What Is Going On?

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who is wondering what is going on in the WWE lately. There have been a lot of changes and a lot of things happening that haven't really been making sense to anyone. Let's start with the Over The Limit pay-per-view and go from there.

I would just like to start off by saying that I had an 88% success rate with my predictions and I'm pretty proud of that. Overall, the event was excellent and one of the best pay-per-views of the year. The crowd seemed really into each and every match (with the main event being the huge exception) and the superstars truly entertained all of those who were in attendance.

Hits:
- Christian winning the battle royal was a huge moment and something that I enjoyed very much. I have always admired Christian as a performer and he truly deserved the win. I jumped up off the couch and cheered when he won and my mom thought that I hurt myself. It is nice to see people who deserve  a shot finally getting one.

-The CM Punk and Daniel Bryan match stole the show and should have been the main event of the evening. These two men put on a clinic for how a wrestling match should look. I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that they had known each other on the independent circuit but it was a match that rivaled the one Punk had against Cena at Money In The Bank.

Misses:
-The only real 'miss' worth mentioning is the main event that saw Johnny Ace face John Cena. I love John Cena but this match was just ridiculous. I was bored and just not into it at all. Seeing him humiliate the General Manager was mildly entertaining but it was kind of embarrassing because Cena is so much more talented than that. When the Big Show came out, I thought maybe he would have a chance at winning and Teddy would get the General Manager job back. Sadly, this was not the case as Big Show turned heel and we became stuck with John Laryingitis for the foreseeable future.

-A tiny thing I noticed was when Michael Cole said that Christian was 'less expereienced' than Miz. Really?

The edition of Monday Night Raw that followed was scattered and disjointed. The segment featuring Ricardo Rodriguez and Santino Marella was a prime example of that, sure it was funny but it felt like it didn't belong in the show at all. The whole Big Show contract thing really got on my nerves as well, Johnny kept saying that it was a verbal agreement, that still constitutes a contract. I still say he should have been fired and it took the WWE Universe pointing it out on Twitter for them to realize they flubbed and made a mistake. I sincerely hope that someone in creative got reprimanded for that one.

The Punk and Daniel Bryan feud is something that I am excited about, I think that this is something that could really light a fire in the WWE and it is a feud that the fans really want to see. The fallout from Over The Limit was that Punk's victory was a fluke and Bryan claims he made Punk tap out. I don't understand why they are trying to make this into a big deal. Punk pinned Bryan for the win and Punk tapped out AFTER he won. What's the big deal? I'm not sure where they are trying to go with this but I sincerely hope that the storyline with them doesn't fizzle out prematurely.

The edition of Monday Night Raw that aired on May 28th was much of the same. It was weird to see a broadcast without John Cena, who is (I'm assuming) dealing with his divorce. Big Show came out and gave a speech that could have put anyone to sleep but when he mentioned a "phony UFC so-called fighter" I was left wondering if that was a shot at Brock Lesnar? I personally prefer Show as a face but the heel turn could be interesting if the angle with Brodus Clay continues. The Funkasaurus is growing on me and the little bit of edge he showed tonight makes him more appealing as a superstar.

The best part of this show was seeing that Punk got the cover of the new WWE'13 video game.

For the love of all that is holy, John Cena better be back next week....

Extreme Rules and Monday Night Raw.

The pay-per-view that the WWE and its superstars put on this past Sunday was one of the absolute best in the last little while. It was entertaining and engaging, keeping the crowd interested and involved in what was happening in the ring. Here is a quick run down of who fought who, who won, and what their stipulations were:

Randy Orton versus Kane:
Stipulation: falls count anywhere
Winner: Randy Orton

This was a very entertaining match in a feud that seemed to be fizzling out. I personally liked that they actually moved all over the arena, somewhat reminiscent of the hardcore match between Hardcore Holly and Al Snow. The first few punches and the flying dropkick that Kane delivered looked like they hurt. Overall, I was very pleased but I'm hoping that both men can move on to things that are bigger and better.

Brodus Clay versus Dolph Ziggler
Stipulation: none
Winner: Brodus Clay

An obvious filler match. I get why people like the funkasaurus but I'm not sure that this should be a permanent gimmick for Clay. His dancing with the kids in the middle of the ring was pretty cute.

Big Show versus Cody Rhodes
Stipulation: tables
Winner: Cody Rhodes

The way that Big Show lost is complete bullshit. He's a 500 plus pound man, what did they think would happen if he stepped on a table? I was really mad that he lost because I felt like he was due for a lengthy title run after finally getting a Wrestlemania moment. As a fan, I'm not interested in seeing Cody Rhodes face on my television with the belt and seeing Big Show portrayed as a loser. Hopefully the creative team has a direction for this and another title run for Big Show.

Sheamus versus Daniel Bryan
Stipulation: two out of three falls
Winner: Sheamus

A.J lurking in the shadows is just plain creepy, had to get that out of the way.

I called who would get what fall in the match and who would win. I really like Sheamus and the way his character has developed, gingers have to stick together! His shirt was hilarious and I'm sure that seeing it plays with the head of Daniel Bryan. Both men did a tremendous job and it was my second favorite match of the entire event. Daniel Bryan doesn't interest me that much anymore, I liked him way better when he was just a face technical wrestler.

Two Jobbers versus Ryback

What in the holy hell was this garbage? They should have just kept him as Skip Sheffield and not made him wear that ridiculous outfit. Finish him? I was unaware I was watching Mortal Kombat.

C.M. Punk versus Chris Jericho
Stipulation: Chicago street fight
Winner: C.M. Punk

Hands down this was the best match of the whole thing and it really showed what great entertainers and athletes the wrestlers of the WWE really are. Punk's mother and sister being at ringside added a lot to the atmosphere going into the match and when his sister slapped Jericho, I almost died. This match couldn't have been any more perfect, it was a great showcase for the talent of both of these individuals. If this did not secure them both a spot in the Hall of Fame, I don't know what could do the job. This match rivals the one he had with John Cena at last year's Money in the Bank pay-per-view, and is on my list of favorite matches.

John Cena versus Brock Lesnar
Stipulation: no count out or disqualification
Winner: John Cena

I had major problems with this match from the beginning. Lesnar should not have been able to wear trunks with sponsor logos on them or such thickly padded gloves. Another thing that really bothered me is the way that he fought the match. It was fought as if he was still in UFC but it should not have been that way. When he cut Cena and he started to bleed, the match should have been stopped. Anyone who knows me knows that I am the HUGEST John Cena fan around and I love all of his matches but this one was different. I didn't like the way that it was fought by Lesnar and it made me feel like he treats the company and what they do as a joke. Why bother even coming back if you're not going to wrestle? All he did was pound the crap out of Cena to try and prove how tough he is. When John picked him up and slammed him down on the steps, the crowd erupted and you could literally feel the electricity coming from them.

Having John Cena win after all that adversity was a great touch and a good way to end the broadcast. The speech that he gave after left me reeling, I could not imagine a WWE without John Cena.

 I would rate this pay-per-view a ten out of ten.

Monday Night Raw was a showcase for the fallout from the previous night and featured a beat the clock challenge to determine the new number one contender for C.M. Punk's title. Randy Orton ended up winning the contest with a time of 4:16 and won the right to face Punk at Over the Limit. With three weeks left until the event, it will be interesting to see what kind of build up they can accomplish.

We also witnessed the fallout from Cena versus Lesnar at Extreme Rules. Triple H came out and did what everyone wanted, told Lesnar that he is no better than anyone else in that locker room and took away all of the perks that Johnny Ace afforded Lesnar. I feel like people aren't responding as strongly to Lesnar being back because he is simply just being an asshole. People enjoy bad guys but Brock Lesnar is just a punk. I hope that he just moves on to something else and leaves the WWE alone.

The Next Big Thing.

School is now over so I will be posting more frequently and I have a lot of things to say about the recent developments in the world of wrestling...

The main thing that I want to discuss is the return of Brock Lesnar. Truth be told, I never really liked him the first time around. I find it highly ironic that a guy who criticizes the company that made him a household name returns to it. I understand why he would have criticized the schedule they have to keep and all that but if they don't want to then they always have the option to do something else. It just irks me to no end but his reappearance did light a spark in the WWE universe. When he clocked John Cena in the mouth and bloodied him, it was an exciting moment for the WWE and its fans. Much like The Rock, Brock returns and has prominent spot on television. I don't agree with that at all. While it does amp up the excitement and ratings, it is unfair to the guys in the locker room who but their ass each and every week to entertain thousands of people. No one should just be able to waltz right in and get a top spot. When Brock leaves again to pursue another avenue, he will fade into the background.

Another hot topic is the feud between Chris Jericho and C.M. Punk. I think that this feud could use a little jolt coming off of Wrestlemania in Miami and what they are doing on television is not what I had in mind. I'm all for entertaining but when family members are dragged into what is happening in the stories, I don't agree with that. Even if the talent involved agreed with it and the family is okay with it, it is still something that should not be brought up on television. Even if it is a made up family member, it is in poor taste and should be something that the creative division of the company should be talking a closer look at.

It's better late than never but I would like to congratulate the Undertaker on going 20-0 at Wrestlemania this year. Every year, his match is always the highlight of the event. Fans salivate at the thought of seeing the Undertaker continue the legendary streak. There were a few times during the Hell in a Cell match that I thought he wasn't going to be able to over take Triple H but he did it. The image at the end of the match of Undertaker, Shawn, and Triple H standing together is going to be one of those classic images that stands the test of time. They are the last of a dying breed, these are guys that I grew up on and they gave me some of the best memories of my life. It was everything that a Wrestlemania match should be. Entertaining, intense, and just a well fought contest. They should all be extremely proud and the WWE should be proud of there talent for delivering such a high caliber match.

That's it for now. I'm looking forward to next week to bring you my thoughts on the world of wrestling!

John Cena vs. The Rock: Who Will Win?

The match-up between the leader of the Cenation and the People's Champ is one of the most anticipated matches at any Wrestlemania, maybe even more so than when Hogan faced Rocky. It is also one of the most polarizing matches in the history of the WWE, with the fans being split in half as to who they want to win. It will certainly be interesting to see how the WWE handles such an epic match-up.

Here is a quick run down of both individuals and who I think will win...

My obvious pick is John Cena. His career success and popularity has eclipsed that of The Rock and he's just a better wrestler overall. A lot of people give Cena flack for only having a certain skill-set in the ring but I see him improving and evolving with each match that comes along. He will continue to be around for the foreseeable future, not just via satellite. That is a real sore spot for myself and many wrestling fans. How can a guy that claims to be so dedicated to the business, appear so infrequently? He does do movies and all that but a lot of fans hold resentment towards him for sort of 'abandoning' the business that made him. The Rock's movies are funny and entertaining but now he is a movie star, not a wrestler. Simply put, he just isn't around enough to make a difference to the people who show up to the events and the people who are tuning in at home. John is out at house shows, live events, and has multiple charitable endeavours. He is out there busting his ass for the fans that love him and the fans that hate him.

I will say this, as I have said before, The Rock can talk on the microphone. He has a certain charisma in the ring that can't be ignored. Even when I was a kid (I'm 23 now) and he was on TV, I never really gravitated towards him the way that other kids did. I just don't find him that entertaining. Granted, he has provided the fans with some pretty memorable moments. Another thing that really bothers me about him returning is that he is stealing the spotlight from the WWE superstars that have worked hard all year to even be considered for a spot at the showcase of the immortals. He just waltzes in and gets a top spot. It is for ratings, and I get that, but it is simply just NOT fair to the others in the locker room. The match that does deserve the top spot (which should be Undertaker versus Triple H) won't get it because they are after a ratings draw, not that a Wrestlemania needs a gimmick to be highly successful.

The only conceivable way for Dwayne to win would be if they were going for a best two out of three series or something along those lines. Although, seeing as they are in his hometown, they may go for the hometown win and an induction for next year's Hall of Fame. It's really a tough thing to call, there are so many different angles that they could approach it with. A double count out, disqualification, submission win, there could be an interference, the creative machine at WWE can be unpredictable. No matter what the outcome, both individuals have provided great entertainment in the lead up to Wrestlemania, The Rock got a few good zingers in at Cena's expense but I think John has the upper hand when it ones to burning him on the microphone.

In the end, it doesn't really matter who is bigger or stronger or who knows the most wrestling moves. The true winner of this match will be who gets in there and gives the fans what they want.

Hustle. Loyalty. Respect.

Road Trip to Wrestlemania.

In just a few short weeks, the WWE superstars take the first steps on the road to Wrestlemania. It is always the most exciting time of the year for a wrestling fan, it begins the build to the biggest night in sports entertainment. Wrestlemania is more than just a pay-per-view, it truly is a showcase of the immortals. Separating the good from the great, every person in the WWE works to make this even spectacular.

There is no doubt in my mind that the draw of this event is the epic confrontation between The Rock and, my favorite, John Cena. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm not a big Rocky fan. The man can draw a crowd like no other and he can talk like the best of them but I just think his passion for the business is lacking. This can be attributed to the fact that he made several appearances via satellite instead of actually showing up to the Raw tapings prior to the last Wrestlemania. People notice things like that. If the WWE Universe meant as much to him as he said, I feel like he should have made the effort to actually show up. I'm just saying...

It was quite a gamble to have the big draw match for WMXXVIII announced a year in advance but it will pay off. This is something that is very unique to the WWE and the realm of sports entertainment. The Rock and John Cena had a good back and forth thing going for a while, teaming them together at Survivor Series was a genius move. It fueled the fire even more and helped build interest for their bout in April. What will be interesting is seeing how the feud is built heading into the event. I do think that the Cena-Kane angle could be entertaining but they need to use The Rock. He can't just come in two weeks before the pay-per0view and start teasing him or building the angle. It needs to start at Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber at the very latest. It also can't be done mostly via satellite, which was my pet peeve when they first introduced this angle. To me, if he cared he would have showed up a bit more but that's a different issue. A few of the 'call-in' appearances are fine but he needs to be there to interact with the fans and ramp things up. It's not like the ratings would be hurt, he would probably make them go through the roof.

As for what is happening with Cena right now, I think a full heel turn is a terrible idea. Cena is the superman of the WWE, the guys who always does good. It's really hard to ignore that fact. It is also really hard to ignore the people who hate John Cena. He takes it all in stride it seems, just letting it roll off his back and the money flowing into his pocket. No matter how loud they cheer that they don't like him, the ones who like him cheer louder. People like Dave Batista have to face the fact that this guy is what represents World Wrestling Entertainment. He didn't ruin the WWE, he is one of the faces that is propelling it into the global juggernaut that it is. Those 'Did You Know?' facts prove it, WWE is worldwide and growing by the moment.

The other hot topic in the WWE is CM Punk. I think that he is a genius and one of the hottest properties that the company has ever had on its roster. He is the breath of fresh air that the company needed and he is (obviously) a HUGE hit with the fans. You can tell by the reaction that they give and the constant selling out of his merchandise, I have been trying to get a 'Best In The World' t-shirt for months, to no avail. The big draw may be the Rock versus John Cena but the main event will be whatever match Punk is in, this will be another Steamboat versus Savage type of moment. He will steal the show from these two guys. His matches are always top notch and of the highest quality. He is the essence of what a true entertainer should be. Whoever he faces better keep their eyes open and watch out for the Anaconda Vise.

January 29th is the day that the path to the showcase of the immortals starts. Wrestlemania is the moment that every superstar and fan looks forward to. It is the biggest event of the entire calendar year for the WWE Universe and this fan will be sitting on the edge of her seat.

Live from Edmonton, Alberta.

I had the pleasure of attending the August 22nd edition of Monday Night Raw and I just have to say that no one does it better than the WWE. They don't travel to Edmonton, located 5 hours away from my hometown, very often but when they do it's always worth the travel and money to get there. I was lucky enough to stay in the same hotel as Sheamus, David Otunga (who is extremely polite), and Michael McGillicutty.

The Superstars matches were excellent, seeing Sheamus defeat Heath Slater and Daniel Bryan defeat Drew McIntyre. It was a thrill to see Daniel Bryan wrestle as he is one of my all time favorite competitors. The Edmonton crowd is always awesome to be a part of, everyone was into the ring action. My friends and I had such amazing seats, row 9, on the floor, right by the titantron.

The MNR broadcast as a whole was one of the best I've seen in a long time and my second live Raw. It's been a few days since the show and I'm sure everyone knows who beat who and what not, so I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite moments from my live WWE experience...

Even though I LOVE John Cena, CM Punk stole the show from everyone. The crowd just ate him up, seeing him cut a promo live was one of the most memorable wrestling moments of my entire life. The reaction to Kevin Nash and Triple H didn't even come close to how the crowd responded to Punk. The section that I happened to be sitting in had a good mix of Punk and Cena fans so it was always hilarious when the two were in the ring. One of the funniest moments of the night was when Cena tossed his shirt into the crowd and it got tossed back...three times!

The crowd chants coming out of Canada are always a treat to listen to. My section got a 'We Want Hall' chant, 'Mr.Perfect' chant, and a 'Boring' chant going at various points throughout the broadcast. Our section was full of tons of great people and  there was only one lady who was raining on everyone's good time. She actually told me that since I was wearing a John Cena shirt that I should know better than to cuss. I literally had nothing to say and just laughed. One of the best parts of any event is the crowd reaction, everyone was cheering, yelling, drinking, and just having a great time. It's really something to see that one single event bring so many people together in one place. It didn't matter who cheered for who, everyone was so into it. As evidenced by the 'WHAT?' chants when the Miz and R-Truth were in the ring.

I'd also like to mention that I saw the sign that I made four or five times on television, it was just something that made the show that much more fun.

Another thing that made the event so special for me was that I got to meet the man I aspire to be when I'm done school, Jim Ross. I also met Jerry Lawler (for the second time) and Kevin Nash. They seemed a little tired and cranky but I'm sure that travel and being bombarded by fans all night will do that to you. It was a real thrill for me as a fan and aspiring WWE commentator. I would only hope to be as talented as Jim Ross one day.

I was very upset that I was unable to make it to Calgary for the Smackdown taping, just for the simple fact that Bret Hart, my favorite wrestler of all time, was in attendance. He is number one on my 'Wrestlers to Meet' list.

I will say this, I am happy that I didn't have to sit through the Sin Cara versus Heath Slater match...twice.

Champion vs. Champion.

Two of the biggest names in wrestling are facing each other this Sunday in a match to determine the true champion. It's going to be outspoken CM Punk versus golden boy John Cena. I personally love both of them and look forward to seeing them face each other yet again.

Like their MITB match, this face-off is a definite game changer. Who really is the champion? Is it the man who won and then left? Or is it the man who won it from Rey Mysterio? It certainly has peaked the interest of wrestling and non-wrestling fans from all over, easily becoming one of the most popular angles of the last five or ten years.

Personally, I think that CM Punk is the true champ. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a true blue John Cena fan. I have a Cena snuggie for god sakes. He has been the number one guy for the company for quite some time and he deserves that title, there is no denying that he's a big draw. That being said, CM Punk is a breath of fresh air. There is a new sheriff in town with Triple H taking over the television leadership reigns from Vince and CM Punk is the perfect guy to, for lack of a better term, shake shit up. His off the cuff rants are the most compelling and exciting stuff to come out of WWE programming in a LONG time.

As I've said a million times before, there needs to be a change when it comes to the champion. There are the same guys winning it far too often and it seems as though someone has finally answered my prayers. I think Vince McMahon is one of the most brilliant men ever, and he knows that this recent 'Age of Punk' is peaking interest in his company and its superstars.

There is a shifting dynamic and CM Punk is at the forefront, it may not be a full fledged return to the Attitude Era, but it's a start.

A New Era.

This past episode of Monday Night Raw was, in my opinion, a home run show.

It's always refreshing to see the show opened with a match instead of the usual promo. The action between Rey Mysterio and The Miz was received well from the crowd and it was great to see that the crowd was responding well to the match. I always take note of the crowd reaction during a show and anything was better than the crowd that they had after the MITB pay-per-view. The entire tournament seemed kind of odd, and I feel as though they should have left the title 'vacant' a little longer. It would have added a little more suspense and played up the storyline with CM Punk that much more. Letting Punk leave with the belt was pure genius. I'm glad it didn't turn into an Alundra Blayze incident, where she dropped her title in a garbage can.

The tournament seemed useless with Rey winning and losing so quickly.  One of the huge surprises of the night is that CM Punk made a return and had a wordless showdown with Cena in the ring, with each man raising their respective title and garnering a fan reaction. What should have happened is that Rey should have hung on to the belt for a week or two and then Cena should have won it from him, leaving the showdown between Punk and Cena for before Summerslam. A champ vs. champ match perhaps? This eager fan is hoping so.

Last week saw Triple H take over the day to day activities of the company by being appointed the new COO of the company. I have a feeling that things will be a little more edgy than the previous product without losing the PG rating on the programming. His in ring exchanges with both R-Truth and Michael Cole were hilarious and had me laughing the entire time. The thing that most pleased me with this entire segment was that good ol' Jim Ross was brought back. I don't know the terms of the deal, all I know is that I am one happy camper. Mr. Ross adds a informative view to the action in the ring and, partnered with Lawler, will make announcing more interesting. All of the announcers seem to be lost, not really knowing what the hell they're doing and it causes guys like Lawler to be lost in the shuffle.

The first night of the 'Triple H' era was extremely successful. I am excited and a bit curious to see just where this new perspective will take us as wrestling fans.

Money In The Bank.

It's been quite a while since my last post and we have a lot to talk about...

The hot topic in the wrestling world has been the storyline between CM Punk and John Cena. These two athletes pulled off one of the hottest angles in the last decade, it had everything a wrestling fan could want. The right amount of hype, perfect promos, and one hell of a match at Money In The Bank. The anticipation for this event has been off the charts and I personally think this will be declared the pay-per-view of 2011. Yes, even beating the showcase of the immortals.

From beginning to end, the main event had it all. CM Punk came out with a huge pop as expected (it was in his hometown of Chicago) and Cena came out to the loudest chorus of boos I have ever heard in my life. Constant non-stop action, amazing near-falls, and I think it was the best match of either man's career. It's moments like this that make me so very proud to be a WWE fan. My Dad and I sat on the edge of our seats for the entire match and were torn between who to root for. We talked about possible outcomes before and during the pay-per-view and both came to the conclusion that there would be something similar to the infamous Montreal Screwjob. We figured that there would be no way in hell that Vince would allow CM Punk to leave with the lifeblood of the WWE. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that very thing happened last night and it sent shock waves throughout the entire wrestling world.

Honestly, I think this was the correct way to go with the title match. As much as I love John Cena, the WWE needed a shake up at every level. CM Pun k deserved this win, he is one of the most talented men to ever step through those ropes as far as I am concerned. I was surprised that the ball was not dropped as there have been some questionable creative decisions made within the last few months concerning story lines and talent. It's programs like this that just go to prove that nobody does it better than World Wrestling Entertainment.

Another highlight of the event was Daniel Bryan winning the Smackdown Money In The Bank match.I've always enjoyed watching him wrestle and think that he is finally getting what he deserves. I called him as a winner from the very beginning and am so glad that it didn't go to someone like Cody Rhodes. Daniel Bryan is already so accomplished but now he is the most important man on Smackdown. He can strike at any time and win the title, it will only be a matter of time before he is main eventing.

As for the actual MITB matches, I found the Smackdown match far superior to the Raw match. It's nice to see the Smackdown guys get centre stage as I believe that they are often left on the back burner. There was one shocking moment in the Raw match, Alberto Del Rio unmasking Rey Mysterio. I actually gasped. It added a nice element of surprise to the match and gave the crowd something else to talk about. Christian versus Orton was a nail biter of a match and just added more fuel to their red hot rivalry, Christian came out as champ after provoking Randy to the point that he disqualified himself. The spitting in the face came across as a little too much but I think in the end that it worked.

The only 'boring' part of the show was the Diva match. It was a pretty decent match overall but I just do not enjoy watching them wrestle while real talents like Natalya and Beth Phoenix are left sitting in the back. Give them something else to do other than twiddle their thumbs...

It will be interesting to see what the fallout will be from MITB and how the WWE deals with CM Punk leaving the organization as champ....bring on Monday Night Raw!

Please Stand By.

I just have to start off by saying that the opening video for Memorial Day was very well done (as they always are).

Technical difficulties plagued the first segment of Monday Night Raw, sadly I didn't hear anything that was said. R-Truth was out so I'm assuming that he was spouting all kinds of crazy (that was confirmed when they did a replay of that segment later on in the broadcast). Cena came out and the two exchanged words and then the Raw General Manager chimed in announcing the main event for the night. Jumping ahead a little bit here, I found this main event boring. I have no idea what R-Truth was getting at but it was not entertaining by any means and that finish was a joke. It does set up a possible feud with the two, being former friends and all, but I just don't see it panning out in the long run. If it does, I expect top-notch work from Cena and a weird, disjointed performance from Truth. Capitol Punishment is right around the corner so this may be the way they want to go for the pay-per-view. Possibly a title match or a tag team match of some kind involving the two on opposite teams.

There were only five matches on the show and none of them were spectacular but they were mildly entertaining. Kofi was defeated by Dolph Ziggler, Kelly Kelly and Eve defeated the Bella Twins, CM Punk defeated Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne beat Jack Swagger, and Cena was defeated by R-Truth. Usually I'm shouting at the television and getting really excited over a match but I'd just like to think that it was an off week. Bret Hart is a tough act to follow and with the pay-per-view coming up there will be a good build to the story lines and rivalries.

I am disappointed that Kharma will be out for a year or so, but happy to hear that she is pregnant. It was just a mild let down after being excited to have a woman who can actually fight in the women's division. As for the Bella Twins coming out, are you trying to be the new Laycool? They can't fight, they cheat, and they're bullies. They should be promoting an atmosphere where women can feel beautiful and strong, not ripping on each other and putting each other down. Angle or not, it's not acceptable.

Is it just me or is Alberto Del Rio becoming annoying? I don't know if it's his ring announcer, his stupid cars, his entrance, or his introduction when he talks on the microphone. It's probably a combination of all of the above. I do think that having him feud with the Big Show/Kane is an interesting way to go and will be highly entertaining. The WWE Universe is hoping that Show returns soon and shuts Del Rio up. But you already know that...

Also, Alex Riley seems to be coming into his own more. I always thought that he would be great as a singles competitor. Glad to see that he broke away from The Miz and he is developing his own character. I predict big things from him in the near future. Perhaps a match with his former mentor at the next pay-per-view?

And the Stipulation is....

This week's episode of Monday Night Raw opened with a confrontation between Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, and R-Truth. They were all vying for a chance at the #1 contender spot. The Raw General Manager chimed in saying that there would be a triple threat match that would see Del Rio, Mysterio, and the Miz compete for the chance to face John Cena at Over the Limit. R-Truth was left out and of course lost his mind. He just seems awkward in whatever they put him in. I don't know if it is just that they don't know what to do with him or if they actually think that this is a good angle. He needs to have something more to do than attack John Morrison, insult his fans, and blabber on about random things.

On a side note, will the person behind the Raw General Manager ever be revealed? That's something I always talk about with my Mom and Dad. We all have our theories about who it could be and why. It will be fun to find out who it is, if they even reveal it at all.

As for the actual triple threat match, I called the Miz as the winner from the very beginning. It made the most sense. There was two weeks until the next pay per view and he was the only guy who had a long enough history with John Cena to actually make the match worth watching. It's not that Mysterio and Del Rio wouldn’t have been entertaining, it's that there wouldn't have been enough time to build up anything that people would ahve wanted to see. At the end of the program, Cena announced that he chose an 'I Quit' match. It will be interesting to see how this match goes and hopefully Cena retains. Hopefully this match will draw this feud to a close and we'll be able to see John Cena feud with someone else. To me, Miz is just annoying. I'm tired of watching him cheat each and every week. It will be interesting to see who each of them feud with after. Another interesting thing to note is that Alex Riley really seems to be coming into his own, even if he is still under a 'contract' with the Miz. I really think he could have potential as an individual competitor; he just needs to be known as more than a lap dog. Hopefully he can start to break away from the Miz, seeing as he is technically a Smackdown superstar. He did issue a challenge to Cena, which Cena won (like no one saw that coming). I'm just glad he can do something more than cheat for the Miz.

Shocker! There was actually a halfway decent women's wrestling match on Raw. Kelly Kelly and Eve took on the Bella Twins. I was actually impressed with the match, even though it was basically a vehicle to have Kharma come out again. We see her come out and absolutely demolish these Divas but when will we actually see her compete?

The other major event of the broadcast was Michael Cole 'retiring' from competition. Seriously?! Anyone who reads this knows how much disdain I have for him. I have read reports where he is just as annoying backstage, as he is on screen. I was mostly thankful for Jerry Lawler interrupting him and challenging him to just one more match. The stipulation attached was that Jerry would personally induct Michael Cole into the Hall of Fame and give him his HOF ring. I sincerely hope that the booker doesn't drop the ball on this and let Cole win. Swagger came out and attacked Lawler, which seems to be a running theme every week (and then had a match against Kofi Kingston). The highlight of the entire show was when Jerry came out and pulled Cole's tie through the hole in the 'Cole Mine' and smashed his face into the wall. That made my day. I can’t wait for Over the Limit.

I also wanted to add that I am going to start doing reviews on my blog, in addition to my weekly postings. I'll be reviewing books, movies, and anything else that has the WWE stamp on it. Any suggestions are welcome so feel free to give me ideas!

Happy Birthday to You...

Last night, the WWE superstars were pushed to their breaking point at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view that took place in Tampa. Overall, I thought the pay-per-view was decent, it had its great moments but also had some lows. First off, I'd like to discuss what I thought were the high points of the event...

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk (Last Man Standing)
I  am always curious as to how 'extreme' a match like this can get with the PG rating. I thought that both Randy Orton and CM Punk did an amazing job with the time that they were given. This was one of the most entertaining matches I have seen the two involved in during their feud. The two standout moments for me were when CM Punk shoved Randy into the post with a chair around his neck and then when Orton delivered an RKO on the announce table. There wasn't any blood in the match but those moments made me cringe.

My big question is how will this feud continue or end off since both men are on different brands? Will we see more brand crossover? I think this one has the potential to be extremely entertaining and hopefully they continue with it for the foreseeable future, or at least until Summerslam.

Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus (Tables Match for the United States Championship)
It was an add-on, a last minute match. However, I was extremely happy to cheer Kofi on when he won that belt. He seemed to be getting a push and then he got swept to the sidelines. Kofi has the potential to be a massive star in the business and I am glad he got his time to shine. Booker T mentioned his 'mean streak' throughout the match and how he may have to keep that up to be taken seriously, I sure hope he doesn't. I wouldn't want him to go in the same direction that R-Truth is heading.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger (Country Whipping Match - Strap Match)
The one point I have to mention is that I was out of my seat to see Ross and Lawler get their hands and take their boots to Cole.

Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (Ladder Match for the Vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
This was the highlight of the night and should have been the main event match. I have never seen two men put on such an entertaining match in quite some time. I still maintain that Del Rio is getting a push too soon and that he isn't established enough yet to hold such a major belt. My Dad and I got into a huge discussion during the match about who would win and we both decided on Christian. Being one of the pioneers of the modern ladder match, he proved without a doubt that he is deserving of being in a main event and winning the big prize. The highlight of the match was when Edge came out, he added a special touch and an emotional end to one hell of a match. I was glued to the edge of my seat the entire time, literally jumping off the couch when he won. I'm proud as a fan to see that he finally got what he had coming to him, especially after losing the ECW title on the very last broadcast (Yes, I'm still a little bitter about that haha!).

Now to discuss the few low points of the night...

Big Show & Kane vs. Ezekiel Jackson and Wade Barrett (Lumberjack Match)
Seriously? Do I even have to say anything about this to the people who watched it? What a waste. Someone needs to start caring about tag team wrestling, or we are going to end up with more debacles like this.

Michelle McCool vs. Layla (Loser Leaves WWE Match)
I was honestly shocked at the outcome of this match but it makes perfect sense if you think about it. McCool is recently married to Undertaker and has been wrestling injured for some time. She probably wants time to heal and spend with her husband. There is no official word yet if she is actually gone from the company but time will tell.

I was also disappointed that Kharma (or Awesome Kong, as she was known in TNA) didn't get a bigger debut. She didn't need to be the star of the show but she should have had a more advertised or hyped up entrance. That being said, I think she will breathe new life into the Diva's locker room. Thank god, someone had to do it.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole & Jack Swagger
I feel like I had to mention this one again because I was so disappointed that they didn't win. I personally would have loved to see Cole get the snot beat out of him.

John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz (Triple Threat Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship)
I normally enjoy Cena's matches quite a bit. It's not that this one wasn't good, but it wasn't that great either. I felt that it was lacking a little something and that Morrison should have won instead of Cena. I had a theory, as well as my Dad, that Morrison should have won the belt and kept it for a few months. As much as I love John Cena, he should have won the title at a major PPV like Summerslam. It will be interesting to see how long he has it this time with his impending main event with Rocky set for Wrestlemania XXVIII. Also, John Morrison should have been hyped up better and added to the feud of Cena vs. Miz. Honestly, he didn't make too much sense and should have been integrated better.

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Monday Night Raw saw fallout from Extreme Rules and the birthday celebration of The Rock. I figured that there wouldn't be much wrestling on the broadcast as we saw appearances from Pitbull, the Miami Heat dancers, and Mya. It was fairly entertaining but I was hoping for a bit more in-ring competition.

The opening video for the show, before the opening credits even rolled really was touching considering the events of the last 24 hours. Like I have said a bazillion times before, no one does it better than the production team at WWE. Adding to that was Lillian Garcia singing the national anthem, what an amazing way to show unity at such a controversial and emotional time in the world.

Other than the birthday bash, not a whole lot happened, but I would like to say that this angle with R-Truth really is getting on my nerves. I simply don;t think he is main event material, not saying that he isn't a good wrestler. He just needs to find a gimmick that works and stick to it. I don't enjoy watching him attack John Morrison from behind and bad mouth fans. Sorry but it just doesn't work for me.

Kharma also came out again tonight and did the same bit that she did last night. I'm still not too sure what to think about her but I would like to see a program developed between her and Beth Phoenix. I think that they will make her come out and attack the other ladies for a while longer before they give her anything of real substance.

The last moment I watched the broadcast before I tuned out is the re-match between Cena and Miz. I knew Alex Riley would be there and help him cheat for the win but I still held out hope he would turn on The Miz. With Riley being drafted to Smackdown, it will be interesting to see how he develops and branches out on his own.

The 'WTF?!' moment for me tonight was when John Cena said that he had a present for Rocky and raised the WWE title. Will the main event with the two be a title match? Will it have another stipulation? Will John Cena even have the belt come April 2012? I honestly don't think I can wait almost a year to find out.

2011 WWE Draft.

The time has come for the annual WWE draft, where superstars are shuffled around and the landscape of Raw and Smackdown can change drastically.

Edge's sudden retirement (and might I add, unexpected) caused the draft to happen a few months sooner than anticipated. I always enjoy the draft and the fact that the talent gets shuffled around, providing both brands with a somewhat even range of superstars. Although I do think that Smackdown, more often than not, receives the short end of the stick. This year, the draft was unpredictable and surprising. I personally thought that the draft episode should have been a three hour episode and that a few more superstars should have been drafted. With that being said, the show was still a fairly solid broadcast, with ratings up from last week's show. I'm going to give my thoughts on the televised draft picks and a few moments from the broadcast...

Draft Pick #1: John Cena moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Battle Royal (Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown)
It was nice to see Smackdown come out on top for once. It was the typical battle royal scenario but I truly enjoyed Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne getting some time to shine during the end of the match. They are truly talented and deserve to be more than mid-card jobbers.

I was completely shocked with seeing Cena get drafted to Friday nights (before the shocking twist at the end of the show). I figured that it would be a strong decision that would help pull in more ratings for SyFy and the WWE. Cena came out to a humongous pop, cut a high energy promo that hyped both Smackdown and his upcoming title bout this Sunday. I always enjoy Cena cutting a promo, whether fans love him or hate him, he is a true entertainer.

Now onto R-Truth. I really don't like him at all anymore. His character development has been atrocious, his antics simply unexplainable, and his interactions with superstars/fans just plain awkward. I sincerely hope that they do something with him soon. He can be an upper card performer if they truly pushed him in the right way. With his awkward interaction with Morrison last week and his smoking on television, he is clearly losing whatever fan base he had. I don't like the thought of him being heel in any way, he entertains the kids in the audience and was always such an upbeat and positive performer. Now, not so much.

We also saw another promo for Awesome Kong (or Kharma, as she will be known in the WWE). I still have no details as tow hen she will debut but I'm thinking soon. Either way, when she comes out, she will plow right through each and every diva, showing that women's wrestling is more than ditsy blondes and slap fights. Hopefully she will get to feud with either Natalya or Beth Phoenix right away, they are really the only other diva's that could stand up to Kong in any way.

Draft Pick #2: Rey Mysterio moves to Raw
Determining Match: Eve vs. Layla
In typical d-bag fashion, Michael Cole, yet again, interrupts the diva's match with his ranting. This is another reason why no one has any respect for the women of the WWE. Like I have said before, they deserve just as much respect and attention as the male competitors.

I'm just thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to watch another Cody Rhodes versus Rey Mysterio match. I find them incredibly boring and Rey falling a little flat. Here's to hoping that this transition will breathe some new life into him.

Draft Pick #3: Randy Orton moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston
I was impressed that Smackdown received such a huge boost. They seem to be somewhat undervalued as a brand, playing second fiddle to Raw. It's good to see the SD roster being beefed up a little bit with some big time talent.

The match that I waited for for half of the show was Jim Ross versus Michael Cole. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how much I despise him. You could just feel the tension between Cole and the fans, especially when he stomped on Jim Ross's trademark hat. I don't understand how the creative team is letting Cole run amuck like this and for quite some time. Whe does he constantly get to cheat to win? Why are they letting him come out on top all the time? I can;t wait until Sunday and I hope that he FINALLY gets what is coming to him in the country whipping match.

Draft Picks #4 and #5: Sin Cara and Mark Henry both move to Smackdown
Determining Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Randy Orton
I'm being continually impressed by Ziggler as he continues to show that he deserves to be in the spotlight.

The stipulation was announced for the Randy Orton and CM Punk match at Extreme Rules, a last man standing match. I enjoy watching both men compete and I am hoping that they let them actually do a little bit of damage to each other and have a real last man standing match. But I guess we'll see this Sunday...


Draft Picks #6 and #7: Big Show and Alberto Del Rio move to Raw
Determining Match: Wade Barret vs. Rey Mysterio
With Del Rio being moved to Raw and The Miz staying put, this gives us even more reason to believe that Christian will be winning the title this Sunday. There is no way that they will let one show have the two biggest titles in the company. Christian has always been one of my favorite competitors and is getting the shot that he deserves, guaranteed this match will be dedicated to his best friend Edge. I am looking forward to being thoroughly entertained this Sunday, can't wait to see him compete.

Draft Pick #8: John Cena moves back to Raw
Determining Match: 6 man tag team
What the eff happened? I kind of liked the idea of Cena joining the blue team,  maybe giving the broadcast new life. This completely threw me for a loop but makes total sense. It goes back to my original thoughts of Del Rio being drafted to Raw and his match this Sunday. No way would the WWE allow one show have two major titles. It makes sense to keep John Cena on Raw, which made his draft to Smackdown and subsequent re-draft to Raw all the more surprising.


To see the full draft results, click here.

Wrestlemania XXVII - The Short Version.

I always like to take a few days to think about what I really want to say about the biggest night in sports entertainment, this year was a doozy. I thought that the event was really well put together, there were some moments that stood out a great deal and some that fell a little flat for me. Overall, the pay-per-view was fantastic. Wrestlemania is always a huge deal in my house, usually involving good friends, great food, and ice cold drinks.

The highlight of the event was the match involving Triple H and the Undertaker. I could not have been more impressed with a match if I tried. Everything about this was perfect. When HHH tombstoned the Undertaker and he kicked out, everyone went insane, probably the most shocking moment of the night. What a well put together program, with an incredible match build up, and a truly great ending. I had a feeling that McMahon would not let the Undertaker lose his streak, I guarantee that he will retire undefeated at Wrestlemania. This match truly showed the athleticism of both individuals, their dedication to the business and their fans, and their mutual respect for one another. Every match at a pay-per-view should be crafted like this. Their match will go down in wrestling history as one of the greats.

Another shocker was Snooki, it was great that she was able to do something more than just get the pin. Even though she got some boo's, she did incredibly well for being an untrained performer. I was also disappointed that the Rock didn't get more involved in the show. Being a bit skeptical of a guest host for Wrestlemania, I thought he would end up doing more than coming out twice and a few backstage skits.

The Daniel Bryan and Sheamus match being moved to a dark match was also a huge let down. Daniel Bryan is an amazing in-ring performer and would have shined in his very first Wrestlemania match. I'm not too sure why it was bumped but I'm positive that the WWE team had reason for doing so. I almost cried when Jerry Lawler lost to Michael Cole, I have been waiting for WEEKS for him to beat on Cole. I was so glad the Jerry got his moment in the sun but I felt that by not letting him win, they tarnished his moment. Perhaps they are building up the feud so that Lawler can finally do what every fan has wanted him to do for a while. Boggles the mind as to why he didn't win on Sunday but hopefully he gets his hands on him soon. Maybe a Jim Ross/Jerry Lawler vs. Cole /Swagger match?

Now onto the main event, John Cena vs. The Miz. Let me start off by saying that I found this match a little lackluster. There seemed to be something missing throughout the entire match, I thought that there would be a little more going on. In some alternate wrestling universe, John Cena would have won, the match would have been restarted for whatever reason, and then the Miz should have won. Or vice versa, Miz could have cheated, match restarts, and then Cena gets the win. It would have been a lot more entertaining than what happened on Sunday night. I did enjoy his entrance this year (I always look forward to seeing his ring entrance every year), as well as his new gear. The Miz also had a good promo video heading into the match, with a less amazing entrance. Hopefully there is some sort of rematch and they step it up a little bit. Their 'Mania bought was ok, but not the caliber of match worthy of the main event spot.

The Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania was also a pretty solid broadcast in my opinion. It was good to see Jim Ross back out there, it was just like old times and was a little nostalgia for those longing for quality commentating. Cole of course came out, running his mouth, and bad talking two of the greatest voices in the business. I was praying that Ross would get his hands on Michael Cole but I guess good things come to those who wait. There were a few matches but it was mostly a recap of the previous night. My favorite moment was Triple H's speech regarding his match with the Undertaker. Say whatever you want about the WWE but there are no greater performers than the superstars of the WWE. Their match will go down as a classic in the history books, I can;t wait for a possible rematch but it will be hard to top their battle at WMXXVII.

The WWE Universe also saw a first last night, the main event for Wrestlemania XXVIII was already set. The Rock versus John Cena, in a match reminiscent of The Rock and Hulk Hogan. I was shocked to hear that they were planning a main event a year away but I think it could work. Someone has to turn heel, or there has to be a cool down in the fued then a build up at the perfect time. It will be interesting to see how they keep interest for an entire year until they get to Miami. In my opinion, no one does it better than the WWE creative team. I have faith that they will deliver a top notch program leading up to one of the most anticipated matches of all time.

Finishing the Journey to Wrestlemania.

This Monday was the final Raw before the biggest sports entertainment event of the year, the show of shows, the showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania. It was some of the superstars last chances to build their matches, make their cases, and have the last word concerning their match ups. All in all, it was a pretty solid broadcast, there wasn't much in-ring time as it was all about building up the hype for the big event on Sunday.

The show opened with CM Punk sitting in the middle of the ring, in his hometown of Chicago. He basically just talked about Randy Orton and how he has taken out almost every member of the new Nexus. I really enjoy CM Punk, both in-ring and on the mic, he has a lot of talent and will go quite far in the business. The crowd totally ate him right up. Randy came out with his knee heavily taped and proceeded down to the ring, they tussled and Orton failed to deliver an RKO. The crowd was obviously behind Punk, but this was a great way to kick off Monday Night Raw. CM Punk is a great wrestler but it will be interesting to see how he fares without his minions around, just him and Randy in the ring.

The in ring competition saw Edge and Christian face Alberta Del Rio and Brodus Clay, Kane/Big Show/Santino/Kozlov face the Corre, Lawler faced Jack Swagger, and Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus go against Daniel Bryan and John Morrison. First, I always enjoy when Edge and Christian are together, they are extremely charismatic and entertaining. This is the type of tag team that the WWE needs to see more of, they are great competitors but also engage the crowd. The tag team division could be, once again, built up to its glory. Hopefully the two get paired together on a consistent basis. As for Del Rio, it is dicey to say that he will win the championship in his first ever Wrestlemania. I don't like when WWE rookies are given the push too soon, they need time to develop as personalities and performers. But who knows? He may shock us all and take the title this Sunday but I don;t think Edge will let that belt go so easy.

Yet another match was added to the Wrestlemania XXVII card, Kane/Big Show/Santino/Kozlov against the Corre. I don;t expect an epic battle from this match but it should provide some pretty good entertainment value, it is also nice to see Wade Barrett coming into his own more. I think he is a fantastic talent that should not be wasted. There was more build to the gimmick match of the event, not to downplay the talent of those involved but in a match featuring Snooki, 'gimmick' is the only word to use. Dolph Ziggler and his partner Sheamus took on Daniel Bryan and John Morrison. I am continually impressed by both Bryan and Morrison in every conceivable way. My Dad mentioned that Bryan just reeks of Stampede Wrestling, he is so old school it is ridiculous. Very technical, which you don;t really get a lot these days, probably one of the best technical wrestlers ever. I'd put him right up there with both Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. Morrison, being a high flyer and a risk taker, is a great foil for Daniel Bryan. Perhaps future tag team champions?

Another thing that I noticed during the show was that both Jerry Lawler and Josh Matthews seemed to be ignoring Michael Cole (which I loved!). Josh Matthews shows promise as a color commentator, meshing well with the King's announcing style, then you have Michael Cole. Seriously, get this guy off TV, at least after Jerry beats the holy hell right out of him. Lawler faced Swagger, was making a comeback in the match and Cole gets in the way. I wish Lawler would have smoked him with that chair. Every dog gets his day and Michael Cole's day is Sunday. I personally can;t wait to see him get what he deserves, and I'm sure the WWE Universe can;t wait either.

The two video packages were for Sin Cara and Undertaker/HHH. Word has it that Sin Cara is making his television debut on the Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania, many were hoping for a debut at the big show. WWE could be pulling our leg for all we know. One thing is for sure though, this talent will be impressive. The Undertaker/HHH promo was impressive, the two individuals have done a really great job of putting this program together. As the last of the real legends in the locker room, their expertise will make this match one of the best, if not the best, in 'Mania history.

When Taker and Triple H had their final confrontation on Raw, the mere presence of these two individuals garnered a HUGE reaction from the crowd. What got an even bigger reaction was the presence of HBK, I had no idea he was appearing and jumped right off the couch when his music started. Shawn basically gave a rundown of what each guy has going for them heading into their No Holds Barred match. Then he does the unexpected, calls out Hunter as to why he thinks that he can beat the Undertaker when he couldn't on two occasions. There is discussion from both Triple H and the Undertaker about respect, and how Hunter looked up to the Undertaker as a source of inspiration as to how a true wrestler works. More than likely fueling those retirement rumors we keep hearing, Triple H says that he and Shawn made a pact. I am paraphrasing here but it basically was that if either individual could not perform up to their personal standards, then it was up to the other guy to say that it was time to hang up the boots. Apparently, Hunter thinks it is the Taker's time to hang it up and go on with life.

Not likely.

You can really see the mutual respect between the three of these guys in the ring. Then it happens, Shawn goes to super kick Undertaker, Triple H steps in and says that Shawn knows why he will beat him at Wrestlemania. By this point, I'm getting ready to lose my mind, thinking that the announcement that everyone speculated will come out. Instead, Shawn quietly steps out of the ring, mouths an 'I'm sorry.', and heads up the ramp. It's tough to say whether or not the Heartbreak Kid will be involved in the match at the pay-per-view. He will be on hand for the Hall of Fame, as he is being inducted, but has he really hung up the boots for good? Only time will tell.

Now for the moment that everyone has been waiting for, the long awaited confrontation between the Rock, John Cena, and the Miz. I'm not generally impressed with the Rock but he did get a great shot in at Cena, calling him a 'homeless power ranger'. Cena was entertaining as always, and the two banter back and forth. The the Miz comes out to ruin it all. He blabbers on about how Rocky is afraid to get beat by the Miz because he's just a movie star now and so on. Then the crowd gets what they want, Riley and Miz start beating on him and then he fights back and getting probably one of the loudest pops of the night. Then, in a startling turn, Cena delivers his signature Attitude Adjustment to Rocky, laying him flat out in the ring. Many are speculation that this is the beginning of a heel turn for John Cena, I beg to differ. I think that it is simply him just proving that he is bigger, better, and badder than Dwayne Johnson. Cena is showing his dedication to his fans and the business, where as Rocky could only appear twice before his hosting gig. I don't think that Cena will turn heel but perhaps his little gesture will guarantee the Rock;s involvement in his match this Sunday.

I would also like to send out a huge congratulations to the Legion of Doom for being the final inductees into the Hall of Fame for 2011. I cannot think of a more deserving duo, it is just so sad that Hawk will not be here to enjoy the honor or see the impact that the Road Warriors left on the wrestling business. I had an inkling that they would be in this year, if not, then next year. When I heard the rumbling, raspy voices of Animal and Hawk, I lost my damn mind. I jumped up off the couch and almost threw my notebook across the room. I am so glad that they are being recognized for their contribution to the sports entertainment industry. I look forward to seeing them and Paul Ellering being inducted this year, they truly deserve this honor.

It is also worth noting that Chris Jericho is continuing to do well on 'Dancing With The Stars`. He scored a 23/30 for his quickstep last night, bringing his combined score to 42/60 for both week one and two of the competition. Keep those votes coming in to keep Jericho on the show!

Monday Night Raw & Then Some- Two Weeks Away From Wrestlemania.

It's only two weeks until Wrestlemania, and Monday Night Raw is getting better than ever.

Triple H came out to open the show, speaking briefly about his upcoming match with the Undertaker, he put it perfectly when he said it would be the defining moment in both of their distinguished careers. This match has got to be the single most exciting bout ever, the Undertaker could either lose his undefeated streak or continue with the greatest legacy in sports entertainment. During Triple H's in-ring promo, Ted DiBiase Jr. comes out and blabs about how he has become an afterthought. One, no one honestly cares what he has to say, and two, there is no real explanation as to why he is challenging him. I personally think that since Legacy broke up, DiBiase has become a sort of joke within the company. I haven't seen him really do anything of any substance for a while. He of course gets beaten to a pulp by Hunter and then that's the end of that segment.

The first match of the broadcast is Evan Bourne versus Sheamus, who I can't stand, as I have stated in numerous posts. It was a pretty quick match with a somewhat predictable outcome, seeing as Bourne beat Sheamus last time and Sheamus has just won the United States title belt. Daniel Bryan comes out and invokes his rematch clause and challenges the human block of cream cheese at Wrestlemania XXVII. Hopefully the WWE officials give these two time to shine, it will be a refreshing addition to an already amazing card. The matches were pretty solid, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel retained their tag titles against Santino Marella and Vladamir Kozlov, Eve retained her title against Maryse, and the inter gender-handicapped-tag team match was inspired. As much as I don't like Vickie Gurerro, it is a good build for the Wrestlemania confrontation. Not much wrestling time on the broadcast but it was quality.

My big issue with this week was, once again, Michael Cole. I do realize that they want us all to not stop talking about him, generating even more buzz for the most annoying person every to be handed a microphone. He should NOT be interrupting a match to flap his lips. I'm not a huge fan of women's wrestling right now but they deserve the same adulation and respect that the men get while competing in the ring. I would also like to personally congratulate Eve Torres for slapping Cole, as so many members of the WWE universe have wanted to do for the past several weeks. Once again, he is attempting (and very poorly) to humiliate Jerry Lawler. I don't know who signed off on this monstrosity but he once again goes for Jerry's deceased parents. It might be bringing in the ratings but it crosses the boundaries of good taste, there's a fine line in building hype for a match and just taking it a step too far. It doesn't take a genius to see what side of that line this falls on. Once again, Jerry gets attacked by both Swagger and Cole. Like no one saw that coming, the fans can't wait for him to get his comeuppance in two weeks at Wrestlemania.

Can I also ask what the hell was with his portrayal of Jim Ross? Not even chuckle worthy, just plain stupid.

We once again saw another promo video for Sin Cara. He looks like a worthy adversary and I, for one, am glad that the WWE is starting to bring in some high flyer's. It will be interesting to see what brand he will be on once he makes his official debut with the company. Speaking of video promos, the one hyping the Taker/Triple H bout was extremely well done. It was very interesting to see the career highlights of both individuals and to hear what their fellow colleagues/adversaries/friends had to say about each person and how they think the match is going to go. Something tells me that everyone in the arena and at home is going to be glued to the television for this one.

Another build featured on the broadcast this week was John Cena and the Miz (with the Rock thrown into the middle of course!). John announces that next week, on the final show before the big event, that he will come face to face with Dwayne Johnson. It will be interesting to see how the two interact while in the same ring, as opposed to exchanging extremely funny barbs back and forth. He also talks about the Miz, concerning his abilities and creativity by coming out dressed as the Rock and delivering an attack. The Miz also gets to cut his own promo in the ring, debuting the 'new' championship belt. Simply the same design with the 'W' flipped upside down. This had to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in my entire wrestling watching life. What a bozo. What I did enjoy was when John Cena revealed that he was actually in the arena and would be paying a visit to both the Miz and Alex Riley in the ring. I was fooled because I thought he was still at home with a concussion, as it was reported that he had to undergo IMPACT testing, as per the WWE Health and Wellness Policy. Cena did take a jab at Rocky by saying that he wasn't via satellite, that he was here. That has bugged me since the Rock came back, he should have been making live appearances on a consistent basis. It was worth it to see the Miz cower while letting his protege take the beating. Will this have an effect on their match at Wrestlemania XXVII?

There are a few other points that I would like to discuss as well, mostly TNA related. What the hell is up with Jeff Hardy? I don't watch TNA at all, I do not enjoy the type of product that they produce but I do try to keep tabs on it as often as I can. I heard what happened in his last match with Sting, and can honestly say that I would be disgusted as a fan. This is not the first incident of this type with Hardy at an event, as he was almost stripped of the title at a TNA pay-per-view awhile back. All they offered fans for this debacle was 6 months of free access to their on-demand service, is Dixie Carter serious? There are clearly problems within the company as no one has yet to formally address the issues that Hardy is having, all he has gotten so far was being pulled from some upcoming events. There is clearly something wrong with him, that company, and their drug testing policy. There has been nothing that I have ever read about any health or wellness policy that TNA has, while WWE's policy and practices are available online, in full detail for anyone to view. I would like to try and find a copy of TNA's and actually review it to see how it measures up. This man is becoming such a huge liability for this company that he is going to just bring them down with him. Dixie Carter needs to smarten up, if it was my wrestling promotion, Hardy would be fired immediately. I honestly don't think that his popularity and ability to draw viewers is worth having him show up clearly unable to perform (as mentioned, this has happened on more than one occasion and i not an isolated incident.). They aren't only cheating the fans, they're cheating themselves out of having any sort of chance to be a decent wrestling promotion.

And finally, Chris Jericho made his debut on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' last night. I thought he did a great job on his cha cha with partner Cheryl Burke and look forward to seeing him dance as long as he's on the show. So wrestling fans, call/text/vote online to keep Chris and Cheryl on the show! All information for the show, registering to vote online, and those competing on the show can be found here.

Stone Cold Does Dallas.

Before I even start to talk about the broadcast, I just want to say that the highlight of this week's Monday Night Raw was the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Now onto the show...

The show opened with the Undertaker coming out to Johnny Cash's 'Ain't No Grave', which couldn't be a more fitting song for him. He cut his promo for his match with Triple H at Wrestlemania XXVII. He mentions that this is more than just a match, it`s about two legends colliding in the squared circle. It is a 100% correct statement, as I have mentioned before these two are the last veterans in the locker room. The Undertaker says that many are speculating that his streak will end this year and he brings up his last two `Mania matches, which happened to be with Shawn Michaels. They then show a really well put together video package of their matches at both Wrestlemania XXV and XXVI. A stipulation is finally revealed for the clash of the titans, a NO HOLDS BARRED MATCH! I, for one, am excited about this, stoked even. I am just wondering how this stipulation will fit into the PG mind frame of the company. My best guess is that these two will be allowed to go as far as they want because they are the ones putting their program together. As Jim Ross would say, it`s going to be a slobber knocker!

The storyline between Randy Orton and Nexus continued this week, as Orton was attacked backstage by Ryan, Punk, and Otunga. He's ambushed and dragged to the ring where he is further assaulted by the Nexus, right before his match with David Otunga. The bell rings and the bout begins, Otunga thinking that he has an advantage because Orton was attacked. Orton goes for the win, David is then barred from ringside at Punk's Wrestlemania match. It ends with Randy Orton delivering a punt to Otunga. There is only one more member of the Nexus for Orton to take on, Mason Ryan. I'm hoping that he is also barred from ringside so that it is a fair fight, called right down the middle.

I didn't know that Rick the Sign Guy would be at this broadcast but his signs were hilarious as always.

It is announced that the Miz will not appear tonight and I breathed a collective sigh of relief. I know I have mentioned this many times before, I cannot stand him. I think he's terrible. Quickly after Christian comes out on Raw and is set to face Alberto Del Rio (who is accompanied by Brodus Clay). Del Rio says that Christian must face Brodus Clay before he can step in the ring with him. It was a pretty one sided match obviously, but he is a mountain of a man. With the right move set and gimmick, he will go far. He could be a possible rival for the Big Show or any other large superstar. It will be interesting to see how the WWE uses another giant.

A few smaller notes from the broadcast include the announcement of Sunny as the newest inductee into the Hall of Fame and an advertisement for Sin Cara. I wasn't really impressed with Sunny being announced as I feel there are many more females in wrestling that did a lot more and deserve it more. However, good for her for being recognized for her contribution to the wrestling world. As for Sin Cara, I cannot wait for him. I think he will be an amazing in-ring competitor and a worthy adversary for any superstar.

Eve faced a Bella twin for the Diva's championship and retained her title. The one thing that made my blood boil was Cole interrupting this match with his stupid banter. The women deserve as much respect during their matches as the men do. It was disrespectful and completely uncalled for.

Michael Cole finally gets to run his mouth about who his pick for guest referee. Turns out he picked JBL, it was refreshing to see him after being out of the ring for so long. He was playing a heel but he does it well, JBL ripped on Texas, talked about how 'awesome' Michael Cole is, and says how impartial he'll be while calling the match. Glass shatters and the man of the hour comes out, Stone Cold. The crowd goes nuts for him and Cole cowers behind Bradshaw like a little, well, you get the idea. Austin exchanges words, delivers a stunner to JBL, pours beer on Cole and JBL, and then signs the Wrestlemania contract. This will ensure that Jerry gets the fair shot that he deserves. I can't wait to see him put on the stripes, count to three and raise Jerry's hand.

Daniel Bryan faced Sheamus, who loses by a disqualification due to an ankle injury that he suffered when he was thrown out of the ring. He proposes a match for next week, if he loses against Daniel Bryan, he quits. How will this play out? Will he simply just be written off of television for a while? Will he go to Smackdown? Only time will tell, next week will be interesting. CM Punk faces R-Truth, with Mason Ryan at ringside. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how this one went.

They aired part two of an interview with HBK, regarding his thoughts on the Triple H/Undertaker match. Basically he just discusses his friendship with Hunter and his evolution as a performer. I personally think that it would have been nice if he was either commentating on it or interviewed in person. He has a unique perspective on this match, seeing as he has worked with both individuals.

Dolph Ziggler was revealed as a the newest member of the Raw roster, Vicki announcing that it was her negotiations that brought him there. I'm kind of iffy on Ziggler, I think that he could be great but he needs to drop Vicki and that stupid sleeper hold as his finisher. It just seems like he isn't even trying. He faces John Morrison and wins the match. The twist here is that the Raw General Manager says that he hired Ziggler back, but not Vicki. The stipulation for Vicki to acquire a job on Raw is for her to defeat Trish Stratus next week. I don;t really think there is any competition here but I am looking forward to seeing Trish in the ring after such a long hiatus. The last segment of the show is John Cena addressing the Rock. I really admire John Cena, the man can cut a promo and fight. He keeps the crowd entertained, whether they love him or hate him. Cena acknowledges his haters with a smile on his face, that always makes them hate him more. The Miz then appears, runs his mouth, delivers a 'People's Elbow', and the show closes. It's interesting to see how the Rock will factor into the Miz vs. Cena match at 'Mania.


It is going to be an eventful few weeks until the event, rivalries will play out, new ones will start, and it will be one hell of a ride.

Until next week...

One Step Closer to Wrestlemania.

This week's episode of Monday Night Raw is bringing us one step closer to the "showcase of the immortals", and here is how it all went down...

Triple H came out to kick the show off and discussed the accolades that he has achieved in his 16 or so year career. He also mentioned how the Undertaker and himself were really the only two greats left in the WWE locker room, he is absolutely right. They have the longest tenure of any wrestler employed today and it's quite sad to think about when it's time for them to retire. Both men have provided such a fantastic catalogue of matches and title wins, it's hard to imagine the WWE without either of them. As he was making his speech, Sheamus comes out and Triple H delivers a pedigree through the announce table. Glad to see that Hunter is back in fighting form.

Noticeably absent from the announce table is Michael Cole. I found this a bit weird but figured that he would be out later to address Jerry's Wrestlemania challenge. The Raw General Manager then chimes in saying that even though Sheamus was just attacked, he must still compete in his scheduled match. Evan Bourne is revealed to be his opponent and of course wins upon his return to the ring. It's kind of sad that the WWE has no more cruiser weight division, Evan is a fantastic wrestler who is being underutilized due to his size, it has nothing to do with his abilities as an entertainer. Happy to see him back and making such a strong impact.

Cole finally makes his appearance and says that he will face Lawler at Wrestlemania, only if Jerry abides by two conditions. Cole is allowed to have his trainer (who turns out to be Jack Swagger) ringside and he gets to pick the guest referee for the match. Of course Jerry says yes, then gets attacked by Cole and Swagger. The highlight of this entire exchange was when Lawler called him a "Cole-sore", I literally died of laughter. Probably the funniest moment of the entire broadcast.

Another Wrestlemania match was also confirmed that night, Randy Orton will face CM Punk at the pay-per-view but it is accompanied with a unique set of circumstances. Randy Orton will face each member of Nexus on Monday Night Raw leading up to Wrestlemania XXVII. If he wins, the Nexus member cannot be ringside for the match. If he loses, the Nexus member is allowed to be present. First up was Michael McGillicutty, who not only lost but suffered a punt to the skull. Word is that he is being written off of television for a bit, let's hope that he does not suffer the same fate as Husky Harris. McGillicutty shows a lot of promise as a WWE superstar.

There was also a brief video highlighting the recent signing of Mexican wrestler Mistico. His WWE name will be Sin Cara and I am excited to see exactly what he can do in the ring.

In the latter half of the show, the Miz comes out and blabs on about how he is the most must-see WWE champion and blah, blah, blah. He also mentions how he will defeat Cena at Wrestlemania and then go after the Rock. He seriously gets on my nerves. I know it's all an angle and what not but there has got to be an end to it. Of course Cena comes out, cracks a few jokes about the Miz and Alex Riley, presents a "doctor's note" and goes on about how the Miz has OCD. Cena then says how he should work without Riley helping him win, take pride in being the champ instead of just coasting by. He makes a very valid point, I know it is all pre-determined but I still can;t stand a cheater. John then proposes a match for the broadcast, Cena vs. Riley. If Riley wins, then Cena must admit that the Miz is the greatest champ ever. If Cena wins, Alex Riley is no longer the apprentice of the Miz. The Raw General Manager makes it a steel cage match, to ensure no outside interference. However, the Miz still interferes, throwing his phone into the ring, even after he gave his word he wouldn't interfere. In the final match of the broadcast, Cena won and Alex Riley is on his own, it will be interesting to see how this will play out next week.

In diva news, one of the Bella twins is the #1 contender for Eve's Diva's Championship. They pulled that twin magic business and ultimately won the battle royal.

The Rock cut a promo on Raw that really disappointed me. He appeared live via satellite from his home in Los Angeles. I personally think that he should have cut the promo in person, he would have had a greater connection with the crowd. He basically talked about how his foray into Hollywood paved the way for WWE to make movies and for wrestlers like John Cena to appear in those movies. Rocky did briefly tease a fight with Cena, even if that was not his intention. I'd like to see it because I think John would destroy him. The Rock is an excellent talker but not much of a wrestler, in my opinion and some of you may feel different about that.

HBK also appeared in a taped interview discussing his opinion on the Taker vs. Tiple H match at this year's Wrestlemania. He spoke about the possibility of the long fabled streak ending and how, when you face the Undertaker, you're in the ring with a legacy rather than a man. A very valid point, Taker is intimidating enough but adding the legend of an 18-0 winning streak at Wrestlemania adds to it even more. He is clearly rooting for Triple H in this match, as the two have been very close friends and partners for many years. Shawn also adds, at the end, that he doesn't know how he will feel if/when Hunter ends the streak this year.

Another note, Bob Armstrong was announced as the next inductee to the WWE Hall Of Fame for this year. It wasn't announced on the broadcast but was announced on the WWE website. His four sons will induct him on April 2nd in Atlanta. Congratulations to "Bullet" Bob Armstrong.

As the excitement of the biggest sports entertainment event of the year, rivalries will be heating up and the competition will be more fierce than ever. I am very much looking forward to April 3rd and how the events and grudges will be settled on that night.

Cole, The Miz, and Monday Night Raw.

Randy Orton and Jerry Lawler have done to Michael Cole what fans have wanted to do for months.

I really, really, really do not like Michael Cole. I've always thought he was a poor announcer and should be relegated to backstage work, just so I don't have to listen to his drivel as often. He constantly is messing up, disrespecting Hall of Famers, and just annoying the hell out of everyone. I do not expect ever announcer to have the same caliber of skills as Jim Ross, Gorilla Monsoon, or Jerry Lawler. I do, however, believe that you should be able to correctly name the wrestlers and the moves they use in the ring. Hearing him say the same words over and over when he 'has received an e-mail from the Raw General Manager' is enough to make you want to rip your ears off. I know it's an angle, anything to get a rise out of fans, and it works very well. He just doesn't seem to mesh well with the other announcers on his team, maybe that will change and maybe not.

That being said, I am very glad that CM Punk is announcing, he is saying what every fan is thinking. He makes a great addition to the Monday Night Raw announce team. If we could only get Jim Ross behind the table again...

So, The Miz finally cashed in his MITB briefcase. Whoop-de-do. It was only a matter of time before this happened. It is refreshing to see someone different get the belt instead of the same rotation of top tier guys. His gimmick is entertaining, he can cut a pretty decent promo, and he has Alex Riley to use as a lap dog. His championship reign will probably be short lived, but it will be a good change of pace from what we are normally used to seeing. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out with the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania looming in the near future.

Now on to a few points about tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw...

Michael Cole came out and blah-blah-blahed. He got taken out by Randy Orton and was promptly replaced by Josh Matthews. Matthews is doing an incredible job behind the announcing desk with CM Punk and Lawler. It will be very intriguing to see if this is a somewhat permanent move or just a one night deal. Either way, he has a very promising commentating career.

Can I just say that I am so thankful that the Juan Cena character has not appeared on television (at least not yet)? I found it extremely gimmicky, stupid, weird, oddball, there are a plethora of words to describe it. I can understand their reasoning though, no Cena would cause a drop in their ratings. The Juan character is a way to work around the 'firing' of Cena while still keeping him on the television broadcasts. For the love of everything WWE, please keep that gimmick off of TV. Just keep letting John Cena have 'tickets' and taking down the Nexus one by one. This is a storyline that will come full circle probably somewhere between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. The interaction between both Nexus and John Cena is really interesting to watch and is one of the most interesting angles that has occurred in a LONG time, especially during the PG era. When it is all said and done, I hope there isn't just a cut and dry ending to it. Maybe Wade and Cena can battle somewhere down the line and the other members of Nexus can have their own feuds with various other superstars. Only time will tell...

On a side note, I think breaking up the Hart Dynasty was a brilliant move. I was a little apprehensive at first, really taking a liking to the tag team of Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith. I think it will be intriguing to see how these two superstars develop individually as opposed to a tag team. Hopefully they will one day get back together and tag team but for now, their rivalry will greater show off their abilities as individual performers.

And the show ends with an ultimatum. Will Wade hire Cena back? Will he take himself out of Nexus? Who knows?

John Cena: Face or Heel?

There has been some industry talk about the very real possibility of John Cena turning heel. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this, and as it stands now, it is just a rumor. Would they really turn one of the biggest faces in the history of professional wrestling into a heel? Would their fan base shift? How would merchandise sales be affected? This is not a decision that will be made lightly, this could potentially change the company for a long time.

I'm not really sure how to feel about it. John Cena is one of my favorites, always the good guy, always doing what's right. He has been the face of the company for the majority of his career and is, what many would call, the modern day Hulk Hogan. He is pretty much a superhero. The kids love him, every little kid you see in the audience is covered from head to toe in Cenation gear. That brings me to my main point, the reaction of the child/youth audience to the heel turn of John Cena. They scream the loudest when he comes out and I'm not sure if they would react the same if he was a bad guy. I watched what the crowd reaction was when he was forced to join the Nexus faction. Complete and utter shock, jaws hit the floor, and they were on the verge of tears (much like myself). I honestly think that they would lose some of their youth audience. Some may hang on simply hoping that he will one day turn good again and be the Cena that we all know and love.

A heel turn would in no way be permanent for John Cena. I really don't think that the WWE would chance losing the biggest, and most popular, face that they have ever had. That being said, there are MANY people that do no like Cena at all. He has made light of the people who hate him, but I think that a heel turn would make those people into fans. It would certainly provide the viewers with something different, instead of the same guys getting the belts, the same good guys vs. bad guys, and so on. There needs to be something new and different thrown into the mix of WWE programming. Not saying that it has become stale by any means, it just needs a shake-up.

This potential (and I say potential because it is not written in stone yet) turn could go either way. There are so many variables to consider when a wrestler is making the switch from good to bad, or the reverse. Decisions like this affect every single aspect of the business, even though not everyone may realize it.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.