by Greg Dillard

Welcome to Edgelive.com, the new name of TheSmarks. What? You don't think Scott Keith is hot for that name? Eh….maybe not.

Alright, let's get into it:

"Where's The Edge, Greg?"

"What happened to The Edge?"

"Is Hyatte pissed at you?"

"Did you really lose your DSL connection?"

"If you have DSL back, then why isn't The Edge back?"

…and on, and on. For those that have addressed concerns about TheSmarks.com's very own audio show let me give you the answers to the best of my ability. As I noted on our discussion threads last week in a couple different places I did lose my DSL capabilities for over a month. For those that don't know, uploading broadcast files onto this server is a bitch whore of a task unless you have DSL connections or better at your disposal. Given that each 1 hour 15 minute classic of The Edge was over 30 mega bytes in size, well I think you get the drift. Without DSL I was dead in the water at least as far as putting a show on the 'net was concerned. Sure, Hyatte and I could tape till our hearts were full of merriment, but what's the point? There would be no place for it to go except my trusty little Compaq's hard drive.

So, I waited….

….and waited

…and waited.

Don't ever hook up with Broadwing DSL. I'll tell you that much right now. Anyway, we finally got the bitch back up and what happens? WCW shuts down and the WWF snaps them up like a set of Johnny Cash albums at a flea market….only for less money. To the uninitiated trying to book a guest - a WWF contracted guest - is about as simple as booking Tom Cruise to do magic tricks at your nephew's birthday party. It's not fun, and it's close to impossible. Sure, Howard Stern can get the guys…but then again Stern is a rich bastard too. I'm not. So, this little changeup in the wrestling world left me grasping at exactly what to do. Hyatte was still on board having weathered through the DSL storm with me, but we both were trying to come up with something to do that made the show worthwhile and unique. Sure we could go out and book the guys that were working indys all over the country. We could go out and book all the guys that got left out in the cold by the WCW/WWF deal. We could get all these guys and mimic exactly what the "Chairshots", "Wrestlethis", and "Between the Ropes" do on a weekly basis.

I mean c'mon. You go over to Keller's site and half of his filler is nothing but "TORCH RADIO REVIEW" stories detailing these guys going from one 'net show to another telling the same stories, and answering the same questions.

"So Mr. Hudson, what's the unemployment line really like?"

Well, I didn't want the show to become that. I'd rather not do it than simply be another little audio show that rehashes what everyone else was talking about. So, we talked about a variety of different formats…but honestly we've not come up with anything yet.

So, is the show dead? I wouldn't say "dead". Hiatus? Maybe. It's definitely on the back burner into we/I come up with something unique and entertaining worth spending my money and time on. In the meantime I am planning to finish up Edgelive.com with Ashish's help to allow for the archives to be there from the beginning of the show in late 1999. That should be complete in a few days. Keep posted to TheSmarks and that site for news. You never know when a new "EDGE" will pop up.

Now…I got a nice little response from my "sources" emails that were sent to me during the WCW/WWF buyout. It's amazing what a buzz this inside information created on the internet and I was glad to be the guy to give you it. I let my "guy" know that I was very pleased with his mole like work and told him to shoot me any more scoops that he may have. Well, it didn't take long. This brief snippet that follows is a quick look inside a place that most of us have never gone. My mole was able to infiltrate Titan Towers for a brief period of time during a WWFE booking/WCW strategy meeting last week. It was a very, very intriguing look at the current state of the wrestling business today. The following item is a transcipt of an audio tape that he sent me after being arrested for trespassing at the Connecticut based headquarters.

Here goes:

(Meeting joined in progress. Attendees present and visible from source's location are as follows: Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Paul Heyman, Jim Ross, Bruce Pritchard, Pat Patterson, Steve Austin, and Triple H).

Vince: And I'm telling you JR - we have to have him screw your wife. We need to have your wife, Debra, and Steve all getting it on in a nasty 3 way. We have to see you look so damn dejected that these people have no excuse not to boo the rattlesnake.

JR: Vince, you're not thinking straight. Just give this some time. We've already got Steve busting me open on Smackdown this week. That'll draw heel heat his way. Hell, maybe have him beat up Trish Stratus or something to get some more heat.

Steph: Or Lita…

Vince: What was that honey?

Steph: I was just saying that Lita would be a good person for Steve to beat down….to get heel heat I mean. I mean she's so popular with the guys…for some reason…and I just think that maybe Hunter and I could help him get some heat by beating this girl half to death.

Bruce: I think we may have a problem with the censors on that one.

HHH: Screw the censors on this one! This is cable. No one is paying attention at the censors.

Shane: Um…when can we talk about who's coming over to WCW?

Vince: In a minute Shane. Now, I like this Lita idea…but maybe it'd draw more heel heat if I made out with her in the ring before Steve beat her up…?

Steph: Come on dad!

Vince: What???

JR: I really think we should go this course. Maybe not make the beatdown so over the top as to get us in trouble due to that recent lawsuit…

Vince: Everyone's out to get me JR. I don't give a shit about any lawsuit. Just for that we're going to push it over the edge. Austin…I want you to violate the bitch out in the ring next Monday.

Austin: Violate? What the hell does that mean?

Vince: Everything short of anal buddy…

Austin: I think a chairshot or two will work just fine.

HHH: Austin, this is about being a heel man. You've been working babyface so long…

Austin: Listen up Hunter I was working heel before you ever fucked that manbeast Joanie…you got that?

Pat: Whoa now guys, calm down. This is just businesss.

Vince: That's right, it's just business. Maybe we turn get Austin heel heat by wearing a Bob Costas tee shirt while beating down Lita?

HHH: I think you'd get better heat wearing an XFL shirt honestly.

Vince: Watch it!

Austin: Actually that wouldn't draw any heat at all (chuckling)

Vince: That's enough about the XFL….alright!

Shane: I just want to know which guy I'm getting?

Paul: What the hell are you talking about Shane? For WCW? Which two guys? Rhyno or Spike Dudley?

Shane: No Paul…Triple H or Austin?

Paul: Neither of those two are extreme!!!!!

Vince: Shane, we're not sending either Austin or Triple H to WCW.

Shane: But you said?

Vince: I changed my mind. You'll get some talent, just not them.

Shane: The Rock then? He's off TV for awhile…suspended is the storyline.

Vince: Not Rocky either. JR read him the potential list.

JR: Alright, here it is. Shane you can pick 5 guys from the following list of WWF Superstars. Billy Gunn, Esse Rios, Saturn, The Big Bossman, or Jerry Lynn.

Shane: Are you shitting me? I mean Bossman? Isn't he released already???? Come on!

Heyman: Jerry Lynn! Jerry Lynn! He's the New F'n Show Shane!!!!!!!

Shane: Shut up Paul…

Heyman: Jerry Lynn is EXTREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEME!

Shane: Fuck…this is going to suck. Can I at least get some money to go get some free agents?

Vince: Nope.

Shane: Nope….?? That's it???

Vince: Yep….make due with some of those guys Shane. I have faith in you.

Heyman: Shane….we'll talk later. I know a few guys you can get cheap that are available.

Shane: Like who?

Heyman: Steve Corino.

Shane: Who the hell is that?

Heyman: A former ECW World champion, I'll have you know…

JR: But then again so was Mikey Whipwreck….

Shane: Mike who?????

Vince: Listen, let's get back to Austin's heel turn. We've got to get this turn over boys. This is a move that not even Eric Bischoff can stop….speaking of….where's my coffee. That coffee guy has been gone a long time…

Triple H: Yeah, he has….wait a minute. Is that a tape recorder back there……

(The tape pretty much ends here. Quite the interesting scene in the WWF booking room I thought. Either way, it should be an interesting road ahead. One quick word of advice to Austin….use a rubber buddy. You don't know where JR, or his wife have been.)

Late…