2011 WWE Draft.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


To see the full draft results, click here.

Wrestlemania XXVII - The Short Version.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finishing the Journey to Wrestlemania.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not likely.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stone Cold Does Dallas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Until next week...

One Step Closer to Wrestlemania.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.