee Wee Herman backstage with The Rock? Ok...I'll let that one slide. But Snooki upstaging Trish - to quote The Miz - really? There was no Natalya to be found, and Eve - our champion - was dressed up backstage as a prop for The Rock. Eh...ok...Mae young made a quick appearance, and at least Trish's match was entertaining for a bit, but the whole end of the PPV was dead. The silence from the crowd was deafening. And not finding out who that damn anonymous general manager is yet! Come on!

But for the first half, me and mine had a lot of fun, cheering and yelling and doing victory air trumpets with Santino. And seeing Trish at Wrestlemania again was, if nothing else, great nostalgia.

Dear typical man that is Michael Cole

Alright, ENOUGH already with the interrupting of a women's match by Michael Cole. He has cemented his character as a total douche bag, there's no reason to continue to disrespect the women's division by screaming over their matches, calling for it to be over already. This storyline is just bad. So unless it is leading up to all of the Divas kicking his little midget ass,  it needs to end.

Honestly, I get why they're doing it, but it's just in bad taste. Because the company is already known for not giving their female wrestlers much respect, and this just brings it to light. They should be trying to get away from that image, to compete with what TNA is doing.

Speaking of which - there were TWO women's matches on RAW last night...ok, one was an intergender match - but it still counts! There were women in the ring fighting, twice. Maybe us females out here, who complain on blogs about female wrestlers are getting some notice? Probably not, but I can dream.

Seeing Trish come out made my night. She got some slow mo entrance action with John Morrison, and the one on one between he and Dolph Ziggler soon became an intergender match when, of course, LayCool and Vickie wanted to butt in. The only problem was it was four on two, so we all know how that ended.

Dear Angelina and Winter

So I finally pushed myself (I hate spending money on myself) to buy my running sneakers and my Jillian Michaels dumbbell set today - through amazon of course! I saved $30 on shipping and everything should come in about a week. Not to let anyone down, I've still been working out with my little weights here on my yoga mat. Once the sneakers arrive (I somehow lost ONE sneaker in the move to our new home, so haven't been able to go jogging) I'll soon be heading outside in our new spring weather. 

Next on the list is to see if I can find Vega shakes anywhere around here. A vegetarian fitness expert who found me on twitter recommended the instant powder mix to me, since it doesn't carry animal products in it. I have a feeling Whole Foods might have it...

Earlier I was watching some TNA matches with Winter in the mix, so for fun, here's a match for you!

Dear TNA's Winter

I'm really digging your vibe Winter, I like the mystery and oddness...The fact that you came to the ring blindfolded with black lace was pretty damn cool. And the spinning sideslam backbreaker that you finished your opponent off with was gorgeous. So my new fave to watch.

I liked the mix tag action this past week on Impact. I missed Smackdown, but I usually don't miss out on much when I do. So I don't feel so bad.

Today it's beautiful outside. I wish I had bought myself new sneakers to go jogging in. I've got to force myself to do that this week. Instead I'm gonna go work on my arms, and attempt some manly pushups. So just a short blog today, it's just too nice out.

Dear 3/14/11's Raw

All week I was excited for Monday night Raw, knowing that Trish Stratus was returning for a match against Vickie Guerrero. And knowing this was her opponent, obviously the match wasn't going to be spectacular. But nonetheless I was dying to see Trish in the ring again. The feuds between her and Lita were what got me watching women's wrestling to begin with, so as far as I'm concerned, she pioneered the way for me.

So there was some silliness, Vickie doing an en garde with her sneaker, Snooki sitting at ringside. It was all pretty ridiculous. But LayCool emerged from the back to make it a battle, and we got to see some moves  there. Good news came at the end when LayCool were apart of a challenge to Trish and Snooki for a Wrestlemania match. Trish + Wrestlemania = ppv money well spent in my eyes.

And did I mention that Layla has been looking really good lately? Well she is. I wish they'd expand her character and let her actually - you know - be good at being a wrestler.

This week I'm looking at getting a punching bag - or maybe even Bob. You know the creepy looking rubber dude that you get to wail on? I told my fiance if I do end up buying him, that I'm making him wear a shirt, because his peachy rubber muscles look creepy. I'll keep you updated on what I decide on getting.

Dear TNA Redemption

I decided to give you another chance TNA. After all, it isn't fair to shape an entire opinion on something after only one experience with it. If that were the case, New Jersey would have wiped out strip clubs for me indefinitely. Just awful. So I tuned in Thursday night with fingers crossed and decided my second time around that there are some pros with the cons. So good for you guys!

The Pros:

• The women had two matches on TV Thursday night. Two. I would kill to see that in the WWE.
• The characters and dialogue are more natural, like if you were to hang out with them for a night this is probably how they'd really be - minus the boob punching.
• I like that the responses are plausible, i.e Mickie James staring down Madison and actually looking tough and angry, getting her to back off, as opposed to, lets says, Layla in the WWE talking trash and then running to the ropes for saving by Michelle McCool and her broken foot.
• It seems to me that uniqueness is allowed in TNA. The odd or even just crazy characters seem to be allowed to play out their mannerisms instead of conforming to a predictable script. Making me more interested in who these women are.

The Cons:

• It seemed like a lot more scrabbling than professional moves within these matches. Maybe not a fair  assessment of the division as a whole, since I only saw 2 weeks worth of matches so far.
• Cheap pops for sex appeal ran rampant, with Angelina & Velvet especially, as they shook their asses right into the camera while Taz on commentary yelled "release the pigeons!" WTF does that mean? I guess if WWE's "puppies" means "tits" then TNA's "release the pigeons!" is code for "show us your anus!" I'm all for sexy women - but not to the point of degrading themselves to anus level. 

But I will concede and say that the matches were at least refreshing. TNA, I'll keep watching. You got me.

*Note : nothing special to report about Smackdown last night. That is all.

Dear WWE Superstars, why a Chicago station?

After a little afternoon workout today I came upstairs into my loft (which is a bit of a workout in and of itself, climbing to the third floor by way of spiral staircases) and took a break on the computer. I stumbled across WWE Superstars on Hulu. I had never watched the show, and found the reason why is that the channel (WGN america) doesn't air here in Philadelphia on Comcast. Of course.

I hate you Comcast, because I would like to watch this show. The girls actually get to wrestle!  I watched a match  between Natalya and Alicia Fox - and was not only impressed with how they played off of each other - but how they were actually allowed a ton of ring time.

Now on RAW and Smackdown as we all know, it's a miracle to get a solid match from the womens division anymore. But at least on the episode I watched, Natalya got to show off what all of her training in the Hart Dungeon produced and Alicia Fox can actually sell pretty damn well. Natalya did botch a move at the end by slamming Alicia down onto her side, (maybe it was Alicia's fault for not holding herself up correctly, not sure) but the majority of the match was very solid.

Maybe there's hope after all *tear* ... if WGN america wants to get on the ball and get over onto Comcast. Get to it strange station I never heard of until now!

Dear men who forgot what month it is

Shocker - the men made a mockery of the women's match this week on Raw - during Women's History Month. Not only did the show's commentator, Michael Cole, get to jump up on the mic and proclaim to the audience that the match that was in progress between Eve and one of the Bellas needed to be over already, that no one there cared or wanted to see the women wrestling, but some of the fat, redneck morons in the front row actually began to clap for this chauvinistic display.

I get it, it's apart of the story, apart of making Michael Cole a huge douche bag - but some writer actually sat there and decided it was appropriate to throw these women under the bus to make it happen. While they're already having a tough time with the men hecklers in the audience who couldn't care less about the women's division, they now have to deal with their own company treating their match with no dignity or respect.

And it's a real shame, because the match actually had some good momentum going before they decided to use it as fodder. We finally had the Bellas caught in their switcheroo trick, and the Bella that was getting schooled by Eve had no option but to take her finishing moves. I give them credit for dealing with the distraction of a man yelling the opinion of all the macho idiots in the arena who only care about seeing tits, rather than talent, I do. But it was like watching two little girls at a pool party pleading "look at us" as they cannonball off of a diving board, only to come back up and be told by their father that he didn't watch it - oh, and that he also pissed in the water.

But I digress, and report that my muscles are feeling nice and sore after my yoga workout last night. Did my light weights today and some easy leg exercises to just take it easy. I've also been ebaying it up, which I love to do, for some WWE women's wrestling merch. I wanted to decorate a little workout area here with it, just as some fun inspiration. I'm looking to get the Natalya action figure which is apparently rare with only one being in every case, so I cant order one until the end of the month. There are also some neat cards that have pieces of the event used mats in them that the various women wrestled on. I'll decide on some things soon, and will post the pics of the space I eventually create.

Beyond searching ebay, I happened upon the WWE website's Women's history dedication. So for those of you who aren't the type to heckle women out of a ring, they do at least have a section up on their site for us, so check it out here.

Dear Jillian Michaels

So I'm dying to try out your adjustable dumbbell set Jillian Michaels, unfortunately I can't find it anywhere. And your site wants to charge me ON TOP of shipping, an extra $20 to deliver it to my door? No thanks. 

I tried amazon, but the set is sold out, they only have a single for the same price of getting the pair when it's on sale. Again, no thanks. So I'm stuck here with my measly 3 pound weights again, until either the Michaels set comes in, or I find another set I like.

I was excited to buy my weights, since my income tax check came in, and I could actually splurge on something, but I guess for this week I'll do the Jillian Michaels Yoga workout. This isn't your typical yoga now, it's Yoga MELTDOWN. And yes, she will make your body feel like it's going to melt into a puddle by the end. I did it a few months back for a while, but now that I'm sticking to this getting into top physical shape thing, I think I'll go back to it - and try not to cry.

I also love the fact that Trish Stratus will be like a yoga drill sergeant on WWE's Tough Enough show, which I cant wait for! She looks great. Definitely something to aim for.

Dear TNA's "creative" writing team

I cannot begin to express the disappointment I felt when tuning in to TNA this past Thursday to catch the Knockouts match, instead finding a mixture of The Jersey Shore and an anorexic porn star as the segment's focal points. Sad. This is not what I expected to find, considering how highly many spoke of the women wrestlers in this league.

When I think of the women I look up to, and the look I hope to achieve through my own training, I DO NOT think of this:

Thankfully my week of following the ladies did not end on a sour note, Smackdown gave the women a little bit more time to show everybody what they got, (but just a little) with Beth Phoenix and Rosa vs. LayCool.

And as much as people want to hate on the WWE, and how polished it is, at least the women aren't so polished that all credibility in their talent is scrubbed away. To do what these girls do, I know they have to train hard, to take the bumps and to pull off the maneuvers they can achieve with their bodies. I will hold out hope that the WWE will follow in TNA's footsteps in one aspect though, and give these women the time in the ring they need, to be able to prove that they can either play in the big leagues, or that they need to join botox bimbo over in the Knockouts. That's right, I said it. Angel Williams looks like a blow up doll.