Then and Now: Ric Flair

Ric Flair circa mid 1980's

Ric Flair circa 2010 

Should Christy Hemme Sue TNA For Sexual Harassment?

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

On Impact Wrestling this past Thursday, Christy Hemme botched the introduction of Bobby Roode and Austin Aries. Austin Aries cornered Christy Hemme basically demanding she get it right. She does it over, and Austin Aries climbs the turnbuckle in front of Christy Hemme and his crotch is near her face.

It's been said that this was NOT a work. That what Aries did should be considered sexual harassment, and you got Mark Madden calling on Hemme to sue Dixie Carter and TNA. You got the IWC in an uproar saying he should be suspended.

Let's assume it's not a work. What Austin Aries did was wrong. No question about it. He should be reprimanded, make a public apology to Christy Hemme, possibly suspended for a month without pay, and take a sexual harassment class.

If Christy Hemme wants to sue TNA, then by all means sue TNA. BUT She'll never win in court and I'll tell you why. All Austin Aries has to tell the court is that he was just "acting in character" and Hemme will lose. Whether or not he really was in character or not is irrelevant. Once his entrance music hit and he walked out from behind the curtain in front of the cameras he was considered to be "In Character". That is a fact. Austin Aries character is that of an arrogant bad guy. That is a fact. Austin Aries grabbed the mic and cut a promo on her in character before climbing the turnbuckle. That is a fact which further adds credibility to the perception that Austin Aries climbing the turnbuckle with his groin in her face was just him acting in character.

Now, here's the thing that everyone overlooks that adds credibility to Austin Aries. He NEVER grabbed her, put his hands on her, or touched her with any private parts of his body. In fact right before he climbed the turnbuckle, Christy Hemme put her hand on his shoulder. After he climbed the turnbuckle she put her hand on his right thigh and pushed him at the same time he jumped off the turnbuckle. She put her hands on him twice. That is a fact. Also Bobby Roode went with him to the corner that she was in so it just made it seem like they were acting like heels.

Do I think Austin Aries took it too far? Yes. But do I think she would win a lawsuit over it? Absolutely not. Once his music hits he is considered to be in character. He cut a HEEL promo right before climbing the turnbuckle. He never grabbed her, physically forced her, or put his private parts on her.

On top of all this, her credibility takes a hit automatically because you can make a case that she has a long track record of presenting herself in a way that is "asking" for that kind of attention. People forget Hemme made a bunch of money by posing nude for Playboy so a bunch of perverts can look at her naked. She wears risque and scantily clad clothing on the Knockouts website, and participates in sexually provocative TNAShop.com commercials. This type of public perception can hurt your credibility in a sexual harassment case of any kind.

And here's the elephant in the room that no one wants to see. Christy Hemme could have climbed out of the ring, but she didn't. James Storm could've stopped Aries, but didn't. James Storm was a babyface so it would not have seemed weird for him to get on to Aries, especially being the guest referee. Bobby Roode could have stopped Aries, but he didn't either. All of this is pretty much the icing on the cake that in the court of law, Aries would win by just claiming he was acting "in character". I feel bad for Christy Hemme, and I do think Aries should get reprimanded. I just don't think her case has a chance in court. 

WWE Plot Holes: How is Ryback the Number One Contender?

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

At Extreme Rules, the machine Ryback will take on WWE Champion John Cena for the heavyweight title. One problem though, how did Ryback become the number one contender?

Ryback has lost at every pay per view dating back to October. Ryback has lost at Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series, TLC, Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Wrestlemania. How on Earth can a guy that has lost at 6 straight pay-per-views be the number one contender? If you include RAW, Ryback has lost his last 3 shots at the WWE Championship.

Here's where the plot hole gets even bigger. Mark Henry defeated Ryback CLEANLY at Wrestlemania 29. The next night on RAW, Mark Henry coming off a win at Wrestlemania was told in order to get a title shot he would have to defeat John Cena in a non-title match (Henry lost by Count Out) just to become the number one contender. Yet, Ryback who had just lost to Henry at Wrestlemania was simply declared the number one contender to face Cena at Extreme Rules. Why did Henry coming off a win over Ryback at Wrestlemania have to defeat Cena in a non-title match just to get a shot at the title, but Ryback who has lost at every pay-per-view for the last six months simply gets a title shot?

Ryback becoming number one contender completely flies in the face of story line and basic sports logic. There is no logical reason that Ryback should be number one contender over Mark Henry or anyone else. This is a major plot hole that cannot be explained.

Just because Ryback attacked Cena on RAW does not mean he's the number one contender. By that logic, the Shield should be the number one contenders to every title in the WWE.