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.

Hell in a Cell.

So sorry for the lack of posts, I started school last month and things have been more than crazy. I'm working hard towards my dream of sitting next to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler at the announcers table. Anyways, I'm back and ready to share my thoughts on the events of the last few weeks...
I thought that HIAC (Hell in a Cell) was a pretty decent pay-per-view, it did lack the excitement of the last couple of events though. I was so shocked at the crowd. I can't even watch WWE on television without screaming like I was right there in the crowd, so I don't understand why you could hear a pin drop in the arena. I was watching at home and it was basically a dead crowd. The only reaction that came from them was the usual "Let's go Cena/Cena Sucks" chant that always breaks out, and the finish to the ppv that saw Miz and R-Truth in handcuffs (but more on that later).

I just have to say that the Sin Cara versus Sin Cara match was probably the most boring thing I have ever seen on television in a while. I'm just not engrossed in this character at all, I do understand why the kids would like him but I think that even they are becoming bored of it. I get what they are trying to do, similar in some ways to the Undertaker versus Undertaker storyline of the early to mid 90's. When he first flew into the ring, Sin Cara was something special but the novelty is quickly wearing off and they need to do something to spice up that angle.
As for the women's match, I am so glad that Beth beat the snot out of Kelly Kelly, who I can't stand. I was never a fan of the cookie cutter barbie divas. They seem boring and like they are just churned out of the developmental territory. Beth and Nattie are an excellent foil for them but they don't necessarily need to the seen as the heels in the divas division. Beth should have won her title in her hometown but, then again, I'm not the booker for WWE. If I was, i would have had Beth win with some dignity and class, instead of making her win of the belt look cheap and tawdry. That being said, I do hope that this opens up the door for women who can actually wrestle to be given a chance to dominate in the ring.
Out of the two HIAC matches, I enjoyed the triple threat between Cena, Del Rio, and Punk a lot more than the one between Orton and Mark Henry. It's not that the Henry/Orton confrontation was boring or anything like that, I'm very much enjoying having Henry as the champ. It just didn't have the same sizzle as the triple threat match. I was shocked that Del Rio got the win, but how he achieved it was pure genius. Locking Cena out? No one saw that one coming. All Del Rio needs to do is get rid of Ricardo and it will be smooth sailing for him. The ending of the match was good but there was an odd feeling to it.

My friend and I had a feeling that Mick Foley would return in some capacity, seeing as it was kind of his event in a way. Instead, Miz and Truth attacked everyone in the ring, and when help came down the ramp, the cage mysteriously lowered. It was exciting to see everyone pouring out of the back to help the men in the ring but it felt like something else was supposed to happen. Either way, it was a good play into the current storyline of Miz and Truth being fired and having a grievance with the Chief Operating Officer.
I'd also like to note that the ppv ended about ten minutes early. The first time I've ever seen that happen in my twenty-two years of watching WWE ppv's.
No on to Monday Night Raw....
I always enjoy the post-ppv Raw's. The main topic on this show seems to be the alleged unhappiness of several of the WWE superstars with how Triple H is running the show. I, speaking for myself, am quite happy with the way he is running things. It's new life, a breath of fresh air, and is going to shake things up even more than when CM Punk gave his famous promo a few months back (something I count in my top five promos of all time). What the hell is their problem? What I see is a bunch of whiny babies.
Someone call the waaaaaaaaaaambulance.
I'm not even going to comment on the divas match because Kelly Kelly's voice annoys the crap out of me. What a waste of television time that could have been spent actually doing something.

I really enjoy the interaction between Johnny Ace and Hunter. Accusing Johnny of being the one behind the angst and working against him sets up a whole new world of possibilities. I don't really enjoy listening to Johnny Ace speak on the microphone but I do think that this opens up a whole new creative avenue for the team over at WWE, they may have their faults sometimes but no one does it better than they do. It will be interesting to see what happens in the weeks to come, especially with the build to the next ppv, Vengeance, in three weeks.

The big shock of the night came when the WWE roster walked out on Triple H and essentially every fan that has ever cheered them on. I don't think it was right but, if what I hear is correct, the roster from Ring of Honor will be more than happy to fill the void on television. What will Triple H do without the superstars of Raw and Smackdown? How will the next edition of Raw pan out? So many questions to be answered...

Future Endeavors.

Just wanted to post a small blurb about something that I've been thinking about recently...

I, along with all the other WWE fans, was shocked to read that Kevin Nash got 'released'. I used the quotations because this obviously is a part of a story and not an actual release.

According to what I've heard, he is off filming a movie and is set to return when it's done. I know he probably had previous commitments prior to his stint on Summerslam but I do wish that they utilized him more. It just seems a little hokey that he was sparingly used. As a fan, the interaction between Triple H and himself was entertaining to watch. I was actually looking forward to seeing what Nash had left in him and am greatly disappointed that he wont be fighting at Night of Champions.

Here's to hoping that Nash returns in some capacity....I wish him well in his future endeavors.

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.

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.

Elmination Chamber and Monday Night Raw.

The Elimination Chamber and the much-anticipated 2-21-2011 mystery has come and gone. I'm a little late with my review of this one but better late than never. We'll start with the Elimination Chamber.

The opener of this pay-per-view was Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston. I thought this was a pretty solid match and a great kick-off to the show. While not a huge Del Rio fan, I found that both competitors to be entertaining and Kofi is always amazing in the ring. Alberto Del Rio won, seems fitting due tot he fact that he will be headlining Wrestlemania this year. People are paying attention to him more and more, each victory is helping his push. It's good to see a Smackdown guy getting some attention.

As for the two chamber matches, I personally found the Smackdown match far more entertaining than the Raw one. Not to say that they both weren't good, but the Smackdown one had a certain element of unpredictability that the Raw one didn't.

For the Smackdown team, the Big Show was the suprise entrant. I find it great that he is getting opportunities like this because he has always been one of my favorite wrestlers, truly there to entertain everyone in attendance. He defiently was not there to win but to inflict pain on his competitiors, which he did. Kane seemed to fit the angry giant role as well, just out for destruction and to hurt. Drew McIntyre was like a caged animal, putting both Wade Barrett (who was on his first ever chamber match) and Rey Mysterio through a pod. The second best part of the match was when Edge and Mysterio were going back and forth at the end of the match, it was amazing to see the guys do that after taking a brutal beating inside of that massive structure. The absolute best of the match was when Christian made a surprise appearance and attacked Del Rio, I literally lost my freakin' mind. Christian is so entertaining and charismatic, he made it known that he is back and out for revenge. Along with many other fans, I am looking forward to seeing him back in the ring. As for the Raw brand match, I think it was fairly obvious that John Cena was going to win. Besides Cena winning and getting the title shot at Wrestlemania XXVII, the highlight of the match was John Morrison going all Spider Man on everyone and climbing the cage.

The biggest upset of the night was when Jerry Lawler lost to the Miz. I was cheering for Jerry the entire match and I was just speechless when he lost. Literally ran out of words, and for Michael Cole to do what he did during the match was EXTREMELY unprofessional. I don't care if it was an angle or not. Someone needs to send Vince McMahon a memo and get him removed from television.

This gross display continued onto Monday Night Raw and further disgusted me. Michael Cole took it a step too far when he brought Lawler's recently deceased mother into their little fued. My Dad and I were watching in complete shock. How could that even get through to tv? It was disgusting, despicable, and downright wrong. I sincerely hope that someone got disciplined for that one. Something like that should have never happened, on a television broadcast or otherwise.

Probably one of the biggest events in the history of the WWE happened on Monday night, both the Undertaker and Triple H returned and they cut one of the most amazing promos I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing, without uttering a single word. They cemented their match for Wrestlemania XXVII (rumored to be a Career vs. Streak match with Shawn Michaels as a guest referee) and brought back the type of excitement that has been somewhat lacking. The Undertaker was revealed as the person behind the 2-21-2011 promos (many - including myself - were hoping for Sting to come out) and made his slow walk down the ring and then BAM! Triple H's music starts and out he comes to stand toe to toe with the Phenom. I was anticipating the Undertaker returning for sure but when I heard Hunter's music I lost it. My Dad and I were freaking out and pounding on the table, the interaction between the two was simply awe-inspiring. If this was the only match at the entire pay-per-view, I would gladly pay whatever the cost just to watch it. It will be the top wrestling moment of the year, decade, pay-per-view, pretty much everything. You just don't get any better than an Undertaker match at Wrestlemania.

As for Sting, I was highly disappointed to learn today that he did resign with TNA. If he came to WWE, I personally believe that he would be an even bigger star than he was in WCW. I find TNA to be an inferior promotion, trying to hard to be as great as the WWE was during the attitude era. The attitude era is over, the PG era is taking over because, honestly, it is doing much better business. That topic is for another day and another blog posting.