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.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Summerslam Blurb.

This entire Nexxus angle is paying off big time.

The match between Team WWE and Team Nexus was one of the most intense and anticipated matches I have ever watched. Although I am not a fan of the Nexus at all, they certainly held their own against some of the toughest wrestlers that the WWE has to offer. It was an exciting bout from start to finish and, to myself, there was one stand out performer.

Bret Hart.

Now I know I may catch some flack because there may be critics that say he didn't do much, but for a man in his fifties and a stroke survivor, he did amazing. I found the fact that he got disqualified for using a chair a little amusing as he did what he could to help his team out. The shocker of the match had to be Daniel Bryan coming out as the seventh member of team WWE. The Miz would have been a poor choice and I do not appreciate Michael Cole praising Miz one bit. Daniel Bryan was a far better choice, unexpected, and added the right amount of suspense to an already amazing match. It was also very shocking to see him back so soon after he had been let go.

A side note on this match, Michael Cole needs to not speak, ever again. I find his announcing annoying, frustrating, and downright horrible. I think he needs to bone up on his facts, learn the wrestlers names, and stop trying to be such a pain in the ass to everyone. He is really getting on my nerves and I wish that they would stick him backstage somewhere.

It was a pretty solid pay per view. The matches were all strong and very entertaining, with the exception of the ending of the first match. I get that the Nexus attacks people but I am getting really sick and tired of them doing it. Especially since I was actually looking forward to seeing Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler, but it had to be done to try and rattle the nerves of the WWE Universe.

The biggest moment of the entire pay per view was the return of the Undertaker. I jumped out of my seat when that casket lid was lifted and he sat up. He climbed out of that casket like nobodies business and immediately dominated the ring. Hopefully the Undertaker can come back and shake things up on Smackdown.

I decided to keep this short and sweet, with more coming up tomorrow after Monday Night Raw!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Nexus, Ricky Steamboat, Monday Night Raw...

This whole Nexus angle has got me thinking, this has been one of the most interesting and captivating story lines that the WWE has done in a LONG time. My jaw drops every time they unleash an attack, even though I know it's coming. They may all not be well-known yet but they are certainly making an impact on the wrestling scene. The individual in the sparkly trunks does bug me a bit, I think he looks like a male stripper in those ridiculous things, reminds me slightly of Ahmed Johnson. I`m not too fussy on Justin Gabriel either, he looks like an infant, most likely one of those guys that will have to stand in the shadows of someone else before he breaks out on his own. It will sure be interesting to see how this plays out, especially with the anonymous General Manager of Raw, is he with them? Against them? Or is he just playing us all for fools?

Speaking of the General Manager, I don't know if they are fooling with us or if it is some sort of hint, but they may have given out a clue as to who this individual may be.

"That's the bottom line, because the GM said so..."

Clever clue or red herring? I would lose my mind if Steve Austin came back. I thought he was phenomenal as Raw guest host in March. He relates to the crowd, he is 'one of the guys'. You can just see yourself cracking open a beer with the guy and shooting the breeze, that's the main reason why he is one of the most popular superstars ever.

"If you want to see some action, give me a hell yeah..."

If that isn't a clue then I don't know what is. Hopefully it is the Rattlesnake himself, what a way to shoot some energy into the program. I just hope that this is not going to turn out to be someone, for lack of a better word, lame.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Ricky Steamboat. Nothing but wishes for a speedy recovery and an even speedier recovery to his behind the scenes work. He truly is one of the greats, I had a chance to catch a glimpse of him at the Westin in downtown Calgary and I was just in awe. It is nice to see the WWE getting the 'classic' wrestlers in on the action. It's adding spunk and an interesting perspective to the show.

Just wanted to fire off a quick post while all of these thoughts were fresh in my head, now back to the program...

Saturday, July 3, 2010

In Memory of Owen...

Owen Hart is a legend. Not just because of how he tragically passed away, but because of his remarkable career and huge Hart (pun intended).

It saddens and dismays me that Martha is bringing a lawsuit against WWE yet again. All over the 'Hart & Soul' DVD set, which chronicles the lineage of the Hart family from Stu's rough upbringing, all the way to the Hart Dynasty. I do understand that she is still hurting over Owen, no one could possibly ever completely getting over their spouse dying like that. At the same time, Owen technically was public domain, a bare bones way of putting it. The WWE owns his likeness, the moves he used in the ring, and anything else that he did while with the company. She clearly knows that so I am baffled as to why she would even attempt to bring a lawsuit against them now concerning this issue. She had received generous treatment from Vince, Linda, and the entire WWE for what had happened. Suing them again over something so trivial as using him in a DVD and featuring him on the cover shows how vindictive and petty she really is.

I am in complete agreeance with Bret on this, she is essentially erasing everything that Owen has ever done in his career. He was one of the most honest men in the business, a gentle person, a jokester, and one of the most consummate professionals ever to step into the squared circle. He is truly one of the greats, very deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame, he probably won`t ever get to that accolade due to Martha. If you loved your husband, wouldn`t you want to see him recognized for all that he has done? All the success that he has had? Why would you want to rob his children of the chance to know exactly what their father meant to the people he entertained? His kids deserve to see what an impact their father had left on everyone in the industry.

According to a statement released by the WWE attorney, Martha had not contacted the company for ten years. Why now? Money? Greed? Hatred? Or a combination of all three?

I feel sorry for her. Even more so, I feel sorry for her children.

I remember exactly where I was when I saw Jim Ross announce that Owen had passed away. I was sitting at home with my Dad, our jaws dropped and our faces as white as ghosts. A legend had truly been snatched away from us decades too soon. The impact that he had left on the wrestling world was evidenced by the outpouring of grief and good memories that fellow wrestlers showed on that episode of Monday Night Raw. I cried for a week. I felt like I had lost someone close to me, growing up on wrestling for my entire life made me feel like I had a connection to the Harts. It is unfair that Martha wants to sever this connection that he had with his fans.

I still have that tape of Over the Edge. I can't bring myself to watch it. I keep it tucked away amongst my wrestling tapes, DVDs, magazines, and other memorabilia. It still stings to think about it. I hope that one day, she can get off her high horse and realize just what she is doing.

Rest in peace Owen.

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.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Wrestlemania Ramblings.

With Wrestlemania XXVI fast approaching, I thought I should give my thoughts on what is going to be one of the most memorable pay per views in wrestling history. At least I think so...

First of all, the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels situation needs to be discussed. I believe with all of my wrestling loving heart that the Undertaker will whoop the living hell out of Shawn Michaels. I have many theories to support this, so I will throw a few out there. I am in no way degrading Shawn Michaels as a wrestler and I am a fan of his, he has competed in some of the most amazing matches I have ever seen in my 21 years of watching wrestling. I just feel as though the WWE is giving him no real direction, he used to be Mr. Wrestlemania, the Showstopper, Mr. Main Event. To me, he isn't any of those things anymore. He needs more spark, he seems tired and wore out. The Undertaker is one of the longest serving active wrestler on the current WWE roster. He has stuck with Vince McMahon through the good and the bad days of the company. I think that alone will have a tremendous impact on the decision of this match. If Michaels wins, I will be both very surprised and dissapointed.

Now on to the Hall of Fame and Stu Hart...

I have been waiting FOREVER for this announcement. If there was anyone so deserving of being recognized for the stamp that he has left on this business, and the hart (pun intended) of a nation, it is Stu Hart. I have not been so excited about a nominee since Bret Hart. I for one will have a tear in my eye and a Hart shirt on my back as I watch this historic and emotional moment on television.

Speaking of Bret, I KNOW he will beat Vince McMahon. The mere thought of Vince being in a sharpshooter in the middle of the ring has fans salivating all over the globe. I have had the pleasure of meeting Vince McMahon and he is a man that knows what the fans want and will give them what they want. Wrestling fans are the most loyal people I have ever seen, more so than football or hockey or baseball or any other sport for that matter. Bret, as well as his fans, have been waiting over a decade for this moment. They will not be dissapointed, this match is going to be a true clash of the titans. The final image we will have at Wrestlemania XXVI will be of Vince submitting to the sharpshooter, adminstered by the Excellence of Execution.

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Royal Rumble.

Last night's Royal Rumble PPV was certainly one to remember. The return of Edge as an entrant to the Rumble was something that no one saw coming. I had heard rumors that he would be returning at Wrestlemania or shortly after. It certainly gave that much a much needed spicing up. I didn't want him to win by any means, and I found it a little shocking but that's the way the WWE cookie crumbles I guess. I wanted to see John Cena finally beat Sheamus and reclaim the title that is rightfully his.

I HATED listening to CM Punk talk between entrants, I used to love watching him wrestle but lately he just annoys me (Much like Sheamus, but we'll get to that later!). There were a lot of good entrants in the Rumble this year, Kofi Kingston being my personal favorite (next to Cena of course!). There were so many people that I wanted to win, here is my top five:
  1. John Cena
  2. Kofi Kingston
  3. MVP
  4. Shawn Michaels
  5. Batista
I was really pulling for Shawn Michaels. I was looking forward to seeing him take on the Undertaker for the title. The thing with Michaels is that he needs to get back to his roots. He needs to get back to greatness, just like when he rode that zip line down to the ring during his Iron Man Match with Bret Hart. That is the HBK that I know and love. The WWE needs to break him away from Triple H and let him shine. Bring him back to 'Mr.Main Event'.

Another match that I really enjoyed was Randy Orton vs. Sheamus. I'm starting to like Randy Orton even more and I still can't stand Sheamus. Everything about him just annoys the heck out of me. I do not think he can wrestle that well at all, he's strong but all he does is the Celtic Cross and that kick to the face. That gets really old really fast. I was pulling for Randy Orton to win, if not win than beat the holy hell out of Sheamus. I still think he got the title too early in his career, if they wanted to give it to a younger superstar, Jack swagger should have gotten it. I would like to see MVP eventually get his hands on the biggest prize in the game after he captures the title from The Miz.

The Miz really needs to lose. I don't care how but he needs to get rid of the title. I am sick of lsitening to him every week. Although the rivalry between MVP and The Miz is entertaining, the title needs to change hands. On a side note, I am glad that Mickie James finally beat Michelle McCool. The bullying angle that they had was just bad. You would think with all the bullying that goes on between kids and the poor body images that many young women have, this never would have been written as a storyline. Either way, I am glad that she showed that you can stand up for yourself and overcome your bully, even if she did use a DDT.

It doesn't need mentioning because, as always, the ECW match was exciting and filled with a lot of enthusiasm and athleticism. I'd like to see these guys get more of a push. There are a lot of really talented athletes competing on that brand that deserve a shot at the big time.

We have just hit the Road to Wrestlemania and hopefully it is one filled with many twists and turns.