From the desk of CSWA Co-Commissioner Chad Merritt...

The Phantom Menace?  I got your Phantom Menace right here.  Yeah, you, you know who I'm talking to.  Mr. "I Think I'm Obi-Wan" with the lightsaber.

"Destroy the Dark Side of the Force?"  I am the Dark Side you freaks...and I ain't going nowhere, nohow.

Never thought you'd hear it again did ya? That's right, I'm still telling things my way.....the right way.

You don't think so? I don't care.

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Updated 12/16/98

Yeah, yeah, that's right, The Man is back.  And no, I'm not talking about the man they call the Eliminator.  And if you wanna know where I've been?  Well, then read the Grapevine.  This isn't the gossip rag...that's what I pay Rudy for.

As you all know, ELVIS LIVES CELEBRATION XI is coming up in just a few weeks.  The conclusion of the CSWA's 'Big Three', with ANNIVERSARY every March/April, FISH FUND in the summer, and ELVIS LIVES in the winter.  In every way, it's an event worthy to carry the name of the King of Rock 'n Roll.  It's an event worthy of the CSWA.

You know, as I was on vacation, taking a break from the life of corruption and excess that you all seem to think I lead...I had the opportunity to watch a little television from my home in the Grand Caymans.  I'm going to do something I don't usually do....and that's speak about another 'Big Three.'

I'm proud of the CSWA's almost-eleven year legacy.  And as I've always said, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  But sometimes it gets out of hand.  In the last couple of weeks, it's gone way over the line.  You know, it's fine for VinnieMac to copy Paul Heyman's little crucifixion angles and the like...but now he's running his own CORPORATION angle?  I think Ray S. Cornette covered that ground ten years ago.

A corrupt owner as an angle?  Forget the kayfabe, VinnieMac, cause you're looking at the real thing, and you know it.  But that's alright...if that helps you get to your piddly 5.0-plus ratings, you go for it.  In the end, people cut through the appearances and get down to the heart of the matter.....and around the world of wrestling, that's always the CSWA.

It's like Vince and Eric have been watching old CSWA tapes.   You've got the bald-headed undefeated champion who comes out of nowhere to take the top spot....no, not that one, I'm talking about "Ironman" Alexandr Karelin who took the Unified Title in 1995.  A battle for the ownership and control of the federation?  No, we're not talking about an upcoming event in December....you're hearing about a tape from 1996.  A Corporate Champion?  No, not the one you've seen lately, but former Enterprise World Champ Scotty Michaels.  A heart attack in the middle of the ring?  Yeah, that's right, you're watching old Hornet/Mark Windham matches. 

If it weren't so sad, it'd be funny.  In the past few years, I've seen WCW and WWF try and copy everything that they think helped raise the CSWA to the prominent position it's in, from midgets to mayhem.  But they both know that the only reason they can pull ratings even close to half of what every CSWA event does, is because fans started watching when the CSWA was off the air in 1997.

Well, enough of that, folks.  If you want to see real action, you know where to tune into.  If you like to buy recycled goods, we'll see you elsewhere.

Until next time...this is The Man, signing off.


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