Ringside Review: WWE cruiserweights deserve a push

By Dandy Dave

It has been a long, hard ride for the cruiserweight wrestlers in the WWE.

Just a few months ago, the WCW had the cruiserweights as their main part of their program, and they were on top of the wrestling world. The heavyweights were seen as main-eventers, but Chris Jericho, Psychosis, Billy Kidman, Dean Malenko and Juventud Guerrera thrived in the alternate division.

With Eddie Guerrero, now the “Smackdown” WWE champion, at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, we have one of the cruiserweights the heavyweight champion. At the same time Chavo, who comes in at 5-9 and 210 pounds, is the heavyweight champion. What gives?

We all know that weight-mixing happens all the time in pro wrestling. Just last week we had Rey Mysterio (5-6, 165 pounds) in the ring with 7-foot, 500-pound Big Show. While it was a good match, was it a believable match?

The WWE lists anyone under 225 pounds as a cruiserweight. I know that Eddie and Chavo are borderline of both weight classes, but Scotty 2 Hotty is 5-9, 205 pounds and one of the tag team heavyweight champs.

The WWE needs to promote the little guys more! We need to see Noble, Moore, London, Nunzio, Ultimo Dragon and all the others in matches with each other. The WWE needs to define and promote the cruiserweights.

• Jim Ross said on WWE.com last week that “There’s no truth to the rumors that we’re getting ready to have a mass firing of talent.”

ProWrestlingScoops.com, however, says to “trust us when we tell you at least a half dozen talents will be gone after WrestleMania.”

• In a sad story last week, the Boston Herald reported that Edward Leslie, aka Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, voluntarily checked in for treatment after cocaine he admitted was his created an anthrax scare at the MBTA’s Downtown Crossing subway station.

The subway station was evacuated, but spared further inconvenience when Leslie told deputy police chief McCarthy that the substance was his cocaine, not anthrax. Leslie was the fare collector at the station.

• More about Ron Simmons: The Florida State University football player was the first consensus two-time All-American for FSU. He was also the first African-American WCW World Champion. He is the only pro wrestler to be on the cover of “Jet” and “Ebony” magazines.

Dandy Dave is brought to you by Advance America. Call them at 473-9390.