Showing posts with label Randy Orton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Randy Orton. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

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.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Good, Bad, and Ugly.

There is a lot to cover in this post; Ultimate Warrior's 'Karma Collects' video came out, the Capitol Punishment pay-per-view, and the second three hour edition of Monday Night Raw. So here we go, let's get down to business...

I sat with my mom and watched all eight parts of the 'Karma Collects' video. First off, I have never been more entertained in my entire life. Some serious allegations were made against Hogan by Warrior. He was/is a drug abuser, he was so afraid of other guys getting over that he would sabotage their careers, he is a hypocrite, and a plethora of others. It was a lot to take in and I sat riveted to my computer for almost an hour. Warrior made one statement that really stood out to me, "Hulkamania shows how to fuck up a life."

Utterly speechless.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is more than just mudslinging. You don't say those types of things without having some kind of truth to the rumors. I personally find it weird that Hogan hasn't really addressed these allegations. Most people would advise that the best thing to do is to keep your mouth shut, 100% wrong. I think that Hogan should come out and say a little more than what has been said. I'm looking forward to any other videos that Warrior is releasing but what I'd really like to see if these two men face to face. Now that would be entertainment...

As for the Capitol Punishment pay-per-view, it was a really solid card. What they could have done differently was get rid of that stupid Obama impersonator. It would have been impressive if the real president made a surprise appearance. Asking a lot, I know, but it would have been phenomenal. The highlight of the event for me was when that little kid threw the drink in R-Truth's face and celebrated in the ring with John Cena. My dad and I laughed so hard, it just goes to show that the superstars are all about the fans and giving them a fantastic show. There are two things that made me scratch my head during the show, one happened when Christian faced Randy Orton and when Kofi Kingston faced Dolph Ziggler.

We'll start with the Dolph Ziggler versus Kofi Kingston match. I'm sorry but Scott Armstrong needs to go back to FCW or something. Ziggler clearly used to bottom rope for leverage and his sleeper hold on Kofi should have been broken. I do realize that he probably made a judgement call and wanted to do what was best for Kofi but COME ON! Any other referee would have broken that hold.

And concerning Christian versus Randy Orton...HIS FOOT WAS CLEARLY UNDER THE ROPE! I saw it, the announcers saw it, everyone watching saw it. I have seen the officials reverse their decisions based on replays from matches before and I think that the same should be done here. Or there should at least be one more rematch. It's not like Christian is some Joe Blow going for the belt, this man earned it and deserves it. Hopefully this is all just part of the angle and not just another Montreal Screwjob.

I won't even discuss the results from Monday Night Raw: Power to the People because of all the problems that they had with the mobile voting system. The biggest disappointment of the night was that the problems caused Mason Ryan to face Evan Bourne. I so badly wanted Sin Cara to face Evan Bourne and found it extremely odd that the WWE Universe would pick Ryan over Sin Cara. At least the WWE acknowledged the snafu and is making it up to the fans, I for one will be glued to my seat Monday night to watch the two high flyers go at it. Another fun surprise for next week is that Shawn Michaels is the special guest, he'll be in attendance for the Raw Roulette and to promote his new outdoor themed television show. If anything, it should bring up the ratings and get a great reaction out of the fans who always go nuts whenever the Heartbreak Kid is around.

What I want to discuss the most is CM Punk's stunning announcement that on July 17th he will be wrestling his final WWE match. I was stunned. I heard rumors of it happening but didn't think that it would happen. I'm attending a taping of Monday Night Raw in Edmonton this August and very upset that I won't be able to see him. I'm hoping that he will remain in some capacity with an eventual return, that it's just a break like Chris Jericho takes periodically. Either way, it's a true loss to every wrestling fan. CM Punk had incredible in-ring ability and an even more incredible gift of gab. He could get the crowd going and make them laugh all in the same breath. He delivered world class entertainment each time he stepped in between those ropes and into the squared circle, as only the WWE superstars can do. We'll miss you Punk...

With two three hour editions of Raw complete and Raw Roulette coming up, let's sit back and see what the WWE creative team has to offer up to us next week.

Monday, May 2, 2011

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.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Hell In A Cell / Monday Night Raw.

Hell In A Cell sure was one hell of a pay-per-view.

I loved every single match. It was a solid pay-per-view that delivered a lot of twists, turns, and surprises.

There are a few points that are worth mentioning as things that stood out to me. One in particular was the match between Natalya and (essentially) Laycool. I am so sick of these two running around, flapping their lips, and offering no real contribution to the women's division. Natalya DESERVES a title, the WWE is under utilizing her full potential. She is much more than a valet or a manager, she is a part of one of the most decorated wrestling families in history. I do not like how the women's division is simply being whittled down to the same people having the belts, there needs to be some fresh blood carrying the newly unified divas championship.

Randy Orton definitely showed this Sunday that he deserved to be in possession of the most coveted item in the WWE. His match was spectacular. I was actually screaming at the TV during his match. It was a well fought victory and certainly cemented his position as one of the top guys in the company. Not to lessen Sheamus`s part in the match, he is certainly proving that he is deserving of every minute of his quick success. Even though I personally do not enjoy watching him on TV, no one can take away from his incredible talent.

Randy`s climbing of the cell was one of the most memorable moments, reminding me very much of the celebration surrounding Shawn Michaels beating Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XII in an Iron Man Match. Not quite the same scale but it sure was an amazing moment.

I am so glad that Daniel Bryan is finally getting the adulation that he deserves. The first match of the entire pay-per-view was one of the most impressive I`ve seen in a long time. Every competitor was at the top of their game and truly gave the audience a show. You can see how each wrestler is coming more into their individual styles. Bryan, the submission specialist (who reminds me an awful lot of Chris Benoit), is getting a bigger pop from the crowd and really showcasing his skills. Morrison, the high flying showman, is turning into a bigger and bigger star with each passing match and pay-per-view event. The Miz, becoming more of a heel every time i see him. I would also like to punish whoever gives that guy a microphone and lets him talk. Worst. Idea. Ever.

I just have one thing to say about the Undertaker and Kane match, I was stunned. I thought for sure that the Undertake would win. I had hear rumblings about him possibly retiring in November, 20 years after he officially made his debut in the WWE. I did not expect  Paul Bearer to turn on him but it will make the coming weeks that much more interesting.

Now on to Monday Night Raw...

I think Cena joining the very faction that he tried to bring down was a beyond brilliant move. I was SHOCKED to see him lose, of course with interference because Nexus can`t win anything on their own. I knew instantly that it was members of NXT season two. What a great way to expand the faction. Although he did lose the match, I do not see John Cena staying in that group for long. He is too huge with the little kids for the WWE to ever consider turning him heel for an extended period of time. It will be very interesting to see what direction this whole angle travels in...

You can kind of see the inner workings of the Nexus crumble with David Otunga essentially talking smack behind Wade`s back. As much as I feel this is an interesting and provocative angle for the company to turn in, I cannot wait until it starts to unravel and they being to turn on each other.

Edge got traded. Holy Jebus! It was quite the unexpected move, but with Bragging Rights and the recent debut of Smackdown on SyFy, it could bring the ratings of Smackdown up and perhaps boost the show up to the caliber of Monday Night Raw. The next three weeks will be crucial in determining how successful this trade will be. Perhaps it was a plan to help boost the ratings of the show, which have been slightly lower than usual the last few shows.

The tables certainly have been turning in the recent months. The race for the title has been amping up and in a few weeks we will be on the Road to Wrestlemania. It will be interesting to see who is being pushed and who isn`t, who is contender material, and who will have something to prove. The Road to Wrestlemania will sure be one hell of a bumpy ride but I am more than willing to buckle up for the ride.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Over the Limit / Raw Recap.

It has been quite some time since my last post. This week's edition of RAW, as well as the recent 'Over the Limit' ppv, has put a stop to my bout of writer's block.

'Over the Limit' was phenomenal, there really is no other way to describe it. Every single match had me at the edge of my seat, except for the match between Maryse and Eve. I honestly could have cared less about that match, female wrestling has become nothing but filler on television broadcasts. It really is a shame because I remember when the women would put on a show that would rival the male wrestling. What this division needs is a shake-up. Natalya Neidhart needs to be able to wrestle, instead of just managing the Hart Dynasty. They don;t need to be split up but she needs time to shine. You don't train at the Hart Dungeon to just stand outside the ring and pound on the mat.

I am the HUGEST John Cena fan but CM Punk and Rey Mysterio stole the show. Their match had everything going for it, suspense, drama, blood, high flying, and I could go on for hours! Those two really know what it means to put on a show. As much as I did enjoy their match, I'm glad that the storyline has been put to rest for a while. The whole SES thing really creeps me out. I liked CM Punk way more before, hopefully he will return to his former self.

There was an abundance of injuries at the ppv this past Sunday. It showed the most with Randy Orton vs. Edge, the match had an odd ending. I didn't quite know what was going on, then I saw how Orton was favoring his right shoulder. Speculation is that he will be out a few weeks to a few months, with his recent turn as a face, hopefully he will be back sooner than later. He was always a star but I have a feeling that his following will grow even larger with the somewhat recent disbanding of Legacy. Randy has always done better on his own, he has exceptional ability in the ring and doesn't need to be a part of any faction.

The rest of the matches were exceptional as well and brought about some great moments. R-Truth beating Ted DiBiase (who is bringing out the original Virgil), Kofi winning the Intercontinental Title,  Hart Dynasty keeping their well deserved Unified Tag Team Titles, and Jack Swagger losing to the Big Show by a self imposed disqualification. As anticipated, John Cena made Batista utter the words 'I quit.'. It is basically the two of them beating the crap out of each other for a good fifteen minutes. They both suffer their fair share of bumps, bruises, and cuts. That poor Spanish announce table, I wonder why they even bother to have one as it is almost a 100% guarantee that it will be destroyed. Then, in the climax of the match, Batista attempts to run over Cena, a moment reminiscent of when the Big Show choke slammed Cena into one of the stage lights. Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment on the hood of the car, and setting up for the Attitude Adjustment on the roof, he says 'I quit.'. Cena doesn't care and does it anyways, sending him flying right through the entrance ramp.

In typical fashion, Sheamus comes out and lays John out with a kick. I, for one, am getting sick of this gimmick. Sheamus is becoming a one note pony.

Now a few notes on, whit I thought, were the two biggest moments on Monday Night Raw...

Bret Hart is the new Raw General Manager. I lept out of my seat and almost fell on the floor, this was a total surprise, I had assumed that he was actually finished with the company. I had a hope that it would be Jim Ross but he has made it very clear that he wants to maintain his behind the scenes role for now. Bret Hart is a shock but a good one. He will provide the leadership and direction that the Raw brand needs. I hope that his tenure as GM will be a long and prosperous one.

R-Truth won the United States Title which will hopefully shut The Miz up. I seriously cannot stand his voice and have no idea why they even give him a microphone. He can cut one hell of a promo but his voice is like nails on a chalkboard. R-Truth is a very gifted athlete, he can move, shake , and he can get the crowd going like nobodies business. He has had a relatively short tenure in the WWE but he will make an outstanding champion.