This news from the Pro Wrestling Torch site disturbed me:

"By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

September 06, 2001 2:53 pm

A WWF source tells PWTorch.com that the company informed Sean O'Haire that he is being sent to one of its developmental territories (either Ohio Valley or Heartland Wrestling) for additional training. The source notes that O'Haire appeared to be "relieved" after being told of the decision because "he realized he wasn't ready (for the WWF)."

Not ready? He seems the most talented of the former Natural Born Thrillers. His partner, Chuck Palumbo I could understand... I just hope he gets the seasoning he needs. An O'Haire "seanton bomb" against Jeff Hardy's Swanton would be electrifying.

There wasn't much in the way of wrestling news today, so I'll instead rely on commentary... I know: everything I write here is commentary already... just work with me here:

With Kronik debuting in a WWF ring this week, I began thinking of how gimmicks either bury or elevate a wrestler. Let's just look at both members:

Bryan Adams: He has a lot of history with the WWF. First appearing as the third member of Demolition, the paint-faced Crush didn't get very popular with fans. As "Kona Crush", without paint and a simple orange leotard, fans started to dig him. Then came his brief heel turn before leaving - in part due to his alleged gun-running.

He returned, this time as a biker and leader of The Disciples of the Apocalypse (DOA). He never really caught on under that gimmick, and left for WCW during the Brett Hart debacle.

First, they tried him under his real name, as a member of the nWo. Didn't work. Finally, after a long layoff he and his partner returned as Kronik - really an APA clone - but it took off.

Brian Clark: He began in the WWF as a cartoony character, Atom Bomb. A borderline mid-carder who started to get a push, but was let go.

In WCW, he was dragged into the ridiculous Blood Runs Cold angle, as Wrath. He was over at first, more from the surprise value, but his popularity faded quick. For awhile, he teamed with Chris Kanyon (then called Mortis, another guy wasted in the BRE angle), and their tag team didn't prove big with the fans either.

He was out for almost a year due to injury and repackaging plans, and returned in Kronik as well. Suddenly, his popularity soared.

Gimmicks do indeed make or break a wrestler - after all, would the Ringmaster be as popular if he hadn't become Stone Cold?

Well, the third live Smackdown! has now come and gone... some moments of it really stuck out:

• The Rock added some new phrases to his arsenal, finally! "The People's Strudel" was funny, mainly for its newness.



• Between RAW and SD, it's become extremely likely that Shawn Stasiak is paying for his past. Either as the klutz, or a guy beat on by Steve Austin, he keeps getting the rub.



• The appearance of Kronik was a well-done spot. As soon as Steven Richards demanded a match with the Undertaker, I knew that something had to be set up.

  
  I suspect that Kronik will soon have one of the tag titles. They make the best fit to take on the "division killers".




• RVD is really getting a huge push, going over Steve Austin! Guess the folks who swore Austin always holds folks back were full of it - again.

Well, the least kept secret in wrestling today was finally made official: the Toronto Skydome will indeed be the host of Wrestlemania X-8.

The city us Montreal natives were trained to hate will get yet another reason for that hate added: Toronto is an 8 hour drive from here, but even if I wanted to, tickets will likely be sold out by tomorrow.

In unrelated news, WCW's answer to the APA, Kronik (Brian's Clark and Adams) have signed with the WWF. I guess the politics of Brett Hart in 1997 have finally cooled Adams heat with the fed.

Comedy Network (Canada's answer to Comedy Central) aired an episode of Wrestling With the Past this evening. What wrestling has to do with comedy here I don't know. All that mattered is that it's a series, and tonight focused on Canadian legend Gene Kiniski.

Gene is obviously much older now than in his heyday, but he still looks like a tough hombre. This was also my chance to see what Don Leo Johnathan looks like (Don had a match against Andre the Giant years ago that even made the local news).

It was also interesting to see a map of all the regional promotional territories of the past.

Regardless of the network, this is a great show for us wrestling historians.