C&C - Mongo Wrestling Alliance - "Baron vs. Johnny" [2/6]

[Space Cadet]

The third episode airs tonight at midnight. This is also the sixth episode in production order.

[Beat]

Again, not a single review. I'm half wondering if they should just call this "Anime Forum 2" sometimes. Which would be a shame since Mongo Wrestling Alliance seems to be pushing the action/comedy hybrid further than any show so far except the sadly never picked up Korgoth. Even though I criticize the show, the fact that it is pushing Adult Swim's envelope in such a way is admirable.

Anyway, I think I can sum up each episode I've seen so far. Take a Vince Russo produced episode of TNA Impact, remove all references to Hoak Hogan Hulk Hogan, and edit it down to 10 minutes.

This is pure, unforgiving Crash TV (the style of writing Russo made infamous during his height of popularity with WWE) at its very essence, a nonsensical, shifting plot connected by bits of actual wrestling. Which is fine to a point, but as the audience told Russo and likely will tell this show, the main draw of any wrestling product is the actual in-ring action. And the wrestling is, much like Russo's product, the last thing the writers and animators seem to care about. Expecting Ultimate Muscle (crazy animated pro wrestling) or Grappler Baki (crazy animated MMA) is obviously stretching it, but for the most part, the jokes in the ring aren't funny and the action isn't exciting to look at. Strangely enough, the stuff outside the ring does seem to work OK.

It's still not the worst action cartoon on Adult Swim right now, but considering the pedigree of those involved (the co-creator of Metalocalypse and writers for the WWE's Attitude Era), it should be much better.

[shany94a]

It was loathsome and offensive, yet I could not look away ...

Not sure exactly what to make of this show yet, but parts of it sure are gross. I sort of like the character of Stack - but maybe that's just because he reams everyone out.

[NightSpirit]

I wonder how long Tommy Blacha is going to be amused by sagging breasts and liver spots. Sometimes it seems that's the only reason he created this show.

[FFmax]

I want to like this show, but the gross humor is just too much, I mean what's the point of it?

[Beat]

I want to like this show, but the gross humor is just too much, I mean what's the point of it?

It's part of the satire/use of the Crash TV writing system. You have to remember, Tommy Blancha was writer for the WWF during such oddities as an old lady giving birth to a human hand, "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry, the Oddities, a stable led by the Insane Clown Posse, etc all. This is a microcosm of Crash TV boiled down to 10 minutes.

I don't expect it to change. If pro wrestling writers are anything, they're stubborn. I'd rather see Rusty get hit with a Kinniku buster than gross out gags, but Blancha thinks they're funny so they stay.