A Yes/No Question to Rep. Steve Stivers Concerning the National Security Council - by Colin Gawel

To the Honorable Steve Stivers:

Dear Representative Stivers, As you undoubtedly know President Trump recently reorganized the National Security Council by elevating his own chief political strategist to a position while simultaneously demoting both the Director of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Eliminating the military and intelligence from the Security Council is unprecedented in U.S. history. As is having a Political Advisor serving on the the council in any capacity.

I called your Hilliard office today and had a very nice conversation with one of your staffers and the question I have is this: With your extensive military and political background do you personally believe this reorganization by President Trump is in the best interests of our National security? Yes or no.  

Additionally,  I would be very interested in your personal opinion of the pros and cons of this new arrangement concerning the NSC. We can publish your response at pencilstormstory@gmail.com or just stop by Colin's Coffee when you have a moment to chat. The coffee is on me. 

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,  Colin Gawel, 15th District, Ohio.

Colin Gawel does not represent the opinions of Pencilstorm.com. He does own a coffee shop and is a musician. He was recently profiled on PBS. You can watch the interview here. Or read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. 

Thank you for your time. 

Colin Gawel - owner of Colin's Coffee, 15th District of Ohio. 

You can email any response to pencilstormstory@gmail.com And I would be happy to publish it unedited. 

Watch the Video For "Still Love Christmas" and Request at CD102.5

It's time for the Andymanathon so fire up those phones, dial 614 221-1025 and request your favorite Colin Gawel or Watershed song!

Or text -- Request Still Love Xmas (or whatever song)  to: 68683

so the number is : 68683    and the message has to start with: Request

Do it often.

The title song to Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones' December 2010 release. We shot the video at the "Still Love Christmas" release party at Rumba Cafe in Columbus, OH. COLINGAWEL.com

WWE Hell in a Cell - Best to Worst by Big Vin Vader

WWE Hell in a Cell    -    Best to Worst

Even with the near-oversaturation of Pay-Per-Views following WWE’s brand split, Hell in a Cell remains a highly-anticipated event.  While it was disappointing to learn that the show was RAW-specific, most of my doubts were squashed as the card played out.  With this year’s HIAC, WWE put on a PPV that actually made history and felt justified in its three hour-plus length.

The Best

Having the Women’s Championship match between Sasha Banks and Charlotte go on last was huge.  It was the first Women’s Division HIAC match, as well as the first time women have main-evented a PPV.  It was the absolute right call, taking things an enormous step forward from the days of the Divas Division.
    Sasha and Charlotte are two of the best athletes in the company, and they have a history of great matches throughout their rivalry.  The stakes were high, and their chemistry is undeniable.  Throw in the even taking place in Sasha’s hometown of Boston, and the crowd was completely fired up for the contest.
    Charlotte attacked Sasha as the cell was being lowered, starting a vicious brawl on the outside.  The most startling spot of the night followed shortly after, as Charlotte plucked Sasha from the cage wall and powerbombed her through the Spanish announce table.  It was shockingly brutal, seeming to injure Sasha’s back and put her out of action.  The teased forfeit took way too long, but it was more than justified by everything that followed.
    Rushing back into the ring just before her loss was finalized, Sasha kicked off an amazing, absolutely physical contest that easily took the top spot of the night.  The long-time rivals thoroughly demonstrated why they’re the best athletes RAW has, pulling out several impressive exchanges.  They made fantastic use of the cage and match stipulations, and a number of the spots were unlike anything I’ve seen in a HIAC match.  A few tables got destroyed, Sasha inventively used a chair to break Charlotte’s Figure Eight, and the psychology and selling were top-notch.
    The problem came with the finish, as Sasha’s devastated back gave out once again, allowing Charlotte to seize the upper hand and catch the pin with a surprise Natural Selection.  The combination of Sasha losing the title in her hometown as well as the abrupt nature of the conclusion totally deflated the crowd.  There weren’t even many jeers, just disappointed silence.  Definitely not the best call, but it ensures the rivalry will continue.  Regardless, the women outshined everyone else that night, which surprised no one, and really raised the stakes and profile of the division.  Hopefully this wasn’t a one-off and the Women’s Division can continue to headline future PPVs.

#2

Kevin Owens versus Seth Rollins for the Universal Title was the second most impressive match of the night, just as expected.  Even if their feud has felt somewhat half-assed, they’re both terrific workers and always capable of an impressive match.  Owens desperately needed a clean win to look like an effective champion, especially after his Chris Jericho-assisted win at Clash of Champions.  Rollins’ involvement has felt like he’s biding his time on the way to a feud with Triple H, so the cage match should have been the blow-off for the rivalry.
    The match picked up a fast pace from the beginning, delivering exactly what is expected of a HIAC match.  The whole bout was incredibly physical, and the wrestlers made excellent use of the cell itself, yet again pulling off a number of spots that haven’t been seen before.  Most notable were Owens hitting Rollins with a running cannonball splash against the chain link wall, and the champ getting powerbombed through two tables angled over the ropes and against the cell.
    The two maintained the masterful pace throughout, with an especially impressive high-speed exchange of kicks and teased finishers at the midway point.  The crowd was with them the whole time, even when Owens blinded the ref with a fire extinguisher, allowing Jericho to run in.  This wasn’t what I wanted to see, but they pulled it off, and Jericho acted mainly as a distraction, rather than interfering excessively.
    The match ended on a particularly savage note, with both wrestlers making good use of the ringside weapons.  Owens laid into Rollins with a series of vicious chair shots, finally putting him away with a powerbomb through the seats of two chairs.  It was a perfect end to such a physically impressive contest, and they made the right call in keeping the belt on Owens.

#3

Up next in the rankings was the Cruiserweight Title match between TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick.  I was let down by their last encounter at Clash, mainly because it felt like a step down from the excellent Cruiserweight Classic.  I wasn’t ready to write them off though, and their meeting at HIAC was a great match, fast-paced and well-rounded.
    The company has taken time to build a feud between the two, relating to their long history together, and it helped immeasurably.  One of the biggest concerns for the Cruiserweight division was how such athletically-inclined performers would translate to the story-based elements of the WWE.  The use of this backstory allowed for real emotional involvement in the match and raised the stakes.
    There was little down time in the ten-minute match, and the entire contest was remarkably well-balanced.  Both men traded submissions and reversals, demonstrating a fast-paced display of mat wrestling tempered with select moments of impressive high-flying.  Also notable was Kendrick tying TJ’s hand wraps around the ropes to deliver more punishment.  He played up his desperation for the title masterfully, and his underhandedness worked to his advantage.
    The spark that seemed missing from their last PPV encounter was there, and it really felt like a meaningful fight between the two acquaintances.  Kendrick faking an injury to sucker TJ and steal the title was a legitimate surprise.  The entire match was exactly what I’d hoped for from the division and the only real problem is that the rivalry looks to continue.  They’ve had some good matches, but if that’s the case, it seems like they’re the only two men in the division that the company wants to give serious exposure to.  Hopefully some of the other Cruiserweights get the chance to shine in the coming months.

#4

Slightly lower in the rankings is the tag team match between Gallows & Anderson and Enzo & Cass.  It’s great to see Gallows & Anderson move on from their frustrating rivalry with the New Day.  They’re the top heel team on RAW, and they should be intimidating, not dressing up like doctors for bad comedy skits.  They need to be seen as a credible threat, and allowing them to move on to new challengers was a smart move.
    The match wasn’t too remarkable on its own, not even lasting seven minutes.  The wrestling was solid throughout, with Enzo & Cass getting in some nice work in particular.  It was most notable for finally giving Gallows & Anderson the opportunity to take the win on a PPV.  They put their competition away in a quick, brutal fashion, just as they should have been doing all along, and their intimidating aura was somewhat restored.  That said, the match could have easily been twice as long and given more time to develop.  It wasn’t bad by any stretch, hitting few sour notes, but both teams deserve the chance to put on a longer contest in the future.

#5

A few notches down on the scale was the Tag Team Title match between the New Day and Cesaro & Sheamus.  There was some buzz that the challengers stood a chance of dethroning the champs, but that was a long shot.  The commentary team is finally acknowledging Demolition’s 478-day, record-setting reign, which raises the question of whether the New Day will beat it or fall just short.
    The in-ring action wasn’t bad, and despite the thrown-together nature of their team, both Cesaro & Sheamus are talented enough to put on an entertaining match.  The New Day are all great wrestlers individually, but they’re hardly known for long, impressive PPV matches. On top of this, they haven’t had a credible threat to their championship in months.
    Cesaro & Sheamus did actually pose a threat, winning the match but not the championship when the New Day got themselves disqualified, escaping with their record intact.  Too much emphasis was placed on Cesaro and Sheamus bickering, but wresting was solid all-around.  The match was perfectly serviceable, but you really have to wonder when the New Day will have a challenging contest where they struggle for their position on top.

#6

The match between Bayley and Dana Brooke wasn’t really bad or offensive in any way, but it sure as hell wasn’t remarkable either.  There’s been little build to the feud, and Bayley deserves better than to be stuck in a throwaway midcard rivalry.  There were no surprises, and the crowd was clearly aligned with Bayley.  Her taking the win in a few short minutes was predictable, and the match had no time at all to develop—not that anyone really wanted it to.  Luckily it was placed early on the card, and it did at least get off to a better start than the first match of the night.

The Worst

The company made an interesting booking decision in placing the US Title HIAC match between Roman Reigns and Rusev up first.  Their feud has been going on for three months now, but should have ended long ago, but that’s not the case.  They both need to move on and start some fresh rivalries.
    Both Reigns and Rusev caught some real heat during their entrance, and the deafening boos hardly get things off to a great start.  Unfortunately for everyone, the match took on a lumbering pace filled with repeated spots and little actual wrestling.  The entire thing just felt incredibly slow, filled with far too many rests and down time.  The two honestly just seemed bored to be fighting once again, and I can’t deny feeling the same watching them.  It also didn’t help that the match was the longest of the night at twenty-five minutes.
    Things did pick up in the last five minutes or so, with some weapons spots and use of the cell.  Most impressive was Rusev locking Reigns in the Accolade on top of the ring steps while pulling a steel chain across his face.  It was surprising in its brutality, as were some of the uses of the stairs themselves.  Reigns predictably won, and the show was able to move on.  Had the match been half as long, most of the problems would have been fixed, and the pace could have been overlooked.  As it stands, it was the wrong call to kick things off, and the feud needs to end now.

Results and Grade

Once again, the WWE provided us with a solidly entertaining show that contained little in the way of bad matches, and a number of unquestionably good ones.  The decision to have the Women’s Title match go on as the main event was a huge deal, and Sasha and Charlotte proved exactly why they earned that spot.  Even with the few filler matches (which are part of every PPV), the whole event was fairly satisfying.  The Hell in a Cell matches were pretty damn good and inventive, with the exception of the opener, and perfectly demonstrated why the show is so highly regarded.  It’ll be interesting to see how things are handled heading into the cross-brand Survivor Series next month, but as it stands now, HIAC was easily the best, most satisfying PPV since the brand split.

An easy 75 out of 100.

The Winners:
Roman Reigns
Bayley
Gallows and Anderson
Kevin Owens
Brian Kendrick
Cesaro & Sheamus
Charlotte

The Losers:
Rusev
Dana Brooke
Enzo & Cass
Seth Rollins
TJ Perkins
The New Day
Sasha Banks

Rumors and Speculation

    In the meantime, we have to wonder if Goldberg actually stands the chance of winning his match with Brock Lesnar.  The company clearly wants him as the returning babyface hero, but judging by the cheers Lesnar got on RAW, they have no idea how to properly handle this.  And besides, given the talk of WWE’s big Wrestlemania plans for Lesnar, how likely does it seem that they’ll mess with his prestige by having Goldberg go over him this month?
    Also worth noting is the fact that the Undertaker is booked for SmackDown midmonth, possibly beginning to build to his Wrestlemania match.  Either way, it’s safe to say he isn’t retired yet, so maybe that John Cena match is coming in the near future.  Cena hasn’t been around much since No Mercy, so god knows he isn’t busy with any other angles.
    Last, how damn great is it to hear that there’s going to be an entire Cruiserweight-centric show coming?  Maybe the division will finally get some real exposure, rather than occupying the midcard of RAW.

Colin Gawel's 2016 Election Day Manifesto. (How I Am Voting and Why)

As you know, Pencilstorm stays away from political content. We have way more fun talking about all the good stuff in life. Well, except for the Browns. And besides, why should anybody listen to us anyway? If you want horse race politics, just visit 538 every fifteen minutes like I do. 

Still, every four years, against my better judgement, I go public with how I am voting and my reasoning behind it. (click here for my 2012 manifesto)  Before you completely lose your mind and blow up my comment section explaining all the ways I am wrong, which you are welcome to do, let's establish some ground rules:

1) I'm not telling you how to vote. Do what you want, I'm totally cool with it. That's called Democracy. It's not personal, it's just politics. Some people prefer Cheap Trick In Color, some prefer The Doctor. Variety is the spice of life.  

2) If you emotionally can't handle an opinion different than yours or this might potentially ruin your day, you have the option to just stop reading. You can STOP RIGHT HERE.  

Cool? Let's proceed.

In the choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I feel really good about voting for Hillary Clinton.

My thinking is primarily two fold. As a small business owner, things have never been better for me than right now. I like the path we are on. I can say without question that my life and business are in much better shape than they were four, and especially eight, years ago. Hillary Clinton's resume is beyond compare and her broad knowledge on such a wide range of issues always leaves me impressed. Most importantly, I like her ability to remain calm and level-headed when under fire. I'll be the first to admit, I have no real understanding of how the global economy works, but I do worry a little about the bottom falling out of the economy on Wednesday November 8th if Donald Trump is elected. That's just my situation though.

As a parent, I often look at things through the prism of "Would I want my child to act that way on the playground?" or "Would I want Owen to see me act that way?" I agree with Charles Barkley that athletes shouldn't be role models, but I believe the President of the United States SHOULD be held to a higher standard than say, Cam Newton, when speaking in public. There have been numerous times this election when Donald Trump acted or said certain things about different people that I found especially mean-spirited and/or disturbing. I tried to imagine Owen watching me say or do the same thing. Or him saying the same thing about a girl or disabled person on the playground. I just can't get past it. Once again, I'm not telling you how to vote, Trump just isn't my guy.

However, in the spirit of being positive, I'll throw you Trump supporters a couple of bones.  My Dad taught me to always find three things you like about anything or anybody.  It helps you learn.

Three things I like about Trump even though I'm not voting for him.

1) For most of his life Trump was a liberal New York City Democrat and has been on record as supporting a single payer heath care system and how invading Iraq was a huge mistake. He also said during the primary debates that Planned Parenthood provides many valuable services. Since he seems to have no real core beliefs, I think he may be surprisingly flexible if elected.

2) He won't be preaching from the Oval Office. I'm a big fan of separation of church and state and the only three times Trump has stepped foot in church are the three times he has gotten married.

3) His core supporters are less-educated and under-employed white males. If he is truly going to "make America great again", he is going to have to convince a highly hostile Republican Congress to loosen up the purse strings and finally invest in the infrastructure update this country needs so badly. It would be a good thing if he could somehow pull this off.

Bonus reason: Being a casino guy, I bet Trump would make a push to legalize sports gambling nationwide. I could get behind that. 

Final vote: Clinton

Grading myself this election cycle. 

This is the first Presidential election where social media has truly been part of it from day one. Like most people, I would guess, I struggle with how and when to engage in the never ending online debate. On one hand, just to ignore it all and listen to The Hives is probably the wisest choice. What can I really do anyway? I'm just one dude with one lousy vote. On the other hand, by disengaging, am I just taking the easy way out and conceding the discussion to the hordes of cyber-bullies trolling the internet night and day?

(Before going further, a little background about my upbringing. My grandfather on my Mother's side was the Democratic house minority leader for the state of Illinois. Growing up, my mother (RIP) and myself would constantly argue politics around the dinner table. It was completely normal for us to raise voices at each other but it was never personal. We just liked to debate. I know we would drive my Dad and sister crazy and many times they would tell us to please just shut up. So I'm used to a heated exchange and then...... moving on. To this day I drive my wife and son a little crazy around the election spoiling for a fight. If she were looking down, I'm sure Mom would be itching to join in and remind me to "engage brain before putting mouth in motion.") 

So, when I do post politics online, I try to deal exclusively in facts and by sharing information I find interesting from reputable writers and sources. I don't believe in conspiracy theories or rigged elections. I don't share that stuff. I believe man walked on the moon, Elvis is really dead, and that climate change was caused by a combination of Bigfoot and the Chinese. You know, normal stuff that can be easily proven. Word to the wise,  "mainstream media" doesn't cover crazy shit because if it's not true, they would get sued. The rest of us "bloggers" don't have to worry about that because we don't have any money worth pursuing in court. 

Lastly and most importantly,  I do my best to stay positive and respectful of differing opinions, and be a good example for others. I don't want to get drawn into the mud-pit. Many times I write a response to something I find offensive and then just delete before I post. This makes me feel better and I don't run the risk of doing something I would later regret. I hope I haven't lost any friends. I never intended too. (real friends)

It should be noted that as a coffee shop owner who sees a hundred or so real people everyday, I rarely, if ever engage in political talk. Folks are just trying to get on the with their life and don't need an earful from the local coffee guy. I will occasionally ask for a source if somebody keeps repeating an especially ignorant comment but that is about it. The source is invariably "I read it online." 

Overall, I would give myself a B-. I could probably shut up a little more. If I could do it it all over again, that would be my goal. In fact, you could probably put that on my tombstone, Colin Gawel R.I.P.  "Nice guy, but he could have shut up a little more." 

Ohio Senate Race: Portman vs Strickland

I don't know. I guess I'm happy Portman finally got around to joining Governor Kasich in withdrawing support for Trump but was disappointed it took the ill-fated words from Donald, "I just grab 'em by the pussy and they can't stop me" to get Senator Portman to stand up and do the right thing. Unlike Senator Brown, Portman seems to blow whichever way the polls are going. I guess there are worse things.

Still, it's hard to endorse a candidate like Strickland who folded his campaign before it even started. 

Final vote: Portman has this thing won so do what you want.

Other Issues I Barely Understand and Candidates I Don't Know.

I don't know who Cathy Johnson is, but somebody is running a world class smear campaign against her. "Cathy Johnson....hates schools, and kids and puppies...". Obviously, some very powerful lobby or corporation has something to fear from Cathy. 

I'm voting for Cathy Johnson

I'm voting against incumbents in the Ohio state house races because both Hughes and Kunze hit term limits and now are just swapping offices to avoid them. That's not really the spirit of the law. I may have to run for one of those offices next time with a promise to only try re-election once and then moving on. 

Locally I'm voting for Susan Ralph for Upper Arlington City Council. I don't know the in's and out's of the issues but I have two good friends that speak very highly of her on a personal level. That's good enough for me. 

Isn't there some Library thing too? I'll vote for that. Books get you learned.

Alright, I better get back to serving customers. Best of luck to all you Democracy lovers. I hope your lines move fast and the sun shines bright. I'm hoping to spend election day doing some hiking in Hocking Hills myself. 

Colin Gawel owns Colin's Coffee and plays in the band Watershed. You can read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. He lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife and 7th grade son. You can see him in his latest video by clicking here. He once ranked every single Cheap Trick song.  

Whenever I get stressed about politics, I just watch The Hives. It's brings me peace.

Come On! - 00:00:00 Main Offender - 00:01:42 Walk Idiot Walk - 00:03:50 My Time Is Coming - 00:07:50 Hate To Say I Told You So - 00:10:21 Wait A Minute - 00:14:36 Go Right Ahead - 00:17:48 Tick Tick Boom - 00:20:30

WWE No Mercy - Best to Worst by Big Vin Vader

No Mercy – Best to Worst

    Another month, another SmackDown brand pay-per-view.  At least that’s what it feels like.  But that’s selling the product too short, since No Mercy this past Sunday was a pretty decent show.  Not great, or even as pleasing as Raw’s Clash of Champions, but an improvement over September’s Backlash, which honestly feels like it happened ages ago at this point.

The Best

    Hands down, the top match of the night was Dolph Ziggler against the Miz in a Career vs. Title match.  The story between the two has been building for months, notably since their previous show-stealer at Backlash.  The last few months of the Miz’s Intercontinental Title reign have been great, and in Ziggler he found a legitimate challenger to his position.  That the two have an undeniable chemistry in the ring and a great story behind their matches helps immensely.
    There were huge stakes for the match, and the crowd was captivated from the beginning.  It really seemed up in the air whether Ziggler would retire or not.  He’s a crowd favorite, and an underrated worker, but the company have never really gotten behind him.  The whole thing actually felt unpredictable, which meant every near fall ratcheted up the tension.
    The match itself was fast-paced, and both men put on a hell of a show, displaying impressive athleticism while also telling a captivating story.  The twenty-minute match was gripping throughout, with the only missteps coming near the end, when two of Ziggler’s former Spirit Squad teammates ran out to distract him, and Maryse maced him once again from the outside.  Neither interference proved to be a credible threat, and the match itself was so good that it’s pretty easy to overlook the distractions.
    The company booked the right ending, with Ziggler dropping the Miz with a superkick and snatching his fifth IC Title reign.  The crowd reaction was huge for the deserving winner, and the post-match celebration stood alongside the bout itself as the night’s best moment.

#2

    The company’s decision to move the Triple-Threat main event between John Cena, Dean Ambrose, and champ AJ Styles to the opening slot (due to the debate) paid off greatly.  The match was a very good example of the Triple-Threat format, and kicked things off on a pretty damn high note.  All three men are good-to-great workers, and with the exception of the Intercontinental match, this was the most anticipated contest of the night.
    The match started off strong, with Ambrose taking the lead, perfectly displaying how his ring work continues to improve.  Dean impressed throughout, especially after reversing a Frankensteiner into a roll-up.  Beyond that, there were a number of impressive spots throughout, namely Cena’s double German suplex on both of his opponents.  The three made the best use of the format, and the no DQ rules and incentive to run interference and score the first pin kept things interesting.
A false finish wherein both Cena and Ambrose forced Styles to tap out broke the action up and left the finish somewhat unclear.  After the two had it out for a few minutes, AJ returned to the ring and easily put his challengers down with a steel chair, retaining his title.
The finish was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, but the right decision overall.  Having AJ as World champion is a great booking decision, and he should keep the belt for a long time.  Ambrose and Cena were credible threats, and they all put on a great match, so his reign is going along very well.  They gave the PPV one hell of a kick-off, and the crowd was fully engaged.  Unfortunately, just as I’d worried beforehand, it was tough to follow such a good match, and the crowd’s interest waxed and waned throughout the night.

#3

Alright, hear me out on this one: obviously the card was hurting without Becky Lynch’s presence, and the show really could have used another title defense.  Nobody asked for the match between Alexa Bliss and Naomi, and judging by the crowd reaction, they didn’t warm up to it at any point either.  But taken on its own terms, it really wasn’t bad at all, and I walked away enjoying it, filler or not.
Both Naomi and Alexa are incredible athletes, and provided some of the highlights of Backlash’s Six Pack challenge for the Women’s Championship.  Given that, even in place of the announced title match, the pair were a good match-up and indeed put in a fine showing.  The action was fast-paced, and both women impressed yet again with their performances.
Of course, the finish was abrupt, with Naomi pulling a reversal on Alexa to score the pin.  Alexa, as the number one contender for the title, really should have won, and the conclusion should have come about far less suddenly.  Of course, another huge problem was that the match was given just over five minutes, which meant most fans didn’t grow bored, but I wanted more.  Given all of the disappointments surrounding it, I feel it’s important to look at the action itself, and then you’ll realize that the two really did make the best of what they were given.
If things continue this way (and should Alexa regain her spot), Bliss and Becky could have some pretty damn impressive matches in the future.  Given more time and thoughtful booking, things are looking good for the SmackDown Women’s division.

#4

    Jack Swagger and Baron Corbin are stuck in the midcard, and unlikely to go anywhere else, which is unfortunate.  Of course their match at No Mercy was originally announced for the pre-show, but was moved to the middle of the main show.  While it was far from bad, it really didn’t belong on the main card, and didn’t manage to engage the way a PPV match ought to do.
    The whole thing was very physical, and the two big men were pretty fairly matched in the beginning.  Corbin took the lead quickly, however, and much of the match was a one-sided beatdown on his opponent.  It was hardly surprising then when Corbin scored the win after hitting his impressive End of Days finisher.
    Not a bad match per se, but also not the best use of time on the card.  I like Corbin though, and the sheer physicality of the match was at least entertaining.

#5

    There has been a long build-up for the feud between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt.  In fact, the whole thing should have been over by now, since their match had been announced for Backlash.  Of course, as I’ve already complained, that didn’t happen and the company teased something they couldn’t deliver.  Interestingly, and misguidedly, the match went on last and was announced as the main event, despite the status of the opener.
    The whole thing was slow, and the two wrestlers, both capable, hard workers, took their time.  Unfortunately, the pace didn’t really pick up at any point, although there was a good deal of action outside the ring.  It really just wasn’t main event caliber (Ziggler-Miz sure was though) and the crowd really wasn’t feeling it.  The feud has run its course, and really just needs to end after this.
    But here’s the good: the lights went out in the arena, and once they were restored Orton found himself face-to-face with a returning Luke Harper.  The distraction allowed Wyatt to hit a Sister Abigail and grab his first major win (on a PPV, no less) in quite some time.  Harper is by far the most impressive in-ring worker from the Wyatt Family, and things have been hurting since his injury months ago.  I’m thrilled that he’s been added to SmackDown’s somewhat thin roster, and look forward to seeing what he can do in the coming weeks.

#6

    The entire feud between Nikki Bella and Carmella has failed to hold my interest at any point.  Beginning right after Summer Slam when Carmella attacked the returning Bella, and continuing through Backlash, things have played out for a long while.  Again (story of the night?), the problem wasn’t that the match was bad—it wasn’t—it just wasn’t what people wanted to see on a PPV.  Even worse, it immediately followed the thrilling opening match, so there was little chance that the crowd would be captivated in a similar manner.
    It was somewhat slow in pace, but short enough not to overstay its welcome.  The work both women put in was solid, and nothing to be ashamed of at all.  The brawling and hair-pulling that kicked things off was physical and gave a nice touch to the grudge match.  Of course it ended the only way it was expected to, with Nikki hitting a Rack Attack 2.0 and scoring the win.  Hopefully the grudge will be laid to rest now and both women can move on.

#7

    Coming in last was yet another match that was not objectively bad, but also not what the card truly needed.  That’s right, a rematch between the Odd Couple (Heath Slater and Rhyno) and the Usos for the SmackDown Tag Titles.  It didn’t help matters that this was one of the three title matches for the night, which robbed it of some of its excitement.  American Alpha, the best tag team in the WWE right now were relegated to the pre-show while a thrown together team and their most recent challengers get the main spot.
    The Usos’ heel turn did little for them as far as crowd support; even the natural heat they were getting seems muted now.  Slater and Rhyno are at least entertaining to watch in the ring, so they had that positive.  Interestingly, Rhyno took a beating from the Usos and was made to look far more vulnerable than in the past.  Because of this, Slater got to show off some decent work, which delighted the crowd somewhat.
    The Odd Couple predictably retained their belts, which is nice and all, but they still have a shelf life as a team.  It was better than an Uso victory, and hopefully by the next PPV they’ll be out of the title picture.

Summary and Grade

    Overall the show wasn’t bad: none of the matches were terrible, even if there were a few unwanted throwaways and some questionable booking.  The card was pretty solid, and the good matches on the show made the whole thing truly worthwhile.  Most PPVs are mixed bags, and this was no different, but the big moments really were special.  It’ll be interesting to see where the brand takes things in the next month, but with Harper back, Ziggler and Styles holding the belts, and hopefully Becky’s quick recovery, I’m looking forward to where things are headed.

Call it a 63 out of 100.

The Winners
-AJ Styles
-Nikki Bella
-The Odd Couple
-Baron Corbin
-Dolph Ziggler
-Naomi
-Bray Wyatt

The Losers
-John Cena/Dean Ambrose
-Carmella
-The Usos
-Jack Swagger
-The Miz
-Alexa Bliss
-Randy Orton

The Kids & Dogs Made Me Do It - by Andra Gillum

The Kids & Dogs Made Me Do It!
by Andra Gillum

As adults, we prefer to stay in our comfort zone.  By then, we’ve all made plenty of mistakes.  We have learned from them, but we have also felt their pain.  This makes us cautious and sometimes afraid to fail.  We always have one foot on the brake.

Children still see the world without limits. I love that my son is planning on being an NFL running back, and my daughter looks forward to her career as a famous recording artist.  Kids don’t consider what might go wrong.  Their foot is on the gas!

I always dreamed of writing and publishing a book. Like many adults, I was afraid take a chance.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself, or feel the sting of failure.   This is the story of how my kids and my dogs inspired me to take a chance.  This is the story of how Doggy Drama was born…

When my husband and I were first married, we got a puppy named Riley.  This was before kids (BK), so she was our whole world!

We showered her with gifts and treats and attention!  She got more walks than any dog deserves.  Riley had it all.

After a few years, we decided to have kids. Human kids to be more specific.  First we had a son and then a few years later, a daughter.  We still gave Riley plenty of attention, but clearly it wasn’t the same.

In my defense, I did have a toddler and a baby in the house, but Riley never complained.  At least, not to my face.

A few more years down the line, the kids convinced us to get a new puppy.  In hindsight, we didn’t even consult Riley!  

Little Lucy is a West Highland terrier, just like Riley.  But, unlike Riley (who’s getting a little older), she’s full, full, full of energy!  

Riley tried to act like our new addition didn’t bother her, but she’s not a very good actress.  She just had that annoyed look on her face.

I started to notice them fighting.  Literally.  They would growl at each other, paw at each other, bark and bite each other!  You could hear their teeth, snap, snap, snap!

It really struck me as funny how they fought like any two sisters. They were just like the kids.  I started to write down my observations.  Over time, it evolved into a story.

The idea was that even dogs struggle with sibling rivalry!   It’s nice to be the center of attention, but it usually doesn’t last.  The “new kids” stole all the attention.   Poor Riley felt kicked to the curb!

I named my story Doggy Drama, but it sat on my computer for months.  I have always dreamed of publishing a children’s book.  Now I had a great story, but I was still dragging my feet.

What if I only sold 16 copies… all to close family?  What if I did a book reading and only the crickets showed up?  Would I be left with a garage full of books?

My kids are the ones who convinced me to go for it!  They were reading the manuscript over my shoulder one day as I was editing it.  Kids are great motivators!  Their enthusiasm was contagious!  After all, it wasn’t about writing a best seller.  I was about fulfilling a dream!

I found a small publisher called Mascot books who was willing to work with me and help me find an illustrator.  That was a long process.  I had to find an illustrator with a style that fit my book, and someone who was willing to draw the pictures the way I wanted them to look.

Once we found an illustrator, it was a long process of laying out the storyboard, turning sketches into final drawings, choosing colors, choosing a cover, making final edits, and then putting it all together!  

The publishing process took a full year.  It was a fun process, but certainly tougher than I expected!

Last fall, Mascot Books released my first children’s book called Doggy Drama.  I spent a fun year visiting schools, sharing the books and getting inspired by the students!   They suggested I write a sequel and this fall, the sequel Puppy Drama was released!  

The past few years have been a fun journey.  I’ve taken chances, stepped outside of my comfort zone, and learned a lot along the way.  The best part is that it was all inspired by my kids and my dogs.  Just don’t tell them.  Otherwise, they’ll start fighting over who deserves the most credit!

Learn more about the books and order a personalized copy at www.doggydrama.com.  Or, pick up your copy of Doggy Drama or Puppy Drama today at everyone’s favorite local coffee shop - Colin’s Coffee.  I might see you there.

I guess I have my kids and my dogs to thank for bringing my books to life.  Just don’t tell them or they’ll start fighting over who deserves the most credit.

Andra Gillum is a free-lance writer from Upper Arlington, Ohio, and the author of Doggy Drama and Puppy Drama.  Send your comments and feedback to andra@doggydrama.com.