Sunday, December 24, 2006
New ROH Champ
Bryan Danielson's 15 month reign as ROH Champion has come to an end thanks to the man who calls himself Homicide! It remains to be seen if ROH will go with the TNA star as their long term champion or if somebody else will step up to make a name for themselves. This is pretty big news (if you like ROH) as title changes are very rare and the belt in ROH is of upmost importance.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
ROH Unified DVD Review
I just watched this show on DVD and it was almost as good as it was live. The main event rocked the world with Danielson and Nigel beating the crap out of each other. Nigel's bumps on the ringpost must have given him a concussion or something; my god he headbutted it so hard. Diving into the crowd isn't generally recomended but somehow ROH manage to get away with and Bryan Danielson's awesomeness allow him to do anything he wants in the world.
Colt Cabana continues to be great and this night was no exception scaring Spud at every opportunity in the four corners match. Matt Sydal has the potential to be really great, his spots are awesome but improving how he uses them will make him even better. Plus he's a sound guy after chatting to him at the show so he deserves some recongnition.
Roderick Strong and Austin Aries defenidng the world tag belts against the Briscoes was an awesome match live but seemed to have something missing on the DVD. All four guys are really really good but they're not going to last much longer if they continue to do half the stuff they did here. Chopping each other as hard as they can and being dropped on your head isn't exactly a carrer prolonging activity.
All the other matches on the card were pretty decent undercard matches with Colt doing double duty going against Chris Hero, Robbie Brookside defending his FWA belt in a match that was far better on DVD than it came across live and Davey Richards defeating Jimmy Rave in a match that was good but had far too many near falls.
Overall this show was awesome live and this trnasferred to DVD. You have to love the unification match simply for the passion from both men and the tag title match is excellent. ROH's first event outside the US had to be considered a success and that's why they're coming back!
Colt Cabana continues to be great and this night was no exception scaring Spud at every opportunity in the four corners match. Matt Sydal has the potential to be really great, his spots are awesome but improving how he uses them will make him even better. Plus he's a sound guy after chatting to him at the show so he deserves some recongnition.
Roderick Strong and Austin Aries defenidng the world tag belts against the Briscoes was an awesome match live but seemed to have something missing on the DVD. All four guys are really really good but they're not going to last much longer if they continue to do half the stuff they did here. Chopping each other as hard as they can and being dropped on your head isn't exactly a carrer prolonging activity.
All the other matches on the card were pretty decent undercard matches with Colt doing double duty going against Chris Hero, Robbie Brookside defending his FWA belt in a match that was far better on DVD than it came across live and Davey Richards defeating Jimmy Rave in a match that was good but had far too many near falls.
Overall this show was awesome live and this trnasferred to DVD. You have to love the unification match simply for the passion from both men and the tag title match is excellent. ROH's first event outside the US had to be considered a success and that's why they're coming back!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Joe vs Angle Tonight
Potentially the biggest match in wresting this year is tonight with Kurt Angle taking on Samoa Joe at TNA's Genesis PPV. The fact that I really can't say anything about it shows TNA problem; I have no clue what is going on and for a man that follows this business very closely in terms of backstage goings on and reading show reports it's a really bad thing.
It has the potential to be the hottest TNA angle of all time but it cries the inherent problem of TNA PPVs; they'll be great to watch but nobody will know this because nobody has bought it. If they wanted to capatalise on the signing of Angle this is the time to do it but the 1.0 rating from Thursday's prime time special shows that no person actually knows about TNA. Unfortunatly it's a problem that lies in the hand of TNA themselves.
This match will be great. But who will care?
It has the potential to be the hottest TNA angle of all time but it cries the inherent problem of TNA PPVs; they'll be great to watch but nobody will know this because nobody has bought it. If they wanted to capatalise on the signing of Angle this is the time to do it but the 1.0 rating from Thursday's prime time special shows that no person actually knows about TNA. Unfortunatly it's a problem that lies in the hand of TNA themselves.
This match will be great. But who will care?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Monty Brown Signs With WWE
As expected Monty Brown has signed with WWE. He's a good talker and showed promise in TNA but the fact he was working three dates a month held him back from progressing. On the road with WWE working four times a week with the likes of Finlay, Regal and Benoit will do him the world of good and we could see something out of Monty.
I Went To Smackdown (CAUTION SPOLIERS IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN SMACKDOWN)
And it was a fine fine show. So you can see the show for yourselves; so I'll give you a bit of info about the live show.
Chris Benoit is the best wrestler in the world. The crowd were so into his match and for a guy who doesn't really get any promo time it goes to show what work rate can do for you. Regal is exactly the same. Regal is so good that over half of the crowd booed him (in his home country). Indy guys need to watch him work and see how he sells and builds to his spots.
The crowd were into Big Dave the most out of anybody there and he did the celebration at the end of the show and shook everybody's hands (I gave him a slap on the chest) and the crowd were mad for him. He looked good in the ring and the crowd errupted to the hot tag. This guy is winning the belt at Survivor Series.
Funaki was the first babyace out and got a huge pop and a even a chant. KC James doesn't actually look that bad. Maybe it was just me.
Seeing the Undertaker live was pretty cool. He didn't do the long entrance so I hope he's going back to the more human (and realistic) gimmick.
Mr Kennedy is over huge but his promo on the screen got booed after a couple of minutes because he's so boring when his promos go over the 60 second mark.
Michael Cole got in the ring and got some people to do football chants. This guy is such a goof trying to tell us he was watching the football at the weekend. Don't make me laugh. JBL was well over. I was sat right by him and every so often we got a JBL chant going. I tries to get a Michael Cole chant going but nobody joined in. Surprisingly.
As always I had a great time at the show. The matches certainly anywhere near the ROH level earlier in the year but the atmosphere and the laughs made it a fun show. There's no TV from the UK in April and only three house shows so I think that's it for me until next year but ROH are back in Liverpool soon. Yay.
Chris Benoit is the best wrestler in the world. The crowd were so into his match and for a guy who doesn't really get any promo time it goes to show what work rate can do for you. Regal is exactly the same. Regal is so good that over half of the crowd booed him (in his home country). Indy guys need to watch him work and see how he sells and builds to his spots.
The crowd were into Big Dave the most out of anybody there and he did the celebration at the end of the show and shook everybody's hands (I gave him a slap on the chest) and the crowd were mad for him. He looked good in the ring and the crowd errupted to the hot tag. This guy is winning the belt at Survivor Series.
Funaki was the first babyace out and got a huge pop and a even a chant. KC James doesn't actually look that bad. Maybe it was just me.
Seeing the Undertaker live was pretty cool. He didn't do the long entrance so I hope he's going back to the more human (and realistic) gimmick.
Mr Kennedy is over huge but his promo on the screen got booed after a couple of minutes because he's so boring when his promos go over the 60 second mark.
Michael Cole got in the ring and got some people to do football chants. This guy is such a goof trying to tell us he was watching the football at the weekend. Don't make me laugh. JBL was well over. I was sat right by him and every so often we got a JBL chant going. I tries to get a Michael Cole chant going but nobody joined in. Surprisingly.
As always I had a great time at the show. The matches certainly anywhere near the ROH level earlier in the year but the atmosphere and the laughs made it a fun show. There's no TV from the UK in April and only three house shows so I think that's it for me until next year but ROH are back in Liverpool soon. Yay.
Raw is Boring (Again)
I'm sorry to say it but it totally was. The whole DX thing is really boring me and although their stuff with the bounty was mildly funny (tell that to Chris Masters) it's doing nothing for me in terms of 'wow I can't wait for DX to turn up next week!'
Cena and Umaga wasn't bad for the three minutes it was on but I like the fact they're doing an angle for Survivor Series.
Jeff Hardy won back the IC Title. Most people have moaned that it switched hands but I like it. It's only a secondary title and as long as it's switching on a semi-regular basis most people will remeber there is a belt.
Jerry Lawler is the man at taking the masterlock, it even got over. It's shame three minutes later Masters was destroyed (by Hunter shock horror) and Todd was in the booth for the rest of the night.
Why couldn't Edge and Orton beat Piper and Flair decislvely for the tag belts. Just put Flair in there selling for ten minutes, hot tag to Piper, heels screw the faces and get the tag. Putting the belts on 'Rated RKO' (what a shit name) is a good thing as they obviosuly look better as tag team champs but having them have to beat a guy who won't wrestle for another twelve months (hopefully) and a guy who can be beaten week after week after week but still be over. They're meant to be the top heels; do something to show me you are.
Overall I was glad I had tickets for Smackdown and not this show.
Cena and Umaga wasn't bad for the three minutes it was on but I like the fact they're doing an angle for Survivor Series.
Jeff Hardy won back the IC Title. Most people have moaned that it switched hands but I like it. It's only a secondary title and as long as it's switching on a semi-regular basis most people will remeber there is a belt.
Jerry Lawler is the man at taking the masterlock, it even got over. It's shame three minutes later Masters was destroyed (by Hunter shock horror) and Todd was in the booth for the rest of the night.
Why couldn't Edge and Orton beat Piper and Flair decislvely for the tag belts. Just put Flair in there selling for ten minutes, hot tag to Piper, heels screw the faces and get the tag. Putting the belts on 'Rated RKO' (what a shit name) is a good thing as they obviosuly look better as tag team champs but having them have to beat a guy who won't wrestle for another twelve months (hopefully) and a guy who can be beaten week after week after week but still be over. They're meant to be the top heels; do something to show me you are.
Overall I was glad I had tickets for Smackdown and not this show.
Monday, November 13, 2006
One Year On
I'm sure this isn't the first story you've read regarding the death of Eddie Guerrero twelve months ago. I'm sure it won't be the last and that's a testament to the life of Eddie and his impact on the wrestling world. But what has been the impact of his death on the wrestling world? In storyline terms it has been shitty. In terms of Smackdown it has been shitty. But what about the problem of drugs abuse in wrestling? I want to take a look:
Not long after this tragic event Vince McMahon gathered the roster in the locker room and announced drug testing would begin to take place. The policy wasn't implemented until April of this year, but giving WWE their due it has been very thorough and in my humble opinion has been very successful.
Straight after the announcement we saw a number of guys loose quite a bit of muscle including Chris Masters, Batista, Rey Mysterio and most noticebly Kurt Angle. Six months later after the official testing began we've seen a number of people taken from the road due to the various issues with pills. Joey Matthews and Chris Masters have been to rehab, Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam both recieved 30-day suspensions for their violation of the policy and Super Crazy disappered for a while to. Randy Orton completed an almost 60-day suspension for smoking something other than tabacco. Going by these numbers and the level of guys affected it seems the policy has worked, at least to a degree.
However there has been a few other violations that have seemilngly gone unpunished. Sabu was in the car with RVD when they were both arrested for possesing weed. Only RVD was suspended. Bobby Lashley and the Great Khali were pulled from the Great American Bash pay-per-view in July for elevated liver enzymes, a common side effect from taking steroid pills. They were only pulled on the day of the pay-per-view and this wasn't announced before people bought it. They were also back on the road within a week.
The biggest casualty of the policy has been Kurt Angle. Suspended for thirty and being told to go to rehab wouldn't stop Angle from taking his pain killers. Based on the fact that he may well die very soon WWE released him. Minutes later TNA were on the phone wanting to negotiate. It's that external factor that killed the policy last time round. WCW were simply picking up the firees and putting them on their show; with no drug testing. The fact is this will always be true. Angle certainly isn't making as much money in TNA as he was in WWE but he is Kurt Angle and wants to compete. As long as there is somewhere to compete he will compete. Unfortunalty Eddie's death won't save Angle's life.
For the most part however, I believe that the impementation of the policy has had resounding benefits. Angle is an anomoly, a guy who will work wherever he can work. But most of the roster is smartened up to the fact that WWE will remain for a long time their biggest pay day so sticking to their rules keep the cheques coming in. There will be those who flounder those rules and will continue to get away with it, I'm sure in later life they will feel the affect of this themselves but the drug policy has mostly had great affects on the whole of the roster and if anything good has come from the death of Eddie, this is it.
Not long after this tragic event Vince McMahon gathered the roster in the locker room and announced drug testing would begin to take place. The policy wasn't implemented until April of this year, but giving WWE their due it has been very thorough and in my humble opinion has been very successful.
Straight after the announcement we saw a number of guys loose quite a bit of muscle including Chris Masters, Batista, Rey Mysterio and most noticebly Kurt Angle. Six months later after the official testing began we've seen a number of people taken from the road due to the various issues with pills. Joey Matthews and Chris Masters have been to rehab, Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam both recieved 30-day suspensions for their violation of the policy and Super Crazy disappered for a while to. Randy Orton completed an almost 60-day suspension for smoking something other than tabacco. Going by these numbers and the level of guys affected it seems the policy has worked, at least to a degree.
However there has been a few other violations that have seemilngly gone unpunished. Sabu was in the car with RVD when they were both arrested for possesing weed. Only RVD was suspended. Bobby Lashley and the Great Khali were pulled from the Great American Bash pay-per-view in July for elevated liver enzymes, a common side effect from taking steroid pills. They were only pulled on the day of the pay-per-view and this wasn't announced before people bought it. They were also back on the road within a week.
The biggest casualty of the policy has been Kurt Angle. Suspended for thirty and being told to go to rehab wouldn't stop Angle from taking his pain killers. Based on the fact that he may well die very soon WWE released him. Minutes later TNA were on the phone wanting to negotiate. It's that external factor that killed the policy last time round. WCW were simply picking up the firees and putting them on their show; with no drug testing. The fact is this will always be true. Angle certainly isn't making as much money in TNA as he was in WWE but he is Kurt Angle and wants to compete. As long as there is somewhere to compete he will compete. Unfortunalty Eddie's death won't save Angle's life.
For the most part however, I believe that the impementation of the policy has had resounding benefits. Angle is an anomoly, a guy who will work wherever he can work. But most of the roster is smartened up to the fact that WWE will remain for a long time their biggest pay day so sticking to their rules keep the cheques coming in. There will be those who flounder those rules and will continue to get away with it, I'm sure in later life they will feel the affect of this themselves but the drug policy has mostly had great affects on the whole of the roster and if anything good has come from the death of Eddie, this is it.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Survivor Series Card
If you haven't been on WWE.com and lets face who hasn't they've been announcing matches all week for Survivor Series and so far it's looking pretty damn cool. They've scrapped the triple threat survivor match between Raw, ECW and Smackdown and have mixed the teams up and upto now we have THREE traditional Survicor Series matches.
DX, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy vs Randy Orton, Edge, Mike Knox, Gregory Helms & Johhny Nitro. Punk and the men who said he couldn't work on the same team? One name does not fit here: Mike Knox?
John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Kane, Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs Umaga, Finlay, Big Show, Test & Finlay. This is going to be great.
Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Sergant Slaughter & Dusty Rhodes w/Arn Anderson vs The Spirit Squad w/Mitch. Yay the Spirit Squad are going to get squashed.
Chris Benoit vs Chavo Guerrero. A fine match for the undercard.
The build for the PPV hasn't been existent so far but I guarnatee this PPV will be great. I'll post my prediction nearer to the date.
DX, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy vs Randy Orton, Edge, Mike Knox, Gregory Helms & Johhny Nitro. Punk and the men who said he couldn't work on the same team? One name does not fit here: Mike Knox?
John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Kane, Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs Umaga, Finlay, Big Show, Test & Finlay. This is going to be great.
Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Sergant Slaughter & Dusty Rhodes w/Arn Anderson vs The Spirit Squad w/Mitch. Yay the Spirit Squad are going to get squashed.
Chris Benoit vs Chavo Guerrero. A fine match for the undercard.
The build for the PPV hasn't been existent so far but I guarnatee this PPV will be great. I'll post my prediction nearer to the date.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Cena Is Raw
Nothing was more apparent than statement on Raw this week. When he popped up in Umaga's beating of Maria segment (not a bad little way to get heat I suppose) the crowd went wild and Cena cut an awesome promo which was the highlight of the show.
The rest of the show was hit and miss. From what I remeber the first hour was good, the second bad and the main event was fun for what it was. I wasn't a fan of the fat stripper; that's what you get from beating Vince in the voting Bischoff.
Like I said, the first hour with the Eugene and Hacksaw segment (ratings), the Cena stuff and Hardy vs Nitro along with the opening segment were all fun but the second half with Shelton, Carlito, Masters, Lita and Mickie (the same gimmick on the same show great!) all sucked.
The reason no matches were announced for Survivor Series is because they're doing announcing the matches on the Internet given that 14.4 million (different) people visited for the voting last week. They believe they're owen hype. That's why Raw was all about Bischoff and not promoting Survivor Series. Two weeks to promote but the card is shaping up to be very nice. More about that later.
The rest of the show was hit and miss. From what I remeber the first hour was good, the second bad and the main event was fun for what it was. I wasn't a fan of the fat stripper; that's what you get from beating Vince in the voting Bischoff.
Like I said, the first hour with the Eugene and Hacksaw segment (ratings), the Cena stuff and Hardy vs Nitro along with the opening segment were all fun but the second half with Shelton, Carlito, Masters, Lita and Mickie (the same gimmick on the same show great!) all sucked.
The reason no matches were announced for Survivor Series is because they're doing announcing the matches on the Internet given that 14.4 million (different) people visited for the voting last week. They believe they're owen hype. That's why Raw was all about Bischoff and not promoting Survivor Series. Two weeks to promote but the card is shaping up to be very nice. More about that later.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Cyber Sunday Sucked
I had very little interest in this show going in and usually this leads to a good show (No Way Out, Judgment Day) but this show sucked.
Umaga vs Kane was a match I didn't want to see againand we got it again. A shocklingly high number of people voted for Kane, I don't get it. Their match wasn't terrible but it certainly wasn't worth paying for.
The texas tornado tag match was exactly what you'd expect; a cluster that Cryme Tyme won.
Carlito won the vote (as predicted) and wrestled a shitty match with Jeff Hardy. Carlito wrestled as the heel and didn't do much of the horrible high flying (he looks far better as a heel but still sucks). Hardy went over clean in a competitive match so it looks like Carlito is off to ECW.
Bischoff got voted in in a landslide. This would have been a great moment to see Vince's face. It took Orton and Edge forever to get the heat on DX and Hunter kicking out of an RKO was pointless in a tag match that was fourth on the card. The result finally went thr right way though. Overall n under par performance from the people involved in the match, it was mianly Orton and Hunter who pissed me off so when they pair off I hope Edge goes with Shawn. The sgment where Shawn was superkicking dudes in the hall was the highlight of the whole show.
Lita and Mickie wrestled in the lumberjill match and my god this match fucking blew. Lita won.
Flair and Piper won the tag belts! Yay. The Spirit Squad are splitting up! Roddy Peiper hasn't seen the sun since 1987!
The main event was what you'd expect from a triple threat with the people involved. Booker's title was on the line and he won so I doubt we'll hear about that victory considering they wanted Cena's belt on the line. K-Fed's apperance and interferance made perfect sense and allowed King Booker to become the champion of champions.
Overall it was a boring show with no brightspots except from the DX backstage deal. Faarooq made another appearnce but it has lost all it's comedy value by now. They were pushing that 14 million people voted. 14 million votes were cast, not by 14 million people. I reckon with seven stips to vote on and each person voting for each stip once it gives 2 million. Once people voting twice is taken into account I think a fair estimate is around 1.5 million. Not bad but certainly not great. Story of the show really.
Umaga vs Kane was a match I didn't want to see againand we got it again. A shocklingly high number of people voted for Kane, I don't get it. Their match wasn't terrible but it certainly wasn't worth paying for.
The texas tornado tag match was exactly what you'd expect; a cluster that Cryme Tyme won.
Carlito won the vote (as predicted) and wrestled a shitty match with Jeff Hardy. Carlito wrestled as the heel and didn't do much of the horrible high flying (he looks far better as a heel but still sucks). Hardy went over clean in a competitive match so it looks like Carlito is off to ECW.
Bischoff got voted in in a landslide. This would have been a great moment to see Vince's face. It took Orton and Edge forever to get the heat on DX and Hunter kicking out of an RKO was pointless in a tag match that was fourth on the card. The result finally went thr right way though. Overall n under par performance from the people involved in the match, it was mianly Orton and Hunter who pissed me off so when they pair off I hope Edge goes with Shawn. The sgment where Shawn was superkicking dudes in the hall was the highlight of the whole show.
Lita and Mickie wrestled in the lumberjill match and my god this match fucking blew. Lita won.
Flair and Piper won the tag belts! Yay. The Spirit Squad are splitting up! Roddy Peiper hasn't seen the sun since 1987!
The main event was what you'd expect from a triple threat with the people involved. Booker's title was on the line and he won so I doubt we'll hear about that victory considering they wanted Cena's belt on the line. K-Fed's apperance and interferance made perfect sense and allowed King Booker to become the champion of champions.
Overall it was a boring show with no brightspots except from the DX backstage deal. Faarooq made another appearnce but it has lost all it's comedy value by now. They were pushing that 14 million people voted. 14 million votes were cast, not by 14 million people. I reckon with seven stips to vote on and each person voting for each stip once it gives 2 million. Once people voting twice is taken into account I think a fair estimate is around 1.5 million. Not bad but certainly not great. Story of the show really.
Smackdown Happened on Friday
Considering Michael Cole opened the show with "we're 48 hours removed from Cyber Sunday" boy did Smackdown do a shitty job in promoting the PPV. The key angle in the show was that Big Dave was protecting Booker (and thus the title he wanted back). Apparently guys from ECW and Raw were attempting to take out Booker (I heard no mention of this angle ever before this night) and I believe four goons turned up at the end of the night but I have no clue who they are. The show's clsoing angle with Batista and Finlay made little sense as it was promotion for next week rather than a show on Sunday. Yes it's a Raw PPV but they've been doing a ton of build on Smackdown so why not for one more night?
Michael Cole's commentary is starting to really piss me off. In the London/Kendrick tag match it was obvious someone was in his ear saying "get London and Kendrick over, they're exciting and fun to watch" so Cole said "boy London & Kendrick are fun to watch!"
Tatanka's new look and his reading from a script on his head had to be one of the highlights of this boring show. Then again Jimmy Wang Yang was on the show and that can only be a damn good thing. Cole's continuance is saying that Yang is a red neck is grating me, do you not get the joke?
Michael Cole's commentary is starting to really piss me off. In the London/Kendrick tag match it was obvious someone was in his ear saying "get London and Kendrick over, they're exciting and fun to watch" so Cole said "boy London & Kendrick are fun to watch!"
Tatanka's new look and his reading from a script on his head had to be one of the highlights of this boring show. Then again Jimmy Wang Yang was on the show and that can only be a damn good thing. Cole's continuance is saying that Yang is a red neck is grating me, do you not get the joke?
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Cyber Sunday Preview
Cyber Sunday continues the tradition of bad build for PPVs with me caring about no match but Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes vs a team that didn't even appear on Raw last week.
Women's Championship - Lita vs Mickie James
This has to be a submission match. Has to be. Other than that Lita is probably going over with Mickie winning the title before Lita leaves at the end of November.
Umaga vs Benoit/Sandman/Kane
I hope Benoit gets voted in to see a Benoit match. Sandman winning would be funny as hell as Umaga vs Sandman in an impromptu match would suck so bad it would be great. I don't want to see Kane/Umaga part 34 so don't bother voting for him. Either way Umaga wins.
World Tag Team Championship - Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes/Roddy Piper/Sergant Slaughter vs Spirit Squad
For comedy and nostalgia value Dusty must win this vote but Piper would be good to. Slaughter I don't really care for. Spirit Squad are splitting and we're going to have new tag belts which thse boys will make seem important because it's Ric motherfucking Flair and Dusty fucking Rhodes.
Intercontiental Championship - Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro/Carlito/Shelton Benjaman
Carlito unfortunatley is winning the vote, Shelton would provide the better match (we've seen Nitro/Hardy a million times) but Hardy has to retain.
DX vs Edge & Randy Orton - Special Referee Vince McMahon/Eric Bischoff/Coach
Vince will be the ref but I want Bischoff hust to piss him off. I beg for the heels to go over and actually make this feud worth while but it seems they're intent on having DX beat everybody so it wouldn't surprise me if they won this one.
Champion of Champions Match for the World Championship/WWE Championship/ECW Championship - King Booker vs John Cena vs Big Show
Booker's title will be on the line and that's great because it basically means Booker has to win and I'm sure they'd rather have Cena or Show win over Booker. Unless they put the belt on Cena for the interpromational angle going into Survivor Series allowing them to have Cena on Smackdown every week.
Apparently there's some four way tag match as well. Cryme Tyme win.
I'm sure when all is said and done this PPV will be decent with a few good matches BUT the key problem is my (and most others) interest in it is absolutley nil.
Women's Championship - Lita vs Mickie James
This has to be a submission match. Has to be. Other than that Lita is probably going over with Mickie winning the title before Lita leaves at the end of November.
Umaga vs Benoit/Sandman/Kane
I hope Benoit gets voted in to see a Benoit match. Sandman winning would be funny as hell as Umaga vs Sandman in an impromptu match would suck so bad it would be great. I don't want to see Kane/Umaga part 34 so don't bother voting for him. Either way Umaga wins.
World Tag Team Championship - Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes/Roddy Piper/Sergant Slaughter vs Spirit Squad
For comedy and nostalgia value Dusty must win this vote but Piper would be good to. Slaughter I don't really care for. Spirit Squad are splitting and we're going to have new tag belts which thse boys will make seem important because it's Ric motherfucking Flair and Dusty fucking Rhodes.
Intercontiental Championship - Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro/Carlito/Shelton Benjaman
Carlito unfortunatley is winning the vote, Shelton would provide the better match (we've seen Nitro/Hardy a million times) but Hardy has to retain.
DX vs Edge & Randy Orton - Special Referee Vince McMahon/Eric Bischoff/Coach
Vince will be the ref but I want Bischoff hust to piss him off. I beg for the heels to go over and actually make this feud worth while but it seems they're intent on having DX beat everybody so it wouldn't surprise me if they won this one.
Champion of Champions Match for the World Championship/WWE Championship/ECW Championship - King Booker vs John Cena vs Big Show
Booker's title will be on the line and that's great because it basically means Booker has to win and I'm sure they'd rather have Cena or Show win over Booker. Unless they put the belt on Cena for the interpromational angle going into Survivor Series allowing them to have Cena on Smackdown every week.
Apparently there's some four way tag match as well. Cryme Tyme win.
I'm sure when all is said and done this PPV will be decent with a few good matches BUT the key problem is my (and most others) interest in it is absolutley nil.
Raw Sucked
As a go home show for a PPV, a show that is meant to make you fo holy fuck I can't wait for DX to kick those damn dasterdly heels arses Raw freaking blew.
The ideal way to sell a PPV is for the heels (with a two on one advantage with chairs) to beat up the babyface in distress thus we pay to see the babyface(s) get their revange on Sunday. Of course the babyface was Hunter so he gets by the special ref stipulation and thr two on one with wepaons situation so on Sunday you're paying to see him do the same with his buddy HBK. Great job.
So the champions of champions match is Sunday. Raw vs Smackdown vs ECW's world champion, the first time ever they will be taking each other one (well they've been doing stupid interactions for weeks but nevermind). This is a historical moment. One brand could be left with no world champion and one brand could have two world title belts. So how do they promote this match? A stand off every week until you finally can't wait for them to scrap? Or how about killer promos on each other explaining how great and superior they are? Or how about telling stupid jokes and on the final push have one of the guys beat up a former (shitty) announcer. One of those three options stand out as sucking. Guess which one they went with.
Sure as hell I can't wait for Cyber Sunday! The women's submission match is going to be a classic.
The ideal way to sell a PPV is for the heels (with a two on one advantage with chairs) to beat up the babyface in distress thus we pay to see the babyface(s) get their revange on Sunday. Of course the babyface was Hunter so he gets by the special ref stipulation and thr two on one with wepaons situation so on Sunday you're paying to see him do the same with his buddy HBK. Great job.
So the champions of champions match is Sunday. Raw vs Smackdown vs ECW's world champion, the first time ever they will be taking each other one (well they've been doing stupid interactions for weeks but nevermind). This is a historical moment. One brand could be left with no world champion and one brand could have two world title belts. So how do they promote this match? A stand off every week until you finally can't wait for them to scrap? Or how about killer promos on each other explaining how great and superior they are? Or how about telling stupid jokes and on the final push have one of the guys beat up a former (shitty) announcer. One of those three options stand out as sucking. Guess which one they went with.
Sure as hell I can't wait for Cyber Sunday! The women's submission match is going to be a classic.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
KISS TNA
Watching TNA's Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View one thing was clear; Keep It Simple, Stupid.
A card full of gimmick matches blended into one another and the result is the same as it is always; TNA have a huge roster of guys and you got to see every single one of them. However you don't care about any of them.
You don't need a fancy looking video package for every match on the card. When you do play a video package for three matches then they seem important and the crowd will get into them. We don't need a five minute explaination of the Monsters Ball or a throw away four corners tag match. Show us the match, have a good match and warm up the crowd for the reason we paid for the show.
If you're main event is going to be a typical Jeff Jarret vs Sting match in 2006 then don't load your card with spot fests and gimmicks. Everything has been done before the main event so the crowd will be silent in a high-spot free match.
I'm not even going to review every match on the card because in all honestly the THREE hardcore matches wore the crap out of me. I wanted to see men exchanging arm drags not high-spots. The battle royale was fun but shouldn't have been first on the card and no angle was played out after Austin Starr's victory. Monsters Ball was a throw away as was the four-way tag match in which AMW didn't care about. Eric Young vs Larry was what you'd expect but took away from the main event stipulation and Eric Young couldn't beat a man three times his age clean.
Christian vs Rhyno was a street fight which started in the back and ended up an in ring spot fest. Not good. The X-Title match was easily the best match on the card and is an example of what the undercard should be doing in TNA right now. The tag team cage match was very good but isn't a cage match no rules? So why was it a traditonal tag match where foreign objects weren't allowed? The main event sucked up until the last thirty seconds which was awesome. Jarrett clocked Sting with the guitar, the crowd thought they were getting the usual bullshit but Sting roared, the crowd went mad and the deathlock was applied and Sting was the new champion.
Of course the focus was on the fact that Jarrett lost the belt not that Sting had won it. Overall it was disapointing PPV with only two decent macthes all in all. The future looks good (at least next month) with Joe and Angle and Sting and Christian. We'll see if TNA fuck this one up like they did with this PPV.
Verdict: Could have been more.
A card full of gimmick matches blended into one another and the result is the same as it is always; TNA have a huge roster of guys and you got to see every single one of them. However you don't care about any of them.
You don't need a fancy looking video package for every match on the card. When you do play a video package for three matches then they seem important and the crowd will get into them. We don't need a five minute explaination of the Monsters Ball or a throw away four corners tag match. Show us the match, have a good match and warm up the crowd for the reason we paid for the show.
If you're main event is going to be a typical Jeff Jarret vs Sting match in 2006 then don't load your card with spot fests and gimmicks. Everything has been done before the main event so the crowd will be silent in a high-spot free match.
I'm not even going to review every match on the card because in all honestly the THREE hardcore matches wore the crap out of me. I wanted to see men exchanging arm drags not high-spots. The battle royale was fun but shouldn't have been first on the card and no angle was played out after Austin Starr's victory. Monsters Ball was a throw away as was the four-way tag match in which AMW didn't care about. Eric Young vs Larry was what you'd expect but took away from the main event stipulation and Eric Young couldn't beat a man three times his age clean.
Christian vs Rhyno was a street fight which started in the back and ended up an in ring spot fest. Not good. The X-Title match was easily the best match on the card and is an example of what the undercard should be doing in TNA right now. The tag team cage match was very good but isn't a cage match no rules? So why was it a traditonal tag match where foreign objects weren't allowed? The main event sucked up until the last thirty seconds which was awesome. Jarrett clocked Sting with the guitar, the crowd thought they were getting the usual bullshit but Sting roared, the crowd went mad and the deathlock was applied and Sting was the new champion.
Of course the focus was on the fact that Jarrett lost the belt not that Sting had won it. Overall it was disapointing PPV with only two decent macthes all in all. The future looks good (at least next month) with Joe and Angle and Sting and Christian. We'll see if TNA fuck this one up like they did with this PPV.
Verdict: Could have been more.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
TNA Pay-Per-View Tonight
TNA's PPV from outside of the Impact Zone comes tonight and there isn't much of a buzz for the show. I'm predicting the same buyrate as usual. Mainly because of the horrible push to the main event, and the general everybody on TV Impact shows.
Angle debuted on Thursday in the zone and squared off with Joe and bearing in mind Joe is in a completley different match than Angle so this generated no buys. He's a special guest enforcer tonight so I can see Joe making his presence felt in the match, setting up a program with Sting (Sting's winning the belt), winning the belt and setting up the match with Angle.
The story of this whole PPV is not pushing the main event but pushing every single match so nobody cares about any match and therefore the pay-per-view. The Angle situation is somewhat intruiging but not enough to sell the PPV to people outside of the TNA fans. Two hot wrestlers in a match that seems important will sell PPVs (see UFC) not the chance that Kurt Angle might do something.
Angle debuted on Thursday in the zone and squared off with Joe and bearing in mind Joe is in a completley different match than Angle so this generated no buys. He's a special guest enforcer tonight so I can see Joe making his presence felt in the match, setting up a program with Sting (Sting's winning the belt), winning the belt and setting up the match with Angle.
The story of this whole PPV is not pushing the main event but pushing every single match so nobody cares about any match and therefore the pay-per-view. The Angle situation is somewhat intruiging but not enough to sell the PPV to people outside of the TNA fans. Two hot wrestlers in a match that seems important will sell PPVs (see UFC) not the chance that Kurt Angle might do something.
Smackdown Thoughts
This weeks Smackdown seemed to be a huge show on paper but after I'd finished watching it felt somewhat empty. The main event was built as something huge but it was another swerve that takes away from the title match. When Big Dave finally gets his belt back it isn't going to mean as much if we're getting the match virtually every week. I didn't predict a finish with Cena and Big Show at ringside but I didn't think they'd make such a hige deal out of the match only to go the shitty finish. Big Dave looked terrible.
Rey/Chavo was a great match and for a purley selfish reason I was disapointed with Rey loosing as it means he won't be coming to Manchester in a couple of weeks. He does need knee surgery and hasn't had a break for the four years he's been with the company so he deserves it. I'm thinking they might go with Benoit/Chavo for the next month or so or Chavo's victory isn't going to mean anything if they don't do anything with him.
Where was Benoit? Where was Lashley?
I love William Regal. I like Taylor . These two in a tag team will be great. It seems they're sending them the way of Paul London and Spanky which I have no problem with at all.
Kane vs MVP could be the worst feud of the year. That is discounting Kennedy/Undertaker. Taker kills everybody, doesn't give anybody a chance to get over (ask Helms) and ultimatley this isn't doing anything for young Ken Kennedy.
I have no interest in Terkay and the dress wearing freak (he's just a guy who wears a dress - that's it).
Rey/Chavo was a great match and for a purley selfish reason I was disapointed with Rey loosing as it means he won't be coming to Manchester in a couple of weeks. He does need knee surgery and hasn't had a break for the four years he's been with the company so he deserves it. I'm thinking they might go with Benoit/Chavo for the next month or so or Chavo's victory isn't going to mean anything if they don't do anything with him.
Where was Benoit? Where was Lashley?
I love William Regal. I like Taylor . These two in a tag team will be great. It seems they're sending them the way of Paul London and Spanky which I have no problem with at all.
Kane vs MVP could be the worst feud of the year. That is discounting Kennedy/Undertaker. Taker kills everybody, doesn't give anybody a chance to get over (ask Helms) and ultimatley this isn't doing anything for young Ken Kennedy.
I have no interest in Terkay and the dress wearing freak (he's just a guy who wears a dress - that's it).
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Vince's Reaction To Ken vs Tito
OK so Ken/Tito does a fucking ridiculously great rating. Bigger than any Raw main event ever. Bigger than anything on Spike ever. Vince's reaction was hilarious, he asked for his team to come up with ideas for when he signed Shamrock. Fortunatley Paul Heyman was on hand to explain that the rating was so huge because it was a feud that had been built and built, promoted and promoted and people wanted to see them... FIGHT!
Judging by this reaction I thought he might take note but then I saw Raw on Monday and I realised he's Vince McMahon.
Judging by this reaction I thought he might take note but then I saw Raw on Monday and I realised he's Vince McMahon.
Raw Is Random
What a random episode of Raw aired this week. K-Fed, DX, Jackass - bizzare.
The opening segment was great for the time that Orton and Edge were on their own. As soon as Hunter came out and treated us to nob gags and some new gay jokes it went downhill. UFC is doing huge buyrates for all its pay-per-views and how many feuds are based on the fact that one man is saying the other is gay?
The huge announcement for the champions of champions match is that we get to the vote for the winner. Well they're not going to do a title change are they? They need the winner of the voting to be Show or Cena because Booker has no chance going over if the booking is left to the Vince. I think Big Show has started bowling Monday nights since he went to ECW; that shirt was not a shirt worn by a world champion.
Cryme Tyme debuted and beat the competition. It finally looks like the Spirit Squad are breaking up resulting in three of them being released in the next six months and Johnny and Kenny probably heading to Smackdown. Cryme Tyme will be over for a couple of weeks, they'll win the belts and nobody will give a shit afterwards. Their segment with Booker was great although it was mainly Booker.
Why did Jeff have to defend his title in a four way? Isn't that seen as really bad when the champ has to? Masters got pinned. Again.
Carlito was on this show for the sake of being on the show.
K-Fed was damn good. He didn't try and get himself over but got Nitro and Cena over. A good celebrity appearance as opposed to the Jackass boys who wouldn't sell for Umaga. Umaga is going to be so dead if they continue to have him hanging around the lower mid-card. If they're going to push him as an undefeated monster then the main event is the logical place for him. They won't put him in that position though so someday he's going to disappear and never be seen again.
WWE shit all over TNA by getting the Jackass guys. The X-division goofs have been doing the gimmick for months and WWE gets the appearance of the actual goofs.
The women's title tournament continues. YAY!
The main event was a decent for a Raw main event. Orton got injured which is why the match was somewhat short. The problem lies in the fact that Hunter won even after Orton cheated so now we're supposed to pay to see Hunter win again.
Overall a random show that did little to build anything for the future or get you excited about Cyber Sunday but was entertaining overall.
The opening segment was great for the time that Orton and Edge were on their own. As soon as Hunter came out and treated us to nob gags and some new gay jokes it went downhill. UFC is doing huge buyrates for all its pay-per-views and how many feuds are based on the fact that one man is saying the other is gay?
The huge announcement for the champions of champions match is that we get to the vote for the winner. Well they're not going to do a title change are they? They need the winner of the voting to be Show or Cena because Booker has no chance going over if the booking is left to the Vince. I think Big Show has started bowling Monday nights since he went to ECW; that shirt was not a shirt worn by a world champion.
Cryme Tyme debuted and beat the competition. It finally looks like the Spirit Squad are breaking up resulting in three of them being released in the next six months and Johnny and Kenny probably heading to Smackdown. Cryme Tyme will be over for a couple of weeks, they'll win the belts and nobody will give a shit afterwards. Their segment with Booker was great although it was mainly Booker.
Why did Jeff have to defend his title in a four way? Isn't that seen as really bad when the champ has to? Masters got pinned. Again.
Carlito was on this show for the sake of being on the show.
K-Fed was damn good. He didn't try and get himself over but got Nitro and Cena over. A good celebrity appearance as opposed to the Jackass boys who wouldn't sell for Umaga. Umaga is going to be so dead if they continue to have him hanging around the lower mid-card. If they're going to push him as an undefeated monster then the main event is the logical place for him. They won't put him in that position though so someday he's going to disappear and never be seen again.
WWE shit all over TNA by getting the Jackass guys. The X-division goofs have been doing the gimmick for months and WWE gets the appearance of the actual goofs.
The women's title tournament continues. YAY!
The main event was a decent for a Raw main event. Orton got injured which is why the match was somewhat short. The problem lies in the fact that Hunter won even after Orton cheated so now we're supposed to pay to see Hunter win again.
Overall a random show that did little to build anything for the future or get you excited about Cyber Sunday but was entertaining overall.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Jericho to TNA
Well his band Fozzy anyhow. Not live though. A music video. On pay-per-view. This is a huge announcement and huge news for TNA (apparently). Add this to the annoucement that Bobby Roode is announcing his manager on said show I can't wait for the show! What's it called again?
If anybody out there thinks that Jericho is going to TNA then they're kidding themselves. Jericho is a smart guy and knows money lies with WWE. Signing with TNA cuts ties with Vince and for a guy like Jericho that could be carrer suicide. Jericho to TNA? Nuh uh. His music video is the closest TNA are getting to Y2J.
If anybody out there thinks that Jericho is going to TNA then they're kidding themselves. Jericho is a smart guy and knows money lies with WWE. Signing with TNA cuts ties with Vince and for a guy like Jericho that could be carrer suicide. Jericho to TNA? Nuh uh. His music video is the closest TNA are getting to Y2J.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Smackdown Continues a Role of Good Shows
I was actaully interested in watching Smackdown this week and it delivered. Smackdown has (nearly) always been the better show in terms of wrestling with Eddie, Benoit, Rey and Angle all been staples of the show and now with Finaly and Regal in the mix the wrestling can not be faulted.
Watching Chris Benoit pummel the shit out of Mr Kennedy was great.The finish wasn't too bad, Benoit couldn't beat Kennedy clean so this was the next big thing. The difference between Kennedy and Benoit on offence is world apart. One's awesome the other is pretty boring. I don't need to tell who you. Benoit winning the US title is only a good thing, the belt is wasted in the Taker feud so it makes sense to put it on Benoit who always makes it feel like a damn important belt.
Regal vs Vito was a decent match, mainly because William Regal is great. I don't think Regal ever wins but as long as he is on my TV every week I have no problem with this whatsoever and it doesn't take away from his credibility because he is that damn good.
MVP still sucks and putting him with Kane is hardly going to light the world on fire (pardon the pun) but they need something for both guys to do so they've stuck them together. I thought Kane was taking time off but obviously not.
Jamie Noble on TV in singles action is another great novelty. His match with Rey was a good little TV match, these guys can have awesome matches but the point was to put Rey over and they did that here. I thought the idea was for Rey to go off and have his surgery after No Mercy, they could be doing that angle next week with the 'I Quit' match. Rey is advertised for Survivor Series though so you never know.
Jimmy Wang Yang is the man. A decent little six-man here.
The main event was another good TV match. Booker T on commentary still rules. For a TV triple threat there wasn't anyhting else they could have done better or worse so this was a good little match. Batista going over makes sense as Finlay is a heel and Lashley isn't the number one guy at the moment (despite being better than Big Dave who looked a little rough tonight). Cena and Big Show are at Smackdown next week so I predict a no contest in the main event setting up the Cyber Sunday main event. Add the Rey/Chavo match to that and next week should be entertaining.
Watching Chris Benoit pummel the shit out of Mr Kennedy was great.The finish wasn't too bad, Benoit couldn't beat Kennedy clean so this was the next big thing. The difference between Kennedy and Benoit on offence is world apart. One's awesome the other is pretty boring. I don't need to tell who you. Benoit winning the US title is only a good thing, the belt is wasted in the Taker feud so it makes sense to put it on Benoit who always makes it feel like a damn important belt.
Regal vs Vito was a decent match, mainly because William Regal is great. I don't think Regal ever wins but as long as he is on my TV every week I have no problem with this whatsoever and it doesn't take away from his credibility because he is that damn good.
MVP still sucks and putting him with Kane is hardly going to light the world on fire (pardon the pun) but they need something for both guys to do so they've stuck them together. I thought Kane was taking time off but obviously not.
Jamie Noble on TV in singles action is another great novelty. His match with Rey was a good little TV match, these guys can have awesome matches but the point was to put Rey over and they did that here. I thought the idea was for Rey to go off and have his surgery after No Mercy, they could be doing that angle next week with the 'I Quit' match. Rey is advertised for Survivor Series though so you never know.
Jimmy Wang Yang is the man. A decent little six-man here.
The main event was another good TV match. Booker T on commentary still rules. For a TV triple threat there wasn't anyhting else they could have done better or worse so this was a good little match. Batista going over makes sense as Finlay is a heel and Lashley isn't the number one guy at the moment (despite being better than Big Dave who looked a little rough tonight). Cena and Big Show are at Smackdown next week so I predict a no contest in the main event setting up the Cyber Sunday main event. Add the Rey/Chavo match to that and next week should be entertaining.
The Benoit Suprise
All over the world of the wondeful Internet message boards I've been readin how the return of Chris Benoit should have been more hyped. Yes it might have sold some pay-per-views and Benoit could have been out over in such a way that he is next contender to the world title but, isn't it nice to be surprised by something?
As 'inside' fans we know everything that's going on and the majority of the time we find it hard to actually be pleasantly surprised with what goes on in this business. The return of my favourite wrestler Chris Benoit made me happy. It was a nice surprise for those who bought a pay-per-view where the bright spots were few and far between. His return didn't sell any pay-per-views but can't we just be happy for once?
As 'inside' fans we know everything that's going on and the majority of the time we find it hard to actually be pleasantly surprised with what goes on in this business. The return of my favourite wrestler Chris Benoit made me happy. It was a nice surprise for those who bought a pay-per-view where the bright spots were few and far between. His return didn't sell any pay-per-views but can't we just be happy for once?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Biggest Raw Ever
Not quite.
It was a good show with the interpromotional rivalries etc. but it's the story of WWE no building towards anything that highlights the flaws in this show. Just like the WWE vs ECW special a couple of months ago (remember that?) this showhad little promotion. People knew it was on but didn't have much of a reason to watch it outside of the advertised Kane/Umaga match.
The opening segment was good seeing all three champions in the ring but went off on a bit of a tangent talking about the films. Booker T's reference to Ready to Rumble made me smile though. Cena's English accent ruled. These three are going at it in a triple threat at Cyber Sunday. They're desperate to prove that PPV is a hit. They were always told that a Tuesday PPV wouldn't work so last year they stacked the card with the return of Austin and Foley. This year they've moved it and are putting a pretty big match on top.
Kane got beat so is loosing Raw. He was backstage at the Smackdown tapings so work it out.
The backstage interactions between the three GMs was brilliant. Even the Super Crazy segment.
The women's match sucked. This title is doomed. They might as well have a fans vote at the PPV to decide the champion, it would mean more.
DX vs Cade & Murdoch was typical of the whole of DX's run - burying the competition. It looks like they're getting a real feud in Edge & Orton. I predict a tag match followed by two singles matches which I have no problem with at all as Edge and Michaels work very well together. Hunter and Orton have yet to prove themselves but a good angle could change this.
Big Show beat Jeff Hardy. Where was Matt to make the save?
Didn't we see Booker vs RVD like last week? At least the King won.
Chris Benoit is fucking amazing. Poor Shelton.
Bickering between commentary teams can get annoying but when JBL is involved I have no problem with it at all.
The Smackdown six-man made me laugh my head off. Firstly Rey got caught in the apron by Finlay and disappeared and the heels beat him whilst in the apron. That made me laugh for some reason. Secondly Rey got fully dragged under the ring by the midget. Thirdly Cole called the midget the little bastard and JBL commented he may have parents so call him a troll. Classic. The match was good as well. Look like Rey is sticking around until Survivor Series.
Mitch vs Flair was one hell of an awesome segment. I'll always mark for Dibase. When joined by IRS I mark even more.
The main event was actually pretty fun. I don't think anybody expected a clean finish but for what it was it was good.
Overall a thumbs up show. Plenty of build to Cyber Sunday, good backstage segments and good wrestling for TV.
It was a good show with the interpromotional rivalries etc. but it's the story of WWE no building towards anything that highlights the flaws in this show. Just like the WWE vs ECW special a couple of months ago (remember that?) this showhad little promotion. People knew it was on but didn't have much of a reason to watch it outside of the advertised Kane/Umaga match.
The opening segment was good seeing all three champions in the ring but went off on a bit of a tangent talking about the films. Booker T's reference to Ready to Rumble made me smile though. Cena's English accent ruled. These three are going at it in a triple threat at Cyber Sunday. They're desperate to prove that PPV is a hit. They were always told that a Tuesday PPV wouldn't work so last year they stacked the card with the return of Austin and Foley. This year they've moved it and are putting a pretty big match on top.
Kane got beat so is loosing Raw. He was backstage at the Smackdown tapings so work it out.
The backstage interactions between the three GMs was brilliant. Even the Super Crazy segment.
The women's match sucked. This title is doomed. They might as well have a fans vote at the PPV to decide the champion, it would mean more.
DX vs Cade & Murdoch was typical of the whole of DX's run - burying the competition. It looks like they're getting a real feud in Edge & Orton. I predict a tag match followed by two singles matches which I have no problem with at all as Edge and Michaels work very well together. Hunter and Orton have yet to prove themselves but a good angle could change this.
Big Show beat Jeff Hardy. Where was Matt to make the save?
Didn't we see Booker vs RVD like last week? At least the King won.
Chris Benoit is fucking amazing. Poor Shelton.
Bickering between commentary teams can get annoying but when JBL is involved I have no problem with it at all.
The Smackdown six-man made me laugh my head off. Firstly Rey got caught in the apron by Finlay and disappeared and the heels beat him whilst in the apron. That made me laugh for some reason. Secondly Rey got fully dragged under the ring by the midget. Thirdly Cole called the midget the little bastard and JBL commented he may have parents so call him a troll. Classic. The match was good as well. Look like Rey is sticking around until Survivor Series.
Mitch vs Flair was one hell of an awesome segment. I'll always mark for Dibase. When joined by IRS I mark even more.
The main event was actually pretty fun. I don't think anybody expected a clean finish but for what it was it was good.
Overall a thumbs up show. Plenty of build to Cyber Sunday, good backstage segments and good wrestling for TV.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Johnny Ace fires the wrong guy
If John Lauranitis' inadequecy in the role of head of talent relations isn't in question then it is now. Remeber when MARTY Jannety got resigned (again) last month? And the Boogeyman (MARTY Wright) got fired? Well it seems that Jannety went AWOL (a la Justin Credible) and was supposed to get fired. Lauranitis fired him, or so he thought. Lauranitas fired Marty Wright not Marty Jannety!
Don't worry all has been resolved. The Boogeyman has been resigned and Marty Jannety is out the door again for the 433rd time in his career.
Check back around next year's Wrestlemania for Marty's next apperance and subsequent rehiring.
Don't worry all has been resolved. The Boogeyman has been resigned and Marty Jannety is out the door again for the 433rd time in his career.
Check back around next year's Wrestlemania for Marty's next apperance and subsequent rehiring.
No Mercy Preview
World Heavyweight Championship
King Booker (c) vs Finlay vs Bobby Lashley vs Big Dave Batista
The original plan was supposed to be Big Dave vs Booker for the title but given that Big Dave has been terrible since his return it was switched to Lashely/Booker and Batista was thrown with Finlay to help him regain his step. Now it has been decided Lashley isn't a draw so the two matches have been added together.
King Booker's reign on Smackdown has been the best thing going in recent weeks so I hope it doesn't come to an end. Changing the title in a fatal four way is ridiculous in my opinion. You make money by building big feuds not throwing four guys in a ring. The match could be pretty decent as Finlay and Booker are both great, Lashley is looking better month on month and although Big Dave looks horrible he may have to step us his game. I'm expecting a King Booker victory.
Ken Kennedy vs The Undertaker
A terrible fued that makes no sense whatsoever. Taker wins.
Note: At this point I'm having to look at wwe.com to find out the rest of the card.
Who Loves Eddie More - Falls Count Anywhere
Chavo Geurrero vs Rey Mysterio
Another bad feud although as always the match will be decent. This is Rey's last match for a while as he heads off for knee surgery so I'm picking Chavo by default.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs KC James & Idol Stevens
Another one of those nobody really cares about this match but should be OK given London and Kendrick are involved. If the geeks in masks don't win the tag titles are dead.
MVP vs ????
MVP debuts in the ring. I'll give WWE their due here, they've built up a special attraction in this guy. There's no news as of yet about his opponent but I'd expect Sylvan or Tatanka to be top of the list.
Matt Hardy vs Gregory Helms
I've liked what they've done with these two, the only problem is nobody cares. It makes sense for the babyface to go over but as the babyface is Matt Hardy and Matt Hardy will not die putting over Helms is the better option.
On paper this looks like a shitty PPV but I'm sure as with all Smackdown PPVs it will be pretty good.
King Booker (c) vs Finlay vs Bobby Lashley vs Big Dave Batista
The original plan was supposed to be Big Dave vs Booker for the title but given that Big Dave has been terrible since his return it was switched to Lashely/Booker and Batista was thrown with Finlay to help him regain his step. Now it has been decided Lashley isn't a draw so the two matches have been added together.
King Booker's reign on Smackdown has been the best thing going in recent weeks so I hope it doesn't come to an end. Changing the title in a fatal four way is ridiculous in my opinion. You make money by building big feuds not throwing four guys in a ring. The match could be pretty decent as Finlay and Booker are both great, Lashley is looking better month on month and although Big Dave looks horrible he may have to step us his game. I'm expecting a King Booker victory.
Ken Kennedy vs The Undertaker
A terrible fued that makes no sense whatsoever. Taker wins.
Note: At this point I'm having to look at wwe.com to find out the rest of the card.
Who Loves Eddie More - Falls Count Anywhere
Chavo Geurrero vs Rey Mysterio
Another bad feud although as always the match will be decent. This is Rey's last match for a while as he heads off for knee surgery so I'm picking Chavo by default.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs KC James & Idol Stevens
Another one of those nobody really cares about this match but should be OK given London and Kendrick are involved. If the geeks in masks don't win the tag titles are dead.
MVP vs ????
MVP debuts in the ring. I'll give WWE their due here, they've built up a special attraction in this guy. There's no news as of yet about his opponent but I'd expect Sylvan or Tatanka to be top of the list.
Matt Hardy vs Gregory Helms
I've liked what they've done with these two, the only problem is nobody cares. It makes sense for the babyface to go over but as the babyface is Matt Hardy and Matt Hardy will not die putting over Helms is the better option.
On paper this looks like a shitty PPV but I'm sure as with all Smackdown PPVs it will be pretty good.
Raw thought it was in a war
Well I've got roundto watching Raw and it was a pretty good episode. Granted without the sweet main event it would have blown big time but considering the main should be the best thing on the show it was no problem at all. The show was given the big time feel because of UFC on the other channel. Apparently UFC sucked so efforts were wasted but I'm not complaining.
John Cena and Edge work really well together. I wasn't a big fan of their matches at the start of the year but since they've been feuding this time around they've been great together. The interferance had to happen with it being on free TV and I've got no problem with it at all because it's promoting feuds for the next Raw PPV.
Carlito and Orton has to continue. Their matches are OK but it's not like I'm thinking I can't wait for Carlito to finally beat Orton. I'm waiting for the fued to end.
What about the angle for Kane and Umaga? I missed it to. Next week's show has Kane vs Umaga in a Kane leaves Raw for a brief while match. If you didn't know he's taking a break from the business.
Snitsky still has a job.
The DX malarcy with Coach backstage was too hockey for my liking. It went on too long and was trying to be too serious so as a wacky skit it failed. Although the Chris Masters 'how to loose fifty pounds in four weeks' deal was great. He's fired.
Does Bischoff just hang around at Raw tapings? I thought he got fired.
Men in cheerleader outfits is not funny and is so 1997. That's why this was put in there. DX aren't cool anymore they're just goofs.
We have a new IC champion in Jeff Hardy. I have no problem with this whatsoever because somehow Hardy and Nitro have been having some great matches and by the looks of things this feud is continuing.
Overall this was a good episode of Raw that built to a great main event and I always enjoy a Raw that follows that formula.
John Cena and Edge work really well together. I wasn't a big fan of their matches at the start of the year but since they've been feuding this time around they've been great together. The interferance had to happen with it being on free TV and I've got no problem with it at all because it's promoting feuds for the next Raw PPV.
Carlito and Orton has to continue. Their matches are OK but it's not like I'm thinking I can't wait for Carlito to finally beat Orton. I'm waiting for the fued to end.
What about the angle for Kane and Umaga? I missed it to. Next week's show has Kane vs Umaga in a Kane leaves Raw for a brief while match. If you didn't know he's taking a break from the business.
Snitsky still has a job.
The DX malarcy with Coach backstage was too hockey for my liking. It went on too long and was trying to be too serious so as a wacky skit it failed. Although the Chris Masters 'how to loose fifty pounds in four weeks' deal was great. He's fired.
Does Bischoff just hang around at Raw tapings? I thought he got fired.
Men in cheerleader outfits is not funny and is so 1997. That's why this was put in there. DX aren't cool anymore they're just goofs.
We have a new IC champion in Jeff Hardy. I have no problem with this whatsoever because somehow Hardy and Nitro have been having some great matches and by the looks of things this feud is continuing.
Overall this was a good episode of Raw that built to a great main event and I always enjoy a Raw that follows that formula.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Smackdown Gets Hayes
Michael PS Hayes has been announced as the new head writer of Smackdown. This could potentially be really good news as firstly Smackdown has sucked lately so anybody new booking is at least going to give it a different direction. Secondly Hayes is old school. He's a guy from World Class who made feuds last months on end drawing thousands of fans every week. In the world of sports entertainment it is unusual to see somebody in the business be head writer as the tendancy is for hollywood writers to get the jobs. Seeing an old school guy with the book could be a turn in the right direction for the b show.
Of course if he does well he's going to Raw.
Of course if he does well he's going to Raw.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Well ECW Sucked
I finally got around to watching last weeks ECW and my god did it blow. RVD and Bob Holly wrestled a boring hardcore match. RVD is really off these days and Bob Holly has never ever been over and nobody has ever cared about him and they're not going to do now.
The main event was terrible. Big Show can be carried to decent matches. Sandman cannot carry people to decent matches. Putting these two in the ring was asking for trouble and exposed both of their key weaknesses.
Next week I'm reading the report and seeing if the show's any good before I bother taping it. I never do that so doing so is really showing something about the product.
Just Smackdown go now, although I doubt that can be as bad.
The main event was terrible. Big Show can be carried to decent matches. Sandman cannot carry people to decent matches. Putting these two in the ring was asking for trouble and exposed both of their key weaknesses.
Next week I'm reading the report and seeing if the show's any good before I bother taping it. I never do that so doing so is really showing something about the product.
Just Smackdown go now, although I doubt that can be as bad.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
To Watch or Not To Watch?
That is the question.
Do I bother with this week's Smackdown or not? I know the main is the six-man and I'm a big fan of six-mans but they'll be more Vito, Sylvan, Tatanka, MVP, Burke rubbish that anooys me so much.
I'll fast forward through it I think. Mind I haven't even watched ECW yet.
Do I bother with this week's Smackdown or not? I know the main is the six-man and I'm a big fan of six-mans but they'll be more Vito, Sylvan, Tatanka, MVP, Burke rubbish that anooys me so much.
I'll fast forward through it I think. Mind I haven't even watched ECW yet.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Kashing Out
WWE released Kid Kash today. No word yet as to why but he was one of the guys who caused problems back in July at the now infamous Great American Bash pay-per-view. It's a shame because at least he was getting TV time as part of the Pitbulls with Jamie Noble and the tag divison seemed to be having something done with it. I'm sure there will be more to come.
BTA Exclusive: How to get to the 'A' Show
Randy Orton, Super Crazy and Johnny Nitro have all managed to jump to Raw over the past three months and the transistion has been great for all three guys. Recently Smackdown superstar Mr Kennedy has asked his general manager for a transfer to Raw. However his move was turned down. So, we at the Behind The Angle have caught up with the three men who have managed the jump to get advice on how to make it to the 'A' show.
"I was a dick. I got too big for my boots and thought I was a star. I pissed everybody off in the lockeroom and then started on the dope," Orton said, "pretty soon after I was suspended. The first guy you know? The first guy to be suspended under the wellness policy" he says with a smile. "I thought I'd have to return to the dreaded Smackdown but with Kurt in ECW there was nobody with me to work with. Hogan was looking to work with me but didn't want to go on Smackdown so I was shipped to Raw and I'm still there!" It seems Orton being a tosser and defying a policy intended to get the business clean earned Randy his promotion.
Current Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro's story follows a similar line; "Me and Melina sort of got it on. All the guys were jeaulous of me for banging the hottest chick on the show so they hated me and they hated Melina." It was at Judgment Day that Nitro's worries came to ahead; "I was teaming with Joey and we'd been tag champs for months but at Judgment Day these little geeks in masks beat us for the titles. Well, I say beat us, they beat Joey." Soon after Nitro and his sidekick Melina was kicked off Smackdown. "The next week I was on Raw! I couldn't believe my luck. Everybody hated me on Smackdown so I moved to Raw and got a bug singles push!"
Super Crazy's story is rather different. He was involved in the scandalous Great American Bash fiasco in which a number of Smackdown stars were suspended after the results of the lastest round of drug testing came through. Unfortunatly Crazy was unable to comment as his English is non-existent (according to commentator John Bradshaw Layfield). The broken English we could understand seemed to say that he was rewarded for trying to get bigger and not be a crusierweight any longer. One source inside WWE made the comment that when Crazy showed he could be more than a small guy he was instantly moved to Raw.
Three success stories in this business and fellow Smackdown stars can do the same by getting heat or taking 'supplements'. BTA hopes that in the future more stars find their way to the number one show in sports entertainment just like these three guys.
"I was a dick. I got too big for my boots and thought I was a star. I pissed everybody off in the lockeroom and then started on the dope," Orton said, "pretty soon after I was suspended. The first guy you know? The first guy to be suspended under the wellness policy" he says with a smile. "I thought I'd have to return to the dreaded Smackdown but with Kurt in ECW there was nobody with me to work with. Hogan was looking to work with me but didn't want to go on Smackdown so I was shipped to Raw and I'm still there!" It seems Orton being a tosser and defying a policy intended to get the business clean earned Randy his promotion.
Current Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro's story follows a similar line; "Me and Melina sort of got it on. All the guys were jeaulous of me for banging the hottest chick on the show so they hated me and they hated Melina." It was at Judgment Day that Nitro's worries came to ahead; "I was teaming with Joey and we'd been tag champs for months but at Judgment Day these little geeks in masks beat us for the titles. Well, I say beat us, they beat Joey." Soon after Nitro and his sidekick Melina was kicked off Smackdown. "The next week I was on Raw! I couldn't believe my luck. Everybody hated me on Smackdown so I moved to Raw and got a bug singles push!"
Super Crazy's story is rather different. He was involved in the scandalous Great American Bash fiasco in which a number of Smackdown stars were suspended after the results of the lastest round of drug testing came through. Unfortunatly Crazy was unable to comment as his English is non-existent (according to commentator John Bradshaw Layfield). The broken English we could understand seemed to say that he was rewarded for trying to get bigger and not be a crusierweight any longer. One source inside WWE made the comment that when Crazy showed he could be more than a small guy he was instantly moved to Raw.
Three success stories in this business and fellow Smackdown stars can do the same by getting heat or taking 'supplements'. BTA hopes that in the future more stars find their way to the number one show in sports entertainment just like these three guys.
Raw Thoughts
This was a boring episode of Raw this week. Again nothing happened it was just match after match for no point at all.
The opening segment bored the hell out of me to the point where I actually started doing my washing whilst it was on. We get Cena's funny but does he have to do the ridiculous Lita jokes every single week. They do nothing to get you interested in Cena, Edge or Lita and consequently do nothing for pay-per-view buyrates.
Oh yeah there's a tournament for the women's title. I didn't know anything about it and it's already being portrayed as a joke so there you go.
The main event was no holds barred but Edge is barred from interfering so effectivley a hold is barred. There was some promotion for Smackdown! Oh my god! "You rap scallion." Great.
Kane vs Nitro was perfectly fine for what it was meant to be and in Kane/Umaga they're building a feud! That's right there's a reason to the matches.
How loud was Carlito's pop? Far louder than he ever deserves. Masters got jobbed out again. Orton/Carlito continues on.
For the second week in a row, Flair on TV is always good and Flair winning on TV is even better. I have know clue where this is going unless Flair beats every member of the squad over the next three weeks.
The DX gauntlet was OK. The problem with this is that no teams are over. When they used to do these type of things with the Hardys, Dudleys, Edge and Christian, the Outlaws etc. it used to work because the teams were over. These days nobody cares because they're beating nobodys. All I can gather is that DX are now feuding with Cade and Murdoch. Again I would have no problem with this if Cade and Murdoch had done anyhting for the past ten months.
Bishoff's apperance is a one time deal to promote his book. At the moment there are no plans to bring him back but then again plans change all the time. What he said was pretty much true though if you think about it.
The Raw reunion show should be good and is a setup for the Survivor Series PPV where it has been announced it will be Raw vs Smackdown vs ECW. I'll talk more about that later.
Overall: A boring show that really did nothing for me and didn't get me excited in anything they're doing at the moment.
The opening segment bored the hell out of me to the point where I actually started doing my washing whilst it was on. We get Cena's funny but does he have to do the ridiculous Lita jokes every single week. They do nothing to get you interested in Cena, Edge or Lita and consequently do nothing for pay-per-view buyrates.
Oh yeah there's a tournament for the women's title. I didn't know anything about it and it's already being portrayed as a joke so there you go.
The main event was no holds barred but Edge is barred from interfering so effectivley a hold is barred. There was some promotion for Smackdown! Oh my god! "You rap scallion." Great.
Kane vs Nitro was perfectly fine for what it was meant to be and in Kane/Umaga they're building a feud! That's right there's a reason to the matches.
How loud was Carlito's pop? Far louder than he ever deserves. Masters got jobbed out again. Orton/Carlito continues on.
For the second week in a row, Flair on TV is always good and Flair winning on TV is even better. I have know clue where this is going unless Flair beats every member of the squad over the next three weeks.
The DX gauntlet was OK. The problem with this is that no teams are over. When they used to do these type of things with the Hardys, Dudleys, Edge and Christian, the Outlaws etc. it used to work because the teams were over. These days nobody cares because they're beating nobodys. All I can gather is that DX are now feuding with Cade and Murdoch. Again I would have no problem with this if Cade and Murdoch had done anyhting for the past ten months.
Bishoff's apperance is a one time deal to promote his book. At the moment there are no plans to bring him back but then again plans change all the time. What he said was pretty much true though if you think about it.
The Raw reunion show should be good and is a setup for the Survivor Series PPV where it has been announced it will be Raw vs Smackdown vs ECW. I'll talk more about that later.
Overall: A boring show that really did nothing for me and didn't get me excited in anything they're doing at the moment.
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Big Announcement - Angle To TNA
Well it has happened. Some said it was inevitable and some said it would never happen but Kurt Angle has signed for TNA. This was the last night's big announcement at the PPV last night (I'll post my thoughts on the show later).
Many thought (and Kurt hinted) he'd be doing some MMA (this is still possible as his TNA contract in non-exclusive) but he's sticking to what he knows at least at the moment. This could be the first sign of the end or at least the revision of WWE's drug testing policy. They had a policy back in the nineties but guys like Scott Hall failed on numerous occasions and eventually found themselves employment in WCW. The same situation could develop here with a number of undercard guys getting caught but getting a job with TNA where drug testing doesn't exist.
The ethical implications of TNA show this buisness for what it really is. TNA have gone out and hired a man whose drug problems have been documented and known by everybody out there. Angle refused to go into rehab and got fired. Without rehab the likelihood is he is still a heavy user of pain medication. TNA know this and have willingly employed the former WWE Champion.
On the flip side TNA could well be the best move for Kurt Angle. With the tapings currently as they are Angle could well work only 3 shows per month (two tapings where he'd probably only wrestle once and a PPV match) and still make a decent amount of money. It will be nowhere near the amount in WWE ($1m guaranteed) but when travel expenses, car rental and hotel costs are taken into account along with his health, as long as Angle wants to wrestle, TNA could be his best option.
Angle's impact could be negligable for TNA. Ever since debuting on Spike they've kept the same audience encouraging nobody new to watch the show. Angle, despite being awesome, is not a mainstream star and may not be a guy who is going to increase the viewership of Impact. The one thing this deal has done is put Kurt Angle and TNA as a major focal point in the wrestling business; something TNA has failed to do thus far. What it will do for the all important PPV buy is a different story.
Where Angle fits on the roster is another question. TNA's habit of having a huge main event scene, a huge mid-card and a huge undercard means that Kurt Angle could be another face in a crowd of people they're trying to get over this nobody gets over. Hopefully not. Hopefully Angle will make them realise that they need stars and not everybody can be a star. I will certainly be watching Angle in TNA but Jarrett and his chums could easily drop the ball with their biggest aquistion to date.
Many thought (and Kurt hinted) he'd be doing some MMA (this is still possible as his TNA contract in non-exclusive) but he's sticking to what he knows at least at the moment. This could be the first sign of the end or at least the revision of WWE's drug testing policy. They had a policy back in the nineties but guys like Scott Hall failed on numerous occasions and eventually found themselves employment in WCW. The same situation could develop here with a number of undercard guys getting caught but getting a job with TNA where drug testing doesn't exist.
The ethical implications of TNA show this buisness for what it really is. TNA have gone out and hired a man whose drug problems have been documented and known by everybody out there. Angle refused to go into rehab and got fired. Without rehab the likelihood is he is still a heavy user of pain medication. TNA know this and have willingly employed the former WWE Champion.
On the flip side TNA could well be the best move for Kurt Angle. With the tapings currently as they are Angle could well work only 3 shows per month (two tapings where he'd probably only wrestle once and a PPV match) and still make a decent amount of money. It will be nowhere near the amount in WWE ($1m guaranteed) but when travel expenses, car rental and hotel costs are taken into account along with his health, as long as Angle wants to wrestle, TNA could be his best option.
Angle's impact could be negligable for TNA. Ever since debuting on Spike they've kept the same audience encouraging nobody new to watch the show. Angle, despite being awesome, is not a mainstream star and may not be a guy who is going to increase the viewership of Impact. The one thing this deal has done is put Kurt Angle and TNA as a major focal point in the wrestling business; something TNA has failed to do thus far. What it will do for the all important PPV buy is a different story.
Where Angle fits on the roster is another question. TNA's habit of having a huge main event scene, a huge mid-card and a huge undercard means that Kurt Angle could be another face in a crowd of people they're trying to get over this nobody gets over. Hopefully not. Hopefully Angle will make them realise that they need stars and not everybody can be a star. I will certainly be watching Angle in TNA but Jarrett and his chums could easily drop the ball with their biggest aquistion to date.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
TNA No Surrender Mini Preview
TNA present another show from Orlando tonight. Here's the card:
Fans Revenge Match - Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett
This will be an interesting one to say the least. Firstly there are going to be marks at ringside strapping the shit out of Jarrett and there's every chance he's going to retaliate. Secondly Joe has to go over because he's Joe and Jarrett has to go over because he's headlining the biggest PPV in TNA history next month.
NWA World Tag Team Titles - Ultimate X match - Latin American Xchange vs. Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles
This has the potential to be great. They've worked together in the past very well and all four are that good they can really make something out of this Ultimate X.
X-Division Title - Sen She vs. Chris Sabin
I'm sure this will be a good little match but I'm bored of workrate.
Rhino vs. Christian Cage
First match of the heel Christian TNA era so he has to win. This will be a good match and I hope it will get the ball rolling for Mr Cage.
Triple Chance Tag Team Battle Royal - AMW, The James Gang, The Naturals, The Paparazzi , Diamonds In The Rough, Bentley & Kazarian, The Truth & Lance Hoyt, Shark Boy & Norman Smiley
A desperate attempt to get everybody on the roster on the PPV so inevitably everybody will forget about this crazy match with it's crazy rules and nobody will get over.
Abyss vs. Raven vs. Brother Runt
And this match is happening because?
Petey Williams vs. Jay Lethal
Another good but instantly forgettable match.
Don't forget the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT of a new timeslot!
Fans Revenge Match - Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett
This will be an interesting one to say the least. Firstly there are going to be marks at ringside strapping the shit out of Jarrett and there's every chance he's going to retaliate. Secondly Joe has to go over because he's Joe and Jarrett has to go over because he's headlining the biggest PPV in TNA history next month.
NWA World Tag Team Titles - Ultimate X match - Latin American Xchange vs. Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles
This has the potential to be great. They've worked together in the past very well and all four are that good they can really make something out of this Ultimate X.
X-Division Title - Sen She vs. Chris Sabin
I'm sure this will be a good little match but I'm bored of workrate.
Rhino vs. Christian Cage
First match of the heel Christian TNA era so he has to win. This will be a good match and I hope it will get the ball rolling for Mr Cage.
Triple Chance Tag Team Battle Royal - AMW, The James Gang, The Naturals, The Paparazzi , Diamonds In The Rough, Bentley & Kazarian, The Truth & Lance Hoyt, Shark Boy & Norman Smiley
A desperate attempt to get everybody on the roster on the PPV so inevitably everybody will forget about this crazy match with it's crazy rules and nobody will get over.
Abyss vs. Raven vs. Brother Runt
And this match is happening because?
Petey Williams vs. Jay Lethal
Another good but instantly forgettable match.
Don't forget the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT of a new timeslot!
Friday, September 22, 2006
He Swerved You
After qutting the wrestling business forever six months ago the saviour of WWE and WCW (don't believe me? Just ask him) is back in the rasslin business. Mr Vince Russo has returned to the TNA booking committee.
This is going to be fun. I'm sure they'll be plenty of non sensical crazy booking over on Impact and may will be complaining about it. But, this might be the shot in the arm this business needs.
This isn't TNA's big announcment on Sunday night at the PPV. It's expected to be a new timeslot. Once again we've been told it's the biggest announcement ever that will change wrestling history. Just like every other announcement I really don't think it will be that big.
This is going to be fun. I'm sure they'll be plenty of non sensical crazy booking over on Impact and may will be complaining about it. But, this might be the shot in the arm this business needs.
This isn't TNA's big announcment on Sunday night at the PPV. It's expected to be a new timeslot. Once again we've been told it's the biggest announcement ever that will change wrestling history. Just like every other announcement I really don't think it will be that big.
ECW Thoughts
This show was saved by King Booker. How great is he? In fact I'm making an extra effort to watch Smackdown this week.
The opener made no sense whatsoever. Sandman fell and bumped his head and had to leave the match? I thought he was a fucking hard case. He's a wuss as far as I'm concerned. If they were going to do a DQ finish why not have Sandman come in and nail everybody with cains rather than the Test psuhing the ref finish they did?
How long was Sabu on the apron for? He can't do shit.
CM Punk is starting to get over with the fans. I have to admit he is with me as well. I like what they're doing with him at the moment. All I ask though is give him a character. Saying he doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs just makes him boring. It doesn't impress me one bit.
He's a vampire called Kevin wrestling a man named Balls. That's all I have to say about this shitty segment.
The main was a decent match considering the participants but does Bob Holly really have to be a focal point of the show. He hasn't been over for ten years and he's not about to start getting over now.
The opener made no sense whatsoever. Sandman fell and bumped his head and had to leave the match? I thought he was a fucking hard case. He's a wuss as far as I'm concerned. If they were going to do a DQ finish why not have Sandman come in and nail everybody with cains rather than the Test psuhing the ref finish they did?
How long was Sabu on the apron for? He can't do shit.
CM Punk is starting to get over with the fans. I have to admit he is with me as well. I like what they're doing with him at the moment. All I ask though is give him a character. Saying he doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs just makes him boring. It doesn't impress me one bit.
He's a vampire called Kevin wrestling a man named Balls. That's all I have to say about this shitty segment.
The main was a decent match considering the participants but does Bob Holly really have to be a focal point of the show. He hasn't been over for ten years and he's not about to start getting over now.
Raw Thoughts
What a total nothing show this was. Nothing happened. No challenges were issued. Nothing of note happened. DX continued their thing. Cena continued his thing. As did everybody else on the roster.
The main event was a fine little match, I'd be quite happy with a six-man tag every single week on Raw as a talent showcase you really can't go wrong with it. Plus Cade and Murdoch were involved and I think that these two have great characters and seeing them in that role makes a refreshing change.
The six-way for the IC belt was simply put one big cluster with a decent finish. It basically sets Hardy up as the number one contender for the title and I have no problem with this whatsoever.
Masters does has been back four weeks and has done three jobs in a row. I have a feeling he's out the door pretty soon without that masterpiece physique.
Lita and Mickie argiung for the belt doesn't interest me one bit. It's leading to Looser Leaves Town at Cyber Sunday when Lita does the jobski on the way out and Mickie wins the vacant belt.
Is it me or has Candace improved dramatically?
Kane and Umaga continuing their problem is OK as I happen to quite like what they're doing. The idea was for Umaga to be in the main event at Unforgiven (a la Brock Lesnar circa 2002) with him beating Hunter, Shawn and Cena in a space of a few weeks but as usual they shit themselves about an unproven commodity being on top so his momentum was lost pretty quicky.
Ric Flair on my TV is always great. Ric Flair winning on my TV is fantastic.
The opening segment went far too long and Edge turning on the Montreal crowd was a good way to get him heat but they still hated Cena (and Shawn and Hunter for that matter).
Overall not the worst show in the world with nothing horrible going down. The problem is nothing happened. If you missed a week of TV then don't worry because you're not behind on anything.
The main event was a fine little match, I'd be quite happy with a six-man tag every single week on Raw as a talent showcase you really can't go wrong with it. Plus Cade and Murdoch were involved and I think that these two have great characters and seeing them in that role makes a refreshing change.
The six-way for the IC belt was simply put one big cluster with a decent finish. It basically sets Hardy up as the number one contender for the title and I have no problem with this whatsoever.
Masters does has been back four weeks and has done three jobs in a row. I have a feeling he's out the door pretty soon without that masterpiece physique.
Lita and Mickie argiung for the belt doesn't interest me one bit. It's leading to Looser Leaves Town at Cyber Sunday when Lita does the jobski on the way out and Mickie wins the vacant belt.
Is it me or has Candace improved dramatically?
Kane and Umaga continuing their problem is OK as I happen to quite like what they're doing. The idea was for Umaga to be in the main event at Unforgiven (a la Brock Lesnar circa 2002) with him beating Hunter, Shawn and Cena in a space of a few weeks but as usual they shit themselves about an unproven commodity being on top so his momentum was lost pretty quicky.
Ric Flair on my TV is always great. Ric Flair winning on my TV is fantastic.
The opening segment went far too long and Edge turning on the Montreal crowd was a good way to get him heat but they still hated Cena (and Shawn and Hunter for that matter).
Overall not the worst show in the world with nothing horrible going down. The problem is nothing happened. If you missed a week of TV then don't worry because you're not behind on anything.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
I'm The Boogeyman But I Won't Be Coming To Get Ya
"WWE has come to terms on the release of Boogeyman (Marty Wright) as of today 9/20/06. We wish Marty the best in all future endeavors." - From WWE.com
It's ture ladies and gentlemen. Please do not upset yourselves as The Boogeyman has gone from WWE. He was meant to be coming back to the ECW brand but for whatever reason (they saw sense) he won't be returning now.
It's a shame because Marty Wright actually had his teeth done like that to play the character and I'm sure all the red makeup isn't easy to get off. I'm sure they'll be much work for him on the indy scene but for now The Boogeyman will remain as another of those legends like Giant Gonzalez and Kamala.
It's ture ladies and gentlemen. Please do not upset yourselves as The Boogeyman has gone from WWE. He was meant to be coming back to the ECW brand but for whatever reason (they saw sense) he won't be returning now.
It's a shame because Marty Wright actually had his teeth done like that to play the character and I'm sure all the red makeup isn't easy to get off. I'm sure they'll be much work for him on the indy scene but for now The Boogeyman will remain as another of those legends like Giant Gonzalez and Kamala.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Unforgiven Thoughts
This show can be summed up in one word. Boring.
Intercontinental Title - Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro
This was fine to start with when Hardy was doing all his usual stuff at the start but Nitro's heat was boring as hell. Hardy's comeback was good as always and they did some decent nearfalls. They had me a few times at least. Jeff would have won the belt if they hadn't had been doing the two title changes later in the show.
Kane vs Umaga
Short and sweet. I love watching two big men pound the shit out of each other and this is what this was. Nothing special but Kane made Umaga look really good. The shitty ending means this is going to continue.
World Tag Team Championship - Spirit Squad (Kenny & Mikey) vs The Highlanders
Pretty boring match to be honest. Spirit Squad won with the usual antics. Again I'd expected a title change but the two they did later were more important than this.
Hell In A Cell - DX vs McMahons & Big Show
Nothing match. No big bumps. No awesome spots. Usual raking the face against cage spot (the brand new cage I should admit) a million times, plenty if chairs and a sledgehammer in use. A cluster like you'd expect. DX won when Hunter laid waste to Vince. This has to be the end.
Women's Championship - Trish Stratus vs Lita
The usual Trish/Lita match but the crowd were hot for young Miss Stratus. Fun match whilst it lasted with a great finish (Trish used the sharpshooter). Trish got the send off she deserves. The video package before this match was great. Maybe if they'd done something like this on Raw over the last few weeks this might have actually got over.
Carltio vs Randy Orton
Orton cut a nothing promo before the match. Thankfully Carlito didn't get the opportunity. Boring match, apart from the finish where Orton hit an RKO after Carlito went for a flying thingy madgicy. Pushing like Orton can hit the RKO out of anywhere worked two years ago. As soon as he started teasing it it sucked. Hopefully they're going back to the old way.
WWE Championship - TLC Match - John Cena vs Edge
Great heat. They loved Edge and hated Cena, although there was some Cena love. Easily the best match of the show. Not the best TLC ever but it was decent. They did some fun spots and did them very well through teasing them before they actually did them so when somebody did get put through the table the crowd popped. RVD and Sabu take note please. Awesome finish with Cena hitting a super-duper FU off the ladder through two tables and grabbing the belt.
Overall a boring show that was saved from disaster by the reaction to Trish and the main event.
Intercontinental Title - Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro
This was fine to start with when Hardy was doing all his usual stuff at the start but Nitro's heat was boring as hell. Hardy's comeback was good as always and they did some decent nearfalls. They had me a few times at least. Jeff would have won the belt if they hadn't had been doing the two title changes later in the show.
Kane vs Umaga
Short and sweet. I love watching two big men pound the shit out of each other and this is what this was. Nothing special but Kane made Umaga look really good. The shitty ending means this is going to continue.
World Tag Team Championship - Spirit Squad (Kenny & Mikey) vs The Highlanders
Pretty boring match to be honest. Spirit Squad won with the usual antics. Again I'd expected a title change but the two they did later were more important than this.
Hell In A Cell - DX vs McMahons & Big Show
Nothing match. No big bumps. No awesome spots. Usual raking the face against cage spot (the brand new cage I should admit) a million times, plenty if chairs and a sledgehammer in use. A cluster like you'd expect. DX won when Hunter laid waste to Vince. This has to be the end.
Women's Championship - Trish Stratus vs Lita
The usual Trish/Lita match but the crowd were hot for young Miss Stratus. Fun match whilst it lasted with a great finish (Trish used the sharpshooter). Trish got the send off she deserves. The video package before this match was great. Maybe if they'd done something like this on Raw over the last few weeks this might have actually got over.
Carltio vs Randy Orton
Orton cut a nothing promo before the match. Thankfully Carlito didn't get the opportunity. Boring match, apart from the finish where Orton hit an RKO after Carlito went for a flying thingy madgicy. Pushing like Orton can hit the RKO out of anywhere worked two years ago. As soon as he started teasing it it sucked. Hopefully they're going back to the old way.
WWE Championship - TLC Match - John Cena vs Edge
Great heat. They loved Edge and hated Cena, although there was some Cena love. Easily the best match of the show. Not the best TLC ever but it was decent. They did some fun spots and did them very well through teasing them before they actually did them so when somebody did get put through the table the crowd popped. RVD and Sabu take note please. Awesome finish with Cena hitting a super-duper FU off the ladder through two tables and grabbing the belt.
Overall a boring show that was saved from disaster by the reaction to Trish and the main event.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
BTA Exclusive: Sandman Quits Smoking
Since the rebirth of ECW the extremist simply know as 'The Sandman' has given up his smoking habit. His trait for years was a cigarette in one hand and a lager in the other but for the last couple of months he has kept away from the cigs.
Behind The Angle spoke to the rebel last week regarding the issue: "I quit. I quit to give the new ECW a more wholesome image. I'd been doing the whole smoking and drinking routine for years but the smoking was taking its toll on me. I was getting blown up in my matches and I figured kicking the cigs would soon banish that. Plus we've been working some big arenas compared to the old days and making my entrance is getting longer and longer each week, my healthy lungs allow me to get all the way to the ring without feeling even a little breathless."
The Sandman couldn't be more right as his matches since the return of ECW have been hailed as classics. Like all quitters the ECW star has found himself on the end of a few 'extreme' mood swings. Such incidents involving a priest, a school teacher and a zombie have seen Sandman use his singapore cain to deal with the cravings; "Every so often I snap. The cravings get too much and somebody in the ring annoys me and I see red."
Life is going great for the ECW mainstay since he has kicked the dreaded weed and an episode of Monday Night Raw confirmed this; "I was flicking and came across this show called 'Raw'. There was this really cool guy running around doing crazy stuff called Triple H. A dastardly man planted some Cubans in his locker room and the police found out. The funny thing is the cool guy [Triple H] doesn't even smoke! If a guy who is too cool for school like him doesn't smoke then why do I need to?"
Behind The Angle spoke to the rebel last week regarding the issue: "I quit. I quit to give the new ECW a more wholesome image. I'd been doing the whole smoking and drinking routine for years but the smoking was taking its toll on me. I was getting blown up in my matches and I figured kicking the cigs would soon banish that. Plus we've been working some big arenas compared to the old days and making my entrance is getting longer and longer each week, my healthy lungs allow me to get all the way to the ring without feeling even a little breathless."
The Sandman couldn't be more right as his matches since the return of ECW have been hailed as classics. Like all quitters the ECW star has found himself on the end of a few 'extreme' mood swings. Such incidents involving a priest, a school teacher and a zombie have seen Sandman use his singapore cain to deal with the cravings; "Every so often I snap. The cravings get too much and somebody in the ring annoys me and I see red."
Life is going great for the ECW mainstay since he has kicked the dreaded weed and an episode of Monday Night Raw confirmed this; "I was flicking and came across this show called 'Raw'. There was this really cool guy running around doing crazy stuff called Triple H. A dastardly man planted some Cubans in his locker room and the police found out. The funny thing is the cool guy [Triple H] doesn't even smoke! If a guy who is too cool for school like him doesn't smoke then why do I need to?"
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Return of the Mack
In the most bizzare news of the week WWE have signed four new amazing talents. The first being Rodney Mack. You know Rodney Mack who in 2003 was so over with the audience and was an absolute workhouse? The second is Marty Jannety. You know the troubled Marty who was fired twice in the last two years and after his latest one was told he's never coming back? Henry Godwin, one half if the the infamous Godwins and Brad Armstrong.
It's really great news that WWE are looking for that next big thing by signing a load of 'veterans' who will probably be out of the door by this time next year.
It's really great news that WWE are looking for that next big thing by signing a load of 'veterans' who will probably be out of the door by this time next year.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Unforgiven Preview
They're pulling out all the stops for this show with two gimmick matches on the same card. On paper it's a fine little card but in practice things are pretty cold as it seems impossible to actually care about any of these matches.
Kane vs Umaga
If booked correctly then this could be good a la Goldberg and Steiner but if they try to do a technical match then things will get boring pretty quickly. If they play a game of oneupmanship with each trying to out power the other and Umaga does his usual stuff then this will be fun. I've enjoyed the build for this match and actually somewhat care about it. Expect an Umaga victory as the Samoan Bulldozer continues his winning streak.
World Tag Team Titles - Spirit Squad vs The Highlanders
The Spirit Squad are breaking up (they got blamed for the fact that ratings didn't boom when DX returned) so The Highlanders have to win. They won't get an angle though they'll just hold the tag belts until Cryme Tyme get given them.
Intercontinental Championship - Johnny Nitro vs Jeff Hardy
Nitro is one of the best characters on Raw and the initial pops for Hardy are making him seem worthy of the position. Their match on Raw a couple of weeks ago on Raw was decent and this won't be any worse. As for who wins; flip a coin.
Women's Championship - Trish Stratus vs Lita
Trish is so made up this is her last match. No more bumps, no more injuries just the bliss of married life. We're in Trish's hometown and it's her final match with her most famous rival and it could be a hell of an emotional experience. Given the video package on Monday they're making a big deal out of this which in all honesty Trish deserves. If it were me booking I'd give Trish the belt and let her keep it as women's wrestling on Raw isn't exactly great but as she's leaving it makes sense for her to put over somebody else who's leaving a month down the line.
Randy Orton vs Carlito
Cold as the artic. Orton wins and challenges Cena for the belt next month. If Carlito wins I'll kill myself.
Hell In a Cell - DX vs The McMahons & Big Show
Remeber when Hell in a Cell was the culmination of great feuds between two guys who fucking hated one another? Not the case here. Shane-O may take a crazy bump (Shawn can't, Hunter won't, Vince would break every bone in his body and Show is tall) but that will be the only highlight of this match. Shawn may do an injury angle and take some time off after this. DX will win. Again. In fact they'll probably pin the Big Show.
TLC Match for the WWE Championship - Edge vs John Cena
We're in Edge's hometown in Edge's speciality match (so he gets beat). The crowd are going to be insane for this. At Summerslam 2004 they were anti-Edge but considering Edge has been great over the last year or so they have to be behind the home-town boy. The crowd will make this match awesome. I hope. Both guys want to stay on top so I'm expecting them to do some crazy shit, but a slower paced match would be ideal letting them build to some good spots. Edge should have this match won at some point so he continues to look credible and say he's been screwed. Cena's not going to the C show to he's winning.
Writing about this show has made me gain more interest in the show which is a better job than WWE are doing (or TNA) at this moment in time.
Kane vs Umaga
If booked correctly then this could be good a la Goldberg and Steiner but if they try to do a technical match then things will get boring pretty quickly. If they play a game of oneupmanship with each trying to out power the other and Umaga does his usual stuff then this will be fun. I've enjoyed the build for this match and actually somewhat care about it. Expect an Umaga victory as the Samoan Bulldozer continues his winning streak.
World Tag Team Titles - Spirit Squad vs The Highlanders
The Spirit Squad are breaking up (they got blamed for the fact that ratings didn't boom when DX returned) so The Highlanders have to win. They won't get an angle though they'll just hold the tag belts until Cryme Tyme get given them.
Intercontinental Championship - Johnny Nitro vs Jeff Hardy
Nitro is one of the best characters on Raw and the initial pops for Hardy are making him seem worthy of the position. Their match on Raw a couple of weeks ago on Raw was decent and this won't be any worse. As for who wins; flip a coin.
Women's Championship - Trish Stratus vs Lita
Trish is so made up this is her last match. No more bumps, no more injuries just the bliss of married life. We're in Trish's hometown and it's her final match with her most famous rival and it could be a hell of an emotional experience. Given the video package on Monday they're making a big deal out of this which in all honesty Trish deserves. If it were me booking I'd give Trish the belt and let her keep it as women's wrestling on Raw isn't exactly great but as she's leaving it makes sense for her to put over somebody else who's leaving a month down the line.
Randy Orton vs Carlito
Cold as the artic. Orton wins and challenges Cena for the belt next month. If Carlito wins I'll kill myself.
Hell In a Cell - DX vs The McMahons & Big Show
Remeber when Hell in a Cell was the culmination of great feuds between two guys who fucking hated one another? Not the case here. Shane-O may take a crazy bump (Shawn can't, Hunter won't, Vince would break every bone in his body and Show is tall) but that will be the only highlight of this match. Shawn may do an injury angle and take some time off after this. DX will win. Again. In fact they'll probably pin the Big Show.
TLC Match for the WWE Championship - Edge vs John Cena
We're in Edge's hometown in Edge's speciality match (so he gets beat). The crowd are going to be insane for this. At Summerslam 2004 they were anti-Edge but considering Edge has been great over the last year or so they have to be behind the home-town boy. The crowd will make this match awesome. I hope. Both guys want to stay on top so I'm expecting them to do some crazy shit, but a slower paced match would be ideal letting them build to some good spots. Edge should have this match won at some point so he continues to look credible and say he's been screwed. Cena's not going to the C show to he's winning.
Writing about this show has made me gain more interest in the show which is a better job than WWE are doing (or TNA) at this moment in time.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Raw Thoughts
Raw sucked. Well it was OK if it was just a Raw building towards a PPV, but it wasn't. It was the final Raw before Sunday's Unforgiven PPV so it's meant to make you excited about the PPV and ensure you spend your cash on Sunday night. This show failed in a big way.
Cena/Edge was the hottest feud on the show and judging my the MSG crowd Cena is the hottest thing on the show. Therefore he was thrown in a six-man tag (that was a decent match none the less) with five other guys who are having a match at the PPV. No, he wasn't given a shit-hot promo to cut vowing to win the WWE Title in a match he had never competed in he was in a seemingly random match where he beat Johnny Nitro. By the way Johnny Nitro isn't his opponent on Sunday.
Edge burying Smackdown makes me chuckle at how WWE treat that brand.
Did you notice how they played up the Orton/Cena thing from last week with Orton giving the 'you can't see me' gesture to Cena? I'm thinking Cena's winning and starting his feud with the Legend Killer. Rewarded for failing the drugs test. Again.
Jeff Hardy's reaction to Nitro kicking his painting was THE best thing on this show, "hey man my painting" as if it was a masterful piece of work that he'd spent hours on.
Remember when Nitro was getting heat on Smackdown so he got moved to Raw and got a push?
Carlito and Orton is so cold I think that WWE have realised it's not selling any PPVs so they've just sacked off promoting it.
From this show the match I'm most interested in is Kane/Umaga. Openign the show with this was great. This two men slugging out actually making it look like they had a point to prove was awesome. Umaga's suplex to Kane was fantastic. This match will probably suck but if booked right could be a hell of a lot of fun.
Vince thinks his angle is shit hot. It's not. I have no desire to see this match whatsoever. Cade and Murdoch beating on DX was cool and they should have left it at that but Vince had to have his no heat main event that did nothing for this crappy feud. I still don't know why their feuding. Email me if you know.
Trish had her last Raw matched and embraced with Mickie. Remeber when Mickie was a phsyco stalking Trish? Now she's a babyface for now reason.
Chris Masters and Super Crazy had to have another match and Super Crazy and Super Crazy won. I'd expect these two to have a match at the PPV. Remeber these two got a whole segment to build up their match and did a better job in doing so than anybody else in the six-man tag.
Remeber when Super Crazy got suspended for failing a drugs test. Then he got moved to Raw and got a little push. Is there a recurring theme here?
The Highlander deal with Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining things on the show. Piper on the stick reminds you how inept most of the roster are today.
All in all this would have been a fine episode of Raw two weeks ago but when you're pushing a PPV this isn't the show you need.
Cena/Edge was the hottest feud on the show and judging my the MSG crowd Cena is the hottest thing on the show. Therefore he was thrown in a six-man tag (that was a decent match none the less) with five other guys who are having a match at the PPV. No, he wasn't given a shit-hot promo to cut vowing to win the WWE Title in a match he had never competed in he was in a seemingly random match where he beat Johnny Nitro. By the way Johnny Nitro isn't his opponent on Sunday.
Edge burying Smackdown makes me chuckle at how WWE treat that brand.
Did you notice how they played up the Orton/Cena thing from last week with Orton giving the 'you can't see me' gesture to Cena? I'm thinking Cena's winning and starting his feud with the Legend Killer. Rewarded for failing the drugs test. Again.
Jeff Hardy's reaction to Nitro kicking his painting was THE best thing on this show, "hey man my painting" as if it was a masterful piece of work that he'd spent hours on.
Remember when Nitro was getting heat on Smackdown so he got moved to Raw and got a push?
Carlito and Orton is so cold I think that WWE have realised it's not selling any PPVs so they've just sacked off promoting it.
From this show the match I'm most interested in is Kane/Umaga. Openign the show with this was great. This two men slugging out actually making it look like they had a point to prove was awesome. Umaga's suplex to Kane was fantastic. This match will probably suck but if booked right could be a hell of a lot of fun.
Vince thinks his angle is shit hot. It's not. I have no desire to see this match whatsoever. Cade and Murdoch beating on DX was cool and they should have left it at that but Vince had to have his no heat main event that did nothing for this crappy feud. I still don't know why their feuding. Email me if you know.
Trish had her last Raw matched and embraced with Mickie. Remeber when Mickie was a phsyco stalking Trish? Now she's a babyface for now reason.
Chris Masters and Super Crazy had to have another match and Super Crazy and Super Crazy won. I'd expect these two to have a match at the PPV. Remeber these two got a whole segment to build up their match and did a better job in doing so than anybody else in the six-man tag.
Remeber when Super Crazy got suspended for failing a drugs test. Then he got moved to Raw and got a little push. Is there a recurring theme here?
The Highlander deal with Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining things on the show. Piper on the stick reminds you how inept most of the roster are today.
All in all this would have been a fine episode of Raw two weeks ago but when you're pushing a PPV this isn't the show you need.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
A Change in Policy
Remeber when Raw and ECW were drug tested the other week and for some reason everybody passed? Well they didn't.
The policy has changed in that to eliminate any future events that went down at the not so Great American Bash and to aviod having to rewrite storylines (what storylines?) guys aren't being taken off TV for failing the tests. They aren't working house shows (where they make a good amount of their money) and they're aren't being paid any of their downside guarantee for hwoever long their suspension is. However, they are still working TV and being paid expenses (hotel, flights, car etc.).
The people who failed were Randy Orton (yes the same Randy Orton who got caught in April, suspended for 60 days and retunred to the A show) and Balls Mahoney. The fact that a man named Balls failed a drugs test should come as a shock to nobody.
How long before we get another ammendment? We'll see when Hunter gets busted.
The policy has changed in that to eliminate any future events that went down at the not so Great American Bash and to aviod having to rewrite storylines (what storylines?) guys aren't being taken off TV for failing the tests. They aren't working house shows (where they make a good amount of their money) and they're aren't being paid any of their downside guarantee for hwoever long their suspension is. However, they are still working TV and being paid expenses (hotel, flights, car etc.).
The people who failed were Randy Orton (yes the same Randy Orton who got caught in April, suspended for 60 days and retunred to the A show) and Balls Mahoney. The fact that a man named Balls failed a drugs test should come as a shock to nobody.
How long before we get another ammendment? We'll see when Hunter gets busted.
Jarret vs Joe - Too Late
This is going to be one hell of crazy match. Fans are at ringside and are allowed to strap the shit out of Jarret. Surely there has to be worked element to this because if a fan really doesn't like Double J they could really do him some harm.
Once again, the NWA Title won't be defened on the PPV which really annoys me as TNA seem to do it all the time. The boat has been missed (or at least delayed) who three months ago was a star. Steiner did an awesome job in making him look like one (and even Jarret played a role) and it looked as if he was steam rolling through to the NWA belt. In true TNA style his momentum was halted when they decided that going with their half a million dollar investment in Sting was the right way to go.
Joe subsequently was pushed down the pecking order and although his matches with Rhyno have been good it certainly seems as if he's buying his time. Putting him in the main event now is a little strange as in reality it's supposed to be a payback to Jarret but Rhyno is now the most over babyface in the company because of Joe's stalled momentum.
Joe has to beat Jarrett at the PPV to setup a title match in the future and setup Joe's run as the company's top star. TNA had a star on their hands but have faffed about and lost momentum with him. His match against Jarrett has to change this.
If Jarrett wins all hope for TNA has gone out of the window.
Once again, the NWA Title won't be defened on the PPV which really annoys me as TNA seem to do it all the time. The boat has been missed (or at least delayed) who three months ago was a star. Steiner did an awesome job in making him look like one (and even Jarret played a role) and it looked as if he was steam rolling through to the NWA belt. In true TNA style his momentum was halted when they decided that going with their half a million dollar investment in Sting was the right way to go.
Joe subsequently was pushed down the pecking order and although his matches with Rhyno have been good it certainly seems as if he's buying his time. Putting him in the main event now is a little strange as in reality it's supposed to be a payback to Jarret but Rhyno is now the most over babyface in the company because of Joe's stalled momentum.
Joe has to beat Jarrett at the PPV to setup a title match in the future and setup Joe's run as the company's top star. TNA had a star on their hands but have faffed about and lost momentum with him. His match against Jarrett has to change this.
If Jarrett wins all hope for TNA has gone out of the window.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
ECW is Raw
Ok. I know it's late but I've only just watched ECW because my interest going into the show was pretty small.
BINGO!
The opener with RVD and Sabu vs Test and Mike Knox was a great match. The spots were well worked in, not all of the spots were fucked up and thr result went the right way. All I ask is where was Heyman or Holly who had a vested interest in both men last week?
The main event was OK for what it was. It obvious promotion for the PPV on Sunday rather than pushing ECW angles but at this point in time that's absolutley fine. DX standing tall makes sense in the fact that faces need to be kept strong but we need to see a reason for them fighting at the PPV which at the moment is seemingly lacking. DX standing tall at the end of the ECW made me laugh at how far ECW has moved away from the original product.
CM Punk slapping Shannon Moore was funny.
I have one question for the vampire. Which in fact is my only interest in him. Why is he called Kevin? Could there be a plainer name for a vampire.
The Sandman/Striker thing is alright for what it is. They're holding the pay off of Sandman caining the shit out of the teacher and that's fine.
Overall the show was OK with a good opener and an OK main event all that was in between was pretty much filler.
Question of the week: Why do they never refer to ECW history? Surely it would add some legitmecy to the promotion.
BINGO!
The opener with RVD and Sabu vs Test and Mike Knox was a great match. The spots were well worked in, not all of the spots were fucked up and thr result went the right way. All I ask is where was Heyman or Holly who had a vested interest in both men last week?
The main event was OK for what it was. It obvious promotion for the PPV on Sunday rather than pushing ECW angles but at this point in time that's absolutley fine. DX standing tall makes sense in the fact that faces need to be kept strong but we need to see a reason for them fighting at the PPV which at the moment is seemingly lacking. DX standing tall at the end of the ECW made me laugh at how far ECW has moved away from the original product.
CM Punk slapping Shannon Moore was funny.
I have one question for the vampire. Which in fact is my only interest in him. Why is he called Kevin? Could there be a plainer name for a vampire.
The Sandman/Striker thing is alright for what it is. They're holding the pay off of Sandman caining the shit out of the teacher and that's fine.
Overall the show was OK with a good opener and an OK main event all that was in between was pretty much filler.
Question of the week: Why do they never refer to ECW history? Surely it would add some legitmecy to the promotion.
Monday, September 11, 2006
X-Pac, the nWo and Kanyon
The deal with X-Pac is that his apperance at the house show on Friday was a one time thing. He is currently working with the MTV promotion which is set to start and Vampiro's RXLL which debuted last week. Despite Vince wanting to rewind to 1998 it seems that young Sean Waltman isn't part of the plan. Then again, Vince's plans change by the half hour so you never know.
Kanyon's apperance was off his own back. In order to stick it to Vince he bought a ticket for the show, made some signs at home and turned up to the show. This man is so desperate for a job anywhere and is trying to get the Internet on his side. Sorry kid it just ain't working.
As for the nWo they're not coming in. Nash is trying to get himself back into the company but Nash's drawing days are well behind him and is workrate days never were so I'd be surprised if Vince wanted him back. The nWo angle has been discussed and shot down many a time and it probably won't happen. As I said before about Vince's plans, you never know.
Kanyon's apperance was off his own back. In order to stick it to Vince he bought a ticket for the show, made some signs at home and turned up to the show. This man is so desperate for a job anywhere and is trying to get the Internet on his side. Sorry kid it just ain't working.
As for the nWo they're not coming in. Nash is trying to get himself back into the company but Nash's drawing days are well behind him and is workrate days never were so I'd be surprised if Vince wanted him back. The nWo angle has been discussed and shot down many a time and it probably won't happen. As I said before about Vince's plans, you never know.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
DX vs nWo
If you've been looking around the net for the last twenty-four hours I'm sure you'll have seen the rumours of a possible DX vs nWo feud.
The rumours span from a Raw house show report which claimed X-Pac turned up to the show and celebrated in the ring with Hunter and Shawn after they beat Cade and Murdoch. Interestingly Chris Kanyon allegedly 'invaded' and it was unsure if he was supposed to be there or not. Hunter said "who invited Kanyon" over the house mic, so if this happened I'm guessing it's a work.
X-Pac has been both a member of DX and the nWo (as has HBK). Kevin Nash is finished with TNA (he never did the job to Sabin) and Hall has allegedly cleaned himself up (lol). They could do some sort of story where X-Pac rejoins with DX but then turns on them bringing in the nWo leading to a short program between them. It would have to be short considering what happened last time Hall and Nash were brought in. Nash stepped off the bus and tore a quad and Hall was gone within six weeks for the usual Scott Hall behaviour.
In the short-term this feud could draw as it's two of the biggest stables in the history of pro-wrestling coming together and battling one and other. In the long-term it's not going to be the thing to pick business up. Business picks up through new stars (Edge, Cena, Orton) not through reunion tours (ask WCW).
Of course I could have just written all the above for little reason at all. The report could be fake and I don't think Vince is stupid enough to bring the nWo back. Then again with Hunter and Shawn in his ear and their good buddys looking for work the nWo could be back on a screen near you.
The rumours span from a Raw house show report which claimed X-Pac turned up to the show and celebrated in the ring with Hunter and Shawn after they beat Cade and Murdoch. Interestingly Chris Kanyon allegedly 'invaded' and it was unsure if he was supposed to be there or not. Hunter said "who invited Kanyon" over the house mic, so if this happened I'm guessing it's a work.
X-Pac has been both a member of DX and the nWo (as has HBK). Kevin Nash is finished with TNA (he never did the job to Sabin) and Hall has allegedly cleaned himself up (lol). They could do some sort of story where X-Pac rejoins with DX but then turns on them bringing in the nWo leading to a short program between them. It would have to be short considering what happened last time Hall and Nash were brought in. Nash stepped off the bus and tore a quad and Hall was gone within six weeks for the usual Scott Hall behaviour.
In the short-term this feud could draw as it's two of the biggest stables in the history of pro-wrestling coming together and battling one and other. In the long-term it's not going to be the thing to pick business up. Business picks up through new stars (Edge, Cena, Orton) not through reunion tours (ask WCW).
Of course I could have just written all the above for little reason at all. The report could be fake and I don't think Vince is stupid enough to bring the nWo back. Then again with Hunter and Shawn in his ear and their good buddys looking for work the nWo could be back on a screen near you.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Raw Thoughts
What a fine episode of Raw aired on Monday night. From top to bottom it was a good show with plenty of angles being shot for Unforgiven and for the first time in forever all the matches booked for the show have been determined with two weeks to go.
Edge's opening promo was really good. I like it when he's out there without Lita as the heat is actually on him rather than her. A great start to the show and the fact I really want to see this match means the job has been done. I'm interested because they're really pushing the Cena going to Smackdown angle so I have to say that Cena wins because I can't see him going to Smackdown when he's Raw's top babyface and WWE's biggest star.
Remember when Edge went for neck surgery and he said he couldn't work any more of the TLC style matches? This will be his fourth since he has returned.
The DX stuff was kept to a bare minimum this week which is fine by me. Seeing Hunter and Shawn do what they did makes me happy as rather than doing their stupid antics they actually looked like they wanted to fight and that's what will sell the PPV. I haven't seen ECW yet so can't comment on the angle shot there on Tuesday.
In big news Super Crazy (the cruiserweight) returned to WWE on the Raw brand. The brand which has no cruiserweight division. Then again, does Smackdown? His shock win over Chris Masters made me laugh as John Cena couldn't beat Masters last week. This either means Crazy is getting a mini-push, Masters has pissed someone off or Masters is going to destroy Crazy next week.
Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro was actually a really good match. I laughed at how they alluded to Nitro's press conference being boring (like watching paint dry actually). This ended exactly the way it should have done with Jeff looking like he can win the belt and Nitro looking like a dip shit heel. If people believe the challenger has a chance of winning the belt then they may just buy the PPV.
The Highlanders are now number one contenders for the tag belts and get the shot at Unforgiven. There's no interest in this feud from anybody and the number one contender's match was another example of how weak the tag division is. Maybe Cryme Tyme can sort it out. They look cool.
If Trish wins the belt at Unforgiven is the women's division done for? I would say she can't loose in her home town but this is WWE after all and burying people in their home town is what they do best.
Speaking of which is Ric Flair the greatest man to have ever lived? The Flair flop was absolutley great this evening.
I'm interested in Umaga vs Kane. Shock horror. See what booking can do?
The main event was solid and was a decent TV match. The crowd were rabid for Cena and I thought the only thing they did wrong was not do the hot tag. Cena just came into the ring rather than getting the big pop for the babyface team come back.
The only feud I don't have any interest in is Carlito/Orton. They did well together tonight but nothing that made me go "wow I want to see a singles match between these two guys!"
Overall it was a really good show from top to bottom. Nothing on the show was bad and nothing was fantastic; it was just a solid show that built angles for the PPV, ie the job of the TV show. It's an example of how if you book things correctly and get people interested in the feuds that are going on and keep the bullshit to a minimum you'll get a good TV show. The Atlanta crowd were hot and really added to the show tonight.
I've just had a thought. Maybe Cena is going to Smackdown. The plan is to get Smackdown rocking again on the new network. Maybe moving Cena there is a way of getting the viewership up?
Edge's opening promo was really good. I like it when he's out there without Lita as the heat is actually on him rather than her. A great start to the show and the fact I really want to see this match means the job has been done. I'm interested because they're really pushing the Cena going to Smackdown angle so I have to say that Cena wins because I can't see him going to Smackdown when he's Raw's top babyface and WWE's biggest star.
Remember when Edge went for neck surgery and he said he couldn't work any more of the TLC style matches? This will be his fourth since he has returned.
The DX stuff was kept to a bare minimum this week which is fine by me. Seeing Hunter and Shawn do what they did makes me happy as rather than doing their stupid antics they actually looked like they wanted to fight and that's what will sell the PPV. I haven't seen ECW yet so can't comment on the angle shot there on Tuesday.
In big news Super Crazy (the cruiserweight) returned to WWE on the Raw brand. The brand which has no cruiserweight division. Then again, does Smackdown? His shock win over Chris Masters made me laugh as John Cena couldn't beat Masters last week. This either means Crazy is getting a mini-push, Masters has pissed someone off or Masters is going to destroy Crazy next week.
Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro was actually a really good match. I laughed at how they alluded to Nitro's press conference being boring (like watching paint dry actually). This ended exactly the way it should have done with Jeff looking like he can win the belt and Nitro looking like a dip shit heel. If people believe the challenger has a chance of winning the belt then they may just buy the PPV.
The Highlanders are now number one contenders for the tag belts and get the shot at Unforgiven. There's no interest in this feud from anybody and the number one contender's match was another example of how weak the tag division is. Maybe Cryme Tyme can sort it out. They look cool.
If Trish wins the belt at Unforgiven is the women's division done for? I would say she can't loose in her home town but this is WWE after all and burying people in their home town is what they do best.
Speaking of which is Ric Flair the greatest man to have ever lived? The Flair flop was absolutley great this evening.
I'm interested in Umaga vs Kane. Shock horror. See what booking can do?
The main event was solid and was a decent TV match. The crowd were rabid for Cena and I thought the only thing they did wrong was not do the hot tag. Cena just came into the ring rather than getting the big pop for the babyface team come back.
The only feud I don't have any interest in is Carlito/Orton. They did well together tonight but nothing that made me go "wow I want to see a singles match between these two guys!"
Overall it was a really good show from top to bottom. Nothing on the show was bad and nothing was fantastic; it was just a solid show that built angles for the PPV, ie the job of the TV show. It's an example of how if you book things correctly and get people interested in the feuds that are going on and keep the bullshit to a minimum you'll get a good TV show. The Atlanta crowd were hot and really added to the show tonight.
I've just had a thought. Maybe Cena is going to Smackdown. The plan is to get Smackdown rocking again on the new network. Maybe moving Cena there is a way of getting the viewership up?
Breaking News: Psicosis Still With WWE
Contarary to reports posted on the Behind The Angle blog yesterday Psicosis is still emplyed by World Wrestling Entertainment. It was Juventud Guerrera who was released in December.
There has been an outbreak of hysteria amongst the Internet Wrestling Community at the thought of Psicosis not being employed by the Stamford based company.
Paul Robson, author of the blog commented: "It was a mistake. The Mexicools all came in together and as Psicosis hasn't been seen for a while I got confused between the two. I apologise to any fans who I may have upset."
There has been an outbreak of hysteria amongst the Internet Wrestling Community at the thought of Psicosis not being employed by the Stamford based company.
Paul Robson, author of the blog commented: "It was a mistake. The Mexicools all came in together and as Psicosis hasn't been seen for a while I got confused between the two. I apologise to any fans who I may have upset."
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Smackdown vs Raw 2007 Roster
The latest roster for Smackdown series has been released and courtesy of IGN.com, I have it in my grasp:
Batista
JBL
Randy Orton
The Big Show
Jillian Hall
Rey Mysterio
Bobby Lashley
Joey Mercury
Ric Flair
The Boogeyman
John Cena
Rob Van Dam
Booker T
Johnny Nitro
Shawn Michaels
Candice Michelle
Kane
Shelton Benjamin
Carlito
Ken Kennedy
Snitsky
Chavo Guerrero
Kid Kash
Super Crazy
Chris Benoit
Kurt Angle
Torrie Wilson
Chris Masters
Lance Cade
Trevor Murdoch
Daivari
Lita
Triple H
Edge
Mark Henry
Trish Stratus
Eugene
Matt Hardy
Umaga
Finley
Melina
The Undertaker
The Great Khali
Mickie James
Viscera
Gregory Helms
Paul Burchill
Vito
Hardcore Holly
Psicosis
William Regal
There's nothing really shocking on there and everybody you'd expect to be in is in. Finlay, Umaga, Khali, MNM, Cade, Murdoch and Burchill are nice additions. I wonder if big Vito will be wearing his trademark dress? It's also interesting that Psicosis is on there considering he left the company last December.
I love all the games in this series so if anything else of interest comes up I'll post it here. I'm looking froward to this one though.
Batista
JBL
Randy Orton
The Big Show
Jillian Hall
Rey Mysterio
Bobby Lashley
Joey Mercury
Ric Flair
The Boogeyman
John Cena
Rob Van Dam
Booker T
Johnny Nitro
Shawn Michaels
Candice Michelle
Kane
Shelton Benjamin
Carlito
Ken Kennedy
Snitsky
Chavo Guerrero
Kid Kash
Super Crazy
Chris Benoit
Kurt Angle
Torrie Wilson
Chris Masters
Lance Cade
Trevor Murdoch
Daivari
Lita
Triple H
Edge
Mark Henry
Trish Stratus
Eugene
Matt Hardy
Umaga
Finley
Melina
The Undertaker
The Great Khali
Mickie James
Viscera
Gregory Helms
Paul Burchill
Vito
Hardcore Holly
Psicosis
William Regal
There's nothing really shocking on there and everybody you'd expect to be in is in. Finlay, Umaga, Khali, MNM, Cade, Murdoch and Burchill are nice additions. I wonder if big Vito will be wearing his trademark dress? It's also interesting that Psicosis is on there considering he left the company last December.
I love all the games in this series so if anything else of interest comes up I'll post it here. I'm looking froward to this one though.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Hardy vs Nitro for the belt
Tonight's Raw promises Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro for the IC Title. This could be a fun match or could end up being a complete disaster.
That's the only match announced so far but I'm sure Cena and Edge will get five minutes to push their match and then Vince and DX will get thirty to plug theirs. Pays to be owners.
As always my complete thoughts on Raw will be posted as soon as I get round to watching it.
That's the only match announced so far but I'm sure Cena and Edge will get five minutes to push their match and then Vince and DX will get thirty to plug theirs. Pays to be owners.
As always my complete thoughts on Raw will be posted as soon as I get round to watching it.
The Myth of the Cruiserweight Title
I'm sick of hearing that the WWF Lightheavweight and WCW Crusierweight Titles were unified at Summerslam 2001. Mainly because they weren't. It was X-Pac (WWF) vs Tajiri (WCW) in a title-for-title match-up not a unification match.
X-Pac won the match and won both belts. A couple of weeks later X-Pac dropped the WCW belt to Kidman on either Raw or Smackdown (around that time there were so many titles and so many title changes it's hard to remeber. He didn't frop the WWF belt though.
Around this time he was injured and he disappeared from TV. Mick Foley as commissioner alluded to this in his promo when he booked the tag title and US/IC title unification matches for Survivor Series. He stated he wanted to unify the lightheavyweight and crusierweight belts but "nobody knows where X-Pac is".
In December 2001 WWF simply adopted the WCW belt renaming it the WWF Cruiserweight Title.
When X-Pac returned in April 2002 he was still Lightheavyweight Champion. He defended the title on a few house shows but never carried the belt on TV. Soon after he returned the belt was dropped all together and the cruiserweights became exclusive to Smackdown.
Next time you hear (or say) the belts were unified then recite this tale and bust the myth that still exists to this very day.
X-Pac won the match and won both belts. A couple of weeks later X-Pac dropped the WCW belt to Kidman on either Raw or Smackdown (around that time there were so many titles and so many title changes it's hard to remeber. He didn't frop the WWF belt though.
Around this time he was injured and he disappeared from TV. Mick Foley as commissioner alluded to this in his promo when he booked the tag title and US/IC title unification matches for Survivor Series. He stated he wanted to unify the lightheavyweight and crusierweight belts but "nobody knows where X-Pac is".
In December 2001 WWF simply adopted the WCW belt renaming it the WWF Cruiserweight Title.
When X-Pac returned in April 2002 he was still Lightheavyweight Champion. He defended the title on a few house shows but never carried the belt on TV. Soon after he returned the belt was dropped all together and the cruiserweights became exclusive to Smackdown.
Next time you hear (or say) the belts were unified then recite this tale and bust the myth that still exists to this very day.
New United States Champion... Champion
For those of you who don't watch Smackdown (and I can't blame you) Mr Kennedy won the US bet in a triple threat involving Finlay and Lashley.
I love Finlay so I'm disapointed at this but the plan seems to be that Lashley is getting screwed out of the belt all the time so I'd expect him to go on and chase Kennedy.
This could be a disaster. Lashley has been working with Finlay to bring him up to the next level. When he's working with Finlay Blaster looks really good but when he's in the ring with anybody else he always seems a step behind. Working with the green Ken Kennedy won't exactly sort this out.
Kennedy should make a good champion and his promo ability could add some credibility to the belt and to Smackdown.
I love Finlay so I'm disapointed at this but the plan seems to be that Lashley is getting screwed out of the belt all the time so I'd expect him to go on and chase Kennedy.
This could be a disaster. Lashley has been working with Finlay to bring him up to the next level. When he's working with Finlay Blaster looks really good but when he's in the ring with anybody else he always seems a step behind. Working with the green Ken Kennedy won't exactly sort this out.
Kennedy should make a good champion and his promo ability could add some credibility to the belt and to Smackdown.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Guilty Your Honour
ECW mainstays Rob Van Dam and Sabu pleaded guilty to their drug charges from June. Both men have escaped with fines and a slap on the wrist.
I'm positive this will stop both men from doing anything like this again.
I'm positive this will stop both men from doing anything like this again.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Take Note Vince, UFC Have Really Got Something Here
I'm not a huge fan of MMA (I prefer my sports fake) but as I follow the wrestling business it's hard not to see the rise in popularity of UFC.
UFC gets less viewers than WWE (in America, not always in the UK) but is doing huge numbers on their PPV show. December's PPV which will see Chuck Liddell take on Tito Ortiz (the man may I add) and buy rates are estimated at 1,250,000!
Vince never reached that. Bischoff never reached that. Heyman certainly never reached that. TNA? Don't make me laugh!
Estimations state that UFC through the promotion of two key matches on each show are encouraging 25% of their audience to part with their money for a PPV. WWE is currently persuading around 5% of their audience to buy their PPVs.
Considering WWE can actually determine the outcome of their matches and create stars themselves, they're doing a really bad job at it. UFC on the otherhand are creating their stars and doing a fantastic job of it.
By pushing two matches on a card and making us care about them UFC is doing a great job. WWE on the other hand are stuck on a treadmill pounding out the same old stale stuff week after week. It's hard to care about anything right now in that company as rather than making us care, stuff just happens.
WWE haven't realesed PPV numbers since May. Let me tell you, there's a very good reason for this: UFC are whipping they're arse.
Take note Vince. Please.
UFC gets less viewers than WWE (in America, not always in the UK) but is doing huge numbers on their PPV show. December's PPV which will see Chuck Liddell take on Tito Ortiz (the man may I add) and buy rates are estimated at 1,250,000!
Vince never reached that. Bischoff never reached that. Heyman certainly never reached that. TNA? Don't make me laugh!
Estimations state that UFC through the promotion of two key matches on each show are encouraging 25% of their audience to part with their money for a PPV. WWE is currently persuading around 5% of their audience to buy their PPVs.
Considering WWE can actually determine the outcome of their matches and create stars themselves, they're doing a really bad job at it. UFC on the otherhand are creating their stars and doing a fantastic job of it.
By pushing two matches on a card and making us care about them UFC is doing a great job. WWE on the other hand are stuck on a treadmill pounding out the same old stale stuff week after week. It's hard to care about anything right now in that company as rather than making us care, stuff just happens.
WWE haven't realesed PPV numbers since May. Let me tell you, there's a very good reason for this: UFC are whipping they're arse.
Take note Vince. Please.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Raw Thoughts
Raw was somewhat disapointing this week. They had two angles that were pretty hot last week in Cena/Edge and Foley/Melina but they didn't really do anything with them this week. For some reason the McMahon (Helmsleys) are all over this show. Can't think why.
Cena and Edge, despite being a feud over the most important title in wrestling today got nothing on this show. TLC was announced for Unforgiven and at least they actually did an angle for the match rather than the usual announcment.
Chris Masters has been to rehab if you couldn't tell. the contrast between his body in his video and in real life was a stark contrast.
The most boring feud on the planet continued with the McMahons and DX. Shane had the best line of the show "you guys need to grow up." You can say that again. The main event was decent for the time it got and seeing Finlay and Regal on a decent show is always good. They're really pushing the boat at at Unforgiven with hell in a cell and TLC. It makes sense to finish this feud in the cage but it's going to be one big cluster. Adding Big Show isn't going to really make this any better but at least it's different. It makes me laugh how the ECW Champion is the guy to help the McMahons becuase everybody else on Raw sucks.
Did you know that Vince likes cock? Get some new material.
Nitro was decent on the mic. We've not had chance to hear him do much talking at all so this effort was pretty good. They needed to address the Foley situation and this was a fine way of doing it. I don't know if Foley will return to feud with Nitro or if this was just a way of turning Foley face before his next apperance. On another note Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro could be fun if booked right.
Carlito continued his feud with Orton. They're doing an angle at least but both guys are cold at the moment. Talking of Carlito he is very pissed off at the moment as he felt he was reaching the main event but now he's stuck in a love storyline with Trish. Hate to say it Carlito but I hope you're not in many more main events.
Trish is retiring. It has now been announced so we all know how September's PPV goes. Great work booking team.
Mickie is a babyface now? Storyline development.
Spirit Squad are still tag champs if you didn't know. They also main evented a PPV two months ago.
There was a lot of references to wwe.com made on this show. Maybe they now understand not every fan goes on that site.
Let me know what you thought of Raw or anyhting else going in the world of wrestling by emailing me at: mailto:robsonmania@yahoo.co.uk
Cena and Edge, despite being a feud over the most important title in wrestling today got nothing on this show. TLC was announced for Unforgiven and at least they actually did an angle for the match rather than the usual announcment.
Chris Masters has been to rehab if you couldn't tell. the contrast between his body in his video and in real life was a stark contrast.
The most boring feud on the planet continued with the McMahons and DX. Shane had the best line of the show "you guys need to grow up." You can say that again. The main event was decent for the time it got and seeing Finlay and Regal on a decent show is always good. They're really pushing the boat at at Unforgiven with hell in a cell and TLC. It makes sense to finish this feud in the cage but it's going to be one big cluster. Adding Big Show isn't going to really make this any better but at least it's different. It makes me laugh how the ECW Champion is the guy to help the McMahons becuase everybody else on Raw sucks.
Did you know that Vince likes cock? Get some new material.
Nitro was decent on the mic. We've not had chance to hear him do much talking at all so this effort was pretty good. They needed to address the Foley situation and this was a fine way of doing it. I don't know if Foley will return to feud with Nitro or if this was just a way of turning Foley face before his next apperance. On another note Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro could be fun if booked right.
Carlito continued his feud with Orton. They're doing an angle at least but both guys are cold at the moment. Talking of Carlito he is very pissed off at the moment as he felt he was reaching the main event but now he's stuck in a love storyline with Trish. Hate to say it Carlito but I hope you're not in many more main events.
Trish is retiring. It has now been announced so we all know how September's PPV goes. Great work booking team.
Mickie is a babyface now? Storyline development.
Spirit Squad are still tag champs if you didn't know. They also main evented a PPV two months ago.
There was a lot of references to wwe.com made on this show. Maybe they now understand not every fan goes on that site.
Let me know what you thought of Raw or anyhting else going in the world of wrestling by emailing me at: mailto:robsonmania@yahoo.co.uk
The Kurt Freakin Angle Story
OK, WWE.com is shit. They want to be the news site for wrestling but, they can't decide if they're going to be inside or kayfabulous. They've reported that Angle left on mutual terms with WWE and he has had three injuries all sustained in one match with RVD. Not true.
The story goes pretty similar to what I wrote on Saturday when I heard. Angle came back from his thirty-day suspension without having made any effort to get off the pills. Last week he met with Vince he told him to go to rehab. Kurt refused. Kurt was released.
The fact of the matter is that Angle has a huge downside guarantee in his contract which sees him take home $1m guaranteed. He could have gone into rehab and taken as much time off as he wanted and recieved his pay. Plus as Vince does in these situations I'm pretty sure the cost of the rehab program would have been paid for by WWE.
However, the problem lies in Kurt Angle. Angle doesn't believe he has a problem (locker room reports say he is completely messed up) so won't go to rehab, guaranteed deal or not.
WWE have done the same deal in which they did with Eddie Guerrero; released him for his own good. The only problem is that Kurt Angle is a mahcine. He wrestled in the Olympics with serious neck problems and in the main event of Wrestlemania under the likelihood of paralysis or even death. There's a story which Angle tells in his book regading the death of his father. His Dad worked on a construction site and fell from some beams. He got up, walked to hospital where he was told he'd broken his neck, arm and leg. He later died in hospital. The day Kurt found out he played football and played the best game of his career.
See where he gets it from?
The sad fact is that Kurt Angle won't stop. Kurt Angle is a machine. In 90-days time I'd bet that Kurt Angle isn't in rehab. I bet that Kurt Angle will be signing on the dotted line with TNA. TNA are desperate for stars and Angle is a recognisable star. Most importantly for Angle, TNA don't drug test. The obvious fall in salary won't mean a thing to Kurt as long as he can compete.
The sad fact is that WWE's release of Kurt Angle is supposed to be for his own good. It's supposed to be for him to clean up his life and get himself sorted out. The first step Angle has to take is admit he has a problem. Here lies the first stumbling block. He won't. Whether Angle is employed or not, the likelihood is this is all ending in tragedy.
Prove me wrong Kurt. I beg you.
The story goes pretty similar to what I wrote on Saturday when I heard. Angle came back from his thirty-day suspension without having made any effort to get off the pills. Last week he met with Vince he told him to go to rehab. Kurt refused. Kurt was released.
The fact of the matter is that Angle has a huge downside guarantee in his contract which sees him take home $1m guaranteed. He could have gone into rehab and taken as much time off as he wanted and recieved his pay. Plus as Vince does in these situations I'm pretty sure the cost of the rehab program would have been paid for by WWE.
However, the problem lies in Kurt Angle. Angle doesn't believe he has a problem (locker room reports say he is completely messed up) so won't go to rehab, guaranteed deal or not.
WWE have done the same deal in which they did with Eddie Guerrero; released him for his own good. The only problem is that Kurt Angle is a mahcine. He wrestled in the Olympics with serious neck problems and in the main event of Wrestlemania under the likelihood of paralysis or even death. There's a story which Angle tells in his book regading the death of his father. His Dad worked on a construction site and fell from some beams. He got up, walked to hospital where he was told he'd broken his neck, arm and leg. He later died in hospital. The day Kurt found out he played football and played the best game of his career.
See where he gets it from?
The sad fact is that Kurt Angle won't stop. Kurt Angle is a machine. In 90-days time I'd bet that Kurt Angle isn't in rehab. I bet that Kurt Angle will be signing on the dotted line with TNA. TNA are desperate for stars and Angle is a recognisable star. Most importantly for Angle, TNA don't drug test. The obvious fall in salary won't mean a thing to Kurt as long as he can compete.
The sad fact is that WWE's release of Kurt Angle is supposed to be for his own good. It's supposed to be for him to clean up his life and get himself sorted out. The first step Angle has to take is admit he has a problem. Here lies the first stumbling block. He won't. Whether Angle is employed or not, the likelihood is this is all ending in tragedy.
Prove me wrong Kurt. I beg you.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Unforgiven Plans Looking Good
As far as we know the Raw plans for Unforgiven will see Edge and Cena on top in a TLC match. I'm perfectly happy with that as I'm liking Cena in his current spot and Edge is great as champion.
Last weeks Raw looked like DX vs Vince and Shane was to continue (boring) and I haven't watched this weeks episode so can't comment on proccedings until tonight. If the plan is to keep Hunter and Shawn together for the forseeable future then they're going to be pretty much stuck. It's not even like they can go after the tag belts as they've destroyed the Spirit Squad that many times it's gotten boring and there are no other teams on Raw who are worth the feud. They can continue working together on TV no problem but they need to be doing something different. If Edge retains after Unforgiven I'd like to see him work with Shawn again as they've had good matches in the past and working with Shawn will only add to Edge's credibility.
As for other matches on the card it looks like Kane vs Umaga, Spirit Squad vs Highlanders, Carlito vs Orton and Hardy vs Nitro. Looking like a great PPV hey?
I'll have more to talk about tommorow when I've been able to watch Raw.
Last weeks Raw looked like DX vs Vince and Shane was to continue (boring) and I haven't watched this weeks episode so can't comment on proccedings until tonight. If the plan is to keep Hunter and Shawn together for the forseeable future then they're going to be pretty much stuck. It's not even like they can go after the tag belts as they've destroyed the Spirit Squad that many times it's gotten boring and there are no other teams on Raw who are worth the feud. They can continue working together on TV no problem but they need to be doing something different. If Edge retains after Unforgiven I'd like to see him work with Shawn again as they've had good matches in the past and working with Shawn will only add to Edge's credibility.
As for other matches on the card it looks like Kane vs Umaga, Spirit Squad vs Highlanders, Carlito vs Orton and Hardy vs Nitro. Looking like a great PPV hey?
I'll have more to talk about tommorow when I've been able to watch Raw.
Monday, August 28, 2006
More than meets the eye
There seems to be far more to Kurt Angle's release than what WWE.com is letting us into. It's obvious that Angle has been asked to sort his problems with pain pills out but he has refused to do so but there is talk of there being a lot more to it.
There have been reports that Kurt has been very vocal in the ECW locker room about matches, both his own and others. Apparently this was common with him on Smackdown, but because he was Kurt fucking Angle nobody cared. However as there are a number of new faces in the ECW lockeroom a number of comments have been made about his practices.
Although obviosuly this isn't grounds for a firing it could well be one of the reasons why Angle has gone.
When I get my copy of the Observer and Figure Four I'll post more about the situation and what I think.
There have been reports that Kurt has been very vocal in the ECW locker room about matches, both his own and others. Apparently this was common with him on Smackdown, but because he was Kurt fucking Angle nobody cared. However as there are a number of new faces in the ECW lockeroom a number of comments have been made about his practices.
Although obviosuly this isn't grounds for a firing it could well be one of the reasons why Angle has gone.
When I get my copy of the Observer and Figure Four I'll post more about the situation and what I think.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
KURT ANGLE RELEASED
In a huge story, WWE.com has announced that WWE have officially released Kurt Angle. This is a huge shock to me and everybody out there.
Angle has had may documented issues with prescription drugs and has only recently returned from a 30-day suspension. It was well-known that upon his return he was still relying on the medication and had done little to help himself.
WWE took him from TV last week and he didn't appear at Summerslam or on this weeks episode of ECW. Last night he was released.
It would seem that WWE are releasing Kurt Angle for his own good (much like they did with Eddie Guerrero in 2001) as competing in the ring is becoming more and more dangerous for the olympic gold medalist. This is a drastic decision by WWE as Kurt Angle could well be (and probably will be) picked up by TNA and make apperances in other indy feds.
Obviously Kurt wouldn't be making as much money as his WWE deal but the fewer dates could be a god send to him. Of course this could have been done to send a shock to Angle and get him to clean himself up. It's a course of action which worked with Eddie Guerrero and William Regal but Angle is a very stubborn character and has been forthcoming in accepting help in the past.
Vince McMahon has given many a second chance (see Hardy, Jeff) and I'm sure Kurt Angle will be given the smae treatment as everybody else. The question lies on whether Kurt Angle will allow himself to be given a second chance.
I'll be following this story very closley so please keep checking back for more news and thoughts on the situation.
Email me yout thoughts here.
Angle has had may documented issues with prescription drugs and has only recently returned from a 30-day suspension. It was well-known that upon his return he was still relying on the medication and had done little to help himself.
WWE took him from TV last week and he didn't appear at Summerslam or on this weeks episode of ECW. Last night he was released.
It would seem that WWE are releasing Kurt Angle for his own good (much like they did with Eddie Guerrero in 2001) as competing in the ring is becoming more and more dangerous for the olympic gold medalist. This is a drastic decision by WWE as Kurt Angle could well be (and probably will be) picked up by TNA and make apperances in other indy feds.
Obviously Kurt wouldn't be making as much money as his WWE deal but the fewer dates could be a god send to him. Of course this could have been done to send a shock to Angle and get him to clean himself up. It's a course of action which worked with Eddie Guerrero and William Regal but Angle is a very stubborn character and has been forthcoming in accepting help in the past.
Vince McMahon has given many a second chance (see Hardy, Jeff) and I'm sure Kurt Angle will be given the smae treatment as everybody else. The question lies on whether Kurt Angle will allow himself to be given a second chance.
I'll be following this story very closley so please keep checking back for more news and thoughts on the situation.
Email me yout thoughts here.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Three new divas signed... don't ask me who
After whatsaface won the diva search some more have now been signed. In fact three more have been signed. I don't know which ones and to be honest I don't really care.
Here's the problem with the current crop of divas: they're just too normal. Every single one of them is hot but, it's nothing I couldn't see by taking a walk into my town centre. The divas used to be over because they were something special. They used to have personsality and be sexy, they used to be untouchable.
I know that when I turned on my TV I would see not a girl but a woman. A woman who was untouchable, a woman who I wouldn't be able to pull in a thousand years; a Sable, a Debra, a Miss Elizabeth. These days if I wanted an Ashley I could walk down the street and happily chat away to a 'girl next door' with no worries at all.
Look at the example of Trish Stratus. When she first came on the scene in 2000 she was untouchable. She wore her short skirts and cowboy hats and I would have given anything to be with her. These days she comes to the ring in jeans and a top, probably what she's had on all day. I'd still give my back teeth to be with her but she doesn't have that x factor any longer.
These women used to be something out of this world, now they're nameless faces. Good luck to the three new divas. See you at the dole office in twelve months.
Here's the problem with the current crop of divas: they're just too normal. Every single one of them is hot but, it's nothing I couldn't see by taking a walk into my town centre. The divas used to be over because they were something special. They used to have personsality and be sexy, they used to be untouchable.
I know that when I turned on my TV I would see not a girl but a woman. A woman who was untouchable, a woman who I wouldn't be able to pull in a thousand years; a Sable, a Debra, a Miss Elizabeth. These days if I wanted an Ashley I could walk down the street and happily chat away to a 'girl next door' with no worries at all.
Look at the example of Trish Stratus. When she first came on the scene in 2000 she was untouchable. She wore her short skirts and cowboy hats and I would have given anything to be with her. These days she comes to the ring in jeans and a top, probably what she's had on all day. I'd still give my back teeth to be with her but she doesn't have that x factor any longer.
These women used to be something out of this world, now they're nameless faces. Good luck to the three new divas. See you at the dole office in twelve months.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Too Cool v2
With DX back, Jeff Hardy returning and even Tatanka being a permanent fixture on the Smackdown roster WWE are attempting to return to the glory days of old. Accoriding to the Observer Too Cool are going to be revived. Rikishi and Grandmaster Sexay will both be brought back and TNA star Ron Killings (who has asked for his release) is thought to be on the verge of signing to join the stable.
Will Too Cool be able to dance their way back into the hearts of today's young wrestling fans? I have to admit to liking Too Cool back in 2000 and they could freshen up a very boring Smackdown. They're not going to set the place alight but they could be fun for a while at least.
In an unrealted note, Attitude era favourite and former European Champion Mideon will not be returning to the company.
Will Too Cool be able to dance their way back into the hearts of today's young wrestling fans? I have to admit to liking Too Cool back in 2000 and they could freshen up a very boring Smackdown. They're not going to set the place alight but they could be fun for a while at least.
In an unrealted note, Attitude era favourite and former European Champion Mideon will not be returning to the company.
Raw Thoughts
Raw was pretty decent this week. The Edge/Cena feud is really hotting up. This is the side of Cena which many people have been begging for all throughout his run last year. It's good to see what he can do when he is chasing and Edge is such a great heel that Cena looks like a star.
Jeff Hardy's return was rather random and they've put him over strong in his almost-win over Edge (although the finish was messed up). This has been done with Hardy before in his matches with Hunter in 2001 and Taker in 2002. The problem lies in the fact that they don't do anything with him after that. He could easyily move into a program with Johnny Nitro over the IC belt and out some fresh energy into the stale Carlito, Shelton, Nitro mid-card.
It never ends. The DX/McMahon feud must continue and it must continue with an angle that was actually shot weeks ago. With both Vince and Hunter involved in this angle it must of course be billed as the main event of every show, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be there. The faces won on Sunday so why do they need to carry on tormenting the heels? Give me a reason why DX are doing this to the McMahons and it might interest me a little.
What makes it OK to not let the live (5,000 people) crowd know you've been broken but allow four million people at home to know?
Foley's face turn was probably a good thing because as good a heel as he is, crowds weren't booing him because he is Mick Foley. Whether he'll be off TV now or whether an angle will be made of the Melina betrayl we will have to wait and see.
It looks like Randy Orton will be moving from Hulk Hogan, arugably the biggest star in wrestling history to Carlito arguably the most unmotivated guy on the roster. Yay.
If Orton pinned Flair decisivley how can the ref reverse the decision to a Flair win? Surely the match should have been restarted?
The Spirit Squad are being jobbed out. They were beaten last week by Eugene and Hacksaw, were anhilated by DX (again) at Summerslam and the Highlanders beat them on Monday. They're not even getting an entrance these days so it looks like they're finished on Raw possibly after Unforgiven when they loose tag belts, or possibly even sooner.
Kane is going to be feuding with Umaga. The Samoan Bulldozer has to go over in this one.
Despite both women leaving the company it looks like Trish will take on Lita for the Women's title in the near future (it has to be in the very near future). Trish is slated to leave in September when she gets married so may take on Lita in a loser leaves town match with Lita going over. Lita is scheduled until November time so I'd expect a similar deal with her around that time. Of course both women may just disappear from TV such is the usual course WWE take.
Overall the show was decent with Edge and Cena grabbing all the right strings to move their feud along. The DX stuff is getting stale but a few more angles are being pursued and that can't be a bad thing.
Jeff Hardy's return was rather random and they've put him over strong in his almost-win over Edge (although the finish was messed up). This has been done with Hardy before in his matches with Hunter in 2001 and Taker in 2002. The problem lies in the fact that they don't do anything with him after that. He could easyily move into a program with Johnny Nitro over the IC belt and out some fresh energy into the stale Carlito, Shelton, Nitro mid-card.
It never ends. The DX/McMahon feud must continue and it must continue with an angle that was actually shot weeks ago. With both Vince and Hunter involved in this angle it must of course be billed as the main event of every show, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be there. The faces won on Sunday so why do they need to carry on tormenting the heels? Give me a reason why DX are doing this to the McMahons and it might interest me a little.
What makes it OK to not let the live (5,000 people) crowd know you've been broken but allow four million people at home to know?
Foley's face turn was probably a good thing because as good a heel as he is, crowds weren't booing him because he is Mick Foley. Whether he'll be off TV now or whether an angle will be made of the Melina betrayl we will have to wait and see.
It looks like Randy Orton will be moving from Hulk Hogan, arugably the biggest star in wrestling history to Carlito arguably the most unmotivated guy on the roster. Yay.
If Orton pinned Flair decisivley how can the ref reverse the decision to a Flair win? Surely the match should have been restarted?
The Spirit Squad are being jobbed out. They were beaten last week by Eugene and Hacksaw, were anhilated by DX (again) at Summerslam and the Highlanders beat them on Monday. They're not even getting an entrance these days so it looks like they're finished on Raw possibly after Unforgiven when they loose tag belts, or possibly even sooner.
Kane is going to be feuding with Umaga. The Samoan Bulldozer has to go over in this one.
Despite both women leaving the company it looks like Trish will take on Lita for the Women's title in the near future (it has to be in the very near future). Trish is slated to leave in September when she gets married so may take on Lita in a loser leaves town match with Lita going over. Lita is scheduled until November time so I'd expect a similar deal with her around that time. Of course both women may just disappear from TV such is the usual course WWE take.
Overall the show was decent with Edge and Cena grabbing all the right strings to move their feud along. The DX stuff is getting stale but a few more angles are being pursued and that can't be a bad thing.
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