Cageside Seats Weekly RECs: Week ending Feb. 15

We're back with yet another dose of amazing work injected by you, the Cageside commenters. Many of you have impressed us all by producing some amazing work and golden comments yet again. So it's that time of the week to recognize the excellent FanPosts, FanShots, and comments that were the "Best in the World" (of Cageside) this past week.

As always, thanks to Cagesider Ecstasy with Extra Cheese for cleverly naming our Weekly Cageside Commenters Awards "The RECs", which perfectly sums up what this feature tries to do. After all, without all of you, Cageside Seats would not be the greatest pro wrestling website on the Internet.

So, without further ado, we present to you...

The cSs REC Awards:

Recognizing Excellence in Contributing

• Cagesider 'Kyle Fitta' explained exactly why it's time to rethink John Cena's workrate
• Cagesider 'NegroGrande' shared what the kids watching WWE think of Superstars
• Cagesider 'DaVeganDemon' made his arguement of why Dolph Ziggler is the number one jobber
• Cagesider 'WhyILoveWrestling' conjectured about Professional Wrestling as an Olympic Sport
• Cagesider 'AndeeMarshall' fantasized about turning The Undertaker heel to maximize the streak
• Cagesider *Asterisk* backed up his argument on why ADR vs. Henry is a seriously good idea

From the "WWE 'SmackDown' Results and Video Playlist for Feb. 8: House of Pain thread:

What is James Strutter doing in the Impact Zone? by The_Voice_Of_Treason on Feb 9, 2013 2:00 PM EST 1 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Saturday, Feb. 9: Tangled up in you" thread:

Been up for 28 soon to be 29 hours straight.....I've lasted longer than Dolph's WHC title reign by Sonnens Political Adviser on Feb 9, 2013 2:43 PM EST 3 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Sunday, Feb. 10: For my brother" thread:

No Stopping for Blood.

I’m currently in Bangkok waiting to fly to New York (oh joy snow) so I thought I would share a story from my youth

When I was a boy, my Dad used to take me to the Cow Palace in San Francisco to watch Rasslin. The biggest star was Ray Stevens – but there were many others too such as Pat Patterson, Peter Maivia and Rocky Johnson (Rock fans know who they are) and many others.

Anyway, the monthly shows followed a formula which spawned a meme for our family – assuming I understand what a meme is. Essentially in a fued the first time two grapplers met the bout might end in disqualification – so the next month they repeated the match with a stip of No DQ – Or the match might end with a time limit draw – so next time the “No Time Limit” stip was added. But my favorite was when they ended the match because someone (usually the face) was “Too badly cut to continue” – so of course that led to a rematch with the stip – can you guess what’s coming? – “NO STOPPING FOR BLOOD” – which usually meant a bloody brawl. Of course these stips could be combined as required.

So I am flying to Frankfurt then New York – 21 hours in the air – massive blizzard in New York all to visit my sister. But I will get there – because there is “No Stopping for Blood”

Cheers CSS – Wish me luck! by JimSlute on Feb 10, 2013 9:50 AM EST 4 recs

and also from the same thread...

[On The Miz injuring CM Punk]

sounds like another botched figure four

by Kanenite on Feb 10, 2013 12:13 PM EST 4 recs

and...

[On a potential name for The Miz & Mr. Anderson tag team]

Really, Assholes?

by ReverendKain on Feb 10, 2013 2:47 PM EST 3 recs

From the "Cageside Seats Weekly RECs: Week ending Feb. 8" thread:

Most of my pro wrestling fix comes form here. Full time work, school, pregnant wife and 16 month old kid doesn’t leave much time for WWE anymore. Honestly, 90% of what I know now comes from here, 10% is what I watch. by LowBudgetJeff on Feb 11, 2013 12:06 AM EST 3 recs

From the "CM Punk reportedly hurt at house show by Miz but should be okay to wrestle The Rock at Elimination Chamber" thread:

So [The Miz] got Ric Flair's finisher. And Sin Cara’s move set. by NegroGrande on Feb 10, 2013 7:08 PM EST 16 recs

and also from the same thread...

miz why do you make it so easy to hate you? In an xpac way, i mean by rancho king on Feb 10, 2013 7:18 PM EST 4 recs

and...

I'm wondering if we should finally change that expression to Miz heat. by *Asterisk* on Feb 10, 2013 7:20 PM EST 6 recs

and...

I'm re-posting this from the OT (with additional thoughts).

Fucking Miz……..

This is a guy who’s had it all, lived his little boy dream of headlining Wrestlemania as WWE champ and then fell so fucking hard in just under 2 years. Somehow he also has a super sexy woman by his side, but they’re probably perfect as a vain power couple. And he was given (kayfabe or not) the blessing of Ric Flair to use, and subsequently botch, the Figure Four. And to top it off, he’s supposed to be a fucking face and he’s failing at that, while almost seriously injuring someone.

What the fuck, Michael?

We know that you can be money on the stick when you need to be. We know that there’s some moments of talent (however rare they are) in you. Stop sucking at life and being complacent. Get your shit together.

Miz, if you read this later, fuck you. Don’t you dare injure Punk, my favorite guy and a fellow Chicagoan. by Blueblob4life on Feb 10, 2013 9:26 PM EST 3 recs

From the "CSS Daily Wrestling Rumor Roundup for Monday, Feb. 11" thread:

Khali's big wherever he goes, really. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week. by ReverendKain on Feb 11, 2013 11:14 AM EST 3 recs

and also from the same thread...

The new John Cena schedule actually scares me... So, instead of matches, which he can sometimes pull off, he’ll be given a microphone more? So we’re going to get MOREshitty Cena promos in an effort to prolong his career? Ugh… by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 11, 2013 9:46 AM EST 4 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Monday, Feb. 11: Bon Anniversaire à Moi" thread:

Look at me, not putting it in the subject line 'cause I gotta be different. Happy birthday, June. by ReverendKain on Feb 11, 2013 11:20 AM EST 3 recs

From the "Precap to the Feb. 11, 2013 episode of WWE "Monday Night Raw", or the one before the 'Elimination Chamber'" thread:

[On June taking over the Precap this week]

didn't notice that when reading on my phone. Good job, but that must explain why there weren’t a number of obvious typos or mistakes. Something just felt off when reading it, now I know what the glitch in the matrix was. by sioux1337 on Feb 14, 2013 5:06 AM EST 1 recs

From the "The Undertaker rumored to appear at tonight's (Feb. 2) WWE 'Monday Night Raw'" thread:

so [The Undertaker's] gonna hide in the arena a whole day before the show as to not spoil anything? that’s commitment, ladies and gentlemen by vhw_ on Feb 11, 2013 12:43 PM EST 3 recs

From the "Dear WWE, Listen to what the kids are saying…" thread:

I'm pretty sure that kid who loves Punks work rate and doesn't get Sheamus will be a member of cSs in a couple years by Phinsphana on Feb 11, 2013 7:43 PM EST 5 recs

From the "Brad Maddox need not appear on 'Raw' to be the best part of the night" thread:

when I write about how much I love this god damn place, it’s specifically in reference to stuff like this. This isn’t Bleacher Report or PWTorch where happiness and fun is pushed aside for recaps and lists… Our staff is passionate about what they do and our community. It’s too fucking fun and it rules too hard not to get a kick out of it. I’ve been sick for like a week with the shitty flu, but this shit just makes me feel better. by 8bitDan on Feb 14, 2013 8:24 AM EST 5 recs

From the "WWE Raw results and reactions from last night (Feb. 11): Just go home, cracky: thread:

I think I'm going to start walking into rooms…throwing plates and ornaments onto the floor before screaming “THAT’S WHAT I DO” and stomping out. by bensix on Feb 12, 2013 6:54 AM EST 5 recs

and also from the same thread...

I'd much rather see Austin do his thing than see Rock do a watered down version of what he use to do. Though Austin seems smart enough to have no intentions of even potentially tainting what he did with a bad return. by Chris Hines on Feb 12, 2013 8:33 AM EST 5 recs

and...

“I understand now that it was your right all along to be fat and lazy, just as it is my right to try and help you better yourselves, and this is what makes the United States a great country.” Cue the vignettes of [Antonio Cearo] helping some fat dudes work out and shit. by ReverendKain on Feb 12, 2013 2:25 PM EST 3 recs

and...

WHAT IS JWAYNE “THE BOULDER” DONSON DOING IN THE IMPACT ZONE!!! by The LOOGY on Feb 12, 2013 2:35 PM EST 4 recs

and...

I'll have to contest you on Rocky, Geno. There’s a very simple reason why Rocky cut that promo: get the Nashville fans as invested in him as possible so Punk gets booed as loudly as possible. Judging by the complete absence of face pops for Punk when he GTSed Rocky, it worked.

At this point, I’m not sure Rock has any real redeeming quality other than the fact that he brings more attention to the product. The problem with that? As a fan looking only to be entertained, that has zero bearing on me. None. No one has ever been entertained by the fact that someone is good for business. Ever.

Someone being good for business means they entertain the most people possible, while simultaneously making their opponents the most money possible. Maybe it’s not for you, but it’s pretty clear Punk/Rock’s the most popular feudWWE has going with the supermajority of their audience. Why shouldn’t they run it. by *Asterisk* on Feb 12, 2013 7:14 PM EST 3 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Tuesday, Feb. 12: Crazy On You, Heart" thread:

[The winning caption to this photo]

Girl in Red, “Smile for June’s birthday”

Girl in White, “But that was yesterday”

Girl in Red, “True, but we have to top Brad Maddox somehow”

by Blueblob4life on Feb 12, 2013 2:40 PM EST 3 recs

From the "ADR vs. Henry: A Seriously Good Idea" thread:

Last time I checked, I'm not a Latino. Maybe I should have my blood checked or something… by Man from Manila on Feb 12, 2013 11:37 PM EST 4 recs

and also from the same thread...

If Big Show's right, you should just be able to cut yourself and taste it. If it’s all hot sauce-y, you’re good to go. by ReverendKain on Feb 13, 2013 12:02 AM EST 3 recs

and...

Somebody gon' get their wig split.

Asterisk, you acknowledge that “Henry beating a bunch of people and being fucking huge gave him legitimacy as a heel in the eyes of the audience, weather he deserves it or not is irrelevant.” Further, that "Mark Henry’s still has plenty of heat from steamrolling Orton, Kane, Khali, Hornswoggle, and Big Show that just can’t be given to anyone else on the roster in only two months. "

Mark Henry is a monster heel. That’s his character. He does an exceptional job with it. His in-ring performances exude dominance and wig splittin’. His promos are those of an otherwise gentle man deeply hurt, realizes that time is running short on his career and the only way to realize his dreams is to engage in some serious, painful wig splittin’ which he deeply enjoys in spite of himself.

Crowds react strongly to Henry’s mighty displays of wig splittin’. He is a big, mean, strong man with a character that works well in the same vein of the Big Show’s big nasty giant. Further, while Henry is “already” 41, age is somewhat fungible in wrestling. Henry’s gimmick isn’t old and, though his general presence might be, he is still relatively new as a genuine main eventer. Henry very much looks the part of a wig splittin’ monster heel, and he carries the role off deftly.

In short, Mark Henry is one of the best performers in WWE. If you disagree, well, perhaps you require a bit of wig splittin’ to set you straight.

(and I’m seriously geeked at even the thought of babyface ADR vs Mark Henry.) by GuyinNY on Feb 12, 2013 2:21 PM EST 8 recs

From the "Undertaker wasn't even backstage at Raw last night" thread:

I like to think that [The Undertaker] is still slowly walking to the stadium, with fog and lightning and fire behind him. by CaseygarnerPDX on Feb 12, 2013 2:17 PM EST 13 recs

From the "CSS Daily Wrestling Rumor Roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 13" thread:

[On a potential name for Brodus Clay & Tensai]

Jurasic Pork? by keyboard punk on Feb 13, 2013 11:48 AM EST 10 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Wednesday, Feb. 13: Calling You" thread:

[The winning caption to this photo]

“Have you ever actually hugged a human being before, John? This isn’t working.” by ReverendKain on Feb 13, 2013 1:25 PM EST 4 recs

and also from the same thread...

Won't work. Dolph’s briefcase can only be cashed in for a shot at being Patriarch of Constantinople. by ReverendKain on Feb 13, 2013 3:27 PM EST 4 recs

From the "Underrated and Under Appreciated Series (Overrated Special): "The Icon" Sting" thread:

I stinger splashed my buddy today …now he’s not my buddy anymore. Fuck you Sting! by IKH5150 on Feb 13, 2013 6:43 PM EST 5 recs

and also from the same thread...

Sting is a career upper midcard guy who is famous for two things

1. Being the foil to perhaps the most white hot over storyline in the business

2. Being the biggest name in the modern era to never work for Vince McMahon

When those are your credentials to being included in “Hall of Fame” level discussions, it means you’re overrated by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 13, 2013 9:18 PM EST 8 recs

and...

Sting is a career upper mid card guy may be pound for pound the worst comment ever greened on this site by ultmma on Feb 13, 2013 10:18 PM EST 4 recs

and...

A matter of perspective

I guess for me I see it differently as a southerner who was already very much an adult by the time the “Crow” Sting appeared and remember him before that first hand. Did he draw like anyone in WWF? No one in The NWA/WCW ever did, WCW always did terrible PPV business, even at the height of their popularity and Sting never did a PPV with WWFbacking so it’s not much of a comparison. What Sting was back in the 80’s and 90’s was the smart wrestling fans icon before there was Internet wrestling fans. In the days of callin phone hotlines and magazine polls Sting was the one people like us flocked to, he was the CM Punk of popularity of his day, the smark choice. In a world of cartoon crap fed to the masses by the WWF Sting was the underdog who never got sucked into the WWF, in a world of money talking Sting stayed loyal to one company (historically a really big deal). He was on the top of wrestling magazine polls at a time when the general public only saw Hulk Hogan at the top. In the late 80’s early 90’s if you had asked the average neck bearded comic book guy who was the best in pro wrestling they would of said “Sting”. He was underground iconic way before the NWO crap (the biggest “angle” in pro wrestling is also one of the most “over-rated”).

We all sit around and talk how great Punk is and how over-rated and stale and annoying Cena is, well that’s how it was in those days comparing Hogan and Sting. Let’s face it we all love Punk and Daniel Brian and guys like that but in the mainstream of WWE its all John Cena selling out house shows and drawing PPVs. If we had been doing “this” in 1990 then Sting would of been “our” guy. There is a reason when the last WCW Nitro aired the match that was the real send off was Flair vs Sting. So yea the whole crow bit was huge for his popularity but not anyone at that time could of pulled it off (Lex Luger repelling from the rafters would of been a huge Joke), It worked because Sting was WCW, he was the guy who in the dark days never left and he was defending his company from the WWF invaders from New York City (it’s a southern thing I guess). If Sting had ever left for the WWF himself then it wouldn’t of worked as well with him either, I think lots of time people looking backwards just don’t have the same perspective that us old farts who were way too in to this whole thing as adults pre-Monday Night Wars.

So is he “over-rated”? Well they are all grown men in underwear and silly costumes who roll around with each other in front of crowds pretending to fight, the whole act of even discussing things like this and using the terms “great” and “over-rated” is sort of silly (yet I have been doing it for more than 35 years). Sting was above average in the ring and he never sold out to the cartoon steroid guy from New York City, maybe that’s what sort of shocked me about this because if there had been Internet sites with fanpost back in the 80’s then people would of been writing articles on how great Sting is, he was the hadcore fan’s guy before there was an Internet fan community. So is he one of the greats? Heck in my book just from his personal integrity and loyalty back in the day that makes him Iconic, even Harley Race and Ric Flair sold their souls the Vince McMahon back in the cartoon days.

Hogan may well be the worst “wrestler” ever, he didn’t even have six moves of doom and his finisher wasn’t even a high impact basic move, he sat down with his leg on a guy’s chest. 5 star matches? He never had a 2 star performance and his promo’s are absolutely hilariously terrible. Heck the pathetic can’t bump and can barely walk Hogan of TNA is only marginally worse than Hogan was in his prime. Has there ever been anyone in the business more over-rated than Hogan? Does anyone actually want to argue his greatness to the sport though? Yea Flair made Sting but then Vince McMahon made Stone Cold (he would never of been iconic without his feud with his boss) and Austin and Foley made the Rock(well A bit role in Mummy 2 made the Rock what he is today). It’s all perspective, I look back on a Sting who was already iconic before Hall and Nash showed up on Nitro not the sad 53 year old guy in TNA today. Over-rated? They are all over-rated, this is pro wrestling hyping guys up as greater than they actually are is one of the key ingredients to the sport. Sting did do something that none of the rest ever did, he said no to Vince McMahon, that’s iconic in modern times. by who me on Feb 14, 2013 3:32 AM EST 8 recs

From the "WWE responds to Tammy Sytch's allegations of rehab mistreatment" thread:

I can see it now...

Phone Rings

Geno: “Hello?!”
Vince: “Geno? This is Vince McMahon.”
Geno: “V..V…Vince?!”
Vince: “Yeah…Vinny Mac…chill out , kid.”
Geno: “What do you want, Vince?”
Vince: “Call me Mr. McMahon, chump.”
Geno: “Sure…Mr. McMahon…what do you want?!”
Vince: “June…”
Geno: “What?!”
Vince: “Ahem…I mean…I want you to run this statement about Sunny. That chick be cray-cray…”
Geno: “Not a problem, Mr. McMahon…there’s just one thing.”
Vince: “…and what the hell is that?!”
Geno: “Can you call me Mean Geno?”
Vince: “. . .”
Geno: “…just once?!”
Vince: sigh “Not a problem…Mean Geno.”
Geno: “Thanks Mr. McMahon!”
Vince: “You’re Fiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeed!!!!”
Geno: “I don’t work for you…”
Vince: “Oh…shit, that’s right…want a job?”
Geno: “OHMYGODYESYESYES!!!”
Vince: “Cool. You’re hired. You’re the new Executive Vice President of Talent Relations & Interim General Manager of Raw!”
Geno: “Really?! That’s amazing!!”
Vince: “Yeah it’s really something.”
Geno: “I can’t wait to tell the crew at Cages…”
Vince: “SHUT UP! Now you’re Fiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeed!!!!”
Geno: “Damn.”
Vince: “Yeah, that probably sucks…now run the damn statement.”
Geno: “Yes sir.”

by tkatt00 on Feb 13, 2013 11:21 PM EST 13 recs

From the "El Generico Debuts at NXT House Show" thread:

Yeah, he’ll be repackaged as Elgen Erico by Kanenite on Feb 14, 2013 12:56 AM EST 3 recs

From the "The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar - the likely main event of SummerSlam 2013 or WrestleMania 30?" thread:

This is a no-brainer: Rock vs Brock: “Once in a Decade” at Summer Slam. Then the rematch at WM30. by Kanenite on Feb 14, 2013 11:25 PM EST 4 recs

and also from the same thread...

What's next, then?

Rock vs. Orton: “Once in a Year”? Rematch on Raw the next night, of course.
Rock vs. Bryan: “Once in a Month”?
Rock vs. Del Rio: “Once in a Week”? by ReverendKain on Feb 14, 2013 11:28 PM EST 3 recs

and...

Rock vs Ziggler: "Once in a while." by dandeman on Feb 15, 2013 1:23 AM EST 4 recs

From the "Pornstar Kendra Lust denies having an affair with WWE star John Cena" thread:

It was probably Sin Cara's version of the WWE Championship. by Kanenite on Feb 15, 2013 1:14 AM EST 5 recs

From the "CSS Daily Wrestling Rumor Roundup for Friday, Feb. 15" thread:

I can see the marketing now...

WM28 – The Rock vs. John Cena: Once in a Lifetime
WM29 – The Rock vs. John Cena: Second Time Around
WM30 – The Rock vs. John Cena: Fuck It, We’re Out of Ideas!

by tkatt00 on Feb 15, 2013 11:41 AM EST 5 recs

and also from the same thread...

[On El Generico's new name]

Sin Gimmicko by AndeeMarshall on Feb 15, 2013 8:03 AM EST 4 recs

From the "Daily Open Thread for Friday, Feb. 15: Rhapsody" thread:

[The winning caption to this photo]

"FUCK, you're saying this isn't Bret Harts house?" by Sonnens Political Adviser on Feb 15, 2013 2:51 PM EST 6 recs

From the "WWE teases 'special announcement' on Mon., Feb. 18, complete with a live stream" thread:

Kendra Lust was signed to a Diva contract. by RECE ROCK on Feb 15, 2013 5:53 PM EST 3 recs