Good evening, wrestling fans, Johnny Gallivan here once again with some vaguely coherant ramblings. So, why don't all you Gallivan-atics sit tight while I spin some gold. What? Gallivan-atics... No? Ok, I'll do better next time.

It's official; the fates or the gods or the spirits, or whomever you deem runs this swirling orb of chaos are testing your favorite reporter. (that's me. We've been through this before, sheesh) Not unlike Job, I have been tested, and I have to say that I am the man better for it. I'm not a spiritual man per se, but recent events have made me think twice. Over the last year I have been robbed of three of my five senses. Shocking, you say? Unbelievable? Maybe, but it happened.

The first was an ear infection that left me partially deaf. It was very painful, and I was worried about having permanent hearing damage, but after it cleared up, my hearing was fine. What it did do, however, was remind me of the value of sound in our lives. Whether it's music, naughty whispers from that co-worker who should know better, or shouts from across a crowded bar, sound is all around us, and affects us profoundly; often without our noticing. Then, later, I developed pinkeye. It didn't blind me, but blurred my vision, and made it painful to watch TV or sit in front of a computer monitor. Great affliction when you need a few days off school; not so great when you work in front of a computer. Many's the time during that week I would say, (in my best Isaac Hayes impression) "I don't want no god-damn pinkeye!" Well, it was gone in a couple of days, but still reminded me of what I had lost.

Then, just a few weeks ago, I lost my sense of taste completely, following an incident with some raw rhubarb. For over a week I had to endure food that all tasted the same... like bland cardboard; no sweet, no sour, no bitter, no nothing. As terrible as it was, it was almost worth it as my taste buds regenerated and returned, and I felt like I was tasting everything for the first time. (there's a reference to the title; see, I know what I'm doing) Even the most subtle flavours and tastes did not go unnoticed.

Now, at this point (if anybody's still reading) you're wondering what on earth this cryptic - and possibly sacrilegious - mess has to do with wrestling. Well, I'm getting to that. In the words of the most over-rated band ever, "You don't know what you got, til it's gone." And, through my sensual trials (sounds like a movie on Cinemax*) I became much happier with what I had. That brings me to wrestling. Lately, with the WWFE mega-federation particularly, wrestling just hasn't been holding my attention. Feds like FHW and XGWO are still churning out greatness, but RAW and Smackdown just don't do it for me anymore. So, am I finally over this wrestling fad? Or, has Vince's product just become a little too familiar? It's not all my fault. WWFE's programming has been far too "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" these days. There are few (if any) innovative or even compelling angles in the mix. Talent-wise, I have no right to complain. But, just like WCW before it, Vince and Co. are making the same mistakes all over again; elevating old-timers who just can't work anymore, focusing on the promo rather than the wrestling, cutting matches too short for fans to get involved, and just failing to make me sit up and pay attention.

These days, RAW and Smackdown are on in the background as I work, play, or eat, and is holding less of my attention every week. Maybe it's time I pulled an Oedipus, and blinded myself to the WWFE product for a while. Maybe, just maybe, I don't know what I've got, and after a few weeks off I'll learn to re-appreciate their shows. Or maybe, (as the cynic in me keeps saying) their product is just garbage.

That's just my opinion, and although it's more important than your's, I'm just another mouth, screaming into the void. Until next time, keep your laces tight, and your powder dry.

Cultural Footnotes:
*: UK fans, replace Cinemax with Bravo.
*: Canadian fans, replace Cinemax with Showcase.